Scott Berkun on Writers’ Laziness

Scott Berkun on Writers’ Laziness Scott Berkun on Writers’ Laziness Hard work is one of the many things that authors and startups have in common. We know we should expect it, and always think ourselves ready to embrace it, but the truth is that we’re constantly looking for a shortcut. With countless get-rich-quick schemes, myths, or even documented success-stories out there, it is easy to lose oneself in the dream and never really pursue it.To break free of the dream, we’ve invited one of the most famous myth-busters out there to share his thoughts with us. Scott Berkun is a bestselling author of 6 books and renowned speaker on creativity and innovation. Scott has a simple message for authors, which we all need to hear: â€Å"stop being lazy†.You spend a lot of time myth-busting. What is the No. 1 myth you come across to do with writing? Why do you think this myth is perpetuated? Everyone believes there’s a way around the work. People are genuinely mystified when they describe a hard part of it, hoping for a cure, and I te ll them, yes, I feel the same thing, the difference is I keep going. You can’t run a marathon without running many miles first. There are tricks here and there but they only help if you do the work, the tricks don’t eliminate the work.We’re all prone to dreams and that’s a good thing if we don’t confuse them with reality. Sadly many of us do. Myths about life will always be popular because people confuse dreams with reality, that having a dream is enough. There is no dream of writing a novel or changing the world that comes about without sacrifices. Many people use dreams just as something to talk about and never something they really want to do.You answer a lot of questions from new writers. Which are the most common things these writers get stuck on? What are the causes of these problems?Laziness. It usually comes down to laziness, which sounds mean but it’s totally true. I’m not that famous and even if I were, there are far easier places to get coaching on writing from than an author. It’s an old field you know, with plenty of courses, books and coaches waiting to be used. Generally it’s the dreaming thing again. People who are serious will ask serious questions. Instead of â€Å"How do I start?†, which is answered by opening a word processor and typing, they ask â€Å"I’ve written a draft and want to make it easy for friends to critique it. Suggestions?† It’s a very different question that starts by explaining the asker has already put some sweat in.You first self-published back in 2011 - light-years away in the self-publishing world - what are the most exciting developments you are looking at right now in this space?It gets better every year. Even now the quality is so good most people can’t tell the difference, especially for digital books. I see many boutique publishes cropping up that are challenging the old models, and treating authors differently, which is fun to see.You recently wrote that many publishers are â€Å"stuck in an antiquated notion of their value†. In five years time, what do you think will the core value of a publisher? The core value remains the same - sell great books to people and help authors make great books. I just hope they’ll take more advantage of modern tools and ideas in what they do. They’re still catching up to social media, still catching up to how to use Facebook, still catching up to blogging. There’s a new generation of editors that are rising in influence and as they do publishers will change with them. What you folks are doing at Reedsy, and other shops like Booktrope, it is fascinating to watch - unlike big publishers you have no legacy to hold you back and can dive in with fresh ideas on how it’s all supposed to work.But many publishers are asleep at how the romance of getting published has changed. The technological advantage is almost entirely gone, or worse, is a liability because they’re stuck on ideas from the 1980s. Anyone can publish a book today and if they are talented they can publish good books faster and cheaper than a publisher can. Every publishing exec should, on their own, self-publish a book and compare with what their company does. They’ll see how easy it is to replicate what publishers do with freelancers. Many still haven’t done this simple exercise and there’s no excuse for it.There is a romantic notion that marketing shouldn’t be a writer’s job. Is there a place for introvert writers in today’s landscape - those who don’t necessarily like to engage with their audience and cultivate their fan base?The romantic notion is mostly an invention as writers and artists throughout history largely had to hustle to survive, or they wrote for reasons other than fame (a notion often unheard of today). Being an introvert doesn’t mean you can’t cultivate a fan bas e. Social media, blogs and mailing lists makes it easy for someone who writes to use writing as their primary way to interact. It doesn’t have to be personal, but if you want more fans you have to give them something to be fans about. If you don’t want to engage your own audience how can you expect to create or maintain one? You’d either need to be wealthy enough to pay someone to do if for you, or incredibly lucky to find a following without it.Follow Scott and Reedsy on Twitter: @berkun and @ReedsyHQDo you agree that struggling authors’ main problem is laziness? What do you do to keep writing and engaging with your audience?

