Safe feels easy, but the real growth happens when we wade deeper. I’ll admit it—I am a wimp when it comes to cold water. I’m the person who tiptoes into the ocean, gasping at every icy wave and muttering under my breath about how freezing it feels. Meanwhile, my husband barrels straight in like it’s […]
I can still picture it—walking through my northwest Chicago neighborhood with friends, chanting that childhood rhyme: “Don’t step on a crack or you’ll break your mother’s back.” We’d hop, leap, and tiptoe down the sidewalk, dodging every fissure like it was lava. In Chicago, that was no easy feat—those sidewalks were a patchwork of cracks, making the […]
A lighthouse doesn’t shine just for decoration; it exists because lives depend on it. In the same way, deep thinking isn’t just a nice extra skill. It’s what keeps us from crashing into the rocks of poor decisions, shallow habits, and noisy distractions. In a stormy world, deep thinking is our beam of light. 1. […]
A Beacon on the Shore We’re drowning in information and starving for wisdom. Headlines shout. Feeds refresh. Opinions clash. And in the chaos, too many of us skim the surface. We are reacting instead of reflecting, scrolling instead of thinking. Surface-level thinking might keep us afloat, but it won’t keep us safe. In fact, it […]
This article was originally posted on August 20th, 2025 on my Substack “The Deeper Thinking Project”. Join my substack to get early access to all of my blogs before they are released here! I hope you enjoy this blog and happy leading! When I was fresh out of college, I landed my first “real” job […]
Let’s be real—professional development (PD) for teachers often feels like something we just have to “get through.” You know the drill: gather in the auditorium, sit through a long presentation, check your email when no one’s looking, and leave wondering how any of it will actually help in the classroom. Sound familiar? The truth is, […]
Reimagine Leadership Change is everywhere, and it’s happening faster than ever. Schools are no exception, so deeper thinking leadership isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential. What is deeper thinking leadership? It is when leaders purposely infuse their school culture and climate with meaningful opportunities to embrace creative and critical thinking skills. I recently read a study […]
What Makes a Great Leader? Have you ever worked with a leader who seemed to have a sixth sense for navigating challenges? Someone who could turn a looming crisis into an opportunity or inspire a team to achieve what seemed impossible? Maybe it was the manager who brought fresh, exciting ideas to the table or […]
