Respect Toward Your Superiors Essay

â€Å"He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded.† Proverbs 13:12-14 NIV. There are only forty five instances of the word respect in the NIV bible. I try to live my life as though I were being watched by God Himself, because I believe that I am. I try, and hopefully achieve, to show respect to all people, NCOs and Officers, I even call civilians â€Å"sir† and â€Å"ma’am.† As a Christian I know that I am an example for God, and the only way some people will ever see God is through me; my actions and words. I know the power that God has in my life and how He would like for me to act by constantly talking to me. Some people call the voice of God their â€Å"conscience,† a feeling or a still, small voice that they â€Å"should have listened to.† My wife is a very spiritual person and hears the voice of God clearly, like a person’s voice and not a still, small one. She often acts as my guide in matters that I am facing, and if I don’t listen to her advice, it often ends badly. I say that to say that I once had a problem with respect and saw my superiors as only the people that they were and not the rank or position that they held. She warned me to start to treat my superiors with the respect that they get as a certain rank and not normal people; she would not have said if God had not had talked to her because she is a civilian and knows very little about the ways of the military. Respect by definition is the â€Å"willingness to show consideration or appreciation.† In terms of military respect, as in the LDRSHIP acronym, respect is to â€Å"Treat people as they should be treated.† And in the soldiers code, we swear an oath to â€Å"treat others with dignity and respect while expecting others to do the same.† With respect being defined so many ways, how is one to tell which to choose from? A seemingly obvious answer is the â€Å"Army’s way.† But to those who serve a higher calling it would be God’s way, or even the non-believing military rationalists might word respect different. Though the grasp on the true definition for respect is put so many ways, it is a true attitude a person shows another in respect, regard, or preference to their grade, position, or stature. Though a person leads his/her life showing respect toward others, they may have a hard time getting the respect back from those that he/she has shown, and continues to show, the respect to. Respect should be a two-way street,  in my opinion, to achieve maximum affect for all parties. â€Å"Show those with the same respect that they show you† is a common â€Å"new† military idea, to curse at if you were cursed at, to push if you were pushed. I feel that a person should get what they give; such as, if a person is constantly degrading people and belittling them, then they should not be surprised if they get the same treatment in return. On the same scale, if as a superior, you get upset with a soldier and start to disrespect them out of anger, then you should not expect to get respect in return. But my belief in Christ out rules the ways of normal behavior and thinking, I try to remain respectful even if I am being respected. Many people see it as a weakness, something to be ashamed about as a leader. I feel that it shows self control, a collectiveness that most people will neither possess nor will ever understand. A â€Å"level-headedness, cool under fire† sort of attitude. In this given situation, however, even if a certain person, i.e., NCO, a SSG to be exact, feels that they were disrespected because they were contacted by a certain Sgt’s spouse, then that SSG should have brought the issue up with that particular person in which contacted him or her. There is such a thing as free speech by the civilian sectors, not necessary in the military itself, but as a civilian they are entitled to the right of free speech. And if an alert roster is given out and the spouse has access to it, anyone’s individual phone number could be looked up and called. If this basic freedom were denied then we wouldn’t enjoy and live in the democracy that we do today. Respect is something that everyone wants, not many have, and few want to give. Most people would appreciate â€Å"just a little bit,† and most should give just that. Unfortunately, a lot of the time, this does not happen. Perhaps this is because the concept of respect is not understood. What exactly is respect? To respect anything is to think it through positively and hold it in some high regard, but estimation gets us into trouble because while we sometimes win, we also sometimes lose. To respect something, on the other hand, is to accept it. The dictionary defines it yet another way as an act of giving particular attention or high or special regard. This does not explain what it is; it only outlines what it may consist of in regards to  personal feelings. The word respect is very a very strong word in itself; it is a word that draws your attention from the start. But there is more to it than just being a word. There is the idea behind it, which is the beginning of many ideas and characteristics of a particular individual, group, or culture and the statement, theories, and sought understandings that forms a political, social, and economic program. By another definition, respect is ‘to consider deserving of high or special regard.’ Society defines respect as the way one person or group of people treats another person or group of people and also the way they look upon those persons. We in the Army define respect as the common courtesy we give to our peers, subordinates and superiors and the way in which we carry out our orders and our duties on a daily basis within the United States Army. Respect is a common bond in today’s Army because all of us are, or should be, well trained soldiers and it is a building block that our training is based upon. Respect is basically how we treat each other, the actions shown toward other people. Respect is the way in which you help others out whenever they need a hand. Respect is also the way you take the time to discipline and train your subordinates. And respect is the way you work harder than anyone and longer hours to do an excellent job for your career and your unit. These are all ways of showing respect- toward each other, our subordinates, our peers, our superiors, our unit and our country. This is the respect that we have been trained to give and which we show on a daily basis. For us serving in the military it also represents the sacrifices that we are giving for our fellow soldiers. The definition itself is all well and good, but what exactly is respect? What does it mean to me, a soldier in today’s Army? Respect is something everyone is capable of achieving, but at the same time it is not just a right or privilege. It has to be earned. We as soldiers have been well trained and disciplined at respecting the ranks of superiors. But is respecting their rank or position enough? All soldiers within the Army must earn the respect of their fellow soldiers. To earn the respect of your fellow soldiers you must do many things. For your subordinates, you must be fair and just and take care of all problems that may arise. For your peers, you must be  technically and tactically proficient and set the standard for both of them to follow. And for your superiors, you must accomplish the mission quickly, efficiently and sometimes even in the absence of orders. These are just small examples of the many, many things that can help you earn the respect of your fellow soldiers. The key to remember is that you must do something other than just sit around. You must earn respect and work hard to gain it. Your rank or position deserves the military honors that are presented with it, but no more. The rest is up to us as soldiers and individuals. Through our own actions we can earn the respect of fellow soldiers, and through the actions of our fellow soldiers, they will earn our respect and all that goes with it. In the Army we adhere to a standard called military bearing. Military bearing is a code of conduct in the U.S. Army, and when you come right down to it dignity is maintained in military relationships, reflective of an individual’s pride in his military service and of the organization he represents. Military personnel should be courteous and controlled to show dignity as well as respect. Part of possessing dignity is to also have the ability to respect his juniors and seniors, and acknowledge the dignity of others. This sense of pride in military service is shown during work as well as when on liberty, carrying himself at all times with reverence and a proper sense of self-worth. By admiring his seniors, the individual can be guided in presenting good conduct, and can likewise demonstrate his pride and decorum to those who in turn look to him for guidance in presenting military bearing. Dignity and respect can be taught, and examples can be shown, but the willingness to present military bearing also comes from within, especially when showing courtesy and respect toward others. To respect others you first have to respect yourself, if you have no self esteem then you will have a hard time respecting yourself. In an Issue of Self-Respect Being a Christian has changed my perspective on the way people perceive themselves. Since becoming a Christian I have had a hard time understanding why or how a girl or guy could belittle herself by so freely giving her body to someone else. Growing up in Indiana, I witnessed this in many different ways. Whether it is a prostitute standing on the corner in  the closest big city, or a good friend that sleeps around, the lack of respect these people have for themselves is very visible, and very sad. I am a very social person, and I would someday like to work as a minister of some sort, which is why I am taking the time now to try to understand the reasoning for their foolish and dangerous choices. Why do teenage boys and girls have such little respect for themselves? I am sure that each of these kids have her own theories and reasons for his or her actions. I believe the most obvious causes are; they were never taught that it was wrong, most guys treat girls with disrespect, and the fact that somebody wants them make them feel loved. Sadly enough, a girl having no respect for herself is not a new thing. Girls just aren’t taught that it is wrong to abuse their bodies or give away something that is supposed to be so sacred. It seems that some parents these days do not know how to handle their kids and are often too lenient with them. It also seems that role models in today’s society advertise sex in subtle, yet noticeable ways. I think the media plays a huge role in the misleading of teenage minds. Entertainment, such as singers and actors are not even chosen based on talent anymore, they are hired based on the right look; it is all about sex appeal. Another obvious cause is, there are so many guys in today’s society who were not raised to respect women. They think of women as sex objects, and unimportant people they can control. It is normal to be somewhat dependant on men, but women today seem to become totally reliant on men. In most cases that can be very unhealthy or dangerous. Men know these women â€Å"need† them, so they think they can get away with playing with their heads and their hearts. Women are under the false impression that if a man wants to sleep with her he must love her. When in reality, most men are really out to satisfy themselves. They will tell a girl whatever she wants to hear, until she falls into the â€Å"trap† and gives herself to him. Then he dumps her. You would think the girl would learn after being dumped, but she doesn’t, she just looks to be loved by someone else. In most cases it becomes a habit and can be tough to break. Teenage girls in the world today have very little respect for themselves because they really don’t know any better. They are just following the pattern that women have been following for generations. In society’s eyes as well as their own they are not wrong. My desire for them is that they will be taught that they are very special and they deserve so much more than they think. I  pray everyday that they will realize God loves them more than anyone ever could. They have so much to offer, if they just believe in and respect themselves. There are the beginnings of respect, starting in the classrooms of America. How does respect for your superiors begin? Many people have ideas on how to reclaim the virtue and morality that made America a great nation. However, the only sure way that everyone can achieve this goal is if parents start teaching and demonstrating respect to their kids. The dictionary defines respect as- â€Å"to have regard for the quality of a person† or â€Å"to refrain from obtruding upon or interfering with†. The problem with society today is that there is a complete lack of respect. The lack of respect is evident everywhere, people have no respect for the law, they have no respect for their peers, and they definitely do not have any respect for themselves. What parents need to do is from an early age teach their kids to respect everyone, from the person sitting next to them in school to their coworkers in the future. People do not understand how much better the nation would be if the respect was there. Even if some parents do not teach their kids this valuable trait, if enough people are taught to respect others it will catch on. In most cases, if someone shows respect to someone else, that person is more likely to respect them back; causing a chain reaction. Right now, not enough parents are teaching their kids respect and this causes violence, crimes, and can even lead to drug use. It is easy to see how these problems can be easily solved or would be nonexistent if their was respect. Violence would not be a problem, because no one would fight if they had respect for the other person. The next problem is crime. Nobody is going to steal or vandalize someone’s property if they respect them. One other problem is drug use, this would not be a problem is people respected themselves enough to not harm their bodies with drugs. They also would not sell drugs because selling something to someone that will harm them is not showing respect to that person. It is extremely easy to sit back and say that parents should teach respect, but it is not as easy to actually teach it. For there is really no way to  teach a child to respect others. Parents can tell their children to respect others all they want, but the only way a child will actually learn respect is from observing their parents as well as others showing respect. This is why teaching respect is so difficult, even if a child sees his parents respecting others it may not be enough, the child must see other people respecting others. They must also feel that other people respect them, because if they do not get respect they will not respect anyone. This is why it is so important for everyone to show respect to everyone else, not only will kids see it, but the more respect that is shown to others the more respect that is received. For these reasons respect is the chief ingredient in reestablishing the morality and virtue that made America a great nation.