Part-Time Job Can Strengthen Your College Application

Part-Time Job Can Strengthen Your College Application When you need to work after school and on weekends, it can be impossible to be involved in many extracurricular activities. Being part of a sports team, marching band, or theater cast simply wont be options for you. The reality for many students is that earning money to support their family or save for college is far more necessary than joining chess club or the swim team. But how does holding a job affect your college applications? After all, selective colleges with holistic admissions are looking for students who have meaningful extracurricular involvement. Thus, students who have to work would seem to be at a significant disadvantage in the college admissions process. The good news is that colleges recognize the importance of having a job. Moreover, they value the personal growth that comes along with work experience. Learn more below. Why Colleges Like Students With Work Experience It can be tempting to wonder how someone who works 15 hours a week at the local department store can measure up to someone who stars on the varsity soccer team or took a leading role in the schools annual theater production. Colleges do, of course, want to enroll athletes, actors, and musicians. But they also want to enroll students who have been good employees. The admissions staff wants to admit a group of students with diverse interests and backgrounds, and work experience is one piece of that equation. Even if your work isnt in any way academic or intellectually challenging, it has a lot of value. Heres why your job looks good on your college application: High school students who successfully hold down a job for a significant period of time have proven that they can manage their time effectively. Its not easy to do well in school while devoting significant hours to work, and effective time management is one of the most important skills that will lead to college success.Students who have jobs have learned to work as part of a team. You cant be selfish as an employee, for success depends upon working well with your colleagues. These collaborative skills translate directly to college success: youll be well prepared to negotiate issues with your roommate, work on group projects, and recognize how your own actions impact others.If youre working to save money for college, youll be highly invested (literally) in your college education. The fact that your hard-earned dollars are going towards your education tells the admissions folks that you are fully committed to your education. College isnt a gift that has been handed to you; rather, it is something that you have worked hard to make happen. That kind of commitment has real value for the college in terms of retention rates, graduation rates, and overall student success. Even a miserable job flipping burgers or washing dishes has value on your application. Youve learned to be responsible, to serve others before yourself, and to make sacrifices to meet your long-term goals. Work experience and maturity tend to go hand-in-hand.Finally, you have a perspective that many college applicants lack. You have experienced first-hand the type of work that millions of people do without a college degree. So unless you were lucky enough to get an intellectually challenging job as a high school student, youll have additional motivation to succeed in college and move on to work that is more personally satisfying. Are Some Jobs Better than Others for College Admissions? Any job - including those at Burger King and the local grocery store - are a plus on your college application. As outlined above, your work experience says a lot about your discipline and potential for college success. That said, some work experiences come with additional benefits. Consider the following: Jobs that provide leadership experience. Colleges want to enroll future leaders, and your job can help show your potential on this front. It often isnt possible for a part-time 18-year-old to be a manager, but some jobs such as being a lifeguard, camp counselor, or academic tutor are leadership positions by definition. In other types of jobs, you might be able to ask your supervisor for leadership opportunities. For example, you might be able to help train new employees or help the company with outreach in the community.Jobs that show  your entrepreneurial ability. Its also impressive if youre entrepreneurial and started your own small business whether making jewelry or mowing lawns. Entrepreneurs tend to be creative and self-motivated, qualities that make for excellent college students.Jobs that provide field-specific experience.  If you have a strong sense of what you want to study - whether it be medicine, business, chemistry, art, English, or any other major - work experien ce in that field will play well with the admissions folks. As an example, a lot of students want to go into medicine because of the attractive salary, not because of any love of the sciences or the profession. An applicant who has actually worked in a hospital and gained first-hand experience will be a much more informed and compelling applicant. Similarly, a future computer science major who has worked in tech support will be able to craft a  well-informed and convincing application. Internships. As a high school student with a thin resumà © and no relevant work experience, you may find it impossible to get a job in your area of study. An internship, however, may be a an option. Many internships are unpaid, but they are nevertheless valuable. Those hours you spend working at a publishing house, law firm, or chemistry lab can open doors to future opportunities, and they give you first-hand knowledge of an academic field (something that most college applicants wont have). If unpaid work isnt an option for you, try a compromise: 10 hours a week in a paid job and 5 hours a week as an intern. Is It Okay to Have No Extracurricular Activities? If youre filling out the Common Application, the good news is that work (paid) and internship are both categories listed under activities. Thus, working a job means your extracurricular activity section on the application wont be blank. For other schools, however, you may find that extracurricular activities and work experiences are entirely separate sections of the application. The reality is that even if you have a job, you probably also have extracurricular activities. If you think about the wide range of activities that count as extracurricular, youll probably discover that you have several items you can list in that section of the application. Its also important to realize that your inability to participate in after-school activities doesnt preclude you from extracurricular involvement. Many activities - band, student government, National Honor Society - take place largely during the school day. Others, such as involvement at church or summer volunteer work, can often be scheduled around work commitments. A Final Word About Work and College Applications Holding a job doesnt have to weaken your college application. In fact, you can leverage your work experience to strengthen your application. Experiences at work can provide excellent material for your college application essay, and if youve maintained a strong academic record, colleges will be impressed by the discipline required to balance work and school. You should still try to have other extracurricular activities, but there is nothing wrong with using your job to demonstrate that you are a well-rounded, mature, and responsible applicant.

How Triple Constraint Impacts Projects Term Paper

How Triple Constraint Impacts Projects - Term Paper Example Scope (Quality): refers to the requirements and functionality that are discussed and thus set in the requirements phase with the client. Any changes in the scope in the later stages of the project cause a diverse effect on the project since the resources are assigned as per the needs of the discussed scope of the project. The outcome of the project can be judged by the scope of the project. Cost (resources): The cost of the project is estimated with respect to the man-hours that will be spent on the project, number of resources that will be assigned on it and the cost of the materials that will be used in the project. Time (schedule): The total time period of any project is analyzed in the smallest detail. The components are analyzed with respect to the different tasks that might be needed to complete it and the amount of time that might be needed for those tasks. The accumulation of the duration of the different components tasks amounts to the total time required for project completion. It is the job of the project manager to manage these triple constraints in the project so that the needs of the clients are fulfilled in the most appropriate manner. Some of these constraints might be compromised in order to deliver the other constraint. These are good measures of the success of any project since these three elements are the most vital and quantifiable aspects. These are also good indicators for a successful project because they can fit any project of any kind. Jessica (2008) stated an example regarding the triple constraints; some clients signed a boat contract with a boat manufacturing company. The company takes a year to make the boat but these clients want the boat to be delivered within 9 months with a budget of $100,000. The time (schedule) of the project is fixed since the clients want the boat to be delivered

Background Information Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Background Information - Essay Example ortfolio Strategy group develops a â€Å"Monthly Lead List† which is used by marketing department for the purpose of identification of customers that are part of our portfolio. The list undergoes strict quality checks by an independent Quality Control Analyst, who validates the data by utilizing critical business logic and by using QC results tab for result presentation. The US Bank’s Data Management and Analytics group prepares the Month-end-marketing Metrics, which is also utilized by the marketing department to develop a report that provides guidance regarding marketing sales goals, actual and budgeted costs of marketing, cost per application, cost per lead and the associated variances. Interaction with legal and compliance department for approval of the marketing material that is under development for the purpose of compliance to relevant laws is also carried out by marketing department. During the period before June 1, 2014 approvals for marketing material was only sought from the legal department, but now the marketing department utilizes US Bank’s â€Å"ticket management system† for this purpose. So, now marketing material is approved by compliance department after it has been approved by the legal department. Based on audit, the rating for Marketing review and Portfolio strategy has been labeled â€Å"Effective†. Policy and procedures related to quality control process for marketing lead list have been prepared and released by the Business unit. Whether adequate Quality Control was implemented by the independent analyst or not, could not be ascertained, since supporting documents were insufficient to support the analyst’s position. The team is in the process of implementing control measures which is an indication that they are aware of the prevailing

