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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Dec 3, 2019
- 2 min
It's About Being GUTSY Women
The word was first introduced in the 1890s, an iteration of guts which was intended to mean fortitude. It has great synonyms like hardy, audacious, brave, and bold. And of late, it has emerged as a phrase to acknowledge women who have taken on challenges. Think: - a gutsy woman - a gutsy move I like thinking that gutsy means to challenge the status quo. Amelia Earhart. Rosa Parks. Kathrine Switzer. Women who take on the unthinkable. The challenging. The risky. Found a book st
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Nov 18, 2019
- 2 min
I Believe in Human Kindness
I believe in human kindness. I do. And I try to consciously act in a way that leaves the world a better place, one person at a time. And I model it for my daughters. Maybe its because so much of me wants to leave a better, more compassionate and supportive world for them. It might be because I've put my trust in humanity during very trying situations and humanity has cared for me and kept me safe. Maybe its because its the way to do right rather than be right. And then I pond
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Oct 29, 2019
- 3 min
How Self Aware Are You?
Funny thing.....as we get older, we either get so busy that we lose sight of who we are and what we stand for OR it has changed a few times. And for some of us, maybe its been more than just a few. Self-awareness is knowing about our beliefs, our character, our motives, and our desires. Self-awareness is important because when we have a better understanding of ourselves, we are able to experience ourselves as unique and separate individuals. We are then empowered to make chan
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Oct 15, 2019
- 3 min
Doing Your Situational Best
It's pretty normal to try to do your best at all times - in work, in relationships, with your children, as a neighbor. But striving for the best can ebb and flow and then the ensuing stress about not being at your best in one realm can affect another. Think of the holiday that many had yesterday. A day off to you might mean a list of many items to do: - go for a run - do a couple of loads of laundry - stop by the pharmacy for a prescription - grocery shop - get the car washed
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Aug 23, 2019
- 3 min
Running in the Golden Years
Disclaimer: I don’t look as old as I am...but I am. I credit running for my youthful appearance, although genetics might have come into play. As a distance runner for the past 25 years, I’ve been at it for a while. For the last eight years, I’ve been a coach for Run365, the official training program for the San Francisco Marathon. That means years of training those in the over-40 and 50 crowd. What have I learned? It is never too late to start running! Clearly, you want to be
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Jun 3, 2019
- 2 min
A Coffee Break of Inspirational Leadership: Being Brave
What does being brave really mean? I was recently reading a book that referenced the bravery of the character in the way she overcame adversity, how she didn't let others dim her sparkle, how she moved beyond feeling that she needed to be perfect and invincible. And it got me to thinking......how do you strengthen those skills? It's much like the question - how do you teach students about resiliency and grit? Reshma Saujani in the founder and CEO of the nonprofit Girls Who Co
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- May 20, 2019
- 2 min
Unleashing Your Happy-ness
Ever intentionally thought about happiness? Being happy at work, at home, in your community work? Its a topic I've worked through over the years, especially when I was a Superintendent and served in an area where we needed a little less stress and a little more happy. I led parents through an online study of happiness, via UC Berkeley's happiness project (more info below). The goal was to help parents bring more happiness and balance into their homes. Fast forward to life as
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Apr 22, 2019
- 2 min
Working with Obstructionists
We've all worked with them. Around them. Tried to avoid them. Some are really obvious. Others are a bit more underground, but their impact is the same. Obstructionists, often affectionately known as bottleneckers, are those who hold things up. They miss deadlines. They don't follow through. They talk a good talk, and then disappear. Or they show up, look you straight in the face, and make you second guess - did we really have that conversation? Was I clear? Yes, you were. And
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Apr 1, 2019
- 2 min
The Power of the Pack
I'm not going to apologize in advance that I'm going to talk about women in leadership. It's part of my mantra, and I'm also learning to STOP apologizing. But I digress.... Over the last ten years or so since I started working to resurrect the Women's Leadership Network with the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), the nation's largest administrative organization, I've learned a lot about leadership, women, challenges with women, lifting each other, and mor
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Mar 11, 2019
- 3 min
International Women's Day
Friday was International Women’s Day….and it gave many friends and I time to pause over the weekend and reflect on our experiences as women and with women. Yes, go ahead and poke a little fun at that phrase, as there is no way to really experience anything in a role other than that as a female, but you get where I’m going. A few of us gathered for a run on Sunday morning, mostly women but a few men sprinkled through our group that hung together for an hour. As we wound our wa
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Mar 5, 2019
- 2 min
Ever Feel Incompetent?
