I have to admit I once had a hush crush on Dan Pink – at the time his message just resonated with me.  For those less familiar with the author, he made his way into my orbit with his book A Whole New Mind.  He had a follow-up book called Drive some years later, which was also more than worth the read.  I lost interest after that for no real reason and have not really kept up with his work in over a decade.  Then, I recently came across a podcast in which he introduces the listening audience to Suneel Gupta.  You may have heard of Groupon but this CEO is way more than a retail coupon guy – see for yourself (click here). 

In August 2010 I was a featured speaker during our back to school kickoff pep rally.  I’d spoken at these types of events before but at the time we had a new superintendent and were using a new venue.  I can remember doing a walk through the evening before with our communications boss and our thought bubbles were surely in-synch.  My bit part in this convocation was to provide the state of the district address – performance-wise how were our students doing?  I had some slides to guide my speech but after 1 minute on the stage with 2,700 staff in seats waiting and needed technology not working, I winged it from memory.  One key part I pitched to the crowd was “what was their sentence” which was an idea I borrowed from Dan Pink’s first book and a project he ultimately launched (watch this short video for more information).  Back then I told the audience my sentence was “he provides the right folks with the right information.”  As I look back now I realize I was the lowest person on that totem pole should things have gone sideways.  They didn’t, thankfully, and I delivered my address on memory.  As a very small side note, I’ll indulge and share that a senior cabinet member at the time pulled me aside to share off the books appreciation.  I saved my hand written speech from back then as reminder…  

But what if I hadn’t kept it together? What if, on that day, I clammed up and folded? Backable was a good find for me and timely – it reaffirmed things I believe to be true and the power of proper preparation. As the adage goes, chance indeed favors the prepared mind. And as Suneel Gupta shares, your ability to get others to take a chance on you is largely dependent on your ability to inspire. As I watched the podcast, it made me instantly think of the parallels to what teachers do non-stop. They likely rehearse 21 times on average like the Groupon founder suggests before delivering a lesson. And they always check for understanding in ways that reinforce the learning. They have and always will be, BACKABLE.

I have to admit I was a bit dumbfounded on my latest read in Travel + Leisure – the most popular ice cream flavor in Texas was Rainbow Sherbet.  I’m not buying it – sherbet is poser wannabe ice cream at best.  Nothing rings more Texan than Homemade Vanilla by Blue Bell.  Period – end of a nonexistent story!  BTW yesterday was National Ice Cream Day and I hope you were fortunate enough to indulge in pure perfection straight from Brenham, TX.

The sherbet debate has never really come up in my household –we like push-ups and pops and everything else frozen and sweet for sure. But when it is time for grown up conversations on ice cream, I am admittedly the only responsible one in the room. Any debate on ice cream that doesn’t recognize Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla as the standard by which all others should be judged is just misinformed (IMHO). Other congregants in my household tend to run wayward and sample just about anything and everything. Blue Bell connoisseurs have restraint; we know what the best tastes like.

And I know it’s a bit of a stretch but I’m actually going to weave in some ethics in this debate as well – who knew sweetened and flavored frozen milk fat could segue so well into our moral fiber (I’m actually taking a graduate course right now and tonight’s zoom call class was on ethics and leadership).  And somewhat comical I suppose, I was chatting with my wife a morning or two ago about how I had let my Texas Monthly subscription lapse; it’s a personal favorite but regardless I somehow have never let my Psychology Today subscription lapse which I’m less invested in hands down.  In one of its latest features, one author journals about The Science of Predicting Unethical and Toxic Work Behaviors.  I’m sharing the article here because it’s one all school leaders should make note of and read. As alluded to I’m back in school myself and while I’m ready to show off all my budget and operations knowledge, I recognize the constant challenges inherent on matters I still need to further understand.  I’m challenged by what we do, what we can do, and what we ultimately end up doing.  The underlying tenet for the article cited and any worth mentioning is the matter of ethics.  Are you an ethical leader?  And why is this a question still worth asking?

So if you happen to prefer chocolate ice cream or any other inferior flavor, I promise not to exclusively judge you on this poor choice alone.  There really is no debate as far as I’m concerned, and therein lies the problem.  I’m actually a fan of bubble gum ice cream and still tell my wife to get me the clown cone at Baskin Robbins (she won’t btw). 

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As two scientists hashed out the so-called Great Debate now over a century ago around the universe and our origins, I’m reminded their discourse did not produce an overall “winner,” but rather a deeper understanding of nature and the universe, and maybe more importantly our place within in it.  As topics become even more sensitive in this day and age, I hope teachers like my 1^st grade teacher wife will maybe consider buying me that clown cone but if not at least continuing to entertain the discussion.