buy custom The Great Depression essay

buy custom The Great Depression essay The 1930s were a significant decade in the economic and political history of the United States. This was a period of significant social and cultural changes instigated by the worst economic crises ever witnessed in the American history. This economic crisis later came to be known as the great depression. The great depression refers to the period of global economic depression that lasted from 1929 to 1939.Between the onset of the decline and 1932, the Dow Jones Averages had lost approximately 89 % of its market value.The overall unemployment rate rose to the highest levels, and the banks failed in unprecedented ways. Causes of the great depression The cause of the great depression was a combination of factors that varied from domestic to worldwide conditions. The top five causes of the great depression as indicated by historians and economists were; stock market crash of 1929, bank failures, and reduction in purchasing across the board, American economic policy with Europe and drought conditions (Kelly, Top 5 Causes of the Great Depression). Stock Market Crash of 1929 It all became clear on 29th October 1929 that the start of the great depression had begun. Within hours, the stock market lost all the gains for the whole year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average reduced from the previous day close of 260.64, opening at 252.6 it fell to 212.34, closing a bit up at 230.6, an 11 % loss (Amadeo, Black Tuesday). The stock market indices that represent the U.S. economy in terms of its industry, transportation and utilities are called Dow Jones Averages. They are calculated by taking the sum of the stock prices of the companies in each index, then the total is divided by the number of companies (Amadeo).on that same day, shares worth 16.4 million were sold exceeding the record of 12.9 million shares, which were traded on Black Thursday (Amadeo, Black Tuesday). Black Thursday signaled the beginning of stock market crash in the U.S. history (Amadeo, Black Thursday).two months after the original crush in October, stockholders had lost more than 40 billion dolla rs. Although the stock market started to recover on the losses, by the end of 1930, the market couldnt take any more, and America entered into the great depression. Bank Failures The failure of the Federal Reserve to support the banks led to the reduction of cash and failure of banks in massive scales (Dallas and Dallas). In the course of 1930, over 9,000 banks failed. Bank deposits were uninsured and, therefore, as banks failed people lost their savings. The surviving banks, concerned for their own survival and being unsure of the economic situation, stopped giving out new loans. This led to less and less expenditures (Kelly). American Economic Policy with Europe When the businesses began to fail, the government introduced the Smoot-Hawley Tariff in 1930 in an effort to protect the American companies. It is this Smoot-Hawley Tariff act of June 1930 that raised the US tariffs to historic levels in order to protect the American industries which at that time were facing fierce competition. This competition was from the European counterparts who had sharply increased their production after World War II. This was also in line with the one of the Herbart Hoovers campaign plede to protect the American farmer. He therefore raised tariff levels to the record high on the imported agricultural products (Kelly, What is the Smoot-Hawley Tariff?). This act led to the decline of the American imports from the Europe. The figures show that, from 1929 high of 1,334 million dollars, the imports reduced to just 390 million dollars in 1932.In addition, the U.S. exports to Europe fell from 2,341 million dollars to 784 million dollars. At the end, this act just cau sed and fostered distrust among nations leading to less cooperation in either the political or economic realms which in turn aggravated the great depression impact on the America (Kelly, What is the Smoot-Hawley Tariff?). Drought Conditions This was not a direct cause of the great depression, but it played a crucial role in the matter. The drought that occurred in the Mississippi valley in 1930 was in such a magnitude that people involved couldnt even pay the taxes or other debts owed to the banks and they had to sell their farms with no savings in return (Kelly, Top 5 Causes of the Great Depression). Other explanations of the causes of the great depression include The Death of Benjamin Strong Benjamin strong was the governor of the New York Federal Reserve Bank from October 1914 until his death in 1928. During his tenure, he had an strong interest in international affairs and promoted more effective cooperation among the worlds central banks (Benjamin Strong Jr.).The death of Benjamin Strong on October 16, 1928 led to the end of the golden era in America. In my opinion, his death marked the beginning of the united states treacherous journey into the Great Depression. Bens successors failed miserably. They didnt comprehend the Federal Reserves critical role in the maintaining the health of the banking system. When a light recession struck the economy in 1929, the new leaders of the Fed made a deadly decision. In 1929, the banking system desperately needed an infusion of cash from the Federal Reserve. Instead of putting money into the system, the federal reserve drained it out. (Dallas and Dallas 251-252). This reduction of cash in the banks caused them to fail on a massive scale. In few weeks, national bank runs were back but the Federal Reserve failed to help them. This resulted to banking crises that threw United States and eventually the whole world into the deepest recession in history (Dallas and Dallas).this resulted to banks failing, factories being closed and people losing their jobs. Why the Depression Lasted For So Long With the start of the great depression, there were so many losses for companies and institutions that they started to introduce their survival policies. These policies in return led to the reduction of consumer spending and therefore aggravated the process of depression. The issues that led to the prolonging of the great depression can be summed up as below; Unemployment Throughout 1930, consumer spending in America started to decline which meant businesses had to reduce the jobs and the pay for the jobs that remained. This led to massive unemployment. In addition, the drought in most of the Americas reeduced the jobs in the agricultural sector. This led to the decline of the consumer spending and reduction in the living standards of the people. Government Intervention The government intervention in creating an influence of price controls and public finance caused more harm than good. Most economists agreed that price ceilings created shortages of consumers goods and that price floors resulted into unmarketable surpluses without benefiting anyone (Hlsmann). The growth of the state increased the cost of production and taxation of capital induced capitalists consumed the wealth of investors and citizens. When the law of demand and supply was hindered, and unemployment ceased to be a temporary issue. The self-regulation of the market was also strongly interfered with by the labor unions which were acting under the protection and support of the government (Hlsmann). This led to the abuse of the property rights of the capitalists as well as the human rights of the workers and prospective workers when the unions pushed for wages way above the market rates. This made it impossible to hire all those who would have found employment and overall unemployment rate increased. With this, it can be summed that the government intervention in the solving of the great depression didnt just reduce the effects but on the contrary they prolonged the duration of the depression. Policies like Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act which authorized the highest taxes in history of America on imports of agricultural products and manufactured items, led to decline in the import export business which consequently deteriorated the business with the west. This led to the downfall and amplification of the depression all over the world. Technological Advancement Emil Lederer, argued that the unemployment was as a result of fast technological progress. He argued that the growth was so fast that technological advancement was so fast that the market participants were somehow intrinsically impossible. He argues that these changes replaced the costly human labor with cheaper machinery at such speeds that entrepreneurs could not keep pace with. This eventually led to massive unemployment and consumer spending which prolonged the depression (Hlsmann). Failure of Revitalizing Private Sector The governments failure to develop the private sector led to reduced employment opportunities which continued the recession era. The new deals greatest failure lay in its inability to produce revitalization in private investment that would have impacted on greater production and more jobs (Higgs).The most part of the New Deal relied on private confidence to invest. President Roosevelt undermined the business confidence and trust. By 1935, Roosevelt was less worried about business backlash and had confidence in the prospects for economic recovery (Brownlee).The men around Roosevelt were skeptical of the business ability to act in the national interest. This led to further investor mistrust on the government and discouraged investments. If the government had initiated the programs to create more employment, then the living standards of the citizens would have improved and consequently the consumer spending would have improved. This would have led to the market stabilization and end of the depression Buy custom The Great Depression essay

Using the Spanish Nouns Hombre and Mujer

Using the Spanish Nouns Hombre and Mujer Hombre and mujer are the Spanish words for man and woman, respectively, and are used in much the same way as their English counterparts. Although both words can be used for a male or female, respectively, of any age, they are most often used to refer to adults. Also, el hombre, like the English man, can be used to refer to Homo sapiens, the human species. Example: Cientà ­ficos dicen que el hombre es el resultado de largas etapas evolutivas. Scientists say man is the result of long evolutionary stages. Hombre or mujer can also be used to refer colloquially to ones spouse. Hombre and mujer can also be used as interjections, much as man can be used in English:  ¡Hombre!  ¡Quà © emocionante! or  ¡Mujer!  ¡Quà © emocionante! Man! How exciting! Following are some common phrases using hombre or mujer. Some of them that are listed only with hombre can also be used with mujer but the feminine usage is rare. Also note that while a few of the terms may appear sexist, they are intended to reflect the language as it is used and not necessarily as all feel it should be. Common Phrases Using Hombre or Mujer de hombre a hombre, de mujer a mujer - in total sincerityhombre/mujer de confianza - right-hand man/womanhombre de entereza - man who is cool and composedhombre del saco - boogeymanhombre/mujer de negocios - businessman/businesswomanhombre de paja - figureheadhombre lobo - werewolfhombre medio / mujer media - average man/woman, man/woman in the streethombre/mujer objeto - person valued for his/her sex appeal and little elsehombre pà ºblico - man with social influencehombre rana - frogmanmujer de su casa - housewifemujer fatal - femme fatalmujer pà ºblica/perdida/mundana - prostituteser mucho hombre - to be talentedser mucha mujer, ser toda una mujer - to be exemplary in characterser muy hombre - to be strong and braveser poco hombre - to be a coward

