Burning Bridges To Nowhere

This day marks the start of the new year 2011 and with it comes the new opportunities for the professional locksmith and those wishing to learn a new trade.  A renaissance has begun as a result of the achievements of the SOPL and those who stepped up to the plate and did what others said could not be done or what they could not, or would not do.  

The "Unleashing of the Beast" begins today! 

The SOPL has a comprehensive training program with robust online proficiency testing with state approvals, it has a social network and social media platform packed with feature rich resources and communication systems, a live virtual classroom and a clean and professional discussion forum. But what makes this all interesting is that it is peer driven and the power to succeed is in the hands of the actual locksmiths not a centralized group operating with a broken 1950's model of command & control.  

Since the announced release of the Virtual Classroom, scores of locksmiths who have educational experiences to share have been reaching out to the SOPL to offer to teach others. Local associations have welcomed the new opportunities never made available to them before, and are looking forward to this new year to share these advancements with their members. The excitement of education from everywhere, and anyone at anytime is in the air and the locksmiths themselves are driving it without the need for outside intervention or legislation. 

Some have said bridges have been burned.  Sadly, these are the same individuals who were dragging down the industry, crushing the forward momentum and opportunities of the locksmith.  One thing that can be said in any walk of life and particularly in the locksmith industry, is that when someone is succeeding you will always have those who will try to prevent them from doing so. For the most part it is done out of ignorance, but some do it because they don't like the idea that others can achieve what they cannot.  I have seen this behavior in many locksmiths in the field and on particular industry forums. The ease at which they bad mouth others or tell lies long enough that they become truth not only to themselves, but others is endless.  

So when someone says that "bridges have been burned", look at it as a good thing and embrace it with enthusiasm.  Those flames are beacons in the night to help you avoid the tragedy on the other side.  There are bridges in life that lead to nowhere and should be left behind.  The SOPL has built a new road to travel, one with unlimited potential and opportunities for the locksmiths which is affordable, exciting and original.  Those claiming bridges have been burned do so because they are left standing on the other side, numb and lifeless looking across the abyss at what they worked so hard at trying to pull down and failed.

Burn Baby, Burn!