In the summer of 2017 I was planning for our upcoming marching band season. In Texas, high school marching band is about as competitive and intense an activity as can be permitted by law in public education. In fact, there are special rules that have been adopted by UIL (the University Interscholastic League) to govern our activities. In short, it is not taken lightly. Beginning August 1st, we are running a race where every moment matters, and every decision must be strategic.
I definitely have a love/hate relationship with the activity. It is so powerful for students. They learn to work as a team, compete, and trust one another. Their skills are exponentially enhanced as they meet the demands of musicality, physical agility, and multitasking on a level that would leave most adults in tears. At the same time, it is long hours away from our families, mental and physical exhaustion and a great deal of financial resources to create a successful performance.
So as I sat in my office, I was searching for our team focus for the year. Every year we have a slogan or a motto that we want to instill in the students, something to keep in front of them and shape their actions. It was in this moment, as I was looking over my goals and where I wanted to take the organization that I realized; we are going to have to do really big things. We are competing in a classification where we are the smallest school in the state. We have a lot of obstacles, but I don’t want my kids thinking they are a shadow or they cannot perform at a high level. Often kids compare themselves to other organizations with more success, but I always remind them; we are exactly the same. We are kids with instruments just like they are. So it was through all of this tension that I realized I had to instill a new mindset into my kids. They had to have a vision. It was then that I coined the phrase “Do Something BIG.”
We took this slogan and ran with it. We went on to have the most successful season in recent school history. We advanced to the area competition for the first time in eleven years and our students realized that we are capable of doing big things.
Although this has been a huge motivation for our kids, this has been a bigger lesson for me personally.
I decided to apply this to my own life, and wow how things have changed. It’s funny how this mindset just grabs you and doesn’t let go. It begins to show up in everything you do. This phenomenon will definitely make some people uncomfortable. I have found that a lot of people give me a nervous chuckle when I speak or tell me I need to slow down, but that’s not doing something big; it’s just doing something. I have decided I don’t want to be normal or just do what is expected. Life is amazing, and there are so many opportunities. I want to do things bigger.
It starts small, but begins to infect everything you are involved in. Since this summer, I have launched several big ideas and I am moving me rapidly toward my goals. I have been a part of giving professional development presentations to our school faculty, I am currently working on an experimental cross-curricular project with a colleague that incorporates the elements of live music performance with interpretative art, I am even starting to reorganize the way I manage personal things such as time with my family, my finances, and the list goes on. Perhaps my biggest “BIG” is that in a matter of months I have launched Teachbigger.com. I am currently learning to walk out this philosophy in every area of my life, and it is a challenge.
In every journey, we meet conflict, limitations, and frustration, but we are created for greatness. It is a matter of keeping our focus on the goal and running toward it. I heard a great quote that said something like this
We all have goals, and we all face problems. We must keep our focus on the plan, not the problem.
I challenge you to begin to think big. Do something bigger. We are all doing something, but are we taking it past what is easy or convenient and making the most impact we can. Below I have three steps to help you get started to do something big! I hope this will help you take your first steps.
Dream Big!
Nothing is impossible. Spend some time thinking of the thing you love to do, and ask: How can I take it to the extreme? What can I do to have the most impact? It’s going to be inconvenient. It’s going to be difficult, but you have something that no one else can offer – YOU! It is time for you to make an impact where you are.
For more ideas on how you can dream big, check out my post entitled Dream BIG!
Don’t underestimate your sphere of influence.
Often times we think we are insignificant. Nothing could be further from the truth. You can make a huge difference in the people around you. Teachers have more impact than any other profession in the world. Everyone knows a teacher! As you think big, you will inspire others to do the same. The impact on our society will be astounding.
Check out my post entitled Just QUIT.
Focus on your plan; not your problems.
As you begin to realize your “BIG,” take some times to create a step-by-step plan. By setting small and specific goals you will see it come to life. Your plan will change along the way, and you will encounter great challenges.
If your problems are not big, then your goal is not big.
Stick with it and stay focused on the plan, not the problems.
This is really just scratching the surface of launching you into a “do something big” lifestyle. Take these three concepts and let them encourage you on your journey.
We would love to hear what you are doing. Please share your something BIG!
