Should You Go To Trade School:Benefits and Drawbacks

Entering into any formal educational system requires consideration and although trade school is much less expensive than a university degree spending money on something which does not guarantee a high paying job. Before you shell out some cash for a trade school program, be sure it is something you are interested in. Without having an interest in the profession you will find it hard to maintain your career over the long term.

Going to trade school provides excellent career and income earning opportunities. Depending on the program can be as short as 8-24 months with an improved average income over those without post-secondary education with less financial risk over university education.

Trade school provides education for many service sectors such as construction trades, dental health and information technology. These sectors are valuable and necessary parts of society with a consistent demand for employees and business owners. This provides long term security for those who gain education and experience in their field.

Factors to consider before deciding on trade school

Before enrolling in a trade program there are several things to consider to improve your chances of success in any given program. Consider each of the following items before spending money on a program you may not either complete or want to continue once you have finished the coursework.

How Interests Affect Trade School Success

To have a successful career from education gained through trade school you need to be interested in the field. Without an interest in the field it will be difficult to maintain enthusiasm for the work and will retard progression in the job market. To maintain your advantage in the market you need to be constantly learning, gaining experience and developing new skills. To make this possible over the long haul you will need to have an interest in the topic.

Getting involved in a trade program solely because of the financial benefits will only take you so far. To excel in the profession you need to have an interest in the career. This interest should include what difference you can make for your employers, clients and community.

Personality

Your personality dictates to a high degree the success you will have in an industry. There are five big personality traits which have been identified which have a great effect on one’s personality. Everyone has varying amounts of each of these which makeup our personalities as a whole. Although there are most likely many others which have small effects on personality these five can provide good insight into your personality.

Extroversion

People who are high in extroversion love to be the center of attention. They are great at developing new relationships with others, are fun to be around and are energized by people.

If you are extroverted then trade school for careers in public facing industries is a good choice such as service industries like sales, repair or health services. Any career where you will be interfacing with the public benefits from having an extroverted personality.

Agreeableness

Agreeableness is the willingness to put others first over one’s personal desires or needs. We all must have some tendency to agreeableness providing cooperation for the good of society.

A high amount of agreeableness is valuable in the service industry, providing benefits to others without consideration of your own personal needs. Personal care, health services or counseling careers have promise

Openness

The trait of openness is the ability to accept new ideas. This means that open people are interested in many topics, want to understand others’ perspectives and can challenge old beliefs.

Artists, entrepreneurs, inverters and entertainers are high in openness. Careers like graphic arts, website design and marketing can provide fulfilling careers if you are above the average in openness.

Conscientiousness

Being conscientious is considered a highly desirable trait in traditional business and society. People who are highly conscientious ensure that everything they do is done according to the rules. Forms are filled out correctly, work periods are adhered to and laws are followed.

Bookkeepers, tax preparers, carpenters and electricians need to have a high level of conscientiousness. Careers which require a high level of attention to detail and adherence to rules and regulations are good choices for anyone with this trait.

Neuroticism

Neuroticism is a measure of emotional stability. People who rank high in neuroticism are emotionally unstable, prone to be easily upset and uncomfortable with themselves. They tend to evaluate themselves in negative terms and can lack confidence.

Neurotic traits can lead to a questioning attitude and it is through this attitude that new ideas and programs come from. Without having a level of neuroticism you will not consider that you are not perfect and can improve, therefore it is a valuable trait for self improvement. Those who are high in neuroticism tend to enjoy careers in creative pursuits which can be done alone or one-on-one.

Financial considerations

When considering financial considerations keep in mind both the immediate costs you will incur for enrolling in the school but also the potential financial rewards of working in the industry. A low enrollment cost for a program may provide an easy entrance into the market but if the potential rewards are low it will be harder to justify the upfront cost.

Many trade programs qualify for student loans which can enable students to access training. This option is good for programs which provide an adequate financial return to be able to maintain a good standard of living while concurrently servicing the loan.

Before enrolling determine the average income of others in the industry, consider that for the first few years in the industry you will be making substantially less than the average until you gain some experience and a reputation.

Time factors

Time is an important consideration which can alter which program to choose. Some programs require as little as 4-8 months to complete. These programs are obviously of lesser value in the market. Others can take up to 4-6 years to complete which are more technical and have a higher value in the market.

Some programs are progressive which require a learning period to teach theory and principles followed by a number of hours working as an apprentice. These allow you to become active in the industry quickly and start earning income fairly quickly interrupted by short periods of schooling.

Look closely at the amount of time it can take to begin earning an income which is capable of supporting you and your family. This needs to be discussed with anyone who will be affected by your decision as during this time you will need support.

4 Benefits of technology training to consider

Faster route to employment than university

Trade school programs are designed to provide the student with usable skills in a short period of time. They provide practical skills which employers are looking for. They are substantially more market driven than university programs which are slow to change.

Cheaper than university

The cost of going to trade school can be as much as ¼ of that of university. This is due to the lower yearly cost of trade school programs but also because trade school programs are often shorter than university.

Another factor is the time to earn in a field. Trade programs are designed to teach practical skills which are needed by employers quickly, university programs tend to be of little value until the program is completed successfully (which only 60% of students do). This not only delays the income earning capabilities but also renders some students with no usable knowledge after 2-3 years of study.

