In this episode, Lisa and Sharon discuss:

• What sets the Birkman Method apart is different from other assessments for college and career clarity.
• How your teen can use the Birkman as a starting point to understand themself - not just academically, but also to their environment and others.
• How narrowing options can increase confidence and lead to more satisfying career choices.
• Why focusing on the “next first step” rather than a “forever future” can ease the pressure when planning for college and beyond.

Key Takeaways: 

• Birkman is unique because it pinpoints the motivations behind behaviors without burdening students with multiple questionnaires.
• Our needs and expectations are like the roots of a tree - they ground us and influence our personal health and well-being.
• Things you enjoy during personal time are just as crucial as work for long-term fulfillment.
• The Birkman system funnels all career possibilities into fewer select paths so your teen has options that are most likely to work for them.

 

“It's a broad world out there of career opportunities. If you look at your top three or four percentiles of interest, those are going to be excellent cues about a healthy direction for you to head, whether it's something that you do on the side that makes you happy, or whether it's included in your day job.” – Sharon Birkman



Episode Reference: 

Is now the right time for your teen's College Major and Career Planning? flourishcoachingco.com/quiz 


About Sharon Birkman: Sharon Birkman began her role as Birkman International’s President and CEO in 2002, becoming Chairman in 2022. As the daughter of company founder and influential industrial-organizational psychologist, Dr. Roger W. Birkman, Sharon cultivated her deep expertise in human perception and organizational behavior through her lifelong interest in The Birkman Method. Before succeeding Dr. Birkman as CEO, Sharon served in several roles including VP Corporate Relations, Training, and Career Coaching. Sharon’s leadership has been instrumental in ushering in a new era of product development, technology, and training initiatives during a time of unprecedented growth. In this period, Sharon and the business have been recognized with a multitude of awards. These include EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016, the Women President’s Organization’s Mary Lehman MacLachlan Award for Economic Empowerment in 2017, Houston’s Best and Brightest Places to Work For from 2014-2019, National Best and Brightest Places to Work For (2014-2018), the Houston Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business Award in 2017 and 2018, and as a Houston Power 50 Woman Leader in 2018.



Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret). 

flourishcoachingco.com/video 



Connect with Sharon:

Website: https://birkman.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-birkman-fink/ 

Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co

In this episode, Lisa, Keith, and Tejas discuss:

• The value of student-led experiences and internships for your teen. 
• Building teen confidence, developing professional skills while still in high school, and using experiences to gain clarity about future careers.
• The importance of your student getting involved in extracurriculars early in high school. 
• How to DIY opportunities through school-business partnerships for your teen.

Key Takeaways: 

• During your student’s freshman year, let them get used to the rigors of high school and encourage them to figure out how they want to get involved at school. 
• Confidence is a skill your teen will build through practice and pushing themself outside their comfort zone. The more your teen stretches, the more their confidence will grow.
• Sometimes, an internship will confirm that the path is the right fit for your teen. But even if they find it is not the right fit, that is equally valuable.
• As proficiency increases, passion also tends to increase in equal measure. Passion can grow with proficiency.

 
“It is really valuable for the student as a person and pushing them outside their boundaries and getting uncomfortable and all those things. But it's also valuable for the resume, the application, and building those experiences that make you who you are, and you can find those wherever you are.” – Keith Koehne

About Keith Koehne: Keith Koehne has always wanted to have the greatest impact on the greatest number of students possible. He has a passion for leadership and connecting education with business leaders for the benefit of students. He is honored to serve as the Executive Director of the INTERalliance of Greater Cincinnati, whose mission is to fill the regional IT talent pipeline by inspiring, developing, and retaining exceptional high school students.

Episode References:
Tips for Sending Student Emails that Get a Reply: https://flourishcoachingco.com/email 

Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret). 
flourishcoachingco.com/video 

Connect with INTERalliance:
Website: https://interalliance.org/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-interalliance-of-greater-cincinnati/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/interalliancegc/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/interalliance/ 
Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@interalliancegc/ 
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/interalliance.org 

Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co

In this episode, Lisa and Vicki discuss:

• How your teen’s school, you (as the parent), and your teen can work together to drive your student’s career development.
• The right time for your student to begin thinking about their future career path.
• Why your teen should be considering careers, not just college majors. 
• The difference between career development and career advising.

