Depends who you ask. As a high school motivational speaker I’ve had some great opportunities to lead a variety of youth leadership development programs, most recently for the Harold M. Schulweis Institute.

During the last three months I led a team of seven teenagers and had them research the above question, exploring the benefits and risks of allowing religions to change. Last week they presented their findings at a forum for teens and parents where the question was debated.

Most attendees valued tradition as a way to unify religious communities, while agreeing that a certain amount of change is necessary. Where the group struggled was the degree to which change should take place.

Teenagers were in favor of the most change as they face the challenges of balancing religious practice with the American teen lifestyle. It’s hard to have a Sabbath with Friday football games, Saturday SATs, and countless student events that stretch into Sunday. It’s tempting to resist traditions designed to keep family together at an age when one yearns for space and independence. And certainly it’s difficult to consider one’s spirituality when they can barely decide which college to apply to.

At the same time, many teens found comfort in religion and agreed that it’s not about convenience. Some not only incorporate religion into their busy schedules, but even find it enhances their ability to keep their lives in balance. For them, it’s less of a distraction and more of a focal point.

The day ended with more questions than answers. Perhaps it all comes down to this one fundamental question:

Should religions revolve around our lives, or should our lives revolve around religion?

Feel free to chime in on this one.

In the last couple of weeks I hit a number of schools in Southern California. First I was a middle school speaker for Alta Loma Junior High’s Careers Day. The next day it was a motivational school assembly at Burbank High School. Following that, Fallbrook High had me as their high school motivational speaker to do an assembly on school unity (“Breaking Down the Walls”). Finally, I did a volunteer leadership workshop at the Vista School located at Vista Del Mar, the social services facility where my wife and I adopted our children. While I enjoy traveling, it’s nice to wrap up the year staying close to home here in Southern California. Come January, it’s back to the friendly skies.
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Scott Greenberg is available as youth speaker for your school or student event. To request information, click here.

Motivational speakers, meeting planners and educators are converging this weekend in San Diego for the National Association of Workshop Directors conference. This is the eighth year I’ve attended this conference and I always have a great time. If you work in this field or are interested in leadership training, personal growth workshops or watching motivational speakers for schools, I highly recommend checking out this organization at http://www.nawd.com/.

I’ll be leading the entire group in icebreakers and mixers at the beginning. I enjoy leading these activities because I can’t stand doing them! Admittedly, they do work. Being forced outside your comfort zone with other people quickly alleviates the initial awkwardness among new groups and creates a more relaxed atmosphere. People bond over any unusual shared experienced – good or bad. I recently met a neighbor for the first time in three years because she was outside screaming when she caught someone breaking into her car. It sucks having crime on our street, but it does unite the neighborhood. Perhaps if my icebreakers don’t work at NAWD, I’ll just steal a few purses. Whatever it takes to break the ice!

It’s amazing what people willfully endure when they have a strong sense of purpose. Whether it’s having a baby, making a hundred sales calls or saving someone from a burning building, when we’re absolutely determined to do something, our skin thickens.

This seems particularly true when our purpose involves serving others. Several years ago I ran a marathon to raise money for cancer research. When training got tough, I thought of the suffering of those I was trying to help. Suddenly my legs ached a little less, and I wasn’t quite as tired. Focusing on others’ pain got my mind off my own.

Think of your purpose as a lantern you carry at all times. When things get dark, it’s there to light your path. It will guide your actions and keep your mind off your fears.

No matter how difficult things get – particularly in these economic times, find a way to help someone else. It’s the quickest way to put your problems in perspective, restore your dignity and get your own life back on track.

Motivational speaker Scott Greenberg is available for live keynote programs and workshops. For more information call 1-800-450-0432 or visit www.scottgreenberg.com .

I’ve always heard that “public speaking” is the number one most common fear. I once conducted a formal survey, however, and received different results. Overwhelmingly, my respondents chose “failure.”

