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| T Shirt that Todd Henry mentioned in speech |
I would like to share some thoughts from Todd Henry, whom gave the keynote presentation this morning from the NJASA Techspo. I found his words to be thought provoking and that they could be of interest to all.
He began his talk by sharing this t-shirt he saw at Disney. He presented this t-shirt as the ‘greatest of all time’. He explained that this is very much the process many of us follow when we are trying to lead or teach others. We start off well, steps 1,2, and 3 are clear and basically anyone could follow along. When step 4 is presented, this is where all great initiatives fall short. For me, this illustrated clearly how at times the district central leaders will set out to create a finished ‘Darth Vader’ portrait and become frustrated that we fail to create a masterpiece. The issue simply being that getting to a finished step 4 is complicated. We cannot expect to simply release creative professionals loose on a task and magically it is so. The more complex the issue or task the greater the chance of expectations and directions not being clear enough.
Todd then shared a true story about a young musician’s experience early in his career. This musician was given the opportunity of a lifetime, or so it appeared, to open on tour for the most popular band of the time. The first show this new musician opened received complete silence from the massive audience for about 3 songs until finally the silence broke. The crowd erupted, but not as the guitar player had hoped; endless booing filled the stadium. After the show, managers assured the young talent not to worry. After all, this is just one stop, one city, and the opinions of one group of fans. The managers were sort of right as the next night, the young musician was booed from the very first note. Again, the experts said not to be deterred it will be better tomorrow night. This continued for the next 8 shows. The last show, the booing began before the guitar player took the stage and was loud enough to drown out the music. Finally reaching his limit, the musician told the fans that they were ‘number one’ (or so it is rumored) and he walked off the stage disgusted. Can you imagine what it was like to finally get your big opportunity and have it end like that after only 8 days? If you were in the audience that night, July 17th, 1967 you would have been convinced that you were witnessing the death of a young career in music. You, however, would have been wrong. Once I share the context you will understand this series of events differently. Todd shared that Jimi Hendrix walking off the stage on the 8th night was not the end but the beginning of something new. The massively popular band that a young Hendrix was opening for was the Monkees. See it wasn’t that the musician was not talented or that the music was destined to fail, but rather that the massive audience that like the music of Monkees simply did not know what to make of this wildly different sound and spectacle. Imagine a young Hendrix using his teeth to hold his guitar pick and play his guitar. The very routinely normal popular music that the Monkees created was safe. It was what was listened to. It was what everyone listened to, at that moment. So Hendrix did not fit into their grid of what great music was – yet. Think about being out with friends, or driving around in the car…have you ever once had anyone say ‘hey, put on the Monkees greatest hits’? Not likely, but as history remembers Jimi Hendrix as a pioneer, an innovator, and one of the most influential musicians ever we all know that his career did not die that night in 1967.
Todd Henry relates this to organizations. People like to say they are open to innovation and change but truthfully most want the ‘Monkees’ not an unknown Hendrix. Routine, safety, and comfort are very strong motivators for resisting change. Obviously though, ultimately our lives would not be as fulfilling without change. We would all still be listening to the Monkees. Todd shared what he calls the 7 deadly sins. These are the 7 reasons people, companies fail to change and grow.
Aimlessness: Not having a clear set of directions that would help get from step 3 to 4 in the drawing Darth Vader. Example, if we placed you in a field and said there is a target somewhere. Your objective is to hit the target, but after we first spin you around blindfolded. How successful could you be? Probably not very. Even if you somehow blindly succeeded, how would you feel about that success? Not very as accidental success is not very gratifying.
Uncertainty POV – productive passion = what are you willing to suffer for? i.e. Curtis martin NY Jet running back…he did not like football. (despite being a hall of famer) only played his senior year of high school, so good he gets scholarship for Pitt, then he gets drafted by Patriots. Did not want to play until his pastor framed it as football could help him find a path to help single moms, and intercity kids – both of which were his passion:
- What angers you? Not road rage but compassionate anger
- What makes you cry?
- What gives you hope?
- Define Your Battles; this is what you will not compromise on, this is what you are passionate about. Use this as your target to avoid aimlessness.
Boredom: Bored-busy; continuous partial attention ‘PING’ is the term for those of us who constantly look at their phone, email and believe that there is probably something else out there that is more interesting than where you are right now. People are wasting 66 hours per year of their life glancing at your iPhone/email/Instagram. Constantly looking elsewhere because we feel there is possibly something out there that is more interesting than what is right in front of you.
- Be fiercely curious I am so happy I just wasted 15 minutes reading negative comments on my Facebook feed, said Nobody Ever
- Fill your well
- Be unreachable (sometimes) train yourself to use technology to aid, not to steal our focus and creativity.
