It takes an outside voice to cut through the fog. Much like a lighthouse guides ships, or a foghorn warns them, outside resources guide you along the best path to success.
Every year since the fall of 2018, I have mentored through the Carolina Youth Coalition to help a high-achieving, low-income, first-generation college student get into and succeed in college. I meet weekly with these students to work with them on college choices, college applications, scholarship applications, interviews, selecting appropriate essays, and general life advice. I have been lucky to be paired with 7 amazing students (6 girls, 1 boy) who have given me so much joy - and a bit of stress.
These students (and their families) have invited me into their lives and trusted me to help them grow and achieve their dream of going to college. Because I’m an outside resource, my voice cuts through the usual nagging about homework, tests, keeping their rooms clean, and other chores. I give them work to do weekly. They have to complete college applications, scholarship applications, essays, and other relevant work. But we only discuss it once and I don’t nag during the week when we’re apart. I’m very clear at the beginning of our relationship that I already went to college and graduate school, and the work they’re doing is to achieve their dreams, not mine. They can listen and do the work, or not, but if they choose not to listen to my advice, the only person they’re hurting is themselves.
Do I get pushback? Of course, they’re teenagers! I’ve even dealt with some tears (unavoidable at this age). I’ve had students change their mind about which colleges they want to apply to, but I always require a reason for the change. We evaluate scholarships and the application requirements - is the amount of work proportionate to the reward? Do they have a relevant experience that puts them in the running for the award? I provide guidance, but in the end, it is always their decision whether or not to apply (and “the vibe” doesn’t work as a good reason).
In the end, they have all gone on to college and amazingly earned enough money to graduate debt-free. Their parents always thank me for helping them get into college, and I’m very clear that their child did all of the work - kept their grades up, applied to college, wrote the essays, did the interviews, and took all of the tests. I’m very lucky that these students continued to keep me in their lives while they were in college (and beyond) - sharing successes and requests for advice.
I help my clients in similar ways. A lot of times they can’t break through the fog because they are too close to the center of it. Much like my students, these business changes are up to the owner and not forced upon them. It’s their business, and their decision. I guide them through the haze that surrounds them and onto a clear path that leaves their business running even better than before. My outside voice helps them see the full picture while navigating change and shines light on the fears of releasing their tight grip on the daily operations of their business. And I work with the business to implement the changes, and make sure things run smoothly so they can exit the fog at full speed.
Are you struggling with cutting through the fog? Beck Insights can help you navigate through uncertainty and streamline your operations.
