By Jonathan Copsey / STAFF

We have all had problems with teens. And teens themselves face problems that many of us have forgotten. Thankfully, Dr. Earl Suttle, a motivational speaker based in Roswell, has a new book to help deal with these problems.

“Great Choices for Teens (Who Want to Make A Difference)” was made to be a motivational guide for teenagers who need to learn how to deal with the problems they face every day, such as keeping dangerous friends, making bad choices or handling the consequences of such choices.

Suttle began his career as an elementary school teacher, teaching fourth and fifth grade, so dealing with the problems of teens is something he’s used to.

Soon he moved into doing community work, first helping mothers on welfare. When he met his wife, Felicia, the two of them went to her home country of South Africa and he set up the country’s first multi-racial alcohol treatment center (the country was at the time under Apartheid), while Felicia began working on a long and prestigious television career that continues today with the program “Conversations with Felicia” on the Africa Channel on Comcast, where she has recently interviewed actor Danny Glover and television legend Larry King.

When the couple eventually returned stateside, Suttle found his calling: motivational speaking. Less than a week after he had made the decision to quit his full time job for speaking, he was asked to begin work with the NFL helping the players deal with life problems, stress and motivation. Then came the NBA. Then the WWE and the Atlanta Falcons. And his career was set.

“I love to present,” said Suttle. “To me it’s the teacher part of me.”

Suttle and his wife now operate “Leadership Success,” a motivational speaking company in Roswell that helps businesses better use their employees by increasing morale and productivity. Several years ago, Suttle realized the market for books on motivational speaking. He teamed up with his long-time friend, Dr. John Hubbard, a psychiatrist and prolific author, to pen a series of books starting with a self-help, motivational book before moving into life choices for professional athletes, college athletes and now, teens.

Teen Choices

“I saw a need for teen inspiration,” said Suttle. “I wanted to help teens deal with change and self esteem, chose better associates, make good decisions, deal with leadership and their emotions… They need to realize that they have the freedom of choice, but not freedom from consequences.”

To that end, “Great Choices for Teens” is set up as a workbook, where the kids can work with groups of friends or classmates, figuring out and discussing their problems and challenges as well as solutions and goals. Each section is full of easily accessible information that both teens and their parents will take to heart, hopefully learning what mistakes to avoid and what goals to embrace.

What has surprised Suttle the most is that his book is popular with people outside of teenagers. Parents want to read it to know how to deal with their kids; pre-teens want to read it to know what to look forward to; teachers want to read it to better engage their students.

It is that last demographic – students – that Suttle now wants to focus on. He said his book is perfectly suited for classes and he is currently working on a teacher guide to accompany the book.

“We’ve got to get our kids to start thinking about their choices, thinking about their lives and thinking that they’re leaders,” he said. “And great leaders are great readers.”

For more information about Earl Suttle, visit his website at www.earlesuttle.com. For information about Felicia Suttle, visit www.feliciainc.com