Don’t let logical thinking get in the way of common sense.

Or should I say,  “don’t let common sense get in the way of logical thinking”?

Either way they are similar.

Faulty logic appeals to common sense as an authority; experience per se.

I guess that’s just the way I try to navigate the world.  We can think anything and our past influences our forward thinking and beliefs.  Experience has a big impact on this.

Logic alone can’t get it done.  Great decisions are based on both logic and common sense, drawn from our experiences.

Today I attended the Grow Your Business social media program at Madison College. Steve Noll facilitated a fun conversation on the impact of social media. He touched on the subject of Geotagging. According to Wikipedia, Geotagging (also written as GeoTagging) is the process of adding geographical identification metadata to various media such as photographs, video, websites, SMS messages, or RSS feeds and is a form of geospatial metadata. These data usually consist of latitude and longitude coordinates, though they can also include altitude, bearing, distance, accuracy data, and place names. It is commonly used for photographs, giving geotagged photographs.

Geotagging can help users find a wide variety of location-specific information. For instance, one can find images taken near a given location by entering latitude and longitude coordinates into a suitable image search engine. Geotagging-enabled information services can also potentially be used to find location-based news, websites, or other resources. Geotagging can tell users the location of the content of a given picture or other media or the point of view, and conversely on some media platforms show media relevant to a given location.

The related term geocoding refers to the process of taking non-coordinate based geographical identifiers, such as a street address, and finding associated geographic coordinates (or vice versa for reverse geocoding). Such techniques can be used together with geotagging to provide alternative search techniques.

Steve also touched on the importance of security and the risk of posting your location for “your friends” to see. According to Steve, Foursquare has about 10 million users and has created a great social media interface for retailers interested in rewarding people who “check in” frequently.

I attended this session for several reasons. I hadn’t seen the new Madison College West Campus yet, I wanted to get some fresh ideas on Social Media and it included free lunch. What a deal. A perfect networking event.

Watch for more great programs and innovative learning programs from Madison College. If we continue to promote continuing education and innovative learning with real business applications, our economy in Dane County will stay strong into the future.

Thanks to everyone at Madison College who put today’s program on, including the Fitchburg, Verona and Middleton Chamber’s of Commerce. If you want more information on Madison College click http://matcmadison.edu/CCL.

One of the benefits of being a member of the Middleton Chamber of Commerce is that you get current information relating to local economic development issues.  In the minutes of the 10-20-10 MCC Economic Development Committee meeting, the group heard from Terry Webb and Roger Price from Madison College, formerly MATC.

In these notes, they highlight current education trends and local employment needs.  Here’s the notes from that meeting

This is MATC’s plan for renovations, upgrades and new facilities to meet the increasing demand of local residents who need affordable education and job training.  Funding for the Plan is a referendum question on the 11-2-10 election ballot.  They also discussed the role Madison College plays in the community.

They started the presentation by discussing the changing workplace and how we all must adapt.  This includes students, MATC and employers.  They listed six ways the business community is changing.

The global marketplace has reduced the importance of location and has opened up many opportunities that did not previously exist.  Changing demographics of customers and the workforce.  The average age in our area is now 37.  It was 30 only a few years ago.

Technology improvements.  It isn’t just the new technology that creates change.  It is also the leveraging of the new technology and the increasing productivity of new technology that creates more opportunities.

The recession has changed the way we look at employment and the workforce. Skills packaging includes employees who want to increase their current skills and add new skills.  These employees are trying to make themselves more attractive to employers and are also trying to be prepared when and if their current job is terminated.

There are labor shortages in certain industries.  There is a lack of certain job skills as different professions evolve.  The recession didn’t just cut back on jobs.  Many of these jobs are permanently gone.  New skills are needed for potential employees to move in to the next career.

They also talked about the Higher Education Imperative.  This is the ongoing trend of a workforce that needs a minimum of one year of post-secondary education.  They discussed the earnings differential as you compare different levels of education.  This same trend also shows itself in the unemployment statistics, as you are less likely to be unemployed if you have more education.

