While driving halfway across the country yesterday (to help my girlfriend move into her apartment at her new university) I noticed something which I had never seen in South Africa before: a real motel. Now before you start clamouring that I’m mad, and think that I’m some kind of hermit, let me explain…
I’m fully aware that there are plenty of motels scattered around the country. I’m in the transport business, enjoy driving cross-country, and have stayed in dozens of them. This one, though, was slightly different, and it struck me enough to write about it. It was in Sedgefield, a small coastal town in the Garden Route here in the Western Cape, and its sign stated proudly that it was the Motor Inn. What made it different to all the other motels that I’ve seen and stayed in was how it was designed. Many local motels tend towards being small stand-alone bungalows clustered in a circle or a few rows; and those that aren’t are semi-detached and staggered slightly diagonally, with each one having its own character – almost as if the building has been added to as the demand has grown for more units.
The Motor Inn in Sedgefield, however, was built as if it had come straight out of the middle of the USA. For those of you who’ve ever watched a movie from the US (which means all of you), you will have seen a version of the archetypal US motel. You know the type: simple single-storey building; office in the middle or at one end; each room with a parking bay outside the door; one big window per room, facing onto the parking lot. This is where the term ‘motel’ came from – motor hotel – where weary travellers could drive their vehicles right up to their room, instead of parking them in a central hotel parking lot and going up to their rooms. They are spread out all over the US, and have been a landmark of the vast open spaces for decades. The reason for their popularity is simple: they’re cheap; functional; have what you need (bed, shower, toilet); and, most importantly, they’re right there – in the middle of nowhere when you just can’t face driving another mile for the day.
What I’ve never understood about the design of ‘motels’ in SA is the way that they are built, with the units often separate. To me, building them the way they do in the US is much more logical. By having multiple units in one structure, you save a fair chunk in building and maintenance costs: the units have a common wall; they share the same roof structure; you only have one window per room; plumbing, electricity and ventilation are simpler. It’s also quicker and easier to clean units that are uniform in their layout. All in all, this means that the owners of the motel lay out less up front to build them, and can maximise their profits by not having to spend unnecessarily on maintenance. In fact, motels are very often owned by retirees in the US – they use their retirement package to buy the motel, and then live off of the income it generates. It’s a simple business to run, with minimal effort required day-to-day, and can provide a decent, liveable income. I feel that SA motels, though, have opened themselves up to higher building and maintenance costs, using the layout that they do.
It was thus quite refreshing to see a motel in SA working off a proven ‘model’ – one gets the feeling that the owners have put some thought into it, and I wish them the best of luck with their business. Interestingly enough, our ultimate destination yesterday was a postgraduate village in the university town where my girlfriend will be doing her Master’s degree. From what I had been told, I was under the impression that my better half would be staying in an apartment block. On arrival, though, I was pleasantly surprised to find that her room was a free-standing unit in a little cluster complex, surrounded by similar units arranged in rows. And what had it been used as before the university purchased it? A motel…
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
25 years on, and Virgin Atlantic still flying high...
While trawling the Web earlier, I came across a blog post by Richard Branson on his official blog page (http://entrepreneur.virgin.com) mentioning how they have recently celebrated 25 years since the first Virgin Atlantic flight. I am a MASSIVE Branson and Virgin fan - I've read all his books on multiple occasions and follow his businesses as closely as I can - and thought I'd share what I remember about how Virgin Atlantic Airlines came to be...
