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Jennifer’s first book, Never Enough, explored high-achievement cultures where success is the goal, pressure is constant, and well-being takes a backseat. What surprised her wasn’t just who struggled. It was who didn’t. The kids who were doing well despite the pressure shared something important. They felt like they mattered beyond their performance. That insight became the foundation for her work on mattering. Jennifer describes mattering as the feeling of being valued and knowing you add value. Research suggests it’s a fundamental human need. When people feel like they matter, they engage more deeply, take healthier risks, and recover more quickly from setbacks. When they don’t, even high performers begin to pull back. For educators and parents, this hits close to home. Grades, outcomes, and growth matter. But when achievement becomes the primary signal of worth, motivation and well-being suffer. To make mattering practical, Jennifer offers a simple lens called SAID: Significance: Feeling seen and remembered in everyday ways Appreciation: Being valued for who we are, not just what we produce Investment: Knowing someone cares about our growth and success Dependence: Feeling trusted and relied on
None of these require big programs or extra initiatives. They are available in small moments. A thank you note. Making eye contact. Letting someone know they made a difference. What I appreciate most about Jennifer’s work is that it’s not anti-achievement. It’s about getting to sustainable achievement that is based on something deeper. If we want kids (and adults) to stay engaged, curious, and resilient, mattering can’t be optional. It has to be at the core of what we do and who we are. Scroll down to read the Thrive Global article and listen to our full conversation. ⬇ Let’s keep noticing, evolving, and thriving because we matter.
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