6 Keys to a Successful STARTegy

The difference between a dream and a vision is action. Dreams fail to materialize simply because of the inability to act, or more specifically the inability to start.  Too many great ideas ended with a dream. 

So how do We turn Dreams into Reality?

So many strategies never materialize or they fall well short of the grandeur in its descriptive language.  Action in a strategy begins when the first step or STARTegy takes place.  Simply put, a STARTegy is the beginning movement or the actual implementation of your strategy. Sure planning is great, but plans are worthless until you implement them. This decision to start a strategy is often stalled by indecision about rollout, disagreements about first steps, lack of clarity in roles, or simply by making the strategy so complex that it collapses under  the weight of its utter confusion.  Any and all of these reasons paralyzes others so that action can never begin. 

6 Keys to a Successful STARTegy

1. The simpler the strategy, the easier the STARTegy.
2. Selling the WHY is more important than telling the WHAT.
3. Mistakes are expected in order for the STARTegy to work.
4. STARTegies can't survive without questions, input and feedback.
5. Teamwork enhances the STARTegy.
6. Reflection throughout the strategy is critical to success.

Strategies rise and fall with leadership.  The best leaders know that a successful strategy begins with a successful STARTegy.  With STARTegy, confidence in the organization grows.  Individual efficacy improves, and the overall culture excels.  The best organizations don't succeed by planning.  They excel by doing, and they start with STARTegy.

The Hours for Excellence

Excellence isn't found during business hours. If it was, everyone would find it.  But to be more precise, excellence isn't really found.  It's made and it's only made after hours, before hours, when no one's watching hours, while no one's around hours, and where others won't go hours.

SO, ARE YOU WORKING DURING EXCELLENCE HOURS???

People believe that what you do from 8-5 will lead you to excellence, but the secret is this.  What you do, why you do it, and how much you learn from it separates excellence from the rest.  Excellence isn't awarded during business hours. Sure you may accomplish great feats during working hours, but the work that lead to your excellence is earned outside those hours. 

The temptation called mediocrity deceives us into believing that we're special and therefore entitled to be the given the rewards and titles of excellence because we show up.  But mediocrity won't accept the cold hard facts of what it takes to be the best.  To mediocrity, hard work and extra work are the obstacle.  To excellence they are the price to be paid every single day.



SO WHAT ARE EXCELLENCE HOURS???

Excellence hours aren't actually hours.  They are behaviors, beliefs and commitments to continuous improvement.  Here are just a few characteristics that the best people in their business exhibit during their excellence hours.

Humility - Excellence is about recognizing and accepting the fact that you are always growth in progress.  The constant goal is turning your weaknesses into strengths.
Obsession - Excellence hours accelerate growth when those hours are no longer about clocking in and out but being obsessed with your growth.
Unveiling - Excellence is about finding new things about yourself that you never thought you could do or would do.  
Research - Excellence hours are about searching for next steps, the latest research and the best practices that will make you better.
Slump - Good people work extra hours only when they are in a slump.  Excellence hours, however, are in place to prevent slumps from ever forming.

To become excellent at whatever endeavor you choose, it's never about time.  It's about focus, practice, reflection and practice some more. 

Good, better, best.  Never let it rest

Until your good is better and your better is best.

Bonus - 5 Tips to Succeed in your Hours of Excellence

1. Find an area that you would like to improve in.
2. Determine your plan of action to address this area with 3 tasks or less.
3. Schedule a regular time in your day to work your plan.
4. Set a deadline to check your progress.
5. Check your progress 
6. Repeat steps 1-5.

#LoveMySchoolDay 2018: Year 5 of the Real 411 about Education

It is hard to believe that #LoveMySchoolDay is at its 5th year.  Every year that we have flood the Twittersphere has always been a complete inspiration to see the wonderful things happening in schools across the globe. As I think about this wonderful celebration, a thought comes to mind. 

This Story Can Never End. 

There is always someone calling for a complete change to education today. After all, the ills of our society have to be the fault of the someone, right? And it's a quick and easy fix to blame those who are actually working hard to prevent failure. Here's the thing.  What most people don't understand or even see is that schools are doing  great and amazing things for all kids. 

Here's What People Don't See

• They won't see the work you do to close the learning gaps created by generational poverty. 

• They won't see the collaboration your teachers do to learn how to better serve all kids. 

• They won't see the beauty of makerspaces, fine arts, enrichment activities, or technology integration that advances and inspires a passion for learning. 

• They won't hear the excitement kids have when a science experiment matches their initial hypothesis or the discovery of something new. 

• They won't see the hard work of counselors and teachers who teach kids the lessons of conflict resolution. 

• They won't see the fun you are having.

• They won't hear joy in school (see Dean Shareski)

Do you see where I'm heading?

So Why Even Have #LoveMySchoolDay?

Reason #1 - Educators must give the world the 411 (thus April 11th every year) about the great things happening in schools across the country.  In this fast paced world, not everyone can come to the open house or parent event. Schools must realize that their social media accounts are their proverbial open house that is open 24/7/365.  #LoveMySchoolDay is a world-wide open house for the entire world to attend.

Reason #2  - Legislators are making policies and passing laws based on what they hear.   Many times legislators know little to nothing about the impact of their laws on education because they are only getting their information from lobbyists who many times are not concerned with yours or the kids' best interest.  If they aren't hearing from schools and the people inside them, chances are that future policies and laws will not be made in the best interest of your school. 

Reason 3 & THE COLD HARD TRUTH - If you want schools to get better, it starts with YOU telling YOUR story of the great things inside your school.  People must see and hear the growth that is occurring and listen to the people you work with who are making your school a success.   YOU must be your school's storyteller in chief.  If not, someone else will be.

4 Tips to Tell your #LoveMySchoolDay Story 

1. Use the #LoveMySchoolDay hashtag in all of your posts. 
2. Tag your legislators, school leaders, colleagues, and other influential people to your posts or images. 
3. Use pictures and video as this increases your post engagement and interactions. 
4. Share or Retweet great stories that you see on the hashtag. This keeps the story going. 

If you need ideas, here are some ideas:

• 14 Fun Ways to Flood the Twittersphere on #LoveMySchoolDay (April 11)

• #LoveMySchoolDay Video Ideas, 

• #LoveMySchoolDay Photo Ideas

Don't miss your chance to tell your story.  It's being written by the best authors in the world, you!!!

• picture ideas,