Lessons from the masters

During a conversation with a couple of friends and colleagues in the personal and professional development industry, we found our way into the topic of how we got started in the business and who some the early heroes were who inspired and motivated us to be

As we thought about those legendary speakers and authors, we also talked about how their teachings have withstood the test of time. Although they all began their own journey many decades ago, the principles that each one built their body of work upon are all still relevant today. e greatest compliment paid to them is that we can nd iterations of their work in the published books, blogs and columns of today’s thought leaders.

Although we agreed on a few names, each of us had our top three or four. For me, the authors and experts who had a signi cant impact on my success included Zig Ziglar, Tom Hopkins, Denis Waitley and David Sandler.

Looking at Zig Ziglar’s career, many will refer to him as the master motivator, or remember him as the salesman’s salesman. With more than 30 books to his name, Zig taught us all so much about life, not just sales, leadership, or business, his teachings went far beyond those topics. Zig was all about building up the person as his mission was to help as many people as possible with their personal, professional and spiritual lives so

TAYLER SHAW

Community Editor tshaw@coloradocommunitymedia.com

ERIN ADDENBROOKE Marketing Consultant eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com that he could have a positive impact on the world. I thank Zig for all that he taught me and for being an incredible role model of consistency, guiding me to being a “meaningful speci c,” instead of a “wandering generality.” If you haven’t read “See You at the Top” I highly recommend it.

As a student of Tom Hopkins and having read every book he has written and having attended dozens of his seminars, I credit Tom with helping me become a top performer throughout my career. Even in leadership roles, his teachings were so impactful. In sales, we hear the word “no” a whole lot more often than we hear “yes.” Tom Hopkin’s Champion Creed instilled in me the speci c mindset I needed to push through the losses and bad days and work towards the overwhelmingly successful days. e Champion Creed says this, “I am not judged by the number of times I fail, but by the number of times I succeed. And the number of times I succeed is in direct proportion to the number of times I can fail and keep trying.” If you are in sales, Tom’s book “How to Master the Art of Selling” is a must-read.

Back in 1999 I had the opportunity to meet Denis Waitley in person. From that day on we enjoyed both a personal and professional relationship. Denis taught me so much about the attitude of winning and de ning success. He was a terri c encourager, and I would leave every conversation with him having learned so much more each time. His book and program, “ e Psychology of Winning,” and now “ e New Psychology of Winning,” will inspire you and teach you how to create

SEE NORTON, P15 director the superintendent tendent. to community, erybody each names and knit, in larger going wood’s football dium their for Boulder trict tional of an children recreation town. summers recreational loved that time,” seemed was of Jonathan in room interest tions have centered transform for educators are Polzin

THELMA GRIMES South Metro Editor tgrimes@coloradocommunitymedia.com

NINA JOSS Community Editor njoss@coloradocommunitymedia.com

AUDREY BROOKS

Business Manager abrooks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

ERIN FRANKS

Production Manager efranks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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Englewood Herald (ISSN 1058-7837)(USPS 176-680)

A legal newspaper of general circulation in Englewood, Colorado, the Englewood Herald is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110

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POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Englewood Herald, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110 director of assessment and analytics, the chief academic o cer, deputy superintendent and now superintendent.

Initially, she said she was attracted to the size of the school district.

“In a small district and in a small community, everybody knows everybody here. Everybody supports each other,” she said. “You know the names of all the sta , the families and the students. It really is tightknit, and we have opportunities in Englewood that compare to our larger neighbors, yet you’re never going to be a number.”

Additionally, Polzin loves Englewood’s history, “From Friday night football games at Randy Penn Stadium to the Science Club presenting their experiments at a symposium for high school students on the CU Boulder campus,” she said the district is “all about creating an educational experience that ts the needs of [its] students.”

Polzin initially decided to become an educator after working with children in the summertime at the recreation department of her hometown.

“I think it really goes back to the summers I would work with the recreational programs, and I really loved working with kids and I knew that I wanted to work with kids full time,” she said. “Education just seemed like the perfect t.”

In graduate school, Polzin said she was further inspired by the works of John Dewey, Horace Mann and Jonathan Kozol to make a di erence in the lives of her students.

“It was my goal to create a classroom atmosphere that had high interest and high academic expectations for my students,” she said. “I have always believed active, studentcentered engaged learning can transform the classroom experience for our students.”

Serving her students and fellow educators and making a di erence are the aspects of education that Polzin loves most about the eld.

“My roles in Englewood have

FROM

PAGE your own blueprint for success. Last, and certainly not least, David Sandler was so far ahead of his time with his revolutionary sales process. David’s approach is a simple one, disarming honesty. He developed a sales process that favored the buyer and the seller so that the interaction was based on both parties being willing to have an open and honest adult-to-adult truth-based conversation. No manipulation, just a conversation where there is no mysti cation about what is happening or what will happen next. His book, “You Can’t Teach a Kid to centered around supporting teachers and leaders in their work in the classroom with our kids,” she said.

“Knowing that what I do day in, and day out is making a di erence for our students, families, and sta is what I love.”

