Category: About Myself

I Am a Materialistic

The concept of materialism involves predominantly focusing on tangible items over intellectual or spiritual values (‘Materialism’). The majority of today’s adolescents can be identified as the most materialistic generation in history, as many of us are extremely conscious of our social status and our self-worth is driven by our material possessions. However, the obsession of engaging in social comparison with others over material belongings can ultimately lead to consequences for the individual. I have a materialistic mindset because I believe expensive brands and labels are superior, I become frustrated when I do not own certain material items, and lose confidence when I am unable to display my wealth.

I am materialistic because I believe that expensive brands or labels are superior, and have a tendency to disregard anything second-hand or repaired. As I became a high school student, I noticed a significant incline in my daily social media usage, and was affected by the socially praised ideals imposed through the media. As a result, I began to believe that those who acquired name-brand shoes, handbags or clothing, as well as luxury cars were most successful and content with their lives. Unconsciously, I started gravitating towards items that were more expensive whenever I decided to go shopping or purchase a product online. Gradually, I developed a habit of looking down on non-branded items, believing that they are undesirable due to their poor quality or because they are not expensive enough. Moreover, I now constantly ask my parents for name-brand clothes and am not satisfied if they are dissimilar from what my peers wear. I also enjoy spending money on lavish gifts for my friends, as I feel that if they are not expensive enough, the present will lose its meaning. However, this acquisitive mindset often causes dissatisfaction and general unhappiness. Thus, my behavior demonstrates how I am a materialistic.

I become frustrated when I do not own certain material items that I wish to acquire. As a young girl, I was raised with constant support from my family and would ask my parents to purchase any item I wanted, including toys, clothes, shoes, as well as electronic devices. Essentially, the environment that I grew up in has now influenced me to equate buying things with positive emotions, as I feel an overwhelming sense of self-satisfaction when I make a purchase on an expensive item. Although in reality, I have everything I need, I believe that the more I own, the better my life will be. I constantly obsess over obtaining material things only to store and neglect them shortly after. Thus, becoming irritated when I cannot own certain material items reveal my materialistic mindset.

I lose confidence when I am unable to display my material possessions in social settings. I crave to ‘show off’ in order to be admired or gain respect which relates to underlying self-esteem issues or feelings of self-doubt. Moreover, whenever I forget to wear jewelry or specific clothes for a social event, I experience restlessness or a feeling that a certain part of me is being unaccounted for throughout the day. I continually worry about my physical appearance and unconsciously wonder if my peers will perceive me the same way as they usually do when I display my material possessions. Thus, constructing self-identity based on my possessions and how I portray myself to those around me reveal that I am a materialistic individual.

I have a materialistic mindset due to the certain lifestyle I had as a child, as well as the socially praised ideals imposed through the media. I believe expensive brands and labels are superior, as I enjoy spending money on lavish gifts and suspect that when my desires of owning certain items are fulfilled, I will achieve happiness. I become frustrated when I do not possess certain material items, because in my perspective, the more an individual owns, the better their life will be. I tend to lose confidence and experience restlessness when I am unable to display my possessions to others. As a seventeen-year-old adolescent, I am a materialistic.

Work Cited

1. “Materialism”. Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/materialism

Community Service Scholarship Essay

I am currently enrolled in a post-graduate diploma in Project Management at The University of Winnipeg, Professional, Applied, and Continuing Education. I am thoroughly enjoying this program and feel very grateful for all the support that I have been receiving from my peers and instructors. In December 2018, I came to Canada as an international student to study in this program, however, in June 2019, I received my permanent residency based on the Express Entry program largely due to my professional experience and impressive IELTS scores. Although this transition was not a bed of roses, however, I have remarkably managed to excel in my new environment. Working as an IT professional in India for over 6 years and integrating and collaborating with globally dispersed clients has played an instrumental role in instilling a high cultural awareness and the ability to engage in a diverse environment. In school, my cultural awareness can be clearly noticed which makes me a highly communicative individual amongst my classmates as someone who believes in expressing his thoughts freely and is always ready to help others. My strong academic results along with my involvement in school and community services make me an ideal candidate to receive this scholarship.

I strongly feel that in my desire to grow and develop professionally and personally, I not only excel at academics but also display leadership qualities and a strong responsibility to serve the community. The inspiring people whom I have encountered and the knowledge that I have gained throughout my time in Canada have contributed to the evolution of my personality which personifies the qualities sought after by the scholarship.

I have always tried to deliver my best in all undertakings. This is exhibited on the academic front and currently, my GPA stands around 3.85. All my instructors and students at PACE speak highly of me and find me a curious and insightful student. In addition to that, being the head of The Student Enrichment Committee at PACE, I try to implement new ideas with the support of my teammates. One recent example of my leadership can be demonstrated through my idea of collecting donations and implementing them successfully. As a result of which our team delivered more than 250 food and hygiene items to Siloam Mission in Winnipeg. My proactiveness and inclination to get involved can also be understood by the fact that during the very first week at The U of W PACE, I volunteered for Parks Canada at the PACE Cultural night. My curiosity and the ability to attract thoughtful conversations bagged me another wonderful opportunity to volunteer for The Project Management Institute Manitoba Chapter which I have been currently doing since July 2019. Furthermore, to promote cultural diversity in Canada, I volunteered for the Folklorama El Salvador Pavilion in August 2019. My involvement with various volunteer programs has provided me with the opportunity to enhance my active listening skills, gain insight into the various cultures, and taught me to be more inclusive and non-judgmental. It is through these experiences that I have grown into an unbiased and modest man who desires to excel in his fields of interest and serve society in the best possible way.

Through the experiences gained after moving to Canada and through the knowledge of business courses attained at The University of Winnipeg PACE, I have become increasingly interested in the field of Project Management and Canadian business. I feel very passionate about people and projects and transforming lives using those opportunities. This one-year intense program is a great start in my journey as it has enabled me to attain a highly advanced theoretical and practical understanding of Project Management and business management. My long-term goal is to get involved in the Canadian business market and this program has empowered me to lay a solid foundation to build upon very soon.

To condense, through this post-graduate program, I have challenged myself with a deeper understanding of Canadian business and Project Management and undoubtedly, I am highly optimistic to work for an employer in Winnipeg with whom I share my core values and beliefs with.

My persistence, perseverance, and the quality of overcoming any obstacle along with my outstanding academic results make me the best candidate to receive this scholarship.

Essay on Importance of Time Management

Self-reflection is one of the key exercises of observing and reporting one’s thoughts, practices, skills, and their associated outcomes Gläser-Zikuda (2012). It is a conscious effort of realizing and considering areas that need attention and improvement in an individual’s personality. Only after a person has undergone self-realization, one can work towards being a better human being by inculcating self-assessment skills that were lacking previously Gläser-Zikuda (2012). This reflective essay will focus on self-reflection with specific references to time management skills and how time self-reflective exercises made me adopt and implement the said skill.

Time management allows a reduction in waste of time while providing the opportunity for proper allocation of the desired amount of time to certain tasks based on their importance and urgency. It does not only allow one to plan realistically but instead creates room for the achievement of those plans Kapur (2018). Not only does this help in achieving certain tasks but also aids in daily routine activities. Since a person can synchronize what tasks need to be done at what time, an individual is better able to manage effectiveness and productivity in this way. Since early childhood, I had big plans and dreams, but as I grew up I realized that none of my plans were following the track that I tentatively drew in my mind when I was a child. With every passing year, the sense of non-accomplishment and the increasing list of undone tasks and plans were only adding up to my anxiety and stress until later when I realized that what I lacked was not determination and passion, but it was the skill of time management that was missing within me.

