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Colleagues,
By the time you read this I will be 23 days post-knee surgery but I’m writing this on the Friday before my Monday surgery. I’m miserable, have been unable to hike for over two months, and my knee has been locked up for most of the past two weeks. I’m frustrated and throwing a little pity party for myself. But the work doesn’t stop just because I’m not a happy camper and there are things needing to get done. So, I’m writing this email now, way in advance, because writing this email is something I can do even when I’m pouting. There are lots of other things I would be terrible at right now, with this attitude. So, I find the thing I can do and chip away. Be mindful of how you are and, if possible, align the tasks to fit your state of mind. Cheers! Frederick
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Colleagues, We break these down in detail in the podcast, but for any difficult conversation, there are three phases: before, during, after. The before phase includes all the history, which could include leaders who were there before you arrived (🥺)! One of the most important things you can do in preparing for a difficult conversation is to check your own emotions and assumptions. Are they putting you into a win-lose mentality? Thanks again to IXL for sponsoring today’s episode.  Cheers!
Frederick Colleagues, We are dropping this week’s episode of The Assistant Principal Podcast a day early as we are co-releasing on my friend Darrin Peppard’s show, Leaning Into Leadership. Darrin and I unpack having a difficult conversation. This episode is focused on education, but a key takeaway for all of us is this: Building relationships is a deposit. When we ask people to make a change, that’s a withdrawal. Without first making the deposit, your request will bounce. Remember, relationships are a prerequisite to leadership. I’m happy to acknowledge Kaleidoscope Adventures as a sponsor of yesterday’s episode of The Assistant Principal Podcast! I appreciate their support and encourage you to connect with them if you are thinking about planning a school trip!  Cheers!
Frederick Colleagues,
My three 2026 intentions are the daily actions that should help me achieve my goals. My goal is to remake my body to maximize the time I have left to hike. A key measurement for the goal is: Complete the 71-mile High Sierra Trail in August of 2026. The High Sierra is a stunning trail through the southeast Sierra Nevada range in California. It ends at the summit of Mt. Whitney (elevation 14,505), the highest peak in the continental United States. I am used to hiking mountains, but at 5,000 feet, not 10,000 feet. Half of the trail is at altitudes high enough to cause altitude sickness. Notice my goal is not to hike the High Sierra Trail. It is the measurement. Do not mistake your measurement for your goal! Three intentions I need to hold to achieve my goal:
Notice:
In goal setting and strategic planning, the biggest mistake I see people consistently making is they do not operationalize the goal. They develop plans and benchmarks, but fail to identify the daily practices and actions that will inevitably lead to success. If you’d like to share your 2026 intentions with me, I’d love to see them. Cheers! Frederick Colleagues,
I prattled on for three days about my one word, now it is your turn. Just hit reply (or click here) and tell me what your one word is and the story behind it. I may reply to your sharing by offering a complimentary coaching call 😉 Cheers! Frederick |
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