Couple of clichés first:

• “Sometimes you have to tell someone they have an ugly baby.”
  • I had this up on the bulletin board in the classroom. It also applied to evaluating pilots in another career. It’s an eye opener cliché. And it should be! And I always use the caveat that this applies to me as well. Sometimes we’re just plain ugly and a true friend or relative, if he or she is truly true will tell another when they are ugly.
• “Can’t teach stupid.”
  • I also had this up on the bulletin board and it was a mistake. I’ve seen students who truly thought they were ‘stupid.’ Without going personal, I believe there are some parents, friends, coaches, mentors who have told others they are stupid. If told long enough or from told from varied sources, the subject of that comment begins to believe it. And that is wrong.
• “Ignorance is bliss.”
  • This needs to be explained. Actually, the antithesis of this has to be taught. Ignorance is anything but bliss! Ignorance is intentional! And sometimes I believe leaders of nations intentionally keep their people ignorant and that is one of the reasons for insanity among nations, cities and families when they do not improve.
• “Insanity is continuing to do the same thing over and over expecting different results.”
  • This also needs to be taught. If a city continues to be a crime-ridden city, and we have plenty of those in the U.S., I am just amazed the people keep electing the same governing officials. It amazes me. And, when this continues to happen, the blame is always deflected to someone or something else in lieu of the owner or mayor or governor of the city or state. This is insane!
• “I can predict the future.”
  • When teaching kids, this is a pretty cool statement which gets their attention. And when they challenge you on how you can do that, all you have to say is, “Let me see your friends.”
• “Who you are in the next five years is a direct result of the books you read and the people you associate with.”
  • I believe John C. Maxwell wrote this. The people aspect is addressed above. I realize some home environments are far from ideal and that’s where mentoring and solid teaching and coaching relationships need to be sought. But on reading; it just floors me people in leadership positions, and who isn’t in a leadership position (and a parent is a leadership position), I just do not understand why someone would not read a book on parenting, teaching or leading.
• “A good friend will bail you out of jail; A great friend will be sitting next to you saying, “Damn, we screwed up big time.”
  • Don’t take this to the extreme. A great friend should keep you both out of jail. Two minds are always better than one. I am so very thankful I’ve had great friends who have challenged me in my ignorant and selfish times. I cannot thank you enough. And, sooner or later, once the honeymoon wears off, you will realized, or you should realize, you just married your best friend.