Be the change, or change the be

I could hear the passion in her voice as she described to me what she had been doing, and what she wanted to do moving forward. The dichotomy was that she had recently been dealt a difficult hand by a educational company after accomplishing great things for them during her time there.

Yet, even in the midst of this she was focused on being the change. I could hear it, feel it, and I know she will accomplish much if she pursues her passion to help students with special needs -- especially if she chooses herself first.

There are others though who work without passion. Perhaps they merely see what they do as a paycheck, a job, or just a means to an end (many times just the weekend). For them perhaps it is time to change the be.

No matter the role one plays, there is opportunity to be the change the world needs to see. When we relinquish that responsibility to someone else, we lose passion and vigor for what we do. Unfortunately, others suffer for this as much as we do ourselves.

I believe each one of us has a gift to share with the world and by doing so the world becomes a better place. If we have passion in what we do we can then be the change. If we seek to be the change then we have the potential to make the change.

To JD and others reading this, who have a passion for what they are doing, be that change you desire to see in the world.

For those struggling with a lack of passion, find out what excites you, and if it is different than what you are currently doing, seek ways to change the be.

We need what you have to offer, now more than ever.

houston@figment-consulting.com

Seeing is believing

Or, could it actually be the other way? Believing is seeing.

If you believe only what you see then life will mirror what you tend to look at most.

However if you first believe -- believe in what you desire, believe in what you expect -- then you will begin to see what you believe come true.

You will see beyond what is and believe in what can be. Then, what can be has the potential to take the place of what is.

Believe first.

houston@figment-consulting.com

My office is EPCOT

Thanksgiving is a mere two days away. Today I find myself sitting across from my namesake Journey Into Imagination with Figment conducting executive coaching calls, re-imagining virtual schools, and helping a new client develop a customer-centered culture -- and doing it all while I listen to the EPCOT music overhead, watch people pour into the Figment attraction, and enjoy the reason why I started my own firm over two years ago.

I am in Florida for over a month working on a special Mouse-related project along with my normal consulting efforts. Today though I have the privilege of working from EPCOT, because today this is my office.

Two years ago I chose myself, as Seth Godin would say, because I grew tired of the corporate life and became disillusioned with the evolution of K12. Since then I have had the honor of working with some wonderful clients who are out to truly "do virtual right." They too are weary of the current model, and desiring of something far greater. Those are the types of virtual schools and companies I want to do business with -- ones that want to make a difference, a real difference.

The fun thing about being a consultant is you also get to choose your clients. Oh, I know most would say the client chooses you, and that is true to a point. However, you also get to choose your clients. You determine who you are willing to work with, and who you are not. The selection process is a two-way street, and by seeing it that way it actually increases your potential.

Since leaving K12 I have become wealthy in ways far more than mere financial wealth, though that too has increased dramatically.

The wealth of freedom.

The wealth of independence.

The wealth of doing the work that matters.

The wealth of making a difference.

The wealth of working with clients who are remarkable.

The wealth of providing a service that is appreciated.

The wealth of having my family with me for this journey.

The wealth of being there for my children, and not missing anything in their lives.

The wealth of relocating by choice.

Today my office is EPCOT. The beauty of it all though is that tomorrow my office is wherever I want it to be. And for that, I am grateful.

Now, I have an hour until my next call -- perhaps it is time to experience Journey Into Imagination with Figment.

houston@figment-consulting.com

Dancing to work each day

A client of mine sent this video to me this morning so we could craft a Facebook post that relays both purpose and sense of place to those who belong to the virtual school, and encouraging others to find out more about the school.

However, I also wanted to share it here because it resonated with me personally too.

Tim Harris is a restaurant owner who lives each day with a smile, sees each moment for the potential it holds, and seizes each opportunity to make someone else's day better and brighter. By the way, Tim has Down Syndrome, and yet when I watch his video I sense that he understands the meaning of life far more than most of us.

Be inspired by Tim today. Then, it's your turn -- try dancing to work tomorrow morning and see what a difference it makes for you.

houston@figment-consulting.com

Personalized learning

There is a difference between personalized and individualized.

Main Street in Magic Kingdom is the same Main Street for every individual who walks the path. Yet, for each guest on Main Street there is an opportunity for the walk to be a personalized experience.

When virtual schools grasp this difference and begin to truly focus on personalizing not just the academic adventure but also the learning experience overall, then the true journey of education can begin for each individual.

houston@figment-consulting.com

The time horizon of change

On September 20, 2011 a Disney blog publicly announced the agreement between Walt Disney World and James Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment. The highlight of the announcement was Disney's Animal Kingdom would be home to an area devoted entirely to the blockbuster movie Avatar. That was 2011.

Construction began in 2014.

