It is hard to believe we are a quarter of the way through the
year. Think back to January 1. How are you doing with your New Year's
Resolution? It is ok to start again...I know I need to.
Today marks the last day of
March. I had set a goal to update my blog post on a monthly basis. If I can
accomplish my task today...I can check that box. I don't want to live my life
checking boxes...but sometimes, checking boxes creates the discipline we so
desperately need. As you look at your resolutions for the year, what boxes need
to be checked? Where do you need to start again? Most importantly, how are you
doing? In life? In leadership?
I have a mentor who continually
encourages me to take a day at the end of the month to assess how you are doing
from a leadership standpoint. After receiving this encouragement for close to
three years, I am yet to take him up on this advice. Until now.
This past Friday was a great
day to do it; no teachers, no students, and very few administrators in the
District. It was eerily quiet. It was a great day to be alone with my thoughts.
So, I began the arduous task of reflecting on my own leadership. Where was I
winning? Losing? Where do I need to grow? Where do I need to spend more time?
How can I be more intentional with my leadership? My own growth? My
relationship building? These were all thoughts that swirled through my mind as
I sat to unravel many of them.
The lead up to me being alone
with my thoughts might be the most important aspect of this blog post. I felt
like I was suffocating. Life seemed overwhelming. I did not feel like I was
being nearly as intentional with my leadership as I know I should be. Worse
yet, I felt like I was seeping into a world of gray. I knew I needed to take
some time with my thoughts- with my plan- and to develop a plan moving forward.
It felt good, and reassuring to begin to formulate thoughts, ideas, and action
plans on how to get back on track.
So, I ask you- where are you
with your yearly plan? With your yearly goals? How are you doing as a leader?
Both at home and in your professional life? Where is your pause button to slow
things down so you can truly ascertain where you are - both winning and
losing.
I recently finished
reading Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds. Perhaps
my greatest take away from this book is all of life is one big mind game. The
more I reflected on it...the more it rang true. Master your mind. Spend time
mastering it. And you too will defy the odds set before you. Yet, it starts
with you being quiet. And most importantly, being honest with yourself.
Never forget perhaps the
greatest Shakespeare line of all time: To Thine Own Self Be True.
Until next time,
Godspeed.
