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Jim Hill

Reviews the book "Quick: Show Me Your Value," by Theresa Seagraves.

Quick Show Me Your Value Book

Jim Caprara is McGraw-Hill Education’s (MHE’s) vice president of business development, addressing corporate clients as part of the learning science platforms team. Here, Jim supports the game-changing launch of MEH’s revolutionary authoring platforms, bringing the power of adaptive learning into the hands of learning organizations everywhere. Jim is uncommonly diversified. A former board chairman of ATD, he is recognized across multiple industries, including retail, homebuilding, telecommunication, and network services and manufacturing. With experiences from chief learning officer and vice president of HR development roles to that of general manager and CEO, Jim's history uniquely bridges learning and business, providing insight and perspectives not found elsewhere.

Jim Caprara

Some professionals seem intent on dying on the hill of boring learning.You know: "Back when I was in school, we learned everything by mind-numbing lectures and rote memorization! We couldn't practically apply a single thing we learned, and we liked it!" Or: "When I started in the workforce, I read mounds and mounds of paperwork to get up to speed. There was none of this hand-holding onboarding stuff. And I walked uphill both ways to get to work!" Or: "Kids these days, wanting learning to be fun! Video games have ruined good old-fashioned grit and determination."These attitudes are brain-boggling, especially since most of these professionals were exposed to and benefited from fun learning at an early age: most of them grew up on Sesame Street.Sesame Street aired in 1969 and has run for 49 years straight. In 2008, research suggested that 77 million Americans watched the show as children. What's more, as of 2009, Sesame Street had at some point and in some form been broadcast in 140 different countries (http://mentalfloss.com/article/53482/names-34-international-sesame-street-co-productions). Throughout the world, many of today's adults learned words, numbers, interpersonal skills, emotional coping skills, rudimentary Spanish skills, and more from television's most beloved monsters and misfits.The show's popularity isn't happenstance. Joan Ganz Cooney and Jim Henson's brainchild was specifically designed to capture the attention of a notoriously difficult audience: toddlers. A toddler's ability to focus is far chancier than an adult's or even an older child's. Older humans are at least cognizant enough to try to pay attention; toddlers are unaware and don't care. Knowing this, Cooney, Henson, and other stakeholders designed the show to have short, entertaining segments. Plenty of delightful wackiness was included: a spooky vampire leading the counting exercises, a catchy song featuring the letter "C," and Ernie's wacky hijinks leading to personality conflicts with Bert. Later, the showrunners even added Elmo, a character who embodied toddler-like qualities. The show was so entertaining and so relatable that within 10 years, writes author Michael Davis, nine million kids under the age of six watched regularly.Some may argue that this is all well and good for toddlers, but that older kids and adults don't require entertainment while learning. Some might even argue that Sesame Street spoiled younger generations by predisposing them to being diverted and not dictated. Whether there's truth to either of those viewpoints is, frankly, irrelevant. The fact of the matter is that after being treated to an entertaining learning experience from some of history's renowned imaginations, kids are being stuck in dull classrooms and then, as adults in the workplace, forced to sit through tedious training. It's no wonder that doesn't go over well! It's not what they're used to.Professionals in the teaching and learning and development worlds have two options. We can double down and insist that post-Sesame Street, everyone just needs to adjust to tedious learning experiences. Or we can adapt the experiences we create to be more in line with what generations have come to expect. Many learning experts favor the latter. "Fun, pleasure, excitement--call it what you will.…if you don't spend the time to make the learning experience a compelling and enjoyable one, how can you expect your learners to spend any time on it?" writes Growth Engineering.Could learning experts reprogram learners to swallow boring teaching and training? Most likely; we're experts at changing behavior. But in a situation when it's easier and probably better to fix our approach than to fix learners, why wouldn't we do so? It's not as challenging as it sounds; "fun" doesn't have to be dramatic. It's the little things--jokes. Language that's not stiff and dry. Elements of gamification. Emotional connections. Bits of the unexpected scattered throughout.In any case, it's time to recognize that most kids in the classroom and adults in the workplace have a legacy of fun learning from Sesame Street. For them, being entertained by learning isn't a nice-to-have, it's a minimum expectation.

