To save your kids from mediocrity, don't pay for college: 8 tips from 'Guerrilla Dad'

A father of eight provides eight tips for helping raise empowered, resilient, self-reliant individuals. To read the article in its entirety, click here. 

1. Teach self-reliance. Help them develop a work ethic and help teach them to take care of themselves. Help them recognize what they want and what they truly need and show them how to get it for themselves whenever possible.
2. Customize their education. Find ways that your particular child has their needs met intellectually. Mark Twain said, "Never let schooling get in the way of your education." I totally agree with this. Boy Scouts, days at the farm -- find the things they are passionate about and teach them -- homeschool or not.
3. Focus on getting results. Help children discover what information and skills they need to do specific jobs because employers want results.
4. College is NOT for everyone. This can be controversial, but I totally agree with the author on this one. Give the kids options. College is not the answer for everyone. It depends on what they want to do and what they want to be. But tons of money doesn't equal a happier life.
5. Let your kids fail. Parent by the natural consequences. This is so hard to do. But it is true. "Most kids, and people in general for that matter, don't learn what they are capable of until they have to learn what they are capable of."
6. Don't rescue your kids. Let kids handle their own mistreatments and disappointments. Again, I totally agree but man is this hard to do.
7. Challenge your kids. Find things they love. Set challenging goals. They can learn in many ways that they are in control of their own destiny. 
8. Love them no matter what. Amen.