Pamela is a
really bad poet when it
comes to forced haikus.
_______________________
I'm sorry Maslow,
There is no room for sex here;
a management class.
_______________________
I will disagree
With Maslow's structure of needs;
Sleep is for sissies.
_______________________
With all needs fulfilled,
I can then find my true self,
To begin once more.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
To blog or not to blog?...That is the question.
I was actually really excited about the idea of blogging about what we learn in management class. I heard of classes that did this (creative writing and literature courses) and I wished business classes were more fun and interactive. I was good with posting and responding to other blogs at first. It taught me that there were other people out there who felt the same way as I did about not only management but other topics like culture and ethics.
Having to write about some class activities of discussion allowed me to reflect on the actual lesson learned. Sometimes lectures seem pretty pointless unless you actually THINK about what you just heard or learned or experienced. I'd find myself writing WAY more than what I should really post, way more than what the professor will bother to really read afterwards.
Also, having the blog become a bigger part than what most people would have it believe it is, did not really help in motivation with the class. I react awfully to anxiety and late deadlines, and knowing that I was late in something so important usually causes me to avoid it even more. After experiencing major surgery and having my gall bladder removed, depression kept me from even opening my computer. I didn't even want to go on Facebook!
Besides the e-mails I had sent to my professors letting them know why I would be absent in the next couple of weeks, I stayed away from the computer and books for a while. This was not only due to my disinterest in studying at the time and growing anxiety that I was missing classes that required interactive learning (such as my management class), but also because I couldn't comfortably lift anything, not even a book, until a week and half after surgery.
Having missed about two weeks worth of class, I was highly unmotivated to write on the blog, since I didn't feel like I had much to write about. The blog was usually a reflection of what I learned in class and I had not learned anything in three weeks (this in including spring break, though).
I wish people had written more about things that weren't necessarily assignments, but at least somewhat management related. I remember having written about a funny (and perhaps fake) letter to the manager of Always sanitary pads. I might continue to write on this blogs about things related to management, or perhaps other business fields like marketing or accounting (snoozefest!). I mean, I AM in a business school. I'm going to continue to encounter news and topics like these every day from now on. Let's just hope they are interesting enough for people to want to read them.
Having to write about some class activities of discussion allowed me to reflect on the actual lesson learned. Sometimes lectures seem pretty pointless unless you actually THINK about what you just heard or learned or experienced. I'd find myself writing WAY more than what I should really post, way more than what the professor will bother to really read afterwards.
Also, having the blog become a bigger part than what most people would have it believe it is, did not really help in motivation with the class. I react awfully to anxiety and late deadlines, and knowing that I was late in something so important usually causes me to avoid it even more. After experiencing major surgery and having my gall bladder removed, depression kept me from even opening my computer. I didn't even want to go on Facebook!
Besides the e-mails I had sent to my professors letting them know why I would be absent in the next couple of weeks, I stayed away from the computer and books for a while. This was not only due to my disinterest in studying at the time and growing anxiety that I was missing classes that required interactive learning (such as my management class), but also because I couldn't comfortably lift anything, not even a book, until a week and half after surgery.
Having missed about two weeks worth of class, I was highly unmotivated to write on the blog, since I didn't feel like I had much to write about. The blog was usually a reflection of what I learned in class and I had not learned anything in three weeks (this in including spring break, though).
I wish people had written more about things that weren't necessarily assignments, but at least somewhat management related. I remember having written about a funny (and perhaps fake) letter to the manager of Always sanitary pads. I might continue to write on this blogs about things related to management, or perhaps other business fields like marketing or accounting (snoozefest!). I mean, I AM in a business school. I'm going to continue to encounter news and topics like these every day from now on. Let's just hope they are interesting enough for people to want to read them.
There's no right or wrong answer on this test...is there?
While taking the leadership/management diagnostic in class, I was wondering if I was answering all the questions correctly or at least giving the answer closest to what I wish I could've been an option. I scored equally high on C and I, Conscientiousness and Influence, and scored second highest on D, Dominance. When having to pick one high score, Professor Kurpis believed C (conscientiousness) was my most accurate quality. I guess when it comes to my personal life, I'm more of an I (Influence) personality type: political, enthusiastic, persuasive, trusting and optimistic. However, when it comes to management, of work and academics, I'm definitely more of a C (conscientiousness) type personality. I have a tendency to be very careful with my work. I like to take my time when doing work, that way I can get it right the first time, which sometimes is a problem because it is likely to slow me down when it comes to finishing things. I'm a neat freak when it comes to handing in papers or keeping clean notes. I have my own system of studying. I love classes with professors that follow a detailed syllabus and don't mind changes in a syllabus as long as its announced to the class and not some secret, spontaneous change that will ultimately benefit nobody. I also like to know the reason behind the things that I am told to do. For example, when my parents would tell me I was not allowed to eat the entire bag of oreo cookies. I always got "Because I said so!". If I had been told exactly why I couldn't eat all of it, I would've known it was because all that garbage for food makes you sick to your stomach, and I could've avoided a serious stomach pain.
