It happens to most parents. Their child is about to start high school or college or life-after-school. They want the very best thing for their kid (of course they do!) So they start to poke and prod their child into the activities, majors, and careers that they see as the best. However, there are children who create their own path and end up in a career very different than what their parents thought was right, but it completely perfect for them. The parent wants what is best for their kid, but how in the world could they be so wrong? They neglected to notice their child’s natural instincts.
When your child was young, their natural instincts were evident. However, if you don’t know what to look for, you will not see those instincts. Every person has an equal ability to solve problems and create solutions. My job is trying to figure out how your child does that. And the Kolbe Y Index tells you just that. Kolbe Consultants trained in the Youth Advocate Program are able to give and explain the Kolbe Y Index to kids. We can also take the results 
and explain them to parents. After that, it’s easier to see and notice how your child is solving problems and creating solutions. Noticing where they shine leads directly to activities that point your child towards careers that will use their natural instincts.
For example, Noah, my 13-year-old son, loved when he was sent to his room when he got into trouble. I would walk into his room after a certain amount of time and his room would look like a cell at Alcatraz. The vent registers would be off the wall, the knobs on his closet doors would be screwed off (no screwdriver around FYI), the clock radio would be in more pieces that I could ever imagine, and the lightbulb filament would be between his fingers. He was having a ball being in trouble. This scene is a perfect example of Noah’s natural instincts at work.
Here is where things could go sideways. My husband is in real estate, and I am a coach. If we did not pay attention to how Noah worked and what he did, we would have potentially created a frustrated child. If we really believed that our path was his path, we could have lovingly pushed him into careers that were not right for him or how he works. Instead, I called out to the neighborhood for all appliances (except TVs and microwaves) to be dropped off at our door for Noah to take apart. Our garage looked like a robot wreckage zone! Today he is interested in electronical and/or mechanical engineering. Also, he has opportunities through the Kolbe Career Assessment to check things out in these areas and see what they are like in the real world. (two of Noah’s potential careers Video Game Developer or 
White Hat Hacker). As parents, our resources help Noah work the way he works naturally.
The best part about this journey is the time. We have time to explore, ask questions, learn about industries, and requirements. He has at least seven summers to work in seven different realms from hacking to engineering. When he is heading off to college, both he and us will have an excellent idea of what his best career choices are for the most amount of sustained success.
I help families help their kids. If you would like my help, please email me.
