...seems like the perfect handbook for college seniors such as myself. In tackling the question of what distinguishes top performers in times of uncertainty, the authors first define what exactly a top performer is and then highlights the three key ingredients that these individuals were discovered to possess. 10Xers are leaders who built companies that started from a position of vulnerability, rose to beat their respective industries by at least 10 times, and did so in the midst of instability, crisis, and uncertainty. They are characterized by three behaviors: fanatic discipline, empirical creativity and productive paranoia. Towards the end of the book, the authors also explore luck and how much of an influence it has on successful or unsuccessful outcomes. They hone in on the notion of return on luck, arguing that fortune is but one variable in the equation of success. “Defeat is not the worst of failures. Not to have tried is the true failure.” –George Edward Woodberry What is success? And more importantly how does one obtain it? Some would be surprised to know that some of the greatest success stories came only after a myriad of failures. But it is no surprise that the recipe for success is a complicated one. Jim Collins and Morten Hansen spent nine years researching what it takes in order for a company to be successful and thrive in this fast-paced ever changing world we live in. In the book Great By Choice Collins seems to have decoded a large part of the recipe...
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...theFrumiGroup Great by Choice Notes by Frumi Rachel Barr, MBA, PhD. Authors: Jim Collins and Morten T. Hansen Publisher: Harper Business Copyright year: 2011 ISBN: 978-0-06-212099-1 Authors’ Bios: Jim Collins studies and teaches how great companies endure, specifically – how they grow, how they attain superior performance, and how good companies can become great companies. Having invested nearly a quarter of a century of research into the topic, Jim has authored and co-authored six books that have sold more than ten million copies worldwide. The books include: the classic Built to Last, a fixture on the Business Week bestseller list for more than six years; the international bestseller Good to Great, translated into 35 languages; and How the Mighty Fall, a New York Times bestseller that examines how some great companies destroyed themselves. Morton T. Hansen is a management professor at the University of California, Berkeley (School of Information), and at INSEAD. Formerly a professor at Harvard Business School, Morten holds a PhD. from Stanford Graduate School of Business where he was a Fulbright scholar. He is the author of Collaboration and the winner of the Administrative Science Quarterly Award for exceptional contributions to the field of organization studies. Previously a manager with the Boston Consulting Group, Morten consults and gives talks for companies worldwide. Authors’ Big Thought: Ten years after the worldwide bestseller Good to Great, Jim Collins returns with...
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...Chapter 3 Study Guide: Hinduism 1. What are the Vedas? a. Four collections of ancient prayers and rituals 2. When was the Vedic Period? a. 2000 to 500 B.C.E. 3. What language was used in this period? a. Sanskrit 4. Who are Aryans and what is the Aryan invasion theory? What evidence supports this theory? a. Single people b. Aryan invasion theory- the Vedas believed to be the religious writings of this invading people c. Entering new lands, these people were thought to have carried their language and religion with them. Scholars initially believed that in India the outsiders imposed their social order quickly and violently on the older culture. 5. What is the Aryan immigration theory? a. There were repeated waves of migrations into Pakistan and northern India and that from these contacts between foreign and indigenous cultures the religion of the Vedas emerged 6. What are the objections to both of these theories? a. Scholars view any theory that assumes influence from outside India to be a continued relic of Western cultural imperialism Archeological, linguistic, and genetic investigations continue to offer more clues, but their interpretation has not resolved the issue 7. What are the specific areas of interest or concern for the gods Indra, Agni, Ushas, Rudra, Varuna, Vishnu, Surya, Soma and Yama? a. Indra i. God of storm and war, received great attention because of the strength his worshipers hoped to receive from him b. Agni i. God of fire, carried sacrifices...
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...THE ABSURDITY OF LIFE Steven Luper, Trinity University In "The Absurd"[i] Nagel claims that self-conscious human beings are necessarily absurd, so that to escape absurdity while remaining human we would have to cease being self-conscious. Fifteen years later, in The View From Nowhere,[ii] he defends the same thesis, supplementing some of his old arguments with a battery of new ones. I want to suggest that Nagel has misdiagnosed, and exaggerated the inescapability of, our absurdity. He does so partly because the grounds on which he bases his conclusion are spurious, and partly because he does not acknowledge the extent to which we can eliminate absurdity by suitably redesigning our plans and modes of justification. Nonetheless, I do not mean to imply that we can easily eliminate absurdity from our lives. Life is not necessarily absurd, but unfortunately, in a world like ours, there are limits to what we can and should do to reduce the absurd elements of our affairs. The View of the Nowhere Man "In ordinary life a situation is absurd," Nagel says, "when it includes a conspicuous discrepancy between pretension or aspiration and reality: someone gives a complicated speech in support of a motion that has already been passed. . . ; as you are being knighted, your pants fall down."[iii] In this passage from "The Absurd" Nagel claims that absurdity is a particularly striking sort of incongruity, and the conception of absurdity he discusses in his book is the same. What...
