Lessons from Mr. Joe & my interview with Larry Hagner, Founder of the Good Dad Project

Education Leadership and Beyond:  Surviving & Thriving  with Andrew Marotta

Podcast #37- aired Saturday 2/24/18

9am live or on the app anytime country 107.7 WDLC, 106.9 WYNC, Wall Radio, & Pocono 96.7

Podcast link: Podcast #37 Lessons from Mr. Joe w/ guest GDP founder Larry Hagner

Lessons from Mr. Joe!  I lost my Dad & my hero 9 years ago in November of 2008.  I think about him daily and cherish the amazing video (click here) that my friend Ahmed Elfarram from Knight Image Photography made for us at the NYC marathon on the day that Dad died.  In interviewing Larry Hagner for this episode, I thought what a better way to celebrate my Dad's legacy by sharing a few of his ways.  For all that knew Pop, some of these were not gentle, but always authentic and with love...with a strong desire to do what is right.  I am blessed to have to wonderful parents--My Mom Dore is a Saint and I love her dearly.  Here are some thoughts in reflecting about Mr. Joe:

1. Do it your way: Dad was old school, just like the Frank Sinatra song.
2. Do the best for your family: Mr. Joe always gave his all for us. Whether it was driving us to colleges, paying those private tuition bills, or spending time at the pond, he always gave us his best and expected the same from those around him.
3. Invest in your community: He was the Community Board 1 chairman for many years on Staten Island and once famously (or infamously) stated when almost being arrested for not having a permit to protest: "I don't mind going to jail, I need a vacation!"
4. Home is where the heart is: Mom & Dad were always home with us...our friends were allowed over, there was always enough to eat, and always a warm conversation at the dining room or kitchen table.
5. Take your family on vacation: Ocean City, MD was our early spot...great memories. We were NOT spoiled a lot as kids, but come vacation time, we got the royal treatment....great memories
6. Know your kids friends: Dad was beloved by my friends. My friends were always welcome to stay over, stay for dinner, get a ride, certainly do a chore in the house. Dad knew our friends well, and if he wasn't liking that person, they were not around long!
7. Be a parent, not a friend to your kids: He told us all this many a time, usually not in a warm, cozy way. I have begun to use it with my own kids and kinda laugh to myself afterwards.
8. Make the hard decisions: Not much to say here. He did it time and time again, whether it was popular or liked.
9. Be loyal: Family, friends, community....he had a tight inner circle.
10. Never give up (marathon)Mr. Joe marathon video tribute found here If you have never seen this, I recommend you sit with a loved one with a nice glass of wine....A tribute to a great man, my father.

This week we meet Good Dad Project founder Larry Hagner.  Larry is a super cool guy, father of four boys (yikes!), an author, and host of the Dad's Edge podcast (great resource for all husbands and fathers).  We talk all things guy and how to be a great husband & father.  Larry very humbly explains that he is a guy just like us trying to do his best through the ups and downs of life.  He is very open and transparent with some of the greatest challenges he has had in life including and awful bout with insomnia and having a stillborn baby with his wife on the floor in his bathroom.  He is doing great work helping others through his podcasts, mastermind groups, and writing.  I feel very fortunate to have him on teh show.  Thank Larry!

Enjoy the broadcast found here with Larry Hagner:#37 with Larry Hagner

Book recommendation: Amazon link for the Dad's Edge written by guest Larry Hagner

Quote: If you want your marriage to be successful:  It is not a 50/50 split.  It must be 100/100 split  Each person gives all they have.

Next week's guest is: David Maffei, Assist Principal at Ketcham High in Wappingers Falls, NY

Go out and change the world for the better.

Andrew Marotta

andrewmarotta.com

andrewmarottallc@gmail.com

twitter: @andrewmarotta21

Check out my book:

The Principal: Surviving and Thriving  125 Points of Wisdom, Practical Tips, and Relatable Stories for All School Principals.

