aloa.org December 2024 Keynotes 25 EDUCATION Education: Today, Tomorrow and Forever By ALOA SPAI Director of Education William M. Lynk, CML, CPS, ICML, CMIL, CAI, M.Ed. O FTEN, THE YEAR-END brings a time of reflection and the desire to map a new direction. We look at what we have done that has proven successful, what has failed and what we can do to right a path that may be askew. So, too, does the security industry. And sometimes the most obvious answer is right in front of us: education. Change Is Constant Trends will change, products will become obsolete, and others will take their place. Technical data will continue to prolif- erate, and the internet AI will continue to influence our direction. Techniques will be modified, distribution methods will be updated, and the workforce will undergo changes. Policies and procedures will be restructured. Customer bases will fluctuate. Methods of manufacturing will be modernized, marketing approaches will be expanded and opportunities in the profession will be reorganized. One thing that will not change is the need to stay on top of these factors — and education is the way to do it. “There is nothing in this world con- stant, but inconstancy.” — Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) Over the centuries, notable individ- uals who were more worldly and elo- quent than I have commented on various aspects of education. I will include more of their thoughts below. But you may ask: “What exactly is education?” One dictionary defines education as: education - noun. 1. the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowl- edge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life. 2. the act or process of imparting or acquiring particular knowledge or skills, as for a profession. Education Education is a combination of learning, experience, knowledge, teaching, read- ing, writing and ability. With the proper blending of these factors — and with patience — one’s future can be appropri- ately shaped. Education is definitely an ongoing process that never really ends. The true locksmith security specialist will learn until final expiration, an inev- itable consequence of life. So, why not embrace that which molds the future of one’s direction — lifelong education? “The great aim of education is not knowledge, but action.” — Herbert Spen- cer (1820-1903) The beauty is that education comes in many forms and not just via formal training: daily activities, reading, writ- ing, conversation, trips, leisure activities and even through occasional blunders. However, advancing in a focused manner is fundamental to developing and sharp- ening skills, knowledge and experience — the backbone of any excellent locksmith. Education is a gradual, ongoing process that requires focus and patience to pro- duce its best outcomes. The fruitfulness of your locksmithing career depends on it. “Patience is a long lane that has no turning.” — Samuel Richardson (1689-1761) Learning Even as infants, we learn as we grow. The art of learning is the art of knowing. Learning can be done in many ways, from formal classroom education to apprenticeships and book learning. Do what suits you best, and try different approaches so your level of knowledge blossoms. “All men by nature desire to know.” — Aristotle (384 B.C. – 322 B.C.) Experience The more training you get, the more exposure you have in the field. Network- ing accelerates, and your job experience multiplies. Things may even get easier. But don’t worry or feel ashamed about making mistakes — it’s a great way to learn. Thomas Edison was once asked how he felt about failing 99 times before inventing the lightbulb. He replied, “Oh, I didn’t fail 99 times, I just learned 99