Key Takeaways: 

• Most school counselors have a caseload too great to also take on career counseling. They also are not trained to handle that aspect of counseling.
• By November 1 of your teen’s senior year, they are starting to apply to colleges.
• 42 of 50 state flagship universities require students to either apply directly to a college major or list their intended major in the application.
• Career development is a lifelong process. 
• You do not want to wait until your student is in college to start career advising. Once they are there, some majors will no longer be available to them, and you cannot make them go to the career advising office.

“We as parents force, not on purpose, but force an agenda onto our kids. I think the school becomes this objective third party to kind of take care of business, so to speak.” – Vicki Weisbrod

About Vicki Weisbrod: Vicki Weisbrod is a detail-oriented school counselor who has been consistently praised as a forward-thinking student advocate by her colleagues and administration. Over the course of her 17-year career, she created an extensive counseling program from ground zero focusing on the college search and selection process. Seven years ago, she partnered with an organization to be the first greater Cincinnati high school to offer the Birkman assessment to their juniors. The program has evolved to include in-depth career exploration modules for all of their students. This

process has created a more thorough approach to the college counseling that their

team provides. In her tenure at Bishop Fenwick, she has sought opportunities to

grow their community whether it is through their counseling program or for the

greater good of the school. 

Episode References:

• #120 Experiential Learning: Unlocking Your Teen’s Career Path with Drews Mitchell
• #040 Building Motivation & Stress Tolerance for Happy Teens

Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret). 

flourishcoachingco.com/video 

Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co

In this episode, Lisa and Cheryl discuss:

• Strategies to help coach your teen without becoming a helicopter parent.
• How to identify when helping your teen is actually hurting them.
• Why your teen needs to learn to fix things on their own before they reach high school graduation.
• Transitioning from a parenting to a coaching role in your child’s life.

Key Takeaways: 

• Remind your teen of the wins that they had before they got to the big challenges they are facing.
• When you helicopter parent your teen through high school, you prevent them from learning vital life skills they will need when they get to college and beyond. 
• In college, parents cannot call the financial aid office, professors, dean, or any other office for or about your student, even if you are paying tuition.
• Helicopter parenting is not about your child. It is about you, the parent. Let your teen live their life, and go do those things you feel you’re missing out on for yourself.

 
“If you keep making these decisions for your kids, if you keep diving in and fixing everything, not only are you not giving them the skills they need, but I really believe it sends a message that you don't have any faith in them.” – Cheryl Pankhurst

About Cheryl Pankhurst: With an illustrious career spanning over 25 years as a Special Education Specialist, Cheryl has dedicated her life to understanding and supporting teenagers facing unique challenges. 

Through her transformative journey, Cheryl discovered her true calling – to uplift and empower not only teens with diagnoses but every young person navigating the complexities of adolescence. Her groundbreaking podcast, 'Teen Minds Redefined,' serves as a sanctuary for parents seeking guidance and wisdom on the rollercoaster ride of raising teenagers. Through this journey Cheryl has discovered that the “guidance” for parents starts with themselves. In order to raise our humans to be their true authentic selves, we must start living and speaking our own truth. It’s not them; it’s you. That is the good news, it begins with us and as we gain new insights, shift our perspective find the joy and calm within us, it causes the “ripple effect” to the people we love and care about. Beyond her professional endeavours, Cheryl is also a devoted Mom of two beautiful humans, a daughter and a life partner. As a lifelong Yogi addicted to doing the inner work, speaking her truth, and shining her light, Cheryl strives to embody the values she preaches, inspiring others to live their true authentic selves.

