HeyJosh for Grown-ups

The Blog

Welcome

Good evening fellow human, I’m Josh Shipp.

Maybe you know who I am and what I do, but maybe you don't. In short, I've been called an "authority" on communicating with and getting through to teens (blush). "How come you're such an 'authority'?" you wonder out loud...Well, I can't claim to have an MBA in psychology, or that I've spent decades pouring over research. My "expertise" comes from personal experience--speaking to over a million teens over the last 10 years and sharing my story. I was left at the hospital, went through a ton (not an exaggeration) of foster homes, and was labeled a "lost cause" by the world. But because a few people took interest in me and took action on my behalf, really taking the time to encourage and inspire me to see myself and my situation as an opportunity instead of a problem, my life was changed. Parent after teacher after coach after therapist after guidance counselor tried to get through to me, but somehow each missed the mark. Lucky for me, this set of foster parents never gave up, and through hard work and a lot of patience, transformed my "lost cause" of a life into a life filled with passion and meaning and purpose.

Caring people made a difference in my life as a teen; now I make a difference in the lives of others.

That’s what I'm all about. Finding, exploring, practicing...and sharing what I've learned from personal experience about how to connect and communicate with teens and young adults.

My “job” (if you can call it that; I LOVE what I do) is engaging, inspiring, and empowering teens and young people. For more than a decade, I’ve traveled the world speaking to teens (more than a million, face to face) and giving real-world advice to tons more who contact me for help through my teen website, HeyJosh.com. Fox has called me “The Dr. Phil for Teens.” Very flattering. CNN called me “The Teen Dear Abby.” Thank you CNN. Another media outlet that shall remain unnamed called me “The Teen Whisperer”...which I thought was a little bit creepy but...okay, I'll take it as a compliment.

Through all my extensive, hands-on, real-world interactions and experiences with teens, I’ve learned a lot about what makes teens tick. And, perhaps more importantly, I’ve discovered that a lot of (grown-up) people are at a loss when it comes to really reaching, engaging, and communicating with the teen(s) in their lives.

Seeing this, I started this website to help those who care about teens really connect with them.

Why? Because I believe one of the best ways to reach and influence teens is to reach and equip those who influence them on a regular basis, day in and day out.

I mean, that’s why you’re here, isn’t it? I don't know how you found this site or what moved you to read this, but chances are, you're here because there's a teenager in your life that you care very much about.

Maybe you’re a parent of a teen, maybe you're a teacher, a coach, a boy scout leader, or guidance counselor. Maybe you volunteer at a summer camp, or maybe you're the grandparent of a teenager. Regardless of your specific role, I believe you want to see the best in that teenager.

You want to help them reach their full potential.

That’s what I want, too.

So, welcome to Hey Josh for Grown-ups. I’m laying out all my strategies, secrets, and techniques--all of the stuff I use to effectively reach and communicate with teenagers--for you to use with the teenagers in your life.

If we're going to work together, I need you to help me help you. What do you feel are the biggest hurdles or challenges in communicating with that teen or young adult in your life? Hit me up with your comments / questions / concerns and let's get started...

// josh

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