Interview with the Luddite :: Lunsford Interveiw Luditte Essays

Interview with the Luddite In Andrea Lunsford's introduction she gives a brief background on both Kelly and his interviewee, Kirkpatrick Sale. From her descriptions it is very clear on how different the beliefs of these two men are from each other. Lunsford seems to be fascinated by how the interviews in Wired magazine, which she sort of reluctantly subscribes to, have all ended up in a debate or argument. And the one "which you are about to read,["Interview with the Luddite"] is no exception," she says(243). In this paper I will discuss the different claims of each of the two men and weigh them against each other for validity and persuasiveness. While reading "Interview with the Luddite" by Kevin Kelly I immediately sensed a feeling of sarcasm on Kelly's part. From the title alone I could tell that Kelly was either not looking forward to the interview, or he just could not wait until he could sit down with this guy and pick him apart. He uses the term "the Luddite" in such a generalized sense that it almost makes the interviewee sound so unimportant as a person. Since there is more than one Luddite on the planet he could have used the word "a" instead of "the" when referring to this person he was about to interview. The very first question Kelly asks Sale is an accusation and comes across very harshly to the reader. He asks, "Other than arson and a lot of vandalism, what did the Luddites accomplish in the long run?"(243). After reading this first question, I felt a little sorry for Sale, and I was mad at Kelly for asking such an abrupt question. But my sympathy soon ended when Kelly continued on in the interview. Sale proudly explains and defends the beliefs of his group, the Luddites. But it is clear that Kelly has a strong opposing opinion. He immediately wants to weaken the character of Sale so that the reader is liable to side more with Kelly, himself. This is a very effective strategy on Kelly's part because I found myself agreeing with him more than I did with Sale. When Kelly asked if Sale considered himself a modern-day Luddite, Sale said yes. Sale argues that this is so in the sense that the Luddites of today had not resorted to destroying property, but used books and voices to help raise the consciousness that technology is bad.

Managing Diversity Essay -- Ethnicity Racial Races Papers

Managing Diversity As we enter the new millenium, diversity in the workforce is rapidly increasing. Businesses and organizations are living up to the great melting pot image the United States has always been popular for. Employees now reflect a diversity of cultural perspectives, ethnic backgrounds, ages, genders, physical abilities, and levels of education. This wave of multiculturalism is here to stay and cannot be ignored. It is in need of attention in order to uphold the well-being and success of businesses and organizations all over the country. One way to face this wave of diversity is to learn to accept and value it (http://www.online.wbc.org/Docs/starting/diversity.html). What is diversity? Why does it matter? Once this is accomplished, the next step would be to learn how to manage diversity in the workplace. What kind of environment would managers have to create to educate employees about cultural diversity (http://mason.gmu.edu/~Isamuel/diverse.htm). In addition, an efficient manager would assess how well the environment that he/she has created is working (http://www.communitypolicing.org/exchange/e16_97/e16glosr.htm) What makes a good trainer? What are some common mistakes that a trainer could make? What is diversity? There are several definitions of diversity that exists in literature. Some definitions range from narrow to very broad. Those that are narrow tend to reflect the laws of affirmative action and equal employment opportunities such as race, gender, ethnicity, age, national origin, religion, and disability. Broad definitions tend to include sexual preference and orientation, values, education, language, economic status, marital status, lifestyle, and beliefs (7). One example defines diversity as a... ... of Managing Diversity," The Best of the Bureaucrat (Winter 1991- 2) : 41-44. 2. Andy Ferguson, "A White Man's View on Diversity," The Public Manager (Spring 1997) : 52-54. 3. Matti Dobbs and Oliver Brown, "A Vital Link: The Supervisor's Role in Managing Diversity," The Public Manager (Summer 1997) : 53-56. 4. Audrey Mathews, "Diversity: A Principle of Human Resource Management," Public Personnel Management (Summer 1998) 27 vols. No. 2 : 175-184. 5. Matti F. Dobbs, "Managing Diversity: The Department of Energy Initiative," PublicPersonnel Management (Summer 1998) 27 vols. No. 2 : 161-173. 6. James D. Slack., "From Affirmative Action to Full Spectrum Diversity in the American Workplace," Rev. of Public Personnel Administration (Fall 1997) : 75- 87. 7. Rosemary Wentling, "Diversity Training in the Workplace," http://nerve.berkeley.edu/CW73/WIPIL.html Managing Diversity Essay -- Ethnicity Racial Races Papers Managing Diversity As we enter the new millenium, diversity in the workforce is rapidly increasing. Businesses and organizations are living up to the great melting pot image the United States has always been popular for. Employees now reflect a diversity of cultural perspectives, ethnic backgrounds, ages, genders, physical abilities, and levels of education. This wave of multiculturalism is here to stay and cannot be ignored. It is in need of attention in order to uphold the well-being and success of businesses and organizations all over the country. One way to face this wave of diversity is to learn to accept and value it (http://www.online.wbc.org/Docs/starting/diversity.html). What is diversity? Why does it matter? Once this is accomplished, the next step would be to learn how to manage diversity in the workplace. What kind of environment would managers have to create to educate employees about cultural diversity (http://mason.gmu.edu/~Isamuel/diverse.htm). In addition, an efficient manager would assess how well the environment that he/she has created is working (http://www.communitypolicing.org/exchange/e16_97/e16glosr.htm) What makes a good trainer? What are some common mistakes that a trainer could make? What is diversity? There are several definitions of diversity that exists in literature. Some definitions range from narrow to very broad. Those that are narrow tend to reflect the laws of affirmative action and equal employment opportunities such as race, gender, ethnicity, age, national origin, religion, and disability. Broad definitions tend to include sexual preference and orientation, values, education, language, economic status, marital status, lifestyle, and beliefs (7). One example defines diversity as a... ... of Managing Diversity," The Best of the Bureaucrat (Winter 1991- 2) : 41-44. 2. Andy Ferguson, "A White Man's View on Diversity," The Public Manager (Spring 1997) : 52-54. 3. Matti Dobbs and Oliver Brown, "A Vital Link: The Supervisor's Role in Managing Diversity," The Public Manager (Summer 1997) : 53-56. 4. Audrey Mathews, "Diversity: A Principle of Human Resource Management," Public Personnel Management (Summer 1998) 27 vols. No. 2 : 175-184. 5. Matti F. Dobbs, "Managing Diversity: The Department of Energy Initiative," PublicPersonnel Management (Summer 1998) 27 vols. No. 2 : 161-173. 6. James D. Slack., "From Affirmative Action to Full Spectrum Diversity in the American Workplace," Rev. of Public Personnel Administration (Fall 1997) : 75- 87. 7. Rosemary Wentling, "Diversity Training in the Workplace," http://nerve.berkeley.edu/CW73/WIPIL.html

NIKE and Child Labor Essay examples -- Business Management

NIKE and Child Labor Nike Company started in 1984, in Portland Oregon by Tinker Hatfield, a former pole-vaulter and architect. Hatfield worked his way into the shoe industry. He got his idea from Converse’s in the early 1970’s slogan, Limousines for the Feet. In Hatfield believe our culture have a lot of interest in shoes, just as much as our culture back in the 1950’s were interested in owning cars. They began introducing their Nike shoes and products to the society by images of people and things like the production of the Nike Air Jordan. This product was named after Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan is the best basketball player and biggest star at that time. In advertisement, Michael Jordan would show us a quick lay up to the goal or a fast break away from an opponent while wearing the Air Jordan. This high top basketball shoe gave an image of speed and quick moves to a younger group of viewers. With this in mind, Hatfield and associates learned that a product had to be able to have implied performance. Know Nike is doing well in the United States. The minute the market accepted their products they started looking for alternative to minimize their cost and to increase their profit. A lot of reason caused that to happen, one of them the labor cost over here in the U.S, is higher than it is in the other countries like (China, Indonesia, Vietnam†¦etc). An estimated 200 million Children around the world go to work every day. Their ages ranges between 5 and 17 years. According to the International Labor Organization, nearly 171 million children are engaged in unsafe work environment, of which 111 million are younger than 15. Some 8.4 million children are trapped in the worst forms of child labor, including slavery, t... ...ause of the cheep labor and the benefit that heir companies gain in term of profit for example the shoes cost them in labor about $1.90 a day to produce, but on the other hand it will cost them about $6.35 an hour in the US. Therefore children are trapped going to work because governments and international agencies do not put enough priority into education and because globalization without a social dimension allows crooked employers to profit from exploiting children. In my opinion I think that the International Labor Organization, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), and WTO (World Trade Organization) should work hand to hand to create and in force soon kind of rules to protect these kids from this kind of iron grip. References: 1. http://www.aflcio.org/issuespolitics/globaleconomy/children.cfm 2. http://www.american.edu/TED/nike.htm.