MATC works with students who are right out of high school.  But they also work with a large number of students who are looking for different skills or to improve their current skills.  Many of these students have attended college at other schools.  Some have degrees from other colleges and are looking to better define their skills.

Wisconsin ranks okay in terms of education level in the US.  But the US has fallen down the list of countries based on education level of their citizens.  The US used to be first.  Now we are ninth.  35% of US citizens have post secondary education.  This compares to 54% for Canada.

The next topic was “middle skill jobs”.  These are jobs that require some education and training beyond a high school degree but short of a full four year degree.  More and more jobs are falling into this area.  Health care, for example, has many careers and opportunities.  Some of these professions are in great demand today and jobs are waiting for students as they graduate.  Some students are being offered and are accepting jobs even before they graduate.  Information technology jobs are also being filled as fast as people can graduate.  Many of the skilled construction trades are also looking for new graduates.  Skilled construction workers as a group are getting older.  There are not enough young people following in the system to replace them.  More and more of these construction jobs involve new technology.  A recent study estimates that the future workforce will be made up of 80% middle and high skill jobs.

Enrollment at MATC (or Madison College, as they are now being referred to) has increased 22% in the past five years.  There were about 8,800 full-time equivalent students five years ago.  Today there are 10,800.  More than 40,000 students attend MATC.  The average age of a student is 29.  Their territory covers 12 counties and 40 public school systems.

Here is a brief summary of the Master Facility Plan.

A new Health Careers Education Center & Clinic.  This is 177,000 sq ft at a cost of $43 million.  It would include an actual working clinic.  Waiting lists on many programs are three years.

A new Protective Services building at a cost of $21 million.  This is police, fire, EMS and related professions.  This type of training is in high demand and is not offered at that many places.

Renovations and upgrades to the regional campuses in Fort Atkinson, Reedsburg, Watertown and Portage at a cost of $7 million.  These campuses are quite popular and have reached full capacity very quickly.

A new Transportation and Green Manufacturing Center at a cost of $16 million.

Madison Campus Repairs and Upgrades.  The Truax campus is in need of repair.  Some of this is basic HVAC and plumbing and electrical.  Cost is $34 million.

Stormwater and Campus Safety Upgrades at a cost of $10 million.

The borrowing for all of this would be spread out.  The cost to a $200,000 home would be about $27.52 per year.

Why Now?  The emerging workforce needs are continuing to evolve.  The workplace is changing rapidly.  The mismatch of jobs and people with the correct skills continues to grow.  Enrollment is at an all-time high and demand continues to grow.  65% of programs have a waiting list. Facilities are at capacity.

This is also a good time to borrow money.  Interest rates are as low as 1%.  Construction costs are also quite low.  The economic impact of all this construction and upgrading in the 12 county area would be quite large over the next five years.

The economic impact of having employees who are qualified and ready to step into jobs immediately is also quite high.  80% of graduates stay in the district.  96% stay in Wisconsin.  90% find jobs very soon after graduation.

The Master Plan is ready and waiting to be implemented.  Approval of the referendum is needed.  Construction would start very soon after if approved.

If the referendum is rejected, there would likely be another referendum asking for many of the same items.  The demand is there.  Waiting lists are long and potential students are being turned away.  Jobs are going unfilled due to lack of qualified employees.

They explained that MATC has a very good reputation.  Their approval rating is 90%.  They have done well over the years to keep expenses under control.  Labor costs have been negotiated well.  Efficiencies of operation have been implemented.  They have also done a good job of keeping their debt low.

Please note that the ballot question is on the back of the ballot in Madison.

There was a brief discussion about online enrollment.  This has become more popular in recent years and will continue to expand.  It is nice in that there is not as much demand for facilities, although many “online” courses are partially online and partially hands-on in a classroom.  There are also some classes that can not be taught without the classroom experience and facilities.

I was listening to talk radio yesterday and Mark Belling from WISN in Milwaukee was talking about people that accomplish extraordinary things.

Bob Lang from Delafield built Erin Hills golf course with the intention of having it become the site for the U.S. Open golf championship.

Senator Herb Kohl built Whistling Straits near Kohler and has hosted several PGA tournament events and will host the 92^nd PGA Championship in August.

