The Launch Sequence

This conversation explores the differences in how high school students, particularly boys and girls, approach the transition to college and career. Bill Priestley hosts college counselors Janet Weller of Harpeth Hall School and Colin Dunnigan of Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, who share insights from their experiences as college counselors at all-girls and all-boys schools, respectively. They discuss the ideal college counseling process, the nonlinear reality of decision-making, the impact of parental involvement, and the pressures students face. The conversation also touches on the importance of mentorship and the evolving landscape of college admissions.

In this conversation, Bill Priestley discusses the role of the MTSU Career Development Center with Director Becca Moore and Assistant Director Holly Allen. They explore how students can effectively engage with career services from their first year, the challenges faced by MTSU students, the importance of assessments and AI in career guidance, and the significance of networking and work experience. They also address the necessity of graduate school and provide advice for parents on supporting their college-aged children in their career journeys.

In this conversation, Bill Priestley and Korrie Blanchard discuss the vital role of community colleges in shaping students' career paths. They explore the various services offered by career centers, the importance of exploration and independence, and the evolving job market. Korrie emphasizes the need for patience from parents and the value of trades as viable career options. The discussion also touches on the use of AI in career counseling and the significance of platforms like LinkedIn for students. Overall, the conversation highlights the diverse opportunities available through community colleges and the importance of informed decision-making in career development.

In this episode, Bill Priestley tackles some of the situations that you and your child might run into from having no idea what to do to having one idea and excluding all of the others. We'll talk about what needs to happen if your son or daughter's dream life suddenly dies and what you can do to help. And mentioned frequently in this episode, it might be better if you seek the advice of a psychologist or counselor as opposed to a career coach to help deal with some of these situations. We'll also recommend some books at the end of the show that you can use if you start to find yourself in one of these situations as a parent.

In this episode, Bill Priestley examines how academics (not academic performance) and career choice are more connected than you think. Using the analogy of a cave, Bill goes into the idea that exploration of the cave can be exciting. However, once the light from the opening is gone, kids look for a way out - and they find it in the form of graduation. But some students take a different path towards academics in how they use them to fuel their desire for a career - something they experience well past graduation day. And it's by understanding this analogy that can give you, as parents a good idea about what your child is interested in by examining what "gems" they are going after.

In this conversation, Bill Priestley interviews Luke De La Verne, a career counselor, about the importance of career counseling for young people. Luke shares his personal journey into the field, highlighting the confusion many young individuals face when deciding on their career paths. The discussion emphasizes the role of parents in supporting their children’s decisions without imposing their own agendas. Luke also critiques the educational system's lack of consistent feedback for students and offers insights into effective career counseling strategies. The conversation concludes with practical scenarios where counseling can be beneficial for both students and parents. In this conversation, Luke discusses the importance of using aptitude assessments and career counseling to help young people identify their strengths and interests. He emphasizes the value of the Highlands Ability Battery and the need for objective feedback from a coach. The discussion also covers the timing for assessments, the impact of AI on career guidance, and the importance of parental support in the decision-making process. Luke provides insights on how to navigate career choices and the necessity of reevaluating career paths periodically.

Do you ever notice how some graduates seemingly don't know what to do after graduation (when their formal education is over) and other graduates have things in hand - or at least they think they do? This podcast delves into the life of the graduate that goes to school simply to graduate - as if their education ended when they got the diploma. This scheme won't apply to everyone, but it will apply to a decent percentage of every graduating class this spring - they fall off of the "Graduation Cliff".

There are certain "trends" that would indicate there is a method towards success for any child looking to succeed in the world economy. But if you follow that trend with your child, are you giving them the same chances of success as anyone else in the world? In this episode, Bill Priestley jumps into the numbers and how the idea of going to college has its perks, but can also have a major negative effect on one's career after graduation.

How intrusive or active should you be as a parent in helping your child make a decision about a career? In this episode, Bill Priestley breaks down a study done by the University of Wisconsin on who teenagers trust when it comes to career advice. And you can use this information to your advantage in helping your child figure out if a career is right for them - and turn them into someone that hunts for a career they want as opposed to wishing for a career by sending out a ton of resumes and hoping for a positive response.

Ever wonder how you can identify passion and purpose in a work scenario? In this episode, Bill Priestley takes you through the process of identifying a career by aligning your interests, abilities and audiences to a goal that promotes passion and purpose in your life. This is the second half of the mini course which you can test drive as parents and try with your children.

It's generally a bad idea when looking to identify a career by asking the question, "what are you interested in?" The answer to that is like looking out on a meadow and picking your favorite blade of grass - there are too many possibilities to review in order to make a determination. In this episode, Bill Priestley jumps into what questions we need to ask if we're going to get closer to our greatest interests and abilities in determining possible dream careers.

What are the elements needed to identify a dream career? In this episode, Bill Priestley jumps into that discussion with an analysis of intrinsic motivation and how you can use it to identify powerful careers that stimulate you intellectually, drive you physically and fulfill you emotionally and or spiritually.

So, who is making the decision about what your child is going to do with their life? Is it you the all knowing parent or is it them, the enthusiastic student looking to rule the world in their own way? In this episode, we break down the reasons as to why the child does get the final say, but it's not a lock stock and barrel decision for them. We'll also go into how you as parents can help them make this decision and be thorough about it so they know what they are getting into. Remember that it's not that we get to decide where their plane goes when they turn 18, we just do what we can to make sure that it lands safely.

So, what happens when you and your child sit down to start talking about life after high school? How does that dymanic change when they turn 18 and, it seems, the world opens up for them and what they want to do with their lives. Bill Priestley looks at that dynamic and how you can use it to benefit both parent and child as both of you try to figure out life after high school.

Sometimes, we think we know what's right for our kids more than they do. Sometimes, we could be dead wrong about those assumptions. It's important to realize the difference in perspectives when it comes to career and how differently they can be between parents and children. Bill Priestley takes us on a water wheel to show how our own ideas about life - especially career - shouldn't be forced on children that almost always will have a different perspective - and not just because they are younger, but because they will live longer into the future.

If our children are going to make the decision about the direction in which they want to take their lives, when should we as parents start to ask them questions about their life goals - especially those goals linked to career? Bill Priestley delves into the specific times you should be asking that question (or a version of it) and how that can help you prepare your child not only for life after their formal education is complete, but also how they can use that education to their advantage.

In our first episode, Bill Priestley outlines his own journey in how he figured out what he wanted to do with his life and also gets into what's most important in the foundation of a relationship between parent and child as the child is getting ready to make big life decisions. Bill talks about the scariest question a parent can ask a child - but also why it needs to be asked (and answered honestly) in order for real progress to take place in helping the teen go after a career they want.