Choose to be Great: Change (Y2:E31)

~ Angelo DelliSanti

Before I began watching The Masters yesterday, I was on TikTok and came across a video of John Maxwell speaking about why people change. He said:

“People change in four different seasons… People change when they hurt enough, they have to. When they see enough, they’re inspired to. When they learn enough that they want to, and when they receive enough that they’re able to. Those are the four times that people change. Those are the four times that people change.”

Maxwell is a prolific writer, and I’ve read many of his books on leadership over the past 15 years; however, I believe that this quote may be one of the most powerful ideas to come out of his work, and it’s especially valuable to leaders.

Great leaders are often found walking alongside their people as they experience life’s many hurts and pains. It is in those seasons that they can help others make meaningful changes that will impact the rest of their lives. Great leaders act from a sense of deep purpose and model that which they expect from others. When they do this, they often inspire change in their people. Great leaders know they have a responsibility to keep pushing forward – never allowing complacency to gain a foothold. They understand that they have a responsibility to always seek out new and better ways of doing the work with their people. Finally, as they consistently perform these actions – as they give of themselves to others – the hope is that they give enough that their people are able to make the changes they need to improve their lives, their performance, and their organization.

Make no mistake, the only people who change are the people who want to change. It’s not the leader’s job to be responsible for all the change that needs to happen in every individual they serve. However, when leaders approach others with the right heart, at the right time, in the right way, and with the right knowledge, they might just be able to spark the fire of change that needs to happen, allowing others to live greater lives than they thought possible.

#ChooseToBeGreat

Angelo

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Published by Angelo DelliSanti

“Education? You don’t want to do that with your life. You’ve got other plans.” That’s what Angelo DelliSanti’s high school counselor told him his senior year. And she was right—at first. Angelo had spent three years preparing to become a U.S. Navy officer. But an internship with a math teacher during his senior year changed everything. Helping struggling students master algebra sparked a passion for education that would shape his career. Over the next 15 years, Angelo served as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal, returning to his alma mater to teach World History and later advancing to leadership roles. As a principal, Angelo implemented the Capturing Kids’ Hearts process, leading to remarkable academic gains, increased scholarships, record-breaking graduation rates, and improved school culture. These achievements earned him recognition as the Rowan-Salisbury Schools Principal of the Year in 2018. In 2022, Angelo joined Capturing Kids’ Hearts as a Leadership Solutions Strategist where he is dedicated to working together with school leaders to create remarkable schools. He holds a Bachelor’s in History and Secondary Education from UNC Charlotte, where he was a North Carolina Teaching Fellow. He also completed a Master’s in School Administration and completed all the required coursework for a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from his alma mater, earning the Outstanding Student Philip Morris Educational Fellowship in 2017. Angelo lives in North Carolina with his wife, Kasey, whom he married in 2008. Together, they enjoy escapes to the mountains and beaches. Angelo’s passions include golf, non-fiction books, cooking, and sharing meals filled with laughter and connection around the table.

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