The Future of Education

"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." -Buddhist proverb

Let’s face it, the cost of a university/college education is always going up. It doesn’t make sense to start off any career (assuming you can find work in your field after you graduate) with a debt so big that it can take up to 15 years to pay it off.

The future of education is online. Why pay thousands when you can get the same education for free or at a fraction of the price? Sites like Udacity , Udemy , among others, all offer University quality courses in the comfort of your home.

For those of you who doesn’t know, I have a computer science degree that I took in college a few years back and I’ve been working in the IT field for the past 10+ years. I recently completed lesson 1 of “Introduction to computer science” from Udacity (course here)and, while i cannot speak of the other subjects available, the quality has been on par with with the courses I took in College.

Studying online, however, isn’t “in” or “cool” yet. Society as a whole seems to be reluctant at the idea of taking a online course. When I suggested this to my peers, the first thing they told me was “Online courses are great but you don’t get a certificate from it [and therefore is useless for interviews or jobs]”.

As I’ve said before, society’s definition of education is wrong. To resume the words of Harold H. Titus and Marilyn S. Smith, taken from page 220-222 of their “Living Issues In Philosophy” book, education means:

“Mere possession of a diploma - or any other symbol for that matter - is no proof of education.

1. To be educated means to know at least one field with some thoroughness…
2. To be educated means to be able to communicate with others…
3. To be educated means to be able to live in a changing word and to entertain new ideas…
4. To be educated means to be able to get along with others…
5. To be well-educated means to be able to entertain oneself, to develop a rich inner life and a wide range of appreciations and inner controls…
6. To be educated is to be sensitive to the larger spiritual order of which man is part…"

The other big issues most people have is with self-discipline or the perceived lack of support one would get from taking an online course because there are no teachers to interact with. First, I would encourage you to work on your self-discipline as it is a skill that will benefit you in your career/life just as much as throughout your online course.
As far as support goes, keep in mind that there are thousands that took the course before you. Each courses gives you access to a forum with answers to many questions. Most of which, in my specific case, have been answered by the teacher himself. Using Google doesn’t hurt either...

Whether you take the direction of a University certificate or an online course, the important thing is to stand out and that can be achieved with or without a diploma. Robby Leonardi , for example, created a very creative resume to show off his skills (note that he didn’t even mention degrees).

Take the time to visit the online Universities you’ve seen here, learn a new skill in the process, and make it work for your next career move.

What Can You Do For Your Country

 

"Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You..." -John F. Kennedy

Events that transpired in the United States is proof that their Government has become too big and too little is done by the citizen to insure that they're functioning within acceptable limits. It is my personal belief that too much power was given to an individual that shouldn't have it to begin with and when he abused this power not enough was done to stop him.

This problem doesn't fall on the Government as they are only the representation of the people. It falls on the people to insure that their Government is as just as it can be.

If it falls on the people then what can the people do?

• The People needs to educate themselves and I'm not talking about Degrees or Certifications here. It's all about having an understanding of the economy, laws, politics, philosophy, psychology... it's about understanding that self-improvement goes beyond the realm of a career.
• Getting involved in politics. This doesn't necessarily mean that you need to represent a party but it does mean that you need to pay attention to what they're doing and to voice your concerns when appropriate.
• Take responsibility. Instead of saying "The Government should do this, or that...." take responsibility over these things and make the change yourself. Sure, Governments can take care of everything but it'll always cost more, not be as effective, as someone from the private sector doing it.

The Governments have been given a free pass long enough. We need to educate yourself and take an active part in politics to insure we're doing things as best as we possibly can.

Nourishing the Mind

"...a mind that feeds only on itself soon is undernourished, becoming weak and incapable of creative progressive thought. Stimulation from others is excellent mind food." - David J. Scwartz

It is important to associate ourselves with people of quality either physically, through books or audios in order to challenge the mind. Doing activities outside of the comfort zone is also a good way to stimulate the mind.

The Rob Ford Situation

This is not a post regarding the tumor situation Ford is going through right now but rather to show why he shouldn't of been a politician in the first place.

Many have said that Rob Ford was a good politician but one can't judge this without looking at the personal life. It is not okay for a politician to break the rules. After all, if the leaders break the rules, how can we expect the people to follow them?

If you're a good politician but you cheat on your spouse, steal or do other activities then please resign and get help/punish like the common folk.

Leadership Exposure

The great thing about leadership positions is that it exposes you to your faults. Of course, you can only do your best but being in the spotlight will make you prone to criticism from those around you.

For a leader, a bad decision is better than no decisions at all. Followers lookup to you and, for many, they won't move until you tell them where to go (because they assume you know what you're doing and they don't like making mistakes or being in the spotlight themselves). If you ever make a mistake in the process, you can be sure someone will point it out to you.

There was a time when I believed people would fight for leadership positions. Today I realize that not many wants to be a leader let alone are qualified for it.
This was made evident to me when the company I work for was looking for someone to take on additional responsibilities for the social committee. It felt like people were on a death sentence more so than anything else.

