Exploring New Opportunities

The principal of the local school has invited me to speak not to the kids, not to the parents, but to all of the teachers and staff at his school. He has followed my UBBT and the service activities at my dojo, and he's asked me — ME! — to come and talk to his entire staff (100+ teachers, aides, and support personnel) about the "role of an educator."

Essentially, he wants me to fire them up at their start-of-year-staff orientation meeting — to inspire them at the start of the new school year and zero them in on some new concepts of "teaching."

Of course, I'll tie what I say to my martial arts experience, but I won't be wearing my gi or breaking bricks during my presentation. Nope, this is a suit and tie affair.

I'm still putting the final touches on my presentation, but my major themes will be:

1. You are not the teacher, you are the student.
2. Don't be a "teacher," be an "educator."
3. Education is self-defense.

Me, a motivational speaker. Who would have thought?