Today a 21-Year-Old Teaches Us About Success. Really?
For hundreds of years, older generations have complained about younger generations. The concerns sound familiar: They don’t work as hard. They don’t respect authority. They feel entitled.
But here’s the truth—we need to be very careful about those sweeping generalizations. They simply don’t apply to everyone. In fact, there are many young people who are absolutely outstanding.
I was reminded of that recently when I received an autographed book in the mail from a young man named Cole Anderson. His book is titled Just Look Up: A 21-Year-Old’s Guide to Growth, Confidence, and Living Fully.
Two things made this book especially meaningful to me.
First, Cole’s father, Scott Anderson, was once one of my university students. He was so exceptional that I hired him as my teaching assistant for several of my classes. Scott went on to write his own books on sales and became one of the most sought-after speakers and trainers in the country for developing salespeople.
When I realized that not only was one of my original students writing books, but now his son was writing books, I thought to myself: Wow, I must be getting old!
But then I remembered—I was a bit of an anomaly. I graduated from high school early, started teaching at the University of Minnesota when I was only 21, and many of my students were older than I was. I was sort of a real-life Doogie Howser (if you remember that old TV series about a teenage doctor).
So no, I’m not “that old.” I’m still speaking, coaching, and working full-time—and on weekends, you’ll find me hiking in the mountains.
Second, what made Cole’s book special was not just the content, but his hunger to learn. He tracked me down for a private meeting, asking deep questions, because he is constantly seeking wisdom and growth. Frankly, I wish I could say that about everyone I meet, no matter their age.
So what can we learn from this 21-year-old’s perspective on life and success? A lot. Let me highlight three lessons worth applying in your own life.
► 1. Consistent Tiny Changes Lead to Big Results
“Imagine you’re the captain of a ship, and you set sail just one degree south of your intended course. At first, it doesn’t seem like a big deal—you might not even notice the deviation.
But after a long journey, you end up hundreds of miles from where you originally planned to be. Whether it’s a positive or negative habit, consistently repeating a small action every day can lead to extraordinary change over time.”
My speaker colleague John Maxwell puts it this way: “You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.”
Your challenge: Write down two or three tiny daily actions—things that seem small but would, over time, change your life dramatically. Then start doing them today. Consistency, not size, is what creates transformation.
► 2. Share Your Goals with the Right People
Most people love to talk about their goals. We share them, receive praise or encouragement, and it feels good. But here’s the danger—psychologists have found that when you talk too much about your goals to the wrong people, your brain registers the praise as if you already accomplished them. That false sense of accomplishment actually reduces your motivation to follow through.
And then what happens? You end up being one of those people that we’ve all met … people who are “going to” do this or that—start a business, write a book, get fit. But somehow, they never quite get around to it. They confuse their talk about their goals with actually working on their goals.
Cole’s advice is simple: Just share your goals with people you deeply respect and will hold you accountable. Research backs this up: you’re 65% more likely to reach a goal if you share it with someone like that, and 95% more likely if that person becomes an accountability partner that checks in with you regularly.
Your challenge: Ask yourself honestly—are you more talk than action? This week, choose one meaningful goal and share it with one or two trusted people who will hold you accountable. Then schedule check-in times with them. It will work wonders.
► 3. Combat Indifference
Cole warns that indifference is one of the greatest threats to success. It doesn’t fight against you directly, but it quietly lets everything else win. Indifference kills ambition, keeps people stuck in unfulfilling jobs, and lulls them into unhealthy habits.
Think about it—every time you scroll social media instead of learning, or choose junk food instead of exercise, you’re not just making a small choice. You’re reinforcing a pattern of complacency.
The antidote is intentionality. Before making a decision, pause. Ask yourself: What are the long-term consequences of this choice—physically, mentally, professionally, and financially? That quick reflection can redirect you toward decisions that support your future instead of sabotage it.
Your challenge: Identify one area of your life where you’ve been indifferent—maybe your health, your career, or your relationships. This week, take one intentional step to move out of indifference and into action.
Final Thought
These are just three of Cole Anderson’s many wise observations about life, success, and failure. What amazes me is that he’s learned them so early. I’m thrilled about that.
And I sincerely hope you’re already living these lessons, too. But if you’re not, now is the perfect time to start. Because wisdom is only as valuable as the action you take with it.
