A blog for me, a blog for you, lets make a blog, in a canoe!

I have to start by saying this blog is probably my most interesting project in college. It allowed me to let people know about how I think and not feel like I would not be understood because those commenting were dealing with the same situations. I certainly did benefit from meeting others online. As we entered more and more blogs I got to know more and more people. Once I would see these people in class it would be like a puzzle and I would piece together what they say in their blog with what they say and how they act in class. It allowed the class to look at each other from more than one perspective allowing us to better understand one another. The blog also allows me to share my perception about the tasks we do in class. I was able to look back on a task and, without hectic environment, understand why we did what we did and examine how we were able to do it. The blog did not have to do the job of force me to actually think about the task because I had already been doing plenty of thinking about the task during the task in class.
The blog also opened us up to relating a specific topic to some outside sources. Mr. Kurpis’ blog showed us interesting and very different examples of a common idea or theme that we have looked at this semester. These blogs, if handled appropriately, ends up being 20% of our grade. This is certainly a great deal of motivation to complete the task and “easily” receive credit. However, at some moment in the semester, probably after the first blog entry, the blog became something other than 20% of my grade. The blog became my ventilation. It became my way to be heard and make it known about where I stand on certain topics. It made me feel kind of important as a person and it became very important to me to complete a blog entry with nothing less than a focused mind and an open heart and mind. When this happened the grade began to matter less. I was not as focused on doing a blog entry on time because I would only do it when I knew I had time to put everything else aside and focus. Sometimes I would go more than a week without that time. Other times I could sit down focused and write blog entries straight from the heart, onto the site.
I can say with complete honesty that I will certainly continue to make entries on my blog well past the end of this class. The reason for that is what I said earlier. It has become much more than a grade. It has become a way out that allows for open expression of the mind, without the negative confrontation. It puts a mind at ease if one is able to lay out ones problems and/or situations in them. The blog allowed me to do this and that helps in life. I feel the blog should definitely remain a component of this class. I feel that the deadlines should become reminders and that there should be no penalties for late blog entries. The reason for this is a person who is truly invested in using the blog to his or her advantage will successfully post entries. When they post the entry will affect what they post because their memory of the task in class will decrease as time goes on. That would result in a lack of quality which can be penalized. Penalizing for lateness is ineffective because a true blogger only posts when they feel it, not when they are told to. I feel I have become a true blogger.

IT'S A RAP! (sort of...)

Management who?

Management, you can’t handle it
You probably think you haven’t learned shit
But listen to me when I tell you this
Sit down, shut up, and listen to Mr. Kurpis

Four months we’ve been in this class
And for these blogs we’ve busted our ass
So what is it we get in return?
Management is what we’ve learned

We actually brought together condoms and jell-o
And I officially can never again even look at Lego's
But I do understand what it means
To communicate and work as a team

So in the end I tell you this
We need to thank Mr. Kurpis
And yes this song is for brownie points
But screw you…….I AM A D I !!!!!!!!

"I don't believe in fate, I believe in odds."

I am a DI!!! ROAR!!! This test simply told me what I already know and people who know me certainly know. That is the fact that I am Dominant and Influential. I do not wish I was any other type of personality and I am relieved that the test set me as that exact combination in that order. I want to become a “business man.” I want to go into the “real world” with a “won’t be pushed around” mentality. This is because I truly believe that those who fight for it, achieve it more often. To be considered dominant is actually quite an honor. I never want to feel as if I am the one who is ever dominated or I am the one who simply follows. I consider myself a future leader and for that dominance is a requirement. The test also said I am influential. The power to influence someone is one of the, if not the greatest tool a business man could use. Once I have the power to convince others that what I am saying is the better way, I will almost always get my way and get what I want. From a business perspective, to be able to persuade others to give me money for a various number of business related reasons would be my most valuable asset.
It would certainly be helpful to determine people’s management “type” to better understand where they are coming from. Knowing a persons type would allow me to know what that persons motive is and what they plan to accomplish with the given situation. If I am speaking with another DI for example, I would stand my ground firmly to assure that I don’t get pushed around mentally. I would keep my thoughts strong so they are not easy influenced. I would understand that this persons intention are to get his or her way and that they will not just sit back and let things happen as they may. If someone was an SC on the other hand, I would understand that they are not as dominant nor are they influential. SC’s rather, are steady and highly conscientious which means that they do not like change, are vulnerable to the feeling of insecurity, and are very structured in their ways. I would understand that they are looking for a high level of comfort and if they have it they can do things correctly the first time and are very careful. All of this information I could use to my own advantage when dealing with each type of person.
When it comes to my personal life and interactions with different types, I would prefer DI’s for friends and an SC for a girlfriend, or at least close to that situation. Friends who are more of a DI type are great to have for someone like me. They keep my mind constantly working with interesting debates and influential arguments. They are good to have on my side in a time of need because there dominance combined with my own allows for a very powerful combination. You know what they say, “If you can’t beat them, join them.” As for my girlfriend, I feel as if she would be more of an SC type and I would not want it any other way. Now don’t think that this means I dominate her because any respectable guy knows that that is never the case with a girlfriend who you love. What this relationship allows for is stability. At times when I am impatient, my girlfriend helps me be patient. When I get over emotional, she helps me relax. Her conscientious ways also help me greatly. In situations when I may be careless, she brings me structure. She is careful, cautious, and exact and almost always does things the right way. This is very helpful to me in times when I may be rushing an assignment just to get it done. On the other hand, I bring her strength at times when she is vulnerable to pressure. I help her complete things she might originally think are too difficult. I do my best to show her that she is capable of anything and that together we are capable of everything. It is, needless to say, a perfect combination.

