Overnight all our lives have changed completely due to COVID-19.
Hi everyone…Calvin here again with another news update.
If there is one thing that this pandemic has highlighted then it is the fact that, until a vaccine is successfully tested and made available to every person on the planet, our lives will never be the same again.
Sadly, many careers are now hanging in the balance, especially in industries like aviation, sport, the arts, entertainment, tourism and the hospitality industry.
I am sure you too know of someone who has either lost their job or are working less days of the week or someone who has had to take a cut-back on their monthly salary.
Over the past 4 months it has become desperate times for many to make a decent living and this has escalated many social ills like depression, anger and in some cases even violence. One just has to turn on any news channel to see all the current demonstrations on a global scale as people protest on the streets against governments who haven’t responded adequately to the pandemic crises.
I have always believed that playing the blame-game does not help and never will.
Instead of pointing fingers at any particular person or institution, I take the view that I should be part of the solution and ask myself how and where I can help to make a difference no matter how small it may be. BECOME PART OF THE SOLUTION YOU WANT TO SEE has always been my mantra and that is why I started my small private college in 2016 as a means to see young people (aged 19-25) in my community get employment because I was so disappointed by the colleges which became too expensive and landed parents in a debt-trap while their children struggled to get meaningful employment in the field that they studied for even after they graduated with their expensive Diploma qualification.
I have been focusing and encouraging young people to start their careers by becoming technical experts on the computer software used in the industry of their interest. Technology is the future and I have been right about this because if it was not for technology, we would have been worse off today.
Example: Due to technology, those employees who had technical computer expertise (computer software skills) could work from home with a laptop and email their work to the office and could attend virtual meetings via the Zoom app.
Most of my graduated students have NOT lost their jobs as a result of my focus on specialist computer software training. However, it has been very disappointing for me to hear that many of them will not be earning as much due to salary cuts and less working hours required as the smaller companies struggle to adapt to their loss of income due to extended periods of Covid lock-down measures.
One would think that the education industry would be hit hard by COVID as the schools have been closed for such a long period of time, but it has not been the case thanks to technology coming to the rescue.
Students are studying on-line as distance learning is possible as long as you have internet access.
And thanks to its competitive nature, service providers are cutting costs.
My neighbour recently bought an uncapped package for only R610 p.m. and with fibre becoming the norm, the fast download speeds makes live streaming and multiple users on the same network possible.
So with fast internet at an affordable R610 a month, technology is not putting an unbearable heavy burden on the household finances and the child now has the means necessary for learning.
Now the problem is the quality of distance learning compared to classroom learning and student discipline to self-study, but at least the education industry as a whole can still function at a reasonably good level compared to the other industries mentioned.
Question: So what then gives me sleepless nights? -for a person like myself who is worried about the career opportunities of our young college adults.
Answer: The fact that this pandemic has highlighted that having a job is NOT enough to sustain income security/prosperity.
The cost of living is simply too high and their income is too low since the pandemic even though they are highly computer skilled.
Thinking about it lately, I have come to realize that I have to encourage my students from now on, not only to be highly skilled in the right computer software, but also to get them to see that they have to equip themselves to WORK FROM HOME AS WELL!
Yes, they need uncapped internet at home (which is affordable) and they have to get connected with other online work-from-home groups/communities. Once they are back at their job again, it should not stop them to allocate time and effort to work 2 or 3 hours in the evening from home as well.
Heck, I have been giving classes in the evenings for years now, why can’t a young energetic person not put in the extra hours as well and thereby supplement their income instead of blaming their work for cutting their hours and salary. C’mon guys, form connections with other people in your industry working from home and learn from each other what needs to be done to succeed as an online-home-worker.
Currently, I am teaching my students to create online websites for clients using Wordpress. This will enable them to design websites from home!
Plus- Wordpress is fast becoming the new standard in having a website for any business. It is no longer over-priced and small businesses can now afford it as I am cutting the prices of Wordpress website creation to only R3000 and less. Now you no longer have to pay over R5000 /R8000 for a Wordpress website as in the past!
As long as you have upgraded your computer software skills (and what better way to do it by taking one of my one-to-one course offers) and have an internet connection, then you are well away on your way of gaining the income you have lost so far.
All it takes is a new mind-set and a persistent determination and you will be reaping the benefits before the end of the year.
Unfortunately, the damaging and heart-breaking effects of COVID-19 is going to be with us well into 2021 and we have to become part of the solution before we catch ourselves complaining and blaming.
We don’t want to spiral into negativity by adding to the problem instead of becoming the best we can be with a positive vision for the future.
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Well, friends, that’s all from me for today, have an great week!
Reply to this email & enrol today because getting ahead in your career, matters!
Calvin Training Venue:
37 Van Eyssen St
Glenlily,
Parow,
7500
Cape Town
3 students completed their Graphic Design courses this month at my home training centre. Wesley completed his CorelDraw 2020 level 1
Johanes completed his CorelDraw 2020 level 1 and level 2
Ivo completed his Web Design
course level 1 and level 2
1- Calvin’s unique one-to-one training
methods ensures that you will “get it”.
You walk away understanding the practical content
because you get personalised training and material.
Calvin’s “GET IT” = UNDERSTANDING.
2- INDIVIDUAL one-to-one classes by
professional trainers:
Ivan Clow / Erich Schutzler
= Expert-to-Learner training.
3- FREE COURSE MATERIAL: Training videos
& PDF Manual - PLUS FREE TRIAL of AutoCAD version 2020 and AutoDesk REVIT.
4- The CADClass CERTIFICATEof Attendance
is presented with pride to all students who complete the level 1 module and the Cadclass Certificate of Competence for students who complete both the level 1 & 2 modules as well.
5- Companies in Cape Town trust Calvin's high training standards since 1998 and have employed students who have attained their certification.
Should you want me to design a Wordpress website for your business under R3000 then contact me
on whatsapp 084 394 4325
View my business design offerings from my website: http://reddrum.co.za/ ____________________________________________________
I have listed my various training course offerings with its own website for focused information.
Find out more from the links below.....
Well done to my 3 Graphic Design students who are starting their internships with RED-DRUM from
the 1st of August creating websites and online marketing news letters.
Whether you want to learn in the mornings, evenings or over a Saturday/Sunday morning,
please reply to this email newsletter and I will be there to help you get started.
