Reader:

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Morning Minute 2.24.26

“The Return of Responsibility!”

Are we witnessing a shift in the next generation?

Let me share something I’ve noticed.

Our young people may be showing us the way back.

Last weekend, two boys — maybe 8 and 10 years old — walked up while I was working in the yard. They asked if they could help me clean-up for $15.

Later that same day, a 12-year-old girl rang the doorbell selling items she had made herself.

No fundraiser.
No school requirement.
No club obligation.

Just their own personal initiative.

It has been decades since we regularly saw that kind of self-starting effort.

That is not small.

That is perspective shifting.

I’ve also noticed something else.

Churches are seeing young adults not just attending — but participating.

Singing. Praying. and Leading.

​Military recruitment numbers are rising again, exceeding expectations. Young men and women are volunteering to serve something greater than themselves.

​Trade schools and junior colleges are growing. Young people are choosing skill, discipline, and tangible value over debt and empty promises.

They are rediscovering something enduring.

Responsibility.
Faith.
Service.
Ownership.

They are realizing that freedom requires discipline.
That prosperity requires personal effort.
That meaning requires something bigger than themselves.

This isn’t about their politics. It’s about their perspective.

For years we told young people that comfort was the goal.
That self-expression was the highest virtue.
That fulfillment came from entitlement.

Many of them are quietly rejecting that narrative.

They want to build.
They want to serve.
They want to create.
They want families.
They want faith.
They want structure.

That should get our attention.

So, how do we assist them in their journey?

First — listen: Ask them why they believe what they believe. Challenge them to understand their beliefs.
Encourage them through active listening. Sharpen their thinking by helping them express what they really want.

Second — model discipline:​
Young people don’t need more slogans. They need examples.
Mirror for them what responsibility looks like. Show them what integrity costs.
Display for them what leadership requires.

Third — pray for them:​
And, pray with them.
Faith is not abstract.
It is anchoring.
It is directional.
It is life-changing.

If this shift continues, we may be witnessing an upgrade in perspective.

Not perfection.
Not utopia.

But responsibility replacing resentment.
​Service replacing entitlement.
​Discipline replacing a lack of focus.

They may not have all the answers.

But they are asking better questions.

And perhaps, just perhaps — they are inviting the rest of us to upgrade our perspective as well.

“The Return of Responsibility!”

That is today’s Morning Minute.

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If a family member, team member, associate, or someone you know may find this message helpful, interesting, and/or informative, please share it with them.

As always, your comments, your questions, and your observations are greatly appreciated! Reach out to me at ​lab@larryonlearning.com​.

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Here are some recent Morning Minutes you may have missed with actionable ideas, useful instruction, and step-by-step methods to help you, your family, and/or your team to be more, do more, and achieve more.

​"Self-Esteem vs Self-Control!" Why feeling good and being good must work together for young adults to be more, do more, and achieve more. Discover how that self-esteem and self-control are different. Learn how they are both required and must work together for an individual to reach their his/her full potential.

​"When Do YOU Handle Insubordination? You can handle the problem of employee insubordination immediately when it happens. Or, you can avoid it by addressing it during the hiring process, during onboarding the new team member, or by noticing how it begins, before the actual direct defiance becomes a poison to your culture, to your authority, or to your teamwork. This video explains your options.

​"How Bad Company Corrupts Good Character!" Why choosing the right relationships protects your habits, your character, and your destiny! Discover the steps a person goes through to create good character. Learn how that keeping bad company can destroy your character with bad language, bad ideas, and unhealthy actions. Discover how that the company your keep will determine the direction of your life.

​"We Like You, But You're Over-Qualified!" How do react when in an interviewer claims that you are "Over-Qualified?" It usually doesn't mean what you think it means. It is not rejection...it is a perceived risk. Discover the 3 steps to turning that statement from an interviewer into a serious discussion about how you are the best person for the job.

​"Building & Nurturing Strong Relationships!" How much is a relationship really worth? See why creating and maintaining great relationships is absolutely worth the effort? Discover 6 identifiable traits and actions that are present in great relationships. Learn how that the "Golden Rule" impacts the success of relationships with family, friends, associates, and customers.

​"Holding People Accountable - The Right Way!" Why asking better questions provides better answers, while building better leaders. Discover how this method helps all involved to better understand the real problem, while discovering all the causes for the problem, and what possible solutions are available. Learn how this process creates accountability by requiring the person who identified the problem to recommend what they see as the best solution!

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May God bless you and your family, keep you safe, and guide you to prosper in your endeavors.

And, may He bless you, your family, and your team!

Larry A. Bonorato 864-630-2625 lab@larryonlearning.com​

(published by the Bonorato Creative Group LLC; all rights reserved)