the metaphor of the boiling frog says
that if you took an ordinary live frog
and you dropped it into a pot of boiling
water the Frog would immediately sense
the danger that it’s in and it would
jump out but if you took that same
ordinary frog and placed it in a pot of
lukewarm water and then very very
gradually brought that water to a boil
the Frog wouldn’t recognize the danger
that it’s in until it’s too late today I
raise the question is the next
generation swimming in a reality like
that of the boiling frog now while we’re
not swimming in this metaphorical pot of
water we are all perpetually swimming in
stuff for the sake of this session stuff
will refer to anything that enters our
lives physical digital mental emotional
that requires some part of our attention
in order to be resolved successfully
stuff isn’t inherently good it isn’t
inherently bad stuff just is stuff can
take many forms from emails to social
media to errands to chores but because
it all requires some attention it’ll fit
this broader category we’ll refer to as
stuff now my awareness of stuff really
began about twenty years ago as I
started my career in teaching I was
young I was single I had my first
classroom my first set of kids and very
quickly I had more stuff to manage than
ever before now I show this particular
photo because there’s a detail in it
that adds some important context I
thank you for that the extent of
technology my first classroom consisted
of a few desktop computers with floppy
drives it wasn’t long after this photo
however that that digital connectivity
would enter into the educational system
and with online databases websites
emails online assessments all that goes
with it an education would be that much
more complex as I entered my second year
of teaching I was surprised with a
diagnosis of a congenital brain
malformation when that would require
immediately immediate and life-altering
brain surgery in this event it really
rattled me to the core and add a new
complexity to my life both physically
and spiritually a few years later later
I met my amazing wife Nikki we were
married in 2005 and this would bring a
richness and a fullness to my life and
it would change the responsibilities of
my life from just me into a Wii Nikki
and I have since been blessed with four
amazing children my son will my
daughters Samantha Nora and Izzy being a
parent is just the greatest gift and
it’s brought new depths of joy it has
absolutely increased my responsibilities
over the course of just a few years the
complexity of my life and the amount of
stuff that I was navigating had changed
dramatically it was about a decade ago
that I really started to realize some
things that were taking root in my life
as the as a result of the amount of
stuff that I was navigating and I began
to sense the boiling waters around me I
walked in the door one night from work
and I looked up to this scene
now as amazing as this was there was a problem I wasn’t there mentally I was
problem I wasn’t there mentally I was still at work
still at work preoccupied with all of my stuff my
preoccupied with all of my stuff my attention had become fractured scattered
attention had become fractured scattered I was overloaded distracted I never
I was overloaded distracted I never really was where I was and my stress
really was where I was and my stress levels and anxiety levels were on the
levels and anxiety levels were on the rise this gave birth to some questions
rise this gave birth to some questions was there something wrong with me was I
was there something wrong with me was I the only one experiencing this was there
the only one experiencing this was there a better way to manage it all and then
a better way to manage it all and then ultimately my focus shifted into the
ultimately my focus shifted into the young people I was working with how are
young people I was working with how are they managing all the stuff in their
they managing all the stuff in their lives now this story of increasing
lives now this story of increasing complexity that I told and is in many
complexity that I told and is in many ways quite natural if you think about a
ways quite natural if you think about a young person the journey from dependence
young person the journey from dependence on parents towards independence is
on parents towards independence is really what growing up is all about and
really what growing up is all about and it’s really quite beautiful and natural
it’s really quite beautiful and natural a toddler getting around for the first
a toddler getting around for the first time a kindergartner getting on the bus
time a kindergartner getting on the bus that first day of school the transition
that first day of school the transition to middle school or into high school
to middle school or into high school getting a driver’s license heading off
getting a driver’s license heading off to college but there has been a
to college but there has been a significant shift in this reality one
significant shift in this reality one that cannot be ignored and while it’s
that cannot be ignored and while it’s true that every generation faces a
true that every generation faces a reality unlike that of the generation
reality unlike that of the generation before them this generation is facing
before them this generation is facing the most complex and dynamic reality in
the most complex and dynamic reality in the history of the world digital
the history of the world digital connectivity has changed everything the
connectivity has changed everything the way they learn play interact date shop
way they learn play interact date shop travel everything so what’s the big deal
travel everything so what’s the big deal why is that important well current
why is that important well current research says that the human brain is
research says that the human brain is capable holding about four things in
