Thoughts on better parenting, teaching, management, and leadership
What Will Matter - poem by Michael Josephson
This blog gets its name from Michael's inspirational poem.
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Thumbnail image for QUOTE & POSTER: Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them become what they are capable of becoming. – Goethe

QUOTE & POSTER: Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them become what they are capable of becoming. – Goethe

May 7, 2013 Quotes, Observations
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Thumbnail image for COMMENTARY 826.3: Making Lives

COMMENTARY 826.3: Making Lives

May 7, 2013 Commentaries

A few years ago I came across a video by a very dynamic speaker, a former middle school teacher named Taylor Mali. He is now what’s called a performance poet — someone who delivers poetry as singers deliver songs. The poem that caught my attention was “What Do I Make?” an articulate and aggressive response to a critic [...]

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Thumbnail image for QUOTE & POSTER: Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can be only forgiven, not forgotten.

QUOTE & POSTER: Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can be only forgiven, not forgotten.

May 6, 2013 Quotes, Observations
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Thumbnail image for QUOTE & POSTER: Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.- Benito Juarez.

QUOTE & POSTER: Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.- Benito Juarez.

May 6, 2013 Quotes, Observations
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Thumbnail image for QUOTE & POSTER: Stand up for what you believe in, even if you’re standing alone.

QUOTE & POSTER: Stand up for what you believe in, even if you’re standing alone.

May 6, 2013 Quotes, Observations
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Thumbnail image for QUOTE & POSTER: It’s not who you are that holds you back. It’s who you think you’re not. –Denis Waitley

QUOTE & POSTER: It’s not who you are that holds you back. It’s who you think you’re not. –Denis Waitley

May 6, 2013 Quotes, Observations
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Thumbnail image for QUOTE & POSTER: The one who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The one who walks alone, is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been. –Albert Einstein

QUOTE & POSTER: The one who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The one who walks alone, is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been. –Albert Einstein

May 6, 2013 Quotes, Observations
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COMMENTARY 826.2: Do I Have to Tell Everything?

May 6, 2013 Commentaries

Should a job applicant properly withhold information about a criminal record or termination from a previous job? Should a woman starting a new relationship say nothing about a previous marriage or abortion? These are problems of candor: When does an ethical person have a duty to reveal negative information about his or her past? First, [...]

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Thumbnail image for QUOTE & POSTER: Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder. –rumi

QUOTE & POSTER: Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder. –rumi

May 3, 2013 Quotes, Observations
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Thumbnail image for QUOTE & POSTER: Turn your can’t into cans and dreams into plans

QUOTE & POSTER: Turn your can’t into cans and dreams into plans

May 3, 2013 Quotes, Observations
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Thumbnail image for COMMENTARY 826.1: Is It Really Only About Winning?

COMMENTARY 826.1: Is It Really Only About Winning?

May 3, 2013 Commentaries

Long ago, I entered law school wanting to do good. I left more concerned with doing well. In an atmosphere dominated by raging competitive instincts, persuasive rationalizations, and real economic pressures, cynicism drowned out idealism. My notion of the legal system as a grand forum for the pursuit of truth and justice was reduced to [...]

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Thumbnail image for QUOTE & POSTER: In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure. – Bill Cosby

QUOTE & POSTER: In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure. – Bill Cosby

May 2, 2013 Quotes, Observations
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Thumbnail image for QUOTE & POSTER: It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up. – Vince Lombardi (NFL Champion Head Coach)

QUOTE & POSTER: It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up. – Vince Lombardi (NFL Champion Head Coach)

May 2, 2013 Quotes, Observations
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Thumbnail image for QUOTE & POSTER: I am thankful for all of those who said NO to me. Its because of them I’m doing it myself. –Albert Einstein

QUOTE & POSTER: I am thankful for all of those who said NO to me. Its because of them I’m doing it myself. –Albert Einstein

May 2, 2013 Quotes, Observations
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Thumbnail image for COMMENTARY 825.5: The Scorpion and Human Nature

COMMENTARY 825.5: The Scorpion and Human Nature

May 2, 2013 Commentaries

Terry and his dad Glen were walking along the shore and came upon a scorpion struggling in the tide, trying to get back to the sand. Glen tried to scoop the creature up, but the scorpion stung him and fell back into the tide. Glen tried again and was stung again. Terry said, “Dad, leave [...]

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Thumbnail image for QUOTES & POSTER: I’ve failed over & over & over again in my life & that is why I succeed. – Michael Jordan

QUOTES & POSTER: I’ve failed over & over & over again in my life & that is why I succeed. – Michael Jordan

May 1, 2013 Quotes, Observations
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Thumbnail image for COMMENTARY 825.4: How to Change Attitudes and Behavior — “I Can Do It and It’s Worth It.”

