Making the Bed: How Intention Becomes Impact

Making the Bed: How Intention Becomes Impact 

I recently had the opportunity to meet Admiral William H. McRaven at the SchoolSAFE conference in Dallas, TX. Like many in the audience, the chance to hear his viral message in person was a tremendous honor.  

He did not disappoint.   

A gifted communicator, he wove humor and humility through each story, imparting the wisdom of lessons hard learned over the course of his decorated career, including how he came to understand the importance of making his bed. The concept, to which he devoted his best-selling book, Make Your Bed, and countless speeches, is about discipline, yes, but more than that, it’s about intention. It’s about doing even the small things well, about understanding that the habits we build in ordinary moments shape what we’re capable of when things get hard. 

February has a way of inviting reflection. It’s a month that asks us to slow down just enough to be intentional about our work, our relationships, and the legacy we’re building together. And lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how deeply that idea of intention is woven into the work of keeping schools safe and sound. 

Starting Small, With Purpose 

Safe and Sound Schools began humbly. Like many mission-driven organizations, we started with more vision than resources. What we did have was clarity about our purpose and a commitment to do every “little thing” with the same care and intention as the big ones. 

Every conversation. 

Every training session. 

Every partnership. 

Every hard decision behind the scenes. 

Those early days required us to be deeply intentional, because when you are building something rooted in trust, credibility, and responsibility to children and families, shortcuts are not an option. 

That mindset hasn’t changed. If anything, it has become more essential as our team has grown. 

Building a Team that Carries the Work 

Strong teams don’t happen by accident. They are built through shared values, accountability, and a willingness to do the unglamorous work. 

At Safe and Sound Schools, we’ve been intentional about surrounding ourselves with people who believe deeply in prevention and continuous improvement. People who understand that this work carries weight and who approach it with both humility and resolve. 

From our staff to our speakers, advisors, and board members, every role matters. Every contribution counts. And every person plays a part in helping school communities feel supported. The sense of shared responsibility is not accidental; it is a result of intentionally building a team whose passion and commitment align with our mission.  

Relationships as the Foundation of Safety 

If we truly believe that school safety is a team sport, then relationships are the foundation of everything we do. 

That means listening, especially when it’s uncomfortable. It means learning from educators, parents, students, first responders, clinicians, and safety professionals who do this work every day. It means practicing what we preach: connection before correction, curiosity before assumption, collaboration over ego. 

Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of partnering with schools, districts, state and federal leaders, nonprofits, and corporate partners who share our belief that safety is not a checkbox — it’s a culture. 

These partnerships don’t happen overnight. They are built through consistency, transparency, and shared purpose. Through showing up, doing the work, and aligning values with action. 

The Quiet Power of Intention 

When I look back on where we started — and forward to where we’re going — I’m reminded that progress doesn’t always announce itself loudly. 

Sometimes it looks like a safety team stretching outside of their comfort zone to include new perspectives. Sometimes it looks like a struggling student noticed—and helped--sooner. Sometimes it looks like a community choosing to stay engaged, even when the work is hard. 

Making our beds. 

Showing up. 

Doing the small things well — together.  

That is how we build safer schools. That is how we honor the legacies of our children.

That is how intention becomes impact. 

As we move through this year, my hope is that we continue to approach this work with purpose, care, and resolve. Because when enough people commit to doing the small things with love and intention, extraordinary change becomes possible. 

With gratitude, 

Michele