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the perception that there is something far more important at stake."
-Robert Morrisette

I don't necessarily like to be in the spotlight but I have a burning desire to get things done and there's nobody around to take the bull by the horns - so I'll do it.

The Professional Look

The professional look is use in business to exert the feeling of "trust", "I'm ready to go" or "I value you as a person hence why I went the extra mile".

There was a time when it held ground but I feel like this look is now flawed. The business world is filled with crooks who only wears a tie to deceive or manipulate people into thinking that they can be trusted.

It's not about looking professional, it's about being professional. It's more important to be a man of your words than to look like one. I would rather have an honest politician in jeans than a dishonest one in a suit!

"But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."
- 1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV)

Professionalism is more about who you are than how things look. Focus on your heart as well as your physical appearance.

*This post can also be found on Men 2.0

Hard Work

"You will never make everyone happy, but you must start by making yourself happy with your efforts. If you are not happy, then it is no surprise that others are not."
-Chris Brady

Hard work gives us confidence in our ability to perform and in ourselves in general. It also gives us peace of mind when it comes to job security. After all, who would get rid of someone who performs on par or above the call of duty?

If you want to be proud of yourself, find ways to do more for your employer or in everything else you do.

Get in the Happiness Habit

Accept responsibility for your happiness and take control of your life. Decide to make happiness a habit.
By Joel Osteen

Many people don't realize that much of the manner in which we approach life-our attitudes and our demeanor-is learned behavior. These habits have been formed by repetition throughout the years. If we've spent years focusing on what's wrong rather than what's right, then these negative patterns are going to keep us from enjoying our lives.
We acquired many of our habits from our parents or the people who were around us as we grew up. Studies tell us that negative parents raise negative children. If your parents focused more on what was wrong, living stressed-out, uptight or discouraged, there's a good possibility that you have developed some of those same negative mindsets.

-Page 79 of "Success Magazine: August 2009 (Energy to the POWER of Monavie Edition)" article written by Joel Osteen.

Take Ownership of the Important Decisions

Every once in a while we have to make important decisions. Avoiding making these decisions typically means that someone else will have to make them for us.

The biggest advantage of taking ownership of these important decisions is that we get to plan out how to go about it. If we no longer can afford our house, for example, deciding to sell it in favor of a smaller one is better than having the bank kick us out. In both situations, we loose the house but one way is carried out how we want to proceed while the other one isn't.

Small decisions also follow this principle however the impact of them are also small.

To take ownership of the important decisions is to have better control over the outcomes of those decisions.

Does your mind have a "6 pack"?

"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body." -Joseph Addison

I went through 12 years of schooling failing to understand the importance of a good education. After each year, my friends and I would gather around to burn our notes and books while celebrating the end of yet another school year.

“You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read.” ― Charlie Tremendous Jones

The brain is a muscle that people prefer to entertain rather than educate. The problems (finances, relationships ... etc) of the world is not the problem; our lack of knowledge towards them is. It's because we don't know how to manage money that we're in debt. It's because we don't know how to get along that we're divorced or fight with each other. Pick up a book from a great author and start that self-improvement process and think!

I'm thankful to have found an association of individuals (TEAM - LIFE) who showed me the importance of a good education. It's through their example that I found the hunger to learn.

How to know yourself

Swiss Psychiatrist Paul Tournier claims:

No one comes to know himself through interospection.... Rather, it is in dialog, in his meeting with other persons. It is only by expressing his convictions to others that he becomes really conscious of them. He who would see himself clearly must open up to a confidant freely chosen and worthy of such trust. It may be a friend just as easily as a doctor; it may also be one's marital partner.

-Page 22 of "The art of talking so that people will Listen" by Paul W. Swets foreword by Norman Vincent Peale

True Lies

“A lie, repeated often enough, will end up as truth.” -Dr Paul Joseph Goebbels

A lie, repeated often enough doesn’t become truth, it becomes believable. Adolf Hitler is probably the best example for this. By saying over and over again that the Germans were a superior race, they believed it for themselves.

If Hitler was able to convince a entire country by using this method, what makes you think that you don’t have that same influence in your life?

If you keep saying bad things about your spouse, both of you will actually come to believe it and it will end up being a bigger problem than it should be.

On a opposite note, it’s also true that both of you will come to believe the good things you say to each other.

Say good things about not only your spouse, but everyone you meet. Be careful of the negative input you receive, you might come to believe it.

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Originally posted - November 2010

If Inspiring someone doesn't work ... Force them

“A Man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.” -Benjamin Franklin

If a business doesn't know how to inspire their employees, they will usually end up forcing (or "heavily encourage") them to do it instead. Does forcing someone create a feeling of loyalty or resentment?

To inspire someone, you first need to know them personally. What inspire "person A" won't necessarily work for "person B" which can be a challenge for bigger business. If you don't have time to know someone personally, you don't have time to inspire them.

The book "Personality PLUS" by Florence Littauer is a good start to figure out how to motivate people.

