Sidelines that support growth

Day 21 of 21 Days of leveling up

The Ambiguous Question

At a rooftop business networking event, I asked a new acquaintance: "What do you know about Columbus?" The casual question yielded two distinct responses—one about the city, another about the historical explorer. Each answer served different purposes, functioning as a live skill demonstration and research experiment.

These early experiments proved counterproductive for business development. They represented "a classic rookie mistake–jumping in to do without much of a plan to connect what you learn to a larger objective." There was tactical activity but no strategic framework.

The Consulting Practice Challenge

My background in learning and research made me comfortable deconstructing processes but hindered clear definition of target industries or ideal clients. Professional expertise lay in solving emergent problems—those difficult to predefine.

Understanding story's power (enhancing memory and listening across language barriers) remained disconnected from actual client needs. After years of practice and failures, I learned "how to get out of my own way."

Move Aside

When designing experiences, balancing self-discovery against friction removal proves critical. Should features guide or limit? Simplify or protect the provider?

"Experiences are deeply personal, uniquely rooted in prior knowledge, skills, and familiarity with the situation." The best approach involves asking rather than presuming.

I pursued personal questions while neglecting professional ones—building the consulting practice and identifying real client problems.

The Framework Emerges

Howard Gardner's multiple intelligences work challenged learning myths. Business demands tasks, objectives, and measurable achievement through backward planning. Sports require rapid progression through practiced sequences. Idea formulation differs from both.

Initially conceived as a tool in a "grab bag," framestretching crystallized through external prompts and reflection. Writing about leveling up from "a particularly pointed perch" brought greater discoveries.

Only by owning the framework fully could I overcome hesitancy and advance my practice.