"A lot of life is what happens to you, but most of it is what we choose for ourselves. Make the best choices possible." Life is hard already...Try not making it harder. buff.ly/3VGBBBp

"You don’t always have to change the goal, but you often need to change the strategy. When we do that, we are not giving up but finding a better way. That is what resiliency is about." When Facing a Brick Wall, Try Going Around buff.ly/4cceyp9

"What is "old" is not always bad, and what is "new" is not always good. Our focus should not be on what is "new" and "old" as much as it should be on what works for "learning." 3 Quotes to Consider on How We Use Technology buff.ly/45IsMvL

You can’t make anyone else change; all you can do is create the conditions where change is more likely to happen. I remember speaking with an administrator and hearing him complain that his staff wasn’t moving forward. Instead of commiserating with him at that moment, I said, “Maybe it’s you?” It caught him off guard, but there was a point. Too often, myself included, when we try to lead people to new ideas, and they don’t immediately embrace them, we blame them instead of looking at where we may be deficient. Sometimes, the new “approach” is sharing the ideas over again, only louder. That approach rarely works. In this week’s newsletter, I shared 3 things that have helped me rethink how to help create better conditions for others to embrace change. 1. Truly listen to their thoughts and viewpoints, and be open to the idea that your way might not be the best. 2. Recognize that you also had resistance to new ideas, including things that you might consistently do and believe today. Be open with your own story of resistance and what made you change. 3. Start by focusing on the areas in which others are excelling, as opposed to your perception of their deficits. People who feel valued are more likely to move forward. People who feel you are trying to “fix” them will fight you non-stop. You can only control your own actions. What do others see in you that will make them want to move forward, by your side? People are more likely to take steps forward on a path if they see footprints from others already on the ground. Read the entire newsletter here: tiny.cc/GCMarch9