Episode References:
Email Guide: flourishcoachingco.com/email
#146 Overcoming Student Procrastination with Michelle McAnaney, the College Spy

Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret). 
flourishcoachingco.com/video 

Connect with Cheryl:
Website: https://cherylpankhurst.com/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryl.a.pankhurst/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.a.pankhurst 
Linked: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryl-ann-pankhurst-1b611855 
Podcast: Teen Minds Redefined: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYv9FQy1X43wwoYg0zF8zAJw6-nCpHMAk 

Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co

In this episode, Lisa and Vida discuss:

• How math contests can be a strategy for STEM-focused teens providing an edge with college applications and other opportunities. 
• Enhancing problem-solving and critical thinking skills through math contests.
• How to get involved in math competitions, how contests work, and the best ways to prepare.
• What you and your teen need to know about test prep, expectations, and acceleration.

Key Takeaways: 

• Sports are excellent, but they are not the only competition available to your teen. Participating in mathematics competitions, science olympiads, essay contests, or other academic competitions can help your teen to better understand their academic subjects.
• Due to high school grade inflation, external measures are often a better assessment of your student’s academic achievement.  
• Finding AMC math test locations can be difficult, but the test is open to anyone to try. 
• Academically talented students attend both state schools and elective colleges.

“I like it a lot because it does double duty. It helps them demonstrate their skills while they're in high school and get into the colleges that they want to get into. But then further, it helps them succeed once they get there.” – Vida John

About Vida John: Vida John is an expert on math competitions for students of all ages. A graduate of Stanford University School of Engineering, after working in technical fields and at start-ups, she retired to homeschool her daughters with an emphasis on rigorous academic instruction. With both kids attending Stanford, she returned to teaching students who are studying math at Art of Problem Solving and preparing them for math contests.  

Episode References:

American Mathematics Competition: https://maa.org/student-programs/amc/ 
Math Kangaroo: https://mathkangaroo.org/mks/ 
American Regions Math League: https://arml3.com/ 
The Art of Problem Solving: https://artofproblemsolving.com/ 
AIME: https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/American_Invitational_Mathematics_Examination 
#098 How Your Teen Can Benefit from an Honors College with Sylvia Borgo
#142 SAT, ACT, and Test-Optional Admissions: What Parents Need to Know with David Blobaum

Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret). 

flourishcoachingco.com/video 

Connect with Vida:

Website: https://mathproblemsolvingskills.wordpress.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vidajohn/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mathproblemsolvingskills 

Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co

In this episode, Lisa discusses:

• The ideal time to start career development with your student and why it’s a lifelong process starting in the early years.
• The powerful ways early self-awareness will benefit your student. 
• Strategies for overcoming common obstacles for your teen to move forward in confidence.
• Free resources that are available to support your teen's career advising before making critical decisions about their future. 
• How the Birkman® assessment and Launch Career Clarity® provide a structured roadmap for success  

Key Takeaways: 

• Students will be in school approximately 16,000 hours from Kindergarten to Senior Year. On average, they will work 82,000 if they work after graduation until age 65 making career alignment critical to thrive in life
• It is never too late to work on career development and advising, but there is an ideal time to start. 
• Starting early is for the best.; If your teen has already hit Sophomore year, it is go time!
• Instead of looking at your teen as difficult or unmotivated, step back and ask if they are overwhelmed and need more support. 
• Your teen would likely rather hear advice from someone other than you, such as a coach, teacher, or mentor.
• There are a lot of misconceptions and job fields that teens are unaware of, so it is important to research and explore. 

“Career development is not a one-and-done. It's really important that we take two views of this. It's a long game - a marathon, not a sprint. But more importantly, that we start early, even in middle school, ninth grade, actually even younger.” – Lisa Marker Robbins

Episode References:

• Is it the right time for College Major and Career Planning? https://flourishcoachingco.com/quiz 
• Bureau of Labor & Statistics Student Resources: https://bls.gov/k12/ 

Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret). 

flourishcoachingco.com/video 

Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co

In this episode, Lisa and Lauren discuss:

• Different legal field career paths beyond litigation and the courtroom.
• What a day in the office of a non-litigating lawyer looks like.
• Essential skills and qualities needed for success and enjoyment as an attorney.
• Valuable advice for high school students and those in college contemplating a legal career. 

