Reflecting on Six Months at 2U

I recently had my first milestone at my new job; six months on the job in a very different environment still working with students everyday.

It has been a bit of a whirlwind that finally feels like it is settling down. I moved and started this job over the course of a weekend, didn't have a place to live setup, but it was all for the best. I love this company and how it works, the impact we have on students all over the country (and world), the opportunities I am granted, as well as the possibilities of where I could go with this team.

Here are some specific highlights from my time so far:

Every day is a holiday...

Something that has been really great about my experience so far has been that I've been able to have fun and do things I wouldn't be able to elsewhere. We've had several parties for various occasions over the past six months (Employee Appreciation. Impact Report Release, Halloween, to name a few), I went to our company meeting in Orlando, and I've also gotten to go to cool places in DC and will go to NYC next month for our program's student Immersions. I'll have the opportunity to go to other places next year as well as work out of any of our offices across the country if I want to. Just appreciating the awesome things I get to do alongside the work I do everyday for my students has made this time really precious. Our work is hard, but it is important to be mindful and take time to value everything that is given to us. As our CEO says, "Every day is a holiday, every meal is a feast".

A Sense of Urgency

A big change over the past six months has been moving from a campus to a business. We work with students and colleges every day, but our culture and the way we do things is very different. We're a higher ed tech company that moves quick and is always trying to improve. We're in the business of doing right by our students and partners, so that's always a driving force, but we also are trying to grow as an organization. It has been hard at times, but more often than not, I feel like this is the type of vibe I work best in. There is an energy and vibrancy that compels you to do better. I didn't feel that as much at any past institution I've been at, not to say it doesn't exist, but it feels like it is harder at a venerable institution that might be more slow moving.

The Future of Higher Ed

Online education is experiencing a resurgence right now as best practices are solidified and quality is able to scale. We're evolving past MOOCs and simple platforms. We're moving on to replicating what works best from on-campus education, augmenting it with technology, and serving it up to the world. We're bringing amazing institutions to places they've never been and expanding their student base way faster than they ever could on-campus. It's really impressive to behold!

I can talk about 2U all day, so please connect if you want to learn more or apply. We're growing fast and can use all the good people we can get!

Thanks for stopping by!

How Sports Betting Can Be a Walk in the Park

Like all forms of gambling, betting on sports is capable of being both fun and frustrating. It goes without saying that most people will be hoping for more of the former than the latter. The truth is, there is only a certain amount you can do to make that happen - but at least there is something you can do. Betting on sports can be done in such a way as to improve your chances, and make it a more enjoyable experience all round. In this post, we will go through some of the key pieces of advice for ensuring that placing bets is a walk in the park.

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Only Bet What You Can

This first piece of advice is probably the most important to bear in mind. It can be all too easy to find yourself betting away more money than you really can afford to. While this might not be a problem in the early days, it won’t take too long before it is more of an issue. First things first, you should be careful to remember to only place bets that you can actually afford to place. That way, it is much more likely that you will be able to keep your distance and make it more profitable and more fun. If you are unsure about whether or not to make a big bet - then don’t!

Look For The Best Odds

Before you really get into this kind of betting, you need to know what the odds mean. Getting to grips with the odds is essential if you want to make the most of this experience. Beyond that, you also need to know where to find the best odds possible. Different bookmakers offer differing odds, so it pays to know where to look. Mostly, this is just a matter of experience, and as such it will take some time. Eventually, you will know where to look for the best bets in horse racing and the best bets in football. It is just a matter of patience.

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Remember: There Is Always Some Risk Involved

Betting and gambling are not problems in themselves as such. But when you start to get out of control with it, it can quickly become an issue. A key thing is to always remind yourself that there is definitely going to be some risk involved. It is worth remembering this, as it is in forgetting it that real problems arise. Even when you find incredibly good odds, there is a chance that it will not go through and you will end up worse off. So remember that there is always a risk, and you will be unlikely to go far wrong.

