Empowering Underachievers
An interesting thing started happening several years ago.  I began getting calls from around the country wanting advice on how to motivate underachievers.  The calls were coming from parents, educators, and even journalists.  But why were they calling me.  My small regional practice, though it specializes in motivating underachievers, certainly wasn’t promoting itself nationally.  So I investigated and what I found was saddening, but also hopeful. Underachievement is a big problem that crosses geographic, social and economic lines.  Many people are struggling with the problem but most don’t know where to turn.  The tension, the stress, the frustration and the worry associated with underachievers are heavy weights. That’s the sad part.  The hopeful part is that these individuals kept looking and trying to resolve their problems.  They didn’t give up.  They knew there had to be an answer for them.  They wanted help.  Most who called me had heard about me from a friend or they or someone they knew attended a lecture or workshop I had presented. They often said, “You understand my kid.” But because these people did not live in my geographic area, I couldn’t see them one on one and they needed more than a phone conversation could give. Those conversations became the incentive for this book.Empowering Underachieversis just that: empowering them.  That is the key to their change.  Their internal motivation must be empowered so that they ultimately take charge.  However, they need the insight and emotional tools to get the job done.  That is where you, as a dedicated parent, educator or concerned other, can help.  You can be the spark that ignites the flame.  That is what empowerment is all about.Peter A. Spevak, Ph.D.