As a young school principal I learned that when I was able to solve one problem I would invariably create a slew of new ones. I just didn’t know when or where or how they would surface. That was my initiation into the world of systems thinking and unintended consequences.
It was not until late in my career that I learned from professional changemakers (aka, social entrepreneurs) that energy, however negative or powerful, can be redirected to get positive results. All that is needed is an initial push and a sustained effort through failures and successes.
That's when I got to know how successful social entrepreneurs in education work their magic. These professional changemakers taught me:
They also taught me to see the world as I had never seen it before. That:
That set the stage for applying these principles to mentoring, what I would call "making the map, minding the gaps and building the app" -- "the mentor-is-a-changemaker!
And, later in life as an Encore Fellow in the Mayor's Office in San José -- tasked with building a mentoring program for underserved youth -- I would experience yet another major attitude adjustment. Due to the pandemic we had to scrap our plans, deliver our program in groups and go virtual. The result was something far more successful. Here's the story of what we piloted and the key lessons learned.
In addition, here's the quick story of how I came to "a new way of seeing" -- of what's hidden all along in plain view
Let's get started...
It was not until late in my career that I learned from professional changemakers (aka, social entrepreneurs) that energy, however negative or powerful, can be redirected to get positive results. All that is needed is an initial push and a sustained effort through failures and successes.
That's when I got to know how successful social entrepreneurs in education work their magic. These professional changemakers taught me:
- How attending to a school playground can transform a school culture;
- How positive peer pressure can counteract bullying;
- How a negative attitude can be a positive attitude waiting to be unleashed.
They also taught me to see the world as I had never seen it before. That:
- a negative situation is not a problem but an opportunity;
- even negative energy can be better than no energy at all.
That set the stage for applying these principles to mentoring, what I would call "making the map, minding the gaps and building the app" -- "the mentor-is-a-changemaker!
And, later in life as an Encore Fellow in the Mayor's Office in San José -- tasked with building a mentoring program for underserved youth -- I would experience yet another major attitude adjustment. Due to the pandemic we had to scrap our plans, deliver our program in groups and go virtual. The result was something far more successful. Here's the story of what we piloted and the key lessons learned.
In addition, here's the quick story of how I came to "a new way of seeing" -- of what's hidden all along in plain view
Let's get started...