JUST DO IT
*Nike's most popular slogan after 20 years.
"You miss 100% of the shots you never take."
*Wayne Gretzky
RISK -- RUN TO, not a run from
The most successful people are the biggest risk-takers. That means they are also the biggest mistake-makers.
CHALLENGE CHAIR for our fellow PLCers:
SHARE A RISK you've taken and are glad you did.
SHARE A RISK you want to take.
I suppose the biggest risk I took was returning to finish college when I was 35. Very scary, and very out of place. Anyway, it worked out wonderfully and I'm so glad I took that risk. Of course, it had a very practical side to it. I think, for me, a real risk would be one that had no other value other than self-satisfaction. I don't know what that risk would involve. I need to think a lot on that!
ReplyDeleteJackie
RISK IS THE ROAD TO REWARDS!!! This "motto" stood out to me the most while reading Hi-Way 2. Risk is necessary to redirect our focus. I thought it was interesting that a study was done to see what the happiest people had in common, and it was RISK. one of the greatest risks I ever took was going skydiving last May. I have always wanted to do it and one day, I decided to just go for it. You only live once!! It was the most memorable experience of my life!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Trish about the motto, another that stood out was RISK IS RUNNING TO NOT/FROM. Two risks that stand out are returning to college to finish my teaching degree while having 4 children at home. I also went soaring while on a trip in Arizona. It was one of the most awesome experiences I've had. I nearly backed out but I was so glad that I didn't. One risk I'd like to take is zip lining when the opportunity presents itself. I also think every risk taken has a value of self-satisfaction to the risk taker.
ReplyDeleteHighway #2 - Risk - is one of my favorites. I have done several of the risk activities from MK's book in my classroom. I want to share a few of these with this group. First, I let my students take part in the challenge chair. One of my students told the class that a risk she wanted to take in the future was to sing in front of the class. I asked this student why she wanted to take this risk. She said she use to sing with her grandmother all the time. She said she really hasn't sung in front of people since her grandmother had passed away. I arranged for this girl to take the risk about 2 weeks later. The words and sound that came out of this girl's mouth was amazing!!! I invited Mrs. Johnson into our classroom this day. Needless to say we all had goosebumps. The class gave a round of applause and I ended by telling this young lady that her grandma was so proud of her!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnother risk activity that I have done in my classroom is called the risk basket. Students can take a risk and draw one of the pieces of paper out of the basket and perform the task. I had one shy freshman girl running around the room acting like a monkey and then beating her chest like tarzan. Another student, Christian Barry, was amazing! He had the whole class beating on their desks, clapping their hands, snapping their fingers, and singing "WE WILL, WE WILL, ROCK YOU"!!!!
Finally, I am going to take a risk now. I am going to share with you a risk that I took a few years ago. Several of you know that I have dedicated several years as volleyball coach at Adams Central. I love coaching. The girls I coached became part of my family. I remember coaching in a sub-district final very pregnant and having my daughter 5 days later. These girls meant the world to me. Anyway, a few years back there were a few people that did not want me coaching volleyball at Adams Central any more. Mean, hurtful, untrue things were said about me and my family. Some said I was an awesome teacher, but a horrible coach that needed some mental help. I have always believed teaching and coaching go hand-in-hand. Anyway, I felt that it was best for my family and I for me to step down as the volleyball coach at Adams Central. The next thing I had to decide was whether I wanted to stay and be a part of this school system. I had other teaching and coaching offers. Why would I want to stay where people could be so hurtful? The risk I took was TO STAY AND CONTINUE TEACHING AT ADAMS CENTRAL. Why am I glad I took this risk - because the kids at Adams Central are amazing. The people I teach with are the best. I continue to coach junior high basketball and track at Adams Central. I have also been blessed by coaching volleyball at Blue Hill the past 4 years. By staying at Adams Central, I was given the opportunity to teach the 8 to Great ideas to students at this school. I have helped Adams Central students/athletes grow in the classroom and on the volleyball court. I am glad I RAN TO ADAMS CENTRAL, not from Adams Central.