To build these world class courses was a feat in itself.  The state of Wisconsin is filled with pitfalls and challenges for business owners.  According to Forbes Magazine, Wisconsin ranks 44^th out of 50 for “the best states for business”, barely ahead of Michigan, Louisiana and West Virginia.

The only thing that allowed them to achieve success was their determination, their will, their drive, their passion for a vision and a belief that would not be squelched by government regulation.

Without their true grit, these amazing golf courses would never have been built.  These are men of courage that followed their dream.  They had a vision and they pursued it relentlessly.  It’s people like Bob Lang and Herb Kohl that inspire me and keep my spirit alive.

To succeed in business today, you need more than a great idea and money.  You need determination, incredible will, drive and passion for what you believe in.

Over my 30 year career in sales and sales management John Wooden’s name and principles popped up about once a year in various training discussions.

His recent passing creates an opportunity to pause and reflect on his greatness.  Seldom in our history do we come across great leaders that are completely authentic and live by principles that guarantee success.  John Wooden was one of those great leaders.  His father passed along this 7 Point Creed as John was entering grammar school.

John Wooden’s 7 Point Creed:

• Be true to yourself.
• Make each day your masterpiece.
• Help others.
• Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible.
• Make friendship a fine art.
• Build a shelter against a rainy day.
• Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.

John went on to write his own Pyramid of Success.

John Wooden served our country in the Navy achieving the rank of Lieutenant.  As a player he once made 134 consecutive free throws in 46 games.  As a coach, he won 10 NCAA basketball championships coaching the UCLA Bruins.  Overall his coaching record was 664 wins and 162 losses.

I would say that John Wooden was an extraordinary man that we can all model our lives after.

It’s been just over a month since my last post.  WOW has it been busy.  Too busy to write.  Too busy to think clearly about what to write.

A friend I met at Wizard Academy last July has an incredibly powerful blog and he writes and posts every day 365 days a year.  He gets up at 3am and always has quality ideas, concepts and video’s to share.  I’m not that great.  For me it takes great focus and energy to push out concepts that I believe will be of value.  Even today, I really don’t have time to blog, but I can’t let another day go by.

So today I share the thought of focus and energy.   When does something that needs to be done, get so important that you stop what you’re doing whether you’re on deadline or not and dedicate your focus and energy to that new project?  For me it’s letting a blog go 30 days.
Gair Maxwell has enough focus and energy to write great blogs every 24 hours.  Now maybe he’s not as immersed as I am with client projects.  At any rate, you’ll love his blog and you can find it at www.seamlessbrand.com.

Enjoy the day, enjoy Gair’s blog and enjoy your focus and energy on whatever subject you determine needs to be focused on right now!

From time to time, we’re struck by the loss of someone close to us.  Yesterday a friend of mine passed into eternal life.  Gregg and I got to know each other through business and became friends.  That’s the kind of guy Gregg was.  He had great vision, great dreams and was a true entrepreneur.  He had great energy, an unending smile and great spirit, always.  I never saw him down, even when he faced challenges.

He was a never-ending positive force.  He cared for people, literally in his volunteer work as an EMT.  He loved golf and the freedom that being an entrepreneur provides.

He was a maverick.  Stepping up, making big decisions and forging relationships that required guts.   I’ll miss Gregg.  I’ll also keep his spirit alive.  I’ll take what I learned from him and I’ll internalize his spirit and I’ll share the things I know made Gregg one of the greatest men I’ve known.  This is what I call the Circle of Life.

So today I share with you Gregg’s finest qualities.  Take inventory of his greatness and make these qualities part of your life and share them with others.

Gregg was a great family man.
Gregg was a great husband and father.
Gregg was a vibrant and positive spirit always.
Gregg always had a smile.
Gregg lived his life to help others always.
Gregg was a visionary.
Gregg was fair.
Gregg was trusting.
Gregg appreciated quality and knew quality when he saw it.
Gregg was fun.
Gregg lived life with passion.

I will miss Gregg in person, but I will keep his spirit alive and share his greatness with others.  Celebrate Gregg’s life by helping others capture the quality that Gregg lived every day.  Here’s to you Gregg!