Welcome to Episode 001 of the Police Instructor's Podcast. In this episode I talk about the reason for the show, what to expect from me during the show, the show format, and I finish it up with a tip I think you'll appreciate.
Show Notes and Transcript:Hey, whatās up⦠this is Michael Simpkins from ThinBlueLearn where I provide amazing online learning for police officers⦠welcome to Episode 1 of the Police Instructorās Podcastā¦
Welcome to the very first episode of the Police Instructorās
...
See More
Podcast⦠Itās hard to believe the show is finally here⦠Iāve been working for so long trying to make this podcast a reality⦠and itās finally here⦠2019 is the year and Iām so excited!
The story behind this podcast is actually kind of interesting and unique⦠Iād been working on my online course⦠Instructor Development for Law Enforcement for almost 2 years and I realized I wanted to do a podcast as well⦠the reason the course took so long to create wasnāt because it was complicated⦠Yeah it took a lot of work but the delay was mostly because of my fear and self-doubt and wondering if I could pull it offā¦
Thatās when I decided I wasnāt going to let that happen again with this podcast⦠I decided to go for it⦠and here we areā¦
So, I wanted to say thank you for listening from wherever you are⦠I really appreciate you taking the time to listen⦠This episode is going to be a little different from the norm, Iām going to be going over a quick introduction of who I am⦠an introduction of what to expect and why Iām hosting this podcast.
Not only how it benefits me⦠but more importantly how it benefits you and why you should keep listening to future episodesā¦
So, if you havenāt heard of me before⦠my name is Michael Simpkins, I own ThinBlueLearn.com where I specialize in bringing police training online without compromising the quality of the training⦠I love sharing what I do⦠if you know me from police training circles, you know Iām passionate about what I do because I want police instructors to know they can be successful online⦠in a professional⦠helpful way⦠by bringing top notch police training to officers using the power and flexibility of the internetā¦
Iāve been a police officer in Tennessee for 23 years, where Iāve spent the majority of that time as an instructor⦠throughout my career Iāve been fortunate enough to work in several different aspects of law enforcement⦠from patrol to narcotics, to investigations, SWAT, Crisis Negotiations⦠Iāve been fortunate enough to do it allā¦
Now, Iām the training coordinator for my department⦠responsible for general department instruction and new recruit trainingā¦
So, yeah than you for listening, I really hope to be able to provide you with some awesome content on this show⦠I donāt want to be a waste of your time⦠I want to get away from the fluff I hear in other police podcasts and just give you great content you can put to use right away and help you bring your training onlineā¦
Iāve been very passionate about providing quality online police training that facilitates learning retention⦠thatās why I created ThinBlueLearn and this podcast⦠I want to share valuable knowledge-based content from industry experts with you in a way that helps you plan, develop and implement your trainingā¦
Most police officers, when we think of online training⦠we think of sitting in front of a computer screen watching boring videos⦠you know⦠training with no value and zero training transfer⦠Iām sure youāve clicked that play button on online training⦠walked away and was hoping the video was done by the time you got back⦠I know I haveā¦
As trainers, we all know there is little training value in that⦠which is why Iāve created the ThinBlueLearn online training system⦠it challenges and engages officers in a way that helps them take what theyāve learned to their job⦠Yeah⦠the officers are expected to work⦠itās not easy⦠it challenges them⦠but they learnā¦
So thatās why Iām here doing this podcast⦠to share what I know⦠and to bring in industry experts to share what they know⦠because letās face it⦠I have a lot to learn too⦠this podcast isnāt about me⦠itās about you⦠so we can learn together⦠new and innovative ways to train our officersā¦
Itās all about putting yourself out there⦠taking leaps of faith⦠taking bold action⦠and making things happen⦠we can plan and plan and read all we want⦠but we have to take actionā¦
Thatās what itās all about⦠thatās what Iām here to try to get you to do⦠to take action⦠think outside the box about your training courses⦠and develop ways to improve police trainingā¦
