Personal Goals Free Essays

Leadership is a highly esteemed characteristic that attaches maximum political, business and social value with it. Every group, irrespective of its size and influence, is always in search for a leader whom it can trust to steer ahead through all the possible challenges and difficulties. Therefore leadership is an individual attribute   that allows one person   to motivate and carry many others towards common dreams and goals. We will write a custom essay sample on Personal Goals or any similar topic only for you Order Now Leadership, by its very definition, commands implicit faith, and confidence in the actions, decisions and philosophy of the leader. Here it is vital to understand that leadership is a dynamic and integral quality of a person and leaders emerge from ordinary groups; they are not made, elected or appointed. Arguably, there are no definite copy-book rules to construct a leader. The difficulties, complexities, and challenges associated with a situation give impetus to leadership qualities in otherwise ordinary people who believe in themselves that they are capable of rising up to the difficulties as well as helping others out of it. Therefore although it might be difficult to ‘teach’ a person quality of good leader, yet one can expect to inculcate leadership qualities by observing styles and principles of successful leaders. It is said that a leader is a dealer in hope. Leadership is then about inspiration, motivation, encouragement and direction that pulls people to accomplishments that they would not had managed if left alone. However, effective leadership is a very challenging domain as it requires some impeccable personal and organizational traits that can be developed and realized through considerable experience, knowledge and self- discipline. There are no fixed guidelines, set of rules and laws that exactly prescribe the traits, qualities and attributes of a successful leader. Quite often the leadership is situational and the leader is required to act purely through intuition and circumstantial requirements. However there are certain essential skills and characteristics that are rather mandatory for effective leadership are 1 Trustworthiness: Trustworthiness is about integrity in action. Effective leadership is about achieving coordination in words and actions and following the age old principles of truth, honesty and personal integrity. 2. Fairness: Leaders can’t afford to be biased or prejudiced or it would jeopardize the confidence of the followers in their secular character. 3. Communication and listening skill. Leadership requires excellent communication and listening skill through which the leaders can articulate their views unambiguously and also hear the views of others to give them sense of participation and involvement. 4. Initiative: Leadership is about taking initiative and orienting other people towards it. Taking initiative pulls the organization rapidly ahead. 5. Good judgment: Leaders must have the ability to process all information in the backdrop of their knowledge to make correct decisions 6. Motivational capacity: Leadership is ineffective if it cant motivate people to the dream and vision of the leader. It is the most desirous quality of a leader and one that is hallmark of leadership. A good leader should be honest, loyal and committed to the goals of the organization he intends to lead. A good leader should not have a desire for wrongful gains or hidden agendas. This is why perhaps people emphasize on transparency in all dealings of any organization. Some leaders have a self plan and pursue them rather than acting in the interests of the organization. Committed to the cause of the organization or group and being live to the sacrifices and pains of your colleagues is a basic quality of a good leader. National leaders and particularly the freedom fighters of several nations had steadfast qualities and determination in them, which helped them carry on and ultimately succeed. A good leader is perhaps a good follower. There is never a stage in which you have mastered everything and this applies even to leadership. Each day you learn more and more, perhaps the rights and wrongs of your own acts too. I have always been a wilful learner and strongly believe I should always keep learning if I am to lead.   I have always respected people with values and accountability. A leader is accountable for his actions and should voluntarily open up to any questions or suspicions in his dealings. Similarly a good leader should also emphasize such qualities among his followers and make them accountable too. Simplicity is a mark of identity for any leader and projecting himself as a role model. A leader’s thoughts, actions and words should be a reflection of him, inspiring all who follow. A leader indeed should have uncommon qualities to successfully lead his organization. One of the main challenges of a leader is his ability to manage change. Change is a permanent reality across time. The world is changing at an unprecedented pace, as never before witnessed. Change in an organization, group or any set up involves altering its structure, processes, the behaviour of its management and staff, its strategy, environment etc. The structure of an organization is one of the most common targets of change. This includes the manner in which it is held together, the various configurations of people and the relationship between them, communication channels, job roles and skills. The relationships within an organization are extremely important as it contributes to the internal shape and coherence. Some processes which are altered as a result of change implementation are communication processes, management processes and learning process. Periodic reviews of its goals and progress are vital for any organization or team to stay aligned with its objectives and expectations. I understand the need and consequences of change, which an organization undertakes according to the demands placed on it. Ongoing communication can motivate managers and employees and help them to overcome resistance to an initiative, keep them prepared for the ups and downs of change. Organizations are managed by several forms of leadership based on the exertion of authority within the organization. Two main, but interconnected types of leadership in organizations are the transformational leadership and the transactional leadership, both having strong philosophical and ethical foundations. Transformational leadership gives followers the opportunity to assess the leader’s view, to seek explanations and provide solutions, while transactional leadership is more based on imposition, where followers are driven by the praise, promise or reward of the leader. In the transactional leadership, the followers are confronted by reproof, threats and disciplinary actions. Transformational leadership has become more popular in the last three decades primarily due to the changing global economy. Transformational leadership promotes equality, justice and human rights through loyalty and fairness. Recent findings suggest that team performance and communication are improved under transformational leadership. Authentic transformational leaders are sometimes transactional too. The leader may present his opinion, plans and exhort agreement on them, which however may be in the mutual interest of all involved. I consider myself as a typical transformational leader open to criticism and discussion, unafraid of my decisions being questioned. After all only collective thinking and cooperation can bring results. People generally do whatever they want to do or, are motivated to do. Motivation is another vital component associated with productivity in workplaces. Suitable theories and principles of employee motivation are applied with basic logic to address the psyche of employees who are to be motivated. Motivation can also be described as a crucial skill for any business to succeed. It involves inducing individuals from his actual and deviant state to a required desired state in a specific way. Each motivational system must be specifically designed according to the organization and prevailing circumstances. Recognizing and understanding the motivational factors for each employee or follower is very important. It would be surprising to know that things like job security, money etc. cannot help in motivating people. However fear, like yelling from boss, do serve as a short-term motivator. Employees, colleagues and supporters all need to be motivated to perform to the levels expected of them. As a thoughtful leader, I can easily motivate my employees by setting an example and not forcing them to follow me. Recruitment is a very important function of human resources and recruitment strategies are vital in attracting talented and smart prospective candidates. Selection of best candidates who fit with the work culture of the organization is very important. The recruitment also has a direct bearing on the retention factor in an organization, apart from work efficiency and quality. Be it an organization, a political party or any association; it is very essential that only the right people with the right mindset occupy responsible positions. My association with people helps me to identify such people with the right mentality and the ones who should be kept away. As a leader I try to ensure that the goals and ideals of my employee are not shouldered by wrong persons. Conflict and dissatisfaction with superiors like other leaders and officers is another common cause for resignations. When managers or team leaders fail to provide the required leadership by bullying their subordinates or treating people unfairly, it gives rise to employee discontent. Such situations emphasize on the qualities of the manager and the team leader. Only those with well-developed leadership qualities must be selected as second level leaders. They should be trained in leadership skills, methods of resolving conflict and also on dealing with grievances. Poor selection or promotion decisions too can result in rapid turnover. The selection and promotion processes must be on par with the capabilities of the individuals, with regard to the work they do. As a leader, I know that I keep a close watch on the attrition rate of my organization to seek answers as to what makes people unhappy within my business. I have also implemented exit interviews to identify grievances and offer redress. Leadership is not a characteristic that exists in isolation. As it is defined, leadership implies establishing coordination, orientation, cooperation, and collaboration among the followers to accomplish designated objectives and goals. It is   possible when leaders can inspire their followers with respect, admiration, discipline, confidence in the abilities of the leader while being helped to envision themselves as empowered individuals. A good leader has the ability to take over even most complex, demanding and otherwise impossible condition by exhibiting personal integrity, ethical and moral traits and values that other can relate to and aspire to imbibe in their own conduct (Laurie, 2000, 53). Here it is important to distinguish personal charisma from leadership, as personal charisma, being an person specific phenomena, can awe people but hardly give them impetus to follow in the footsteps of the leader. Leadership is also means natural acquisition of power and potential to change its equation affect over the leaders and their followers. There inherent dangers associated with power, and for most of the people, the timeless adage-‘power corrupts’ suits justly. Power contains a temptation that is hard to resist and has potential to become the ultimate goal for a person rather the tool that was designated in helping to achieve the goals.   But a genuine leader understands this irony of power and therefore believes that power should be shared with others so that it can grow. The real power of leaders is their ability to inspire others with a sense of power and confidence How to cite Personal Goals, Essay examples