High earning potential

Although not all trade school programs are highly paid, some such as IT, health training, dental hygiene and some construction trades are high paying. Trade school programs can be progressive providing the student with opportunities to increase their earning potential by continuing to increase their knowledge with additional schooling, gaining experience or developing their own businesses.

Focused training

Trade school provides students with the skills and knowledge they need for the career they have chosen without a lot of other knowledge. They assume that if a student enrolls in a program to become a carpenter they don’t need to know how to write an essay or debate the ethics of human activities.

Students who are interested in such topics are free to take such courses but it is out of the purview of the school to decide what students should be interested in outside of the specific topic they need to become employable.

Therefore a carpentry student will learn carpentry, an IT student will learn about information technology and a hair stylist will learn how to cut hair. Anything outside of the skills and knowledge they need to complete the program they will have to learn on their own.

4 Drawbacks of technology training to consider

Limited job opportunities

Enrolling in a trade program commits the student to a specific job market with little wiggle room. The training is very specific to the needs of the market for the particular job. Training to become a carpenter does not lead to a career in mechanics or bookkeeping so before deciding on a program be sure you are committed to it for a number of years.

Cyclical or seasonal employment

Many trades have a seasonal demand to them. Construction trades tend to be busier in the spring and summer months, bookkeepers and tax preparers will be busy during tax season but have little to do at other times. If you need a consistent income then choose a program which is affected less by seasonality.

Careers which have a cyclical demand may not follow a calendar but rather may follow other market factors of demand. Construction is an industry which is affected not only by seasonality but also by interest rates, demographic trends and consumer demand. Other trades which are affected by cyclical factors are mechanics, health care and hospitality.

Physical work

Although not all trade school programs require physical work, most have some element of it. Construction trades are obviously physical careers but so is hairdressing, dental hygiene and even IT has some element of physical work. This increases the chances of becoming unable to perform the job due to injury, age or sickness. All of which are to some degree not under your control.

Lower chances of advancement

Being a well trained and experienced tradesmen only takes you so far. Once you have reached a senior level it is difficult to move into management without additional training and schooling which can be difficult to get. Without a university degree some positions will remain out of reach for many.

What Are the Personal Qualities of a successful Entrepreneur?

The personal qualities of successful entrepreneurs have been studied extensively in order to determine a set of characteristics which can be characterized as valuable for successful business ownership. Venture capitalists sometimes use psychological tests to determine if the prospective business owner they are considering to lend money to has the qualities which will improve their chances of success.

The problem with this is that every type of personality has been successful in business, whether it be a simple Mom and Pop or a multi-national conglomeration. With that said there are some personality types which seem to be drawn to entrepreneurship more than others and as a result people with these characteristics are more likely to be found in entrepreneurial activities.

Common Personal Characteristics Of Successful Entrepreneurs

It is difficult to give a description of what success is because it is very subjective. Some think success is determined by financial resources like cash on hand, assets owned, luxury goods or monthly/yearly income. Although these are indicators of success in a very limited view and are not shared with entrepreneurs themselves.

Since others will have a different definition of entrepreneurial success we will define what it means in the context of this article.

Entrepreneurial success is being able to adequately provide for one’s self and associates through the development of business entities while maintaining good relationships with loved ones and society as much as possible.

Honest

Honesty is the most important characteristic of successful entrepreneurs. Honesty is not just telling the truth when it is beneficial to one’s business career but it must become a part of the regular life. It includes ensuring proper reporting of business activities, paying staff according to the current laws and ensuring obligations are met.

Honesty includes:

correcting mistakes and owning the repercussions of such mistakes.
Only making promises with the intention to follow through
Providing all vital information required and updating when changes occur

To put it simply, if today’s actions will require an explanation from a moral standpoint later it is not honest.

Risk Tolerant

Starting a new business is a risky proposition. Most businesses fail within the first year of operation. To be a successful entrepreneur one must be willing to risk time and money, reputation and social status without having all the needed information available to make a fully informed decision.

Creative

Entrepreneurship is the act of creating financial entities which produce new and innovative products and services. This takes creativity and curiosity. An entrepreneur has to be interested in a variety of subjects and be able to connect the various fields together to produce something different. Then they must be able to market it, sell it and develop a production system for it.

All of these take creativity. Without the ability to connect different ideas with each other in unique and valuable ways an entrepreneur cannot be successful. It takes creativity to solve problems, especially ones which have not been solved before. When developing something new these types of problems are abundant with very few examples to be used as a guide.

Goal oriented

To be successful as an entrepreneur you have to be self motivated. You have to be able to work towards something which you believe will improve your chances of success. Without something to shoot for you decrease your ability to maintain a high energy level.

It has been shown that it is easier to work hard when the goal post can be seen. Physiological and psychological effects prepare the body and mind for effort, lowers stress levels and reduces the amount of energy required to reach a goal.

Without a goal focus is scattered and energy is wasted chasing after a variety of unfruitful activities.

Outgoing

To be a successful entrepreneur you will need the help of others. This will require the ability to communicate your ideas to others in an upbeat and interesting manner. Having an outgoing personality helps to successfully create and develop a team and its members.

When starting a new venture there is little evidence to indicate that the idea will work, be popular or is even saleable. It is the ability of the entrepreneur to communicate their vision to others to help secure funds, maintain motivation and attract valuable people to the project before there are any results.

Leadership

Leadership is influence. Without influence an entrepreneur will not be able to maintain any level of success. Leadership is more than being able to build a team, rather it is the ability to attract people who have a high degree of competence in a wide variety of genres. Provide a strong vision for others to see.

