The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why. ~ Mark Twain
Sandra is considered “successful” by her peers and colleagues. Admired by many. She often hears phrases like, “I don’t know how you do it.” Or “You always seem to have it together.” Professionally, she is an executive vice president, and was recently recognized by the local rotary for her civic contributions. And, to top it off, people love her.
Personally, Sandra is married with three kids, and by all accounts, everything is going well. She still makes it to her kids’ games, cooks dinner occasionally, and even organized the last lacrosse post-game barbecue.
However, despite her achievements, she’s conflicted internally about her own personal mission and finding time to balance work- and home-life. There’s a level of personal fulfillment missing, and she just isn’t satisfied with all of her accomplishments. It’s hard for her to truly grasp what it is that gnaws at her, and even harder for her to admit it to herself or others, knowing that she is so fortunate for the wonderful life she is living.
Sandra’s story is quite common. We hear time-and-time again from people, executive level folks, who seem to have it all figured out, only to learn that they are struggling in some aspect of their growth or contribution. One important way to grow as an individual is by creating greater peace and harmony in our lives by examining the values and virtues that mean something to us. To gain insight and clarity regarding our personal WHY, we need to define our rationale for the self-improvement goals we identify. Once our WHY is clear so will be our priorities, which guide our daily choices. Sandra knows that something is missing, but she hasn’t linked it to values, priorities, and choices. Life is complex and we must have the courage to explore our thoughts to be able to expand our influence. The challenge is to land on values, set your priorities, and make choices that get you closer to your goals.
Landing on Values
Identify the three or four most important things in your life. As we all face COVID-19 and witness the devastating impact of this pandemic, we are forced to figure out what really matters. These should be three or four clearly identifiable aspects of life that you care about more. We typically see family as one of these
Values Determine Priorities
2. Once you identify those things that are really important in your life, take a look back at your last few months. Does your checkbook reflect your values? Do your daily activities reflect how much your family means to you, for example? If your job demands that you work a tremendous number of hours, do you communicate to your kids the reasons why you are so committed? Our money, our calendars, and our communication are all examples of what we have prioritized.
Priorities Inform Choices
3. Once you are clear on our priorities, you can create a rationale for why they are so important to you or what you want to change to reach your goals. If there is an area that isn’t aligned, what steps can you take to create greater alignment? Your rationale helps to keep you on track in your journaling and your efforts to reach your goals.
Living you Why
Goal
Values
Priorities
Choice
Alignment
Next Steps
To be more compassionate as a leader
To demonstrate compassion in all areas of life
Work with youth who are less fortunate
Volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club on weekends
Yes, volunteered for two weekends for a total of 4 hours
Look into becoming a Big Brother
Technical Tip: We are grateful for thoughtful modern day thinkers like Simon Sinek who have led the charge to defining our Why. There are others as well, from Steven Covey to Paulo Coelho, who provide remarkable and differing ways for us to gain clarity on our purpose. The technical tip is to read books like Start with Whyto become “expert” in defining your rationale for leading better and growing faster. The better you can explain your rationale to yourself and others, the stronger you get at feeling the sense of accomplishment that Sandra needs in her life because of her priorities and choices.
Reach out and share your WHY with us.
Stay tuned for more challenges, reflection questions, leadership models, podcasts, and more by following dereka206.sg-host.com. It’s our job to curate, synthesize, and communicate so that you can lead better and grow faster. In a world plagued by nothing but noise, we help you by getting to simple.
TheSchoolHouse302 is about getting to simple by maximizing effective research-based strategies that empower individuals to lead better and grow faster.
“You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.” ~ Bob Marley
These are incredibly challenging times, filled with uncertainty. As COVID-19 continues to spread, the world continues to respond. We know that you’re responding too, in whatever unique circumstances are forming around you. Our prayers and thoughts are with everyone during this pandemic.
This month, we’re focused on self-improvement, and the coronavirus almost makes it impossible to ignore what it means for all of us to get better. As we learn and grow, we build trust. Trust makes our communities stronger. The definition of leadership is influence. The challenge of leadership is conflict. The result of leadership is change. We know that you’re leading through conflict toward a time that will be different than what we used to know as our reality.