We Grew Up on Sesame Street; Of Course We Expect Learning to Be Fun

Leadership 2030: The Six Megatrends You Need to Understand to Lead Your Company into the Future by Georg Vielmetter and Yvonne Sell, McGraw Hill Education, 2014, 240 pagesThe tumultuous changes of the past decade, including China’s economic rise and the financial meltdown, were just the beginning. The next cataclysmic wave is surging relentlessly ahead, demanding leaders who can steer their companies through complexity and change. Drawn from original research conducted with Z-Punkt and further analyzed by Hay Group, Leadership 2030 explores six megatrends that will dramatically impact organizations’ markets, cultures, systems, and processes:globalization 2.0: Asia dominates the global economyclimate change: sustainability becomes imperativeindividualism: freedom of choice erodes loyaltydigitization: boundaries blur between private and working livesDemographic changes: aging populations intensify the talent warConverging technologies: The sharpest tech shift in history is around the corner.Research findings and case studies provide evidence of each megatrend and highlight the skills, capabilities, and attitudes leaders must cultivate, such as adaptability, collaboration, cultural sensitivity, strategic thinking, meaning creation, and more. In the rush to produce quarterly profits in chaotic conditions, the longer view is often obscured. This forward-thinking book helps businesses everywhere prepare for the seismic changes on the horizon.Talk is (Not!) Cheap: The Art of Conversation Leadership by Jim McCann, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014, 208 pagesJim McCann has spent his career talking. For McCann, the founder and CEO of the flower delivery company, 1-800-Flowers.com, being open and ready to speak to a variety of audiences is his most powerful leadership tool. In Talk Is (Not!) Cheap, McCann illustrates how the art of conversation leadership—the process he developed to engage others and create momentum in the workplace—can be used to inspire, innovate, and win.Using a blend of how-to tips and personal stories, McCann argues that the gift of gab may just be the most critical (and undervalued) skill set in today’s workplace.Lessons include how to overcome hesitation when diving into conversation with strangers and knowing when to just “shut up and listen!” Whether you’re interacting with customers, pitching new business to a client, or seeking to be heard within your own company, Talk Is (Not!) Cheap could help transform the way you communicate and listen.Grounded: How Leaders Stay Rooted in an Uncertain World by Bob Rosen, Jossey-Bass, 2013, 386 pagesIn his latest book, Grounded, Bob Rosen, organizational psychologist and bestselling author, proposes a new approach to leadership that's designed for actual humans who must grapple with the forces of uncertainty, cynical employees, and personal burnout. Rosen’s new paradigm speaks to our better selves. Based on the author's Healthy Leader model, it focuses on six personal dimensions that fuel—and refuel—the world's top leaders: physical, emotional, intellectual, social, vocational, and spiritual health.The book argues that leaders at every level can be more self-aware, develop their untapped potential, and drive significantly better results—for themselves, their teams, and their organizations. Grounded shows readers how to build a personal leadership model that works with their values, goals, and capabilities. It features fresh stories from leaders in a variety of organizations including The Lego Group, the New York Fire Department, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Medstar Health. It also gives leaders practical tools to face their toughest challenges with greater skill, confidence, and impactReady to be a Thought Leader? by Denise Brosseau, Jossey-Bass, 2014, 272 pagesWithin their fields, thought leaders are sources of inspiration and innovation. They have the gift of harnessing their expertise and their networks to make their innovative thoughts real and replicable, sparking sustainable change, and even creating movements around their ideas.In Ready to Be a Thought Leader? executive talent agent Denise Brosseau, founder of Thought Leadership Lab, shows readers how to develop and use that gift as she maps the path from being a successful executive, professional, or civic leader to becoming a respected thought leader. With the author's seven-step process—and starting from wherever they are in their careers—readers can set a course for maximum impact in their fields. These guidelines, along with stories, tips, and success secrets from people who have made the transition to high-profile thought leaders, allow readers to create a long-term plan and start putting it into action immediately.