While on his way on holiday, or en route to a business meeting (the exact details are sketchy in my mind), Richard was due to catch a flight on one of the existing airlines at the time. At very short notice, the flight was cancelled, and he, together with most of the other passengers, were basically stranded as there was not much space on any other airline. People were just milling around in the airport, waiting for news or an update, but Richard decided to do something about it. After realising that there was not much that the airline staff could do (or were willing to do) he walked around the airport, and found where the charter services operated from. He asked how much it would cost to charter a plane to their intended destination, and got a price out of them. He then borrowed a writing board, and went back to where the stranded passengers were waiting around. He set up the board, wrote the cost at the top of the page, and then divided it by the number of people on board, to come up with a cost per person. Pretty much everyone bought into the idea, and they went ahead and chartered a plane. Obviously, everyone was extremely thankful for his efforts, but what must have been a real spur to his entreprenerial spirit was when one of the passengers (an elderly woman, if I remember correctly) went up to him after they'd touched down, and said something along the lines of: "The flight was fine, dear, thank you. Put in some in-flight service, though, and you could even make a business out of this." The cogs in his head must have started turning then and there, and so it all began...
Not only is the story a heart-warming one, but it also summarises a number of the traits that have made Richard Branson (and other great entrepreneurs) so successful:
- Firstly, the do not simply accept what they are told - they question and enquire to find answers. He could have sat there and waited for the airline to make a plan, but he decided to make some enquiries as to alternatives.
- Secondly, they are proactive and realise that action is what counts. He proactively went out and found out what it would take to accomplish his goal; he didn't mention the idea and then sit around.
- Thirdly, they communicate their ideas simply and clearly. He went to where the passengers were, explained what he wanted to do, and displayed it on a board for all to see.
- Fourthly, the know when they are onto a good thing. He didn't just take the compliment as a thank-you for what he'd done - he realised that there was potential for people to use a service like that, who'd be prepared to pay for it.
- Fifthly, they aren't afraid to take risks (after doing some homework). It's not mentioned in the story above, but he had no idea of how to run or start an airline when he decided to give it a go. He believed in himself, though, and was prepared to take a risk and put in the often super-human time and effort required to get it going.
The difference between the entrepreneurs out there, and those not that way inclined, is that the latter group would have simply seen the story as a heart-warming tale with a happy ending. The entrepreneurs among you would have recognised some of the traits mentioned, before I even spelled them out... Which type are you?
While on his way on holiday, or en route to a business meeting (the exact details are sketchy in my mind), Richard was due to catch a flight on one of the existing airlines at the time. At very short notice, the flight was cancelled, and he, together with most of the other passengers, were basically stranded as there was not much space on any other airline. People were just milling around in the airport, waiting for news or an update, but Richard decided to do something about it. After realising that there was not much that the airline staff could do (or were willing to do) he walked around the airport, and found where the charter services operated from. He asked how much it would cost to charter a plane to their intended destination, and got a price out of them. He then borrowed a writing board, and went back to where the stranded passengers were waiting around. He set up the board, wrote the cost at the top of the page, and then divided it by the number of people on board, to come up with a cost per person. Pretty much everyone bought into the idea, and they went ahead and chartered a plane. Obviously, everyone was extremely thankful for his efforts, but what must have been a real spur to his entreprenerial spirit was when one of the passengers (an elderly woman, if I remember correctly) went up to him after they'd touched down, and said something along the lines of: "The flight was fine, dear, thank you. Put in some in-flight service, though, and you could even make a business out of this." The cogs in his head must have started turning then and there, and so it all began...
Not only is the story a heart-warming one, but it also summarises a number of the traits that have made Richard Branson (and other great entrepreneurs) so successful:
- Firstly, the do not simply accept what they are told - they question and enquire to find answers. He could have sat there and waited for the airline to make a plan, but he decided to make some enquiries as to alternatives.
- Secondly, they are proactive and realise that action is what counts. He proactively went out and found out what it would take to accomplish his goal; he didn't mention the idea and then sit around.
- Thirdly, they communicate their ideas simply and clearly. He went to where the passengers were, explained what he wanted to do, and displayed it on a board for all to see.
- Fourthly, the know when they are onto a good thing. He didn't just take the compliment as a thank-you for what he'd done - he realised that there was potential for people to use a service like that, who'd be prepared to pay for it.
