Category Archives: Decisions

I’m entering the “Transfer Portal”

18 Friday Feb 2022

Posted by in Decisions, Entertainment, NERDLE, Transfer Portal, WORDLE

≈ 4 Comments

A parody for today with some little truth, perhaps… Hope you enjoy it…

I really like you… BUT… if this statement ever comes up in a dating relationship, odds are you are about to break up. Welcome to the transfer portal of college sports. That’s about how I see it. The transfer portal only works in the Fansville, Dr. Pepper commercial. They really did not need a kicker, but he brought Dr. Pepper through the portal with him, which made all the difference to his acceptance.

So, why does a player enter “the portal?” Here are a few reasons why I believe they do and my response to each in italics…

  • A player is unhappy with the coach, playing time/position, and/or team culture – but that player chose to go there…
  • A coach tells a player he doesn’t fit their program anymore… Sorry coach, you should have done a better job recruiting…
  • The school doesn’t have the major they want to pursue – the player should have known what the majors were upon choosing that school…
  • The coach leaves, and a new coach has a system that doesn’t fit you… I’m ok with this… However, my dad and I disagree on this. He says a player signs to play at the school; I say a player signs to play for the coach…
  • A player has remaining eligibility but wants to finish by pursuing grad school somewhere else – I’m ok with this if they have graduated…
  • The family situation has changed, and you wish to be closer to home – I’m ok with this, but it is very subjective…

Anyway, all these transfers… it seems that it has become a free agency market. At some point, will college athletics become over-populated? It looks like a used car lot. And then there are the “I’m transferring” statements put out by athletes. Have you read some of them lately? Here are some great “tag lines…” 

  • Upon much thought and prayer…
  • After talking to my parents, family, and loved ones…
  • I will be forever grateful…
  • I will cherish my memories and friendships…
  • This is the toughest decision I have ever made…
  • I am taking my “talents” to xyz school…
  • It is with a heavy heart…
  • I’m not sure where I’m going…
  • Respect my decision…

The idea of posting your statement of transferring with all the high-def graphics wears me out. The bottom line, the athlete, is breaking up with the college and moving on. Does a statement really need to be made?

So… If you are still reading, then I need to let you know… I am entering the transfer portal, and here is my statement…

After much consideration, time alone, prayer, and speaking with my loved ones, I would like to announce that I have entered my name into the transfer portal. I would like to thank those who brought me to WORDLE. Their encouragement and daily challenge have made me a better thinker. I have enjoyed my time and the friendships I have made, but I feel it best to move on. I am leaving WORDLE and taking my intellectual talents to NERDLE and GLOBLE. NERDLE offers me the intellectual stimulation of mathematics on a deeper level that WORDLE could not provide. GLOBLE offers me the intellectual stimulation of relearning and identifying countries across the globe to enhance my geography. I will forever cherish my time at WORDLE and look forward to what the future holds at NERDLE and GLOBLE. Yes, both platforms want my time. Please respect my decision. #gonerdle #gogloble

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2022 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… Twitter @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

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Intolerance that creates a divisiveness divide…

04 Friday Feb 2022

Posted by in Decisions, Intolerance, Leader, Leadership, Opinions, Passion, Tolerance

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I’ll open today’s blog with this quote that I read the other day in David Baldacci’s book The Gambling Man… “Free speech is not really free if it costs you all that you have.”

Thoughts? I have a few… Also, these are my opinions as well. So, for instance… my daughter just graduated college and is no longer in the sorority she was in. This week, she found out that the “national people” of the sorority have decided to take “God” out of the oath they say every week in chapter. They can no longer pray at that time as well. Someone, somewhere, decided they didn’t like it. Enough “fuss” was made, and the next thing you know… I use this as an example to go along with the quote above. It seems that when issues arise, there will be differences of opinion, which is ok. However, divisiveness is created when those differences create intolerance and push an agenda.

You know I have some strong opinions for those who know me, and I’m ok with that. There are even a few that I am passionate about. But the difference for me is that while I might disagree with someone on something, I’m not going to get divisive about it. Others are entitled to their opinion, and I’m fine with that. However, when someone or a group pushes their ideology, draws a line in the sand, and states that I have to adhere, agree, or compromise my opinion… That’s where the idea of agreeing to disagree breaks down.

The breakdown comes at the hands of those who want tolerance for their opinions but become intolerant of others’ views. And trust me, it goes both ways. Divisiveness is seen in all demographical aspects of society. Side story… I remember a few years ago we went to Boston. While there, we went to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. One of the displays was replaying the presidential debate between Kennedy and Nixon. I was amazed at how cordial, civil the discussion was. There were even moments where they joked with each other. What has happened where two opposing views are just that?