A Most Ambitious Experiment

Reading Log Title: A Most Ambitious Experiment Author: Mike Krath Length: 5 pages Plot – What is the short story about? Message? Hidden messages? It’s about a man named Robert who travels 20 years ahead in time to find out if he had invested his money well. He tells his wife he’ll be back in five minutes, but instead she waits for 20 years for his return. When he comes back he finds out his wife had spent all the money. He travels back in time to make sure she cannot do that again, and eventually kills her in order to check on his investment in the future and then return back five minutes before the murder. However, the future Robert kills the old Robert as soon as he arrives. Describe the setting (where does the story take place? ). Some short stories are written to highlight a special place (e. g. a city) or a special period of time (e. g. the time after the Second World War). The setting can also involve a limited group of people (social class, students etc. ). The story is set in the house of Robert and his wife. Robert goes down the basement every time he makes a time travel while his wife is waiting for him in their home, startling her when he shows up in their home 20 years later. Who is telling the story? (Who is the narrator? ) Perhaps the author has chosen a particular person to tell the story. Why? The main characters are Robert and his wife. The story is told from a third-person perspective and focus mostly on Robert’s wife as she’s is waiting for him, thinking he abandoned her. She even contacts the authorities to search for him, but after a few months the shut down the case and she legally declares him dead in order to get hold of the money he put away in a fund. What is the author’s message to the reader? Why was the story written? What is the overall meaning of the story? ) Has the story affected you? In what way(s)? I don’t know if there’s a real message behind this story. It describes much of the wife’s feelings towards Robert, as she first is worried that something had happened to him, then thinking he had abandoned her. Over the years she grows bitter and spiteful against him. Robert doesn’t seem to realize he has made her wait for 20 years and becomes angry when he finds out she spent the money. He’s also shown to take very big risks just to find out how the funds are working out: He isn’t sure of the outcome of the experiment and displays no hesitation when he kills his wife, thinking he will travel back in time before he could do that. However his plan backfires and he’s killed by his future self. Rating – give the short story a grade from 1-5 and motivate the grade, why was it good or bad? I’d give this story a rating of three. It isn’t badly written, but the story isn’t very engaging. The author could have described in more detail the feelings of the wife, or went more in-depth with Robert and the description of his character and motivations. I like the time-travelling theme and the ending, which is somewhat humorous although tragic. Vocabulary – pick five words from one or several short stories and explain them in English. 1. scowl – frown, bitter expression 2. muddled – â€Å"her mind was muddled†, i. e. â€Å"she was confused† 3. ambitious – desire for success and achievment 4. grubby – dirty or filthy 5. inquire – investigate, inspect

Of Mice and Men †5 Diary Entries Essay

We travelled from Weed today. God damn bus driver dropped us off ‘least 10 miles from the ranch and told me it was just down the road. God if I see that damn driver I’d break his neck. Me and Lennie found a nice place to sleep for the night. If Lennie hadn’t been so God damn stupid we’d still be up in Weed rollin in the cash but Lennie had to do somethin’ wrong didn’t he, dumb bastard, jst like he always does. Every thing was goin; O.K in Weed and I’ll be damned if we can find a better place than that to work at. I sure hope Lennie don’t go grabbin’ no other girls just to feel a damn dress. I’ll never be able to fix up a stake if that dumb bastard stays dumb forever. I love Lennie but it’s hard movin’ from ranch to ranch with him there all the time. I’ve told him if he gets in any more trouble to come back to this very spot in the brush. Lennie sure is stupid, earlier he was carrying a dead mouse just to pet it. I dont know what i’m gonna do with him every time he gets upset I have to tell him that dumb story about the house where we will have rabbits and an alfalfa patch and he can pet the stupid rabbits. Who knows maybe one day that dream might come true but I don see that day coming soon. Diary Entry 2 Me and Lennie met a few people today. There was this old guy called candy and he’s got a stinkin’ old dog. He’s quit a nice fella though he told me about Curley and his wife. I met Curley just a bit after that convisation with Candy, he came in asking for his wife. He had a go at Lennie for no god damn reason at all. Candy reckons it’s just coz Lennie’s bigger than him. Curly’s one of those small guys who hates big guys, but he better not pick on Lennie coz Lennie may be dumb but hell he’s strong as a bull Earlier I was angry with Lennie coz he spoke infront of the boss when i told him not to.I had to tell the boss a few lies because he realised that Lennie was dumb and the boss wanted to know if I was hangin’ round with him to take his pay check off him at the end of the month.I told him that me and Lennie were cousins so tha is why we hung round together, good job that ain’t true coz if I was any relation to Lennie i’d kill myself. I met a real nice guy today called slim. He introduced me to everyone workin’ at the ranch and he thought it was good to see two guys like me and Lennie hangin’ round together coz he said that you don’t often see two guys hangin’round together. Although I’m gettin’ on O.K at the ranch with all the other guys and stuff, I cant help thinkin’ about the chance of Lennie and Curley gettin’ into a fight coz Curley was real mean to Lennie earlier. If Curley tries to start a fight with Lennie then Lennie gonna have to smash him back. I know that Lennie would never mean to cause any trouble but if Curley starts i’m gonna let Lennie fight back coz guys like Curley need to be taught a lesson. I ain’t sittin’ back and watching Curley beat up Lennie coz that ain’t right. Curley’s wife worries me aswell coz Lennie really likes her and he could get into real trouble if he does somethin’ like in Weed. Candy told me that she always eyein’ all the guys up. The thing that really gets to me is that Curley’s wife might give Lennie the eye and he might do somethin’ stupid, I just hope he doesn’t. Diary Entry 3. Today Candy was listenin’ in on me and Lennie havin’ a chat, normally I don’t like people listenin’ in on me but Candy had somethin’ interesting to say. He wanted to join the little dream me and Lennie ‘ave got of gettin’ our own little place and land and a few crops an’ animals. He’s got $350 to help buy the land. Since he aint no harm and he’s probabally gonna die soon we decided to let him come. The dream that was just a dream is now comin’ to reality just coz that old man Candy. Im gonna get hold of those old people an’ tell ’em im gonna buy the house, at the end of the month we will have $450 and then I’d keep workin’ on the ranch to pay off the rest. One day soon we might just be able to do it. We couldd get the little place of our own with a few acres of land and crops to grow, and rabbits coz Lennie’s always on about how he will tend the rabbits. Of course most guys dont believe us bout the dream coz i bet they had dreams just like us and watched ’em fall apart loads of times. This whole idea of our own land has made Candy have a bit of hope, poor bastard, Carlson shot his dog last night to put it out of misery, I mean it was old, smelly & decrepid it was for the best. Slim offered him one of his new pups, Slim also gave a pup to Lennie which was really nice of him. Lennies pretty dumb and he loves petting things