capable holding about four things in short-term memory or in cognitive Ram
short-term memory or in cognitive Ram beyond those four things the cognitive
beyond those four things the cognitive load begins to have an impact on the
load begins to have an impact on the brain and the body that impact could
brain and the body that impact could come in the form of forgetfulness
come in the form of forgetfulness fatigue sleeplessness anxiety stress now
fatigue sleeplessness anxiety stress now digital connectivity has provided
digital connectivity has provided freedoms and advantages and
freedoms and advantages and opportunities that previous generations
opportunities that previous generations have never even conceived of the world’s
have never even conceived of the world’s knowledge in history is literally being
knowledge in history is literally being carried around in pockets but digital
carried around in pockets but digital connectivity has also exponentially
connectivity has also exponentially increased the
increased the volume and velocity of stuff coming at
volume and velocity of stuff coming at us each and every day every hour every
us each and every day every hour every minute young people are sifting through
minute young people are sifting through and navigating more inputs than ever
and navigating more inputs than ever before and all of these inputs are
before and all of these inputs are generating stuff stuff requires
generating stuff stuff requires discernment it requires decision-making
discernment it requires decision-making it requires attention
it requires attention it requires cognitive RAM it can feel
it requires cognitive RAM it can feel overwhelming it can it can be
overwhelming it can it can be distracting
distracting it can even be addicting the American
it can even be addicting the American Psychological Association recently did a
Psychological Association recently did a study on how much stress teens are
study on how much stress teens are facing and how they’re dealing with that
facing and how they’re dealing with that stress what they found was that 82% of
stress what they found was that 82% of teenagers reported consistently
teenagers reported consistently experiencing moderate to extreme stress
experiencing moderate to extreme stress during the past school year 82% overload
during the past school year 82% overload is very real in that same study they
is very real in that same study they looked at how our teens coping with this
looked at how our teens coping with this stress what are they doing and what they
stress what are they doing and what they found was that the majority of teenagers
found was that the majority of teenagers are coping with stress by further
are coping with stress by further plugging into the sea of connectivity
plugging into the sea of connectivity distraction is very real the executive
distraction is very real the executive functioning system and young people is
functioning system and young people is on hyperdrive the waters are boiling now
on hyperdrive the waters are boiling now it would make sense that given this new
it would make sense that given this new reality and this new arc of complexity
reality and this new arc of complexity that young people are facing that a new
that young people are facing that a new mindset and a new skill set would be
mindset and a new skill set would be needed we simply cannot parent teach
needed we simply cannot parent teach coach the way we have in the past not
coach the way we have in the past not because there’s anything wrong with
because there’s anything wrong with what’s been done but because this new
what’s been done but because this new reality is so vastly different the
reality is so vastly different the foundational behavior for young people
foundational behavior for young people today will be the ability to think to
today will be the ability to think to conceive of new ideas and to make them
conceive of new ideas and to make them happen this will be the ultimate 21st
happen this will be the ultimate 21st century skill creative thinking and
century skill creative thinking and problem-solving our unique human
problem-solving our unique human capacities and ones that can never be
capacities and ones that can never be automated this ability to think however
automated this ability to think however is being threatened by this volume of
is being threatened by this volume of stuff stuff introduces a drag it leaves
stuff stuff introduces a drag it leaves cognitive residue it can occupy a
cognitive residue it can occupy a cognitive RAM now in order to really
cognitive RAM now in order to really truly deeply think one needs to be able
truly deeply think one needs to be able to dynamically steer focus and attention
to dynamically steer focus and attention towards the things that matter most and
towards the things that matter most and to do this two thing
to do this two thing in control and perspective control here
in control and perspective control here refers to stability or the ability to
refers to stability or the ability to bring order out of chaos while
bring order out of chaos while perspective refers to clarity of
perspective refers to clarity of direction or knowing where one’s actions
direction or knowing where one’s actions are leading and in any area of life this
are leading and in any area of life this visual is called the map of control and
visual is called the map of control and perspective the horizontal axis
perspective the horizontal axis represents a spectrum of low to high
represents a spectrum of low to high control while the vertical axis
control while the vertical axis represents a spectrum of low to high
represents a spectrum of low to high perspective as young people interact
perspective as young people interact with stuff they reveal tendencies and
with stuff they reveal tendencies and habits and these behaviors can give us