Yesterday I toured Disney's Animal Kingdom and construction was still going on for the area that will be known as Pandora - The World of Avatar. Yesterday was November 19, 2015.

Expected completion date could be in 2017 for part of the land but full completion may be in 2019. If my math is correct 2019 would be eight years after first announcing the agreement.

Right now almost half of Disney's Hollywood Studios is closed off to guests as they build themed attractions around the Star Wars franchise they purchased from George Lucas several years ago. Completion of these attractions is a few years away.

In Epcot construction is underway in the Norway pavilion for a Frozen-themed attraction. Due to be completed in the near future, this new attraction was launched by the blockbuster movie that debuted in 2013.

In today's NOW economy it is difficult to remember sometimes that change occurs at a pace all to itself. In the world of attractions that pace of change can be years.

The same is true in the realm of existing virtual schools. Changing marketing strategies or branding efforts can be done quickly -- hire a new firm with the bright and shiny accouterments and everyone feels like change is happening. Everything has a fresh coat of paint so everyone thinks it is new, yet the cracks remain.

However, the real change required, the kind of change that impacts the students and families, the kind that makes a difference takes a little longer -- this change requires more than a marketing paint bucket.

The obstacle most virtual schools run into when considering this undertaking is they shorten the time horizon allotted for this change to occur. If it cannot be completed in one enrollment cycle then the pain is too much to bear.

The average Disney World guest visits the parks every three to four years. This means a guest at the park in 2011 when the Avatar deal was announced will visit the parks two more times before the new attraction is completed. They will be eight years older.

The difference is Disney understands the concept of time horizon. They understand that short-term pain will be offset by long-term gain.

What is true for Disney can also be true for virtual schools. The current model is broken. It's time to make the public announcement that a deal has been reached and for one virtual school in each state to step up and become the standard by which all others will soon want to follow.

The short-term pain will be offset by the long-term gain.

houston@figment-consulting.com

A virtual school freeze frame

I had every intention of writing today about Disney World name tags and the role they play in building relationships, but then I spent time last evening in Magic Kingdom watching a photographer perform her magic. So, I will save the name tags for the future.

One of the perks of working with and at Disney World is being able to experience it in the evening as a guest. Last night, my family and I were waiting for the rest of our party by the large Christmas tree in Magic Kingdom's Town Square, near the place where they take the photos. If you have been there you can typically see Cinderella's Castle in the background with all of Main Street in front of you, but now the Christmas tree blocks that view.

As we were waiting we watched this young Disney photographer do more than take pictures of the guests. She, like Paul earlier in the week, understood the difference between her job description and her role. She was engaging with the guests, delightful, animated, fun, and added to the show for each guest (whose ages seemed to range from 7 to 95) -- and, by the way, this was around 10:00 p.m., after a long day at work for her I am sure. But, you couldn't tell by the way she performed.

In my blog post earlier this week about Paul, I spoke of the difference between job description and roles and how he epitomized this difference. This young photographer, who could not have been more than 25 years old (if that much), was another shining example of this difference. However, that is not my purpose for this post.

What watching her did do for me was to remind me what matters most in virtual schools. The setting last night at Magic Kingdom was, well, magical. Main Street glistened with Christmas decorations, the tree was tall and beautiful, and the music was playing the familiar Christmas tunes we could all hum. The process of taking photos, standing in line, waiting for your turn, was a simple one, an easy one to follow, and a quick one to work through.

But, what created the magic was not a setting or a process, it was a Cast Member. The setting and the process crafted the environment for this young photographer to perform. But, she could have broken the magic by simply taking the photos and ignoring the opportunity she had by being on stage. Instead, the engagement and interaction between her and her guests will be their lasting memory as the exited for home.

So, what matters most in virtual schools? Is it the curriculum? Or, is it the interactive design? Is it the speed of the technology? Is it the course offerings -- how many AP courses? Is it the web site? Is it the online school?

No. It's none of that.

What matters most in virtual schools is the teacher. More precisely it is the teacher and student relationship that is formed on a day-by-day, single interaction basis. Each interaction between teacher and student either adds to the show, or the experience, or takes away from it. It is either a positive one or a negative one, and if it is not positive then it is negative. It is never just an interaction. Each one, in essence, is a freeze frame that when put together tells a story and becomes a motion film. Teachers have the ability to build the story one frame at a time.

When students and families talk about how great their school is, they are thinking of a teacher or teachers. When they share their experience with others, they are thinking about their teachers. When they think about their school, they are. in reality, thinking about their teachers.

The setting and processes of virtual schools should be set up to allow for, encourage, and simplify the teacher-student interactions. Put that first, put that in the middle, and then wrap everything else around it.

houston@figment-consulting.com