“Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.”
— Niccolo Machiavelli
I recently viewed a video of Karen Bonanno who was the Keynote in 2011 at ASLA (Australia). I know I am late seeing this but it was an extraordinary reminder of ways we can establish ourselves as a visible profession. If you haven’t seen it I think you should take the time to do so: A profession at the tipping point: Time to change the game plan http://vimeo.com/31003940
Karen spoke in a clear, calm voice with conviction. Her keynote encouraged librarians to look at the glass as half full and reminded us of what we do for learners and teachers. I wrote down the five-finger plan for success for which she credits Donald J. Trump and Robert T. Kiyosaki’s (Foreword by Mark Burnett) Midas Touch: Why Some Entrepreneurs Get Rich-And Why Most Don’t. I understand this plan is actually a business model, but I like its points and I like how Karen has adapted them to educators:
- Strength of Character – Establish the “you” who shows up before you do (social networking)
- F.O.C.U.S – Follow one course until successful
- Brand – Teacher Standards
- Relationships – Teachers and/or Students
- Little things – What little things do you do that make a difference in student outcome?
This past week I showed the video to our district librarians at a professional development day and then we spent time discussing what a realistic 90 second core story might look like. Recent articles in School Library Monthly, Big Picture Advocacy: Making 15 Minutes Count! by Mark Ray and an article in Teacher/Librarian by Karen Bonanno (an adaptation of her Australian keynote address) also proposes we do our homework and be prepared to speak to how our program is student centered and yields independent learners who in turn become productive citizens. Empowering our students is more than just a new century term; it is the crux of giving every student, every chance, every day.
Why don’t you take this opportunity to reflect on the many ways you are visible?
