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I ran for my middle school cross country team.I learned some surprising things. Because I never ran a single race where I didn't desperately look for a rock to trip on, or a bump to roll my ankle on, so that I can fake an injury and wouldn't have to finish the race. But I never faked an injury.And I never quit.In fact I learned to lean in when my leg muscles started screaming at me to find a way to quit, I could lean my body forward, and just keep one foot in front of the other to keep upright. I learned that my body can handle more than it first appears to be able to handle. During middle school, I lived in Billings, Montana. My home was surrounded by cows (literally-- they grazed in my back yard), and I was a short drive from Yellowstone, where I regularly saw buffalo. Interestingly, cows and buffalo respond to storms in opposite ways. A cow will look for dry ground and will lay down until the storm has passed. But a buffalo is different. When the winds are strong enough, buffalo face the wind and begin walking into it. They lean in. This week, join me.I want to be the buffalo. I want to walk straight into the storm rather than lying down or faking an injury.Storms come when I try new things, or do things that really matter to me. And so I'm okay with storms coming my way. I just want to make sure I treat them like a buffalo. 

I recently overheard a conversation that inspired me to set the record straight. This conversation was about how difficult it is to lead new employees in the workplace, because these young adults are too selfish, too self-absorbed, too lazy, too... whatever. But I have worked with teens all day, every day, for a loooong time. And the longer I work with these amazing humans, the more optimistic I am for the future of this planet. Tomorrow's leaders are in high school right now, and I am privileged to be able to work with them full time. This generation is exceptionally diligent, focused on equity and fairness, and is going to lead the planet to a better future. Listen in to learn where my confidence comes from.

I was recently asked to speak to Lumiere students to hep them understand how to use the academic research they are doing to help them stand out in college applications. We discussed how powerful it can be to combine academic research with an aligned impact project. I also invited them to join me this week in a Hacking College Admissions workshop.You can register for that workshop at TILC.to/hack-----To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website.To follow on Instagram:  @TheIvyLeagueChallengeTo join us on our Facebook group for parents:Or schedule a meeting with Steve here

Janice Kim is the mother of four children, and enrolled her youngest daughter in the Ivy League Challenge. Because she saw such extreme success guiding her own children to earn admittance to multiple outstanding schools (they attended MIT, Yale, and Harvard, respectively), Janice has helped many families prepare to get admitted to great colleges. Today we discuss why she wanted to enrol her daughter in the Ivy League Challenge, and what her experience was. We also discuss some of the most important mistakes to avoid in college prep, and how we can provide the support our teens need to succeed. -----To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website.To follow on Instagram:  @TheIvyLeagueChallengeTo join us on our Facebook group for parents:Or schedule a meeting with Steve here

I help teens to figure out their core values and then work to solve problems in their community that violate their core values. It is very meaningful work, and I love every minute of the journey.And I have noticed over time, that some teens are ready for the challenge, and others can struggle with the friction and ambiguity of trying to solve real problems in the real world. A growth mindset, being a responsible decision-maker, and establishing the necessary academic foundation are all critical to healthy, happy teenage years. And we shouldn't wait until 13 or 14 to learn these foundational traits and skills. This masterclass goes through how we can support this age group as parents, teachers, and adult mentors. -----To join the Early Years Course: register hereTo follow on Instagram:  @TheIvyLeagueChallengeTo join us on our Facebook group for parents:Or schedule a meeting with Steve here

Every loving parent wants their children to be happy. But happiness can be elusive-- sometimes seeking happiness seems to push the happiness away, but getting lost in another activity and forgetting about pursuing happiness can produce great joy and happiness.Similarly, many parents and teens want to get into a great college. And the motivation that teens feel to get into a great college can be exactly the gift they need to do the work to lead a better, more meaningful life.Along the way, some teens and families of teens find that motivation to get into a great school turns into desperation. Once that energy has shifted to desperation, college prep shifts from being a healthy, amazingly motivating gift-- to a toxic, overwhelming nightmare. But it doesn't have to be this way. Listen in to learn how this happens and what we should focus on instead in order to keep college prep both healthy and effective. -----To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website.To follow on Instagram:  @TheIvyLeagueChallengeTo join us on our Facebook group for parents:Or schedule a meeting with Steve here

The current college prep environment creates desperation. But it doesn't have to.We can replace that desperation with curiosity.When healthy ambition pushes you to try hard, to take risks and do your best, it leads to wonderful things like skill development, increased confidence, and success. But when ambition spills over into desperation, anxiety replaces ambition, and comparison replaces reflection. Eventually, desperation will lead the teen to feel that they are not good enough.Listen in to learn how we can guide ourselves from toxic desperation back to healthy ambition using the three magic words. -----To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website.To follow on Instagram:  @TheIvyLeagueChallengeTo join us on our Facebook group for parents:Or schedule a meeting with Steve here

If you listen to me regularly, you know that the best college prep begins with discovering your core values, and then building off of that make a meaningful contribution to your community. But as I've taught more and more students, I've realized that some students are well prepared to do this work, while others struggle to get there.For example, if you believe that talent is innate, then you will want to continue doing the things that you are good at, and you'll want to avoid trying new things, because that will make you look like a fool. But of course real confidence doesn't come from being good at something, it comes from being willing to be bad at something first.Training our minds is easier when we begin earlier. Not only does starting this type of training earlier improve your performance, it also sets you up for success in many other ways as well. To register for the workshop, go to TILC.to/preteen or join my Facebook group: Parents of Ambitious Teens, Personal Growth & Healthy College Prep.-----To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website.To follow on Instagram:  @TheIvyLeagueChallengeTo join us on our Facebook group for parents:Or schedule a meeting with Steve here

