Success Leaves Clues: Lessons for Educational Leaders

There are two kinds of school leaders today: Play-It-Safe-Principals and Ruckus Makers. 

Play-It-Safe-Principals maintain the status quo and excel at administration. Everything they can do, they learned in a binder. 

Ruckus Makers are visitors from the future, showing us how education can one day be. They’re playing a different game — one of exponential improvement.

Education is slow to change. Ruckus Makers are leading the charge seeking ways to innovate and improve. 

What if the clues to success are already out there, waiting for us to notice? Let's explore how three iconic success stories can inspire us to Do School Different. Our first lesson comes from a true innovator who turned a failing company into one of the most valuable in the world.

The Jobs’ Approach: Simplify to Amplify

Remember when Apple was just two months from bankruptcy? 

Steve Jobs didn't panic. He simplified. 

He cut the product line, streamlined operations, and yes, made tough decisions about staffing. But here's the kicker - after simplifying, Jobs waited. He knew that part of strategy is patience.

As school leaders, we often face overwhelming complexity. What if we took a page from Jobs' playbook? 

Simplify your school's initiatives. Focus on what truly matters. Then, patiently wait for your “iPhone moment” - that game-changing innovation that transforms your school.

Musk's Master Plan: Start Small, Think Big

Elon Musk's "secret plan" for Tesla wasn't so secret: