Training Industry Blog

My dear friend John (aka Snake Oil) took an early retirement. He had spent several illustrious years as a trainer then decided to give it all up and venture into other arenas. This included several small real estate investments, a storage facility and a coffee shop. I have known John for over 30 years and no matter how big the gap of time we usually pick up where we left off and always have some great laughs. John contacted me a while back, soon after an amiable divorce, and said he was considering going back into training. Even though he is at the top of his game I encouraged him to reinvent himself and the services that he would provide. I’m sure it came as a bit of a shock to receive such a suggestion but the economic downturn has forced us to re-examine everything we do in business. This goes way beyond the logistics of marketing programs and filling seats it also profoundly targeted at the very topics that are being offered. Even programs that have been considered foundation based courses are challenged to be recast to fit the new operating model (which by the way is still a work in process).

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It’s official. Jobs are coming back. In a speech given last Friday in Charlotte North Carolina, President Obama made a statement about jobs that "We are beginning to turn the corner!” He cited the latest data from the Labor Department adding that the economy added 162,000 jobs in March, the biggest increase in three years. A quick couple of Goggles’ (or a “Topeka” if you caught the April Fool’s joke Google played) looking for local proof actually supported this claim and among the largest gainers…IT workers. In fact, companies are hiring IT workers at the highest level in quite some time. No surprise as those unemployed have taken advantage of retraining opportunities and IT leads the way there too.

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The first quarter of 2010 is shaping up to be a growth market for training products and services. I estimate the overall training services market to be up by more than 6% from 2009 spending levels. It appears that corporate executives are loosening the purse strings and we're seeing positive revenue growth with most every large training supplier. Especially hot markets have been custom content development, sales training, and IT Training. The very good news is this is translating into job growth for the training profession.

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Have you ever wondered what a virtual immersive environment or virtual world could do for your organization?

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Ahh, tax time, the time of year when even we left-brain thinkers find ourselves overwhelmed with the prospect of all those forms, calculations, and tests for eligibility, applicability, and exclusions. I’m reminded of Robert Duvall’s character in the movie, Apocalypse Now, when he comments, “I love the smell of napalm first thing in the morning.” Only a character as twisted as that could love all this tax stuff!

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