Without the ability to build competent teams and the appropriate vision for the team to work towards a new venture will fail. Every new business will go through hard times, will require extra effort by team members and suffer losses. Leadership is the ability to encourage others to not give up.

What is Passive Income and Why is it Important

Being reliant on other people for financial security does not place you in a very advantageous position. It places you at risk from outside sources ranging from unforeseen business setbacks to personal conflicts.

There are several ways society has tried to protect workers from financial disaster including unemployment insurance, pensions and beneficial taxing systems but they all require support from others (either those still working, desire the political power or from employee contributions).

By building a passive income now you can take control of your financial future without having to rely on others.

Passive income is income which continues to come in after the work has been done. It includes income from royalties from creative projects, investments and ongoing business income. Passive income is not free, nore is it easy to develop but it is the best way to secure one’s financial future.

What is passive Income

Passive income is becoming a new buzzword which is being used to promote products and services to those who have a get rich quick mentality so let’s be clear. Passive income is not a get rich quick scheme, it is not easy and it requires a high level of commitment, learning and consistent effort to produce a strong income.

Passive income comes from three basic revenue streams:

Dividend producing investments
Royalty producing creative projects
Business income

Passive income from dividend producing investments

There are many forms of investing and all of them can be beneficial. You can invest for the long term in companies which have strong growth potential, in mutual funds or index funds but to produce passive income through investment there must be a dividend on a regular basis which can be either reinvested or taken as cash.

Passive income is not capital gains (increased value of a property or portfolio). It is about cash flow. Without cash flow an investment cannot be categorized as a passive income source. If the asset must be sold to reap the benefit of ownership it is not a source of passive income.

Therefore only investments which pay dividends are passive income sources. Such investments can be stocks, bonds, GIC’s or even savings accounts. Not all of these investments will produce enough passive income to make any difference but they all have their place in one’s financial plan.

Real Estate investment is also considered to be a passive form of income and it can be in some situations. If the difference between the property costs (mortgage, taxes, maintenance) and the rental income is positive and little or no time is spent managing the property then it can be a passive income source. Although this may sound like an easy method it is fraught with pitfalls and requires hours of study and risk.

Royalty producing creative projects

Royalties are how creative people get reimbursed for their efforts. Writers get paid a small percentage of the sales of every book sold, photographers get paid everytime one of their images is used and speakers are paid for every podcast listened to. These are just a few ways royalties are paid to owners of creative properties, other options include music, written coursework and marketing programs.

A royalty is basically money paid to the creator for the use of their property for commercial benefit. Publishers pay writers for the right to publish and market their work in order to make a profit. Singer and songwriters will get signed with a record company which will market and manage the artists work. These are just two methods which can be utilized to produce passive income.

There are many platforms which are available to creative people to assist in monetizing their ideas and creative products. Platforms such as video content repositories and audio repositories which can be used for spoken word and music content and written content platforms.

Some examples of these types of platforms include:

Video content repositories

Youtube
Rumble
Vimmy

Audio content repositories

Spotify
Amazon music
Youtube music

Royalty income provides oportunities for anyone who is willing to apply htemselves to the process, although it is not in any sence easy or guarrenteed. To earn a passive income in this manor you must have dedication. Most people who create large incomes through royalty income spend years developing their craft and expanding their fan base.

There are two things anyone will need to succeed in making passive income through royalty income:

Expertise in some field

To be successful in producing content which will produce royalty income you need to have some type of expertise. Something which others will find entertaining or informative. Others have to have a reason to watch or listen to your content so you will have to provide something of value which will draw others to you.

Expertise in the chosen platform

As mentioned above there are many platforms which can be used to provide access to your content by the general public. Without this type of access it will be impossible for you to earn any passive income from your creative endeavors.

The challenge here is that each platform has a specific methodology which needs to be followed for best results. This methodology is a combination of how the platform works and how the public uses it so to be successful you must be a student of the platform and the audience you are trying to reach.

Passive income from business ownership

Perhaps the most difficult but most reliable method of creating passive income is through business ownership. Owning a business is a high stature position. It allows the owner the opportunity to earn as much as they want, work whenever they want and with whomever they want, at least that is the dream.

The reality is usually much different. Most businesses fail in the first year but for the ones which survive they can be a good source of passive income when the business is managed well. The problem with most businesses is that they are not businesses, instead they are people who rent themselves out with a tool.

These types of business include service type businesses with few employees. Here the business owner is working in the business with employees on a daily basis. Not an example of passive income.

For a business to produce passive income it must be a business which does not need constant input from the owner. This means the business owner needs to work on the business not in the business. This sounds like a pat answer to how to make passive income from a business venture but the difference is immense.

The difference between working in a business and on a business

When working in a business the immediately important issues get dealt with in the most expedient manner possible. A machine breaks or a part is damaged, maybe a customer is unsatisfied. Whatever the problem, a solution is provided, fix the machine, get another part or provide a discount or extra attention to the unsatisfied customer.

These are normal reactions to the problem and cannot be faulted but when the business owner is working on the business they go further and ask why the machine broke or the part became damaged. Was the customer at fault or was it a problem with the system or customer service procedures?

When the business owner starts to work on their business it will change radically and eventually produce a business which can and will run without their constant attention. At which point it will become a truly passive form of income.