I wish I could've been a D (Dominance) personality type. I'm glad that D was at least my second highest scoring type. I think I could learn to become a type D personality. Perhaps I would turn into a D if it was needed of me to become that personality or possess some of those traits in order to succeed in my environment. I believe this assessment proved to work accurately on several people in class. However, there's always a problem when it comes to assessing someone through these type of tests. Lets say a manager does not hire someone because they scored highest in a personality type that they did not need or want for the position. They might be missing the bigger picture! A person should not be constricted to the options they are given on a test to determine who they are. What if you actually meet the person and they appear to be completely different than what the test determined? Also, assessing someone's preferences through a test is not as accurate as assessing them in person. Even if you do hire that person, their working characteristics might prove to be completely off with what the system had diagnosed them to be. A manager sets standards in their mind about the employee and can be disappointed if the standards do not match his or her behavior. I would not use this in other personal interactions. As right as it was in class with several cases, it seems to me that it would not apply all the time.
I wish I could've been a D (Dominance) personality type. I'm glad that D was at least my second highest scoring type. I think I could learn to become a type D personality. Perhaps I would turn into a D if it was needed of me to become that personality or possess some of those traits in order to succeed in my environment. I believe this assessment proved to work accurately on several people in class. However, there's always a problem when it comes to assessing someone through these type of tests. Lets say a manager does not hire someone because they scored highest in a personality type that they did not need or want for the position. They might be missing the bigger picture! A person should not be constricted to the options they are given on a test to determine who they are. What if you actually meet the person and they appear to be completely different than what the test determined? Also, assessing someone's preferences through a test is not as accurate as assessing them in person. Even if you do hire that person, their working characteristics might prove to be completely off with what the system had diagnosed them to be. A manager sets standards in their mind about the employee and can be disappointed if the standards do not match his or her behavior. I would not use this in other personal interactions. As right as it was in class with several cases, it seems to me that it would not apply all the time.
Quit daydreaming and DO SOMETHING!
I guess by now I could officially claim daydreaming to be a hobby of mine. I have many goals I'd like to accomplish in the future, and daydreaming is usually my way of planning and motivating myself all at the same time. My parents never really believed me to be much of a business person, so I never dreamed of even majoring in anything business related. Nevertheless, here I am, in a business school, working towards my marketing degree and hoping to graduate on time (fingers crossed). Many of my hobbies after this new turn of direction became more business related, however, these also go hand-in-hand with personal goals i'd like to accomplish.
For example, owning my own business. My grandmother supported five children through her many small businesses selling miscellaneous items, from food and medicine, to "potions" and used clothing. My parents supported three children through the money they made owning both a successful paint shop and a jewelry store. My sister started selling homemade brownies at the age of thirteen in her school in Ecuador and has now pursued a more corporate take in business, recently finishing her master degree in marketing. I guess it's the influence my family has had on me that has led me to wanting the things I want today. I never thought of owning my own business until I realized it wasn't impossible. I have never sold anything in my life, but who said I wouldn't be any good at it if I did? Actually, my father did. He once said I didn't have what it takes to be a successful business woman, good salesmanship, a motivation to earn money, a strong drive for success like greed. However, this new possibility of owning a business suddenly seemed like a better way of applying one of my life passions: helping other people.
I always thought in order to help other people, I had to become a teacher. My grandmother was a teacher and my mother is a teacher as well. However, they both always me discouraged me to become one due to the unfair pay teachers receive in both Ecuador and the U.S. Everything always came down to one thing: money. If there was enough money, people would receive better health care. If there was enough money, all kids would receive a proper education. If there was enough money, I would be able to follow the career I really wanted. Sadly, there's never enough money to do any of those things for most of us. Having lived in a third world country, I've witnessed too many people suffer in poverty due to another person's greed. This doesn't mean I'm dissing money or anything. However, can greed be used towards a better cause?