Development of mathematical model to calculate fuel consumption of Essay

Development of mathematical model to calculate fuel consumption of passenger cars - Essay Example The NEDC was simulated under laboratory conditions, and driving parameters together with the fuel consumption were measured. A few driving phases were identified so that any drive cycle may be composed by these phases; and mathematical relationships have been fitted on measured data for each of the phases. The world population is 6.5 billion at the moment and rising. Climate change has caused widespread greenhouse effects like global warming, higher acid levels in oceans and reduced ice cover at the poles (Harrabin, 2013). The major causes of greenhouse effect are the by-products of industrialization, and especially carbon dioxide (Samimi & Zarinabadi, 2011). The level of carbon dioxide, the main constituent of emission by vehicles, is linked to consumption of fuel by the vehicle. Due to this there is need to regulate the amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere and this is effective by fuel economy. The fuel economy (FE) of any vehicle can be calculated as a r atio of distance travelled per unit volume of fuel consumed or as the ratio of fuel consumption per distance travelled (GFEI, 2013). Fuel economy standards can be of various forms such as litres of fuel consumed per hundred kilometres of distance travelled or distance travelled per unit volume of vehicle fuel (An, et al., 2011, p. 4). The regulations pertaining to fuel economy followed by the four largest automobile markets, namely, the US, the EU, Japan and China differ significantly from each other leading to a lack of global standards on the issue.

The Civil War is, beyond doubt, the most critical and pivotal event of Essay

The Civil War is, beyond doubt, the most critical and pivotal event of the 19th century if not all of American History. Explain - Essay Example They include equality, immigration benefits especially in the North, replacement of slavery with racial favoritism and development of the South after ceasing to be a â€Å"King Cotton† region (Ennis 19). The latter aspect was due to the abolition of slavery, which many plantation masters utilized in tilling and harvesting their cotton (Ennis 15). American civil war besides its occurrence dating many years ago, its impacts characterizes the present state of Americans’ lives. The agitation for the abolition of slavery especially by the Abraham Lincoln and the Northerners yielded to the present equality (Ennis 17). This emanated from the then core argument that accelerated the abolition of slavery, which stated, â€Å"No man had more rights than the other despite the color of an individual’s skin†. The acceptance of abolition of slavery/servitude was not easy especially among the Southerners who solely relied on slaves in their cotton plantations besides in d oing other hard domestic chores (Ennis 18). Therefore, Southerners having no other alternative, they yielded to the Northerners’ pressure, which led to the emancipation of the enslaved blacks. Emancipation offered the then oppressed blacks and other marginalized races a chance to agitate for their civil rights and dignity, which led to the present equality (Mccurry 60). ... This is because compared to the Southern region; there were acceptance and free interactions of diverse races in the north (Ennis 20). In addition, the end of slavery implied an increased competition for jobs in the south especially from the freed blacks where the non-American whites were not willing to experience. Therefore, they ended up relocating to the North where they inhabited diverse regions to form homogeneous cultures besides intermarrying with other races (Mccurry 60). For example, Milwaukee and Cincinnati cities, mostly inhabited by Germans to the present despite diverse and numerous interactions with other races. Mass migration of diverse races to the North also yielded to the reborn of the present United States, which comprises of diverse races that form one homogenous entity. This has given birth to a new generation almost having similar trends especially in the mode of dressing and music (Hip Hop). The banning of servitude severely affected the southerners’ eco nomy, which solely relied on agriculture (Ennis 17). Therefore, they had no option but to invest in other sectors to rebuild their economy, which prompted them to focus on establishing industries besides improving the states’ infrastructures. This is evident from the southern regions’ current state where the countries have turned their focus to industrializing diverse ventures, for instance, dairy farming (Ennis 20). The trend from then to date has not changed where the southern region has kept on improving its infrastructures. This is because of the worldwide perception concerning the essence of intensive industrialization, which leads to a

