The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here.
Name: G5 Leadership
Quick Pitch: Online boot camp geared toward high-performance job training.
Genius Idea: G5 Leadership makes job training more accessible and affordable by recreating the traditional model. There are 12 live workshops a year available on the unique web platform from the world's top thought leaders.
Traditional job training takes place in a conference room or a classroom in front of a Powerpoint presentation. These off-site training sessions are often costly and time consuming. On top of that — there's no guarantee that the content will be high-quality.
G5 Leadership founders and training industry veterans Steven Smith and David Marcum — authors of Egonomics: What Makes Ego Our Greatest Asset — wanted to change the organizational model in place. About 35,000 members have signed on for the website's unlimited $9.99 monthly or $99 annual subscriptions since the 2010 launch.
The startup offers live workshops directed by industry thought leaders and innovators. It's a chance for anyone to brush up on skills such as time management, engagement and communication. Professionals can learn new skills at their own pace. All live broadcasts are available thereafter in a database.
The online startup calls itself "a gym for your career." The trainers are top leaders who put users through the ringer. Shape-up tools include workbooks, quizzes and simple plans toward goals.
G5 faculty includes David Allen — a New York Times bestselling author and time management expert — who specializes in "getting things done." Another regular is Fast Company magazine co-founder Bill Taylor who helps professionals get inspired. The founding editor of the award-winning magazine culls out lessons from starting his own business and exercises from his bestselling book, Mavericks at Work: Why the Most Original Minds in Business Win.
"Traditional job training can be upwards of $30,000 a day," says Stephanie Carter, G5?s director of public relations. "A lot of people never have an opportunity like that. We want to democratize training by spreading out memberships across thousands."
G5 Leadership workshops look a lot like TEDTalks — except with lesson plans. Each live broadcast comes with workshops, apps, self-assessment tools and links to look through. Custom workshops are paired with related readings and instructions to put goals to work. Recent discussions include striking the right amount of confidence, perfecting the pitch and becoming a successful entrepreneur.
There's an overwhelming amount of information online for free. However, what G5 Leadership offers is different, Carter says: "I like to use the analogy of a movie theater. We don't make content in-house and push it. We provide a venue to show the best content out there."
The subscription cost covers contracts for customized material from business leaders. It's content that can't be found anywhere else. G5 Leadership material is targeted and comes with a plan for results.
"We tell [presenters] to go deep into specialized content with practical application," Carter says.
Events are available on the main website and can be viewed on tablets and smartphones.
Where do you turn online for inspiration or job performance advice? Tell us in the comments if you take advantage of self-improvement content on the web.
Image courtesy of iStock Photo
Series Supported by Microsoft BizSpark
The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark, a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today.
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