Have A Plan

This last piece of advice is something which very few people actually take on board. However, it can soon prove to be particularly useful for anyone who wants to get into betting on sports. If you want to carry on with your sports betting, it is a good idea to have a plan. This simply means that you know how much you intend to bet each month, regardless of what you get back. Having a plan makes it much easier to stay on top of it all.

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Here is Why Gaming is Great for Socializing

A lot of gamers would describe themselves as introverted. Some people think that being introverted means that you don’t enjoy company or that you don’t want to have any friends because you prefer to spend time on your own, but that isn’t necessarily the case. The difference between introverts and extroverts is actually just that introverts also need their alone time to relax and to recharge, while extroverts relax better in the company of others. When socializing is exhausting, it’s sometimes hard to force yourself to get out and meet people – but luckily, gaming is a hobby that’s much more sociable than a lot of people think. Here’s why…

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Gaming can encourage socializing. Researchers have found that players of multiplayer online games were encouraged to socialize with each other thanks to their gaming hobby – gaming didn’t take away from socializing but rather it was something that was done simultaneously as people chatted online at the same time. If you’re a gamer, chances are you’re pretty clued in about what conventions are coming up, about anything from Star Wars to anime. Not only are conventions fun and informative but they’re also an opportunity for people to socialize, to be creative – generally, to be their best selves and to share that with other people who understand.

You can find romance online. Meeting potential partners through apps and on dating sites is how many people do dating these days. Going up to people in bars and clubs isn’t really the done thing as much, meaning that people relying on old methods to meet boyfriends and girlfriends may be missing out. But if you’re used to communicating via screen, you’re much more likely to be able to strike up a good conversation on Tinder or through another app, meaning that you’re more likely to form a solid, long-lasting relationship. It’s also been discovered that a number of people have found love through MMORGs – what you choose to do with your character is often indicative of what you’re like in ‘real life’, meaning that the people you’re playing with are seeing the ‘real you’ even if you’re hidden behind an avatar.

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There are plenty of games that are designed to bring people closer together. This summer, Pokémon Go encouraged people to leave their computers behind and take their phones outside, and friendships were formed as people hunted for Pikachu and shared Pokémon Go tricks in their local parks. Minecraft is also a common hobby and has captured a generation of children. It’s something that a lot of elementary school boys in particular enjoy that builds friendships between them, and it’s also a game that greatly benefits kids with autism as it’s something that they find a lot easier to understand than other forms of social interaction.

Sharing common interests brings people closer together. A lot of friendships are built through online communities. Some might argue that it’s easy to misrepresent yourself online or to build yourself up as someone you aren’t, and although that’s true, you can also build sincere and long-lasting friendships and relationships after you meet online because you game together or you’re a fan of the same band or TV show. Gaming isn’t just a way to socialize – it’s a way to build relationships with like-minded people who you might not otherwise have met.

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Gaming Championships: Everything That New Gamers Should Know

Back in the early 2000’s, when gaming first became a big thing, it was simply seen as being a hobby. Because, surely, playing video games couldn’t be anything more than time-wasting, right? Actually, that’s wrong. Just like any other hobby gaming requires a specialist skillset and knowledge. Plus, it actually is good for you - gaming can relieve stress and, believe it or not, increase concentration.

Today, some of the world’s best gamers not only make money off of gaming but also compete in gaming championships. As there are now hundreds of competitive gaming events held across the world each year, has gaming become a sport? Well, because it doesn’t involve physical exertion, technically it’s not a sport. Instead, it’s been dubbed an e-sport - aka, an electronic sport.

For gaming newbies, the world of competitive gaming can be confusing. Getting your head around the fact that gaming isn’t just a hobby for geeks, but an e-sport that there are competitions held for, can be hard. To give you a better insight into what pro gaming is, below is a list of the things that you should know about this modern sport.