- Fifthly, they aren't afraid to take risks (after doing some homework). It's not mentioned in the story above, but he had no idea of how to run or start an airline when he decided to give it a go. He believed in himself, though, and was prepared to take a risk and put in the often super-human time and effort required to get it going.
The difference between the entrepreneurs out there, and those not that way inclined, is that the latter group would have simply seen the story as a heart-warming tale with a happy ending. The entrepreneurs among you would have recognised some of the traits mentioned, before I even spelled them out... Which type are you?
Finance Coach - Vol. 5
Here's a copy of my latest message from my Facebook group - Finance Coach (by Gareth Cotten)...
Finance tip: Income
Dog-walking. This is the first of the suggestions for making extra a little extra cash on the side. It's extremely simple: You go around to your neighbours, or people in your area, and offer to walk their dogs for them. It's a very necessary service, as many people are too busy to walk their own dogs, and feel guilty about not exercising them. You can walk a couple of dogs at a time, doing it in the evening after work, and only work on the days you want to. The extra money is not to be laughed at either - if you're organised, you could create a pretty serious income stream (there are many people in the US who do it for a living, and support families on the income). And best of all, you're getting that much-needed exercise and fresh air, while being paid for it!
Business tip: Staff/Operations
Get staff input. Don't ever be afraid to ask your staff for their input on an idea. Some business owners feel that it's a sign of weakness to not dictate every last thing to their staff, but this is a complete fallacy. There could well be an area or function of your business that has been performed one way for years, but is not very efficient. The breakthrough for streamlining it could lie in the mind of one of your employees. Or there could be a business problem that you just can't seem to solve. Your employees could have a different view on it. Ask them if they feel there's a better way to do something - it could save them time or effort, make them more productive, and save you money. Not everything they come up with will be practical or useful, but you don't have to implement everything they suggest. Pick those ideas or suggestions that make the best business sense, and implement them. Even if they don't come up with a master-stroke idea, they will appreciate being consulted, feel more empowered and part of the business, and work harder for you.
Finance tip: Income
Dog-walking. This is the first of the suggestions for making extra a little extra cash on the side. It's extremely simple: You go around to your neighbours, or people in your area, and offer to walk their dogs for them. It's a very necessary service, as many people are too busy to walk their own dogs, and feel guilty about not exercising them. You can walk a couple of dogs at a time, doing it in the evening after work, and only work on the days you want to. The extra money is not to be laughed at either - if you're organised, you could create a pretty serious income stream (there are many people in the US who do it for a living, and support families on the income). And best of all, you're getting that much-needed exercise and fresh air, while being paid for it!
Business tip: Staff/Operations
Get staff input. Don't ever be afraid to ask your staff for their input on an idea. Some business owners feel that it's a sign of weakness to not dictate every last thing to their staff, but this is a complete fallacy. There could well be an area or function of your business that has been performed one way for years, but is not very efficient. The breakthrough for streamlining it could lie in the mind of one of your employees. Or there could be a business problem that you just can't seem to solve. Your employees could have a different view on it. Ask them if they feel there's a better way to do something - it could save them time or effort, make them more productive, and save you money. Not everything they come up with will be practical or useful, but you don't have to implement everything they suggest. Pick those ideas or suggestions that make the best business sense, and implement them. Even if they don't come up with a master-stroke idea, they will appreciate being consulted, feel more empowered and part of the business, and work harder for you.
Friday, January 23, 2009
SA's top-selling cars for 2008
For those of you interested in who buys what, see if you could have guessed the results of the best-selling cars in SA for last year...
