Dr. Michael Kilgard

There was a usefulness to it.

And someone came and tested me.

I made it a yellow belt, full disclosure.

But I was going to need to know it.

And so I knew I would stand in front of other people and admit –

I didn't learn it.

I wanted to learn it, but I didn't learn it.

Knowing that someone, a mentor you respect, a peer you value, a spouse who cares about you, whatever it is, is going to look and see, how'd you do?

I don't think that's harmful, judgmental, negative.

It's not part of the culture of exceptionalism and meritocracy.

That's just, give me some feedback.

How am I doing?

And a lot of times we can do extraordinary things when people do raise the bar on us a little bit.

And that can be very self-fulfilling.

Certainly an over-test-focused culture.

My mom was a master primary education educator.

She didn't really care very much for all of the testing-focused stuff.

She thought, I've got to get this kid to learn how to interact well with others and put away his crayons.

I don't need to worry about these particular flashcard-based skills.

But we go back and forth.