I watched Karen Bonanno’s speech at ASLA, 2011 conference : A profession at the tipping point : Time to change the game plan. Karen encouraged TLs to upgrade ourselves and to make ourselves distinct from others. We will get what we focus on, so we need to look at glass half full. Her comments challenged me to have positive viewpoints in any situation.

I liked “Five finger plan to success” which Karen borrowed from the book of Midas Touch.

Five finger plan to success

• Thumb – Strength of character ( Establish pre-eminence : the you who shows up before you show up)
• Point finger – F.O.C.U.S (Follow one course until successful, Know your outcomes, Take action, Find out what works and what doesn’t, Re-align until you achieve 1)
• Middle finger – Brand ( What do you stand for? Who are you? Are you who you say you are?)
• Ring finger – Relationships (Build up relationships with students and teachers.)
• Little finger – Little things that count ( What you do that others don’t do, It’s all about them. What is your core story?)

In conclusion, TLs need to determine who our audiences are, what our focuses are and how we’re going to take action. Although people say the TL is a profession at the tipping point, still we have time to change it by practising “Five finger plan to success”. TLs will not be an endangered species if we do not allow it to be.

Reference

Trump & Kiyosaki, 2011, ‘Guide to developing your Midas Touch’ in The Midas Touch. Plata Publishing. Scottsdale. AZ.