I hope he jus’ dont do nothin’ stupid like on our last job and blow the chances of the house. Diary Entery 4. I new somethin’ bout that Curley couldn’t help but pick a fight with Lennie. Lennie hadn’t done nothin’ wrong either, he was standin’ there smilin’, thinkin’ bout our dream an’ Curley came in the bunk house in a mood an’ seen Lennie laughin’ and he socked him right in the chops and hittin’ and hittin’ him, Lennie was jus’ standin’ there takin’ it. So I told Lennie to fight back so Lennie grabbed hold of Curley’s fist and started crushin’ it like a tin can, Curley was floppin’ like a fish, Lennie must of broke every bone in his damn hand. Thanks to Slim we shouldn’t get canned coz he made it pretty clear to Curley that if he told anyone how this happened he would say how easily Lennie crushed his hand. Curley agreed not to tell anyone, so hopefully all that is all settled. I thought that would of ended our chance of the dream. Diary Entry 5. I was right in what i did wasn’t I? If they caught Lennie they would strap him up in a cage in one of those nut houses. It was the right thing to do! If Curley had caught him he would of tortured him and made him die a slow death. Atleast when i shot him he was happy and peaceful thinkin’ about the dream and not scared. Now Lennies gone im gonna be just like any other ranch worker, lonely and without a loving friend, it’s gonna take me a while to come to terms with what i’ve done, killed my only and best friend. Me and Candy aint gonna carry on with the dream, theres jus’ no point Lennie was the life and soul of the dream now he’s gone so has the dream. No doubt Candy will be upset and miserable but there ain’t nothin’ I can do about that. Slim and Carlson took me for a drink and told me that it wasn’t my fault and that I had to do it, I guess they’re right after all it was me or Curley and I ain’t lettin Curley touch Lennie. I probably gonna move on to a different ranch and carry on workin’ somewhere else alone.

The Scope and Challenge of International Marketing

Chapter 01 The Scope and Challenge of International Marketing True / False Questions 1. (p. 3) Global commerce thrives during peacetime. TRUE Difficulty: Easy Type: Knowledge 2. (p. 4) To date, the lesson for international commerce in the 21st century is â€Å"expect the unexpected. † TRUE Difficulty: Easy Type: Knowledge 3. (p. 5) Today, every American business is international. TRUE Difficulty: Moderate Type: Comprehension 4. (p. 5) One event that will influence the shape of international business as the future unfolds is the rapid growth of the World Trade Organization, NAFTA, and the European Union.TRUE Difficulty: Moderate Type: Comprehension 5. (p. 5) One event that will influence the shape of international business as the future unfolds is the unprecedented acceptance of communism and socialism in Latin America. FALSE Difficulty: Moderate Type: Comprehension 6. (p. 5) A trend that will impact international business in the future is a mandate to properly manage the resou rces and global environment. TRUE Difficulty: Moderate Type: Comprehension 7. (p. 5) Today, most business activities are local or regional in scope. FALSE Difficulty: Moderate Type: Knowledge . (p. 6, Crossing Borders 1. 1) What do French farmers, Chinese fishermen, and Russian hackers have in common–they can all receive subsidy payments from the U. S. government. FALSE Difficulty: Moderate Type: Knowledge 9. (p. 6) Foreign-made products remain a small portion of all consumer products sold in the United States. FALSE Difficulty: Easy Type: Knowledge 10. (p. 8) U. S. companies compete with global competitors in foreign markets and have little competition in domestic markets from global competitors. FALSE Difficulty: Easy Type: Knowledge 11. (p. , Exhibit 1. 2) The leading U. S. multinational with foreign revenues of $345 billion plus annually is Wal-Mart. TRUE Difficulty: Hard Type: Knowledge 12. (p. 9) International marketing is the performance of business activities designed to plan, price, promote, and direct the flow of a company's goods and services to consumers or users in more than one nation for a profit. TRUE Difficulty: Moderate Type: Knowledge 13. (p. 9-10) A good illustration of an uncontrollable variable that might impact international business is a marketing decision with respect to research.FALSE Difficulty: Hard Type: Application 14. (p. 11, Exhibit 1. 3) The foreign uncontrollable environment is the same as the domestic uncontrollable environment. FALSE Difficulty: Hard Type: Comprehension 15. (p. 12) The level of technology is an uncontrollable element for international marketers. TRUE Difficulty: Moderate Type: Knowledge 16. (p. 14) The political and legal environment is a controllable element for international marketers because of the ability to lobby and influence legislation. FALSE Difficulty: Moderate Type: Knowledge 7. (p. 14) In a broad sense, the uncontrollable elements of the foreign business environment constitute the culture. TRUE Difficulty: Hard Type: Comprehension 18. (p. 15) John refuses to buy Japanese products because he sees them as a way of selling out to nation known for its aggressive behavior. John is using a self-reference criterion to make his decision. TRUE Difficulty: Moderate Type: Application 19. (p. 15) A self-reference criterion is closely related to ethnocentrism. TRUE Difficulty: Moderate Type: Comprehension 20. (p. 5) Sam Watkins just recently ate and, therefore, feels justified in refusing food from his Middle Eastern host. In this instance, Sam's self-reference criterion has just saved him from making a cultural blunder. FALSE Difficulty: Hard Type: Application 21. (p. 16) To avoid errors in business decisions, it is necessary to conduct a cross-cultural analysis that emphasizes the need for ethnocentrism. FALSE Difficulty: Moderate Type: Comprehension 22. (p. 17) To be globally aware, you should be tolerant of cultural differences. TRUE Difficulty: Easy Type: Comprehension 23. ( p. 7) To be globally aware, you should require that all of your international customers know about your cultural rules and adhere strictly to each one. FALSE Difficulty: Moderate Type: Comprehension 24. (p. 18) If a company is in a stage designated as being one with â€Å"no direct foreign marketing,† the company does not actively cultivate customers outside national boundaries. TRUE Difficulty: Easy Type: Knowledge 25. (p. 20) Of all the stages in international business, a stage called â€Å"regular foreign marketing† produces the most profound change in the orientation of the company toward markets and associated planning activities.FALSE Difficulty: Moderate Type: Knowledge 26. (p. 22) If a company uses a strategic orientation called domestic market extension, it views its international operations as secondary to and an extension of its domestic operations. TRUE Difficulty: Moderate Type: Knowledge 27. (p. 22-23) The global marketing concept views the marketplace as consisting of one primary domestic market that is complimented by several smaller regional markets. FALSE Difficulty: Hard Type: Knowledge Multiple Choice Questions 28. (p. 3) International __________ play an important role in promoting global peace and prosperity.A. foreign aid and treaties B. competition and consumer spending C. trade and marketing D. consumer and industrial services Difficulty: Easy Type: Knowledge 29. (p. 4) According to the text, all of the following events have impacted international business EXCEPT: A. the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 B. the high-tech bust of 2001. C. the steroids in major league sports scandal D. 2003 SARS outbreak in Asia. E. September 11, 2001 disasters. Difficulty: Easy Type: Comprehension 30. (p. 5) Of all the events and trends affecting global business today, four stand out as the most dynamic.Which of the following would be one of those events? A. The trend toward buying American cars in Europe. B. The trend toward the acceptance