Coffee Break in the Midst of a Hurricane - 3/5/20

Coffee Break in the Midst of a Hurricane

By, Michael Earnshaw

March 5, 2020

@EduChefEarnshaw

We’ve resorted to screaming at this point. 

“Mike! What do you think you’re doing?”

I stated in a calm tone, “I’m going to put my feet up, take a long sip of this freshly brewed coffee, close my eyes and relax.” 

The anger and frustration was brewing, I could tell in the heavy breathing and red overtaking her face. 

“A coffee break? Are you freakin’ kidding me? Right now? A time out? How in the world do you deserve a time out? Have you seen your ‘To Do’ list? There’s over 20 items on it! Whatever happened to ‘I’m Mike, I only cover three tasks a day?’ And don’t even get me started on your inbox! Over 123 unread messages. UNREAD FROM THE ENTIRE WEEK!”

I could feel the warmth of the fire coming out with every word she uttered. She knew that no matter how much she screamed, yelled, and belittled me it wouldn’t do anything. 

“Fine, it’s your choice. I tried. Good luck,” and as that last sound escaped her lips she was gone. 

I muttered out loud to myself, “Finally some peace,” placed my hands behind my head, closed my eyes, and shut my mind down for seven minutes. 

____________________________________________________________________________

Was she right? Of course she was. I had not been taking my own advice the past week and some days. My “To Do” list had multiplied like Gremlins eating in the tub after midnight. There were numerous emails I hadn’t even glanced at from the past 4 days. I didn’t even know where to start with everything I needed to do workwise, let alone writing for my book, keeping current with blogging, and promoting various projects on social media. 

I’ve begun feeling like a failure, a loser. How did I let myself get so behind? What have I been choosing to do with my time to have not accomplished anything lately? 

I didn’t have the answers. I wasn’t spending time playing video games or vegging out in front of the television. I was going to bed early, waking early for workouts, which usually makes me more productive, but I still wasn’t getting anything done.

What did I need to do while this storm was dancing all around me in every direction?

____________________________________________________________________________

I’m taking a break. 

I’m taking a break when the “To Do” list mountain begins climbing into the clouds. 

I’m taking a break when my inbox has multiplied to a number comparable to pi. 

I’m taking a break when I’ve fallen behind on writing recipes for my upcoming book. 

I’m taking a break when I haven’t promoted our podcast or educational change agent. 

I’m taking a break when I haven’t posted a new blog in over three weeks. 

I’m taking a break. 

I deserve it. 

____________________________________________________________________________

She’s back. 

“How in the **** do you deserve a break? You just listed everything you need to do! Let’s go!” 

I finally had my response for her, one that would end this badgering and constant headache. 

“Yes, I need a break. It’s too much. I have too much to do. I need a minute to focus, take it in, and then divide up everything so I can tackle them all over the next few days with precision, focus, and dedication. If I don’t, if I just stare at this insurmountable list in every aspect of my life, I won’t do anything and this anxiety, YOU, will never go away. Let me enjoy this coffee and then I will get going.” 

And then she was gone, for now. 

I planned out what I would get done task wise over the next six days. 

I cleaned out my email. 

I’m writing this blog and planning for at least one per week going forward. 

My next few recipes are scripted as to what dish I will be sharing out. 

____________________________________________________________________________

Balance is a tricky thing. I share with others all of the time the strategies that I implement to keep myself on track. But life isn’t perfect or predictable. There are times, no matter how balanced we may think our lives are, where one side of the scale becomes overloaded, throwing everything off. 

There’s a few options we can take when our scales are tipped: 

Just start attacking everything, quickly chipping away at each task. 

Freak out, cry, and complain to everyone how overwhelmed we are, never truly making an attempt at getting out of our hole. 

Take a break, refocus, and with a positive mindset plan our attack. 

I’ve tried all three approaches, and for me, #3 is the only one that has ever served me well. 

____________________________________________________________________________

As for her, she’ll be back once life begins to pour. 

As for me, I’ll brew a fresh cup of coffee. 

WATER - #OneWord202 - January 7, 2020

WATER

#OneWord2020

January 7, 2020

By, Michael Earnshaw

@mearnshaw158

In 2019, I chose to forgo resolutions and instead live by the #oneword phenomenon. I was excited about this new approach, but a little apprehensive. How could just one word bring me a fulfilled, joyful, 365 days? 

Throughout the last few weeks of 2018, I contemplated and pondered what #oneword I would hold in my heart throughout my relationship with 2019. This was an elephant sized decision for me, and I didn’t want to pick a word that wasn’t meaningful or brought unattainable goals. It wasn’t until January 8, 2019 that I had my #oneword2019.

