Why is it so hard to help people?

2018-08-24T16:33:58-04:00

Today's Reality Check is for ME - Please read and send some feedback, it could really help me!

Last Friday I launched a Reality Check Video Series, a video a day, giving advice to Veterans about making the transition from the military to the corporate world. Today, I am asking for everyone to give me a reality check.

I left a very lucrative career a little over a year and a half ago, specifically to build a company to help Veterans. I have been an engineer and businessman for many years and didn’t enter this as a rookie. The market seemed ripe for change. The need was high. The only thing missing was someone stepping up to take it on. So, I did.

The Market

Over 250,000 Veterans enter the civilian workforce each year. These heroes, for the most part, are hard-working and dedicated people that deserve a chance at a successful career. They have a high acumen for technology and the IT market is growing. They are the last known ‘old-school’ talent pool. They are an incredible contrast to the entitled millennial generation that is afraid of working hard.

The traditional Veteran education market is tired and outdated. It’s also prone to corruption. Schools are focused on profits and the GI Bill is a huge target. They prey on the Veterans and sell them the lowest credentials at the highest prices. The result is our heroes work hard, spend their benefit, earn these credentials and then try to enter the job market. This is where they realize the skills they received are not the right ones. The ‘good’ training is out there but its priced for corporations and thereby not available to the Veteran. They cannot afford the $3,000-$5,000 price for 5 days of training.

I saw the potential and the need.

My Solution

I worked hard with the government, the Department of Labor and the Department of Veterans Affairs to create a unique apprenticeship/on-the-job-training program. I fought hard at this for over a year. I called Congressmen, Senators, the White House and I submitted testimony to the House Committee of Veterans Affairs. This resulted in an official program that is now approved in all 50 states. Veterans anywhere can use this as a much-needed alternative to the corrupt traditional schools. It’s the only nationally approved IT program of its kind.

I partnered and made relationships to bring the highest level of training and instructors to the Veteran… so they could learn from the best. We did this while constantly adjusting everything to keep our overhead to as close to zero as we could. We operate virtually, no wasted money on buildings. We work on the equipment and laptops we have, no new stuff. I have personally coded and created the website and continue to create most of our marketing. The result is we have classes as low as $50. We help them with everything from interviewing, resumes and technical training. They can purchase each piece for $50-65 keeping their monthly costs to something they can afford.

It seemed to me that I had accomplished my goal of creating a purpose-built solution to solve the problem and address the market.

Personal Commitment

I put my own investment and retirement money in, our savings. I even downsized my house and cars and sold my favorite motorcycle. All to reduce my expenses. My family has done less so I could help more. I have spent the past 18 months working between 12-18 hours a day, 7 days a week. I run the company, I mentor, I teach, I market and anything else I can do to try to make this successful. I started with the goal of helping people and if I ended up helping enough to become financially successful it would be a bonus. Today, I just try to survive and keep it going.

WHAT AM I MISSING?

Over the past 7 days I have put out a video a day on LinkedIn, Facebook, Rally Point and email. I have monitored the analytics hourly. We have achieved over 100,000 impressions and views and several hundred likes and comments. We launched a $20 raffle to win $300 prizes. I have 8500 direct connections on LinkedIn and pay for marketing to reach more. I have used places like Recruit Military that advertise 300,000 registered Veterans on their newsletter. All of this effort and, over the past week, we didn’t even sell a single raffle ticket and not one $50 course was purchased. How is that possible?

I am constantly approached by lead generation and marketing companies all wanting $3,000-$10,000 a month to market for us. I try not to lose focus on the fact that the right price must be one the Veteran can afford. Besides, at this point I don’t have $10,000 a month I could spend on marketing anyway. But am I really doing this so wrong that out of 100,000 people seeing our message in one form or another no one sees it as something they need? I target the advertisements towards HR, Veterans, etc. so its not a blind campaign. This drives the engineer in me nuts, there is no logic to this voodoo black magic marketing.

We are helping, it hasn’t been a total failure

Over the past 18 months we have had roughly 400 Veterans enter our program. Some come to the table ready to leverage what we have, and they see the success, it works. Some come in and do nothing. Many we have tried to help by raising money and letting them in for free. For these people it was a mixed result; some did great, but some took advantage of us. I have pushed the Veterans to help me help them by posting on social media and by sharing the message out. This is more difficult to get them to do than I had imagined. Something so easy, with the potential impact so direct to them, and yet I have only about 20-30 that regularly participate. I even offer them money off their own courses if they do this, but few will put out the effort. This leads me to believe I am finding the wrong type of Veterans. I just can’t believe this describes all Veterans today. So, how do I find more of the ones that are willing to see the huge opportunity I have created for them?

