We have a recording in editing and introducing Mark Rogers
This past week Kyle, Lily, and I were able to sit down in the studio and record our first podcast! In it is an introduction to the motivation of this endeavor, why we went into education in the first place, and we get to hear from our resident rookie teacher Lily. It was so much fun to make and we hope that you have a great time listening to it. As soon as it is available, we will be pushing it to you. Give us feedback, share us, download us, review us if you like us!
As much as I like talking to Kyle (and I really do!), I am extremely excited about the line up of interviews that we already have and the ones that we are ambitiously pursuing. One of those is the President of Marketing for our Big Brother/Big Sister organization, Mark Rogers. I was a Little Brother from the time that I was six until I graduated from high school. The one thing that radically changed my entire future was the intervention of my Big Brother, Tommy Rosson. He is an absolutely incredible man that taught me hard work, the importance of others, the necessity of growth and thoughtful exploration. He was a principal of an elementary school during our time together and a huge reason that I am forever convinced of the difference we make as educators.
Back to Mark. Mark and I have an eerily similar backstory. We both played football for not good division II colleges. We both were recruited as linebackers and, strangely enough, both of our teams injured enough defensive ends that they were desperate for anyone to fill the position and we were both expendable enough that when we said we would step in, the coaching staffed sighed, shrugged and said why not. We both quit after a couple of years. However, as close as our stories may be, Mark is just a little better. He is just a little better looking, a little taller, a little fitter, etc. He is a little quicker, a little more funny, and has an absolutely charming debonair smile about him. I may be a little in love with him but it is completely understandable, just wait to meet him.
We are also both members of an organization with United Way called Young Leaders. It is where I met him. It is an organization that looks for ways to supports the efforts of United Way. And so I come to the reason I am posting...Mark even serves better than me.
This is Mark and his beautiful little girls. That is my middle child in the background, I am pretty positive, requesting a trade. The project was to make casseroles for shut-ins and women's shelters. Sweet, right? Worthy cause and whatever effort is more than worth it, right? Well that's exactly what I had to keep repeating to myself as Mark creating a competition against the clock. Mind you any competition against the clock does not have to be reflective of what I am accomplishing. I decide not to join in. Not because I am not competitive, but because I know we don't have a chance against the well oiled machine he has created at his table. Each girl had her ingredients to add as he mixed and then sprinted the concoction across the room. At one point, he even comes over to me and asks how long do I think it is taking him to stop his watch once he sets the meal down. We agree a half second so he docks that from his fastest time, right at :44 seconds.
Still I don't feel defeated, because I haven't joined the competition until I see this; that's his sweet little girl mid-run. Notice the floor. While they are racing to better themselves with every family they feed, they also manage to have a perfect clean floor. My side, the pic on the right, is hoping the can lids we can't find aren't in the casseroles we just packaged.
By nearly every measurable point he is better than me. He is also inspiring and making a world of difference. He makes me want to do and be more. I don't have to be defeated by his greatness. I can strive for my own. Ultimately, today more families were fed because we jumped in and did something. My crew may not have looked as solid as his as a unit but we were in the battle, in the kitchen, in the good fight. Comparison can be deadly. Remember this year, it isn't you against your neighbor. Cheer each other on. Take each other out for a round. Share the ideas, podcast, blogs that inspire you to be better. The world is better because we are in this together.
I can't wait to have Mark on with us. You will love him.
As much as I like talking to Kyle (and I really do!), I am extremely excited about the line up of interviews that we already have and the ones that we are ambitiously pursuing. One of those is the President of Marketing for our Big Brother/Big Sister organization, Mark Rogers. I was a Little Brother from the time that I was six until I graduated from high school. The one thing that radically changed my entire future was the intervention of my Big Brother, Tommy Rosson. He is an absolutely incredible man that taught me hard work, the importance of others, the necessity of growth and thoughtful exploration. He was a principal of an elementary school during our time together and a huge reason that I am forever convinced of the difference we make as educators.
Back to Mark. Mark and I have an eerily similar backstory. We both played football for not good division II colleges. We both were recruited as linebackers and, strangely enough, both of our teams injured enough defensive ends that they were desperate for anyone to fill the position and we were both expendable enough that when we said we would step in, the coaching staffed sighed, shrugged and said why not. We both quit after a couple of years. However, as close as our stories may be, Mark is just a little better. He is just a little better looking, a little taller, a little fitter, etc. He is a little quicker, a little more funny, and has an absolutely charming debonair smile about him. I may be a little in love with him but it is completely understandable, just wait to meet him.
We are also both members of an organization with United Way called Young Leaders. It is where I met him. It is an organization that looks for ways to supports the efforts of United Way. And so I come to the reason I am posting...Mark even serves better than me.
This is Mark and his beautiful little girls. That is my middle child in the background, I am pretty positive, requesting a trade. The project was to make casseroles for shut-ins and women's shelters. Sweet, right? Worthy cause and whatever effort is more than worth it, right? Well that's exactly what I had to keep repeating to myself as Mark creating a competition against the clock. Mind you any competition against the clock does not have to be reflective of what I am accomplishing. I decide not to join in. Not because I am not competitive, but because I know we don't have a chance against the well oiled machine he has created at his table. Each girl had her ingredients to add as he mixed and then sprinted the concoction across the room. At one point, he even comes over to me and asks how long do I think it is taking him to stop his watch once he sets the meal down. We agree a half second so he docks that from his fastest time, right at :44 seconds.
Still I don't feel defeated, because I haven't joined the competition until I see this; that's his sweet little girl mid-run. Notice the floor. While they are racing to better themselves with every family they feed, they also manage to have a perfect clean floor. My side, the pic on the right, is hoping the can lids we can't find aren't in the casseroles we just packaged.
By nearly every measurable point he is better than me. He is also inspiring and making a world of difference. He makes me want to do and be more. I don't have to be defeated by his greatness. I can strive for my own. Ultimately, today more families were fed because we jumped in and did something. My crew may not have looked as solid as his as a unit but we were in the battle, in the kitchen, in the good fight. Comparison can be deadly. Remember this year, it isn't you against your neighbor. Cheer each other on. Take each other out for a round. Share the ideas, podcast, blogs that inspire you to be better. The world is better because we are in this together.
I can't wait to have Mark on with us. You will love him.
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