Evolution and Human Beings Essay Example for Free

Evolution and Human Beings Essay Allama Muhammad Iqbal is one of the most outstanding poet-philosophers of the Indian sub-continent belonging to the modern period. His intellectual genius has reigned supreme in the arena of Islamic philosophy during the twentieth century and is likely to direct and influence the Islamic Intellectual tradition in the twenty first century as well. His sublime poetry and philosophy inspired millions of Muslims to wake up to the reality of the times and forge a destiny for themselves. Iqbal explained evolution on the basis of his religious knowledge as well as his experiences in the western society. One of the facets of Iqbal’s genius is the fluidity with which he displays his in-depth knowledge and critical analysis of both Islamic and Western philosophies, theories and concepts. He compared the Quranic concepts of evolution with the western ones. Then, he gave his own concept of evolution. Allama Iqbal’s Concepts of Evolution: Allama Iqbal is against the concept of a fixed and static universe. He consistently upholds that existence reveals itself in constant change. If there is anything which is constant, it is the change itself. According to him, God‘s creative activity is ever-continuing and He is constantly sustaining this universe. God is not only the cause but also the reason of the universe. He believed that the Ultimate Ego was Allah, who, though transcendent in His essence, was intimately connected to human beings through His amr. For Iqbal amr stood for the creative power and will of God. He gave the concept of ‘egos’. At the lowest level egos are unconscious, in the higher order of being, they become conscious. Egos achieve utmost consciousness and finally become self-consciousness in human beings, the highest being in nature and the vicegerent of God. Man is the only being awarded with moral freedom and responsibility. Using his freedom of choice with responsibility, humans approach closer and closer the excellence that is divine. Being conscious of one’s real self i.e self realization is the goal of moral actions. Self, according to him, is of two kinds. The efficient self which actually operates and has dealings with others in spatio-temporal world. The appreciative self which is the real ‘I-amness’ and is divine in nature. It is the self which has to be recognized to have a new and different perspective about the world. The process of evolution and self-realization is not aimless. Iqbal believes that it is purely purposive in nature. However, there is no pre-determined single purpose towards which evolution moves. Rather, fresh goals ever continue to be created during the evolutionary course. Obedience, self-discipline and vicegernce of God are three degrees of development of self in man by passing through which he attain the ideal of a perfect manhood. Analysis: This theory explains evolution in a very unique way. Being a muslim, i find no fault in this theory as it explains everything very clearly and its evidence can also be found in the Quranic verses. The way he has explained everything in the islamic context makes it very difficult to contradict with this theory. Following is the elaboration and analysis of this evolutionary theory on the basis of Iqbal’s explanation, in my own words. Concept of Change: As he was of the opinion that the universe is not static, this is true. We can also find it in the verses of Surah Yaseen. God has talked about the way sun, moon, stars and all the planets keep moving all day and night long. Physicists have also proved that things which appear to be solid and motionless are also in constant state of motion. Their particles also vibrate in a specific manner but we can not sense or feel it. Evolution itself is a process which denotes change. There are hundreds and millions of processes which are occurring in the universe in a continuous manner. So, Iqbal’s idea of an ever-changing universe is true. Concept of Evolution: His answer to the question â€Å"how did man first emerge?† is â€Å"he arose through evolution.† For this purpose, we can quote the following verses of Quran: â€Å"Does not man bear in mind that we made him at first when he was naught?† (19:67) â€Å"Yet we are not thereby hindered from replacing you with others your likes or from producing you in a form which ye knew not! Ye have known the first creation, will you not reflect† (56:60-62). He explained his answer on the basis of above mentioned verses. Iqbal claims that, â€Å"this suggestive argument embodied in the last verses of the two passages quoted above did in fact open a new vista to Muslim philosophers. It was Jahiz who first hinted at the changes in animal life covered migrations and environment generally. The association known as the ‘Brethren Of Purity’ further amplified the views of Jahiz Ibu Miskawaih, however, was the first Muslim thinker to give a clear and in many respects thoroughly modern theory of the origin of man.† In this context, we can say that Darwin said nothing new as the concept of evolution was already present in Islam from the very beginning. Tawheed: Iqbal is not in the favour of deism according to which God became uninterested in this universe after creating it and now it is operating on its own. This is not possible and in accordance with the rules of nature. God is continuously in contact with the universe and is governing every bit and part of it. Being a muslim he added the concept of Tawheed, oneness of God in the theory of evolution. He believed that the concept of tawhÃŒ £iÌ„d contained within it the unity of the spirit and matter, body and soul, the individual and society. The Ego (Khudi): According to this theory of creative evolution, the Ultimate Ego manifests itself, from the lowest forms of matter to the highest evolutionary form i.e. the spiritually most advanced human personality. God is the supreme ego from which only egos are produced. In Iqbal’s words, â€Å"Indeed the evolution of life shows that, though in the beginning the mental is dominated by the physical, the mental as it grows in power, tends to dominate the physical and may eventually rise to a position of complete independence.