As kids grow up, they hit pressure-filled decision points: Which school? What major? What job? But too often, those choices are made without any real vision for the kind of life they want. In this episode, Scott Schimmel explains why helping kids define their life aspirations—before making big decisions—is the key to less anxiety, more clarity, and better long-term outcomes.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, coach, or mentor, this episode will help you guide kids toward a fuller vision of their future, rooted in values, identity, and a sense of purpose. Instead of narrowing options too early, you’ll learn how to help them zoom out, dream big, and choose wisely.

“Every choice a kid makes is shaped by the ones that came before it—and their sense of who they are becoming.”

“We've overcommunicated to our kids: whatever you do, make sure it makes you happy.”

“There are three big anxieties: Will I like it? Will I be good at it? Will it even exist?”

“The clearer the vision for their life, the easier the decisions become.”

“Aspiration isn’t just about work. It’s about family, friendship, community, even the kind of neighbor they want to be.”

00:00 – Intro: The Pressure of Decision Points

01:30 – The Chain of Choices: From Habits to Jobs

04:45 – Prediction Anxiety: Will I Like It? Be Good at It? Will It Exist?

10:30 – The Cultural Obsession with “Liking” Your Work

13:15 – Why We Need to Start with Life Aspirations

15:50 – A Better Way to Guide Big Choices

19:30 – A Simple Exercise to Help Kids Dream Bigger

23:00 – How Parents Can Be Better Guides

26:10 – Final Thoughts: Clarity, Confidence, and Vision

Want to help your kid find clarity in the chaos? Start with these two questions tonight:

“What do you want your life to look like in 20 years?”

“What kind of person do you want to be known as?”

Then, go deeper with our free life vision worksheet—grab it at theyouschool.com/resources 

And don’t forget to share this episode with a friend who’s helping a kid make big decisions.