"A+..." šŸ On Any Sundays

"Change your thoughts and you change your world."

—Norman Vincent Peale

Benjamin Zander is anĀ English conductor who is currently the musical director of theĀ Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, theĀ Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, and a classical music professor at the New England Conservatory of Music. HisĀ students come from all over the world and each class has the same confused reaction on their first day.

After housekeeping notes, Professor Zander tells the class he has already given them all an A, there's only oneĀ condition.

Each student must write him a letter within the first two weeks of class.

The letter must be dated the following May when the class ends.

The letter must start with "Dear Mr. Zander, I got my AĀ because..."

The letter must describe who they will have become by the following May to justify this extraordinary grade.

They must write as if they've fallenĀ passionately in love with the person described, the person they would be and could be if they'd only silence the voice in their head saying they could never do it.
Ā 

When asked why he does this, Professor Zander answered,Ā "Because when IĀ arrive to teach, I amĀ now teaching the person described in the letter. You can give an A to anybody, your spouse's mother, your boss, your waiter, people driving in traffic around you, and once you do this, the relationship is transformed. The grade is not an expectation to live up to, it is a possibility to live into."

One student confessed in his prior class, he scoredĀ 68 out of 70, but was suddenly now an A student. He was delighted, and Zander responded, "The 68 is invented, the A is invented, we might as well invent something that lights up our life."

Ā 

What future can you give yourself an A for today?

What would your letter say?

"I got my A because..."
-GFDD
Ā 

PS. Want extra credit? Send us a copy of your letter and we'll check in during MayĀ to see how it's going.

Ā 

Save the wallpaper we've made for you above as a reminder to engage this week inĀ conversationsĀ around your potential, the potential of your tribe, and to help in writing yourĀ bestĀ story.

Anyone come to mind while reading this?
Send them this email or link.
#thetribegrows

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