This self-realization brought with it a completely new perspective and I realized that only managing time and synchronizing plans with a successive sequence in their increasing order of desire to achieve will only help me in pursuing my targets. Nasrullah and Khan (2015) highlighted in this study, that time management skill depends on the routine and activities of the students and it ultimately affects stress and anxiety levels. Students who lack this skill experience negative effects on their lives and academics Nasrullah and Khan (2015). Since that time I have started planning my day the night before, planning my week every preceding weekend, and setting my monthly targets at the end of the previous month. Thus, I have noticed a positive and healthy change in my personality and mental health. I am feeling less tired, more active, and more accomplished, besides being focused and determined to achieve my goals. I feel my list of undone tasks is slowly and gradually shrinking and that I can maintain a pace with my life with everything being in place and in the proper order of its fulfillment. My days are now more organized and systemic than ever.

Kapur (2018) mentions the simple and easy-to-understand definition of time management. As highlighted in his study, time management is a skill that allows the organization and completion of tasks as per the timeline and within the due course of time. It is the ability to use time effectively and productively. I believe, it is important for every individual to possess and develop the skill under consideration to lead a life that is free of anxiety and stress. Kapur (2018) also talks about the significance of time management in everybody’s life regardless of age, gender, professional association, work commitments, and interests. No matter what one follows and wants to achieve in their life, time management is a key that can drive success and sustainable outcomes.

While reflecting on the time management skill, I put a special focus on the way Dewey 1933 had prescribed the ways to do the reflective exercise. Based on his theory, research conducted by Rodgers (2002), mentions that individuals should always deeply analyze and give careful attention to their beliefs and practices concerning logical and research-based grounds. This has made me analyze and reflect on my time management skills which have improved and become better over time. However, how Dewey addresses the reflection does not cater the experiential learning. Many a time in life, individual experiences can teach lessons that logical grounds may not do so. Therefore, I think it is important to take into consideration what experiences life brings for us. For example, missing a birthday celebration of a close friend, being unable to catch up on a flight on time, and losing grades because of late submission in assignments were some of the eye-opening experiences that taught me the importance of time management.

Cáceres (2017) on another account highlighted yet another theory by Schon in 1983 which mentions the significance of self-realization as being the core value of a development. There are two things where an individual should put their attention. First, the reflection in that it is analyzing the skills and striving hard to make them better, and second, the reflection on that it is critically reviewing the events that take place and responding to them Cáceres (2017).

When I get up each day I always make a schedule of my daily tasks and figure out the time that I need to give to professional and academic work as well. Besides, I plan my week ahead of time and enlist all that needs to be completed during the entire week. I have learned this activity with time and this facilitates two things. First, it keeps me motivated, and second, it reduces my anxiety and stress. Since, whenever time management is given priority and days and weeks are planned according to it, it is observed that less anxiety and stress is being reported in people (Mohamadkhani Ghiasvand, Naderi, Zagheri Tafreshi, Ahmadi and Hosseini, 2017).

Time management has a crucial role in every task and profession that a person takes up. Taking into account the example of a researcher, Chase et al. (2012) highlights the significance of the term and its implications in the life of a researcher. Since research is a critical and crucial task, time management allows for a sustainable outcome, adequate focus, and productivity on the specific research topic Chase et al. (2012). If a researcher does not follow the time management skill, one may not be able to document the relevant findings at a relevant time which may ultimately result in the loss of substantial data and its significance.

While I relate to what the research has brought into consideration, I completely agree that time management plays a significant role in the completion of academic tasks and research activities Chase et al. (2012). Not only does it improve the quality of work but also helps the student to stand unique from others during the academic discourse. Completion of tasks on time allows sufficient time to look for areas of improvement and follow the progress on time avoiding the eleventh-hour hassle Chase et al. (2012). With my own experiences, I have experienced firsthand that assignments and tasks completed on time always come up with good results and outcomes in comparison to those which are completed late and in rush.

One of the research CYRIL (2015) interestingly states the fact that one thing beyond human control is time because it never stops for anybody. Those who waste it and do not make the most out of it are the ones who are left behind in this competitive world because nothing can be substituted for the time that is once gone and lost. After reading this, I realized that one fine way to manage myself would be to manage the time I have in my life. If I learn the art of managing and controlling time, I will have the art of controlling everything that is around me, that pertains to me, and that I want to achieve. CYRIL (2015) highlights that there are many cases where students do not know how to manage time effectively among family, friends, entertainment, assignments, tests, and jobs and they end up either compromising on their academic records or their relationships. I found this quite relatable. I witnessed myself distancing subconsciously and unintentionally from family and friends because it was initially very difficult to keep everything manageable.

Recently I came across a study by Chase et al. (2012) which talks about nine effective steps to learn about time management. I started following those steps in every task that was assigned to me or that was under my supervision and to my utmost surprise, I observed a drastic change in the outcome and the overall productivity on my part. Now, What I follow is whenever I have to accomplish something, I start with the time assessment which includes two questions. First, how much time do I have? And second, how much time will be needed on my part to complete the task? As a second step, I plan, and then monitor the progress. Chase et al. (2012) mention that if the initial steps of time management are done accurately and followed properly, all other things come in line.

As a next step, I decide what goals I need to achieve and how they align with the task that is being assigned to be followed by the prioritization and optimization of the planning process. Chase et al. (2012) emphasize taking the help and expertise of other people to reduce time investment and increase productivity. This catalyzes task performance and brings in diverse ideas and opinions. Following the time management strategy allows me to identify the potential risks and any loopholes and seek timely the same. Because, I play a diverse role in my life ranging from a family person to someone who loves to socialize and from an academic student to a professional colleague at my workplace, this time management skill allows me to let go of and address any potential distractions that may come along. It also enables me to identify and overcome barriers that may pose problem-solving tasks Chase et al. (2012).

I have always noticed that whenever I can complete tasks on time and follow the skill of time management in personal, professional, and academic areas I am more comfortable and relaxed, otherwise in case of non-compliance with time management, I face more anxiety and stress. Hence, reflecting on my own experiences, I have learned that time management results in better and improved performances. The research conducted by Adams and Blair (2019) also supplements my overall experience with time management, however, there can be certain areas and factors which may make it difficult for people to manage time effectively Adams and Blair (2019). These factors may vary from person to person based on the dynamics in which they live their lives.

Reflecting on the time when I started my studies, I felt a huge challenge in managing my household responsibilities with my academic responsibilities. I felt like I was not able to manage time effectively hence my relationships with family and friends were deteriorating and every task that I was doing was not up to the standards of high quality. COVID-19 bought along with it a new set of challenges that again made it extremely difficult to manage time effectively. Later, with time, I started to learn that time management is a skill, a skill that can lead to success and yield positive results and the skill which every individual must possess to produce good quality work in all domains without compromising on anything. Adams and Blair (2019) mentioned that time management can result in good academic results and the same I have experience with time.

Besides, the skill of time management provides me an opportunity to explore various new opportunities coming up in life and enables me to bring in innovative and creative ideas. It allows me to self-explore my hidden personality traits which I never knew existed before. As time management skill brings organization and ethics to life Al-Zoubi (2016), it opens up routes for success and achievements. What once seems impossible to achieve is now something practically attainable. Hence, if the few most successful people in the world are taken into consideration and interviewed, it may be easily evident that the basic principle they follow in their lives is time management Al-Zoubi (2016).