In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay Example for Free

In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain juxtaposes Huck’s adventurous and liberating journey along with Jim on the raft down the river Mississippi with the corrupt life that allows unconscious acceptance to the values of society on the shore. The novel unfolds Huck’s inner mind and records his learning and moral development as he encounters morally corrupt and crooked people on his journey to freedom. The novel contrasts between the constricting life on the shore and the freedom offered by the journey on the river.    Though Huck’s raft follows the river towards its downward journey, he goes against the stream in his life learning on his own the hard realities of life. Huck finds the two wealthy sisters Widow Douglas and Miss Watson, who adopt him, as the true representatives of the society that is based on hypocritical religious and ethical values. Though Widow Douglas is more patient and gentle towards Huck, he finds her care and concern quite restrictive. When she puts him in new clothes he could do nothing but feel cramped sweating a lot. He does not find any meaning in prayer before the dinner and in the stories of Moses and the Bulrushers who were dead long time ago. Though the life in the care of Widow Douglas is decent and dignified, cozy and comfortable, Huck does not like it much. He feels his old ways of living are the best. Living in a house and sleeping in a bed pulled on me pretty tight mostly, but before the cold weather I used to slide out and sleep in the woods sometimes, and so that was a rest to me. I liked the old ways Best. (Twain 13) He finds Miss Watson’s attempts to ‘sivilize’ him most annoying. For him, she is the best example of severe and unforgiving laws of Christian life which are against his individual freedom. He feels â€Å"Miss Watson she kept pecking at me, and it got tiresome and lonesome†.   He is so vexed with the ways of living under the care of Miss Watson that he feels one night quite depressed and feels â€Å"I felt so lonesome I most wished I was dead.†   (Twain 5) When Miss Watson insists that he should pray he can not find any reason to pray when his prayers are not answered by God. When he asks her to try for him she calls him a fool. Huck tries several times in his own way asking God for the things he wanted, but he could not find any response from God. He finds it quite impractical. He does not find any advantage for him in praying for others as told by Widow. He finds a lot of difference between Widow and Miss Watson who both pray and teach the same things to him about Providence. The following lines best illustrate his understanding of his two guardians who differ a lot in their attitude. I judged I could see that there was two Providences, and a poor chap would stand considerable show with the widow’s Providence, but if Miss Watson’s got him there warn’t no help for him any more. (Twain 11) Huck’s father, Pap, an incorrigible wreck with his disgusting and ghostlike appearance in tattered clothes, represents the generally debased white society and the failed family. Pap, who is always after the money earned by Huck, feels jealous of his son’s education when his son is living with Widow Douglas and going to school. He not only kidnaps his son but also virtually imprisons him in a cabin in the woods and beats him completely drunk. In fact, he proves dangerous and provides the immediate and most potent cause for Huck’s escape from the society on the shore. On the contrary, he finds a trusting and caring surrogate father in Jim who accompanies him in his escape from the shore. Jim, a runaway slave from the house of Miss Watson, stands for strong family relationship, nobility and loyalty. He takes the extreme step of running away from Miss Watson’s house as he suspects he would be sold for another master which will eventually separate him from his family. Though he seems superstitious and ignorant, he is an intelligent man with a deep understanding of human life. Jim he was right; he was most always right; he had an uncommon level head for a nigger. (Twain 55). There is a strong bond of friendship and understanding between Huck and Jim on the raft. Both are desperately in need of protecting themselves from the selfish people in the society. The raft on the river Mississippi provides them an opportunity to save their lives. It offers them the much needed freedom. The following passage aptly conveys their dire need to run away from society. I was powerful glad to get away from the feuds, and so was Jim to get away from the swamp. We said there warn’t no home like a raft, after all. Other places do seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft don’t. You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft. (Twain 83) The life on the raft is different in many ways from the life that is found on the shore. The raft provides them not only as escape from the corrupt and selfish people, but also an opportunity to be what they are and to do what they like. It gives them a unique opportunity to explore their true identity and their stand in relation to many things in life. They are closest to their true nature on the raft in the lovely and mighty presence of the river and the woods. It offers them unrestricted and uninhibited freedom. Huck feels happy and liberated on the raft and expresses the same in the following words: It’s lovely to live on a raft. We had the sky up there, all speckled with stars, and we used to lay on our backs and look up at them, and discuss about whether they was made or only just happened. (Twain 84) Twain has brilliantly contrasted the plight of a white boy with that of a slave Jim. The story of the novel revolves around these two characters that are almost in the same boat with similar problems. As luck would have it, they share the same raft in their escape for freedom. Huck finds Jim’s presence on the raft comforting and supportive as Jim is practical, intelligent and trustworthy though, at times, he seems sentimental. Jim not only cooks food for Huck but also protects him from dangers. Jim’s acts of selflessness and his longing to meet his family have left an indelible impression on Huck. Huck is very determined till the end to save Jim and to get him free. However, the life on the raft is not without its share of dangers and threats. Huck and Jim get separated when their raft is hit by a steamer in the river. Huck’s encounter with the family of Grangerfords exposes him to pretentious importance that people attach to their family’s honor or prestige. Huck suspects behind the kindhearted and gentle people in the family, there is an unreasonable feud between them and the Shepherdsons. It makes no sense to Huck. Many of the people belonging to these families die in a bitter gun fight from which Huck luckily escapes. After facing many challenging situations Huck and Jim once again continue their journey on the raft further towards the south. The two con artists who ask for help and seek refuge on the raft prove dangerous to Huck in the end. The two con artists involve in various crimes at times claiming to be the descendants of royal family and sometimes, pretending to be great actors and evangelists. They once again remind the crookedness of the people in the society on the shore. The raft has proved an excellent place to enjoy the perfect freedom and bliss without any interference. Though Jim is there with him all the time, he is silent and provided a good company with his accommodating nature. Huck enjoys Jim’s company and the journey most. He expresses his happiness saying, It was kind of solemn, drifting down the big, still river, laying on our backs looking up at the stars, and we didn’t ever feel like talking loud, and it warn’t often that we laughed — only a little kind of a low chuckle. (Twain 47) The long journey on the raft has provided Huck with many opportunities to learn new things and develop his own logic. Every challenge he faces presents him with an opportunity to think about it deeply and to come to a conclusion which he feels right. His association with Jim on the raft has given him opportunity to think clearly and form his own opinion without any interference. He prefers to follow his own instinct and logic than to accept the unquestioned conventions of the society.   Huck’s determination to save Jim when he is caught demonstrates his maturity and broadness of understanding. Huck has to undergo an internal struggle to overcome some of the notions that have been ingrained in him by the society. Every time Huck faces a problem he applies his mind and comes out with a decision what he feels right, though it might look wrong and offending to the white community. He takes help from Tom Sawyer in rescuing Jim finally. Huck loses his faith in the society that has failed to protect him. Though the Widow tried her best to give him what he has missed, it has proved imperfect to mould him. His growing distance from the society makes him skeptical about it. His natural intelligence and his ability to think through a situation have enabled him to form his own right conclusions. Thus, he creates his own rules and develops his character throughout the journey. Twain depicts the society around Huck with people who are degraded in their values. The actions of these people defy logic and commonsense. For example, when the judge allows Pap, the wreck and disgusting drunkard, to keep custody of Huck, he gives more importance to the right of ownership than to the welfare of the innocent boy. It clearly depicts the social system that has fallen in its moral standing. It highlights the white man’s rights over his property whether it is a slave or a son. The Mississippi River plays the most important role in the novel providing freedom and refreshing experience to Huck and Jim who are in their quest for freedom. They travel from their home town St. Petersburg, Missouri, north of St. Louis, hundreds of miles into the Deep South.   The odyssey down the river lends the story a mystic element offering contentment to the people who come in search of freedom. The river with its power and grandeur sets a meaningful background to the story that contrasts life on the river with the life on the shore. The river plays the role of liberating influence on the two characters Huck and Jim. It is the only place where they can feel at home though they are on a raft. Huck arrives at the conclusion that the idyllic life, peace and brotherhood of himself and Jim have given him more satisfaction and a sense of freedom and understanding as opposed to the inhumanity, the feud and the degenerated values of society. Thus, it is a journey in search of understanding and freedom leaving behind the so called ‘sivilization’ that destroys innocence and enslaves human beings. In short, Huck’s journey is from unthinking acceptance of received values and knowledge to an independently achieved understanding of what is right. It is journey from boyhood to manhood, from servitude to freedom. T. S. Eliot, the great English poet and critic of the twentieth century who also grew up on the banks of the same river says, â€Å"the river makes the book a great book† It has fired the imagination of the boy Huck and became the only real home for him. Reference Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn http://www2.hn.psu.edu/faculty/jmanis/twain/huckfinn.pdf

Computer Crime :: essays research papers fc

Computer Crime Problems with Format Billions of dollars in losses have already been discovered. Billions more have gone undetected. Trillions will be stolen, most without detection, by the emerging master criminal of the twenty-first century--the computer crime offender. Worst of all, anyone who is computer literate can become a computer criminal. He or she is everyman, everywoman, or even everychild. The crime itself will often be virtual in nature--sometimes recorded, more often not--occurring only on the Internet, with the only record being electronic impulses. Before discussing Internet crimes, we can expect to see in the years ahead, let's look at the good news: The most-dreaded types of offenses--crimes such as murder, rape, assault, robbery, burglary, and vehicle theft--will be brought under control in the years ahead by a combination of technology and proactive community policing. Creation of the cashless society, for example, will eliminate most of the rewards for robbers and muggers, while computer-controlled smart houses and cars will thwart burglars and auto thieves. Implanted bodily function monitors and chemical drips (such as "sober-up" drugs and synthesized hormones) will keep most of the sexually and physically violent offenders under control. But computer criminals--ranging in age from preteen to senior citizen--will have ample opportunities to violate citizens' rights for fun and profit, and stopping them will require much more effort. Currently, we have only primitive knowledge about these lawbreakers: Typically, they are seen only as nuisances or even admired as innovators or computer whizzes. But increasingly, the "hacker" is being replaced by the menacing "cracker"--an individual or member of a group intent on using the Internet for illegal profit or terrorism. Access to the Internet has begun to expand geometrically, and technology is making the Internet even more friendly and affordable for millions of users. But foolproof protective systems can probably never be develope d, although some high-tech entrepreneurs are certainly trying. Even if a totally secure system could ever be developed, it would likely disrupt the free flow of information--an unacceptable intrusion to most users. In fact, it is the ease of access that is driving this rapidly expanding field of crime. What are the major computer crimes being committed, how, and by whom? More importantly, where is computer crime headed in the twenty-first century? Let's look at five crime categories: communications, government, business, stalking, and virtual crimes. COMMUNICATIONS CRIMES Already, cellular theft and phone fraud have become major crimes.

