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May 5 - May 21, 2024
take breaks—build them into your schedule. Taking time off helps to sustain harmonious passion, unlock fresh ideas, and deepen learning. Relaxing is not a waste of time; it’s an investment in well-being.
When you hit a dead end, it might be time to turn around and find a new path.
You don’t need a map to start on a new route—you just need a compass to gauge whether you’re heading in the right direction.
the best directions come from multiple guides.
When you find yourself languishing, you can build momentum by taking a detour to a new destination. When you make progress in a side project or hobby, you rack up small wins, which remind you that forward movement is possible.
The best way to learn something is to teach it.
Guiding others through a challenge reminds you that you have the resources you need to tackle it. The advice you give is usually the advice you need to take.
If ignorant naysayers doubt you, take it as a challenge. Instead of letting them crush your confidence, recognize it as an opportunity to prove them wrong. And when credible believers are behind you, rise to the occasion and prove them right.
Our deepest reserves of resilience come from knowing that other people are counting on us.
create opportunities for all—not just gifted students and high-potential employees. A good system gives underdogs and late bloomers the chance to show how far they’ve come.
every child has the potential to excel. Cultivate a growth mindset in teachers, not only in students. Gauge success by the progress of every student, not just those at the top.
train and treat teachers as trusted professionals.
Keep students with the same teachers for multiple years. Looping allows teachers to specialize in their students, not just their subjects.
The most important lesson to teach students is that learning is fun. When students get to select the activity stations, books, and projects that interest them, they’re more likely to develop intrinsic motivation.
Transform groups into teams. Collective intelligence depends on cohesion—aligning a team around shared responsibility for a meaningful mission.
elevate people who put the mission above their ego—and prioritize team cohesion over personal glory.
the most effective leader is not the loudest talker, but the best listener.
before you meet as a group, have people generate and evaluate ideas independently. Once all the ideas are on the table and all the voices are in the room, have the group select and refine the most promising possibilities.
If people can go to more than one leader, a single no can’t kill an idea—and a single yes can be enough to save it.
When evaluating others, beware of mistaking past accomplishments and experience for future potential.
character skills shape how far they can climb.
Struggles don’t necessarily reflect the absence of ability—often they reveal the presence of adversity.
the trajectory of performance over time matters more. An upward slope is a clue that candidates have overcome adversity.
create opportunities for candidates to shine. Invite applicants to share what they love and showcase their strengths. Afterward, ask if they thought their performance represented them well—and if not, give them a do-over.
The ultimate mark of potential is not the height of the peak you’ve reached, but the distance you’ve traveled—and helped others travel.
