Time To Get My Head Back Into The Game - Summer Is Over

It's hard to believe it, but summer has came to an end.  I start teaching student connect next week, then in service, and then back to the normal schedule.  My first year class is completely full, which is a sign of a good year.  I always enjoy seeing all of the talent that the students have or discover that they have while in my class.  

I will start blogging about the classes soon, which reminds me, I am going to have to find some class bloggers.  Any takers?  

Well, here is to a new school year.  I'll see you all real soon.  The first day of class is August 17, 2009.  I look forward to meeting the new class and seeing the second year students again.

Something That I've Learned This Summer

As you may know, I am a collision repair instructor here at Butler Community College.  I’ve worked in the industry before becoming a teacher. The industry is changing fast, but I am passionate about it and I enjoy helping students become successful in the industry.

There is another reason for this blog post that I believe we all have in common. That is our health. It does not matter what profession you’re in, you must have good health to excel and perform well. I spent some time researching this summer and found something that I would like to share with you. That is customized vitamins. With a test, a lab can formulate a vitamin to fit your body’s needs. You can watch learn more by watching this VIDEO.  

With that said, I also learned that Donald Trump purchased this small company and plans to launch it as a network marketing company in November. I am not the type of person to get involved with a deal like this, but with Mr. Trump’s business wisdom, I felt compelled to follow his lead and become a part of the Trump Network. You can learn more about Trump Network by visiting MY TRUMP SITE.

If you’re interested in trying these supplements for yourself to improve your health; Or if you are interested in the business side of this, please contact me.

Other than that, I getting ready for another school year that is about to start next month. My classes are full so it should be off to a great year.

Thanks,

Donnie Smith
316-621-0518
LearnAutoBody@gmail.com

New Technology vs. Old-School in the Classroom

Below are a couple videos expressing the use of new technology in the classroom.  Technology is great and should be used to enhance the learning environment; however, somedays I lean towards the old-school version.  What do you think?

Integrating New Technology into the Classroom

Old-School Method

Which Version Wins?

Schools Using Twitter to Excel Learning Environment

We are living in fast changing times.  Technology is changing fast too, which is helping some teachers excel their classroom interaction.  If you're not using many of the tools available today, you will want to watch this video.  You know the saying "if you can't beat em', join em'."  Technology is not going away; we might as well communicate with students with whatever method works best.  Watch this video and consider using Twitter in your classroom.

Leave a comment and let us know what you think about this idea.

UFC 100 - Memories of Texas

The headline UFC 100 popped up on my computer today, which made me think of Texas.  When I lived in Tyler, Texas I became close friends with Drew and Hong Arthur.  At the time, Drew was a US Marshal and Hong worked for an accounting firm.  Our friendship started when they decided to offer Jui Jitsu classes at the Green Acres Baptist Church.  My wife, kids and myself trained there a several years, while building a friendship with the Arthur's.  During that time we trained and had many get-together to watch the UFC fights live.  Drew decided to retire from the US Marshal's and build a gym as a full-time operation.  He found a location, and the work begun.  We helped him tear-out and rebuild the facility to create the nicest MMA Gym in East Texas.  At the time, we were the only gym that actually had an octagon cage in it. (may still be the only one)   The training excelled from there.  The floors fully matted, every kind of punching bag you can think of, and more classes and instructors started to join the Lone Star Mixed Martial Gym.  Times were great and I learned a lot.  However, due to job situations, I decided to move on and join the team in Kansas at Butler Community College, which tuned out to be a great move for me. 

I keep in touch with the Arthur's from time-to-time, but I have lost touch with MMA.  I have not watched a live event since we left East Texas several years back.  However, the great times and friendships from there will stay with me forever, as they were special times.  

 There gym continues to grow and thrive.  They are now a part of Relson Gracie De Jui Juitsu Academy.  They're also certified through the Texas Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Association.

This is probably the best type of exercise that I've ever done.  It's excellent for losing weight or conditioning.  Therefore, if you live in the East Texas area, I recommend their gym to you.  You will not find nicer people or a better environment (for the whole family) to train anywhere.  Here is a link to their website.www.LoneStarMMAGym.com  I am still in a few short clips of the videos on their site.  My boys are still in their youth video; however, they were quite smaller there.

Stop by and say Hello to them!

Teamwork Surfaces to the Top of the Collision Repair Industry

"Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success." ~Henry Ford 

This is the quote Donald Trump used to start his essay about teamwork in his book “Think Like A Champion.”  In his book, Donald expresses the importance of teamwork to help produce a successful business.  

 
I believe superior teamwork will improve any business environment.  If you’re willing to be a team player, life will certainly be much easier for you.    The collision repair industry is no exception, as they are turning to a team based environment.  According to a few members of our college advisory board, they said by working in teams, they have been able to clock more hours than working alone.  The lean process that is finding its way into many collision repair shops require teamwork as well.  This includes everyone from the receptionist to the business owner or manager to work together.   

I emphasize team skills at the college; however many students and some adults resist the idea.  However, I have to agree with Donald on this issue; teamwork is necessary to excel in today’s society.  

Classes Are Full

If you're interested in enrolling in our Fall Automotive or Collision Repair programs, you may consider being put on our waiting list, as we are completely full.  You may still have a chance to get into the program, if someone drops.    

Eliminating Waste to Produce a Lean Working Environment

When I first heard that we need to eliminate waste to become lean in the I-CAR class I took, I thought of hazardous waste.  However, they explained the waste that they were referring to was wasted time, steps, work, etc.  Basically, eliminating anything that is not being paid for by the customer.  For example, shuffling cars around, trips back and forth to your toolbox, never ending paperwork, etc.  This sounds like the phrase “work smarter not harder to me.”  Or maybe good time management.  

I am one of the worse people to shuffle papers.  I put them in piles and reorganize the piles numerous times before determining what to do with them.  I’ve heard to work smarter, you should only touch the paper one time.  For example, file, mail, or though it in trash.  Same with your mail.  Open it and put it where it goes, not in piles.  Another thing that I’m bad about is e-mail.  I open them and scan them.  However, I don’t delete them because think that I may need to come back and thoroughly read them later.  It usually gets lost in the incoming e-mails and I never reread it.  I wish that I would get in the habit of opening an e-mail, reading it, then deleting or putting it in a file.  It would make my life so much easier.  

Whether it’s papers, parts, cars, or time, you need to look for ways to eliminate waste.  Work smarter not harder.  This reminds me of a joke my dad told me when I was a kid that I will close with.  There were these two hard working young men that got a job hand painting the stripes on the road with a paint brush.  The first day they finished and reported to their boss.  The boss could not believe how far they striped.  He told them that was the record for striping.  The next day they reported to their boss when they finished with about average distance as the other crews.  The boss thought to himself, not as good, but average.  However, the next day they reported to their boss with very little work done.  That was it, the boss become very angry.  He said, you come to me with record distance of work achieved the first day, average distance yesterday, and way below every other team today; what is your problem?  They said, sir we’re working hard everyday.  It’s just getting further back and forth to dip the brush in the paint bucket each time.  The point of this story is, just because you’re working hard (busywork) does not me that you’re being productive.