Over time I have learned and mastered the skill of time management that I will continue to adopt and follow in all areas of life. I am still an advocate of it and keep on instructing people around me such as colleagues, family, and friends to give this skill a priority in their life. I am aware that not everybody has a similar approach to life and not everybody performs at the same level, but I still believe that implementing and managing time effectively definitely improves the overall productivity of the work. It not only improves academic outcomes but also improves personal life relationships by allowing more time to spend and relax with them. Not only this, but I have also noticed a drastic behavioral change in people at my workplace as they seem to be happier now after I assign tasks and follow up with them timely Grissom, Loeb, and Mitani, (2020). This allows a more systemic form of working and a healthy bond with people.

Today, when I reflect, I realize that because I lacked time management skills, it was having a negative impact on myself and those around me to stop this vicious cycle, it is very important that we self-realize, self-reflect, and identify that time management is the only key that can bring peace, good mental health, and success to our lives as it brought in mine and I am glad it was never too late for me until I adopted the practice as now I feel more accomplished, happy and successful.

Conclusion

Conclusively, time management is a skill that every individual should learn to achieve success and respect. When highly successful people are taken into account, their life is studied, and their habits are observed, it is seen that time management is their utmost personality trait. It does not only help in gaining professional respect. Instead, it allows a person to grow personally and keeps their physical, mental, and emotional health intact.

Over time, I have seen myself growing and succeeding after thorough self-reflection about my time management skills, and I can confidently say that I am working towards what I desire and wish for myself. Therefore, I strongly recommend my juniors and fellows observe this habit in their lives and make time management part of their routine because ultimately, time once lost can never be gained back.

References

1. Adams, R., and Blair, E. (2019). Impact of Time Management Behaviors on Undergraduate Engineering Students’ Performance. SAGE Open, 9(1), 215824401882450. DOI: 10.11772158244018824506
2. Al-Zoubi, D. (2016). The Effect of the Time Management Art on Academic Achievement among High School Students in Jordan. Journal Of Education And Practice, 7(5).
3. Cáceres, C. (2017). Re-Educating The Reflective Practitioner: A Critique of Donald Schön’s Reflective Practice and Design Education For Engineering.
4. Chase, J., Topp, R., Smith, C., Cohen, M., Fahrenwald, N., and Zerwic, J. et al. (2012). Time Management Strategies for Research Productivity. Western Journal Of Nursing Research, 35(2), 155-176. DOI: 10.11770193945912451163
5. CYRIL, A. (2015). TIME MANAGEMENT AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF HIGHER SECONDARY STUDENTS. I-Manager’S Journal On School Educational Technology, 10(3).
6. Gläser-Zikuda, M. (2012). Self-Reflecting Methods of Learning Research. Encyclopedia Of The Sciences Of Learning, 3011-3015. DOI: 10.1007978-1-4419-1428-6_821
7. Grissom, J., Loeb, S., and Mitani, H. (2020). Principal Time Management Skills: Explaining Patterns in Principals’ Time Use and Effectiveness.
8. Kapur, R. (2018). Time Management- A Case Study. Mohamadkhani Ghiasvand, A., Naderi, M., Zagheri Tafreshi, M., Ahmadi, F., and Hosseini, M.
9. (2017). Relationship between time management skills and anxiety and academic motivation of nursing students in Tehran. Electronic Physician, 9(1), 3678-3684. DOI: 10.190823678
10. Nasrullah, S., and Khan, M. (2015). the Impact of Time Management on the Students’ Academic Achievements.
11. Rodgers, C. (2002). Defining Reflection: Another Look

Essay about My Leadership Skills

My Introduction to Leadership

When confronted with the aspect of leadership, I always wondered what specifically made a great leader. Many times I think it is charisma, self-confidence, and the ability to observe and direct. I have never considered the concept of leadership besides the ability to take charge. However, through this course, I have learned many different concepts about leadership, as well as the evolution of my own personal concept of leadership. The leadership philosophy that I have developed through this course revolves around self-reflection, authenticity, and adaptability. I want to be able, to be honest with my own values, be transparent about those values with those around me, and be able to adapt to all situations so I can be an effective leader.

The first aspect of leadership that I have learned from this course revolves around the concept that leadership is in a constant state of evolution. A great leader does not remain stagnant with their ideals or considerations of leadership but must remain fluid and adaptable. Nobody is born with leadership qualities, it is all about environment and experiences. In this aspect, I began to understand that we as leaders should curtail our leadership techniques to our followers or peers. Not one person is the same, and the values of some will differ from others whether it is due to culture or environment. Leadership is time-specific, place-specific, and context-specific. It is through the understanding of this concept, we can truly problem-solve with concepts such as multiple-partial solutions. Due to the vast amounts of different experiences that are available to us from our fellow peers, we have different perspectives when addressing an issue. We as leaders must be understanding of the tools allowed to us rather than try to solve issues on our own. Expanding our resources by including our fellow peers and citizens allows us to redefine our concept of problem-solving, through the use of different perspectives, we can reach a solution that once did not exist.

When I think about a great leader, one specific person comes to mind. Our previous president Barack Obama. Similar to him, I want to be able to incorporate authenticity into my leadership skills. I want to understand my own values and beliefs so I can be transparent with my peers, I can build a relationship with them, and be an effective leader. This leads to the concept of relational leadership. Relational leadership is purposeful, inclusive, empowering, ethical, and about the process. I want to be purposeful with my actions, and my goals, I want to make a commitment to affect positive change in the world and lead through that by working on a shared vision with those that surround me, so we can all have a common goal. I also want to be inclusive of all types of individuals to truly have multiple perspectives to tackle issues in different ways. Inclusion not only provides the leader with a wide variety of different tools to tackle issues but provides the leader with an opportunity to empathize and learn from those around him/her to become a better leader. Empowerment of those that surround you and follow you is a very important value. From a personal standpoint, I have been in situations where I have felt unwanted or out of place, or just an outcast. I understand the concept of lacking the empowerment to feel like I can contribute or even feel like I belong. I absolutely agree that to be a true leader, you must empower those who surround and/or follow you to show them that you care and that they deserve to be here, that they belong, and that they matter. Ethics is something that drives society through the storm of choices. To include ethics into your leadership skills is to be open about what you value and lead those around you to a state of congruency of values and actions. Last but not least, is the process. Processes are integral to relational leadership. Processes promote collaboration, reflection, feedback, civil confrontation, and community building. When pushed through processes, you begin to understand more about those around you and their ethics, goals, and aspirations. This information allows you to build relationships with them, as well as inspire them to think about their ethics, their thoughts, and their ideas. Allowing a sense of togetherness, as you and they tackle these issues together.