Passive income is not free lunch

Every person who has achieved any amount of success no matter how fast it appears they have risen from relative mediocrity to success has spent long hours working on their goal of success. Sports professionals who make it to the professional leagues, the singer who gets signed with a major label or the writer who writes a best selling book have all spent time, money and sacrificed pleasures to succeed.

Those who have achieved success in developing passive income are no different. Most passive income comes in little bits at a time. To put this in perspective consider:

How much money is needed to produce $1.00 in passive income

Say your first goal is to produce one dollar in passive income through investing. To achieve this you will have to purchase part of a business which is producing a profit and is willing to divest some of that profit to its shareholders on a regular basis.

If the business pays out within the average S&P 500 index they will pay 2-5%. Let’s take the high end just for example:

Needed investment = $1.00/0.05

Which means to earn a dollar passive income through this method you will need to invest $500. Now there is no way anyone can call $1.00 a viable passive income so to make it viable you will at least have to make $1.00 a day.

To make a dollar a day you will need to have $500 X 365 or $182,500 invested in the highest dividend producing companies in the market. Now this is not impossible, in fact many people achieve financial freedom through investing, the point is that it takes time and effort to achieve it.

How much creative content is needed to produce $1.00 in passive income

Creative content can be anything from entertainment products (books, songs, performances) which is made public for commercial gain. For this article the prospect of becoming famous will be ignored, again not because it is impossible but because it is not guaranteed.

Instead it will focus on developing content for the various platforms available to everyone and with time and dedication how they can be used to produce passive income. The three methods covered here are written content, video content and podcasting.

Written content

This is content written on websites, in forums or social media platforms. Although there is a big difference in the three methods we will use the highest average of the three which is: $20.00 per thousand views. Following the above procedure to earn $1.00 with written content you will have to put your written content in front of 1,000 people.

Now there are some caveats which we will ignore for now which are the minimum number of views you will need to be able to qualify for a monetization program or the genre you are expert in.

To earn $1.00 with a $20.00/1,000 views the content will need to be viewed 50 times. Now again $1.00 cannot be considered passive income but if we say a dollar a day qualifies you will need to produce content which will be viewed a minimum of 50 X 365 or 18,250 times in a year. Again not impossible but will take dedication and commitment to learn how to write for your audience.

Video content

The most used video platform is youtube so it will be used as the example here. In 2121 the average video produced $5.00/1,000 views. Much lower than written content but for those who would rather perform in front of a camera then write an article this is a great option.

At the rate of $5.00/1,000 views you will need 200 views to make $1.00 or 73,000 views to make a dollar a day. Now, many videos on Youtube have many more than 73,000 views but the average Youtube video gets about 8,000 views in its lifetime so again not impossible but it will take commitment and dedication to reach this point.

Audio content

Audio content can be anything from music to pure information content. Platforms like Spotify are the most popular and can produce a strong income for those who are interested in producing purely audio content.

Spotify pays out about $3000/1,000,000 streams. Or $3.00/1,000 streams depending on the length of the audio content and the mix of paid and free streams. This means that audio content will need to be listened to 334 times to earn one dollar.

To get to one dollar a day you will need to have 121,910 streams in a year.

So what is the point?

Passive income is not easy income, it requires work, effort and time. Only those who are committed to the process and are willing to sacrifice some of their time and energy to develop passive income.

Why Passive Income is Important

There are two aspects to passive income.

Develop resources which produce ongoing income for current use
Develop resources which have value because of the cash flow they produce

Investing money for future use is a great idea. Having enough money to maintain a certain lifestyle without having to work provides an enjoyable lifestyle for some people but it is difficult for many people to maintain a long term saving plan which will provide enough income for them 20-40 years down the road. There are too many other factors which delay or reduce the savings program.

By developing a passive income through the development of a paying investment program, royalty income or business income the individual is much more motivated to put in the time, increase the value of the passive income and resist the degrading of the resource.

As a passive income resource grows the resource itself increases in value. Whether it is a stock portfolio, real estate properties, royalty producing products or a business which provides a positive passive income they are all worth something to others. These resources can be sold at any time.

Best Careers For The Entrepreneurially Minded

There are many definitions of what being an entrepreneur is. Most descriptions are either focused on the personality types of most entrepreneurs or the type of job an entrepreneur is interested in. Although these are good indicators they fail to direct someone who is entrepreneurially minded to any particular career.

The best careers for entrepreneurially minded people include, social interaction, creativity, risk, problem-solving, time pressure and consistent change. Without these elements the career will begin to become boring, unfulfilling and confining.

Choosing a career for the entrepreneurially minded is not as simple as comparing the results of the various personality tests with the available job options. This seldom results in a fulfilling experience and can lead to failure and disappointment. Since entrepreneurship is not a career but rather a way of describing the pursuit of developing businesses for profit it can include a wide variety of career choices.

Those who are entrepreneurially minded are not long for working for others. They will constantly be looking for opportunities outside of their current situation so to assume they will be happy in one career path over the long term is short-sighted. Rather when choosing a career they should look for learning, skill building and networking opportunities.

Strengths and weaknesses of the entrepreneurial personality

When considering a career as someone with an entrepreneurial personality one has to take into account the strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths:

Outgoing

This means to be out focused rather than introspective. It includes being interested in people, places and how things work. People who are outgoing are always wanting to learn more about what is around them currently and what interests them currently.

Goal oriented

Being goal oriented means more than having a goal which you someday want to achieve. Instead it is an inner drive to achieve things which have been personally selected. Those who are goal oriented are always working on something or another.