Behavioral Anchored Rating Scale Essay

Methods of performance appraisal: Traditional method Traditional method of performance appraisal has been used by companies for very long time. A common feature of these methods is they are all relatively simple and involve appraisal by one senior. 1. Check list method In this method the senior, the boss is given a list of questions about the junior. These questions are followed by check boxes. The superior has to put a tick mark in any one of the boxes. This method can be explained with the following ex. Does the employee have leadership qualities Yes No A questioner containing questions is given to the senior. This method is an extremely simple method and does not involve a lot of time. The same set of questioners can be given foe every employee so that there is uniformity in selecting employee. 2. Confidential report This method is very popular in government departments to appraise IAS officers and other high level officials. In this method the senior or the boss writes a report about the junior giving him details about the performance about the employee. The +ve and – ve traits, responsibilities handled on the job and recommendations for future incentives or promotions. The report is kept highly confidential and access to the report is limited. 3. Critical incident method In this method critical or important incidents which have taken place on this job are noted down along with employee’s behavior and reaction in all these situations. Both +ve and –ve incidents are mentioned. This is followed by an analysis of the person, his abilities and talent, recommendations for the future incentives and promotions. 4. Ranking method In this method ranks are given to employees based on their performance. There are different methods of ranking employees. †¢Simple ranking method †¢Alternate ranking method †¢Paired comparison method Simple ranking method Simple ranking method refers to ranks in serial order from the best employee e.g. If we have to rank 10 best employees we start with the first best employee and give him the first rank this is followed by the 2nd best and so on until all 10 have been given ranks. Alternate ranking In this method the serial alternates between the best and the worst employee. The best employee is given rank 1and then we move to the worst employee and give him rank 10 again to 2nd best employee and give him rank 2 and so on. Paired comparison In this method each and every person is the group, department or team is compared with every other person in the team/group/department. The comparison is made on certain criteria and finally ranks are given. This method is superior because it compares each and every person on certain qualities and provides a ranking on that basis. 5. Graphic rating scale Graphic rating scale refers to using specific factors to appraise people. The entire appraisal is presented in the form of a chart. The chart contains certain columns which indicate qualities which are being appraised and other columns which specify the rank to be given. The senior has to put a tick mark for a particular quality along with the ranking. Such charts are prepared for every employee. According to the department in which they work. Sometimes the qualities which are judged may change depending upon the department. 6. Narrated essay In this method the senior or the boss is supposed to write a narrative essay describing the qualities of his junior. He may describe the employees strength and weakness, analytical abilities etc. the narrative essay ends with a recommendation for future promotion or for future incentives. Modern methods Modern methods of appraisal are being increasingly used by companies. Now days one of the striving feature that appraisal involves is, the opinion of many people about the employee and in some cases psychological test are used to analyze the ability of employee. These methods are as follows 1. Assessment centers Assessment centers are places where the employee’s are assessed on certain qualities talents and skills which they possess. This method is used for selection as well as for appraisal. The people who attend assessment centers are given management games, psychological test, puzzles, questioners about different management related situations etc. based on their performance in these test and games appraisal is done. 2. Management by objective This method was given by Petter Druckard in 1974. It was intended to be a method of group decision making. It can be use for performance appraisal also. In this method all members of the department starting from the lowest level employee to the highest level employee together discus, fix target goals to be achieved, plan for achieving these goals and work together to achieve them. The seniors in the department get an opportunity to observe their junior- group efforts, communication skills, knowledge levels, interest levels etc. based on this appraisal is done. 3. Behavioral anchored rating scale In this method the appraisal is done to test the attitude of the employee towards his job. Normally people with +ve approach or attitude view and perform their job differently as compared to people with a –ve approach. 4. Human resource audit/accounting In this method the expenditure on the employee is compared with the income received due to the efforts of the employee. A comparison is made to find out the utility of the employee to the organization. The appraisal informs the employee about his contribution to the company and what is expected in future. 5. 360* appraisal In this method of appraisal and all round approach is adopted. Feedback about the employee is taken from the employee himself, his superiors, his juniors, his colleagues, customers he deals with, financial institutions and other people he deals with etc. Based on all these observations an appraisal is made and feedback is given. This is one of the most popular methods.

Things That Annoy Me

Topic: things that annoy me in everyday life Things that annoy me? That's a question which each person has his own personal opinion on this Matter my personal one being different to many of other people. I'll tell you what annoys me everyday, rude people you go up to some people asking for directions in the city and the completely ignore you like you're not even there. Manners should be a basic in people's lives but apparently as I can see and experience almost everyday that's not the case. People are being brought up without manners in these days and its annoying me quite a lot.Noisy neighbors In the morning are also a problem since I do not begin university until later on in the morning however my neighbors who wake up to go to work also have noisy kids who decide to yell on their way outside the house so as a result I end up waking up way before I have to and having difficulties going back to sleep making me have slight sleep withdrawal symptoms in class. Another thing that annoys me in everyday life is when I get back to my apartment and want to relax after a stressful day by playing some online video games or want to surf the Internet to watch movies or listen to music and I have Internet connection issues.This frustrates me mostly since I have to get up off the couch figure out what the problem is try and fix it and if y attempts are unsuccessful I have to call the provider and wait on hold to talk to them and having to wait for them to come over and fix it which takes a few days. However even though there are a million things that annoy me in everyday life these are my main reasons. I have a million reasons that annoy me but I Also have select few reasons that make me want to wake up in the morning and start my day despite all thee negativites. By Nicholas Kiprianou

Exam model answer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Exam model answer - Essay Example Thus, the current business environment necessitates development of new products that meet the changing requirements of the customers. The market strategy of the business must respond to the system as a whole rather than to one single variable, the product. The emerging new definition of market promotes relationship building with customers and other business partners. British Airways is prime example of relationship marketing. To maintain a competitive advantage, BA has consistently been coming up with different packages for its different customers and has forged alliances with various other business units to improve and improvise its services. It has been evolving new customized services for its different segments and attracting new customers with varying packages that may suit their status, needs and pricing. Thus, while it has special super-class cabins for its rich clients, the common man can also avail the services in economy class. (words: 260) Answer 2 Publics are major constit uents that significantly impact BA’s business strategies.

Accounting (walmart) slp module 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Accounting (walmart) slp module 3 - Essay Example Amounts are in million. EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes); TCE (total capital employed). As could be realized, ROCE is impacted by capital turnover (sales/TCE) and operating profitability (EBIT/sales) which all settles down to ROCE being (EBIT/TCE). Thus, Wal-Mart took decisions which impacted their, capital turnover, making it to decrease every year, from 3.2 in 2004 to 2.84 in 2008. As for her operating profitability of sales, an increase was realized between 2004 and 2005, (5.81% to 6.08%) but it started declining in 2006 (6.0%) and in 2007 and 2008 it was 5.88% and 5.81% respectively. With this trend of events, Wal-Mart’s ROCE kept on declining as she employed more capital. Thus, the question now to answer is; due to the cost decisions taken in Wal-Mart, is her financial health improving or failing? Inventory rose every year but thanks to rising sales between 2004 to 2007, inventories appears to be under control. But this was not the case in 2008 whereby inventory increased with sales declining. But, how many times a year did Wal-Mart sell out her inventory? Here, Wal-Mart had a promising trend as the number keeps on increasing. Account receivables grew 61.7% between 2004 and 2008, which was faster than sales which only grew 31.7% between 2004 and 2008. Thus, money owed to Wal-Mart was increasing faster which was not a decision as her working capital is impacted

The Separation of the Church and the State In the United States of Research Paper

The Separation of the Church and the State In the United States of America - Research Paper Example However, it could be noticed that the impending procedure of the law and how the church usually meddles with the procedures of the state in implementing the law in several occasions make this particular aim of separating both factors of the society somewhat unreal at several points of consideration (Boston, 2005, 18). This is the primary reason why this particular study is being commenced. The examination of the situation is indeed an important discussion as it directly affects the entire society and how religion and the law could be balanced as they are exercised in society. The issue being discussed in this paper is primarily based on the basic idea of the need of separating the responsibilities as well as the power of church and the state. This is primarily because of the separate aims of both sectors that make them particularly different from each other. Mixing both sectors of social function certainly brings about different conflicts within the systems of both sectors of the soc iety. (Mc Whirter, 1994, 16) The demarcation line between the state and the church begins with the educational amendments of the American practice in assisting the students gain knowledge about the Divinity of Religion towards the political involvement of the church within the different occasions that the government intend to decide on several issues that concern the society (Owen, 2000, 32). Because of the believed guidance that the church receives from the Grand Creator of all Things, some people tend to derive decisions from the church rather than simply relying on the law. (Hamburger, 2002, 47) Certain Protestant clergymen of the United States give much lip service to the principle of the separation of church and state. They loudly denounce any breaching of that wall by others, such as former President Truman's proposal to send an ambassador to the Vatican. But do they respect that wall of separation between church and state when it conflicts with their own interests to do so They do not (Owen, 2000, 43). Th e "Released Time" program by which school children are released from public schools so that they can take religious instructions elsewhere is a case in point. This program breaches the wall of separation in that it uses the state's compulsory school machinery to supply classes for religious organizations (Awake! 1989, 24).     