habits and these behaviors can give us some insight as to where control and
some insight as to where control and perspective may be beneficial as a
perspective may be beneficial as a general rule young people tend to fall
general rule young people tend to fall into one of three categories on this map
into one of three categories on this map responders achievers and dreamers as we
responders achievers and dreamers as we take a look at each of these categories
take a look at each of these categories if you’re a parent or you have a young
if you’re a parent or you have a young person in your life I’d like you to
person in your life I’d like you to think about which of these descriptors
think about which of these descriptors would best match them today in the lower
would best match them today in the lower left-hand quadrant we have the
left-hand quadrant we have the responders responders tend to struggle
responders responders tend to struggle with both control and perspective at
with both control and perspective at their best their observers they’re
their best their observers they’re flexible they go with the flow they take
flexible they go with the flow they take in their environment they’re very
in their environment they’re very present in the moment and in the current
present in the moment and in the current conversation they intend to engage with
conversation they intend to engage with whatever has their attention most at
whatever has their attention most at that time in a traditional classroom
that time in a traditional classroom setting responders are compliant they
setting responders are compliant they aim to please
aim to please they often prefer to have a clear path
they often prefer to have a clear path laid out for them rather than having to
laid out for them rather than having to make decisions for themselves as
make decisions for themselves as complexity grows and stuff builds
complexity grows and stuff builds however responders can feel like stuff
however responders can feel like stuff is happening to them it can leave them
is happening to them it can leave them feeling powerless and uninspired and at
feeling powerless and uninspired and at the extreme it can lead to shutdown and
the extreme it can lead to shutdown and can leave them with feelings of
can leave them with feelings of depression in the lower right hand
depression in the lower right hand quadrant we have the achievers achievers
quadrant we have the achievers achievers tend to be high control at their best
tend to be high control at their best their structured their organized they’re
their structured their organized they’re naturally detail-oriented in a
naturally detail-oriented in a traditional classroom setting they’re
traditional classroom setting they’re hardworking and diligent this often
hardworking and diligent this often results in good grades
results in good grades our traditional gifted programs as we’ve
our traditional gifted programs as we’ve designed them today are full of
designed them today are full of achievers however as complexity grows
achievers however as complexity grows and stuff builds achievers can get
and stuff builds achievers can get caught up in the busyness of what
caught up in the busyness of what they’ve defined as success they can have
they’ve defined as success they can have a tough time connecting what they’re
a tough time connecting what they’re doing with any deeper passions often
doing with any deeper passions often losing track
losing track those passions altogether achievers get
those passions altogether achievers get caught up checking the boxes of life
caught up checking the boxes of life rather than actually living it and at
rather than actually living it and at the extreme the obsession with details
the extreme the obsession with details can rob them of a deeper joy in the
can rob them of a deeper joy in the top-left quadrant we have the dreamers
top-left quadrant we have the dreamers dreamers tend to live in a world of high
dreamers tend to live in a world of high perspective at their best
perspective at their best they have big ideas about how the world
they have big ideas about how the world could be or should be they’re creative
could be or should be they’re creative often very curious they love to start
often very curious they love to start new projects in the traditional
new projects in the traditional classroom studying they can be great
classroom studying they can be great contributors to discussion but their
contributors to discussion but their lack of control can make it difficult to
lack of control can make it difficult to meet deadlines and get routine work
meet deadlines and get routine work completed and this often leads to
completed and this often leads to academic struggles and masks their
academic struggles and masks their inherent gifts as complexity grows and
inherent gifts as complexity grows and stuff builds dreamers gonna have a tough
stuff builds dreamers gonna have a tough time taking action they tend to
time taking action they tend to procrastinate hoping that if they ignore
procrastinate hoping that if they ignore stuff it’ll eventually go away and at
stuff it’ll eventually go away and at the extreme they can be mislabeled ADHD
the extreme they can be mislabeled ADHD now as you reflect on this map do you
now as you reflect on this map do you recognize a young person in your world
recognize a young person in your world do you perhaps see yourself well what if
do you perhaps see yourself well what if we could equip dreamers with the control
we could equip dreamers with the control needed to transform ideas into action
needed to transform ideas into action and what if we could have Cup achievers
and what if we could have Cup achievers with the perspective to live more openly
with the perspective to live more openly more freely and what if we could equip
