26 Keynotes December 2024 aloa.org EDUCATION Education: Today, Tomorrow and Forever ways how NOT to make a lightbulb.” It’s all perspective. “Experience is the name everyone gives to his mistakes.” — Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) Knowledge Education can certainly offer many great things. Wisdom is often the ultimate reward. It’s all within your power to ensure your education gives you what- ever you want and need. “Knowledge is power.” — Francis Bacon (1561-1620) Teaching I am proud to have been teaching for 51 years in various scenarios. Regardless, I have found that I always learn when I teach. Mentoring young locksmiths is also an excellent way for you to not only give back to the industry, but you will learn as well. Your impact on a young, budding locksmith may be the single most influ- ential career opportunity for that person. “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” — Henry Adams (1838-1918) Reading Be sure to take advantage of all the free technical manuals written by manufac- turers and industry scholars. Take five minutes daily to familiarize yourself with a topic you may not know or are rusty on. Education does not have to be costly. “Reading is to the mind what exer- cise is to the body.” — Joseph Addison (1672-1719) Writing Don’t forget to write down your yearly goals. Adjust your written business plan regularly. Make sure education is part of your professional development. If you have the knack, write for industry magazines and your local locksmith association. Whether you realize it or not, you, too, have gems of wisdom for your colleagues that should be shared. Just do it. “The chief glory of every people arises from its authors.” — Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) Ability The success of your security career will depend on your ability to synthesize all these elements of education into one cohesive unit that will work for you. Yes, the industry is changing — that we know. But the direction it will grow and how it welcomes the younger generation is partly your doing. As long as you are prepared to play a part in its metamor- phosis, your career will be bright. “A man who qualifies himself well for his calling, never fails of employment” — Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) ALOA Resource For over 50 years, ALOA has offered pre- mium opportunities for locksmiths and security professionals to stay current and expand their skill levels through its top- notch educational programs. That being said, be wary of only exposing yourself to YouTube videos and “quick fixes” found on the internet. Some of that material is good, but it is often laden with misinfor- mation and inaccurate information. We all need to avoid complacency concern- ing our own education. When we do not know something, it simply means we are ignorant of those facts. It’s not a slam; it’s just the truth. Our goal should be to stay informed with accurate and reliable information that sheds a positive light on our profession and helps us to maintain professionalism. “Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon or star.” — Con- fucius (c. 551 B.C. – 478 B.C.) Conclusion I will leave it up to the industry sooth- sayers to predict the industry’s future, trends and overall health. What I can do is advocate for continued education in this profession so we all have the capacity to “ride the wave” of change and better adapt to whatever it may bring. Being prepared through formal education is like providing nourishment to one’s body. And there’s no escaping it: Every moment you breathe, you’re being edu- cated in some way. So, don’t fight it — some things are forever! Allow education to be an integral part of your business strategies, as it’s a fundamental part of your everyday life. Your future — and the future of the industry — depends on it. “We know what we are, but know not what we may be.” — William Shake- speare (1564-1616) ALOA SPAI Director of Education William M. Lynk, CML, CPS, ICML, CMIL, CAI, M.Ed., has been a locksmith since 1975 and is the owner of www.ICLSglobal.com. Bill is an IC specialist, an industry author, the subject matter expert on IC for ALOA, and an ALOA ACE instructor, teaching classes on interchangeable cores and master keying across the country. He has originated SFIC Technical Manuals for both national and international lock manufactur- ers, and maintains a working relationship with the major lock and security manufac- turers throughout the world. In 2013, he was named Keynotes Author of the Year. I have found that I always learn when I teach.
