One summer day, when I was small, my childhood neighbor Tim ran through a plate glass door. He required surgery, thousands of stitches, and lengthy recuperation. Though he mended, none of us was ever the same—least of all Tim. The summers following his recovery were different from those before because we had experienced injury, struggle, fear, and a general apprehension for how one action could change our existence. This was most noticeable in the middle of the road. When running and playing in the small cul-de-sac in front of our houses, we looked up and around more than ever before. If we heard a car in the far off distance, so very unlike years before, we moved to the side of the road. We readied ourselves for the possibility of danger by getting out of the way. We reasoned that the car could drive down our street, it might pose danger, and therefore it required an immediate response. As a result, we spent much of our time on the sideline apart from one another, no longer making plans, frozen in time instead of learning together, and standing still instead of having fun. In response to an unexpected danger, we became apprehensive to all possible dangers, and ceased readying ourselves for a full life ahead.

These days many organizations are standing beside the road. Some see potential, but move (by choice or by force) out of harm’s way only to miss the action and the opportunity afforded only those still in the road. To make connections that change and improve our situation, we need to participate, take chances, and be in the place of most potential—together, making plans, and with a sense of play. Without being actively in the fray, we miss the opportunity, the serendipity, and the providence that can make work purposeful, profitable, and interesting. To become strong again, to be whole again, we need to continue looking up, but also to move toward readiness instead of away from the action ahead.

In this issue of LiNE Zine you will find articles and interviews that help illuminate the road. In addition to new articles including Ten Traits to Help Leaders Transition Through Turbulent Times by Bette Price, Courage and Freedom by Tom Heuerman, What’s the Story? by Steve Portigal, Tomorrow’s Too Late by Jay Cross, Finding Jobs in Uncertain Times by David C. Forman, Start Measuring Your eLearning Programs Now by Josh Bersin, and Finding Courage by Jeff De Cagna, we have also republished some of our favorite Learning in the New Economy articles from previous issues that had readiness as an underlying theme.

We look forward to doing more than just getting through this coming year. With your help, we look forward to standing strong in the middle of the road, being ready to move, and then moving in the right direction—together. Let’s agree to acknowledge our fears and our apprehensions, but also to live our lives. Ready?

Marcia Conner
Editor in Chief, Learning in the New Economy Magazine
marcia@linezine.com

Executive Director, The Learnativity Alliance
www.learnativity.com

June 2001