Balancing the Difficulties with the Dream

No dream becomes reality without walking through difficulties. In fact, I believe it is often times the scope of the difficulties that lie ahead that keep us from fulfilling our dreams. Often times, we don't realize that we have a dream for something until a situation, or a circumstance is handed to us and we look at it and think, "How will I ever bring this situation around...the scope is so big, and the journey to get there seems trecherous." Then it happens, you start to see the end, but the steps to take to get there may seem a bit blurry still.

 Everytime I am given a new assignment in a school, district, or larger work, I first look at the whole of the situation, at where it is, and where I think it can be.  Then I begin to lay out a plan of breaking the whole into pieces, where each piece is looked at, and analyzed, and I begin to take the broken pieces and develop a plan to implement sustainable change piece by piece building a sustainable wholistic picture building to the final outcome...the vision...the dream.  In education, as well as in many businesses, this is the process of implementation science. It is the Plan, Do, Study, Act cycle of continuous improvement.

Having gone through this cycle in many schools, with varying situations and level of needs, I see how important it is to walk through this slowly, thoughtfully, and alongside a team in an effort to build capacity and sustainability.  In my work in schools, it never ceases to amaze me how slow this initial process is, BUT I always have to remind myself to hold on tight, and hang in there, because along the way something happens. As these highly critical leadership teams sit together and lay out a vision for their work, coureagous conversations begin to happen, mindsets begin to change, and pathways to success begin to unfold in a very organic and meaningful way.  It is in those moments that I sit back and take in the capacity and creativity and voice, and meaningful engagement of a team that months ago never existed.  This is the team that ultimately does the work...they are the ones that birth the dream. 

So as I sit in a newly created position, with high stakes, lots of eyes watching to see what will  unfold, and as I feel overwhelmed by the balance of the difficulties and the dream, I am reminded that I only go this alone for a short time...not much longer...it's isolating now, but teams are being built, green lights to go are being given, plans are unfolding,supports are coming, and it's okay to take a step back from the wholistic picture, and just focus on the piece in front of me. I am in the early relationship stages...we are far from the honeymoon, but I can see it. The vision is there, the seeds are being planted, and I need to remind myself that this is often the most difficult part. It's the slow start to build to the faster pace.  I'm like a race horse often times. I just want the gate to open, and let me run already!, but that is not the best way...slowing down, letting the seed fall into the soil, taking the time to water it, and nuture it, and let it sink in and begin to take root is the way...the only way that the dream will come into reality.

So today I tell myself...it's okay. It's okay to not be the race horse today. It's okay to slow down, take it all in, process it, and let the seed just lay for a time while everything starts to come together. Deep breaths...this is the moment when I always want to just throw in the towel, but I know better. I know that it will come...in time, in the right way, with the right process of Plan, Do, Study, Act. it will come.  I want to fix it, and fix it now, but the team and the collaboration, and the thoughtful planning will in the end bring a more refined and successful outcome for all students.  This is not my work, this is our work...right now in my day to day it feels like mine, and it feels overwhelming,  but not for long...:) I loved Kari's post yesterday that spoke to meeting people where they are at, and taking them on the journey together, what a wonderful reminder of our role working as partners in education, not soloists...partners.

I guess that is the seed I plant in your mind today...when you feel isolated in your work, in your endevours, remember that it's always only for a time. It's a piece, it's not the whole. Don't give up on what you want to create because it seems overwhelming, or too difficult, or too lofty. Nothing is too lofty...it's our mindset that has to be in growth mode to make things happens. Isn't is Ghandi that said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." :)