For passenger cars, the list is as follows (with the number sold in brackets):
1. VW Polo (29 476)
2. Toyota Yaris (26 102)
3. Toyota Corolla (24 714)
4. VW Citigolf (15 878)
5. Mercedes C-Class (15 124)
One must congratulate Volkswagen for managing to beat Toyota to the top of the pile - a position the Japanese company has frequently occupied in recent years. For me, the Polo coming in as No. 1 was no surprise. It's good styling, street appeal, and relative affordability (backed by the VW badge) have meant it's been snapped up by everyone from students to 'black diamonds' to busy grannies. The Yaris is a solid choice for second, being small, nippy, cute and going on a whiff of an oil rag. I was quite surprised to see the big gap drop-off between third place, and the evergreen Citigolf, though. This must be a symptom of the much wider variety of cheap, get-you-from-A-to-B vehicles on our shores in the last 2-3 years - meaning that there are other options out there for cash-strapped students and starter-families.
The light commercial market standings were as follows:
1. Toyota Hilux (29 481)
2. Opel Corsa Utility (21 297)
3. Toyota Quantum (20 601)
4. Isuzu KB (17 191)
5. Ford Bantam (11 879)
These positions were quite unexpected from my side. The Hilux coming in victorious is a real coup for Toyota, as I would have expected the Corsa and Bantam to be best-sellers. The latter two are smaller, granted, but they are relatively light on fuel, and very popular with the small-business and student market. I would definitely have put the Corsa ahead, purely on its looks (with it's chunky, agressive lines and colour schemes - yes, I'm a guy) but I didn't expect such a big gap between the two, as they are both relatively affordable little runners. Even though it's not the most fuel-efficient or comfortable vehicle, the Hilux has obviously traded off of it's tough, reliable legacy (goodness knows we needed a haven of reliabilty last year!); and it's well-constructed marketing campaign, emphasising these characteristics, has paid off to win it gold. Toyota's other big baby, the Quantum, can thank the taxi recapitalisation project (as badly managed as it is) and positive sentiment about tourism ahead of 2010 for its bull-run into the top five.
Wouldn't be too surprised to see if the trusty old bicycle makes it onto the list this year...
For passenger cars, the list is as follows (with the number sold in brackets):
1. VW Polo (29 476)
2. Toyota Yaris (26 102)
3. Toyota Corolla (24 714)
4. VW Citigolf (15 878)
5. Mercedes C-Class (15 124)
One must congratulate Volkswagen for managing to beat Toyota to the top of the pile - a position the Japanese company has frequently occupied in recent years. For me, the Polo coming in as No. 1 was no surprise. It's good styling, street appeal, and relative affordability (backed by the VW badge) have meant it's been snapped up by everyone from students to 'black diamonds' to busy grannies. The Yaris is a solid choice for second, being small, nippy, cute and going on a whiff of an oil rag. I was quite surprised to see the big gap drop-off between third place, and the evergreen Citigolf, though. This must be a symptom of the much wider variety of cheap, get-you-from-A-to-B vehicles on our shores in the last 2-3 years - meaning that there are other options out there for cash-strapped students and starter-families.
The light commercial market standings were as follows:
1. Toyota Hilux (29 481)
2. Opel Corsa Utility (21 297)
3. Toyota Quantum (20 601)
4. Isuzu KB (17 191)
5. Ford Bantam (11 879)
These positions were quite unexpected from my side. The Hilux coming in victorious is a real coup for Toyota, as I would have expected the Corsa and Bantam to be best-sellers. The latter two are smaller, granted, but they are relatively light on fuel, and very popular with the small-business and student market. I would definitely have put the Corsa ahead, purely on its looks (with it's chunky, agressive lines and colour schemes - yes, I'm a guy) but I didn't expect such a big gap between the two, as they are both relatively affordable little runners. Even though it's not the most fuel-efficient or comfortable vehicle, the Hilux has obviously traded off of it's tough, reliable legacy (goodness knows we needed a haven of reliabilty last year!); and it's well-constructed marketing campaign, emphasising these characteristics, has paid off to win it gold. Toyota's other big baby, the Quantum, can thank the taxi recapitalisation project (as badly managed as it is) and positive sentiment about tourism ahead of 2010 for its bull-run into the top five.
Wouldn't be too surprised to see if the trusty old bicycle makes it onto the list this year...