Explain the Principal Psychological Perspectives Essay

The behaviourist perspective is an idea that we can understand any type of behaviour by looking at what the person has learner. This includes personality traits such as shyness, confidence, optimism or pessimism. Behaviourist psychologists explain all human behaviour as resulting from experience. Two key psychologists are Pavlov and Skinner, although these two theorists believed that different processes were involved, they both explained all types of behaviour as being the result of learning. This is everything from shyness to aggression and happiness to depression. Classical conditioning was a theory developed by a Russian psychologist called Ivan Pavlov. He was working with dogs to investigate their digestive system. The dogs were attached to a harness and Pavlov attached monitors to their stomachs and mouths so he could measure the rate of salivation. He noticed that the dog began to salivate when someone entered the room with a bowl of food, but before the dog had eaten the food. Since salivation is a reflex response, this seemed unusual. Pavlov decided that the dog was salivating because it had learned to associate the person with the food. He then developed a theory. Food automatically led to the salivation response, since this response had not been learned, he called this an unconditioned response, which is a response that regularly occurs when an unconditioned stimulus is presented. As food automatically leads to this response, he called this an unconditioned stimulus, which is a stimulus that regularly and consistently leads to an automatic response. Pavlov then presented food at the same time as ringing a bell (neutral stimulus), to see if the dog would learn to associate the bell with the food. After several trials, the dog learned that the bell was associated with food and eventually it began to salivate only when the bell was rung and no food was presented. It therefore had learned the conditioned response of salivation to the conditioned stimulus, the conditioned response is a new, learned response to a previously neutral stimulus that mimics the response to the unconditioned stimulus. The Conditioned stimulus is a neutral stimulus that, when paired with the unconditioned stimulus, produces a conditioned response, just as the unconditioned response used to. Operant conditioning was a theory created by an American psychologist called Burrhus Frederic Skinner. Skinner worked mostly with rats and pigeons to discover key principles of learning new behaviours. He used a device called a Skinner box, the box contains a lever which, when pressed, releases a food pellet into the box which therefore should reinforce lever-pressing behaviour. When the rat is first placed in the box it will run around and sniff the various items and at some point it will press the lever, releasing the food pellet. When the rat has performed this action several times, it will learn that this behaviour is automatically followed by the release of a food pellet. Because the pellet is reinforcing, this consequence increases the probability of the behaviour being repeated. The two types of reinforcement are positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is when the consequence following a particular behaviour is experienced as desirable. Negative reinforcement is when behaviour results in a consequence that removes something unpleasant. Skinner tested the negative reinforcement by running a very low electrical current on the floor of the skinner box. The current would be de-activated if the rat pressed the lever. The lever pressing was therefore negatively reinforcing. Social learning theory: There are many influences on our behaviour, this comes from peers, siblings, parents, television, sports and celebrities. According to the social learning theory, role models are very important. The likelihood of imitating behaviours is strongly influenced by the way we perceive the person performing the behaviour. If we observe the behaviour of someone we admire, we are more likely to imitate their behaviour. For example, if someone such as Bradley wiggins recommends that we should wear a cycle helmet, we are much more likely to imitate this behaviour as we are closer to being like this admired model. But, if someone we look down on recommends that we do the same, we are much less likely to do so as we do not want to be perceived as the person we look down on. Certain attributes of a person determine whether the behaviour is more likely to be imitated, these attributes include; gender, similarity to ourselves, status, prestige, competence and fame. Our behaviour is also influenced by the presence of other, no matter how much we believe ourselves to be individuals. Culture is the shared values, norms, language, customs and practices of a group. It also refers to different sub-groups within society. It is important to understand how culture affects our behaviour in order to gain a full understanding of the people we encounter and those we work with. Watson found that the average amount of eye contact made varied between countries, with high degrees of eye contact being seen as insolent by some Africans and East Asians, whereas among Indians and Latin-Americans this was seen as desirable. The self-fulfilling prophecy is a concept in psychology that has an impact on the way we behave towards others and expect them to behave towards us. If we believe ourselves to be worthwhile, pleasant and likeable then we will almost certainly be polite and cheerful towards those we meet, therefore it will create a favourable impression. In response, those who come into contact with us perceive us favourably and behave in a positive way towards us, this results in our positive self-beliefs being confirmed. On the other hand, if we are angry and feel the whole world is against us, then we are likely to behave in a more aggressive way and therefore this is how we will be responded to, which will confirm our views of ourselves and the world. The Psychodynamic approach: This approach was created by an Austrian psychologist called Sigmund Freud. Freud was one of the earliest thinkers to bring to public attention the idea that we are not always aware of all aspects of ourselves. He said that we’re are aware of things in our conscious mind, but things like our memories, feelings and past experiences are locked up in a part of our mind called the unconscious. We can’t access the unconscious part of our minds but they leak out in dreams or through a slip of the tongue. Part of the unconscious that we can easily access he called the pre-conscious. This contains information that isn’t in the conscious part of our minds but can be easily retrieved. Freud believed that early experiences determine behaviours later in life. He developed the psychosexual theory, he believed we all go through several stages of psychosexual development. At each stage, the individuals libido is focused on a part of the body that is particularly relevant at that stage. If the needs are met for the developing child at each stage, it moves on to the next development stage. If there is a struggle or conflict, the individual becomes stuck at this stage. This results in certain personality traits, which are carried through into adulthood and which can explain behaviour in later life. The earliest stage is the ‘oral stage’, the focus here is on the mouth and consists of behaviours such as sucking, biting and licking. Freud believed that, either, the infant was weaned too early and would feel under-gratified and unsatisfied and would develop into a pessimistic sarcastic person. On the other hand, the infant was weaned too late and would develop a gullible personality and naively trust in others. This stage lasts from birth to approximately 18 months. If the infant passes through the oral stage without becoming stuck, the next stage is the ‘anal stage’, which lasts from approximately one to three years. The libido here is focused on aspects to do with potty training. If there is a battle with parents about potty training, with the child feeling forced to use the potty before they are ready. The child may rebel by retaining their faeces, therefore holding on to the control and withholding satisfaction from the parents. This is called ‘anally retentive’ and is associated with later personality traits such as obstinacy, miserliness and obsessive traits. The alternative is that the child is not given enough boundaries over potty training so they take pleasure in excretion and become a messy, creative, disorganised person. During the ages of four to five, a child passes through the ‘phallic stage’. Fixation at this stage is associated with anxiety and guilty feelings about sex and fear about castration for males. If this stage is not resolved, Freud suggests that a boy may become homosexual and a girl may become a lesbian. Between the ages of five to seven and the onset of puberty, a child enters the ‘latency stage’, it is not a developmental stage but is when the focus is on social pursuits such as sport, academic excellence and the development of friendships. The final stage is the ‘gential stage’, this begins at puberty. Freud believed that the less fixated a child has become during the earlier stages, the more easily this stage will be negotiated, resulting in the ability to form strong heterosexual relationships, with the ability to be warm and loving as well as receive love in a mature way. Another important feature of early experiences is the development of ego defence mechanisms. An ego is the part of the mind whose function it is to moderate the demands of the id and prevent the superego being too harsh. It operates on the reality principle. The use of a defence mechanism allows us to block out events that threaten to overwhelm us. Examples of ego defences are things such as repression which allows a person to forget an event such as a traumatic event. Regression is reverting to an earlier stage of development such as wetting the bed when gaining a new sibling despite never doing so before. Denial is pushing an event or emotion out of the conscious mind, such as denying that a loved one has died. Displacement is redirecting desires onto a safe object, such as taking your anger out on someone you love because of someone else giving you a hard time. Freud suggested that the mind is divided into three dynamic parts which he called the ‘psyche’. The ‘id’ is the part of the mind which is completely unconscious and exists at birth. It is focused on getting what is wants and has aggressive, sexual and loving instincts, such as ‘i want’. The ‘superego’ is a result of socialisation and consists of all the instructions, morals and values that are repeatedly reinforced when growing up. It consists of an internalisation of all the values of right and wrong we have been socialised to believe in, it is our conscience and represents a view of our ideal self. The main role of the superego is to subdue the activity of the id. The ego tries to balance the id and the superego. It is the rational part of the mind. Different behaviours can be understood by trying to infer which part of the psyche is dominant at any time. For example, a person who is submissive, guilty and always wanting to please others may have a very strong superego. A person who is impulsive, careless of other people’s feelings and does not care about the consequences of their actions will have a very strong id. A person who can be submissive but assertive when need be, who is able to think about other peoples needs but value their own can probably balance the id and superego. Eric Erikson was a psychologist who agreed with much of Freuds theory that we developed through a series of stages. Although, he believed these continued throughout our lifetime and were essentially social in nature. He believed that Freud put too much emphasis on desire and not enough on our need to be accepted by society and lead a meaningful life. Erikson suggested that we move through a series of psychosocial crises with a different social focus at each stage. The Humanistic perspective: Humanistic psychology looks at human experience from the viewpoint of an individual, it focuses on the idea of free will and that we are all capable of making our own choices. Maslow is an American psychologist who believed that we are all seeking to be the best we can both, spiritually, physically, emotionally and intellectually. He called this self-actualisation. He made a theory called the hierarchy of needs, which explains that every person requires certain basic needs to be met before they can reach the next level. Maslow believed that until our basic needs are met, we will focus on getting them met and not be able to progress further. When we are comfortable physically, we focus on our emotional needs such as self-esteem. When these needs are met we strive to self-actualise. Carl rogers was a psychologist who was interested in the concept of self. Self-concept refers to the way we view ourselves, this is physically and biologically, attributes such as being male or female, blonde or brunette, tall or short, as well as personality traits such as being kind, humble, assertive or hard-working. The self-concept is formed from an early age and children internalise other people’s judgements of them, which may become a part of their self-concept. Internalise is the way we take in information from the outside world and build into our sense of self. It then becomes part of our feelings, thoughts and beliefs about ourselves. If a child is told they’re silly, naughty and will come to no good, part of their self-aspect will contain these aspects. On the other hand, if a child is praised and encouraged to succeed, they will have positive self-concept. The cognitive/information processing perspective: Jean piaget was a Swiss psychologist who initially worked on measuring intelligence. He noticed that children on the same ages make the same mistakes in logic, no matter how bright they were. He came to the conclusion that cognition develops through a series of stages, each new stage building on the previous one. Birth to 1 Â ½ or 2 years ‘the sensorimotor stage’ – Learning to use senses and muscles – thinking without language. Babies are born with the ability to sense objects, they are also born with a range of reflexes such as the sucking reflex to enable them to feed. These reflexes lead to ‘motor actions’ controlling body muscles. The sensorimotor stage is a stage when thinking is limited to sensing objects and performing motor actions. Piaget believed that a baby would not have a working system for remembering and thinking about the world until they were about 18 months old. 2-7 years ‘the pre-operational stage’ – Pre-logical thinking in language but without understanding logic. Piaget believed that during this stage, children could not think in a logical way. Children can use words to communicate but cannot understand logical implications involved in language. Pre-operational children cannot properly understand how ideas like number, mass and volume really work. 7-11 years ‘the concrete operational stage’ – A stage where logical thinking is limited to practical situations. Children in the concrete operations stage can think logically provided the issues are concrete. In the concrete operational stage children may be able to understand simple logical puzzles. 11+ years ‘the formal operational stage’ – Thinking using logic and abstract thought processes – adult thinking. With formal logic, an adult can solve complex problems. This stage allows adolescents and adults to use abstract concepts to gain understanding of the world. Adults can think scientifically and think through complicated ideas in our head without having to see the concrete picture. George Kelly developed a psychological theory called the psychology of personal constructs. He saw the individual as a scientist, making predictions about the future, testing them and revising them according to new evidence. A construct is a way of construing reality and the environment. Kelly believed that we do not have to be constrained by our past history but can seek out new, alternative, more positive meanings. The biological perspective: Maturational theory – this theory holds that the effects of the environment are minimal. A child is born with a set of genetic instructions that are passed down from their parents. Their cognitive, physical and other developmental processes merely unfold over time, rather than being dependent on the environment to mature. It is a theory which states that development is due to nature not nurture. Arnold Gesell believed that development occurred according to a sequence of developmental processes. Development in the womb has a fixed set of stages; the heart begins to form first, along with a nervous system. Bones and muscles develop next and over time the organism develops into a fully functioning human being. As the child develops from birth, its genes allow it to develop gradually into the person they’re meant to be. Genes can affect behaviour in many ways. Many diseases such as Cystic fibrosis and Huntington’s disease are passed on through parents genes. Diseases such as these are genetically determined, regardless of environmental factors. Disorders that are not genetically determined, but where an individual’s genes may leave them with a vulnerability to developing the disorder are very common. The autonomic nervous system produces its effects through activation of nerve fibres throughout the nervous system, brain and body or by stimulating the release of hormones from endocrine glands. Hormones are biochemical substances that are release into the bloodstream and have a profound effect on target organs and behaviour. They are present in very small quantities and individual molecules have a very short life, so their effects quickly disappear if they are secreted continiously. There are a large number of hormones, such as, melatonin which acts on the brainstem sleep mechanisms to help synchronise the phases of sleep and activity. Testosterone, which may influence aggressiveness, and oxytocin which stimulates milk production and female orgasms.

