Finding Your Blueprint to Success

By Todd M Bloomer

People ask me all the time, "What's the blueprint to becoming a successful leader?"

After 30 years as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, and now working with school leaders across our Archdiocese, I've learned that success isn't one big moment. It's a collection of small decisions you make every single day.

If you have heard me speak, you know I share my three pillars to help you find your blueprint for success.  

1. Take Care of Yourself

Let me say something that some leaders struggle to understand.  

Taking care of yourself isn't selfish.

For years, I watched incredible educators pour every ounce of energy into everyone else. They stayed late, answered emails at night, attended every event, and never wanted to disappoint anyone. The problem? They eventually had nothing left to give.  I'm not judging; I’m speaking from experience.  

I learned that if I wasn't taking care of myself, I couldn’t be the best leader, the best spouse, father, or son.  

My routine won't work for everyone. I go to bed early, wake up before most, run, lift weights, read Scripture, drink my coffee, and spend quiet time preparing for the day. That's my blueprint. Yours may look completely different.  I don’t expect anyone to copy my blueprint; the point is to have one that works for you.  

Your students, your staff, and your family deserve the best of you, not the rest of you.

2. Be Mentally Prepared and Aware

One of the best lessons I ever learned was that leadership starts long before the first meeting of the day.

Leadership starts by being aware and noticing people.  

Pay attention to the teacher who seems unusually quiet. Notice the custodian who always greets people with a smile. Stop and talk to the student who looks like they're carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders.

Some of the most important leadership moments are never scheduled on your calendar.

People don't always need you to solve their problems. Sometimes they just need to know that someone noticed.

Before I walked onto campus every morning as a high school principal, I would ask God to keep our campus safe, and then I would ask him to open my eyes, my ears, and my heart to those who need me the most.  

The best leaders aren't simply present; they pay attention.  

3. Don't Let the Pebbles Stay in Your Shoe

If you've ever gone for a run with a pebble in your shoe, you know exactly what happens.

At first, it's just a little annoying.

Then every step reminds you it's there until you have to stop running, take off your shoe, and get rid of the pebble.  

Leadership is the same way, except for some reason, educators don’t take their shoe off; they just keep going until the pebble becomes a boulder.  

An email. A negative comment. A difficult conversation. A mistake. A rumor.  Those are the pebbles that we allow to completely derail our day.  

I've learned that when something is bothering me, I should take my shoe off, toss that pebble as far as I can, and continue with my day!

The Blueprint Is Yours to Build

There isn't one perfect blueprint for success.

But I do know this.

When you take care of yourself, when you become intentional about noticing people, and when you refuse to let the little things steal your joy, you'll become the kind of leader people remember and that you always knew you could be.  

If this message encouraged you, share it with someone who could use it today. Give me a little love by following along as we continue talking about leadership, culture, and helping schools thrive.

And if there's something standing in the way of you finding your own blueprint to success, I'd love the opportunity to connect. Sometimes all it takes is one conversation, one new perspective, or one small adjustment to get you moving in the right direction.

Go be great today.