In May of 2010 I made the decision to begin my first blog. I had 3 goals:

• Experience a new (for me) aspect of social media
• Develop and flesh out new ideas
• Provide something of value—not just another cyber rant.

I believe I have accomplished the first and the second. It is up to you whether I have accomplished the third. My blog posts contain videos, book recommendations and summaries, questions to ponder, and always a takeaway to apply immediately to life.  I have stayed true to my commitment to publish one blog post per week. This post marks the 188^th consecutive week.

Thank you for reading, commenting, and sharing.  I would love to hear what you found of value on this blog. And, please feel free to share any ideas you have for future posts.

For this last-of-the-year post, I have returned to each of the previous 51 posts I have made to this blog in 2013—and provided a statement about each. I have linked each title to the actual blog should you want to read it or re-read it.

Perhaps a nugget or two will provide inspiration. Thank you for your continued support and comments. All the best to you and your family and your friends as you enjoy a wonderful 2014! May you experience all this wonderful world has to offer in 2014—and beyond.

And now, here is the listing of my 2013 blog titles:

• I’m Glad My Mother Taught Me To … * Our parents, teachers, friends, neighbors, spiritual leaders, mentors, and even total strangers…each leaves an imprint….
• Do You Need To Catch Up With Yourself? * Their intentions may be wonderful but their execution is less than satisfactory.
• Using Technology with a Purpose * There are 257 million mobile subscribers in the United States. Of that number, about 128 million are smart phone users. Think of the possibilities!
• Do You Want the News to Establish Your Mindset? * Do you want a news commentator or weather personality establishing your mindset for the day?
• Reimagining Education for Students and Their Communities * We need a fresh set of eyes on how to make education work for the benefit of the students and the communities in which they live.
• One More Word to Censor? * Are there words we should never say? Are there words we should never hear? And who makes that decision?
• It’s Not Rocket Science!  * What examples do you have? When would you like to tell someone “Hey, it’s not rocket science!”
• College Persistence and Retention: Ask the Correct Questions * Before we can solve a problem we have to ask the right questions
• People Before Technology * The doctor has spoken; the prescription is simple. What a wonderful reminder—for all of us.
• Do You Have The “Goods”? * For my readers this week, I would love to hear how you implement the GOOD life.
• Consistency * Intentional growth, evaluated experience, and consistency are keys to personal development.
• Finding Your Kokomo * The calendar provides a gentle reminder of the many people and experiences for us to enjoy and embrace.
• Are You Unique? Well, Isn’t That Special! * Demonstrate what you have done (what action you have taken) rather than getting caught up in hyperbole.
• Connecting With Students: Principles of Student Success * Creating a conducive college classroom climate does not happen by accident. It happens on purpose.
• “You Could Take All Your Courses From Your Kitchen Table” * Sometimes, however, the simplest—and most effective—thing to do is to go back to the beginning. Back to the start and focus on what works.
• P.T.M.: What Is Your Calling? * No matter what we do, we owe it to ourselves, the task at hand, and the people around us to do it with pride and integrity.
• Who Is Responsible For You? * Want a better life? Then take the next step.
• What Is Shaping Your Reality? * Positive psychology tells us what we visualize creates our reality.
• Staying Focused On Your Dream * On your way to realization, you need to go from visualization to verbalization to transformation.
• Putting Action Behind Your Intentions: A Call To Action! * Ask yourself this question: “What one action, if I take it today, will get me closer to my goal?”
• Effective Leaders: From the Follower’s Perspective * The great leaders build relationships by validating and trusting their teams. They say YES and they take meaningful and purposeful action.
• Effective Leadership Embodies Influence Over Control *“We can’t practice compassion with other people if we can’t treat ourselves kindly.”
• Question-Collaborate-Question-Collaborate * We need people who will stand up and question when most others remain silent. Silence is not always an indication that all is well. It could be a warning sign that the so-called leadership has stymied a culture of curiosity, questioning, and dialogue.
• 7 Steps to Help You Unplug and Reflect * Personal reflection is an underlying principle of student success—and it is often a neglected principle in everyday life.  We need to (must) take time to give considered thought to the steady flow of information we are exposed to in daily life.