Consumer Behavior Academy of Marketing Science

Question: Discuss about the Consumer Behavior for Academy of Marketing Science. Answer: Introduction Demography is the statistical view of the population of a country. It includes gender, income, aging, marital status, occupation, and schooling among others. For any business to be successful, it is essential to understand the demographics of a place. Understanding the demography helps to understand the nature and behavior of the target customers. Moreover, demography is useful to identify market segments, plan appropriate marketing mix and estimate market potential (Solomon 2014). The demographic trends affecting the gym and fitness industry are as follows: Demographic trends Gym and fitness Pay TV Restaurants 1. Present longer life span of the senior citizen. Senior citizens want to live a healthy life. They want to avoid cardiovascular diseases. This age group wants to take the benefits of an active social life (Yu et al. 2014) The older generation is one of the generations who find pleasure in watching TV. It is a generation which likes to stay glued to their television screens. This generation may find using Pay TV like Netflix a bit cumbersome as it is online (Heath 2012). The older generations try to avoid restaurants because of foods with high curb. Older generations are thus not the target for restaurateurs (Heath 2012). However, restaurants must also cater to the taste of the older generation. 2. The Baby Boomers generation Baby boomers want to stay young forever. They would spend a lot of money for keeping themselves fit. They would get more time after retirement and hence would devote a lot of their time to the gym. The baby boomers generation is growing fast. People want to achieve fitness and be active in their later years (Solomon 2014). They want to prevent the problems during old age. Keeping themselves fit is a precautionary step to avoid diseases due to old age. The baby boomer market is vital for the fitness industry. They want to age actively. Baby boomers watch television almost five to six hours a day. They are thus a major contributor. They can be called the TV generation. This generation comprises the prime time audience (Kardes et al. 2014) Baby boomers dine out more often as they have the freedom, time and means. Thus baby boomers would impact the food and beverage industry broadly. The traffic in restaurants has increased due to baby boomers. The baby boomers form regular customers (Mullen and Johnson 2013). 3. Generation X with a growing family household and a huge mortgage. The Generation X want to go to gym but are often busy This generation is active in social groups and would write reviews of their experiences. This would promote the gyms without any extra cost. The like-mindedness of this community connects them through social media. This generation is always in search to stay fit and healthy. They seek new trends and are also the trendsetters. This quest in the generation would benefit the gym industry and help it to be more creative (Mullen and Johnson 2013). Generation X are the followers of celebrities and latest trends shown on television. Thus, they follow the fashion through television. The Gen X is less concerned about prices. The Gen X is the reason why the fast food chains are growing and flourishing. This generation is likely to be frequent restaurant goers. They also prefer delivery due to their busy schedule. This has resulted in an increase in the home delivery mode (Hanna et al. 2013) 4. Present smaller family unit and more "single adult" households (Generation Y) This generation would help the industry to develop technologically as the Gen X utilizes fitness and health apps more than any other generation. The Gen X reflects the emerging trends and passes on fads. The Generation Y are interested in outdoor and group oriented activities. So they would prefer going to the gym and sports club (Claiborne and Sirgy 2015). This generation puts a lot of emphasis on health and fitness. They search new ways to hit the treadmill. Being single householders, the gym is an excellent way to socialize as well as keep them fit. They are the kids of baby boomers and use the internet extensively. They use mobile phones and apps extensively and hence can watch pay televisions whenever they wish to. Smaller family units often go to restaurants and eat out. The trend of small family groups is rising and hence is the trend of eating out. This generation is thus a major contributor in this industry. Since they do not like to prepare food at home, they like to eat out (Solomon 2014). New lifestyle The present lifestyle is such that everyone wants to be more active and fit. This trend in the modern era has prompted individuals to go to the gym and sports club. For many people, fitness is a passion. They crave for it. In fact, fitness has become a passion for many. A gym routine is something which is on the priority list. For this, people are following trends on television channels thereby leading to growth and development of Pay TV industry. Moreover, people of every generation intend to be trendy (Mullen and Johnson 2013). With the increase in technology and use of smartphones, more and more people tend to use pay TVs like Netflix, Stan, Presto, and Foxtel. People today now want everything at the touch of their fingers. Watching television sitting at the corner of a room is no more fashionable. This choice of individuals has been advantageous for the Pay TV industry. Also, an increase of fitness content on social media has increased the consumption level. The new lifestyle of individuals in modern times is such that they want to be fit and remain healthy. Even if eating out is a fad, people today are inclined more towards food that is healthier and has low-fat content. This has prompted restaurateurs to develop a menu and cook foods which are healthy (Kardes et al. 2014). People even agree to pay more for a healthy diet. It is well evident from the above discussion that the health and food and media industry are interconnected with each other. The new lifestyle of modern times has thus prompted a growth in all the three industries. Income The revenue of the consumers is one of the most crucial factors upon which their behavior depends. A rise in income would prompt people to spend more. Income and expenditure are proportional to each other. Individuals who earn more would go out to restaurants more often and spend more. This is, of course, beneficial for restaurants. They would search for gyms and health fitness clubs that are technologically advanced and use upgraded machines (Heath 2012). The black box model of consumer behavior The black box model is very useful in showing the characteristics of the consumer, their responses, and decision process. The focus is on the relation between the reaction to the customers and the stimuli. Some of the characteristics of buyers are knowledge, motivation, personality, perceptions, and attitudes. These features affect the market widely. Marketing stimulus such as product, price, promotion, and place are also crucial factors on which the behavior of the consumers depends (Yu et al. 2014). Consumer markets in the present times are undergoing rapid changes and are flooded with new challenges and opportunities. The modern lifestyle, changes in attitudes and behaviors of consumers, growth in the service sector- all influence the consumer market largely. The behavior of customers in the gym and fitness industry depends on the brand loyalty and consumer awareness. The more the awareness, the more is profit and revenue. All the industries must cater to the taste of consumers and use a technologically developed system. Customer loyalty would lead to growth in the gym and fitness and Pay TV industry. These industries have high growth potential (Heath 2012). Restaurants are discovering new business opportunities with every passing day due to the rapidly changing lifestyle and the behavioral patterns. Going to restaurants and eating out is a fad and people prefer to go out at least once every week. Hence, this industry must modify itself as per the changing lifestyle and consumption trends. The value consumers receive, is very crucial for them to be loyal customers of a particular restaurant or sports club. Conclusion It is thus seen that the demography of a place is a very influential factor. It affects the behavior of consumers to a large extent. The behavior of customers, in turn, has an impact on the industries. A person who earns more would spend more, and this would benefit organizations. The black box model is an efficient tool to analyze the behavior of customers and the trends in the marketplace. References Altman, M., 2015. Handbook of contemporary behavioral economics: foundations and developments. Routledge. Altman, M., 2015. Handbook of contemporary behavioral economics: foundations and developments. Routledge. Chiu, W., Kwag, M.S. and Bae, J.S., 2015. Customers as partial employees: the influences of satisfaction and commitment on customer citizenship behavior in fitness centers. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 15(4), p.627. Claiborne, C.B. and Sirgy, M.J., 2015. Self-image congruence as a model of consumer attitude formation and behavior: A conceptual review and guide for future research. In Proceedings of the 1990 Academy of Marketing Science (AMS) Annual Conference (pp. 1-7). Springer International Publishing. Goh, K.Y., Heng, C.S. and Lin, Z., 2013. Social media brand community and consumer behavior: Quantifying the relative impact of user-and marketer-generated content. Information Systems Research, 24(1), pp.88-107. Hanna, N., Wozniak, R. and Hanna, M., 2013. Consumer behavior: An applied approach. Kendall Hunt Publishing Company. Heath, S., 2012. System and method for social networking interactions using online consumer browsing behavior, buying patterns, advertisements and affiliate advertising, for promotions, online coupons, mobile services, products, goods services, entertainment and auctions, with geospatial mapping technology. U.S. Patent Application 13/369,244. Kardes, F., Cronley, M. and Cline, T., 2014. Consumer behavior. Cengage Learning. Migliore, G., Schifani, G. and Cembalo, L., 2015. Opening the black box of food quality in the short supply chain: Effects of conventions of quality on consumer choice. Food Quality and Preference, 39, pp.141-146. Mullen, B. and Johnson, C., 2013. The psychology of consumer behavior. Psychology Press. Solomon, M.R., 2014. Consumer behavior: Buying, having, and being. Engelwood Cliffs, NJ: prentice Hall. Yu, H.S., Zhang, J.J., Kim, D.H., Chen, K.K., Henderson, C., Min, S.D. and Huang, H., 2014. Service quality, perceived value, customer satisfaction, and behavioral intention among fitness center members aged 60 years and over. Social Behavior and Personality: an international journal, 42(5), pp.757-767.