Thatās why Iām here⦠thatās why⦠I want to show you how you can do it⦠I remember the first time I mentioned creating an online course for police training to a friend⦠a fellow officer⦠I want to bring the training online⦠and he convinced me it was a waste of time⦠and I listened to him and didnāt create the course⦠I didnāt work toward what I envisionedā¦
Now⦠about nine years later⦠I finally stepped out of the norm and created an instructor development course thatās online⦠I did it and so can you⦠it IS possibleā¦
Now letās talk about the format of the show⦠moving on to the next segment of this episode⦠like I said earlier⦠this episode is a special one because itās my first one⦠but a normal episode will be like thisā¦
Itāll be about 30 minutes long⦠which is long enough to get in depth on the topic of the episode⦠but short enough so I donāt drag you along and waste your time⦠itāll force me as the host to make sure we touch the really important points right awayā¦
Iāll bring on guests and weāll touch on one or two topics regarding police training where weāll dig deeper into whatās working and into innovative āoutside of the boxā strategies on how to develop effective police trainingā¦
After that⦠in each episode I like to include something that called āBreaking Down the Recipe to Successā segment⦠where Iāll be asking each guest I have on to break down their recipes or strategies for success in relation to course creation and police training in generalā¦
This is the part of the show where I want you to be able to take away something of value and to implement it right awayā¦
So, Iāll try to get all of my guests to share their recipes or strategies to success so we can implement those things as well, for our own coursesā¦
Again, this podcast is all about you⦠Iām trying to help you and show you what works and also what doesnāt workā¦
Now⦠thatās a lot to cover in 30 minutes but I think we can get some great valuable information we can use⦠plus it wonāt take much effort to listen to the episode again if you need it for further instruction or guidanceā¦
Lastly, Iād like to talk about why Iām hosting this podcast⦠the first reason may be a little selfish⦠by my public speaking skills are horrible and they need a lot of work and improvementā¦
This forces me to get better at what I know I need to improve on⦠Iām really good at writing and doing technical things⦠but when Iām on the microphone I get nervous and this will force me to do betterā¦.
Hopefully when youāre listening to this podcast in the future⦠youāll be able to see a huge improvement in my voice, my style, the flow of the show and itāll seem flawless⦠thatās what Iām striving forā¦
Because Iāve learned the best way for me to improve is by doing⦠thatās why Iām doing this podcast⦠to try and become a better speaker⦠and try and be better behind the microphoneā¦
By stepping out of my comfort zone and putting myself out there⦠thatās exactly how I got into creating online courses and thatās exactly how Iām going to master this podcasting thing and hopefully youāll join me in this journeyā¦
The second reason and the most important reason⦠is to help youā¦
Everything I publish⦠everything Iām saying on this podcast is here for you⦠If you email me or leave a comment, Iāll make it a point to respond⦠because ultimately youāre why Iām here doing this podcast and creating online courses⦠Iām trying to help as many of you out there as I canā¦
If you want to learn more⦠if youāre new to this podcast⦠and want to know more about me you can check out my site at www.thinbluelearn.com... Or if youād like to reach out to me and just say hey⦠the best way is to send me an email at info@thinbluelearn.com... I will respond⦠I promiseā¦
Now before I go Iām going to leave you with one tip⦠I hope you can take away from this first episode⦠and thatās not to be afraid to fail⦠Iām doing this podcast and creating online courses at ThinBlueLearn⦠and Iām good with whatever happens because I know Iām going to learn from my experiences⦠if youāre not afraid to fail⦠you wonāt be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and reach crazy high levels of success as a online police instructorā¦
For me it was when I pushed fear aside, stepped out of my comfort zone and took those chances that I finally did what I set out to do⦠I failed a lot along the way⦠but I embrace each and every one of those failures because they got me to where I am todayā¦
So, donāt be afraid to fail⦠or to make mistakes⦠try to do your best⦠but when you do fail or make a mistake⦠learn from it and move onā¦
So, thank you again⦠for listening to the very first episode of the Police Instructorās Podcast⦠I hope you enjoyed it and Iāll see you in episode 2⦠take care⦠be safe⦠bye now.