Chuck Staley, A Case Study of Leadership Excellence

This case study will be based upon a comparison of principles found in John C. Maxwell’s book, â€Å"The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership†. This text is foundational in the development and demonstration of successful leadership. It is my opinion, that Charles E. Staley, commonly known as Chuck Staley, personifies many of the mandates of a great leader as suggested within the context of Maxwell’s book. It comes as no surprise that when asked by Madison County Chamber of Commerce President, Kyle Morey, â€Å"What book has inspired you the most? †, Chuck’s reply was, â€Å"Leadership† by John C. Maxwell. Although not every one of the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is Chuck’s strengths, many are. I will discuss the demonstration of those strengths in the following paragraphs. Who is Chuck Staley? Chuck Staley is a lifelong resident of Anderson, Indiana. Shortly upon graduation from high school, Chuck joined the United States Marines, s erving as a Corporeal in the First Marine Division in 1964-1967 during the Viet Nam conflict . He married Lynn Vicars on July 14, 1971 and has two children, Catherine (Staley) Daniels and the late David Staley. Chuck is the current President and Chief Executive Officer of the Flagship Enterprise Center (FEC), which was created in 2003 through a partnership between Anderson University and the city of Anderson. Through Staley’s vision and guidance, the FEC has assisted in the creation of 104 companies and over 2,000 jobs. The FEC has grown steadily as it has added new businesses over the past decade and is currently located in a Center consisting of nearly 300,000 square feet. Success was not merely recognized at the local level, but in the FEC was named a U. S. Department of Commerce Center of Excellence under Chuck’s leadership. Since its beginning, the Flagship under Staley’s leadership has forged alliances with Purdue University, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and the US Department of Commerce. In 2011, the FEC began another partnership when Staley, Frank Levinson and Ann Wilson opened the Levinson Center for Social and Faith Based Entrepreneurship. The Levinson Center is located within the Flagship and specializes in businesses and organizations that innovate in the areas of environmental, humanitarian, educational and social issues within the framework of sustainability and sound business principles. The Levinson Center has launched nine organizations to date that range from energy independence for coastal Alaskan Indian villages, to Teachers of Promise in Kenya and a new educational paradigm, called the Impact Center, for nontraditional minority students in Anderson, Indiana. With Staley in leadership, national recognition has become common for companies such as COEUS and Echo Drive as they have captured markets in the technology field. Furthermore, The Flagship has begun to have impact globally with the addition of Greenville Technology Inc. (GTI), Altairnano, an energy storage company, as well as hosting the headquarters of Keihin North America. Staley has provided growth for many small business by developing an industry leading Microloan program including small business consulting. The Microloan program has had tremendous impact on business incubation and maintains the status of issuing the most microloans of any location in Indiana, with most loans being issues to women and/ or minority owned businesses. 3 Staley has chaired several boards, including the Anderson Plan Commission, White River Development Commission and the GM Blue Ribbon Commission. He was President Elect of the Madison County Chamber of Commerce, co-chairman of the World Class City Forum, and co-founder and Director of Energize East Central Indiana. He is currently chairman of the board of directors for Community Hospital Anderson and serves on the board of the recently launched Impact Center. Staley also serves as the President and CEO of the RSI Facilities Group, a consulting, engineering and management group, which has been involved in several commercial, industrial and residential projects. Although Staley has found success in leadership, he continues to pursue lifelong learning experiences like that of the Leadership Academy of Madison County (LAMC). Not only is he an alumni of the organization, but continues to support LAMC in the development of other emerging leaders. The information compiled in this document contains data and narrative from research. It also contains information from personal interview and observation. As a citizen from Anderson and Madison County and an employee of Anderson University, I have witnessed Chuck Staley’s leadership over past decades. I have watched him develop neighborhoods, businesses, and people. This account of leadership is both objective and personal. I am not alone in my respect for his leadership. Most recently, Staley received the prestigious Sagamore of the Wabash award. The Sagamore of the Wabash award, created by Gov. Ralph Gates in the 1940s, is considered one of the highest awards that can be bestowed by the governor of Indiana. It is a personal tribute usually given to those who have provided a distinguished service to the state. (Pendleton Gazette, 2013). 4 How does Chuck Staley exemplify leadership in reference to the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership? John Maxwell begins his book suggesting that there are 2 critical components leadership. Maxwell states, â€Å" Serving others and showing others the way† both essential in demonstrating successful leadership (Maxwell, 2007). Chuck Staley has done this in various ways. As mentioned earlier, he serves on many different boards and is involved in various community endeavors. Not only has Staley made it a habit of profession, but he is thoughtful and kind to many and all types of individuals he comes in contact with, young, old, educated, or challenged. A student of Robert Greenleaf’s writings and teachings from the Center for Servant Leadership as well as the teachings on servant hood from the Bible, Staley embraces opportunities to lead by â€Å"doing with and for† others. A servantleader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. â€Å"While traditional leadership generally involves the accumulation and exercise of power by one at the â€Å"top of the pyramid,† servant leadership is different. The servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible. † states Greenleaf. (2013). In organizations like the IMPACT Center in Anderson, IN, Staley assisted in the beginning of the vision for the organization. He gave of his time, influence, and expertise to make a dream a reality for many minority leaders in his community. As the CEO of the Flagship Enterprise, Staley has partnered with Masters of Business Administration (MBA) programs like Anderson University’s Falls School of Business to develop young entrepreneurs and business students by hosting them as interns at the FEC. He has assisted in developing contracts with the businesses that the FEC helps incubate that also give opportunities for students and graduates to develop their skills under the guidance of those at the FEC. Many of these students (25-30%) have gone on to incubate business of their own. 5 Law #1-Law of the Lid. Leadership ability determines a person’s level of effectiveness. The law of the lid states that one’s â€Å"leadership ability-for better or for worse-always determines your effectiveness. ( pg. 1) Chuck has proven over the years that his lid is set at a high level because his leadership has demonstrated impact. While building the momentum at the FEC, Staley built strong relationships with those in his inner circle, those he had to engage with to position the business for success, and potential clients. He built a small team of individuals who maintaine d the same leadership, vision, and passion that he had developed. Staley worked with them to manage, lead, and incubate businesses under the guidance of and team management and servant leadership. Staley always built teams that focused on organizational effectiveness but were very aware that they must also be personally effective as leaders to reach capacity as an organization. The leadership teams at the FEC have been very successful as they have become the states leading small business microloan lender even surpassing that of Bloomington and Lafayette. But when asked, Staley readily suggests, that leadership is the issue. â€Å"Creating a vision that people can get behind and supporting them as they empower others is a key element that I promote,† commented Staley, when asked about the success of the FEC. It is apparent that he takes his responsibility seriously and works with great effort to build a team that leads with the same beliefs and priorities that he holds. Law #2-Law of Influence. The true measure of leadership is influence-nothing more, nothing less. The law of influence would argue that if one doesn’t have influence, one will never be able to lead others. (pg. 11). Staley is skilled at seeing opportunities and going after them as an entrepreneur, however, his skill goes beyond entrepreneurship. In a business of taking risks, Staley is up for the task. He operates with an 80-20 philosophy, where he takes calculated risks when he hits the 80% risk reduction benchmark. Never wanting to miss opportunity that comes along, Staley will 6 allow for a standard of risk. He can only operate at that level by having influence with those around him. There is a trust factor that is afforded the decisions that Staley makes, knowing that even in the 20% risk zone where failure may occur, Chuck will take opportunity to learn and move forward, always seeing new possibilities in each failure. His influence allows him the privilege to operate a this capacity and have others support him in the effort. Economic Development Director, for the City of Anderson, Greg Winkler recognizes the influence that Staley has and invites him to be engaged with businesses and the public whenever change or challenges present themselves. Winkler recognizes Staley’s leadership and influence and keeps him in close counsel with most economic development decisions being made in the city. Law #3-Law of Process. Leadership develops daily, not in a day. â€Å"Persistence† is a word that is often used to describe Staley. As counsel for business incubation with businesses like Bright Automotive, Staley spent years visiting funding sources like the United States Department of Commerce (USDC), Economic Development Administration (EDA), and the State of Indiana to advocate for financial investment and support. Advocating is a process. Staley believes in the long haul and staying dedicated to the process. He believes that discipline in process keeps you focused and organized, professionally and personally. In a recent interview, Staley confirmed what others had observed. He has a daily routine that includes the discipline of person growth and spiritual development. Staley considers himself a lifelong learner and takes time daily to read and reflect on professional and personal issues. He recently stated, â€Å"I want to experience quality of life well into old age. That doesn’t happen by chance. † Staley realizes that change, planning, development, and growth don’t happen over night. Being committed to a process and disciplining one’s body , mind, and spirit are all an essential part of Staley’s day to day routine. 