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Almost every game has a championship

The first thing to know is that almost every game has some sort of championship held each year. Some are national, and some are international, it depends on how big games are in certain places. All successful pro gamers tend to stick to just one game, such as World of Warcraft, and specialize in that. Think of pro gamers like athletes. Most athletes only focus on one sport to give them the best chance of being successful at it, and it’s the same with gaming.

So, if you have aspirations to become a pro gamer, it’s important to focus on just one game. Take League of Legends, for instance. If that’s your favorite game, spend as much time as you can improving your play, and learning all there is to know about the game. Use a LoL boost or rent a skilled duo queue partner and watch how they play, so that you’re able to improve your gaming.

There are big payouts for the winners

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Just like sports competitions come with big payouts for the winners, so do gaming competitions. Each gaming competition has a different prize amount, ranging from hundreds to tens of thousands of pounds. So pro-gamers have the potential to earn a good amount just from gaming. As long as they’re successful and win, that is.

There are fans

Just like regular sports have fans, so do e-sports. For this reason, the majority of e-sports events and competitions are held in arenas, and tickets to watch them live are sold. Just like some footballers are sporty kid’s heroes, some gamers, like the members of the LoL KTA team, are idolized by fans.

Gaming championships are becoming so popular that they’ve even starting to be streamed online. There are many sites online that stream live gaming events for fans to access and watch. In some countries, gaming events are even shown live on TV, like sports events are.

Today, gaming is an incredibly popular e-sport, making it a great hobby to take up.

You'll Gamble Like a Pro After Reading This

Do you wish you could gamble like a pro? Maybe you’ve been to a casino before but felt too intimidated to do anything but use the penny slots. People can actually make a living by gambling professionally. You might only want to do it for a bit of fun. Whatever your reasons, these tips can help you to become a better gambler:

Make Sure You Focus And Keep A Clear Head

Keeping focus and a clear head is absolutely crucial if you’re going to gamble. It can be tempting to drink to excess when gambling. Some gamblers even choose to use light drugs while playing. However, this is a quick way to lose focus and lose the game. Having a clear head is the best way to become the best player at the table. Don’t go overboard.

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Ignore All Superstition

There are a few different superstitions that can crop up as you gamble. These may vary depending on where you’re gambling. For instance, some say that touching shoulders is bad luck. Some people refuse to play or be paid with 50 dollar bills. Some people even refuse to walk through the main entrance of casinos. It’s always best to use logic and ignore all superstition in gambling situations. You don’t want any old wives tales affecting your games.

Have Money You’re Free To Gamble With

If you don’t have money that you’re free to gamble with, you shouldn’t be gambling. Gambling with money meant for food or bills will no doubt make you nervous. This will undoubtedly mean that you’re not playing to the best of your abilities. You should always have money you’re free to gamble with. If this is going to become a hobby of yours, you could consider setting up a separate bank account and putting around 10% of what you earn in there for your games. Make sure you have self control. Don’t be tempted to use money outside of the account. This is how problems can start.

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Gamble Where You Feel Comfortable First

Gambling where you feel comfortable at first is crucial. Although you might think that you’re a gambling pro, trying to play with the high rollers straight away is usually a bad idea. Play where you feel comfortable and then build yourself up. Some people prefer online gambling when they are just started out, for example, the casino shown here. This is totally your choice. Make sure you feel at ease. 

Come Up With A Good Plan

Finally, a good plan is crucial. Some people do use blind luck to win when they gamble, but the majority of the time, a good plan trumps all. Many casinos have banned counting cards during blackjack. That’s because if you can count cards, you’re pretty much going to win. Unless you can do this without making it obvious, don’t try it. You’ll likely get kicked out of the casino. Some people like to have a system for certain games, such as roulette. They might go black, red, red, black, red, black black, and so on and so forth. Patterns can sometimes be a smart way to play. Try looking at online forums to get advice on systems and patterns people use when gambling.

