Expressing Gratitude This Thanksgiving
“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a gift and not giving it.” —William Arthur Ward Let’s give the gift away today. - Tim
The Secret Skill of the Best Coaches Today
Have you heard the news? California appears to be the first state to pass legislation that will compensate student-athletes for their names and images. California’s governor Gavin Newsom signed into law a bill that allows athletes attending California universities to earn money from their names, images, and likeness rights, starting in 2023. This means jerseys, photos, signatures, and other products
Three Priorities of the 2020 Principal of the Year
Last month, one of the administrators we work with and admire was named the 2020 National Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Her name is Kerensa Wing. She has served as principal of Collins Hill High School in Gwinnett County for the last five years but has worked as an educator in Gwinnett County
How Two Teachers Made a Life-Changing Impact
Each week, leading up to “Giving Tuesday,” I decided to post a story illustrating the “art of generosity.” Instead of asking you to give to our non-profit, we chose to offer a handful of stories of generous people, then challenge you to find your own young person nearby and practice generosity. Below is the story of my friend, Lauren Sisler. If
My Personal Reflections as I Turn 60
It’s hard for me to believe, but on November 22nd, I turn 60 years old. I feel awkward even writing that down. I don’t feel 60. In my younger years, everyone I knew who was 60 seemed…well…old. Not anymore. 60 is the new 50, as far as I’m concerned. And while I don’t plan on stopping any time soon, I
What Generation Z Likes & Doesn’t Like
Twice a year, Piper Jaffrey (an independent banking company) surveys almost 10,000 teens to discover what they like, what they don’t like, and what they care about. (Respondents are from 42 states; this year, the average respondent’s age was about 16.) The company just released its latest report (Fall, 2019), and I thought you’d enjoy seeing the results. I also
Eight Sticky Traits of Uncommon Leaders
Years ago, I spoke at an awards banquet for a large corporation on the West Coast. A woman named Julia received an “uncommon leadership” award that evening for taking her department to an entirely new level of performance. Her team had doubled their results, year-over-year, even in the midst of a budget cut. She and her team had accomplished more
The Timothy Alexander Story: How He Overcame Two Tragedies
Each week—leading up to Giving Tuesday—we are posting a story of a person who has experienced someone’s generosity. We call it “The Art of Generosity.” We shared the story of Truett Cathy and John Maxwell, and today, I want you to meet Timothy Alexander. Timothy has become one of my favorite people on planet Earth. Friends know him as “T.A.” He grew
How Maker Learning Can Transform Your Classroom
Abbey Fleck was just 8 years old when she and her dad were cooking bacon in their microwave oven. It wasn’t until they finished that they noticed they didn’t have any paper towels to lay the bacon onto to soak up the grease. That’s when Abbey got an idea. She asked her dad, “Why don’t we hang the bacon up while it
The Results of John Maxwell’s Generosity
When I think about generosity—my mind tends to go backward in time to my season working under Dr. John C. Maxwell. He is the most generous person I have ever met. I joined John’s staff shortly after graduating college in 1983. He’d only met me twice but took a chance on me, still wet behind the ears, by adding me
Nine Ways Student Athletes Can Best Manage Their Energy and Time
This past month, I spent time with more than 650 NCAA student-athletes. When I asked several of them what their number one challenge was, the overwhelming response was “time management.” I heard statements like: I just wish I had more hours in my day. It’s almost impossible to balance my sport, classes, and personal life. I don’t think my coach
Seven Symptoms of an Under-Functioning Parent
It almost seems as if today’s parents can be divided into subsets, depending on how they approach their duties. We’ve all heard about the “snowplow” or the “lawnmower” parents—these are intrusive moms and dads who plow or mow down any obstacle in the way of their child’s progress. According to the educators I meet each year, they represent a greater