Make the Big Time Where You Are this year
Year 24 in education. I have now taught every grade level in some capacity from 3 years old to grade 10 and I have led clubs and supervised sports for the other two grades. I have been a classroom teacher, held teacher — leader roles, served as an athletic director, and taught physical and health education for most of my career. It has been a great year.
This year has been tough though. Yes, as my principal is fond of saying to the point of nausea, we are in the third year of a global pandemic. This is the new normal. There are educators who have not been home for over two years going on three. I have not been home for almost two years. Not to mention that the world is struggling this year.
And this year, I am doing something I have not done since I first started education. I am a full-time substitute teacher at an international school.
I have to admit, I kind of felt the knife twisting in my heart when I learned I would be a substitute. No matter how I dress it up, give it a fancy title (and I have tried), I am still a substitute teacher. With my experience, I expected to be in a different role this year.
If I am honest, I am struggling with it. It is that kind of year.
But, I am at a great school. My wife pretty much has her dream job. My children love the school and the community. The people are amazing. The admin have been top notch. I have to look at the positives this year.
With everything going sideways in the world, we have to look at the positives. I could easily get drug down thinking about all the reasons why I don’t want to be a sub, why my talents are wasted, or why I should have something better. It doesn’t help. That becomes a pity party of one which does nothing but drags me down and annoys the people I work with, and my family.
So, I reflect on Frosty Westering today. Legendary head football coach of Pacific Lutheran University. Infectiously positive individual of an old school of thought. Anyone who met him was touched by his presence and positive energy. He wanted you to be the best. He tried to put his ideas on paper in two books he wrote “Make the Big Time Where You Are” and “The Strange Secret of the Big Time”. If these books were in print, I would give one to every coach I know or worked with. Sadly, they are hard to find.
This year, I am struggling personally and professionally. It happens after a time. What struck me about Frosty was that simple phrase, “make the big time where you are.”
Really, what is the “Big Time” anyways? We all say we want something like it but can’t identify it. Or if we do, it is often specific to success.
My focus of success will be very different this year. It won’t be academic or financial success. It will have to be personal.
In my role, I could whine and complain about how unfair it is that I am just a sub, or, I can be the best guest teacher in the division. I can be dependable. I can make a positive impact on students as I cover classes and teachers as I support them. My big time will look very different this year because of where I am and what I am doing.
It does me no good to complain about things I can not change. Frankly, it will be counter — productive to me and my role. So, how do I deal with this year?
I make the big time where I am.
I can only change me and my attitude. I can’t change anyone else. I can be a servant to the staff I work with. I can’t change my job, but I can seek out other roles and support staff. I can be the best coach that I can be for the athletes I work with. I can bring my best to work every day and make the big time where I am no matter what I am doing.
This year, it has already been rough for educators and people around the world. Ongoing social conflict, vaccine and COVID, and the struggle of the ongoing stress we face as a generation. Everyone is struggling.
I recently read a reminder about taking care of kids when teaching about trauma. But educators needs the same thing. We are facing trauma and the leaders need to be aware of that. So, how do we make the big time where we are?
We do the absolute best we can in our role, no matter what it is. Your role, whether it is cleaning the bathrooms or leading the school matters. It is valuable. Do it the best you can and take pride in that.
Stay about the fray. There will be ongoing, frivolous fights in and around education. Stay out of it. It is easy to get drug down into the muck but do what you can to walk away and stay out of it.
Lead by example. It is debate who said to show the Gospel, use words if necessary. The author is irrelevant. The meaning is not. Lead by your example. No one should question your morals and values based on your actions.
Pick your battles. You will need to fight some battles this year. Choose them wisely. Not every hill is the one to die on. Wise leaders know when to give up small battles to win the big ones. There are battles worth fighting and even losing your job in the school. Those are the ones that you should be prepared for. But choose them wisely.
Build positive relationships. This is the cornerstone of school, business, and life. Build positive relationships. Connect. Meet others. Network within the school and community. Build your sphere of influence. And lift others up when you do that. It costs absolutely nothing to be kind.
This year, I am going to push myself to make the big time where I am. I don’t know what that will look like, but I am going to make it happen. It is important. I would encourage you to do the same.
Let’s make this a positive year to remember because of how we acted towards others.