I looked up the definition of greed and an antonym appeared to be generosity. Now, couldn't greed be used for generosity? I guess that's what people call social corporate responsibility nowadays. My goal is to provide orphan children in third world countries (starting with my home country) a place to get educated and learn the necessary skills to succeed in the world. I've heard of a man who worked as a taxi driver in New York who bought a big house in his home country and began to open his doors to orphan children everywhere. When the number of children grew substantially, he would go back to the U.S and work until he had enough money to bring back to the "orphanage". He provided them with food, shelter, beds, and even education from teachers who volunteered their help. My vision is along the same guidelines, except more stable and reliable through donations and funding of large companies that are committed to helping this cause. It would ease the financial worries of keeping up the place (in comparison to funding it all through my personal income the entire time) and would allow me to devote more time to the lower level operations of the organization and actual orphanage.
Many children are abandoned because their parents are unable to care for them financially. I met two of these kids when I was thirteen on a family vacation back in Salinas, Ecuador. My family would usually bring along old clothes or things we no longer used or needed and donated them in our home country. This time, I had brought some old barbie dolls, a few teddy bears, and old happy meal toys I was too old to play with. I was sitting in front of my house with my father when suddenly he calls over two random kids playing around the local dump, a little boy and his older sister, over to us to give them the gifts. When they came over, I handed a doll to the girl and a few toys to the little brother. We all started talking and we asked them to tell all their friends that I had more toys to give out. Out of curiosity, I asked the girl where they lived. The little boy shrugged and she said they used to live a few towns away. That's when my dad headed to the house to grab the bag of toys and gave it all to them and told them to take it to their other friends. My father later explained to me their real situation, orphaned kids just looking to survive.
There is a point to my long story. There are three things I long to achieve:
1) To be acknowledged by my family for all the potential and ambition that I have.
2) To help others help themselves: not as charity but as the support they need to show the world THEIR potential and THEIR ambition.
3) To show the world that a business person doesn't have to be soul-less to succeed. That the trickle-down effect is not the only benefit the poor retrieve from the workings of capitalism. To be proof that ambition and hunger for money doesn't have to translate to another person's misery and misfortune.
For example, owning my own business. My grandmother supported five children through her many small businesses selling miscellaneous items, from food and medicine, to "potions" and used clothing. My parents supported three children through the money they made owning both a successful paint shop and a jewelry store. My sister started selling homemade brownies at the age of thirteen in her school in Ecuador and has now pursued a more corporate take in business, recently finishing her master degree in marketing. I guess it's the influence my family has had on me that has led me to wanting the things I want today. I never thought of owning my own business until I realized it wasn't impossible. I have never sold anything in my life, but who said I wouldn't be any good at it if I did? Actually, my father did. He once said I didn't have what it takes to be a successful business woman, good salesmanship, a motivation to earn money, a strong drive for success like greed. However, this new possibility of owning a business suddenly seemed like a better way of applying one of my life passions: helping other people.
I always thought in order to help other people, I had to become a teacher. My grandmother was a teacher and my mother is a teacher as well. However, they both always me discouraged me to become one due to the unfair pay teachers receive in both Ecuador and the U.S. Everything always came down to one thing: money. If there was enough money, people would receive better health care. If there was enough money, all kids would receive a proper education. If there was enough money, I would be able to follow the career I really wanted. Sadly, there's never enough money to do any of those things for most of us. Having lived in a third world country, I've witnessed too many people suffer in poverty due to another person's greed. This doesn't mean I'm dissing money or anything. However, can greed be used towards a better cause?
I looked up the definition of greed and an antonym appeared to be generosity. Now, couldn't greed be used for generosity? I guess that's what people call social corporate responsibility nowadays. My goal is to provide orphan children in third world countries (starting with my home country) a place to get educated and learn the necessary skills to succeed in the world. I've heard of a man who worked as a taxi driver in New York who bought a big house in his home country and began to open his doors to orphan children everywhere. When the number of children grew substantially, he would go back to the U.S and work until he had enough money to bring back to the "orphanage". He provided them with food, shelter, beds, and even education from teachers who volunteered their help. My vision is along the same guidelines, except more stable and reliable through donations and funding of large companies that are committed to helping this cause. It would ease the financial worries of keeping up the place (in comparison to funding it all through my personal income the entire time) and would allow me to devote more time to the lower level operations of the organization and actual orphanage.
Many children are abandoned because their parents are unable to care for them financially. I met two of these kids when I was thirteen on a family vacation back in Salinas, Ecuador. My family would usually bring along old clothes or things we no longer used or needed and donated them in our home country. This time, I had brought some old barbie dolls, a few teddy bears, and old happy meal toys I was too old to play with. I was sitting in front of my house with my father when suddenly he calls over two random kids playing around the local dump, a little boy and his older sister, over to us to give them the gifts. When they came over, I handed a doll to the girl and a few toys to the little brother. We all started talking and we asked them to tell all their friends that I had more toys to give out. Out of curiosity, I asked the girl where they lived. The little boy shrugged and she said they used to live a few towns away. That's when my dad headed to the house to grab the bag of toys and gave it all to them and told them to take it to their other friends. My father later explained to me their real situation, orphaned kids just looking to survive.