Proctor Gamble Company

Scope of the Report. This report is designed to address the economic, political, social and environmental opportunities and risks facing Proctor and Gamble Company in the next ten years.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Proctor Gamble Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Executive Summary. Several decades ago, organizations have been exposed to limited regulations and existed in less competitive environments. As a result, several companies may not have observed the utmost care in the provision of goods and services to their customers. In the recent world, however, more regulations have been imposed and competition has stiffened due to increasing business competitors. As a result, there has been improvement in the quality of goods and services, as well as, adherence to environmental sustainability. Therefore, the objective of this study is to assess the economic, political, social and environmental opportunit ies and risks facing Proctor and Gamble Company in the next ten years. In the first section, the overview of the company and stakeholder analysis is given. In the second section, the current issues facing the company are analyzed in detail. Lastly, the issues that the company would face ten years to come are explained in detail and a conclusion given. Overview of the Company. Proctor and Gamble Company is a multinational company that ranks highly among the fortune 500 companies (McGowan 24). The company deals in the manufacture and production of several household products that are affordable. In 1837, William Proctor and James Gamble dealers in candle production and soap making respectively, met and started the company (Funding Universe 7). Several years later, the two business partners successfully started their first laboratory within the United States of America (Funding Universe 7). Roughly 58 years later, in 1930, the company acquired a British soap manufacture and went on to e stablish a new manufacturing plant in the Philippines. Currently, the company is a market leader and sells over 300 products in several countries on the globe. â€Å"Some of these valuable products that the company boasts of include Pampers, Ariel, Tide, Gillette, Oral-B, Max Factor, and Mr. Clean† (Funding Universe 7). Proctor Gamble conducts intensive research and marketing all over the world, reaching in excess of 160 countries, and owns 115 factories in over 80 countries (McGowan 24). As mentioned earlier, the company was founded and is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the United States of America. In all the worldwide plants, Proctor and Gamble possesses average of 138,000 employees and still growing. Besides the company’s capitalization in products, other fields such as the organization of radio and television shows have been exploited. Some of the aired shows include Down to Earth and Shirley Jones which have also played a significant role in marketing the company as a whole.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Proctor and Gamble’s products are classified into five segments according to the functions of the products. â€Å"These five segments include fabric and home care, beauty care, baby and family care, health care, and snacks and beverages, which, allow for the easier application of various marketing techniques and strategies† (Funding Universe 7). The profitability of the company is attained through marketing all segments especially fabric and home, and beauty care that form the largest and second largest segments in terms of revenue. However, as the world population increases and intermingle, people’s needs, tastes and preferences, and loyalty tend to change with time. As such, existing and new entrants in the industry have kept increasing the competition forcing Proctor and Gamble to take appropriate measures to maintain a competitive edge in capital market zones. For instance, implementation of the ‘Organization 2005’ is one key strategy that is used to increase its global market share of the company. As such, this paper aims at giving the current political, economic, social, and environmental issues affecting the organization of Proctor and Gamble. Furthermore, the paper will address the political, social, economical, and environmental issues that will most likely affect the company 10 years from now, as well as, give the associated risks and opportunities. Key Stakeholders Proctor and Gamble has several partners who own key shares in the company according to the company rules of ownership. However, there is no significant evidence of the actual percentage of ownership in the company. Current Issues Economic Issues Since the 2007-2008 global recessions, the Gross Domestic Product of several nations both in the developed and developing countries, including the Unit ed States, have gradually decreased. For instance, the GDP in the United States experienced a reduction at an alarming rate of over 6 percent in the year 2008, and more people lost their jobs as a consequence. The GDP is the total value of all the goods and services produced by an economy in an annual basis and indicate the overall performance of the economy. Therefore, when the GDP of a country drops, fewer goods and services are produced; hence, people stay out of employment because organizations will try to reduce the workers (Isidore 1). Since the global recession, this has been the situation on the ground resulting in the weakening of consumer purchasing power. As a result, organizations will experience less profit due to reduction in the volume of sales (Isidore 1).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Proctor Gamble Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Ben Bernanke, the Federal Reserve Chair man, the situation would continue to exist until an improvement in its exporting destinations in several other parts of the world occurs. Further, he asserts that the rate at which the United States Economy recovers is dependent on the economy abroad because the country expects to rejuvenate through export revenues. Proctor and Gamble Company serve a vast market both in the United States and abroad, selling in excess of 300 products to more than 80 nations of the world (McGowan 24). As such, the economic hardships of such economies have negatively affected the operation and general profitability of the company. This is because the global economy plays a key role in ensuring that the company’s products move smoothly in all the target markets (Wohi 1). Despite the slight improvement in the economies during the recent years, the cost of oil has continued to shoot up leading to a second phase of inflation. This again, impacts the ability of potential Proctor and Gamble customers to purchase their products; hence, reduced profitability has continued to exist. Furthermore, Proctor and Gamble imports most of its raw materials from other countries and in the recent years, this has hugely impacted the performance of the company. For instance, commodity prices have drastically surged by more than 50 percent since 2002. As a result, close to half of Proctor and Gamble product costs are directly related to the cost of raw materials. In order to remain in business and make reasonable profits, the company resorted to increase the prices of several brands. However, being a market leader, Proctor and Gamble enjoys the economies of scale and can effectively moderate inflation of raw materials as compared to competitors (Shailaja, 2). The raw materials adversely affected by the inflation include coffee pries, growing paper pulp prices, fuel prices, and natural gas prices among several others that are not mentioned. As a consequence, the associated product prices such as coffee brands, fabric, and diaper goods have experienced fluctuations in expenses, as well as, generated reasonable profits for the company (Wohi 1). Despite the economic hardships being experienced in several nations, Proctor and Gamble has set up strategies that ensure success in its operations (Shailaja, 2).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Political Issues The current economic situation in the United States and the other leading economies trigger various government reactions (Shah 5). As such, several governments including the United States Government has imposed some regulations in order to allow the smooth recovery of the economy. Apart from leading economies such as the United States’ economy, Japan’s economy, Britain’s economy, Spain’s economy and the economy of Singapore, other emerging economies of the world such as China have continuously been exposed to the effects of the global economy deterioration. With the United States economy being affected, China also experiences the economic strain as their exports to the United States significantly reduce. This scenario calls for political intervention by concerned governments in order to drive their economies towards the right direction. For instance, the gradual economic deterioration, inflation and unemployment put pressure on Ben Bernan ke to speed up the interest rate cuts in the United States in order to reduce the benchmark rate 0.75 percent down. This move was quickly adopted by central bankers in several other nations such as Japan and the UK region in order to allow their economies to thrive in the current economic difficulties. According to the IMF, the economy of the United States accounts for approximately 21 percent of the global economy; therefore, the deterioration of the economy put significant trickling effect to several other economies of the world. The reduction in the spending ability of American consumers has necessitated organizations to limit their importation budgets in order to avoid incurring losses. According to relevant sources the uncertainty of the United States stock prices has also negatively impacted other markets in several countries (Isidore 1). Apart from economy deterioration and inflation effects, there are other government regulations and policies that have significantly influenc ed the operation of leading organizations such as Proctor and Gamble Company. In recent occurrences, different consumer protection bodies have raised concerns over the dangerous chemical compositions of certain cosmetic goods. Additionally, researches conducted on the chemical compositions of cosmetic goods have indicated that 0.33 of these goods have carcinogens. In connection to that, the United States Food and Drug Administration imposed strict quality adherence rules that all cosmetics manufacturers must follow. These quality adherence regulations were imposed to ensure that consumers are protected against harmful products. These recent governing rules on product quality adherence impose significant delays in product launches within companies. Furthermore, the