Beyond the Business Card: Finding Wholeness in Life's Seasons
Little by little, a little becomes a lot.
-Tanzanian proverb
Last week, I shared my goal-setting journey for 2025. Using the LEAP framework, which stands for Life, Education, Achievement, and Professionalism, to help guide me, I discussed some preliminary thoughts and connected them to the framework's Professional domain. However, I missed exploring how my work had touched every aspect of my life.
Like many of you, my business cards defined me for decades. Teacher, principal, director, superintendent—each title represented another step up the educational leadership ladder. However, something interesting happened when I retired—those titles vanished. I had to reflect deeply on who I was. Allow me to share a personal anecdote that illustrates this shift.
A recent conversation with my son brought this home. "Dad," he asked, "why do you still work so much? His question stopped me. I realized I was still living like that superintendent—scheduling every minute, being available 24/7, and measuring success by productivity. But life isn't meant to be lived that way. The LEAP framework revealed something vital: placing any single domain at the center, like the Professional, creates an imbalance. Instead, these areas should flow together, each supporting and strengthening the others.
The outcome of my goal setting includes achieving balance, and I am using LEAP to help me weave these domains together. Take my Sunday morning coffee. What started as a simple ritual of taking my coffee and stepping out in the backyard to enjoy the morning sun (I live in Indio, CA) has become something more. I will call members of my family to see how they are doing. We talk about everything - things happening in their world, the good and not-so-good, the latest in family gossip, achievements, plans for the week, and beyond. Scheduling events for my personal life is as important as all the calendaring I did for meetings, appointments, presentations, etc.
That small observation ignited an idea for my next executive coaching session centered on connecting with staff as whole individuals, not just professionals. Those walking meetings I mentioned last week? They've also evolved. My weekly walk with Tom, a retired principal and close friend, blends exercise, professional development, and camaraderie.
We solve educational challenges while strengthening our bodies and our bonds. We tackle educational challenges while enhancing our bodies and our connections. Sometimes, the best solutions arise when we're not trying to force them. Research indicates that moderate physical activity during the workday can boost productivity by up to 15%. But it's more than just productivity—it's about energy. When I take that morning walk or stretch between virtual meetings, I think more clearly. My conversations with educators have become sharper. Ideas flow more freely.
My home office reflects a more blended approach, as well
A family corner with photos that remind me why I do this work
A comfortable reading nook where my cat hangs out as I write
A garden path for walking calls that combine movement with connection
During the recent Super Bowl, my daughter, an HR specialist, shared ideas that sparked a new project to facilitate a client coaching session. I asked how she was addressing a specific issue that had arisen with my client, and that conversation provided me with valuable insights. These natural connections often lead to the most innovative solutions.
The LEAP framework helped me understand that good boundaries don't isolate our lives; instead, they enhance the flow between different areas. Here's what's working for me:
No work calls during family dinner
Dedicated family time with my phone in another room
Morning coffee with family is a sacred time
On Tuesday evening, I missed an important virtual meeting to talk with my teenage son about a personal matter as Valentine's Day approached. Five years ago, I would have felt guilty. Today, I see it differently—this time strengthened our bond while demonstrating what matters most. Sometimes, the best professional lessons come from personal moments, and these experiences often provide the most valuable insights into our professional lives.
The examples I shared might seem basic at first glance, but they plant seeds for meaningful change. As educational leaders, we know that transformation often starts with small steps - a morning walk that becomes a daily ritual, a quiet moment of reflection that shapes better decisions, or a boundary that rebuilds family connections. These seemingly simple actions can grow into powerful shifts that reshape our approach to life and leadership.
As I look toward 2025, I'm redefining what success means to me. While professional accomplishments shaped my past thirty-five years, I now realize that true fulfillment comes from weaving together life's varied threads—family connections, physical well-being, and, yes, meaningful work. When these elements flow together naturally, success follows in ways I never anticipated.
When I mentor new educators, we don't just discuss leadership. We also talk about how their roles impact their families, health, and overall lives. Next week, we'll explore further connections between our professional lives and other LEAP domains.
Remember, we're not meant to live in separate boxes labeled "work," "family," and "health." Life becomes richer when we allow these areas to flow together, supporting and strengthening one another in ways we might never anticipate.
Questions for Reflection:
How have your professional titles shaped your identity, and who are you beyond them?
What rituals help you blend personal connections with professional growth?
Which relationships in energize you most, and how can you nurture them?
When was the last time you chose family over work, and how did it make you feel?
What small daily habits help you weave together your professional and personal life?
5 Tasks:
Create a "sacred time" ritual with family or friends that becomes non-negotiable
Design your workspace to include elements from all life domains (family photos, comfortable reading nook, walking path)
Schedule one walking meeting this week to combine physical activity with professional connection
List three boundaries you'll establish to protect personal time (like no-phone family dinners)
Start a ritual that blends personal reflection with professional planning
The Pulse
Bold collaborations between school boards and superintendents can create pathways for equity and excellence
This week, I came across a thought-provoking piece about school board leadership. Drawing from Martin Luther King Jr.'s wisdom about leaders being "voices of reason," the article explores what happens when school boards step beyond their comfort zones to create real change. I found their take on "audacious leadership" particularly refreshing. The authors, combining their experience as a former superintendent and leader of one of America's largest school districts, offer practical insights into how boards can work with superintendents and unions to tackle tough challenges. This piece is worth your time if you're interested in seeing how the School District of Philadelphia is implementing these ideas. Article Link
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