What have you learned Dorothy?

Like many others, I love the wizard of oz - a cult classic spanning generations and the inspiration of so much creative storylines for years!

There were two great philosophical passages in the movie that I have used over the years. 

My favorite line of the movie was: "If I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own backyard; because if it isn't there, I never really lost it to begin with." A great line reflecting on the fact that the journey is usually more inward than it is outward and - many times - the answer is right in front of you!

However, this article comes from a joke my dad and I have shared for years: “What have you learned, Dorothy?”

Usually, it’s just the two of us teasing each other after realizing—just a little too late—something that we should have figured out much sooner.

But there’s something important behind that question.

After anything significant happens—whether it’s overwhelmingly positive or frustratingly negative—it’s worth asking: What have I learned?

That idea isn’t new. Most people have heard it before. But I think there’s a small adjustment that makes it much more powerful.

Too often, when people ask “What have you learned?” what they really mean is: “What did you mess up, and what shouldn’t you do again?” That’s useful—but, in my opinion, it’s incomplete.

Towards that end, I would like to suggest:

• What went well?

• What didn’t go well?

• What did I like?

Now you’re not just correcting mistakes—you’re building awareness. Let’s take a tournament as an example, specifically assisting at one.

You might come away with observations like:

• “I should probably pack more snacks—I ran out of energy halfway through the day.”

• “I walked in really nervous, but realized pretty quickly there was a strong sense of team spirit. The challenges weren’t nearly as overwhelming as I expected.”

• “I did better than I thought I would.”

• “As well as I did, Mr. Dovidio is a floor master. I should pay closer attention to how he handles things.”

• “I need to smile more—some people said I came off too serious.”

• “My being there helped others get through their nerves. Funny enough, I remember being in that exact position myself.”

 That’s a complete learning cycle.

It includes adjustments, yes—but it also includes confidence, awareness, and direction.

Learning, when done correctly, should be a positive and encouraging experience. If it becomes purely about what went wrong, motivation fades—and once that happens, it’s hard to rebuild.

Real growth comes from seeing both sides clearly: the strengths worth reinforcing and the weaknesses worth improving.

Because in the end, the goal isn’t just to fix what’s broken.

It’s to understand what’s working—and do more of it.