7 Law #4-Law of Navigation. Anyone can steer the ship, but it takes a leader to chart the course. When asked what experiences in life have best shaped his leadership philosophy, Staley is quick to respond about his military experience during his formative years of life. Staley began serving in the United States Marine Corps at the young age of 17. At the time he enlisted, his mother had to sign the papers because he was not yet of age. By the time that Chuck left the Marines four years later as a Corporeal Sergeant, Staley had developed leadership strategies that still play an important role in his success today. He adopted the method of working as a team. The Marines worked in teams of four men. Roles were well defined for the individual, but all effort and progress was made as a team. The team was large enough that it offered expertise, but small enough that it could move quickly. They were given responsibility and clearance in the field that enabled them to work and move in the directions they thought were best and necessary without micro-management from different levels in the chain of command. Staley learned that you never leave anyone behind, and that you look out for those on you team. You always had the good of the team in mind,† reflected Staley. â€Å"The team strategy and the need to see the big picture, was a big take away from the Marines. † he continued. This strategy and method continue to make Staley effective in charting the course for current business innovation. Maxwell states in his book, â€Å"First rate navigators always have in mind that other people are d epending on them and their ability to chart a good course. † (pg. 39) Staley learned that decades ago and applies it to his relationships today. When Staley enters into business development processes for the businesses he is assisting with, he is looking out for the team, with their agenda in mind, and not his own. He doesn’t suggest that there are not mistakes along the way, but he takes time daily to reflect on the decisions of the past in effort to inform current and future business and personal decisions. 8 Law #5-Law of Addition. Leaders add value by serving others. â€Å"I believe the bottom line in leadership isn’t how far we advance ourselves but how far we advance others. That is achieved by serving others and adding value to their lives. This statement from Maxwell is echoed by Staley in many of the messages he delivers to individuals and groups throughout the state and country. When addressing graduates of the Leadership Academy of Madison County in 2012, Staley re-enforced all that he had learned through the study of Robert Greenleaf many years prior. This philosophy of service to others regardless of title or position is implemented in every area of Staley’s influence. Not only has Staley received numerous recognitions and awards over the years for his commitment to community and service to others, he has nominated and recognized many others. Two of the Madison County Athena Award recipients in the last three years have been women nominated and supported by Staley and his belief in their ability to lead through service to others. Staley is quick to remind listeners, that his study of the Bible and the call to be like Christ, a servant to all, impacts his behavior. He is careful to reflect daily on the truth that God desire us not only to treat people with respect, but also to actively reach out to them and serve them. Law #15-Law of Victory. Leaders find a way for the team to win. Failure is not an option. It wasn’t in the Marines, and it isn’t at the FEC. In fact, when questioned about recent perceived failures in the venture with Bright Automotive, a green technology for a workforce fleet of trucks and vans, Staley defends the process by suggesting that many new relationships and business were began at the FEC as a result of the venture with Bright. To Staley, although the outcome was not what was first envisioned and hoped for, but the lessons learned and the outcomes post venture have led to new levels of success and progress. 9 Bright Automotive wasn’t left with a huge dept and forced to close it’s doors. Staley established strong relationships with other companies on their behalf, and Bright was able to join other green automotive technologies and continue to impact technology. Staley was noted as saying, â€Å"Obstacles are tests that serve to prove, or disprove a hypothesis. Nothing more, nothing less. † He has learned that obstacles and challenges provide opportunities. You reflect, learn, implement new strategy and move on. â€Å"Failure doesn’t stop you, as a leader you find a way for people to win. Law #11-Law of the Inner Circle. A leader’s potential is determined by those closest to him. Chuck Staley has opportunity to bring many individuals into his closest circle. But Staley understands the value and responsibility of maintaining relationships with those who are closest to you. Staley has a list of those he considers peers by age, expertise, or influence that h e consults with on a regular basis. Any time he is contemplating change, innovation, or entirely new ventures, Staley consults with those in his inner circle. Those individuals include: Greg Winkler, Director, Economic Development for the City of Anderson; Rob Sparks, Executive Director of the Corporation of Economic Development in Madison County; Tom Snyder, President of IVY Tech Community College; Mike Pence, Governor of the State of Indiana; Lani Czarnieki, District Director Congressman Mike Pence; Keith Trent, Vice President/Chief Foundation Officer, Community Hospital Anderson; John Watters, former CEO Bright Automotive; Sena Landey, Vice President for Finance Administration Earlham College; and his wife of over 40 years, Dr. Lynn Staley, Professor Emeritus of Ball State and current Superintendent of Liberty Christian Schools. Staley contributes all of his successful decisions and planning to the wisdom gained from the friendships and expertise of those in his inner circle. 10 Law #18-Law of Sacrifice. Leaders must give up to go up. Chuck Staley is a private man. He relishes time alone to contemplate, reflect, and create. His greatest pleasure in life comes from spending time with his family, including his newly wedded daughter and son in law. Understanding that sacrifice comes with leadership, Staley submits to the tightly filled schedule of events, meetings, speaking engagements, ground breaking ceremonies, strategic planning sessions, and media releases. He does recognize the fact that in order to be an effective leader, one must give up many things including personal space. â€Å"Keeping a low profile as a leader is not an option. † commented Staley when asked what he has had to give up in his role of CEO of the FEC. â€Å"It is difficult to be so public. Like many leaders, Staley finds that it can be isolating at the top. He works hard to remain part of the team and work from ground level, but at times when the leaders is the one to cast the vision, draw the buy in, and make hard decisions, he realized he must step up. Although Staley values his investment in people, he realizes that at times it is at the expense of those in his family. His routine and discipline allow for balance, but he acknowledges that the re are only so many hours in a day, and you must give up something to get something, even in relationships. Law # 21– Law of Legacy. A leader’s lasting value is measured by succession. Recently, upon receiving the Sagamore of the Wabash Award from Governor Mike Pence and local state legislators Terri Austin, Jack Lutz and Tim Lanane, Austin said in a press release, : I am particularly pleased that this recognition gives us a chance to recognize that Chuck Staley has been committed toward linking economic development and social awareness. Although Staley isn’t planning on walking away from the FEC in the immediate future, he is aware that day will eventually come and he is working diligently to make the connections and grow the leadership to carry on the success of the Flagship and the collaborations that exist because of its existence. 11 Staley has a goal for his life. It is to leave his community and central Indiana economically stronger and healthier by creating more opportunities for individuals and families to experience quality of life and success as a result of his service to God and others. He hopes to create a brighter future for those who come behind him. Although there are many other attributes one could demonstrate in regard to Chuck Staley’s leadership abilities in comparison to the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, time and space has permitted me to only list a few. During my interviews and research with Chuck, I discovered several things that I thought were noteworthy about his life, passions, habits, and thoughts. All of these notations could be found in the application of Maxwell’s laws of leadership. I would like to share a few of those with you now. Staley spent 12 years on the Madison County Chamber of Commerce. When asked about his impact, Staley commented that he encouraged others to think about â€Å"the bigger picture†. He promoted collaboration as a way of behaving in business, even over competing. I asked his colleague to tear down walls due to the fact that in these economic times, â€Å"one can’t build walls high enough to keep others out†. He advocated that businesses think in terms of taking a piece of the pie instead of consuming a entire pie. During his tenure, the Chamber developed two new associations; Females in Business (FAB) and the Young Professionals Association (YPA). They also developed the Mad9 Mixer. Mad(ison)9 is a partnership of nine Madison County organizations with the common mission of realizing a positive vision for the future of our business community and region. Mad9 set the standard of relationship building beyond boundaries by helping businesses and civic leaders connect, communicate, and create commerce. The partnership’s first initiative is to connect business and ivic leaders once a month around the county (north, south, east and west). 12 When asked about his proudest achievements at the FEC, Staley responded with these facts: The FEC is the #1 Microloan processor in the state of Indiana. The FEC has been recognized by the Indiana Business Journal as the #1 creator of jobs in Indiana. The FEC has loaned over 74% of it’s microloans to women, minorities, and disabled service Veterans. Staley credits his philosophy of â€Å"taking care of each other† from the Marines. He also creates an environment that rewards and recognizes hard work because of the declaration learned in the military that you â€Å"Earn what you get. Nothing is given to you. † When asked what he considers to be his strengths in leadership, Staley commented, I am visionary. I am persistent. I do not keep personal agendas. I tap into collective wisdom. I seek counsel from those smarter than myself. I lead with confidence, which allows me to elevate others and seek advise and wisdom from others. Staley’s response risk taking: â€Å"I utilize the 80-20 rule. I am confident in a decision of data at 80% suggest it’s the right decision . I am willing to risk the 20% in order to capture opportunity. If you wait until you are 100% sure you are making the right decision, the opportunity will pass you by. Opportunities at the 80-20 level will offset any losses you might endure using the rule. If I allow others to use this rule and people do make mistakes, I allow them that privilege. We just learn, recover, and move on. In the world of innovation and entrepreneurship, there is always risk involved. You must seize opportunities and refuse to play it safe 100% of the time. Staley’s favorite quote: The seven most important words in the English language, â€Å"Never give up, never, never, give up. † Winston Churchill. 13 Leaders that have had impact on Staley: Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan, Winston Churchill, George Patton, Chesty Puller, Jesus Christ. The kind of individuals Staley tries to attract /recruit to his team: Compe tent Innovative Self motivated Positive Mission driven Team Players Staley’s method for change: Staley advocate that you follow the V Method. Any change, good or bad, results in a temporary negative response. Good changes eventually result in higher levels on the V, bad changes in lower levels. Poor leadership makes change more difficult. People panic and make further changes. What results is change continues down the V. It is wise to implement change slowly, carefully, and not all at once or in succession. About establishing priorities: â€Å"Life is full of nice things to do, successful people do the necessary things first. I do first things first. † In conclusion, the example that Chuck Staley has set for effective leadership has had great impact on the community and in business. He has developed his own philosophy of leadership based on his life experiences and the wisdom of other successful leaders. He lives his life in a way that creates value in others and opportunities for innovation, improvement, and success. In so many ways, Staley exemplifies the truth found in the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership of John Maxwell’s book. It has been a lesson in leadership just to have researched and communicated with Staley myself. He is truly a hometown hero in leadership for the City of Anderson and Madison County.