The word that I lived by this past year was BELIEVE. Click the word to read it if you haven’t yet. 

I truly BELIEVED that my #oneword2020 would come much easier to me this year. It was now the second time I’d choose to live by #oneword, which basically makes me a semi-pro. To my unbelieving surprise, it was not any easier. In fact, #oneword2020 was much more difficult than I ever would have BELIEVED. 

For 2020, I wanted to choose a word that built off of 2019’s. 2019 was one of my best years professionally and personally. Dreams and goals that I have had since I was a young punk rocker, waxing up parking blocks at the corner bank after hours, grinding, railing, and blunt sliding over that block with our skateboards for hours on end Friday nights. I lived 2019 BELIEVING that I was going to break out of my comfort zone and make an impact in the world. I’m pleased to say that this has happened, but it’s only just the beginning.

WATER. This is my #oneword2020. I chose this word because I simply can’t just BELIEVE what I want to happen anymore. That part is over. Those dreams, those goals, have already begun to blossom. The seeds were planted in 2019. Now it’s time to feed them to watch them grow for years to come. 

WATER brings life. Seeds are planted. Trees, plants, flowers, crops, all need water to bloom into their full potential. Writing, podcasting, speaking are all seeds that begun in 2019. I BELIEVED I could do those, and do those I have very well. Now is the time to WATER those seeds, and witness them expand further, touch more educators than I ever imagined possible. 

WATER is strength. WATER can cut through rock. It can carry the heaviest of semi-trucks like they are weightless. I need to be the strength for my family. I need to advocate for my son, who has special needs. I need to be the protector of my daughter, to guide her to choose the right man that will treat her like the princess she is. I must be strong for my wife, carrying my weight and more so she is not overburdened with carrying our family.

WATER is persistent. It will continually flow if we allow it to. I cannot stop feeding my dreams and goals. I must not build a dam or turn the faucet to “off” when it comes to what I must accomplish personally, familial, and professionally. 

WATER takes on many forms. When the temperature drops, WATER transforms to ice. Heat and we have gas. Depending on the situation it is put in, WATER adapts. I must begin to more fluidly adapt to my situations. I cannot take the same approach with every individual and every conversation I enter. There will be fun situations and conversations as well as ones that are uncomfortable and difficult. To be the leader our staff and students deserve, and more importantly, the husband and father my family deserves, I must adapt and approach each season with the proper form. 

WATER is a symbol of health, of wellness. We must consume it daily to survive. It cleanses our bodies, both internally and externally. I must take my health seriously. I’m turning 40 this year. Long gone are the days when I can eat whatever I want and still think I can perform at a highly efficient level while running marathons, attempting a PR lift in the gym, leading and serving my staff and students, or just being an active dad and husband. It’s time to consume WATER to fuel my drive to reach my goals. 

I’m ecstatic for 2020. I know in every being of my body it is going to make those dreams I haven’t even had yet come true! My body is tingling with excitement just imaging what is to come! 

Or, it may be the 120 oz. of WATER I’ve consumed today. 

Struggle Island - December 3, 2019

Struggle Island 

By, Michael Earnshaw 

December 3, 2019 

@mearnshaw158 

I stared at the illuminated document displayed on my screen, seven items listed, yet my eyes fixated only on #3, Struggle Island. A sinister smile overtook my face and that inner voice let out his best Mr. Burn’s laugh, the kind where a plan comes together in his mind. I awoke my email app, attached the document as a live link with a faux paperclip, and punched "Send.” Now the waiting. This would be the longest three days, but the anticipation would be well worth it.  

I couldn’t even keep track of how many staff members came up to me over the course of the next 72 hours, all asking the same questions.  

“What is Struggle Island?” 

“What are we doing with Struggle Island?” 

“Do I need to know anything?” 

“What should I bring?” 

“I can’t wait for this faculty meeting!” 

That’s right. I had our staff salivating at the thought of our next faculty meeting. In other schools across our great nation, many principals spend their one hour a month after school with their staff reciting bullet points on a PowerPoint behind them. Many, if not all of these bullets, could easily be sent in an email or newsletter without any verbal explanation and I guarantee that the professional staff they oversee would understand what the directives were. I do things differently. I know I don’t want to sit and just read facts to our staff after a long day inspiring our kids, so why in the world would our staff want that either?  

“You shouldn’t have to worry too much. I would just make sure you’re comfortable, make sure to get a good night’s rest, and eat healthy. I’d suggest working out or getting a run in that morning, but don’t overdo it. You don’t want to be exhausted,” was my reply. Then I’d creepily stare at them, with that sinister smile taking contorting my face.  

