The leader orchestrates the organization’s future direction
and is persistent in staying the course.
The book refers to change as going through a board game: The dark room;
the fitness center; the boardroom; the status room; the comfort zone; and back
to the dark room. In what area of your
personal or professional life is change so vital that you are beyond curiosity
and willing to invest your commitment?
Carpe diem!
Reply to at least one other person.
Reply to at least one other person.
Some vital changes are chosen and some are forced on us by circumstance. I know that one significant change to occur for me in the next several years will be retirement. My wife and I will need to decide if we are to remain in Kansas or move to another state that is, perhaps, more supportive of education.
ReplyDeleteIf we were to move, we would need to decide what to do with the 35+ years of accumulated "stuff" that we have acquired. We would need to consider where our children are living to determine the length of our or their journey to visit family. We would need to consider our needs as "senior citizens" in terms of space, stairs, and available transportation should we reach a point at which we no longer easily drive. We would need to consider the climate of the city in question and how much snow a person really wants to scoop or the amount of lawn a person really wants to mow. We would need to consider our interests and the availability of activities in the community of choice. We would need to consider taxes in varying states to make sure that our assets are maximized. We would need to consider the housing markets in cities of interest with the realization that, in another state, the sale of our home in Ulysses might not achieve the amount needed to buy a home of equal size. We would need to choose the best option of the 30+ available options offered by KPERS if the fund has not been drained.
Importantly, if we move or if we stay, retirement will necessitate our making decisions on how we will fill our days after our days have been filled with work. Hopefully we will find interests and activities that are productive and continue to contribute to society. We might find more time to read, write, travel, or take pictures. We might find more time and energy to contribute to church and community. Hopefully we won't find ourselves watching endless episodes of "The Big Bang" or other programs on television.
Change sends far reaching ripples throughout our community pond. As John Donne wrote,
No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thy friend's
Or of thine own were:
Any man's death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.
Alan, retirement is a good thing. But you are right it needs to be carefully thought out before any major decisions are made. I too am looking forward to retiring at some point. But I am also making a plan for a purposful retirement. You have to have purpose in your life. I need to be busy and doing something that gives me fulfillment.
DeleteAlan you should be celebrating retirement! You are closer to retirement than I am.......
DeleteCatherine, I am looking forward to retirement, but care about education because it is likely one of few answers that has the potential to lift our society out of some of the mess that it is in. I also care about you younger psychologists because you are our future. I want your life to go well and hope you continue to have opportunity to encourage kids, teachers, and administrators to continually improve the education we provide.
DeleteI also agree with Marcy that being purposeful in retirement would be preferable. Perhaps, I will need to reinvent myself once again. If the purpose of life is to become self-actualized, then my journey will need to continue.
Planning your retirement seems like an exciting yet challenging time. The types of decisions you discussed in your post are very important decisions to ponder about.
DeleteAlan-
DeleteIf it comes down to it, there is NOTHING wrong with binging on Big Bang... Or Hallmark movies :-)
HALLMARK movies! YES. I just watched one!
DeleteThis has been a year of commitment by Amber, Shelly and I. Our commitment has been to keep HPEC running and moving forward. We often ask ourselves: "What would Gail do?" We have grieved, (and still are), for the loss of our friend but part of that grief has made us stronger and more determined to keep moving forward. That is what she would have wanted.
ReplyDeleteYou guys have done a wonderful job!
DeleteOne significant change that I’m looking forward to in the upcoming school year is serving part of a new district. I’m both excited and nervous at the same time. I’m looking forward to working with new staff and getting to know new kids. I’m also excited that it would put me closer to my hometown. My nephews are highly involved with sports so I’m hoping this will allow me to be more involved in their sporting events.
ReplyDeleteIn my personal life, I’m always thinking about changes. For example, I’ve been looking at purchasing a new car for about 3 months. However, I’m not a person to just jump into making a large purchase. I have to look, research, look some more, and research some more. Maybe this is why I’ve never made the commitment to buy a house!
Catherine, I picked up two new districts and another new school this year and I really enjoyed the change.
DeleteI am excited to work in Ulysses with the early childhood team. I love to mix things up along with learning new things. With the new team I am working with I have a feeling I will learn lots of valuable information that I will use constantly as a School Psychologist.
ReplyDeleteMarrying a farmer almost two years ago was a huge change. When you marry a farmer you have to be willing to change constantly. In the summers you are basically single and now I am like a single mom, but in the winter Levi is home all the time. The day never seems to go as planned a part may be needed 20 miles away, weather or some other circumstance may get in the way of plans. With all that being said I love my farmer and farming and all the crazy changes it brings.