Another concept that I want to integrate into my leadership skills, revolves around the social change model of leadership. I believe that the Social Change Model of Leadership shows a great way to improve processes and make a difference in communities. Upon learning the assumptions that the model was built on, such as social responsibility, collaboration, processes, inclusiveness, values-based, and community involvement, I believe that the model is an excellent guide to the development of leadership that benefits society in a positive way. Not only that, the 7 C’s of Leadership all involve values that I consider crucial for developing relational leadership skills, and allowing transparency for followers to understand what you stand for. The consciousness of self, the ability to understand your own values and what you stand for, so you can be true to yourself, and not to others. Congruence, adds authenticity and consistency to your plans and ideals, so people can understand your values, and see if they are like their own. This builds comradery and a sense of purpose beyond the individual. Commitment is the showing of your willingness to get things done. To be able to invest yourself into the change, to show yourself and those around you how much you value what this is. Nobody can force you to commit, but they can provide a support system so you can. Group values, the overall idealism of the group. The ability to understand what the goal is through the group, and how to effectively enact to bring positive social change. Collaboration is to work within your group to determine all possibilities, learn from the different experiences, and think of creative solutions that were not possible when you were alone. Common purpose is when you and your fellow peers begin to share similar views and goals. This is built through congruence, commitment, and the creation of group values. Over time these shared views encourage participation and collaboration. Controversy with civility, the ability to disagree without destruction. Disagreements are not avoidable, as people will always have different experiences and viewpoints. It is the goal of yourself as a leader, to encourage disagreements. However, it must be in an open and honest fashion, as they provide information that could be vital in finding the critical issues as well as the solution to the issues. All these values integrate with each other, all of which result in great leadership.

Another aspect that I want to address is the idea of change. I have come to understand myself in a different way as I continued this course. I began to see bits and pieces of myself through the course, both in positive and negative ways. The aspect of change was something that I discovered about myself that I need to improve. I realized that I actually resist change, despite understanding that it is needed for growth. I lacked self-confidence. I feared the vast unknown that was the future. I absolutely agree with a quote from the textbook “before a change effort can be realized, it is critical to make a commitment to understanding both change and the human responses to change. Too often, facilitators of change skip this important step and launch right into the action,” (Komives). Not only do we as leaders accept the facilitation of change, but also the acceptance of change from those around us. We must be able to make a smooth transition while committing to the same goals, to encourage commitment from our followers. To quote the text, “Anticipating and understanding human responses to change can lead to healthier and more meaningful processes,” (Komives).

Two action steps that I can take to develop my leadership skills involve experiences and self-reflection. I should expose myself to more experiences that involve leadership opportunities. Instead of being a spectator, I can engage to improve the shared experiences of myself and of those around me, whether it be politics or local volunteering. I can pursue an improvement in the aspect of social responsibility. The other step I can take revolves around self-reflection. I need to take the time to reflect on my own values and understand that it is okay to change. In fact, change is extremely important for growth. I need to be able to look within myself and understand what I stand for and face the issues that I may find within myself.

Works Cited

1. Komives, Susan R., et al. Exploring Leadership: for College Students Who Want to Make a Difference. Jossey-Bass, 2013.

My Strengths as a Leader

Leadership is an ability to lead effectively in any field, which stands on different key skills and characteristics for example impressive speaking skill, motivation, creativity, positivity, delegating, and accountability. Leadership may be anywhere, in an organization, in battle field, even in house. Leadership is defined as “doing the things in a right way” (Bennis & Nanus, 1985: 21). A great leader sets goal and use innovative ways to achieve it with team.

Here, the report has discussed about the major leadership strength in me which I feel the apt for me relating it to the theories by various leaders and the scholars. Further, its justification and impact of my chosen style will be discussed here in detail.

Self-Assessed Leadership Strengths

Before being a good leader for others, one must be a good leader for oneself. Upon assessing my own leadership style and strength, I have realized that I am more inclined towards the democratic leadership style, which has influenced my behavior and style I follow.

• A good communicator. I am a good communicator as I not only share my ideas but inspire others to give theirs and team can give full participation and incorporate their ideas for the efficient results. My leadership style stands for facilitating the conversation, encouraging people to share their ideas and synthesizing all the available information into the best possible decision.
• Inspiring. This further gives inspiration to other team members to work more rigorously and honestly towards the goal. Hence, my leadership style also incurs inspiring ability to others for full participation. The process of my leadership moves with the free flow of ideas and focuses on the group equality, where in, I can still lead the group for guidance and control.
• Confident and honest. I am pretty confident of what I am doing and giving advice to others to do. My confidence is another strength in my leadership style which incorporates and becomes a part of my democratic leadership style.
• Innovative and creative. It has been said that there is the innovation and creativity which distinguishes a leader and a follower. So, I believe I have an innovative approach in every kind which makes me and my team out from the crowd and we can actually think out of the box.
• Decision making capability. After taking advice and suggestions from the team, it becomes the duty of a leader to take the right decision with appropriate approach. Hence, I am confident about the decisions I make and make myself accountable for the consequences thereafter.

Matching Strengths with Leadership Roles

To start with, leadership instrument assisted me in ‘democratic leadership style’. This leadership style Ideas move freely among the group and are discussed openly. Further, characteristics of democratic leadership include distribution of responsibilities, empowering group members and aiding group decision making. Only leaders can improve the involvement of employees in projects that will better serve an organization (Janse, 2018). The democratic process tends to focus on group equality and free flow of ideas, the lead of the group is still there to offer guidance and control. Moving further, this leadership style can be one of the most effective styles of leadership. It values collaboration and affirmation of followers. A democratic leadership shares the decision making and problem-solving responsibilities with team, while retaining the ultimate say in the final resolution (Joh Gasti, 2014). Environment with democratic leaders of yield followers with high morale who are more motivated to generate and offer up creative solutions. And, It produces an atmosphere of co-operation and team spirit. The democratic leadership is based on mutual respect. It is often combined with participatory leadership because it requires collaboration between leaders and the people they guide (Kurt Lewin, 2014). Hence, my strengths are collaborating with the chosen style, i.e., democratic leadership.

Impact of Strengths on Democratic Leadership

My self-assessed strengths such as a good communicator, inspiring, confident, Innovative, a good decision maker. These are the strengths which impacts directly to the democratic leadership. In a democratic leadership, there is a free flow of ideas which means a leader have to be good listener which I feel directly impacting my strength and making me more confident moving forward with this leadership style. The definitions of democratic leadership conceptualized by White and Lippitt (1960) emphasize group participation, discussion, and group decisions encouraged by the leader (Woods, 2005). Further, inspiring other to give ideas and amalgamating these ideas with my own ideas bring harmony among team members along with the complete job satisfaction which encourages them to bring innovation in the team with their collective creative ideas, the major activity of the democratic leader is giving information or extending the knowledge of the members of his or her group. Northouse (1997) defined directive, supportive, participative, and achievement-oriented leadership as leadership behaviors derived from the theory (McKeown and Carey, 2015). Being innovative is a good gift and incorporating it with the leadership role strengthens and improvise the outcomes from the decision (Woods, 2005). Also, a good decision maker can take team to one goal and can achieve the goal with efficiency. These positive behavior acts can help in improvising and strengthening the democratic leadership roles (Woods, 2005).

Justification

Democratic leadership has been in trend for the current market with the changing business environment. It has been conceptualized by different scholars and managers in different ways. It dates to the 1930s and 1940s when noted behavioral researcher (Anand, Vidyarthi and Rolnicki, 2018).