In the early 1990's, Christ Chabris and Daniel Simons did a study at Harvard. They asked participants to count the number times a basketball was passed between different people. While the people passed the ball, a person in a gorilla suit walked into the middle of them, pounded his chest, and then walked off screen. Shockingly, roughly half of the participants were so focused on their job-- counting the passes-- that they didn't even see the gorilla. This experiment reveals two things: that we are missing a lot of what goes on around us, and we all unaware of how much we are missing. And we do this in our college prep all the time. Because we focus so much on the task we have been given, we can easily miss the big ideas that are right in front of us-- the gorilla. Listen in to learn more-----To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website.To follow on Instagram:  @TheIvyLeagueChallengeTo join us on our Facebook group for parents:Or schedule a meeting with Steve here

THIS is what healthy college prep sounds like. Listen in to hear what it is like to join the Ivy League Challenge as a junior, or a freshman in high school. -----To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website.To follow on Instagram:  @TheIvyLeagueChallengeTo join us on our Facebook group for parents:Or schedule a meeting with Steve here

Minna Most joined the Ivy League Challenge during the summer before her senior year of high school. Now she is nearly finished with all of her applications, and she shares her story about all of the progress she has made it the tiny amount of time she had during the summer and the first few months of her senior year.During this time, she has created an impressive impact in her community, and in this podcast she shares with us how the project evolved as she tested new ideas and took action. Enjoy this incredible story, from the perspective of the student. -----To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website.To follow on Instagram:  @TheIvyLeagueChallengeTo join us on our Facebook group for parents:Or schedule a meeting with Steve here

Join us on January 22nd for a free workshop: Hacking College Admissionslearn about college prep that actually works. (Day 1) January 22nd: What colleges actually want(Day 2) January 23rd: How to present yourself so that colleges want you(Day 3) January 24th: The step-by-step guide: what to do instead(Bonus day 1) January 25th: Q&A with Steve(Bonus day 2) January 26th: Meet the Studentsin order to attend, be sure to register at TILC.to/workshopalso, join the Facebook group at tilc.to/fbSee you there!

When Claire Kim's mom introduced the Ivy League Challenge to her, Claire was incredulous. How could she possibly add another thing to her already-impossibly-busy schedule? Claire talks about why she decided to join the course, despite her busy schedule, and explains how her improved focus and performance has meant that she gets more done in less time now, even after having added the 12 week online course.Claire also shares her impact project, and invites teens any where who might be interested to join her in empowering more girls to get into STEM and learn to love science. If you want to reach out to Claire, please email me directly at theivyeleaguechallenge@gmail.com -----To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website.To follow on Instagram:  @TheIvyLeagueChallengeTo join us on our Facebook group for parents:Or schedule a meeting with Steve here

If you are frustrated by New Year's resolutions that have failed, I'd love to introduce you to my approach. Instead of massive, revolutionary changes, consider small, evolutionary changes. I have a system I love to follow several times each year. Grab a piece of paper, and follow along as I explain my system.Enjoy!-----To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website.To follow on Instagram:  @TheIvyLeagueChallengeTo join us on our Facebook group for parents:Or schedule a meeting with Steve here

In the business of high school classes and activities, it can be easy to lose sight of just how incredible it is to be alive and to be working towards a better future.In fact, because of hedonic adaptation, we generally return to our set baseline of happiness. But we don't have to settle for that. Listen in to hear my advice for expanding the magic moments we enjoy each day, and also to reduce the amount of frustration we feel day to day. -----To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website.To follow on Instagram:  @TheIvyLeagueChallengeTo join us on our Facebook group for parents:Or schedule a meeting with Steve here

You begin the semester with optimism and genuine excitement for the challenges ahead. But as stress builds, that excitement can die out quickly. If you don't plan for effective recovery during busy periods, you are at risk for chronic stress and, eventually, burnout. But with appropriate recovery, you can recover your excitement and focus, and reach even your most ambitious goals. Listen in to learn how I believe you should spend your break in order to recover fully. -----To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website.To follow on Instagram:  @TheIvyLeagueChallengeTo join us on our Facebook group for parents:Or schedule a meeting with Steve here

final thoughts as I wrapped up the presentation portion of the masterclass. We did spend an additional 25 minutes discussing answers to some excellent questions. If you want to join these masterclasses live each month, join the Facebook group for free. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1063379861177735

Now that we know what colleges are not looking for, and also what they do care most about, we can create a strategy to ensure that we prioritize the right activities. We clarify how to create the time for those most important activities, and how to stay on top of everything as you go. -----To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website.To follow on Instagram:  @TheIvyLeagueChallengeTo join us on our Facebook group for parents:Or schedule a meeting with Steve here

The myths that lead to the imbalance. Learn what college admissions officers actually care about when they shape a class. It's not what you think. -----To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website.To follow on Instagram:  @TheIvyLeagueChallengeTo join us on our Facebook group for parents:Or schedule a meeting with Steve here

In part one of our November 2023 masterclass, we learn how and why teens get so far out of balance. While many people believe that teens have no choice in the matter, the reality is that it is both possible and strategic to create a schedule that allows for plenty of space for balance. -----To register for the Ivy League Challenge, visit our website.To follow on Instagram:  @TheIvyLeagueChallengeTo join us on our Facebook group for parents:Or schedule a meeting with Steve here