The Early History of Massively Multiplayer Online Games

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The MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online Game) market has been largely dominated by the game we all know and love; World of Warcraft. But with the glory days of Wow well and truly done with, let’s take a look at the earliest MMO’s to be released.

MMOs are Open World Games Online that allow for massive player bases on the same servers. Of course, so many MMO’s have come out over the years, so this post will only cover a handful.

Meridian 59 -

Arguably the first true MMO ever released. Unfortunately, the game wasn’t met with much popularity, but it was revolutionary in its own right. It launched as an early form in 1995 and was released commercially in 1996. The game itself boasted such features as; modifiable character stats and attributes, levelable professions, PvP (Person vs. Person) combat and even a loot system. The game is now available for free as an open-source project and is still run by the original developers.

Ultima Online -

Ultima Online was originally created, in part at least, as a social and economical experiment. The game was initially released in 1997 The game was a predecessor to a series of single player games. So the developers had to figure out a way to make each player feel like the center of attention and allow for big social interactions, at the same time. Since release the game has had 8 expansions released, and so has a multitude of features. These features include world PvP and PvE, world events, questing, levelable characters and much more.

EverQuest -

Unlink M59, EverQuest was a remarkable success. The game massively surpassed uptake expectations when it was released, in 1999. It was the first commercially viable MMO to use a 3D engine. The game plays host to a huge pool of classes, all with defined roles. It has instance style encounters, as well as true leveling and talent systems. EverQuest is heralded as one of the first true MMORPGs, and is a game WoW took a lot of it’s influence from.

RuneScape -

This had to be thrown in. RuneScape came out in 2001, but the RuneScape you see today is very different to it’s origin. The game runs in-browser, which seriously limits how detailed it can be. But, remarkably, RuneScape is still a success even today. Even with bad graphics and horrible controls, RuneScape has managed to sit atop its own thrown for over a decade. Although it doesn’t really have any unique features.

World of Warcraft -

And this brings us to 2004, the release of World of Warcraft. Every MMO player knows about WoW. The game holds the world record for total subscriptions. And the developers boast that in 2014 over 100 million user accounts had been created for it. The original game was fairly basic, but the formula Blizzard created with the game is responsible for it’s success.

So that’s a brief delve into the history of MMOs. Hopefully, I’ve inspired you to try some games you’d otherwise ignore. Look at them as artifacts; relics of a time gone by. Loads of MMOs came out between these games, and afterward. There’s even some in the pipeline today. If these sorts of games interest you, you can find plenty of them for free!

Can You Make Money From Your Love of Gaming?

Do you ever look at professional gamers with a hint of envy? I know I do. Imagine, being able to earn money from your love of video games - it’s an impossible dream, right? Well, that isn’t quite the truth. While the vast majority of us will never rake in a full-time income from playing video games, there are opportunities out there. I thought I would take a look at some of those with you today. Who knows, perhaps that extra little money you earn will enable you to fund your habit in the future?

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Blogging

Are you good with a pen? If so, why not write about your love of games and start a blog? If you gain enough traction you can start making a few bucks here and there through advertising or affiliate marketing. And it’s never been easier to set up a simple blog and website than it is today. The great thing about blogging about games is that you only need the love of the art, not the skillset!

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Game Testing

Ask any young gamer what their dream job would be and video game testing would be up there with the most popular. The truth of games testing is that it is kinda dull. You will only get games you like every once in awhile, and there are a lot of bugs and issues you have to contend with that ruin the experience. But, looking at http://www.indeed.com/, it does pay. And that makes all the difference! Games testing jobs come up regularly,so take a look around and see what you can find.

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Gambling

I know a lot of gamers that also enjoy a flutter, either online or with apps. It’s no surprise, really, as the two pursuits offer similar rewards to our brains. The gambling rules here in the States are getting less restrictive, although we still have a way to go before we get to the stage some countries are at. Take Australia, for example. According to http://www.legalgamblingaustralia.com/, 80% of Aussies have an occasional gamble. Please make sure you aren’t spending too much though, as gambling can become problematic. And the consequences can lead to financial - and life - ruin.

