Tell Me, Teach Me, Involve Me
Education and Training as a Profit Center?
By Paul D’Adamo, RAS “Core Hunter”
Education is not a cost
In a recent URG on the Go podcast, DJ Harrington asked me about weighing the costs of training versus the benefits. My answer was, “There are no costs to education.” Plain and simple, all education is an investment and, if monetized properly, should be considered a profit center.
Technically speaking, a profit center would have identifiable revenue and associated costs. But in the big picture, without employees aspiring to be their best and wanting what is best for the company, you have nothing. High-performing, well-educated team members generate boatloads of revenue and contribute to the bottom line. Anyone can buy inventory, but the only way to maximize the value of that inventory is to build a team that can support that inventory through the procurement, inventory, dismantling, sales, and post-sales processes.
Ben Franklin’s view on training and education
Ben Franklin once said, “Tell me, and I forget. Teach me, and I may remember. Involve me, and I will learn”. I have always said that our industry is not one of book worms but immersive learners. Learning in seminars or online followed up by on-site teaching, and hands-on engagement returns higher education and retention rates. ARA University is a phenomenal resource for our industry and should be your go-to source for great online learning. Creating a culture of change where everyone is expected to evolve with the times and challenge themselves with new skills and knowledge is the key to success.
Business owners must be passionate about developing their team members to their highest potential. Don’t get hung up on registration costs for a convention. Spread the love and rotate who goes to the conventions. Consider it a deposit on their advanced degree. With the URG Conference just around the corner, this is not the time to pinch pennies. Invest in your people and reap the rewards of an intensive educational experience in New Orleans.
DJ Harrington – “Best of the Best”
DJ Harrington has always inspired me. As a life-long learner, DJ has always been passionate about the auto recycling industry. He has dedicated his life to promoting our industry through seminars, books, personal connections, and involvement at all major conventions. More importantly, he is someone who continually promotes education. He not only talks the talk, he walks the walk. Anyone who knows DJ would agree that he is very Ben Franklinesque. DJ is an innovator, educator, author, statesman, philosopher, and believer. We are blessed to have him in our lives.
The Rest of the Ben Franklin Story . . .
As one of the most often quoted Americans, Ben Franklin was born the 10th son of 17 children of a man who made soap and candles. Franklin learned to read very early and had one year in grammar school and another under a private teacher, but his formal education ended at the tender age of 10. This “uneducated” man became one of the foremost of the founding fathers, helping to draft the Declaration of Independence, and was active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher.
Education is a lifelong process. We can all tell, teach, and be involved in making our industry stronger.
Questions on QC Counts for Cores? Contact Paul at pdadamo@coresupply.com or 401-458-9080.