more freely and what if we could equip responders with the control and
responders with the control and perspective needed to feel empowered and
perspective needed to feel empowered and inspired the good news is that control
inspired the good news is that control and perspective aren’t just a result of
and perspective aren’t just a result of genetic temperaments they can be learned
genetic temperaments they can be learned it is possible to learn to generate the
it is possible to learn to generate the appropriate control and perspective to
appropriate control and perspective to apply to any situation creating the
apply to any situation creating the conditions to bring the best version of
conditions to bring the best version of yourself possible to any situation so
yourself possible to any situation so you might be thinking okay what does
you might be thinking okay what does this look like you mean give me
this look like you mean give me something that I can take away today
something that I can take away today well let’s say you’re working with a
well let’s say you’re working with a young person who’s struggling with
young person who’s struggling with distraction try this help them to
distraction try this help them to identify one to two super simple actions
identify one to two super simple actions that they could take to get themselves
that they could take to get themselves started these actions should require
started these actions should require very little decision-making or thought
very little decision-making or thought get booked out of backpack complete
get booked out of backpack complete problem number one look up hours of
problem number one look up hours of driver’s ed on line write those 1 to 2
driver’s ed on line write those 1 to 2 things down on a post-it note or an
things down on a post-it note or an index card and then step away
index card and then step away from a cognitive standpoint this
from a cognitive standpoint this relieves the cognitive load on the
relieves the cognitive load on the planning and prioritizing part of the
planning and prioritizing part of the brain and allows for movement movement
brain and allows for movement movement generates momentum momentum leads to an
generates momentum momentum leads to an increased sense of control or let’s say
increased sense of control or let’s say you’re working with a young person who’s
you’re working with a young person who’s just feeling overwhelmed try this grab a
just feeling overwhelmed try this grab a sheet of paper and have them write down
sheet of paper and have them write down every single thing that has their
every single thing that has their attention at that moment or have them
attention at that moment or have them tell you and you write it all down and
tell you and you write it all down and once you’ve captured it all turn that
once you’ve captured it all turn that piece of paper around and see what shows
piece of paper around and see what shows up this activity is called a minesweeper
up this activity is called a minesweeper and it can act like a laxative for a
and it can act like a laxative for a backed-up brain and it can free up
backed-up brain and it can free up cognitive RAM leading to an increased
cognitive RAM leading to an increased sense of perspective now these are just
sense of perspective now these are just a couple of very simple tools that can
a couple of very simple tools that can be used to help the human brain do what
be used to help the human brain do what it was created to do think this ability
it was created to do think this ability to harness control in perspective at
to harness control in perspective at will will describe someone in a new
will will describe someone in a new fourth category these will be the
fourth category these will be the navigators navigators will be pioneers
navigators navigators will be pioneers in this new reality able to live a
in this new reality able to live a healthy balanced productive life
healthy balanced productive life navigators will be able to generate the
navigators will be able to generate the control needed to have clear space to
control needed to have clear space to think they’ll be able to see through
think they’ll be able to see through distractions set their sights on clear
distractions set their sights on clear outcomes and make things happen
outcomes and make things happen navigators will use control and
navigators will use control and perspective like a GPS system to
perspective like a GPS system to position themselves for success there is
position themselves for success there is no more important skill set then we can
no more important skill set then we can offer the next generation than that of
offer the next generation than that of control and perspective it applies to
control and perspective it applies to everything it impacts everything
everything it impacts everything eighty-five percent of the jobs were
eighty-five percent of the jobs were preparing the next generation for they
preparing the next generation for they don’t yet exist they haven’t even been
don’t yet exist they haven’t even been conceived of yet this will be the
conceived of yet this will be the ultimate make it up and make it happen
ultimate make it up and make it happen generation and they will need to think
generation and they will need to think clearly and implement effectively amidst
clearly and implement effectively amidst a historic amount of noise think and
a historic amount of noise think and move perspective and control so while
move perspective and control so while ill-defined and extremely complex this
ill-defined and extremely complex this new reality
new reality it holds limitless possibilities let’s
it holds limitless possibilities let’s equip the next generation with the
equip the next generation with the thinking tools to throw
thinking tools to throw thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
