Hello there! I am an instructional designer for the United Nations that wants to support others in their journey as educators and, more generally, as communicators. I'm also up to support training managers or corporate professionals, but I believe this is going more in the direction of a consulting role. Early background: I have been a hacker since I was 12 years old, got caught at 13 and understood I could do better with my knowledge. Participated in two Anonymous campaigns while trying to teach people how to be safer online. When I joined the University as an IT student I felt I wasn't learning much so I moved to professional gaming, becoming 1st in Italy and 6th in Europe in the Call of Duty 4 "1 vs. 1 Search and Destroy" ladder. After that, I joined a non-profit NGO where I learned my passion for delivering training sessions. Recent history: I have now spent 9 years delivering soft skills training sessions and honing my instructional design skills, I am a Chartered Member of the CIPD and have obtained a Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic Learning and Development. I worked for some of the most recognised brands and I am currently supporting the training arm of the United Nations with my experience. Why mentoring? It's a mix of reasons, first, I love to see people grow and have an impact on that, my whole purpose is to help individuals reach their potential, also, it is something I have always done in my NGO, and now I want to try doing it in a broader setting, sharing my expertise with young individuals in search of a tighter grip on learning and development outside my current network. It is also a great way to meet new people and hone my mentoring skills! Outside instructional design: I have been writing short novels for 17 years, and I'm trying to convince AI to teach me how to play guitar. I love experimenting with tech and validating learning theories (not really outside of ID, wops)!
My Mentoring Topics
- Instructional Design
- Training Session Evaluation
- Learning Theories and Content Validation
- Training Event Development
- Room Management
- Presentation Skills
- Facilitation
- Soft Skill Delivery
- Creative Writing
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The Daily Stoic - 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
Ryan Holiday, Stephen Hanselman
Key Facts and Insights: The importance of perception: The book highlights the vital role of perception in our daily lives. How we perceive events, people, or circumstances is fundamental to our reactions and decisions. Control and choice: We have control over our thoughts, emotions, and actions. We can choose how to respond to any situation, regardless of its nature. Value of wisdom: Wisdom is not just the accumulation of knowledge; it is the proper application of that knowledge. The book emphasizes the intellectual virtues of wisdom, including calmness, resilience, and clarity. The principle of acceptance: Accepting things as they are and not as we would like them to be is a core tenet of Stoicism. This doesn't mean passivity, but rather understanding what we can change and what we can't. Embracing adversity: Every difficulty presents an opportunity for learning and growth. The book encourages readers to embrace challenges and setbacks as part of life's journey. Living in the present: The book advocates for mindfulness and being fully present in the moment, rather than being consumed by past regrets or future worries. Practicing virtue: Virtue is not just about moral excellence, but also about living in accordance with nature and reason. Simplicity and frugality: The book promotes the virtues of living simply and frugally, valuing experiences and relationships over material possessions. Continuous learning: The book underscores the importance of lifelong learning and the pursuit of knowledge. Emotional resilience: Managing emotions effectively and developing resilience is a key theme in the book. Acting with purpose: Every action should be purposeful and contribute to our overall well-being and development. Detailed Summary and Analysis: "The Daily Stoic" presents a modern interpretation of Stoic philosophy, making it accessible and relevant to a contemporary audience. Authors Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman have distilled the teachings of ancient Stoic philosophers into 366 daily meditations, each providing practical wisdom and guidance for living a fulfilling life. The book is divided into three parts: The Discipline of Perception, The Discipline of Action, and The Discipline of Will. Each part further explores the key Stoic principles mentioned above. Perception is fundamental to our understanding of the world and our place in it. The book states that our perceptions can be our greatest strength or our worst enemy. It's not the events themselves that disturb us, but our interpretation of them. This aligns with the Stoic principle that we can't control external events, but we can control our reactions to them. The second part of the book focuses on Action. The authors emphasize that we must act in accordance with our principles and values, demonstrating integrity in our actions. This also includes the practice of virtue, which is seen as the highest good in Stoic philosophy. The authors remind us that virtue is more than moral excellence; it's about living in alignment with nature and reason. The final part of the book, The Discipline of Will, is about acceptance of things as they are. This doesn't imply passivity, but rather understanding what is within our control and what is not. This part of the book also encourages us to embrace adversity, seeing it as an opportunity for growth and learning. Throughout the book, the authors emphasize the importance of living in the present moment. They advocate for mindfulness, arguing that we spend too much time dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. This often prevents us from fully experiencing and appreciating the present moment. The book underscores the importance of continuous learning and the pursuit of wisdom. Wisdom, in this context, is not just the accumulation of knowledge, but its proper application. The authors argue that wisdom helps us navigate life's challenges with calmness, resilience, and clarity. The virtues of simplicity and frugality are also extolled in the book. The authors encourage readers to value experiences and relationships over material possessions. They argue that living simply and frugally can bring greater satisfaction and contentment than the relentless pursuit of wealth and status. In conclusion, "The Daily Stoic" offers a practical guide to Stoic philosophy, filled with timeless wisdom and insights. The book encourages us to cultivate a disciplined mind, live in accordance with our principles, and embrace life's challenges with grace and resilience. It's a valuable resource for anyone interested in personal growth, mindfulness, and the art of living.
