Class on Demand Report Card

News, views, and information from COD | MAY 2010

May is new arrivals month!

Trapcode is Particular about using COD training We're about to ship our new training for Red Giant’s Trapcode Particular 2. Motion graphics artist extraordinaire, Harry Frank, is once again on camera showing you how to go beyond typical particle effects and use Particular in new and interesting ways. Over six hours of training plus the After Effects project files so you can follow along with the instructor. Learn more about the training here. Streaming media titles We’ve received a tremendous response to our new on demand streaming platform for our IT training titles. We’re moving our latest media titles over to the platform and are readying ourselves for beta testing. The first set of titles will be available via on demand streaming next month. We’re using the Windows Silverlight platform combined with DRM to deliver the high-quality content efficiently and securely. Available as a format option from our existing ecommerce platform, the new on-demand service will give our customers a choice of DVD or immediate access to the titles online. Announcing our FREE CS5 upgrade Adobe guru, Tim Kolb, is in studio next week to produce our two new Adobe® Creative Suite® 5 titles “Getting Started with Adobe Creative Suite 5 Production Premium” and “Complete Training for Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.” We have partnered with a number of companies on the training including; NVIDIA, BorisFX, Tiffen, AJA, Suite Imagery, and Art Beats to show real-world and practical applications in a typical edit suite configuration. As of June 1, 2010 we’ve added a sticker to the packaging of both our award-winning CS4 titles that entitle you to receive the comparable CS5 title for free – we’ll even ship it on our dime. To order your copy of our Adobe training click here Apple Color training now shipping Both our new Apple Color titles are now shipping. We're also offering a "Complete Training for Apple Color" two-disc bundle composed of the "Basic" and "Advanced" training titles. Over nine hours of training hosted by veteran colorists, Steve Hullfish and Bob Sliga. This is probably the most comprehensive training on the market for Apple's very cool color grading software. To order your copy of our Color training click here.

Paul Holtz Fires Back

I just returned from California where I was the invited keynote speaker by the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society in San Francisco where I spoke to over 500 students and their families. As a business owner and founder of Class on Demand, I was asked to speak about building a business and describe what kind of personality traits make for a good business person.

I don’t mind admitting I was a little nervous looking out at the packed auditorium. After all, I never attended college and here were the best and brightest minds in the same auditorium with some pretty high profile parents that paid those tuitions. I am pretty comfortable speaking in front of large groups but this was different and definitely out of my comfort zone. But it was a great honor to be asked, so it was precisely why I decided I had to do it. The venue set up had all the students on the huge stage which was where the podium was. The family and friends were in the auditorium. Given the position of the podium, my back was to the students and I was there to primarily talk to them. This didn’t make sense to me, so my first words explained how I was re-positioning the podium so I could address the students and their families at the same time. This simple act changed the dynamic in the room and made me feel more comfortable.

I started by giving a brief background on my career from auto mechanic to field service technician at Xerox and finally to the founding and transformation of Class on Demand over the years. One key message I wanted the students to take away was the importance of how they interact with others. This is especially true, I said, in business. Pause and think about it before you push ‘send’ on the “flaming” email you’ve just composed. Make a phone call rather than send a text message if the message is important. Remember, just because you can text at 140 words-per-minute and are fully conversant in LOL, LMAO and PIR, that doesn’t necessarily mean the recipient is equally skilled. Be sensitive to time-keeping and don’t make people wait. Treat people around you with respect. In short, treat others how you wish them to treat you. This is probably the most important tenet I’ve employed throughout my career and it really has been a valuable personality trait.

It turned out, as I thought of my own experience in building a business, that inadvertently, or sub-consciously, I had exhibited traits that are useful to anyone starting out in life. They are life lessons learned from years of experience and it was both an honor and a humbling experience to impart a small amount of insight to the next generation of business leaders and the future of our country.

After the ceremony, I was met by students and parents alike for words of thanks and photos with the students. It was a great moment, and one I will cherish and remember always. I was left with one last thought as I said goodbye to my hosts. If these young people represent our future, then our future is in good hands.