Growing up, I was a kid who struggled miserably in school, with math.
Yep, I'm one of those kids who grew up thinking, "I'm not a math person". I still easily, associate with a sense of desperation that came on, quickly, at the dinner table each night.
Math homework was a daily nightmare. The days before tests, even worse. But I could always count on my dad, to be there, to help me through it.
As a "business man", he always had a knack for numbers. At home, he was a patient and calm teacher, the kind who could break down the steps that go into solving a complex problem. After each workday (most that started before sunrise and ended after sunset), he'd sit by my side, most often still wearing his shirt and tie, and help me.
Today, following a decade of being a darn good teacher of math, it seems the most important among my professional responsibilities is that of a professional problem solver.
Kids and families bring individual and at times, complex, problems to me.
I listen, and either solve them or connect them with someone who can solve them.
At times, we resolve conflicts between people.
Often, we "team" an issue, usually for, and often, with, a student or group of students.
Being a problem solver has become my life's work.
And I'd have it no other way.
Despite it being challenging, taxing, and at times, seemingly insurmountable, I have faith and confidence to say, there is no problem too great for us to solve, together.
“My goal is to help every individual I work with become the best version of themselves. And there’s nothing more fulfilling than that.”
This morning, as is one of my daily rituals, I listened to the latest episode of The Knowledge Project podcast, hosted by Shane Parrish. This is a podcast I look forward to. The host, a skilled conversationalist, blends a relaxed tone with questions that get right to the heart of what listeners want to know. What makes this podcast different than most, however, is that he asks the questions we didn't know we wanted answers to until we hear them.
Seeing the name Doug Conant pop up in my podcast feed always brings a smile to my face. With over 40 years of leadership experience, he is not only a skilled practitioner, but he is also someone who understands what really matters: people and products (in that order). I seem to gravitate towards his work, because I relate to his style and approach.
How does listening to a podcast connect with problem solving and being a struggling math student, growing up?
Well, on my most challenging days as a school leader, those times when I'd just wish I was doing something far less meaningful and impactful with my life...
I stop.
I check myself (because, this work is not about me).
And I tell myself to focus on one thing: just be helpful.
Like a dad helping his son with homework, just be helpful.
Because that's the work of a leader, the most important thing.
To help.
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