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
It's no Secret...
Over the last few years, there's been a huge stir caused by the book and DVD The Secret, brought out by Rhonda Byrne. Essentially, what it revolves around is harnessing the power of attraction to achieve your aims and goals. The power of attraction is based on the premise that if you constantly think about and visualise a particular goal, you will accelerate your progress towards that goal.
Now, while I think that it's great that a lot of money has been made off of this book/DVD, and the concept has gained currency around the world, the idea behind it is really an ancient one, and I've been using it for many years - well before the book or DVD came to light. I myself read a version of it in a book when I was only a teenager, and used it all through high school, university and in my businesses. What has prompted me to blog about it here, was how powerfully it worked for me recently.
The basic phrase which I took out of this book (I can't remember exactly who it was by, but it could well have been Dr. Demartini) was this: What you focus on expands. It's short and punchy (thus seeming like a sound bite) but it's really so much more. Basically, what you spend your time and energy on gains more momentum and 'power', for lack of a better word, and becomes more and more real in your consciousness, until eventually it manifests itself physically. I'm not going to get too 'new age' on the whole thing, but wanted to share how it worked for me recently...
At the beginning of this year, I sat down and thought through what I wanted to achieve this year. I had specific goals in the personal, financial and business spheres of my life, and wanted to commit myself to them. To do this, all I needed to do was write them down. This simple act turns an mental idea into a physical reality - the goals you've set are now on that piece of paper in front of you, staring back at you. A goal or dream not written down is only a wish. Now, one of my financial goals was to up my monthly earnings to x amount of money. It was a figure substantially higher than my current level of earnings, and I imagined it would take me a good 6-9 months to reach it. Accepting this, I started working towards it straight away. That same day, I wrote down several different ways I could reach my goal. I could grow my businesses, take on consulting work, start some new businesses I have in the pipeline, or even take on a full-time job working for someone else. My goal was fixed, and I was open to any opportunity to help me attain it, no matter how different it was to what I was currently doing.
Here is where the power of attraction comes into it. If I'd been like most people, I would've simply sat and daydreamed about earning that much money. But I knew that if I focused on it, it would become a reality, so I did. I focused on it both mentally and physically. Mentally, I would sit quietly and picture myself already earning that amount, and what I would spend it on and invest it in. Physically, I started researching other businesses that give relatively fast returns; I got stuck into even more books about successful businessmen and companies; I started looking on jobs sites for the first time in years - anything that would bring me closer to my goal. I even posted my goal in the public domain, by putting in on my Finance Coach group on Facebook. By doing all of this, I was telling myself, and others, that I was serious about attaining this goal. Through all my reading and trawling, I came across a job on offer (in a publication I wouldn't normally read). I applied, was asked to come for an interview, and was offered the position 7 hours later! I've since accepted the position - it seems to be a good challenge, and should allow me to still run my other businesses - and my goal will be accomplished. With the salary from this new job, I will now be earning 500 bucks more than the x amount I had set as my goal.
Now, just think about that. I set a goal based on an arbitrary number, and after focusing on it intensely, I will now be earning almost EXACTLY that amount. Within a month from start to finish! Now, some out there will say I'm just lucky; but I know that because I focused on that goal, and committed myself to being proactive about it, it expanded and expanded until it became a reality. Now THAT is the power of attraction...
Now, while I think that it's great that a lot of money has been made off of this book/DVD, and the concept has gained currency around the world, the idea behind it is really an ancient one, and I've been using it for many years - well before the book or DVD came to light. I myself read a version of it in a book when I was only a teenager, and used it all through high school, university and in my businesses. What has prompted me to blog about it here, was how powerfully it worked for me recently.
The basic phrase which I took out of this book (I can't remember exactly who it was by, but it could well have been Dr. Demartini) was this: What you focus on expands. It's short and punchy (thus seeming like a sound bite) but it's really so much more. Basically, what you spend your time and energy on gains more momentum and 'power', for lack of a better word, and becomes more and more real in your consciousness, until eventually it manifests itself physically. I'm not going to get too 'new age' on the whole thing, but wanted to share how it worked for me recently...