As you lead forward, we thought it would be beneficial to point to some key resources for being our best selves during the outbreak. While many of us are following the advice of the CDC, and other agencies, who suggest social distancing as a mitigation strategy for the spreading of the virus, we know that leaders are taking action as best they can with whatever information they have. Leading better and growing faster is always our mantra, especially in times like this, and being informed is the number one way we lead and grow. This post is not just more information about COVID-19, but rather the critical direction that we all need for how to bring some normalcy and peace into our lives, how to continue to learn and develop as leaders, and how we can be better tomorrow than we are today.
Strategies For Remaining Calm
Martin Seligman, commonly known as the founder of positive psychology, provides key strategies that we can use when faced with uncertainty. His advice is simple and practical.
Check it out here in Penn Today. Great leaders will use these strategies and help others to do the same.
Exercising Without Going to the Gym
With social gatherings being limited, people are unable to go to some of their favorite locations. This includes the gym. Maintaining a solid health regimen is critical during this time for both mental and physical health benefits. Self-improvement always includes the body and the mind.
Check out this article for no equipment indoor exercises.
Staying fit is important for leading well. In fact, wellness, period, is synonymous with leadership.
Unplugging While You’re Plugged-In
We know that most of our audience is just like we are, which means you’ve been burning the candle at both ends. You’re probably inundated with texts, emails, and online meetings. Social distancing has put everything and everyone is a tech-based cloud (pun intended). That said, we need a healthy relationship with our technology, using it for the betterment of ourselves and others rather than its destructive capabilities.
Check out this piece on realistic guidance for getting unplugged.
Connecting with Your Loved Ones
It may seem obvious but when we’re all stuck inside we have an opportunity to connect with loved ones, especially our household family. But then we don’t. We squander the time away, keeping busy but not connecting. We have an opportunity to strengthen relationships, and great leaders always make that a priority (both with family and friends).
This article has a ton of great advice about staying social in times like this.
Working from Home
Companies everywhere, along with school systems around the globe, are moving to a work-from-home policy. While it’s the smart choice when possible, not everyone knows how to transition successfully to working at home. If you’ve done it for any period of time in the past, you know how hard it can be. But many industries, including education, are just starting to explore how to make the shift.
We like this article, which covers a number of best practices for working from home.
Finally, if you’re looking for what we think is the best resource regarding COVID-19, visit here.
We would love to hear from you regarding what you’re doing differently to self-improve while you keep your distance from others. Lead better, grow faster, stay safe.
For the first time ever, we’re posting a written #readthisseries. We’re practicing social distancing so we didn’t get together to film. It’s a serious time for all of us, and we pray for our nation and everyone around the globe. As we follow and abide by recommended health practices, it’s an opportune time to read. Below you will discover our book recommendations on the topic of self-improvement–something we’re covering all month long. It’s moments like this, when we are facing a true emergency, that we need to be at our best.
Our first book on self-improvement is one of our own, Passionate Leadership. This book is filled with real people, doing great work across the country. Some of these stories and situations are quite emotional. We outline several self- and organizational improvement strategies, including the concept of evolving from a teaching culture (a culture where the goal is to impart information on others) to a learning culture (a culture where the goal is for everyone to learn and grow together. In a learning culture, you’re in self-improvement mode all of the time. Check it out. You can buy it here.
Our second recommendation is Tribe of Mentors by Tim Ferriss. The subtitle is “short life advice from the best in the world.” The book is anything but short, coming in at nearly 600 pages, but it’s packed with precisely the way that top performers self-improve to be their best. Find it here.
Our final recommendation, what we call the Mac-Daddy of all self-improvement books, is Daring Greatly by Brene Brown. Even though we haven’t been able to get in touch with Brene to interview her for our #onethingseries, we still feel strongly that her books are great. This one will change your life. If we all acted with the vulnerability to actually self-improve, not only would we change ourselves, but the whole world would change as well. Get it here.
If you’re at home because of social distancing, use some of this time to read. Let us know what you think of these three books or just give us a shout about what you’re reading to learn to lead better and grow faster.
Last thing, the first person to contact us via Twitter, using #readthisseries, will receive a copy of Passionate Leadership. All you have to do is tweet, “I am a passionate leader” and we’ll send you a copy.