How is a small business, with a focus on helping, supposed to reach enough of the market to survive? I can’t believe that who we are or what we are doing is that far off the mark. I can’t believe that Veterans don’t see the value. I can’t believe that companies can’t see the benefit of using our services to help hire people, especially when others are charging $20,000 to $40,000 to place them. Am I just fishing in the wrong pond? Or am I blind to the fact that the need and the market was an illusion? Is the only way to help Veterans in IT… working the VA system and overcharging them? Am I naïve to think doing it the right way, treating them fairly and trying to ‘have their back’ by charging them less will ever work? Is it true that nice guys finish last? Or am I missing some obvious thing? I need help. I am going crazy working so hard, giving so much of myself and seeing so little movement. The engineer in me says, “Idiot, you’re missing something obvious”. So, as I have always done in major engineering design, I am reaching out. I am asking a simple question… is it broken or am I a dumbass that can’t see the problem?

Why not be a Non-Profit – is this a problem for people?

I chose not to form as a non-profit because I feel I should earn my own way. I didn’t want to survive off donations and charity, I wanted to work hard at it and prove it out. This is why I personally downsized; I never wanted to look them in the eye while they were going through a hard time and say I know what you mean, when in reality I was living large. But, I must ask now, was this a smart choice? Are people hesitant because I am not a non-profit? Do people realize that status is only for the IRS? It doesn’t give you safety from being screwed over, that comes from the people that own the company. But perceptions drive the reactions, so maybe I should change my status?

Am I just saying it wrong?

How does a company like mine get noticed, how do we get our message to the people we are trying to help? How do we convince people we are real and honest? How do we convince companies to give us a chance? How do we simply get people to do something as little as spend $20 on a raffle ticket? I have written and re-written our website, I have listened to people tell me you have to say it in a minute on a video. Everything at the surface seems to work, I get more connections and my audience grows every day, but the sales haven’t grown with it. I feel that if I stopped helping Veterans and just talked about helping Veterans I could be a major influencer on social media in a year. I would add many followers and my popularity would continue to grow. But what the hell is the point of this if I am not doing something to help them? Is my lot to make money spewing hot air and watching the problem grow? To see more Veteran suicides that could be prevented with simple actions and practical solutions that lead to jobs… to have hope and purpose restored in their lives? I can’t do this, it’s just not who I am. I would rather be invisible but have helped one person than to be popular and have helped no one.

Why this article?

It’s simple, is my pride in the way? Writing this is difficult for me as I have never accepted failure in anything. I am not capable of quitting. I will fight until it’s over, I don’t know any other way. So, this is the last bit of my pride going away. This is me asking of anyone that will listen… what am I doing wrong, what should I try next? People’s lives are at stake; I have some that have reached such low depths that death seemed like a suitable alternative. I can’t fail them, yet I can’t seem to break through this fundamental business problem.

No, I can’t take out loans and so far, no one has seriously offered to invest in the idea. I am not done but everyday I walk dangerously close to that line. I won’t go down without a fight, but at what point is the fight useless? If no one else sees this as a problem that needs to be addressed, if no one else helps me, can I win fighting alone? The most frustrating thing through all of this is how much positive feedback I get. So many messages, so many likes and shares, so many comments and phone calls. All telling me how great it is that I am doing what I am doing for the Veterans. But is this lip service, are the comments and likes to piggy back on my message for their own gain? If not, why not a single $20 raffle ticket? Why have some Veterans come into the program for free, used it, gotten a job and then never pay back anything? Its so frustrating. It would be easier for me if people just said, “Terry, this is a stupid idea and it will never work”. At least then I would understand the response.

This is not a unique scenario that just affects me and my family. The two men that have stayed close to me through all of this, working as much as I have, also put money and time in. We have all sacrificed to help our brothers and sisters. However, either we are not reaching them, or we are only reaching those that are looking for a handout.

Will you help?

