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Today’s Leadership lesson is on influence and comes to us from Tommy Spaulding: Imagine walking down the street knowing that at any moment, you could dramatically influence the life of a complete stranger. Everyone has this power, if only we choose to use it! #Leadership #Management #Coaching #Teaching

Today’s Task - October 29, 2024 As a young runner I would often stack a succession of days of running….a streak. As I have gotten older, I have found that my body needs to have recovery days, but even then, I feel compelled to get out and walk or bike. I suppose some would call it an obsession. I call it consistency. In the Gift of Influence, author Tommy Spaulding reminds us that streaks aren’t just for sports. Every day, someone is counting on us to simply show up, even if we aren’t at our best. Simply put, if you aren’t present in the lives of others, how can you expect to have a positive influence on them? As educators, we must show up every day for our students. They are counting on us. Admittedly, there have been times in my life in which my running streak was longer than my streak of showing up for others. Age, experience, and maturity has taught me the importance of being there for others. When you show up, it is your presence that matters. Simply being there in tough times can make all the difference for someone who is struggling. So if you don’t currently have a streak in place, get working on one immediately. Make Today a Magnificent Day! Gary L Rupert Lead Mentor/COO II:Leaders Creating:II Leaders LCL Mentors @ Marching Arts Education

Today’s Leadership lesson is on influence: Leadership is not about influence. Leadership IS influence. The people you will meet throughout your lifetime will either be better or worse because of the positive or negative influence you have on them. The choice is yours! #Leadership #Management #Coaching #Teaching

Today’s Task - October 28, 2024 Research overwhelmingly shows that most people regret the things they didn’t do more than the things they did. I think about all the things we say we will do for others, and how often those promises get lost in the business of every day life. We can be very intentional, making plans and writing down lists, but they are all for nothing unless you convert those words into action. I have heard it called owning your words….doing what you say you are going to do! The positive influence of keeping your word is incredibly powerful. I have a friend who, when we first met, promised to call and wish me happy birthday every year. To this point, he has not missed a year. It is amazing to me that no matter what is going on in his own life, no matter how busy he might be, he has kept that promise. I know I am only one of many to whom it made this promise. To me, that is owning one’s word. In reflection, I wonder how many times in my teaching career I made a promise to a student and did not follow through. How often did that oversight on my part break down our relationship? Moving forward, I must be more intentional in owning my words. If I say it….I need to do it. And if I don’t….I need to own THAT as well! Make Today a Magnificent Day! Gary L Rupert Lead Mentor/COO II:Leaders Creating:II Leaders LCL Mentors @ Marching Arts Education

Today’s Leadership lesson is on values and comes to us from Remarkable: “What we need to do to reach our full potential is to allow our values to drive our business. We need to define, articulate, and embody our values. We need to select people whose values align with the values of those who comprise the organization. And, we need to reinforce the principles of value creation in everything we do if we want better results.” #Leadership #Management #Coaching #Teaching

Today’s Leadership lesson is on making long-term decisions: Each time we make a decision there is a short-term and a long-term dimension that must be considered. Many people only make decisions based upon the short-term outcomes. But many decisions have a short-term gain while carrying a long-term loss. Other decisions have a short-term loss, but ensure a long-term gain. When faced with decision making we must consider both the short and long term impact. #Leadership #Management #Coaching #Teaching

Today’s Task - October 21, 2024 I suppose I have heard the phrase “in the interest of making your life easier” hundreds of times. Admittedly, I never gave it much thought until I heard it the other day. I am not sure what triggered it, but I immediately asked myself, “does it really?” Does making something easier to do always make my life better? Making something easier inherently robs me of the very experience I may need for personal growth. For example: If I hire a plumber to do work in which I lack the skills to do, I am, in effect, robbing myself of the opportunity to learn those skills. In reflection, I wonder how often I robbed my students of experiences that offered them opportunities for continued growth? We all recognize and understand that experience is our greatest teacher. I wonder why, then, we spend so much time trying to “make our lives easier,” robbing ourselves….and others….of the opportunities to have the very experiences that allow us to grow. Make Today a Magnificent Day! Gary L Rupert Lead Mentor/COO II:Leaders Creating:II Leaders LCL Mentors @ Marching Arts Education

Today’s Leadership lesson is on inspiration: Great leaders want to go beyond motivating. To motivate means to get others to do what you want, and that is important. But most leaders want to be more than motivating, they want to be inspiring. Think of it this way: If motivate means to get others to do the right things, then inspire means to help others do great things. #Leadership #Management #Coaching #Teaching

Today’s Task - October 18, 2024 Legendary basketball great Bill Russell held himself to incredible standards. As a player, he used to keep a personal scorecard, and he would grade his own performance after every game. His scoring system was based on a scale of one to a hundred, with a hundred being perfection. After the best game of his career, he gave himself a mere sixty-five on his personal scorecard. A sixty-five! Why do you suppose Russell graded himself so harshly? According to him, it was because he didn’t have a goal of “good enough.” His goal was not even 99 percent. His goal was perfection! While Russell never reached perfection, he did achieve something few other people have ever known. He achieved greatness! I am not suggesting that you set impossible goals for yourself or your students. I am, however, suggesting goals that far exceed being “good enough.” We owe it to ourselves….and to our students….to reach for whatever greatness lies within us. Good enough should never be good enough! Make Today a Magnificent Day! Gary L Rupert Lead Mentor/COO II:Leaders Creating:II Leaders LCL Mentors @ Marching Arts Education

Today’s Leadership lesson is on self-awareness: Leaders must ask themselves profound questions to become self-aware and to make sure they are leading well. Remember, self-awareness is necessary to shift into a growth mindset. #Leadership #Management #Coaching #Teaching