We here at MindMuze we are really excited about a new web-based authoring system called Shift being added to our repertoire of tools.  It represents a real departure from the traditional client-based applications because it allows anyone to create an eLearning course. And I mean anyone! Basically, if you can use Powerpoint, you can use Shift.

It really is an amazing piece of technology. It lets you create completely professional content. You can create drafts, and reviewers can add comments right in the learning materials, where they can be aggregated with other comments. It can therefore be as collaborative and interactive as you like. It also includes a powerful gallery of content templates that cover everything from straightforward presentations to complex scenarios and software simulations.

We recently used Shift to put together a special H1N1 awareness package. Our clients were stunned by how quickly we were able to put it together — it went online during the first wave of news reports, when people were only just hearing of H1N1 and few people yet knew what to do about it. As a public service, we quickly began offering the course as a free download (it’s still available), all thanks to this amazing system.

And if we were able to rush together an eLearning course of such importance in so short a time, imagine how easily it will be for anyone to create similar packages in response to frequently asked questions, even if those questions are constantly changing.

Shift will be officially launched very soon. Having worked with it myself, I can tell you this will be a huge, potentially game-changing event. Stay tuned!

Whether business leaders arrive at social responsibility for strategic reasons - good brand association, good lead generation, new partners - or due to personal enlightenment,  no one should care.   I love the trend!

Eckard Tolle, best-selling author, argues that we are in a new age of personal enlightenment (Great quotes from Tolle). Naturally, business enlightenment will follow, and in fact, is following. All around the business community we are seeing evidence of “philanthropreneurs”. It is the social entrepreneur driving a new socially responsible non-profit venture, or it’s Warren Buffet choosing to distribute his entire gazillion dollar estate to the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. What is driving this? Eckard would argue that more and more, people are spiritually aware.  It may be that people are finally listening to the life lessons of the dying. In the end, no “thing” really matters. It is not about the acquisition of things. It is about utilizing excellence in profit making, to help level the life experience playing field for all.   Wealth can still be energizing.  The drive to uber business goals worthwhile.  

Paul Lemberg writes….
“Businesses can be powerful models for the larger community. They are able to demonstrate the value of such things as innovation, dedication and responsiveness to customers, risk-taking, process and systems innovations, financial practicalities, and teamwork.

Strategic philanthropy can be a core element of how you operate your business and see yourself as a entrepreneur. It can functionally help you to refine the values and purpose of your business, in a manner, which not only distinguishes you from your competitors, but also contributes to your bottom line while improving the quality and success of virtually every aspect of your staff, your systems and your overall business.”

Add the emerging millenials (generation Y) to this growing pool of more enlightened Business Leaders, and you have a new powerful force in philanthropy.    By deploying profits and energy for the greater good, capitalism can replace the oft associated greed tag.   We have some great emerging role models leading the way.

RB

Same company, different name. Over the next 30 days, the B Wyze eLearning team will begin the transition to MindMuze. It is the same legal entity, same people, with enhanced products and services operating under a new distinct learning innovations brand.

“Muze” was chosen as a play on “Muse” - (ok…the dot com was taken). “Muse” often refers to an inspiration. There you have it. We hope our new brand continues the B Wyze Holdings Inc. mission of,

Inspiring Success Through Trust and Partnership.

As part of B Wyze Holdings Inc., the integrated learning products and services of MindMuze should inspire the mind.

Why the change?

B Wyze has evolved from a small startup in 2000 to multiple operating units. After being awarded some large global eLearning projects between 2006 and 2008, it was decided that the eLearning team had been incubated long enough and would establish a new brand.

As a result, B Wyze eLearning Inc. was born. Victims of our own success, it soon became clear that the “B Wyze” brand was being diluted. The Corporate Education buyer was very different from the IT Services buyer. Simultaneously, we began launching a new team under the banner of MindMuze. Over the past 12 months, MindMuze has established a reputation for excellence in innovative eLearning products. It just made sense to combine B Wyze eLearning and their services, with the MindMuze product portfolio, in order to create one remarkable brand focused on learning solutions. Phew….that was a mouth full.

B Wyze Holdings now has three wholly owned subsidiaries - among them, B Wyze Solutions and MindMuze. The B Wyze Solutions brand will remain focused on IT Service Management excellence and continue to innovate in that space. While they will offer some eLearning products and select eLearning services, they do so only as it relates to serving the IT Services buyer.

Look for MindMuze to explode onto the scene (too dramatic?) with more innovative learning solutions (Mobile Learning, Virtual 3D worlds, Learning 2.0 etc.).

The transition will be smooth. I hope that you enjoy the new MindMuze site. We are looking for your feedback and your blog comments!

Thanks for listening,

Rick Beaudry, Co-Founder