"So what is it that you do?"

I find this one of the most difficult questions in life to answer, particularly with people who know me personally and for some odd reason want to know more about me professionally.

The funny thing is I'm totally incapable of explaining the what-is-it-that-I-do. From what colleagues have told me, this is not uncommon. Actually, I'm amused by my father's explanation that I do "something with computers, maybe programming." My father says this with the realization that I actually failed CSE 101, took it again to erase the F on my transcript, and succeeded in doing so with a very solid "D." That's what I call parental love...no doubt bolstered by a strong sense of poor ROI.

Not too long ago, a friend of over 20 years asked me "so what is it that you do?" since the company he works for is in need of client product training and he heard me yammering (excuse the social media pun) about learning initiatives and Twitter in the midst of a BBQ. I gave the practiced speech and bless his soul, he got it!

Not surprisingly, this question comes up a lot with regard to Tandem Learning since the general tack in American business is to lead understanding by defining roles and responsibilities. This is well before presenting capabilities, showing any demonstrations, or detailing Tandem's products, services, and general offerings.

So, what is it that we do?

I often find bullet points very comforting in times of self-identification:

• We design and develop learning experiences across industries
  
• We believe that karaoke isn't a crime (and neither was skateboarding, by the way)
  
• We drive to become THE leading provider of innovative learning solutions
• We leverage game design and theory in our approach, particularly with regard to virtual worlds and immersive learning environments
• We manage a solution from kick-off to delivery without breaking a sweat or sweating a break
• We rock you like a hurricane

That's more or less the 8 miles high version of it anyway. The worm's eye view of the day-to-day events is wonderfully exciting to me but most people might find it a little geeky and a lot boring.

Or they may just call it "something with computers, maybe programming."