I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn. ~ Anne Frank
There is power in the written word, especially when those words are your own thoughts, ideas, dreams, and even fears. Simply put, writing is a superfood to feed your thinking. Journaling is to self-improvement as salmon is to healthy living. Salmon is filled with incredible nutrients with tons of known health benefits, from fighting clogged arteries to staving off cancer. Journaling, in the same manner, nourishes the mind and the soul by unlocking thoughts and feelings that can be bottled up.
One of the great benefits of journaling is that it unveils your true identity (even to yourself). Quality journaling demands introspection, and as we reflect and organize our ideas, powerful thoughts about ourselves emerge. The critical question: Are you ready to learn about yourself in order to reach new and greater heights? In what is referred to as “a pocket companion for thoughtful people,” James Allen’s short and insightful book, As a Man Thinketh, claims that our actions and habits are manifestations of our thoughts.
If we desire to grow, we must be willing to confront our thinking. By understanding our thoughts, we begin to uncover how we see the world. Are we positive, courageous, and forgiving or are we frustrated, selfish, and judgmental? Sitting down for a few minutes each day to write will begin a process, which allows us to reflect about how we really see the world and our place in it. Our perspective shapes our mindset, attitude, and performance. It feeds how we think and how we change to improve over time. Take the challenge.
Take time this week and begin journaling. Get a notebook, put the date at the top, and simply begin to write what you are thinking and feeling. The brain is a powerful machine, so generating new thoughts isn’t typically an issue; the issue is usually the fear we hold in connecting with our thoughts and making sense of them as they meander through our mind. We often judge ourselves quickly, and, at times, unforgivingly. We must squelch fear to make meaning and the subsequent improvements to our lives:
Take time to identify a specific space where you will do your journaling. Please don’t overlook this step. Creating a space for thinking and writing is powerful. By choosing a singular spot at home and work, you create a level of importance that identifies the function and capacity of this particular space.
Write twice a day, 2 to 5 minutes each time. In the morning, think about what a great day would look like and how you can accomplish what you want. Write it down. In the evening, reflect on your day. In education, we often use the words, I Notice and I Wonder during classroom visits to capture thoughts. These four words are great stems to help you start writing. I noticed today that… I wonder how… and so on.
Don’t censor yourself. Too often we block ourselves from writing about a characteristic or quality that we want to achieve but we lack confidence in our ability to go for it. Fight the urge to curtail your thoughts. The first step to having more courage is in displaying it to ourselves. Remember, this is about self-improvement in the category you choose for this month. Take the challenge; see the results.
Technical Tip: Journaling can be overwhelming and daunting at first. If you want to take some of the mystery out of getting started, check out The Five-Minute Journal for a structure that works. What we love about this journal is that you have to identify one thing every day that you are truly grateful for in your life. It sets the tone for the day by instilling positive emotions and feelings, which is a nice first step toward reaching your goals.
Let us know what you think of this #SH302 post with a like, a follow, or a comment. Find us on Twitter, YouTube, iTunes, Facebook, & SoundCould. And, again, if you want one simple model for leading better and growing faster per month, follow this blog by entering your email at the top right of the screen.
TheSchoolHouse302 is about getting to simple by maximizing effective research-based strategies that empower individuals to lead better and grow faster.
Don’t make money your target; make serving others your target. ~ Bob Burg
Bob Burg is a sought-after speaker at company leadership and sales conferences, sharing the platform with everyone from today’s business leaders and broadcast personalities to even a former U.S. President.
Bob is the author of a number of books on sales, marketing, and influence, with total book sales of well over a million copies. His book, The Go-Giver, coauthored with John David Mann, itself has sold over 925,000 copies, and it has been translated into 28 languages.
His and John’s newest parable in the Go-Giver Series is The Go-Giver Influencer.
Bob is an advocate, supporter, and defender of the Free Enterprise system, believing that the amount of money one makes is directly proportional to how many people they serve. He is also an unapologetic animal fanatic, and is a past member of the Board of Directors of Furry Friends Adoption, Clinic & Ranch in his hometown of Jupiter, Florida.
Bob’s interview with TheSchoolHouse302 is a powerful example of how success can be achieved when someone totally focuses on others. He shared his own path to success and why he embraced the Go-Giver mindset. Don’t miss it.
