Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jorge Valenzuela. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jorge, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with a hypothetical question – if it were up to you, what would you change about the school or education system to better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career?
As a busy education coach, I visit many schools across our nation. Unfortunately, I find that many young people are currently unhappy with school. Recognizing this, I believe guiding them toward exploring their interests in tandem with academic and career skills is more critical than ever before. When students are taught to explore their passions, it can transform them and unlock their potential and a sense of purpose. Encouraging this exploration can also foster a deeper engagement with learning, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling educational journey and life.
Jorge , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m Jorge Valenzuela, and I am very passionate about education and performance coaching. I am very committed to helping others improve teaching and learning outcomes. In the past 15 years, I collaborated with numerous educators to strengthen their leadership skills and innovate their teaching.
I do many things at Lifelong Learning Defined, the company I founded. I am a performance and education coach, an author, and a speaker. I help schools across the US focus on amplifying core instructional practices while offering professional training in diverse areas such as team building, project-based learning, STEM pathways, and integrating critical life skills across the curriculum. It’s about providing educators with the tools to create impactful learning environments. I will also add executive coaching to our service offerings this coming year.
I am also very grateful to partner with other educational organizations like ASCD, Corwin, and Solution Tree. Through these collaborations, I provide professional development sessions that are highly practical for educators across all disciplines and job titles.
My passion for advancing education is also reflected in my various articles and authorship of several books. My writings are geared towards helping others in their self-improvement journeys, providing them with actionable insights and strategies.
I also host the Lifelong Learning Defined podcast for self-improvement. This platform caters to conversations around topics people care about—such as exploring tips for improving relationships and careers and exploring passions.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I didn’t always feel highly confident about being a speaker and coach. It took time for me to build that up. I started small, learning bit by bit and mastering specific strategies I could use in my work. Gradually, I gained many skills I knew I was good at, which boosted my confidence. It all came from believing in myself more. How you see your own abilities can really impact reaching your goals.
Moreover, growing into an entrepreneur has also taught me that self-confidence can be nurtured and developed over time. Growing our confidence is an inside job. We can help boost it from a supportive environment—like positive teamwork, peer help, and receiving personalized and timely feedback from people we trust.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
Through reading, I have taken professional and business advice from many authors and experts. My favorites include Eckhart Tolle’s “A New Earth,” 50 Cent’s “The 50th Law,” Tim Grover’s “Relentless,” Jay McTighe’s “Understanding by Design,” and Professor John Hattie’s “Visible Learning.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lifelonglearningdefined.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jorgedoespbl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LifelongLearningDefined/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgedoespbl/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JorgeDoesPBL
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpFCeG0NRHLcReqg9cdZEjg/playlists
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/0HpafbxtkkoQ1fyoEIwjo0
Image Credits
Jorge Valenzuela