There is a point to my long story. There are three things I long to achieve:
1) To be acknowledged by my family for all the potential and ambition that I have.
2) To help others help themselves: not as charity but as the support they need to show the world THEIR potential and THEIR ambition.
3) To show the world that a business person doesn't have to be soul-less to succeed. That the trickle-down effect is not the only benefit the poor retrieve from the workings of capitalism. To be proof that ambition and hunger for money doesn't have to translate to another person's misery and misfortune.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Extra Credit Assignment: McDonald's, I'm not loving it. Maybe I could learn to like it?
In completing this assignment, I prepared in the steps I would take when I got to the McDonald’s restaurant. First, I wrote down the order myself on an index card in case I forgot the specific details. I had tried this once before at another McDonald’s in Staten Island on a friday night when all the high school kids roam around the mall doing absolutely nothing for hours and then invade the food court. It was ridiculously packed with people and it was also my first time going to this McDonald’s. There were only two registers open and five people working in the back. When I gave the girl at the register my order, she started punching in buttons and then told me how much was due. I thought, wait a minute--that was too quick, so I repeated my order to her to make sure she got it right and she nodded mindlessly. I still thought that was too easy. I thought this was going to take several tries and I’d have to go to at least another McDonald’s restaurant. Since it was packed, I thought I’d wait ten minutes before I approached them again to see if they had gotten my order. When I did, it turned out they had my order done all along and had completely forgotten. I complained to the employee that handed me my order, but he simply shrugged and muttered something under his breath that sounded like I don’t know. Then I asked if I could speak to the manager and he said he’d go look for him. I still don’t know if he ever found him because after waiting for fifteen more minutes, I left. It shouldn’t have taken half an hour to mess up my order and fail to give me proper customer service. That failed attempt at my special order discouraged me to get it done in time for the ten extra credit points. I was not loving it.
I tried again this afternoon at the McDonald’s on 33rd street and 3rd avenue. I brought my index card with me and thought perhaps this time I would show them the index card with the details on it, that way they’d have no excuse to mess it up (not that the previous employee had an excuse to ignore my detail order). When I got there, there weren’t too many people sitting down to eat and one person ahead of me in line to order. When my turn came, the lady behind the registered asked to take my order, which is when I took a deep breath and recited the order. She went on to punch in numbers, which is when I repeated the order twice. That’s when she finally looked up and gave me a puzzled look. I continued to explain to her that I needed these exact order details to be printed on the receipt. Her puzzled look did not disappear but she continued to keep working at it. I handed her my index card with the detailed order and asked if it could be done and if it couldn’t then I wouldn’t be placing the order. She said she could do it. She was punching in the order when suddenly she asked the girl at the register next to her for help because she couldn’t find the well-done button. The more experienced employee proceeded to help her complete the order. She turned to a worker in the back preparing the food and explained the order I was making in spanish, emphasizing the fact that that was the exact order I had described, in a tone that said “Hey! I don’t know why she wants so many pickles, but just do it, man”. After I received my receipt, I continued to wait about three minutes until I got my order. I checked that my order was correct, four disgusting pickles on the pathetic little burger, and tasted one fry to check its salt content and how fried it was. It was all in order. I don’t eat McDonald’s so I ended up giving my friend the order when I came back to the vertical campus.
I was so relieved that this attempt went well, even more glad that I did not have to ask to speak to the manager. I did not feel that there was no attitude coming from anywhere behind the register. I’m surprised she didn’t just give up on my ridiculous order and instead she asked for help from one of her employees, who was at the moment taking care of another customer. I’ve been to enough fast food restaurants to say that it doesn’t usually happen that way, even when the order is as simple as “Can I have the number value meal?”. On top of it all, the entire process of ordering my meal and getting it took an estimate of about six minutes maximum, which is considerably less than my previous effort to complete this management experiment, and how long it usually takes to get an order, even in a “fast food” restaurant. If I were brought in to McDonald’s as a consultant to help them improve their efficiency, I would stress the importance of absolute and thorough training. I understand that not all, but most people that work in fast food restaurants don’t usually work there very long therefore spending more on training turns out too costly for the company. However, adequate training can come a long way. Customer service is essential for the success and growth of a business. It increases customer loyalty, which fundamentally means a higher customer retention rate with less spending in a different cost component such as marketing and promotion, which often results to be a very expensive growth strategy.
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