#Catalyst: Finding your Why

If you haven't seen the TED Talk by Simon Sinek, pause your regularly scheduled reading to watch this video:



Now that you have experienced the In-Blog Flip, you are now ready to explore the ideas behind finding your why. 

There is a reason that this is one of the top 10 most watched TED talks of all time.  Sinek brings to the light something so simple, yet something that can be so difficult at the same time. 

Think about your classroom.  Your standards, objectives, lesson plans and resources (or lack there of).  The goal is to teach these students, show mastery of the standards and in most cases, prepare your students for the state standardized test that is coming.  My question, or really THE question of this post is... Are those the reasons WHY you became a teacher? 

My story is a round about way of coming into education.  My plan was to work in full time ministry, teaching and pastoring.  I really enjoyed working with the local kids, planning events, and getting my first real "classroom" experience with a crowd that chose to show up, rather than being forced.  And yet I digress... I am sharing my HOW to you. 

As a youth pastor, my why was simply love others.  Be the love in the community that the students hadn't experienced before.  The love that was taught through the Bible and experienced in many different Hows.  

As life (and the Lord) works though, this was not my ending point of my career.  Quickly, with a new wife in tow, we moved to Hong Kong to become teachers at a Christian school.  My beautiful bride, the experienced SpED teacher and myself the ultra green "teacher".  Stakes were higher, and I think my Why shifted to a simple why not.  Adventure, travel, and risk were all on the table, so simply "why not" became my why.

Low and behold, events and opportunities arise and years later I am shifted out of the classroom to my current career path.  As I have grown as an educator, innovator, speaker, and writer, I believe that my why has also grown with me. 

Consider this...

When you decided to become a teacher, it wasn't about the standards, it was about the relationships.  Maybe it was a favorite principal, teacher or coach that made such an impact on you, you wanted to be just like them.  Perhaps you watched Stand and Deliver or The Dead Poets Society, or School of Rock and wanted to experience the euphoria when students grasp the perfectly crafted lessons that you create. 

And then you step into your classroom and those around you wish you luck, push you some worksheets, and warn you to watch out for the boy in third period. 

My point is that finding your why will constantly change, as an individual, it can be difficult, especially if you have been deeply rooted in a profession for a long time.  The hope is that as your break down your history and examine your future, you would be able to filter your Why out of the soot and own it proudly.  

Finding your why isn't a part of what  you do.  It is everything.  As Sinek explains in his TED talk, without a why, you, your school, your classroom and students don't have direction, they are simply there, watching the clock tick by.  

What is your Why? 


At TCEA 2019 I will be presenting #Catalyst: A workshop to spark innovation.  During this session we will not only dive deeper into these concepts but also walk away with a process and resources on how to find your why and more!  Come join me in San Antonio in February!