It is the moral behaviour that determines one's success or failure (Hsing Yun)

Photo by George Pagan III on Unsplash

It is the moral behaviour that determines one's success or failure.

Ysing Yun

Success is not measured by wins and losses, but by the character and resilience of the team (Andy Reid)

Andy Reid

Time for some more of Marshall Manson's thoughts on leaders. 

"Good leaders listen. Good leaders create an environment / atmosphere where people can do their best work. Good leaders motivate.

Great leaders coach, encourage, develop, and motivate so that their people perform and achieve above their own potential."

Food for thought.

Hours are like diamonds, don't let them waste (The Rolling Stones)

70% of Americans said they “never had enough time,” in 2011. It rose to 80% in 2018.  It's probably 90% in 2024.

Wednesdays, especially, have turned into a manic day for me. No one wants or needs to know how busy I am, but Wednesday's become a full-on day. Chocka.

So, I turned to Dan Rockwell for advice.

Here he is on four ways to do less but get more done. I'm keen to see if any of these will work for me on Wednesdays.

#1 Choose one important thing to do today. 

I’m talking about choosing one or two places to invest your time, energy, and talent in order to make meaningful contribution.  

This one is impossible on a Wednesday

#2. Make your own decisions.

A person who lets others run their life does what matters to others.

Don’t live to only serve yourself, but don’t let others run your life either.

Realize you chose to work where you work. If the downside of your job is heavier than the upside seek a new job.

Not a practical solution for my Wednesdays.

3. Go to bed.

What fool believes tired people get more done? You get more done by getting enough rest. Too much rest is exhausting. Too little rest is debilitating.

I'm usually exhausted by 9.00pm and usually sleep until my 4.30am alarm.

#4. Put white space on your calendar.

Back-to-back meetings indicate poor management. Get more done by realizing schedule management is self-management.

Yes, I think I need to reorder a couple of things on my Wednesday schedule.

My favourite things (Rodgers and Hammerstein)

Coltrane's famous quartet (Elvin, Jimmy and McCoy)

The benefits of collaboration are many and varied. 

I'm listening to John Coltrane and Eric Dolphy playing on Evenings at the Village Gate as I write this and they couldn't have sounded this awesome without McCoy Tyner on piano, Reggie Workman on bass and Elvin Jones on drums.

The five musicians together form and sustain an intensely symbiotic, creative whole.

Same thing goes in sorts of other arenas. Including school.

Paradoxically - selfishly, I get a personal buzz from collaborating with others. It's great for thinking beyond the usual. Ideas can be explored beyond what I would come up with on my own.

It's a social occasion, too, therefore it's often a lot of fun - especially in my current environment.

Collaboration is all about relationships. Everybody finds their comfort zone being challenged in a collaborative environment.

Back to Coltrane Dolphy et al. Greensleeves is a favourite of mine and unbelievable on this album!! Just five people in tune with each other. 

Collaboration at its finest!

The speed of our forward motion is directly related to the velocity of the people around us (Seth Godin)

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

This year, Professional Learning and Development has embraced the idea that each individual campus should work together on projects like their own learning.

Taking Seth's quote as a starting point, I would say forward motion at our campus is in very good hands. It's a safe culture here, where people can advance their thoughts and ideas in a nurturing, collaborative environment.

I wouldn't want it any other way.

Summer days that blind your face will soon be dead and gone, better get it on (Tears For Fears)

Photo by Ethan Robertson on Unsplash

School is back in session in the southern hemisphere and the first few weeks test your mettle. Big time.

First there's the transition from holiday relaxation to be navigated. Not easy.

There's the start of year gusto for things to be completed now. Testing.

The competing demands. Everyone wants your attention, right now. We live in a world of instant gratification that is low on patience.

Chuck in some wet weather, the fact I had to take two days off for family events, and that we remain largely a building site.

Meh! 

My staff is an extremely buoyant lot and we firmly subscribe to the view that everybody is doing the best they can.

So, while tired, there are plenty of smiles, laughs and celebrations (two birthday girls this week).

Positive close - I really like this thought from Brené Brown:

I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.