Creative

Being creative is the ability to take information from a variety of domains and put them together in new ways. This can be in the artistic, business and entertainment genre. Creative people are good at solving problems in unique ways. They are very resourceful being able to see opportunities where others may not.

Risk tolerant

Being risk tolerant has more to do with not being affected by the specter of failure. Fear of loss can slow progress but those who are risk tolerant take into account the possibility of failure but are still willing to take the chance that their skills and knowledge will be enough to overcome the challenges.

Project oriented

Some would say that entrepreneurs are focused and obsessive and in some cases this is true but this is just a result of being project oriented. Being project oriented means the work is well defined with a specific end date or physical condition. It is something which can be affected directly without having the input of uncontrollable actors.

Energetic

Having an abundance of energy is a hallmark of entrepreneurship. Being able to be enthusiastic about tasks, continue working for long periods of time and maintaining a positive state of mind all require energy.

Weaknesses:

Gets bored easily

Repetitive or simple tasks are hard for those who are entrepreneurially minded. Once something has been accomplished, having to repeat it over and over causes a lack of interest and poor quality work.

Dislikes defined structures

Being confined to a specific structure, whether it is physical or bureaucratic, causes frustration. Having to do things because that is how it is done here makes entrepreneurially minded crazy. Even when there are reasons why something is done a certain way they are always wanting to improve it, make it more efficient or easier.

Discounts risk factors easily

Risks are things which are not currently known or understood and they can be hard to describe. When taking risks some want to understand as much of the situation before taking action. Those who have a high tolerance for risk can push those around them past their limits and cause distension.

Jobs for aspiring entrepreneurs

Aspiring entrepreneurs have several options for jobs which would be valuable to an entrepreneurial career. They are jobs which provide training and knowledge in a wide variety of areas. They provide experience in dealing with people, promoting and selling products and creative thinking. They can also be used as springboards into a business when the opportunity arrives.

Sales

Having sales skills is of utmost importance to an entrepreneur. It is required not only for being able to sell the product which they represent but also can assist in selling ideas. This can aid in the ability to secure financial resources when a business needs capital for startup or expansion.

Marketing

Marketing is often paired with sales but in fact it is completely different. Sales is the act of influencing one or more individuals to purchase a product. Marketing is a system of promotion in order to provide value and preference to a product or service. Marketing requires skills different from those of a salesman including writing, artistic design and understanding human psychology.

Management

Being a good manager includes the ability to delegate work, motivate people, hire and fire effectively and manage paperwork. All things which an entrepreneur will need when starting a business. By getting some experience on any level of management prior to starting a business you will be getting paid to learn these valuable skills.

Content creation

Content creation is becoming a vital aspect of successful businesses. It is a method of providing value to customers outside of the product produced. It can act as an advertising platform while aiding those who consume the content.

Content creation is not easy to learn. It requires practice and lots of trial and error. To become good at content creation many hours must be spent writing to learn how to write persuasive, engaging and valuable content efficiently.

Production work

Above it was mentioned that repetitive boring work is not an ideal career for an entrepreneur and that still holds true if the only goal is to become a worker in a factory. Instead the concept is to work in production work to learn how it is done. To learn what processes are used, how things are organized, how management interacts with employees. This knowledge will be of great value when starting a business

How to determine if a career is entrepreneurial

There are many personality tests which can be done to determine what one’s personality type is and they have some value to help guide individuals to make positive choices so if you want to determine your personality type check out this article which explains some of the various tests used, their value to the participant and what the results mean.

Entrepreneurs cannot be put into a box but rather have a way of thinking which includes ways to create income from opportunity where others do not. That said, there are some career choices which can provide the challenge of creating new opportunities where others can’t see anything and providing value to the employer with little risk.

Sales professional

As mentioned above becoming a sales professional is great training for an entrepreneur it can also become a long term career if one so desires. It provides interest, social contact, continuous learning and creativity. Depending on the company it can allow a certain amount of freedom to organize the work schedule and earn as much as possible.

First responder

A first responder needs to be creative, be able to take risks, learn continuously and have a high energy level. This is a career where there is a lot of autonomy allowing freedom to act as the responder sees fit for the specific situation.

Computer Professional

This includes a wide variety of career choices. Software development, web programming, IT professional and computer security. These careers require the ability to learn quickly, adapt the change rapidly, be creative and maintain a high energy level.

Architect or engineer

Both these careers require creativity, being able to adapt to changeable situations, continuous learning and maintaining a high energy level. One of the prime roles of architects and engineers is to solve problems, something creative people thrive on, making this career a good choice for anyone with an entrepreneurial mindset.

Artist or performer

Artists have to be very creative. Today there are many systems to provide artistic design which is lackluster. They have little imagination and provide a low amount of impact. It takes someone who is highly creative, able to include ideas from many domains and willing to risk rejection to make truly original art.

It does not matter whether it is physical art like paintings and sculpture or performing art such as live theater, movie acting or stand up comedy, an artist must be creative, willing to risk rejection, highly energetic and project oriented.

Game Based Training Explained

It seems like a good idea. Let students, interns, new employees and staff play games during teaching sessions to teach them new skills, expand their knowledge and make learning easier. All they have to do is play the game and throughout the game they will learn all about the subject. They will be smarter, better at their jobs, enjoy the work environment more and become a better team in the process.

