Words That Help You

"Todd, it's your program. Everything that happens is a reflection of you and your program."

I sat in the office of Principal Don Ringgenberg in the spring of 1990 as we discussed his walking into the beginning of an AAU team practice. I was in the gym but boys were shooting from the steps, the balcony and basically messing around.

Mr. Ringgenberg didn't like it. Mr. Ringgenberg liked discipline and he wanted me to as well. I was in my fifth year as a teacher and coach and had not really had any mentoring. Mr. Ringgenberg was the first principal that really held me accountable and also explained why.

Another lesson learned during that first year? We had school rule that there could be no pop (insert soda if you must) in the gym at anytime. I was at a JV basketball game on a Saturday morning and Don was there as well. I was sitting at the scorer's table with a can of Diet Coke. It didn't take long for him to walk over, sit behind me and tell me that I needed to not have the Diet Coke in the gym. "If our coaches have it in here how can our kids and fans be expected not to." Lesson learned. Rules are for everybody, leaders included and leaders especially.

When confronted with truth you have two simple choices. You can roll your eyes, be uncoachable, do it begrudgingly or ignore it or you can listen, be coachable and apply what is being said and let those words help you grow.

Don Ringgenberg taught me a lot of lessons as an administrator. The most important is to be honest with people. Be honest, tell them what they need to hear and then move on and support them.

Thanks Don. I've tried to use those lessons over the past 30+ years. Thanks for speaking words that helped me learn, grow and be better.

Made For This Moment is a collection of writings for living day to day on the journey that we are all on. Todd Gordon is the Director of Activities at Greene County Community Schools in Jefferson, IA. He has been in education for 36 years serving as a teacher, coach, and an administrator.

He has been married to his wife Deb for over 37 years and they have three married children and five grandchildren.

Todd wants to help you on your journey any way that he can because he believes that we are all better when we go through life together and with teammates.

You find him on Twitter and Instagram at @toddagordon.