I want you to stop and think about your life 6 weeks from today. I want you to think about how you would feel if the following things were true about you:

• My days are rarely controlled by the "tyranny of the urgent," and I actually work on my important tasks almost every day.
• Most days, I leave at a decent time, with some energy left for my family and for myself.
• I am no longer checking my work email all day long at school or all evening at home.
• I have created sustainable boundaries between school and home, and it is actually rare to have a school issue or a parent living "rent-free" in my head.
• I no longer feel guilty that my family gets what's left of me because I am spending quality time with them and I am truly present.
• I have reconnected with the deep meaning and true passion behind why I got into education in the first place.
• I have started to do something for myself (like exercise or a hobby) that I haven't done in a really long time.
• I have a happy and fulfilling career and I want to be a private school leader for a long time. 

I have helped close to 200 private school leaders get these kinds of results.

I can give you a step-by-step plan that will work for you too.

Don't just take my word for it. Check out what Kerry Ann, Margaret, Steve and Starla have to say...

OK, so getting out of Survival Mode sounds great...

How exactly are we going to do that?

To get out of survival mode, you are going to follow 3 easy steps!

Step 1: LIVE Group Coaching Calls

Step 2: THRIVE Academy

Step 3: Private Slack Community

Step 1: LIVE Group Coaching Calls

• When we want to do something difficult, it is always easier when we do it with someone else. 
• Every week, (for 6 weeks) we will go LIVE for two group coaching calls with other leaders who are going through the Survival Mode Escape Plan just like you!
• You will be encouraged and inspired. You will feel seen and heard. You don’t have to do it alone.
• You also don’t have to try to make it to every coaching call. You come when you are able, but the more you join the group, the easier it will be to escape Survival Mode.

Step 2: THRIVE Academy

• Almost 200 private school leaders have used THRIVE Academy to get out of survival mode.
• In the first four modules of THRIVE Academy, you will learn sustainable systems that will help you be more productive, create better boundaries and increase your energy level.
• Module 1: Revive your passion
• Module 2: Tame the “tyranny of the urgent”
• Module 3: Create sustainable boundaries
• Module 4: Increase your energy level

Step 3: Private Slack Community

• This is where the transformation really sticks.
• Between coaching calls, between modules, between crises, you’ll have access to a private Slack community of leaders who “get it” and who “get you.”.
• Inside the community, you can: ask real-time questions, share wins and challenges, get perspective before you send that email and avoid leadership isolation.

How much is it worth?

So, this is probably going to sound dramatic, but I promise you that it's not.

How much is it worth to you to:

• stay out of the hospital?
• have a happy marriage?
• have a healthy relationship with your kids?
• avoid mental health issues?
• NOT quit your job mid-year?
• stop feeling guilty about your family getting what's left of you at the end of the day?
• escape survival mode?

What's included in the Survival Mode Escape Plan?

"Life before THRIVE Academy was good but not great.  I tend to be my own worst critic and can have self doubt.  I struggled with boundaries and wanting to be available for anyone and everyone at any hour of the day.  I took care of everyone but myself and my family.  

Setting boundaries, scheduling my planned times, and focusing on being intentional about things are three of the biggest takeaways for me.  

As I transition to the role of principal, I feel like THRIVE Academy has set me up to be the best version of myself.  Not only for my school, but more importantly, my family.  I recommend this program to any principal, new or old.  This was the best investment for myself that I've ever made."

Paul, Principal, Missouri

In addition to all of the brainwork and helpful strategies within the program itself, the time you meet with other administrators is invaluable.

Once I spoke with others who had similar experiences and challenges, I was able to know that the difficulty of the job was not due to my deficiency.

Being an administrator is just a really tough job!"

Noelle, Head of Lower School, Elgin, IL

"Although I’ve been in my leadership role for some time, I often found myself second-guessing my leadership processes, running in circles—like a hamster on a wheel. One of my biggest challenges was getting stuck in my office.

In THRIVE Academy, Mark shared practical tips for managing daily habits that have allowed me to be more present with both students and faculty, while also setting healthy boundaries. Now, I can be out and about in the school, set daily goals, and stay focused on what truly matters.

Most importantly, THRIVE Academy helped me reconnect with my “why” and gave me renewed confidence in my work."

Jen, Principal of Academic Affairs, St. Louis, MO

“As a principal, time is finite and every investment needs to count. THRIVE Academy lands squarely in that space. Mark Minkus delivers strategies that are practical, focused, and designed to fit into the reality of a busy school leader's schedule. The content is structured in a way that lets you make meaningful progress, even when you only have an hour here or there, without feeling like you're falling behind. THRIVE Academy is a worthwhile investment precisely because it respects your time and gives you tools you can actually use. Within the first hours of learning, I had small changes in my practice that yielded helpful and lasting improvements in my work process. I'm thankful for all I gained from THRIVE academy.”