of t he free market system among developing countries in Latin America, Asia, and Eastern Europe. C. The trend toward using English as the global language. D. The trend toward establishing a world currency. E. The trend toward worldwide instant communication. Difficulty: Moderate Type: Comprehension 31. (p. 5) All of the following events and trends are among the four major trends described in the chapter as having a major impact or effect on global business EXCEPT: A. he trend toward the acceptance of the free market system among developing countries in Latin America, Asia, and Eastern Europe. B. the rapid growth of the World Trade Organization and regional free trade areas such as NAFTA and the European Union. C. the burgeoning impact of the Internet and other global media on the dissolution of national borders. D. the trend toward decreasing OPEC profits as oil reserves decline in the 21st century. E. the mandate to properly manage the resources and global environment for the generatio ns to come.Difficulty: Hard Type: Comprehension 32. (p. 5-6) Strategic plans that are competitive in global markets are _____. A. the challenge of international marketing B. expanded domestic marketing plans C. not necessary for small firms D. multilingual and multicultural in scope Difficulty: Easy Type: Knowledge 33. (p. 5) Every American company is international, at least to the extent that: A. Federal law requires all corporations to outsource whenever it is cost-effective. B. the Internet generates orders for all American businesses from abroad. C. ts business performance is affected by events that occur abroad. D. natural disasters create a greater global community. E. all of the above. Difficulty: Hard Type: Knowledge 34. (p. 5) Simi Khan wants to move his business into the international arena as quickly as possible; however, to be successful he must consider a variety of factors that have global dimensions. Which of the following factors would be most important to Simi Khan' s computer technology business as he moves forward with his global expansion plans? A. Electricity usage around the world. B.The drive toward a more ergonomic workplace. C. Communication and technology networks in third-world countries. D. Restrictions on advertising in Russia. E. Increasing licensing fees in Spain and Portugal. Difficulty: Moderate Type: Application 35. (p. 7) Foreign investment in the United States is growing yearly. At present, foreign investment in the United States is in excess of $16. 3 ______________. A. trillion B. million C. billion D. thousand E. cannot be determined. The government does not track foreign investment. Difficulty: Moderate Type: Knowledge 36. (p. ) Companies from ____________________ lead in foreign investment in the United States: A. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia B. Russia C. China D. United Kingdom E. Canada Difficulty: Hard Type: Knowledge 37. (p. 7) Foreign investment is a two-way street. An organization (through investment and acquisition) fr om which of the following countries now controls all United Kingdom rail freight business and runs the queen's private train via its English, Welsh, & Scottish Railway unit? A. Germany B. Switzerland C. United States D. Canada E. Netherlands Difficulty: Hard Type: Knowledge 38. (p. 9, Exhibit 1. ) Many U. S. firms do exceedingly well in the global arena. Which of the following organizations is considered to be the U. S. leader with global revenues approximated at $345 billion annually? A. IBM B. ExxonMobil C. Ford Motor D. Wal-Mart E. Hewlett-Packard Difficulty: Moderate Type: Knowledge 39. (p. 9) For firms venturing into international marketing for the first time, the first requirement is: A. employment of foreign nationals in target foreign markets. B. a thorough and complete commitment to foreign markets. C. obtain market data from consulate of the country being targeted.D. an assessment of the cost of doing business in the foreign market. E. performance reviews of all potential salespeople being considered for foreign assignment. Difficulty: Moderate Type: Knowledge 40. (p. 9) ___________ is the performance of business activities designed to plan, price, promote, and direct the flow of a company's goods and services to consumers or users in more than one nation for a profit. A. Global management B. Global business C. Marketing D. International marketing E. Global marketing concept Difficulty: Moderate Type: Knowledge 41. (p. ) The performance of business activities designed to plan, price, promote, and direct the flow of a company's goods and services to consumers or users in more than one nation for a profit is called: A. global management. B. global business. C. marketing. D. the global marketing concept. E. international marketing. Difficulty: Moderate Type: Knowledge 42. (p. 9) The only difference between the definitions of domestic marketing and international marketing is that marketing activities: A. focus on consumers in domestic markets and bartere rs in foreign markets. B. take place in more than one country.C. follow traditional communication paths in domestic markets. D. focus on distribution in the domestic market. E. are usually non-regulated in foreign markets. Difficulty: Moderate Type: Comprehension 43. (p. 9) According to the text, the primary difference in the practice of marketing at the domestic versus the international level is: A. the environment within which the marketing plans must be implemented. B. the revenues necessary to be successful. C. the demand charts available to the marketer. D. the control over the budget. E. the accountability of board of directors. Difficulty: HardType: Comprehension 44. (p. 9) With respect to the environment in which a business operates, such factors as competition, legal restrains, government controls, and the weather would all be examples of what are called: A. controllable elements. B. uncontrollable elements. C. predictable elements. D. demographic elements. E. cultural elem ents. Difficulty: Easy Type: Knowledge 45. (p. 9-10) All of the following would be considered to be controllable elements of marketing decisions EXCEPT: A. product. B. price. C. promotion. D. research. E. government regulations. Difficulty: Easy Type: Knowledge 46. (p. 1, Exhibit 1. 3) Considering the model of the international marketing task displayed in the text, which of the following reasons demonstrates the most important difference between the international marketer's task and that of the domestic marketer? A. The international marketer must deal with at least two levels of uncontrollable uncertainty instead of one. B. The international marketer must rely on at least two levels of controllable certainty instead of one. C. The international marketer is never certain about supply or demand. D. The international marketer is never certain about total market size.E. The international marketer must be aware of international monetary exchange rates. Difficulty: Moderate Type: Compreh ension 47. (p. 11, Exhibit 1. 3) Robert Jonas is in charge of a new marketing effort directed toward Peru. In order for his company to effectively market and distribute to all of Peru's major cities, Mr. Jonas must devise a logistics plan for crossing the Andes Mountains on a daily basis. Which of the following foreign environment uncontrollable variables would be a chief concern as Mr. Jonas devises his plan? A. Competitive forces B. Cultural forces C.Geography and infrastructure D. Economic forces E. Political/legal forces Difficulty: Moderate Type: Application 48. (p. 11, Exhibit 1. 3) Compared to the foreign environment uncontrollable variables, which of the following elements is excluded from the domestic marketer's list of uncontrollable variables? A. Political forces B. Competitive structure C. Economic climate D. Cultural forces E. Legal forces. Difficulty: Hard Type: Comprehension 49. (p. 11, Exhibit 1. 