I've heard from a variety of different people this year about taking risks. They're nervous, worried, afraid or any other adjective you can think of that conjures up similar emotions. I can relate because I felt the same way when I started this blog. It's nerve-racking putting your words out there in front of an audience. I did it to challenge myself. I did it because I was tired of what I "usually" or "normally" would do. We're creatures of habit. Sometimes those habits are great (see brushing your teeth, taking a shower etc.) but sometimes those habits are inhibitive. I've been thinking a good deal about how usually and normally are often the antagonists of innovation and personal growth. As the picture says, "Usually Happens" and it happens far more often than not.
If you're looking for a way to get out of the rut, to become innovative in a certain area of your professional or personal life, start by asking "What would I (or we) normally/usually do... and fill in your scenario. If you're a teacher, ask your students some of these broad questions along these same lines. "What do we normally do at the beginning of class?" "What types of things do I usually grade?" "Do I tend to ask the same types of questions on a regular basis?" Do I usually call on certain people more often than others for class discussions?" You can adapt these same stems to your personal life as well. If something you want to change aligns with a practice that you are usually or normally engaging in, that's a great place to start looking for a change. Again, seek input from those around you. It could be friends, colleagues, students, parents or anyone else you feel you can have a productive dialogue. Gathering ideas is critical. Usually, normally and other words affiliated with routine and predictability certainly have their place in life. Don't dispose of all your usually and normally, just honestly assess your practices, whether professional or personal and determine what are some places you could afford to shake things up a bit. When you shake the tree, the apple tends to fall a little further away.
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I don't watch a lot of movies so I am not really sure how or why I came to watch the movie Mr. Baseball in the early 90's. What's more puzzling is how the quote "you've got a hole in your swing" has apparently stuck in my head for the a little over 25 years. That's neither here nor there.
This year I switched positions. I moved from being a middle school assistant principal to a high school assistant principal. I believe great people are always challenging themselves and this opportunity represented a chance for me to challenge myself. While I've certainly already learned a lot, I've also been reminded of some things that a person should never lose sight of. I've got a hole in my swing. I didn't even realize it. You see I thought the difficult thing would be adjusting to new coworkers, new bell schedules, and adjusting to a different age group of kids. Not quite. Many of those things came the same way they had when I was a teacher changing campuses. They just seemed to happen. What's been the most difficult thing? Finding a rhythm to my day. Where I used to zig, I now have to zag. Where I knew I could sit and wait to hit the fastball, I now have had to learn to hit the curve and the changeup because nobody is throwing fastballs. What's most amazing to me is the challenge (and yes, finding rhythm to your day is a challenge) isn't any easier even though you know it to be true and good for you. I don't think I'm in over my head. I don't think things are flying past me left, right and side to side. I've just been a little removed from being in environment where things aren't just second nature, and it's great for me, and most importantly, it's great for kids and teachers. It keeps me asking questions, it allows me to demonstrate my willingness to learn with people. It keeps me rooted in what many students and teachers feel and experience on a daily basis. In the long run, that's the experience that I am certain will bring about greater growth within myself. |
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January 2020
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