Like public speaking, failure is not inherently bad. We’re conditioned to avoid it, but there are plenty of reasons to change our perspective. Here are nine advantages to failing:

1. Failure teaches us. Two words I will never misspell are “flexible” and “exchequer.” Why? Because each word knocked me out of a junior high spelling bee. Failure creates an emotional experience, so the lessons we learn when it happens stick. Additionally, going through failure narrows down the possible approaches to success. Scientists rely on trial and error in their research. Each failed experiment brings them a little closer to revolutionary breakthroughs. Think of your own efforts as experiments. When you don’t get the desired result, figure out why. Then try again with your new knowledge.

2. Failure reveals our ability. You’ll never know how much weight you can lift until you reach an amount you can’t. Trainers often refer to this as “lifting to failure.” Pushing yourself as far as you can lets you know what’s possible. By avoiding limits, you’ll never reach your peak. The fear of failure stops us a lot shorter than failure itself. So keep going until nothing more is possible. Then celebrate what you’ve accomplished.

3. Failure makes us stronger. Those same weight lifters who lift to failure also have learned that is the way they build muscle. At first the tissue is damaged, but it’ll heal bigger and stronger than before. Soon the athlete will be able to lift more weight. The same is true for our pursuits. Failure strengthens our character. We humans bounce higher than we fall. Know that with each effort, you grow a little stronger.

4. Failure inspires us. When we don’t let discouragement hold us back, failure makes our desire burn hotter. Often this inspiration is a wish to avoid another failure. Many people don’t know that Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. “It was good because it made me know what disappointment felt like,” he told the Chicago Tribune. “And I knew that I didn’t want to have that feeling ever again.” This led to a work ethic that would elevate him to legendary status. If failure makes you work harder or focus more, it’s an experience with tremendous value.

5. Failure inspires others. Leaders must take risks. Even when they don’t succeed, their courage can still make a difference. In 1980, 18-year-old Terry Fox attempted to raise $1 million for cancer research by running across the entire length of Canada on a prosthetic leg. He ran 3339 miles before a relapsed cancer ended his quest. He lost his life, but his effort has inspired over $340 million in donations to date. His “failure” was hardly in vain.

6. Failure builds courage. Becoming more comfortable with failing enables you to take more risks. If you know you can stomach it, it will no longer threaten you. I used to take groups through ropes courses, requiring them to pursue physical challenges thirty feet off the ground. Often participants would fail at the first high event. While some got discouraged, others discovered that failing wasn’t so bad. They were proud for having tried in the first place. Knowing that failure was an option made it easier for them to try the next event. Their courage came not from achieving success, but from their willingness to pursue to it. If you’re open to failing, you’ll readily take more chances.

7. Failure is better than regret. The times I’ve been denied an opportunity never felt as bad as when I’ve let opportunities pass me by. At least when we fail, we know. Not trying at all leaves us wondering. Avoid kicking yourself later by taking a leap today.

8. Failure leaves us open to better opportunities. I was once turned down for a job for which I thought I was the perfect candidate. While unemployment can be scary, rejection can be humiliating. After a few weeks of frustration, I was offered another position I hadn’t pursued. This opportunity was more interesting and considerably more lucrative. Without an awareness of the big picture, it’s easy to perceive failure as misfortune. Maybe it’s nature’s way of making sure we wind up where we’re best suited.

9. Failure makes success a little sweeter. We appreciate victory more when we’ve tasted defeat. Life wouldn’t be fun if things always worked out. Know that your failure is just part of the game we’re all playing.

We expend a lot of energy running from failure. Try embracing it. Find the opportunity in the adversity. If there’s a recipe for success, failure might be its primary ingredient.

Motivational speaker Scott Greenberg gives live keynote presentations and leadership workshops to help people achieve peak performance. For more information on his programs or leadership publications,, call 1-800-450-0432 or visit www.scottgreenberg.com .