It’s exam time and I already know what I am going to see and hear around our house: stacks of paper and a lot of groaning. I’ll walk over and find messy binders and notes that may or may not make sense and a student with blood-shot eyes. What frustrates me about this scene? It all seems so unnecessary.I think learning how to learn ought to be a course taught in school right alongside science and social-studies. It ought to be incremental, starting in Grade 1, so that by the time Grade 10 or 11 rolls by, interacting with lessons is not so daunting and confusing.Getting good grades shouldn’t be this stressful; it should be fascinating. But I am not sure one can get to the fascinating part if you don’t know how to learn properly and if you don’t know how to get your mind to retain it in an effective way.There are excellent courses outside of school that one can tap into. Dr. Marc Dussault, for example, has researched and packaged an excellent resource for students. It is affordable, I just don’t know how many people are aware of it. There are also excellent articles on the internet on time management, learning styles, information retention; I just don’t find those things in my kid’s backpacks when they get home at 4:00. Why not? Wouldn’t it be a win for everyone if I did?Most high-schools offer a class on “Good Study Habits” but who shows up and how much of that do they remember? It needs to be something we refresh and reintroduce over and over to be of any benefit.Those eager to learn will take the time to hunt out a strategy for learning, but what about those students who are already reluctant about coming to the table? I think we could light the spark to learn if the whole thing felt achievable in the first place.Jay Neumann

Running a online venture is so easy anyone can do it – sitting around in your pyjamas answering a few emails – right? Making money whilst sipping a margarita on a sunlit beach is everyone’s idea of a successful business – but is it all hype?I hate to break it to you but to make an online business successful, you need to realize that hype is just that – hype. Let’s explore some common misconceptions:There’s less competition – Compared to traditional businesses, competition online is fierce and fast. You have 3 eyeball seconds to interest your customer in your offering. They can move on with the click of the mouse and they will, unless you can draw them in to enjoy your particular brand of the online experience.There’s no overhead: The only overhead you don’t have in online business is retail rent, that is if your business sells products. Unless you are running your business out of your home, which is a great way to start, your business will need premises eventually as well as staff and all the other business tools traditional businesses use.There are no barriers to entry: It’s true that anyone can start a website, but making it successful does have barriers to entry. For example:

Trust – Many consumers still don’t trust websites, how will you build trust in a sea of websites?

If you build it, will they come? – It takes time for a website to list on search engine results. In the meantime, how will your customers know your website exists?

Difficult Suppliers – Each industry is different but some suppliers will refuse to sell to you when they find out you’re online.

Price – Remember my first point about competition? Price comparison online is easy, and the switch for a $2 saving is just a mouse click away.
I can work in my pyjamas: You will definitely work in your pyjamas, late at night catching up with overseas suppliers in a different time zone!I won’t need to pay anyone: If you want to start an online business, chances are that you are awesome with computers. But what about HTML, SEO, eyeball seconds, conversions vs. visits, abandoned carts, FTP, API, product feeds? Eventually, you will need to hire an expert or two.Don’t get me wrong, I love online businesses and there will be points in the life of your online business when you have a clear advantage over the bricks and mortar competition. But the truth of it is that a successful online business still needs investment in time and money, commitment, passion and a drive to solve problems quickly.The good news is that there are solutions to every business problem, so if you have a passion for online business then I say go for it! Just make sure you enter the sector with your eyes wide open, plenty of investment dollars, time, patience and a willingness to see past the hype – in the end it’s worth it.

People in the telecommunications industry are rarely given recognition for the advanced methods of communication that we have today. These people are virtually invisible as they work to bring information and communication an easy and affordable commodity.But for people who understand the importance of the industry to everyday life, telecommunications jobs are worthy of great respect. These jobs are partly responsible for the millions of transactions that would have been impossible without the Internet and the telephone network.If you want to become part of a humble, yet low-profile industry that influences the lives of millions around the world, you should take a job in the telecommunications industry. Here are a few tips that can help you to find one that suits your abilities:1. Know your potentials.If you want to get a good job in the telecommunications industry, the first thing you should identify is your capabilities. A lot of jobs are available in the telecom business, and these include sales, networking, accounting and finance, human resources, electronics, mechanical, electrical and many more.2. Develop your interests. Once you have identified your interests, you should develop the right skills to be able to apply them in actual work. The first stage of your training should start with schooling. It is the source of your theoretical knowledge. You should accumulate as much knowledge as you can at school. What you learn here will form the foundation of your overall abilities.3. Do your homework.Add practical application to your theoretical knowledge by joining a group of like-minded individuals. Being with people who are interested in the same trade as you can help to make you learn may practical applications that are not taught at school. These people can also act as your network for future jobs in the industry.4. Apply for internship with a telecommunications company.Since you are aspiring for a job in a telecommunications company, you should find ways to get connected to any one of these as soon as you graduate from school.Lots of companies accept interns or trainees to be part of their operations. Take this opportunity when it comes along. The size of the company doesn’t matter for now. What matters is the amount of learning experience you’ll get for working with it. You should do the best you can here. Your performance is a strong basis for your co-workers to refer you for a regular job.5. Apply for a regular job in the industry.Once you have completed your on-the-job-training, there is a chance that the company will absorb you as one of its employees. But if doesn’t happen, you can always apply in other companies with your new-found skills and confidence.Lots of jobs are available in the telecommunications industry. You can find them in newspapers, job fairs, and websites of recruiting firms. Just be ready with your resume, references, and contact details. These are the key that can take you to your first regular job in the business.