You Bring the Dignity

Welcome to The Inspired Teacher Podcast! Today’s episode starts with a confession—I used to hate lunch duty. Even worse, I was asked to help clean up afterward, and I’ll admit it: I was kind of a jerk about it. I was annoyed, even angry, and felt like it was beneath me. But here’s the thing—what began as a begrudging task has become one of my favorite parts of the day. There’s something unexpectedly cathartic about it: walking around, chatting with kids, modeling what it means to pitch in and do what needs to be done, no matter your role. That mindset shift is exactly what we’re talking about today, inspired by a Daily Stoic podcast episode from Ryan Holiday titled “Greatness is Up to You?” We’ll unpack how our character is revealed not in grand gestures, but in how we show up for the small, unseen, or unglamorous tasks. As Ryan and the Stoics remind us, it’s not about the job itself—it’s about the attitude we bring to it. Let’s talk about how that idea can transform the way we teach, lead, and live.