Dominique, Principal, Pensacola, FL

Let's make sure that you get answers to all of your questions! 

Click on the most frequently asked questions below. If you have additional questions, please email me at [email protected]

During the weekly group coaching sessions, you will go LIVE (on Zoom) with other private school leaders who are trying to get out of survival mode, just like you.

When you are trying to do something really difficult, it is always easier when you do it with someone else.

The other private school leaders on the group coaching call already understand you and your pain points.

• The empathy will be high.

• The level of encouragement will be high.

• The growth will be through the roof!

I can't wait to meet you on our next live group coaching call!

"Administrative life and family life often can come into conflict. Mark provided me with some simple, yet powerful tools for reclaiming time at home that too often I was using for work rather than being present with my wife and kids. 

I learned that it is OK to open up about my needs and frustrations. School leaders hear a lot of vents, it is good to be able to vent yourself sometimes! I also picked up some powerful tools that make a huge difference for managing small “rocks.” Small adjustments in scheduling my day, managing personalities, and thinking forward can have exponential returns when consistently applied.

Working with Mark helped center and refocus me and I am already seeing daily benefits. My time with family is more rewarding and I don’t carry the same guilt I used to when giving my family dedicated time and attention. 

My school is doing more “leading itself” as I have started to implement needed processes. Mark’s coaching helped provide perspective on those processes and instilled the confidence to then step back and let them work."

Mark, Principal, Monclova, OH

“Prior to THRIVE Academy, I was wondering how I could continue to balance all of the demands of work and also be present for my family and friends. I was trying to do "everything" but I lacked systems and thinking that could help me become efficient and effective. 

Enter Mark Minkus and THRIVE Academy, and I now have a whole new outlook on my work. I have been able to implement strategies that have been game changers. 

You've arrived at the best possible place, and I cannot recommend this next step highly enough. Invest in yourself as a leader by entering THRIVE Academy and see yourself become the leader you are meant to be."

Lindsay, Head of School, Iowa

“As a first-year Head of School, I had no idea what I was doing and quickly felt overwhelmed by the weight of my new responsibilities. Before I started working with Mark Minkus, I struggled with setting boundaries and found myself letting work consume all my time. 

Mark gave me the tools I needed to succeed quickly. He helped me establish healthy boundaries, prioritize effectively, and identify my "why" so I could align it with my daily work. With his guidance, I’ve learned how to keep my priorities straight, which has allowed me to live with much more freedom and much less stress. Thanks to Mark, I’m now able to lead with confidence and clarity, knowing how to balance work and life more effectively.

Mark gave me the recipe to be successful. The boundaries that I have put in place have given me the margin to be fully present, whether at work or at home.”

Casey, Head of School, Lake Jackson, TX

I contacted Mark about THRIVE Academy and leadership coaching because many aspects of my work were becoming unaligned. I felt like the pieces about serving at school that I loved were being overwhelmed by the parts that were draining my energy and joy.

Mark was able to use his wisdom and experience to zero in on small changes I could make to realign myself and the way I lead at school. This year has been much different for me because of this, and I feel like I have a renewed sense of purpose and effectiveness as I lead.

Dan Lazor, Principal, Wycoff, NJ

"This has been an incredible experience. It provides a truly unique space where leaders can support and learn from one another.

The weekly calls have been invaluable, offering insightful discussions and guidance. THRIVE Academy is packed with exceptional content, but what truly sets it apart is the community aspect.

This combination makes it unlike any other group I’ve been a part of. This is the professional learning network I’ve been searching for.  Having a community of leaders ready to support each other is powerful. 

We all are at different stages in our careers but I'm quickly learning we all face so many of the same challenges."

Crissy, Former Head of Middle School, Texas

"I LOVE being a private school leader. I knew that I could not maintain the crazy long work hours trying to complete an exhaustive to-do list while feeling like I was accomplishing nothing on time. That's where Mark came in! He has helped me learn to be much more strategic with a must do list, to take control of my calendar, and to claim time for working towards future goals for our campus! 

This is my third year as a private school leader, and I felt more relaxed at the start of the year than ever before. My daughter recently commented to me that she has been so excited to see me be more present with family.

School brings me so much joy! I have also found a renewed joy for my hobbies without feeling guilty or fearing that I was letting down my school."

Michelle, High School Principal, Arkansas

My experience working with Mark and following his sessions on Thrive Academy were inspiring. Overall, both restored my vision of the type of leader I want to be.  More specifically, the lesson "Throw a Starfish" resonated with me.  It reminded me that what I do makes a difference and helped me "Find my why."  

Thrive Academy helped me unearth my core identity and values, which had been buried in years of school minutiae. Now, I am reinvigorated and optimistic about what the future holds as a school leader.

Andy, Director of High School Placement, Charleston, SC