TED Tuesday: How To Take The Best Courses From The Top Ivy League Schools— For FREE!

With Coursera, Daphne Koller and co-founder Andrew Ng are bringing courses from top colleges online, free, for anyone who wants to take them.

Good Morning Folks,

Daphne Koller is enticing top universities including Stanford, Yale, and Princeton to put their most intriguing courses online for free — not just as a service, but as a way to research how people learn. With Coursera (cofounded by Andrew Ng), each keystroke, quiz, peer-to-peer discussion and self-graded assignment builds an unprecedented pool of data on how knowledge is processed.

Says Daphne, "Like many of you, I'm one of the lucky people. I was born to a family where education was pervasive. I'm a third-generation PhD, a daughter of two academics. In my childhood, I played around in my father's university lab. So it was taken for granted that I attend some of the best universities, which in turn opened the door to a world of opportunity. Unfortunately, most of the people in the world are not so lucky.

A 3rd generation Ph.D who is passionate about education, Stanford professor Daphne Koller is excited to be making the college experience available to anyone through her startup, Coursera. With classes from 85 top colleges, Coursera is an innovative model for online learning. While top schools have been putting lectures online for years, Coursera's platform supports the other vital aspect of the classroom: tests and assignments that reinforce learning.

At the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, computer scientist Daphne Koller studies how to model large, complicated decisions with lots of uncertainty. (Her research group is called DAGS, which stands for Daphne's Approximate Group of Students.) In 2004, she won a MacArthur Fellowship for her work, which involves, among other things, using Bayesian networks and other techniques to explore biomedical and genetic data sets.

Filmed June 2012 at TEDGlobal 2012, with over three million online views since, I proudly present: Daphne Koller: What we're learning from online education...


As Daphne notes, "And finally, this would enable a wave of innovation, because amazing talent can be found anywhere. Maybe the next Albert Einstein or the next Steve Jobs is living somewhere in a remote village in Africa. AAnd if we could offer that person an education, they would be able to come up with the next big idea and make the world a better place for all of us.

Thanks for listening and have a GREAT Day,

Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer  

Ideas are not set in stone. When exposed to thoughtful people, they morph and adapt into their most potent form. TED Tuesdays on MitchWeiner.com highlights some of today's most intriguing ideas. Look for more talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more— HERE.  

About FSO Onsite Outsourcing
Recognized on the Inc. 5000 list of the nation's fastest growing companies for the third consecutive year, and lead by industry pioneer, Mitch Weiner, FSO's growth and success can be attributed to making a positive and powerful impact on their clients' bottom lines, as well as their employees' careers and lives.

LinkUP- Thursday: Unemployed, Underemployed Or Somewhere In Between? We’re Here To Help

“Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic.”

Good Morning Folks,

With so many high school and college graduates entering the workplace this summer, and a long weekend for beach reading, I thought I suspend out throwback post series until next week, so we can help those who urgently need career guidance at this critical time in their lives.

As the owner of FSO, I personally could not be more committed to finding good people and making them great. We currently have an eye open for finding great talent who have that skip in their step, fire in their belly, and twinkle in their eye to fill hundreds of new positions that will be added daily in our fast-growing company. Apply HERE

Today some links to tips for reinvigorating the passion you can bring to the workplace and to help you achieve all the success that you deserve.

Degree vs. Experience: Which one Truly Benefits Job Seekers? 

Checklist to Review Before You Start Your Job Search

A Very Different Future Of Work

5 Simple Changes to Ace Your Next Interview

How to Handle Office Criticism

7 Traits Of People Who Get Promoted

How Do You Interview Prospective Employers?  

The Power of Being Thoughtful and Kind 

What Baby Boomers' Retirement Means For the U.S. Economy

Millennials— If You Don't Develop Them, You'll Lose Them

Why Isn't Anyone Reading Your Resume? Your LinkUP To Job Search Success

By, For and All About Millennials!

Adding your Real-World College Experience to a Resume 

The “Why” Behind an Unsuccesful Promotion 

4 Steps to Write Professional Post-Interview Thank You Letters 

Personal Etiquette: How To Make A Good First Impression

Transform Temp/Contract Work Into A Permanent Job

9 Tips for Hiring the Best of the Class of 2013

How to Avoid Ending Up on the Unemployment Line

30 Exciting Summer Internships for College & Grad Students

My 10 Best Pieces of Career Advice for College Graduates

There is also a great special "advice to graduates" series running on LinkedIn where top Influencers share lessons from their youth. It's like 1000 of the best commencement addresses you'll ever hear. (at NPR The Best Commencement Speeches, Ever....

