I Suck At Decisions

[iradney]

Ok, just as a forewarning, I might sound like a total brat in this post.

So here's the deal. I'm the trainer for *Company*. Now that the office has split in twain, and has the call centre on the coast and the sales office in my town, I don't get to train alot unless I go to the coast.

BossOfAwesome is also wanting to branch out into external training. This is where my thread title comes in.

In order to sell external training to outside companies, the training dept (TD) needs a certain govt qualifictation and number. With that number, the external companies can claim the money spent on training back from the govt.

BOA has the number, but I, obviously, do not. He has mentioned that it might be a good idea for me to do it next year.

It's a year long course. It's apparently very bloody hard. IF I do it....the cons are:

1) *Company* pays for it, therefore my soul is theirs for at least a year after qualifying
2) I suck at studying. As in seriously suck. As in I hate it - yeah I'm smart, but when you're lazy, it counts for nothing
3) If I do it, I'm stuck with *Company* for at least another two years
4) This will definitely slow down the Canuckistan plans
5) Personal time will be decreased to damn near nothing, as I've calculated I'd have to study at LEAST as many hours as I work, if not more.
6) Did I mention I suck at studying?

Pros:

1) I'll get an awesome qualification, that is accepted in Canada, thereby improving my chances of getting in and getting a job
2) Pay rise, anyone?
3) Better knowledge on how to do my job
4) Increase my stature within *Company*
5) Be able to make a more equal contribution to the household with the payrise.

I'm going to ask BOA to bring his coursebooks to the office next week so I can have a look at them. Generally, if I start reading something that doesn't interest me, I will. not. read. it. If I won't read it, chances are good I won't study it.

I KNOW I should do it. But I also know myself well enough to wonder if I'd actually see the damn thing through or not.

Will someone please tell me to put on my big girl panties and deal with it? Or any other words of advice?

Thanks

[powerboy]

Why don't you put on your Big Girl Panties and deal with it

[Evil Queen]

I flip a coin.

[NightWatch]

Seriously here, the pros REALLY outweigh the cons. The information you gain will be something that you can use for a LONG time. Studying 40 hours a week is gonna be hard to do. Maybe you should find a more efficient way to study and set aside 2 - 4 hours a night to study the material. The key to making yourself study is finding ways to not get burnt out on it.

[Crazeyal]

Sorry to say.. but I gotta agree with PB (yeah I know he was kidding)

"Suck at studying"??

Two words..

DON'T SUCK!!!

Studying is about routine and discipline. Set a time, set a goal, test yourself, accept no excuses. Not even from yourself. I guarentee you that you will do better. I have ADD. I have bad habits. I have a "short attention span"... I know all the excuses.

I also know that the only cure is hard work.

Even people with learning disabilities CAN learn. It's just harder. Been there. Made it. Still struggle. BFD.

Good luck. You can do it.

[nomorecarts]

I probably wouldn't do it.


I'm the same way with studying and I'm not going to graduate high school on time, so I may not be the best person to get advice from on education, but my homeschooling program switched vendors and the new one rambles, and says things differently, and contradicts itself, and I just get to pissed off to think after about 10 minutes

it may be different since what you're doing is relevant though, and the teacher may be tolerable

[It's me]

One major thing... if you really do want to move to Canada... having specialized qualifications that will help you get work here will be a huge help in qualifying to become a Canadian resident.

Beyond that... thre are some things in life when it is better to try and risk failure rather than not try at all and then always have to wonder "what-if".

[MaggieTheCat]

I know how you feel about studying, I'm the same way...almost didn't graduate HS and spent 4.5 years to get a 2 year associate's degree. But, I think a big factor you have to think about is, how much do you like your current job and current employers? If you are going to be "stuck" with them for 2 more years, will you be happy? I know that if I were in your same shoes, working for the company that I work for now, there is no way in hell I would take the class, because I dislike my job and am planning on moving next spring. Another thing to think about would be, what happens if you do end up quitting for whatever reason before the 2 years is up? Do you then have to pay the full tuition out of your pocket, even if you've already completed the courses?

It sounds like a good opportunity for you so I hope it works out in your favor. Good luck!

[cinema guy]

If moving to Canada is something you want to do soon, then don't do it.

If it something you plan to do later (ie in more then two years), then go for it - you will have more money for the move and qualifications when you get there.

[iradney]

Update: Had a chat with BossOfAwesome.

Apparently one only needs to do 15 - 20 hours of project work a week. The basic hours break down to:
120 hours of class time (4 X 1 week lecturer led training)
240 hours of project time.

If I do the course, BOA reckons I might need to stay with the company for at least 6 months, so that they can recoup their costs (costs R30K). So if I could do the course in 9 - 10 months (which is what I would prefer), it's not a huge train smash.

I could set up the spare room as a study, TTO is keen on me doing it and has already promised to be uber supportive. SWMBO and HWMBO both think it would be incredibly beneficial, not just in my current job, but in all future endevours. Hopper has no opinion, but then again, as long as he's fed, he doesn't care :P

Also, it appears that the bulk of the hours is actually DOING something with what you've learnt, not just sitting and parrot learning. That appeals to me, as I absorb knowledge better through "doing" than "reading". It also appears that the way I'm drawing up content now is very similar to how the course does it, which gives me a bit of a leg up.

BOA is doing the same course at the moment, and has promised to bring one of his manuals to work this week so I can have a gander at what it looks like, how it's laid out and how well I would be able to work with it.

But, truth be told, I am leaning towards doing it. It's one year out of dozens, and that one year could make a huge difference in not just my life, but TTO's life as well. Once I have the qualification, I'll get a raise and will be able to make a more equal contribution to the household, it will be easier for the both of us to get into Canada and find jobs (I would prefer to have a job lined up before going, tbh, but I'll take whatever I can get!), and it will enable me to do my job alot better, which means higher job satisfaction.