iWatch concept by: Esben Oxholm
With Apple launching the iWatch Apple Watch this week they did a crafty piece of PR saying
Switzerland (the traditional home of fine watches) is in trouble!
The response from the Swiss manufacturers?
We’re not in the watch business. We’re in the “making people feel special” business.
With just one change of focus they removed the need to compete with Apple to make a “better watch.”
They elevated their life’s work from just “doing something” (telling the time) to the realm of gold & diamonds.
The magical realm of jewelry & self confidence.
And making people feel wonderful for choosing them.
You’re not a teacher…
And you know what, you’re not in the teaching business either.
We know that kids learn better from their peers, from experience or even from apps.
That’s not what we’re here for.
No, your life’s work is far more important.
Because you’re in the empowerment business.
You take that shy little kid in the corner, the one who everyone else gave up on because they didn’t understand what shy meant.
And you empower them to be expert communicators.
To take risks and not be afraid to lose.
To have great body language.
To always make eye contact.
To be confident speakers.
To listen, to empathise, to understand in English and in their own language.
To have the confidence to say “No” when they need to.
And to say “Yes, I can!” when they feel a challenge or excited.
The why …
Teaching is the nuts and bolts, the mechanics of the lesson plan.
What you bring is the empowerment.
The heart.
The soul.
The passion.
And *that* is why you do what you do.
Earn More From Your Passion For Teaching English!
Well said Richard!! Well empowering.
Yes, great advice Richard. Especially here in Japan where one of the main things lacking is confidence and ability to communicate in any language.
You also have to be careful not to tarnish your brand. I think the Swiss for years have carefully crafted their brand, but in my eyes at least their brand has lost its appeal due to their dirty banking system. They may yet be in trouble with these new smart watches hitting the market.
Great start to the day – thanks Richard
Just got out of bed and read this – made me feel great!
This is exactly what I aim to do – especially with that shy kid at the back 🙂
How did you know?!
Beautiful words, Richard.
I’ve been thinking of late of the unfairness and simply wrongness of that old adage “Those that can, do; those that can’t, teach.”
I think a much better mantra for the future is “Those than can, do; those that can and teach, empower.”
Yes, this is great motivation for teachers, who are in the business of developing people. It’s the teacher’s spirit, their attitude and genuine caring for the students that comes across.
As for the shy child, I think it’s unfortunate that they’re often misunderstood by teachers. This could be partly because people who are naturally outgoing often go into teaching in schools and don’t know what it’s like to be really shy. The fact is that nobody is shy all the time and everyone (I think!) feels a bit intimidated sometimes.
well said Richard
Richard, thanks so much for explaining exactly why our students do so well. Many of my students suffered so badly in class before they started in my small groups of empowerment, encouragement, success and self confidence. That’s when kids are ready to start learning.
Thanks for a great article, Debbie Naim in Israel
I really like everything you send Richard. They’re all useful. Tks for sharing. I’ve been using them for a long time.
Thanks for helping us being in the right business 🙂
As my child’s mommy, I beg to differ. My husband and I are our child’s number one teachers, Richard. Parents CAN and DO teach.
Teaching her is not a “business” for which we are remunerated. She goes to school (a private school, no less, err, uhm) but I am certain that no teacher will ever give her the attention, love, esteem, etc. that we do and, at her tender age of 5, teach her what we do. This is not because teachers don’t “love” her but because they have to divide their attention between 10-30 children (in our case 12).
Parents are responsible for their children’s education. The school is a tool.
I’m a Marketing Director but all the electrical work and fix-it-up stuff I learned from my Engineer Father while, ¡voila!, I was growing up; same goes about health as my mother was a nurse. Canning? From my grand mommy – not in school. Art and painting from my Dad; crafts and crocheting+sewing from my mom.
School is overrated. At dinner we did math and spelling.
Music? I’ve taken it up now but I didn’t learn to read a single note at school (and curiously my parents didn’t know a lick about music either – school didn’t help, lol!).
I have a master’s degree from one of the top business schools in the world. It makes me feel good to say this (we are trained to try to be medallion grabbers) , but it was 2 years of my life and I don’t think it was worth the cost and time.
Yes, make your child feel special. But, put something special in their hearts and minds in that unique way that no one else will or ever can. No matter how poor or rich your child becomes, what they have in their heads, “the real matter”, can never be taken from them. PARENTS are the PRIMARY teachers of their children.
Well said.
Yes!!! Preach it Richard
Thank you soooooo much!! Richard.
That was great, Richard! It’s completely true. We are in ‘lifting people up and adding value to them’ business.
Hi. You are a wonderful teacher. Your belief is great. You found the secret of teaching.👌
Just what food do you eat everyday so that you can think such inovative way? Guess I finally found my term from this great post, because I do empowerment to make every students engaged yet I still considered it as one of teaching act. Thank you Mr. Graham.
Hi Richard! I love your post that we are in empowerment business!!! Thank you very much! You’re the awesome motivator and writer!
Merry Christmas and
Happy Holidays !
Nadya
Didn’t want to come out from bed, but now I’m full of excitement 🤩
Very well put, Richard! That’s why we’re GENKI teachers! 😉
Dear Richard,
I always find your mindset questions and arguments very empowering to our community and this post surely is among the best you wrote.
Thanks for your words.
Well sai Richard! Thank you so much for the positive Energy. Since i met Genki English my class has never been the same . Finalle I can say i love teaching. I am so proud.
I 200% agree! Students can get the information anywhere,it is easy now, but what a teacher does is to inspire them to want to grow,not just to learn something but to develop and reveal their talents,even the ones they did not know themselves, to understand who they are,what they want in this life,what their mission is…