Episode 317 – The 2025 Summer Reading List

EPISODE 317The 2025 Summer Reading ListBiggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss:“When we overprotect children from real-world risks, we leave them more vulnerable to digital dangers they’re not ready to face.” (Jonathan Haidt)“If you don’t change the system, the system will continue to produce the same result—no matter how hard you try.” (Dan Heath)“Even when […]

Episode 316 – Are you a Borrower or Builder?

EPISODE 316Are you a Borrower or Builder?Biggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss:If you’re cherry-picking Buildership strategies without going all in, don’t be surprised when your results are just as scattered as your strategy.Borrowing a few Buildership moves might make you feel like you’re building. But, if you don’t commit to the whole process, you’re […]

Episode 315 – The moment I realized Summer Planning was a Lie

EPISODE 315The moment I realized Summer Planning was a LieBiggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss:You don’t need a better SIP. You need a team that actually believes in the one you write.Most SIPs are built for compliance. Yours should be built for change.Plan alone in June. Lead alone in October.If you make your summer […]

Episode 314 – You’re about to waste another summer

EPISODE 314You’re about to waste another summerBiggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss:Your fancy summer plan won’t survive September if you’re still leading without a vision.Summer is when most leaders double down on tactics. But Builders step back and do the thing that makes tactics workIf you don’t have a 100% vision, you’re about to […]

Episode 313 – You can’t get to 100% on good intentions

EPISODE 313You can’t get to 100% on good intentionsBiggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss:You can’t build 100% success with the same strategies you used to chase 5% improvement.You can’t get to 100% success on good intentions alone. Are you a true visionary… or just good at slogans?Your 100% Vision won’t build itself.That leadership residue is […]

Episode 312 – What are your teachers saying about you behind your back?

EPISODE 312Why you should be conducting Exit InterviewsBiggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss:Want to know what teachers really think of you? Try talking to a teacher who is leaving. An Exit Interview is a powerful way to provide closure for you and for any teacher who is leaving, so why don’t more principals do them?Everyone […]

Episode 311 – How to Keep Teachers Engaged at the End of the Year

EPISODE 311How to Keep Teachers Engaged at the End of the YearBig TakeawaysMost end-of-year celebrations are just glorified pity parties. “You suffered. You survived. Here’s a cupcake.”Quiet quitting in May isn’t a teacher problem. It’s a culture signal you’ve been ignoring all year.If your systems fall apart in May, they were never real systems. They […]

Episode 310 – How to do Teacher Appreciation Week #LikeABuilder

EPISODE 310How to do Teacher Appreciation Week #LikeABuilderBig TakeawaysMost schools are celebrating compliance this week and calling it appreciation.Every thank-you you give this week teaches your team what matters most.If your praise reinforces compliance, you’re not appreciating. You’re just training your team to survive dysfunction with a smile.You can’t build a 100% culture on cupcakes […]

Episode 309 – The one meeting teachers actually look forward to

EPISODE 309The one meeting teachers actually look forward toBig TakeawaysIs your school data rich and insight poor?If the only time your teachers reflect is during an observation conference, they’re not actually reflecting, they’re performing.You can’t expect honest reflection in a conversation where one person holds the scorecard.If reflection only happens during post-observation conferences, is it […]

Episode 308 – When Everything Feels… Fragile

EPISODE 308When Everything Feels…FragileBig TakeawaysThe problem isn’t the chaos. It’s that your strategy wasn’t built for it.Leaders reassure. Builders realign.Leadership is about looking like you have a plan. Buildership is about actually having one.Leaders rely on instinct and hope. Builders rely on systems and clarity.There’s a difference between movement and progress. Builders understand that difference. When […]