Simon Sinek’s Message for Teachers and the Golden CircleCompliments of Northern Valley Regional High

School DistrictSimon’s Incubator for Learning: Alma Mater

A Message From Simon SinekNVRHS District Alumnus

September 2, 2012

Close your eyes and think back to when you went to high school. Think of the name of the teacher who took you under his/her wings. Who believed in you. Who saw something in you that no one else saw. Who proved to you that you were capable of more than you thought you were. This teacher may even be partly responsible for who you are today.  Got the name of that person?  

We all remember the names of the people who believed in us and helped us become not just better students, but better versions of ourselves. We can't remember the names of the rest of the teachers we had those days, but we remember the chosen few.

This is the power of being a teacher. It is the ability to impact someone on such a deep level that they will literally carry your name with them for the rest of their lives. You don't teach curriculum, you teach people. It is not about the lessons, it's about the impact you can have in someone's life.

Every single day, remember, your job is not to teach, your job is not to count grades or to meet standardized metrics...your job, your service, is to help these young men and women become better human beings. Exams aren't just a test of competency, they are also tests of character. Who cheats or not. Lessons aren't just for learning subject matter - they build character and discipline. The classroom is not just a place for learning. It is a place to develop character and opportunity to help individuals learn the courage to express doubt or confusion.  The classroom is also an environment that can teach young men and women how to work together, cooperate and help each other.

Your job, your cause, is not to make better students - it is to make better human beings.

Do that, and you will change the world. Because a future President who works towards world peace or a future CEO who puts people before profits or a future scientist who cares about cures and not fame when asked how they became the person they became, will close their eyes, think back to high school and mention your name. 

Inspire on!

SIMON SINEK’S GOLDEN CIRCLE – WHY?