Tesla in Turkey Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Tesla in Turkey - Essay Example The automotive industry is very important after the construction and tourism sectors (Saee 194). This industry creates the country’s highest multiplier. Furthermore, the industry intertwines with other industries such as marketing, fuel, finance, service and insurance. Any changes in the automotive industry are important to the country’s economy. The best approach for Tesla Motors in this country is to cooperate in the production and marketing fields. This increases the company’s capacity in the country’s automotive industry. The company enjoys more economic competition, innovations and investments for new models. In short, the automotive industry in Turkey is lucrative and with the right market entry strategies, Tesla Motors will enjoy significant profits. From a political and legal perspective, the country has liberalization (Nas & Mehmet 41). Turkey is a key supporter of liberal trade and investment policies that permit trade with countries in the Europ ean Union. The custom union of 1996 allowed Turkish firms to expand and become more successful internationally (Altug & Alpay 25). Turkish exports have continuously increased by 10% on an annual basis showing the trading potential of the country. The country charges sales tax, inclusive of VAT and exclusive consumer tax, on all motor vehicles. These taxes are higher compared to those other developed countries. The sales tax comprise of almost 19.2 percent to 117.1 percent. The country’s legislation on motor vehicle changes rapidly depending on changes in technology.

Reflect on a Recent Change Management Project or Strategy Essay

Reflect on a Recent Change Management Project or Strategy - Essay Example Because of MediSys’ partnership with the local hospital, the health care organization requires specialized technology systems not commonly found in most independent care facilities. The change management strategy was to implement an EMR system, the electronic medical record, designed to change the methodology behind how MediSys communicates with the hospital, its patients, and external service providers. The goal was to implement a paperless health clinic and also improve the quality of patient-related information related to database storage and as it relates to patient referrals. This paper describes the change management project in detail, the systems and its function within the facility, and the barriers that were incurred during its launch and implementation phases. What is EMR? The electronic medical record provides a paperless environment in which clinical information is shared via electronic communications and transactions within an entire health network. It allows for information exchanges between hospitals, employers, patients, network payers, and even ambulatory clinics (Garets & Davis, 2006). Patient data is recorded in a database that can be easily accessed via various point-of-contact electronic service devices. Another reason for implementing EMR was to ensure less liability for the health care clinic related to errors. The Institute of Medicine offers that there are nearly a million injuries caused to patients and approximately 100,000 deaths each year due to dosing errors or adverse drug effects caused by health care worker neglect (Hook, Pearlstein, Samarth & Cusack, 2008). These errors cost the entire health care system over $2 billion yearly related to dispensing errors, transcribing errors, and medicinal administration. The change management goal was to remove such liabilities from MediSys and improve its reputation as a quality leader. The EMR provides nurses with pre-printed batch forms each month that provide resident information, their health identification number, special allergy concerns, dietary needs, and all medications previously and currently ordered for the patient (e-infomax.com, 2009). In addition, to improve service time and efficiency/productivity, a digital pen is included that allow the nursing and physician staff to carry the device that contains an infrared camera and digital processer so that they can read digitized words. At the end of the shift rounds, nurses and physicians simply dock the pen into a processing station and the information from the digital pen is transmitted to the appropriate external and internal units related to health care provision. When a physician or nursing signature is required related to patient care, the electronic pen immediately records this data and can be accessed within seconds. The implementation of the EMR system was to radically change the timeframe between when a signed document is retrieved, thus improving productivity, and also to avoid the lag times i n attempting to communicate when nurses or physicians are not readily available in the organization. The auto-generated reports can then be accessed and printed from a variety of stations set up at the organization and the system immediately identifies and prints a batch report when any document has not been properly signed, thus removing even more errors in processing paperwork. The Change Effort

Information Searches Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Information Searches - Research Paper Example Some of the purchases that entail low involvement decisions are made without any previous though or planning and involve impulse buying. Medium involvement involves limited problem solving where the consumers already have some information about a good or a service and the continue searching for more information.Most of high involvementpurchases are not often purchased but are very vital to the consumer. Marketers should provide enough information concerning the attributes of the product. The marketers should also consider pricing their products in a manner that will entice the consumers into making a purchase decision. Medium involvement is the kind of involvement that falls between high involvement and low involvement purchasing decisions. This kind of medium involvement involves limited problem solving where the consumers already have some information about a good or a service and the continue searching for more information. High involvement purchases involve a lot of risks to the buyers if at all they fail and they are complex in nature and have high price tags. Some of the examples of high involvement purchases include a house, a car and insurance policy. Most of these purchases are not often purchased but are very vital to the consumer. While making a purchase decision, a buyer engages in an extended problem solving where they take a lot of time comparing different features, i.e. the feature of the prices, products and warranties. Every marketer has to analyze and consider the buying behavior of the customers therefore before making any decision; one has to consider the consumer’s level of involvement so as to come up with the sales strategy. As in the case of low involvement purchases, the marketers should use sales and promotion as a strategy since this will spur them into making purchase decisions. As discussed earlier, low involvement purchasers always make impulse buying therefore appealing sales promotions motivates them to buy more of the com pany’s products and services. Furthermore, the use of sales promotions like use of coupons can reach may customers at the same time therefore spurring into making a purchase decision. On the other hand, the marketers should also consider pricing their products in a manner that will entice the consumers into making a purchase decision. The company should also ensure that are low involving are available in most outlets as much as possible For, the case of medium involvement purchasers, most of them are considering the alternatives of the products. Understanding the choices made by this group assists the marketers in coming up with a sales strategy. Medium involvement consumers are in the third stage of evaluation of the alternatives before a purchase decision. The marketers should provide enough information about the product and its attributes. They should provide more of the advantages of the product or a service so as to entice the consumer into making a purchase decision. Th e customers who fall into the category of high involvement should be handled with a lot of care since they tend to make more and lengthy decisions before making a purchase. Since any purchase made by consumer requires extensive information, marketers should develop a strategy that is tailor made for this group. For example, when it comes into buying a car, the marketer must employ in broad problem solving techniques and also be willing to consider different types of brands. Since buying a car involve high involvement, brand name is very important for them. This is the reason as to why most of the manufacturers of those goods that require high involvement decisions cannot become satisfied about the value of their brands and

Executive Summary about Global Marketing Research Paper

Executive Summary about Global Marketing - Research Paper Example These are followed by explaining the reasons for venturing to employees, and selecting an executive officer for the foreign market. This foreign executive officer controls the risk such as economic and political disruptions, language and communication, difference in culture and religion and the business culture (Gillespie et al. 47). Under this extended network of the global economy, the need to have a permanent store or plant and offices is not requisite. This is because the marketing executive at the foreign location can actively engage the locals through the websites. Those executives at the headquarters may also choose to build a global business portfolio, which implements efficient global strategies. Therefore, strategic global marketing must consider all the risks, solutions and any other available alternatives. Strategic global marketing needs to take into account of the whole company group’s, environmental piles and resident people’s contentment (Gillespie et al . 75). Globalization, in some aspects, is described as a myth because most business activities, by large companies, take place in regional blocks (Gillespie et al. 38). The rival multinational enterprises from the regional blocs compete, for regional market shares, to consolidate their economic efficiency. These results to the top executives being compelled to design regional based strategic plans and not only the global plans. Marketing strategies should be regional in scope and not global or uniform to be responsive to local consumers. Global trade also depends on the statutes and provisions of the World Trade Organization. The executive both at the headquarters and the foreign market should make appropriate considerations and obtain certification from the world trade organization (Gillespie et al. 27). Another international organization that can be consulted for grants is the World Bank. These can offer loans and grants for the business expansion to foreign