- Ask inconvenient questions
- Beware of ‘BUSY BOREDOM’
Your inbox represents what other people prioritize for your life. And while you have jobs and commitments you do NOT have to completely allow others to tell you what is important. Technology is a great servant but a terrible master
Comfort: the love of comfort is often the enemy of greatness. Commitment to growth and innovation. Discovery…emulation…divergence…crisis (here is when others recognize us for being competent and skilled but we realize that we have now plateaued). What new skill/idea/ would re-invigorate you? Avoid being complacent with good.
Delusion…well that will never work here. Personal life, if I want to be valuable, I need to be like ‘so and so’ instead of following your sweet spot skill.
Be honest with ourselves
- Your greatest potential to cause damage as a leader/teacher is directly tied to your biggest insecurity. Be vulnerable.
- What am I doing right now that doesn’t seem like me? (either be able to identify for yourself or have others who can assist)
Ego…not the traditional form of EGO. You are not going to value my brilliance, fine, I will not participate. I will simply not engage. I will comply by being here but don’t expect anything of value from me. “I am playing a victim” – my recognition and well being is more important than everyone else on the team. *(Stresses not the same as actually be victimized.)
Be confidently adaptable…I believe I am right, but I am willing to listen and change my mind with new or better information.
Fear…the potential negative consequence is more discouraging then the motivation of potential reward. (100 foot plank on the ground…will you walk it? Of course you would. Take the same plank and put 50 feet above the ground.. now walk it?)
Fear is often the smell of opportunity: Brian Tome
- Discuss true risk to dispel perceived risk; are you being irrational
- Am I artificially escalating planks?
Guardedness…closed off to others…fail to connect meaningfully to others
You need people who will speak truth to you before you realize you ‘need’ people in your life that will speak truth to you. Need critical friends/colleagues. “Many avoid this honesty and instead melt into some group of similar people all dedicated to not being honest with each other”. Everyone is hiding in some sort of togetherness…Soren Kierkegaard.
In closing, Todd said to “Put away your gun” (not literally)but if you ask for honesty you have to be willing to hear it and not shoot it down. Form a collective of people who will speak honestly
- Mirror – a person you give full permission to speak openly to you without fear of consequence
- Circle- a group of people who keep us inspired, they are in the journey with you (skin in the game).
Now for the Shout-outs!!
"A big Shout Out to Courtney Robbins for her creation and implementation of our sensory walk at the Child Family Center. The children have enjoyed the sensory break and it is constantly being used by a child or group of children as they feel the need to "take the walk". This was a great idea and something new to offer our children at the Child Family Center."
"A BIG Shout out to Kathleen Cody for an amazing workshop on Wednesday. She presented information on Attachment issues and self-regulation problems with children and gave MANY concrete examples on how to work with these children in the classroom. The brain research followed by participatory practices made for a very educational and useful workshop."
~ JoAnn Burns, Principal
"Congratulations to Dena Andrews who was recently accepted to perform with the Greek Opera Studio and Festival of the Aegean! We are excited to have an International Performer representing Lakeside and Millville Public Schools!"
"Shout Out to Kelly Gandy for organizing and hosting World War 2 Veteran Richard Young. This activity was featured on SNJ News. For more information click here."
~ Spike Cook, Principal
"Thank you to Jim McCarthy and Robin Carman for a wonderful Senior Class Breakfast. They are providing our culinary students with real-world scenarios while simultaneously serving good food. Thank you!"
~Bridget Borlak, Dept. Chair
"A big Shout Out to The Bilingual Staff at Rieck Avenue !!! Thank you for your support in building connections..... with parents and students, everyday!!!! Great Job!!!!!! Much Appreciation!!!!!"
~ Danette Boone, Vice Principal
"Bacon school’s fourth grade students are learning about percentages. Mrs. Gandy, Mrs. Gant, Mrs. Catlett and Ms. O’Neil have created an activity, “Fraction Gym Stations” to engage students in sports-themed stations to explore and solve problems. Games, such as; golf, basketball, football can toss, wiffle ball bounce, hockey shoot, ring toss were some of the games students competed against. Students were placed in groups and given a data collection sheet where they entered the denominator/total attempts, numerator/successful attempts, and fraction/final outcome. Data from this activity will drive instruction in the introduction of the fractions unit. Everyone had a great learning experience while establishing links between disciplines. Congratulations teachers!"
~ Maggie Colina, Supervisor
"Shout out to Margaret Keefer for her preparation and presentation of Centers and Arts Infusion to our World Language and Fine & Performing Arts Department!"
"Special Thanks to the Silver Run staff for their support of me in my Day as Principal!
~ Henry Hartman, Supervisor
"The positive feedback from the Resiliency and Trauma Training held by Vanessa Strassner and Chelsea Santiago has been tremendous! Thanks so much for taking the time to present to our staff on such an important component of social and emotional learning. I look forward to working with the team to start moving this forward in our classrooms and school cultures and curriculum."
~ Steve Matusz, Exec. Dir. Special Services
Regards,
Dr. G.
Dr. David N. Gentile
Superintendent of Schools
“Lead Learner”
@drgentile_mps (Twitter)
856-327-6001
Published by Spike Cook, Millville, NJ
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