I remember July 4, 2012 like it was yesterday.
Not only was it Independence Day, but it also marked a new beginning for me. It was the unofficial start of my second year as a high school principal. Year one had been… a bit of a mess. I spent most of it reacting—fighting fires, running from one crisis to the next. If I’m being honest, I wasn’t really leading. I was barely managing.
As I stood at the fairgrounds that night watching fireworks explode in the sky, I felt a shift inside. I knew I couldn’t go into another year like the last. Something had to change—and that something was me. That moment sparked what would become a personal tradition: using July 4th as the pivot point between the year that just ended and the one around the bend.
It was the day I stopped recovering from the past year and started preparing for the next.
June was always my time to step back, exhale, and recover. Like many school leaders, I needed space after the final bell of the school year. Time to rest. To reconnect with Family. To decompress. And, just as importantly, to not think about bell schedules, evaluations, or emergency drills.
But recovery is more than rest—it’s the beginning of reflection. Those early weeks of summer helped me clear the clutter, reset my energy, and start to listen to that internal voice again—the one that reminded me why I chose to lead.
In Road to Awesome, I talk about the power of Clarity. Clarity doesn’t come when you’re in survival mode. It comes when you create space to breathe and reflect.
Then July 4th would arrive, and something clicked.
That day always felt like a line in the sand—the moment when summer stopped being “the time after last year” and started becoming “the lead-in to next year.” The fireworks, the community celebration, the quiet ride home—they all became part of a personal ritual that reminded me: It’s time to get intentional.
This wasn’t about creating a massive to-do list or jumping into back-to-school mode overnight. It was about mental readiness. It was about choosing to lead, rather than letting the job just happen to me again.
Each year after that, I would ask myself a few guiding questions around this time:
What did I learn from last year?
How do I want to show up differently this year?
Where can I grow—not just for myself, but for those I lead?
What parts of my leadership were reactive that need to become intentional?
This wasn’t just a mental Exercise. I’d grab a notebook, go for a jeep ride, or sit quietly with a cup of coffee early in the morning. That space gave me the opportunity to think about how I wanted to serve—not just survive.
When I began goal-setting in July, I found that I approached the new school year with more clarity and confidence. My goals weren’t about ticking boxes—they were rooted in who I wanted to be as a leader.
Here’s a simple framework I used that might serve you now:
People – Who needs more of my attention, support, or trust this year?
Practices – What routines or rituals will help us build a stronger culture?
Purpose – What’s the one thing I will keep front and center all year long?
These three elements helped ensure that my leadership wasn’t about reacting to whatever came my way—but about proactively shaping a culture where students and staff could thrive.
This mindset became a cornerstone of what I later wrote about in Culture First Classrooms. Great cultures don’t just happen—they’re built with intention. And that building starts before the school doors open.
If you’re reading this and thinking, “I’m not there yet,” that’s okay.
Maybe you’re still catching your breath. Maybe you’re already knee-deep in scheduling or hiring. Wherever you are, take a moment this week to pause and reflect. Ask yourself:
“What is one way I will show up differently this school year—and why does it matter?”
Write it down. Share it with your leadership team. Revisit it in August.
Leadership isn’t about perfection—it’s about direction. And the direction you choose now sets the tone for everything that follows.
July 4th is a celebration of independence. For me, it also became a celebration of intentionality. It marked the moment I stopped letting leadership happen to me and started leading with clarity, purpose, and direction.
This summer, take the time you need to recover—but don’t miss the opportunity to reflect, reset, and realign.
Your leadership journey is on its next stretch of road.
Let’s make it awesome.
Tune in this Sunday to “Leaning into Leadership” when I sit down with Jeff Linden, High School Principal in Hastings, NE.
Special alert: this week, I am wrapping up my special seris interviewing all three of the finalists for the National Middle School Principal of the Year and all three finalists for the National High School Principal of the Year on the podcast. Make sure you check them all out!!
