The Weekend Brief - June 15, 2025

Insights, Inspirations, and Reflections

From the South Bay to the Valley

From the West Side to the East Side

Everybody's very happy 'Cause the sun is shining all the time

Looks like another perfect day

-Randy Newman

What I’m Reading…

As promised, I enjoyed a pretty solid John Grisham legal thriller this past week. The Whistler was entertaining, if not typical…

That said, one of the better reads from this past week came from Rob Robb’s substack…I always find Robb’s insights thought-provoking, even when I don't entirely align with his views (imagine that…). For those unfamiliar, Rob Robb is a long-time political columnist in Arizona, known for his conservative leanings, deep understanding of state policy, and willingness to challenge conventional wisdom, even within his own political camp.

Recently, Robb dissected the proposed Proposition 123 renewal, an Arizona education initiative, and skillfully exposed a significant hypocrisy at its core. He highlights that while Republican leaders in Arizona advocate for "school choice"...keep in mind that Arizona has had school choice for over 30 years, this is actually about vouchers and providing public dollars to private schools… The proposed Prop 123 ballot initiative being discussed fundamentally undermines this principle. The initiative seeks to constitutionally protect school choice while simultaneously dictating that new state land trust funds for education must go entirely to teacher salaries. Robb argues this directly contradicts the essence of school choice, which inherently allows schools the autonomy to decide how best to allocate resources to optimize their educational offering, whether for salaries, facilities, or curriculum.

Beyond this policy contradiction, Robb also points out the legal futility of combining these issues into a single constitutional amendment…citing Arizona's "separate amendment requirement." He even shares one leader's own admission on a podcast that the combination is a deliberate attempt at "logrolling." Basically, it involves tying together a popular provision (teacher raises) with a less popular one (school choice protections) to induce voters to support the entire package.

Worth the read…

https://substack.com/home/post/p-165134995

What I’m Listening To…

If strategy is so important, why don’t we make time for it?

This was a short podcast…really based on an earlier article…from the Harvard Business Review that discusses the importance of creating some “white space” in our work days. I think of this as think time.

Too often, we view success through the lens of our busyness. That is…How many hours do we work? How many meetings do we have scheduled? Etc…

There are two components to this…

1. Building think time (personal strategy time) directly into your calendar. I work closely with my assistant to create specific blocks of time each week titled office time…This is simply a few hours each week (probably not quite enough) that are completely protected to allow me time to strategize and work through items from previous meetings…

2. Building protected strategy time with your teams…For me, too often, my Senior Staff meetings turn into hours-long slogs through logistics and operational decisions (field trip requests, substitute requests, staffing needs, and other minor operational details).

   1. In this context, our conversations are too often around approvals and minor fixes rather than the ‘whys’ and ‘what ifs’ with a focus on long-term impact…This is not uncommon with a new leader and/or new team leaders, as each learns the other's priorities and ways of thinking.

   2. What’s the fix? Build in more one-on-one time with each member of your leadership team. This allows you to work through the minor details one-on-one, learning thought patterns. More importantly, this turns your team meetings into focusing on long-term impact and systemic improvements…strategy.

      1. Each Monday, I meet with each team member individually from 8 AM to 11 AM. Then, our team meetings begin at 11:30 AM, with all of the minor details worked out and our focus ready to begin on those larger topics that require the collective group….

What I’m Watching…

Similar to past weeks, it has been all sports…Father’s Day Weekend brings us the US Open. While the NBA Finals and the NHL playoffs are heating up with tight series, and the College World Series is in full swing, this weekend has been all golf…

What I’m Pondering…

There is a troubling trend brewing as…those who most profoundly lack leadership skills are often the quickest to dismiss the impact and contributions of effective leaders. This isn't just an observation…this is a growing challenge that is being exacerbated as individuals ascend to positions that yield power and influence. We are increasingly seeing folks, whether through the ballot box or strategic appointments, elevated to positions that inherently demand a degree of thought leadership ability, yet they are unequipped for the role. Unfortunately, the rise of these underprepared leaders is often subtle, yet significant, as they undermine the incredible work and contributions of truly talented individuals, dedicated teams, and entire organizations. It's a disconnect that warrants serious attention if we're to safeguard our collective progress.

What I’m Excited About…

Last week, I was writing to you from the serene mountains of Prescott, Arizona, enjoying some quality time with Cade. This week, the backdrop has completely shifted! I'm thrilled to be writing from sunny Los Angeles, California, where we're celebrating Colin's graduation from UCLA!

First of all, I love Los Angeles. What a great city with an incredible vibe…

That said, this weekend is all about Colin! His work ethic, determination, and ability to seize every opportunity…and create opportunities where none existed continue to amaze me and inspire me when I speak to student groups. He has epitomized the idea of taking responsibility for one's own education. He is one of the finest examples of a young man I know…

I am incredibly proud of every attempt he’s made and every accomplishment he’s achieved. As he gets ready to embark on his next adventure…I am incredibly proud and excited for all that awaits him.