Travel Tips

 7.28.08

Travel Tips: A buddy of mine asked this week why the blogs were always so serious. I reiterated the importance of non-sophomoric content so as to gratify my constituents. Ok, so I really said, “I dunno…” Therefore, here is a less-than-education based blog about the upside and downside of traveling for work. Even though it’s not about communication and it’s not about online education, it IS about life. And I feel qualified as a 100 thousand mile flyer (Thanks United!) for the past 3 years. So, if you’re wondering about what it’s like to travel a lot…see if this helps.

Cons – I’ll start with the negative and work my way to the positive. (I’m a bigger believer in recency than primacy.) I realize some of you may think that traveling a lot is ONLY negatives. If so, skip to the PROS area now. You likely don’t need any more fuel for that fire. But, if you ever wondered why traveling a lot might not be fun, read on:

1. Everywhere I go, it’s 72 degrees and under fluorescent lights. Yep, when I train in Hawaii in January, those are the conditions of the room. (Although Butte in January has the same conditions.) Just remember that if you’re going to “enjoy” the trip, it’s going to be when you’re not working. And the way my job works, along with the classes I’m both taking and teaching, my work often flows into my hotel-ridden evenings.
2. Missing people can suck. I’ll admit, there is probably some good for every marriage when you can vamoose for a day or two. But missing 15 out of 31 days can be rough. And I can’t quantify it with a child. Now I realize some guys are more than happy to leave the family for business purposes. But I’m not talking about anyone who needs to run from the life they’ve created. I’m talking about good husbands, good dads, good wives, and good moms who really miss their spouse or kiddo. Hearing that your 1 year old said “dada” for the first time when your father-in-law came in the room isn’t a heart-warming sensation. And finding out the family went to Safeway where they were filming a movie and everyone got to be extras…it’s just uncool to miss out on memory making with the people you love.
3. Eat like a pig…look like a pig! So, your status on the airlines allows you to potentially upgrade to First class. Unfortunately you’re 4th on the list. Hmmm, should you eat on your layover in Chicago in case you don’t get upgraded? Sure. How about a slice of pizza and a beer? But when you get back to the gate, you find out that you DID make the list! Sweet! Now, on top of your early lunch, you get a later lunch too. But they’re out of the salad option, you’ll have to get the lasagna, with all the wine you can drink. So, you arrive in San Francisco at 3pm, having eaten 3 solid meals today. And don’t forget the client dinner you have at 7pm! Ahhhh…four meals, one of which ended right before bed at midnight. 5000 calories, most of them carbs. Maybe you can get up early and workout. Or, maybe you’ll hit snooze to make it through the diabetic coma you happen to be in.

 

PROS – Yes, there are some nice perks to traveling. While it may not be the “adventure” everyone who doesn’t travel assumes it is, there are some good things that can come out of it. Read on!

1. Points, miles, and rewards, oh my! I didn’t really become a big fan of United airlines until I reached Premiere status. See, as a 6’5” guy, sitting in the regular economy seats, my knees wedged into the magazine pocket of the seat in front of me really blows. And I ALWAYS end up behind the guy who needs to go all the way back so he can snore his way to Cincinnati. But, Economy Plus…now we’re talking! More leg room, quicker upgrades, and much better treatment! (I realize United is a business carrier. They have always catered to business travelers, which means 1 off travelers kind of get the shaft. I’m ok with that…now that I’m not a 1 off guy anymore!) Plus, as a member of Hilton, Hertz, Sheraton, etc., I get points for every dollar I spend, every mile I fly, and every rental I make. (BTW – you should definitely try a points specific credit card too.  Getting double or triple points for normal travel?  It’s silly not to!)  Those points add up. How much do they add up to? Well…I could go Jason Bourne for about a month. I could fly anywhere in the world, stay in a hotel, and rent a car – all for free for about a month. And by the end of this year, it will be about 2 months. Yes, my wife and I can take some killer vacations now…
2. Money in, not money out. Think about it – when you travel for work, you are spending their money to do things you would normally do at home right? Who pays for your meals at home? You do. Who pays on the road? Your business, client, or partner. You’re not using your own gasoline, you’re not running up your hot water bill, and you’re not having to worry about the air conditioning bill. How much does that add up to for you? If you figure $50 / day for meals, $60 / week for gas, etc., you might be talking about hundreds in savings each month.
3. Out of sight, out of mind. There is a catharsis that comes with being out of the office, even for a bit. True, as I move my way up the company ladder, I have to remain connected most of the time. (Thanks trusty Treo!) But, when people can’t interrupt meetings by standing at my closed door window and gesturing, “just a sec” – it’s a little slice of sanity for me. Not having to put out every fire, not needing to go to every unimportant meeting (although missing the important ones can be trouble…), and not hearing every complaint can be nice. As well, connecting with the actual client is a great feeling. Hearing from other professionals at a seminar or conference can be uplifting. Helping others see value in you, your product, and/or your company can be downright amazing!

