Our new book, The Savvy EdTech Leader: Innovative Strategies to Boost Influence and Elevate Your Career, will be officially released in mid-to-late October 2024. It represents the culmination of two years of writing with my three co-authors, Sheryl Abshire, Diane Doersch, and Donna Williamson. In this book, we share our insights and strategies for success in the Education Technology (EdTech) leadership landscape. With our combined experience of 120+ years, we aim to provide practical advice and innovative solutions for aspiring and current EdTech leaders.
Our publisher, the International Society for Technology and Education (ISTE), informed us that the first batch of the books was in print. We knew we would each receive ten copies in the mail, so we were anxiously waiting. Finally, the books arrived. We live in different locations across the nation. In a light-hearted moment, we agreed we would text a picture of ourselves holding the book for the first time when we received our books!
As we start making announcements about our book, I want to share a little background about why I was interested in writing it with my co-authors. You might find this surprising. I didn't have an apparent reason for writing the book. I just knew I enjoyed writing, loved my Education Technology Leadership career, and wanted to add value to our EdTech leadership community. I also enjoyed being around the three co-authors, Sheryl, Diane, and Diane.
I understood my why when we secured the ISTE publishing contract and started writing the book. My why is directly related to a chapter in our book, Rising Above: The Role of Resilience and Respect, and Run with Winners, which explores how these qualities are crucial for effective leadership in the EdTech field.
Warren Buffett said, "It's better to hang out with people better than you. Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours, and you'll drift in that direction." As I worked through the book development process, I found out this was exactly what we wrote about in our book.
I understood my why when we secured the ISTE publishing contract and started writing the book. My why is directly related to a chapter in our book, Rising Above: The Role of Resilience and Respect, and Run with Winners, which explores how these qualities are crucial for effective leadership in the EdTech field.
Warren Buffett said, "It's better to hang out with people better than you. Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours, and you'll drift in that direction." As I worked through the book development process, I found out this was exactly what we wrote about in our book.
- I surrounded myself with people who challenged me and motivated me.
- I was working with others who shared my aspirations and ambitions.
- I found support in others who were more intelligent, hard-working, visionary, and bigger thinking than me!
When the world stops spinning, pay attention!
I first met Sheryl in 2010 at a conference in Houston at the American Productivity Quality Center. Her energy radiated across the room. I intentionally sat by her, and we talked about everything under the sun. We shared the same career paths and family values. Over the years, our career paths continued to cross.
I met Diane at a CoSN Conference in 2013. She also served on CoSN's board of directors and is now the CoSN chair. Diane had a red dress on. She stood up to speak, and I was left speechless. I was captivated by her authenticity, style, and everything about her. Over the years, our paths continued to cross.
Mine and Donna's paths first crossed at a CoSN Conference in Washington, DC, in 2015, when I was invited to present on the main stage during the closing ceremony. The evening before, I was invited to a hospitality suite for presenters. I had seen Donna on the CoSN stage many years prior, as she and Sheryl served on the CoSN board of directors. Donna was funny, intelligent, influential, and bigger than life!
So, long story short, in 2019, all four of us left our careers from public education as Chief Technology Officers and successful EdTech leaders. We made a career transition to do something more significant at the state and national levels. We all were invited to serve as senior advisors for the most prestigious strategic partner in the K-12 ecosystem. We all four met at a holiday party, and our eyes locked. We talked for hours. It was as if no one else was there. It was just us. The world stopped, and I paid attention. I found out everything about them: their careers, families, dreams, struggles, and interests.
What intrigued me most was they thought as big or bigger than me. And they were just as successful in their home lives, with their parents, husbands, children, and grandchildren. They were experts in managing work-life balance. I felt like I could do anything with them. We flippantly said we needed to write a book!
Writing a book was on my mind. In April 2019, I signed a contract with Rowan and Littlefield, one of the most respected international publishing companies. They contacted me after I wrote a magazine article for the Association for School Business Officials (ASBO) article. They asked me to write a CTO Handbook for Education Leaders. I never finished that book. I realized I didn't want to write a book all by myself. I wanted to collaborate with other like-minded, highly successful leaders like Sheryl, Donna, and Diane!
I first met Sheryl in 2010 at a conference in Houston at the American Productivity Quality Center. Her energy radiated across the room. I intentionally sat by her, and we talked about everything under the sun. We shared the same career paths and family values. Over the years, our career paths continued to cross.
I met Diane at a CoSN Conference in 2013. She also served on CoSN's board of directors and is now the CoSN chair. Diane had a red dress on. She stood up to speak, and I was left speechless. I was captivated by her authenticity, style, and everything about her. Over the years, our paths continued to cross.
Mine and Donna's paths first crossed at a CoSN Conference in Washington, DC, in 2015, when I was invited to present on the main stage during the closing ceremony. The evening before, I was invited to a hospitality suite for presenters. I had seen Donna on the CoSN stage many years prior, as she and Sheryl served on the CoSN board of directors. Donna was funny, intelligent, influential, and bigger than life!
So, long story short, in 2019, all four of us left our careers from public education as Chief Technology Officers and successful EdTech leaders. We made a career transition to do something more significant at the state and national levels. We all were invited to serve as senior advisors for the most prestigious strategic partner in the K-12 ecosystem. We all four met at a holiday party, and our eyes locked. We talked for hours. It was as if no one else was there. It was just us. The world stopped, and I paid attention. I found out everything about them: their careers, families, dreams, struggles, and interests.
