There’s a quote from an unknown monk that speaks to the very heart of what’s happening in our world today:
“When I was young, I wanted to change the world. I found I could not. So I tried to change my nation. I couldn’t do that either. So I tried to change my town, but I failed. Then I realized: I needed to change myself. And if I could change myself, I could influence my family. My family could impact our town. Our town could transform our nation. And our nation could change the world.”
-Unknown Monk
This isn’t just a clever quote.
It’s a blueprint.
A reminder that change starts with us—and that if we want to save the next generation, we need to start acting like it.
The Missing Rite of Passage
For generations, cultures around the world had rites of passage—clear transitions from youth to adulthood.
- A challenge to complete
- A responsibility to carry
- A tribe to affirm it
- A purpose to pursue
Today? Nothing.
Boys are left to guess.
They fumble through life unsure of when (or if) they’ve become a man.
So they perform. Pretend. Or worse—postpone adulthood indefinitely.
They drift into adulthood with no compass, no challenge, no mission, and no identity.
And the world pays the price.
We’re Losing Them Because We’ve Given Them No Map
A young man without a roadmap will do one of three things:
- Follow his feelings, which often lead him off a cliff.
- Copy the crowd, even if it’s heading nowhere.
- Shut down, never knowing what he was made for.
But none of those lead to manhood.
Because manhood doesn’t just “happen.” It’s built. It’s earned. It’s forged.
And without a clear path, even the strongest boys can get lost.
What They Need Isn’t a Handout—It’s a Highway
This is why I created Junior Warrior Training, The Spartan Challenge, and SALT (Spartan Advanced Leadership Training).
Because the next generation doesn’t need:
- More entertainment
- More empty advice
- More finger-pointing
They need:
- A map to manhood and womanhood
- A standard worth rising to
- A team who believes in them
- And leaders who show them the way through action, not just words
We Don’t Need More Critics. We Need Champions.
Our job is not just to complain about where the world is going.
Our job is to train those who will lead it somewhere better.
To the parents, mentors, business owners, coaches, pastors, and elders:
You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to show up.
Show them what discipline looks like.
Show them how to speak with truth and compassion.
Show them how to serve, how to endure, how to love, how to lead.
Your life may be the map someone else follows.
Call to Action: Build the Road and Walk It with Them
- If you’re a parent—give your son or daughter a clear standard. Don’t wait for the world to define them.
- If you’re a leader—create programs, internships, and challenges that help young people discover their strength and identity.
- If you’re a business owner—partner with youth training initiatives and be part of launching their careers and character.
- If you’re a young person—seek out mentors, take on responsibility, and pursue hard things. Don’t settle for comfort.
Let’s stop handing our kids participation trophies and start handing them purpose, vision, and a roadmap to become who they were born to be.
Don’t just point the way—walk it with them.
Final Words
We won’t save the world in a day.
But if we change ourselves, we can change a life.
And that life can change a family, a town, a nation—and maybe even the world.
Let’s stop waiting for change.
Let’s become it.
And let’s make sure the next generation has the map, the mission, and the mentors to follow it well.
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