 

So, there you have it. Want to travel a lot for your company? Go for it. Will there be drawbacks? Sure. Long lines, cancelled flights, bad food, and having to find your way around new cities can be problematic. Missing your family bites. But it surely has an upside. Regaining some sanity, seeing new places (when you make time to do it), saving money, and getting free vacations…those are pretty cool. Want to be a road-warrior? Great. Think that life style is for the birds? Leave it be! The only thing I ask is this: When you get in line at the airline counter, try to remember there is a world of people out there other than yourself. I seem to always find myself behind the guy who is trying to make a 5 way flight out of a 3 way flight because his some of his bags need to stay in Seattle, while others will go on to Dubuque, even though the kidney he’s transporting will end up in Topeka. Good grief…

 

Want to hear more travel stories as you also learn about education, communication, or online learning? Contact jborden@jeffpresents.com for more information!

Repurposing Work

Repurposing Work: I get asked to do a lot of seminars on plagiarism and cheating. It’s a VERY hot topic for teachers today. The Internet has changed the landscape of cheating making it accessible, easy, and cheap if not free. My feelings about cheating aside, one aspect of this topic has been really hard for me to speak to passionately. It’s the idea of repurposing your own work as a way to plagiarize.

If you look at many resources on cheating and plagiarism out there (www.plagiarism.org, www.academicintegrity.org, www.turnitin.com, school policy sites, teacher blogs, etc.) you will find descriptions of what it means to plagiarize. One that seems to come up more than not is the idea of taking your own work and turning it in for another class…this is defined by many instructors and institutions as cheating.

I have to admit, I’m not sure I buy into this. Yes, I get the argument that teaching is about process and that if a student simply submits a paper a second time they are missing out on some process. However, I also feel that the “process” of writing has already been done once and there will be plenty of opportunities to do it again. That aside, let me explain my other difficulties with this concept.

1. Outside of an academic context, when is this practice not acceptable? It seems to me that the only time repurposing your own work is wrong is when you sell your work to someone else. Reporters who sell a story to one newspaper cannot resubmit that story to another newspaper because it does not belong to them anymore. However, that’s just not the case with our students. It’s their work, not the school’s.
2. How common is to repurpose work? I cannot think of a day that goes by at my office where this practice isn’t used. Everyone re-uses old content for manuals, statements of work, contracts, and even emails. In fact, most employees at a company are allowed (and even encouraged) to re-use content they did not create in the first place as they create new documents. People know to work smarter, not harder. Repurposing work is a prime example of that saying!
3. Even in some academic contexts this practice is acceptable, if not suggested. In my doctoral work at Argosy, my cohort was TOLD to write papers for each class that could ultimately be pieced into our dissertations. (If only the class assignments made that possible! Ugh. Come on Argosy!!!)
4. If an instructor’s assignment is so ambiguous that it can be used in other classes, why penalize the student for critical thinking? Economy of time is a valuable lesson for any student to learn. Should we punish students for making the most of their time and energy?I realize there are some purists out there who will disagree with me. That’s certainly their right. But this is my blog, right? I just think this is an example of the “ivory tower” mentality that so many people associate with education. Telling students that it is against the rules to re-use their own work seems irresponsible, irrational, and unrealistic.

   Why, instead, aren’t we showing students HOW to best repurpose work? To be effective, shouldn’t most papers be re-worked to some degree? How often is a “perfect” essay turned in? Plus, there must be some aspect of newness to the second assignment. Right? (Again, if your assignment is so ambiguous that any paper from any class works, you’re almost baiting students to this practice).

   Finally, I have to admit that this seems like something that I just don’t have time to police. It’s one thing to watch for stolen work. It’s another thing to try and track down work the student did already. And unless this is a school policy, I can’t see a lot of school administrators backing a teacher who puts it in their syllabus over a student (or parent…or LAWYER) who did not steal anything. I’ve heard enough stories of administration ignoring the theft of actual ideas and other’s work – this seems 10 times more difficult to prosecute.