† What Iqbal means by this is that the process of creative evolution involves a gradual growth of the human individuality or ego (khudi). Iqbal used the word khudiÌ„ to denote the ego, the individuality of a person or the self. He described khudi as follows:- â€Å"Metaphysically the word khudiÌ„ (self-hood) is used in the sense of that indescribable feeling of ‘I’ which forms the basis of the uniqueness of each individual. Ethically the word khudiÌ„ means (as used by me) self-reliance, self-respect, self-confidence, self-preservation, self-assertion when such a thing is necessary, in the interest of life and power to stick to the cause of truth, justice, duty etc. even in the face of death. Such behaviour is moral in my opinion because it helps in the integration of the forces of the Ego, thus hardening it, as against the forces of disintegration and dissolution, practically the metaphysical ego is the bearer of two main rights that is the right to life and freedom as determined by Divine Law.† Iqbal believed in the gradual rising note of khudi or self-hood in the universe through the process of creative evolution till it reaches its highest potential in human beings. The universe according to Iqbal is the spatio-temporal order, where egos of varying levels dwell, interact and take part in the process of continuous change and continuous evolution. Iqbal’s concept of heaven and hell is d eeply connected to his concept of khudi. Hell is basically a disintegration and dissolution of the self or ego whereas heaven is a state where the personality has reached a heightened sense of self-awareness, self-consciousness and distinction. Hell is nothingness, an annihilation of the self. Heaven is the opposite of nothingness. It is to be real, an important, integral part of the Greater Reality. Iqbal quotes the Quran to support his concept of Khudi, the creative will and power inherent in human beings:- â€Å"And they ask thee of the soul. Say: the soul proceedeth from my Lord’s amr (Creative Will and Power) but of knowledge only a little is given to you.† (17:85) It is this nature of the soul that makes human beings distinct and the chosen ones from the rest of creation. Iqbal translates and interprets the word amr as the ‘Directive, Creative Will and Power of God.’ He believes that human beings can share in the creative activity of God by using their own God given creative will and power. Iqbal is an advocate of the freedom of the human personality. He quotes the Qur’an to substantiate his views: By the soul and He who has balanced it, and has shown to it the ways of wickedness and piety, blessed is he who has made it grow and undone is he who has corrupted it. (91:7-10) The ego grows from a position of hardly having any freedom from natural laws and natural appetites, to the position where the ego, through the use of its creative will and power, becomes more and more powerful, free, dynamic and independent. Iqbal says, â€Å"The ‘unceasing reward’ of man consists in his gradual growth in self-possession, in uniqueness, and intensity of his activity as an ego.† He says, â€Å"The fact that the higher emerges out of the lower does not rob the higher of its worth and dignity. It is not the origin of a thing that matters, it is the capacity, the significance, and the final reach of he emergent that matters†¦. It by no means follows that the emergent can be resolved into what has conditioned its birth and growth.† In fact the ideal of the evolutionary growth of the human personality is presented by Iqbal through the words of the Quran referring to the Prophet’s (PBUH) vision of the Ultimate Ego i.e. Allah at the nocturnal journey called the mi‘raaj: ‘His eye turned not aside, nor did it wander’ (Quran 53:17) When Prophet Moses came into contact with God’s Light, he could not sustain the impact. He lost consciousness due to the overwhelming effect of, in Iqbal’s words, the Ultimate Ego. But the emergence of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) gave perfection to human personality or ego in the evolutionary scale. Love or Ishq: Iqbal believed that behind the process of evolution is the vital impulse of ‘ishq’ or love which is metaphysical in nature and which makes life grow towards higher evolutionary goals. Goal of Evolution: Unlike Bergson, Iqbal believed that evolution has a goal. In fact, the evolution or dissolution of life is dependent on how far the individual chooses to use his or her creative will and power. The perfect man of Iqbal’s conception is mujahid who is ready and willing to face the problems of life, culture and society as he is to face the problems of after-life, spiritual welfare and death. The theory of ‘creative evolution’ as envisaged by Iqbal harnesses human creative potential under the spiritual discipline of religion as the instrument with which human beings become co-workers with God, effecting the destiny of the universe. In my point of view, it is a very comprehensive theory and I totally support it. I would like to end this debate in Iqbal’s words. In the Javid Nama God addresses human beings in this stirring call: Life is both mortal and immortal, it is all creativity and eagerness Art thou alive? Be eager, be creative Like us encompass the whole universe! Shatter into pieces what is uncongenial. Bring forth another world out of thy imagination! It is irksome to the man who is free, to live in a world of another’s making. He who lacks the power of creation is naught to us but an atheist and an agnostic! He has not taken his share of our Beauty. He has not eaten the fruit of the tree of life. Man of truth! Be sharp and incisive like the sword and forge the destiny of they own world!

