Planning, Sequentials, Branches...oh my

Planning, Sequentials, Branches...oh my

As we talk through our PlanFam conversations, it is important to use our planning skillsets and conversations in a manner that helps us "see around the corner."  We can borrow from our military planning partners for a few concepts that importantly align with how we should view planning.  We've talked about the "base" plans that speak to your mission/vision/values, as well as your strategy/objectives/goals, and often include our more detailed "daily" plans.  All of these nest within each other and build upon each other, hopefully seamlessly, to get you and yours, over the long haul to where you're trying to go.  

The concept we'd like to introduce here involves the "branches and sequels" of plans that we need to

Sometimes when you
come to a branch, you
just have to swing.

think through.  To unpack this a bit, this concept is where we think through our current seasonal plan (e.g. what we want to accomplish in the pre-schooler years) and what's next.  The sequential plan idea here is that we know the next plan will be, in this case, a plan addressing the elementary school years and what we hope to accomplish.  Our sequel plan, when used correctly, should allow us to successfully and seamlessly span as a bridge between other plans on a timeline.  In this example, what we're viewing as a sequential plan addresses the kindergarten readiness skills, what activities we want our kids to be involved in (or not), some milestones, and some recreation components along with some financial ramifications.  These sequence plans, in our realm, could be compared to bridging those "rites of passage" moments where other, bigger plans take over. 

On the flip side, as you work your way down the proverbial timeline, our branch plans are off-chute or contingency-type plans.  In other words, these become pre-scripted "if-then" sort of logic problems that help us think through those (good and bad) situations that pop up along the way.  From a negative perspective, at some point, everyone dies.  If you're at the age where you're having kids, getting married, etc...chances are, you're not so far from a grandparent or parent passing away.  Our branch plan could be a plan that discusses our participation in such an event ahead of time...when we aren't staring emotion and adrenaline in the face.  For example, we've got out-of-state relatives who are getting to those ages and we've used our plan (verbal) to talk through and assign resources (e.g. Person A would fly out, and we've set aside cash in an account (emergency fund) to cover that expense).  We also put together a "branch" plan for unexpected job loss so, if (and hopefully it doesn't) happens, we're more ready to respond from logic and reason than from fear and anger.  

And sometimes, when you meet a new path,
you just have to walk down it.

On the flip side, we've also built in "good event" branch plans to help us understand "what must be true to say yes" as it relates to good opportunities for job changes.  We often can get overexcited and caught up in emotion when a job opportunity floats past.  This environment where we've got the "kid at Christmas" excitement likely doesn't help us see that the grass isn't necessarily greener on the other side, or objectively evaluate the new potential change.  Long story short, our branch plan in this space addresses what is/is not on the table - salary requirements, time off requirements, benefits, and such.  Now, when a cool opportunity floats by, we aren't sweating it or considering it if it doesn't "fit in the box" we've built.  The same type of plan could be laid out for kid activities, church activities, extracurricular activities, and so forth.  As you're moving down the timeline, having a few "branches" on the timeline that are thought through ahead of time allows you to take/or not those proverbial off-ramps more smoothly.

Before you get too worried about the "nerd tempo" on some of these advanced planning concepts, it's important to realize that these plans can be as thin or detailed as you find useful.  They can take the form of written encyclopedia length, or simply an intentional, proactive conversation...or anything in between those two ends.  The idea, in all of our Plan Fam space, is that you're living your best life through proactive intentionality...written or verbal planning...is an outgrowth of that way of doing life.  Don't overthink the planning process, but spend some time talking with your loved ones about where you're heading and how you'll get there.  Working through those planning efforts brings you the chance of successfully ending where you intend to way higher.   

With you in the arena, from ours to yours...Happy Trails!

Call to Action: 

• Write down three "sequence" or "branch" plans that you can see in the short-term future of your family's timeline.
• 1 - ___________________
• 2 - ___________________
• 3 - ___________________
• Write down or have a conversation with your loved ones about how you're going to handle one of these plans (e.g. in this coming season of life, what activities are you going to say "yes" to)
• Consider drawing a strategic timeline for the years ahead and put in some logical sequences and branches you want to consider.  
• Discussion: Consider what you/your family could/would/should (level of commitment) and start/stop/sustain (action)

Further Reading, Motivation, and References:

- Wiki article from the Army - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fragplan#:~:text=The%20US%20Army%20describes%20a,outcomes%20of%20the%20current%20operation%22. 

