Boonshaft’s Blog
#228. “Irrational Confidence”
I recently heard an interview with basketball legend Stephen Curry. He described his less-than-stellar start as a player, reminding listeners that he had thirteen turnovers in...
#227. More Room In The Glass
I recently stumbled upon a wonderful quote that was so fantastic I can’t stop thinking about it. It simply read, “It doesn't matter if the glass is half-empty or half-full,...
#226. Every New Beginning
I recently spoke at a start-of-the-new-school-year professional development day for a very large school district. It was the first day back for the teachers. As I surveyed the...
#225. Always
The remarkable Maya Angelou so eloquently stated, "People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel." And...
#224. It’s Going To Rain
What's at the heart of being a teacher? I could write for hours and not even begin to scratch the surface. But one of my favorite quotes certainly captures one aspect of it...
#223. A Big Step
As you start your next ensemble rehearsal, simply write the following words on the board without saying a word: "It marks a big step in your development when you come to realize...
#222. “The 7-38-55 Rule”
In the 1970s, then UCLA Professor Albert Mehrabian postulated a theory he called "The 7-38-55 Rule." According to Professor Mehrabian, just 7% of a message is communicated...
#221. Don’t Miss The Point!
Those of you who know me know that for all of my efforts to be an optimist, I am a card-carrying pessimist at heart. I hate it, but it's true. However, I've gotten much better as...
#220. “It’s A Hard Life”
Many years ago, the legendary W. Francis McBeth wrote an article entitled, "It's A Hard Life" that sticks (pun intended, as you'll see!) with me every time I rehearse an...