According to the trait theory, it has been analyzed that one is either born or made with certain qualities which makes a person a good leader and a democratic leader are the born leaders with above said qualities which I feel I have and developed with the time. Further, there are behavioral theories which means for every leadership role, a leader is supposed to act as per the behavior of others (McKeown and Carey, 2015). In a situation one can act positively with the given idea and on the other hand, the other person can be offensive, hence, effective communication is a key to achievement of democratic leadership goal. Democratic leadership is associated with increased follower productivity, satisfaction, involvement, and commitment (Hackman & Johnson, 1996). The major element in democratic leadership is the participation of every individual of the team and the leader is supposed to be friendly, helpful and encouraging. The advantages of democratic leadership include creating employee job satisfaction and encouraging innovation and creative solutions to organizational issues and problems. In the view of Kuczmarski and Kuczmarski (1995), a democratic leader must acquire some essential skills such as high defined knowledge, stimulating, influential, a winner of cooperation, a provider of logical consequences, encouraging, permitting of self-determination, guiding, a good listener and respecting, and situation-centered, which helps in understanding behaviors and concluding to a decision (Anand, Vidyarthi and Rolnicki, 2018).

Further Anderson (19569) has defined it has a decision making with team members. According to him it is associated with higher morale in almost every situation. Hackman and Johnson (1996) supported Anderson’s explanation of the relationship between democratic leadership and productivity (McKeown and Carey, 2015). Nevertheless, this style of leadership encourages team involvement, engagement and participation. The performance preferences of each member are acknowledged and honored.

Conclusion

Understanding the different leadership styles and identifying my own style by analyzing my strength has proven to be an intellectual idea. Democratic leadership style is the style which I felt most appropriate as per my behavior and traits. Further, theories associated with it such as trait theory and behavior theory has conceptualized the justification of choosing this style. My good communication skills and understanding other person’s point of view is the major strength which makes me fit for this kind of style and making myself a successful leadership.

References

1. Anand, S., Vidyarthi, P. and Rolnicki, S. (2018). Leader-Member Exchange and Organizational Citizenship Behaviors: Contextual Effects of Leader Power Distance and Group Task Interdependence. The Leadership Quarterly, 29(4), pp.489-500.
2. Fiaz, M., Su, Q. and Saqib, A., 2017. Leadership Styles and Employees’ Motivation: Perspective from an Emerging Economy. The Journal of Developing Areas, 51(4), pp.143-156.
3. McKeown, M. and Carey, L., 2015. Democratic Leadership: A Charming Solution for Nursing’s Legitimacy Crisis. Journal of clinical nursing, 24(3-4), pp.315-317.
4. Woods, P., 2005. Democratic Leadership in Education. Sage.

Personal Brand Essay

What is a personal brand?

As the saying goes, “Everyone is unique in their own special way”, we all have at least one uncommon quality within us. Uncovering these unique qualities gives us the potential needed to stand out in a crowd and make our own place. Now, this is the very basic idea of what a personal brand is – it is a “sign” that is created around you as an individual.

If you are just starting to think about your personal brand, the one thing you must always keep in mind is that people are going to remember you by your brand. It’s more than just a colorful logo or a bunch of business cards. It is the approach you use to present yourself online and offline in front of your consumers.

A personal brand – is it for everyone?

In simpler terms, “yes, a personal brand is for everyone. Although there is an assumption that personal branding is specifically for entrepreneurs and business owners, it is not the actual case. Personal branding is the process of creating a lasting impression in the mind of others about yourself, and so it is the ultimate weapon that will ensure your victory in the unseen battle with your competitors.

If you are a competitive person who desires a strong impactful image in the marketplace, then you can always take steps toward building a personal brand.

Getting Started with Self-Branding

First of all, identify your unique traits – think and figure out that one thing at which you surpass everyone else. Do not for a second think that you don’t possess such a quality, because you do – everyone does. Be optimistic and think of something that you never get tired of doing – that is most probably your biggest strength. Once you have figured out your unique strength, the next step is to be thorough in it. Become the ace in that particular field.

Do not limit yourself to just learning, but confidently share your expertise with others. This will reassure your audience that you actually know your subject. As a result, you will get the exposure that you need to brand yourself.

Thanks to today’s advanced technology, there are several platforms that you can use to create and maintain your personal brand. For instance, social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Slack, and LinkedIn can be used to establish your brand name effectively.

Know Yourself and Your Audience

Social media is an open online source available to anyone. Therefore, is used by several thousand influential personalities to create and maintain their brand name. So, what you should remember when using these platforms is not to lose yourself in them – do not try to imitate or copy. Come up with your own unique method to captivate your audience. It is also much more sensible to maintain a perfect balance between your personal and business-related life when building your personal branding online.

After proper self-disclosure, you need to think about your targeted audience. Because as it goes without saying, knowing the market sector which you wish to attract is a key point in setting your professional goals. For instance, knowing your targeted audience in and out will definitely help you create materials that will surely skyrocket in the marketplace.

Selling is Not the Priority

If you succeed in self-branding yourself as a true and trustworthy person to deal with, then that means you have made your renowned place in the market. However, a personal brand is not solely about selling. Referring back to the definition of what a personal brand is – it’s making yourself approachable and available to your consumers.

The marketers David McNally and Karl Speak give a definition for the personal brand, “Your brand is a perception or emotion, maintained by somebody other than you, that describes the total experience of having a relationship with you” (Be Your Own Brand – 1999). This definition itself shows how important it is to have a good rapport with your client base. When approaching your consumers, it is essential that you come out as a human first instead of a business person.

Stepping up the Game in the Offline World

Personal branding online is easy and effective, yet it isn’t limited to the online world. The way you carry yourself when you step into the real world is as important as the way you present yourself online. That is exactly why you should always be true to yourself when building a personal brand online. You might put on an act over there, but the moment you step into the real world, it’s all going to come crashing back at you. Owing to the fact that your true self will always come out in the real world – do not leave the space for your peers or clients to label you as a ‘fake’.

Remember that the impression you give off in the real world is several times more lasting than what you do online. And so, make sure you maintain a positive and realistic personality throughout the entire process of self-branding.

Do Not Vary

The bond between your personal brand and the consumer or the audience needs to be as steady as possible. It is a norm that consumers get familiar with a specific brand once they have come across it multiple times. So, if you change the overall image of your brand all of a sudden it is definitely going to affect your brand build drastically. And that is why you need to ensure that you give off the same vibe throughout all the platforms which you use for your brand building.

Having said that, you can always rebrand yourself carefully in case you plan to seek new opportunities. For that, you can gradually make changes to your personal brand so that you stay synced with the over-time changes that happen in the market. However, the point is to be ‘careful’, or else you will end up ruining the brand name that you worked so hard to build.

Proudly Say “My Personal Brand”

Building a personal brand is not something you can achieve overnight – it takes time, effort, and most importantly patience. You just need to work on your unique personality features and make use of that one quality that defines you as an individual. Along the way, keep in mind that this whole process requires you to be authentic and transparent to yourself as well as others.

Most certainly, the opportunities for self-branded persons will keep surfacing. So, it is time to take up the challenge and proudly show everyone who you truly are.

Essay on Personal Branding

Who am I?

Elizabeth Ogabi is an expert in communication, having thorough experience in digital, external, and internal communications throughout several industries. She has operated with certain leading organizations such as Unilever and provided immense contributions to ensure a successful partnership between Save the Children (West Africa) and The Unilever Foundation. However, her strong focus on gender equality, inclusion, and diversity has led her to develop a unique platform called “For Working Ladies” which helps women throughout the world to advance in this rapidly changing world professionally.

What is For Working Ladies?

