Think Like A Leader

My special guests for this episode are Lucy Gray and Carol Anne McGuire.Lucy Gray is an Instructional Technology Specialist at the University of Chicago (IL) Center for Elementary Math and Science Education. Among her numerous awards are having been named an Apple Distinguished Educator (2005), Discovery Educator Network Star Teacher, and Google Certified Teacher. Lucy is a popular speaker at national and international conferences. Also, Lucy has a strong reputation as a collector and organizer of robust online resources, using such technologies as blogs, wikis, nings, Twitter, and Facebook, among others.Carol Anne McGuire is a teacher and Instructional Technology Specialist at the New Village Leadership Academy in Calabasas, CA. Formerly, she was an award-winning teacher of blind and visually impaired students. The fact that amazes most people is that Carol Anne was teaching these visually impaired students to make videos!! Those videos have been shown around the world.Among the awards and recognitions that have come Carol Anne's way are: Apple Distinguished Educator (2004), Discovery Educator Network Star Teacher, Google Certified Teacher, Top Online Educator, Disney Teacher of the Year, SMARTBoard Exemplary Educator, American Film Institute Screen Educator, and ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) Teacher of the Year (2008). Like Lucy, Carol Anne is a highly-sought after keynote speaker, as well as workshop leader, at professional conferences around the globe.Carol Anne also serves as "Lead Rocker" for an internationally-acclaimed project, "Rock Our World."So, you can see that I was highly honored to be able to share conversation with these two outstanding ladies. Their ideas on improving education are stellar. You will discover that, as you listen to this episode, if you hadn't known it already.This episode represents Part One of a two-part series. I believe you will be inspired and stirred by listening to these fabulous educators. Please send your questions and comments.If you wish to contact either Lucy or Carol Anne, they can be reached by clicking on the links to their names.

I look quite forward to reading your comments on this blog. Please click the link at the bottom of this posting and let us hear what you think. It's possible that your comments will be the ones that stir some other reader into taking the precise action that we desire.

You can contribute to this podcast in any of the following ways:

• Email me <-- (click on the link)
• Podcast hotline: 206/984-3136
• Leave comments by using the link shown below

If you have not done so already, please subscribe to this podcast (via iTunesTM) so you can receive all episodes automatically.

This exciting episode features a compelling interview with Dr. Evangeline Stefanakis, renowned author of Multiple Intelligences and Portfolios: A Window into the Learners Mind (link to the book is shown below).

This interview was recorded in Atlanta, Georgia during the National Educational Computing Conference in late June, 2007, immediately following a presentation I had just finished co-presenting with Dr. Gordon Dahlby of West Des Moines, Iowa. Dr. Stefanakis joined me at the front of the room for this chat, so I pulled out my iPod, connected the Belkin stereo microphone, and began recording. I am so impressed with all the things I learned from Dr. Stefanakis, as well as the inspiration and provocative energy she imparted for all listeners to this podcast.

Now, as you listen to the recording, here's how you can help:

• Make notes
• Write down your questions and comments
• Send them in to the Think Like A Leader offices.
• Contact me if you would like to be interviewed on this topic for a future session -- or if you can recommend an expert in this area.
• Let me hear from you (can you tell I really want your feedback and input???)

If you would like to contact Dr. Stefanakis, remember that she will be moving to Boston University, effective August 1, 2007. Thus, the BC address is the one I provide in the link here. If you wish to contact her at Teachers College, Columbia University, she gives that email address in the podcast episode.

She mentioned several books that are recommended to 21st Century Leaders:

I encourage you to send in your comments and/or questions so we can use them in a future episode. I know that many of you have compelling stories that will interface well with the content of these three episodes. So, I encourage you to participate by sending in your material.

You can contribute to this podcast in any of the following ways:

• Email me <-- (click on the link)
• Podcast hotline: 206/984-3136
• Leave comments by using the link shown below

If you have not done so already, please subscribe to this podcast so you can receive all episodes automatically.

The final installment of our 3-part series devoted to: How Leaders Deal with Adversity.

Episode Feature: Vickie Ramsey's Bout with Breast Cancer

Panelists included:

• Dr. Sam Pace, MD -- a noted gastroenterologist in Tupelo, MS
• Dr. Mary Pace, MD -- a physician who has her own private practice and who deals often with traumatic conditions (also, Dr. Sam Pace's wife)
• Vickie Ramsey -- an instructor at Northeast Mississippi Community College. She also has authored a book, Humor 'n Healing about her experience with breast cancer.
• Kristi Brown -- a popular speaker, author, and life coach. Kristi's book, To Walk on Fertile Ground: Extraordinary Living through Infertility and Cancer, is just hot off the press.

The original recording took place in December 2006; however, the entire program lasted for almost 1.5 hours. So, I split it into three parts.

I encourage you to send in your comments and/or questions so we can use them in a future episode. I know that many of you have compelling stories that will interface well with the content of these three episodes. So, I encourage you to participate by sending in your material.

You can contribute to this podcast in any of the following ways:

• Email me <-- (click on the link)
• Podcast hotline: 206/984-3136
• Leave comments by using the link shown below

If you have not done so already, please subscribe to this podcast so you can receive all episodes automatically.