- Older thesis on how this works - https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA234501.pdf.  

Pick a Model and Tweak

Pick a Model & Tweak

Oftentimes, we're not out to find some brand new, 100% unexplored topic, instead, we're often much more likely to be building upon the shoulders of those who came before us.  In other words, whatever we're doing, we should look around for a model that is close to what we're hoping for in our particular circumstance...then tweak it.  (Random aside, in the run-up for this post, a friend and I were chatting...to clarify, we're not advising you to find a supermodel and twerk...just wanted to get that out there for clarity, that's not what we're talking about here).  

Even if you're not sure
what it is going to be, it 
likely has utility in our journey 
of development

George E.P. Box said "all models are wrong, but some are useful" in relation to statistics.  In our world, our Family In The Arena, we can take the same concept and apply it aptly.  For our example, we could pick any one of the facets of our life (marriage, parenthood, work, finance, recreation, schedule, etc) but we'll use time management as an example and you can extrapolate the concept to other parts of your life.  When we were getting ready to get married as well as newlyweds (and, really at each life season switch like a job change, new babies, new pre-schoolers, etc), we sat down and looked for models of what and who we wanted to be.  In other words, to pre-decide our answers before we had to do so staring emotion or peer pressure in the face real-time when the choices popped up by looking at peers a little ahead of us in the journey of life.  

Start early building the muscles
necessary to test and scale
throughout your life.

Our dreamstorm/brainstorm started with a conversation and list of those married couples a bit ahead of us that we respected and that we had some personal details of as it related to their how-to-schedule life.  After just getting names on a piece of paper, we then started talking through the pros/cons or strengths/weaknesses of each of our "models."  (For you super nerds out there, a SWOT analysis of sorts).  Any one model was wrong, or at least imperfect...but all the models, particularly those we liked and averaged together were useful.  In other words, we talked through some of the couples on our list as examples of what not to do, and others of what to lean toward.  

We'll change the names, but let's call it the Smiths were a model of high travel (fly out Monday, fly back Friday sort of jobs), and the Jones family was at the other end of the spectrum (always home, all the time).  Plotting out the examples we'd come up with along a bit of a continuum allowed us to see real-world examples of an abstract concept and helped facilitate our conversation of where we were "today" and where we wanted to be "tomorrow."  Through the conversations and the examples, we were able to (like Jillian from www.jillianjohnsrud.com/ says), "test and scale."  

Picking a model for us became a hybrid combination of a couple friends in our circle that were where we generally wanted to be with our kid-raising journey as it related to our time management decision-making.  Once we had a bit of a model selected, we could identify how close we were toward that desired end state, or the gaps of now vs next that we had to tackle.  The testing of the model, as an example, applied as our kids came of age for organized activities.  We'd theoretically pre-decided that some of our quality time, especially when focused on some objectives, was more important than feel-good-filler activities.  In other words, we didn't want to get to a place where we had to cancel our family camping trip to go on a "Scout" camping trip that none of us were particularly looking forward to with scripted, age-appropriate activities.  Currently, with pre-schoolers, we've been working with them on "camp chores" and they've used saws and hatchets, gathered firewood, lit the campfire and extinguished it, and caught and cleaned their own fish.  At a recent "scouting type organization" open house we were told when they were in 5th grade in the group they could maybe help light a fire.  

We may not make the 
travel team...but maybe
that's the whole point.

Our model was well and good in theory when our kids were in diapers and any decision didn't really matter.  It's a different matter when it is a tangible decision of kids at the age and stage where you start into the peer pressure of other parents and societal expectations of position-specific coaches and traveling sports teams.  I'm not positive we've got it all figured out, in fact, I'm pretty sure we're missing some pieces...and that's okay.  We're in a spot where we've carefully, proactively, and intentionally looked at models/strategies of how we could do the scheduling of this phase of life along with those around the bend.  Through the analysis, we used those examples to shave off our "schedule statue" to shape it just the way we've chosen.  

Think carefully about some of those around you, in your circle, or in your social media that are #Winning along with those that are #NotSoMuch.  Look at why you put them in which bucket and take pieces from each that you'll use to pre-decide what you're going to do...then commit to doing that...even when the other "Super Moms" are trying to justify their models by shaming yours.  If it's right for you...it's right enough.  Good luck finding the right models and developing the fortitude to shape your systems for your family.  Stand in the Arena.  

