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Howard Speaks

The Education of a Lifetime



Howard Farran, DDS,
MBA, MAGD
Publisher,
Dentaltown Magazine 		In every generation, young people stumble through the same age-old problems, and maybe that’s a good thing, to a point. There are some things young adults will always have to learn for themselves. But too often you see young people making terrible decisions with far-reaching consequences and you realize that this is the time of their lives where real wisdom would be most valuable. I’m not talking about giving them all the answers. I’m talking about giving them a way of thinking, a system for approaching the inevitable conflicts in life – work vs. play, saving vs. spending, person vs. person – so that they have the confidence to make their own decisions in an informed way. By all means, let them make mistakes. But let them make the mistakes that come from growth, not the ones that come from recklessness or from a fundamental lack of understanding of how the world works.

The Missing Curriculum

People like to talk about “book smarts” versus “street smarts” as if they exist independently of each other. The fact is it takes all kinds of “smarts” to succeed in life, and our schools simply don’t teach all of them. That’s why there are graduates who can master complex algebra, but cannot understand the principles behind compound interest, and the magic it can perform on their savings. That’s why there are those who will explore the relationships between important and influential people in history, but do not have a clue how to connect with the right people who can influence the course of their lives. For that matter, how many invaluable things do you know about running a dental practice that you didn’t learn in dental school?

Some say that when young people reach a certain age they are just looking forward to being free to do their own thing. That might be true, but I also believe that these young people, because they have never been given a basic life education, are hungry for direction and a sense of community as they go out into the world. After years of carefully outlined instructions, clearly defined expectations, and abundant peer support, they are suddenly “released into the wild” and essentially left to their own devices at a crucial time in their lives.

The Young&Motivated

When's the last time you saw a student come out of a classroom session shedding tears of gratitude? It’s actually happened on several occasions at Young&Motivated workshops, precisely because the program teaches the things that aren’t taught elsewhere, to young people who are desperate for direction, whether they realize it or not.

Young&Motivated is a two-day Mercer Mastery workshop for young people aged 16 to late 20s, and if you’ve ever been to one of Imtiaz Manji’s Leadership or Transitions events, you’ll have an idea of what the participants are in for. The workshop has been developed, and is presented by Imtiaz’s sons – Kaleim and Rezwan – and they bring the same thoroughness and the same passion for changing lives to their sessions as their old man does.

The program tackles the “missing curriculum” head on, with wit and energy. The material is structured around the three pillars of life – time, money and relationships – that all of us have to master one way or another, and is presented using live speakers, video clips, and interactive exercises. Kaleim and Rezwan are natural speakers who relate to their audience not just as presenters, but as peers. And they are supported by expert guest speakers and by group leaders – successful, inspiring mentors like Fred Joyal of 1-800-DENTIST, who has been a wildly popular component of every workshop so far. The sense of community is palpable.

How do I know all this? Because I sent my two teenage sons, Greg and Eric, to a Young&Motivated workshop and looked in on some of the sessions myself. My sons are not easily impressed – and in fact they are already well-grounded young men, if I do say so myself – but they came out of that experience with a new appreciation for what they need to do to succeed, and renewed determination to do it. And I came away with a new appreciation for how necessary this kind of education is for our young people.

If you have children going through this crucial stage of life, why wouldn’t you want them to have this experience, this education, this support, this “heads-up” for what’s coming? The workshops are always presented in conjunction with a Leadership event, making it the perfect opportunity to share a special, fulfilling weekend together. Even if you don’t have kids, the program is aware of several deserving young people who want to be a part of the Young&Motivated community and are waiting for a generous sponsor to give them the chance to participate. Just visit www.youngandmotivated.com to find out more.
Dentaltown Magazine
September 2025
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