Wall Street Journal Articles for International Accounting Article

Wall Street Journal Articles for International Accounting - Article Example There is high likelihood that the streamlined standards will have major impact on the financial reporting over a wide cross-section of organizations and industries. For this reason, it is important that various audit committee members remain updated on the progress of this initiative in order to identify areas of particular concern and facilitate smooth transition period from the old processes, systems, and financial reporting to newly adopted ones. The proposed revenue model requires recording of the amount of revenue in a pattern that reflects the transfer of control of the goods and or services in question. The FASB recently released a proposed Accounting Standard Update (ASU) touching on classification and measurement of financial instruments. This made with the object of increasing the convergence between US GAAP and IFRS and above all simplify classification methods. Concerning leasing accounting, the boards intend to provide an open and steady representation of leasing transac tions in the financial statements by taking into consideration information relating to the rights and obligations that comes with lease contracts. This article is related to the international accounting particularly International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and International Accounting Standards (IAS) in a number of ways. First IASÂ  39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement of 2003 categorically stipulates the requirements for the recognition and measurement of financial assets and liabilities as well as certain contracts that relates to purchase and sale of non-financial items. Additionally IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Presentation also summarizes mandatory accounting requirements for the presentation of financial instruments especially with regard to their classification into financial assets, liabilities and equity instruments. The same case applies with the IFRS 9 Financial Instruments, which outlines the requirements for recognition and measurement for f inancial instruments. IAS 17 Leases also touches on the policies and disclosures concerning leases contracts. This is a clear indication that the initiative of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) to streamline accounting standards should not contravene terms of IFRS or IAS with respect to financial instruments, revenue recognition and lease accounting. 2. Philbin, B. (February 22, 2013). SEC Pressed Citi for More Details on Brokerage Joint Venture The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently requested Citigroup Inc to come out and defend how it was disclosing and valuing its brokerage joint venture with Morgan Stanley to its investors in its 2011 annual report a few months before it was forced to take approximately $3 billion write-down on the business. It is believed that the business events played an integral role in paving way for exist of Vikram Pandit as the chief executive officer. This request was intend to make the New York Company expand on its language in its report to the investors about valuation and disclosures regarding ownership the business formerly known as Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. The request has not been a onetime event but rather entangle in correspondence, which began in April 2011 and continued into last summer when Citigroup was asked to avail a copy of the report it used to establish the value

The Patchwork of Reality and Fiction in Tim O’brien’s the Things They Carried Essay Example for Free

The Patchwork of Reality and Fiction in Tim O’brien’s the Things They Carried Essay The Patchwork of Reality and Fiction in Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried Tim O’ Brien, in his recent fictional story The Things They Carried, illustrates the struggle to unravel and grasp ambiguities of the war in the most unusual way, by understanding it through the mind’s eye. He resolutely transgressed the boundary between fiction and reality, and struggles to demonstrate that the illusory dimension can frequently be more real, particularly in the events leading to the Vietnam War, than reality itself. Communicating the view of ambiguity of an ordinary soldier about what really took place in Vietnam by narrating the imagined domain as though it is the real work, and afterwards challenging these realities once more, can be viewed as a deviation of the poignant and disturbing statements American soldiers use to express their own doubt about what took place in Vietnam. They drew on these expressions to transform the inexpressible and horrifying and ambiguous into reality. Likewise, O’Brien narrates tales and realities that are merely fleetingly definite and factual. In the section ‘Notes’, O’Brien illustrated the process of merging illusion and reality (O’Brien 1990, 152): By telling stories, you objectify you own experience. You separate it from yourself. You pin down certain truths. You make up others. You start sometimes with an incident that truly happened, like the night in the shit field, and you carry it forward by inventing incidents that did not in fact occur but that nonetheless help to clarify and explain. In the above passage, O’Brien shows that impossibility of knowing exactly what took place. He urges his readers to become aware of the events in the Vietnam War that they do not know and perhaps will never be aware of. The Things They Carried brings the readers to the Vietnam War through the author’s webs of narratives. O’Brien informs us that we will never truly know what exactly happened in Vietnam. And the realities of the Vietnam War will die alongside the people who experienced the ‘real’ and ‘unreal’. References O’Brien, T. The Things They Carried. New York: Mariner Books, 1990.

Definition of International Human Resource Management (IHRM)

Definition of International Human Resource Management (IHRM) International Human Resource Management includes the firms work systems and its employment practices. It embraces both individual and collective aspects of people management. It is not restricted to any one style or ideology. It engages the energies of both line and specialist managers (where the latter exists) and typically entails a range of messages for a variety of workforce groups. (Boxhall, P. and Purcell, J. 2008). HRM responsibilities include: Recruitment and selection Training and development Human resource planning Assessing performance of employees Payment and reward systems Initiatives to align employee developments to corporate strategies. International Human Resource Management (IHRM) Boxall, P. (1992) defined International Human Resource Management (IHRM) as concerned with the human resource problems of multinational firms in foreign subsidiaries (such as expatriate management) or more broadly, with the unfolding HRM issues that are associated with the various stages of the internationalisation process. (Boxhall, P. 1992). Mark Mendenhall (2000) sought to be more specific by outlining a number of criteria relevant to a definition of IHRM: IHRM is concerned with HRM issues that cross national boundaries or are conducted in locations other than the home country headquarters. IHRM is concerned with the relationships between the HRM activities of organisations and the foreign environments in which the organisations operate. IHRM includes comparative HRM studies; e.g. differences in how companies in Japan, Thailand, Austria and Switzerland plan for upgrading of employee skills and so on. What IHRM is not IHRM does not include studies that are focused on issues outside the traditional activities inherent in the HRM function. E.g. leadership style is not IHRM, unless specifically linked to an HRM function; developing a selection programme to measure and select global leaders would arguably lie within the domain of organisational behaviour. IHRM does not include studies of HRM activities in single countries. E.g. a study of personnel selection practices in Saudi Arabia, whether undertaken by an English, German or Canadian researcher, is still a study about domestic HRM in Saudi Arabia. Though such studies may have interest to those who work in international HRM issues, they are essentially examples of domestic HRM research. IHRM approaches Ethnocentric: key positions filled by nationals of parent company Polycentric: host country nationals recruited to manage subsidiary in their own country Geocentric: best people recruited, whatever their nationality Regiocentric: best people recruited within region in which the subsidiary operates (e.g. EU, USA). IHRM solutions Choice of IHRM approach depends upon: Degree and type of internationalisation Type of industry and markets served Characteristics of staff Cultural preferences. Advantages and disadvantages of a decentralised approach to IHRM Advantages Groups within the subsidiary can gain in status Groups within the subsidiary become more cohesive, fostering group identity IHRM takes place within a culture appropriate to the local workforce and customers Disadvantages Tendency to become exclusive Loss of central control, higher administrative costs as HRM function is sent down the line Loss of organisational control and organisational identity Work and Islamic culture Latifi (1997) identified the following work-related values of Islamic culture: Equality before God Individual responsibility within a framework of cooperation with others A view that people in positions of power should treat subordinates kindly, as if their subordinates are brothers or sisters Fatalism, but also a recognition of personal choice Encouragement of consultation at all levels of decision-making, from family to the wider community. IHRM and training and development Training and development increases in complexity as MNEs move abroad. Types of training and development depends on a number of factors: The degree to which management is centralised. The types of workers employed in subsidiaries or joint ventures. The importance of branding, and the extent to which employees are expected to reflect the brand. The cultural expectations of training. In a global company, the training may well be centralised so that suppliers, employees and distributors are aware of the brand image that needs to be communicated. E.g. in Ford training programmes are set up centrally, and then translated and delivered to all main suppliers, subsidiaries and distributors. If, however, a more polycentric approach is taken, then the training may well be far more local, and more in line with the local culture Cross-cultural awareness Support provided for employees moving to overseas subsidiaries: Environmental briefings Cultural orientation Cultural assimilation Language training Sensitivity training Field experience. IHRM and reward strategies To design an appropriate reward strategy for employees taking up an international position, may require a number of factors to be considered, including: A knowledge of the laws, customs, environment, and employment practices of the foreign countries. Familiarity with currency relationships and the effect of inflation on compensation. An understanding of the allowances appropriate to particular countries, etc. For example, awareness of employment related legislation in the country of operation is vital to an appropriate international reward structure. India has as many as 45 labour laws at national level and close to four times that at the level of state governments (Kaushik 2006). The main method of drawing up a compensation package is known as the balance sheet approach. This approach is, according to Reynolds (1986): a system designed to equalise the purchasing power of employees at comparable position levels living overseas and in the home country, and to provide incentives to offset qualitative differences between assignment locations. IHRM and Balance Sheet reward strategy In order to achieve balance in reward structure, the organisation must take into account: Income taxes incurred in both home and host country Housing allowances (which might range from financial assistance to employees to providing company housing) Cost-of-living allowances (to adjust differences between home and abroad) Contributions to savings, pension schemes, etc. while abroad Relocation allowances (including the moving, shipping and storage of personal and household items and temporary living expenses) Education allowances for expatriates children (e.g. language tuition and enrollment fees in the host country or boarding school fees in the home country) Medical, emergency and security cover. Appraisal Identifies individuals strengths and weaknesses Reveals organisational obstacles blocking progress Provides feedback to improve human resource planning Improves communication. Cultural variations: performance appraisals Dimension general USA low context Saudi Arabia high context Japan high context Objective of performance appraisal Fairness, employee development Placement Direction of company/employee development Who does appraisal? Supervisor Manager several levels up. Appraiser has to know employee well Mentor and supervisor. Appraiser has to know employee well Authority of appraiser Presumed in supervisory role or position. Supervisor takes slight lead Reputation important (prestige is determined by nationality, sex, family, tribe, title, education). Authority of appraiser important Respect accorded by employee to supervisor or appraiser. Done co-equally How often? Once a year Once a year Developmental or periodically once a month. Evaluation appraisal after first 12 years

