The Challenge Mindset: Helping Youth Find Purpose and Impact | JP Michel | TEDxKanata

You can make a big difference by helping young people look beyond job titles to find important challenges to solve. We can then help them find companies working on these challenges. This new approach is called the challenge mindset, and it is igniting a sense of purpose in youth. What difference could you make if you could ignite a sense of purpose in the youth today? JP Michel is on a mission to change the way we prepare people for their careers. He is the founder and head coach at SparkPath and creator of the challenge mindset.

JP’s work on careers has been featured on the BBC, CBC and TFO. Since 2009, he has leveraged his experience coaching high-performing leaders to help hundreds of high-school students develop their potential, set meaningful career paths, and accomplish their goals.

[kaylalq]

I truly love the mindset and energy that SparkPath bring to a real-life challenge. Youth might not see the big picture yet but I’m optimistic that by gaining more knowledge about challenges, problems or future opportunities that they’d like to contribute to in a meaningful way, that the world can really be a better place! I’m excited to see how SparkPath continues its mission to serve Youth powerfully and reignite the flame within individuals! Thank you, J.P., for your thought-provoking ideas and for your devotion in making Youths life better in your own and unique way!

[MochaChicka]

As an individual, and as an educator, this idea and "Challenge Mindset" really speaks to me. It works well with "Growth Mindset" (note: several times even you punctuated your sentences with "yet"...love it!) and with the uncertain world towards which we more quickly hurdle over time. We don't have to have all of the answers, it's ok to change and explore, but we do have to be brave enough, open enough, and equipped enough to do so. Not always easy, but so critical. Thank you, JP. Very powerful messaging and, as always, inspirational!

[kathryndingle]

Superb! This should be part of "The Course of Life" curriculum for parents, adults, kids, teens, etc. I feel more hopeful for our future when I think of teens / people being guided with this approach. It ain't easy finding our way, and this is an exciting, supportive, wise way to approach that journey. Bravo et merci, JP!

[karaewhite]

this is the best stuff. I have been a Career Counsellor for 25 years - this is it! Wish everyone could hear this.

[joelgenest]

JP, I couldn't relate to this any more. You are exactly describing my upbringing through education and the beginning of my career. I was absolutely clueless at 18, and continued to be after my degree. I'm happy to say that I have now found my challenge (which is to promote and enable affordable housing), and have found how my unique skills can help solve that challenge. However this happened to me by pure chance, and often think about how my cluelessness could have so easily led me in the wrong direction. That risk could have been eliminated if someone would have simply guided me through my motivations, and helped me understand that my strengths can absolutely be of service and value to that motivation. I was lucky, but I'm sure many aren't and lose so much precious time and energy pursuing careers that do not motivate them or provide a sense of impact. Thanks, and best of luck in your work. Joel

[rosshuntley]

"The World Needs You"

Well said JP. Great outlook on our future and exciting times ahead.

[nicolegallagher]

I must admit that I often ask my kids "what do you want to be when you grow up?". We discuss various "careers" that they are familiar with. Reflecting on my own career path, I would never have seen myself in my current role but I now understand the importance of seeing the bigger picture. This methodology is different than what we were taught but definitely the only way forward. Excited to include this in my next conversation with Gabby.
Amazing talk!

[kirkthiemann]

Yes! The world needs a deeper level of career engagement. It is not about fitting a small piece of your life to a career. How can you find a cause that you care about then work towards becoming an important player in working on the cause?

[DrBStepsToTheFutureLLC]

Love this about encouraging students to think less about what career or what major and more about problems to be solved.

[samdevlin]

“The world needs you!” -- My favourite phrase from this talk. What inspires me most is the problem-solving focused perspective that the Challenge Mindset is built upon. Encouraging youth (and adults) to think more critically about how they personally can make a difference, how their skills and interests can be applied in the working world while making change. I think implementing this Challenge Mindset in schools encourages the development of critical thinking skills and creativity in young people, getting them to consider larger systems and the range of career opportunities that exist, when planning for their future.

[stanrosen]

This is an amazing presentation! Even better is the new concept of helping students and clients develop a career path that really makes sense. Finding future opportunities by solving problems rather than just deciding on career titles. JP has really got something here! As a former High School Careers teacher and presently a Career Coach I encourage all of you to take a closer look and consider this for your school or organization. Stan Rosen

[jpopik]

Im a counselor at a Community college, wish he would create a Course on career counseling and/or curriculum (textbook?) for a career exploration class for college students, trying to figure out how to incorpórate these things into current practice

[normlachance]

Very impressive am a high school friend of your parents and I told them I wish you would have been my guidance teacher at EST in Timmins....love the topic, love the concept and very ingenious and not saying that you should have been an engineer...haha. Encore une fois....félécitations !!

[danyhorovitz]

Awesome video!! Really terrific, not just for students but for anyone!

[jialinma]

Starting with the challenges students want to solve is more purposeful than going for the job titles. Very interesting approach to career explorations.

[darrylchow]

Awesome Ted Talk. Very insightful and great approach to the age old question "What do I want to do".

[janswiderski]

Awesome advice. The best way to find solutions is to think differently about problems! Thanks!

[jessicawilliams]

Brilliant! I guide my 8yrs young son on this already 🙌

[lisazane]

One of the best talks I've ever watched. Totally reframed how I see career and life decisions. Thank you for doing this!

[jongagne]

Really great talk! Your way of flipping the career selection model is insightful. Always good to start with the problem.