Throughout this month, we’re talking about what it’s like to be a new leader, and this week’s episode is all about the emotions that inevitably surface for all new principals. We all have a vision of what it’s going to be like when we land the job as a principal. We look to our examples, people we’ve worked under when we were teachers. But the reality is always more challenging and chaotic than we could have ever imagined.

The good news is, this is the case for every new leader and this is all part of the process of developing the skills required to become a veteran principal. But right now, it’s so easy to get caught up in all of the emotions and helplessness of taking on this new role and believing that the job is too hard or that you don’t have the skillset needed to be a success. Well, if this sounds familiar, don’t worry because I’ve been exactly there, and I’m going to help you navigate it.

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We’ve been talking a lot lately about the importance of an abundant mindset when it comes to money, and my guest this week has the perfect insights for us. Keina Newell has a history in education, having been a vice principal. She is also the founder of Wealth Over Now, where she works with professional women and solopreneurs to create new possibilities with their money so they can save more, pay off debt, invest in themselves, and stress less about money.

Keina has some incredible insights into the positive changes you can make in your school once you get clear on your personal finances. She is so passionate about her work and finds no greater satisfaction than helping her clients start managing their money with joy because they’ve learned to feel possibility where they once felt shame, guilt, overwhelm and anxiety. And I know from personal experience how debilitating those emotions can be as a school leader.

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Last week, I gave you an overview of what abundant thinking is and how to actively practice it. Today, we’re turning our attention to thinking abundant thoughts around our time, which is one of our top three assets. This is something so many new leaders struggle with, and so today I’m helping you transform how you approach your time.

So many leaders believe that the key to creating more time in their schedule is using a particular calendar or planner, but I’m going to save you years of time and energy today by telling you that neither of these are the answer. Instead, I’m focusing on how your belief systems are creating cognitive dissonance, and how your brain reacts to overwhelm and confusion when it comes to your tasks.

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This week, I’ve got my client Chris Barkman on the show to share his journey from teacher to his first tenure as school principal. He signed on to work with me last September, and he’s here to give us insight into what his coaching experience has been like over the past year.

Chris has been my ideal client, and working with him has been such an honor. He has juggled the administration portion of his job while teaching at the same time, and I know his story is going to resonate with anyone who has experienced school leadership as a new principal. Coaching was something Chris decided he needed as he navigated through his first year as principal, and he’s telling us why it is so valuable to him and what he sees as the long-term benefit of having a coach.

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I have a special treat for you all today. I’m interviewing one of my amazing clients, Dustin, about starting his first tenureship as a principal. Up until this new opportunity, Dustin was an assistant principal for an elementary school. He came to me when he realized investing in his personal development would make his first year as a principal much more enjoyable.

For many of you listening, I know that coaching is something you’ve thought about but haven’t quite decided to make the investment in yet. Dustin is the perfect example of what can happen when you go all-in on yourself. When school leaders do this work, it affects their teachers and ultimately the kids, which is what matters most.

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