Who are two people who have had the biggest impact on your life?

Bernadette Jiwa’s new release, Story Driven: You Don’t Need to Compete When You Know Who You Are, “invites you to begin retracing your steps on you journey to now…those happenings that have been the making of you.”

Using case studies she highlights the importance of your

• Backstory
• Values
• Purpose
• Vision
• Strategy

When we examine each of the above we come to have a better understanding of what we do, what we need to do, and, just as important, what we do not need to do.   In short, we discover/re-discover who we are. We gain clarity. And, yes, this takes on-going reflection and work. We need to ask ourselves lots of questions.

Consider this backstory question by Jiwa: Who are two people who have had the biggest impact on your life and what did you learn from them?

Photo and Effects by Steve Piscitelli (c)

That’s tough. I have ten on my list—so far.  And as I reflect on each person I come to a clearer understanding of why I value what I do.

Before I share a part of my list, I challenge you to pause and draft your list along with lessons learned from the people on that list.  Then continue to refine the list over the next week.

My initial list includes:

• Aunt Philomena. My father’s baby sister. Early in life I came to appreciate the power and idiosyncrasies of family.  She always cooked wonderful Italian food. The gatherings, however, were not about food. They were about people, relationships, and passion. And laughter.
• Norman Pollock and Betty Winstead. Two of my college professors and mentors during my undergraduate years. They widened my world view, encouraged me to stretch my curiosity to find my passion, and helped me understand the power of an inclusive community. The power of seeing people’s worth.

• Garland Allen Rushing. Phenomenal department chair when I taught high school. Reinforced the power of respect in building a team. He was buttoned down (tie, jacket, and short hair). I wore clogs, earrings, and hair to my shoulders. He set and modeled high standards. He took personal interest in his team, stretched us (in a good way), and empowered us to find our own stories as teachers. He listened. He built solid relationships and fostered discipline and a strong work ethic.
• Laurie Hopper Piscitelli. We have encouraged each other, supported each other, and challenged each other along these four+ decades.  We have NEVER “kept score.” You know, the kind of relationship you might hear something like, “Well, I did such and such last week…so you have to do such and such this week.” We give each other space to be ourselves.  And, I continue to learn about resilience from her.
• Charles Bailey. My personal trainer. I have written on this blog of his power on my life. The key takeaway for me from him during his all too brief journey on this earth: “How do you walk around in something you were born with [your body] and not know anything about it or not be aware of what affects it?” How do you expect to reach your goals and make a difference in the world if you fail to nourish your body, mind, and spirit?

Each person above, and so many more, shared a piece of their story with me. They helped me be my authentic self.

Video recommendation for the week:

This short video (68 seconds) introduces the first scenario of my book Stories about Teaching, Learning and Resilience: No Need to be an Island.  While I am speaking to teachers here, the message applies well beyond the classroom, campus and college culture. I shot this about 18 months ago. It resonates with Jiwa’s recent release.

See link below for more about the book and free videos.

Make it an inspiring week and H.T.R.B. as needed.

For information about and to order my book, Stories about Teaching, Learning, and Resilience: No Need to be an Island, click here.  A number of colleges and one state-wide agency have adopted it for training and coaching purposes. Contact me if you and your team are interested in doing the same.

The paperback price on Amazon is now $14.99 and the Kindle version stands at $5.99.

My podcasts: The Growth and Resilience Network® (http://stevepiscitelli.com/media-broadcast/podcast).

My programs and webinars: website  (http://stevepiscitelli.com/programs/what-i-do) and (http://stevepiscitelli.com/programs/webinars).

Pearson Education publishes my student textbooks for life success—Choices for College Success (3^rd edition) and Study Skills: Do I Really Need This Stuff? (3^rd edition).

(c) 2018. Steve Piscitelli. All rights reserved.