With you in the arena, from ours to yours...Happy Trails!

Call to Action: 

• Pick an area in your life you'd like to explore a model (marriage, parenting, finance, travel, etc).  Then list out the first three #Winning examples/models that come to mind.
• 1 - ___________________ 
• 2 - ___________________
• 3 - ___________________
• Create time to talk about what resonates with those three examples you listed above
• Identify several distinct, actionable gaps between you and the model
• Commit to taking one deliberate action for the next month and discuss it along the way with your family (e.g. we will do game night 3x per night as a family, we'll eat dinner at the table as a family 5x each week, etc)
• Discussion: Consider what you/your family could/would/should (level of commitment) and start/stop/sustain (action)

Further Reading, Motivation, and References:

- Jillian Johnsrud - Test and Scale - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw11CT5R_pQ 

Are you an echo?

Are You an Echo?

Oxford Dictionary defines "echo" as "a close parallel or repetition of an idea, feeling, style, or event."  In today's day and age, it seems like we're more prone to become an "echo" of something or someone else.  At some point, this phenomenon has probably always been alive and well to varying degrees.  For most of the modern era, much like the inspirational quote for this website, timid souls have likely become a mirror image of others around them.  A sort of averaged-out version of the same kind of people from around the country.  Forever, generations have had to honestly and retrospectively ask themselves, "Am I an echo?"  "Am I doing life as an echo?"  Like many of our discussions, this isn't an absolute call to action against being an echo...there's some efficiency in the ruts and routines of life.  

Sometimes it's more obvious than
others in our lives.  

Like many of our discussions, it is very much a call to action for you to examine your life and how you're living it.  If you go through that examination and come out in the same spot...congratulations to you.  If, instead like many of us, you go through the examination with changes you're committed to making...double congratulations to you on your honesty and deep-dive internal look.  When we talk about echoes, we really have two choices - be the "real thing" or "be an echo."  Just because you fall into or choose to be an echo of something isn't inherently bad or wrong...you just need to be aware you're doing it intentionally. 

Historically, most of the echoes that we become have been "local," or in other words folks in our immediate interaction.  These ties, in many ways, helped form communities and bonds that strengthened the fabric of our nation.  Increasingly with the advent of modern screen-style media, our echoes now become those of distant, unconnected fantasy images.  Pay attention to the places you do life and see how people dress, talk, do life, and chances are, you'll pick up on the echoes.  You can spot the echoes in large part through the interactions and conversations that rhyme.  For example, many people today are an echo of the constant "keeping up with the Jones" consumer-driven focus that has become a huge part of the first world.  You can see it in the overleveraged homes, cars, clothes, and lifestyle that they put on.  In many cases, that lifestyle isn't "theirs" but the adoption of something that others "demand" as payment into social circles.  

Recently I read an article regarding letters back home to sweethearts from wars years ago to wars today.  The salient point was the downfall of the beautifully crafted, descriptive language of yesteryear to vulgar soundbites over time.  Perhaps a classic example is the letter from Civil War Marjo Sullivan Ballou, when you listen to his words, it's hard to picture those not being anything but original and sincere.  Contrast that now to text conversations dumbed down to emojis and vulgar song lyrics.  I'm not the pot-calling-the-kettle-black here, I've been guilty of singing along to Tom Petty's Freefall and Tenacious D as we prepped to jump out of a military airplane.  

Are you a shadow...or 
the real thing?

The point here is, we lose our genuine, honest, and sincere selves and step backward into a shadow or silhouette of something else instead of ourselves.  In a personal example, as a volunteer firefighter in a very Alpha-male, caveman-style fire department, social credit (street cred) was given for who could play the game the best...who could be the best echo of a knuckle dragger.  For many of us, in those young and impressionable years, we landed to varying degrees in chasing to be the king of the cavemen.  The juxtaposition of diving neck deep into video games, booze, chew (tobacco), off-color jokes, a variety of intimate partners, and the like made you part of the in-crowd.  On the other side of the street were those who focused on personal and professional development in those same volunteer hours sitting around the table between calls.  Being an echo of the group was the easy choice in the moment, fun even.  Fast forward and extrapolate out the consequences of "living independently" down the road and it pains me to see some of those friends (dare I say brothers) who have been through divorces, bankruptcies, stuck in a young "man's" job with an old "man's" body today, split custody with kids, and such.  

