Motivation for the Masses

This is a short course about motivation. It is based on recent seminars in Oxford, UK in late September 2024 - so it is very current! The assembled students came from very different background: some were in jobs (from professional to part-time, unskilled); some unemployed; some students at the University (usually studying Psychology)

They attended for one reason: to master the basics of motivation.

The group were asked what motivated them and also whether the skills they already had - soft skills, transferrable skills - would be enough to change jobs.  Initially the general feeling was 'no'.

So a task was set.

Pick a job you THINK will not equip you for another job - and then discuss.

The role initially picked was Shift Manager in McDonalds (although to be fair, offerings also included Starbucks, Costa, Waitrose etc.)

The 'go-to' role was 'Consultant-in-an-unrelated-industry'

Two of the group had had dealings with Educational Consultants - one of the two was a teacher - and so 'Consultants' was narrowed down to 'Educational Consultant'.

Then the discussions started.

As you will see from the course what emerged is that often wherever we are in life we have certain skills that would be of interest to a potential employer. Skills that involve motivation such as communication, emotional intelligence and willingness to work in a team.

From these sessions a course was borne.

This course is for beginners - it is also for the more experienced student. we deal with theory. we deal with practical examples. we also deal with ways to remember, ways to motivate and even have a live example of a slice of apple motivating several!

Perhaps more importantly, it is a course, I hope, you will enjoy.

I currently volunteer for:

Different Strokes (Stroke charity) - Ambassador

Age UK - running a book club

Tandem (Befriending)

NHS - Culture liaison

NHS - interview panels

Sport in Mind - Support

Multiple Sclerosis - Support Worker

Trinity Learning - - visit Primary Schools

Oxford Recovery College - tutor

Horton Hospital - Hospital radio

Story Telling Museum - guide

43+ years experience teaching Economics, Business, Sociology, Politics and other subjects in schools, universities and other colleges - State and Private Sector. Appeared in 100+ films (including corporate training and fitness videos). 100+ books on Amazon. Featured by the BBC, Polish TV, The Times, The Telegraph and...The Sun.

Studied at:

· University of Oxford (Philosophy and Economics)

· Oxford Brookes (Teacher training)

· University of Glamorgan (Business and Economics)

Qualifications

· Professional qualifications at Masters level

· Business and Economics degree

· Examiner for four major examining boards, at ‘O’ and ‘A’ level.

· Three teaching diplomas plus CELTA

· Qualified fitness trainer

Key academic positions held:

· Principal Oxford School of Learning

· Director of Studies: St Joseph’s Hall, Oxford

· Head of Economics: Cherwell Tutors

· Head of Business and Economics: Pipers Corner School, Buckingham

Founder: Almost Random Theatre

Business and Economics background

Set up and ran Oxford Conferences and ran 50+ Business/Economics conferences at schools - all fees to charity

Amazon Business/Economics books include:

Titles include:

· Case studies for Business

· Time management for teachers

· Creativity techniques in Economics

· Drucker in Business Studies

· Creativity in Business

· Business calculations

· Further applications of de Bono

· Applying de Bono

· Philosophy Games

Taught students at the University of Oxford , Brookes University and schools in the state and independent sector

Principal of Oxford School of Learning for 15 years

Created OSL Training and trained Business, Psychology and Sociology teachers

Set up Marketing Education Services in the 1980s and sold cassette tape recordings of my lectures at the University of Oxford

Featured in The Times, The Telegraph, the BBC, ITV and Polish national television owing to the success of my teaching techniques and subsequent success of my students.

Ex-Buyer for a major car company

Psychology and Motivation background

Author of 100+ books on Amazon (mainly Business/Economics/Psychology) including:

· GCSE Psychology thru Mind Maps

· AS/A2 Psychology

· AS Psychology thru Mind Maps

· A2 Psychology thru Mind Maps

· Lifestyle Plan

· The Internet and Psychology

Through his own business OSL Training has run training courses for teachers of Psychology

Writer of several plays about death and appeared in films dealing with death

Theatre and Film Career

· 2012 - set up Almost Random Theatre.

· Since 2012 the theatre has delivered workshops in Scotland, Wales, Czech Republic and Poland as well as 15 schools in England.

· Chris has written/directed over 50 short and 3 one-Act plays that have subsequently been performed in London and Oxford.

· Scripts for three of his plays have been sold, via an Independent publisher, to schools in the UK.

· Course-creator/author of Coping with Old Age and Death - one person's perspective.

· He has also had plays put on - and performed in - Oxford and Brighton Fringes, London, Scotland and Wales.

· Chris has appeared in over 112 films.

Charity/Wellbeing work

· Ambassador for Heart UK

· Stoke Lead and member of Research panel for the Stroke Association

· Board member of Stroke Club UK

· Ambassador for  Different Strokes (charity)

· Member of PHC (Public Health Collaboration) UK

· Author of 6-volume Lifestyle Manual

· Author of other Lifestyle books on Amazon

· Originator of the Holman Protocol

Nothing in any of Chris's courses should be interpreted as linking to or representing any of the above stroke organisations.