What Makes a Success?
Originally Published July 2019
I have been reading a book recommended to me by one a parent. The title is Barking Up the Wrong Tree: The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Success Is (Mostly) Wrong by Eric Barker - yes that is his name. And yes, that is quite the title.
The basic premise of the book is that often what we are told what is required to be successful really isn’t supported by evidence. For example, we are told to never quit. But sometimes when you quit the thing that isn’t working or you don’t like, you get to focus more on the area that you love or in which you have great skill. And you actually achieve more! It’s not quitting because it’s hard; it’s quitting because it isn’t yielding the results you want. Makes sense. Many professional athletes were multi-sport participants in high school, but almost all elite athletes eventually focus on just one sport.
The ideas and research presented in the book are so compelling that I bought the book for each of my own kids as they are both just beginning their careers. Barking Up the Wrong Tree has also caused me to think about how we help students determine how to be successful. Do we present traditional views about getting ahead, such as taking more AP classes and building a resume of diverse experiences, even if these experiences don’t inspire them? Do we teach our students to learn deeply? Or to check boxes, so they can get to the next thing, whatever it may be?
As we prepare to embark on a new school year, it makes sense for us to pause and think about the advice that we give to our students, whether they are six or sixteen. Perhaps the best advice for success is some of what Barker presents, and probably our moms taught us.
Make a friend by being a friend. Take care of yourself emotionally and physically; rest and time away are important. Surround yourself with positive people because it makes you a better version of yourself.
This year we are beginning a very exciting chapter. We are going to engage each student through experiences that help them to become more aware of themselves and others. We are going to equip each student through the intentional teaching of critical thinking skills. And we are going to empower students by helping them to be problem-solvers and giving them the ability to be self-directed learners.
We are going to support each child in defining their success and then do our part to help them achieve it.
Barker, E. (2017). Barking up the wrong tree: The surprising science behind why everything you learned about success is (mostly) wrong. New York, NY: Harper One.