At the beginning of this year, I sat down and thought through what I wanted to achieve this year. I had specific goals in the personal, financial and business spheres of my life, and wanted to commit myself to them. To do this, all I needed to do was write them down. This simple act turns an mental idea into a physical reality - the goals you've set are now on that piece of paper in front of you, staring back at you. A goal or dream not written down is only a wish. Now, one of my financial goals was to up my monthly earnings to x amount of money. It was a figure substantially higher than my current level of earnings, and I imagined it would take me a good 6-9 months to reach it. Accepting this, I started working towards it straight away. That same day, I wrote down several different ways I could reach my goal. I could grow my businesses, take on consulting work, start some new businesses I have in the pipeline, or even take on a full-time job working for someone else. My goal was fixed, and I was open to any opportunity to help me attain it, no matter how different it was to what I was currently doing.
Here is where the power of attraction comes into it. If I'd been like most people, I would've simply sat and daydreamed about earning that much money. But I knew that if I focused on it, it would become a reality, so I did. I focused on it both mentally and physically. Mentally, I would sit quietly and picture myself already earning that amount, and what I would spend it on and invest it in. Physically, I started researching other businesses that give relatively fast returns; I got stuck into even more books about successful businessmen and companies; I started looking on jobs sites for the first time in years - anything that would bring me closer to my goal. I even posted my goal in the public domain, by putting in on my Finance Coach group on Facebook. By doing all of this, I was telling myself, and others, that I was serious about attaining this goal. Through all my reading and trawling, I came across a job on offer (in a publication I wouldn't normally read). I applied, was asked to come for an interview, and was offered the position 7 hours later! I've since accepted the position - it seems to be a good challenge, and should allow me to still run my other businesses - and my goal will be accomplished. With the salary from this new job, I will now be earning 500 bucks more than the x amount I had set as my goal.
Now, just think about that. I set a goal based on an arbitrary number, and after focusing on it intensely, I will now be earning almost EXACTLY that amount. Within a month from start to finish! Now, some out there will say I'm just lucky; but I know that because I focused on that goal, and committed myself to being proactive about it, it expanded and expanded until it became a reality. Now THAT is the power of attraction...
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Finance Coach Vol. 4
Here's a copy of Monday's message from my Facebook group - Finance Coach (by Gareth Cotten)...
Finance tip: Debt
Debt reduction. If trying to pay off various types of debt, make sure to take note of the different interest rates being charged. Generally, store cards, personal loans and credit cards will charge the highest rates, with mortgages and vehicle finance being at the lower end of the scale. Then, to make the biggest savings impact, aim to pay off the debt with the highest interest rate first. So, while, maintaining the minimum payment on all your other debt, put everything extra into paying off the most expensive debt. Once that's paid off, take the money saved from no longer having those particular repayments, add it to the extra from your other debt repayments, and then pay off the debt with the next highest rate of interest. Keep doing this until they're all gone! This way, once each respective debt is paid off, you have a large chunk of extra cash to pay off the remaining debts, and they get paid off faster and faster.
Business tip: Marketing
Email marketing. One of the most difficult things today, with the amount of spam and junk-mail being sent around, is to get potential customers to actually open and read your emails, rather than just binning them as they come in. You can get a much higher read-rate by taking a few extra minutes to work on a compelling email subject line, as well as a heading or headline for your email. For your subject line, using the word 'you' has a strong effect, as the reader feels that the email is specifically addressed to them. Words that inspire action include 'exclusive', 'exciting' and 'introducing'. Also, keep the subject line short, or you risk losing your reader's attention. Now, a good subject line will get them to open the email, but it takes a great headline or heading to get them to read the whole thing. Use exciting adjectives, or action words, to really inspire them to continue reading. Also, ask yourself if the reader will know what's being offered if they only read the header and skipped the rest - is it explanatory enough, while still being punchy?