The question is does it work? Is all the time and effort spent on designing a game which can engage game participants while instructing them on a particular topic really worth the time, money and commitment it takes to make it a reality?

Game-based learning can be used to reinforce knowledge gained through other means. Participants who learn through gameplay only have a limited understanding of the theory behind the skill or action used for success in the game. This can lead to poor implementation in real life situations.

To use game-based learning to best advantage it is important to understand that there must be a way for the participants to gain the knowledge necessary prior to playing the game. Participants who do not have the information available to them will find the game unfair, boring and/or unuseful.

Game-based learning is not new. In fact it has been used for centuries. For example Chess and Go were games used to teach military tactics and strategy, games have been used to teach math skills, spelling and memorization of facts. Recently technology has been used to produce simulators which are used to simulate machinery and how the controls affect the environment.

Examples of simulated reality game-based learning are pilot training, surgery and military training. These are all high risk activities which require expensive equipment and complicated skills to perform correctly. Using simulators in these cases is less expensive and safer for trainees.

5 questions to ask before developing game-based learning system

Before a business embarks on developing a game-based learning system for their companies it is valuable to determine if it would be valuable in the first place. Game-based learning is described as a fun and easy way for participants to learn new subjects, lower failure rates and improve retention of employees.

This sounds great until it is discovered what it will cost, how long it will take to implement and run and how often it needs to be updated. Before venturing into the game-based learning wilderness it is important to consider:

What problems are to be solved with game-based learning

Before any work on the game-based system is done the problem needs to be described. Without having a solid understanding on the problem the game will be either inappropriate or ineffective. Game based learning is used in a variety of situations from better onboarding, skill mastery and knowledge retention/recall.

Analyze what your main business goal is prior to determining what type of system you want to implement. To reinforce basic knowledge of how a business works, what it feels is most important and what its culture is like is vastly different than reinforcing skills needed while performing the duties of the job.

Once the goal has been determined, break it into small sections which can be taught in 10-30 minutes. Not all sections need to be reinforced with game-based learning but tag those which make the most sense.

What are the resources are necessary to run the program

Like any other program, game-based learning systems require resources. The resources required will depend on the methodology used. Computer based gaming systems require more resources in development and updating than physical systems which use paper and tokens. Team based games usually require large open spaces where teams can meet, discuss tactics.

Other resources like training personnel, game developers and evaluators will also be needed in the implementation of the game. Before spending time in development, determine what resources are available and what the expected return will be in the short and long term.

How much will the system cost to develop and administer

Time and resources cost money. Paying staff to develop a game-based learning system can be expensive or low cost depending on the methodology. Again computer based systems can be very expensive to implement and maintain whereas simple games which help with memorization of facts or math skills can be produced cheaply and require little or no maintenance.

The cost of the system should mirror your need to solve a business problem. The need to lower attrition has a higher value than the need to encourage social interaction of employees. Before committing to development of a game-based system consider the cost and benefits over the long run.

How often will the system need to be updated to keep it relevant

Everything changes. Group dynamics, business goals and the job environment can lead to the need for altering the games designed for your business goals. If computer simulated games are used then changes in the computer system, the machinery itself and improvements in the simulator all require updating of the game-based system.

Consider how often the system will need updating. Are there yearly updates which require alterations or are the updates more often. Is it a simple job of changing some of the answers in the game or does it require reprogramming of a computer simulator?

What resources available for developing and administering the system

Development and administration of a game-based training system will require knowledgeable people to determine the important skills and knowledge to include in the game to succeed in achieving the business goal.

To ensure the training system will achieve the business goal intended, the skills and knowledge which will lead to success will have to be identified, described and prioritized before the game is developed.

Administering the game can be done by a variety of people, depending on the technical skill needed and what skills are needed to learn. For example training on a fighter pilot simulator needs qualified pilots to administer the game as it will require understanding of the skills needed to succeed but administering a game of Jeopardy does not have any particular need for specified knowledge of the topic.

The effectiveness of game-based learning

There are many studies done to show the effectiveness of game-based learning. Unfortunately they have mostly been biased towards the organization which paid for the study. This is to be expected so any results from any individual study should not be treated as truth.

The study entitled “Digital game-based learning: Impact of instructions and feedback on motivation and learning effectiveness” did a good job of analyzing the various studies to determine that most essentially showed limited benefit from digital game-based learning.

Most study design was without a control group and only considering pre-game tests and post-game tests. The resulting data consistently showed an increase in students’ knowledge and understanding of the topic of choice. This is to be expected but cannot be used to compare different teaching styles as the control group for alternative teaching styles was not tested against.

With that said, game-based learning has been used to reinforce knowledge taught to students with good success. Some studies show an 80% improvement in retainment of information using game-based learning which indicates that it is a good method of reinforcing learned information. It may not be better than other methods but it is a valid teaching choice.

Another consideration is how effective game-based learning will be in solving specific business problems. Providing a game-based learning system for onboarding new employees may make the process less tedious by providing facts in a fun and interesting way.

Providing training on machinery which is necessary for the job where skill attainment is required can lower stress and provide the trainee with confidence when using the machinery in real circumstances.

The bottom line

Essentially it is up to the employer to decide whether game-based training will be valuable to the business. It provides a variety of options for training employees, can be used to lower attrition by providing social interaction with other employees, departments and management levels and may help employees retain knowledge necessary for the jobs.