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"Let’s play…"

If you are a gifted gamer, why not record your experiences and post them online? Take a look around on YouTube and you can see videos of gamers playing everywhere. You could provide help guides for people. Or, just provide an entertaining commentary about your experiences. Some of those videos have hundreds of thousands of views - and that all makes for a healthy payout from YouTube advertising.

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Enter Tournaments

Finally, we enter the realm of the ‘pro player’. Real time gaming competitions have picked up a lot of interest in recent years. Some have even been screened live on TV. The competition is pretty fierce, of course. But the prize money is substantial - DOTA 2’s prizes came to a total of $6 million in 2014. Expect to see that figure increase, too.

OK, so there you have it - how to turn your love of gaming into a source of income. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Geeky Ways to Save a Fortune in Your Business

In business, it pays to be a geek. Quite literally actually because there are a few concepts for ways to cut costs that you won’t be aware of unless of course, you are a nerd. Luckily, for you guys I happen to be one and I can help you out a lot with these clever ways to save. Are you ready to use the power of the noggin to make your overspending nothing?

Cloud Fun And Other Tech

Technology will save your business a fortune for a variety of cool reasons. First, when you upgrade your tech, you’re always buying items that are greener. The latest tech on the market is better at saving energy compared to tech that was being sold last year. That includes everything you need in the office from computers to printers.

Then there’s the possibility of going digital. There are plenty of examples of things that you no longer need in the office because you can purchase digital solutions for the same job. For instance, you don’t need a fax machine when you can organise and access faxes online.

But I think the most important way tech can be used to save you money is by using cloud servers. If you don’t know, cloud servers are simply digital storage space. Once you purchase a cloud server, you’ll be able to spend and send various forms of information online. It will be fast too with anyone getting anything they need from you in seconds. This increases your efficiency and, say it with me, saves you money!

Obviously, Outsourcing!

Outsourcing is another clever and perhaps a slightly geeky way to save your business cash. Through outsourcing, you can cut the costs of your business, by shifting expensive jobs elsewhere. For instance, outsourcing health and safety solutions will tackle any safety issues in your company. They’ll handle these problems from the outside, and all you need to do is pay a fixed price. This price is going to be a lot less than the typical cost of a full safety team, believe me.

As a geek, there is nothing more I love than automation. That’s a real possibility with some of the outsourcing solutions available. Automation simply means that processes are handled automatically. Again, this means a lower cost for you and a faster service for customers. Are you sold on the idea of outsourcing yet? I bet you are.

Fun With Numbers

Finally, if there’s one thing we geeks love it’s our numbers and sums. This brings us to the final way that you can save money in your company by being a little nerdier. You need to look at your tax payments. Make sure that you are making the most of your deductions. To do this, you’ll need to have some fun with numbers, making calculations for how much you spend. The more specific and accurate these calculations are the better. Most business owners find they save a fortune by keeping accurate tax records.

You see, it pays to be a geek! 

Return of the Nerds: How Star Wars Episode 7 Made Geeks Cool Again

Last year something wonderful happened. Something many of us had waited years to see, something many of us thought we’d never see! A new Star Wars film was released. Now, unless you’ve been living under an Alderaan shaped rock for the past few years, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens was released in last year following intense marketing and it received a very positive reaction from fans.

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For geeks like me, it was a really exciting time. We got to enjoy a reinvented and reimagined vision, completely separate from the prequels and all the good will George Lucas managed to squander. And suddenly, being a Star Wars geek in vogue again. Everyone and their dog were going to see this flick in theaters (several going multiple times)! So, I’m going to look at some of the ways Episode 7 made geeks cool.

