The Innovator’s Mindset Podcast

Some of the best advice we receive in life doesn't make sense until years later.

"Stop and smell the roses."

"Not everyone is you."

"You might be reaching the wrong people."

These are three pieces of advice I received earlier in my career that I didn't fully appreciate at the time. But as I've grown as an educator, leader, and parent, I've come to understand just how powerful those words really were.

In this episode of The Innovator's Mindset Podcast, I reflect on three lessons that have changed how I approach leadership, relationships, and life.

We explore:

The importance of presence: Why loving your work and making time for the people you love don't have to compete.

Understanding that not everyone is you: Why great leadership isn't about expecting everyone to share your passion, priorities, or definition of success.

Reaching people who think differently: How humility, listening, and being willing to change your mind can strengthen relationships and build better school communities.

One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that leadership isn't about getting everyone to think like you. It's about recognizing the unique strengths, perspectives, and experiences people bring to the table.

As I share in Forward, Together, we have to ask ourselves:

"Are we pushing away the very people we are trying to reach?"

Sometimes, the greatest growth happens not when we convince others to change, but when we become open to changing ourselves.

Resources:

📖 Forward, Together: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334836

🎥 Watch my Forward, Together keynote highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRt20KtRddI

🎤 Looking for a keynote on school leadership, innovation, or building stronger school communities? Explore George Couros's speaking topics: https://georgecouros.com/speaking/

#Leadership #Education #InnovatorsMindset #ForwardTogether #SchoolLeadership

 

___________

 

 

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

 

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

 

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

 

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

 

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

 

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

 

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

What does success look like when a school creates more than one path forward?

In this episode of The Innovator’s Mindset Podcast, George Couros talks with Shannon Anderson, superintendent of Momence Community Unit School District 1 in Illinois, about the opportunities small-town schools can create for students. From shop classes and STEM to career credentials and dual credit, Shannon shares why students need options that reflect their strengths and goals.

George also reflects on his experience delivering a keynote for Momence educators, and Shannon shares how much he enjoyed the presentation and its message for his district. Their conversation explores the school’s role as a community hub during difficult times, what authentic leadership looks like, and why learning alongside staff matters. They also discuss how technology can give educators more time to build human connections.

For school leaders planning an opening day, convocation, or professional learning event, this conversation offers a look at the ideas behind George’s education keynotes on innovation, leadership, and building stronger school communities.

 

___________

 

 

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

 

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

 

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

 

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

 

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

 

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

 

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

Traditional doesn’t mean bad, and new doesn’t mean better. How do we decide what to keep and what to change in education?

In this episode of The Innovator’s Mindset Podcast, George Couros explores three things to consider before replacing familiar practices or embracing new ideas:

Traditional does not equal bad.

New does not equal good.

A combination of new and traditional can create better opportunities.

The question that guides this conversation: Does this practice serve our students and community today?

Drawing on ideas from Forward, Together, George shares why meaningful innovation builds on relationships, gives educators time to deepen their practice, and encourages adults to learn before introducing new tools to students. The goal is to help each community create a shared vision that reflects its strengths and the people it serves.

📘 Read Forward, Together for more on building stronger communities and creating better opportunities, together:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334836

🎤 Bring this conversation to your school, district, or conference. George’s keynotes connect storytelling, practical insights, and questions tailored to your community to help educators move forward together.

Looking for a keynote on school leadership, innovation, or building stronger school communities? Explore George Couros’s speaking topics: https://georgecouros.com/speaking/

Read the article here: https://georgecouros.substack.com/p/3-things-to-consider-when-deciding

___________

 

 

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

 

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

 

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

 

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

 

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

 

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

 

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/a

Looking for a keynote on school leadership, innovation, or building stronger school communities? Explore George Couros’s speaking topics: https://georgecouros.com/speaking/

 

What does it take to create opportunities for students that once seemed out of reach for a small district? George Couros talks with Don Beck, superintendent of Marion ISD, about building the trust and community support that make innovation possible.

Don shares how listening to more than 200 community members helped shape the district’s direction, and how a once skeptical school board became an advocate for learning and new opportunities.

 

They also discuss Green Space, a student-run business park where students apply skills in business, construction, and culinary arts to real work, and why Don believes in “competitive collaboration” with neighboring districts. It’s a conversation about starting with relationships, learning from others, and giving students authentic experiences close to home.

___________

 

 

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

 

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

 

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

 

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

 

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

 

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

 

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/

What happens when you intentionally look for something to be grateful for every single day?

For the month of August, I challenged myself to share one thing I was grateful for each day. What started as a simple personal experiment ended up changing the way I experienced one of the busiest and typically most stressful months of my year.

In this episode, I share three things I learned from making gratitude a daily practice: how looking for the good changed the way I experienced my days, why I’m not sure whether gratitude brought more good into my life or simply helped me notice what was already there, and how gratitude can make the weight of difficult moments feel a little lighter.

I also discuss why I believe some of our most meaningful learning comes from going first, living the experience, and reflecting on what it teaches us.

Gratitude doesn’t mean ignoring the hard things. Sometimes, it simply helps us see the good that exists alongside them.

 

Read the article here: https://georgecouros.substack.com/p/3-things-i-learned-when-i-made-gratitude

 

Discussion Questions

What is something in your life you might be taking for granted that deserves more of your gratitude?

How might intentionally looking for the good each day change the way you experience difficult or stressful moments?

What is one simple gratitude practice you could commit to for the next 30 days?

 

___________

 

 

👉 Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on social media using #InnovatorsMindset

 

🌐 More at: https://georgecouros.com

 

🎙 Full audio podcast: https://linktr.ee/gcouros

 

Follow George Couros:

X: https://x.com/gcouros

 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gcouros

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgecourosauthor/

 

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/george-couros-a5146519

 

📚 Books by George Couros:

Forward, Together:

https://a.co/d/99RGvl3

 

The Innovator's Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986155497?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

What Makes a Great Principal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334739?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Because of a Teacher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833433X?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Because of a Teacher 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194833450X?tag=onamzgeorge0f-20

 

Innovate Inside the Box: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948334127?ref=exp_gcouros_dp_vv_d

 

Music from Bensound - http://bensound.com/