Colleagues,

As I write this, the sun is rising, bathing the trees in its yellow glow. In the span of a few minutes, the view changes dramatically. The coming of the light changes the way the landscape looks.
 
Wise leaders know that things look different in different seasons and at different times of day.
 
Reflect:

1. What are some things that were going well back in the fall?
2. Are they still going well?
3. What are some things that weren’t going well in the fall?
4. Are they still not going well?

 
You may also ask:

1. What are the things that are driving me nuts right now?
2. Are the same things that were driving me nuts before?

 
Sit with your answers for a while and then identify ONE SMALL change you would like to make next week. You can share it with me by replying to this email, or you can keep it to yourself.
 
Either way, have a great weekend!
 
Do good and be well,
 
Frederick

Colleagues,

There are lots of processes we can use to make decisions. 
 
When people come to me with particularly difficult situations, one of the things we discuss is risk v. reward. I ask two questions:

1. What’s the best thing that can happen?
2. What’s the worst thing that can happen?

 
Pam and I used these two questions to help us decide whether or not to end our hike early (Pam was struggling with a bad knee and the weather was predicted to get really cold). Prior to applying these questions, we were really struggling with what to do. Our answers went like this:
 
Keep hiking

• Best thing: two more days of fun
• Worst thing: Hypothermia and knee surgery

 
End early

• Best thing: enjoy quiet time together at home (mini staycation)
• Worst thing: get caught up in work and chores

 
Through this process we realized that our focus on completing the full 77 miles just didn’t make any sense and was misplaced.
 
Next time you are wrestling with an important decision, consider asking yourself what the best and worst outcomes would look like.
 
Do good and be well,
 
Frederick

Colleagues,

In preparing for last week’s hike, I had a great idea. I decided to replace our tent’s rainfly with a 10x10 tarp. A rainfly hugs the shell of the tent, essentially creating a second skin. 
 
So why did I want to replace the rainfly with a tarp? The tarp is more flexible and can be set up in different ways. I also thought the tarp would protect a larger area from the rain under which we could cook and relax.
 
I was wrong. 
 
Not only did we have less room, but the configuration of the tarp allowed lots of water to splash onto (and into) the tent, so everything got damp. This was a big deal as temperatures were expected to drop, and wet gear loses insulation power and is heavier to carry.
 
The frustrating thing is that I could have tried the set up while we were still at home. The pain could have been avoided by a low-risk implementation of my great idea.
 
Next time I have a “great” idea, I need to test it out in a low-stakes way to make sure it really is great.
 
What about you?
 
Do good and be well,
 
Frederick

We change over the years, but we also remain the same. If you can find a picture of your younger self, look at it and reflect:

1. Can you still smile like that?
2. What did you value and what brought you joy back then?
3. In what ways are you thankful you have changed?
4. What do you wish you had retained?

 
Then think about what your answers say about who you are now. Examine the experiences that have brought you to today. Maybe choose to let go of some things, and to value more the things that you have held onto.

Do good and be well,

​Frederick

Colleagues,

Think about your favorite movie or story:

1. Who is the hero?
2. What makes them a hero?
3. What parts of the story happen without the hero?

 
We are a culture obsessed with heroic leadership. The problem is that heroic leadership, like your favorite story, is all about the hero. In contrast, organizations are all about the purpose, and the only way to achieve organizational alignment is by working together.
 
Let’s look at how this plays out in schools.
 
The number one factor in student achievement is the classroom teacher.
 
The number two factor is the principal.
 
Principal’s don’t teach students, so how do they influence student achievement?
 
Great principals focus on helping teachers grow. In a good school, the heroes are the teachers, not the principal.
 
In your work, the heroes should be those you serve, not you.
 
Do good and be well,
 
Frederick