“Two Minute PSD” Monday with Seth Godin – SCN Encourager 8/19/2013

Welcome! The “Two Minute PSD” Week Begins Today.

You’ve taken your seat and you’re raring to go. No different than any other Monday.

You have last week’s flyer with the speaker roster in your hand.

Four dusty 100 watts light bulbs illuminate the small stage up front that looks like it was last used by Herbert Hoover.

Seth Godin gingerly steps toward the podium, taking care not to mess up his $300 shoes by smooshing down on one of the unknown little gooey globs scattered on the floor.

As a giant in the field of marketing, Godin cuts a classy and poised figure, despite having to deliver his remarks from behind a podium composed of three large-sized, empty cardboard copypaper boxes that were stacked-up secured by gray duct tape.

He looks out. Gives you a knowing wink. And speaks.

Good morning, school leaders and communicators.

I’ve never given a presentation from the lower level of an abandoned warehouse before – and I’ll assume that you’ve never attended a PSD where you had to sit on planks of wood stretched out across rows of cement blocks, either.

But after learning Tom Page organized this, I’m surprised we’re being treated this well.

So let’s get started and get this over with. Any objections?

Good. I didn’t think there’d be any.

So now, let me ask you: How many times do you look in the mirror in the morning as you prepare to leave for work?

It’s a common experience. Who doesn’t do this?

Everyone looks in the mirror in the privacy of their own bathroom several times a day.

And when we do, we will occasionally hear a small voice inside us that attempts to chip away at our self-confidence. 

This small voice will tell us, “Stop kidding yourself. You’re an imposter. People may respect and admire you, but they don’t really know you. If they did, they sure wouldn’t think so highly of you and your ability to lead. Face it. You may appear successful out in the public. But you can’t fake it here in front of your own mirror. You’re not the right person for the job. You’re not all you’re cracked up to be.”

This small voice comes from a dark place deep within… and we all battle it to varying degrees.

Everyone does.

And this the message I bring today.

Know that you’re not alone.

I’ve put together some resources you might find helpful.

I wrote about our “comfort zones” and our “safety zones” in The Icarus Deception… and in my book, I spell out how we must develop the mindset of “an artist” to succeed in the world that awaits.

I also have great admiration for you as educators… because I believe that you are often the targets for unfair raps about education, when – in my opinion – it is the defenders of our out-dated education model who should be feeling the heat, not folks like you.

I talk about education in this five minute video interview… which I’d now be happy to show you if we only had WiFi down here… or a projector… or even a screen… oh, just forget it!

But please don’t miss my main point.

Just because all of us wrestle with a small internal voice that questions our personal successes… it does not mean that all of the successes we’ve been part of aren’t real or worthy.

Far from it.

Our accomplishments, experiences, and our commitment to impact the future for good are both REAL AND WORTHY.

As long as we choose to daily “grow in what we know,” we will always ADD VALUE to our family, our organization, and our circle and tribe.

That inner voice that whispers to you that someone else should be in your place has never been right.

So let’s silence it.

As the 2013-2014 school year begins, hold tight to the fact that YOU are the only one who can do what you do, the way you do it.

There’s no one else “out there” who would be a better choice to do what you do, especially now.

In closing, I want to give you something for the next time you look in your mirror.

Please take this with you.

What I want to give you is my unequivocal permission for you to…

Pick yourself.

It’s simple enough. It’s always the best choice.

And light years better than this choice of meeting place… Thank you.

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* respectfully recorded and transcribed by Tom Page, SCN