Nature, the Environment and their Uses in Art

Nature, the Environment and their Uses in Art â€Å"I name that man an artist who creates forms†¦ I call that man a craftsman who reproduces forms.† Malraux is talking about artists and craftsmen, but might as well be talking about artists and designers. The audacity of the lowly â€Å"reproducers† was penalised by the iconoclasts, and perhaps we harbour the same fundamental suspicions about designers, people paid to build and sell us dreams just as frequently as they build and sell us houses. Yet it strikes me that there are two ways of dodging the suspicions of the public- the use of the imagination, and the use of Nature. If the two can be happily married then this superior union ought to germinate a magic all its own. â€Å"Moreover, a taste, not to say a passion, for building must be engrained in the child. Mechanical toys and mechanised entertainment kill his imagination and initiative; the feat of putting building blocks on top of each other hardly taxes the brain of a monkey† So the designer presents himself as a kind of sub-originator, and defers his symbolism to the greater origin. There is an individual and a more cosmic interest at work at the same time. The artist grows like a tree, developing, spreading, the ideas rising from the mysterious soils and falling like leaves. But the broader picture, a fluxing creative rhythm bridged by moments in time, demands a grander theory of unification. Nature is as synonymous with decay as it is with growth. The ephemera of modern life is as temporary, inevitable, immediate, as nature itself. Our cities have become sort of flaking, dying, layered forests, with their own dangers and rhythms of life and death. Everywhere we find reminders of our own impact on our surroundings- it is human nature, we cant help trying to clothe our hairless bodies and modify everything around us to make our lives more comfortable. But for some this seems to be a source of almost biblical guilt, and people go to extraordinary lengths, for their own reasons, to cover their tracks and paint their human presence out of the landscape altogether. Hundertwassers house in Vienna , and his designs for the â€Å"Eye Slit house† spring immediately to mind. Are we guilty enough to try to make our impact completely invisible? There can be no contention over the point that man has a negative impact on his environment and it may be that one solution is hiding mans impact altogether, (to enfold ourselves in natures arms, camouflaging ourselves in Her) while another might be to try to disguise our impact by turning our constructions into impersonations of Her. Is this really any different to the fearful icon building of ancient times, and do the â€Å"uglier†, modernist, construction-stating buildings represent a sort of iconoclasm- a return to buildings being made for human functionality rather than as a fearful acknowledgement of natures power as a constructor? Most of the architectural structures which are intended to resemble nature draw attention to the similarities between buildings and plants. Both are subject to a functional rhythm, both have access points, layers, a projectile dynamic- in other words, a sense of growth and promise. Yet plants are transcient, not concrete: they grow and bloom and fade and die, like people. They nourish and protect and reproduce and crumble away. The contrast with sturdy, permanent building materials used for, say, gothic cathedrals, Romanesque churches, the Eden Project, the Golden Gate Bridge, presents a sense of wonder and beauty in itself. Because plants are not like buildings. Buildings are sturdy and static and monumental. It is a fantastic thing to see a grand self-generating plant-beast made of concrete, it is alien and dreamlike and mesmerising but it is all these things because it is impossible. It enchants us because its beauty comes from a faraway, magical land, not from a world we know ab out but from one we would like to know- one in our dreams. Designs based on nature not only solve our problems, sate our yearnings and answer our questions, they also create new problems, new yearnings, and new questions. 1) Ecology since the 17th Century: historical relationships with Nature In the preface to â€Å"The Origins of form in Art†, Herbert Read references Henri Focillon, who suggested that life itself is a creator of forms, that theres no real distinction between art and life: â€Å"Life is form, and form is the modality of life. The relationships that bind forms together in nature cannot be pure chance, and what we call â€Å"Natural Life† is in effect a relationship between forms, so inexorable that without it this natural life could not exist. So it is with art†¦constitute an order for, and metaphor of, the entire universe.† Nature is uncontrollable and unpredictable- it is an ancient metaphor for uncontrollable intervention and for everything we cant accurately forecast. There is even an ancient Japanese treatise on archery which details the way in which the hardest part of the entire sport is waiting for the natural release of the string- a moment of serenity and detachment; total absence of striving. The flow of inspiration to the artist is analogous to this although it is unclear whether the creators inspiration rises from this or rises like it. Theorists have long been aware of this ambiguity and have thematised it themselves. Michael Fried interprets the woods, rocks and glens in Courbets paintings as faces or symbols or metaphors. Christopher Wood finds terrifying anthropomorphised trees looming over the subjects of Altdorfers exquisite scenes. The point is that those people who look at art, who are also interested in using it as an expression of themselves, consistently seek reflection in the pools provided by nature, natural imagery provides the perfect apparatus, somehow, for the admirer of human creativity to integrate the object into their own field of experience. When Paul Klee wrote that â€Å"The creation of a work of art is compared to the growth of a tree- its roots in the earth, crown in the air.† he is presenting an image of flow, as if an artist stands near the tree to allow the sap to rush in. This flow, though, occurs without conscious effort and the artist, crucially, experiences a transformation. â€Å" The idea that art is not a mirrored reflection of a given reality, but also a transformation of one element (which has its roots underground, in the unconscious) into another (made conscious in time and space). The artist is merely a channel whose function it is to transmit the forces of nature into forms of art.† Vivantes assessment that â€Å"art, far from being non-conscious, is a conquest of consciousness† is revealing, but wisely countered by Read, â€Å"Admittedly, the artists themselves may not always know when they are merely exploiting the unconscious, rather than â€Å"letting loose the riot of tender shoots†Ã¢â‚¬  As nature and art are so closely related, almost counter intuitively, so words and nature and words and art, are sometimes indistinguishable. All are concerned with abstraction, with roots, with origins, â€Å"we establish†¦our sense of reality by creating, for each experience, a clear and appropriate symbol- vocal sounds which were eventually stabilized as words. Every words was once an original work of art.† Whenever anything becomes too prevalent, too integrated into our consumer vocabulary, we scarcely notice it anymore and it loses its impact. In becoming part of our environment, ourselves, the clichà © ceases to become something desirous to us. Designed solutions respond to an expression of specific desire or need, and so become a meta expression of the same need. While design solutions sate specific hungers, art is an expression, and not even necessarily a resolution of, thematic desires. Poetry and the visual arts dance around the clichà © while occasionally retaining originality (Poussins Dance to the Music of Time is a delightfully literal example of this)- art finds a janus-faced simultaneity, a place for both the clichà © of nature and the pure artistic drive of â€Å"artisticness†. Design, however, is trapped in the problem solving one-dimensional rationality of the prevailing zeitgeist. Perhaps nature is a way of side-stepping the clichà ©, but it can also present itself, maddeningly indistinguishably, as the alluring siren. Maybe there is a link between the mechanised production of imagery and forms and the predominance of natural imagery in the products and lifestyles consumed by people nowadays. There could well be a relationship, yet unexplored, between the unnatural production of natural images and the homogeneity of the images themselves. If the origins are authentic and essential then we should expect products to be more persuasive, more reflective of their origins, more transparent. Mechanisation has allowed for imagery to â€Å"ride the zeitgeist† and generate a new kind of language of â€Å"natural† iconography- perhaps where once there was religious iconography. In Poussins Dance to the Music of Time we find Arcadia, the natural utopia, being equated to male/female synthesis, and then, on another level, the gender synthesis standing for a synthesis of heaven and earth in the familiar conceit of rhythm. In Peter Blakes extraordinary work, The Arcadian Cipher pentagram shapes are located everywhere as a kind of unification symbol: Blake is anxious to synthesise traditionally opposing forces, and make sense of illogical harmonies through the imposition (or uncovering, in his terms) of this particular hypograph. His choice of symbol is less important than his- and other academic semiosticians impulse towards holism. I have already suggested that artists are involved in a janus headed effort: always trying to channel pure nature and represent her in a familiar language- to experience and the represent the clichà © at once. Blakes assessment of the Dance describes the duplicity: â€Å"For where the other two pentagrams represent the Jesus figure and Pan, this definitely connects them with a female element. Through it we are able to establish a male/female partnership both in heaven and on Earth and between heaven and Earth, and it is one which symbolises the poles upon which the Earth spins. The painting depicts Hermes playing his lyre – music was his method of communication between two worlds- and a group of earthly figures dancing to his celestial tune. On the left hand side of the work is a column on which is mounted a carving†¦of two heads facing away from each other.† Theory of this sort, while certainly in constant danger of toppling into quasi-science, superbly exemplifies the inextricability of Nature and Geometry. Theories of Arcadia are saturated with geometric semiotics; art writers constantly trace and re-trace paintings, covering them in layers and layers of â€Å"mathematical† justification. Whether any of these theories have any real use or even make any sense outside of their own self-imposed rules is not my point. I am interested in the relationship between the powers of nature and the powers of men, the irresistible urge to explain the mysteries of nature, her circadian rhythms, her life giving and life stealing properties, her silent chthonic swell and the threat and awe experienced by the bewildered humans that observe her. As one of the most evocative and symbolically potent plants on the planet, the cactus has played many roles in South American tradition and folklore. As with any hostile climate, indigenous species that seem to offer solace will inevitably acquire mystical significance as the protection they offer is associated with promise. To the parched population of parched landscapes, cacti are life-giving, life-saving, surprising, mysterious, frightening- divine. Cacti started off on American continents, and are still most associated with these places- but they have experienced a massive geographical distribution over the centuries, and cacti have been able to instigate habitats around the world. One rumour says that Christopher Columbus was the first person to have taken the first cactus to Europe, presenting this peculiar plant to Queen Isabella of Spain, however this is of course apocryphal. During their explorations on the American continents, the Spanish Conquistadors found, among many other things, these strange vision inducing plants that were utilised ceremonially by the natives as a religious sacrament and was revered as virtual gods. The native South American name for their spineless dense-shaped cactus (Lophophora Williamsii) was peyoti. It is a plant native to Mexican and south west US with button like tubercles which may be eaten fresh or dried as a narcotic. Initially, Cacti (peyoti) were employed for healing purposes, for attempting to divine the future and for generating hallucinogenic visions during scared rites. Although these hallucinations often appear to be compared to LSD trips, the peyote â€Å"acid† is 4000 times less potent, only briefly affecting the chemical balance and activity of the brain. The Spanish chronicler, Fray Bernardino de Sahagun, claimed that natives used a certain plant to induce hallucinatory state and estimated that peyote was widely used at least 1890 years before the arrival of Europeans. The earliest European record dates from around 1635 with the first column of Historia de las Indias Occidentales by Gonzalo Hernandez de Oviedo y Valdes appeared with illustrations of what we would now classify as Cereus and Opuntia. In 1886 that the German pharmacologist, Louis Lewin, published the first systematic study of the cactus, to which his own name was subsequently given- Anhalonium lewinii. The cactus was already well known and loved by primitive religions and the Indians of Mexico and the American Southwest. One of the early Spanish visitors to the New World wrote, they eat a root which they call peyote, and which they venerate as though it were a deity. It became clear why this plant was venerated as a god, when such eminent psychologists as Jaensch, Havelock Ellis and Weir Mitchell began their experiments with mescalin, the active principle of peyote. Mescalin research has continued, and now chemists have not only isolated the alkaloid; they have learned how to synthesize it, so that the supply no longer depends on the sparse and infrequent crop of desert cacti. Neurologists and physiologists have spent years investigating the mechanism of mescalins action upon the central nervous system, and at everyone from philosophers to writers- notably Aldous Huxley- have taken mescalin in the hope that this mystical cactus extract may shed some light on such ancient, unsolved riddles as the place of mind in nature and the relationship between brain and consciousness. It is surely no coincidence that the peyote cactus, so ubiquitous, so loved and feared, is also identified as the solution to ancient problems of human displacement. We identify with the cactus perhaps. It projects intelligently, like an alien from the sand, while we wonder how we are supposed to best relate to our surroundings. When we look at the cactus we see ourselves done better. If anything on the planet holds the key to mans reconciliation with his estranged mother nature, it is surely the cactus. It is too alien to be part of our problem, we reason, so it must be part of the solution. 2) Taoism and Nature â€Å"Humans model themselves on earth, Earth on heaven, Heaven on the Way, And the way on that which is naturally so.