that if you took an ordinary live frog
and you dropped it into a pot of boiling
water the Frog would immediately sense
the danger that it’s in and it would
jump out but if you took that same
ordinary frog and placed it in a pot of
lukewarm water and then very very
gradually brought that water to a boil
the Frog wouldn’t recognize the danger
that it’s in until it’s too late today I
raise the question is the next
generation swimming in a reality like
that of the boiling frog now while we’re
not swimming in this metaphorical pot of
water we are all perpetually swimming in
stuff for the sake of this session stuff
will refer to anything that enters our
lives physical digital mental emotional
that requires some part of our attention
in order to be resolved successfully
stuff isn’t inherently good it isn’t
inherently bad stuff just is stuff can
take many forms from emails to social
media to errands to chores but because
it all requires some attention it’ll fit
this broader category we’ll refer to as
stuff now my awareness of stuff really
began about twenty years ago as I
started my career in teaching I was
young I was single I had my first
classroom my first set of kids and very
quickly I had more stuff to manage than
ever before now I show this particular
photo because there’s a detail in it
that adds some important context I
thank you for that the extent of
technology my first classroom consisted
of a few desktop computers with floppy
drives it wasn’t long after this photo
however that that digital connectivity
would enter into the educational system
and with online databases websites
emails online assessments all that goes
with it an education would be that much
more complex as I entered my second year
of teaching I was surprised with a
diagnosis of a congenital brain
malformation when that would require
immediately immediate and life-altering
brain surgery in this event it really
rattled me to the core and add a new
complexity to my life both physically
and spiritually a few years later later
I met my amazing wife Nikki we were
married in 2005 and this would bring a
richness and a fullness to my life and
it would change the responsibilities of
my life from just me into a Wii Nikki
and I have since been blessed with four
amazing children my son will my
daughters Samantha Nora and Izzy being a
parent is just the greatest gift and
it’s brought new depths of joy it has
absolutely increased my responsibilities
over the course of just a few years the
complexity of my life and the amount of
stuff that I was navigating had changed
dramatically it was about a decade ago
that I really started to realize some
things that were taking root in my life
as the as a result of the amount of
stuff that I was navigating and I began
to sense the boiling waters around me I
walked in the door one night from work
and I looked up to this scene
now as amazing as this was there was a problem I wasn’t there mentally I was
problem I wasn’t there mentally I was still at work
still at work preoccupied with all of my stuff my
preoccupied with all of my stuff my attention had become fractured scattered
attention had become fractured scattered I was overloaded distracted I never
I was overloaded distracted I never really was where I was and my stress
really was where I was and my stress levels and anxiety levels were on the
levels and anxiety levels were on the rise this gave birth to some questions
rise this gave birth to some questions was there something wrong with me was I
was there something wrong with me was I the only one experiencing this was there
the only one experiencing this was there a better way to manage it all and then
a better way to manage it all and then ultimately my focus shifted into the
ultimately my focus shifted into the young people I was working with how are
young people I was working with how are they managing all the stuff in their
they managing all the stuff in their lives now this story of increasing
lives now this story of increasing complexity that I told and is in many
complexity that I told and is in many ways quite natural if you think about a
ways quite natural if you think about a young person the journey from dependence
young person the journey from dependence on parents towards independence is
on parents towards independence is really what growing up is all about and
really what growing up is all about and it’s really quite beautiful and natural
it’s really quite beautiful and natural a toddler getting around for the first
a toddler getting around for the first time a kindergartner getting on the bus
time a kindergartner getting on the bus that first day of school the transition
that first day of school the transition to middle school or into high school
to middle school or into high school getting a driver’s license heading off
getting a driver’s license heading off to college but there has been a
to college but there has been a significant shift in this reality one
significant shift in this reality one that cannot be ignored and while it’s
that cannot be ignored and while it’s true that every generation faces a
true that every generation faces a reality unlike that of the generation
reality unlike that of the generation before them this generation is facing
before them this generation is facing the most complex and dynamic reality in
the most complex and dynamic reality in the history of the world digital
the history of the world digital connectivity has changed everything the
connectivity has changed everything the way they learn play interact date shop
way they learn play interact date shop travel everything so what’s the big deal
travel everything so what’s the big deal why is that important well current
why is that important well current research says that the human brain is
research says that the human brain is capable holding about four things in
capable holding about four things in short-term memory or in cognitive Ram
