Poking the Box and Doing the Work | Angela Maiers, Speaker, Educator, #YOUMATTER

5th May 2011 Posted in: 21st CENTURY EDUCATION, SOCIAL MEDIA

The Domino Street Team has just finished our first “Worlds Biggest Book Club” with our first book, “Do the Work” by Steven Pressfield. (still FREE on Kindle for 18 more days!) whose credits include a number of movies including “The Legend of Baggar Vance.”

In that movie, I was inspired by the following dialogue:

Bagger Vance: See, the trick is… to find your swing…
Rannulph Junuh: What’d you say?…
Bagger Vance: Well you lost your swing… We got to go find it… Now it’s somewhere… in the harmony… of all that is… All that was… All that will be…

In Steven Pressfield’s new book, “Do the Work” you will find your harmony. You will find one, if not ten, powerfully inspiring messages that help you “find your swing.” After several rereads and the live session, here is what doing the work means to me.

“Success doesn’t come to you. You go to it.”Marva Collins

The web has given us an express lane to living a life that matters; if we are willing to “do the work.” This is what I teach; this is what I live. As a career educator, my privilege and responsibility is to show learners and leaders how to “do the work” in the most efficient and effective way. There are no limits for learners with passion, foresight, and a desire to grow. Technology, used strategically, has the power to leverage human capital and maximize performance of organizations big and small.

I consider myself fortunate to travel the world facilitating dynamic, engaging conversations
with educators and children in some of the most challenging of circumstance and environments. What
surprises many who watch and hear the stories of how these students and schools are beating the odds, is the simplicity in which it can occur.

I simply expect success. I view every learner and every situation as something we CAN do. Together we set up the work, honor it’s complexity, and then do whatever it takes to reach the goal. I have yet to meet a child who has not risen to the occasion of greatness. Whether I am speaking to five year olds or learners bigger than five, they know that I see them. They know they are important and that I honor their presence and value their time. They know, I know , I am in the presence of genius.

Thanks to Seth, I have committed to begin each lesson, staff meeting conference keynote with the following statement from Linchpin: You are a genius, and the world needs your contribution. I have taken the liberty to adjust it slightly; and add this twist to his brave and bold words.

Learners, YOU are a genius and the world expects your contribution. So, what gifts are you going to offer that will solve this problem. I need you, your classmates need you, and the world is waiting. Let’s get to it!

I say this will full conviction and belief. There is no doubt in my mind when I look a learner in the eye, and more importantly there is no doubt on my face when they look at me. Together we are smarter. Success is knowing that you helped another person become the best they can be. I want every child and human being to know that in their bones.

That is what doing the work looks like for me:

1. Don’t stop. Keep going.
2. Resistance can be overcome by “persistence.”
3. Don’t go it alone. Find co-collaborators–Passionistas

What does “doing the work” mean to you? Please share!