Welcome to the 41st edition of the TOTR newsletter.
Let's put the pedal to the metal.
1. Quote to Think About
If you hit a wrong note, it's the next note that you play that determines whether it's good or bad.
- Miles Davis
Making mistakes is part of being human. It's how we correct those mistakes that counts.
2. An Insight Worth Considering
Being a jerk doesn’t make you a good leader.
My aunt used to say, ' A fish rots from the head.’
Wise words and not surprising.
As global powers play ‘top trumps 😒’ with each other and we have billionaires literally trying to build Skynet, no wonder the world feels messed up.
When times get tough, workplaces get dicey.
It’s easy to think that being a villain is what it takes to get ahead.
But leaders, this is why it’s even more important that we treat our staff with dignity and respect.
Many schools advertise to prospective parents that they have a ‘zero tolerance policy’ on bullying.
Yet teachers are getting ‘the hair dryer treatment’ from leaders and crying in their cars every day.
And even if you aren't a middle or senior leader, if you work in education, you are a leader to scores of children every single day. That counts for something.
Yes, good leadership may involve direct communication.
Yes, you have to raise the standards.
But what you think is a ‘kick up the butt’ is more akin to a John Wick 3 takedown.
We need a bit more carrots in this stick-infested world.
3. Resource to Explore
The resource I want to share today is this week's Maverick School Podcast episode.
I had the honour of sitting down with living legend Adrian McClean, who is an Executive leader, character education specialist and absolute powerhouse.
And what he had to say is absolutely crucial in this turbulent period.
Let me be blunt here.
Our current education system is making less and less sense as the days go by. AI is already taking massive chunks out of the jobs market. Our young people (and many adults) need alternative approaches to thrive in the Digital Age.
So I had the honour of sitting down with him to figure out what those approaches actually are.
After a glittering career in education, he's branched out to holistically develop young people and educators for what's coming next.
Here's what we broke down in this interview:
1. Why the "stable" systems of the last century are obsolete. And what we now need to do to prepare for the "wicked world" ahead. The old playbook is gone.
2. Why intrinsic values like kindness, empathy, and discipline have more real-world value than our current grade systems. And why ‘soft skills’ should be renamed ‘survival skills.’
3. Why most people look at "struggle" completely wrong. And why struggle is actually essential for flourishing. Adrian's framing will change the way you look at difficulty
4. Why the new world belongs to those who can self-educate and are willing to fail at scale.
I really enjoyed this conversation. Adrian dropped some 💎💎💎’s that will help anyone navigate this intense period.
Listen to it on your favourite platform of your choice 😎👇🏾
Apple Podcasts
https://lnkd.in/er4rSAf7
Spotify
https://lnkd.in/ewYWtXut
Podbean
https://lnkd.in/eVc7Qz2v
4. The Small Thing That Helped Me This Fortnight
Cooling fans and buckets of ice – This week has seen a 35-degree heatwave (the hottest May ever on record in the UK). Need I say any more?!? 😂😂😂😂
5. A Question to Sit With
'What is one opinion you had 5 years ago that you held that you staunchly believed in, that you no longer do, and why did you change your mind about it?'
In the AI Age, the very foundations of civilisation are being shaken. The ability to think critically will be a superpower in the years to come.
The next newsletter comes out on Thursday, 11th June 2026.
Look after yourself in this heat!
Karl