† Lao Tse Daodejing (Tao te ching) #251 This simple but sententious dictum was delivered by an Chinese ancient sage, Lao Tse, the founder of Taoism. The saying suggests a means of building a harmonious relationship between beings and nature. Taoist ideas about conservation and ecology, with nature as the inspiration and conclusion to all things, reflect and resemble new philosophies of industrial design, to some extent. Alongside Buddhism and Confucianism, Taoism is one of the three great religions of China. It can be roughly translated into English as â€Å"path†, or â€Å"the way†- that is, the way of correspondence between man and nature, and the way that is a kind of path of nature the course of natural world. The term Tao describes a power that envelops and flows through all things, both living and nonliving. As such, it serves to regulate natural processes and encourage a cosmic balance of all things in the Universe. Tao suggests that the answers to lifes problems can be found through inner meditation and outer observation. Taoist ideas and images may have nurtured or inspired a love of nature in the Chinese, so that they have traditional felt a need to protect it, and have had many ways of cultivating an affinity with it. The Chinese have always seen nature as a companion, a place of security and support to which they could retreat from the cares of the world to rest or heal themselves. Nature, through Tao, is also sincerely life-affirming. Nature can be unfathomably brutal and Tao constantly reminds that the external world is explicitly on-ideal: in fact, according to Tao, the ideal world can only be found through a spiritual path. The only thing that might compromise ones eternal happiness, in Tao as in Buddhism, was a state of mind, an attitude. Both Tao and Nature are associated with a non-materialistic attitude to life, a spiritual approach to living which many perceive as a possible answer to the social issues of today: the problems of sustaining a unified and healthy social order. Taoists believe their religion holds the answers, as it advises its followers to emulate nature, with its simplicity and relaxed, non-intellectual approach to life. Tao seems to suggest that many of the environmental problems of today have arisen from a materialistic human attitude that has overwhelmed mans spiritual relationship with his natural environment. Rather than coexisting with our living space, people have begun challenging it, and it has even become a respectable achievement to be seen to â€Å"conquer† nature. An estimated 42 million acres of tropical rainforest are destroyed annually, an area the size of Washington State. Around 50,000 species of plants and animals are condemned to extinction every year, an average of about 140 species a day. There are more people than ever, and these people routinely pillage resources, destroy or change natural processes arbitrarily and are support the production of thousands of products that lead towards the destructive path of the environment – contradicting the Taoist path. Increasingly materialist in their lifestyles, most people believe that only matter exists, leaving no room for spiritual beliefs. Our quest for pleasure corresponds to a demand placed on the Earth for immediate gain. The visible world takes precedence over any spiritual or psychological activities and ultimately a form of materialism becomes the only truth and belief. Natures force is unknowable in its essence but observable in its manifestations. With the crisis of energy a nd resources, the crisis of ecology and environment, the crisis of belief and mortality we experience force in the form of natures lamenting reactions. We believe in the formless and eternal Tao, and we recognize all personified deities as being mere human constructs. We reject hatred, intolerance, and unnecessary violence, and embrace harmony, love and learning, as we are taught by Nature. We place our trust and our lives in the Tao, which we may live in peace and balance with the Universe, both in this mortal life and beyond. Creed of the Western Reform Taoist Congregation The recent revival of instinctive desires preserve the health of our planets life without compromising human comfort is the task of ecological attitudes in art and design. Those ecological design solutions that take on board Taoist philosophies link nature, culture, and technology to resituate social human requirements in an environment where the balance of nature receives precedence. Artists and designers must of course work within the constraints imposed by their clients, including the practical and material demands made by every stage of production. Classical Taoist philosophy, formulated in part by Laozi (the Old Master, 5th century B.C.), in part by the editor of the Daodejing (Classic of the Way and its Power), and in part by Zhuangzi (3rd century B.C.), represented a reinterpretation and development of an ancient nameless tradition of nature worship and divination. Laozi and Zhuangzi, living at a time of social disorder and great religious skepticism developed the notion of the Dao (Tao way, or path) as the origin of all creation and the force unknowable in its essence but observable in its manifestation that underlies the mechanisms of the natural world. These men saw in Dao, Nature, and in Nature, Dao. In both these Ways lay the secret to harmonious living. According to these early teachers, the order and harmony of nature was a model for human structures, so much more stable and enduring than either the power of the state or the civilized institutions constructed by human learning. The early Taoists taught the art of li ving and surviving by conforming with the natural way of things; they called their approach to action wuwei (wu-wei lit. no-action), action modelled on nature. As one writer explains, â€Å"Their sages were wise, but not in the way the Confucian teacher was wise, learned and a moral paragon. Zhuangzis sages were often artisans, butchers or woodcarvers. The lowly artisans understood the secret of art and the art of living. To be skillful and creative, they had to have inner spiritual concentration and put aside concern with externals, such as monetary rewards, fame, and praise. Art, like life, followed the creative path of nature, not the values of human society.† Chinese history is dense with stories of people who have grown tired of the pretensions and desperation of social activism increasingly aware of the fragility of human achievements, and whose response has been to retire from the world and turn to nature. Such people have traditionally retreated to a countryside or mountain setting to commune with natural beauty, often composing poetry about nature , or painting interpretations of the scenes surrounding them, as they attempted to capture the creative forces at the heart of Natures vitality. Such people might share their excursions with friends or family, drinking a bite of wine, enjoying the autumn leaves or the evening skies. The literature of Chinese utopians often had a Taoist slant: Tao Qians famous Peach Blossom Spring told of a fisherman who happened across an idyllic Chinese community who had fled a war-torn land centuries earlier, and lived in perfect simplicity and harmony ever since, blissfully oblivious to the turmoil of history beyond their idyll. While the inhabitants urged him to stay, the fisherman departed and shared his discovery with a local official. However hard he tried, he never found a path back to the grove. The fisherman never found a route back because he had failed to understand that he had discovered an abstracted, ideal, world – and one which was to be found not via an external path, but a spiritual one. The utopia was a state of mind, a unique attitude. Laozi and Zhuangzi had reinterpreted nature worship and belief in esoteric â€Å"magical† arts as something both more abstract and more tangible, but the ancient methods and beliefs crept back into the tradition as ways of using knowledge of the Dao to enhance and prolong life. Despite its pragmatism, for some Taoism would always go hand in hand with magical belief. Some Taoists poured their energies into a search for isles of the immortals, or for herbs that could unlock the secrets of immortal life. Many Taoists were interested in health and carried out many studies of herbal medicine and pharmacology, in fact entailing significant advancements in these arts. Taoists even worked out the principles of macrobiotic cooking and other supposedly new and healthy diets. Sensitive to natural processes, they recorded gymnastic mechanisms and studied the effects of massage on keeping the body strong and youthful. Taoists were, then, both magicians and of proto-scientists: they represented the sector of Chinese culture that most closely studied and communed with nature. Some Taoists held that nature was filled with spirits however, theosophically, such spirits were simply many manifestations of the one Dao, something impossible to represent as a single image or in one discreet form. â€Å"The Tao of Heaven operates mysteriously and secretly ; it has no fixed shape; it follows no definite rules; it is so great that you can never come to the end of it, it is so deep that you can never fathom it.† The Huai Nau Tzu The central theme of Taoism is a relationship, and as such contradicts the general western attitude to nature. Nature should not be considered as something passive, awaiting mans masterful control, but as an equal or even superior partner be mastered in a relationship. The aim of the Taiost is to rediscover and eventually merge with the ordered origin of the universe and the only way to do so is the Tao – the path shown to us by nature. Early Taoist philosophers set out from their civilised worlds to take expeditions into the natural world, where they hoped to learn from primitive people living in remote mountain villages. Initially they aimed to introduce the benefits of human civilization to the mysteriously rhythmed order of nature. According to the Tao, nature is â€Å"infinitely wise, infinitely complex, and infinitely irrational. One must take a yielding stance and abandon all intellectual preconceptions. The goal is wu wei, doing nothing contrary to nature. Nature does not need to be perfected or improved. It is we who need to change; we need to come into accord.† Contrary to one possible interpretation of Yin/Yang, Taoists rejected all dichotomies, including the fundamental existence/non existence one, since it is their belief that both stem from the same source, â€Å"Athe deep and the profound. Rather, Taoisms goal is to use consciousness of duality and wisdom about it to reach the stage before any dualities existed. There is only one path to this source, then – the observation of nature. As one writer explains, â€Å"The Tao is a divine chaos, not a random accident. It is fertile, undifferentiated, and teeming with unrealized creation. It is the mother of everything in nature; it is a great darkness that operates spontaneously to give birth and life to all things.† 3) Ecological thinking in contemporary art and design Are we really moving towards a common lexicon of human creation and natural creation? Alan Power cites Steiners â€Å"startling prediction†, â€Å" Buildings will begin to speak. They will speak a language of which people have as yet not even an inkling,† Yet I wonder how startling this really is. Buildings are indeed more â€Å"scientific†, more complex with less obvious evidence of human intervention. Many buildings nowadays appear to have been designed and built by aliens, no longer made to be lived in but impenetrable to our rational human minds. Again, they resemble complex organisms in their initially baffling structure, their illogical shapes and apparent preference of shape and form to practicality. But they are still made by humans, albeit humans employing a dozen layers of technology to translate abstract geometry into audaciously confusing formulae. They are still constructed by and for humans to use, and to that extent are utterly comprehensible, at least to the humans that use them. Where there is room for gratuitous aesthetic treatment in a design, designers, consciously or not, grasp the zeitgeist, construct from fashionable and available materials, and exploit their artistic freedom as far as their unconscious n otions of the â€Å"aesthetic† will allow them to. These notions, I am attempting to argue, are controlled by biologically ingrained forms of the organic. It doesnt matter if a building is technically accomplished to exhibit skeletal forms, as with the giant domes of the Eden Complex in Cornwall, the Brooklyn Bridge in New York and the Mildred Cooper chapel in Arkansas or swollen like the pregnant belly of the Guggenheim, NY . Nature can be found in all design, both rational and irrational, and the more we try to escape it, to avoid mimicking it, the more we are forced to study its base rules, its gravity and its ebb and flow, the tensile strength of its spider-webs, the effects of its uncontrollable eruptions and tidal waves and tornados. Nature is absolutely full of potential metaphors for ways in which we can improve our lives. Today, apple peels are being used by scientists at the University of Clemson as a metaphor for edible packages disolvable pouches like boil in the bags that add protein to a macaroni and cheese dinner, or packages that act as a booster for laundry detergent. Theres certainly a human instinct to perceive products inspired in obvious ways by nature, as being somehow â€Å"good† for us, or â€Å"good† in a moral sense. Of course, human instincts are not to be trusted blindly, and it doesnt follow that because a kind of packaging is inspired by an apple core it is environmentally friendly, inspirational, beautiful, or better for us or the world. But I suppose it has a slightly higher chance of being one or more of these things, our instincts are not too wide of the mark and do control the things we want to buy and sell. A study entitled â€Å"Trees in Small City Business Districts: Comparing Responses of Residents Potential Visitors† begins, â€Å"This study tested whether public response to trees in the downtown business districts of smaller cities is comparable. Research methods included interviews and mail-out surveys. Survey respondents prefer having large trees in retail streetscapes. Trees are also associated with reported increases in patronage behavior (such as travel distance and visit frequency), and willingness to pay more for products. Few differences in response were detected between small city residents and potential visitors who reside in large cities.† What is it about natural organisms that make us want to part with our money? Marketing strategies state such things as fact, using careful example to â€Å"prove† what we â€Å"intuitively† want to believe is true that â€Å"good product and package designers have known for centuries- that the best inspiration for new products comes from nature. The camera mimics the human eye. Helicopters, like hummingbirds, can hover and fly backwards. Velcro brand fasteners were inspired by prickily burrs attached to a Scottish inventors boot.† They get away with this because nature is, and has always been, such an alien force to us humans, as we have seen. Like an alien from another planets, we hope it will be benevolent and, through its own irrepressible character, its mysterious and enviable immortality, hold the secrets to our own improved lifestyles and lifespans. Of course our relationship with nature has changed slightly as we have changed, as a race, but our view of H er remains essentially the same as ever. We still need to imitate and control what we see outside us, in the hope that we can sypher off a little of the magic and mystery for ourselves. In the developed world these harmless, yet irrepressible rhythms are increasingly invisible. It is possible to spend months in a city dwelling, never seeing a dead animal, a nesting bird, a tree in blossom. Nature has become more promising, more mysterious, more magical, and more frightening through its real invisibility, but nature is not wilfully elusive or coy, this is an invisibility we that have imposed. Inevitably, the packages and products that are environmentally superior that are kind to nature also resemble it: they might be inherently efficient, easily recycable, and often they use recycled materials made from renewable resources. One organisation creating such products, back in their 1990s heyday, was â€Å"Zerosm†, and they identified several techniques fo

