Excerpt from the Finding My Way article Letters to a Young Education Reformer (2017) by Hess.
- Jobs aren’t forever: step in, do some good, learn, grow and meet people
- Value in working from the inside and the outside. Opportunities as arrayed along a continuum that spans from inside to outside the halls of power. Insiders are at the table where the decisions are being made. Outsiders are freer to speak their minds, spin radical solutions & push new ideas. These are just different, be willing to work both sides and move between them.
- Watch out for thought bubbles and people who only think in a single way.
- Do your job. Contribute, do stuff, even small stuff, one person can’t ‘fix’ education…however, one person can contribute. Your voice needs to be heard.
- Follow the Golden Rule
- Embrace the 90-10 rule: 90% in your hands and 10% is out of your hands. Focus on the 90%. Do your job, be detailed and organized and when the 10% goes wrong, think on your feet tof make it right.
- Make deposits in the favor bank. Everything operates on favors. Pay attention to detail, people appreciate the little things.
- Presume good intentions
- Don’t get too impressed with yourself
- Sweat the small stuff: planning, deadlines and details
- Unleash your brain, solve problems & look for opportunities to plan, write or take responsibility for a project or program.
- Keep you word-other people want to be able to rely upon you.
