This picture is of a farmer who brought his family to one of my 4-H Maker Nite ​activities, it's a wonderful example of never being too set in your ways to learn and try something new. People who see stories like this always ask me, "I see all the interesting things you do at work on your Instagram, but what is your actual job?" I usually respond with my elevator speech, "I'm an Extension Agent, I organize leadership and science experiences for ambitious people." 

Most of what I do at work is quite different than what others in my position do. Some have wondered how I get away with it. It's certainly not a secret. In this blog post I will share exactly how I innovate inside the primitive environment that is Extension. 

This is one of my all-time favorite talks by Seth Godin. Everything he teaches really resonates with me. This keynote is from the World Maker Faire in 2012. If you haven't been to a Maker Faire, I'd encourage you to figure out a way to attend the Bay Area Maker Faire this year from May 20-22 in San Mateo, CA. Being at a Maker Faire is like time traveling into the future. I will be there, I'd be happy to show you around. Tweet me if you want to go!

Here is the video of Seth's talk and my notes on all his talking points:

This week I was listening to an episode of Jacob Morgan’s The Future of Work Podcast where he interviewed Abhijit Bhaduri, the Chief Learning Officer of Wipro Group, to discuss the future of learning and careers. In his role, he prepares all 170,000 employees in his company to be “future ready.” Bhaduri helped me realize that we need to look at ourselves as apps that get updated and continuously improved upon.

The way we look at apps is the way we need to look at ourselves.

What is the impact of social media?

​This is the wrong question. Anyone who asks this question does not understand social media--which is the current state of the Internet right now.

I work in Extension. We are a system of educators whose mission it is to provide non-formal education and learning activities to people throughout the country using research-based information from land grant universities. A system largely behind the curve of advances in 21st century communication. Change agents who resist the opportunity to tell the story of the incredible impacts they make on a daily basis. Otherwise known as, "the best kept secret" in your community.

Face-to-face contacts, the telephone, fax machine, email, newspaper articles and radio ads--what is the impact of these communication tools and traditional media on your Extension programs? Can you give me these metrics?

Let me ask another way, what impact has your mom and dad had on your life? Can you give me these metrics? You don't have the data but it exists, likely in your memories and photo albums.