I've been playing guitar for almost 30 years and, I have to admit, I'm pretty awful at it. Sure, I can bang out a few chords and lead a few choruses when there's no one else to lead singing at church. But I should be a lot better, considering how long I've been at it.
I have used plenty of excuses for my poor playing over the years. "I need a new guitar; this one has a warped neck and the frets buzz." "I just don't have the time to practice." "My fingers hurt!" "These strings are too old." But the truth is, every great guitar player dealt with all those problems and more. My real problem is determination and desire. The problem with my crummy guitar playing is me.
We can't be good at everything, but we need to find something we have a knack for, take responsibility, and make it work. I feel called to be a school leader, but I know I have a lot to learn. I can't go through the next 30 years blaming teachers, parents, students, budgets, bosses, curriculums, laws, or politicians. If I am leading a school, then the success or failure of the school is on me. No excuses. Hard work, discomfort, complications, and crises are just part of the job. Every great school leader dealt with those problems and more. Finding that determination and desire to motivate myself is the key to leading others.
My school can be a beautiful ballad or buzzing frets. It's up to me.
"Great principals take responsibility for their own performance and for all
aspects of their school." Whitaker, Todd (2011-11-01). What Great Principals Do Differently: 18 Things
That Matter Most (Kindle Locations 644-645). Eye On Education. Kindle Edition.
I have used plenty of excuses for my poor playing over the years. "I need a new guitar; this one has a warped neck and the frets buzz." "I just don't have the time to practice." "My fingers hurt!" "These strings are too old." But the truth is, every great guitar player dealt with all those problems and more. My real problem is determination and desire. The problem with my crummy guitar playing is me.
We can't be good at everything, but we need to find something we have a knack for, take responsibility, and make it work. I feel called to be a school leader, but I know I have a lot to learn. I can't go through the next 30 years blaming teachers, parents, students, budgets, bosses, curriculums, laws, or politicians. If I am leading a school, then the success or failure of the school is on me. No excuses. Hard work, discomfort, complications, and crises are just part of the job. Every great school leader dealt with those problems and more. Finding that determination and desire to motivate myself is the key to leading others.
My school can be a beautiful ballad or buzzing frets. It's up to me.
"Great principals take responsibility for their own performance and for all
aspects of their school." Whitaker, Todd (2011-11-01). What Great Principals Do Differently: 18 Things
That Matter Most (Kindle Locations 644-645). Eye On Education. Kindle Edition.