The Launch

Moments matter. As much as I am about strategic planning and goal setting, I am first and foremost about the present. I believe in noting moments.

This blog marks a moment: the official launch of my website. I don’t think the timing is coincidental. The launch is taking place in the middle of a global pandemic. Here in WA State “stay at home” orders are fully in place. For the most part, schools and businesses remain closed. Conflicting and confusing information permeates the news. The virus continues to spread. I find it to be an ongoing challenge to navigate these uncertain times, both personally and professionally.

So, what better time to start a global conversation about edgework? What better time to embrace ambiguity, fear of the unknown, and push (or be pushed) outside our comfort zones?

Since February, as I grappled with profound changes in the world and in my personal and professional life, I have immersed myself in readings and podcasts. I have been reflecting and reaching out. I have been bringing together decades of thoughts, notes, conversations, and writings. I have never worked harder in my professional life (and I have been at this for 35 years).

During this pandemic, and as a current Head of School, I am even more connected to my colleagues. I am even more dedicated to my school community, determined to strengthen and support others, and committed to lead forward in a way that allows us to affirm our values and discover new opportunities.

School leaders - and all of us - have stepped into the unknown with COVID-19. For sure, this is edgework! I often relate edgework to an outdoor adventure: prepping and planning for the journey, finding our true north, gathering our equipment, and organizing our backpacks. Of course, most of our edgework is not really about the outdoors, and neither is COVID-19. But still, these are journeys we take within ourselves, with others, and in our organizations. And I think the metaphors help. Our journeys, including COVID-19, require preparation. We have to understand our true north in order to step into the unknown. And we need tools and experiences in our backpacks.

This website represents one more step along my own journey. This is edgework too. It has been a challenge to bring together the thoughts, approaches, successes, failures, and ideas that I have sketched out in hundreds of post-its, journals, articles, and napkins over the years. Over time, I have honed my thinking about edgework.

Most recently, I have been listening to Brené Brown’s most recent podcast Unlocking Us. And, I am pretty sure that Brené is talking directly to me about vulnerability and stepping into new things.

Brené touches on “first times” (listen to her podcast as she has a slightly different name for this) and reminds us that when we name hard things (that is, stepping into something new) it doesn't make it worse. It normalizes it. But, that doesn’t necessarily make it any easier.

With this website, I am stepping into something new. But, I am also wrapping myself in something quite familiar. While I may have greater clarity now, like all journeys there is a great deal to learn. This site will evolve, shift, and change (as it should). I am going to get lost. And then found new paths forward.

My purpose with this website is straightforward - and bold.

I want to start a global conversation about edgework.

Let’s see where the journey leads! Thank you for coming along with me.

Together, let’s mark the moment.