101 | How to Motivate an Unmotivated Teen and Build Focus Resilience and Executive Function Skills with Coach Tom Mandile

About this episode

In this episode, Monica Crnogorac interviews Coach Tom Mandile about motivating unmotivated teens and building their executive function skills.

Hi Parents! Why do some teens stay focused and push through challenges while others seem completely unmotivated? In this episode, I sit down with executive functioning coach, teacher, and championship-winning athletic coach Tom Mandile to explore what is really going on when teens struggle with motivation, focus, and follow-through. With more than 20 years of experience working with students, athletes, and families, Tom shares how the same mental systems that help athletes perform under pressure can also help teens succeed in school, relationships, and everyday life. We talk about why what looks like a motivation problem is often actually a systems problem, and how developing executive functioning skills like time management, impulse control, and goal alignment can dramatically improve a teen’s ability to stay focused and build confidence. In this conversation, you’ll learn why structure often works better than willpower, how parents can support teens after setbacks, and simple strategies families can use to help teens build resilience, discipline, and independence. If you’ve ever wondered how to motivate your teen or help them stay focused when life feels overwhelming, this…

People in this episode

Host: Monica Crnogorac

Guest: Tom Mandile

Topics covered

• motivation
• executive functioning
• teen resilience
• focus
• parenting strategies

Keywords

• teen motivation
• executive function
• focus skills
• parenting teens
• resilience strategies

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