   Let me finish with a warning. If you ask me to come speak to your group on any subject, I can guarantee that I will bring ideas, stories, and visual aids that I have used with other groups. While the order may change and some ideas are deleted while others are added, I’m guessing you have hired me because of something specific you hear or see that you like. So, I’ll be sharing these tried and true ideas and methods with you and your group. If you consider that cheating…you really shouldn’t hire anyone to present to your group ever again. If you believe that a person can plagiarize themselves, you essentially should stop using anything but the first version or iteration of any product, idea, or service. Always drive the first version of a car, always buy the first release of a cell phone (like the iPhone v.1), and always use the original formula of soap. Everything else has been repurposed using previous work and knowledge so as not to cost ridiculous amounts of money…

   Want to hear repurposed work that others find fascinating?  Interested in communication, online learning, organizational communication, interpersonal elements, or storytelling techniques? Contact jborden@jeffpresents.com for more information!

Narrative

For much of its history, the United States of America has not been so united. For instance, for a number of centuries, American society was racially segregated. From schools to buses, public restrooms to drinking fountains, restaurants to churches, the country was divided into black and white.

Hospitals were among the last institutions to desegregate. One reason for this is that people were afraid they might get the “wrong blood” during a transfusion. They feared that if they received blood from a person of another color or ethnicity, they might actually develop the characteristics of that race.

But all of that changed when Dr. Charles Drew came along. In the 1930s, Dr. Drew created the process we now use to make plasma. Plasma comes from blood, but it is not type-specific, which means it can be used to treat bleeding patients without the need for ‘whole’ blood.

Dr. Drew’s discovery was so noteworthy that he was asked to head the Blood for Britain campaign during World War II. After the war, Drew founded the American Blood Bank, which is still in operation today.

Ironically, Dr. Charles Drew died in 1950 at the age of 46 because he did not receive a blood transfusion or blood plasma in time.

Dr. Drew was injured in an automobile accident and taken to a hospital that was still segregated—a hospital that would not admit black people.

And since Dr. Drew was a black man, he bled to death.

 

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As an educator, I feel that it is my responsibility to be a storyteller. I’m constantly scribbling down narratives and examples on napkins, paper sandwich bags, or whatever is available! Stories are the glue that hold together many of the important theories and philosophies I teach in the classroom. And often, I use the same story in multiple classes, while simply adjusting the meaning or message. For example, in the above story of Dr. Charles Drew, think of how many topics could be covered. Ethics, blood, chemistry, international relations, leadership, vision, research, racism, history, culture, and the list goes on.   (For the record – this story is likely an urban legend of his death.  See the link for more information.)

However, a problem arises when we apply storytelling to our classes. Time. Storytelling requires a lot of preparation, thought, and possibly data entry (for online) and can seem overwhelming. As teachers, we create and translate all kinds of lecture material–PowerPoint presentations, exams, and even discussions, but as I view hundreds of courses each year, I rarely see one translated story or illustration.

As teachers, we often leave out what is so easy (and important) for students: Context. How can we achieve context? Story. I am a huge history buff because I had good history teachers who told me the stories surrounding battles, discoveries, and triumphs. I learned and retained more about the atom in two minutes from a television sitcom where an ex-teacher (is there such a thing?) illustrated the atom by using a gang/neighborhood metaphor. (See: http://science.csustan.edu/stkrm/MISC/Atom-by-Venus.htm for the WKRP transcript.) Simply put, the best teachers I have had–whether in elementary, high school, college, or post graduate–were good storytellers.

Narrative helps us make sense of our world and the information presented to us in classrooms. Illustrations help us remember facts and figures. Examples bring us closer to our instructors as we find connections and associations to hold on to. Metaphors give us insight and analogies bring understanding to our minds. Plain and simple: stories teach. And, depending on your point of view, the time it takes to illustrate a lesson point might be less if you do it in your lecture. For example:

I recently spoke with an online instructor who has been teaching online for about four years. He found that he was having to spend a lot of time answering specific questions about his journalism lectures and readings through emails, discussion boards, or chats. These were on top of his prepared classroom activities and lectures. He soon realized that he was relaying the examples and stories he used in his face-to-face class for these “extra” materials and sessions. So, the following semester he began adding links to HTML pages, special text boxes, and distinctive colored text to his typical lecture items. These new “special” sections contained only stories, examples, and illustrations. He relayed that a few students ignored the new information, but he estimated that 80-90% of his students did not. He also noticed that his course questions were nearly eliminated. Students understood the material better and they even infused his stories into their discussions (“remember Professor Smith’s story about…”). Test scores increased, as did his teaching evaluation scores. He expressed to me that he had learned a valuable lesson.

