Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat. - Theodore RooseveltI downloaded a motivational quote app on my iPhone. It might be silly, but things like this do keep me going. It has been a rough winter and a slow wet spring. I'll take my motivation anywhere I can find it.
I have written about failure before. I do really believe that we have to get over our fears of failing. These fears stop us from asking questions, from trying things out, from testing new waters and ultimately from reaching success.
As I get back into my rowing and coaching I tread constantly on the verge of failure. My stroke is far from perfect and the boat I am driving and coaching sometimes heads precariously too close to shore.
In my professional life, I feel I have been sitting in the gray twilight of safety. As the sun shines (hopefully it will soon) I am planning to push myself a little closer to the edge, to dare some mighty things this spring. I don't yet know what they will be, but just writing this down will hopefully help me to try something new. I hope you will too.
by aresauburn (I used http://imagecodr.org/ to cite this image)
7 comments:
I've been feeling this way lately too... time to shake things up in my building. :)
I feel what you are articulating, Liz. However, be careful. As a building level technology leader, you have relationships to maintain and nurture. Your position, like few others in a school, is highly interdependent on others. It is one thing to be the lightning rod as an outside consultant, another as the onsite technology facilitator. This is one of the reasons why outside consultants will always have work-they can come in, hack people off, and then leave.
It takes great care and wisdom to be able to positively ignite and instigate change without alienation. You might very well be in a position to do this...I'm not quite there yet, but I wish you well going forward.
PS-I don't mean to create fear with this comment...I just know that relationships are everything to folks in our positions.
Matt
I'm not sure how my mighty things will manifest themselves, but I will definitely be diplomatic with my faculty about this. Matt I hear what you are saying. Trust me, I am very aware of the need to maintain my good relationships with my colleagues. I will definitely tread carefully in my endeavors.
Hi! This blog post really resonated with me, as these are things I think about almost all the time over the last couple of years. We all seem to get into a safe zone and never dare ourselves to stretch beyond those limits. I believe you'll make some amazing things happen!
Liz, I am in EDM 310 at the University of South Alabama in Dr. Strange's class. Thank you so much for sharing, I loved reading your thoughts.
- Nell Broughton
Hi Liz,
My name is Justin Hyde and I am currently a student in Dr. Stange’s EDM310 course at the University of South Alabama. I think everyone needs some form of motivation every once in awhile. Also I think everyone should be less afraid of failing. I grandma once told me "you will never know unless you try." These are great words of wisdom.
Mrs. Davis,
I loved this post and thank you for sharing. I am in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at The University of South Alabama. I love the quote at the beginning. Yes, I do think that we need motivational words to keep us going. Some days there are many of us that have bad days and just words of encouragement can help us. I do a daily devotional that helps me and that I absolutely love. Thank you for sharing your post. Very inspiring!
- Nell Broughton
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