Category Archives: Courses

Announcing the Launch of “Future Skills 2030” eBook – Coming June 16th, 2024!

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As the dawn of the Fourth Industrial Revolution looms ever closer, we find ourselves standing at the precipice of unprecedented technological advancements. The fusion of physical, digital, and biological worlds is reshaping industries and redefining the very nature of work. In this transformative era, equipping oneself with the right skills is no longer just an advantage—it is a necessity. I am therefore excitement to announce the launch of a revised and updated eBook, “Future Skills 2030” set to be released on June 16th, 2024. This eBook is part of the resource material for my widely popular online course of the same name.

What is the Fourth Industrial Revolution?

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, characterized by a range of new technologies that are blurring the lines between the physical, digital, and biological spheres, promises to alter the way we live, work, and interact with one another. From artificial intelligence and machine learning to biotechnology and quantum computing, these innovations are set to revolutionize every facet of our society. As industries evolve, so too must our skills. The future of work will demand a new set of competencies, and it is crucial to stay ahead of the curve.

Introducing “Future Skills 2030: Prepare for the 4th Industrial Revolution”

My revised and expanded eBook, “Future Skills 2030: Prepare for the 4th Industrial Revolution,” is a concise yet comprehensive guide designed to help individuals and organizations navigate this complex landscape. The eBook compliments and expands on the material covered in the online course.

Key Highlights of the eBook

  1. Understanding the Landscape: The eBook begins with an overview of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, explaining its key components and the transformative impact it is expected to have across various industries. This section sets the stage for understanding why new skills are necessary and what specific changes we can anticipate.
  2. Essential Future Skills: We delve into the specific skills that will be in high demand by 2030. These include:
    • Digital Literacy: Mastery of digital tools and platforms is foundational. From basic coding to advanced data analysis, digital literacy will be a critical skill.
    • Emotional Intelligence: As automation takes over routine tasks, the ability to understand, manage, and effectively express emotions will become increasingly valuable.
    • Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: With rapid technological advancements, the ability to think critically and solve complex problems will be indispensable.
    • Creativity and Innovation: The future will belong to those who can think outside the box and drive innovation.
    • Lifelong Learning: The pace of change means that continuous learning and adaptability will be essential for staying relevant.
  3. Practical Steps for Skill Development: The eBook doesn’t just identify the skills needed; it also provides practical steps on how to develop them. This includes recommendations for online courses, workshops, and resources that can help individuals and organizations build these competencies.
  4. Real-World Applications: To illustrate the importance of these skills, we include real-world examples of how they are being applied in various industries. This helps to contextualize the information and show how these skills can lead to tangible career advancements.
  5. Future-Proofing Your Career: The final section offers strategic advice on how to future-proof your career. This involves staying informed about industry trends, continuously upgrading your skillset, and being open to new opportunities.

Why This eBook Matters

In a rapidly changing world, the ability to adapt and thrive is more important than ever. “Future Skills 2030: Prepare for the 4th Industrial Revolution” is not just an eBook; along with the online course it is a roadmap for anyone looking to secure their place in the future workforce. Whether you are a student preparing to enter the job market, a professional looking to stay competitive, or an organization aiming to future-proof your workforce, this eBook and course is an invaluable resource.

Save the Date

Mark your calendars for June 16th, 2024, and be sure to download “Future Skills 2030: Prepare for the 4th Industrial Revolution.” Equip yourself with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the exciting yet challenging landscape of the future.

For more information and to download the eBook on launch day, visit our website at www.lifeisalaboratory.com Stay ahead of the curve and prepare for the future today!

From Covid-19 Lockdown To Success With Our Goals

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The Covid-19 pandemic has touched all our lives in different ways, no matter which country you are reading this from. Apart from the direct health impacts of the virus it has also hit the global economy and impacted negatively on livelihoods. In this article I want to give an update on the pandemic from an Irish perspective and share what I have been up to since January 2021. I am working to use this time in lockdown to create goal success and I want to share my key tips on making the most of this time in lockdown.

World’s highest infection rate

On 30th December 2020 Ireland, where I live, went into full lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. All non-essential shops closed. All pubs, restaurants, hair salons etc. closed. All sporting and music events stopped. People are required to work from home if possible, and exercise not more than 5km from their homes.

What happened was that we had a surge of Covid-19 infections over the Christmas period. At one point in January we had the world’s highest infection rate of Covid-19. Infection rates rose sharply from what was the lowest incident rate of Covid in the European Union in early December. As of Friday 5th March 2021 according to Irish government statistics there have now been 4,357 deaths of people with COVID-19 in Ireland. My thoughts go to the families of those who have passed away, to those who are still in hospital and to those who are still recovering from this terrible virus.

There are signs that things are starting to improve. Thankfully the lockdown has worked and infection rates and deaths are coming down now and restrictions will likely be eased in April. We also have our vaccination programme being rolled out to the most vulnerable. The weather is also getting better as we head into spring which is another reason for optimism!

My lockdown Project

My aim to use use this time in lockdown to create goal success. Since January I have been working on a new online course on beekeeping. This will be my 6th online course and I am really enjoying developing the course. When I made my first online course in 2017 it was a very steep learning curve to get the sound quality and video quality right. I hadn’t a clue how to edit videos. By now I am getting into the swing of things and I find it is much easier to develop a video lecture. However, there is still a huge amount of work to be done in developing a course. The course structure and content has to be right to start with. My object is to make this course a top quality course which will help people start their first hive of bees. It is wonderful to have the opportunity to teach people using an online learning platform.

No permission needed

I taught beekeeping at Baraka Agricultural College in Kenya for over 10 years. Having attained my PhD in beekeeping in 2012, I always wanted to teach beekeeping to students at a university. However there are not many opportunities to do so. Particularly in a country like Ireland where the weather is not very conducive to commercial beekeeping (it rains a lot here!). Now, using the world wide web I can teach beekeeping to the world! For example my current course ‘Background to Beekeeping’ has 840 students from 81 countries. I enjoy interacting with beekeeping students from all over the world. One really important point to remember when we want to do something is that we don’t need anyone’s permission to do it. I just made and launched the course. I did not wait for anyone to tell me that I had their permission or that I was good enough.

After Action Review

In my new course I have 22 lectures completed out of 79 so far (nearly 30% of the course done). I still have a long way to go but I am making steady progress with my lockdown goal. I do love when I have a clear focus on a key goal. Right now I am writing this article on Saturday and on Saturdays I usually complete an After Action Review (AAR). I review the past week and plan the week ahead. As part of my AAR I also take time to review my goals. Today I am going to set a realistic target launch date for the new course. Ideally I want to launch the new course by the end of April. So loads of work to do over the coming weeks!

What about you?

How about you – do you have an all consuming engaging goal that you are working on? Especially if you are in lockdown like me you can use the lockdown to create goal success. Do you have a goal that makes you want to jump out of bed in the morning? Do you have something that you have a burning desire to do or achieve? Perhaps you have been waiting for someone’s approval or permission to do something?

My first piece of advice is to choose yourself. Give yourself permission to do whatever you feel drawn to do. My second piece of advice is don’t wait. We are already in March and the first quarter of 2021 is nearly over. Make a start right now. If you are not sure what you want to focus on then please check out my course: Goal Setting 2021: Set & Achieve Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals. Do the course, get clear on your key goals and then go for it! Life is fun when we have a clear goal that we are working towards. Time in lockdown can certainly be put to good use to create goal success.

Best wishes,

Tom