On Clock Builders and Time Tellers
October 22, 2024
You're not here to tell time. You're here to build a clock.
What's the difference?
Everything.
Time tellers shine bright, but briefly. They're the charismatic speakers, the visionary planners, the one-person shows. They dazzle for a moment, then fade.
Clock builders? They're playing the long game. They're crafting something that ticks on long after they've left the stage.
Your legacy isn’t about the number of years served. It's about the systems you put in place. The culture you nurture. The leaders you grow.
Are you empowering and multiplying others or hoarding talent and power? Are you building a machine that runs without you, or are you the machine?
Clock building means trusting your team letting go of the spotlight and preferred parking spot while focusing on the unsexy work of creating processes, values, and a shared vision.
It's harder. It's slower. It's less glamorous
But it's the only way to create something that lasts, right?
So, what are you building? A moment in time or a legacy that keeps ticking?
The choice is yours.
Build wisely
Footnotes
The clock-building vs. time-telling idea was first mentioned in the book,
Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies
Team Discussion Question
How can you shift our focus from being 'time tellers' to 'clock builders' in your organization, and what specific systems or processes can you implement to ensure your impact outlasts your individual tenures?
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How might approaching this challenge through partnership rather than authority create new possibilities? Share a time when listening to resistance actually improved an initiative. What did you learn about leadership through that experience? Like the burro racers navigating historic mining trails, effective educational leaders honor tradition while forging new paths forward—not by commanding, but by partnering. References Associated Press. (2025, May 3). Burro racing wins over runners in backcountry ode to mining history. AP News. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/wild-burro-racing-donkey-mining-new-mexico-9f20f6736401139529c8946162b97046 Fullan, M. (2019). Nuance: Why some leaders succeed and others fail. Corwin Press. Hargreaves, A., & O'Connor, M. T. (2018). Collaborative professionalism: When teaching together means learning for all. Corwin Press. Heifetz, R. A., Grashow, A., & Linsky, M. (2009). The practice of adaptive leadership: Tools and tactics for changing your organization and the world. Harvard Business Press. Patterson, K., Grenny, J., McMillan, R., & Switzler, A. (2012). Crucial conversations: Tools for talking when stakes are high (2nd ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. Weigand, S. (2025, May 3). Personal interview. Cerrillos Burro Race, New Mexico.
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(2023). The definitive guide to leadership development. Bersin Research. Center for Creative Leadership. (2025). K-12 educational leadership training. CCL.org . Deloitte Insights. (2025). Higher education trends. Deloitte. Development Dimensions International. (2024). Leadership bench research. DDI. EDUCAUSE. (2025). Teaching and learning workforce in higher education. EDUCAUSE. Forward Pathway. (2025). Navigating chaos in higher education. Forward Pathway. Harvard Graduate School of Education. (2025). K-12 system leadership. Harvard. Learning Policy Institute. (2017). School leadership: Investing in leadership for learning. LPI. LinkedIn. (2023). Workplace learning report: Building the agile future. LinkedIn Learning. Training Magazine. (2025). Trends in learning, development, and leadership. Training Magazine. University Business. (2025). Navigating challenges in higher education. University Business.