Flannery OConnors A Good Man is Hard To Find Essay -- Literacy Analy

Flannery O’Connor’s A Good Man Is Hard to Find is one of the most well-known short stories in American history. A Good Man Is Hard to Find is a disturbing short story that exemplifies grace in extremity as well as the threat of an intruder. The story tells of an elderly grandmother and her family who embark on a road trip to Florida. The grandmother is a stubborn old woman with a low sense of morality. While on the trip, the grandmother convinces her son to take a detour which results in a broken down car and an encounter with a convicted fugitive, The Misfit. Although the grandmother pleads for mercy, The Misfit kills off the rest of her family. Through the grace she finds in her extreme circumstance, the grandmother calls The Misfit her own and implores him to spare her life. The Misfit does not oblige her and states after her death, â€Å"She would have been a good woman if it had been someone to shoot her every day of her life.† Through Flannery Oâ₠¬â„¢Connor’s disturbing and shocking display of the grandmother’s demise, she gives the reader a sense of the threatening power of an intruder and the idea of extreme situations bringing about a state of grace. The reason for such a powerful work may have resulted from Flannery O’Connor’s religious upbringing as well as the state of the nation at the time. During much of the 1930’s and 1940’s, the United States was a fairly isolated nation. While much of Europe and rest of the world were waging war against Germany, the United States kept a fairly pacifist stance and refrained from military involvement (World War II: Isolationist America). Many citizens in the United States feared an intrusion from outside forces, especially after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, which changed t... ...dly evil character, The Misfit, is able to help the grandmother to find grace makes him redeemable as well. Whatever the reason was for Flannery O’Connor to write A Good Man Is Hard To Find, it will forever be one of her best works as well as one of the best and most unusual short stories of all time. Works Cited Gordon, Sarah. "Flannery O'Connor (1925-1964)." New Georgia Encyclopedia. Georgia Humanities Council and the University of Georgia Press, 3 Mar. 2009. Web. 10 Mar. 2012. . Shmoop Editorial Team. "A Good Man is Hard to Find" Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 10 Mar. 2012. "World War II: Isolationist America." Second World War II Campaigns. Historical Boy's Clothing, 31 Dec. 2002. Web. 10 Mar. 2012. .