For Working Ladies is a platform born out of a need and passion for women so that they can build their businesses and career accordingly. By providing offline activations and digital content, we assist women in accomplishing success and offer them all the necessary networks, knowledge, and tools they require to succeed within the professional arena.

Why does this Platform Exist?

The sole purpose of this platform’s existence is to empower women to the maximum extent possible. Through this platform, we regularly welcome passionate and talented ladies who can work with our professional team. In essence, For Working Ladies exhibits all the benefits and qualities of an online platform that can motivate, inspire, and guide working ladies in the current world scenario.

How Personal Branding and Self Promotion has Helped Me

Whether you are a female entrepreneur, a job freak, or a freelancer, believe me, personal branding and self-promotion are two important marketing aspects that will help you and support your brand throughout your professional career. In particular, personal branding has always helped me in differentiating my brand from my competitors and allowed me to develop trust with prospective employers and clients. On the other hand, self-promotion is a synonym for success and has assisted me in successfully competing with other organizations in the market.

Personal branding

Always remember that whether you are promoting yourself to a promising employer or selling services or products through your personal identity, your personal brand should be always well-polished and professional. So ladies, creating a brand of your own is something in which you must invest a great deal of time because in the end brand identity is the only thing that matters the most in your professional career.

Before digging in deep, what is personal branding by the way? Well, personal branding is a marketing practice and an ongoing process that allows individuals like us to maintain an impression and reputation of our business or organization. Where a number of self-assisting practices concentrate on improvement, personal branding, on the other hand, defines success in terms of self-packaging.

If you are thinking that personal branding is just for those people who own a business, then it is totally incorrect. Because, personal branding is a much wider concept than you think, and it can also play a vital role for thought leaders, influencers, or anyone who wants to share their unique story among an audience throughout the world. The majority of people associate the notion of personal branding with a logo and a name, but in reality, it is quite far from that.

So how to build a personal brand that can make your business stand out from the rest of the companies in the market? Well, the foremost step is to develop a strong foundation. Remember, authenticity is the key to success, and therefore, your personal brand should not involve a persona that is inauthentic or delusional. At this stage, try to find and develop a concrete brand vision, mission, and personality. Once, you have built a strong foundation, the next step is to select a prospective target audience. Always, try to choose your audience wisely, because, remember, not every individual or company is your ideal client. The next step is to develop a content strategy for your personalized brand. This can be done by listing down all the potential content resources such as videos, articles, online courses, webinars, slideshows, case studies, and a lot of others. Once you have selected a potential content strategy for your personal brand, you are now ready to promote your personal brand by ensuring its visibility in the audience. For this purpose, you can choose from a variety of options, such as PR and interviews, guest blogging, joint ventures, public speaking, or partnerships.

You should know that being a female freelancer or entrepreneur, personal branding is not always considered a good marketing tactic. For instance, by doing personal branding you are actually pigeonholing yourself. When you begin with the personal branding of your service or product, your best bet is to select a highly particular niche. For example, if you have a cupcake-selling business, you are most likely to focus particularly on the recipes of the cupcake, because it is easy enough right? But, by doing so, you are actually ignoring the main goal here, which is to differentiate your work from your competitor. Secondly, if you are an entrepreneur, you should know that personal brands do not get emerged overnight. You will surely have to invest a lot of time and money to build a successful and coherent strategy for your personalized brand.

We already know the significance of a personal brand for individuals, but if we talk specifically about female entrepreneurs, developing a personalized brand can help you to enhance your sales funnel accordingly. If you are promoting your personal brand through a well-defined strategy, then it will take minimum time for the bystander to become your die-hard customer, because they will not only get associated with your services or products but will also get connected by you and your unique business story. Your goal, however, should be always to make the customer understand how much mind and effort have been invested in this brand. Similarly, even though personal branding might not help you to raise funds, it can surely help you in enhancing awareness of who you are, and remember, investors always like to get associated with a good string of stories!

Self-promotion

During your professional career, a time will come when you will decide to take your business to the next level. However, in the current world scenario, achieving what you want from your potential target audience has become quite difficult and complicated. That’s where self-promotion comes into play. Understanding where and when to self-promote can be your biggest merit to encourage your employer or your team, to consider you and your brand as valuable prospects.

Hence, self-promotion is all about highlighting to people that you possess enhanced capabilities and expertise in what you do. This relates to going beyond and above to explain your position as an expert in any specific field. For some individuals, this might mean regularly sharing and curating content on the platforms of social media, while for others, it may be significant to visit local networking conferences and events.

In the beginning, self-promotion may cause a lot of women to feel uncomfortable, but remember, this particular marketing strategy can be a key to infinite opportunities in your professional and personal life. However, the most scintillating question for female entrepreneurs or freelancers is not about how you should market your product or service, but how you are going to gain clients, establish influence, and attract attention. So firstly, do your homework by conducting a comprehensive research. There are plenty of self-promotion platforms in the online and offline market but select only those which align with your unique business strategy. Secondly, while self-promoting your brand, don’t just act like an expert, instead be one. Participate in relevant conferences and public gatherings and showcase your talent, and promote how your brand stands out from the rest. Thirdly, always try to be modest and honest. This is one of the most pivotal elements while conducting self-promotion. Remember that no one gets attracted by listening to a pompous know-it-all individual. Modesty and humility always go hand-in-hand when you self-promote your brand, and that’s why they are considered the most crucial sources of providing your followers the humanistic approach which they crave for.

However, there are certain disadvantages of self-promotions that should be taken into consideration. It is believed that when you self-promote your brand, you lose anonymity. By promoting your brand on a regular basis, you are most likely to get noticed, and once your brand gets noticed, your anonymity gets minimized accordingly. This might be an issue for those women who don’t want to get well-known or famous. Also, if you have decided to self-promote your brand, then be ready to get a lot of criticism. There are a number of individuals out there, who have a full-time hobby of seemingly trolling social media, blogs, and website content. Apart from this, creating consistent content has also become quite challenging these days. Many female entrepreneurs, freelancers, or those who are doing a job in a workplace fail to self-promote their brand because they consider creating content quite challenging.

If we look at the importance of self-promotion in enhancing brand identity, one can easily say that this particular aspect is key to success. The reason behind this is that self-promotion provides an opportunity for self-advocation, which is highly important to achieve success in your career. It provides you a chance to showcase your importance, set yourself apart, get well-deserved recognition, and thus, set your business on the path of opportunities and advancements.

A number of connotations begin to revolve around your mind when you think about self-promotion, which keeps individuals, especially women from feeling confident and comfortable when demonstrating themselves. But if you consider, self-promotion has become a much more important marketing aspect with the passage of time. Here’s why;

• Equal recognition between men and women has become a major issue, and due to this reason, many high-performing groups or individuals are overlooked.
• Everyone is forced to do more with minimum resources, and therefore, women are required to be in roles that are most effective and efficient.
• Facetime has become quite limited. Organizations have become dispersed, people are busy, and technology is thoroughly altering the way we operate.

Thus, considering the above potential aspects, one can easily say that self-promotion has become important more than ever!

Personal Marketing Plan: Essay

Executive Summary

Despite the fact that people’s ambitions and dreams are different; and driven by diverse backgrounds and cultures, there is always a dream in everyone’s life to hold a key position or own a business or be somewhere in a better place in the future. This is the main driver to pursue your dreams as a student or a professional. However, good planning is the master key to reaching where your dreams are. This personal marketing plan aims to market me to potential employers after graduating from the Qatar University MBA program. I have always been dedicated to my family, work, and education. My marketing strategy is comprehensive, and yet flexible to accommodate any changes that might occur along the way. It is a plan for my job search campaign similar to what a company would use to market and sell a product.

