I love to learn! Heck, I like learning even when it isn’t necessarily pleasant; though, for the record, I definitely prefer — like many learners — when it allows me to also “achieve.” Just check out my degrees and list of certifications and you’ll know what I mean. Is it possible to have too many of either? I think not.

I also have a deep admiration for my friends around the globe who read, speak, write, and translate in up to 7 languages. I am a little bit conversational in a couple languages, but I dream of the day when I can be a Polyglot like them. Sigh….

My penchant for learning has shaped my career and life because, by default, I cannot learn if I’m not in new situations and opportunities. I love my new perfect job for possibly up to two years – initially for learning, then for improving/maximizing – but then, I get restless. I love the ramp-up, the drinking from the firehose. Not so much thrill emanating from me, however, down the road when I repeatedly hit the limits of what is in my power to impact. After all, the definition of insanity is attempting the same thing expecting a different output.

I’ve recently returned from a sabbatical and decided that freelance, remote consulting would allow me to feed my need for new work challenges while allowing me to travel to, live in, and learn about other countries. I’ll be outside of the US for the rest of the year and, starting in August, will be in Spanish-speaking countries. Of course that means I need to learn Spanish, so imagine my ecstatic thrill when I saw my go-to online language learning tool, Rosetta Stone, offered a great discount on its Lifetime Unlimited (24) Languages membership! Hola mi amigo! 

I feel like Charlie when he found the last golden ticket, like my dog when he finds a field full of brand-new scents. Like a woman setting out on an adventure of a lifetime, with her own personal Rosetta Stone. Sweet!