Philosophical And Historical Foundations Of American Politics :: essays research papers

The Founding Father’s views on government were influenced by both the classical republican and the natural rights philosophers. The two groups of philosophers held very different views on how a government should run. The classical republicans believed that the individual should sacrifice his or her personal freedoms in order to gain the greater good. The natural rights philosophers, on the other hand, held that a person’s individual freedoms out to be preserved at all costs. The two greatest examples of historical precedent in republican government were the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations, which both gave the people a great deal of power in the government by allowing them a voice. The natural rights philosophers favored the Greeks, while most classical republicans admired the Romans.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The theory of classical republicanism is that the best society is one that promotes the common good instead of individual interests. One of the ways that this is done is by limiting individual rights. This idea began in Rome in 509 after King Servius’ successor Tarquin the Proud behaved in such a tyrannical way that the outraged aristocracy ousted him. In response to the unspeakable treatment, the Romans changed the government’s job. The elite proclaimed themselves the protectors of Rome against tyranny. This mindset became crucial to the ideology through which they justified their political supremacy. From this point on, there would be intense suspicion of any individual who tried to turn popular support into personal power.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Numerous problems can arise in a society which emphasizes both individual rights and the common good because the two goals are often conflicting in nature. Everyone desires individual rights, but to protect the common good a social contract must be in effect. This means that some personal rights must be sacrificed for the good of the community. The natural rights philosophy considered the rights of the individual to be of primary importance, but classical republicans held that the community’s interests were more important. Classical republicans required that people care for each other in small communities, and shared similarities in finances and religion. This required an official religion and a single set of family standards had to be followed. Thus it was obvious that this would not work in America, since so many people had come here to escape their official religions and to seek economic opportunity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The classical republicans stressed the need for moral education and homogeneity in order to protect the interests of society.

Love Relationship Among Student Essay

This research study examines the relationship between academic achievement and at-risk students. Many issues today affect the achievement gap and the ability for at-risk students to succeed. Most data, as revealed in the studies included in this review, conclude the factors identifying at-risk students do have significant impact on the academic achievement of individual students and schools. Most often, these students are not successful and eventually drop out of school or pursue a GED. Data indicate that teacher-student relationships, parent or caregiverstudent relationships, motivation, SES, and peer influence can affect success for at- risk students. Twelfth grade students from two high schools in an urban school district were given the opportunity to participate in a survey. This study investigates correlations between the dependent variable grade point average (GPA), and the independent variables teacher-student relationships, parent or caregiver-student relationships, motivation, SES, and peer influence. Five regressions were run to determine if any of the independent variables predict GPA. Data from this study indicate that the variance between the dependent variable of GPA and each of the five independent variables is significant; however the practicality of these results’ having a significant influence on the GPA of the study participants is minimal. The strongest variance found was between GPA and motivation and between GPA and peer influence. Other findings include a relationship between GPA and participation in sports or activities. As GPA increases, the percentage of students participating in sports and activities increased. The students in this study do have positive relationships with their teachers; have a parent or caregiver encouraging them to do well in school; and plan to attend college.

Mercury

Mercury International, Ltd is already at the forefront of the shoe manufacturing industry being in direct competition with the world’s biggest names in shoes manufacturing. These include Nike, Reebok and Puma. Thus, what they have to do is to sustain there marketing output, yet continue enhancing the way they compete with the present market. Relative to other leaders in the industry, they are very near behind, although Mercury shoes are unheard yet in other parts of the world. Having the same technological edge with other brands, there is a possibility that it can surpass others given the chance to maximize its potential using new marketing techniques. Several factors have contributed to Mercury International, Ltd’s performance. Although some of these are technological in nature, still the key factor to its growth is adhering to tested marketing principles. Some of these are; product innovations, making the most of market trend information, market expansion, and relying on concrete statistical data. But, to sustain the growth of a company, one has to remedy first the aspects or areas which keep the company grounded and not able to grow at the rate that it should be. Hence, an analysis on the factors prejudicial to the company and need to be improved is imperative. On the operational side of things, we cannot see much of a problem because it expanded its market to other countries, and having also product-development centers in China, Taiwan and Indonesia. The combined production capacity of these centers can very well meet consumer demands, at least in Asia alone. So there is a need to put up production centers in Europe and Latin American countries alone, so that Mercury’s products will be well distributed, and at the same time gain exposure to new markets. European and Latin American countries composed a very big share the shoe industry market, thus there’s a need for the company to capture these areas of the market. Its expenses can be further reduced by using technology. The fact that the company is at par with other company regarding the technology used in its production, it can reduced its expenses by mass-producing their products in a single period of time and later on put emphasis on its marketing, doing the production and marketing in phases. Eventually, all marketing processes could be covered, yet there would be no waste in effort and energy by doing different processes in a given time, thus big expenses can be avoided. On the financial side of its operations, an analysis on its financial and management reports gives a picture as to how the company is faring in the worldwide market. By the end of the year 2005, its total market share was only 9.1%; this information explains that there is still a huge chunk of the market that needs to be covered. Seeing this in the negative, it seems that the company is far from other companies in terms of market covered. But profitability cannot be measured by the size of the market covered alone, but through the actual profit made. A closer analysis of its income statement showed that there was a deficit of $10.13 million incurred during 2003 alone, and the succeeding combined income for the years 2004 and 2005 was barely able to compensate the 2003 deficit, the combined income being only $13.08 million. A growth of only $3.05 million was realized over the past three years. In essence, the company is not doing well financially. Â  Mercury Shoes, Ltd. can do much better that this. Yet, on the brighter side, we can glimpse from the financial reports that, at the least, there was a recorded growth between 2004 and 2005. This is enough for the management to persevere even harder to raise this notch to higher level. Perhaps, the company should put emphasis on the development of its operational system, because when its operations are exemplary, a good performance relating to its income will follow later. A complete operational overhaul is not needed. The company excels in other areas far better than other companies do. It has a technological edge over others, and its research and development is exemplary providing products to consumers with innovative technology. Almost 98% of human labor in the actual production of shoes and apparel has already been eliminated by robotic technology. Manufacturing is in an automated mode. These factors alone don’t justify the need to overhaul the operational system of the company completely. If changes are to be made, it should be done in the human resource and marketing divisions of the company. The brain of a particular organization lies in the management officials that lead the company. It is, therefore, logical to surmise that the failure of a company can be attributed to the leaders’ incapability. The marketing department also has the power to attract consumers to buy the company’s products, failure to do so justify their incompetence. The technological advantage, R & D programs, and the manufacturing process of the company should be retained. The rest should be change and improved for the benefit of the whole company. Generally, Mercury International, Ltd. has a potential in being a leader of the shoe and apparel manufacturing industry. What is has to do is to align its operations and processes into a single output force looking at a single objective. Although, the company hasn’t yet reached this stage of organizational development, with patience, cooperation, and continuous development of its product with the use of cutting-edge technology, it will eventually. What the management has to do is to sustain the over-all output to maintain its position yet continue to strive and develop further. The backbone of the company’s product line, the Boost Technology, TrailStep, and the Sweatless Training Apparel should further be strengthened, so that the company will have security on where to get its money for expenses when changes are to be made in other areas of the company. With the managerial officers having already the skills to effectuate changes on the company, what they have to do only is to use their skills at the utmost and steer the company to where it grows the most.

