It’s electric…

… boogie woogie, woogie. (Bonus points if you got that from the title of today’s post)

If you’re a child of the late 70s, 80s, and 90s, I’m sure you’ll know the Electric Slide. It was a song and dance that captured every school dance, wedding, birthday party, and cookout where music was playing. I’m no dancer, but in about 10 seconds, I could be convinced to hop out of my seat and recall the steps.

You couldn’t avoid it. It was THE TikTok dance before TikTok.

Here are some of the hard-hitting lyrics:

You gotta know it
It's electric boogie woogie, woogie
Now you can't hold it
It's electric boogie woogie, woogie
But you know it’s there
Here, there and everywhere

In this oddly mesmerizing way, I think Marcia Griffiths and her Electric Boogie were onto something.

I’ve been thinking a lot about energy lately for a number of reasons. Not the science kind (but we’ll find a wrinkle here later), but the people-and-place kind. I’ve discussed this at some length with friends and colleagues in the last few weeks, and one thing is clear: some people and organizations have it, some don’t, and while it resists firm definitions and data points, it’s palpable to those in the middle of it.

It’s electric. (Boogie woogie, woogie.)

Why are some people, situations, and organizations—really, anything—simply electric?

You know what I mean. They’re engaging, magnetic, and you find yourself wanting to be associated with whatever or whomever it is. It’s like you can’t resist the association.

To quote Marcia Griffiths again: Now you can’t hold it, but you know it’s there. Yes, indeed.

It’s energy. Vibe, as the young ones might say.

In both my personal and professional life, I’m seeing this play out in real time. There are situations I’m observing where energy is low, so low that the culture is eroding in real time. I’m afraid for their long-term health. And when you’re losing the energy like this or the energy is negative, it’s extraordinarily difficult to reverse the tide.

But in other situations, the energy is magnetic. I hope/think Pakachoag Music School is included here. Like is attracting like, and it seems like the blue sky ahead is endless. It’s both fascinating and gratifying to be a part of.

I think every one of us has felt this in different contexts. It’s a team meeting that feels alive versus one that drains you. It’s in the family dinner where conversation flows versus one where everyone’s going through the motions. It’s a classroom where you want to be versus one you’re counting down minutes to escape.

We recognize it immediately, even if we just can’t quite name it.

I hinted at it earlier, but there’s science behind this phenomenon. And to a certain degree, it’s measurable.

There’s a whole field of research on “organizational energy”, which is simply scientists studying what makes some people and groups take action on their potential versus others who just go through the motions. And here’s what they found: energy spreads. It’s contagious… in a literal, neurological way.

Take the Electric Slide. The music hits. One person starts dancing. Then another. Then comes the tidal wave—momentum, music, and visible joy of others—that pulls you in. You kind of stop thinking about it and just… go.

I think that’s what I mean with all of this. It’s a felt thing, something people catch from each other. And once it’s there, once you feel it, you move and engage differently.

The tricky part? It’s as easy to lose as it is to catch it. And getting it back? Good luck with that; it’s an uphill battle. Once lost, I’m not sure willpower alone can save it. We’ve all been there, when the doldrums set in, leading to discouragement and a erosion of an energy and vibe (again, quoting the youths).

Energy is tied to patterns. To relationships. To whether people believe the mission still matters. It’s tied to small rituals, perhaps in the way a teacher celebrates a student’s courage, the way parents show genuine interest, or the way a team marks small wins.

And once those patterns break, it’s tough to restore. It takes intention. It takes time. Sometimes it takes acknowledging that the thing that used to feel alive doesn’t anymore, and we have to decide: do we want to rebuild it? Are we willing to put in the time and effort?

I think that’s why some organizations have energy and some don’t. It’s more than luck or charisma. It’s also consistency. It’s showing up for the mission, even when nobody’s watching or the work is challenging.

There’s a point to all of this. We’ve just launched a new website, and it’s the culmination of many months of work, self-reflection, and intention. You can see it HERE.

Over the past months, I’ve watched our school and community step into something. There’s a new partnership with Auburn School District. There’s a community band pilot. There are faculty collaborations. We have an upcoming event which we’re hoping will celebrate the best of our work. There are parents asking how they can help. Teachers are excited about what’s possible. Students are thriving.

That’s energy… real, electric, impossible-to-fake energy.

This didn't happen by accident. It took intention and a team of people who genuinely care. I think we've been deliberate about protecting what makes Pakachoag magnetic: the genuine care, the high expectations paired with real encouragement, and the belief that every student's learning is central to who we are.

And we’re saying it out loud, as clearly as we can: come and experience it for yourself. And when you see that new website, I think you’ll know what I mean.

I hope you find—and protect—that energy wherever you are, one boogie woogie, woogie at a time.

Note by note,

Nick