I am never one to quickly jump to change. Rather, I wold prefer to test the waters and tread slowly and carefully before just plunging in. I don't mind questioning the status quo, but I need to see the big picture before I'm "all in". We've been having the discussion as a psych group about our assessment practices and I'm ready to commit and look beyond the status quo. I'm not sure I have the vision for what that looks like or entails, but I am in!
ReplyDeletePracticing for 14 years, I do feel that I am in my comfort zone and I have an itch for something different. Not completely, earth-shattering different, but something to put a little spice in my professional world - something besides assessments, meetings and report writing. I am hopeful with a little lighter caseload next year I will seize the opportunity and find that spark!
I could see how you are one to think about a situation instead of being impulsive and just jumping on an idea. I admire this in you, Catherine. You are a patient person who seems to weigh all options before committing to any.
ReplyDeleteIn my professional life, I am leaving one district and going to start serving another district. I am looking forward to this new adventure. I feel like it may be a challenge, but a good and exciting challenge. I am nervous to meet the staff and start building those relationships, but I am also ready to get the ball rolling.
ReplyDeleteIn my personal life, baby number four will be here in 11 weeks. Eleven weeks is not very far away. I am starting to freak out about how Rhyder will react to a baby. He is the baby right now, and is spoiled rotten with love. As I have always been in the past, I worry if we will have enough love and attention to give to everyone. I never in my wildest dreams ever thought I would have four children. This thought is so thrilling and scary all at the same time. Another huge change that my family will be experiencing in the near future is that my husband will be leaving us for four months to go to Oklahoma and work on his internship. He will be leaving in December and will not be returning until April. We will see each other once a month or so, but it is going to be very difficult. We are a very close family and I know we will make it through without many struggles, but it will not always be easy.
You are really going to have a big year Jamie. I didn't know about your husband's internship. Four kids and a new district .. you will be great!
DeleteThat will be a tough four months. I know you have the strength needed to not only be a survivor, but to thrive in difficult situations.
DeleteProfessionally, I can’t really think of too many changes that are going to be occurring. I know I’m going to have several new teachers/principals to work with, but you can count on that happening almost every year, so I don’t really think of it as being anything significant.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I can think of 2 major things that have happened fairly recently. First off, Andy and I decided to take better control of our finances. Not that we’ve ever been spiraling out of control, or had hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, but looking towards our future, we wanted to put ourselves in the best position that we possibly could. Have any of you heard of Dave Ramsey??? If so, that’s whose teaching we’re following. And by following, I mean, COMPLETELY drank the Kool Aid and are in 400%. I won’t get into all the details on here because it would literally be a book. I can’t say enough good things about it, though. The whole experience has truly been life changing, and I’m SUPER happy we agreed to move forward and commit to it.
Secondly, babies. Ok, no one jump to any conclusions. Here’s the story… My brother and his wife had their 1st child in February. Obviously, he’s amazing and perfect and everything good because he’s ours. However, the arrival of this new, little, squishy-faced cutie did nothing to make me any more of the motherly type. Here’s the next part… Harvest is coming soon. Since I’m typically just a go-for/cook in the whole operation, I was also asked to be the official Waylon Watcher while everyone else is out in the field or at their job. I’m not kidding you; I don’t think the blood has ever drained so fast from my face. Needless to say, this will be a HUGE change for me. Everybody pray for me and for that baby, because clearly… Well, it’s me. And a baby. Enough said.
Ahhhhhh! Wow - that would freak me out too. I haven't been around a baby for well... 19 years! Maybe you can sing some Dr. Jean songs to him???
DeleteShelly-
DeleteI already reviewed the book we got at her presentation with my mom this weekend so she can start some up with him, lol! :-)
You'll do an awesome job and be a terrific aunt. Who knows, baby fever might strike after a summer with a precious infant.
DeleteWe had some amazing conversations at our two strategic planning meetings and I am looking forward to digesting the data we collected. Reviewing our thoughts and notes is coming up next on the "to do" list for this summer. Fun stuff!
ReplyDeleteI feel professionally I have lost some of the zing for change I have previously had. I used to get extremely excited and couldn't wait to help orchestrate change in my districts. Now there are times I just feel tired, overwhelmed, and content to just survive. I know I have to move beyond that to be an effective leader of change.
ReplyDeleteRight now I have the opportunity to rebuild the SIT team in one of my buildings. I want it to change and I have taken steps to help make that change happen, but I have yet to find the passion. Let's hope with a little rest and maybe a little lighter caseload I can find the drive and passion needed to help develop the best SIT team in the coop:)
Well, no new babies, husband, car, or retirement here. Congratulations to all of you with those changes! I'm looking forward to a lighter case load next year to give me the opportunity to give more attention to those things on my "must" list. We're jumping in to math for MTSS next year, and I'm anxious to come in with some good information up front. I think I'll be looking for a little mental rest from the day to day and maybe some professional development to help me get myself "fired up" again for the new year.
ReplyDelete