We all have something that sets us apart, makes us feel different, and might make us worry how others will treat us. Once we can be comfortable with our true selves, others will take their cues from us and do so also.

I was a high school band director for 10 years and with each year that passed, I found that I talked less and less. The better my band got, the less I had to tell them.

In order to make progress you have to fail. In order to move forward, you may have to go backward. Progress is not a straight line, but a series of hills that gradually move upward. You must put yourself in the situation where you want to succeed; you have to go there and fail first. The best example I know of this is bench pressing in the gym.

One of the issues that has arisen from the global shutdown and pandemic are disruptions in supply lines. This is unlikely to change any time soon. This is frustrating for all of us who want to put a perfect show out into the world for everyone to see. But our activity has always been about "making it work."

There was a trend in our activity at one point where shows were all through-composed and never stopped. I see the artistry in this, but I'm glad we've moved on. I think we need to let the audience clap. This is especially true for high school performers.

I just finished reading the wonderful book Putting It Together: How Stephen Sondheim and I Created Sunday In The Park With George by James Lapine. I found this behind-the-scenes account of the creation of a Broadway musical to be fascinating and inspiring.

Right now we are all being caregivers. I encourage you to spend time taking care of yourself. Recognize the extra responsibilities that you have in your life, and then resolve to make sure you are prepared for this work.

As we create and provide webinars and podcasts at Marching Arts Education, the most requested topic is always about how to create a culture of success and excellence. Conversations about culture have also been a part of the gymnastics coverage at the Olympics. Gymnastics stars like Simone Biles, Sam Mikulak (pictured), and Brody Malone are so driven and successful that it is well known that they have influenced the gyms the practice in and beyond.

Life has felt heavy lately, but I still need to search for ways to find joy. Over the shut down of the last year and a half, I've started baking. Typically nervous in the kitchen, baking has been a great place for me to start learning new skills. In baking, if you follow the recipe (and follow the rules), things usually turn out well.

Tim shares a story from his high school days to remind us to keep competition in perspective, especially this year!