Social Ostracism in Mark Twains Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay

Social Ostracism in Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn In the words of Pap, â€Å"You think you’re better’n your father, now, don’t you, because he can’t [read and write]?† (2). In Mark Twain’s adventure novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck Finn escapes from civilized society to traverse the Mississippi River. Throughout the book, Twain uses various themes such as social ostracism to comment on human nature and its role in shaping society. Sometimes mainstream society is not as right and moral as it believes, and when individuals try to justify it they push away their own humanity. Twain demonstrates this through the various lifestyles, comparing the intellects and beliefs of different social classes, and Huck’s conforming to each facet of society. One of the first instances Twain uses to portray sociological exclusion reveals itself in the contrast of lifestyles. Throughout his life both prior to and after his â€Å"murder,† circumstances expose Huck to opposing ways of life including but not limited to rich vs. poor and simple vs. complex. Personifying middle-class society, Widow Douglass acts as a mother figure for Huck, deeming it her duty to â€Å"sivilize† (1) her adopted son, dressing him well and sending him to school. On the contrary, Pap observes that â€Å"You’ve [Huck] put on [†¦] frills† and swears to take him â€Å"down a peg† (14). The two family icons pull Huck in opposite directions, but as influential as they may be, Huck knows he does not have a place in either world. If anything, Huck identifies more with the simplicity of Pap’s natural way of life than with the materialism of the middle-class of society. Willfully shunning both Pap and Widow Douglas, Huck finds a way to â€Å"keep Pap and the widow from following† him instead of moving â€Å"far enough off before they missed [Huck]† (31). Furthermore, a contrast of the characteristics of men and women presents itself when Huck attempts a reconnaissance mission as a girl in St. Petersburg. Huck cannot go as himself because society would catch him and return him to what he escapes from, but the way men and women live is different enough that they cannot impersonate each other. Although he practices and thinks he manages, Jim’s comment that Huck does not â€Å"walk like a girl† (41) does not do it justice. Almost instantly the woman Huck chooses to question sees through his disguise, explaining that Hi... ...inds a way to fit in only to find that he doesn’t belong—belonging to all societies, yet none of them. The only place where he finds relative peace is on the river. It is the only place where there is nothing to struggle against. Huck is a misfit wherever he goes, rejecting and rejected by mainstream society and every other accepted society that he finds along the river. Throughout his journey, Huck finds different ways of separating himself from society while being a part of it. He sees how quickly life changes and how lifestyles can affect a person. Further set apart by his views, Huck forsakes traditional beliefs for superstition and the balance of luck. Through his journey along the Mississippi River, Huck also understands how much intelligence changes. Feeling no affinity for any aspect of mainstream society he experiences, Huck willingly spurns what he knows as humanity for the society that suits him. At the close of his journey when Aunt Sally makes plans to â€Å"adopt [Huck] and sivilize [Huck],† Huck informs the reader that he has no desire to join high society—â€Å"[he] been there before† (220). *The paranthetical documentation is for the Dover Thrift edition of the book.

Freedom Writers

FREEDOM WRITERS MOVIE REVIEW The movie Freedom Writers (directed by Richard LaGravenese , starring Hilary Swank as Erin Gruwell an excited new teacher, Scott Glenn as Steve Gruwell (Erins father), Imelda Staunton as Margaret Vail (department head), Patrick Dempsey as Scott Casey (Erins husband), Mario as Andre (student), and April Lee Hernandez as Eva (Student)) gave me the impression of sending a hidden message. In that message it said a lot to me about how anyone no matter who they are, have the right to do anything if they are willing to stand up for it.We watch as an up and coming teacher teaches a classroom of students who come and go to juvenile detention centers, homeless, and for some jail, to work together and not against. It has also been inspirational to me because it teaches people not to discriminate or stereotype others just because of their ethnic background. Set in Long Beach, California (1994–1996), Freedom Writers, based on a true story, puts into play this n egative stereotype of people within an ethnic community belonging to a crime filled environment.The high school students within the movie belong to a segregated community, where each race is divided into separate tribes. The students are represented as a central point to the movie, and the way they struggle to break free from the chaotic atmosphere around them to emerge as one, putting away the elements of the ‘separate/extra’ and accepting their classmates for who they are rather than the color of their skin or ethnicity. On her first day teaching, Erin Gruwell encounters an empty classroom and has to wait till a school officer drags the students into class.The students separate into racial groups in the classroom, fights break out, and eventually most of the high school students stop attending class. Not only does Gruwell feel hostility from her high school students, but she also clashes with her department head, who refuses to let her teach her high school students w ith books in case they get damaged and lost, and instead tells her to focus on training them discipline and obedience.As time passes on she slowly but eventually begins to earn their trust and buys them composition books to record their diaries, in which they talk about their experiences of being evicted, abused, and seeing their friends die. I believe Hilary Swank fulfilled her part as a teacher for her students because she made it seem as if she was really going above and beyond for the students. I believe Imelda Staunton who played as Margaret Vail, fulfilled the expectations but at the same time, I feel hers could have been more out there.April Lee Hernandez as Eva, was perfect for the role because she gave her character a hostile and tough demeanor. I think that made her more exciting to listen to because of what she has come from to achieve her perception of others in the movie. I was excited by this movie and would watch it again for the characters backgrounds and seeing them achieve their goals. The actors gave what was asked of them. Freedom Writers There is an obvious discrimination shown in the movie â€Å"Freedom Writers†, where everybody hates everybody and they got no choice but to live in a world full of pandemonium. Random cultural implications are shown in the movie. Where one has to accept his/her society since birth, or someone has to really join a gang to keep up and belong to a hood. In the case of the students in the movie, they are just simply hopeless and what they all just do is to keep raging flames in their hearts. Until one tough and undeniably smart professor came on their way to take action – Ms.Gruwell. As Ms. Gruwell came into the movie, I just thought that there will really be one person who will unexpectedly cross one’s life and lead you towards impunity. Same with the world or certain country where there is rampant chaos and a peacemaker leads to fight for the right. At first, Ms. Gruwell had dismay that she wasn’t able to understand everything. And because she thinks and con siders the factors she sees in her current endeavor, she came up with a very unique plan that a usual professor wouldn’t think about. FREEDOM WRITING. I guess, the maker of the movie wanted to disseminate how the therapy of writing one’s feelings comes into such a relief to those whose minds are insane and broken. This is a very good twist in the movie, where in cultural liberalism takes place. Series of difficulties are shown in the movie, and how brave Ms. Gruwell and the students faced it together. Regardless of race, nationality and status, they all worked it out and despite Ms. Gruwell’s dispute in school, everything worked out the way it is supposed to be.I felt bad because I know that the movie really happens in reality, and I have this hope in my heart that there will be more people who will understand and become more like Ms. Gruwell. The line â€Å"Everyday I worry when will I be free. † is poignant. Same as in our daily lives when we encounter suffering, we ask ourselves and feels like we’re being trapped. All we have to do is sigh, pray and breathe; There we will find peace. We shall be always open for changes for it is indispensible and constant. We shall all be brave and continue life as it is by fighting for the truth.We shall always voice out our thoughts and prevent misjudges because of races and kinds. We must be united despite the challenges in life. We shall not condemn one but ourselves too when society has its crisis and it breaks dow. And when WE break down, we shall stand UP – one by one. The book „Outliers? is basically are success stories wherein Malcolm Gladwell, a renowned writer, gives practical explanations of how extraordinary people gain success. The stories situated in the book always involve different aspects of success such as the environment, patience and hard work, coincidences and other things happening around.Basically, the ideas give „common-sense? answer to the quest ion. These people have succeeded because of the things that surrounds them and not just only by themselves. As stated â€Å"It makes a difference where and when we grew up†, this clearly explains that a person don? t achieve success not only by himself but it matters on the situations and opportunities that lies around him. Gladwell investigates place, time and culture of these success stories in order to come up with practical explanations behind it.This also includes the relevant events that happened in certain period of time where these people are part and been to these events. So in other words, these people have been to certain event in their lives that made them succeed. Gladwell thought of these idea to see the logic about being successful or not, in this case is by asking where these people came from. One way Gladwell explains it is by determining the important events in certain period of time which are based on patterns of birthdates of a group of people such as the Canadian hockey team, Czechoslovakian National Junior Soccer team and the people behind today? technology, MAC and PC. There are many different stories that Gladwell shared in order to produce one perspective of defining success. And, this all comes to one conclusion what? s behind success. 10,000 Hour Rule The 10,000 hour rule is my most favorite part of the book, where it explains patience and hard work. These are the most important things that I believe about success. Practically, we need practices in order to make things perfect and in order. It? s a universal idea of how things became successful with more practices you do to be closer to perfection and success.There are thousands of stories behind success that involves practicing and perseverance. From the „Outliers? , especially with the musicians in the stories, it will take a lot of practices and experiences to produce series of great performances. The Beatles – Lennon and McCartney started playing in 1957 but b ecame known in the U. S. in 1964, which they took seven years to succeed. To compare it with other genre, Smashing Pumpkins started playing in 1988 in Chicago, Illinois; they succeeded in the U. S. in 1992 and entered the international music industry in 1995.Charice Pempengco started to join singing contests at the age of 7, and joined hundreds of it before she performed in Star King in Korea at the age of 14 where Ellen DeGeneres discovered her in YouTube, and she started her international career with David Foster at the age of 15. Her success became unstoppable, but it took years of experiences in order to gain her continuous success. You can actually compare a lot of stories to 10,000 hour rule, this is very common to every success stories around the world. That? why this is the idea I believe and appreciated most. Decoded Numbers Gladwell presented many arguments regarding years, birth-dates, numbers and patterns. And basically, this numbers does show something and it’s a bout success. But what I am trying to figure out is if there are millions of numbers of combinations that can be presented by anyone and Gladwell actually showed only about 10 or 20 sets of numbers and dates in tables to prove this logic, and basically this can just occasional and coincidences in my opinion.I do actually believe in his investigations as presented in the book, but it was actually rare and likely can be occurred in just some point in time. In other way, if we compare other set of numbers in the same procedure, these are just a few samples and would be good as basis for success. For example, the birth dates of Chicago Bulls in NBA during the time of Michael Jordan where they became phenomenal and very famous because of winning six championships in 8 years during the 1990? s and they also won the finals over Utah Jazz in 1998 which is the one of the most popular game in NBA.Below are the rosters for Chicago Bulls in 1997-1998. Technically, you cannot see any pattern exc ept that all of them are born between 1961 to 1974 and above 90% went to college. And also the hall of famer trio, Jordan, Pippen and Rodman do not have anything in common with their birthdates and where they studied. Gladwell actually showed patterns in certain stories but there? s still a lot of success that does not have any methodological patterns. In my opinion, this can still be considered but not a good perspective for success