Saturday, March 31, 2018

We Have a 2nd Studio!

Hey Gang,

We have a second studio for our podcast!  My podcast partner has a lot of opinions about it!


Wednesday, March 28, 2018

New Kids On The BlockChain

Hey Gang,

As a corporate trainer who always likes to be on top of the latest trends, I decided to tackle this crazy subject of cryptocurrency.  It's like regular currency, if regular currency was complicated, confusing and you needed a computer to access it.  Although understanding the basic principles was challenge, I didn't back down and plowed ahead. (JK, I have taken a lot of naps since I start researching this subject. )

So let's break it down in the simplest form.  People need stuff of value to buy stuff of necessity.  In other words, money buys food water and shelter.  But what is money, really?  It's something that we all have agreed has value.  Gold has been the diva of the currency world for the longest time, but its bright day in the sun may be soon over.  Now gold may be replaced with made-up bleeps and blips on the computer.

Cryptocurrency has been called digital cash. (I once tried to make digital friends, but they kept asking for favors, just like my flesh friends)  Someone can buy  crytocurrency and then turn around and sell it for traditional money.  Depending on the cryptocurrency that they bought and the market that they are selling it in, depends on whether they made a great investment or just bought a bag of magic beans.  (Depending on the market and the currency du'jour, someone could be smart one day and a sucker the next.) It's fun!  It's like taking everything you have always known about microeconomics and replacing it with a roulette wheel.

A fun invention did come from crytptocurrency and it is called a blockchain.  It prevents people from stealing your virtual money that may or may not have value.  A blockchain is like a ledger that is constantly updated.  The ledger isn't held in any one particular place.  It is everywhere on the internet, like cat videos.  No one (so far) can steal using blockchains, so that is great, unless there is an error then getting lost money would be impossible to get back.  (There is no customer service line for blockchains, it would just be a telephone representative saying that they cant help you...like actual customer service.)

For now, I will continue to focus on the values in my life... my blog, my Gremlin and my self-autographed poster of Tony Robbins. (I autographed it myself!)

Stay Awake Kids!

Cathy Gainer Corporate Trainer




Saturday, March 24, 2018

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

I Got Framed

Hey Gang,

Yesterday, I went for a ride in my 1968 Gremlin.  I was zipping around like I always do when I am cruising. (I have ten good minutes of drive time before the engine over-heats and I have to pull over for  a half hour.) At one point I was at a stop sign and the truck in front of me had a license plate with a frame around it.  The frame read...Former Navy Seal.  I thought it was a deserving way to honor a noble occupation and it got me thinking...What frame should I get for my Gremlin that would reflect my life's work?

For those of you who have seen my Gremlin, (which would be no one) you may say, "Cathy Gainer Corporate Trainer,  you already have so many bumper stickers on it and beanie babies in the windows, why on earth do you want even more flare for your car?"  Well, the answer is simple... I want to be as cool as the former Navy Seal driving a big truck that was built in the 21st Century.

I have searched different automotive store and websites, but I just haven't found any personalized frames that encapsulates my essence.  Here are some phrases that I have looked for to no avail:

Former Call Center Trainee
Former Retail Trainee
Formerly Filled Out An Application For The Outback But Never Got A Reply
Once Mowed Someone's Lawn For Money, But Broke Their Sprinkler System
Attempted To Get Unemployment Benefits But Was Told I Had To Have Held A Job First
Invested In Craig's List "Opportunities"
Tried To Borrow Rent Money
Recycled 7 Bags Of Cans To Buy One 6-Piece McNugget
Takes Coins Out Of Fountains

If anyone reading this can help,  please leave a reply!  If all else fails I may have to fashion my own with a clothes hanger, a glue gun and good old-fashion gumption. (And also something to write with.)

Stay Awake Kids,

Cathy Gainer Corporate Trainer


Saturday, March 17, 2018

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

A Dry-Heave In Time

Hey Gang,


This past weekend I did something I hadn't done in a long time and went to the movies.  I saw that Oprah, who is kind of like a lady-Tony Robbins, was starring in a new film based on an old book.  Since I live on a tight budget, I decided to indulge, search for all the loose change that was in the floorboards of my Gremlin and go to an early matinee of A Wrinkle In Time.