Genetics In Life essays

Genetics In Life essays Genetics is the study of the patterns of inheritance of specific traits (Poretto). This knowledge could be used to alter the course of a future human life. This knowledge could even be used to stop a potentially painful life before it starts. Genetic engineering, like any other science, is a tool. Like any other tool Genetic Engineering is neither inherently positive nor inherently negative. Genetic engineerings benefits outweigh the potential negatives, and in spite of some people fearing that it is immoral; genetics needs to be continually developed. The first step in eliminating superstition about a topic is to understand that topic. The origins of genetic history lay in the ancient techniques of selective breeding to yield desired characteristics in offspring. This is a form of genetic manipulation by "employing appropriate selection for physical and behavioral traits" (Gert 2). The work of an Austrian monk by the name of Gregor Mendel established the quantitative discipline of genetics using garden peas. Mendel's work explained the inheritance of traits can be stated by factors passed from one generation to the next; in other words, genes. The complete set of genes for an organism is called its genome (Congress 3). Traits are inherited through single or multiple genes. The development of these traits can be explained by environment variables (Congress 3). Mendel also correctly surmised that two copies of every factor exist and that one factor of inheritance could be dominant over another (Murphy). The next major step in genetics was deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA. DNA, as a part of genes, was discovered to be a double helix that encodes the blueprints for all living things (Congress 3). DNA is made of nucleotide chains made of four bases. Any ordered pair of bases makes a sequence. These sequences are the instructions that produce molecules and proteins for cellular structure and biochemical fun...