"If you ain't got no money take yo' broke ass home."

This blog entry is one I have thought about many times in my life. I use it to determine where I stand as far as goals, hopes, and dreams. Now that I am in the thick of college and the “real world” is just around the corner it is certainly time to think about career goals, personal goals, and visions. I have three major goals which I am looking to accomplish within the next five years. Here they are in order from very important to most important.
First, I would like to “pass the test”. I am looking to become a CPA and to do that I must pass the dreaded CPA Exam. This is certainly a great deal of work and the idea of studying AFTER college is over does not sound like fun. I know it must be done though and I know it would certainly make my family very proud. Second, I would like to “get the job.” I am currently interning at an accounting firm and am learning a lot. To turn this internship into a successful full time job is going to take, again, a great deal of work. But I know that this is what we go to school for and when the time comes that I am given the opportunity to achieve my goal of successfully being in the “real world,” you better believe I will be ready.
Finally, I want to “help the family.” If it seemed as if I was the only one that was to benefit from the first two goals, that is not the case. The reason it is so important to me to make this happen soon is because I have a family who could use financial help. I love my mom and my siblings and I want nothing more than to be able to be a significant source of income coming into the house within the next five years. I am one of those who believe money can buy happiness. Now of course there are exceptions and of course the other side of this has valid arguments but I know I have seen unhappiness brought about by a lack of money. So I say more money would decrease that unhappiness. My goals are geared around that, my life is geared around that.

WHY CAN'T WE ALL JUST...GET ALONG?

Often times, decision making is not an easy task. Add more people to that decision making process and the task only becomes more complicated and chaotic. Once this conflict arises there are different ways to go about handling it. In the class decision making exercise the method that I used to handle the chaotic situation is one called Collaboration. This method requires bargaining and negotiating among the group. It requires a lot of insight from different group members. I chose this method because the task required us to all come to an agreement eventually. I felt the best way to all come to an agreement would be to discuss the situation and possible solutions with the entire group. The more people that feel like the contributed and said what they wanted to say, the more chances that everyone will come to an agreement in the end. I felt that this was an effective method because the class came to an agreement eventually. A more effective approach, however, would have probably been a method of Compromise. If I would have known earlier in the task that the situation would be so tense I would have wanted to initially treat all members of the group as equal. This method, it seems, would have helped the class to reach an agreement sooner and easier. This is because if every member felt as if they were just as important and had just as much say, they would be willing to listen to and consider their peers' opinions more.

QUITE AN EGGS-PERIENCE

It is always a difficult task to simply be thrown into a situation and be required to produce something demanded from that. More or less this is what happened in Management class on September 24, 2007. The task was to use 8 straws and tape to make sure that when an egg is dropped it does not break. Sounds easy right? Not really. This task took a great deal of planning to make sure that the group was going to be successful. First, we defined our objective. This pretty much means we all made sure that each and every one of us knew what needed to be done. It also means we had steps planned out which we followed and we kept track of where we stood at all times. That leads directly into another planning process which is determining our current status. This involves knowing what needs to be done before we began and knowing what resources we have to complete it. Another planning process that was fully discussed is developing a premises regarding future conditions. The group certainly did consider alternative methods of making sure the egg would not break and we discussed and even documented flaws or positives that could come about from them. Then it came time to make a plan. We chose the path that we would take and fully understood what we needed to be done to implement our decision. Jobs or roles were not exactly handed out specifically but certain members of the group took charge and knew what they needed to do and in that process no positions were overlapped. It finally came time to implement the plan and when we did we were successful. We took no corrective action because none needed to be taken. Our results were as clear as day because we not only succeeded in making sure the egg did not break but we also received the reward of extra credit for our proper completion of the task. I feel that the group was very effective in our planning process. The best judge of an effective planning process is an effective outcome and here that outcome was reached. One way the group could be more effective is we had assigned jobs earlier on. That would have created a smoother task completion. All in all it was quite an experience and a pleasing one at that.

TIME WAITS FOR NO MAN

To steal a line from one of my favorite movies, "With more power comes greater responsibility." In the last few years I have been given more freedom and more rights to do more or less what I wish to do. I have chosen my own path as far as school and have taken up interests of my choice. However, hand in hand with these perks comes the work that needs to be done to maintain that respect. This respect comes from friends, family, and a significant other. So far I have done an okay job of managing my school and work responsibilities. I have managed the things that need to be done and for the most part have done it all on time. The difficulty in my management lies in the time and work I put into those who help shape me into what I am today. With only seven days in a week and only 24 hours in a day it seems harder and harder to manage my time and give the necessary time to my family, my close friends, and my girlfriend. My mother is a single parent and she is always taking care of our grandfather (her father) who has cancer. I also have a brother and sister who don't get much attention at all when at home. This is the only family I care about or need in my life and I seem to never have time to do something special or out of the ordinary for them. My friends are just that, friends, and I truly enjoy their company. Unfortunately, I am so busy during the week and often on the weekend that it appears to be almost impossible for all of us to come together. Last, but certainly not least, we have my girlfriend who I absolutely adore. We go to the same college and one would think we would see each other a lot. Due to class schedule conflict and our busy work schedules, that is sadly not the case. I need to manage my time better because all of these people are truly important to me and I want to be able to regularly show them that.