Gamification of Organizations Explained

One of the prevailing theories of learning is that people learn faster and remember things better when they are having fun, are appropriately challenged and are interested in the subject. This theory has led to the idea of producing a game-like environment into a learning curriculum. This has been done in two broad ways:

Gamification

Gamification is the process of adding game-like elements to a regular set of activities. Elements such as leaderboards to add a spirit of competition, a point system for performing certain activities, time trials or other time based activities.

These elements can be used to encourage participants to engage in the learning process, work as a team and spend extra time practicing or developing needed skills.

Game-based learning

Game-based learning is a method of taking a learning task and developing a game based on the course syllabus. Games can reproduce real-life situations such as investing, mathematics and vocabulary and can be used to reinforce memorization of historic events, scientific theories and language studies.

These two methods of game-based learning can be used individually or together and can have a positive effect on the learning outcomes of students but can have a negative impact on some students for a variety of reasons.

Benefits of using gamification within an organization

Gamification can be used in any situation to foster improved performance on average over the organization. It provides the “players” with a feeling of competition, motivation and urgency to perform well. By identifying the key actions or learning activities a participant needs to perform to be successful the game can be set up to support the organization as well as help the player to improve their skills and confidence on a number of venues.

Gamification can include points for reaching sales quotas, fixing computer bugs, reading manuals and any other activity which is beneficial. Leveling up is another successful strategy for providing players with reasons to learn and improve their skills.

Gamification provides soft motivation for participants

Motivating students, employees and family members is a difficult and sometimes detrimental thing to do. Often efforts to motivate others can feel like nagging, controlling and manipulative behavior. By using gamification to motivate it applies soft pressure on the participants. Allowing them to decide what they want to do, how much time they need to spend and when they want to practice.

The spirit of competition can drive players to perform better and work harder to move to another level, qualify for a special event or win a periodic prize. Using gamification can provide enough indirect motivation to eliminate the need for direct action which can demotivate rather than motivate individuals.

Gamification can encourage consistent improvement

One of the aspects of gamification is that it naturally groups similarly talented people or groups together. This natural segregation provides a pull to each of the members of the cohort to continue improving. As others in the group move forward others feel the pull and work harder to stay with the group.

This is enhanced by implementing a level or tyred system which provides participants with additional benefits for moving up a level. Benefits can be anything such as special seating at group meetings, additional bonuses or special recognition. Anything which will motivate the specific group.

Gamification can focus of specific skills

By analyzing the goals and activities needed to succeed in a program it can be determined which skills are needed and when they should be mastered. With this information they can become part of the game. Participants can earn points for doing each activity (skill) a certain number of times or at a level of proficiency.

By providing tangible rewards, players are more likely to master skills even when they don’t feel comfortable performing them in the beginning. This hellps them to overcome the short term pain of being conciously incompetent in the skill until they become unconciously competent.

Gamification provides a known track to follow

The unknown is scary and uncomfortable which nobody wants to encounter. People will avoid doing something which they know is beneficial if it leads them into a world they do not know. By providing a track to follow this feeling is greatly reduced, lowering anxiety and increasing motivation.

When participants can get involved with a small emotional investment and begin with small steps they are more likely to continue the process. By providing a system of points, levels, bonus activities and access to training the risk of taking action is reduced significantly.

Gamification can encourage teamwork

One of the benefits felt from becoming part of a team sport early in life is the knowledge that success is much easier when everyone works as a team. Cooperation is a valuable trait which needs to be learned. By providing some aspect of teamwork within the gamification plan it will make it easier for the group to build cohesiveness.

This can be done by developing teams from different aspects of a goal such as sales, marketing, manufacturing and delivery or by grouping teams together within the same field. By doing this the group will have a natural motivation to not let others down, provide assistance to others when needed (mentorship) and encourage one another to perform at their best.

Gamification resists backsliding

People are more motivated to work hard at keeping something they have than to work hard for something they haven’t got. This means that once a participant has achieved a level in a particular program as long as they remain part of the organization they will work hard to maintain that base level.

When the levels are set up to encourage consistent performance or learning/skill acquisition it provides a solid basis for planning. Knowing that players will perform within a certain percentage of their previous level makes planning easier and more predictable.

Gamification reduces attrition

Contrary to what some believe, remuneration is not the main cause of attrition. People quit organizations because they are not appreciated, don’t feel part of the group, feel unsuccessful in their position or feel stuck with no prospects.

By implementing gamification within a group it will be easier for players to feel part of the organization. They will be recognized for achievements like moving up a level or mastering a certain skill giving them a feeling of accomplishment .

The organization can easily determine if members of the group have lost motivation or have reached the top of the level system presently in place. This gives them clues to either provide support for individuals who are struggling or to add additional levels to the system to provide top performers to stay motivated.

Gamification makes training more specific and valuable

Few people enjoy reading service manuals, organization training manuals or technical books. They are not written for entertainment and are always packed with information which is usually not relevant to the reader or too concentrated for easy understanding. This type of training is poorly designed and poorly executed.

Gamification helps the organization to develop a training system which provides useful, relevant information when it is needed for the player. By thinking about what a player may need for each level an organization has a better chance of developing training for each of the skills needed for the current level the player is at.

With a well developed training system the participants are better able to understand and use the training quickly. This helps them to internalize the information (which is the goal of all training programs).

Disadvantages of using gamification within an organization

Gamification is not a perfect solution to an organization’s training and performance requirements. As with any method of training it has problems which can derail any benefits achieved.