All I am asking for, is another set of eyes, your input and opinions. Help me discover what I could do better to make this work and still be able to provide for my family. Even if the feedback is harsh, even if the answer is I should walk away. I can’t see it and I’m hoping maybe one of you can.

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Aug 24 at 2018 4:46 PM

2018-08-24T16:46:49-04:00

SSgt Terry Jenkins I do appreciate what you are trying to do. Is there a way to get your information to TAPS classes?
How about partnering with Operation Homefront which requires transiting vets to work or attend classes? I have some other thoughts. Message me and we can talk

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Aug 24 at 2018 4:49 PM

2018-08-24T16:49:59-04:00

Why is it so hard to help people? Great question SSgt Terry Jenkins - let's see what RallyPoint Members have to say!

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/why-is-it-so-hard-to-help-people

Why is it so hard to help people? | RallyPoint

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2018 5:34 PM

2018-08-24T17:34:52-04:00

So from a short onceover I did of your website I came away with the following thoughts. If these are incorrect, you may just have a perception problem. Please don't take offense to any criticisms. I may be the lone guy who feels the way I do about things.

1) If I were a job seeker I'd quickly go somewhere else since I'm not interested in IT and that's what you seem to be offering help with. So of the 250,000 veterans entering the job market each year how many are looking for IT jobs? That 250K number could actually be much lower. And I don't know what this means about anything but I'll throw it out there. I work for a technology company and if you walk through the IT department there are an overwhelming amount of foreign people. Again, not sure what that means but you don't see that in any other department.

2) If I was interested in IT, I'd probably have to go to college which is already costing me money and promising to get me a degree that will land me a job. Yes, your prices are reasonable but the courses don't come across as something I have to have. Helpful? Sure. But I NEED the degree or a lot of companies won't even talk to me. Plus, the college I went to had resume/interview courses and whatnot.

3) There seems to be many resume builder-type websites out there that are geared toward veterans. When I search for that in Google, your website does not appear. When I type 'IT training for veterans' in Google, your website does not appear. I even typed in 'Veteran IT jobs' which is what the tab on your website says and the site still didn't appear on Google. And just for the heck of it I typed in 'US Veterans jobs' which is your web address and it still didn't show up. I think that's an issue. Google is where everyone goes to look for stuff. If it isn't on there (near the top helps but definitely on the first page) you're in the dark.

4) When the hardship program you offer wants me to put "skin in the game" and do some of your work, I personally get turned off by that. I'm expecting a company that is offering me a product to not need me to do any of their day-to-day work. That's just how I perceived that. Same goes for the raffle. I think there are plenty of people that would be willing to buy a raffle ticket to help veterans but if I get the feeling that the money is needed to keep the company going I might back off. You might try doing the raffle and just have it say that it is going to support veterans. Period. Then put the money back in the company since it does support veterans. Or maybe use as something like a scholarship for vets that can't afford the training. That, I wouldn't find weird. Honesty is great but when a company says they are swallowing their pride and asking for help, I tend to get scared off.

I hope some of this help. I wish I had more time to look through your site. Good luck with your company. I hope it becomes a success!

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Aug 24 at 2018 5:42 PM

2018-08-24T17:42:09-04:00

Excellent share Terry sharing to other media.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2018 5:43 PM

2018-08-24T17:43:51-04:00

I wanted to add one more thing. A positive one. The website looks great. Very professional.

Response by SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint made Aug 24 at 2018 6:49 PM

2018-08-24T18:49:14-04:00

I thought Army TRADOC was setting up something like this and giving accreditation for skill sets. Some of it was getting accredited by the new Army University run by the Army.
'Army University' to offer new transcripts, credits for PME
https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2015/09/14/army...

The Army launched a program designed to improve soldier learning and, it is hoped, allow soldiers to earn more college credits.
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Response by LTC Stephan Porter made Aug 24 at 2018 8:14 PM

2018-08-24T20:14:49-04:00

I echo the previous comments; but as a fairly active LI member it seems there are serveral programs like yours. It is a great endeavor and we all can help right shape it. More to follow and I will search for you in LI!

