How do I to motivate without doing his thinking for him?

[paulkal]

I have a 16 year old nephew who is having difficulty making up his mind as to what to do for a career. His mother has brought him up almost entirely on her own and has temporarily stopped giving advice because she feels he is not listening to her.

I have tried to get her to use this forum to seek advice and support but she feels rather inhibited about asking advice from people she doesn't know and can't see, so I'm going to ask on her behalf.

My nephew hasn't got a clear idea of what he wants to do in life and seems to want to put off decision-making for as long as possible. I respect his choice but I am scared that if he waits too long that he will just take any job at minimum wage just in order to leave home, which he says he wants to do within the next two years. Can anyone give me any advice as to how best to support him without being too directive?

I would suggest any of the following...

a week or two of work experience, an apprenticeship (which will be on a minimal wage, but would get him going down a career path) or even A levels...?

Thanks for your reply, ishouldcocoa, I will talk to him about these suggestions

no-one knows what they want to do for life at 16 unless they are going for medicine or law. He doesn't have to commit forever but he does need a plan for the immediate objective, which is to leave home and be self-funding.

so cocoa's ideas are good for achieving that.

16 is very early to know what you want to do in life (medicine and law excepted!)

However, most people have a leaning on one direction or another - ie they're more creative/ scientific/ mathematic. They usually have favourite subjects, so that would be a good place to start.

OK I'll chat to him about his favourite subjects and see what he says.