3) All of the following would be among the domestic marketer's controll able environmental variables EXCEPT: A. esearch. B. price. C. product. D. channels of distribution. E. economic climate. Difficulty: Moderate Type: Comprehension 50. (p. 11, Exhibit 1. 3) All of the following appear as a foreign environment uncontrollable variable in the model of the international marketing task shown in the text EXCEPT: A. economic forces. B. competitive forces. C. product demand forces. D. cultural forces. E. political/legal forces. Difficulty: Easy Type: Knowledge 51. (p. 10) Amy Sims has been assigned the task of preparing a marketing plan for company for the next year's business activities.She knows that she should begin her plan by examining the variables that she has some control over. These controllable variables would include price, product, channels-of-distribution, and: A. demand. B. supply. C. competition. D. economic climate. E. promotion. Difficulty: Easy Type: Knowledge 52. (p. 10) A political decision involving _______________ would most likely have a direct effect on a firm's international marketing success. A. domestic foreign policy B. immigration reform C. oil exploration policy D. FCC satellite regulations E. FAA airline regulations Difficulty: ModerateType: Knowledge 53. (p. 11) Which of the following would be a chief way that U. S. companies attempt to influence domestic foreign policy? A. A company could lobby with respect to its own interests. B. A company could attempt to bribe elected officials to influence policy decisions. C. A company could ask a foreign government to bring pressure on U. S. legislative bodies. D. A company could threaten to withdraw operations from foreign markets. E. A company could threaten to move its corporate headquarters to a foreign market. Difficulty: Hard Type: Comprehension 54. (p. 2) Competition within the home country can have a profound effect on the international marketer's task. Which of the following BEST illustrates this statement? A. Boeing recently opened talks with its primary trade union to avoid a forecasted strike. B. Microsoft and Dell have jointly invested $700 million in a new venture to investigate high technology of the future. C. Fuji opened a $300 million plant in the U. S. and now commands a 12 percent share of the lucrative U. S. film market. D. Several name companies are still under investigation because of the Enron scandal.E. Declaration of independence by Baltic States after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Difficulty: Moderate Type: Application 55. (p. 12) With respect to challenges faced by the international marketer, a significant source of uncertainty is the number of factors in the: A. foreign environment controllables. B. foreign environment uncontrollables. C. domestic environment controllables. D. parallel environment uncontrollables. E. parallel environment controllables. Difficulty: Easy Type: Comprehension 56. (p. 12) Ralph Waite has just been assigned the task of reviewing his ompany's international investment opportunities. He knows that his view of the list of opportunities should be tempered by foreign environment uncontrollables that might be encountered. Which of the following would be the BEST illustration of a foreign environmental uncontrollable that Mr. Waite should investigate? A. A country's level of technology. B. Pricing policies in the foreign country. C. The ability to do research in the foreign country. D. Manufacturing capabilities in the foreign country. E. The ability to do advertising in the foreign country. Difficulty: Hard Type: Application 57. (p. 2) The _____________ is an uncontrollable element that can often be misread because of the vast differences that may exist between developed and undeveloped countries. A. Structure of distribution B. competitive forces C. economic forces D. political/legal forces E. level of technology Difficulty: Hard Type: Knowledge 58. (p. 13) The _____________ and issues abroad are often amplified by the â€Å"alien status† of the company, whi ch increases the difficulty of properly assessing and forecasting the dynamic international business climate. A. structure of distribution B. competitive forces C. economic forces D. olitical/legal forces E. level of technology Difficulty: Moderate Type: Knowledge 59. (p. 13) Which of the following would be the BEST illustration of the â€Å"alien status† found in the political and legal arena that sometimes cause problems for international marketers as they attempt to do business in foreign countries? A. A company in the U. K. recently purchased Ben & Jerry's ice cream operations. B. The Indian government told Coca-Cola that it must reveal its â€Å"secret formula† if it wished to continue do business in India. C. Richard Branson's Virgin Cola was not widely accepted in the United States. D.French Canadians prefer French to English when conducting business in Canada. E. British Airlines and Japan Airlines join American Airlines to form OneWorld Alliance. Difficulty: M oderate Type: Application 60. (p. 14) Global businesses must be willing to adjust and adapt a marketing program to a foreign market. In a broad sense, the environmental uncontrollable elements constitute the: A. problem. B. opportunity. C. culture. D. marketplace. E. commerce landscape. Difficulty: Hard Type: Comprehension 61. (p. 14) The task of ____________ is the most challenging and important one confronting international marketers.A. care for the environment B. dealing with politics C. international standardization D. cultural adjustment E. international branding Difficulty: Moderate Type: Comprehension 62. (p. 14) Which of the following would be the BEST example to illustrate the fact that international marketers need to make cultural adjustments as they seek to do business abroad? A. In America, white is an accepted color for wedding gowns; in Asia it is the color of mourning. B. Many teens earn extra income by working. C. Women out number men in the United States. D. Most Mi ddle Eastern women do not work outside the home. E.Many European nations require a period of national service for youth. Difficulty: Hard Type: Application 63. (p. 15) ____________ is the conscious effort on the part of the international marketer to anticipate the influences of both the foreign and domestic uncontrollable factors on a marketing mix and then adjust the marketing mix to minimize the effects. A. Standardization B. Adaptation C. Segregation D. Segmentation E. Projection Difficulty: Moderate Type: Knowledge 64. (p. 15) The primary obstacles to success in international marketing are a person's _________ and an associated ethnocentrism. A. egionalism B. holism C. self-reference criterion D. segregation E. integration Difficulty: Easy Type: Comprehension 65. (p. 15) _____________ is an unconscious reference to one's own cultural values, experiences, and knowledge as a basis for decisions. A. Regionalism B. Holism C. Self-reference criterion D. Segregation E. Xenophobia Diff iculty: Moderate Type: Knowledge 66. (p. 15) In the United States, unrelated individuals keep a certain physical distance between themselves and others when talking or in groups. We do not consciously think about that distance; we just know what feels right without thinking.Someone from another culture would not necessarily understand this and would apply their own rules for contact when speaking. The preceding is an illustration of what is called applying a ___________ when reviewing the mentioned social custom of contact. A. self-space B. segregation C. integration D. space command theory E. self-reference criterion (SRC) Difficulty: Moderate Type: Application 67. (p. 15) Your ____________ can prevent you from being aware that there are cultural differences or from recognizing the importance of those differences. A. self-space B. personality C. demographic character D. elf-reference criterion (SRC) E. concept of integration Difficulty: Easy Type: Comprehension 68. (p. 16) The most effective way to control the