ViewTalk Like TED - The 9 Public Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds
Carmine Gallo
Key Insights from "Talk Like TED - The 9 Public Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds" Passion is the key: Successful speakers are passionate about what they're talking about and this passion is infectious, helping to captivate and inspire their audience. Tell a story: Storytelling is a powerful tool in public speaking. It helps to draw in the listener, making the speech more engaging and memorable. Keep it simple: The best speakers are able to communicate complex ideas in a simple and understandable way. Novelty attracts attention: People are naturally drawn to new and interesting ideas. Presenting something in a new way can help to hold your audience's attention. Visuals matter: Visual aids, when used correctly, can significantly enhance a presentation, making it more engaging and memorable. Body language speaks volumes: Non-verbal communication is just as important as what you say. Positive body language can help to convey confidence and credibility. Practice makes perfect: The best speakers are not born, they are made through constant practice and refinement of their skills. Emotional connection: Creating an emotional connection with your audience can make your speech more impactful and memorable. It's not about you, it's about the audience: The best speeches are those that are tailored to the audience's needs, interests, and expectations. The rule of three: People tend to remember things in threes. Therefore, structuring your speech around three main points can help to make it more memorable. Humor can be a powerful tool: When used appropriately, humor can help to engage your audience and make your speech more enjoyable. Analysis of Contents "Talk Like TED - The 9 Public Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds" by Carmine Gallo is a comprehensive guide to mastering the art of public speaking. Drawing on hundreds of TED Talks, Gallo identifies nine key elements that make a speech successful. The first insight, passion, is central to effective public speaking. Gallo argues that when a speaker is genuinely passionate about their topic, it shines through in their presentation and helps to engage and inspire the audience. This is consistent with research in the field of communication, which has long recognized the importance of speaker enthusiasm in creating a positive audience response. The second point, storytelling, is another crucial aspect of effective speaking. Stories appeal to our emotions and our innate desire for narrative, making them a powerful tool for engaging an audience. According to the narrative paradigm theory by Walter Fisher, humans are essentially storytellers and we understand the world in terms of stories. The third insight, simplicity, is a fundamental principle of communication. As Albert Einstein once said, “If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.” This echoes the principle of Occam's Razor, which suggests that the simplest explanation is often the best. The fourth point, novelty, captures the importance of presenting new and interesting ideas or presenting familiar ideas in a new way. This is consistent with the cognitive theory of multimedia learning, which suggests that people learn best when they are presented with novel and interesting information. The fifth insight, visuals, recognises the power of visual aids in enhancing a presentation. This aligns with Richard Mayer's multimedia learning theory, which posits that people learn better from words and pictures than from words alone. The sixth point, body language, reminds us that non-verbal communication can be just as important as verbal communication. This is supported by research into the role of body language in communication, which suggests that it can convey a significant amount of information and help to establish credibility and rapport. The seventh insight, practice, emphasizes the importance of preparation and rehearsal in delivering a successful speech. This echoes the 10,000-hour rule proposed by Malcolm Gladwell in his book Outliers, which suggests that mastery of any skill requires at least 10,000 hours of deliberate practice. The eighth point, emotional connection, highlights the importance of engaging the audience on an emotional level. This is consistent with Antonio Damasio's somatic marker hypothesis, which suggests that emotions play a crucial role in decision-making. The ninth insight, the audience, reminds us that effective communication is audience-centered. This aligns with the audience-centered approach to communication, which emphasizes the importance of understanding and addressing the audience's needs and expectations. The tenth point, the rule of three, reflects the human tendency to remember things in threes. This is supported by research into cognitive load theory, which suggests that our working memory is limited and that we can only hold a certain amount of information at a time. Finally, the eleventh insight, humor, recognizes the power of humor in engaging an audience. This is consistent with research into humor and communication, which suggests that humor can enhance likability, improve audience attention, and create a positive emotional climate. In conclusion, Gallo's book offers a wealth of practical advice for anyone seeking to improve their public speaking skills. By understanding and applying these nine secrets, anyone can learn to 'Talk Like TED' and deliver presentations that are engaging, memorable, and impactful.