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...Liangguang Huang English Department, Zhenjiang Watercraft College of PLA Zhenjiang 212003, China E-mail: Blackhawk1975@126.com Abstract All communication is cultural -- it draws on ways we have learned to speak and give nonverbal messages. With the implementation of the Economic Reform and Opening policies, more and more Chinese companies do business with the foreigners. When negotiating with the delegates from different countries, cross-cultural communications play an important role. Culture differs from one another, which influences the style, the time, and the course of negotiations. If distorted, cross-cultural communications may weaken a company’s position in the market, prevent it from accomplishing its objectives, and ultimately lead to failure of negotiation. Keywords: Cross-culture, Cultural difference, Business negotiation, Negotiating style 1. Introduction As business has turned more and more to an integrated world market to meet its needs, the difficulties of communicating at a global level have become increasingly widespread. Still, in an increasingly competitive world economy, it is harder for the successful business venture to conduct business exclusively within the safe confines of a single domestic business environment. With the implementation of the Economic Reform and Opening policies, China’s national economy has made unprecedented strides in the last three decades. More and more Chinese products have forced their way into the international markets...
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...Negotiations Liangguang Huang English Department, Zhenjiang Watercraft College of PLA Zhenjiang 212003, China E-mail: Blackhawk1975@126.com Abstract All communication is cultural -- it draws on ways we have learned to speak and give nonverbal messages. With the implementation of the Economic Reform and Opening policies, more and more Chinese companies do business with the foreigners. When negotiating with the delegates from different countries, cross-cultural communications play an important role. Culture differs from one another, which influences the style, the time, and the course of negotiations. If distorted, cross-cultural communications may weaken a company’s position in the market, prevent it from accomplishing its objectives, and ultimately lead to failure of negotiation. Keywords: Cross-culture, Cultural difference, Business negotiation, Negotiating style 1. Introduction As business has turned more and more to an integrated world market to meet its needs, the difficulties of communicating at a global level have become increasingly widespread. Still, in an increasingly competitive world economy, it is harder for the successful business venture to conduct business exclusively within the safe confines of a single domestic business environment. With the implementation of the Economic Reform and Opening policies, China’s national economy has made unprecedented strides in the last three decades. More and more Chinese products have forced their way into the international markets....
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...DEATH OF A SALESMAN Study Guide for Teachers World-Class Theatre in the Heart of Vermont 703 Main Stre e t , W eston, V T 05161 www.westonplayhouse.o rg The Weston Playhouse Theatre Company The 2010 WPTC Teacher’s Workshop and the School Matinee and Touring Production is made possible in part by grants from: The Bay and Paul Foundations Mountain Room Foundation National Endowment for the Arts The Shubert Foundation The Vermont Country Store and The Orton Family Vermont Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities With additional contributions from: Black River Produce Berkshire Bank Clark’s Quality Foods Price Chopper’s Golub Foundation Ezra Jack Keats Foundation Okemo Mountain Resort Thrifty Attic …and an ever growing family of individuals who believe in the impact that the performing arts can have on its community. This Teachers Study Guide was compiled and edited by Rena Murman. Credit and thanks to the following theatres for materials used or referenced from study guides created for Death of a Salesman: Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis, MN; Kennedy Center, Washington, DC; Lyric Theatre, London; Royal Lyceum Theatre Company, Edinburgh; Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven, CT. © 2010 Weston Playhouse Theatre Company, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational and cultural institution. WPTC Performance Guides may be duplicated at no charge for educational purposes only. They may not be sold or used in other publications without the express written consent...