Democracy Debate in Herodotus

Democracy Debate in Herodotus Herodotus, the Greek historian known as the Father of History, describes a debate on the three government types  (Herodotus III.80-82), in which proponents of each type tell whats wrong or right with democracy. 1. The monarchist  (supporter of rule by one person, be it a king, tyrant, dictator, or emperor) says freedom, one component of what we today think of as a democracy, can be given just as well by monarchs. 2. The oligarch  (supporter of rule by a few, especially the aristocracy but could also be the best educated) points out the inherent danger of democracy mob rule. 3. The pro-democracy speaker (supporter of rule by the citizens who in a direct democracy all vote on all issues) says in democracy magistrates are held accountable and are selected by lot; deliberation is made by the entire citizen body (optimally, according to Plato, 5040 adult males). Equality is the guiding principle of democracy. Read the three positions: Book III 80. When the tumult had subsided and more than five days had elapsed, those who had risen against the Magians began to take counsel about the general state, and there were spoken speeches which some of the  Hellenes  do not believe were really uttered, but spoken they were nevertheless. On the one hand Otanes urged that they should resign the government into the hands of the whole body of the Persians, and his words were as follows: To me, it seems best that no single one of us should henceforth be ruler, for that is neither pleasant nor profitable. Ye saw the insolent temper of Cambyses, to what lengths it went, and ye have had experience also of the insolence of the Magian: and how should the rule of one alone be a well-ordered thing, seeing that the monarch may do what he desires without rendering any account of his acts? Even the best of all men, if he were placed in this disposition, would be caused by it to change from his wonted disposition: for insolence is engendered in him by the good things which he possesses, and envy is implanted in man from the beginning; and having these two things, he has all vice: for he does many deeds of reckless wrong, partly moved by insolence proceeding from satiety, and partly by envy. And yet a despot at least ought to have been free from envy, seeing that he has all manner of good things. He is however naturally in just the opposite temper towards his subjects; for he grudges to the nobles that they should survive and live, but delights in the basest of citizens, and he is more ready than any other man to receive calumnies. Then of all things he is the most inconsistent; for if you express admiration of him moderately, he is offended that no very great court is paid to him, whereas if you pay court to him extravagantly, he is offended with you for being a flatterer. And the most important matter of all is that which I am about to say:he disturbs the customs handed down from our fathers, he is a ravisher of women, and he puts men to death without trial. On the other hand the rule of many has first a name attaching to it which is the fairest of all names, that is to say Equality; next, the multitude does none of those things which the monarch does: offices of stat e are exercised by lot, and the magistrates are compelled to render account of their action: and finally all matters of deliberation are referred to the public assembly. I therefore give as my opinion that we let monarchy go and increase the power of the multitude; for in the many is contained everything. 81. This was the opinion expressed by Otanes; but Megabyzos urged that they should entrust matters to the rule of a few, saying these words: That which Otanes said in opposition to a tyranny, let it be counted as said for me also, but in that which he said urging that we should make over the power to the multitude, he has missed the best counsel: for nothing is more senseless or insolent than a worthless crowd; and for men flying from the insolence of a despot to fall into that of unrestrained popular power, is by no means to be endured: for he, if he does anything, does it knowing what he does, but the people cannot even know; for how can that know which has neither been taught anything noble by others nor perceived anything of itself, but pushes on matters with violent impulse and without understanding, like a torrent stream? Rule of the people then let them adopt who are foes to the Persians; but let us choose a company of the best men, and to them attach the chief power; for in t he number of these we shall ourselves also be, and it is likely that the resolutions taken by the best men will be the best. 82. This was the opinion expressed by Megabyzos; and thirdly Dareios proceeded to declare his opinion, saying: To me it seems that in those things which Megabyzos said with regard to the multitude he spoke rightly, but in those which he said with regard to the rule of a few, not rightly: for whereas there are three things set before us, and each is supposed to be the best in its own kind, that is to say a good popular government, and the rule of a few, and thirdly the rule of one, I say that this last is by far superior to the others; for nothing better can be found than the rule of an individual man of the best kind; seeing that using the best judgment he would be guardian of the multitude without reproach; and resolutions directed against enemies would so best be kept secret. In an oligarchy however it happens often that many, while practising virtue with regard to the commonwealth, have strong private enmities arising among themselves; for as each man desires to be himself the lea der and to prevail in counsels, they come to great enmities with one another, whence arise factions among them, and out of the factions comes murder, and from murder results the rule of one man; and thus it is shown in this instance by how much that is the best. Again, when the people rules, it is impossible that corruption should not arise, and when corruption arises in the commonwealth, there arise among the corrupt men not enmities but strong ties of friendship: for they who are acting corruptly to the injury of the commonwealth put their heads together secretly to do so. And this continues so until at last some one takes the leadership of the people and stops the course of such men. By reason of this the man of whom I speak is admired by the people, and being so admired he suddenly appears as monarch. Thus he too furnishes herein an example to prove that the rule of one is the best thing. Finally, to sum up all in a single word, whence arose the liberty which we possess, and who gave it to us? Was it a gift of the people or of an oligarchy or of a monarch? I therefore am of opinion that we, having been set free by one man, should preserve that form of rule, and in other respects also that we should not annul the customs of our fathers w hich are ordered well; for that is not the better way. Source: Herodotus Book III

Universalization of Christianity Through Repetition and Essay

Universalization of Christianity Through Repetition and Differentiation in Sandro Boticelli's Primavera - Essay Example Over their heads hang many oranges, and at the feet of the party is a field of various flowers, all of different colors and shapes. One of the most immediate formal aspects of this work is the obvious well balanced and symmetrical repetition of many different colors, forms and lines, which, when combined with the Christian implication of several of the symbols of the work, create a universalizing image of Christianity. The repetition in this work begins with the plants that grow above and below the main scene. The trees are dotted with oranges, bright colored fruit that create a star-like pattern over the roof of the party, which is mirrored by the flowers on the floor. These sprinkling of bright colors recall the expanse of the universe and the night sky, and begin creating the idea of this as a universal representation. Following the lines of these fruit trees behind the party of figures draws the viewers attention to the ground, which is likewise full of star-like clusters. These clusters are made of flowers, which, while homogenous at a distance and in creating the effect of repetition, are in fact extraordinarily varied. Each of the flowers is brightly colored, reinforcing the star-like pattern caused by the oranges hanging overhead, but when examined closer it becomes apparent that each has its own particular form and color, and is not like any of the others. This further reinforces that the painting expresses the whole of creation, both in its expanse, through the repetition of bright, star like patterns, and through the specific, with a huge amount of individual flair still being represented in the homogenous whole. The setting of this painting, through its repetition of bright colors, recalls the whole of creation. The symmetry of both the horizontal and the vertical axis also serve this purpose, allowing the viewer to imagine that the expanse continues on all sides in a similarly diverse but congruent way. This repetition is carried through the figure s in the painting as well, with Venus serving as the central axis over which the repetition is made. There is repetition in color, with figures on both the left and the right of Venus, as well as the red of Mercury’s tunic being mirrored in Venus’s. Finally, there is a compositional symmetry in the sole adult male figures, Zephyrus and Mercury, both being on the outside of the painting serving as the boundary of the image. The purpose of all of this repetition of is to create a universalizing effect, but what, if anything, is Botticelli trying to universalize? To understand this it is important to look at the symbolism of the painting. The Putto over Venus’s head serves as a dual symbol – it is both a Christian symbol with associations of heaven (in having innocence, angelic wings etc), while also being a common Roman motif. Venus serves a similar double role – she is obviously the Roman goddess of romance and birth, but here she also serve as a st and-in for Mary. The leaf patterns and archway over her head both serve to draw attention to her and create a halo effect, mirroring the kind of halo that Mary is often depicted with, while her pregnant-looking belly recalls the birth, something else Mary is frequently associated with. Her hand seems to be raised in benediction. Her white dress symbolizes innocence, while the red cloak hanging over her lower half