| It takes courage to step out and make your | | | | common to have to lobby for admittance toan |
| mark on the world. Inan egocentric society of | | | | exclusive preschool, jump through hoops to qualify |
| narcissistic bravado (check out MTV) andfalsely | | | | for the repteam or undergo nerve-wracking |
| inflated egos (Ã la American Idol), parents | | | | auditions to play in the school band. |
| tread a fine line. How do we build our children's | | | | The pressures of "making it" and "following your |
| self-confidence and, at the same time, teach | | | | star" can be a daunting force in a child's life. |
| them how to be realistic about their expectations? | | | | Without perseverance, hard work and lots of luck |
| Competition is a fact of life for our kids. Everyone | | | | even the most talented person is not guaranteed |
| is grappling forthe brass ring, trying to jockey for | | | | success. |
| a position on the crowdedladder of success. It's | | | | |