A Last Chance For a Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience

One of the great things about being alive in this time and in this part of the world is that everyone has the opportunity to have an extraordinary life. Not extraordinary on a grand public scale, necessarily, but a life that is rich with meaning on a very personal, internally satisfying level.

It's a thrilling thing to see a young person come to this realization and act on it. You can see the transformation in their character when they not only recognize that the life of their dreams is in fact possible, but that they begin actually fulfilling those possibilities. You see it in their purpose, their sense of confidence, in their passion and level of commitment to each day. Nothing is more encouraging than a taste of success.

So how do we stimulate this thinking in young people? How do we get them energized about their possibilities? How do we give them the skills to taste that crucial early success?

That was the thinking behind the creation of the Young and Motivated program. Eight years ago my son Kaleim stepped on a stage in Florida to deliver the first workshop. A while later, his brother Rezwan joined him as a presenter, and eventually took over leadership of the program.

Over the years the curriculum has evolved, but its core purpose has remained the same: to open the door for young people to understand what would make their life extraordinary, and to give them the tools to make it happen. Because while each person's definition of extraordinary may be different, there are common themes in everyone's life. Themes like Time, Money and Relationships. Those have been the three pillars of Young and Motivated since the beginning because mastering those “Big Three” is the key to conquering just about anything you want to achieve.

This June's workshop will be the final presentation of Young and Motivated. Like a lot of people, I'll be sad to see it go, but right now I'm also feeling a deep sense of pride. More than 3,000 young people have attended these workshops. Many of them came back for more inspiration and camaraderie. Some of them came back as group leaders. And more than we can count have credited Young and Motivated with giving them the jumpstart they needed to achieve the life of their dreams. That is success in anyone's books.

I'm telling you this now because I often have people approach me who genuinely believe in what Young and Motivated is doing, and say things like, “I've got to get my son (or daughter) into that next year.” I feel that it is my obligation to let you all know that there is no “next year” anymore. So if you've always been meaning to provide this experience for a young person you know, please consider getting them to Scottsdale for the June workshop. It's a last-chance opportunity for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

This last workshop is also a “first” of sorts for me. I was very involved with the creation of the program, but because it was usually presented in conjunction with one of my workshops, I never had a chance to participate in one. Until now. I'm very excited to be able to be a part of this final presentation in June.

Finally, I must acknowledge my sons. Young and Motivated will forever live in the hearts of the people who were touched by it, and that will be a lasting legacy for both of them. They have truly exemplified what the program was all about by making the most of their own opportunities.

They have given me the best gift a parent can receive – they have embraced their possibilities and are living extraordinary lives. I couldn't be more proud.