Never Underestimate the Power of the Popsicle

My View

My favorite day each summer is when I stop at the grocery store, buy 180 popsicles and deliver them to the students attending band camp.

I want the marching band members to know how important they are. The band often serves as the greatest ambassador for a school, though it’s not often shown appreciation for the spirit it brings to the school community. In return, the gratitude the band students and parents show me is amazing, simply because I do something out of the ordinary like delivering fruity popsicles. I spend $50, but the trust and positive relationships are priceless.

There’s a lesson in this for school leaders: When earning community trust, don’t underestimate the power of something as simple as a popsicle. The most effective leaders are those who do the unexpected. In his book The Greatest Miracle in the World, Og Mandino writes, “The only certain means of success is to render more and better service than is expected of you, no matter what your task may be.”