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Introduction Many of today’s college students lack the mental toughness and fortitude to deal with economic turbulence. Today’s youth generation must be taught how to be mentally tough if they are to survive a turbulence economic future. In reality, many parents have crippled their children by solving all of their children’s problems and shielding them from making difficult decisions. This reality can be seen in viewing ‘helicopter parents’ who micromanage their children’s affairs from infancy to adulthood. This result has produced an increasing Boomerang Generation that must depend on their parents for financial survival. In fact, it is a no brainer to stay in college as long as possible to that it can be paid. My co-author William Bailey and I wrote our latest book, Job Strategies for the 21st Century: How to Assist Today’s College Students during Economic Turbulence. The book was especially designed for frustrated parents, anxious students, bewildered professors and educators, and those who deeply care for college graduates. Through our research, we have found a huge disconnect between what organizations are wanting in potential employees and what today’s graduates are providing. This article exposes how Mental Toughness In this financial crisis, college grads need to be mentally tough. It is easier to see how individuals can be discouraged with the current economic recession. According to the U.S. Labor department, only 47.6% of people ages 16 to 24 had jobs in August. This reality represents the lowest levels since the government began tracking this statistic in 1948. Yet, college grads must have the determination to overcome any crisis in life. In fact, they need to be mentally tough. Mental toughness is a hard concept to define. Legend coach Vince Lombardi said, "Mental toughness is many things and rather difficult to explain. Its qualities are sacrifice and self-denial. Also, most importantly, it is combined with a perfectly disciplined will that refuses to give in. It's a state of mind-you could call it character in action." Mental toughness can be defined as the character attribute that allows an individual to stay in control while undergoing adversity and obstacles. It provides the individual with determined resilient to press on. This trait can be seen scripturally in Corinthian 4:8, 9: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” Everyone can sharpen their employability with mental toughness. In Dr. David Yukelson’s article “What is mental toughness and how to develop it,” he noted some unique qualities of this concept. Mental toughness provides a psychological edge that enables and individual to: (a) Generally cope better than your opponents with the many demands, including competition, and (b) Specifically, to be more consistent and better than your opponents in remaining determined and focused while under pressure. Athletic is one area where we can easy see how trials can make someone stronger. Track is a perfect application of hard work paying off. All the smoke and mirrors in the world will not change an individual’s time or measurement. The West High School Track Team In Tennessee has built a solid name for itself, with All-American hurdler Jackie Coward on the helm. While many people around the area figured West would faded into the wilderness with the graduation of Coward. West got better by creating a talented and deep squad. Over the last decade, the girls track team has been pretty amazing: 2006 AAA State Champion, 2007 AAA State Runner-up, 2008 Champion, and 2010 AAA State Champion. Yet, I contribute West’s success to the development of mentally tough athletes. Going into her senior year, Aurielle was one of the top sprinters in the state. In the early track season, she got a hamstring injury: “I knew it was really bad.” It would hamper her all season. In fact, it was questionable how she would perform at state with little practice. The critics were wrong. Aurielle won the 100 and finished seconded in the 200 meters. She also led the Lady Rebels to wins in the 4 x 100 relay and a second place finish in the 4 x 100 relay. She refused to let her setback prevent her from success. Aurielle helped provide West with another dominated performance and its 3rd State Championship. She was voted the Prepxtra Female Track Athlete of the Year. Clearly, Aurielle demonstrated mental toughness by overcoming adversity. Likewise, today’s youth must have this same type of attribute. Generally speaking, many young people do not positive this critical quality. Eric Thomas, a Michigan State University administrator and motivator speaker, speaks to the revelation when talking with young people. : “The problem is you have never felt pain before. You’re soft. This is a soft generation. You quit on everything.” Mental toughness can be developed. Here are some key points. (a) Allow an individual to work through their own problems Conclusion Sadly, many parents and students do not view tribulations in any position light. Therefore, parents bail their children out from the harshness of life, leaving them vulnerable to the realities of life.
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Creating Value for Employability
