For years, my wife and I had envisioned having some sort of “mini-farm” in our backyard and had dreamed about what that might look like. We did lots of research into various plants and animals, talked about which ones we thought we would want, and even sketched out plans and ideas. But just as often, […]
“Before you can say something, first you have to have something to say.”
As an educator and school administrator, I have participated in many school-year-ending activities, one of those being graduations. One of the interesting things about graduations is that – like many endings – it is also a beginning, which is why they are also called commencements (the dictionary definition of “commencement” is “a beginning or start”). […]
Order your copy of “Leadership Ezra” on Amazon (and check out the latest podcast episode available on Apple Podcasts, titled “See the Big Picture,” here!) The work of leadership is hard, and it is not for the faint-hearted. There are decisions to be made, problems to be addressed, challenges to be solved, tensions to be […]
“You can’t outgive God.”
I enjoy puzzles. I enjoy all kinds of puzzles – word puzzles, number puzzles, brain games, etc. – but in this instance, I am specifically referring to jigsaw puzzles, the ones that are pictures cut into hundreds of little pieces that need to be assembled. And I have a preferred method of assembly: first, turn […]
“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
There are two primary halves of leadership responsibility: tasks and people. Although we need to do both if we are going to lead well, most of us tend to be more comfortable with one or the other. I personally drift more naturally to the task side, and so I am always reminding myself to give […]
If you’re good, you don’t have to tell people, they’ll tell you.
One of my father’s many great attributes was the character trait of #humility. As a teenager and a young man, I was often in awe at his capability and competence in so many areas, and yet he was never arrogant or prideful, and would not boast about his own accomplishments or abilities. Seemingly in spite […]