Polzin said currently there are several challenges in education, but perhaps the largest one impacting Englewood is low enrollment, which impacts the district’s budget.

“We have declining enrollment and that’s due to lower birth rates, and then awesome Englewood is landlocked,” Polzin said. “We don’t have as many kids to serve in Englewood.”

Polzin said in the 2022-23 school year, the district had 2,441 students and currently for the 2023-24 school year, it’s close to 2,400 .

“It is looking like we will be closer to 2,450 once the school year starts,” she said. “Enrollments are coming in daily as we send out communication to families.” e possibility of using mill levy dollars will allow the district to keep programs including performing arts, after-school programs and academic programs, Polzin said. ere have been so many others who have shaped my career and the careers of millions of others, and I thank them all for their impact on my personal and professional life. Who are some of your favorite authors and experts? I would love to hear all about them at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can learn and apply the wisdom of those who are willing to teach us, it really will be a better than good life.

She explained the district is fortunate to have ve new school buildings, which were projects proposed in a 2016 bond issue election.

“What we need to do now is ensure we are compensating our quality sta to ensure that they stay and continue to love the district as much as I do,” Polzin said.

Additionally, she said, the district is considering utilizing mill levy dollars from the Debt Free School Act, which allows districts to o set costs in operations and maintenance, transportation, technology and capital construction.

“ e board is strongly considering going out for a (mill levy) this fall to o set costs in those areas, which will free up general fund dollars to ensure our sta receive fair compensation for the important work they do with our kids,” Polzin said.

Polzin said she is honored to be selected to serve as the district’s next superintendent and looks forward to creating a collaborative and welcoming environment for her sta and the students.

Ride a Bike at a Seminar,” will change the way you sell.

“What I am really looking forward to most is continuing to work with this amazing community and serve this incredible community,” she said. “I am really fortunate that I’ve been here since 2015 and that I have a feel for where we’re going, setting that vision and continuing to move forward to provide our kids with the world-class education they deserve.”

Additionally, Polzin has plans to create a student advisory committee for student input and to work with the city to “build a stronger Englewood.” e rst day of school for Englewood students is Aug. 11.

Ruth Olga Hansen, age 91. Born on October 6, 1931 in Combined Locks, Wisconsin and passed away at her home in Englewood, Colorado on June 10, 2023. She was surrounded by her family. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, David L. Hansen, Sr. and her daughter Susan Hansen Babb. Ruth is survived by her daughter Cheryl (Larry) Cambra and son David L. Hansen,

Jr., grandsons Brian (Ashley) Cambra and Keith (Jacleen) Cambra. Ruth graduated from St. Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing in Madison, Wisconsin in 1957. She has generously donated her body to the University of Colorado (Anschutz Medical Campus) to allow for medical education and research. ere will be cremation upon the conclusion of research. No services are planned.

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

They proudly call themselves the B.O.B. from the 303, bringing the Big Easy up to high altitudes with their soul-gripping blend of music stylings with New Orleans jazz.

Known for its vibrant nightlife and colorful buildings is the French Quarter. e French Quarter is the heart of New Orleans, and jazz is its heartbeat.

Breathing life into Bourbon Street are the sounds of brass instruments and drums continuously owing out of numerous jazz clubs. With just a trumpet, clarinet, berry sax, alto sax, trombone, snare, bass drum and tuba, the Brothers of Brass are bringing that one and only soulful heartbeat to Colorado.

“It’s a cultural tradition that most of the country doesn’t have,” said Armando Lopez, a member of the Brothers of Brass.

e group’s repertoire is a simmering mix of slow and angsty tunes and fast-paced tempos with a kick of familiar melodies. e Brothers of Brass blend of other genres like R&B, hip hop and psychedelic jam rock into each set.

A day after a tornado hit Highlands Ranch in late June, the Brothers of Brass dished out a much-needed evening of fun for the community. Soon, everyone went from clapping to full-out dancing, allowing concertgoers a chance to relax.

“It was nice to see so many kids, like, actually getting up out of their seats and the older people getting up and dancing and enjoying the music,” said Khalil Simon, who is originally from New Orleans. “It’s not so often that we get to play like New Orleans brass music for a crowd like this and appreciate it, that’s pretty unique.”

Not only did the band members interact with one another on stage throughout the night, they got the crowd involved by singing along and repeating after them. Although it was an outdoor concert, there was no excuse for the crowd not being loud enough.

Among some crowd favorites were “Just the Two of Us” by Grover Washington Jr., and “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers. And of course, they couldn’t call themselves a brass band without playing the beloved spiritual hymn “When the Saints Go Marching In.” e strong, powerful notes of brass instruments and the beautiful harmo-

In true New Orleans fashion, each band member was called out to do a solo, each one emoting a di erent feeling.

As the music continued and the sun began to set, the crowd let the good times roll as more children and adults came to the front of the stage, dancing as if it were Mardi Gras.

Just when the sun went behind the buildings, the Brothers of Brass were kind enough to strap on their instruments for an encore, playing “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child.