Response by SPC Gary Welch made Aug 24 at 2018 8:35 PM

2018-08-24T20:35:32-04:00

I always try to help people at all times it's part of being a vet,an American,a scoutmaster, and just a decent human being

Response by SGT Everett M. Cheney made Aug 24 at 2018 9:00 PM

2018-08-24T21:00:44-04:00

SSgt Terry Jenkins, Brother you are clearly educated and passionate regarding the cause and call to help all of "US" returning to civilian life. I read carefully and what i gleaned from your shared thoughts is that perhaps your approach isn't in tune with the age and mindset of our current veterans and perhaps could be a bit "off-putting" to them. You might want to think about asking for a couple (maybe 5 for comparison sake) of currently returning veterans to think tank what language and manner of approach would be least "off-putting " to them. It could be done with a blind comparison, if you draft a few different approaches to your subject , allow your test group to read them and then solicit comments from the group on which informational publication was more inviting and in tune with their age group and mindset. This might be enlightening for you .
Also , absolutely no disrespect intended but engineers don't necessarily come across like marketing or HR / or Public relations people. Those skills are a particular niche that when found will immediately make you say,"THATS IT, THATS WHAT IT NEEDS TO SOUND LIKE" . The "current vernacular is very important when trying to reach such a specific and yet vast group of people.
Ive been a PIO in the Fire Service for decades and have interviewed hired and trained many young firefighters and have conducted public seminars for countless "younger" age groups and while its important to stick to your knowledge base and skills , when it comes to reaching your intended audience you need to be able to utilize the SF doctrine of "win from within" . So approach this from the same aspect that we would from working with an indiginous population that we've infiltrated and are trying to "win the hearts and minds". If you're conversing in a format and style thats accepted and identified with you will have (in my opinion) a much better chance at succeeding

All my best wishes and thank you for stepping up and being who you are.

Doc Cheney <3> RLTW

Response by SPC Andrew Ross made Aug 24 at 2018 9:01 PM

2018-08-24T21:01:49-04:00

We cannot help those who don't want help.
We cannot teach those who don't want to learn.

Sometimes people need to knock their heads against the walls until more attractive options appear. At such time, furthering their education and skillsets are likely better options.

Response by MAJ Javier G. made Aug 24 at 2018 9:04 PM

2018-08-24T21:04:42-04:00

At the risk of not having seen your videos and just basing my comment on what you presented and my experience, I offer the following response.

Is there data available to suggest your IT approach is the way to go? Is there data to suggest there is a shortage of IT people in the corporate world? Is there data available of the soldier's MOS leaving the service?

The answer to these and others like it would seem relevant to whether soldiers leaving the service would be attracted to or respond to your IT approach.

My background is BS in Engineering Technology, Signal Corps Officer (25A/D), and telecommunications consultant. When I was laid off for the first time, I went through the Texas Workforce Commission to get myself back in the labor pool. My experience is somewhat reversed in that a majority of the assistance being offered by the TWC and the Veteran's program were aimed toward "blue collar" jobs for which I had no experience or certifications.

It maybe the veterans seeing your videos with "IT" may have military "blue collar" MOSs and are turned off by IT. If you have read some of the qualifications/requirements for corporate IT opportunities it can be intimidating, even for me. I'm semi-retired so it's not much of an impact on me. In fact, I'm doing the work now for which as a consultant I would hire subcontractors to perform.

Not sure if this helps, but hopefully it will be a springboard to further discussion to get your program on track.

Thank you for your service and what you are doing for our veteran brothers and sisters.

Response by PO3 Phyllis Maynard made Aug 24 at 2018 9:14 PM

2018-08-24T21:14:16-04:00

SSgt Terry Jenkins I could proceed with a massive diatrib of issues. But I won't do that because it will be counter productive You are doing so much that is awesome! Man-o-man, 15 years ago initiative to help veterans we're jumping like hot cakes. Everything just started deflating about 5 years ago. Let me tell you the problems that caused people, businesses, non- profits, etc to lose interest; 1. predators started using veterans as a profit margin, state employment commissions started revamping their hiring goals and organizational mission, as you said there were veterans who took advantage, many veterans want 100% service connection disability, good veteran initiatives are old news, corruption in state, federal, and veteran organizations, good veterans losing trust, individual veterans dealing with individual abuse from those we put it on the line for, and on and on.