One more personal story that perhaps can serve as a bit of inspiration.  When we first got married and started into the kid years, everyone...I mean everyone...in our circle told us how we'd better enjoy our created life of travel/novel experiences because it would evaporate with kids.  It would've been easy to fall into that echo chamber and give in to the easy temptations that surrounded us.  Fast forward six years later so far and we've created a lifestyle that is still very rich with novel experiences.  We've got a large wall map above our kitchen table crisscrossed with black marker lines of road trips that represent memories of doing life on our own terms.  By being original instead of a shadow, I can tell you, in this respect, it matters.  This lifestyle has certainly had opportunity costs, it's had speedbumps, hurdles, and exit ramps...but it's amazing.  Find your own "your terms" way to do life and then get out of your own way.  

Especially if that trail 
heads to Halloween 
candy and you're a
racing speed, crawling
Superman!

The above examples ramble a bit, but hopefully, you see the points there.  Your words, choices, deeds, and actions matter...they compound over time.  If you choose to be an echo, go forth, but know that those choices (or "non-intervention" selected as a strategy - choosing not to choose, is a choice) come at an opportunity cost.  A couple of us certainly missed out on the "inside jokes" and beer nights but finished degrees, started businesses, and other items.  Again, not a better-or-worse value judgment broadly, but a moment for you to consider if what you're doing/how you're living is carrying you closer or further away from your desired end state.  

To sum it up with a  quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."  Go make your own way in this world.  Lay out the desired end states, use some backward planning, and go live the life that you create.  Too often, we get stuck in the echo/shadows of others' expectations or realities and spout excuses on why we can't do what we want.  Lay those aside for a minute, poke holes in the excuses, chart out a course, and just start being original and you'll be surprised at how fast you start to find smoothness in your new path.  Do it long enough, loud enough, and you might find yourself inspiring others to be an echo of your path.  

With you in the arena, from ours to yours...Happy Trails!

Call to Action: 

• What are three ways that you're living a copy-paste life from someone else, not intentionally living your life, the real and honest, best self, your life? 
• 1 - ___________________ 
• 2 - ___________________
• 3 - ___________________
• What are some dreams that require a trail to move forward?  Brainstorm with your family on what it'd take to go down those trails.
• Discussion: Consider what you/your family could/would/should (level of commitment) and start/stop/sustain (action)

Further Reading, Motivation, and References:

- Don't Be An Echo - Todd White - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqsplY1pdE4

- “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

It's a choice...

It's a choice...

Are the choices you're making
leading you to the "Easter
Eggs" that you're seeking?

Happiness, wealth, success, and so forth are a choice.  I know that sounds like a Pollyanna "believe yourself to a new life in 30 days."  That's not my intention.  We often are centered in the river that we're born into or have created...or in other words, there is a current that our lives fall into.  This river current sweeps us along, largely on auto-pilot...largely without daily deliberate choice.  When I say "happiness, health, and success are choices" they are the combination of daily and more strategic level choices...they're byproducts of sorts.  

Does the path you 
are on go where
you want to end up?

Throughout the different roles and facets of our lives, we have micro and macro choices that we have to make...each day, each moment.  How we're going to respond to our spouse, kids, and co-workers is a choice, largely driven by our personality or the "river current" that we establish.  That said, we have a choice to make at each interaction - are you going to go with the current, or fight it? Are you going to smile and be polite to the server...or a jerk?  Are we going to go out of our way to do that sweet thing we know our loved one loves...or not?  

Over time, as Gandhi put it, "Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions, Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny."  The happy news in this quote is that if you don't like the current you're in, where it's heading, or who you're becoming...you have a choice to make.  Make those choices that get you closer to your chosen outcomes over time...and soon you're there.  As Pastor Andy Stanley put it, you have to choose "to be the person you're looking for is looking for."  We can get closer to whatever desired end states we identify (happiness, wealth, success) through our habits which help transform our river channel and velocity.