Key Takeaways: 

• In any area of law, reading and writing will be a constant throughout the work. 
• Your teen must have a STEM or engineering background to be a patent attorney.
• Lawyers can choose the areas they practice that match their strengths. Not all family law is divorce law; if high-emotion conflict is not your teen’s strength, they can choose to practice law and avoid litigation.
• Being a lawyer often requires a lot of sitting, focusing, reading, writing, and critical thought. If your teen is high energy, they will need to learn to manage that.
• There are internships and jobs that students as young as high school can do at the courts or in law firms to help them decide if the law is a good fit while building their resume. 

“Anyone who's interested in a career in the law, just know you can do it. It is challenging, but you can do it. You can get through it, and there are some really wonderful career opportunities on the other side of law school.” – Lauren McClain

About Lauren McClain: Attorney Lauren McClain focuses her legal practice on adoption law, third-party reproduction law, and Guardian Ad Litem representations. She is a distinguished member of the prestigious Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys. Lauren McClain earned her Juris Doctorate (JD) from Indiana University College of Law, Bloomington, IN in 2005. She also graduated magna cum lade degree from Purdue University in 2002. She is a biological and adoptive mother and enjoys spending her free time with her husband and four daughters.

Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret). 

flourishcoachingco.com/video 

Connect with Lauren:

Website: https://laurenmcclainlaw.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-mcclain-5247185/ 

Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co

In this episode, Lisa and Michelle discuss:

• The real reasons behind student procrastination. 
• Discovering which of the three types of procrastinators your teen is.
• Practical strategies to help your teen overcome procrastination hurdles. 
• How to differentiate feelings from facts to accomplish important tasks on time.

Key Takeaways: 

• Procrastination is often not from a place of laziness. It is often a form of avoidance of a negative mood, particularly ones associated with a task.
• Behaviors that are rewarded tend to be repeated.
• It is better to be proactive in catching and mitigating procrastination behaviors as early as possible. Procrastination has a snowball effect that will worsen things when the stakes are high.
• If you don’t understand why your student is procrastinating, it can be difficult to know which strategies to best help them overcome it. 

 
“When you're feeling better because you're avoiding a task, you are more likely to continue to avoid the task which can lead to chronic procrastination.” – Michelle McAnaney

About Michelle McAnaney: Michelle McAnaney is the founder of The College Spy, a full-service independent educational consulting firm that assists students and families across the US and internationally with the college selection and application process. Prior to founding The College Spy, Michelle was a school counselor and educator for more than 15 years, including serving as the Director of Guidance at two high schools, an adjunct college professor, and a GED tutor. Michelle holds a master’s degree in school counseling and a bachelor’s degree in human development. She completed UC Irvine’s certificate program in educational consulting and is an MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) Certified Practitioner and an NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) Master Practitioner. Michelle visits many colleges each year so that she has first-hand knowledge of the colleges and universities her clients will be considering. 

Episode References:
College Planning Timeline https://flourishcoachingco.com/timeline 
#040 Building Motivation & Stress Tolerance for Happy Teens https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/040 
#023 College Visit Tips from the College Spy https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/podcast/23-college-visit-tips-from-the-college-spy/ 

Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret). 
flourishcoachingco.com/video 

Connect with Michelle:
Twitter: https://x.com/thecollegespy 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecollegespy/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecollegespy/ 
Website: https://thecollegespy.com/ 

Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co

In this episode, Lisa, Jeff, and Jennie discuss:

• The different types of early college applications and what they each mean.
• Navigation strategies and deadlines for early applications.
• Which students will benefit from early applications, and which might not.
• What the data really says about early application acceptance rates.