The first thing I noticed is how much movie-going has changed.  After paying in sticky pennies and nickels, the lady behind the counter asked me to pick out my seat on a computer blue print of the theater.  I told her that I just wanted to "wing it" and take a look at the occupants in the cinema then sit next to someone who would hopefully become a life-long friend.  She told me that people were in line behind me and she picked a seat for me. (Such customer service!)

When I walked into the theater, it was like stepping into a rich person's living room. No longer were there rows and rows of short metal seats, now there were just a  few rows of fancy reclining chairs.  I went back to the lady at the counter and asked her if she had given me an upgrade. She told me that is how theaters are now and to leave her alone.

Once I settled into my Lazy-Boy-esque chair, the movie began... not the actual movie I paid to see, but 45 minutes of previewing upcoming blockbusters.  At one point, I forget which show I was there to watch.  Finally,  A Wrinkle In Time started.  The color was spectacular!  The imagery was beautiful! Oprah was at her Oprah-est!  Right when I thought the day couldn't get any better, I started to get the cold sweats, which turned into mild nausea, which turned into major nausea, which resulted in my taking off my jacket and retching into it.

As it turns out, the wonder and awe of the new cinematography makes me motion-sick.  I came to the realization that all these movies that cost hundreds of millions of dollars to produce will forever be lost on me and my weak inner-ear.  I stayed through the entire movie. I just closed my eyes and listened to words of the powerful lady that I used to watch on TV for free.

Despite, the queasiness I would give this movie a thumbs up or all the stars...whatever constitutes a good movie these days.  The message was a good one...use spray starch so time won't wrinkle, or maybe it was something different.  I can't remember, I felt terrible.

Stay Awake Kids,

Cathy Gainer Corporate Trainer



Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Thinking By Design

Hey Gang,

Design Thinking is all the rage in Corporate America.  From what I understand it helps businesses prosper,  makes customers happy  and obstacles are magically conquered with this technique.  The problem is, I don't know what that technique is.  

One article I read said that design thinking, "Design Thinking is a design methodology that provides a solution-based approach to solving problems. It’s extremely useful in tackling complex problems that are ill-defined or unknown, by understanding the human needs involved, by re-framing the problem in human-centric ways, by creating many ideas in brainstorming sessions, and by adopting a hands-on approach in prototyping and testing."  Hhhmmmm...as much as I understood that super-easy-to-follow blob of words, I decided to give it another Gainer-Go and look for a second definition.

My next web search found this explanation, "In its simplest form, design thinking is a process, applicable to all walks of life, of creating new and innovative ideas and solving problems; it is not limited to a specific industry or area of expertise. It can be as effective in technology or education as it may be in services or manufacturing."  Ok, finally, something I can grasp... it is applicable to all walks of life.  I have always hated the processes that only catered the working class...what about the fancy people?  They need a process too!

In my research, I realized that there are some exact steps in Design Thinking...kind of.  One sources stated that the steps are:

    • Step 1 - Empathy. Any social endeavor begins with the human element. ...
    • Step 2 - Define. ...
    • Step 3 - Ideate. ...
    • Step 4 - Prototype. ...
    • Step 5 - Test.

Interesting, but as I continued my learning quest, I also found another website that stated the steps could are:
  • Gather Inspiration
  • Generate Ideas
  • Make Ideas Tangible
  • Share The Story
I guess my purpose of this blog-post is to explore the corporate buzzwords and HR-Trends. I may not understand them all.  I may read and research countless articles and still be confused, but at the end of day... I comprehended nothing. (And that's what it is all about!)

Stay Awake Kids,

Cathy Gainer Corporate Trainer 

Saturday, March 3, 2018

The Gym Podcast!

Hey Gang,

My podcast this week is from a gymnasium! I think it counts as a workout if you watch.