regulations lead to higher costs of finished goods due to a high cost in the product development process. As such, companies will have to ensure they meet such regulations; otherwise, they stand a risk of getting enormous fines or being banned from operation. In Europe, for example, the European Chemicals Agency was created in order to provide regulation on the quality of finished goods within the entire European markets. In order to comply with the strict rules and regulations, companies have to incur more costs. As a result, there is the creation of new barriers of entry that leads to a steady rise in fake household goods that put the general consumer population to new health risks. Proctor and Gamble, however, has set up new strategies to ensure the cases of counterfeits in its products are minimized so as to avoid revenue reduction and weakening of its brand image. Another political issue that has influenced the running of Proctor and Gamble is the change in the rules that govern the disposal of solid wastes. In order for the company to adhere to the strict rules, it changed to manufacturing some of its products such as diapers with biodegradable materials rather than PVC plastics. As a result, t he creation of recyclable diapers has been remarkably successful and enabled the company to realize substantial profits. Social Issues From the onset of the 21st century, key demographic changes took place in the American society and the world as a whole. As such, more and more women started going to work, and even some of them became the sole bread winners among their families. As years went by, families became more stable than in the earlier years; hence, the purchasing power of consumers significantly improved (Shah 5). Furthermore, mothers could take care of even larger families without straining their budgets as hard as it used to be several years back. On the other hand, companies such as Proctor and Gamble immediately identified the potential that existed in these consumers and took a positive step to market itself. The company identified women as their target group for household, beauty and other personal products; therefore, advertised directly to them. By using this techni que, Proctor and Gamble successfully entered the market and controlled a bigger market share than other competitors. Procter and Gamble went ahead to use women as decision influencers in the remaining product categories like food and beverage, and detergents. Additionally, Proctor and Gamble effectively applied the use of media such as radio and television shows as a way of promoting its brand name and products to the entire consumer population. This process involved the selection of proper media and programs in order to get sufficient conversions from the targeted consumers. Some of the aired shows that have played a significant role in marketing the company products include Down to Earth and Shirley Jones. In comparison to other competing organizations, Proctor and Gamble has consistently enjoyed the benefits of its innovations in most of the markets, both in the United States and abroad. Despite the various benefits that Proctor and Gamble has gained, there are cases where they h ave underperformed. From a general perspective, social concerns, lifestyle, and attitude play a crucial role in determining the success, failure or reputation of any organization that deliver goods and services. Over the recent years, for example, Proctor and Gamble experienced several boycotts that are linked to the exploitation of animals by the company. According to relevant sources, the company uses animals to conduct tests for products in order to ensure they are safe for use by their consumers. As established by animal rights organizations, the company and its leadership have engaged in unworthy practices that create an attitude that transfers fame and profits to the strong at the expense of the environment, people and animals. This scenario led to widespread trust issues about the company’s ethical standing, and the management had to step in to save the situation. â€Å"During the 5th World Congress on Alternative and Animal Use in Life Sciences (2005), the company ac cepted that it engages in animal testing as the last option in order to ensure products are fit for use by consumers† (Federal Institute of Risk Assessment 3). However, the company management insisted that they are making plans to remove the use of animals in conducting their product research (Federal Institute of Risk Assessment 3). As a resolution, the company stated that it has commits itself to employing other means of conducting product research within the company. This is depicted in its collaboration with government bodies and academia to promote the acceptance of alternative means for product research and testing in the company. Environmental Issues In all countries, there are several environmental concerns that are addressed for a peaceful coexistence between man and the environment to be realized. These environmental issues are addressed through the creation of environmental laws that control the activities undertaken (Shah 5). In most scenarios, these laws significa ntly influence the operation of key organizations both positively and negatively. In the United States, for example, there are several environmental laws which have been drafted to ensure the environment is kept clean and conducive for habitation now and for future generations. For example, the passing of the Solid Waste Act (1976) was intended at eliminating the causes of environmental dereliction that worsened due to increased population growth. Several companies had to respond to this environmental law or risk being penalized. Furthermore, the damage caused by disposal of diapers was counteracted by strictly following the established environmental laws. The rise of recyclable diapers also had some implications on the manufacturers such as the strict regulations and changes in consumer preferences. Furthermore, operating companies like Proctor and Gamble had to deal with increased levels of consumer awareness concerns and resentment for buying disposable diapers. In response, Proc tor and Gamble came up with the idea of using pulp to manufacture diapers rather than using PVC plastics and claimed their diapers are recyclable (Sewell 2). Since the diapers were biodegradable they eliminated cases of health hazard arising from non-biodegradable PVC diapers; hence, resulted in a cleaner environment (Sewell 2). In more recent years, newer regulations have been created such as the need for the provision of high health standard products, energy saving options and control of exhaust gases into the atmosphere. As a result, several organizations have strived to meet these regulations and global objectives by carrying out the best associated activities. Proctor and Gamble engaged in the 2005 Clinton Global Initiatives that are intended at providing the world with the best services for better live (Stockhouse 1). As such, the company committed itself to offering clean drinking water to millions of children in developing countries such as in the sub-Saharan Africa and Asia . According to relevant sources, more than 13 million children in the United States have inadequate food supplies, but Proctor and Gamble strives in to offer the necessary support (Proctor Gamble, 22). Through the leadership of McDonald (CEO) several environmental objectives have been realized depicting his excellent leadership skills and ability to serve without bias (Shedlock 2). For instance, the company successfully lowered water usage by 7 percent, energy consumption by 6 percent and carbon dioxide emissions by 8 percent in the year 2008. According to relevant sources, these results are exceptional and can only be realized through complete sacrifice and the ultimate determination to succeed. Furthermore, Proctor and Gamble helped to supply and distribute 430 million liters of safe drinking water in several parts of the world in its initiative to reach needy children in 2008 (Stockhouse 1). As a result, the company has continued to show its commitment to reach, support and impr ove the lives of people in the global scenario (Shedlock 2). Such initiatives also uphold the ethical drive of the company and in the long run may help to strategize its marketing capabilities in new markets. Future Opportunities and Risks. In the next 10 years, Proctor and Gamble Company will continue to experience significant changes in the political, economical, social and environmental issues. These changes will force the company to respond by creating strategies in order to remain competitive within the market and retain its market leadership (Proctor Gamble, 20-52). In the following pages, the possible issues, opportunities and associated risks that may impact the company are discussed in detail. Economic Issues By assessing the current global development trend, there are significant indicators of an increased economic performance in several countries. For example, various developing countries have established global goals and strive to meet these goals in order to have a rat ing on the global scenario (Shah 5). As a result of these initiatives, there are increased chances of better performance in developing countries within the next years. In response to this effect, various multinational companies have already started establishing their roots in such countries so that they can enjoy the benefit of first investors. These potential future economies are referred to as emerging markets and have the capacity to change the rating of an organization. Proctor and Gamble, for that matter, has started laying strategies for opening and establishing its operations in emerging markets such as in countries like India and Malaysia (Proctor Gamble Company 5). As such, the company’s idea is to locate itself close to the future consumers, as well as, win a bigger share of the market. These plans became clear in 2008, when the company announced its intention of establishing 19 factories in developing countries that have experienced exponential growth in their GDP over the recent years. Such strategic moves give the company a better chance of utilizing the new economic opportunities before other competing companies enter the new markets. Other opportunities associated with establishing itself in new markets include the enjoyment of free markets with less competition and still offer the best products. Considering that 80 percent of the world’s population resides in the developing countries, the potential of Proctor and Gamble to remain a market leader for several years to come is undoubted. However, despite the fact that there are numerous opportunities in establishing the company’s future in emerging markets, there still exist