Key Takeaways:

• Because Early Decision (ED1 and ED2) is a binding contract that the student, parent, and high school counselor sign stating the student will enroll if admitted, only one early decision application can be submitted.
• Most colleges do not give an admission advantage for early action.
• Single Choice Early Action and Restricted Early Action are two names for the same thing. Read the fine print carefully as the rules vary greatly by school.
• Just because ED is available does not mean it is the right decision for everyone. If your teen isn’t in love with a school or is relying on financial aid, it is likely not the right choice. 

“The data is not the reason why you should make your decision about where to apply ED. There are a number of reasons that I think are more important. Particularly, is this a school that you love more than any other school on your list?” – Jeff Levy

About Jeff: Jeff, an educational consultant since 2007 in Los Angeles, works with students worldwide. With over 20 years in the film and TV industry, he brings unique insights into creative and professional success. He's visited 300+ colleges, ensuring thorough knowledge of programs and campuses before making recommendations.

About Jennie: Jennie, a Certified Educational Planner, holds degrees from Northfield Mount Hermon School, Skidmore College, and Framingham State, with additional certification from UC Irvine. Active in her professional associations, she's visited over 500 schools to understand their cultures. Jennie compiles critical admission and financial aid resources and presents them globally, co-founding a virtual roundtable for new consultants to help others reach their full potential.

Episode References:
Early and Regular Decision Acceptance Rates: https://lookerstudio.google.com/u/0/reporting/60d2d60b-ce9c-400d-84e6-2f8576af18fd/page/p_92z1mm9d7c?s=oCkDSl5aSI8
#123 College Institutional Priorities: Understanding Who Gets In with Aly Beaumont

Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret).
flourishcoachingco.com/video

Connect with Jeff & Jennie:
Website: bigjeducationalconsulting.com

Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co

In this episode, Lisa and Phil discuss:

• Understanding the unique options available to students of military academies.
• The diverse majors and career paths that are offered through the service academies.
• Career paths, both military and civilian, for military academy graduates.
• Early preparation for success at military service academies. 

Key Takeaways: 

• If your student is smart, athletic, and/or interested in leadership, keeping their mind open to military service academies or the ROTC can give them more options.
• Military officers are essentially the managerial layer of the military as an organization. About 15% of personnel fall into this category.
• While military service academies may seem like the right financial fit, there are more requirements to get in, and there is a five-year commitment upon graduation. 
• The Naval Academy and Air Force Academy are very tech and STEM-focused. The Merchant Marine and Coast Guard academies are more certification-focused. However, these are not the only majors available. 
• Military service academies are not an automatic road to front-line heavy combat.
• Your student should understand the opportunity costs for attending the academies. They should understand and ask themselves: if you don't get the community that you want, are you going to be okay with it?

 
“There are almost infinite options to be ‘away from combat’ if that's what they want to do. If you're a SEAL or you're a Marine or an Army infantry officer, you're electing to do that, you're not being forced to do that.” – Phil Black

About Phil Black: Over the past 30 years, Phil Black has built a record of unique accomplishments including: Div I college athlete, Navy SEAL Officer, Goldman Sachs Investment Banker, bootstrap entrepreneur, 2X Shark Tank contestant, firefighter, husband, and father of four sons. He earned a Bachelor's Degree from Yale University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. 

Over the past 12 years, Phil has helped hundreds of students get into service academies, ROTC programs, and highly-selective traditional colleges. He has two sons who attend Yale on Navy ROTC scholarships, one son at the Naval Academy, and one son still in high school.

Episode References:
Westpoint Academy: westpoint.edu/academics/majors-and-minors
US Air Force Academy: academyadmissions.com/why/majors
US Naval Academy: usna.edu/Academics/Majors-and-Courses/index.php
US Merchant Marine Academy: usmma.edu/academics
US Coast Guard Academy: uscga.edu/academics/majors 

#070 Military Service Academies with Lisa Rielage
#091 How ROTC Programs Train Future Officers & Help Pay For College with Lisa Rielage 

Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret). 
flourishcoachingco.com/video 

Connect with Phil:
Website: servewellacademy.com 
Instagram: instagram.com/servewell_academy 
YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCnhprNormPGjq6vRzvmpL4g 

Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co