Friday Finds #2

Here's to week 2 of Friday Finds! I always love taking time to journal on the past week's gems. I hope they inspire you as much as they did me!

Who knew Zoom started this way?

• I'm currently taking a course titled The Power of Story to Fuel Innovation, and I discovered this great interview featuring the creator of Zoom, Eric Yuan. I was so inspired by Eric's story and how at the heart of his organization, what he wants most of all is for people to find happiness through connection. Check out his interview!

No more YouTube Ads!

• Found this great tip on Instagram this week!

Now you can get rid of those pesky commercials with this simple trick!

Here's the secret to relieving stress and refuelling your mind

• As I was listening to Leadership During Turbulent Times this week, I can across a passage that talked about Theodore Roosevelt and how he dealt with stress during his presidency. One word came to mind - MOVEMENT! As he navigated the tensions brought on by the coal strike of 1902, the president found tremendous relief through movement and intellectual challenges - not related to his work. In other words, President Roosevelt rested his mind and body by putting himself in different yet stimulating environments. He maintained his equilibrium during his most challenging and dyer times in office through this practice.

This young CEO inspires me!

• This week, I listened to another great interview featuring Vimeo's CEO, Anjali Sud. This is a great little resource if you're seeking inspiration and want to access an example of someone who jumped into being the head leader of a large organization at the age of 34! Anjali is humble, intelligent, and authentic. She is an excellent example of modern-day leadership. You can click here to watch the interview.

What they never tell you when preparing for a principalship interview

If you're preparing for a principalship interview or you know someone who will be shortly, then this week's coaching is a must-watch! This video offers two essential strategies to help candidates answer interview questions. It's all about showing them what you can do - even if you're not formally on the job YET...

+++++

To get a copy of my book, visit bit.ly/3myXRvb

To access the free Book Club course, visit https://bit.ly/3qcMQmm

Friday Finds #1

Welcome to this first issue of Friday Finds! I was inspired to write a weekly post on my favorite finds of the week because this would allow me to document the lessons and resources that resonated with me over the last seven days. It's like my online journal of favorite practices that I want to share with my community!

I also thought this would be a perfect way to practice my new mantra - read widely, share generously, to quote Steve Clayton of Microsoft. So this new series will now be part of my blog offerings!

So without further ado, here are this week’s Friday Finds!

• I’m listening to Leadership In Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin on Audible. This work is an exceptional piece of historical literature. In this work, Kearns Goodwin documents four incredible US presidents; Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson. One passage struck me. It related to Teddy Roosevelt and how he focused all of his energy on the task at hand, being in the present moment and not getting ahead of himself - something I often struggle with!

“If a person focused too much on the future that could not be controlled, he would become, Roosevelt, acknowledged, too “careful, calculating, cautious in word and act.” He went on to observe… “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” - Leadership In Turbulent Times

• I found this post on LinkedIn this week. It is simple yet powerful and a great reminder to stay in our lane and forget what the critics think of us - because it is none of our business!

• I'm always looking for innovative ways to engage with my principals and offer fun ways of presenting content. As you know, it's essential to pivot towards action-based meetings where teachers enjoy professional development instead of consuming housekeeping items. Why waste this precious time we have together, right? In light of this, why not introduce this fun "take-out" approach?

I found this idea on social media (Twitter) - so many great ideas to curate! I thought this "grab-and-go" style of meeting could be valuable for those seeking ways of helping teachers find time to collaborate - go over students' work deeply, co-plan a teaching unit, etc. There are many ways principals can leverage this resource; there really is no limit!

I read a great article by Jennifer Aaker from Stanford on storytelling. At one point, she explained the importance of identifying where you currently are in your personal life story and charting out possible actions to take yourself to the next level of personal and professional growth. Seeing as the role of an educational leader entails going inward. So, I thought this was a great activity to try out. So, I created this growth timeline for you; download your copy to try out this exercise.

Download your Growth Timeline

Over to you!

Which one of these Friday Finds resonated most with you and why? Please feel free to post a comment to keep the conversation going!