risks that should be put into consideration. First of all, competing companies such as Unilever and Colgate-Palmolive have already established factories in some of these markets; hence, Proctor and Gamble is expected to receive some form of competition during the implementation process. Furthermore, the c ompetition to offer the best products at the most affordable costs will have a significant effect on the reduction of overall profit margins. Second of all, developing countries tend to have unstable economies and the markets would vary with little uncertainty. As such, Proctor and Gamble may be in a risk of losing potential income trying to maintain its operation in such markets. Social Issues. Demographic factors such as population play a key role in creating a stable market that multinational companies can thrive in well. In most developing countries, the population growth rate is high and more children are being born (Shah 5). As such, the continued population growth increases the size of the potential market in the target developing countries. Therefore, in the coming 10 years, Proctor and Gamble will explore this excellent opportunity in the developing markets. With continued population growth, the demand for household products will increase; hence, a significant increase in t he volume of sales will be realized by the company. In addition to that, the social services that the company has been offering in the developing countries such as provision of safe drinking water and food in sub-Saharan Africa will live a lasting impact on the people (Proctor Gamble Company 5). As a result, the company will be appreciated for its ethical moves and potential consumers will always value being associated with the company. Therefore, the company’s name and brand will ensure it thrives well against other competing organizations. Furthermore, developing countries have an increased awareness in the value of education and more children are being taken to school. In Africa, on the other hand, education barriers and bias against the female gender is slowly diminishing and more females are being taken to school. As such, the level of literacy in the developing countries is going to improve, and the society will appreciate several development issues. According to relev ant information, literacy tends to increase the value of an economy because more people get into employment and are able to become financially independent. Ten years from now, this will be the likely scenario in developing markets because more people will be financially worthy due to created employment opportunities. As such, Proctor and Gamble is bound to operate within profitable margins because the purchasing power of the local citizens will have improved. Despite the potential opportunities, Proctor and Gamble will still be exposed to various risks during the implementation process in the emerging markets (Monks, Minow 32). For instance, other societies have various preferences and attachments to products. This might be the scenario in Asian countries where social values and culture play a crucial role in the behavior and lifestyle of the people (Puckett, 6). As such, Proctor and Gamble may have a rough time convincing or even changing certain products to march their tastes and preferences (Puckett, 6). Furthermore, existing competitors in developing countries will trigger strong product wars because the existing organizations will have studied the market and the needs of consumers. As a result, Proctor and Gamble will need to be more innovative in order to realize substantial market capitalization. Political Issues. In developing countries, there are several political factors that determine the success or failure of an organization. As such, the factors can positively influence or hinder the progress of a company in the territories (Shah 5). Governments in the Far East, India, Malaysia and China have strict government regulations that operating companies have to follow. However, there are both opportunities and risks that are associated with these regulations. As a result of the global wave, however, most governments have removed some of the strict regulations in order to allow global operations and businesses to thrive well in their countries. With this trend spreading to various developing countries, Proctor and Gamble will have an opportunity to trade without strict restrictions that would prevent smooth operation of the company. Proctor and Gamble has already started making advances that would enable maximization of these opportunities. For example, the company has already declared its intention in setting up an oleochemichal plant in Indonesia in order to secure a stable future supply for its fatty alcohol requirements (Proctor Gamble, 20-52). According to relevant sources, Proctor and Gamble has secured $100 million for the future investment in the Indonesian soil. On the other hand, Proctor and Gamble will have to face various risks that are usually associated with developing countries. Political instability is a leading cause of instability in developing countries and may negatively impact the operation and profitability of an organization (Sullivan 43). Several developing countries experience political instability due to an unstable government, civil wars and corruption among government officials (Puckett, 6). Such occurrences may hinder businesses operations and cause damages, overheads and other management issues. As Proctor and Gamble plans to enter the markets, it should be ready to face such risks in the near future. Additionally, other countries impose unusually high tax policies that would impact the profitability of the operating companies. In most African countries, for example, government imposes heavy taxes on the working population and operating companies. As a result, both the purchasing power and the profits margin of the operating companies are negatively affected. In the long run, some companies may fail to break even in the planned duration or even shut down due to excessive operating costs. Therefore, Proctor and Gamble will be exposed to this risk of operation and should be prepared for the worst case. Environmental Issues. In the current world, environmental issues are a serious concern and in many countries, the global perspective is preferred. For instance, several projects are undertaken with regards to their sustainability and value to the environment. In line with the global sustainability requirements, several governments have established their environmental laws to cater for efficiency such as the reduction in energy consumption, water consumption and reduction in carbon dioxide emissions (Proctor Gamble, 17). As a global initiative, several countries are taking part in these movements. Therefore, the governing laws encourage people and organizations to help make the world a more habitable place now, and several decades to come (Shah 5). Through such activities, the people are informed and learn how to use and manage resources. In the long run, the people will lead healthy lives; hence, save on hospital bills, medications and other associated costs. All these occurrences will enable the population in developing countries to be more sustainable and a ble to support their families because of improved living standards. As a result, the resultant population will eventually increase their ability to spend on their own improvement. In that sense, Proctor and Gamble will explore this opportunity and operate sustainably in such countries. The best part is that Proctor and Gamble has already taken an initiative to uphold sustainability among several developing countries such as in India, Malaysia and sub-Saharan Africa (Monks, Minow 32). The company has successfully managed to deliver clean drinking water to needy children all over the world in an effort to improve their lives (Proctor Gamble Company 5). As such, it has made a strong impact that will last impact the society. In the future, unfortunately, some governments would impose strict rules that would negatively impact the operations and profitability of Proctor and Gamble in their countries (Sullivan 43). These rules may include heavy ban on certain raw materials such as wood i n order to prevent deforestation and the slow process of desertification. Since the company heavily uses pulp in the manufacture of products and packaging material, it may have to find alternatives at the expense of its profitability. Therefore, such imposed bans would result in high operation costs and subsequent reduction in the company’s profit margins. Other regions such the European Union have strict environmental laws that determine the quality of products and the acceptable chemical compositions (Sullivan 43). In cosmetics products, for instance, harmful chemical products may be controlled by such laws and enormous fines would be imposed if such chemicals are reported to exist at harmful concentration levels. Proctor and Gamble will also incur further expenses in efforts to respond to strict laws. Conclusions and Recommendations. Several decades ago, many organizations operated without much regulation that would impact the operation of such organizations in a great man ner. Companies were established, operated, and several sustainability factors were never given the utmost attention. As a result, there was inadequate consumer protection laws, environmental laws, as well as, risk assessment procedures. With increasing awareness on the impacts of such establishments, the society started planning ways of protecting the environment, people and animals through setting up the governing rules. These rules and regulations change as time goes to accommodate the factors handled at one moment in time. Therefore, organization has grown and adapted to match the requirements of the society and deliver the best on its part. Proctor and Gamble, for example, has existed for more than a century and has undergone a series of changes through several generations. At the moment, Proctor and Gamble is a multinational company with products in excess of 300 and operates globally in more than 80 countries. As highlighted in the document, the company is a market leader and takes a strong lead in innovations. For instance, relevant sources have indicated that, on a yearly basis, the company introduces one to two leading brands into the market. In approximately 10 years from now, the company is devising strategies of reaching emerging markets. In connection to that, the company will be exposed to several opportunities within the political, social, economical and environmental perspectives. However, the success of the company depends on its ability to innovate and set up strategies that will carry it forward through the markets (Monks, Minow 32). On the other hand, the company will still face risks that may result from operating within the markets. As mentioned in the paper, the risks are numerous, and the company will have to create ways of negotiating past the risks (Sewell 2). As a market leader, the company must have the tactics of operating in exceptional markets and still emerge victorious in the end. Proctor and Gamble is a market leader and a pa ce setter; hence, it is inevitable to mention that it leans more on the success side than the failure side. Finally, I would like to conclude that constant improvement in organizational skills, innovation skills and marketing skills is the key to a successful organization. Works Cited Federal Institute of Risk Assessment. â€Å"5th World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences.† Bfr.bund.de. Bfr.bund.de, 2005. Web. Funding Universe. â€Å"The Proctor Gamble Company.† Fundinguniverse.com.  Fundinguniverse.com, 2011. Web. Isidore, Chris. â€Å"Europe Recession Risk grows, with or without Debt Default.†Ã‚  Financeyahoo.com. Financeyahoo.com, 2011. Web. McGowan, Evan. â€Å"Corporate Profile: Procter and Gamble.† Academy of Management  Journal, 12 (8). Pp. 20-28, 2006 Print. Monks, Roy, Minow, Nina. Corporate Governance, Oxford: Blackwell, 2005. Proctor Gamble Company. â€Å"New Long-Term Vision†. PG.com. PG.com, 2011. Web. Proctor Gamble. â€Å"2010 Annual Report: Touching and Improving Lives.†Ã‚  Annualreport.pg.com. Annualreport.pg.com, 2010. Web. Puckett, Kathleen. â€Å"Business Risks Faced by Proctor Gamble in South Korea.†Ã‚  Polaris.umuc.edu. Polaris.umuc.edu, 2001. Web. Sewell, Dan. â€Å"Proctor Gamble Moves Towards Renewable Energy and Recycled Packaging in New Environmental Goals.† Huffingtonpost.com. Huffingtonpost.com, 2010. Web. Shah, Anup. â€Å"Global Issues: Social, Political, Economic and Environmental Issues That Affect Us All.† Globalissues.org. Globalissues.org, 2010. Web. Shailaja, Sharma. â€Å"Proctor Gamble Gains at Cost of Profitability.† Dnaindia.com.  Dnaindia.com, 2011. Web. Shedlock, Mike. â€Å"Proctor and Gamble Hopes to Turn the Tide.† Globaleconomic  analysis.blogspot.com. Globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com, 2009. Web. Stockhouse. â€Å"Proctor Gamble Makes Commitment at Clinton Global Initiative to Provide 2million People with Clean Drinking Water in East Africa.† Stockhouse.com. Stockhouse.com, 2011. Web. Sullivan, Joe. Exploring international business environments. Boston, MA: Pearson Custom Publishing, 1999. Wohi, Jessica. â€Å"Proctor Gamble Profit Tops Expectations.† Reuters.com.  Reuters.com, 2009. Web. This report on Proctor Gamble Company was written and submitted by user The198 to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Overcoming an Obstacle Essays

Overcoming an Obstacle Essays Overcoming an Obstacle Essay Overcoming an Obstacle Essay There are many disadvantages and obstructions that can happen through all people. Though they may be a major set back. many people don’t recognize that these obstructions can be used to their advantage. Most people encounter an obstruction or disadvantage and give up non cognizing it could be turned into something positive. When we are faced with an obstruction. we can all turn over up our arms and happen a manner to turn the state of affairs good. For illustration. the laminitis of TOMS. Blake Mycoskie turned the obstruction of poorness in many states into an chance to better the lives of others by making a for-profit organisation which gives them. places. spectacless. and spreads consciousness. The first thing the organisation provides is places for people in over 50 states. Whenever person buys a brace of TOMS places. one is given a brace in a different state ; this is where the motto One for One came from. Places might non look of import to us but it is highly of import to the people who can non afford them. Shoes assist protect children’s pess from acquiring hurt and perchance even acquiring infected. This means the kids will non acquire ill and be healthy plenty to go to school. Not holding places besides affects children’s instruction. Almost every school in any state require places as a portion of school uniform. If all kids received places. school attending would increase by 62 % . that’s a immense difference. If instruction is increased. that would do people more nomadic. and may even stop poorness. Even if some schools will let kids to go to without places. many will still non go to. Most kids are ashamed or embarrassed to travel without places. However. when they are given a brace of places. it boosts their assurance. This helps them desire to go to school and contribute to their community. Places can do a large difference in someone’s life. and even change their universe. Second. the organisation provides oculus attention to those who are blind or visually impaired. Anytime person buys TOMS eyewear. oculus attention is given to person in demand. Approximately 90 % of people who are blind or visually impaired live in developing states. In entire. 285 million persons are blind or visually impaired. However. with oculus attention. 80 % of those instances can be corrected or pr evented. Most people suffer from cataracts. which is the taking cause of sightlessness. Cataracts can be cured with merely a 15-minute surgery. which is paid for when we buy TOMS eyewear. As we enjoy our new dark glassess. people in other states are having prescription eyewear and medical intervention which helps handle oculus hurts and infections. When vision is restored. it gives persons the chance to return to school or work. Adults can acquire financially stable and no longer necessitate excess attention. Of class we all know how of import vision is. so giving person the chance to see is a great feeling. There are many other ways to take part. non merely purchase purchasing the merchandises. but to set your ego in their shoes for a twenty-four hours. Last. TOMS besides has a certain twenty-four hours out of the twelvemonth to distribute consciousness of the manner other people live. For illustration. on April 16. 2013. was One twenty-four hours without shoes . The intent of this was for everyone to be barefoot for a twenty-four hours. merely like kids in other states are mundane. Not merely does it distribute consciousness. but besides helps us to appreciate what we have. Another event by TOMS is World Sight Day which was on October 10. 2013. This is when everyone wears his or her TOMS dark glassess. even indoors. merely to demo you were apart of something bigger than yourself. Both events are great ways to demo your support. and many more are on their manner. Anything can be changed. even obstacles that seem impossible to get the better of. Who knew that a brace of places could assist stop poorness? If everyone gave his or her portion. the universe could do a drastic alteration. Just because something seems to hard. doesn’t mean it can non be achieved. it can be every bit simple as a brace of places or an oculus test.

3 Great Narrative Essay Examples + Tips for Writing

3 Great Narrative Essay Examples + Tips for Writing SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips A narrative essay is one of the most intimidating assignments you can be handed at any level of your education. Where you've previously written argumentative essays that make a point or analytic essays that dissect meaning, a narrative essay asks youto write what is effectively a story. But unlike a simple work of creative fiction, your narrative essay must have a clear and concrete motif- a recurring theme or idea that you’ll explore throughout. Narrative essays are less rigid, more creative in expression, and therefore pretty different from most other essays you’ll be writing. But not to fear- in this article, we’ll be covering what a narrative essay is, how to write a good one, and also analyzing some personal narrative essay examples to show you what a great one looks like. What Is a Narrative Essay? At first glance, a narrative essay might sound like you’re just writing a story. Like the stories you're used to reading, a narrative essay is generally (but not always) chronological, following a clear throughline from beginning to end.Even if the story jumps around in time, all the details will come back to one specific theme, demonstrated through your choice in motifs. Unlike many creative stories, however, your narrative essay should be based in fact. That doesn’t mean that every detail needs to be pure and untainted by imagination, but rather that you shouldn’t wholly invent the events of your narrative essay. There’s nothing wrong with inventing a person’s words if you can’t remember them exactly, but you shouldn’t say they said something they weren’t even close to saying. Another big difference between narrative essays and creative fiction- as well as other kinds of essays- is that narrative essays are based on motifs. A motif is a dominant idea or theme, one that you establish before writing the essay. As you’re crafting the narrative, it’ll feed back into your motif to create a comprehensive picture of whatever that motif is. For example, say you want to write a narrative essay about how your first day in high school helped you establish your identity. You might discuss events like trying to figure out where to sit in the cafeteria, having to describe yourself in five words as an icebreaker in your math class, or being unsure what to do during your lunch break because it’s no longer acceptable to go outside and play during lunch. All of those ideas feed back into the central motif of establishing your identity. The important thing to remember is that while a narrative essay is typically told chronologically and intended to read like a story, it is not purely for entertainment value. A narrative essay delivers its theme by deliberately weaving the motifs through the events, scenes, and details. While a narrative essay may be entertaining, its primary purpose is to tell a complete story based on a central meaning. Unlike other essay forms, it is totally okay- even expected- to use first-person narration in narrative essays. If you’re writing a story about yourself, it’s natural to refer to yourself within the essay. It’s also okay to use other perspectives, such as third- or even second-person, but that should only be done if it better serves your motif. Generally speaking, your narrative essay should be in first-person perspective. Though your motif choices may feel at times like you’re making a point the way you would in an argumentative essay, a narrative essay’s goal is to tell a story, not convince the reader of anything. Your reader should be able to tell what your motif is from reading, but you don’t have to change their mind about anything. If they don’t understand the point you are making, you should consider strengthening the delivery of the events and descriptions that support your motif. Narrative essays also share some features with analytical essays, in which you derive meaning from a book, film, or other media. But narrative essays work differently- you’re not trying to draw meaning from an existing text, but rather using an event you’ve experienced to convey meaning. In an analytical essay, you examine narrative, whereas in a narrative essay you create narrative. The structure of a narrative essay is also a bit different than other essays. You’ll generally be getting your point across chronologicallyas opposed to grouping together specific arguments in paragraphs or sections. To return to the example of an essay discussing your first day of high school and how it impacted the shaping of your identity, it would be weird to put the events out of order, even if not knowing what to do after lunch feels like a stronger idea than choosing where to sit. Instead of organizing to deliver your information based on maximum impact, you’ll be telling your story as it happened, using concrete details to reinforce your theme. 