Twila Knehans
To succeed we need to take risk at some point in our lives. One of the biggest risk I took was returning to College to receive my Masters Degree. Once I received my Masters Degree it was time to start applying for jobs in Administration. This was a huge risk because I was very happy at Southern Valley teaching and coaching. Was this a smart idea of starting up a new career and moving my family who was happy. I sent out application and received a few interviews but was not offered any jobs. Frustrations of what do I need to do different was the big question. I kept looking and found out that Adams Central was looking for an Elementary Principal. I thought why not take a chance (risk) and apply for that one. Knowing that Adams Central was a highly attractive job for many people I was just hoping to get an interview. I was elated when I received the phone call to come in for an interview. I thought the interview went well but not great. I'm so glad I took that risk to apply because the next day I received a phone call offering me the job. I'm so glad I took that risk, because the family and myself really love and enjoy Adams Central.
ReplyDeleteOne of the risk I would like to take is to skydive like Trish was able to do.
Twila – Great “challenge chair.” You really put me to work this time! Gratitudes = easy. Risk? Well, I’ve put off posting to our blog because I’ve really been struggling with this HiWay. So, as we left school last night, I shared our 8 to Great assignment with Tim, and then I spent the ride home complaining about what a non-risk taker I’ve become.
ReplyDeleteHow could this be? Growing up, I was always the daredevil of the group – the first to board the scariest roller coaster, the one who jumped on the “green” horse awaiting a wild, bucking ride, the one who wasn’t afraid to grab the halter of a 1,200 pound steer we were attempting to break for the fair. My parents held their breath on every ski trip we took – I craved those double black slopes before I even hit my teens! I would teeter on the brink of disaster when hanging Christmas lights from the steep peaks of my mom and dad’s two-story farmhouse. I WAS a risk taker, gosh darn it!
So, what has happened to me? I can’t stand on a stack of phone books without getting queasy, so Tim scales our roof to hang the Christmas lights. I hate to admit it, but I haven’t seen a ski slope for at least 20 years. And a roller coaster ride? Well, let’s just say that The Octopus at the Greeley County Fair this summer nearly made me hurl.
So, here’s the first lesson I learned: I need to unearth my risk-taking roots again!
And here’s the second lesson I learned: I’m not as young as I used to be. Scary roller coasters were replaced with the risk of getting married (which certainly has its ups and downs). Breaking wild animals has been replaced with . . . well, raising children. And going back to school in my late 30s to earn my master’s degree was a balancing act, indeed. So, in the end, maybe I am still taking risks. But, thanks to this assignment, I’m in the mood to take a “cool” risk again. Right now, I have no idea what that will be, but I know I’ll want to share once I’ve done it!
Finally posting about Hiway 2.....taking risks is so hard, but also can be very rewarding. I have caught myself looking at the risks I have not taken in my life, as opposed to the risks that I HAVE taken. I think the biggest risk I have taken in my life is getting married at 20, and having 5 kids!!!! A lot of people thought that we would be divorced within 5 years, and we had no business getting married that young. I can proudly say that we celebrated our 23 wedding anniversary this last fall. I have always wanted to be a wife/mom, and have been afraid to" take the risk" to admit that for a long time. You all know that raising children is tough, but it is also the most rewarding thing I have ever done.
ReplyDeleteWriting those risks that I have taken down was eye-opening and very freeing....listing the risks I want to take was tough also, but I did it!!!!
Great discussion, as usual, and look forward to diving into Hiway 3!!!!
I agree with Lonnie that in order to succeed we do have to take risks, but I do understand that taking risks can be very challenging in many ways (emotionally, financially, socially, etc.). I would have to say one of my biggest risks I have taken was putting my faith and trust in another doctor in Omaha. Jeff and I went through such a battle with doctors getting our little one, and seeing another one was really frustrating. Many know of the battle Jeff and I went through (I am pretty open about it), and it was a difficult decision to decide whether to see another one or just accept things and hope for the best. Luckily I have a very supportive husband and we started the process again. The new doctor finally found some things that were causing issues, so we went through with the 3 surgeries needed to clear up everything. This risk truly paid off---4 months after my last surgery we were finally expecting. I really have a hard time thinking of a risk I would want to take. The last 6 years of my life I was focused on one thing, but I would have to say the next risk I would like to take would be getting my masters.
ReplyDelete