Much like our other conversations here at Family In The Arena, this is far from intended as a holier-

Are you choosing joy,
or adventure, or
whatever in each season?

than-thou speech...I make the wrong decision in the moment often enough.  I've had seasons of life where my priorities were in the wrong places and I made consistently bad choices like work/career over family.  Fortunately, I think I'm in a better, more consistent place of choosing family as the priority with everything else (including this blog) sitting somewhere in the back seats.  Some choices have been easier or harder, particularly in the moment when we have adrenaline, emotion, and context weighing on our decision-making.  Walking away from a "fun" job where I got to regularly "be the best part of someone's worst day" was a challenge, to say the least.  The problem was, those best parts were being given to strangers...and my girlfriend, turned fiance, turned wife, turned mother of my children was getting what was left over.  

If you're in a river current that you want to change (in small or big ways), it all starts with the first decision, a first choice that sets a new course.  Look for the small wins when you're getting started.  I don't want to compare a work-life balance issue as the same magnitude with a clinical addiction...but I will say it can be close enough for argument here.  Much like someone battling addiction - drugs, drink, workaholic, pick your poison - it starts with taking one small win, then another, then another.  As folks who are fighting through AA for sobriety, it's one day, one small decision at a time.  

Are you making choices that
keep you and your family 
balanced?  

In our work-life balance example, you can extrapolate any other current that has you in an embrace that you want to escape - the process is the same.  In a recent season of life where we were getting into a negative flow that was coloring our outlooks from work to home.  It became important to recognize and proclaim the happy times.  We got in the habit of labeling those times, calling them out, and telling ourselves..."we're in it right now, be present and embrace it...right now."  Doing that allowed us to recognize all the times we weren't making a choice...but could have.  Slowly, we became more aware of the decision points, and eventually got to the point where we were catching ourselves in the moment and changing the tide with a new decision.  Over time, this shift took us out of the lazy-river cycle of "kicking the dog" at home to being more present, positive, and enjoyable to be around.  

Take a minute to think about what decisions you're making each day...and what opportunities you're ignoring where you just stay in the pattern of "we've always done it this way."  If you're in a "livin' the dream" mode, think about the conscious choices you can make to keep going.  If life is more of an "I didn't think it'd turn out this way," think about what choices you can make now to redirect.  It's a constant battle in any realm of life...but making those choices, consistently over time helps you look back from that desired end-state lifestyle and say confidently, "I did this.  I chose this."  

With you in the arena, from ours to yours...Happy Trails!

Call to Action: 

• Name three proactive, intentional decisions in the last week that got you closer to your desired end state?  What are three of those decisions you are commuting to make in the next week?
• 1 - ___________________ 
• 2 - ___________________
• 3 - ___________________
• Give a name to the current/pattern that you/your family is in right now.  Is it what you want it to be or do you need to make some changes?  
• Ask your closest three confidants if you're getting closer or further away from who you say you are/who you want to be with the current decisions you're making (or not making).  
• Discussion: Consider what you/your family could/would/should (level of commitment) and start/stop/sustain (action)

Further Reading, Motivation, and References:

- Andy Stanley - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIOMNzz9Srw 

- Two Wolves Native American Proverb - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x95_BTeanI8

- White Snake - Here I Go Again - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4nzOb1HLVY&list=RD0UIB9Y4OFPs&index=19 

TTT - Expertise

Train-the-Trainer - Expertise

A good teacher can be captivating...even to 
distractable little boys.  That's a superpower.

In the first responder world, we talk about how "train the trainer" or "TTT" are the experts, those
who've been there, done that, got the t-shirt, and now are in the teaching circuit.   In the first responder world, we call this transition from "doer" to a teacher "train-the-trainer" or TTT for short.  You also hear, "those who can't do, teach."  Somewhere in between is probably the truth.  Depending on which philosophy you subscribe to, I've found that the best instructors are the ones who had an aptitude for teaching...and...were good enough at "doing" the thing along the way.  They'd developed some level of expertise or mastery of the skill as well as the communication skills to convey those skills to the next generation.  Having gone over to the instructor side of the house fairly early in my fire service career, I can honestly say, "I'm no expert...but I've got the basics down solidly, and I've got some honed gifts in sharing that knowledge."  

We can teach the 
practical...