3 Great Narrative Essay Examples One of the best ways to learn how to write a narrative essay is to look at a great narrative essay sample. Let’s take a look at some truly stellar narrative essay examples and dive into what exactly makes them work so well. A Ticket to the Fair by David Foster Wallace Today is Press Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, and I’m supposed to be at the fairgrounds by 9:00 A.M. to get my credentials. I imagine credentials to be a small white card in the band of a fedora. I’ve never been considered press before. My real interest in credentials is getting into rides and shows for free. I’m fresh in from the East Coast, for an East Coast magazine. Why exactly they’re interested in the Illinois State Fair remains unclear to me. I suspect that every so often editors at East Coast magazines slap their foreheads and remember that about 90 percent of the United States lies between the coasts, and figure they’ll engage somebody to do pith-helmeted anthropological reporting on something rural and heartlandish. I think they asked me to do this because I grew up here, just a couple hours’ drive from downstate Springfield. I never did go to the state fair, though- I pretty much topped out at the county fair level. Actually, I haven’t been back to Illinois for a long time, and I can’t say I’ve missed it. Throughout this essay, David Foster Wallace recounts his experience as press at the Illinois State Fair. But it’s clear from this opening that he’s not just reporting on the events exactly as they happened- though that’s also true- but rather making a point about how the East Coast, where he lives and works, thinks about the Midwest. In his opening paragraph, Wallace states that outright: â€Å"Why exactly they’re interested in the Illinois State Fair remains unclear to me. I suspect that every so often editors at East Coast magazines slap their foreheads and remember that about 90 percent of the United States lies between the coasts, and figure they’ll engage somebody to do pith-helmeted anthropological reporting on something rural and heartlandish.† Not every motif needs to be stated this clearly, but in an essay as long as Wallace’s, particularly since the audience for such a piece may feel similarly and forget that such a large portion of the country exists, it’s important to make that point clear. But Wallace doesn’t just rest on introducing his motif and telling the events exactly as they occurred from there. It’s clear that he selects events that remind us of that idea of East Coast cynicism, such as when he realizes that the Help Me Grow tent is standing on top of fake grass that is killing the real grass beneath, when he realizes the hypocrisy of craving a corn dog when faced with a real, suffering pig, when he’s upset for his friend even though he’s not the one being sexually harassed, and when he witnesses another East Coast person doing something he wouldn’t dare to do. Wallace is literally telling the audience exactly what happened, complete with dates and timestamps for when each event occurred. But he’s also choosing those events with a purpose- he doesn’t focus on details that don’t serve his motif. That’s why hediscusses the experiences of people, how the smells are unappealing to him, and how all the people he meets, in cowboy hats, overalls, or â€Å"black spandex that looks like cheesecake leotards,† feel almost alien to him. All of these details feed back into the throughline of East Coast thinking that Wallace introduces in the first paragraph. He also refers back to it in the essay’s final paragraph, stating: At last, an overarching theory blooms inside my head: megalopolitan East Coasters’ summer treats and breaks and literally ‘getaways,’ flights-from- from crowds, noise, heat, dirt, the stress of too many sensory choices†¦.The East Coast existential treat is escape from confines and stimuli- quiet, rustic vistas that hold still, turn inward, turn away. Not so in the rural Midwest. Here you’re pretty much away all the time†¦.Something in a Midwesterner sort of actuates, deep down, at a public event†¦.The real spectacle that draws us here is us. Throughout this journey, Wallace has tried to demonstrate how the East Coast thinks about the Midwest, ultimately concluding that they are captivated by the Midwest’s less stimuli-filled life, but that the real reason they are interested in events like the Illinois State Fair is that they are, in some ways, a means of looking at the East Coast in a new, estranging way. The reason this works so well is that Wallace has carefully chosen his examples, outlined his motif and themes in the first paragraph, and eventually circled back to the original motif with a clearer understanding of his original point. When outlining your own narrative essay, try to do the same. Start with a theme, build upon it with examples, and return to it in the end with an even deeper understanding of the original issue. You don’t need this much space to explore a theme, either- as we’ll see in the next example, a strong narrative essay can also be very short. Death of a Moth by Virginia Woolf After a time, tired by his dancing apparently, he settled on the window ledge in the sun, and, the queer spectacle being at an end, I forgot about him. Then, looking up, my eye was caught by him. He was trying to resume his dancing, but seemed either so stiff or so awkward that he could only flutter to the bottom of the window-pane; and when he tried to fly across it he failed. Being intent on other matters I watched these futile attempts for a time without thinking, unconsciously waiting for him to resume his flight, as one waits for a machine, that has stopped momentarily, to start again without considering the reason of its failure. After perhaps a seventh attempt he slipped from the wooden ledge and fell, fluttering his wings, on to his back on the window sill. The helplessness of his attitude roused me. It flashed upon me that he was in difficulties; he could no longer raise himself; his legs struggled vainly. But, as I stretched out a pencil, meaning to help him to right himsel f, it came over me that the failure and awkwardness were the approach of death. I laid the pencil down again. In this essay, Virginia Woolf explains her encounter with a dying moth. On surface level, this essay is just a recounting of an afternoon in which she watched a moth die- it’s even established in the title. But there’s more to it than that. Though Woolf does not begin her essay with as clear a motif as Wallace, it’s not hard to pick out the evidence she uses to support her point, which is that the experience of this moth is also the human experience. In the title, Woolf tells us this essay is about death. But in the first paragraph, she seems to mostly be discussing life- the moth is â€Å"content with life,† people are working in the fields, and birds are flying. However, she mentions that it is mid-September and that the fields were being plowed. It’s autumn and it’s time for the harvest; the time of year in which many things die. In this short essay, she chronicles the experience of watching a moth seemingly embody life, then die. Though this essay is literally about a moth, it’s also about a whole lot more than that. After all, moths aren’t the only things that die- Woolf is also reflecting on her own mortality, as well as the mortality of everything around her. At its core, the essay discusses the push and pull of life and death, not in a way that’s necessarily sad, but in a way that is accepting of both. Woolf begins by setting up the transitional fall season, often associated with things coming to an end, and raises the ideas of pleasure, vitality, and pity. At one point, Woolf tries to help the dying moth, but reconsiders, as it would interfere with the natural order of the world. The moth’s death is part of the natural order of the world, just like fall, just like her own eventual death. All these themes are set up in the beginning and explored throughout the essay’s narrative. Though Woolf doesn’t directly state her theme, she reinforces it by choosing a small, isolated event- watching a moth die- and illustrating her point through details. With this essay, we can see that you don’t need a big, weird, exciting event to discuss an important meaning. Woolf is able to explore complicated ideas in a short essay by being deliberate about what details she includes, just as you can be in your own essays. Allan warren/Wikimedia Commons Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin On the twenty-ninth of July, in 1943, my father died. On the same day, a few hours later, his last child was born. Over a month before this, while all our energies were concentrated in waiting for these events, there had been, in Detroit, one of the bloodiest race riots of the century. A few hours after my father’s funeral, while he lay in state in the undertaker’s chapel, a race riot broke out in Harlem. On the morning of the third of August, we drove my father to the graveyard through a wilderness of smashed plate glass. Like Woolf, Baldwin does not lay out his themes in concrete terms- unlike Wallace, there’s no clear sentence that explains what he’ll be talking about. However, you can see the motifs quite clearly: death, fatherhood, struggle, and race. Throughout the narrative essay, Baldwin discusses the circumstances of his father’s death, including his complicated relationship with his father. By introducing those motifs in the first paragraph, the reader understands that everything discussed in the essay will come back to those core ideas. When Baldwin talks about his experience with a white teacher