Education Leadership and Beyond: Surviving & Thriving

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Blog Post #43 How to be at your Best When it Matters Most

Education Leadership and Beyond: Surviving & Thriving with Andrew Marotta

Podcast #43 with PJHS Drama Director Ruth Gordon &students Shannon Klotz & Kennedy Sanok

Podcast link: Podcast #43

How to be at your best when it matters most. Is it an interview, a first date, a big game, or the big performance of Grease opening up this weekend at our high school, Port Jervis HS in Port Jervis, NY?

It would be so easy if we could be right? Be at our best when it matter most. Then life happens--we get nervous, we start over thinking it, we get fearful that something will go wrong, etc, etc, etc. It's like our brains get over- connected to our hormones and screws us up. How come some can do it?--Be their best in the biggest moments? How do they do it? How could you do it?

Here are some tips that you could put into place TODAY. These are from listening to the man himself, Dr. Gilbert from success hotline 973-743-4690 and from own experiences. Give them a try.

#1 Breathe--7 seconds in, hold for 7 seconds, then breath out for 7. Try this 2-3 times....

#2 There is no life and death, no do or die, no this is it. If it doesn't happen in that moment, life will move on. You may not have the same opportunity, but you will have different ones.

#3 It is OK to feel this way: nervous, anxious, excited. That is normal. Tell yourself: Self, it s ok I feel this way. I am going to be fine.

#4 Meditation--Have you tried it? Doesn't have to be all fancy in a yoga studio with relaxing music in the background. It can just be words, phrases, thoughts that mean something to you. Recite them gently, slowly in your head or out loud. Trust me--You are not crazy.

#5 Rest and water. #understated If you feel good, you will do good. Do a little each day vs. trying to do a lot a little of the time.

#6 Routine. Read the quote at the bottom of the blog. Ruth Gordon, our play director, gave me this quote from Aristotle. Do something over and over and you are bound to get better at it. #10000hours

Excited for our students and music teachers at Port Jervis HS @pjhs_principals and this weekend's musical: Grease. If you are local, come out and see the show. The kids are great! In this week's podcast #43 I talk with musical director Ruthann Gordon & two stars of the show Shannon Klotz & Kennedy Sanok. Not only are they stars on the stages, they are outstanding students and young people. Thanks for listening.

Enjoy the podcast. Order your copy of The Principal: Surviving and Thriving today! Click here

Quote: We are what we do repeatedly. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit. Aristotle

Next week's guest is psychologist and author Dr. Stephen "Bird" Birchak.

Go out and change the world for the better.