ViewThe Elements of Style - The Original Edition
William Strunk
Key Insights from The Elements of Style - The Original Edition Conciseness is key: Strunk emphasizes the importance of brevity and clarity in writing. Eliminating unnecessary words, avoiding a passive voice, and favoring the active voice are some of the ways to achieve conciseness. Grammar fundamentals: Strunk reiterates the importance of understanding and implementing basic grammar rules, including subject-verb agreement, appropriate use of tense, and correct punctuation. Word and phrase usage: Proper usage of words and phrases is crucial for effective communication. Strunk provides guidance on common misused words and expressions. Style over rules: While rules are significant, the essence of the book is about developing a unique style that communicates the intended message effectively and engagingly. Active versus passive voice: Strunk suggests favoring the active voice over the passive voice for its directness and immediacy. Parallel construction: Consistency in sentence structure, particularly in lists and series, is critical for clarity and ease of reading. Use definite, specific, concrete language: Strunk encourages the use of specific rather than vague language to convey meaning more accurately. Avoidance of colloquial expressions: Strunk advises against the use of slang or colloquial expressions in formal writing. Elementary principles of composition: Strunk outlines basic principles of composition, such as choosing a suitable design and holding to it, working from a suitable design, and ending with a definite conclusion. Approach to style: Strunk's approach to style is prescriptive, providing a set of rules and guidelines to follow. Classic reference work: Despite the publication's age, The Elements of Style remains a classic reference work for writers and those wishing to improve their English language skills. An In-Depth Look at The Elements of Style - The Original Edition "The Elements of Style - The Original Edition" is a classic prescriptive American English writing style guide penned by William Strunk. The central theme of the book is that good writing is synonymous with good thinking. It suggests that the key to writing well is to write clearly, which in turn fosters clear thinking. Strunk emphasizes the importance of brevity in writing. He urges writers to be concise and choose words carefully, avoiding unnecessary words and redundancy. For example, rather than writing "despite the fact that," one could simply write "although." This approach not only makes sentences more understandable but also keeps the reader's attention. The book also stresses the significance of basic grammar rules. Strunk provides simple yet effective rules for using the English language correctly, such as using the active voice instead of the passive voice and ensuring subject-verb agreement. He points out common mistakes in grammar and punctuation and provides solutions to avoid them. Strunk's guidance on word and phrase usage is another highlight of the book. He notes that choosing the right word or phrase is crucial in conveying the intended meaning. He provides a list of commonly misused words and expressions, illustrating their correct usage. While the book is loaded with rules and guidelines, Strunk reminds the reader that these are not absolute. The ultimate intention should be to develop a unique writing style that is engaging and effectively communicates the intended message. He encourages the use of the active voice because it is more direct and vigorous than the passive. A noteworthy principle Strunk highlights is the importance of parallel construction in sentences. This refers to using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. This technique not only adds clarity and balance to your writing but also enhances its readability. Strunk encourages the use of definite, specific, concrete language. He believes that the more specific a writer is, the more that writer can connect with the reader. This is in contrast to using vague and abstract language, which can leave the reader guessing the writer's true intent. Moreover, Strunk advises against the use of colloquial expressions in formal writing. He believes that slang and informal language can distract the reader and detract from the overall message. The book also delineates some elementary principles of composition, such as choosing a suitable design and sticking to it, working from a suitable design, and ending with a definite conclusion. These principles, when followed, can greatly improve the quality of a piece of writing. Despite the fact that Strunk's approach to style is prescriptive, it does not undermine its importance. The Elements of Style is a classic reference work for writers and those wishing to improve their English language skills. Its prescriptive nature provides a set of rules and guidelines that, when adhered to, can help anyone improve their writing skills. In conclusion, "The Elements of Style - The Original Edition" by William Strunk is more than just a book; it is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to write clearly, concisely, and convincingly. It provides key insights and practical tips that can help writers of all levels improve their craft. Whether you are a professional writer, a student, or someone who wants to improve your English language skills, this book is a must-read.
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29.August 2023Giuseppe is a wealth of knowledge and not only is he super helpful, but he is also insightful, friendly, and encouraging. I am an ESL teacher transitioning to Learning & Development as an Instructional Designer (ID). Our session was packed with tidbits on improving my LinkedIn profile, courses I can take to help me understand ID better, roles that I should be applying for jobs, and places I can connect and network with other IDs. I am glad I reached out to him, as he is the perfect mentor and can help me get into the ID field.