Continued from May 2008 Newsletter

FEATURE ARTICLE :

Recession, Education and Income: Thinking outside the box

Recession! The word can strike terror in the heart. When they hear that word, many people imagine struggle, become fearful or lose hope of ever achieving their dreams. But it doesn't have to be that way. In this month's article I want to throw out some educational ideas for you to consider. It may be just the thing you need to stimulate your creativity as we face uncertain times.

What role does education play?

In a strong economy education is important. Employers want to train their staff well and as employee numbers grow, training becomes a very important focus in keeping new staff members up to date on company policies and procedures. In a down-turned economy this picture may change as CEO's start searching for a place to cut back on expenses and corporate training may be the first place they look. What does this mean to you? Well for one, it could mean your job as an instructor or designer is on the line. Does this mean you should start worrying about what you are going to do to make a living? I think not. What it does mean is that you have to become just a little more creative! Can you job share? Can you cut your department's expenses significantly while maintaining a high level of excellence? Can you take your training online? A little creativity will go a long way in establishing your worth in difficult times.

If cutting back expenses means moving your training program online, the first thing to look for is a powerful platform to support your new plan. There are many tools on the market today, but for obvious reasons we believe myUdutu is one you should seriously consider. Why? Well the most obvious benefit is that you can turn expensive face-to-face training into a cost effective online program. Another benefit is that the tool is free, cutting your development setup costs significantly. Other benefits include the ability for anyone to work with the platform, not just IT people; more people can be reached than in a class room setting and updates can be performed instantly.

Think like an Entrepreneur

What happens if you do what you can, but still find yourself having to look for another job? This is where I believe the entrepreneur can help. You see, there will always be a need for education and training, especially in this information age. It just means finding the right outlet. An entrepreneur will ask himself questions like – “What do I know?” Who do I know?” “What tools do I have?” “What skills do I have?” “What problem are others facing at this time that I can help with?” Drawing all this information together and coming up with a creative solution is what sets the entrepreneur apart. He doesn't wait for things to happen, he makes them happen! So as an educator, what are some ideas you can come up with that might work in a struggling economy? Here are a few I can think of:

1. If people are being laid off, then they are going to have to retrain or reinvent themselves. This means they will need to upgrade or learn new skills. You don't have to hold a PhD to impart knowledge to those who are seeking it. As an entrepreneur you can definitely share your knowledge and skills with others while getting paid to do so! myUdutu makes it easy for you to create training courses quickly and cost effectively.
   
   
2. Layoffs mean unemployed people. What do unemployed people need? Obviously a job … but before they can find a job, they need a résumé ! Can you offer a course in résumé writing? What about how to create a video résumé? In fact, this is exactly what I have done very effectively using myUdutu. If you are interested in seeing this idea in action, you are welcome to visit my Video Résumé website. I hope it will inspire you to come up with even better ideas.
   
   
3. If a company has had to cut their training budget significantly, chances are they may be looking for an affordable company or person to outsource their training to. You could be that person. Create a portfolio you can showcase to prospective clients. Make sure you make it interactive and engaging and don't forget to make good use of multimedia.
   
   
4. Have you written a book or an ebook? Turn it into an interactive course or a series of mini courses and sell them online. I have also created an Interactive eBook which you can preview to see how I have done it. How can you improve on this concept?
   
   
5. If you have an interest or passion for a certain hobby, it is quite likely there are others out there that have the same interest. Create a “How To” course that you can sell online and on CD, while enjoying your hobby and making a profit.

I hope these simple ideas have inspired you to “think outside the box”. Learning is a life long journey for all of us. When one chapter closes another one opens. Taking control of your situation and being proactive is by far the better choice in difficult times.