Our Mission:

We’re dedicated to providing tools that work in the real world; helping people and organizations to reach their higher potential.

We may not have all the answers, but we’ve got the ones that work.

We operated as Cole Associates from 1991 until 1997, when we changed to Advanced Productivity Solutions. Yes, it’s a mouthful. We’re “advanced” beyond what any of our competitors are doing. Everything we do is geared toward better “productivity.” We provide “solutions.” Not window dressing or bandages. Solutions.

Our solutions are not what you see every day. We’ve got tools. Easy, simple, powerful tools that just work.

The founder of APS is Ron Cole. A published author, trainer, coach and speaker, Ron continually “tweaks” the courses and comes up with new materials for changing needs. For a bio, CLICK HERE.

Some companies we’ve had the privilege of working with:
Altera Corporation, Alza Pharmaceutical,
Advanced Micro Devices, Amdahl, Apple Computer,
Applied Materials, AverMedia, Chiron Corporation, Cisco Systems,
Compaq Computer, Elan Pharmaceutical, Elliot-Dickens Advertising Agency, Fujitsu Microelectronics, Inc.,
GaSonics International,
General Dynamics Electronic Systems,
InGenius Incorporated, Hewlett-Packard, IBM,
Institute for Business Performance, KLA-Tencor,
Lam Research, Inc., Learning Solutions Alliance,
Lockheed Missiles and Space, MedSmart, Inc., NetMagic, Netscape, Novell, Pfizer Pharmaceutical,
Philips Semiconductor, Portal Information Network, Relaxation Resources, Remedy Corporation, Resonate,
Roche BioScience, San Francisco Chronicle,
Sun Microsystems, Symantec,
Team Strategies, Thinq, Vantis, Wyse, Xilinx

Ron Cole received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the State University of New York in 1977. He served as Dormitory Judicial Vice-President, President of the Astronomy Club and Director of the College Planetarium. He went on to a career in the area of advertising and marketing, culminating in ownership of a full-service advertising agency. 

Ron became interested in motivational services after employing Accelerated Learning Systems (ALS) to enhance company productivity. As his relationship with ALS grew, Ron assisted by teaching classes, and eventually became their Senior Instructor. Over a fourteen-month period, Ron left advertising to pursue a career helping others to learn and benefit as he did. Ron has worked with business executives, managers and private individuals since 1990, and re-formed Cole Associates to accommodate his own “personal development” clients in 1991.  Today, Ron provides confidential, one-to-one coaching as well as group talks and workshops. His “Wow-To!” Program benefits all parts of a person’s life: business, personal, social, educational, health and spiritual. Ron has worked with managers from some of Silicon Valley's largest corporations, including Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Tandem Computer, Applied Materials and Apple Computer.

In conjunction with his coaching activities, Ron is a representative of Success Motivation Institute, Inc., the world's largest producer of Goal Setting and self-development programs. Ron has written numerous articles appearing in various newsletters and publications.

Since 1991, Ron has taught the SuperReading program to both schools and corporations. In 1995, he produced a self-study version, which allows people to at least triple their present reading abilities. In early 1997, Ron formed Advanced Productivity Solutions to accommodate the growing activity in his self-development products and services. In 1999, Ron wrote “How To Win at Any Sport,” combining mental preparation techniques with goal achievement tools.

His hobbies include reading, writing, photography, animation, hiking, biking, outdoor roller-skating, table tennis, and science fiction.