Leadership | EGYPT McKEE

Young World: You Did What?!?

Do you remember leaving your bedroom a cataclismic disaster, yet convincing everyone that it was acceptable? How about dirty dishes in the sink, dirty clothes all over the house, food in the sofa, lights on all night?

It’s interesting the expectations for hygiene you’ll expect others to conform to when your standards for the same bear judgement.

Being an example is best practiced when others around refuse to acknowledge your standards for excellence. Every choice you make in life determines the kind of person you are going to be. Choose wisely.

Dads: This is Your Last Straw.

If you take time to observe your family and the unique differences of each member, you’ll find out quickly that none of you seems to be the same. You should be thankful that everyone isn’t like you.

One of the chief complaints of young people about their fathers and men of authority is that we always go to the end of the story when it pertains to them. We always have a predetermined final answer and objective to every argument, confrontation, and discussion.

Rarely do we listen, legitimately listen to our children’s dreams, thought process, or creativity. It feels all too masculine to barge in and apply our engineering genius with mathematical precision.

When all is said and done, we end up treating our children like a business customer rather than acknowledging the spontaneity of their thoughts, ideas, and plans.

Sometimes, the best response we can give is in intently listening, smiling, and celebrating the fact that they thought it up all by themselves no matter how we feel about the soundness of their proposal.

Dads: Change that diaper.

I remember being a young dad years ago, and the adventure of raising my children as if out in the wild. The thought of changing diapers was not only as a hazardous occupation, but one requiring smelling salts.

If it were up to me, I’d test the limits of Pampers as if there was no tomorrow. Often times, my little ones would not tell me they needed to be changed, I would simply depend upon the toxicity of the surrounding air.

Checking and changing their diapers would not only make them hygienically sound, but also happy campers. The moral to my story is that your role as the detective for finding crap in your children’s lives will ultimately be a skill that allows you to protect those in whom you love most as they grow into adulthood.

Young World: Think before moving out?

Sometimes an idea sounds so much better in your mind, yet ends up being a train wreck in reality. Up until now, your parents/guardians have provided you a place to grow, and now you want to be your own man or woman.

Think long and hard before you actually make that decision to leave. Sit down with others older than yourself who can give you wise counsel, even if you don’t want to hear their disappointing warnings. Pray, Plan, and Prepare before moving forward.

Whatever you do, make sure you leave on excellent terms with your parents/guardians so that you may be welcomed to return in the event things don’t work out as you’d planned.

Dads: Love is spelled T.I.M.E.

One of the most important things you can do as a dad is to put down the remote control, computer, or magazine, and simply spend time with your children. There is no substitute for being both present and engaged.

Let no excuse occupy your mind today–there are plenty of children, young people, and young adults who need a mentor and encourager.

All too often, we as dads tend to retreat and isolate after a long day at work, but that is just the moment when our second wind should be activated to invest in our children and families lives regardless of how mundane, boring, or silly the activity. Go big today!

I Told You So.

I recently saw a news broadcast regarding the increasing lack of jobs available among young people this Summer. The nationally recognized journalist delivered a convincing narrative that more money should be immediately invested into the government sector in an effort to create more jobs for young people. At about this time, I began listening with the effectiveness of and adult reprisal of Charlie Brown.

Sadly, the journalist was likely focused upon reading through the teleprompter with precision rather than contemplating the brevity of the subject matter. How is it possible that we as people contend to advance in education, yet fail to enlist it in an effort to explore and ask the right questions? On the surface, it’s easy to discount the popularity or coolness factor for discussing jobs among young people, yet there is a real component here that far exceeds cause and effect.

How exactly are we as Fathers, Mothers, Guardians, and Concerned Citizens of the United States modeling appropriate behavior to young people, particularly in a down market? Sadly, we have generated such an entitlement attitude of arrogance, laziness, and selfishness that to undo this callous character trend would be invasive at the least. Young people all agree that their dreams are huge, even unrealistic, yet they own them and will generally find more accomplishment in “thinking about it” or “tweeting about it” rather than preparing for it and actually doing what it takes to accomplish it.

Fathers and Mothers have always been the appointed and preferred first line of defense and offense with regard to instilling and developing good character in their children. I’ve always said, “it takes a village to raise a man and woman of character”, and far too many young people have escaped invaluable life lessons, which are required for effective leadership.

Rather than wait around by passing up perceived “menial jobs” because they lack glamour or excessive salaries, we as a nation would much farther advance in character and prosperity if we would consider promoting ownership and creativity rather than borrowing money from foreign governments to finance ineffective social programs.

The economy, regardless of its ranking on the stock market, will always influence purchasing power, however hard work, creativity, and focus is not easily affected by such market conditions. What does the person who has no money think about? Money, of course. Years ago as a young teenager, I remember learning many of life’s domestic skills from my grandfather and grandmother. I learned early on how to be creative by knocking on doors and asking my neighbors if I could cut their grass, wash cars, wash windows, run errands, rake leaves, shovel snow, or do whatever I could to earn my own money with integrity.

We are certainly all responsible for ripping off the next generation by giving them everything they want and not requiring them to get up off their butts to work for it, plan for it, commit to it, serve many years in it, and excel in it. We are robbing the next generation of a fundamental truth that is required of a society based upon freedom: Hard work, Ownership, Sweat Equity, Sacrifice, Generosity, and Humility. My name is Egypt McKee, and I approve this message.

Until next time, Be encouraged.

I speak to hundreds of thousands of young adults, men, women, and couples annually on leadership, decision making, and relationships. Sometimes life has a way of being the antidote to life itself. If you’d like more information on this topic or how to bring me in as a speaker for your next event, please contact me.

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Egypt McKee

Speaker | Author | TV Host | Life Coach