Appreciation

As the world and learning requirements change rapidly around us, we find ourselves in the early stages of figuring out the new learning paradigm. Hopefully, Unstoppable You: Adopt the New Learning 4.0 Mindset and Change Your Life will contribute to and stimulate conversations about this evolving world. I mention conversations now because they played a role as this book unfolded. I’ve explored ideas and the learning framework with many people. Some talked with me about the general idea and concepts. Others reviewed parts of the book as they developed and gave comments from a learner or executive perspective. Still others examined parts from a technical and scientific perspective, providing insights from neuroscience, psychology, and talent development. Several Millennials and people from other generations gave feedback. I consulted other seasoned learning and development professionals, and 50 talent development leaders responded to an ATD-sponsored international survey on learning-related issues. Their ideas all helped make this a better book.

Some individuals went a step further by reviewing the book. For this I want to recognize Jacqueline Burandt, Ira Chaleff, Annette Clayton, Lauren Cozza, Joe Doyle, Constance Filling, Suzanne Frawley, Ann Herrmann, Rachel Hutchinson, Kaye Illetschko, Martin Illetschko, Bruce Jacobs, Kimo Kippen, Sandi Maxey, Magdalena Mook, Ken Nowack, Julie O’Mara, Daniel Radecki, Richard Rossi, Deb Santagata, Martha Soehren, Sharon Wingron, Jytte Vikkelsoe, and Robert Yeo.

Thanks also go to Cammy Bean, Sharon Boller, Randy Emelo, Jonathan Halls, Dawn J. Mahoney, Magdalena Mook, and Matt Pierce for their contributions regarding learning strategies for several resources in Tool 5: Resource-Specific Learning Tips.

For support in what has been a deeply transformational personal process for me, I want to publicly thank Jim Howe for providing a great writing space in Vermont, and for your unwavering optimism and encouragement throughout the process; Walt McFarland, for your support and for generously providing access to your networks; and Richard Rossi, for always-astute reminders to stay connected to people’s problems and interests. I also appreciate my sister, Kaye Illetschko, for saying, “I wish I’d known these things earlier,” and my late sister, Rita Moldenhauer, a role model lifelong learner who transcended the limitations of Down syndrome and taught me a lot about a special kind of joy that comes from learning.

The folks at ATD have been a stalwart link between my desire to shift paradigms and the more practical needs of book publishing and marketing. I want to thank Pat Galagan, Ann Parker, Clara von Ins, Timothy Ito, and Tony Bingham for your sponsorship within ATD and your confidence in me and this topic; Kathryn Stafford and Melissa Jones, my ATD editors; Iris and Fran, my ATD designers; and the marketing team that is bringing this book to individuals, leaders, and organizations who can benefit from it.

There are hundreds of other people who have influenced this book. Many I never met in person, or only brushed past briefly as fellow speakers and participants in conferences, meetings, corporate workshops, and university programs where we have explored topics like artificial and augmented intelligence, psychology, philosophy, neuroscience, cognitive science, learning and adult education theory and practice, training and adult development, meditation, and mysticism. In many cases I have read and learned from their books, articles, and videos. Those most directly relevant to Unstoppable You are cited in the references.

Then there are the many lessons and insights I have gained from clients in business and government, academic leaders, and people whose learning I have supported since I began teaching at the University of Minnesota, then moved to corporate America, and finally in South Africa and other countries, including the United States. These diverse experiences with people and organizations facing learning and change challenges help keep my ideas and suggestions anchored in real-world problems. There is nothing like experience to round the sharp edges of theory and creative ideas so they can be useful in the real world.