Categories
Business teaching

Teaching in Order to Learn

It amazes me whenever it happens. Whenever I teach, I learn just as much as the students. I have seen it when I lead kids in large group on a Sunday morning. And I have seen it in the workplace as well. 

For the last two weeks at work, I’ve had the opportunity to teach a person my duties. I’ve been in my role for under ten months and there are many things about my job that are still new to me. The person who taught me retired in late June. Since then, I have been applying what she taught me. Now I have the chance to do the same for another person.

As I have shown her the systems, the exceptions and the why behind the way we do things, I have been energized. Sure, I am not using the same words, and every experience is different. In fact, that is part of the teaching/learning process that thrills me. I can paraphrase what I was taught and see the results in a whole new way.

We have this tendency to believe once we are done with our formal schooling, we are done with education. This fallacy keeps us from growing. I have found it is much better to keep learning. And one of the best ways to learn is to teach others what we do.

Blogging is one way we can do that. And that is why I am going continue writing about my experiences and the lessons I’ve learned through being a writer, illustrator, and a graphics manager.

Categories
Career

Predicting the Future in Hindsight

In 1988, I was a graphic designer for National Printing Plate, in Indianapolis. They made printing plates for the flexographic industry. It was a good job, and I enjoyed the people I worked with. I married Paula in December 1988. Life was humming along.

Unfortunately, in January 1989, the business suffered a fire. Not only was I newly married, but I was newly unemployed. This motivated me to find work quick! I didn’t want my new father-in-law to think I couldn’t provide for his daughter.

Categories
cartoon

Dignity is overrated

When we are young, we don’t care what people think of us. We are willing to try new things because we are learning so much about the world.

Somewhere between fourth and fifth grade, our dignity gene kicks in. We start worrying what others think of us. We look over our shoulder and assess whether the next activity is cool or if it will make us look like fools.

The problem with this is that we have to be willing to feel foolish to try new things. Dignity is overrated if it causes you to do the same old thing. It is better to try, fail, learn and try again than to stay in the same old rut doing the same old things.

Categories
cartoon

Just because you receive my tweets doesn’t mean we’re communicating.

Social media has change the way we communicate. We don’t consider when we post something, it is really one way communication. We don’t consider that we have become our own media outlet, much like a newspaper or TV news show. We are all broadcasters now.

But broadcasters are not the same as communicators. True communication is two-way. We speak and listen.

Blogging, tweeting and Facebook posts are fine. But we need to remember true communication is a different entity.

Categories
cartoon

Leadership and Responsibility

Sketch of a king holding a sign that says, “Not Responsible for any of Your Problems.”

It’s fun to be in charge. Everyone loves the perks that come with leadership. But with each leadership position, there comes responsibility.

A king that that loves to rule, but takes responsibility for nothing makes for a lousy ruler.

If you want to be in charge, What responsibilities are you willing to take on? The larger the role, the more you will be accountable for.

Charisma and seniority only takes a leader so far.