In today’s modern world, computer training is considered to be of vital importance to almost everyone. Whether you are entering the workforce, are on a senior management team, or you are a recent retiree, computer skills are a must. Around the world over, it’s not just about basic word processing and balancing your check book anymore, either. The computer has invaded almost every facet of our modern lives, and thus it has become a necessity to be able to use and understand the computer.

Technology is a fast moving industry and is therefore, always changing. Whether you are a novice, an intermediate or a professional there are computer training options available to enable you to get the most from your computer.

When looking at computer training classes the first thing most people think about is the traditional method of training in a class room. Primary schools and high schools all have computer courses as part of their curriculum in order teach younger people how to use the computer. Colleges also offer a wide variety of courses for all user levels in regards to computer training.

Correspondence courses are gaining in popularity. Distance learning offer the student the advantage of learning at their own pace within their own home. The only drawback is the lack of a hands on approach gained from a classroom environment. You can’t just raise your hand and have your query answered immediately.

A new method using today’s technology is online computer training courses. The Internet has given colleges the ability to offer online courses in practically any subject. From the comfort of their own homes, students are obtaining degrees by following online training courses.

Another method of computer training to consider is using software tutorials. This is a new method as the tutorials are essentially videos. This technology has only been recently made available as computers have become more powerful. These videos can be purchased online and again allow you to learn at your own pace in your home but with hands on help.

As you can see, there are a variety of methods available for computer training. If you are serious about keeping abreast of modern communications for either your job or your home life you need to find a suitable course. You may even teach yourself just by researching and looking at specific areas of interest. Just go with what works best for you.

Most teachers of 5 and 6-year-old children will tell you how baffled they can be by this phenomenon.

There will often be several bright children in the class, who can do most things well and have a good attitude, but fall behind in reading.

Initially everything can seem OK. But, while other children’s reading progresses steadily, these children will hit a plateau at around 6. As the text they are expected to read gets more complicated, they will get more and more confused, often guessing wildly.

In the end their reading will go into reverse as their confidence implodes. They can feel the worry of their teacher and parents, but don’t know what to do.

These children will often be labelled dyslexic. But that is quite wrong.

Dyslexia suggests there is some underlying problem that cannot be overcome.

But these children are usually just trying to read the wrong way. There is no reason why they should not be able to read.

Here is what’s really happening.

A child will always approach a problem in what seems the easiest way. To a visual child, memorising the alphabet and simple words seems easy. People praise their achievement. So they think that they are reading. And early reader books encourage this with a very limited vocabulary.

So their parents and teacher believe all is well.

But problems develop as the text starts to use a broader range of words. Some children will naturally switch to scanning the words phonetically.

Others cannot make the switch without careful instruction. Their auditory perception just isn’t up to hearing the phonic structure of the words.

And these children are heading for failure

They will use the context to guess wildly, taking the first letter of the word as a guide.

They are baffled by their predicament and have no idea why it has gone wrong. They can feel people’s frustration, but have actually been working hard.

Of the one in five children who reach the age of 11 unable to read properly, around 80% are in this group. It virtually destroys their chances of a good academic career and severely limits their working options.

And that is a tragedy, because we routinely see exactly these children learn to read in a matter of weeks. They have no underlying reason not to be able to read. They are just going about it the wrong way.

The label dyslexic carries a great risk that everyone will just relax into acceptance of the situation as inevitable. That leaves the child to deal with a much harder path through life.

You want to use referrals to grow your business… You see the value of turning your customers into your biggest fans and strongest salespeople. Sounds good on paper, but how do you do it in real life? In this article, I’m going to quickly show you the best time to bring up referrals and a proven system to use.

When and how do you bring up the whole conversation of referrals?

The problem with waiting until you have proven yourself with a customer lies in the human brain. Through evolution, the brain adapted to pay attention to what’s immediate, and to ignore things that are finished.

This results in examples like waitresses, who while serving you can remember lots of detail about who was sitting where and everything you just ordered. Studies have shown that the moment she delivers the check, she struggles to remember anything about serving you. She’s on to the next table.

For example, a mother sleeping in a 14th floor apartment above a noisy street can sleep, oblivious to the noise below. Yet when her baby stirs two rooms over, she’s up like a flash and at her child’s side. The reticular activated system is the brain’s system to selectively and automatically focus what you pay attention to.

You can fall asleep watching TV and not pay attention to those sounds but immediately snap awake when your dog starts barking or someone opens the door. Or if you want to find someone in a crowd and they call your cell phone to let you know they have a red hat on, suddenly all the red hats appear. The RAS developed to instinctively choose what you notice.

The RAS is a survival tool. Your ancestors had to notice the sabre tooth tigers hiding in the forest, so the RAS evolved to pay attention to the important and ignore what isn’t. How do you use that to your advantage with customers?

Referral System Example

Here is an example of a possible discussion that you might have with a potential client / customer, on the first visit.

“Mr. Smith, if we do business, there will be a time when you will be thrilled with what we provide. We won’t take on a new client unless we know we can provide what they need. A single client fee is not worth the potential loss in reputation from taking an assignment where we are not confident of success.

One of the big reasons I do that is because I get more of my business by referral.

If I make absolutely sure that I do a great job, you will be more likely to refer your friends to my services.

Of course, if you refer me that’s a positive thing and it will only happen if you are thrilled with my services.

Once that takes place, I’m betting that you will want to tell you friends and associates about my service. Which is great! I’m going to make sure that you are so excited and pleased with your results that you can’t wait to tell other people about me.

I only expect that you will refer a friend if it makes sense that they will benefit as much as you have.

I will commit to acting professionally and with courtesy in all dealings with you… and I will offer that same level of service to your friends.

I only have one request: If we work together, may I periodically check with you to see if you are thrilled yet?”

By planting seeds in this manner (or in your own style), you will increase your effectiveness in gaining referrals. Your customer’s RAS will automatically and most importantly, without their having to remember, respond by bringing to their attention the colleagues that will benefit from working with you.

If you ask in this way, you will notice your referrals increasing. Without their having to work at it, your customer’s RAS will be compelled to find friends that will benefit from working with you.