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Foundational Concepts
Based on four decades of experience, Training Design Simplified is a guide designed to transform workplace training. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Having taught people how to teach others to do their work for 40 years, I have continually seen the same mistakes made time and time again. It astounds me that organizations keep doing the same thing again and again and not getting the results they want. I created this book to set the record straight and help people see it from a new perspective.
Can you share with us a little about the research process that went into putting your book together?
Throughout the book, I have interviewed dozens of former students and colleagues in the training industry who share their insights and experiences in preparing people for work. Most of the theory-based methods explained in the book have been research I have used to teach people how to teach. These include foundational concepts used in the industry for more than 60 years, some of which were misinterpreted or misunderstood.
What is one misconception you believe many people have regarding on-the-job training?
The biggest misconception is that employers say, “We need to hurry up training so they can get back to work”. The irony is that by hurrying up the delivery, the chances of the worker understanding the material and being able to actually apply it diminishes greatly. They simply forget that learning is NOT in the delivery but in the learner’s discovery. Only by applying the concept can the learner actually understand the information and retain it. We MUST engage the learner throughout the process. The cost of worker time off for training is nothing compared to the cost of rework, work errors, accidents, worker comp claims, etc. because the worker did not fully get the concept.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from Training Design Simplified?
It is time to rethink the way we prepare people for work. Stop doing what you thought was the thing to do, or what you considered to be the way everybody does it. Training is too expensive NOT to be impactful and have lasting results. If you have no idea about the ROI generated by your training, it is time to consider your training investment.
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their students to learn the concept they are teaching. In fact, in the segment of education that
prepares people specifically for work (CTE, apprenticeships, and corporate training), many
instructors believe that a 70-80 percent success rate is satisfactory. But based on his nearly forty
years of experience preparing thousands of workplace instructors, Dr. Johnson believes we can
obtain a 100 percent success rate.
In fact, he has helped thousands of instructors reach 100 percent learner success by teaching all
sorts of skills, both technical and soft, all across the US and Canada. Training Design
Simplified is a nonfiction book that speaks to CEOs, HR, training directors and instructors who
are looking to create a more effective training system and significantly improve the training
experience for their students and employees. The tips and techniques that Dr. Johnson offers will
shatter the traditionally boring training experience and help you provide an experience that
positively impacts your organization.
You will love this book if you are:the CEO of an organization who wants to increase the value of their training investment.
the HR or Training Director who wants to improve the impact of training on job performance.
a training instructor who wants to improve student retention.
a dedicated employee who wants to share new ideas about training with their leadership.
Training Design Simplified: Breaking Tradition
Dr. Mark L. Johnson’s Training Design Simplified is an eye-opening and no-nonsense guide to overhauling how we train people in the workplace. Drawing on four decades of experience, Johnson exposes the flaws in traditional training—dry lectures, disengaged learners, and minimal retention—and replaces them with a practical, engaging, and human-centered system that works. Through rich stories, clear frameworks like the ADDIE model, and grounded research, the book walks readers through analyzing job roles, writing meaningful objectives, building effective activities, and creating learning experiences that actually stick. More than a how-to, it’s a call to arms for anyone serious about real, lasting learning in the workforce.
Reading this book was like a breath of fresh air. Johnson doesn’t try to impress with jargon or bloated theory. He talks to you like a mentor who’s seen the trenches—who’s failed, learned, and found better ways. I loved how he started with that miserable $900 seminar and used it as fuel to do better. The anecdotes—folding paper, coaching vs. mentoring, “being a better bus driver”—are charming, relatable, and make the lessons unforgettable. His passion for teaching radiates from every page, and I felt both challenged and inspired. This is someone who cares deeply about people actually learning.
Johnson hammers home the idea of replacing traditional methods with engaging, visual, hands-on ones. However, even those repeated messages come from a place of conviction, and I didn’t mind too much. What stood out most was how practical this book is. From chunking information to reducing latency between teaching and application, Johnson offers real tools you can implement tomorrow.
If you’re a corporate trainer, HR leader, apprenticeship instructor, or anyone who’s ever sighed through a dull slideshow, Training Design Simplified is for you. Johnson’s voice is honest, warm, and seasoned, and he delivers a roadmap that’s not just smart—it’s humane. He believes we can do better, and after reading this, so do I. It’s a must-read for anyone who wants to not just train workers, but truly teach them.
Pages: 160 | ASIN : B0F26BL4K7
A Path to Excellence: The Blueprint to Your Greatest Potential
A Path to Excellence offers a refreshing take on the self-help genre, guiding readers towards realizing their full potential and striving for excellence in various life aspects. Author Tony Jeton Selimi emphasizes that greatness is within everyone’s reach, contending that self-imposed limitations are often the biggest hurdles. The book commences by challenging societal norms and expectations, advocating for a life beyond the mundane.
Selimi presents a compelling narrative structured around eight fundamental principles for personal excellence. These include transforming pain into purpose, envisioning success, aligning actions with meaningful values, systematic planning, consistent coaching, accountability, resilience, and viewing challenges as opportunities for growth. Applying these principles, Selimi believes, can lead to personal, professional, and business breakthroughs.
One of the book’s standout aspects is Selimi’s use of relatable analogies and real-life references. His comparison of the resilience found in babies learning to walk and the significance of gratitude in cultivating a positive mindset is particularly striking. These elements provide memorable insights and ground the book’s teachings in everyday experiences. Selimi’s writing style is clear and coherent, making complex ideas accessible to a broad audience. He ensures a smooth transition between ideas and maintains a logical flow, which helps readers navigate the content without confusion.
Including current events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, adds a timely and relevant layer to the narrative. The book targets individuals feeling constrained in their personal and professional lives, especially those aspiring for growth and excellence. Selimi resonates with readers who might feel trapped by routine and societal pressures, assuring that challenges and adversities can be transformative. Drawing from his personal experiences of overcoming abuse, homelessness, and various struggles, he offers a testament to the power of resilience and a positive mindset.
While the theme of overcoming obstacles to reach one’s potential is common in self-help literature, A Path to Excellence distinguishes itself with its clarity, personal anecdotes, and well-rounded approach to personal development. This book is not just a motivational read; it’s a structured guide for those seeking to elevate their lives to new heights of achievement and fulfillment.
Pages: 204 | ASIN : B0BG4LYXZB
LITERARY TITAN 