- Dale Ludwig News, Turpin's Culture
This week marks Turpin Communication’s 20th year in business. Although we’ve had 19 anniversaries leading up to this one, most of which have gone by unnoticed, this one feels different. This one feels like it needs to be acknowledged, even if it is only in this blog. So here it is.
First, I want to say a big thank you to two groups of people. To our clients, thanks for trusting us to deliver what you need. Whether you’re a buyer bringing us in to work with your team or a participant in one of our workshops, you’ve given us your time, invited us into your business life, and believed in us.
To the people who have been part of the Turpin team, thanks for your brains, talent, and very hard work. These people are Greg Owen-Boger, Sarah Stocker, Mary Clare Healy, Karen Ross, Milena Palandech, Jeanne Cotter, Anne Linehan, Lora Alejandro, and Seth Kannof. Turpin has been very lucky to have all of you.
I started Turpin in 1992 with some very strong ideas about what presentation and facilitation skills training should be and a whole lot of questions about what makes a business successful. Since then, with the help of others, we’ve answered many of those questions. I can also say that there are a few things we got right from the beginning.
From a business perspective:
- Stay focused on what you do better than anyone else. The temptation to branch out into other types of training, into areas we know less about and feel less confident delivering, has always been present. We’ve resisted and are better off because of it.
- It’s okay to turn down work. Especially if success feels uncertain or the potential client feels like a bad fit.
In the training room:
- The worst thing you can do in the training room is waste time. Respect the learner. Adapt to their individual needs. Keep the goal in mind. Be flexible. Never condescend.
- Training is not meant to be fun, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time in class. You will never hear a Turpin trainer say, “Okay everyone, let’s shift gears a little bit and have some fun!” The work is first and foremost. When learners realize that you’re not going to waste their time, you earn their respect. When that happens, they relax, open up, and the process becomes not just fruitful but enjoyable as well.
What’s coming in the next 20 years?
- We will continue to help business presenters plan and deliver their Orderly Conversations.
- As new technologies emerge, we will continue to find the best way to successfully blend face-to-face and remote learning.
- This year we rolled out Find Your Focus Video. This service is built on what we learned by developing our own online courses. While this is brand new for us, it doesn’t break the “stay focused” maxim I mentioned above. Our tagline says it best: “Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better. (and now on video).”
So Happy Anniversary, Turpin Communication, and thanks again to everyone who has made it happen.
