THE WORLD HAS CHANGED. HAVE WE PREPARED OUR YOUNG ADULTS FOR IT?
When I was growing up, my friends and I would head off on all kinds of adventures. We’d spend weekends in the mountains, tackle long mountain bike rides, jump into rivers, and create stories we’d talk about for years. When we returned home and shared those experiences, our friends would often respond, “I can’t believe you did that!”
Today, many young adults have a different experience.
Before the adventure even begins, the phone comes out. Every moment is photographed, recorded, posted, and shared. Instead of being fully present in the experience, there is often pressure to document it. And when they return, the response is no longer, “I can’t believe you did that.” It’s often, “I don’t believe you did that unless there’s a post to prove it.”
The world has changed. Many of the mistakes, awkward moments, and challenges young adults experience are no longer temporary. They’re searchable, shareable, and often permanent.
THE TALENT IS THERE. THE CONFIDENCE OFTEN ISN’T.
Over the past several years, I’ve had the privilege of working with hundreds of young adults through Dale Carnegie programs, university partnerships, entrepreneurship conferences, and leadership workshops.
What gives me tremendous hope is that this generation is incredibly capable. The talent is there. The confidence and interpersonal skills often aren’t. And developing those skills matters.
The encouraging part is that when young adults are given the tools, concepts, and a safe environment to practice, they typically respond in remarkable ways.
I find that the students I engage with are willing to try. They’re eager to contribute. They’re willing to share ideas, take risks, and step outside their comfort zones when they feel supported.
The key is recognizing positive behavior change and reinforcing the application.
As someone who enjoys cycling, I’ve often thought about confidence the same way I think about riding a bike. Cyclists have a phrase: ‘time in the saddle’. You don’t become a stronger rider by reading about cycling. You become stronger through repetition. You ride. You learn. You make adjustments. You receive coaching. You ride again. Over time, the muscles develop and endurance improves. Most importantly, your confidence grows because you’ve experienced success through practice.
The same is true for communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills. Confidence isn’t built through information. It’s built through experience.
BUSINESS AND LIFE LIVE IN CONVERSATION AND RELATIONSHIPS
Business and life live in conversation and relationships. Knowledge creates possibilities. Relationships create opportunities.
As parents, educators, coaches, and leaders, we sometimes unintentionally get in the way of the very growth we’re trying to encourage. Have you ever answered a question that was directed at your child? Have you ever stepped into a conversation before they had a chance to respond? As business leaders, do we answer for our team members before they’ve had an opportunity to think through the challenge themselves?
While our intentions are good, every time we do that, we may be taking away a learning opportunity. Growth often happens in the struggle. Confidence develops when young adults learn to think, communicate, and respond for themselves. Our role isn’t always to provide the answer. Often, our role is to create the space for them to discover it.
When we’re present and paying attention, we can provide coaching, feedback, and encouragement afterward. That’s where the real learning happens. Not by rescuing. But by reinforcing.
THE R³ FRAMEWORK: READINESS, RESILIENCE, AND RELATIONSHIPS
As I reflect on the young adults who seem to thrive in school, work, and life, three qualities consistently stand out.
Readiness
The most successful students don’t wait for opportunity. They prepare for it. They show up curious. They take ownership. They do the work before the work.
Preparation creates confidence.
Resilience
Life will challenge every one of us. A difficult semester. A failed interview. A business idea that doesn’t work. A setback that wasn’t part of the plan.
Resilience is not avoiding adversity. It’s developing the ability to recover, adapt, learn, and keep moving forward.
Relationships
The greatest opportunities in life often come through people. The ability to listen, communicate, collaborate, and build trust has never been more important. In a world increasingly influenced by technology and artificial intelligence, human connection remains a competitive advantage.
Relationships open doors that credentials alone cannot.
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JOIN US FOR GENERATION NEXT
Generation Next is designed for high school students and rising college freshmen or sophomores who want to build confidence, communication skills, leadership ability, and resilience.
August 10–12, 2026
Through experiential learning, coaching, presentations, and real-world application, participants develop greater confidence, stronger communication skills, increased self-awareness, and the ability to build meaningful relationships. Because while grades may help open the door, confidence, resilience, and relationships are what help young adults walk through it. And those skills can change the trajectory of a life.
Watch Video Testimonials from Young Adults Participants: https://share.vidyard.com/watch/Q8SNDEfPFhJDUYB7zNabax
Neville De Lucia
Managing Partner
Dale Carnegie Training of Central & Eastern North Carolina
Young Adult Initiative | R³: Readiness • Resilience • Relationships