When the going gets tough…

One of life's great joys is that moment of triumph; when you finally win against the odds, nail a tough goal, or prove to yourself that you can do it after all.

But here's the truth: every triumph is born from challenge. The poor odds, the struggle, the frustration; they're not barriers to success; they're the raw material that makes triumph possible.

Think back to a time when you really had to fight for something. When you finally got there, remember that surge of pride? That feeling is forged only in adversity.

Now, take a fresh look at whatever obstacles you're facing today. What if these are simply the building blocks for your next victory?

You've triumphed before. You can again. So... look again, and then consider this quote from Henry Ford.

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal."

Would you eat your own learning programme?

Chefs don't just cook food; they create experiences.

They obsess over flavour, presentation, and how people feel when the plate is cleared. They take pride in delighting their diners.

Now think about your own learning programmes.

Would you want to consume what you're serving? Be honest.

If not, what would make it more appealing, satisfying, or memorable?

Step into the diner's shoes: • What are they hungry for when they arrive? • What emotions do you want to evoke as they 'taste' the experience? • What should linger after they've finished? • What story do you want them to tell others about it?

Great chefs design for joy, not just nutrition.

Maybe your next learning design should too.

Bon appétit!

Have you stopped seeing what others can't ignore?

"It's not what bothers you that is the problem, it's what has stopped bothering you." Larry Winget.

We all get used to our surroundings. The way things are done. The clunky process everyone works around. The behaviour nobody questions any more.

Over time, we stop noticing what would astonish a newcomer.

What are you tolerating that others would not?

Here's a simple exercise: When someone new joins your team, ask them to keep an 'Astonishment Log' for their first few weeks. Get them to jot down anything surprising, confusing, or just plain odd about how things work.

Then, review it together. You'll uncover blind spots and habits that have quietly settled in; and maybe even rediscover your own sense of astonishment.

This week: Ask yourself... what have you stopped noticing?

The scuba divers who cracked memory

Did you know your memory works better when the learning and recall happen in the same context? Psychologists call this context-dependent memory.

The classic Godden and Baddeley study (1975) proved it brilliantly. Divers who learned word lists underwater remembered them best underwater. Those who learned on land? They recalled better on land. The context made all the difference.

And it's not just about scuba gear. Even subtle changes matter: people who studied in noisy rooms remembered better if they were tested in noisy rooms, while those in quiet rooms did better when tested in quiet rooms.

Research shows context effects appear in classrooms, offices, and everyday life. And context isn't just about location. It also includes your emotional state, level of fatigue, or even whether you've had a drink (yes, really).

Even better, simply imagining the original learning environment can boost recall. That means mental imagery can help recreate the context when the real thing isn't available.

So here's your challenge: • Can you design training that matches the environment where learners will use the knowledge? • Or build follow-up activities that encourage learners to mentally step back into that original learning setting?

Try it, and watch recall go up.