Found on andrewmarotta.com, amazon, and all online retailers.  For bulk orders, email survivethriveorders@gmail.com  Now available in kindle edition. Audible edition found here

Blog #36: Carolina on my Mind with Jason Brenner

Education Leadership and Beyond:  Surviving & Thriving  with Andrew Marotta

Podcast #36- aired Saturday 2/17/18

9am live or on the app anytime country 107.7 WDLC, 106.9 WYNC, Wall Radio, & Pocono 96.7

Podcast link: Podcast #36: Itunes link for podcast #36 Carolina in my Mind w Jason Brenner

Carolina on my Mind

Proud to welcome my good friend college to the program on episode #36. Jason is an attorney, a father, an avid boater, and one of my college roommates. We are blessed to have a tight group of buddies from our time at Guilford College and Jason and I remain close with these guys today.

In prepping for the show, I reflected about my time at Guilford and my friendship with Jason. I did not know much about life in NC prior to college and Jason was one of the guys who made me feel comfortable and welcomed me to a new, different environment. Here are some reflections from the podcast :

Carolina on my Mind...I didn’t have any of these things on my mind or even close to it when I arrived at Guilford. It was through my friendship with Jason and our group that I learned about these and made them part of my life, then and today.

• Academic focus: Jason displayed a great focus on his schooling and responsibility to take of his studies. I learned from him and adapted some of his practices for myself...always finding a quiet place to study and making the time to do so.
• 
  
• JAZZ: Growing up in Staten Island NY I was not exposed to jazz much. It was oldies with my folks and straight z100 & wplj....pop music/top 20 stuff. Jason played the bass and started a cool band called trio con carne. Cool , cool, and cool. He was a cool cat. I enjoyed the chill atmosphere at the shows and the smooth sounds. It taught me to relax more and just enjoy the music. It didn’t have loud boisterous lyrics yet soothing music that I enjoyed...who knew?
• 
  
• I’d never seen TEVAS before arriving to Guilford....If you happen to not know what they are—they are an active sport sandal. Jason pretty much wore them everyday and why am I am writing about my college roommates footwear? Him wearing those sandal taught me to chill-lax a little. I was always in my basketball sneaks or some sort of athletic footwear. Wearing those sandals kinda showed me it was ok to relax every once and a while and enjoy life, enjoy the Monet. Jason is real good at that and I believe those sandals represented that feeling.
• Boating: not much experience here. The only boat I’d ever been on was the SI Ferry....and my thought was if you were asked on a boat by an Italian that you were going to be put in cement shoes and dumped!!!!! Well Jason along with our friend Fernando introduced me to the world of boating—fresh and saltwater. Some of our best memories are sailing with our group off Oriental NC and Newport RI. Like the jazz and sandals, I found the sea to be quite soothing and peaceful vs. the hectic hustle and bustle of NYC. Jason and Fern are excellent sailors and boats men and I am blessed to have friends with these skills and desire to be on the water.
• Europe—Jason studied in London in the fall of our junior year along with our friend Jon. Two years later, Jason led us on a trip for the ages to Italy and France post graduation. He was experienced and knowledgeable of his surroundings. That experience gave me the itch to travel internationally with my wife and we’ve been fortunate to travel to places like South America, Italy, Ireland, England, Portugal, Spain, and Morocco. Jason opened my eyes to this world of travel with has had a profound impact on my life. Can’t wait to go back!
• Tobacco Road: If you’ve ever traveled to the Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Durham, Greensboro, Winston Salem regions, you quickly learned about tobacco Road—Growing up in Chapel Hill, NC Jason was/is a huge Carolina fan. I got to experience the famous Halloween parade on Franklin Street and saw up close the national championship run in 1993. This was all foreign to me and having a first hand tar heel to show me the ropes was cool.
• Lastly, I’ve had many an adventure with Jason—trips to Boston, Miami, NYC, Seattle, and Fort Lauderdale. Too many stories to tell and most not appropriate for a blog on leadership and education....I cherish those memories and am truly blessed to have a great group of friends: CHEERS FELLAS!

Enjoy the broadcast found here with Jason Brenner:itunes link for show #6

  

Book recommendation: No Complaining Rule by John Gordon

Quote: To be rather than to seem. The NC State Motto!)

