On The Fly

Podcast - Light This Candle . . .  “Man must rise above the Earth - to the top of the atmosphere and beyond - for only thus will he fully understand the world in which he lives.” - Socrates 500 B.C. Have you ever caught yourself pondering,  “I wonder what historical event happened on this day?” Well, just last week, I noticed my brother's birthday was approaching, he was born May 5, 1962. This got me thinking. With Google at my beck and call, I’m curious, what other events, on May 5th, in my lifetime, have shaped our future? It was a day for the history books, May 5, 1961. The entire world was watching. A moment in time that shaped the future of NASA, the Apollo program, advances in science, and the direction of America. Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr. became the first American in space aboard Freedom 7. This prompted me to pull a book from my office shelf,  Light This Candle , by Neal Thompson copyright 2004. It's storytelling at its bes...

Half Dome photo by: Patrick Ball It’s a disarming thought, always do what you say you’ll do—simple yet profound. It’s another way to show the world your commitment to integrity. More importantly, it’s how you demonstrate your dedication to your professionalism. As Socrates said, “Know thyself.” In a classroom environment, doing what you say you’ll do becomes paramount in the students’ minds. It can be as simple as this: You’re reviewing the equipment, books and tools each student receives for your class. The student who lives to challenge you says, “The pencil in my packet is broken.” Without giving it much of a thought, you say, “We’ll get you a new one during the break.” Well, it better be a new one, and you better get it before or during the break. If you get busy with other issues that arise and forget to replace the pencil, not only have you ruined your reputation with that student, but he or she will spread the word that you don’t keep your promises. Today’s Tip: ...