Mustn't Miss: August 2014

A dozen books to own and read – at least once.When Jim Rohn said, “All the information you need to succeed already exists, the problem is you haven’t exposed yourself to it,” it was one of the most challenging and eye-opening statements I had ever heard. I immediately made a lifelong goal to read a thousand books.I have not reached that goal yet, but I’m eating away at it. I love the hardbound vintage book, but I’m finding that reading on my iPad’s Kindle app provides the perfect strategy to increase my desire to read in spare moments.Here’s my list of must read books:1. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill is at the top of everyone’s list. Written 70 years ago, it’s still the benchmark book for attitude, goal setting, and achievement. Get an original copy (pre 1960), not one of the altered, newly minted, “after the copyright expired” versions. NOTE: Not on this list, but equally important, is the best sales book of all time: How to Sell Your Way Through Life. Written just two years later, this book is an unknown gem. It’s hard to find and a little pricey, but look for it on abebooks.com, bookfinder.com, or ebay.2. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. The all-time, gem of gems for engaging with self-confidence and connecting with sincerity that contains timeless rules of success. Your Carnegie library is only one third complete until you own and read How to Stop Worrying and Start Living and Effective Public Speaking, two books with timeless information on stress relief, positive attitude, speaking skills, and success strategies.3. He Can Who Thinks He Can by Orison Swett Marden. One of the original “self-thought” and self-help books containing thought gems such as, “Every child should be taught to expect success” and “The world makes way for the man with an idea.” If you want a list of great Marden quotes from this book, underlined by John Patterson, the founder of NCR and the father of American salesmanship, go to www.gitomer.com and enter MARDEN in the GitBit box.4. Swim with the Sharks by Harvey Mackay. A benchmark and game-changing book for me and millions of other people in business. It’s full of applicable ideas to make you think and strategies to implement immediately.5. Small is the New BIG by Seth Godin. One of many Godin books that should be in your library. Not just for the information – he’s much more than that. I don’t just marvel at what Seth writes, I marvel at how he thinks.6. Thinkertoys by Michael Michalko. Short lessons, tools, and exercises you can easily understand and apply immediately. It recharged my brain, and opened my eyes to a new way to see creativity – by example.7. What Would Google Do? by Jeff Jarvis. A compelling work that centers around Google as it relates to other businesses. Jarvis compares what Google would do to diverse industries such as hotels, restaurants, schools, and the media. Amazingly insightful and thought provoking – especially if you relate it to your business (as I did). 8. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. Outliers tells stories of how, why, and when people became successful entrepreneurs, and how standards were set in the 19th century that are still in place today. But it’s his concept of “10,000 hours” that makes this book an absolute insightful treasure.9. Steve Jobs by Walter Issacson. Jobs had vision, foresight, character, uncompromising ideals, and shrewdness. He was inspirational to all who came within his domain. This is a great story and important to read in order to understand where we are today. I have written about Steve Jobs’ impact on my life. If you’d like to read it, go to www.gitomer.com and enter JOBS in the GitBit box.10. The Pursuit of Prime by Ichak Adizes, Ph.D. This book addresses the stages every growing business goes through, and what to expect and do in each stage. Compelling because it’s both a game plan for what to do, and a pie in the face for what you haven’t done.11. Social Boom by Jeffrey Gitomer (hey, that’s me!) and several other social media experts. Business Social Media is not an option, and this book is the ultimate “how to” and “why.” Yes, I have ten other books I hope you buy, read, and implement the lessons from, but Social Boom is my best book for this moment.12. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. A book that has been canonized by every cross section of the political and business landscape EXCEPT the politician trying to grow government and give handouts. It’s an amazing, compelling read, and has a happy ending for entrepreneurs. May be my favorite of all time. When you’re finished reading this epic novel, I dare you not to starts on Rand’s The Fountainhead.12.5 There are other imperative non-books. CDs, essays, quote books, and kids books that I also highly recommend. They are, in no particular order, The Art of Exceptional Living, (CDs) by Jim Rohn, Acres of Diamonds by Russell Conwell, A Message to Garcia by Elbert Hubbard, Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper, and The Strangest Secret (CD) by Earl Nightingale. You can find all of these gems at www.executivebooks.com.NOTE WELL: This is not THE definitive book list – it’s MY definitive book list. These are books I have read, been inspired by, implemented, and banked. I have a longer list on my website – click on “Recommended Reading” under “Sales Help.”Invest your time reading. It will pay lifelong dividends.

Sales Moves by Jeffrey Gitomer 1-16

Everyone knows that Congress is out on summer break in August. For someone who has lived in the Washington Metropolitan area for 25 years, the town tends to slow down, along with the traffic every August. You can plan on it during most years. But, this isn't like most years. Along with the health care debate, there seems to be a lot of activity around Capitol Hill.Policy activity has not slowed down for us at ASTD. There were three very exciting happenings this past week, and we would like to share those with everyone.First, our team had a meeting with Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA) to better introduce him to ASTD, our mission and to discuss his non-profit initiatives in conjunction with the Recovery Act. Congressman Moran sits on the House Appropriations Committee, a very important committee and they approve budgets on the House side. He will be a good connecting for our future work with Congress.Second, we have confirmed our webinar with the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration to help our members better understand and possibly partner with the public system on the Recovery Act grants which are currently "on the street" to apply for. Our hope is that our members, especially in the green and renewable energy industries, will partner and apply for these current grants. Here is information on the webinar:Leveraging Public Partnerships and Resources to Train Your WorkforceDate: Wednesday, September 2Time: 1:00-2:00 p.m. ETSpeakers from the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration and ASTDFinding and retaining a skilled workforce is challenging even in a down economy. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), or the stimulus legislation, has created new grants and funding streams for industries that are in need of help. Many companies want to understand how to find a partner at the local level and work together to apply for funding. Join ASTD for this unique opportunity to hear directly from the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration about immediate grant opportunities in the energy and healthcare sectors and how your organization can partner at the local level with the publicly-funded workforce system.Pre-register here: https://astdevents.webex.com/astdevents/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=598882724The third item from last week was very exciting news! Members of the ASTD team met with the Executive Director of the Local Workforce Investment Board (WIB) in Northern Virginia to discuss the opportunities and possibilities of ASTD offering the CPLP Certification through their WIB and their One Stop Career Center System. More details to come soon, but our plan it to meet with other local WIBs in the Metro DC area to explore similar possibilities.

A GREAT policy week for ASTD!

Jim Hall-Sheehy

Discusses the depiction of computers in feature films. First appearance of the computer in a feature film; Reluctance of industries to embrace computer technology; Common misconceptions employees have of computers.

A Feature Film Remedy for Computerphobia

Reports on the recruitment of war veterans as managers in the United States. Ideal training ground provided by the Vietnam War; Application of experiences in management practices; Accumulation of management skills from experience.

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