COMMENTARY 825.4: How to Change Attitudes and Behavior — “I Can Do It and It’s Worth It.”

May 1, 2013 Commentaries

In yesterday’s commentary, I talked about a teacher named Shavonne who was at wits end with several students, including Leon, whose lack of self-control when he became angry or frustrated constantly created trouble.  She was certain that nothing short of intense therapy could change his behavior. Changing Leon’s behavior will be a challenge, but it [...]

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Thumbnail image for COMMENTARY 825.3: Changing Self-Limiting Beliefs and Bad Behavior

COMMENTARY 825.3: Changing Self-Limiting Beliefs and Bad Behavior

April 30, 2013 Caring, Compassion

Shavonne, a third-grade teacher, was at the end of her rope with disciplinary problems, but she wasn’t enthusiastic when she was told that her school had adopted the CHARACTER COUNTS! program. Now she was expected to explicitly seek to instill and enhance in her students core ethical values like honesty, respect, and responsibility, and to [...]

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Thumbnail image for QUOTE & POSTER: If you want to know a person’s real values look how they spend their time and their money. -Michael Josephson

QUOTE & POSTER: If you want to know a person’s real values look how they spend their time and their money. -Michael Josephson

April 30, 2013 Quotes, Observations
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Thumbnail image for QUOTE & POSTER: Be Curious Not Judgmental. -Walt Whitman

QUOTE & POSTER: Be Curious Not Judgmental. -Walt Whitman

April 30, 2013 Quotes, Observations
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Thumbnail image for QUOTE & POSTER: Stand out, rise above the crowd

QUOTE & POSTER: Stand out, rise above the crowd

April 30, 2013 Quotes, Observations
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Thumbnail image for QUOTE & POSTER: Don’t lose hope. You never know What tomorrow Will bring

QUOTE & POSTER: Don’t lose hope. You never know What tomorrow Will bring

April 30, 2013 Quotes, Observations
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Thumbnail image for QUOTE & POSTER: If you fell down yesterday, stand up today. –H.G. Wells

QUOTE & POSTER: If you fell down yesterday, stand up today. –H.G. Wells

April 30, 2013 Quotes, Observations
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Thumbnail image for COMMENTARY 825.2: Living and Reading

COMMENTARY 825.2: Living and Reading

April 29, 2013 Commentaries

One of the most insightful and useful books I’ve ever read is a small volume by Harold Kushner called Living a Life That Matters. Today, I want to suggest ways of getting the most out of books, at least nonfiction books, which is about all I read. Reading shouldn’t be a passive experience. If you [...]

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Thumbnail image for COMMENTARY 825.1: Working Together

COMMENTARY 825.1: Working Together

April 26, 2013 Commentaries

I want to be thin – especially when I’m not hungry. And it seems the President and members of Congress want to work together – especially if they don’t have strong feelings about the issue. I liked President Obama’s call for more civility and greater cooperation, but I’m not convinced it will happen. There’s always [...]

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Thumbnail image for QUOTE & POSTER: Live A Life That Matters Live it fully and completely at the time, and live it by remembering it and sharing it.

QUOTE & POSTER: Live A Life That Matters Live it fully and completely at the time, and live it by remembering it and sharing it.

April 25, 2013 Quotes, Observations
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Thumbnail image for QUOTE & POSTER: Former Air Force General William Cohen wrote a fine book called The Stuff of Heroes in which he identified eight laws of leadership. Here are his rules: Maintain absolute integrity. Know your stuff. Declare your expectations. Show uncommon commitment. Expect positive results. Take care of your people. Put duty before self. Get out in front.

QUOTE & POSTER: Former Air Force General William Cohen wrote a fine book called The Stuff of Heroes in which he identified eight laws of leadership. Here are his rules: Maintain absolute integrity. Know your stuff. Declare your expectations. Show uncommon commitment. Expect positive results. Take care of your people. Put duty before self. Get out in front.

April 25, 2013 Quotes, Observations
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Thumbnail image for COMMENTARY 824.5: Eight Laws of Leadership

COMMENTARY 824.5: Eight Laws of Leadership

April 25, 2013 Commentaries

Take a look around. Business, education, politics. If there’s one thing we don’t have enough of, it’s good leaders – men and women who have the vision and the ability to change things for the better. Former Air Force General William Cohen wrote a fine book called The Stuff of Heroes in which he identified [...]

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Thumbnail image for QUOTE & POSTER: It’s amazing what you can do when you try

QUOTE & POSTER: It’s amazing what you can do when you try

April 24, 2013 Quotes, Observations
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Thumbnail image for QUOTE & POSTER: When you compete with someone as good or better than you, you may not always win, but you never lose.

QUOTE & POSTER: When you compete with someone as good or better than you, you may not always win, but you never lose.

April 24, 2013 Quotes, Observations
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