Impact EDU 2019: Angela Maiers-How Big is Your Brave

Angela Maiers was the keynote speaker on Monday at the ImpactEDU 2019 Conference.Technology doesn't change lives, people do. Her mantra is "You Matter!"
Today's to-do list is overwhelming!

Instead we need a "To-Be" List!

Who do you want to be? Thinking about the future and seeing yourself in the future is a 21st century skill.

Our reality is that the world contains 

VUCA- Volitility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity 

This is what our world is like now...

The world of the past favored the bold, now we need to bring our courage into practice.

In the end, we need ot be "braver!"

Brave is...

Ask students to bring images to show what that means...

She asked us to think about what brave was... (I said, "Stepping out of your comfort zone.)

Seth Godin-

"There is nothing comfortable about courage. Our need to feel ready and in control actually prevents us from being able to fully participate in life itself. To be brave is to truly live right now uncomfortably without control but with intention."

The opposite of courage is "comfortability." We have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable!

Hard to transition when we are used to always doing "best practice." 

Reminds me of Molly Bennett's "Living in Beta" TED talk.

Maiers noted that staying "SAFE" is the riskiest thing we can do in this environment of VUCA. We need to resist the urge that parents have to want students to avoid being "uncomfortable." There are no safe answers anymore.

It is only through being uncomfortable that we grow. 

Brining Courage into Practice

Important to bring into our practice. Maiers intereviewed leaders and asked what does it mean to "BE" Brave. Four year Olds!

1. Love Who You Are-You Matter
2. Never Give Up
3. Be Calm in Yourself
4. Stand Up for Yourself
5. You are a Superhero
6. Believe in Yourself
7. Be Brave

1. Love Who You Are-You Matter

Worthiness is a daily practice. I matter.

Educators often feel helpless that they didn't do enough. Maiers argues that if you brought everything and did your best, you did all you could!

T

This daily affirmation is something we as educators need to do every day!

She shared a story of teachers using postit affirmations in the bathroom and students asking if they could do that to. She likens it to a Wall of Worth!

2. Know Who You Are-And be calm in that

We need personal branding or owning our genius. You are a unique human being that is more that what you "Do"

You are a Brand. Your Story= Your Brand

Perfection is suspect. It is ok to be a "hot mess" sometimes. None of us have it all together all the time. #WordsMatter

Ask instead "What's Your Genius?" 4 year olds can do that!

Activity:

"Give me 10"- 5 nouns associated with your future self" 5 Verbs associated with your future self.

For Maiers, it looks like this:

If we don't tell our stury, then others will.

3. Be That: Today and Every Day

Are our schools promoting braveness or what the mission is EVERY day?

Where is the comfort level? Adding a "Courage Quotient" to dream audaciously and wonder boldly EVERY day! Am I acting on my dreams and pursuing our passions?

4. NEVER Give Up: Ever...Ever

The reason we give up is because we fear failure. The relationship with "F" starts very early. We need to help kids understand that you can and MUST be scared and brave at the same time!

She promotes this through her hashtag: #WeAreBraverTogether

What is YOUR hope in the new year?

We cannot pin our hopes and dreams on To-Do Lists!

Our worth is in our "To-Be" List

To be Brave...