influence of ethnocentrism and __________ is to recognize their effects on our behavior. A. the self-reference criterion (SRC) B. regionalism C. tunnel vision D. standardization E. xenophobia Difficulty: Moderate Type: Knowledge 69. (p. 17) To avoid errors in business decisions, it is necessary to conduct a cross-cultural analysis that isolates the self-reference criterion influences. Which of the following would be the BEST first-step to take to avoid the aforementioned errors?A. Redefine the problem without the SRC influence. B. Solve the problem for the optimum business goal situation. C. Isolate the SRC influence in the problem and examine it carefully to see how it complicates the problem. D. Define the business problem or goal in home-country cultural traits, habits, or norms. E. Define the business problem or goal in foreign-country cultural traits, habits, or norms through consultation with natives of the target country. Difficulty: Hard Type: A pplication 70. (p. 17) Which of the following steps in a cross-cultural analysis to solate self-reference criterion influences would finalize the process and lead to a solution of the problem? A. Redefine the problem without the SRC influence and solve the problem for the optimal business goal situation. B. Isolate the SRC influence in the problem and examine it carefully to see how it complicates the problem. C. Define the business problem or goal in home-country cultural traits, habits, or norms. D. Define the business problem or goal in foreign-country cultural traits, habits, or norms through consultation with natives of the target country. E.The last step is not indicated in the list of alternatives. Difficulty: Easy Type: Application 71. (p. 17) To be globally aware, an international marketer must have all the following EXCEPT: A. a tolerance of cultural differences. B. a knowledge of cultures. C. a knowledge of history. D. a knowledge of microeconomics. E. a knowledge of worl d market potential. Difficulty: Easy Type: Knowledge 72. (p. 17) Successful businesspeople in the twenty-first century have ___________ and a frame of reference that goes beyond a region or even a country and encompasses the world. A. a sense of fashion B. lobal awareness C. an intimate knowledge of ecological problems D. a consumer mind-set E. a pronounced skill in promotion Difficulty: Moderate Type: Knowledge 73. (p. 18) There are a variety of stages in the process of becoming involved in international marketing. Which of the following best describes the stage of development where the company's products reach a foreign market through no conscious effort on the part of the marketer? A. Infrequent foreign marketing B. Regular foreign marketing C. No direct foreign marketing D. International marketing E. Global marketing Difficulty: Easy Type: Comprehension 4. (p. 18) If a marketer is motivated to enter into an international marketing effort because of temporary surpluses in the dom estic market, which of the following stages BEST characterizes the stage of international marketing involvement for this marketer? A. Infrequent foreign marketing B. Regular foreign marketing C. No direct foreign marketing D. International marketing E. Global marketing Difficulty: Moderate Type: Comprehension 75. (p. 19) James Bright's company seek markets all over the world and attempts to sell products that are a result of planned production for markets in various countries.Which of the following stages BEST characterizes the stage of international marketing involvement for Mr. Bright's company? A. Infrequent foreign marketing B. Regular foreign marketing C. No direct foreign marketing D. International marketing E. Global marketing Difficulty: Hard Type: Application 76. (p. 20) Maria Peron's company treats the world, including the home market in Spain, as one market. Market segmentation decisions no longer focus on national borders. Instead, market segments are defined by income l evels, usage patterns, and other factors that span countries and regions.Which of the following stages BEST characterizes the stage of international marketing involvement for Ms. Peron's company? A. Infrequent foreign marketing B. Regular foreign marketing C. No direct foreign marketing D. International marketing E. Global marketing Difficulty: Moderate Type: Application 77. (p. 22) If a company basically sees the process of international marketing as one where the domestic company seeks a sales extension of its domestic products into foreign markets, the company is using which of the following concepts to formulate its international policies and strategies?A. Domestic market extension concept B. Multidomestic market concept C. Global marketing concept D. Universal marketing concept E. Standardized marketing concept Difficulty: Easy Type: Comprehension 78. (p. 22) The Ajax Corporation has decided to enter the international marketing arena by marketing its products on a country-by-co untry basis, with separate marketing strategies for each country. The company is using which of the following concepts to formulate its international policies and strategies? A. Domestic market extension concept B. Multidomestic market conceptC. Global marketing concept D. Universal marketing concept E. Standardized marketing concept Difficulty: Moderate Type: Comprehension 79. (p. 22-23) A company using the ________________ views an entire set of country markets as a unit, identifying groups of prospective buyers with similar needs as an opportunity market segment and develops a marketing plan that strives for standardization wherever it is cost and culturally effective. A. domestic market extension concept B. multidomestic market concept C. global marketing concept D. universal marketing concept E. tandardized marketing concept Difficulty: Hard Type: Comprehension Fill in the Blank Questions 80. (p. 3) _____________ commerce thrives during peacetime. Global (or international) Diff iculty: Easy Type: Knowledge 81. (p. 7) ___________ (country) leads in foreign investment in the United States. The United Kingdom Difficulty: Hard Type: Knowledge 82. (p. 9, Exhibit 1. 2) Among the top ten players in the global game of commerce, __________ (company) leads the pack with $345 billion in revenues coming from global markets. Wal-Mart Difficulty: Hard Type: Knowledge 83. (p. ) ___________ marketing is the performance of business activities designed to plan, price, promote, and direct the flow of a company's goods and services to consumers or users in more than one nation for a profit. International Difficulty: Easy Type: Knowledge 84. (p. 11, Exhibit 1. 3) Domestic marketing elements as price, product, promotion, channels of distribution, and research are called ____________ elements. controllable Difficulty: Moderate Type: Comprehension 85. (p. 15) A person's self-reference criterion is often associated with an associated term called ________. ethnocentrism Difficulty: ModerateType: Knowledge 86. (p. 15) A person's ________________ is an unconscious reference to one's own cultural values, experiences, and knowledge as a basis for decisions. self-reference criterion (SRC) Difficulty: Moderate Type: Knowledge 87. (p. 17) The successful businessperson in the twenty-first century has global _____________ and a frame of reference that goes beyond a region or even a country and encompasses the world. awareness Difficulty: Moderate Type: Comprehension 88. (p. 20) At the __________ marketing level, companies treat the world, including their home market, as one market. globalDifficulty: Hard Type: Knowledge 89. (p. 23) The global _____________ views an entire set of country markets as a unit, identifying groups of prospective buyers with similar needs as a global market segment. marketing concept Difficulty: Moderate Type: Knowledge Essay Questions 90. (p. 3) Global commerce thrives in peacetime. Explain why this statement is true. Economic booms often oc cur as the world finds itself at peace. Resources go toward research