Finance tip: Debt
Debt reduction. If trying to pay off various types of debt, make sure to take note of the different interest rates being charged. Generally, store cards, personal loans and credit cards will charge the highest rates, with mortgages and vehicle finance being at the lower end of the scale. Then, to make the biggest savings impact, aim to pay off the debt with the highest interest rate first. So, while, maintaining the minimum payment on all your other debt, put everything extra into paying off the most expensive debt. Once that's paid off, take the money saved from no longer having those particular repayments, add it to the extra from your other debt repayments, and then pay off the debt with the next highest rate of interest. Keep doing this until they're all gone! This way, once each respective debt is paid off, you have a large chunk of extra cash to pay off the remaining debts, and they get paid off faster and faster.
Business tip: Marketing
Email marketing. One of the most difficult things today, with the amount of spam and junk-mail being sent around, is to get potential customers to actually open and read your emails, rather than just binning them as they come in. You can get a much higher read-rate by taking a few extra minutes to work on a compelling email subject line, as well as a heading or headline for your email. For your subject line, using the word 'you' has a strong effect, as the reader feels that the email is specifically addressed to them. Words that inspire action include 'exclusive', 'exciting' and 'introducing'. Also, keep the subject line short, or you risk losing your reader's attention. Now, a good subject line will get them to open the email, but it takes a great headline or heading to get them to read the whole thing. Use exciting adjectives, or action words, to really inspire them to continue reading. Also, ask yourself if the reader will know what's being offered if they only read the header and skipped the rest - is it explanatory enough, while still being punchy?
Monday, January 19, 2009
Education - always a good investment
In yesterday's Sunday Times (one of the biggest Sunday newspapers in SA), I noticed an interesting trend. Normally, at the bottom of the pages, underneath the larger articles, you would find a variety of adverts. These would generally be a real variety, ranging across every industry and service imaginable. What I noticed yesterday, though, was how many adverts Damelin had, all throughout the different sections of the paper.
In short, Damelin is a privately owned college, that specialises in distance learning. Their course selection ranges from short, multi-week certificate courses all the way through to full diplomas taken over multiple years. They have a variety of courses that cover pretty much everything.
Now, distance-learning colleges are nothing new, and generally not that noteworthy. What was interesting to me was how pervasive their advertising was, throughout such a major Sunday publication. It's not cheap to advertise in that newspaper (although they probably would have been able to pressure for a good deal as newspapers ad revenues are taking a hammering - but that's a story for another post), so their campaign is costing them a pretty penny. I personally think it's a very smart move on their part, though...
Around the world, people are having their jobs cut out from underneath them left, right and centre. Those that are managing to keep theirs, are generally the ones who have made themselves indispensable to their companies. These days, having worked for the same firm for 40 years does not make you indispensable - being a multi-skilled multi-tasker does. And this is exactly where further education comes in. If a manager has to choose between you and your colleague in the next cubicle, where you both have the same history and performance, but you happened to have an extra diploma or certificate in something, chances are you're the one who's bacon is secure. And it doesn't have to be an advanced degree in your field either - even a small certificate or diploma in an unrelated field could play into your advantage. It shows that you are open to other experiences, have exposure to another industry or sector and, most importantlty, that you are trying to learn and improve yourself - an asset for any company.
Personally, I aim to learn something substantial every year. Whether it's a new course, a foreign language, an artisan skill, or how to create a following for a blog (like this year), I aim to constantly expand my horizons and skills base. Not only does it make me a more valuable employee (or business owner in my case), but also a richer person mentally, and hopefully more interesting too! So, my advice for those of you who have lost their jobs recently, or have been battling to find one in the first place: Don't sit at home and mope - get out there and sign up for a course, do some volunteer work in a different industry, learn a skill by shadowing an expert, anything - just get out there and do it.