Situational Analysis

Customers

Many potential employers in both government and private sectors are currently providing new positions in the business management field. However, due to current political challenges between GCC countries, and the potential world economic recession, the job market is tight and available offers are not up to the normal benchmark. Currently, I am a project manager at Qatar University in the Information Technology Services department, my potential employers; would be to get promoted within Qatar University in a top management role, or get a strategic management role at Qatar Foundation. Throughout my 10+ years of a project management role, I have gained a tremendous experience in stakeholder management and risk management with proven project delivery success. Currently, Qatar foundation is offering four executive management positions and I would expect in a year or so from now; the number would increase to eight or more due to the completion of some expansion projects. As mentioned before, there are government entities and private sector companies that are my potential employers, Qatar Foundation is considered a higher education private sector employer, Qatar University is considered a higher education government entity, Ministry of Health offers business management positions in the health care sector as well, these are three different types of business management roles in three different domains. I believe my quality is my key to success in QF. Customers’ job requirements vary; however, they all agree to have a solid experience in management with related education backgrounds preferably from western countries such as the UK, US, or Canada. That is including strong soft skills and leadership.

Company

My vision is to be a highly skilled business professional. Experienced, knowledgeable, and innovative, a well-known person in the business management field. I am planning to be a business strategic director; a member of the top management team in my current institute or a competitive institute in Qatar.

Personal values and strengths:

• Always take time to do the right and new things
• Consider the future with every decision I make
• Learn ways to learn more
• Be true to me and my beliefs
• Skills and knowledge will always be acquired by learning and practicing
• Provide my family with support, guidance, belief in abilities, encouragement, and security making sure never to stifle a dream

Weakness: While targeting my goals, I often become overworked, which may lead to stress.

Constrain on my job search: I am not willing to relocate; therefore, my target market is Qatar.

Competitors

Strategic management positions competitors can be anyone with excellent experience in developing business strategies, in higher education that is including experience in managing IT project portfolios related to system developments, infrastructure, and digitization. Most of the competitors might not have higher education experience; which I gained throughout my working period at Qatar University; I was exposed to managing portfolio projects across the university for the past 7 years; this is one of the strengths I excel in among other competitors. As mentioned; my potential employer is Qatar Foundation; where mainly looks for a higher education experience that matches the size, environment, and culture they have here in Qatar, preferably, western education and experience are a plus for any candidate.

• Competitor Matrix
• Criteria Me Competitors
• Experience 10+ years 5+ years
• Higher Education Experience in Qatar Yes Yes
• Western Education and Experience Yes Most likely no
• Certified PMP – Scrum Master Foundation Yes Most likely no

External Market Environment: It consists of political, economic, social, and technological. We cannot control the elements of the external environment. However, we must understand how it changes, and the impact of that change on the target market. The blockade from a political perspective is one of the external market environments that is affecting the job market, which also affected the economic and social aspects.

Strength Weakness

• Result Oriented Impatient about results at times
• Good interpersonal and communication skills While targeting goals. I often become overworked which may lead to stress
• Always open for new development and learning Being too critical of other people’s work

Team player

• Being too sensitive
• Analytical, multitasking, and time management abilities
• Good experience and knowledge

Opportunity Threat

• Qatar is one of the wealthiest countries in the world; they have strong partnerships with several European countries, which involves diverse international companies opening in Qatar Political unrest in the region and GCC challenges and issues
• Qatar 2030 vision creates lots of jobs and projects opportunities
• Globalization creates complex job competition
• Development of Doha as a financial center and an international business hub Potential economic recession

SWOT Analysis

With good interpersonal and communication skills, I have managed to not be critical of other teams’ work; this weakness I started noticing when I was a high school student I needed to review my team member’s work, and pick their mistake and sometimes I take it personally with them. Over time I learned how to interact with them, mentor them, and coach them for a better quality of work. I am a multitasking person with good time management skills this helped me to overcome my weakness of being impatient about the result. With globalization and high competition, I have been differentiating myself by taking an MBA program and other related professional certificates to better compete in the job market.

Market Segmentation

Market segmentation is the process of dividing a market into various segments. Segmentation is carried out in accordance with geographic, demographic, psychographic, and behavioral variables. My study of market segmentation is as follows. Geographic segmentation: Calls for dividing the market into different geographical units. I have decided to initially market myself in Doha. I will apply to well-known companies related to business management in the city, focused on the higher education sector. Currently, I am only interested in Doha.

• Demographic segmentation: Calls for dividing the market into groups based on:
• Qualification: (MBA), Age: (35 years and above), Gender: (Male), Marital Status: (Married) Income: $15,000 and above
• Psychographic segmentation: Calls for dividing the market into groups such as Social Class:
• I belong to the upper middle class. Life Style: Convivial, Active. Personality: Extrovert, strong decision power, Optimistic.
• Behavioral Segmentation: Calls for dividing a market into groups on consumers’ knowledge, and attitude on the response towards products. As follows: Activities: sports, socializing, listening to music, reading books. Interests: Recreation, traveling, interior design, event management.
• The rationale for targeting Qatar Foundation; Qatar Foundation adopts international management practices; where I can better utilize my education and skills. Working in a multicultural environment enables me to enhance and develop my skills, on the other hand, QF provide better employee benefit and compensation, and with your knowledge and dedication, it is quicker to be promoted in the private sector compared with the government sector, in fact, I have been working in government sector for almost 7 years with the same grade and same pay, due to government HR laws restriction for ex-pats. Moreover, choosing QF as my potential employer; I believe my current qualifications including graduating from the Qatar University MBA program next year; will exceed what the potential customers require; that is including western education and work experience in the region.

Target market

Organizations are looking to hire a Business graduate with a minimum of 5+ years in the related business background, aged between 30 to 45 years old.

Production Differentiation and Positioning

“I will prove to be an asset to the organization”. This positioning statement stresses the fact that I will give the organization the maximum benefits that no other individual can. I am positioning myself on the bases of:

o Differentiation

Bilingual MBA graduate with over +10 years of extensive business management experience.

Marketing Mix

The marketing mix is a vital tool to help understand what the product or service can offer and how to plan for a successful product offering. The marketing mix is most commonly executed through the 4 P’s marketing: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. My target market will be strategic business management positions within Qatar.

The four Ps of my personal plan are:

• Product:

A personal brand is marketing yourself in terms of your qualification and career as a brand. With a personal brand, the product would be me; throughout my 10+ years of experience in a project management role, I have enhanced my skills and obtained the most reputable international certificates in the Project Management Professional field such as (PMP) certificate, and scrum master foundation certificate. I have an extensive experience in IT Program management; with a proven track record in delivering multi-million dollar projects. While being recognized for excellent leadership, planning, scheduling, prioritization, contingency, and risk management. Ability to collaborate with senior stakeholders, lead project teams, and ultimately deliver client-focused results on time and within budget. Currently, I am an MBA candidate, expected to graduate end of 2020. The MBA program increased my self-confidence, and strategic thinking by being able to think outside the box, self-discipline, and commitment, and will give me a broader worldview and open doors for better job opportunities after graduation. With an MBA degree, I will have differentiation as a Job Candidate.

