Eleven Things

“Learning and connecting have been around forever, but they have been limited before because of locality. It often was only by chance that one would come into contact with others with similar goals, thought processes, and communication styles. What the Ho‘ohana Community has achieved is to bring us together, in ways that, as Phil's #11 says, was never possible before.”

“Is the Ho‘ohana Community a team? In terms of collaborative learning, absolutely! Three key characteristics of a team are that team members share common objectives, have complimentary skills, and are mutually accountable for results. I believe that the Ho‘ohana Community shares the common objectives of learning and connecting, and participants clearly have complimentary skills. I ask the community, to what extent is there mutual accountability for results?”

—Blaine Collins, author of Stronger Teams Blog within the learning dialogue of Joyful Jubilant Learning 2006

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This, is incredibly exciting.

This, is the passion of the Ho‘ohana Community.

This, is the birth of Joyful Jubilant Learning as an all-year endeavor.

Join us each day for an invigorating shot of LEARNING. Participate in it, and thrill to it as we do.

Here’s what I can tell you about us so far: 

Ten Things I’ve learned about the Ho‘ohana Community:

1. We are attracted by aloha even before we completely understand what it means. Funny how that happens despite the immensity of the blogosphere. Like bees and honey.
2. We can individually seem to disappear for weeks at a time, but slipping back in is amazingly easy. We’re all in it together, so everyone understands.
3. We are all getting bit by the relationship geek virus, and we don’t want to be cured.
4. We are getting increasingly impatient about taking some of our connections offline. Phone call charges? Who cares.
5. We challenge each other to write better without even realizing it. Linking is not about traffic; it’s about admiration and appreciation.
6. We welcome all comers, as long as their voices are positive ones. Optimism and enthusiasm absolutely rule. Respect is a given.
7. As far as we’re concerned, geographical distance is completely irrelevant. So are time zones.
8. We all spend too much time online, but we’d say, “We read a lot.”
9. We are absolutely, unequivocally obsessed with learning. We’re getting much better with asking terrific questions.
10. We suspect we are on the verge of something great, just not sure what it is.

This is what Phil Gerbyshak had added, which Blaine had referred to;

11. Though many of us have never met in person, the Ho‘ohana Community pulls us all together in ways not possible before blogging (was there a time before blogging?)

Sound like who you are, or who you want to be?

Welcome! You’re in the right place.

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How about it Community?

Would you please introduce yourself and say hello?

Tell us what you last learned about collaborative learning, and what you would like to learn next by doing more of it.

Then stick around, be prepared to engage, and let the collaboration begin. Starting tomorrow, we have 12 authors who will kick things off with a new post each and every day. We will have fun, learn together as we go forward, and see what happens.

I for one, am certain there will be a lot of growing happening here.

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Post Author:
Rosa Say is the author of the Talking Story blog, the first home of the Ho‘ohana Community. She is here to joyfully learn more, as the community welcomes new members, and spreads its wings in new formation.

Comments

[Chris Owen]

YYYAAAAYYYY
We're up and running!
Roll on the conversations!

[Starbucker]

Welcome all to this unique celebration of the learning experience! I am pleased and honored to be a part of this "new beginning", and look forward to more joyful and jubilant learning with all of you. All the best!

[Greg Balanko-Dickson]

It is absolutely amazing to me how this 'learning thing' has grown. I am excited to be a part of this new venture, network, and learning community. Watch us as we bloom!

[toni]

I have learned that I can be part of something so great that I cannot see its boundaries. I believe that we are on the brink of change and we are part of the evolution of learning.

This community is an amazing experience to participate with. The energy, the Aloha Spirit, the wealth of knowledge and insight is all here to give, receive and share. So, come join the cirle, there is room enough for everyone!

[tim]

On Your Mark...Get Set...Learn!

I am excited to see the evolution of this project. I'm already learning as we get things rolling here. It will be interesting to see which tools help us collaborate better, which ideas seem to rise to the surface, what resources will be birthed through this amazing group.

Momentum is our friend right now...let's enjoy the ride.

[Rosa]

Toni, like you, I have also learned to be much more comfortable with learning in a boundary-less environment, and it is something I am very grateful to this community for; we seek to make it comfortable for all to be included, but we challenge mediocrity and we like feeling “hungry.” We learn to come to terms with discontent (as Tim had defined it for us so well).

Still, the no-limits uncharted-ness of our ever-flatter “new world” can be daunting. As independent as I am, and as much as I like to lead, I honestly would not take such a huge leap into the unknown alone. Much as I’m loathe to admit it, I might “settle.”

And the concept of no boundaries is in itself fascinating to me: On the one hand, I am by nature a person who seeks to grow within an abundance mentality, yet on the other hand, I undeniably thrive on order and structure. Finding that comfortable balance will certainly be new learning for me!

* If you are just joining us, find Tim’s description of discontent here:
http://www.sayleadershipcoaching.com/talkingstory/2006/09/content_or_disc.html

[Steve Sherlock]

This is great, let's get going.

Together everyone achieves more!

Honk! Honk!

[tim]

Steve...

Now I get it. I didn't understand the "honk honk" at the end of your podcast. But now I see where you are going with it. The flying "v" is the only place to be!

[dave]

The lack of boundaries fuel potential. We are free to venture forward, change pathways, meet people, meet their points of view and grow.

[Rick]

Better late than missing the boat altogether!

My contribution, not my own words but those of a much younger man who is moving his world toward a more-fulfilled life, and bless him for his efforts:

"...it's not quitting things and being flaky that will make you productive, it's the aggressive elimination of everything that doesn't make you come alive."

This quote is from Clay Collins (http://thegrowinglife.com/)

[Rosa Say]

Ah Rick, mahalo! My prayer for learning, and for this ‘abundance packaging’ of it we’ve nicknamed JJL, is that it will never be too late.

I have to smile a bit as I reread this, for we were so very excited back in this original publishing that no one answered my question at the end of the post – just you now, almost two full years later! And what a gem you have added. I’ve read a few of Clay’s blog postings, and he is a very thoughtful young man. That phrase is one I missed, and I am so glad you have added it here, for it is coaching I will join you in learning better myself.