Page 4 - The Edge - BTS 2019

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

BY NATE BOWLER

Back to School, Back to Work — It’s a New Year!

What a great summer! I hope
you took some time to get away
from the office, spend time
with family, or just unplug. I
have teenagers at home so my
summer consisted of shu ing
kids from one activity to
another. Maybe your time away
from the office this summer
consisted of the AASBO Annual
Summer Conference! If you did
attend the conference, I hope
that you were able to come back
motivated and charged with
some new ideas, new friends,
and skills to take back to your
districts.
As we move forward to a new
school year, many of us look to
get into the swing of things again
after the summer break. Teachers
returning, new sta meetings and
of course, students coming back.
is time of year is also a good time to start some new habits Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and In uence People,” or
and set some new goals. Maybe this list can help give you some Jim Collins’ “Good to Great” are good ones to start with. I
ideas as you start the new year. am not the most avid reader, but I think you will nd that
Do a self assessment. What do you want to be better at this you will enjoy these types of books more than you thought
year? Maybe you would like to upgrade that budget process you would.
you have been meaning to implement. Maybe you want to Take a risk. If you have a weakness or something that
learn that software that you have been saying, “I need to learn intimidates you that you would like to try, take that risk. ere’s
that.” Or maybe you just want to automate that spreadsheet or an old saying, “Good decisions come from experience, and
process that you have been saying that you will get around to experience comes from bad decisions.” Tell yourself it’s OK to
that one day. Pick one thing and make time for it. take some risks once in a while. How did you learn to walk? By
Take time for relationships. Many of us have so many things falling. is will allow you to see where you need to improve,
going on that we feel we don’t have enough time in the day. correct it and continue to grow.
We have meeting stacked on top of meeting on top of meeting e key is continuous improvement. Don’t get discouraged.
or deadline after deadline. Yet, we have lives and the people Take one small step at a time. Be proud of yourself. Take a look
who we work with have lives as well. Studies have shown that back at what your accomplishments are. When you accomplish
building relationships can be one of the most productive and something, reward yourself! Note what you have learned and
enjoyable things we can do in our jobs. Take time to get to know how you have grown. Are you using these habits, skills and
people. It will pay o many times over in the future. strengths that you have acquired to your advantage? You may
ank you. Don’t we all love to hear those two words? not notice it but you probably are growing and improving more
anking people for what they do can make people feel valued than you think you are. Share your successes with those around
and can strengthen your relationships. Write thank you notes, you. We all want to get a little better every day and every bit of
say thank you, or send thank you emails more often. encouragement that we can get from each other goes a long
Read or listen to an inspiring book this year. Stephen way. I wish us all a fabulous and successful school year. Let’s go
Covey’s “Seven Habits of Highly E ective People,” Dale make a di erence in the lives of kids!

4 THE EDGE | BACK TO SCHOOL 2019