Biography of Kublai Khan, Ruler of Mongolia and China

Biography of Kublai Khan, Ruler of Mongolia and China Kublai Khan (September 23, 1215–February 18, 1294) was a Mongol emperor who founded the Yuan Dynasty in China. He was the most famous grandson of the great conqueror Genghis Khan, expanding his grandfathers empire and ruling the vast territory. He was the first non-Han emperor to conquer all of China. Fast Fact: Kublai Khan Known For:  Mongol Emperor, conqueror of southern China, founder of the Yuan dynasty in ChinaAlso Known As:  Kubla, KhubilaiBorn:  September 23, 1215 in MongoliaParents: Tolui and SorkhotaniDied:  February 18, 1294 in Khanbaliq (modern-day Beijing, China)Education: UnknownSpouse(s): Tegulen, Chabi of the Khonigirad, Nambui  Children: Dorji, Zhenjin, Manggala, Nomukhan, Khutugh-beki, and many others Early Life Although Kublai Khan was the grandson of Genghis Khan, very little is known about his childhood. We do know that Kublai was born in 1215 to Tolui (the youngest son of Genghis) and his wife Sorkhotani, a Nestorian Christian princess of the Kereyid Confederacy. Kublai was the couples fourth son. Sorkhotani was famously ambitious for her sons  and raised them to be leaders of the Mongol Empire, despite their alcoholic and fairly ineffectual father. Sorkhotanis political savvy was legendary; Rashid al-Din of Persia noted that she was extremely intelligent and able and towered above all the women in the world. With their mothers support and influence, Kublai and his brothers would go on to take control of the Mongol world from their uncles and cousins. Kublais brothers included Mongke, later also Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, and Hulagu, Khan of the Ilkhanate in the Middle East who crushed the Assassins but was fought to a standstill at Ayn Jalut by the Egyptian Mamluks. From an early age, Kublai proved adept at traditional Mongol pursuits. At 9, he had his first recorded hunting success and he would relish hunting for the rest of his life. He also excelled at conquest, the other Mongolian sport of the day. Gathering Power In 1236, Kublais uncle Ogedei Khan granted the young man a fiefdom of 10,000 households in Hebei Province, northern China. Kublai did not administer the region directly, allowing his Mongol agents a free hand. They imposed such high taxes on the Chinese peasants that many fled their land. At last, Kublai took a direct interest and halted abuses, so that the population grew once more. When Kublais brother Mongke became Great Khan in 1251, he named Kublai Viceroy of Northern China. Two years later, Kublai struck deep into southwest China, in what would be a three-year campaign to pacify Yunnan, the Sichuan region, and the Kingdom of Dali. In a sign of his growing attachment to China and Chinese customs, Kublai ordered his advisors to select a site for a new capital based on feng shui. They chose a spot on the frontier between Chinas agricultural lands and the Mongolian steppe; Kublais new northern capital was called Shang-tu (Upper Capital), which Europeans later interpreted as Xanadu. Kublai was at war in Sichuan once again in 1259, when he learned that his brother Mongke had died. Kublai did not immediately withdraw from Sichuan upon Mongke Khans death, leaving his younger brother Arik Boke time to gather troops and convene a kuriltai, or selecting council, in Karakhoram, the Mongol capital. The kuriltai named Arik Boke as the new Great Khan, but Kublai and his brother Hulagu disputed the result and held their own kuriltai, which named Kublai the Great Khan. This dispute touched off a civil war. Kublai, the Great Khan Kublais troops destroyed the Mongol capital at Karakhoram, but Arik Bokes army continued fighting. It was not until August 21, 1264, that Arik Boke finally surrendered to his older brother at Shang-tu. As Great Khan, Kublai Khan had direct control over the Mongol homeland and Mongol possessions in China. He was also the head of the larger Mongol Empire, with a measure of authority over the leaders of the Golden Horde in Russia, the Ilkhanates in the Middle East, and the other hordes. Although Kublai exerted power over much of Eurasia, opponents to Mongol rule still held out in nearby southern China. He needed to conquer this region once and for all and unite the land. Conquest of Song China In a program to win Chinese allegiance, Kublai Khan converted to Buddhism, moved his main capital from Shang-du to Dadu (modern-day Beijing), and named his dynasty in China Dai Yuan in 1271. Naturally, this prompted charges that he was abandoning his Mongol heritage and sparked riots in Karakhoram. Nevertheless, this tactic was successful. In 1276, most of the Song imperial family formally surrendered to Kublai Khan, yielding their royal seal to him, but this was not the end of resistance. Led by the Empress Dowager, loyalists continued to fight until 1279, when the Battle of Yamen marked the final conquest of Song China. As Mongol forces surrounded the palace, a Song official jumped into the ocean carrying the 8-year-old Chinese emperor, and both drowned. Kublai Khan as Yuan Emperor Kublai Khan came to power through strength of arms, but his reign also featured advancements in political organization and the arts and sciences. The first Yuan Emperor organized his bureaucracy based on the traditional Mongol ordu or court system, but also adopted many aspects of Chinese administrative practice. It was a shrewd decision since he had only tens of thousands of Mongols with him, and they had to rule millions of Chinese. Kublai Khan also employed large numbers of Chinese officials and advisors. New artistic styles flourished as Kublai Khan sponsored a melding of Chinese and Tibetan Buddhism. He also issued paper currency that was good throughout China and was backed by gold reserves. The emperor patronized astronomers and clockmakers  and hired a monk to create a written language for some of Western Chinas non-literate languages. Visit of Marco Polo From a European perspective, one of the most important events in Kublai Khans reign was the 20-year sojourn in China by Marco Polo, along with his father and uncle. To the Mongols, however, this interaction was simply an amusing footnote. Marcos father and uncle had previously visited Kublai Khan  and were returning in 1271 to deliver a letter from the Pope and some oil from Jerusalem to the Mongol ruler. The Venetian merchants brought along the 16-year-old Marco, who was gifted in languages. After an overland journey of three and a half years, the Polos reached Shang-du. Marco likely served as a court functionary of some sort. Although the family asked permission to return to Venice several times over the years, Kublai Khan denied their requests. Finally, in 1292, they were allowed to return along with the wedding cortege of a Mongol princess, who was sent to Persia to marry one of the Ilkhans. The wedding party sailed the Indian Ocean trade routes, a voyage that took two years and introduced Marco Polo to what is now Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and India. Marco Polos vivid descriptions of his Asian travels, as told to a friend, inspired many other Europeans to seek wealth and exotic experiences in the Far East. However, it is important not to overstate his influence; trade along the Silk Road was in full flow long before his travelogue was published. Kublai Khans Invasions and Blunders Although he ruled the worlds richest empire in Yuan China, as well as the second-largest land empire ever, Kublai Khan was not content. He grew obsessed with further conquest in East and Southeast Asia. Kublais land-based attacks on Burma, Annam (northern Vietnam), Sakhalin, and Champa (southern Vietnam) were all nominally successful. Each of these countries became tributary states of Yuan China, but the tribute they submitted did not even begin to pay for the cost of conquering them. Even more ill-advised were Kublai Khans sea-borne invasions of Japan in 1274 and 1281, as well as the 1293 invasion of Java (now in Indonesia). The defeats of these armadas seemed to some of Kublai Khans subjects as a sign that he had lost the Mandate of Heaven. Death In 1281, Kublai Khans favorite wife and close companion Chabi died. This sad event was followed in 1285 by the death of Zhenjin, the Great Khans oldest son and heir apparent. With these losses, the Kublai Khan began to withdraw from the  administration of his empire. Kublai Khan tried to drown his sorrow with alcohol and luxurious food. He grew quite obese and developed gout. After a long decline, he died on February 18, 1294. He was buried in secret burial grounds in Mongolia. Kublai Khans Legacy The Great Khan was succeeded by his grandson Temur Khan, the son of Zhenjin. Kublais daughter Khutugh-beki married King Chungnyeol of Goryeo and became Queen of Korea as well. In Europe, Khans empire prompted wild flights of fancy from the time of  Marco Polos  expedition. His name may be most remembered in western countries today from the poem Kubla Khan, written by Samuel Coleridge in 1797. More importantly, Kublai Khans reign had an enormous impact on Asian history. He is regarded as one of the greatest rulers in history. He had reunited China after centuries of division and strife and ruled with shrewdness. Although the Yuan Dynasty lasted only until 1368, it served as a precedent for the later ethnic-Manchu Qing Dynasty. Sources Polo, Marco, Hugh Murray Giovanni Battista Baldelli Boni. The Travels of Marco Polo, New York: Harper Brothers, 1845.Rossabi, Morris. Khubilai Khan: His Life and Times, Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988.