Next week's guest is:  Founder of the Good Dad project now called the Dad’s edge: author, speaker, and podcast host Larry Hagner

Go out and change the world for the better.

Andrew Marotta

andrewmarotta.com

andrewmarottallc@gmail.com

twitter: @andrewmarotta21

Check out my book:

The Principal: Surviving and Thriving  125 Points of Wisdom, Practical Tips, and Relatable Stories for All School Principals.

Found on andrewmarotta.com, amazon, and all online retailers.  For bulk orders, email survivethriveorders@gmail.com  Now available in kindle edition. Audible edition found here

To Do What I Do with my Guest Dr. Marc Frankel

Education Leadership and Beyond:  Surviving & Thriving  with Andrew Marotta

Podcast #35- aired Saturday 2/3/18

9am live or on the app anytime country 107.7 WDLC, 106.9 WYNC, Wall Radio, & Pocono 96.7

Podcast link: Podcast #35:  Itunes link for the podcast with Dr. Marc Frankel

I love country music for several reasons...one is I can understand the words and hear the stories being told. Well, one of the best storytellers and country music singers is Alan Jackson. Here are the lyrics to his song “To Do What I Do”:

I've been a waiter, a roofer, a clerk

I've shoveled manure till my pride hurt.

When you're starting out, it's all part of the work

To do what I do.

I've been evicted for not making rent

Made my Daddy wonder where my good sense went.

For the price of a dream, my years have been spent

To do what I do.

So I stand here tonight with this six string guitar

To be something I've always been in my heart.

Just for the chance to play you my song

The thrill when I hear you singing along.

It's been worth everything I've been through

To do what I do.

I've played for empty tables and chairs

The drunks that don't listen, the crowds that don't care.

Been told countless times Boy you ain't goin' nowhere

To do what I do.

So I hope the critics and skeptics alike

All bought a ticket to this show tonight.

And they'll see firsthand that I have survived

And what doesn't kill you makes you more alive.

And I'm one of the fortunate few

To do what I do.

There's so much joy this music can bring

So I count my blessings when I step up to sing.

Cause they're so many people who would give anything

To do what I do.

And I thank you.

I can do what I do!

So what is the story that Alan is telling? What is he trying to say? It's hard!!!!! He busted his a*& to get where he is. Whatever it is you are doing, you have to work at it. The big shots were not always a big shot: they started somewhere. I can relate to the song very much. I've done a lot: newspaper carrier, handyman, pumped gas, painted houses, worked in my Dad's pharmacy, worked at basketball camps, waited tables, bussed tables. etc etc etc. All of these jobs have been part of the process to get me to where I am today--a HS Principal, an author, a college basketball official. Add in the guidance from my parents, I learned. Waking at 5:30am on a Sunday morning after having a basketball game the night before on a cold, rainy morning to deliver the Sunday papers when I'm 13 years old--that's a life lesson. Who was right along side of me driving me in the mini-van most Sundays?--my Dad...guiding me along the way. #enjoy the journey. All of these steps have been part of the process....#to do what I do!

This week we meet Dr. Marc Frankel, podiatrist, from Milford, PA. Doc has an amazing bedside manner and connect wonderfully with his patients. He is authentic, kind, and compassionate with his patients. He also has put in a lot of time "to do what he does!" We discuss life, leadership, & FEET! Enjoy the podcast:
Itunes link w/ Dr. Marc Frankel

Book recommendation: The Jerk Whisperer by Dr. Stephen Birchak

Quote: Be nice to people on your way, because you might meet them again on your way down. Wilson Mizner, american playwright

Next week's guest is:  Jason Brenner, attorney for RiverBank Conservation and my college roommate!

Go out and change the world for the better.

Andrew Marotta

andrewmarotta.com

andrewmarottallc@gmail.com

twitter: @andrewmarotta21

Check out my book:

The Principal: Surviving and Thriving  125 Points of Wisdom, Practical Tips, and Relatable Stories for All School Principals.

Found on andrewmarotta.com, amazon, and all online retailers.  For bulk orders, email survivethriveorders@gmail.com  Now available in kindle edition. Audible edition coming soon!