short-term memory or in cognitive Ram beyond those four things the cognitive
beyond those four things the cognitive load begins to have an impact on the
load begins to have an impact on the brain and the body that impact could
brain and the body that impact could come in the form of forgetfulness
come in the form of forgetfulness fatigue sleeplessness anxiety stress now
fatigue sleeplessness anxiety stress now digital connectivity has provided
digital connectivity has provided freedoms and advantages and
freedoms and advantages and opportunities that previous generations
opportunities that previous generations have never even conceived of the world’s
have never even conceived of the world’s knowledge in history is literally being
knowledge in history is literally being carried around in pockets but digital
carried around in pockets but digital connectivity has also exponentially
connectivity has also exponentially increased the
increased the volume and velocity of stuff coming at
volume and velocity of stuff coming at us each and every day every hour every
us each and every day every hour every minute young people are sifting through
minute young people are sifting through and navigating more inputs than ever
and navigating more inputs than ever before and all of these inputs are
before and all of these inputs are generating stuff stuff requires
generating stuff stuff requires discernment it requires decision-making
discernment it requires decision-making it requires attention
it requires attention it requires cognitive RAM it can feel
it requires cognitive RAM it can feel overwhelming it can it can be
overwhelming it can it can be distracting
distracting it can even be addicting the American
it can even be addicting the American Psychological Association recently did a
Psychological Association recently did a study on how much stress teens are
study on how much stress teens are facing and how they’re dealing with that
facing and how they’re dealing with that stress what they found was that 82% of
stress what they found was that 82% of teenagers reported consistently
teenagers reported consistently experiencing moderate to extreme stress
experiencing moderate to extreme stress during the past school year 82% overload
during the past school year 82% overload is very real in that same study they
is very real in that same study they looked at how our teens coping with this
looked at how our teens coping with this stress what are they doing and what they
stress what are they doing and what they found was that the majority of teenagers
found was that the majority of teenagers are coping with stress by further
are coping with stress by further plugging into the sea of connectivity
plugging into the sea of connectivity distraction is very real the executive
distraction is very real the executive functioning system and young people is
functioning system and young people is on hyperdrive the waters are boiling now
on hyperdrive the waters are boiling now it would make sense that given this new
it would make sense that given this new reality and this new arc of complexity
reality and this new arc of complexity that young people are facing that a new
that young people are facing that a new mindset and a new skill set would be
mindset and a new skill set would be needed we simply cannot parent teach
needed we simply cannot parent teach coach the way we have in the past not
coach the way we have in the past not because there’s anything wrong with
because there’s anything wrong with what’s been done but because this new
what’s been done but because this new reality is so vastly different the
reality is so vastly different the foundational behavior for young people
foundational behavior for young people today will be the ability to think to
today will be the ability to think to conceive of new ideas and to make them
conceive of new ideas and to make them happen this will be the ultimate 21st
happen this will be the ultimate 21st century skill creative thinking and
century skill creative thinking and problem-solving our unique human
problem-solving our unique human capacities and ones that can never be
capacities and ones that can never be automated this ability to think however
automated this ability to think however is being threatened by this volume of
is being threatened by this volume of stuff stuff introduces a drag it leaves
stuff stuff introduces a drag it leaves cognitive residue it can occupy a
cognitive residue it can occupy a cognitive RAM now in order to really
cognitive RAM now in order to really truly deeply think one needs to be able
truly deeply think one needs to be able to dynamically steer focus and attention
to dynamically steer focus and attention towards the things that matter most and
towards the things that matter most and to do this two thing
to do this two thing in control and perspective control here
in control and perspective control here refers to stability or the ability to
refers to stability or the ability to bring order out of chaos while
bring order out of chaos while perspective refers to clarity of
perspective refers to clarity of direction or knowing where one’s actions
direction or knowing where one’s actions are leading and in any area of life this
are leading and in any area of life this visual is called the map of control and
visual is called the map of control and perspective the horizontal axis
perspective the horizontal axis represents a spectrum of low to high
represents a spectrum of low to high control while the vertical axis
control while the vertical axis represents a spectrum of low to high
represents a spectrum of low to high perspective as young people interact
perspective as young people interact with stuff they reveal tendencies and
with stuff they reveal tendencies and habits and these behaviors can give us
habits and these behaviors can give us some insight as to where control and
