Leadership: Are you a Giraffe or a Turtle?

T. D. Jakes, in his new book, Instinct, tells the story of the giraffe and the turtle. Imagine yourself with your dreams and vision as the giraffe. You reach to the top of the tree and that is where you find your food. Imagine the turtle as all the people who have not understood your vision and tried to hold you back. The turtle finds his food on the ground. You both have different views of the world. As Jakes says, “We eat at the level of our vision”. The turtle can’t reach the heights of the giraffe and if the giraffe bends down to the turtle all the blood rushes to his head, and he becomes unconscious.  As you lead instruction in your classroom and school, be the giraffe.  But as he cautions us,  “When you are built to be tall you will endanger your position if you lower your perspective." Also remember, you cannot explain to a turtle a giraffe decision.  So today, will you be a giraffe, or a turtle?  And, who will you listen to?