"As Steve Jobs often said, 'I'm as proud of what we don't do as I am of what we do.'" - 4Dx page 43-
After reading 4Dx and after our professional learning in August, what
does this quote mean to you? What implications does it have for our campus, your classrooms, students, and you this year?
For a North, this is hard. I still want to do ALL THE THINGS! This is something that I keep going back to and have had conversations with others about as well. I need someone to hold me accountable to stick to "less is more" so I don't run myself into the group trying to do all the things! :) This may be a good quote to have posted in the school, so students know that balance is best and accomplishing one big thing is better than juggling 15 small things and not doing them well.
ReplyDeleteThis is an extremely hard thing to do in the classroom as well as in life. We always want to do everything for and with our students. We want to give them the entire mountain and swoop in to save them even when they're climbing. It's important to plan effectively for the productive struggle and allow them to have ownership in their academic journey.
ReplyDeleteI think this is referring to the "whirlwind". If we are trying to "do all the things" then we loose focus, nothing gets done "well" and we feel unsuccessful. We have to set WIGs that will make the greatest impact and consistently celebrate our successes...not push them to the side and devalue them because we didn't "do ALL the things".
ReplyDeleteWe can't do it all. So do one thing well! But we also know that the thinking and processing is happening. This way we have a sense of pride as a campus and individually.
ReplyDeletePrioritize! Accomplish those big rocks first and with doing that little rocks will be accomplished too without knowing it. When we set our minds to accomplish one thing we accomplish it with excellence and the effect then is that a small rock can/will be effected too.
ReplyDeleteThen we will have glows in large and small areas throughout the campus, grades, and classrooms.
I often find myself wanting to do everything, because there are so many good ideas that I want to introduce to my students. When we try to do too much we end up yielding mediocre results.This quote helps remind me that by focusing on one goal we can actually achieve more. The idea of focusing on ONE goal is spreading throughout Seven Hills this year, from ONE T-Tess goal to ONE Wig as a campus and ONE Wig for a student.I'm going to have to really model how to choose just ONE, because there are many areas that we want to improve in. Students need to see our focus/action steps and how they are contributing to meeting our one goal, so they can "buy in" to the idea of just one.
ReplyDelete"We have met the enemy, and he is us." Your thoughts reminded me of this quote. There are so many wonderful ideas out there. There are many needs we must address. So many that we often think more is more, ultimately "yielding mediocre results."
DeleteI believe this implies that we are able to completely focus on the most important thing(s)to the extent that we are not distracted by other things that could draw our attention and energy. This means to me that I should celebrate my attention on what matters, just as much as I celebrate not wasting time on the whirlwind.
ReplyDeleteWow! When we can allow ourselves to only focus on the wildly important and the whirlwind in our circle of influence...that truly is a celebration! Doesn't it feel empowering when you see the results of focused attention on what matters?
DeleteThis reminds me that it is better to do a few things with excellence rather than many things with only mediocre outcomes. When I think of helping my students with their WIGs or in small group instruction what we focus on is as important as what we choose to set aside. As a teacher I need to be okay with focusing one ONE skill or strategy at a time to leverage my students' learning and help them grow.
ReplyDeleteTo me this quote means that it is far better to set your sights on one Wildly Important, rather than spread yourself thin focusing on the whirlwind. It is best to spend your energies on the one thing that is most important, so that we can accomplish our goals. We need to teach our kids to do the same.
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ReplyDeleteWe cannot do everything well, no matter how much we want to; no matter how hard we try. When we focus on doing a few things well, we do those things well, and we can take pride in that.
ReplyDeleteIt is important to focus on one BIG goal, rather than 10 small goals. If we choose to attempt the small things, we might not meet the greatest expectations. By focusing on the Wildly Important, we are given the opportunity to maximize the potential of that goal and exceed it with excellence.
ReplyDeleteWe want to dominate the learning process in our classrooms and school. So, if we want to really Dominate the "market", first determine your main goal. This in turn allows you to set smaller goals to achieve your main goal. Win-Win
ReplyDeletePeace out!!! :)
Dominate! I am inspired and energized by that conviction and passion! Dominate the learning process! YES! 7 Hills will DOMINATE!
DeleteI think this quote is powerful for educators. We are bombarded daily with new strategies, new ideas, and even new programs. Many people get caught up into doing lots of things okay or presenting lots of ideas in hopes one will stick. It is up to us as a campus to fully investigate these new practices before implementing them. We must say no to new things if they do not 100% support our Wig. We can do many things well, but we can only do 1 thing great!
