Teaching

[Barry Carlton]

If asked, would you teach an informal seminar in your line of floor covering?

Would you charge for it?

If so, why? or why not?

How would you build a curriculum?

Would you offer to teach?

Would you advertise? (at local supply houses, or stores)

b

[Barry Carlton]

Jon,

you should have a lot to say on this.

b

[Jon Scanlan]

Barry why you pick on me?
Some of the questions I don't understand. If it was going to be a commercial venture, eg people paying I would probably charge for my time. If it was to help others out I wouldn't charge but I wouldn't expect it to cost me money. Our training school here is about a 2 hour flight away from me and I would expect them to pick up my over night, flight expenses and out of pocket items. I have been semi asked by a friend if I would be interested but really haven't given it any thought as they seem to have enough there already. I would be there in an helping capacity with the regular people running it as they have the program for the Qualification Authorities. I would look at it as putting something back into the flooring game. If it was done as a commercial venture I believe the person running it would have to have the gift of the gab, like a salesman to make it interesting. I would definitely not go out looking for doing this type of thing to make money. I can lay the stuff but do not have the polite correct words or the quick smart answers for the witty guys that could be there. That salesman's job

[rusty baker]

Yes, I would teach what I know. But if it was an hour class, what would we do for the other 58 minutes?

[Floorguy]

I'm a lousy teacher, to big groups. If it is more then 1 or 2 people, I get stage fright. I have been asked many times to speak in front of big groups of people in the industry, but my stomach turns just thinking about speaking in front of a lot of people.

I recently took them up on the offer to speak a little, to a group. My brain is going so fast I loose my taught trying to back track, my words. I never studder, until I get in front of a big group and start speaking to the crowd. I turn into a basket case.

[mcbrides]

barrycarlton said If asked, would you teach an informal seminar in your line of floor covering? Would you charge for it? If so, why? or why not? How would you build a curriculum? Would you offer to teach? Would you advertise? (at local supply houses, or stores) b

Absolutely, there are too may installers here needing help with their technique.

Absolutely, knowledge has never been free for me, I've always paid for training seminars. We were both approached to teach a class at Durham College here about 6 years ago, but we turned it down because they were only willing to pay $80 per evening, and that included our presentation materials and course plan. Not enough.

A few years ago we had a retailer ask us to take another installer out with us to teach him how to cut berber seams. The installer was willing to work for us for free for the day. I told the retailer that he would not work for free, he would pay us for the priviledge of spending a day learning our techniques (this part-time installer was a GM guy, 'nuff said?).

My wife often gets calls from other installers working with DuraCeramic, and she is willing to coach them over the phone, but it ticks me off that she is so generous with her time. She's been asked to do a demo by the distributor, but details haven't been worked out.

My wife has said for years that I should teach, but there are few opportunities here. I would, if asked, for remuneration. Let the wife build the course plan, she has the business background and I've taught her most of what I know (I stopped doing seamless flooring before we met - it got me sent all over the map).

As far as advertising, that would have to come into it, notices would be sent to retailers and local installer supply houses in advance of the event so that class size could be built.

As far as fee, charge overall what you would make on a good day, say if you had 8 guys interested in taking a class (and it would usually be several hours of demo and then the guys doing hands-on technique), charge $150 per guy (partially to cover the cost of materials), and give them lunch. If you are on good terms with a retailer with warehouse space, then you may not have to rent space to do it.

Knowledge is power, what a shame it would be to move through this trade and never share expertise along the way. I don't know how marketable teaching courses would be just now, but good luck.

Dave

[stullis]

Train my competition?

Train installers so a retailer can have a larger and cheaper labor pool?

I don't mind sharing some information but to actually teach them would require substantial $$ from someone and we know installers aren't typically willing to pay for it. Heck you can barely get them to come to free seminars when there is free food and beer.

Besides that I'm like Perry, stage fright.

[Hoss]

I'd do it for free for a group that did not have to pay for the seminar. If someone is making money, I want some. All travel expenses and per diem would have to be paid for by someone other than Hoss.

[cproader]

I would do a video, but I do more than I like accross the pond. It is different there because of the cultural barriers, but I just don't have alot of patience when it comes to instruction.......just ask my son.......

[Jon Scanlan]

cproader said I would do a video, but I do more than I like accross the pond. It is different there because of the cultural barriers, but I just don't have alot of patience when it comes to instruction.......just ask my son.......

A young lady says the same thing ?

[cproader]

Jon Scanlan said A young lady says the same thing ?

........Jon, she is the instructor, I aint teachin her nothin..........

[Demonseed]

In real life, I can explain things very well, and I have no problem speaking in front of large or small groups. My problem on message boards or the internet in general, is merely I am way too specific in my own way. I use language and semantics a lot differently than most people, and that gets lost in the mix. My other problem is, I was cursed with common sense.

When it comes to actual skill, I know what I am doing, but I may not always be going by the 'book'. My course would probably start with Common Sense 101, followed by When to do the Job by the Book 102, next would be Knowing what to say and what not to say to the customer 201, How to fix your own screw-ups 202, When to walk 301, repair furniture 302, etc.

I honestly believe the biggest problem Installers have isn't skill, certification, Mills/Manufacturers, it is a lack of common sense, or a defeatist attitude. Less thinking, More working.

[Dobby Tappet]

I honestly believe the biggest problem Installers have isn't skill, certification, Mills or Manufacturers, it is a lack of 'business' sense and the worst part is, they don't even know it!

But then, that would be topic for a new thread.

Dobby

[Bud Cline]

Train my competition? Train installers so a retailer can have a larger and cheaper labor pool?

This would have been my knee-jerk response years ago but then I got to thinking if I could subscribe to some rules and teach my competition to subscribe to those same rules the playing field would at least be levelled. Then maybe we could be bidding apples to apples. As it turns out after exercising that thought process for years...I am now seeing where IT AIN'T NEVER GONNA HAPPEN.

I think I already said that during the last seminar I gave for a large Midwest supplier, out of the 26 (thereabouts) installers and department managers in attendance only one or two had ever heard of the TCNA.

I see it every day on the Internet forums as well. I am now beginning to think the whole concept of a well organized industry subscribing to any kind of discipline is merely a pipe-dream.

[mcbrides]

Dobby Tappet said I honestly believe the biggest problem Installers have isn't skill, certification, Mills or Manufacturers, it is a lack of 'business' sense and the worst part is, they don't even know it! But then, that would be topic for a new thread. Dobby

Well, feel free to start one.