• Reach Your Goals One Step at a Time * Have you been feeling a bit rushed—overwhelmed by all you have in front of you?  My suggestion is to remember that you do have the choice to respond—even when others have made your plans a mess.
• Aware-Care-Dare * For those who do not want to settle and would like to rekindle the passion in your calling, I suggest a three-step model.
• Fostering Civility-Nurturing Gratitude. * Make the world a better place this week with one more act of civility and one more act of gratitude.
• Nurturing the Optimal Experience for Students and Employees * “Yesterday is a canceled check; tomorrow is a promissory note; today is the only cash you have– so spend it wisely.”
• Thriving with Change: A Simple Model * Change is cyclical. It repeats, continues, endures, and follows us wherever we go.  Rather than curse it, let’s understand how to thrive with it.
• It Takes More Than Academics to Succeed in College * I address this week’s blog post directly to college students. If you know one—especially a first-year or first-generation college student—please, pass this along.
• Standout or Get Left Behind *  What can you do this week to become the go-to person, the linchpin—the difference maker—in the lives of others, and by so doing, make a huge difference in your life?
• Who is Defining Your Brand? * Whatever you do this week (month, year and beyond), make sure it is excellent. How do you stand out and take control of your brand?
• How Bad Do You Want It? * So, will your dream remain a liketodo or will you turn it into a willtodo? Practice these four strategies.
• Do You Let People Should On You? * Some of the wisest and most effective mentors I have had simply made themselves available. These people—true mentors—will help you discover and define yourself.
• Thirty Two Years of Dreams * I have the chance to be a small part of their collective journeys. This is not a drill. It’s real life. Their lives. And after 32 years, my students continue to inspire me.
• Are You Kicking the Can Down the Road? * I have met and worked with highly capable kickers of the can. They do, however, have grave difficulties managing their decisions. And that affects everyone around them.
• Sailing or Anchoring * To reach a port, we must sail. Sail, not tie at anchor. Sail, not drift.
• We are all related * Mitakuye Oyasin
• What Legacy Are You Creating? * Each of us creates a story –our story. Our thoughts become our words which influence our actions. The sum of our actions creates our destiny—our legacy.
• Fail Fast, Forward, and Fearlessly * Not learning from the failure is the lost opportunity.
• Caring Without Candor Should Raise Concerns * It’s one thing to say our students should raise themselves by their own bootstraps. It’s quite another to make sure we provide them with the boots and the straps.
• Empowering Our Students * We need to help our students focus on and be prepared for outcomes, empowerment, and efficacy.  In that way we can help develop a vibrant community.
• Stop—Reflect—Evaluate * Do you want someone else or something else to determine where you will end up? Is your growth intentional?
• Access and Power of Technology: Carpe Diem!* With a smartphone, you have better access to information than Bill Clinton did when he was the president! How are you using this power?
• Knowing—Doing—Being * We are human beings—not human doings.
• Making Ends Meet on $27,500 per Month * Why did our college leaders give a newly minted millionaire a housing allowance?
• Now is My Time! * NOW is truly all we are sure of at any time. What are we doing with the NOW we are experiencing?
• Gratitude: Appreciating Wonder * Life is one choice after another. Why not choose gratitude? The rewards are wonderful.
• Who Should Really Get Off The Bus? * If leaders cannot encourage and support open debate—even when it questions the direction of the bus—maybe they should get off the bus.
• Teacher Evaluation: I’m Not A Plumber For A Good Reason! * Just because everyone at one time or another has been in a classroom as a student, that does not make them effective teachers or evaluators. Heck, I use toilets many times each day. That does not make me a plumber!
• Teacher Evaluation: I’m Not A Plumber for a Good Reason (Part 2) * I am not defending poor teaching. Far from it. I don’t want the lazy or incompetent or worse in my calling. But do evaluations need to be geared to the lowest common denominator?

Choose well. Live well. Be well—and H.T.R.B. as needed!

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog post. Please share it (and any of the archived posts on this site) with friends and colleagues. You also can follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. If you get a chance, visit my Facebook page and join in–or start–a conversation (www.facebook.com/stevepiscitelli).  If you have suggestions for future posts, leave a comment.

Make it a wonderful week—and a wonderful New Year!

Check out my website (http://www.stevepiscitelli.com/programs.html) for programming information as well as details about upcoming webinars (http://stevepiscitelli.com/webinars.html).

 (c) 2013. Steve Piscitelli. All rights reserved.