And this doesn't only apply to entry-level and shop-floor employees - it applies to executives too. A few week ago, I went to a talk for a distance MBA. One of the execs there asked the presenter "I'm already a senior exec, why should I study an MBA?". The presenter replied "To keep your job." Everyone in the room nodded their heads in agreement. He went on to explain that there is a breed of younger, more driven professionals coming through the ranks, with these qualifications under their belts, and no-one's job is safe anymore. This sparked an impromptu discussion amongst the delegates there, with many of them saying that they weren't looking at doing the MBA to leap-frog to the head of their respective companies; they were there to keep their current jobs, and to stop being passed over for promotions time and time again. They'd committed themselves to taking up the challenge of doing the MBA, in the knowledge that it would help them to keep their careers afloat
So, to get back to where I started, I think the move by Damelin to get major exposure (especially at the beginning of the year when many people look to change jobs), is a super-clever one, and they are capitalising on this trend for people needing to study further. If nothing else, maybe they triggered a couple of readers into at least thinking about it...
In short, Damelin is a privately owned college, that specialises in distance learning. Their course selection ranges from short, multi-week certificate courses all the way through to full diplomas taken over multiple years. They have a variety of courses that cover pretty much everything.
Now, distance-learning colleges are nothing new, and generally not that noteworthy. What was interesting to me was how pervasive their advertising was, throughout such a major Sunday publication. It's not cheap to advertise in that newspaper (although they probably would have been able to pressure for a good deal as newspapers ad revenues are taking a hammering - but that's a story for another post), so their campaign is costing them a pretty penny. I personally think it's a very smart move on their part, though...
Around the world, people are having their jobs cut out from underneath them left, right and centre. Those that are managing to keep theirs, are generally the ones who have made themselves indispensable to their companies. These days, having worked for the same firm for 40 years does not make you indispensable - being a multi-skilled multi-tasker does. And this is exactly where further education comes in. If a manager has to choose between you and your colleague in the next cubicle, where you both have the same history and performance, but you happened to have an extra diploma or certificate in something, chances are you're the one who's bacon is secure. And it doesn't have to be an advanced degree in your field either - even a small certificate or diploma in an unrelated field could play into your advantage. It shows that you are open to other experiences, have exposure to another industry or sector and, most importantlty, that you are trying to learn and improve yourself - an asset for any company.
Personally, I aim to learn something substantial every year. Whether it's a new course, a foreign language, an artisan skill, or how to create a following for a blog (like this year), I aim to constantly expand my horizons and skills base. Not only does it make me a more valuable employee (or business owner in my case), but also a richer person mentally, and hopefully more interesting too! So, my advice for those of you who have lost their jobs recently, or have been battling to find one in the first place: Don't sit at home and mope - get out there and sign up for a course, do some volunteer work in a different industry, learn a skill by shadowing an expert, anything - just get out there and do it.
And this doesn't only apply to entry-level and shop-floor employees - it applies to executives too. A few week ago, I went to a talk for a distance MBA. One of the execs there asked the presenter "I'm already a senior exec, why should I study an MBA?". The presenter replied "To keep your job." Everyone in the room nodded their heads in agreement. He went on to explain that there is a breed of younger, more driven professionals coming through the ranks, with these qualifications under their belts, and no-one's job is safe anymore. This sparked an impromptu discussion amongst the delegates there, with many of them saying that they weren't looking at doing the MBA to leap-frog to the head of their respective companies; they were there to keep their current jobs, and to stop being passed over for promotions time and time again. They'd committed themselves to taking up the challenge of doing the MBA, in the knowledge that it would help them to keep their careers afloat
So, to get back to where I started, I think the move by Damelin to get major exposure (especially at the beginning of the year when many people look to change jobs), is a super-clever one, and they are capitalising on this trend for people needing to study further. If nothing else, maybe they triggered a couple of readers into at least thinking about it...
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