Anticipation

Anticipation is so often the weakness of geeks and nerds. It is our greatest strength, but also our greatest weakness. I think a major appeal of the Star Wars films is their story and moral message. Star Wars always sees the good in people and that's a universal thing for many of us. This is just one of the major things about the film's that increased anticipation for Episode 7. People wanted to go on a journey again. They wanted to feel attached and emotional on their journey. It’s so hard not to get excited about a Star Wars film, but, when you do, it lets you down (Episode 1). But this was different; it was a new direction with Disney helming the movies. And the anticipation, even from people who weren't necessarily fans, made geeks mainstream once again!

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The Next Generation

It might seem blasphemous to use a Star Trek reference in a Star Wars post, but bear with me, okay?! See, one of the greatest things about a new Star Wars movie is seeing how all the young kids react to it. To many of them, this is a totally new thing they are experiencing for the first time. They are the next generation of Star Wars fans, and The Force Awakens really captured their imaginations. It washed away the stale aftertaste of the prequel trilogy. And now parents and kids alike could finally attend a Star Wars movie together and have the same experience. And I think that's such a big part of the appeal of these movies.

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Expanded Universe

Star Wars has always benefited from one of the strongest expanded universes of any franchise. You can get anything you could possibly want that relates to Star Wars. And, this has only intensified since Episode 7 became a runaway success. There are table top and card games such as the X-Wing Miniatures Game. There are video games like Star Wars: Battlefront, and there are many novels and comics as well. This expanded universe has become even more mainstream since the last film. And people who may not otherwise have dipped into it are doing so.

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It’s pretty clear that geeks are back in now, and Star Wars, as always, has played a huge role in this. It seems that this movie captured the hearts and minds like no other Star Wars movie has managed recently, at least at the box office. And personally, I can't wait for both Rogue One and Episode 8 to come out!

Thanks for stopping by!

Keeping Employees Interested In Their Work

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One of the toughest challenges facing anyone who runs a business is keeping their employees interested in the role. With the day-to-day life of going to the office, a lot of people find themselves struggling to remain motivated. A good manager should be able to do everything they can to keep their employees as interested in the work as possible. But how can you make sure you are doing that? The fact is, it is something of a challenge. Nonetheless, there are some basic ways that you can ensure it happens in your business. Let’s take a look at just a few of those ways now.

Allow Open Exploration

One of the quickest ways to get people to dislike their workplace is to discourage the flow of thoughts. If your workplace is not allowing people to talk openly to one another, then this is a real concern. The ideal workplace culture is one which encourages the ongoing open exploration which brings out new ideas. If you are allowing your employees to approach their work in this open manner, you will notice some significant improvements. Above all, this should lead to some fascinating new ideas coming through about how to lead the business. You might be surprised to discover just how many great ideas your employees have.

Bring In New Ideas

Speaking of great ideas, having the willingness to bring in new ideas from outside the company is always a positive. There is a real benefit to allowing your employees to be open to new ideas, even if they are not directly related to the business itself. One great idea is to have a monthly or quarterly session where you bring in a public speaker from another field. The more dissimilar to your business type, the better, as it is the flow of ideas itself which keeps people interested. If you bring in the likes of David Icke to speak to your employees, you can be sure that they will be fascinated. What’s more, it will encourage an open discussion among the staff.

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Experiment With Procedures

All businesses develop their own specific way of doing things. This is just part of the nature of business. In many ways, it is helpful, as it means everyone knows exactly what to expect. However, it can also lead to boredom among your employees if you are not careful. If you are keen to keep your employees engaged at work, then you should not be afraid of occasionally experimenting with how things are done. If you shake things up every now and then, your staff will probably find it at least interesting. What’s more, it is only by experimenting that you can actually ensure you are always doing the right thing and in the best way possible. If you never experiment, you never discover the best way of doing something. When you do experiment, however, just be sure that you let everyone know what it is that you intend to do. If you force ideas on people without any context, they might not respond so well.

Hopefully with these tips you can reinvigorate your team to be more engaged so that you all will be able to do your best work.

Thanks for stopping by!