Key Thoughts from the Interview:
Bob describes a complete mindshift that transforms how we focus on ourselves to focusing on others. The goal: add immense value to other people. Find out what he says about David Marquete’s Turn the Ship Around.
When asked about who he listens to for inspiration and growth, he points to Dan Rockwell. We asked what makes Dan’s work so powerful, and Bob simply said that his “thoughts, ideas, wisdom are over the moon.” Listen for more.
You’ll want to hear how he focused on self-improvement and the wisdom he gleaned from Benjamin Franklin.
He talked about the “mystery of human nature” and how he wants to continue to explore it.
His thoughts about being the protege and the mentor are powerful.
Lastly, Bob gives sage advice, “shut up and listen more.” He adds that “we think we know, but we really don’t.” Check out the interview and become a Go-Giver.
Bob’s interview sets the stage to transform how you lead and live. We hope you enjoy this interview as much as we did!
Please follow, like, and comment. Use #onethingseries and #SH302 so that we can find you. For more great leadership content, follow dereka206.sg-host.com.
We’ve all thought about being better in some way–a better teammate, a better listener, a better friend, or even a better employee. The issue isn’t our desire to get better; rather, it’s maintaining a continual focus on the better self that we hope to achieve. The issue is that it’s actually not about what we are trying to attain that stops us in our tracks, but, instead, the process we use in getting there.
When this journey for self-improvement is aligned to our personal core values, life is richer and more exciting. This happens not just because we get better, but because we get better at getting better. Knowing that life is complex, filled with derailers, the little things that can steal our attention away from our important goals, we look to Benjamin Franklin for support. Franklin created the perfect formula for character development and self-improvement.
Simply put, he identified 13 virtues and then worked on one per week. The genius in this strategy is that within 52-week year, he would, by the end of the annual cycle, spend one whole month on each virtue. For this reason, this month we are asking you to identify one aspect of your life that will get you closer to your better self. Take the challenge.
Take time to consider the characteristic or quality that you want to fully develop. Franklin had thirteen; let’s start with one. Be mindful, though, that usually this characteristic is the opposite of the thing that gets us into trouble as leaders. The quality we often desire is the opposite of the negative conditions we often struggle to conquer in ourselves. Consider having a sense of calm, for example. It’s an incredible attribute to exhibit, yet many of us suffer from the “oh, not now” syndrome of our busy lives. We’ve created such a noisy existence that one slight change in our plans sends us into a tizzy. Or, how about the ability to assume positive intent. Instead, we are often suspicious and suspect the worst in others, acting with judgement and slow to forgive. The first challenge this month gets us working in the right direction to overcome these things. The goal is both personal and professional self-improvement.
Take time to think of the quality or virtue that you really want to master. When you’ve identified it for yourself, write it down in a journal or notebook. At TheSchoolHouse302, we are working on being more fascinated with life. We want to improve our appreciation for people and situations with a genuine curiosity about human nature.
Now that you have your one quality, determine where and when you typically fail at it. What sets you off and sends you into behaving in the opposite direction of your intentions? Knowing this helps to identify your triggers.
Next, decide what this looks like in action. What is one action that you can take to put this characteristic into practice? All you have to do now is to take that step. Let us know what you did to make your dreams for self-improvement a reality.
Technical Tip: Identify a space and time for a new morning routine, dedicated to thinking about this quality and how it will impact you and your life in a positive way. Envision how you will embody a new virtue and how it will transform how you act. Whether it’s demonstrating gratitude or improving your self-belief, take time to see your new actions through your mind’s eye. We mentioned The Miracle Morning and using this time for meditation. As part of that experience, spend time imagining your transformation and what it will look like as you take steps to make it a reality within your day.
Reach out and share your story with us.
Stay tuned for more challenges, reflection questions, leadership models, podcasts, and more by following dereka206.sg-host.com. It’s our job to curate, synthesize, and communicate so that you can lead better and grow faster. In a world plagued by nothing but noise, we help you by getting to simple.
TheSchoolHouse302 is about getting to simple by maximizing effective research-based strategies that empower individuals to lead better and grow faster.
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7 Mindshifts for School Leaders: Finding New Ways to Think About Old Problems. 
