Talking with people at the Australian Institute of Training & Development, the Institute of Learning & Development Professionals and similar bodies around the world, there seems to be a growing demand for eLearning and Blended Learning.  What is your experience?  Vote now on our poll - just follow this link:  http://polls.linkedin.com/p/85800/wveor

At this time of year people are talking about New Year Resolutions.  Whats yours?  How often do you look back and see if you achieved them?  What about making 2010 the year of New Years Revolution? 

Now is the time to get rid of the thoughts and feelings of 2009.  The lack of budget and resource.  Maybe even the lack of ability to develop anything within the business, let alone your most precious asset - the people.  How about making your revolution one which pushes the boundaries of working with the best. 

Look at how you might reinvigorate your people.  Improve their skills, increase their sales, reduce the conflict and tension in the workplace.  Now is the time to make your revolution in learning and development happen.

dta WORLDWIDE will be working with more partners globally in 2010 than ever before.  We will be bringing in new products and solutions to upskill people to take advantage of the improved business conditions we are all expecting in 2010.  We look forward to working with you during the coming year and helping develop the achievers in your business.  Contact us now to see how we can work together to make 2010 the best possible year for you and your business.

Day 5 at dta WORLDWIDE, and again we have been busy adding a few more new things to the dta website.  The Managing Director has filmed a short video promoting dta WORLDWIDE which will be on the homepage shortly after we have over come a few technical difficulties!

A few other things I did on day 5 were to make up some styleFLEX workbooks, and update the mailing list for the dta newsletter.  We then set to work on writing the next edition of the newsletter which should be out soon, so keep an eye out for it.  If have not yet subscribed to the newsletter, then you can do so by filling in the form on the right-hand side of the page.  Read more about what happened on day 6, tomorrow.

The sad passing a few weeks ago of Professor Chris O’Brien, Head and Neck Surgeon in Sydney Australia is a stark reminder to us all of the power of the brain.  Professor O’Brien, for those who don’t know, was well known through his appearances on the Australian TV show RPA.  The programme followed the work of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney.  Professor O’Brien was often featured treating his patients with head and neck disorders; in particular tumours of the brain of which ironically he was to succomb.

Since his diagnosis in Novmber 2006 he has fought the disease with incredible vigour.  Having been told he had only 6 months to live, he worked to create a new cancer research and treatment centre called Lifehouse at RPA.  To watch his amazing progress raises a number of questions.  Against medical odds, he survived much longer.  Why?  It seems that his positive attitude and determination to beat the condition were major contributing factors.  To have the ability to see the positive in any situation is a true sign of high emotional intelligence.  He even commented in April this year that he needed to continue as his son told him he couldn’t die yet!  Chris O’Brien did indeed remain focussed on living and doing what he did best.  Helping other people.

If a man who knew the likely outcome of his condition can believe so strongly that he will fight on with such positivity, what does that teach us about the more mundane aspects of life which we can change through the ability to focus on what we want rather than what we don’t  want?  May his legacy live on and teach us all a little bit about the way we see the world.

Professor Chris O’Brien.  Click here to learn more about Lifehouse The Cancer Tr\eatment Centre set up by Chris O’Brien