TRY THESE THINGS: 1. contact national veterans organizations and request a conference with those commanders i.e. http://www.dav.org (American Legion, VFW, Iraq Veterans, Purple Heart, etc.) 2. Each state's Division of Veterans Affairs Directors 3. each state's Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers VISN Headquarters for instance the Durham VA Medical Center in Durham NC is under the Veterans Intergrated Service Network 6 VISN6 Directors

Try collaborating with veteran specific partners whose goal is to reach the veteran population. The environment for advocating for veterans has changed tremendously and not for the good. The old school up close and personal is barely holding on and old school supporters such as myself have reclined I to solitude, gotten too old, health declined, or died out.

This is now the age of the mellinials, 21st century, computer technology, check it out in virtual reality but there is no soul, no personal testimony attached to the information.

I hope these options are relevant to your organizational mission. FYI PO2 Marc Burgess, and COL Mikel J. Burroughs

Best to you.

DAV.org - Disabled American Veterans Charity

We invite everyone, veterans and civilian, men and women, young and old, to join us. Find a DAV Office or Volunteer to Help Veterans and the Disabled American Veterans Charity.

Response by SP5 Dennis Loberger made Aug 25 at 2018 12:30 AM

2018-08-25T00:30:44-04:00

I suspect the market is not as big as you believe. I left the service and was never interested in IT. Despite the higher salary, I was just not interested. Of the younger Vets I have met through the American Legion, none have expressed an interest in IT to me. Where the market is limited the price has to be higher. You can still offer a significant savings at a higher price ticket. You are also fighting that age old saying, "You get what you pay for". No business survives for long giving it's product away. Look realistically at how many people are truly interested (this looking for free aren't) and what it would take to break even. That should be your minimum price. Offer a rebate to your successful students for a successful referral. Word of mouth from people who have succeeded will bring rewards both monetary and pride in their success for you and your organization. Utilize your past grads for networking, referrals and job offers. What you are doing is wothwhile but you are undercutting that by not giving people enough skin in the game to want to succeed.

Response by TSgt David Whitmore made Aug 25 at 2018 5:22 PM

2018-08-25T17:22:10-04:00

It's a long one, I'm sorry, but you asked for thoughts.

You are not the problem here.
Why?
Possibly because in today's world, so many seem to want others to do things for them, instead of showing them how so that they could do it for themselves.
Some folks don't want help, because that would mean that they might have to put in some effort of their own.
Some folks had it hammered into their head when they were young that accepting help means they are a failure.
And I agree with you, that the VA's system of helping veterans is defective. They are using a 'one size fits all' approach to 'fix' or help unique individuals, who are and have unique situations.
Your solution seems to be based on helping the individuals, with their unique issues, improve their lives; thus helping to improve lives in general throughout our society.
The truth is that the solution (to me) is the approach that is somewhere in the middle. Do I know what that is? Nope! Not a clue.

I will let you in on a bit of my personal history and thoughts here:
When I retired the VA had already determined that I was disabled, effective on the first day of my retirement. My body was broken, lots of things wrong inside it. But I still wanted to be a productive member of society; to me, just sitting at home collecting a monthly stipend from the government meant I was a drain on the economy. To the family back home, the one I grew up in, that meant I was a lazy SOB that needed to get up on work for a living.
Conflicted much?
Within a couple of days of retiring, I had a new job; I was getting paid to play on a computer or three. I was a programmer and a DBA, worked there until the Y2K scare was history. Then, I got another job. Doing well at work, until my body started crapping out worse than it had been. In and out of Hospitals, I had a minor heart attack and a couple of medium-sized strokes. The job ended for me.
After one last stroke, I actually 'forgot' how to write programs; I couldn't figure out what the code I had written the day before was supposed to do (I have had other stroke since but that one pushed me out of work). Back then, in 2001-2003, I had been working on a database associated with what was to become the F-35.

