This is why you'll burn out by October (and how to avoid it)

Your August energy = Your May reality

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If your first week back feels like a military operation with color-coded folders and mandatory enthusiasm ... you're starting the year like every other principal.

Most principals treat August like a race to cram every operational task into the first 10 days — perfect PD agendas, matching T-shirts will magically transform your culture, back-to-back meetings.

Start buried in tasks and you'll stay buried all year.

Worse? Your staff takes their cues from you, defaulting to compliance instead of creativity. The energy you bring in August is the energy you're stuck with in May.

The Reframe

Ruckus Makers flip the script. They start the year with three intentional moves: