Always Learning

Business travel tip: Scout the area

When the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, arrives in a new city before an air show, they do an aerial survey of the area.  Starting at "show center," the middle of the airfield, they fly out one direction, and note what they see at 1 mile, 2 miles, and so on, up to 5 miles. Then they repeat the process for each of the other three directions. This gives them landmarks they use during their show.

When I travel to a new customer, I do something similar.  First, I find the hotel and check in.  That's my "show center."  Then, I locate the customer, so I don't waste time wandering around lost in the morning. Finally, I do my scouting, checking out what stores and restaurants are in both directions along the road the hotel is on, then up and down the nearest cross streets as well.

In less than an hour, I get some great ideas about where to have dinner, if there's an office supply store nearby, bookstore, and interesting sights. I also find a grocery.  I have to get my water and treats for the class: that's non-negotiable.

All of this prep is for one purpose: To maximize the time I have in the morning to focus on classroom setup. If class starts well because I had time to create the right environment for training, it makes a great first impression, and the odds are pretty good that the rest of the training will go well, too. If I'm rushed and something is not set up right, I'm playing catchup the rest of the week.

Like the Blue Angels, my job is to Wow the Customer. Scouting the area beforehand helps me do it.

Business travel tip: Book flights early, and book an early flight

Book flights early...

It's an odd balancing act: to get the best price on an airline ticket, you have to book early. But in these days of non-refundable fares and hefty fees for changes, booking too early is a risk.

I generally try to confirm a customer visit three weeks in advance. That's plenty of time to purchase airfare to get a 14-day advance rate, but not so far ahead that my class is likely to cancel or be rescheduled.

... and book an early flight

Even though it's a hassle to get to the airport in time for an early flight, there are good reasons to do so. If the flight cancels, there will usually be later ones the same day. Also, you'll arrive at your destination while it's still light, which makes it easier to scout out the class location.

Training tip: Warm up your voice before class

Classroom training is a performance -- a vocal performance, like singing or acting. As a trainer, my voice is an important asset to my job, so protecting that voice is important.

One thing I've learned to do before class each day is to warm up, just like a singer warms up. Here's my routine.

Before warming up, I drink some water to make sure my throat is moist. Then I start by singing the musical scales (do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do) up and down very softly. This acts as a diagnostic: I can usually tell pretty quickly how strong my voice is that day, if it's scratchy or clear, wavering or rock solid.

Then I add a bit more power, a bit more volume. I do some more scales, then go directly from low C on the scale (do) to an octave higher (DO) and back down again (do) a few times.  I notice how quickly my voice was able to make the change, and how closely I "nailed" the note.

Next, I'll sing a familiar song, especially if the radio is on. This means singing notes in different order than just the scales.  Again, I watch the transitions, looking for places where my voice may be a bit weak today. Then I know in the classroom I'll have to moderate my volume or I won't have a voice left by the end of the day.

Finally, I'll talk.  I put a smile on my face and say, "Good Morning!  Welcome to the Training Center.  My name is Bob Watkins, and today, we'll be talking about..."  I may ramble a bit about what we're going to cover that day: this helps me focus as well as lets me hear how I'm sounding.

I often do this warmup in the car while driving from the hotel to the training location. It looks funny, but when I hit the classroom, I'm ready to go. And, I don't run out of voice about 3 or 4 in the afternoon, as I used to before I adopted this warmup routine.

July 2008 Critical Patch Update released

Oracle Corporation released its quarterly security update today, the July 2008 Critical Patch Update (CPU).

CPUs are cumulative from the release to which they are applied. The July 2008 CPU contains 45 new fixes across all Oracle products.

As with all upgrades and patches, apply them to your development and test servers first before patching production, no matter how small or routine a change may seem.

Business travel tip: Use a packing list

This is my first training trip since the airlines started imposing a $15 fee for the first checked bag. Procedurally, it wasn't much of a hassle: just swipe my credit card at the kiosk when I checked in. But on the plane, as I suspected, the overhead storage filled quickly.

It's tempting to try to find a way not to have to check a bag, in order to avoid the fee.  On our vacation this year, we'll get hit for $180 extra just in bag fees (3 people x 4 travel segments x $15). But when I travel on business, it's usually for a three- or four-day class.  I can't live out of my rolling briefcase or even a carry-on, and still bring with me everything I need.

So the next best thing is to use a packing list. I used to forget things on trips.  It was a different thing every time: my cell phone charger, my trainer "emergency kit", some item of clothing.

Now, I use a packing list. It's just a document on my computer that lists what I should have on my person, in my briefcase, and in my suitcase. Even though my packing is pretty much a habit by now, I still print a copy before every trip, and discipline myself to check off the items.

The peace of mind that this simple act generates is amazing. I don't forget things anymore, but more importantly, I know I'm not forgetting something.

Not about the coffee

With all due respect to my colleague Jon Emmons, whose blog "Life After Coffee" can be found on my Blogroll, there are times when it's not about the coffee.

While working on my blog redesign this morning, I listened to a two-part podcast, by Curt Rosengren of The M.A.P. Maker blog. This is one of my favorite blogs for getting and keeping motivated.

The podcast series was an interview with the former president of Starbucks Coffee Company, Howard Behar.  (I learned a lot about Starbucks in the 12 years I lived in Seattle before moving to Dallas. They were even one of my customers: I taught customized Oracle classes there.)

In his new book, Howard says that in a successful company like Starbucks, "It's Not About The Coffee," it's about the people. Some great takeaways from the podcast:

• We spend most of our time growing up being told "No" to things. Subconsciously, we feel we've arrived as an adult when we have the power to say "No" to others. But it's much more fun to be able to say "Yes" instead, especially to customers.
• We sometimes wear many hats, being different people in different situations. Howard's philosophy is to "Wear One Hat," that is, be yourself. Align your values and outlook with a job that fits you.
• If you're having what Howard calls a "gray day," accept that. He talks to himself (sometimes out loud!) and asks, "What's up with this gray feeling?" and then, "It's okay not to be UP today." The simple act of giving himself permission to be how he is, often dissipates much of the gray feeling.

Letting go of my MCT

In April it was time for me to renew my Microsoft Certified Trainer credential. It was a difficult choice to make, but I decided not to renew it.

During the past year, I've been focused exclusively on Oracle, and did not teach any Microsoft classes at all. Because I don't work for a Microsoft Certified Partner for Learning Solutions, I'd have to pay the $400 fee out of my own pocket, and it just didn't make sense to do so.

As one of my high school teachers once told me, "Never replace something with nothing."  So I've added a new goal to my goals list: to become a Certified Technical Trainer (CTT+) by year's end.

The CTT+ is a credential offered by CompTIA (the same people who certify PC hardware proficiency with the A+ certification). I wrote about this in 2002; it's about time I got off my butt and got it done.

The CTT+ is "vendor neutral," so unlike the MCT it applies to any kind of technical training.  It reflects the knowledge and skills to be an excellent instructor, regardless of whose software you are discussing. In addition to a computer-based exam that covers the 17 IBSTPI Instructor Competencies, this credential requires a videotape to be submitted demonstrating those competencies during an actual class session.

It's going to be a tough challenge, but a worthwhile one.

Rediscovering my blog

I've taken an extended vacation from blogging (my last post was in April 2007).  It's time to pick up the pen again, and continue writing about training, about learning, about Oracle.

This is v3.0 of my blog and is more focused on what I do best: training.