Ever feel incompetent? Join the club. We all go through it. Incompetence is a perfectly normal, albeit it uncomfortable feeling. Sometimes is about not knowing a new platform at work. Other times it is blanking in the middle of a presentation when our brain takes an unexpected break. And sometimes, it is being asked to respond to an inquiry on a topic where our knowledge is at a C level and we expect at least a B is needed to not sound like an idiot. Yes, it is uncomfortable.
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Feb 19, 2019
- 2 min
A Coffee Break of Inspirational Leadership: Walking in our Stories
I've been reading and listening to a lot of Brene Brown as of late - whether the paperback Rising Strong that I've dog-eared the heck out of or my new Audible membership and learning how to bookmark those segments that just say WOW! What I love about her work is how personable she is when she speaks, and how spot on she is with her messaging. Having been a long term researcher, she is very keen on sharing what extensive studies have noted....and those parallel what we profess
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Feb 11, 2019
- 3 min
A Coffee Break of Inspirational Leadership: Microvulnerability
Ran across this term a week or so ago. Microvulnerability. (Note - spellcheck doesn't like it...yet). When I think of leadership, I can't think of many leaders who have been brutally vulnerable about their skills, their knowledge, and their perspectives, because let's face it. Vulnerability comes with risk taking. Fear. Microvulnerability is about letting people know that you don't have it all together all the time. And that makes you shockingly human, right? Those of us who
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Feb 4, 2019
- 3 min
A Coffee Break of Inspirational Leadership: Lead Like a Girl
Growing up, I was a tomboy in every sense of the word. I was sent to the principal's office for playing tackle football in middle school (still not sure how it was okay for the boys but not the girls). I followed men's professional sporting teams religiously and analyzed data from the newspaper a few days a week. My favorite clothes were always what I was able to stealthily remove from my brother's drawers and closet. But being a female in a realm of school leadership that da
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Feb 1, 2019
- 3 min
Resolution Over Yet? Try Vision Boards
This past week marks the time when New Year’s resolutions fall by the wayside. Did yours? I’ll admit that I haven’t bailed on mine yet because….I didn’t create any! Years ago, we’ll call it the “before kids” time in my life, I had goals. I’d write about that. Reflect about them. Talk about them to others, mostly because when you put them out there, they become real. But over the years, I learned that setting goals wasn’t that effective in the way that resolutions are generall
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Jan 15, 2019
- 3 min
A Coffee Break of Inspirational Leadership: Power Hours?
Sometimes I blog over the weekend, and sometimes I leave it for early Monday morning (very early, like way before I need to get ready for work). And when I do too much on Sunday, that Monday morning wake-up becomes a bit more challenging.
That's what happened yesterday. I was tired and I didn't take into account what my power hours would be for a Monday, or at least that particular Monday. Have you heard of personal power hours? It's a really cool and valid concept - there
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Dec 18, 2018
- 2 min
A Coffee Break of Inspirational Leadership: Anticipation
I love the anticipation that comes with the holidays....vacations....time with the kids off school...the new year ahead. Maybe its the fresh scent of the cut Christmas tree in the living room, or the vision board I know I'll create for the 2019. And sometimes I wonder if its just the new start that comes with a new year. Yes, resolutions may come and go, but that newness always returns every year. The Dutch have a word for that special anticipation that comes with a big event
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Dec 10, 2018
- 3 min
A Coffee Break of Inspirational Leadership: #YouAreNotAlone
Dear Evan Hansen recently arrived in San Francisco and wow...just wow. Was fortunate to see it last night with friends and it was as good as I expected. Maybe better. Having listened to the soundtrack for the last year or so meant I was singing along (quietly) to a performance where I didn't really know the story line. Sure, the lyrics helped with my insights, but the real message was about a number of someones who, during the course of the two acts, emerged as souls feeling
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Dr. Lisa Gonzales
- Dec 4, 2018
- 3 min
A Coffee Break of Inspirational Leadership: Vulnerability
Being vulnerable didn't come easy for me. I grew up in a world of judgment in ways that often felt harsh. Mean. Inconsiderate. In many ways it hardened me to be more sterile to those I didn't know, perhaps in a way to protect myself. It wasn't until I had a heart to heart with a true leader who embodied what I was seeking....missing. It helped me see that my desire to be safe was compromising my ability to connect with others. Its sad to say that my female role models weren't
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