We are constantly telling our teachers that long gone are the days when students sat in straight rows, writing rote notes from what the teacher produced on the board at the front of the room, reciting the same information students could read for themselves. Today’s classrooms need to be engaging. Teachers need to build anticipation and excitement into their lessons to have our students bursting back through our doors each day. Today’s lessons need to include collaboration, problem solving, higher level thinking, engagement, and fun. All of those are ingredients to a mouthwatering lesson. If you don’t believe me go read Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess. Or better yet, go see him keynote or present and tell me you don’t think fun, engagement, and anticipation have a place in a successful lesson.  

I don’t expect our teachers to bring bland, antiquated lessons to their students, so why should I? No educator is excited to stay an hour or two after school when they’re exhausted. As principals, our staff meetings are our classrooms, it is our time to engage, inspire, and motivate our staff. It is a time to get our staff collaborating and problem solving to bring the best, life changing education to our students. That will not happen by them listening to me drone on through a PowerPoint. As leaders, we need to bring our passions and model the style of lessons we expect our staff to bring to our students.  

After going through the first standard items on our agenda, such as the passing of the Gracious Grizzly and 1st grade presenting on how to implement Bead Counters, we arrived at item #3! 

The room grew silent as if someone hit the “Mute” button in the room. All eyes made their way to me. I heard Mr. Burns’ maniacal laughter echoing in my head. That sinister smile overtook, I gasped a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. Seconds felt like eons. I closed my eyes, placed my shaky hands on the desk in front of me for support. I tilted my head towards the ground and closed my eyes.  

“Ok. It’s time we go to Struggle Island. You’re not going to need to bring anything with you. Your belongings will be safe here, if you’re lucky enough to return. If you don’t make it back we’ll be splitting up amongst ourselves what was left behind, unless you labeled everything or have a will. Unfortunately, there’s no time to get it together now. Is everyone ready?” 

There were many smiles filling the room surprisingly, some began cracking their knuckles, and others stared at their closest comrade, searching for safety and sending S.O.S. messages via Morse code.  

“Alright, follow me,” were my last words before we landed on Struggle Island.  

I slowly walked out of the LRC (Learning Resource Center) and headed to our back playground. The sun was shining on this October afternoon. There was a strong eastern wind, swirling leaves and debris across the field that added to the feeling of despair as we prepared our trip to Struggle Island.  

Before our staff could begin conversing and getting comfortable, I began shouting.  

“Alright, everyone needs to form a circle, a nice tight circle. You want to be close enough to hold the person next to you’s hand. You don’t have to, but you may want to. You have ten seconds to form this circle.”  

Without speaking, our staff formed their circle. As I scanned the perimeter of their circle, a few were holding hands. 

“Welcome to Struggle Island!” I shouted with both of my arms outstretched to the Heavens. From the bullseye of the circle I declared, “Right now we are all safe!”  

“If you remember, two weeks ago I had asked everyone to come to the front office and anonymously fill out an index card with an issue you are facing in the classroom. You then placed them in this manila envelope.” I held up the envelope as high as my right arm would allow.  

“Inside here is all of our struggles. What I am going to do is remove a card, one at a time, and read it aloud. If you are facing that same struggle, you are to take two steps backwards. When you do that you are now in the murky, shark infested waters, with no idea of how to get out. If you did not take two steps backwards you are safe on the island. If you are safe on the island, that either means you have never encountered this struggle, or you have a solution to it. If you are still safe on the island, I ask that you throw a life saver to your colleagues and share what has worked for you or ideas on how they can find a way out of their struggle.”  

Two weeks before, so our staff could not put two and two together, I asked in an email for them to come to the office and write a problem they were facing and needed help with. I wanted it anonymous to get true problems that maybe they would normally be afraid to admit they were struggling with. This helped to build anticipation as to why they were doing this. They had no inkling as to why I was asking for this. Then, about two weeks later, I sent the agenda with item #3 only stating, Struggle Island. As far as I know, nobody made the connection.  

I had received many positive praises from staff after this activity. It helped to drop the facade that everyone is perfect. Many staff also saw many of their colleagues in a new light, building a strong bond and camaraderie with the vulnerability many shared and helped with that afternoon.  This activity helped to share that all of us are facing issues we need help with. It helped to tighten the bond that we are all here for each other, and in turn our students. 

All of us, no matter our years of experience or title, face struggles. We all encounter obstacles that are way too daunting to get around on our own. We need to drop our egos and ask for help. Many of our answers are down the hall from our own offices and classrooms. If they’re not, reach out on social media. There are so many connected educators that your solution is out there. You are not alone. To be the best, not perfect, but the best for our kids, ask for help. We’re here for you.