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...1. One day in Joszfow- Christopher Browing a. Emphasizes the old age of the officers- 39 b. Shows that they were trained to be like this and had a choice. They were not brainwashed o Myth that Browning is trying to disprove; that all Nazi’s were thoroughly indoctrinated • Some of the killers were old enough to think for themselves o Trying to give the lie to idea that people thought they had to kill so that they themselves would not be killed o Conclusions Browning drew about killers: • Some men did not want to appear cowardly to the other men • peer pressure of not stepping up against the idea • Testimony was consistent—gives it weight and truth • Career destruction – thought that if they refused to kill Jews that it would destroy there business/careers • Holocaust: The ignored Reality- Timothy Snyder • What is wrong with making (A) the iconic Holocaust experience? o It was the western most camp o Eastern killings are much unknown o Should view as one mass murder o Most Jews were polish Jews that were killed o Jews killed at (A) were not representative victims • Jews at (A) came mostly from western Europe • More educated/less religious than Polish Jews o (A) was not as bad other camps • Gets attention because there are a lot of survivors • Educated prisoners were able to write and share their story • Western released prisoners were able to spread their stories easier than eastern survivors who were under Soviet rule o 50% of the victims...
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...Global Business Cultural Analysis South Korea By: Erik Mays Liberty University BUSI 604 Dr. Romanoski May 9, 2014 Abstract In this research paper I will be analyzing the cultural perspectives of doing business in South Korea. In doing so, I will be answering the four major questions as it relates to the major Elements and Dimensions of culture in South Korea. Also, since the dimensions of culture in any nation are many, it is necessary to analyze each category that makes up the Dimensions of one’s culture, these categories have been in place for many years in any given country. If we simply consider the Dimensions of Culture in the United States alone, which range from Religion to our Ethical standards, it would be clear that there are many categories within each of those. Therefore, it is important to analyze each category in detail, in an attempt to determine exactly what it will take to do business in that country or any country across the globe. This research paper will attempt to identify those major elements and dimensions of culture in South Korea. Once these elements and dimensions have been identified, it would give a clearer picture on how South Koreans integrate those elements and dimensions into their everyday business. Also, when comparing South Korean and the United States culture and business, there would naturally be implications that should be considered for US businesses that want to do business in South Korea. This research will also address those...
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...Existential Case Study of George Costanza A Conceptualization and Treatment Plan Abstract An existential case study of G.C. was developed to address his maladaptive behaviors caused from strong generalized anxiety, relational, and employment concerns. The treatment was prompted by his employer who wanted to make sure G.C. could work professionally. A brief introduction of G.C. is followed by an introduction to Existential therapy and its theory and principles. Existential psychotherapy, with a focus on growth and development, is an approach that primarily utilizes the therapeutic relationship and has no specific methodology. Four givens or major concerns in Existentialism are identified and three target areas are determined. Several Existential approaches are used to reach experiential goals for the client. The addition of spirituality to the treatment modality is considered for its utility, compatibility, and possible incompatibility. Empirical evidence is used to support the treatment choices and the rational for the sequence of changes. The anticipated progress and results are considered with possible challenges to the process. Existential Case Study of George Costanza A Conceptualization and Treatment Plan A gentleman with strong generalized anxiety issues was referred by his employer for counseling. It was decided that the most effective approach would be Existential psychotherapy because of its flexibility and efficacy with all of the issues. In addition, the client’s...
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...leadership as service. The argument concludes that while many modern leaders have been trained in the what and the how of change, the real problem lies in the fact that the why and the who gains remains largely mute. William (Bill) Burdett was born in 1896 in a small village in Northamptonshire, England. Like many of his generation, he fought in, what has been referred to ever since as, The Great War. Indeed, well in to his 80s, he could describe with vivid detail the Battle of Jutland and the scuttling of the German fleet at Scapa Flow – events that came alive as he described, not what the history books said, but what he personally witnessed. And though he was not blessed with an unusual level of talent, or even with an extra stroke of luck, this simple man, born the son of a farm laborer and trained as a blacksmith, was remarkable in that he was, in every sense of the word, a gentleman. I can attest to that personally because he was my grandfather. Even were he not a special kind of person, Bill’s life was still extraordinary. Remarkable, because of one dominating factor: he was a true citizen of the twentieth century. Born into a...