They’ve hand-picked over 300 addresses going back to 1774. Search by name, school, date or theme, and see our blog n.pr/ed for more)

Thanks to Recruiter.com, and thanks to you for “caring” then SHARING!.

Good luck with your career choices whatever they may be.

And... have a GREAT Day.

Love Life,

Mitchell D. Weiner

Chief Happiness Officer  

...................................................................................

“We need to believe in the impossible and remove the improbable” 

~ Oscar Wilde.  (Hat Tip: FSO's Matthew Simon)

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Recognized on the Inc. 5000 list of the nation’s fastest growing companies for the second consecutive year, FSO’s growth and success can be attributed to making a positive and powerful impact on their clients’ bottom lines, as well as their employees’ careers and lives. See us in action HERE

Making College Affordable, Relevant and Digital

"At the same time, four in 10 college graduates, according to a recent Gallup study, wind up in jobs that don't require a college degree."

Good Morning Folks,

A neighbor's daughter borrowed $80K to get a duel degree in Italian and Philosophy. She's now the deepest thinking waitress at the Olive Garden.

The truth is that America’s Middle Class is being priced out of colleges for their kids; and many parents are questioning whether college is worth it, and whether they can afford it.

Glenn Reynold's article in the Wall Street Journal  "For Too Many Americans, College Today Isn't Worth It" nails it: "There is no point in trying to preserve the old regime. Today's emphasis on measuring college education in terms of future earnings and employability may strike some as philistine, but most students have little choice. When you could pay your way through college by waiting tables, the idea that you should "study what interests you" was more viable than it is today, when the cost of a four-year degree often runs to six figures. For an 18-year-old, investing such a sum in an education without a payoff makes no more sense than buying a Ferrari on credit."

"For many families, the gap between soaring tuition costs and stagnant incomes was filled by debt without improving their job prospects. Today's average student debt of $29,400 may not sound overwhelming, but many students, especially at private and out-of-state colleges, end up owing much more, often more than $100,000. At the same time, four in 10 college graduates, according to a recent Gallup study, wind up in jobs that don't require a college degree.

Blogger Timothy D. Naegele argues for an online shift. He opines, "It has been said that "a college education is the largest scam in U.S. history." 

Clearly, online education is the future.
"

Newspapers and horses and buggies are testaments to bygone eras. College campuses may become relics of the past as well. In as much as children are learning to use computers at a very young age now, query whether traditional classroom education will be relevant—or necessary—at all in the future? Why spend money on “bricks-and-mortar” educational facilities? Among other things, why waste scarce energy resources getting to them?

Everything is online, at one’s fingertips.

At some point, the online schools may hire the best and brightest professors from traditional “bricks-and-mortar” colleges, universities and graduate schools to help them with their educational programs, and to enhance their credibility.

Naegele thinks that the idea of paying professors to give the same lectures year after year is absurd. "Give the lectures once, and record them, period. In the area of rapidly-changing subjects, again YouTube and online conferencing will suffice."

America's higher education problem calls for both wiser choices by families and better value from schools. For some students, this will mean choosing a major carefully (opting for a more practical area of study, like engineering over the humanities), going to a less expensive community college or skipping college altogether to learn a trade.

Writes Reynolds, "In a study they conducted among 48 female students in one residence hall at Indiana University from 2004 to 2009, they found that young women who were similar in terms of "predictors" (grades and test scores) nonetheless emerged from college on very different career trajectories. Those from more modest circumstances were often done in by their partying-related stumbles and actually experienced downward mobility after graduating. 

None of these alternatives to a traditional university degree is "the answer" to the higher education bubble. 

Many times college just helps get your foot in the door. We lose sight of that. It is up to the nature of the person as to whether or not they go far. What's missing in is the concept of self-motivation. If someone is motivated they can achieve a lot with very little. Rarely today do I see many young people who are truly motivated to achieve. In my career I have seen kids with degrees from Harvard, Yale, Stanford and others, who, once they got out in the real world did not amount to much and others from plain vanilla schools who succeeded not because they were the smartest or richest but because they worked the hardest. I'd take this person every time over the Ivy people. 

An eye opening case in point is that according to Wikipedia, "the average net worth of billionaires who dropped out of college, $9.4 billion, is approximately triple that of billionaires with Ph.D.s, $3.2 billion. Even if one removes Bill Gates, who left Harvard University and is now worth $66.0 billion, college dropouts are worth $5.3 billion on average, compared to those who finished only bachelor's degrees, who are worth $2.9 billion. According to a recent report from Cambridge-based Forrester Research, 20% of America's millionaires never attended college."

While it might be important which college someone attended when he or she applies for their first job, several years later it is essentially irrelevant. An online education may be just as valuable, at least in the future. Indeed, many fine universities worldwide would be wise to offer degrees online.