Gamification can demotivate less successful participants

Not everyone in an organization has the same abilities. Some learn at a slower rate, learn using different modalities provided by the organization and may have lower motivation for a variety of reasons. When they are forced into participating in the organization’s gamification system they may not succeed.

Not only does this demotivate the participant but may also affect the team they are involved in negatively causing poor relations and eventually could lead to them quitting or transferring.

Implementation costs to develop a gamification system can be high

To implement a gamification system an organization must analyze the skills, knowledge and resources participants will need throughout the program. The determination of what elements to include in the system, how they will be awarded and what method of accounting will be used needs consideration.

Determining what type of gamification to implement is also important. Will it be divided into levels, points or a combination. How long will the period be; a week, month, quarter or some other time period specific to the industry. What will be the rewards for each participant; cash bonuses, bragging rights, access to non-monetary benefits or added responsibilities.

All this analysis and planning will cost time and money for the organization prior to any benefit and the benefits may be slow in coming so the organization must be committed to the program months before any results (positive or negative) will be seen.

Gamification opens the door for cheating

Like in any game when people get committed to winning sometimes the pressure to cheat increases. This means that the organization needs to develop checks to prevent the opportunity for this type of behavior and procedures to follow when participants are discovered.

Not only does this damage the reputation of the organization but can destroy careers. Participants who feel it necessary to cheat to succeed may be to blame but also the gamification system may also need to shoulder some of the blame.

If it is too difficult for players to advance though the levels or to maintain achieved levels cheating will be more predominant. The actions and skills needed for each level must match the benefits received for the commitment.

Gamification can produce animosity between participants

Animosity can arise for a number of reasons but when tracking methods are implemented and made public this can lead to negative relations with those on different stages or skill levels. Depending on the personality of the players the spread of points can lead to unpleasant feelings.

When teamwork is required not all participants will have the same commitment level, time available or learning rate. This can cause team members to slow the group down or push others past their comfort level, leading to bad relations.

Approaches of implementing Gamification into an organization

There are many ways gamification can be implemented within an organization. It can be used in a specific department, through interdepartmental teams, applied throughout an organization specific to each department or any variation. It can include computer training programs, activity based systems or result oriented scoring.

The best system for any organization depends on the goals of the organization, available funds for implementation and the size of the group. Organizations which are interested in improving sales will develop entirely different systems then ones focused on quality control.

Before considering implementing any particular system consider the following:

What are the organization’s goals for gamification

Before gamifying an organization it is important to understand what it is you are trying to accomplish. If you want to make onboarding easier or more successful the program will be different then if you want to improve sales or lower defective product rates.

Identify the top priority skills, information and habits to focus on

Once you have determined the organization’s goal, break down the goal into bite sized pieces. This is a familiar activity for most goal oriented people but here it has a different purpose. The goal here is to determine what are the skills, knowledge and habits employees need to succeed in achieving the organization’s goals.

Set minimum, intermediate and high standards for the goals

For each of the above categories there are a set of standards which will determine if the goal was accomplished and to what level the goal was achieved. Take some time to decide what the standards are for each habit, skill or learning topic.

Organize a timeline for competition of the goals

Some skills and knowledge will be needed right at the beginning of the program and some will be too difficult to understand until the participant has spent some time in the program and some can be done simultaneously.

Organize the skills, knowledge and habits needed into a timeline. Determine what needs to be done first and progressive harder in a timeline. This will give a general plan for what participants need to do first and progressively down the line as they improve.

Decide how the gamification is to be implemented

There are several ways to gamify an organization which can include developing a point program, levels and basic quotas. The participants could start at zero every time period or could accumulate over a longer period of time. Some activities could be mandatory while not others.

Using a point system

To determine the value of each point and the points to be attached to each activity the importance of the activity to the participants success and the value of the activity to the organization needs to be considered. Sales is an obvious example of this where each point costs the organization in remuneration of some type but should lead to higher sales which raises gross profit. The key is to attach a point value to each activity which motivates the participant but also provides added value to the organization.

Adding levels

Levels can be point based, action based and/or time based. By providing participants with a set of activities which must be completed before advancement to the next level the organization can ensure they are getting value from the system and simultaneously motivating participants to move up the levels.

Establishing basic quotas

Some organizations have some things which need to be done before any participation is considered. In sales it could be a minimum number of calls, for quality assurance it could be a maximum number of defects and for onboarding it could be punctuality and low absente rates. Whatever the quota they need to be achievable to everyone in the organization which it applies for.

Before deciding what methods to use, research the value of each activity to the organization. Talk to employees to find out the effort and time it takes to master the skill or knowledge. With this information you can begin to attach value to each of the activities and skills participants are going to be asked to learn.

Organize the system

Using your timeline and the knowledge of the value and skill required for each, assign a point value or place it in a level (depending on how you have decided to implement the game). Once everything has a value or is assigned a level consider where and how any mandatory activities are to be tracked. These are things which have no value assigned to them but must be completed.

Test the gamification

Test the gamification with experienced players. This could be experienced employees, past students or management staff. After a period of time, interview the participants. Ask if anything is too hard, too easy or what is forgotten. This is a tuning process where the points on each item could be changed, things added or subtracted to levels or eliminated altogether.

Implement the organizational gamification

Just start the game, make changes if necessary. Have regular get togethers for the participants for mutual encouragement, acknowledgement and socialization.

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