some insight as to where control and perspective may be beneficial as a
perspective may be beneficial as a general rule young people tend to fall
general rule young people tend to fall into one of three categories on this map
into one of three categories on this map responders achievers and dreamers as we
responders achievers and dreamers as we take a look at each of these categories
take a look at each of these categories if you’re a parent or you have a young
if you’re a parent or you have a young person in your life I’d like you to
person in your life I’d like you to think about which of these descriptors
think about which of these descriptors would best match them today in the lower
would best match them today in the lower left-hand quadrant we have the
left-hand quadrant we have the responders responders tend to struggle
responders responders tend to struggle with both control and perspective at
with both control and perspective at their best their observers they’re
their best their observers they’re flexible they go with the flow they take
flexible they go with the flow they take in their environment they’re very
in their environment they’re very present in the moment and in the current
present in the moment and in the current conversation they intend to engage with
conversation they intend to engage with whatever has their attention most at
whatever has their attention most at that time in a traditional classroom
that time in a traditional classroom setting responders are compliant they
setting responders are compliant they aim to please
aim to please they often prefer to have a clear path
they often prefer to have a clear path laid out for them rather than having to
laid out for them rather than having to make decisions for themselves as
make decisions for themselves as complexity grows and stuff builds
complexity grows and stuff builds however responders can feel like stuff
however responders can feel like stuff is happening to them it can leave them
is happening to them it can leave them feeling powerless and uninspired and at
feeling powerless and uninspired and at the extreme it can lead to shutdown and
the extreme it can lead to shutdown and can leave them with feelings of
can leave them with feelings of depression in the lower right hand
depression in the lower right hand quadrant we have the achievers achievers
quadrant we have the achievers achievers tend to be high control at their best
tend to be high control at their best their structured their organized they’re
their structured their organized they’re naturally detail-oriented in a
naturally detail-oriented in a traditional classroom setting they’re
traditional classroom setting they’re hardworking and diligent this often
hardworking and diligent this often results in good grades
results in good grades our traditional gifted programs as we’ve
our traditional gifted programs as we’ve designed them today are full of
designed them today are full of achievers however as complexity grows
achievers however as complexity grows and stuff builds achievers can get
and stuff builds achievers can get caught up in the busyness of what
caught up in the busyness of what they’ve defined as success they can have
they’ve defined as success they can have a tough time connecting what they’re
a tough time connecting what they’re doing with any deeper passions often
doing with any deeper passions often losing track
losing track those passions altogether achievers get
those passions altogether achievers get caught up checking the boxes of life
caught up checking the boxes of life rather than actually living it and at
rather than actually living it and at the extreme the obsession with details
the extreme the obsession with details can rob them of a deeper joy in the
can rob them of a deeper joy in the top-left quadrant we have the dreamers
top-left quadrant we have the dreamers dreamers tend to live in a world of high
dreamers tend to live in a world of high perspective at their best
perspective at their best they have big ideas about how the world
they have big ideas about how the world could be or should be they’re creative
could be or should be they’re creative often very curious they love to start
often very curious they love to start new projects in the traditional
new projects in the traditional classroom studying they can be great
classroom studying they can be great contributors to discussion but their
contributors to discussion but their lack of control can make it difficult to
lack of control can make it difficult to meet deadlines and get routine work
meet deadlines and get routine work completed and this often leads to
completed and this often leads to academic struggles and masks their
academic struggles and masks their inherent gifts as complexity grows and
inherent gifts as complexity grows and stuff builds dreamers gonna have a tough
stuff builds dreamers gonna have a tough time taking action they tend to
time taking action they tend to procrastinate hoping that if they ignore
procrastinate hoping that if they ignore stuff it’ll eventually go away and at
stuff it’ll eventually go away and at the extreme they can be mislabeled ADHD
the extreme they can be mislabeled ADHD now as you reflect on this map do you
now as you reflect on this map do you recognize a young person in your world
recognize a young person in your world do you perhaps see yourself well what if
do you perhaps see yourself well what if we could equip dreamers with the control
we could equip dreamers with the control needed to transform ideas into action
needed to transform ideas into action and what if we could have Cup achievers
and what if we could have Cup achievers with the perspective to live more openly
with the perspective to live more openly more freely and what if we could equip
more freely and what if we could equip responders with the control and