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...I-Introduction: The term "realism" was first used to formulate the philosophical doctrine that "universals exist outside of the mind" (Freyberg-Inan, 1). Yet, in political theory, "realism" represents a school of thought that analyzes the political process as it is or as it is disclosed by historical forces " ... that the able political practitioner takes into account ... and incorporates ... into his political conceptions and his political acts "(Ibid, 1-2). In the field of international relations, realism became the dominant analytical paradigm mostly after the start of the Second World War, when it displaced idealist doctrines, promising "to provide more accurate information, more powerful, and more relevant answers" to the roots or causes of peace and war (Brecher& Harvey, 54). At the same time, many features of the current realist paradigm can be traced back to the time of Thucydides, Niccolo Machiavelli and Thomas Hobbes. Among contemporary thinkers recognized as major writers and contributors to the realist tradition are Hans Morgenthau, Edward Carr and Kenneth Waltz (Freyberg-Inan, 8). What are then the basic tenets or common features of a realist thinker? Machiavelli would acknowledge that to be a realist one has to look at history as "a sequence of cause and effect whose course can be analysed and understood by intellectual effort, but not directed by imagination" (Carr, 64). Hobbes would persist in the same train of thought and insist that to be a realist thinker...
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...DIVINATION SYSTEMS Written by Nicole Yalsovac Additional sections contributed by Sean Michael Smith and Christine Breese, D.D. Ph.D. Introduction Nichole Yalsovac Prophetic revelation, or Divination, dates back to the earliest known times of human existence. The oldest of all Chinese texts, the I Ching, is a divination system older than recorded history. James Legge says in his translation of I Ching: Book Of Changes (1996), “The desire to seek answers and to predict the future is as old as civilization itself.” Mankind has always had a desire to know what the future holds. Evidence shows that methods of divination, also known as fortune telling, were used by the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, Babylonians and the Sumerians (who resided in what is now Iraq) as early as six‐thousand years ago. Divination was originally a device of royalty and has often been an essential part of religion and medicine. Significant leaders and royalty often employed priests, doctors, soothsayers and astrologers as advisers and consultants on what the future held. Every civilization has held a belief in at least some type of divination. The point of divination in the ancient world was to ascertain the will of the gods. In fact, divination is so called because it is assumed to be a gift of the divine, a gift from the gods. This gift of obtaining knowledge of the unknown uses a wide range of tools and an enormous variety of ...
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...300 SECRETS 1. A life is a terrible thing to waste. So easy to beat yourself up over mistakes you've made. So many amongst us live in the past rather than loving the present and building a brilliant future. First of all, no one tries to fail or mess things up. Every one of us wakes up in the morning, walks out into the world and does the best we can do based on what we know and the skills we have. But even more importantly, every so-called "mistake' is actually a rich source of learning. An opportunity to build more awareness and understanding and gain precious experience. Just maybe what we could call failures are actually growth lessons in wolf's clothing. And just maybe the person who experiences the most, wins. 2. A world-class company puts systems in place to ensure consistency of results. If you want to get something done and if you want to see consistent results, build a system around it. Celebrate the previous days wins and then rededicate to work for the mission. Systems‛ thinking builds structures into your life so that your best practices actually get integrated into your life. Systems allow you to live in a proactive rather than in a reactive way. And having a bunch of systems in place to keep you at your best doesn't mean that your life will be overly structured and full of stress Because nothing deprives a human being of happiness as much as seeing a life being wasted. 3. ABC. Always Be Connecting with everybody, everything around you. The best leaders build strong...
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...CHAPTER 1 WHAT IS CSR? eople create organizations to leverage their collective resources in pursuit of common goals. As organizations pursue these goals, they interact with others inside a larger context called society. Based on their purpose, organizations can be classified as for-profits, governments, or nonprofits. At a minimum, for-profits seek gain for their owners; governments exist to define the rules and structures of society within which all organizations must operate; and nonprofits (sometimes called NGOs—nongovernmental organizations) emerge to do social good when the political will or the profit motive is insufficient to address society’s needs. Aggregated across society, each of these different organizations represents a powerful mobilization of resources. In the United States, for example, more than 595,000 social workers are employed largely outside the public sector—many in the nonprofit community and medical organizations—filling needs not met by either government or the private sector.1 Society exists, therefore, as a mix of these different organizational forms. Each performs different roles, but each also depends on the others to provide the complete patchwork of exchange interactions (products and services, financial and social capital, etc.) that constitute a well-functioning society. Whether called corporations, companies, businesses, proprietorships, or firms, for example, for-profit organizations also interact with government, trade unions, suppliers,...
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