Isn’t that the beauty of story? Learning a lesson without having to experience it ourselves. So… have you learned anything today? What’s your story? Your students would love to know…
Want to tell better stories?  Interested in finding creative storytelling techniques? Contact jborden@jeffpresents.com for more information!

Connections to Real Life

(Preface: This is a big week for me.  My daughter turned 1 and I’m actually writing / posting this from London, Eng.  I’m talking to faculty from 2 colleges moving into online learning for the U.K.)

 

Connections: As a comic, I enjoy watching “Last Comic Standing.” (It makes me wonder how many minutes I could put together…I think I have about 20 total minutes of straight stand-up in me!) I was watching the other night when a comic made a statement about college. He basically said not to bother going to college as you won’t really use any of it anyway…OUCH!

Ok – so I’ve heard this before. Heck, I’ve even thought this before. Yes, a college teacher had experiences wondering when or where I’d use the information I got in Western Civilizations or College Algebra. But you have to admit, the statement is funny. It’s just that the reason it’s funny is quite sad. There is an inherent humor in truth. Why is it funny that the airlines might start charging by the pound? Because it’s true…and it’s potentially humiliating! How did Seinfeld make a living talking about the differences between men and women, businessmen and blue collar workers, or restaurant versus diners? Truth.

So, the truth is that college “information” in and of itself is mostly useless. Whether or not I know the day of the month that the Great Depression started probably will not help me get a job. Understanding how to deconstruct a sentence will not likely get me a raise. The reason we go to school is not this ‘trivia’ – it’s much more than that. The reason that high schools, colleges, and universities exist is to teach something more important than these types of facts.

School is about thinking. And aren’t we in need of great thinking these days? Education should teach how to learn and think after you leave the institution, because that is how you will live your life forever. There are essentially three identified types of learning: formal (school), informal (professional development, continuing education, etc.), and nonformal (everything else from tv to talking with your neighbors). School should essentially prepare you for ALL of these learning events!

Please hear me – this isn’t to say that the topics and subjects aren’t important. I was once ‘accused’ by another professor of treating my subject as if it was the most important thing students would ever learn. I replied, “Of course I do…don’t you?!” And I believe it. If you read this blog, you know that I’m serious when I say that a majority of people do NOT know how to communicate effectively these days.

But I am equally serious when I say that school will NEVER be about currency. The most relevant topic we could tackle will always be ahead of us. The most practical resource we can provide will still be behind the curve. Not because teachers don’t try – some of them try VERY hard to be current and relevant. It’s because school isn’t about showing you the latest, bleeding edge tool or theory. School is about learning to think. Even the top schools…the ivy league schools or the fancy business schools – they don’t teach “stuff” people need to know. I have several friends who went to these schools. They’ll tell you that they gleaned 4 or 5 significant ideas after several years and tens of thousands of dollars. BUT…it’s not the ideas that matter. It’s connecting the real life dots.

Do you want to know how to succeed as a manager? Learn process. Figure out how to put together a process that people can follow, that creates fewer holes, that adds accountability, and that saves money (or time which IS money). And what’s the best way to learn process? Foundational principles that deal with teamwork, cost savings, time management, and quality assurance. Where do you get these foundational principles? Two places, actually. You can be a guru at process after fifteen years of significant experience or potentially after getting a serious management degree and a few years in a specific workplace! Yep, school actually speeds up the process.

Look at some of the best speakers out there. They learned in one of two places. They either spent years (often dozens) figuring out what to say and how to say it, or they spent a few years in school and a few more watching people implement ideas.

Will you use everything you learn in school? Well, yes and no. Does it matter how the cold war ended? Not on a test, but it does in terms of diplomacy. Does anyone care how to conjugate a verb? Only people who need to speak well enough to get ahead. Can I tell you one philosophy I learned from my Freshman Philosophy class that I attended so rarely, they actually had a room change and I had to find out from the registrar where it was? Hmmm…I can tell you that we might not all be here right now. These words might not really exist…but I digress. The answer is not really. But do I get how to implement my philosophy on my team of employees and how it shapes my own reality? Absolutely.

School isn’t silly. College isn’t a waste…at least not most of the time. Because school isn’t about facts and figures, it’s about thinking. From history to science, language to philosophy, school is all about HOW to learn, more than learning itself. True, a few college instructors need to remember this information. But, when you know it…things take on a whole new meaning. Just connect the dots between “real life” and school. It’s not hard once you try…

 

Want to make sure you are connecting student work to business reality?  Interested in finding creative ways to tie content to real life? Contact jborden@jeffpresents.com for more information!