Self Confidence

A lack of self confidence makes other people doubt in your abilities to accomplish anything even when you have years of experience on the subject.
Self confidence can make an expert look like a fool or a fool look like an expert.

What this means is that confidence in your abilities is just as important as the abilities themselves.

Self confidence needs to be treated individually rather than be bound to what you do (or what you like). Doing otherwise will only create a temporary posture when your field of expertise is brought up but you will loose it as soon as the subject change.

Being comfortable with yourself will make you comfortable in any situation.

If you want more information, the below books (pictured above) are a good place to start:

• "Resolved - 13 Resolutions for LIFE" book by Orrin Woodward
• "How to have confidence and power in dealing with people" book by Les Giblin
• "Psycho Cybernetics" book by Maxwell Maltz

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Revision Wednesday
Blog post originally created on December 19, 2013 and can be found here.

The Realization of a Father

Listen son: I am saying this as you lie asleep, one little paw crumpled under your cheek and the blond curls stickily wet on your damp forehead. I have stolen into your room alone. Just a few minutes ago, as I sat reading my paper in the library, a stifling wave of remorse swept over me. Guiltily I came to your bedside.

These are the things I was thinking, son: I had been cross to you. I scolded you as you were dressing for school because you gave your face barely a dab with a towel. I took you to task for not cleaning your shoes. I called out angrily when you threw some of your things on the floor.

At breakfast I found fault, too. You spilled things. You gulped down your food. You put your elbows on the table. You spread butter too thick on your bread. And as you started off to play and I made for my train, you turned and waved a hand and called, "Good-bye Daddy!" and I frowned, and said in reply, "Hold your shoulders back!"

Do you remember, later, when I was reading in the library, how you came in, timidly, with a sort of hurt look in your eyes? When I glanced up over my paper, impatient at the interruption, you hesitated at the door. "What is it you want?" I snapped.

You said nothing, but ran across in one tempestuous plunge, and threw your arms around my neck and kissed me, and your small arms tightened with an affection that God had set blooming in your heart and which even neglect could not wither. And then you were gone, pattering up the stairs.

Well, son, it was shortly afterwards that my paper slipped from my hands and a terrible sickening fear came over me. What has habit been doing to me? The habit of finding fault, of reprimanding-this was my reward to you for being a boy. It was not that I did not love you; it was that I expected too much of youth. I was measuring you by the yardstick of my own years...

It is a feeble atonement: I know you would not understand these things if I told them to you during your waking hours. But tomorrow I will be a real daddy.

-Page 104-105 of "The art of talking so that people will Listen" by Paul W. Swets foreword by Norman Vincent Peale Remember Names

The Pink Bracelet

I've been wearing this pink "breast cancer" support bracelet for more than 5 years now and I've had people telling me that I should remove it because it looks "gay".

Again, this is a bracelet for BREAST cancer... That's probably the least "gay" thing I could wear! I'm practically telling the world that "I love breast".

Funny what people can say sometimes...

The Benjamin Franklin Virtues - 3. Order

"Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time." -Benjamin Franklin

Order is getting things done by allowing a set amount of time and resources to complete a task. It is central to improving efficiency.

Handling Situations

Handle every situation, that are about others, the same way you would like them to be handled if it was about you.

Example: You arrive at your apartment and find your neighbor's car has the lights on. If the situation was revered and your car lights were on, would you like your neighbor to tell you about it? If the answer is yes then go knock at his door to let him know about it.

What Does “Being Educated” Mean?

The best definition I found on “Being Educated” was from the “Living Issues In Philosophy” book by Harold H. Titus and Marilyn S. Smith. The below is a resume of what can be found on page 220-222.

“Mere possession of a diploma - or any other symbol for that matter - is no proof of education.

1. To be educated means to know at least one field with some thoroughness…
2. To be educated means to be able to communicate with others…
3. To be educated means to be able to live in a changing word and to entertain new ideas…
4. To be educated means to be able to get along with others…
5. To be well-educated means to be able to entertain oneself, to develop a rich inner life and a wide range of appreciations and inner controls…
6. To be educated is to be sensitive to the larger spiritual order of which man is part…”

Do you agree with the above description? For a more detailed description, be sure to be up the book.

Confidence is not Truth

In dealings with people, confidence is everything. Anything said with confidence can be perceived as truth even though the two aren't related.

We've all got scammed at one point or another by someone who told us something that sounded like it was the truth because it was said with confidence. "I don't feel like he's lying" so we thought.
In a more extreme case, Hitler was using this approach to convince an entire Country that Jews were bad people and they should die. It makes no sense if we approach what he said from a logical point of view but it was repeated, with confidence, so often that people started believing in it.

Salesmen are thought to believe in what they are selling. To be sold on the product themselves if they ever wish to sell it to someone else. To believe in one's product is to have the ability to communicate its positives with such confidence that the listener will be sold on the idea as well.

What we have to do, as the listeners of those messages, is check the facts and form our own opinions.