I’m Selling Offsets For Bad Training — Do You Need Some?

I was reading a magazine in the doctor’s office yesterday, and there was a long article about how we should all be using business jets because we get there faster, don’t have to stand in line, and can get those little bottles of bubbly as we cruise along the skyway. There was the obligitaory sidebar that mentioned that a few folks pointed out that sending one corporate exec (or former vice-president) on a trip created more pollution than was really necessary. Good news — you can buy a carbon offset for your sins, and plant some trees to suck up all that CO2.

It got me to thinking. Sometimes I produce some training that is pretty awful. (Clients with shrinking budgets, morphing specs, or just a total lack of a clue will cause this.) It would really make me feel better if I could purchase some kind of AwfulTrainingOffset(tm) that would help build a school in Arkansas or provide a scholarship for a beauty college student. Maybe it could fund a home for old bloggers, a drug to make people listen, or just a paper sack that learners could use to get their shit together.

How about you? Have you produced anything that you’d rather not remember? Were there times that you snuck in and removed your name from the “page properties” or deleted yourself from the team alias? Much like the Catholic Church, I’m here for you. Just admit to your sin in the comments below, promise to do better, and I’ll try to teach my dog to sit.

Bless you.