Importance of "the formative years"
There is a growing philosophy across America – 30 is the new 20. After all, people in their "golden years" are more active than ever and many are retiring later in life. So, what's the rush to grow up, move out of mom & dad's basement, and start a career?
It's a great vision, and some parents believe they are "creating happiness" by supporting and encouraging this mindset of why not just experience life first? The risk, however, is you are enabling your child's dependence...and it is real!
Research indicates character traits such as discipline, work ethic, accountability and being worthy of trust need to be developed during the teenage/early adult years – in concert with the completion of brain development. The US military, as example, emphasizes this research with its recruitment efforts among officer candidates focused toward 17-31 year-olds. While partly due to physical demands, the age requirements also considers studies that show our ability to cultivate character traits into good habits becomes significantly diminished after the age of 30.
The idea of instilling happiness in your child through the "enjoy your youth" philosophy misses some key developmental considerations:
- Happiness is a byproduct of a purposeful life
- A purposeful life is created through the development of character and the soft skills necessary for success.
The Marketing of You helps you and your teen establish the character and decision-making fundamentals needed to ensure your kids are prepared for success. Even if they choose to enjoy a few "experiences" and the comfort of living in your home during their 20s, The Marketing of You can help facilitate an environment of support out of desire, not one solely based on financial need, bad choices, or lack of ambition.
This mis-guided "30 is the new 20" approach to youth development is at the heart of the The Marketing of You. Our mission is to eradicate this concept – giving our youth a pass to meander their way through their most formative years – being proliferated across the US.
This book and mentoring program are a resource for parents and teenagers to get on the same page in developing the critical character traits and soft skills needed to increase the probability for success and personal happiness. And, showing your teenager the path to finding a mentor is the additional “icing on the cake” offered in The Marketing of You.
