New Tricks For An Old Dog

It is often said that teachers learn more from their students than the other way around. I suspect that's true. I had some time to kill in DTW on the way home, so I did an After Action Review on what I learned.

1. 5 to 6 people trying different things during an exercise finds new stuff (and features).
2. Check all the hyperlinks on the presentation map the day before.
3. The zoom box on Pan & Zoom can be stretched and compressed, with a corresponding zoom in/out of the map.
4. Resources can be entered as Bill;Mary;Dave but will each create a separate icon marker.
5. Mingle with the group during the exercises to help, they are more likely to ask questions.
6. Quiet ones ask all their questions during breaks, expect that students take breaks but you're "on" all the time.
7. Use a map for the day's agenda, add links to the documents for each topic. (see #2)
   
8. Use "pps" files for shows, ppt brings up the editor.
9. Right-Click on news feed directory on map parts, the menu asks if you want to add a news feed. This is easier than the macro route.
10. Visit the facility the day before and make sure everything is set up. (I knew this but wanted to have a top ten list.)
    

I'll bet there was more, but these are the ones that jumped out at me.

Web Site Update

I've got a project for the week-end. Noticed that I have some out of date information on my web site. I'm going to use the excuse of being capable of teaching Mind Manager Version 7 as a good reason to update the web content.

Mind Manager Training

Managed to visit Detroit in late September without being snowed on! Except for spotty rain showers it wasn't too bad. The flight delays were systemic but understandable for frequent fliers . Arrived too early - gate wasn't empty. Last flight out, we delayed to get the stragglers before pushing back. This stuff happens all the time.

If I had been running to get that plane 'cause my Washington flight was delayed into Dallas, I would have been very grateful they waited 15 minutes. Unfortunately, been there - done that, and have experienced both possible outcomes.

Detroit beckoned because I had been asked to Train the Trainer for Mind Manager Ver 7. A two day class. It was a fun experience. The class is populated with people that, for the most part, know the product. Unlike the Fundamentals Class, where experience with the product is not-so-good to expert. The class size is smaller, we had about four, so the interaction and one on one coaching is more prevalent.

Classes like that, when you're teaching, cause you to more than just "brush up" on your skills. You have to prepare for the class by using functions and features that you don't use much in everyday operations.

Found a couple more Mind Mapping sites to add to the Creativity link list.

Syndication

Upgraded the blog's template in blogspot. The conversion wasn't too painful, mostly putting the custom code in the right places. Sitemeter and the Eco-System links are back on the sidebar.

I converted because the new template tools make adding links easier. And the new template provides for an Atom XML Feed.

I'm still tinkering with the Bootstrap On-line capabilities. They allow for feeding your blog (in Bootstrap) from external sources. I'm testing that feature with this post.

Social Networks

I've received an invitation to have an Austin SCORE presence on the Bootstrap Online Social Network. I am only vaguely familiar with Facebook or MySpace, though I understand the concept. And, for small business marketing, I certainly understand the value of networks of people.

I'm exploring the various ways I can increase the SCORE Chapter's marketing. And I'm learning a little about current web tools that I hadn't bothered to learn personally. Blogs I've been playing with for a couple years now.

Facebook or MySpace strike me as places to meet high school kids. They rarely have business problems or hire consultants. Bootstrap, however, is at least attempting to attract entrepreneurs.

Marketing The Workshops

Last month I picked up additional workshop efforts. The task of getting the SCORE workshops onto various calendars and into the Austin American Statesman has defaulted to the workshop committee.

I've created a new blog, Austin SCORE blog, where I can post workshop announcements and notes after the workshop. The primary goal is to have a more permenant web presence for workshop descriptions. Craig's List should scrub postings after 45 days.

I also added a site meter to watch the traffic.