LEARNABILITY 23 October

My kids have their Halloween party invitations and it's only a few days until the clocks go back and we get an extra hour in bed. Lovely!

Let's get on to those Learnability nuggets...

?? Professional Development

Creating Your Own Learning Opportunities

When it comes to your professional development, how creative are you?

The most successful professionals are those who actively create their own learning opportunities. Instead of waiting for formal training or ideal tasks, they use resourcefulness to identify challenges in their current roles or areas where they can contribute.

For example, if you notice a gap in your team’s workflow or a project that’s lacking direction, you can offer to take it on or suggest ways to improve it. This could mean developing a new process, managing a complex task, or even leading a small team initiative. By stepping up, you’re stretching your skills and gaining valuable hands-on experience.

I know this sounds like asking for extra work. It is. But it also gets you off the hamster-wheel and gives you the opportunity to learn and develop your skillset.

Being creative means looking beyond what’s expected of you and thinking about how you can drive growth for both yourself and your organisation. Perhaps there’s a task that nobody else wants to tackle or a project that needs a leader - these are prime opportunities for learning.

For instance, if your team lacks a structured onboarding program, you could volunteer to create one, using it as a chance to improve your project management and demonstrate your organisational skills.

Even if you don’t have all the answers to begin with, taking initiative helps you learn through the process.

And the next chance your organisation is looking for someone to lead a project, wouldn't it increase your chances of promotion?

By consistently creating these opportunities, you’re not just learning new skills; you’re also showing leadership and problem-solving abilities. This proactive approach signals to employers that you’re someone who takes ownership of their growth, which can lead to greater trust, responsibility, and advancement in your career - and that's what LEARNABILITY is all about.

?? Parents, Educators & Students

Kurzgesagt: In a Nutshell

If you're a parent, a teacher, a student, or just curious about life, the universe and everything, you need to know about Kurzgesagt.

With over 23 million subscribers, Kurzgesagt is a popular channel on YouTube, Tik Tok and Instagram that uses high-quality animations to explain complex scientific, technological, and philosophical topics.

Since 2013, the channel breaks down intricate subjects like space exploration, human biology, existential risks, and environmental issues in a visually engaging way. With its own blend of scientific accuracy and approachable storytelling, Kurzgesagt makes learning both entertaining and informative.

The channel is ideal for school or college students looking to supplement their studies. It caters to those interested in understanding how the world and universe work. Educators also find it useful as a teaching tool, and its philosophical content appeals to viewers who enjoy pondering life’s bigger questions such as free will, nihilism and overpopulation.

I love Kurzgesagt because it simplifies complex concepts into clear, digestible chunks, uses visual animations to enhance understanding, and often tackles important global and existential challenges. Whether you’re curious about the future of AI, the Fermi Paradox, or the immune system, Kurzgesagt delivers thought-provoking insights that inspire learning and curiosity about the world around us.

Take a look here:

?? Anyone who wants to feel better

The Antidote

This is what I'm reading now and I thoroughly recommend it.

Oliver Burkeman - who is rapidly becoming one of my favourite authors - takes a novel approach to the idea of being 'happy' by challenging the pervasive ideology of positive thinking. Instead of insisting we focus on the bright side of life, Burkeman explores what would happen if we took the “negative path” - the idea that embracing life’s uncertainties, failures, and inevitable hardships may actually lead to more contentment.

In other words, he offers you a new approach to thinking about wellbeing and happiness without all the forced positivity stuff which he convincingly argues in the first chapter as often being counterproductive for real happiness.

Throughout the book, Burkeman shares his own experiences of embracing 'the dark side', such as intentional suffering and confronting social anxieties rather than avoiding them. He also reflects on the happiness of slum-dwellers in Kenya to illustrate the emotional benefits of moving with our lot rather than pushing against it. His exploration of different philosophical and psychological approaches - including Stoicism and Buddhist practices - makes the case that accepting life’s inevitable difficulties can free us from the anxiety of constantly striving for security and happiness.

Although The Antidote doesn’t promise a perfect recipe for happiness, Burkeman’s perspective encourages you to rethink the conventional 'wisdom' of positivity. He suggests that true happiness, or what he calls “a happiness worthy of the name,” comes from embracing both the good and the bad in life. Burkeman’s thoughtful and witty writing provides a refreshing and honest alternative for anyone interested in learning how to find peace of mind in a challenging world.

See more information here

What I'm Doing At The Moment

• Webinar: Next week, I'll be giving a webinar as part of the APMP TV - Navigating Career Growth: The Power of Learnability.
• JOBMadrid : At the end of October, I'll be heading to Madrid to talk at the Job Fair about hoot excel in your job once you have it.
• BIDx The Big One : For some of us, the 5th of November means Bonfire Night, for others, the U.S. elections, but for a very elite group, it's the BIDx conference in Birmingham where I'll be giving my signature keynote on Learnability and how to accelerate your career.
• Workshop: ...and the following day, I'll be giving my Learnability workshop, too.
• IESE Business School : I'm looking forwards to being part of the Public Speaking For Learners starting in November.
• My Book: Having got halfway through revising my first draft, I intend to start looking at cover designs and illustrations for my next book - Learnability.

If you're interested in accelerated professional development or if you would like me to talk about the importance and power of Learnability at your next event, please get in touch now. I'd love to learn more about the challenges you're facing and how I can help.