Mike Norvell: How Do I Help My Kids Through Success and Failure?

All Pro Dad Podcast

If he wasn’t an expert in how to handle success and failure before 2023, Florida State Head Football Coach Mike Norvell knows now. His FSU team finished the regular season a perfect 13-0, was passed over for a College Football Playoff appearance, and lost big in its bowl game, playing without its injured Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback. The disappointing end to a special season led Norvell to give one of the most inspired locker room speeches of the season.

“I told you since the very first day that I came here: hard work does not guarantee success,” he told his Seminoles players after losing 63-3 to Georgia. “It doesn’t and it never will. But it absolutely will put you in the best position to achieve it.”

Mike sat down with Ted Lowe and Family First President Mark Merrill to talk about how the highs and lows of coaching a nationally prominent college football program mirrors the challenges of parenting his 10-year-old daughter. The conversation will lead dads to think through navigating both good and bad moments with their kids in a way that helps them keep their eyes fixed on the process, not the problems.

Things to keep in mind when parenting through success:

1. Tell kids to stay humble.

2. Encourage them to keep working at being their best.

3. Encourage sharing success with others.

4. Teach kids where our real value comes from.

5. Remind your kids to be thankful.

Things to keep in mind when parenting through failure:

1. Not everyone gets a trophy.

2. Everyone has different talents.

3. It’s important to have class.

4. Learn from your mistakes.

5. Lessons come from perseverance.

Bottom line: Your kid needs to know you’ll be there during the highs and lows.

Today’s Pro Move: Think about what you will say to your children the next time they succeed or fail.

Other resources:
4 Dos and Don’ts When Your Kid Feels Like a Failure

4 Things Boys Can Learn from Failure

The 4 Most Important Lessons Only Failure Can Teach You

4 Things Your Kids Need to Achieve Success

How to Raise Successful Kids

Ryan Succop: 3 Reasons Setbacks Are Good for Us

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