Just like any other skill, becoming an effective, successful teacher takes practice and is an acquired skill set.  The good news is that, with rare exceptions, you too can become a teacher to pass on the knowledge, skills, and experience you've acquired.  Chances are, viewing yourself as a "teacher" deep down helps you begin to pass on (formally, and informally) information by pouring into those around you.  To be certain, it takes vulnerability, effort, and practiced work to get good at teaching.  Also, to be certain, teaching can leave a powerfully lasting contribution and gift to those around you.  Over the years, pouring in tactical style first responder information into young folks ("baby firefighters") built a rapport and relationship that, over the years allowed me to speak into their lives as they became spouses, parents, and other important roles.  

In large part, TTT equals tools, tips, and tricks that go beyond the textbook.  It's been said that "true

...the philosophical...

mastery comes through teaching." I recently passed my 4,000th student and I can tell you that I'm a much better instructor and tactical-level practitioner...because I've had 4,000 students.  If I have a mastery of anything, it's because I've taught it and learned from 4,000 different sets of eyeballs and perspectives.  I became a better Planning Section Chief when I became a Planning Section Chief Instructor, I'd guess this sort of progress would be true in your life as well.  In our family world, we can take many of the parallels from my (and other teachers') experiences and effectively apply them.  

...or the lifestyle.  All of 
them matter, greatly.

Teaching, and thinking about teaching, helps you become a better learner.  The mindset and identification of a teacher help you listen better and differently because you're translating those nuggets in your mind through your expertise and experience to reconvey them.  Becoming a better learner, then working through those lessons by sharing them with others is a powerful and rewarding experience.  For years, we used an interview question "teach me something you don't think I would know."  The question itself served as a testament to a candidate's ability to think on their feet, articulately communicate, and gave an insight into their personality/habits/hobbies/background.  I was often amazed at how little I knew about various topics...and how clever, creative, and talented otherwise strangers were.  Opening your mind to learn and teach can be a powerful paradigm shift that has the potential to make you a better, more well-rounded version of yourself.  

If you've been around the block a minute as a spouse, parent, or adult in general...chances are you've picked up some of what does and doesn't work well in life.  In sharing those lessons (teaching) with others in your circle, you begin to refine your perspectives, and those become practices over time.  For example, when we all become adults, chances are we struggle with finances.  Over time, we hopefully learn from others about best practices of how to do finances well.  With more time, we might consider teaching classes like Financial Peace from Dave Ramsey at our local library or church.  This teaching helps you internalize and somehow makes more real the lessons that you can otherwise read.  

That next generation
picks up all sorts of
stuff from you...and
become teachers 
to others. 

In part, for me, writing this blog and other content has served as a new, out-of-the-classroom outgrowth of my other teaching.  Hopefully, it helps you, but it certainly has helped me.  The research, open-mindedness, and learning (growth) mindset have helped me work through many marriage and family topics over the years.  In my wife's MOPS (Mothers Of Pre-Schoolers) group, I'd argue that in large part is "teachers" and "proteges."  Ladies that are a chapter or two ahead in the game of life pour into other moms who are going through rough patches.  Over time, they learn their own lessons and convey those to the next generation and the cycle continues.  

As we talk about any facet of our "standing in the arena" - FIRE for Adventure, Raising Adventure, Plan Family, or whatever else, many of those tips, tricks, and tools came from the "shoulders of giants" with those ahead of us who cared enough to become teachers.  Look for opportunities at work, home, church, or other places to pour into those you care about.  Consider working through your basic spouse/parent competencies by sharing the things you've learned over the years with those who are following and looking to you in your circles.  And, remember, true learning comes from one meaningful conversation at a time...go have those conversations...it matters.  

With you in the arena, from ours to yours...Happy Trails!

Call to Action: 

• Name three things that you know something about that you think someone in your circle could learn from you.  Go "teach" them.  
• 1 - ___________________ 
• 2 - ___________________
• 3 - ___________________
• What are some ways you can develop your skills - as a doer and a teacher - in ways that matter?  Pick one to get started on this week.  
• What is one thing you learned recently that you can teach someone else?  How are you going to present it and who are you going to present it to?  
• Discussion: Consider what you/your family could/would/should (level of commitment) and start/stop/sustain (action)

Further Reading, Motivation, and References:

- The Protege Effect - https://effectiviology.com/protege-effect-learn-by-teaching/ 

- The Power and Value of a Teacher - https://www.aaeteachers.org/index.php/blog/2245-the-power-and-the-value-of-a-teacher