and technology rather than â€Å"war machines. † Peace brings renewed efforts to negotiate and trade. Barriers generally come down between nations.Nations enter into partnerships and alliances that foster trade. Individual companies are willing to take greater investment risks when peacetime is blooming. Difficulty: Easy Type: Comprehension 91. (p. 4) Provide examples of events and issues that contribute to uncertainty in the international marketing environment. Answers will vary but may include any of the issues discussed on page 4 including, terrorism, growth of the U. S. balance of payments deficit, conflicts between the U. S. and China, predictions of collapse in U. S. consumer spending and housing markets. Difficulty: Moderate Type: Comprehension 92. (p. ) List and briefly describe the four events or trends described in the text that have shaped international business beyond today's bumpy roads and into the future. The events or trends are: (1) the rapid growth of the World Trade Organization and regional free trade areas such as NAFTA and the EU; (2) the trend toward the acceptance of the free market system among developing countries in Latin America, Asia, and Eastern Europe; (3) the burgeoning impact of the Internet and other global media on the dissolution of national borders; and, (4) the mandate to properly manage the resources and global environment for the generations to come.Difficulty: Hard Type: Comprehension 93. (p. 6) Joan Wilson owns a small software company, SecureSoft, that specializes in home network security. The company has been in business for 5 years and its sales have grown rapidly. Last year the company began offering international versions (multilanguage) of its software. SecureSoft sells its products through a network of software distributors. However, recently Ms. Wilson has become concerned that Russian software hackers have produced pirated copies of th e company's leading software. Explain how the Russian hackers disrupt SecureSoft's international marketing efforts.SecureSoft international marketing efforts will now have to take into account the lost of sales/profits due to the pirated software. Virtually all components of marketing will likely be impacted. Marketing will have to consider product modifications to preclude prirating efforts, a change in distribution to direct sales, and other software protection schemes. In addition, special advertisement and promotion may be required to promote the security-enhanced products. These efforts to protect is software against piracy come at a cost which means that software retail prices will increase. Difficulty: ModerateType: Application 94. (p. 9) Define international marketing. International marketing is the performance of business activities designed to plan, price, promote, and direct the flow of a company's goods and services to consumers or users in more than one nation for a pro fit. Difficulty: Moderate Type: Knowledge 95. (p. 10-12, Exhibit 1. 3) List and briefly discuss the domestic environment uncontrollable elements found in the model that describes the international marketing task. The domestic environmental uncontrollable elements include political/legal forces, competitive structure, and the economic climate.For a brief discussion of each element see pages10-12. Difficulty: Moderate Type: Comprehension 96. (p. 11, Exhibit 1. 3) List and briefly comment on the elements found in a company's domestic controllable environment. The elements include price, product, promotion, channels of distribution, and research. For more information see page 10. Difficulty: Easy Type: Comprehension 97. (p. 10-14, Exhibit 1. 3) Explain the differences between the domestic environment uncontrollable elements and the foreign environment uncontrollable elements. According to information presented in the text and in Exhibit 1. , the domestic environmental uncontrollable ele ments include the political/legal forces, competitive structure, and the economic climate. The foreign environment is more inclusive with the following elements political/legal forces, economic forces, competitive forces, level of technology, structure of distribution, geography and infrastructure, and cultural forces. For additional information on differences see pages 10-14. Difficulty: Hard Type: Comprehension 98. (p. 14-15) To be an effective international marketer, why is it necessary to master cultural adjustment? Explain.The marketers must adjust their marketing efforts to cultures to which they are not attuned. In dealing with unfamiliar markets, marketers must be aware of frames of reference they are using in making their decisions or evaluating the potential of a market. As an illustration, the story goes that two shoe salesmen report back to their companies after making a survey trip to an impoverished portion of Africa. One salesman says, â€Å"There is no market for sh oes–no one has any money–poverty is everywhere. † The other shoe salesman (representing world famous Bata Shoe Company) says, â€Å"Great news everybody needs shoes. Bata leads the world in selling shoes to third-world countries. Difficulty: Moderate Type: Comprehension 99. (p. 15) Explain the concept of the self-reference criterion (SRC). SRC is an unconscious reference to one's own cultural values, experiences, and knowledge as a basis for decisions. The concept is closely associated with ethnocentrism. Difficulty: Moderate Type: Knowledge 100. (p. 16) To avoid errors in business decisions, it is necessary to conduct a cross-cultural analysis that isolates the self-reference criterion influences.List the four steps that make up the framework for such an analysis. The steps are: (1) define the business problem or goal in home-country cultural traits, habits, or norms; (2) define business problem or goal in foreign-country cultural traits, habits, or norms throu gh consultation with natives of the target country–make no value judgments; (3) isolate the SRC influence in the problem and examine it carefully to see how it complicates the problem; and, (4) redefine the problem without the SRC influence and solve for the optimum business goal situation.Difficulty: Hard Type: Comprehension 101. (p. 17) In order for a company to be globally aware, the company must do what two things (according to the text)? The company must (1) have a tolerance for cultural differences and (2) have knowledge of cultures, history, world market potential, and global economic, social, and political trends. Difficulty: Moderate Type: Comprehension 102. (p. 23) With respect to a strategic orientation to conducting international marketing, describe the global marketing concept.The global marketing concept views an entire set of country markets (whether the home market and only 1 other country, or the home market and 100 other countries) as a unit, identifying gro ups of prospective buyers with similar needs as a global market segment and developing a marketing plan that strives for standardization wherever it is cost and culturally effective. Difficulty: Moderate Type: Comprehension 103. (p. 5) Rick Russell owns a small company that specializes in waste cleanup on the high seas. He believes that his company can grow dramatically if he can find foreign partners and investors.According to the events and trends cited in the text as affecting global business today, which of these trends would have the most impact on Mr. Russell's business? Explain your rationale. After reviewing the trends, the trend that is most likely to affect Russell's operation is the fourth trend–the mandate to properly manage the resources and global environment for the generation to come. Students should supply their own rationale. If another trend is chosen, it should be explained, characterized, and justified. Difficulty: Moderate Type: Application 04. (p. 11, E xhibit 1. 