Three things you control every day are your attitude, your effort, and your actions.  – Jon Gordon

 

As you leave the house today . . . as you start the next conversation . . . as you attend the next meeting . . . you have control of your attitude, your effort, and your actions.

 

People are going to experience YOU!  From the first eye contact to the in-depth conversation, from your body language to your focus on your iPhone . . . you are creating experiences for everyone around you.

 

Here is the best part . . . here is the magic sauce . . . you get to decide how you behave, how you interact, how you live your life.  No one else is controlling you . . . you have the power.

Management buzzwords are like cotton candy, which tastes good for a second and then evaporates.  – Stephen Covey

 

We use buzzwords all the time in education.  We use them talking with each other and – even worse – we use them when talking with parents, students, and the community.

Education buzz words and acronyms are like alphabet soup.  Too often non-educators simply shake their heads and agree – often not even knowing what we are talking about.  Our goal isn’t to sound smarter or talk over anyone – our mission is to actively engage . . . to embrace, empower, and inspire.  This isn’t achieved by using the buzzword of the day.

 

So, be intentional and purposeful in your communication.  Understand that LMS, ELL, and even Growth Mindset are not known in the general public.  To most parents, Carol Dweck could be a fictional character in the latest J.K. Rowing book.

 

Be intentional, purposeful, and skillful in your communications . . . the purpose is to engage those with whom we interact.

If you want to be truly great you have to work as hard to be a great teammate as you do to be a great player.  – Jon Gordon

 

Team, organizations, schools, families . . . everything we do is based on connections and relationships.  In any group the commitment to the whole must be greater than the desire to advance self.  We’ve all have known the “weakest link” in a chain . . . we have experienced team failures due to selfish individuals.

 

Today, take the time to commit to the team.  Invest effort to be a better teammate – to build connections, spread positive energy to those that need a lift, and find courage to challenge a fellow teammate to get better.  Today . . . step outside your comfort zone of self and invest in making the team stronger.

When there is high trust, communication is easy, effortless, instantaneous.  If you make a mistake, it hardly matters.  People know you.  – Stephen Covey

 

Trust is easily earned and can be quickly lost.  Trust is built through repeated experiences with you . . . repeated, consistent experiences based on your changeless inner-core.  We build this trust through creating connections and building relationships.

 

Trust is expanded when others see your heart and soul . . . when they experience your character.

 

Trust grows when other see your dedication, your servant leadership, and your skill.

 

Strive to build trust . . . strive to have people experience a consistent you.  Trust is the foundation of any team.

Teams rise and fall on culture, leadership, relationships, attitude, and effort.  – Jon Gordon

 

We are a team.  Our success isn’t dependent on our strategic plan or curriculum.  Our success is dependent on our culture and our behavior.  Culture and behavior drive results . . . it starts with each of us.  You . . .  yes, you . . . in your 20 square feet are a key component to the team.  It starts with each of us, as individual, working in concert together.

 

Work each and every day to be a positive force on the culture of your team.  Build relationships . . . give maximum effort.  When you bring a positive attitude every day, you make the team stronger.

 

When you encounter “energy vampires” on your team, call them out.  It’s time to step-up and lead.  It’s time for each of us to create the culture we know produces results.

“Everyone of us can be a superhero. We possess the greatest power in the universe. The power to make a difference in someone’s life.” – Jon Gordon

Greatness isn’t about self. Greatness is about serving others. In any organization, success is defined by making those around you better.

Look around you today. At each moment, in an intentional manner, seek to make those around you better. You have the power to inspire and to motivate others . . . use it.

As educators, we change the future each and every day. We are dream makers . . . we inspire the next generation of American leaders. You have the power to make a difference in many lives . . . TODAY! Don’t let each and every moment pass you by . . . make a difference.

“Nothing influences daily execution more strongly than the culture of the organization.” – Tim Kight

Any organization’s health is determined by the culture of the team. A strong culture, built on trust and relationships, can withstand nearly any storm. A poor culture, built on top-down control and autocratic leadership, folds when times get tough.

My hope is to create an elite culture . . . a culture that far outlasts any individuals or current operation. We know that leadership matters – leadership of each individual’s 20 square feet. It isn’t what happens “at the top” but rather what happens within the fiber of the team. We strive to create a culture of trust and support in our organization knowing that it will influence daily execution as we strive to be elite.

“Fame doesn’t last. Character through hard work does.” – Jon Gordon, Training Camp

The phase “15 minutes of fame” is credited to Andy Warhol; fame is fading and doesn’t last. In today’s social media and instant celebrity world it is easy to strive for those 15 minutes. We want more followers, we strive for more “likes” and we create content simply to drive views.

There is nothing we can create, post, or send that will improve our character. In fact, for many fame is achieved through infamous behavior – and who wants to be remember for the life-altering poor decisions?

Your character is your legacy; your character is foundation. Build your purpose on character and service . . . let that be your legacy.

“Complaining distracts you from focusing on what you can control – eliminate it. It’s simple – just don’t complain – take action.” – Tim Kight

Leading a discipline life take self-control . . . it takes the ability to press pause and act with purpose.

Our self-talk provides us a tool to stop default behaviors before we get too far down the path of negativism and complaining. We know nothing positive ever happens from complaining; it doesn’t make any situation better.

Today, when you hear yourself beginning to complain – when that voice in your head is acting by default – have the discipline to stop. Focus on regaining focus, on acting with discipline, and on taking action. The choice is yours – the decision is entirely up to you.

“To become a great leader we must be a servant leader. Only through service and sacrifice do we become great.” – Jon Gordon, The Carpenter

The ultimate joy is making others great. The ultimate accolade for a leader is when the team performs at elite levels. Leadership is built on building connections, demonstrating skill, and cultivating trust. Leaders serve the organization, leaders are willing to walk that extra mile, and leaders synthesize situations to bring out the best in others.

Each of us is a leader – each of us leads in our 20 square feet. Regardless of our roles, regardless of our position in any organization, we all serve and sacrifice for elite performance.

How can you serve others today? What can you do to lift-up others on the team? Today, make a commitment to purposefully and intentionally serve three people in a way you wouldn’t have yesterday. Press pause . . . act with purpose . . . and serve the team.