Whether educated traditionally, digitally or by a Jobs/Gates/Zuckerberg/Dell/ Lauren/Geffen drop-out style, at FSO our arms are wide open to anyone and everyone with passion in their hearts, a skip in their step and fire in the belly. 

As 2014 promises to be a year of rapid innovation, growth and expansion for our company, we're not cutting back on talent but ramping up big time.

So if you or someone you know of wants to join the happiest team on the planet, send your resume to fsoresume@fso-outsourcing.com

Have a GREAT Day. Love Life.

I'll be a seeing you soon.

Mitchell D. Weiner

Chief Happiness Officer  

. . . . . ..  . . . . . . . . . . ..  . . . . . . . . . .  . . .  . . . . . .  . . .  . . . . "When you walk with purpose, you collide with destiny."  ~~ Bertice Berry    . . . . . ..  . . . . . . . . . . ..  . . . . . . . . . .  . . .  . . . . . .  . . .  . . .

***********

Mr. Reynolds is a law professor at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. This essay is adapted from his new book, "The New School: How the Information Age Will Save American Education From Itself," published by Encounter Books

Timothy D. Naegele was counsel to the United States Senate’s Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and chief of staff to Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal recipient and former U.S. Senator Edward W. Brooke (R-Mass).  He practices law in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles with his firm, Timothy D. Naegele & Associates, which specializes in Banking and Financial Institutions Law, Internet Law, Litigation and other matters

FSO Partnership Enhances Mail and Copy Services at Sarah Lawrence College

Photo: SLC.edu

"Delivering on-going cost savings, as well as improvements in service levels and efficiencies to Sarah Lawrence’s day-to-day mail and copy operations.” 



Good Morning Folks,

We are honored to let you know that we've been selected by Sarah Lawrence College, to manage the mail and copy operations at Sarah Lawrence College campus in Southern Westchester County, New York.

Our solution for the college has been designed specifically to enhance the mail and copy services experience to the students, parents, faculty and staff at Sarah Lawrence College.

The partnership is the beginning of a great friendship and a wonderful opportunity to support the College’s strategic growth well into the future.




In the press release, 

Denise Ngeow, our VP of Corporate Strategy commented, “At FSO, we understand the complexities and idiosyncrasies of supporting a campus environment, and our approach to onsite outsourcing service covers all stakeholders (students, parents, alumni, faculty and staff) needs.” She went on to add, “We could not be more excited and look forward to delivering on-going cost savings, as well as improvements in service levels and efficiencies to Sarah Lawrence’s day-to-day mail and copy operations.” 



FSO is, and has been, a business partner with NACAS (the National Association of College Auxiliary Services) - the largest auxiliary services support organization serving higher education. 

Most recently we exhibited at the NACAS East Conference and Exposition in Gettysburg, PA. FSO looks forward to exhibiting at NACAS’s 45th Annual Conference in Anaheim, CA.

Have a GREAT day,



Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer  

LinkUP Thursday- Congratulations Graduates! Now Let's Talk Jobs.

 "The World Steps aside to let any man pass if he knows where he's going"

Greetings Everyone,

With graduation season upon us, we thought it a good idea to provide a roundup of relevant advice about jobs.

Going to university is no small investment in time and, for most people, money. As the global financial crisis has widened the employment and earnings gap between college-educated workers and those with only a secondary education. People with less education have found themselves more likely to be unemployed and have more difficulty landing a job, a review of unemployment data from countries around the globe shows.

As this new generation enters the workforce, training organizations need to evaluate how they are going to motivate, engage, and inspire these learners to achieve results in their new positions. 

Here's what I've been reading and saving to share with you the past two weeks:

10 Differences Between The Job Search Of Today And Of Yesterday

The Biggest Interview Mistakes HR Experts See (and How To Avoid Them)

Yes, Degrees Do Still Matter When Looking for a Job

The Millennials Are Coming! Proven Engagement Strategies

8 IT Hiring Trends You Can't Ignore

Unpaid Internship? Some Colleges Pick Up the Tab Congratulations on your graduation, and if you are in New York or Washington, DC,  don't hestitate to check us out for possibilities. If you've got a fire in your belly, skip in your step, and a twinkle in your eye,  there's always room for more here in the fastest growing company in all of onsite outsourcing. Be sure to connect with me on LinkedIn and Twitter for  up-to-the-minute postings. Remember, the party doesn't have to end at graduation when you find an  opportunity like FSO to work with people who love what they do. Have A GREAT Day! Mitchell D. Weiner Chief Happiness Officer Ps. I am now microblogging in between posts here so be sure to connect with me on LinkedIn and Twitter for up-to-the-minute news, information and career opportunities. (BTW, these are NEW accounts so if you have already subscribed on other pages the company has published, you'll need to reapply for my "personal" VIP list.)

