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The Secret Power Elite School Leaders Tap Into Weekly

The Secret Power Elite School Leaders Tap Into Weekly

Danny Bauer
April 27, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

Hey — It’s Danny

In today’s issue:

The power of 80/20 thinking
What makes the Ruckus Maker Mastermind unique
Why American boys are falling behind academically
An AI coach trained on 10-years of experience

First time reading? Sign up here and join 5,420 Ruckus Makers Doing Do School Different 🎉

OFF CAMPUS

⏰ WIN Time: Stephanie McConnell joined me on the RuckusCast to talk about reimagining intervention and enrichment. Listen to the show here.
🧨 Dyno-mite: This post went viral on LinkedIn this week. Will AI replace teachers? Click this link to read the post and leave a comment.
🐰 Whatever You Like: Kyoto University lets their students dress however they want at graduation. Check out some of the costumes here.
🎯 On Point: A special series exploring why American boys are falling behind academically as early as age eight—a gap that only widens as they become men—and what can be done to help them succeed.

A MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL MATTERS

Whose Permission Are You Waiting For?

My friend, Will Parker, has a new book: Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love. And I think you should get a copy.

It’s is a powerful guide for anyone navigating the challenges of leadership and purpose-driven work.

Inspired by real conversations with high-achieving educators, you’ll get 20 engaging chapters filled with stories, research, and practical strategies. After reading you will gain clarity, overcome limiting beliefs, and take meaningful action.

This book provides the framework for transforming both your career and your life.

If you’ve ever felt stuck or unsure about your next steps, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? is the bold push forward you didn’t know you needed.

DO SCHOOL DIFFERENT

The Brutal Truth About School Leadership

Leadership is lonely.

You're not physically alone, yet have nowhere to turn for real help.

Most principals feel isolated on an island of responsibility. You're pouring out, rarely being poured into.

But that's not the case in the Ruckus Maker Mastermind.

As one member put it: "I might come to Mastermind feeling depleted, but I always leave energized."

What Makes Our Mastermind Different

We're not an administrative echo chamber that reinforce the status quo.

Instead our peer-to-peer community delivers something unique:

Depth Relationships. Not surface-level networking, but coaches and peers who know you well enough to push when needed and support when necessary.
Consistent Accountability. Weekly meetings create momentum traditional annual conferences can't come closet to matching.
Global Perspectives. Break out of your local bubble with insights from visionary leaders around the world.
Tools That Create Breakthroughs. Practical frameworks like our Ruckus Maker Flywheel turn theory into action.

For Principals Who Want More

Our ideal members are thriving when some many of their peers are burning out.

Here are some qualities share across our members.

Self-reflective. Our members notice what's not working or what could be better. And want to do something about it.
Growth-oriented. Our members look for ways to improve and grow rather than continuing to do things "how they've always been done."
Givers, not takers. Our members are generous and share their best resources, strategy, and tactics.
Invest the time. Our members make a 1-hour "time investment" to work in their craft. This gives them an edge over their peers.
Active participants. Our members know they "get out what they put into it." How much better would you be investing in your leadership each week with coaching?
Dream Big. Our members are laser focused on creating a campus experience worth showing up for. That's why their students achieve more and staff stick around.

Does this sound like you?

If YES, then you're a perfect fit for our Ruckus Maker Mastermind program.

TIP OF THE WEEK

The Astonishing Power of the 80/20 Principle

One Ruckus Maker recently had a breakthrough that transformed her leadership. She discovered the 80/20 Principle wasn't just theory—it was reality.

"I was reflecting on why some initiatives succeeded while others failed," she shared. "The realization was simple but powerful: I wasn't allocating equal energy across all projects."

Here's the truth most principals miss: 20% of your efforts create 80% of your results. When you put equal effort across all tasks, you do "peanut butter" leadership.

In other words, you spread yourself thin.

But when you leverage 80/20 leadership, you:

Identify the few activities drive most of your results
Ruthlessly cut, automate, or delegate the rest
Apply your best energy to what truly matters

While Play-It-Safe-Principals drown in busy work ...

Ruckus Makers focus on the Vital Few activities that transform their schools.

Stop wasting precious time on initiatives that don't move the needle.

Learn to leverage the 80/20 principle.

5 Ways to Apply the 80/20 Principle in Your School Today:

Audit Your Calendar: Track where you spend time for one week. Identify which 20% of activities create 80% of your impact. Eliminate, delegate or automate the rest.
Focus on Lead Measures: Which few metrics actually drive school improvement? Ignore vanity metrics and focus exclusively on the vital few indicators that matter.
Identify Your Power Team: Which 20% of your staff create 80% of the positive culture? Invest disproportionate time developing these culture carriers.
Streamline Meetings: Cut meeting time by 50% while doubling effectiveness by using structured agendas focused only on high-leverage decisions.
Create Decision Filters: Develop 3-5 questions that automatically filter out low-value opportunities so you can quickly say "no" to what doesn't matter.

ALBA

I asked ChatGPT to create Alba as a human and this is what it came up with

CLASS DISMISSED

Whenever you’re ready, here’s 3 ways we can help you Do School Different.

I’m training AI on my 10-years of coaching experience. Join the waitlist for My Principal Coach here.
Every school leader deserves a high-quality mentor. Schedule an exploration call for 1-on-1 coaching here.
Professional development should challenge your thinking (not put you to sleep). Apply to the Ruckus Maker Mastermind here.