We are pleased to introduce Wendy Borg, a member of our gutsy village here at In Our Shoes. By following the gutsy leadership principles learned here she unknowingly made a gutsy ripple effect across her home state of New Jersey, all from following her gut instinct to ACT. She shared this story below to support you and show you exactly how you too can take a simple thought and “go gutsy” in any area of your life – enjoy!
Making a Gutsy Impact in Education By Wendy Borg
To connect with Wendy on LinkedIn, click here.
Have you ever had a nagging thought, that you just can’t banish? Or a small little idea that persists? Or maybe one as big as an epiphany! An AH-HA moment!
Marisa, our gutsy leader coach here at In Our Shoes, has taught us to not only put ourselves in other’s shoes, but to follow our gut instincts. To not ignore our little (or big) ideas, heed them and most of all, ACT on them. This gutsy nudge from the Universe tells us to go for it! Don’t be afraid! Go forward!
If you have done this, have you noticed that once you start heading, the road starts to open up, other possibilities come to the forefront, and the effects multiply? Think of a small motorboat, cutting through calm water. It leaves behind it a wake, rolling waves that continue to spread outward, even as the boat pulls ahead.
This pandemic, and the stay at home orders, have forced us to retreat. Back into our homes, our families, and our minds. We’ve had to learn how to work remotely, if we weren’t adept before, homeschool our children, cook twice as many meals, master online grocery shopping, and take care of our elders, all at the same time. It is a challenge, but there have been blessings in disguise as well.
I found myself dwelling on the plight of the front line nurses and doctors who are overwhelmed with their duties caring for the sick, unable to secure a good meal, get a rest break, and some, unable to go home to their families for fear of carrying the virus into their homes. They are sleeping in their cars, offices, and tents in their backyards or basements. I wanted to help them, SOMEHOW. They need help! I wanted to send good, positive thoughts and action to them and not feed the negative aspects of this pandemic.
As a mother, what ALSO rose to the surface for me were the children of this pandemic. How were they coping? How were their parents explaining this? Educators everywhere are rising to this occasion, learning how to teach virtually and extending themselves more fully than perhaps they ever had, to cover their lessons, and consider their students’ well being.
My thoughts converged on a walk one day. Front line workers, students, teachers, education, support, care, appreciation, family. My experience in the 1990s, in my public-school classrooms, shown a light. Working as the member of a 10-teacher team in second grade at Dutch Neck School in West-Windsor Plainsboro Schools, we developed and guided our 200+ students in a student-run, school wide postal service. Kids and teachers wrote letters to each other and sent them to their proper classroom address. Students sorted, delivered mail and conducted payroll. Teachers delivered lessons on letter writing and proper letter and envelope structure. It was a fabulous project, enjoyed by all, the highlight of the week!
Letters! Notes! Good old-fashioned writing – not just posts. With school buildings shut down, let’s take this operation home.
ACT NOW!
Remembering Marisa’s teaching to ACT within 10 minutes of an idea, I texted my cousin, a high school biology teacher in Maryland. She texted back, “Great idea, but I can’t do that with my students.” Strike, but press on.
RANDOM ACTION, STILL FOLLOWING MY INTUITION...
Next step – head to Facebook. Instead of a worldwide post, I messaged my alma mater, Rider University’s College of Education and Health Services. Not knowing who was on the other end, I typed in a quick idea.
What if teachers worked with their students remotely to instruct and assign a letter writing campaign to essential workers, those who have no time to read all the wonderful posts on social media and TV directed to them? It’s a Win-Win! Students learn letter mechanics, and character development. Essential workers receive encouraging and appreciative messages. Hit send.
IDEA BEGINS TO GAIN MOMENTUM…
To my surprise, I received a message back. “Great idea! I’ll share the idea with several colleagues who are school leaders. Stay tuned!”
The next day, another message. “(Professors) love your idea. We will work on it tomorrow. Will need to run by (higher-ups) to follow protocol.”
IDEA STILL GROWING, REACHING MORE PEOPLE.
WHAT? This was becoming a project? I didn’t mean to assign anyone work! I messaged, a thumbs up.
Nine days later.., ”We have permission to post the THANK YOU LETTER idea on our social media sites. Would you be able to send wording for the posts? Any ideas for a graphic?”
YES! I messaged back – “I will get back to you tonight.” Now this was fun! I compiled a lesson plan and pictures. A phone conference later, we had planned a photoshoot with a neighbor student, holding her colorful thank you letter, and wearing a Rider University tee shirt.
GOING GUTSY, THIS IDEA IS GOING VIRAL!
The Facebook and Twitter posts went viral, with more hits and views than anything ever before. Teachers responded. Kids wrote. Letters were sent. A kernel of an idea blossomed into a full- fledged campaign that by the power of media, spread to districts and teachers around the state. To view Facebook campaign, click here.
So what are the thoughts that are ruminating in your brain? Start journaling on it, or call someone and talk about it. Then get in that boat, start your motor, pull out of the dock and drive ahead. If a wave comes from another direction, to knock you off course, or if you experience some bumps and jumps in the water as you pass over it, keep heading. You may never know the wake you will leave with your gutsy idea.
Don’t think, just go. That’s how this Gutsy Leadership thing, works!