• Price:

Setting up the Price is essential for the entire marketing mix. The price will convey messages pertaining to the product in terms of perceived quality and attractiveness. My salary requirement is in the $15,000 to $20,000 range. In addition, children’s education allowance, and family accommodation, annual business class tickets for me, and my family members to my home country (Canada). In addition, I have the opportunity to be able to attend international conferences and training as needed. Annual bonuses according to the organization’s policies.

• Place:

Currently, I am working and residing in Doha, and not willing to relocate outside Qatar; unless a great opportunity appears in either the neighboring GCC countries or the US, in a strategic management field or a similar role.

• Promotion:

My promotional strategy; is where I advertise, promote and market myself, through it; I should let potential customers (Employers) recognize what I am marketing and selling. In order to convince them to buy my product (hire me), with a clear explanation of what is my product, how to use it, and why they have to buy it. The trick in promoting my product is letting customers feel that their needs can be fulfilled by what I am offering. In the context of the marketing mix, promotion represents the various aspects of marketing communication, that is, the communication of information about me with the goal of generating a positive employer response. Marketing communication decisions include:

• Advertising – through job recruiters.
• Personal selling – via C.V. and interviews.
• Public relations – publicity through networking.
• Social Media – schedule all of my social media posts, engage with my followers, and measure performance
• Social Networking –push my messages throughout my network
• Email / Newsletters / Lists – Build or purchase lists of people that would be interested in my services

Conclusion:

The world has been moving towards globalization due to advances in communications and transportation, with this fact; individuals who are actively looking for jobs are facing difficult competition; organizations have numerous CVs and options available to select from. To be able to survive the tough global competition; one should stick to his/her personal marketing plan, alter it, and update it accordingly to get through the bottleneck. Salary and other offer details can be negotiated. However, negotiation should not compromise the organizational goals. I will work hard for promoting myself through my mission and vision, and overall quality in a broader aspect.

Reference:

• (Joyner R., Academia, n.d.)
• (Walker, 2018)
• (Martin, Understanding Marketing mix, 2014)
• (Self-Marketing Yourself to Find a Job During Tough Times, n.d.)
• (Self SWOT Analysis, n.d.)
• (The career, 2019)
• (Tedrick, 2011)

My Favourite Food: Essay

A recent article from one of the websites called ‘Scary Mommy’ put out an article about someone named Mrs. Smith who was crazy about McDonald’s. Everything she will do to enjoy her favorite McDonald’s almost every day. Mrs. Smith could not feel that comfort anywhere other than McDonald’s. ​All the anxiety that she feels will immediately subside or even disappear when she enjoys the deliciousness of every bite of crispy chicken McDonald’s, and the taste of cola that once enters her throat will greatly quench her thirst. Mrs. Smith has a lot of sweet memories related to McDonald’s since she was a child and even now when she has a child who also likes McDonald’s. All of that happened because Mrs. Smith really liked McDonald’s, and she did not care about other responses about it.

Based on the article I read it can be said that Mrs. Smith loved McDonald’s so much and she would do anything to get her favorite McDonald’s. Not only Ms. Smith but also I really like the delicious McDonald’s, my favorite menu is the special hot package and choco pie. I like the special hot package because in my opinion it is a complete package whose deliciousness is not in doubt. In addition, the pleasure of crispy McDonald’s chicken skin is unbeatable; it is undeniable that almost everyone likes McDonald’s chicken skin. Her passion for crispy chicken skin makes them always separate chicken skin to be eaten last. My brother and I always fight when I take the chicken skin and he even cries. Our quarrel can only be separated by my mother. Other than that, the deliciousness of the choco pie is also very appetizing, the thick chocolate with the crispy cake when it is still warm is a very suitable combination. As a chocolate lover, I am very happy with this new McDonald’s menu, the chocolate is not too sweet, so you can eat more than one serving.

Since senior high school, I always ordered McDonald’s via jokes online when I was confused by the food made by my household assistant, but when I was in college, I realized that it was not good to eat junk food or fast food almost every day, we must always compensate by eating fruits and vegetables. Now, I as a boarding child must maintain my diet and sleep patterns. My mother always reminded me to always eat healthy food and exercise so that I would not get sick. When I followed my parents’ advice, I just realized that it was very useful for me. Now I have started to avoid junk food or fast food.

Despite the fact that the food at McDonald’s is not the healthiest, it still remains a favorite for me, as well as for many others. Even though I try to live a healthy lifestyle now, sometimes I can still treat myself to my favorite treats from McDonald’s.

Why I Want to Be an FFA Officer Essay

Introduction

As I reflect on my experiences in the Future Farmers of America (FFA) organization, I am filled with a sense of purpose and excitement. The FFA has provided me with countless opportunities for personal growth, leadership development, and a deep appreciation for agriculture. In this narrative essay, I will share my journey and explain why I am passionate about becoming an FFA officer. I believe that by serving as an FFA officer, I can make a significant impact on my chapter, inspire fellow members, and contribute to the growth and success of the agricultural community.

Passion for Agriculture

Growing up in a rural community, I have always been surrounded by agriculture. From the vast fields of corn to the sounds of livestock in the morning, the beauty and importance of agriculture have always captivated me. Through my involvement in FFA, I have gained a deep understanding of the critical role that agriculture plays in our society. I am passionate about promoting agricultural education, raising awareness about the industry’s challenges, and advocating for its continued growth. As an FFA officer, I can amplify my voice and inspire others to pursue careers in agriculture, ensuring a vibrant and sustainable future for this vital industry.

Leadership Development

The FFA has been instrumental in nurturing my leadership skills. Through various activities, workshops, and competitions, I have learned the importance of effective communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Serving as an FFA officer would provide me with a platform to further develop my leadership abilities and inspire fellow members to reach their full potential. I am eager to take on the responsibility of guiding and mentoring my peers, encouraging them to embrace leadership roles and make a positive impact within and beyond our chapter.

Building Stronger Connections

The FFA is not just an organization; it is a tight-knit community. Being part of the FFA has allowed me to form friendships and connections with like-minded individuals who share a passion for agriculture. As an FFA officer, I would have the opportunity to foster a sense of camaraderie and unity among members. I want to create an inclusive and supportive environment where every member feels valued and empowered to pursue their agricultural dreams. By organizing events, workshops, and social activities, I aim to build stronger connections within our chapter and promote a sense of belonging and pride in being part of the FFA.

Making an Impact

Being an FFA officer comes with a responsibility to make a positive impact on the agricultural community. I am committed to advocating for agricultural education, promoting sustainable practices, and addressing the challenges faced by farmers and rural communities. Through community service projects, educational initiatives, and collaboration with local businesses and organizations, I want to create meaningful change and leave a lasting legacy within the FFA and the broader agricultural community. I am excited about the opportunity to engage with industry professionals, policymakers, and other stakeholders to advocate for the needs and interests of our members and ensure a bright future for agriculture.

Conclusion

In conclusion, my passion for agriculture, desire to develop my leadership skills, and commitment to making a difference drive my aspiration to become an FFA officer. I am dedicated to promoting agricultural education, fostering a sense of unity and belonging among members, and advocating for the growth and sustainability of the agricultural industry. By serving as an FFA officer, I can contribute to the success and growth of our chapter, inspire fellow members, and leave a lasting impact on the agricultural community. I am ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities that come with this role, and I am confident that my dedication and passion will guide me in leading with purpose and excellence as an FFA officer.