Desire and Discipline

26/7/2017

Desire and Discipline

Read Now

"In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity."
~Albert Einstein

"The will to win...the will to achieve...goes dry without continuous reinforcement."
~Vince Lombardi

I have been reflecting a little on what stops me from being as successful at sport today as I (like to think I was) 30 years ago. It all comes down to desire and self-dsicipline. Sure life priorities and old age come into it. Priorities is just an excuse though. I could hit the hay earlier, get up earlier and do the ten k thing again - if it was my priority, it I could re-summon the self-discipline. Old age is just an excuse too. Sure the reflexes are a little slower, but that's where experience and an old head can compensate - anticipation compensating for reaction speed.

Brian Tracy is one of America's leading authors on the development of human potential. He said this..."If I had to pick the #1 key to success, it would be...self-discipline. It is the difference in winning or losing; between greatness and mediocrity.

Self-discipline is the key to personal greatness. It is the magic quality that opens all doors for you, and makes everything else possible. With self-discipline, the average person can rise as far and as fast as his talents and intelligence can take him. But without self-discipline, a person with every blessing of background, education and opportunity will seldom rise above mediocrity.

My question is how much are we encouraging our children and supporting our children to be self-disciplined? It's so easy to do things for them, to make excuses for them, to offer them the 'easy option'. I'm not advocating child cruelty, boot-camps, or bully tactics to live vicariously through my child's success at something I'd wished I could do, or could do better.

No, I mean expecting kids to make a bit of an effort, a genuine commitment to seeing things through. How many kids give up stuff without even giving it a good go?

The most important success principle of all was stated by Thomas Huxley many years ago. He said, "Do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not."

That's self-discipline. That's what I need to work on, that's what I am going to encourage in my son as supportively but persistently as I think is right.

"No stream or gas drives anything until it is confined. No Niagara is ever turned into light and power until it is tunneled. No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated and disciplined."
~Harry E. Fosdick

1 Comment

Author

Greetings to all the families and friends of Western Heights school.
I am truly excited at the prospect of coming to work at this wonderful school each day.
Family:
My wife Jacqualene is the Principal of Mangere Central. She has outstanding skills and talents in administration, curriculum design and integration of ICT into the teaching and learning programme.
My son Tiaki is a bright boy, very keen on technology, a bit of a musician, and a very talented footballer and softballer. Tiaki was the youngest footballer to make it into the National Talent Centre, and was MVP at the South Island Softball Champs.
I also have two adult children and two grandchildren - all in Australia.

Western Heights school is a wonderful school, staffed with exceptional teachers and support staff; led by an outstanding Board; and supported by an enthusiastic and committed parent community.

Career:
I began teaching aged 19, some 41 years ago, and began my 20th year as a principal at this wonderful school in 2014.

Principal of Tareha School - Napier 2 years
Deputy Principal Prospect School - west Auckland 7 years
Principal Pomaria School - west Auckland 7 years
Principal Te Akau ki Papamoa School - Bay of Plenty 3 years
Principal Kaiapoi Borough School - Canterbury 8 years

President of Waitakere Area Principals Association 2003 - 92 schools
Apple Distinguished Educator Award - 2009. Sponsored to Apple Headquarters in Cupertino, USA.
Secretary Auckland Computers in Education Society
Primary Principals’ Representative - Primary Sector Education Advisory Committee
Waitakere City Council - Award for Outstanding Contribution to Education, 2003.
Presenter at UNESCO Conference on Values in Education, 2002.
Guest speaker - International Principal's Federation Conference, Auckland 2002.
Ministry contracted trainer - Implementation of New National Administration Guidelines
First Time Principals’ Mentor for Ministry of Education in Auckland and Christchurch.
Mentored new principals of four Canterbury schools.
University of Canterbury School Curriculum Development Facilitator - e- Learning, ICT in 2011 and 2012. Worked with 70 schools.
Post Grad Studies at Mindlab 2016

Personal Achievements
Sportsman of Year - Christchurch College of Education 1978
Canterbury Colts Softball representative
National League football with Woolston FC
Waimakariri Football Club Junior Coach of the Year - 2011, 2012, 2013

Philosophy
I believe passionately in all learners becoming independent.
My Vision has always been of “Growing Great Kids” who are self managing, self motivating, self moderating, independent leaders of their own learning.
This has been achieved through “Dream. Grow. Shine. Reflect.”
Children choose appropriate goals.
They develop an effective action plan to achieve those goals.
They identify success criteria - what we can expect to see when success is achieved.
They reflect on their goals, their plan and their outcomes and make decisions in light of this.

We know that positive relationships are the key to success, not just in learning but in all aspects of life. Positive relationships are built on trust, honesty, respect, and genuine concern, and nurtured through active listening and time spent together.
Whanau (Family) Relationships are the basis for all I do and the way I teach, coach and lead. For this reason, I set great store in being open to and available to children, staff and community.
As examples of this, we now have a presence on Facebook, a Twitter account, a revamped web site, an Open Door policy for access to me, and my personal email and cell phone number available to you all.

My door is open, my cell phone switched on and email launched - feel free to contact me any time.