Archive for the Category »Leadership «

Successful people do just that

Bet you’re glad you read this story by Jack Canfield…

“My earliest mentor, W. Clement Stone, was once described as an inverse paranoid. Instead of believing the world was plotting to do him harm, he chose to believe the world was plotting to do him good. Instead of seeing every difficult or challenging event as a negative, he saw it for what it could be — something that was meant to enrich him, empower him, or advance his causes.
What an incredibly positive belief! Imagine how much easier it would be to succeed in life if you were constantly expecting the world to support you and bring you opportunity.

Successful people do just that.”

“The Impact Equation” hit the mark

Tremendous insight from The Impact Equation; ‘Learning… is never about the information – it’s about the emotion you have to create in order to do it regularly, every day, until it’s a habit.’

Chris Brogan and Julien Smith ask the hard question up front enabling us to go deeper with their latest book.

Are You Making Things Happen or Just Making Noise?

Does your answer cause discomfort? This too shall pass. My discomfort is the catalyst for change. Chris and Julien deliver bite-sized actions we can bank on. These guys know how to get us over the top. See you there soon.

QR Code Adventure

Fun sharing some of my friends with you. Enjoy.

 

www.fotps.org

Friends of Texas Public Schools

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brenda Jean Patrick

The Customer Care Teacher

Don’t prepare. Begin.

Here are some quotes from Steven Pressfield’s new book, Do The Work (the Kindle version is free for now).

“Don’t prepare. Begin.
Remember, our enemy is not lack of preparation; it’s not the difficulty of the project, or the state of the marketplace or the emptiness of our bank account.
The enemy is our chattering brain, which, if we give it so much as a nanosecond, will start producing excuses, alibis, transparent self-justifications and a million reasons why we can’t/shouldn’t/won’t do what we know we need to do.
Start before you’re ready.
Good things happen when we start before we’re ready. For one thing, we show huevos. Our blood heats up. Courage begets more courage. The gods, witnessing our boldness, look on in approval.”

Pick your favorite quotes from the selection and while you are there check out The Domino Project to enrich your life.

We have our marching orders today. Begin, then share your success.

New understanding

I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.

Helen Keller

Easy not to do

Ever focus on what you don’t want? Me too. Thus I have not benefited from regular posting here.

I love the growth and learning. The fun. The thrill.

Today is what I share here. Saving up for a future post clogs the pipes (beside ‘some day’ never really arrives).

Last time we will talk about not doing here.

So… Into Linchpin one more time. Can you be indispensable? Seth ask us; Are you indispensable?

Time to be an artist. Thanks Seth.
  • Artist are people with a genius for finding a new answer, a new connection, or a new way of getting things done.
  • Art, at least as I define it, is the intentional act of using your humanity to create a change in another person.

Have you been scared today? Good for you. Time to take action to grow. Thanks.

Einstein speaks out against me

F. Scott Fitzgerald made a statement that we would do well to live by; “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.”

Reading in Dear Professor Einstein I find Professor Einstein “disliked the authority and rankings of the military system, in which men would blindly follow a leader no matter what he said or what they personally might believe.”

I admire Professor Einstein and I am a man that flourished in the military system (USMC 1978-2001). Can’t say these are opposing ideas but this is a good point and I think Professor Einstein would have liked me were we to have met.

One of my students wrote in their Senior Letter to me; “You are the best and weirdest teacher I have ever had.”

Like Professor Einstein “I have no particular talent. I am merely inquisitive.”

The lives you touch

I was in awe reading a section in the  Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence. For years I have made the statement; ”You may be the only person that helps someone become who they are supposed to be.”

There, in this reprint of an 1848 original my belief is captured:

“We cannot forebear relating an instance in which this characteristic was displayed. Being on a visit to Baltimore, about the close of the Revolution, curiosity led him to a debating society, where he was struck by the eloquence of a young man, a druggist’s clerk. He ascertained his name, sought an interview, and advised him to study law. The youth stated frankly that his poverty was an insuperable impediment in the way. Mr. Chase at once offered him a seat at his table and free access to his extensive library. The young man gratefully accepted the kind offer, went through a course of legal studies, and was admitted to the bar, after passing a examination with distinguished ability. That young man was William Pinkney, afterward Attorney General of the United States, and minister for the same at the Court of Great Britain.”

The world was forever changed through the actions of Mr. Chase.

You can distinguish yourself today through action in the lives you touch.

The simple life

Life is whole not separation.

Life is the whole thing. What I do, who I am being, what I love, where I live/work/play, why I take action.

Taken as a whole life is simple. Put forth your best effort in each adventure while you strive to highlight the truth. This is your simple life. Not saying it is easy but I will not go back to torn apart. Life in separate compartments can be hard as you grope to maintain the distinction between home/work/play.

How do you live life?

If you don’t fold you can’t loose

Educational Innovation seems like a great adventure. Build excitement then talk yourself out of it. Get back up to the plate to make it happen then talk yourself out of it a second time.

Inject some fearlessness from students and it is on. They owned it today presenting the idea up the chain of command and securing commitment. We continue learning.

“Do one thing every day that scares you.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Another day tomorrow to push the fear further.

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The greatest leader is the greatest servant

Don’t ask what you can do, just do it. See a need? Take care of it. Be in tune with your day for ways to serve.

As a wise man once said the greatest leader is the greatest servant.

How will you serve today?

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The price you pay

What price is extracted when I do not take action? What’s the price of no decision?

“A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week.” George S. Patton

I like the now plan. Much easier on the pocket book.

You decide the price you pay.

From Tim
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. Proverbs 3: 5-6
Thanks Tim

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Does your network work?

Ever grown something? Maybe a school project where you planted seeds in a cup? You nurture your plant and can see the results. Oops, forget to water it and it wilts.

Move this over to your relationships where you nurture them and see results or neglect them to see them wilt.

Your network is one of your most precious resources. What are you doing to nurture it?