While I have been sharing in this blog my experiences as I push forward this movement, I have also been sharing my person.  You have probably figured out that I love to laugh, I love to laugh at myself, I like to think, I am learning how to execute my ideas, I hold my loved ones dear to my heart, I’m a Christian, I like different, and I have a passion for writing. There are many parts to me and this is just a small (no pun intended) snapshot of who I am, what I value, and what I do. Speaking of the doing, there are many roles that I play too. I want to believe that this movement is rubbing against each of these roles and creating some friction that will catch aflame.  

 One of the roles that I have played about 20 years is as a learning and development professional. If you read my profile to the right, it tells you a little bit about what I have done professionally. (Check out my LinkedIn profile for a more in-depth view of my professional life at http://www.linkedin.com/in/zoebrown725. Please note: If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, you should set one up. It is definitely an important social networking tool.)

I really love playing the role of a learning and development professional. The scope of this work matches my personality. Doing this type of work allows me to exercise my gifts. I realized a long time ago that it is my purpose in life. I am not perfect at it, but I am good at it and I absolutely love to keep adding tools to my toolbox. And it doesn’t hurt that it has been my bread and butter. In short, throughout my career I have had the honor of being who I was created to be and doing what I love – facilitating the continuation of learning in adult learners.

A meaningful learning experience is the platform that I will stand on, in my high heels of course, for the rest of my life. I have a deep and sincere need to hold in high regard adult learning principles.  Here are a few thoughts about adult learning that I have to uphold:

• I have to resist the urge to tell adults what they need to do. Most often, they already know what to do; they just might not be motivated or clear on how to do it. My job is to provide prompts that facilitate the construction of knowledge. I also believe that my job is to help widen the frame so that adult learners can see more of a bigger picture. Sometimes seeing a different or bigger perspective is all somebody needs to push forward and go.
• I have to keep in the forefront of my mind that everybody brings something to the table. Everybody has something to contribute regardless of what they believe about themselves, regardless of what they have been told. When this principle is demonstrated, it really makes people feel good about who they are.
• I have to remind myself that practice doesn’t necessarily make perfect, but it really helps in the learning process. When learning is taking place, it cannot stay in the knowledge only realm. Telling somebody something is one thing. Showing them how to do it and making them show you they know how to do it is another thing. Skills should be practiced and learning should be applied in authentic contexts. This helps adults examine their mistakes, push to make improvements, evaluate their progress, and become better learners.
• I must remember that one principle that has followed me throughout my career – the best learning experiences are an inch wide and a mile deep. Trying to “teach” 10 things in an hour is not the business. Trying to “teach” 1 thing in 2 days is more impactful. (There isn’t a formula for how long to teach anything. The idea is that you spend enough time on one 1 thing so that people experience a rich and deep learning.)

Sleeping at night is a rare occasion.

I am clear that one direction of GoneGirlGo will lean toward the development of a meaningful learning experience for women who are ready to push forward and go. I am ecstatic about joining two of my passions. This is the stuff that keeps me up at night.

Peace

(PS…I think I wrote this because I have encountered some boring training over the past few months. I abhor boring training. They make me sleepy.)