Is My Life An Obligation or An Opportunity ?

When my phone rings in my office, I respond to each call as an opportunity to serve, earn, learn, influence, network, encourage or teach. A sign above my desk reads “ Obligation or Opportunity.” The people who change the world around them –rarely act from a sense of obligation….they almost always act from a sense of incredible opportunity. They interact with the world around them because they want to, not because they have to. Those who lead effectively view the circumstances around them as opportunities not obligations.

Genuine, authentic leadership infuses meaning into your life, because you know that your efforts count and that you are serving the needs of others as well as your own. You can help, influence and inspire those around you.2

In August of 2006 Karl Fisch shared a Power Point with me about our changing world and the impact of the “New Global Economy”. I then read the Thomas Friedman book, “The World Is Flat”. I then came across an old 1986 commercial called “Think Different”. For me that week was life changing. All the pieces came together on changing the way we teach our “Digital Natives” in the classroom. The commercial content included snapshots of people who changed the world and the concluding statement was….”People who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do”. You can download or view the commercial on my web site at the following address: http://www.toolsfortheclassroom.com/page7.html

I have included the “Did You Know III” file in the attachment. If you can not receive the attachments the file is on my web page : "Tools For The Classroom" web site: www.toolsfortheclassroom.com

There have been over 50,000 views on YouTube, presentations at 10 conferences and over 2,000 attendees that have carried the message back to their school district. The intent is for you to show the PowerPoint and start on a journey of teaching our “Digital Kids” differently. Have a discussion with your peers, administrators, and school board members and help “Change The World, one teacher at a time.”

Mark Sandborn said it best, “ People who take an active leadership role in their lives tend to be good thinkers…Great leaders tend to be GREAT THINKERS”.

Enjoy…..

“Good Enough Never Is”

Howie

1 & 2…Content paraphrased from “The Fred Factor”; “You Don’t Need A Title To Be A Leader”; “The World According To Mister Rodgers”.