taking an interest in him and his father’s resistance to that, he is also talking about race and his father’s death. When he talks about his father’s death, he is also talking about his views on race. When he talks about his encounters with segregation and racism, he is talking, in part, about his father. Because his father was a hard, uncompromising man, Baldwin struggles to reconcile the knowledge that his father was right about many things with his desire to not let that hardness consume him, as well. Baldwin doesn’t explicitly state any of this, but his writing so often touches on the same motifs that it becomes clear he wants us to think about all these ideas in conversation with one another. At the end of the essay, Baldwin makes it more clear: This fight begins, however, in the heart and it had now been laid to my charge to keep my own heart free of hatred and despair. This intimation made my heart heavy and, now that my father was irrecoverable, I wished that he had been beside me so that I could have searched his face for the answers which only the future would give me now. Here, Baldwin ties together the themes and motifs into one clear statement: that he must continue to fight and recognize injustice, especially racial injustice, just as his father did. But unlike his father, he must do it beginning with himself- he must not let himself be closed off to the world as his father was. And yet, he still wishes he had his father for guidance, even as he establishes that he hopes to be a different man than his father. In this essay, Baldwin loads the front of the essay with his motifs, and, through his narrative, weaves them together into a theme. In the end, he comes to a conclusion that connects all of those things together and leaves the reader with a lasting impression of completion- though the elements may have been initially disparate, in the end everything makes sense. You can replicate this tactic of introducing seemingly unattached ideas and weaving them together in your own essays. By introducing those motifs, developing them throughout, and bringing them together in the end, you can demonstrate to your reader how all of them are related. However, it’s especially important to be sure that your motifs and clear and consistent throughout your essay so that the conclusion feels earned and consistent- if not, readers may feel mislead. 5 Key Tips for Writing Narrative Essays Narrative essays can be a lot of fun to write since they’re so heavily based on creativity. But that can also feel intimidating- sometimes it’s easier to have strict guidelines than to have to make it all up yourself. Here are a few tips to keep your narrative essay feeling strong and fresh. Develop Strong Motifs Motifs are the foundation of a narrative essay. What are you trying to say? How can you say that using specific symbols or events? Those are your motifs. In the same way that an argumentative essay’s body should support its thesis, the body of your narrative essay should include motifs that support your theme. Try to avoid cliches, as these will feel tired to your readers. Instead of roses to symbolize love, try succulents. Instead of the ocean representing some vast, unknowable truth, try the depths of your brother’s bedroom. Keep your language and motifs fresh and your essay will be even stronger! Use First-Person Perspective In many essays, you’re expected to remove yourself so that your points stand on their own. Not so in a narrative essay- in this case, you want to make use of your own perspective. Sometimes a different perspective can make your point even stronger. If you want someone to identify with your point of view, it may be tempting to choose a second-person perspective. However, be sure you really understand the function of second-person; it’s very easy to put a reader off if the narration isn’t expertly deployed. If you want a little bit of distance, third-person perspective may be okay. But be careful- too much distance and your reader may feel like the narrative lacks truth. That’s why first-person perspective is the standard. It keeps you, the writer, close to the narrative, reminding the reader that it really happened. And because you really know what happened and how, you’re free to inject your own opinion into the story without it detracting from your point, as it would in a different type of essay. Stick to the Truth Your essay should be true. However, this is a creative essay, and it’s okay to embellish a little. Rarely in life do we experience anything with a clear, concrete meaning the way somebody in a book might. If you flub the details a little, it’s okay- just don’t make them up entirely. Also, nobody expects you to perfectly recall details that may have happened years ago. You may have to reconstruct dialog from your memory and your imagination. That’s okay, again, as long as you aren’t making it up entirely and assigning made-up statements to somebody. Use Dialog Dialog is a powerful tool. A good conversation can add flavor and interest to a story, as we saw demonstrated in David Foster Wallace’s essay. As previously mentioned, it’s okay to flub it a little, especially because you’re likely writing about an experience you had without knowing that you’d be writing about it later. However, don’t rely too much on it. Your narrative essay shouldn’t be told through people explaining things to one another; the motif comes through in the details. Dialog can be one of those details, but it shouldn’t be the only one. Use Sensory Descriptions Because a narrative essay is a story, you can use sensory details to make your writing more interesting. If you’re describing a particular experience, you can go into detail about things like taste, smell, and hearing in a way that you probably wouldn’t do in any other essay style. These details can tie into your overall motifs and further your point. Woolf describes in great detail what she sees while watching the moth, giving us the sense that we, too, are watching the moth. In Wallace’s essay, he discusses the sights, sounds, and smells of the Illinois State Fair to help emphasize his point about its strangeness. And in Baldwin’s essay, he describes shattered glass as a â€Å"wilderness,† and uses the feelings of his body to describe his mental state. All these descriptions anchor us not only in the story, but in the motifs and themes as well. One of the tools of a writer is making the reader feel as you felt, and sensory details help you achieve that. What’s Next? Looking to brush up on your essay-writing capabilities before the ACT? This guide to ACT English will walk you through some of the best strategies and practice questions to get you prepared! Part of practicing for the ACT is ensuring your word choice and diction are on point. Check out this guide to some of the most common errors on the ACT English section to be sure that you're not making these common mistakes! A solid understanding of English principles will help you make an effective point in a narrative essay, and you can get that understanding through taking a rigorous assortment of high school English classes!

Aristotle Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 4

Aristotle - Essay Example e confronts new situations and develops innovative responses and those spontaneous overflows of powerful feelings energise his creative channels through art forms. An artist is born, but the process of his excellence goes on by continuous application. The unstoppable urge in the inner world of a human being is the inspirational fountain of art. What one thinks as artist’s imitation is in reality is his inner urge, not an exercise of trying to just copy what one sees and experiences. His contribution to the process of creating art is active and his inspiration to imitate is the pivotal point. He articulates three explicit methods for categorising art as an imitation of life. The first method relates to the art known in the most popular form, like a creation of color on canvas relating to a particular scenic beauty. Music also falls in this category. Acting is an important aspect of imitation of human moods and activities. Literature, both prose and poetry, are considered as a f orm of art. Aristotle provides particular definitions for these forms of art. He sees unity and harmony in these diverse forms of art. In the second method he mentions about the particular type of excellence of the art from in discussion. He terms this as virtue. For example, a comedy drama needs to highlight happiness and love and the tragedy must relate to the dark incidents of human life. The third method is to discuss art on the basis of theories. While articulating about the attributes of art, Socrates emerges as a philosopher with profound thinking and mentions about the essential traits of a thing and the method of distinguishing them from each other. Trait in this context has a comprehensive meaning and demands analysis and he shows his fondness for definitions to enable one to arrive at appropriate meanings. Some of the attributes in literature are: Genre and gender attributes: Aristotle tries to evolve and defend his definitions on the basis of some of the famous epics. For

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 12

Marketing - Essay Example Along with glamour and excitement, event planning requires hard work and dynamism. Even this marketing type requires creativity, professionalism and distinction and differs to some extent from marketing of conventional products. XYZ Company, that is analyzed in this essay has been asked to handle the launch of a new brand of PDAs later this year. This essay focuses on highlighting the marketing plan for the events and evaluates and analyzes the marketing mix for the launch. Traditionally event marketing was associated with sponsoring a sports event or an industry conference. The concept of event marketing has undergone change in the recent years. Event marketing is known by other names like experiential marketing, brand experience marketing or live marketing. The purpose of event marketing are also described in the essay and may differ across products or industries but the ultimate goal is to add value to any live event. Importance of event marketing is analyzed. The right event can open the prospects’ mind to the marketing message. For a well known brand event marketing becomes easy as any kind of advertisement is appropriate. Promoting brands for the youth through competitions or concerts is a popular approach to brand marketing. These help to increase the sales and popularity of the manufacturers. The objective of event marketing is that consumers must have a positive approach to the product and the brand. The launch of the product was also designed in the essay to raise the profile of the XYZ company.