In 49 BC, Julius Caesar stood on the banks of a modest stream called the Rubicon. The law was clear: any general who crossed into Italy with an army was a traitor. Caesar did it anyway, and civil war was inevitable. There was no going back.
What’s the Rubicon in your learning design; that moment when a learner steps so far in, they have to keep going?
You could:
• Make it public – get them to declare one action they’ll take this week, in front of their peers or manager, then follow up. Social pressure and pride will keep them moving forward.
• Give them an early win – set a small real-world task they can succeed at immediately, so they already feel the momentum. Early action reinforces “I’m already doing this” instead of “I’m thinking about it.”
• And more…
The trick is to design for that point of no return, so once they’ve crossed, they’re not just dabbling.
They are committed emotionally, mentally, and practically to real change.
Lead your learners across the Rubicon.
