The Match: Story
We just finished our first month together! Thank you for joining the Match Newsletter.
Each Week: One Word. One Sentence. One Passage.
Word: Story
Sentence:
If you don’t tell your story, someone else will.
Passage:
Every school, every leader, every community, and every company has a story. Telling that story is how we show the world who we are and who we’re becoming. At my school, the narrative people carried in was one of decline: failing students, safety concerns, and a place on the brink of closure. But that wasn’t the full truth. Our students were artists, athletes, caretakers, dreamers. Our staff showed up every day with grit and heart. The shift began when we started naming those stories, celebrating them, and letting them reshape how the world saw us and how we saw ourselves.
Your Turn:
Who’s telling your story?
Tell me how this shows up in your leadership—I’m here for the conversation.
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6 Comments
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About The Match Weekly
The Match Weekly is one of the ways I can help provide a small spark each week to help you lead with heart and keep your fire lit. It's sometimes all we need to keep going.
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6 Comments
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on August 29, 2025 at 7:13 am
This is good, Chad! Keep up the great work.
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on August 29, 2025 at 7:45 am
Thank you! Story is where empathy lives. For so many schools and people, their stories aren’t told—and when they’re not, it’s harder to make the human connections we all need to truly see and hear each other.
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on August 29, 2025 at 2:48 pm
I love these quick nuggets especially this one. What are your thoughts on the most effective ways to tell your “story?”
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Great question. In leadership, I’ve found the most effective stories are grounded in values and lived experience. When people hear not just what you did, but why it mattered, they lean in. Then, our stories become a guide for others and ourselves.
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on August 29, 2025 at 4:19 pm
Nice. My Story, Our Story, Your Story inspires others to live and/or strive for more and new stories.
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Yes! That move from my story, to our story, to your story is exactly what gives a story its power.
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This is good, Chad! Keep up the great work.
Thank you! Story is where empathy lives. For so many schools and people, their stories aren’t told—and when they’re not, it’s harder to make the human connections we all need to truly see and hear each other.
I love these quick nuggets especially this one. What are your thoughts on the most effective ways to tell your “story?”
Great question. In leadership, I’ve found the most effective stories are grounded in values and lived experience. When people hear not just what you did, but why it mattered, they lean in. Then, our stories become a guide for others and ourselves.
Nice. My Story, Our Story, Your Story inspires others to live and/or strive for more and new stories.
Yes! That move from my story, to our story, to your story is exactly what gives a story its power.