Tool

While I originally posted this Thought last week, I think I just now came up with a  good application.

Today I had the wonderful opportunity to take part in some regional staff development with other agriculture teachers in the area. In essence, it was a great big exchange of ideas where we all had a chance to get together and share what works for us.
It was during this exchange that it hit me that all we were doing was exchanging tools. Just as every student isn't the same, if we only have one tool, we expect that same thing to work for all. What are your tools? Do you have one way to do things and that's that? Just like a teacher must have multiple methods to teach students, each and every one of us must have multiple ways of getting stuff done .

Details

Today's Thought is one that I initially never would have picked up on. After all, the Nike swoop is just clever branding, right? That changed with one email this summer. My supervisor and mentor sent a message to me with the idea that we need to "Just Do It". He said, "...think about that idea that you thought was next to impossible, and "Just Do It". Take that first step, the rest will sort itself out."

Have you ever had an idea that you thought was utterly impossible? In my life there have been many times where it seems like I simply CANNOT be a good teacher. And yet I am still here working toward my licensure. You see, don't sweat the small details. I think so much of the time we get caught up in the little issues that seem to be HUGE roadblocks and yet are relatively insignificant. Think back to your own life. Has there ever been times when you have a fantastic idea? My guess is that at least in some of these situations all you could see were the small details blocking your way. I bet you didn't follow through on your idea. Don't sweat the details. Just take that first step toward your crazy impossible idea. Just Do It.

Rabbits

Now I realize a lot of you are likely confused by this Thought. What does it mean? After all, isn't it just a stuffed energizer bunny? Well, yes, you would be right. It is 'just' a stuffed rabbit. However, the message behind it is what I am trying to get at.

Throughout this summer I was always amazed at the ability of my co-workers to identify and stay true to our organization's mission and vision. Sure, they were always looking for new ways to fulfill that purpose, but the purpose itself was never in doubt.

I wondered about this until the CEO and President told me a story. He said that a number of years ago, when the organization was just starting out and starting to gain traction and expand, there were many many different directions the organization could go. The temptation was great to stray from the core mission of the organization into other (very worthy) causes. For Christmas one year, his co-workers gave him this stuffed rabbit. It came with the message "Don't chase the rabbit". Wait, what? What rabbit? Don't worry, I was confused for a second too.

You see, his co-workers equated these worthy, though ultimately off target ideas to rabbits. So by saying "don't chase the rabbit" they were telling him to stay on target, stay on sight with the organizations purpose.

Have you ever gotten off target? It's easy to do. With life, there is no manual. We just have to go with what feels right. And many times, there are ideas or activities that while seeming to be ok, are truly off target with the people we are striving to be. This target or purpose would be called your values and morals by many people. Strive to stay on target. Don't get away from the values, purposes and visions that you hold dearest. Don't chase the rabbit.