Monday we looked briefly…
at the three types of education.
It should be abundantly clear…
to anyone who has read TommyMom…
for any length of time…
that our family…
believes in…
and has chosen…
Leadership Education…
as our model.
We are asked frequently…
about it.
Especially…
when “Back to School” season…
rolls around!
Leadership Education…
isn’t new.
This book however…
is stellar…
in laying out principles…
through phases and keys…
that serve as a template…
for living it out.
Truth is…
Leadership Education…
can be found…
most everywhere you look.
Let’s use last weekend…
as an example…
in the hopes…
that several very dear…
individuals…
just beginning…
( and even some continuing…)
who have confessed…
to meltdowns…
and near hysteria…
because of a perceived…
lack of understanding…
will be blessed with…
new-found confidence!
You know who you are.
Son #1 recently moved…
to the beach.
Until this move…
he’s been a desert rat…
his entire life.
For him…
this is an entirely new culture.
The above mentioned individuals…
can relate.
This brings me to…
Point #1. Foster and Encourage a Love of Learning…and a Lifelong Learner Emerges!
When you encourage life and learning as seamless activities with no real beginning or end, and model a thirst for knowledge; those around you will choose the same. Son #1 has readily embraced a beach city life. He took initiative and is committed to understanding his new culture.
In fact…
with the birthdays of Sons #4 and #5 this month…
came the invitation to try something new!
Point #2. When you lack information, knowledge, and skill sets… find a mentor.
This is Heather. She has been our National Women’s Surfing Champion. Need I say more?
It is wise to identify your strengths and gifts, utilize them whenever possible, and find capable mentors where you are lacking.
One of the greatest invitations to burnout, anxiety and stress, is the thought process that you are the end-all to someone else’s needs!
It is a trap to foster perfection…perceived or otherwise, and to couple it with an end-all mentality.
I don’t surf.
Pretty plain and simple, isn’t it?
Put forth your best effort…
strive for excellence in all you do…
and be willing to wait.
There are mentors everywhere.
Point #3. One man’s Rip Tide…Is Another Man’s Joy Ride!
Heather explained Rip Tides in detail.
Fact is…
if you’re swimming, they can be deadly.
On the other hand…
if you’re looking to surf…
you can’t do so without them!
How you look at..
and choose to embrace…
thoughts…
ideas…
principles…
and then act upon them…
really does matter.
Diversity in thought…
and action…
amongst people…
is good.
In the final analysis…
action trumps intent every time.
Familiarizing one’s self…
with the necessary phases and keys…
in order to invite success…
is all a necessary part of the process.
There will be glitches…
and unexpected challenges.
But…
as Heather stated…
learning to relax…
and ride out the tide…
has saved more than one individual!
Trusting the mentor is also vital.
They’ve done the work…
paid the price…
and know what it takes.
They sense where you need to begin…
in order to ensure mastery later on.
The mentor recognizes…
individuality.
They celebrate and honor diversity…
while assessing strengths and weaknesses.
They adjust based on individual needs…
as time goes on.
Mentors…
often recognize…
the need…
for additional mentors…
in order to provide…
an environment…
in which to thrive.
Their ability…
to naturally do this…
comes from confidence…
within their own community…
and environment.
I love this photo.
Heather doesn’t stroll the beach.
She takes confident strides.
She knows the patterns of waves…
and sections of the ocean…
that to the inexperienced…
look vast, dangerous and deep.
She also…
sees delegation…
as an opportunity…
rather than a threat…
so that more experienced students thrive…
while she reinforces core principles…
as she shares her tremendous passion…
while building deeper relationships.
As is the case with most any culture…
there is a complete vocabulary…
that accompanies the surfing community.
A rip…
is slang for…
“an aquatic action of epic proportions.”
I mentioned I don’t surf.
But…
I do mentor and lead.
I’m aiming for a Leadership Rip.
I hope you are, too.
Come back Friday…
and catch a wave, Dude!
LOVE this Teri!! I am fully aware that I am one of those you were to referring to and it made me laugh!! You can articulate things so well that even I can understand them better
Looking forward to Friday’s!! Blessings to you my friend!!
[Reply]