But I still wanted to work, I just needed to find a job other than the one I had spent my life learning how to do. And, it couldn't be anything that was physically strenuous.
So I thought to myself, why not check out what the VA has to offer. Maybe I could use their Rehab program go to school and learn how to do something else. Anything else.
After a couple of months of interviews, aptitude tests, and group counselling my 'Advisor' told me that, "It would be a complete waste of the VA's money and as well as a waste of my own time for them to pay for my schooling; for I would either not complete the courses or I myself would not survive the effort."
That was in late-2003.
My attitude and my health deteriorated.
By 2006, I was moving around using a walker mostly and occasionally a wheelchair. And, I didn't really care. I was on lots of pain medications and accomplishing absolutely nothing.
By 2009, my wife, who had been working across town (a 45-60 minute drive) decided that because she was always worried about my falling down, we needed to move; our new house was less than a mile from where she worked. So that when I fell, not if I fell, but when I fell, she would not be far away and she could get to me with 3-4 minutes. She gave me a list of things she wanted me to do each day inside the house only, though; as we had a pool, and she was afraid I would fall in. I was not to go outside unless she was home with me
As I did more, my boundaries increased.
And, we set about trying to reduce my pain levels; staying at a constant 6-7 every single day, while already on lots of different pain medications, is not a very healthy place to be.
In mid-2010, I had a spinal cord neuro-stimulator (SCS) implanted, and gradually was able to come down off of most of my meds. I was able to start walking again, but just using a cane. Started eating better and losing weight.

Now, I don't carry a cane with me unless I am going to be walking slowly and standing around for hours on end; because that is when my spine quits, and my legs 'go away'.

I had some minor back surgery at the end of June (the 28th), they replaced the old Spinal Cord Neuro-Stimulator (SCS) with a newer, better, more updated version, because the battery wouldn't keep a charge. An SCS is like a TENS unit but put permanently inside the body with a couple of wires that go part way up along the spine; this sends signals to override the constant, excruciating nerve pain signals one might otherwise experience. I needed this device due to pain from Spine injuries.
Anyway... About three weeks ago I started walking my grandson's dog, trying to go out daily. The first couple of days I made it around the block; and then, had to sit in my recliner for about 2 hours as I recovered. By the end of the week, we were walking almost mile each day. By the end of the following week, we hit just under 2 miles. And this week, we were walking 2 1/2 miles a day... Until yesterday. Yesterday I decided to change up the route we were walking, and my goal was to hit 3 miles. Yesterday, 24th Aug, I took a walk with the dog; and we walked 4 1/2 miles. In two months of having my back surgery. And... I only used my cane once, a couple of days after my surgery, when we went to the grocery store.
My walkers (two of them) and my wheelchair are in the garage!

The last thing I want to impart is that people have to want to be helped. They have to want to learn the information that you trying to teach them. They have to have the drive, the self-discipline, to want to work at improving their lives.
I had to want to change, I had to want to make my own life better. And that is when things improved for me; but not until then. And I had to work at, and still, do.
It's not you. Those clients of yours that have succeeded proves that your program works. I would suggest to you that you and your partners keep at it. Keep at it!

I hope this was as clear to you as it sounded to me. Sometimes I can't always get my thoughts across as well I hope to, and I hope that that is because of the brain trauma I suffered and not another upcoming neurological issue.

Response by PO1 Ron Clark made Aug 27 at 2018 10:43 AM

2018-08-27T10:43:18-04:00

Sometimes it's hard to help people because they wont help themself! You can want to help a person all you want, but if they themself does not want it, 9 out of 10 times you can do them no benefit because they work against you by not trying to help themself and making it harder on the person who is trying to help them!

Response by SFC Dagmar Riley made Sep 2 at 2018 1:22 PM

2018-09-02T13:22:27-04:00

SSgt Terry Jenkins i can only agree with most everything that was said here already. You’re on such a noble mission here and you really shouldn’t give up. Many now very successful businesses have struggled during their beginning years, some examples here to include people in the Technology field: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/openforum/articles/13-business-leaders-who-failed-before-they-succeeded/. Here’s another report with Steve Jobs and others in it:
https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/celebs-who-went-from-failures-to-success-stories/. I’ve never ran my own business, so I’m probably not the best to give advice other than don’t quit yet and always pay yourself first because if you’re down in the dumps it eventually will reflect on the way you run your business, so take care of yourself first and that doesn’t make you a bad person. You can always offe, for those that might not be able to afford you if you raise your fee’s an alternative approach, maybe a payment schedule or something else that might help them. The more I have to pay for something, the more I want to get everything out of it that’s possible; students work harder because they don’t want to let their money go to waste. Not saying to take away the affordability of the program but just make sure you and your partners are taken care off which keeps your spirits up and keep you motivated to try even harder as well. Only other thing if I had such a business that I might try, is to talk to major businesses in the IT world what it would take for them to hire someone after they train successfully with you, so you will know what areas to concentrate on more. If I were still in the job market and a bit younger, I would’ve loved to get help such as yours; there’s always someone out there that still does!

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