The Many Meanings of the French Subject Pronoun On

The Many Meanings of the French Subject Pronoun On More often than not, the modern uses of the French subject pronoun â€Å"on† is a mystery to students of French. Traditional methods teach that â€Å"on† means â€Å"one†. But in today’s French, â€Å"on† is mostly used instead of â€Å"we†. Actually, â€Å"we† is becoming more and more formal, used mostly for writing. When speaking, we use â€Å"on†. Here is how â€Å"on† works 1. On = 3rd person singular verb (ilverb form) The first thing to understand when it comes to â€Å"on†, is that no matter its meaning, â€Å"on† will ALWAYS take a 3rd person singular verb form, like â€Å"il† and â€Å"elle†. On doit, on a, on peut... We must, we have, we can... 2. On = one, people (you) This is the old explanation for â€Å"on†. Honestly, how often do you use the English â€Å"one† in a sentence? So â€Å"on† is the â€Å"impersonal, the unspecific† subject pronoun, but watch out! It’s not at all the same thing as â€Å"it† in English, which refers to a thing or an animal. â€Å"On† always refers to a person. On doit bien chercher - One has to look carefullyOn peut louer une voiture - it’s possible to rent a car In this meaning, you could also translate â€Å"on† as â€Å"people†, or even â€Å"you† - not meaning â€Å"you† in particular, but an unspecific â€Å"you†... that would be a bit more modern than â€Å"one†! En geÃŒ neÃŒ ral, quand on a des enfants, on a une voiture - in general, when people/you have children, people/you have a car. 3. On = we in spoken French Watch out though! When on means we, the verb is still an â€Å"il† form, not a â€Å"nous† form. Olivier et moi, on est contents - Olivier and I, we are happy NOT Olivier et moi on sommes contents. On est, never on sommes. Using on to say we is the most common way of saying â€Å"we† in French nowadays. I use it all the time, so do my parents, so it’s very, very much used this way. â€Å"Nous† is more formal, used in writing or in a formal context. But dont get me wrong, nous is very used as well, and you still need to learn to conjugate the nous verb form! 4. On and the adjective agreements When â€Å"on† means â€Å"we†, the adjective, if any, will agree in number and gender with the true meaning of â€Å"on†: so it will be plural for sure, feminine or masculine. On est contents - we are happyOn n’est pas treÌ€s sportifs - we are not very sporty When â€Å"on† means â€Å"one, you, people†, or an unspecific person, it’s usually masculine singular. Quand on est sportif, on est pas fatigueÃŒ  - when you are sporty, you are not tired. But you have to be smart, and stay focused on the context. Sometime, this unspecific person could only be feminine... Quand on est enceinte, on est fatigueÃŒ e - when you are pregnant, you are tired How To Train to Understand On? If you are serious about learning French, I strongly suggest you find a good French learning audio method. Written French and spoken French are like two different languages, and you need audio - and someone who can not only list the grammar points but explain them well - to conquer French. I suggest you take a look at  my own French learning method  as well as my article on the  Best French tools for the self-learning student. For more about French subject pronouns, I suggest you read my lessons: - introduction to French subject pronouns which will answer questions such as what is a subject pronoun, how to figure out the subject in French? What does the first person plural mean? and other useful information for you to understand the grammatical jargon French books and teachers use. - Singular French subject pronouns for a detailed study of je, tu, il and elle. -  Plural French subject pronouns for a detailed study of nous, vous, ils and elles. I post exclusive mini lessons, tips, pictures and more daily on my Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest  pages - so join me there! https://www.facebook.com/frenchtoday https://twitter.com/frenchtoday https://www.pinterest.com/frenchtoday/

How to implement a dual language program in an already established Dissertation

How to implement a dual language program in an already established elementary school - Dissertation Example From this research it is clear that language is one of the most important skills a person can have; it is a comprehensive and powerful human ability. It is a means of communication; a system through which people express themselves, think, act collaboratively and above all language is also a means to record events. In short, language is a skill that is as important and as natural as breathing. Pinker has aptly described language as â€Å"quintessentially human†. A person however is not born speaking a language; it is learned and the learning process starts at the time of birth. In light of the work done by linguist Noam Chomsky, Mason states language to be a â€Å"specific skill†. Elaborating on Chomsky’s description of language as an inherent faculty, Mason in his lecture â€Å"Learning Language† said that man was born with a set of rules related to language in his head and he called these set of rules â€Å"Universal Grammar†. Children show a natur al tendency towards language acquisition. Language acquisition occurs through the numerous experiences of everyday life. Acquiring language without any systematic effort is called first language acquisition. Language acquisition takes place during conversation; when adults talk, children respond and thus grasp the basics of a language being spoken. The pattern of interaction between parents and children may differ with cultures but the rate at which the children develop as language users remains the same throughout the world. (Clark, 2000). Children learn the language they are exposed to (Linguistics 201: First language acquisition, undated). Every child learns the first language without the need of any formal lessons (Pinker, 1995). Clark has described language acquisition among children as a part of the overall physical, social and cognitive development of a child. In Clark’s opinion, children between ages 2 and 6 can rapidly acquire a language and mostly by the time they t urn 6, they are proficient language users. Although a lot has been said and written about the development of language in a child, a great deal remains to be explored. The language of a child is a constantly developing process which undergoes many changes. The children seem to acquire the first language quickly, early and with few mistakes. A child’s experience with language and his interaction with others teach him the sound-meaning relationship and help him comprehend the purpose it represents. Although, the rate at which children acquire first language skills may differ, there is little difference in the pattern of development between the languages (August and Shanahan, 2011, p. 357). According to Clark children acquire communicative competency naturally and inherently, and then develop an understanding of the grammatical rules of the language. The structure of the language develops with thinking abilities and social interactions of the child. As the language skills develop , children become conscious of the social situations around them and learn to think and behave accordingly. Second Language Acquisition Stephen Krashen a well known linguist identified the difference between learning and acquisition (Luria et al, 2005, p. 8). In his theory of the second language acquisition, Krashen defined acquisition as a subconscious and instinctive process of constructing the structure of a language quite similar to the way a child picks up his first language (Macaro, 2010, p. 5). Learning on the other hand, is a conscious process based on formal instruction and involves conscious learning of a language. Krashen has described learning as â€Å"less important than acquisition† (Schutz, 2007). Second language acquisition is the learning of another language once the first language has been established. The concept of acquiring proficiency in another language is not new; for centuries, man has found the idea of bilingualism/ multilingualism quite fascinating