3) Scott Web Services has decided to go international with their new anti-spam software. Using the International Marketing Task model shown in the text, discuss which factors will impact Scott Web Services the most as it gears up to pursue international expansion. To effectively answer this question, students must be familiar with Exhibit 1. 3. Students can comment on the inner ring (domestic controllables), middle ring (domestic environment [uncontrollables]), and the outer ring (foreign environment [uncontrollables]).Students should focus on the technological aspects of the company, political/legal forces, competitive forces, and cultural forces that might impact the company. Students can be creative with this answer; therefore, you might wish to establish ground rules or guidelines. Difficulty: Hard Type: Application 105. (p. 15-17) You are about to eat at a friend's house for dinner. However, your friend is from a foreign country and you are sure that his family will h ave prepared an ethnic meal for you.Explain how your self-reference criterion (SRC) might cause you problems with your upcoming new experience. What should do about this? This example is created to stimulate students into thinking about how that their own â€Å"cultural baggage† can sometimes make a new experience frightening. Eating strange food among â€Å"foreigners† is a common occurrence. Stimulate students think about what SRC is and how it can either hinder or help a relationship. For additional information on SRC, see pages 15-18. Difficulty: Easy Type: Application

Personal Leadership Vision Essay

Everything started to come together in the spring of 2013. I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. Graduation was only a few short months away. Okay, so maybe it was more like ten months, but it certainly didn’t seem like that long. My then boyfriend, now husband, and I moved into our first place together in March, and I got the Marketing and Sales Internship that set me up for the perfect job with the Houston SPCA. After graduating in December, I had a Bachelors of Science degree in Agriculture Leadership and Development with an emphasis in Animal Science. But I couldn’t just up and leave quite yet. I still had five months left at my internship. The Marketing and Sales Internship equipped me with so much more than I could have asked for. I built upon my relationship building strengths, and created a substantial network of peers, professors, and mentors. I was able to hone my communication skills, and how I interact with the public and potential customers. And finally, I was able to see interdepartmental communication and operations, also the interaction of one outside agency with another outside agency. This allowed me to see what worked and didn’t work in order to create ideas and plans for any future jobs I would have. After the five months had pasted, I put in my application to Houston SPCA. Ever since I saw an episode of animal cops, I knew this is what I wanted to do with my life. I have always wanted a career with purpose and I though why not join that with my love for animals. I absolutely love getting up and coming to work everyday. No day is ever the same, and so I am constantly learning and building my knowledge and skills. Also, by coming to work, I am able to fight injustice for those who can’t fight for themselves. Presently, I am in my dream job. I am the President of the Houston SPCA. I am able to be involved with every aspect of our organization. Everything from cruelty calls, to media and publications, and community outreach to shelter maintenance, I have my hand in. Now, I am not saying I am a Theory X kind of person, that is in everything because I like to dictate and watch over everyone. That is not a pleasant experience. I have my hand in everything because I love the job. It also allows me to stay connected with my staff and volunteers to make sure their needs are being met as well. Now have the title of President may sound glamorous, but I had to work my way up the chain of command just like everyone else. My first job at the shelter was as an animal behavior specialist. In this position, I not only helped rehabilitate our shelter animals, but I also did a great deal of socialization with our clients as well. I really liked to sit down and get to know a family before they adopted a pet. This allowed me to suggest the best possible animal match for the both the family and the animal to be adopted. If everyone left happy then I had done my job well. This is something I learned back in Marketing and Sales Internship. As the President of the Houston SPCA I can have some very strange, and sometimes inconvenient hours. But thankfully, I have a wonderful family that not only supports me, but they love my job as much as I do. My husband, the boyfriend I moved in with in March, and I have known each other since daycare days. I went to his mother’s daycare, we went to the same high school, and we worked and the same summer job. However, although I knew him and knew who he was, I didn’t really know him. Our friendship grew while we worked together, and our friends always whispered in our ears about the possibility of us taking our relationship to the next step, but neither of us was brave enough to say anything. That is until my first semester at Texas A&M. Don’t get me wrong; my first semester at school was great. I was away from home and at the school I wanted to be at, but something was missing. At first, I couldn’t pinpoint it, and ironically enough, I was talking to my husband about it. God finally got tired of waiting on us to admit how we really felt about each other, so he pushed a little harder. For some reason, I suddenly found the courage to tell my husband how I felt and ask if he felt the same. And, well he did, but it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows after that. We both knew we had feelings for each other, but weren’t sure we wanted to risk our friendship and take things to next level. At this point, God didn’t just push us a little bit harder, He shoved. It was a defiant, I brought you two together for a reason, so stop fighting me, get your butts in gear, and let my plan unfold, kind of moment. And, I am so thankful each and everyday that God put this amazing man in my life. He helps balance me out. He is an honest, trustworthy, hardworking man that does anything and everything to provide for his family. Family, I have always been apart of a family, but its weird to actually say I have my own family now. Yes, that’s right; a husband, three kids, numerous pets all situated on a 15-acre ranch outside of Houston. Now, I am not saying I didn’t expect to have a family. I have always wanted to be a wife and a mother. It’s just weird the time has already come. But once again, God has blessed me. We chose to live on a ranch because both my husband and I have always wanted to live in a place with land and animals. As a girl, we had the land, but never any animals except for our family dogs, which were inside dogs. We wanted to be able to have animals, to plant gardens, and to just have room. We felt it was vital for our family to be able to separate from the hustle and bustle of the city, and just slow down. There is a downside to living on the ranch sometimes though. Because there is always something to do, and there are always mouths the feed, it is difficult to get away and take â€Å"vacations†. But, my philosophy is, if you love what you do, then it’s not work, and if you are not working, then who needs a vacation? I guess that it the key to it all. I finally stopped worrying about finding a job. I took a step back, and asked myself what I wanted from life. Did I simply want a paycheck, a means to an end, or did I want a career that fueled my passion? And when I finally decided to let it all go, and do something that made me happy, things fell into place. I am not saying it was easy; there were some bumps along the road. But I worked through them. With the support and encouragement of my family, I put my faith in God; I took action and turned my dream into a vision.