Note: Please pardon the audio quality on these three episodes. When I set up the microphones for this group recording, I made a couple of wrong connections into the mixer; therefore, Dr. Mary Pace was not mic'ed correctly, nor was I. Then, when I finished the first run of post-production, I ran the audio file through the program, Levelator, so it would balance everything. Well, it did a pretty good job; however, you will hear some "dips" during the program when nobody is speaking. Therefore, please pardon these errors of mine. Just listen to the content and don't focus too much on the technical aspects, please.

Recently, I had the privilege of convening a panel of individuals who are recognized locally as strong leaders to discuss the important topic, How Leaders Deal with Adversity. This was a most informative and provocative interview.

Panelists included:

• Dr. Sam Pace, MD -- a noted gastroenterologist in Tupelo, MS
• Dr. Mary Pace, MD -- a physician who has her own private practice and who deals often with traumatic conditions (also, Dr. Sam Pace's wife)
• Vickie Ramsey -- an instructor at Northeast Mississippi Community College. She also has authored a book, Humor 'n Healing, about her experience with breast cancer.
• Kristi Brown -- a popular speaker, author, and life coach. Kristi's book, To Walk on Fertile Ground: Extraordinary Living through Infertility and Cancer, is just hot off the press. You'll want to email Kristi and request a book, ask a question, or make a comment.

The original recording took place in December 2006; however, the entire program lasted for almost 1.5 hours. So, I have split it into three parts. Parts 2 and 3 will follow this episode approximately one week apart.

As you listen to this episode, I encourage you to make notes, then send in your comments and/or questions so we can use them in a future episode. I know that many of you have compelling stories that will interface well with the content of these three episodes. So, I encourage you to participate by sending in your material.

You can contribute to this podcast in any of the following ways:

• Email me <-- (click on the link)
• Podcast hotline: 206/984-3136
• Leave comments by using the link shown below

If you have not done so already, please subscribe to this podcast so you can receive all episodes automatically.

Many thanks to all of you who are such valuable subscribers and contributors to this podcast. I simply cannot do it without you. You just have to be the very best audience in all of "podcast-dom" -- I just know it!

Note: Please pardon the audio quality on these three episodes of this program. When I set up the microphones for this group recording, I made a couple of wrong connections into the mixer; therefore, Dr. Mary Pace was not mic'ed correctly, nor was I. Then, when I finished the first run of post-production, I ran the audio file through the program, Levelator, so it would balance everything. Well, it did a pretty good job; however, you will hear some "dips" during the program when nobody is speaking. Therefore, please pardon these errors of mine. Just listen to the content, please.

What one, single word best describes leadership?

In this episode, I report on feedback I received when I asked several people to respond to that question. Recently, I sent out an email message to a few hundred of my contacts, and I asked:

What one word, in your opinion, best describes the notion of leadership? In other words, if you had to boil down leadership into just one word, what would that be?

The responses were intriguing. Here are the first ones I received...and which are reported in this episode:

• integrity; but the more I think about it, the word should be servant -- Carol Anne McGuire, California
• vision -- Lucy Gray, Illinois
• courage, commitment, understanding, direction, shepherd -- Kristen Vassos, New Jersey (these are responses from members of her family)
• communication -- Gayle Berthiaume, Minnesota
• integrity, commitment -- Dr. Otto Benavides, California
• vision -- Joanna Seymour, Iowa
• heart-- Tami Brass, Minnesota
• creativity -- Jeff Hall, Virginia
• relationships -- Robert (Bob) Hudson, Illinois
• experimentation -- Patricia Conlan, New York City

Then, there was one more very special submission by Dr. Pat Horn, an Apple Distinguished Educator from Florida. Pat called the Think Like A Leader hotline (206/984-3136) and left an audio message. The crux of her submission is:

• vision, dedication, caring spirit, persistence ... but she summed up all this by saying a leader must be "a visionary who leads by doing."

I appreciate all the feedback that you sent in. Now, I am putting out a Call for Help on a few issues:

1. Book Reviews -- I promised you some reviews of books on leadership and related topics. A few of them have been included in previous episodes; however, I want to give you a great many more. In order to accomplish this, I need some of you to record a brief audio file in which you give a 1-2 minute synopsis of some book that has meant a great deal to you. Send your files to me at [email protected].
2. Your Most Admired Leader -- I need you to create a short audio file (30 seconds - 2 minutes) and tell me who your most admired leader is, and why. I would like to play some of these audio submissions on a future episode.
3. Music for Podcast -- Although I have been using music composed by Ted Scalzo in New York, I would like to get some more of you to send some music that I can use as bumpers/clips/jingles for the: opening; transitions; and closing. I know you are great musicians, so please send me your stuff and we'll highlight it on a future episode.

Please send your comments and questions to me via email or you can leave them here by clicking on the "comments" link below. Also, you may call the voice mail hotline at 206.984.3136.

I invite you to subscribe to this podcast via iTunes.

Until next time, Think Like A Leader!!