What intrigued me most was they thought as big or bigger than me. And they were just as successful in their home lives, with their parents, husbands, children, and grandchildren. They were experts in managing work-life balance. I felt like I could do anything with them. We flippantly said we needed to write a book!
Writing a book was on my mind. In April 2019, I signed a contract with Rowan and Littlefield, one of the most respected international publishing companies. They contacted me after I wrote a magazine article for the Association for School Business Officials (ASBO) article. They asked me to write a CTO Handbook for Education Leaders. I never finished that book. I realized I didn't want to write a book all by myself. I wanted to collaborate with other like-minded, highly successful leaders like Sheryl, Donna, and Diane!
Thinking Big in San Diego, 2022
Time marched on. Time flies when we are having fun. And when we are inspired and greet every morning with high levels of anticipation! Our success as senior advisors, consultants, and national-level presenters continued to excel. We kept our dream of writing a book alive. Then, in 2022, we were invited to San Diego for a Women's Linking Leaders conference. We decided to pool our money, money we made off a magazine article, and rent a mansion in San Diego for two days and nights before the conference started to talk about our book and lay out a structure. That is where it all began. Here are a few pictures from our San Diego 2021 trip.
Time marched on. Time flies when we are having fun. And when we are inspired and greet every morning with high levels of anticipation! Our success as senior advisors, consultants, and national-level presenters continued to excel. We kept our dream of writing a book alive. Then, in 2022, we were invited to San Diego for a Women's Linking Leaders conference. We decided to pool our money, money we made off a magazine article, and rent a mansion in San Diego for two days and nights before the conference started to talk about our book and lay out a structure. That is where it all began. Here are a few pictures from our San Diego 2021 trip.
Big Things Happen When We Think Big
Think about it: who do you know who thinks bigger than you? Or, how do you surround yourself with people who think at least as big as you do? Who will boost you if you are the biggest thinker in the room? If we want to do big things, we must think bigger!
When we think bigger, we often find ourselves standing alone. After 30+ years in leadership, I can attest that it is lonely at the top. For years, I sat in my office many days alone, thinking and pushing others to think bigger. I would think, who will push me to think bigger?
Those who aren't thinking bigger typically don't like associating with those who are, making it even more lonely. These are often the naysayers who want to squelch our vision... our thinking bigness. But remember, our bigness isn't anyone else's business. As Napoleon Hill said, 'Tell the world what you intend to do, but first show it.' This reinforces the idea that our bigness is for us, not for others.
It's important to remember that we may not always find others who think bigger than us. However, we can influence others to buy into our vision. They do this because they believe in us. This is where leadership comes into play. Leaders show the way! When we think big, finding others who support us and see our vision coming alive is the next best thing. This underscores the power of leadership in influencing others to buy into our vision.
Think about it: who do you know who thinks bigger than you? Or, how do you surround yourself with people who think at least as big as you do? Who will boost you if you are the biggest thinker in the room? If we want to do big things, we must think bigger!
When we think bigger, we often find ourselves standing alone. After 30+ years in leadership, I can attest that it is lonely at the top. For years, I sat in my office many days alone, thinking and pushing others to think bigger. I would think, who will push me to think bigger?
Those who aren't thinking bigger typically don't like associating with those who are, making it even more lonely. These are often the naysayers who want to squelch our vision... our thinking bigness. But remember, our bigness isn't anyone else's business. As Napoleon Hill said, 'Tell the world what you intend to do, but first show it.' This reinforces the idea that our bigness is for us, not for others.
It's important to remember that we may not always find others who think bigger than us. However, we can influence others to buy into our vision. They do this because they believe in us. This is where leadership comes into play. Leaders show the way! When we think big, finding others who support us and see our vision coming alive is the next best thing. This underscores the power of leadership in influencing others to buy into our vision.
Top 10 Transformational Tidbits That I Experienced
After working for the last two years and writing with my co-others, I am summarizing the first ten things that come to mind while pondering why running with others and thinking bigger matters. No amount of money can buy these things because they are emotional feelings that empower us from within.
Transformation is often masked by what seems to be ordinary when, in truth, something bigger and extraordinary is happening within us. When we find others who think bigger than us, we feel a transformation stirring from within.
I hope you find winners to run within your life's journey who think bigger than you and help you create similar transformations.
After working for the last two years and writing with my co-others, I am summarizing the first ten things that come to mind while pondering why running with others and thinking bigger matters. No amount of money can buy these things because they are emotional feelings that empower us from within.
Transformation is often masked by what seems to be ordinary when, in truth, something bigger and extraordinary is happening within us. When we find others who think bigger than us, we feel a transformation stirring from within.
I hope you find winners to run within your life's journey who think bigger than you and help you create similar transformations.
- Pushed me to move beyond what I originally planned to do.
- Made me feel bigger than life, and I felt better after talking to or working with them.
- Squelched my self-doubt, and their admiration for my work kept me going.
- Helped me find what is unique about me and understand how I might add greater value.
- Helped me believe that I could do this. I have done this before. I am better than I used to be. I can do extraordinary things, even if I knew it already but needed a nudge.
- Helped me know I am the best at what I do and with their perspective, my perspective grew even bigger.
- Bragged on me to help remind me of my value, even in front of others, especially when the others are those I respect.
- Believed more in myself than I might think about myself when the imposture sneaked in and whispered negative thoughts in my ear.
- Motivated me to take decisive action toward achieving my vision by serving as a success partner and holding me accountable.
- Extreme loyalty and not one ounce of jealousy sparked a fire within me to want to do more, be more, and do whatever I could to do even better.
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