#184 How Parents Unknowingly Derail Career Launches with Kolby Goodman

Flourish Coaching

Jul 22, 2025

In this episode, Lisa and Kolby discuss:

Challenges young adults face when transitioning from school to meaningful work
How parental involvement influences early career outcomes
Shifts in modern job search strategies and market expectations
Role of communication, curiosity, and empathy in career conversations

Key Takeaways:

Parents often misinterpret their child’s job search struggles as laziness when, in reality, outdated strategies and a broken formula of “work harder = success” demand a shift toward empathy, curiosity, and tactical guidance.
With student-to-career counselor ratios at colleges averaging 1,900:1 and most of those professionals rooted in academia, colleges are structurally unequipped to offer relevant, personalized career direction, making parental support and external coaching essential.
Asking young adults what problems they want to solve, rather than what job they want to do, reframes career planning around motivation and impact, leading to more aligned and fulfilling professional choices.
Employers prioritize real-world experience—such as internships, leadership roles, volunteering, and personal storytelling—far above GPA, meaning students who diversify their experiences outside the classroom stand out more than those who focus solely on academics.

“Effort does not equal success. So give your kid a little bit of credit… it’s rarely more of anything that makes the change for a young professional, it is the how.” – Kolby Goodman

About Kolby Goodman:

Kolby Goodman is a nationally recognized career expert, keynote speaker, and founder of The Job Huntr, a coaching and consulting firm that has helped over 4,000 clients get hired, paid, and promoted. With more than a decade of experience in talent acquisition and employee development, Kolby delivers powerful training on hiring strategy, onboarding, and career growth. He is the author of Employed by Graduation and a trusted voice featured on ABC, CBS, NPR, HuffPost, and LinkedIn Learning.

Episode References:

#179 Music Career Myths: What Parents Need to Know with Melissa Mulligan: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/podcast/179-music-career-myths-what-parents-need-to-know-with-melissa-mulligan/
The Truth about College Admission by Brennan Barnard & Rick Clark: https://www.amazon.com/Truth-about-College-Admission-Together/dp/142143637X
Conversation prompts for parents to guide career clarity: flourishcoachingco.com/newsletter

Get Lisa’s Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career…(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret).

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