5 Degrees More and More Companies Want

Busch, Slipakoff & Schuh,
a law firm in Atlanta, hires only people
with a bachelor’s degree — no exceptions.
And it is far from alone.

Good Morning Folks,

This The New York Times piece caught my eye suggesting that a college degree is now needed for an increasing number of positions, even File Clerk. Jobs today are more technical and require mastery of various computer applications. We understand.

Wrote The Times, "Consider the 45-person law firm of Busch, Slipakoff & Schuh here in Atlanta, a place that has seen tremendous growth in the college-educated population. Like other employers across the country, the firm hires only people with a bachelor’s degree, even for jobs that do not require college-level skills."

"This prerequisite applies to everyone, including the receptionist, paralegals, administrative assistants and file clerks. Even the office “runner” — the in-house courier who, for $10 an hour, ferries documents back and forth between the courthouse and the office — went to a four-year school.

“College graduates are just more career-oriented,” said Adam Slipakoff, the firm’s managing partner. "Going to college means they are making a real commitment to their futures. They’re not just looking for a paycheck."

With that in mind,and as Chief Happiness Officer of the nation's fastest growing onsite outsourcing company with a large foothold in serving prestigious legal organizations, I've asked Degree Expert Jane Alvarez to write a guest post called, "5 Degrees More and More Companies Want"  Over to you, Jane....

In today's world, the job market is getting tougher and tougher. Most assume this is just due to the economy, but that's only half the story. The other half has to do with experience - more and more people are going to college, grad school, landing internships/volunteer experience, etc. That's why it's important to stay on top of things - if you want something extra special to go on your resume, consider the following degree programs.

English/Writing
If you look at the way that so many people write, you will notice that quite a number of flaws exist. Most people simply don't know how to use grammar and structure in the ways that they once did. Therefore, employers are eager to see candidates who have backgrounds in writing. They want to hire employees who are able to effectively communicate with clients and others in the business.

Foreign Language
Speaking of effective communication skills, we also must look at the significance of a foreign language degree. With multinational companies taking over the world, it's no wonder that employers want to hire people who are able to speak an array of languages. When you are able to say that you're bilingual or multilingual, you certainly have a chip on your shoulder.

Mathematics
Even if your degree is in basic mathematical principles or you have a mathematics background, employers will be happy to see that you have these skills. Much like writing, people are also losing their sense of basic math concepts. Tasks that would have been incredibly easy for people only 15 or 20 years ago are now impossible to a vast percentage of the population. One of the major reasons why such strife exists is that individuals are unable to perform simple calculations and take care of some of the most basic needs associated with the company.

Technology/Computer Science
In the 21st century, technology's role in the workplace is simply undeniable. In order to keep up with competition, companies need to make sure that they have people who are well educated. Therefore, getting yourself a degree in one of these areas can certainly heighten your chances of obtaining a job. Employers do not want to have to train every single person for weeks and weeks upon end. Instead, they want to find individuals who are able to help them create better technological situations and equipment that is at the top of the competition.

Communications
Usually, people with communications degrees have them in a specific sub-discipline. You might be an expert in journalism or marketing, or you may have a little bit of a  background in science and business. Regardless, any of these degrees help you to better communicate with the people around you and to get the word out there about a specific product. As a result, you're a major asset to any company.

You can never have too much education. And if you feel you are stuck in a career and could be offering your employer more value, contact us at the job link below. 

 Have a Great Day,

Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer

Learn more about what DIFFERENTIATES FSO here

Companies across the country are looking for people who have these degrees. If you are interested in one, it may be time to finally make that leap and enroll!

Jessica Alvarez writes about education. Her recent work is part of the statistics degree guide.

FSO: LEADING SUPPORT FOR THE LEGAL COMMUNITY FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

We bring more experience in serving the legal profession than any company in the outsourcing industry. FSO’s subject matter experts and onsite staff provide support in many different areas of a legal department in a corporation and across a law firm.  

That's why, from the start of a case through the end of the trial, whether the assignment is a quick turnaround photocopy job to the most complex e-discovery project, we know how to make the process efficient, timely and cost effective.

Our dedicated staff delivers outstanding quality work that represents our advanced know-how, expertise and consulting prowess in many different areas of a legal department in a corporation and across a law firm:  
+ designing effective discovery response plans 

+ mitigate the risks associated with litigation: defense; liability; 

+ navigating the best of what technology has to offer.   

Learn more about our Nearly 90% Cost Recoverable Pillar To Post Legal Solutions >> CLICK HERE

To search available jobs at FSO click HERE