ReplyDeleteYour thoughts about educators trying lots of strategies or presenting lots of ideas in hopes that one will "stick" is so true. As we work to stay true to focusing on those things with the greatest leverage to support our WIGs, how do we hold ourselves responsible for not getting caught up in trying everything that comes our way?
DeleteIn the whirlwind, there is only so much we can do and focus on but we should never lose sight of the fact that there are great things happening everyday. For our campus, my classroom and my students, I need to tighten in the main goal everyday and let greatness happen, I'll never be able to get it ALL done, but what I can will be great!
ReplyDeleteFocusing on the important things rather than the less important. Not getting caught up in the whirlwind. There is so much we should do every day but it is not possible to get it ALL done. So finding what we can do, organize, and be proud of the work that we accomplished. It is where we put our focus. We can be negative and only look at all we can't do but we will never grow and probably not make it in the teaching world!
ReplyDeleteIn addition to focusing on the important, I posit that we need to filter everything through the circle of concern and control. What in our whirlwind is within our circle of influence? When we focus on the wildly important and those whirlwind things that we have control or influence over, we will see those big rocks moving.
DeleteBeing the best does not mean doing the most. It is okay to do less as long as what you are doing is done in meaningful and quality way. I myself tend to sign up or agree to anything, which is common among educators. However, if we continue doing that we will be taken over by the whirlwind and the work we are able to get done won't be as purposeful.
ReplyDeleteYES! If everything is important, nothing is important.
DeleteBeing proud of "what we don't do" to me means having the ability to discern the wildly important from the whirlwind. The whirlwind being "what we didn't do" and the WIG being "what we did."
ReplyDeleteIf you keep doing what you have always done, you will keep getting what you have always gotten. We should not be doing things that are not effective. Our students deserve better. When we focus on the wildly important, we tend to keep the main thing the main thing.
ReplyDeleteWe have to learn and know where it is ok for students to become independent and even go through productive struggles. It is our job to guide them in have self motivation and direction. It is how kids learn to be leaders and positive decision makers. It's all about knowing how to put the most important things first.
ReplyDeleteChoosing to refine practices over time and "fail forward" provides us the opportunity to learn from methods that were not optimal or even poor. Then we can replace these practices and be proud of the fact that we choose to evolve. Proud of "what we don't do" anymore.
ReplyDeleteIts best to focus on the few things that give us the most bang for our buck and let the little things go.
ReplyDeleteI should not be upset about focusing on one very important so that I can do or be my best.
ReplyDeleteThe quote means to be proud of all my accomplishments within the whirlwind and the progress I am making in focusing on a wildly important goal. Hence, I should focus on my WIG and all others will fall into place in every aspect of my life.
ReplyDeleteStay focused on the Wildly Important. It's so easy to see great things happening all around us (twitter, Facebook, campus visits, etc) - but if we lose track of our great plan - and don't execute fully, then nothing will reach the highest potential. There will always be great ideas out there. The most difficult part of what we do is resisting the urge to do other good things and give up on the Wildly Important.
ReplyDeleteThe quote speaks volumes to the point that we should only be focusing our time and energy on the wildly important rather that many small endeavors. For our campus, myself, and my students, this gives us an opportunity to improve in one area at at a time rather that trying to tackle every major area at once - only to give each goal a small percentage of our focus.
ReplyDeleteBeing a "north" I would have to agree with Hayley in that I try to do everything. I have to have people in my inner circle that will truly hold me accountable in allowing myself to not do everything as well as seeing things that are not as important as more of an importance. The need in focusing on the wildly important is important for me to model to my students so that their "north" personalities can understand that as well.
ReplyDeleteOur team goal is to meet weekly and work together to help all students with special needs reach their summit. If we don't focus on our WIG we could end up in a whirlwind. I'm proud that we are keeping our WIG in focus and making that time together a weekly priority.
ReplyDeleteFocus on the wildly important and try not to get caught in the whirlwind. At the same time, be proud of what you have worked hard on and have accomplished!
ReplyDeleteTo me, this goes along with getting caught in the whirlwind and making sure we are putting our efforts where they are most needed. This is hard when we have a lot of ideas but not enough time to get them all done with fidelity. Taking the time to prioritize and plan is key.
ReplyDeleteThis quote reminds me of being 100%. When you create a goal and focus on it 100%, it makes more of an impact than having 1,000 other things on your plate that never get accomplish.
ReplyDeleteIt's important to keep our focus on optimizing. It is more important to do things in the most optimal way, which may or may not be the way we have always done it. Expect change. Expect to grow. What you've always done may not be the best way anymore. Therefore, I can be as proud of what I don't do anymore, as I am of what I do do. Being willing to change and grow is important to achieving success.
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