The Courage to Say Yes

What if the most transformational thing you could do as a school leader wasn’t launching a new program . . . but simply saying yes?

That’s exactly what happened at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy. And this week on the podcast, I sit down with the man instrumental to making it happen—my longtime mentor and former Head of School, Randy Brunk.

Randy led CHCA for 18 years, creating a school culture that empowered students, elevated teachers, and unlocked some of the most innovative programs in Christian education—including the entrepreneurship program that changed the trajectory of my life and now exists in 30+ schools nationwide.

The secret? A culture of yes.

Saying yes doesn’t mean being reckless. It means being responsive. It means listening deeply—to teachers, to students, to all stakeholders—and being willing to move before every “i” is dotted and “t” is crossed.

Randy shares how that culture was built through initiatives like Personal Responsibility Time (PRT), the Teacher Innovation Fund, and a mindset of embracing risk in healthy, intentional ways. He also unpacks how constraints—like time, budget, or space—can actually fuel creativity rather than stifle it.

As he puts it:  “God steers moving vehicles, not parked trucks.”

That idea has stayed with me. Because everything I’ve built since—from entrepreneurship programs to Seed Tree Group itself—began because someone said yes. Someone gave me space to try, to fail, and to grow, and now I help schools unlock freedom, resources, and autonomy for their teachers and students to grow.

This episode is packed with wisdom for school leaders looking to spark student engagement, deepen teacher ownership, and foster a Christ-centered entrepreneurial culture.

And here’s the bottom line: You don’t need to launch a million-dollar program to get started. You just need the courage to say yes.

FOUR STEPS TO LAUNCHING AN ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM

1. Select the teacher - I have a tool to help with selection

2. Identify between eight and twelve students for the pilot class

3. Train and certify the teacher - I have a program for this with curriculum included

4. Start the year-long class - Follow the plan and an on-campus business will be launched mid-year

After the launch, student interest will drive the future growth of the program. For more on the process, visit our website at https://www.seedtreegroup.com/

The future of education is bright indeed!