If your goal is to have a school where kids are maximizing their potential, sharing ideas, expanding their thinking, and doing really amazing things, you have to embrace the power of “Do You.” If you want to have a school where everyone comes to work happy, energetic, and are willing to show their one two punch, you have to embrace the power of “Do You.” Don’t underestimate the power of “Do You!” It is an amazing power! If I were truly a super hero; “Do You” would be my superpower. While “Do You” opens the door for awesome things to happen, it closes the door on mediocrity. It encourages everyone to put their best foot forward while embracing their special talents and skills. When that happens, expect a masterpiece!
Before continuing, I have a disclaimer. I am a ruler follower. I set expectations. I am a thinker. I believe that a strategic plan that has been masterfully crafted, shared, dissected, and tweaked, will lead to success. I’m sharing the disclaimer because “Do You” doesn’t mean “Do What YOU Want to Do”; it has parameters. If it didn’t, some of us might be zooming down the expressway in a Lamborghini going 220 miles an hour! I know that’s not happening in my world!
“Do You” allows us to expand ourselves by embracing our short comings and mistakes as avenues to New Successes! At a staff meeting after sharing some news that kindled a few undertones, I told my team, find your special person, share your frustrations but move on. We don’t live on “Can’t Do Avenue“; visit but come home. After a hearty laugh, a sense of calmness filled the room. I have come to realize that we all need the opportunity to express our frustrations in a non-threatening atmosphere but the key is not to allow frustrations to halter progress. I advocate private deliberations of uncertainty because too much “venting” can become the catalysis to a negative environment. Once that happens, progress becomes an uphill climb.
Embracing “Do You” allows members of my team to share their unique talents and skills. Their special talents and skills make coming to school a gratifying venture for our kids. As quoted by John Ruskin, “When love and skill work together, expect a Masterpiece.” Our kids are maximizing their potential, sharing ideas, expanding their thinking, and doing really amazing things, they are Masterpieces!
Speaking from experience, your phrase “Do You” has been an awesome motivator! One of the many reasons I loved working for you is because you allowed me to do my best, reflect on that best, and keep going!