“Free speech is not really free if it costs you all that you have.” Ever since reading that, I’ve been chewing on it. We are now seeing the effects of this, I believe, more and more. Once intolerance takes its stand, free speech, as we know it, ceases to exist. As it is, once someone has their mind made up, the truth doesn’t matter anymore. The divide creates a chasm that no bridge can ever seem to span.

divisive-300x225

I’m not sure where society is going with the intolerance of tolerance. But I do know this, free speech just might cost us everything we have at some point. We must decide what is worth fighting for. I know what that is for our family and me.

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2022 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… Twitter @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

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Challenges… They tell a story of who we are…

28 Friday Jan 2022

Posted by in Change, Consistency, COVID-19, Culture, Decisions, Leader, Leadership, Observation, Purpose, Value

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Challenges… Like them or not, our comfort zone rises to the occasion with them. Challenges are the one constant that cannot be avoided, and there is not a manual that even touches the surface of how to handle it all. What is important is learning how to handle those challenges. We either do that by trial and error or by learning from others. One key thought here is who are we learning from or should be learning from?

Every challenge we face is a pitfall or an opportunity. We either look like a genius or a goat (which does not mean “greatest of all time” in this context). Challenges make leaders make decisions. The one thing we cannot do is not make a decision when faced with a challenge.

challenges-scaled

We are living in a time of society where “self-preservation” is up close and sometimes personal. Now, that does not go against the idea that we must do what is right by ourselves (we have to take care of ourselves), but… What are leaders doing to do right by others? Too often, we see leaders who are putting their own success before the success of others. The social and emotional effects within organizations are at a point that many leaders do not want to acknowledge. They see it, while at the same time hoping it is a mirage.

We are hit with challenges every day, and they come in all forms and fashions. How will you handle them? One aspect of this 3+ years of the COVID pandemic challenge I have seen thus far is that many leaders do not know how to lead. The flip side of that statement is very true also. Many leaders have shown what leadership should look like. As true as they are, the realization of both views can be seen by and in the organization’s people. It does not take long to see what “moods” people are in as it reflects the culture established by the leadership.

Great leaders have a gravitational pull. They are consistent and always keep their feet on the ground with gravity. You are either pulling others toward you or pushing them away regarding leadership. Challenges are a way of showing others how strong your pull is. No one likes leaders who float themselves around and allow others to do the same.

It will be interesting to see where leadership goes in the next few months. As much unknown that lies ahead, challenges will certainly be there. Let’s make sure our feet are where we want them when challenges are staring us in the face before we decide to stand firm on our leadership.

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2022 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… Twitter @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

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“Rut roh” – Don’t get in a teaching rut…

21 Friday Jan 2022

Posted by in Actions, Choice, Compassion, COVID-19, Decisions, Encouragement, Kindness, Leader, Leadership, Students, Teachers, Understanding

≈ 2 Comments

One of the slogan statements of a recent popular TV show stated that “Winter is coming.” Nope, the dull of winter is here. That stretch after Christmas and before spring break. The long haul, per se. Some days are cold and dreary outside, even in Mississippi. Today’s high is suppose to be around 35 degrees with a real feel of 26. As we were out at parking lot duty this morning, the temperature was a brisk 27 degrees. We were taking it on the chin, literally. That cold hard slap of the wind in our face.

Talk about depressing? The happiness of Christmas feelings is gone for teachers and students. Throw COVID into the mix, and we have many schools that now look like skeletons. Contact tracing, make-up work, substitute shortage… As Billy Joel said, “I can’t take it anymore.”

But…

I believe this… teaching is as much about psychology today as it is about knowing how to teach your subject. You have been hired, so that is a given. Teachers like students, and students like teachers seem to get into a proverbial rut this time of year. The drag… spinning, wanting to go forward but unwilling to lock it into four-wheel drive.

getoutoftherut

Back to the psychology… I’m pretty sure many teachers’ lessons are planned and ready to go. Let’s hope so anyway. But, what about you as a teacher, are you ready to go? How are your students seeing you? What are you bringing to your classes? I’m all for facilitating a lesson. I’m all for teaching, but I refuse to be in a rut. As the teacher, you have to be the “ray of light” not only for your students but for other teachers as well. Trust me, some teachers need it more than students.

Now, more than ever, your teacher’s creativity needs to be seen. Use your Jedi mind tricks. Now is the time to let your students see you smile; it is after Christmas, after all… Sing a little song, dance a little dance, help your students, give a little bit more encouragement, maybe even understand that life gets in the way. Go buy some contagious enthusiasm. Not sure how much it costs, but effective it will be.

It’s a choice, and we all make the decision every day. The bad and the good of it is everyone takes notice. What will they see? Be the “spring,” pun intended, that gets others out of the rut. Spring is coming.

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2022 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… Twitter @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

Want to share this leadership thought with others? Click on one of the social media sharing buttons below and help spread the good…