In this episode of The Blueprint, we dive deep into the art of influence within education and community settings. Guest Leroy Nesbitt shares actionable insights on how positive influencing behaviors can transform student pathways toward higher education and rewarding careers. Discover the crucial role of community influencers and learn innovative strategies to inspire, mentor, and empower the next generation.

• (00:00:00) - Introduction to the Blueprint and Guest
• (00:01:13) - Defining Influencing
• (00:02:26) - Influencing vs. Advising in College/Career Prep
• (00:05:30) - Generation Alpha and the Need for Influencers
• (00:07:26) - Skills and Styles of Effective Influencers
• (00:10:11) - Identifying and Elevating Student Influencers
• (00:11:57) - Influencer of the Month and Expanding the Network
• (00:13:31) - Peer Mentoring and Influencing Techniques
• (00:15:40) - Community College Mentors Reimagining Campus Visits
• (00:19:10) - Recognizing Everyday Influencers in Schools
• (00:21:59) - Key Influencing Words and Techniques
• (00:25:15) - Empathy, Listening, and the Art of Influencing
• (00:27:03) - Learning from Social Media Influence
• (00:29:09) - Building the Brilliant Pathways Influencer Toolkit
• (00:31:04) - Closing Thoughts and Sign Off

In this summer reflection episode of The Blueprint, we revisit three essential conversations for educators, families, and anyone committed to student success:
1. Redefining Failure in Education: How students can treat setbacks as feedback, build resilience, and separate a difficult outcome from their identity.
2. Future-Ready Learning: How artificial intelligence is reshaping learning, entry-level work, career readiness, and the human skills students will need most.
3. From Purpose to Practice: Entrepreneurship, Wellness, and the Essential Skills That Shape a Career: Why purpose, wellbeing, initiative, creativity, and durable skills matter in every college and career pathway.
Together, these conversations make one thing clear: readiness is more than grades, test scores, or a single postsecondary plan. Students need the confidence to learn from failure, the judgment to use technology wisely, the courage to take initiative, and the essential skills to adapt in a changing world.

• (00:00:00) - Introduction to the Blueprint Summer Series
• (00:00:30) - Selena on Alignment, Agility, and Living with Purpose
• (00:02:43) - Finding What Energizes You
• (00:04:33) - AI and the Future of Work: Introducing James Roth
• (00:06:05) - Teaching Critical Thinking in the Age of AI
• (00:08:42) - Foundational Skills and Humanity Over AI Dependence
• (00:10:36) - Reframing Failure: Introducing Ray McNulty
• (00:12:06) - Resilience, Support, and Learning from Failure
• (00:15:28) - Failure-Framed Classrooms and Growth Mindset
• (00:16:54) - Guiding Students Through Multiple Pathways
• (00:18:34) - Closing Thoughts and Sign-Off

In this conversation, Ray McNulty discusses the importance of embracing failure as a crucial part of the learning process. He emphasizes the need for students to be prepared to face challenges and learn from their mistakes, rather than being shielded from failure. McNulty advocates for a shift in perspective on failure, encouraging educators to coach students in a way that fosters resilience and a growth mindset. He uses the metaphor of traffic lights to illustrate how challenges can either stop us or propel us forward, depending on how we choose to respond to them.

• (00:00:00) - Forward Thinking: The Blueprint for College and Career Success
• (00:00:58) - The Blueprint: The Importance of Failure
• (00:01:58) - Why Failure is Good for Students
• (00:07:17) - The Process of Perseverance in Education
• (00:13:06) - Career pathways and the failure culture
• (00:17:57) - Teachers: Let Students Fail
• (00:21:15) - The Blueprint: How to Make Opportunities