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Hey friends! I'm on my way home from DevLearn, and wow - what a week! Being around so many L&D pros is SO energizing.  Bianca and I talked to loads of people about using smart marketing tactics to make training better. And guess what? We wrote a book about it!

On May 27th, we're launching "Think Like a Marketer, Train Like an L&D Pro." Don't worry - it's not boring theory. We filled it with tools you can use right away. Want to know how to get your learners hooked? Or how to prove your training works? It's all in there.

Hit up trainlikeamarketer.com to learn more and subscribe for updates on the book launch.

Thanks for reading!

📰 News & Notes

The Six Principles of Learning Design

The six principles of learning design—authenticity, alignment, holistic integration, feedback, judgment, and future orientation—are designed to make learning stick by rooting it in real-world complexity. These principles emphasize a move from rote memorization to experiences where learners apply knowledge, receive ongoing feedback, and grow the skills needed to thrive in unpredictable environments. So, whether it’s aligning tasks with real work scenarios or encouraging self-assessment, each principle works to build resilient, capable learners who don’t just know; they can do, judge, and adapt.

🎯 Takeaway: Learning sticks best when it’s grounded in real-world practice, guided by feedback, and designed to empower learners to adapt and thrive.

8 lessons on lifelong learning from an astrophysicist

L&D professionals can draw inspiration from astrophysicist Dr. Ethan Siegel’s eight valuable insights into lifelong learning. By highlighting the importance of skills like problem-solving, estimation, pattern recognition, and intellectual humility, Siegel offers a blueprint for fostering effective learners. His journey underscores the importance of knowing how to learn—to find and interpret data, adapt to change, and question assumptions—a skillset that can empower learners in any field.

🎯 Takeaway: The key to lifelong learning lies in cultivating problem-solving, adaptability, and a curious mindset.

Daily habits like sleep and exercise can shape brain connectivity for weeks

A groundbreaking study reveals a direct link between daily habits and brain function. By analyzing wearable data and brain scans, researchers have discovered that factors like sleep, exercise, and mood can significantly influence brain connectivity, impacting cognitive abilities like memory and attention.

Takeaway: The brain remembers your daily habits—so a bit of sleep and movement today can boost brain connectivity for weeks!

🧰 Tech Tools & Tips

If tools are your jam, check out my new Work Smarter newsletter.

🎧 Podcast

This is the conversation that caught my ear this week. Check out previous episodes in the Friday Finds podcast playlist.

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Everything You Need to Know to Land Your First ID Job

Thinking of entering the field of instructional design? Join Holly Owens, an industry expert, on November 21st as she shares her candid experience of becoming an instructional designer. Holly will share 10 mistakes she made before finding success, along with practical tips to help you grow faster and more effectively.

🧳 Where’s Mike?

• 5th Annual Design for Deeper Learning Fall Series, November 14 (Online)

• From Boring to Bravo: How to Be a Slide Design Superstar, November 19 ATD Rhode Island (Online and only $10)

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