responders with the control and perspective needed to feel empowered and
perspective needed to feel empowered and inspired the good news is that control
inspired the good news is that control and perspective aren’t just a result of
and perspective aren’t just a result of genetic temperaments they can be learned
genetic temperaments they can be learned it is possible to learn to generate the
it is possible to learn to generate the appropriate control and perspective to
appropriate control and perspective to apply to any situation creating the
apply to any situation creating the conditions to bring the best version of
conditions to bring the best version of yourself possible to any situation so
yourself possible to any situation so you might be thinking okay what does
you might be thinking okay what does this look like you mean give me
this look like you mean give me something that I can take away today
something that I can take away today well let’s say you’re working with a
well let’s say you’re working with a young person who’s struggling with
young person who’s struggling with distraction try this help them to
distraction try this help them to identify one to two super simple actions
identify one to two super simple actions that they could take to get themselves
that they could take to get themselves started these actions should require
started these actions should require very little decision-making or thought
very little decision-making or thought get booked out of backpack complete
get booked out of backpack complete problem number one look up hours of
problem number one look up hours of driver’s ed on line write those 1 to 2
driver’s ed on line write those 1 to 2 things down on a post-it note or an
things down on a post-it note or an index card and then step away
index card and then step away from a cognitive standpoint this
from a cognitive standpoint this relieves the cognitive load on the
relieves the cognitive load on the planning and prioritizing part of the
planning and prioritizing part of the brain and allows for movement movement
brain and allows for movement movement generates momentum momentum leads to an
generates momentum momentum leads to an increased sense of control or let’s say
increased sense of control or let’s say you’re working with a young person who’s
you’re working with a young person who’s just feeling overwhelmed try this grab a
just feeling overwhelmed try this grab a sheet of paper and have them write down
sheet of paper and have them write down every single thing that has their
every single thing that has their attention at that moment or have them
attention at that moment or have them tell you and you write it all down and
tell you and you write it all down and once you’ve captured it all turn that
once you’ve captured it all turn that piece of paper around and see what shows
piece of paper around and see what shows up this activity is called a minesweeper
up this activity is called a minesweeper and it can act like a laxative for a
and it can act like a laxative for a backed-up brain and it can free up
backed-up brain and it can free up cognitive RAM leading to an increased
cognitive RAM leading to an increased sense of perspective now these are just
sense of perspective now these are just a couple of very simple tools that can
a couple of very simple tools that can be used to help the human brain do what
be used to help the human brain do what it was created to do think this ability
it was created to do think this ability to harness control in perspective at
to harness control in perspective at will will describe someone in a new
will will describe someone in a new fourth category these will be the
fourth category these will be the navigators navigators will be pioneers
navigators navigators will be pioneers in this new reality able to live a
in this new reality able to live a healthy balanced productive life
healthy balanced productive life navigators will be able to generate the
navigators will be able to generate the control needed to have clear space to
control needed to have clear space to think they’ll be able to see through
think they’ll be able to see through distractions set their sights on clear
distractions set their sights on clear outcomes and make things happen
outcomes and make things happen navigators will use control and
navigators will use control and perspective like a GPS system to
perspective like a GPS system to position themselves for success there is
position themselves for success there is no more important skill set then we can
no more important skill set then we can offer the next generation than that of
offer the next generation than that of control and perspective it applies to
control and perspective it applies to everything it impacts everything
everything it impacts everything eighty-five percent of the jobs were
eighty-five percent of the jobs were preparing the next generation for they
preparing the next generation for they don’t yet exist they haven’t even been
don’t yet exist they haven’t even been conceived of yet this will be the
conceived of yet this will be the ultimate make it up and make it happen
ultimate make it up and make it happen generation and they will need to think
generation and they will need to think clearly and implement effectively amidst
clearly and implement effectively amidst a historic amount of noise think and
a historic amount of noise think and move perspective and control so while
move perspective and control so while ill-defined and extremely complex this
ill-defined and extremely complex this new reality
new reality it holds limitless possibilities let’s
it holds limitless possibilities let’s equip the next generation with the
equip the next generation with the thinking tools to throw
thinking tools to throw thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
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