Success is a single monosyllabic word that carries a different meaning to every person; this is the reason of having no absolute overall definition of it. In Compact Oxford Dictionary (2008), success is to accomplish, something wished, planned for, and attempted to achieve through hard work. The origin of the word success is Latin successus that means to come close after, it relates to the extent of achievement rather than to the volume of work done (Oxford Compact English Dictionary, 2008). To define success, one has to look first at the standards, keys, and models of success.
Success can be an achievement, a moment, or fruition, in any instance, success incorporates both perceptions and experiences; one of the major problems in defining success is that experiences and perceptions felt internally. On the other hand, evaluation of success is often by someone else (external), in other words there are objective and subjective standards for success. Further, the meaning of success differs with different community cultures, in industrial well-developed communities, three outcomes that decide what success is. These are influence, wealth, and prominence. An absolute definition of success will ignore people paving the way for success; an example is a schoolmaster who works hard to provide the suitable learning and teaching environment. Another is a volunteer at a local hospital providing support services to the elderly patients or chronically ill children, is that person successful or the hospital administration or doctors. This is another reason of having ones own definition of success (Herb and Sweeny, Pp.23-31).
Success can be the achievement of autonomy that is ones freedom to take decisions based only on his interest. For others, success is to achieve emotional satisfaction and constancy in the course of life, for others still it is achieving glory as for the Olympic athletes. What model an individual looks at as a successful one depends on one objectives in life to decide which model to look at (Herb and Sweeny, Pp. 23-31).
The keys to achieve success are many; however the most important one is to love what one is doing, that is simply to understand that success is not the gate to happiness, but happiness is the a key to success. Second, and of equal importance is to define ones objectives in this stage of life, that is what does one want? In addition, defining ones objective in life and the steps or the road to go through that is when does one want it? Of equal importance is to define how to achieve these objectives that is how does one want his image to be? Concentration on ones goals (always keep focused), and balancing the various values and principals in life , moral, spiritual, physical, and psychological are two important pillars in considering personal success (McNamara, Pp.102-103).
The way Radun in 2007, defines success is convincing. Success is an aim in itself; rather it is a long road to pass through, it is not an end but a continuous expedition. To include all success view and experiences, a developed definition of success on three pillars, first is what can be achieved? Second, is a clear plan for the future. Third, is to enjoy the journey to achieve these objectives. In this sense, a person is successful, if that person likes what he does, has gratifying relationships, and has an achievable plan for the future.
As life issues are connected, one should always keep a broad vision of life to be able to assess issues in life and move towards them in an inclusive way.
Works Cited
Herb, Greenberg, and Sweeney, Patrick, et al. Succeed On Your Own Terms. New York: McGraw-hill, 2006.
McNamara, Carter. Field Guide to Consulting and Organizational Development: A Collaborative and Systems Approach to Performance, Change and Learning. Minneapolis: Authenticity Consulting, LLC, 2006.
Rauden, Lori. Success Coaching: A New Definition of Success. The Online Self Improvement Encyclopedia. 2007.
Soanes, Catherine, and Hawker, Sara (Editors), et al. Compact Oxford English Dictionary Of Current English, 3rd Edition. London: Oxford University Press, 2008.
Success is a single monosyllabic word that carries a different meaning to every person; this is the reason of having no absolute overall definition of it. In Compact Oxford Dictionary (2008), success is to accomplish, something wished, planned for, and attempted to achieve through hard work. The origin of the word success is Latin successus that means to come close after, it relates to the extent of achievement rather than to the volume of work done (Oxford Compact English Dictionary, 2008). To define success, one has to look first at the standards, keys, and models of success.
Success can be an achievement, a moment, or fruition, in any instance, success incorporates both perceptions and experiences; one of the major problems in defining success is that experiences and perceptions felt internally. On the other hand, evaluation of success is often by someone else (external), in other words there are objective and subjective standards for success. Further, the meaning of success differs with different community cultures, in industrial well-developed communities, three outcomes that decide what success is. These are influence, wealth, and prominence. An absolute definition of success will ignore people paving the way for success; an example is a schoolmaster who works hard to provide the suitable learning and teaching environment. Another is a volunteer at a local hospital providing support services to the elderly patients or chronically ill children, is that person successful or the hospital administration or doctors. This is another reason of having ones own definition of success (Herb and Sweeny, Pp.23-31).
Success can be the achievement of autonomy that is ones freedom to take decisions based only on his interest. For others, success is to achieve emotional satisfaction and constancy in the course of life, for others still it is achieving glory as for the Olympic athletes. What model an individual looks at as a successful one depends on one objectives in life to decide which model to look at (Herb and Sweeny, Pp. 23-31).
The keys to achieve success are many; however the most important one is to love what one is doing, that is simply to understand that success is not the gate to happiness, but happiness is the a key to success. Second, and of equal importance is to define ones objectives in this stage of life, that is what does one want? In addition, defining ones objective in life and the steps or the road to go through that is when does one want it? Of equal importance is to define how to achieve these objectives that is how does one want his image to be? Concentration on ones goals (always keep focused), and balancing the various values and principals in life , moral, spiritual, physical, and psychological are two important pillars in considering personal success (McNamara, Pp.102-103).
The way Radun in 2007, defines success is convincing. Success is an aim in itself; rather it is a long road to pass through, it is not an end but a continuous expedition. To include all success view and experiences, a developed definition of success on three pillars, first is what can be achieved? Second, is a clear plan for the future. Third, is to enjoy the journey to achieve these objectives. In this sense, a person is successful, if that person likes what he does, has gratifying relationships, and has an achievable plan for the future.
As life issues are connected, one should always keep a broad vision of life to be able to assess issues in life and move towards them in an inclusive way.
Works Cited
Herb, Greenberg, and Sweeney, Patrick, et al. Succeed On Your Own Terms. New York: McGraw-hill, 2006.
McNamara, Carter. Field Guide to Consulting and Organizational Development: A Collaborative and Systems Approach to Performance, Change and Learning. Minneapolis: Authenticity Consulting, LLC, 2006.
Rauden, Lori. Success Coaching: A New Definition of Success. The Online Self Improvement Encyclopedia. 2007.
Soanes, Catherine, and Hawker, Sara (Editors), et al. Compact Oxford English Dictionary Of Current English, 3rd Edition. London: Oxford University Press, 2008.
The emergence of the state of Communist China in 1949 was one of the most significant events of the 20th century and the Communist Revolution which led to its emergence is hailed as one of the most successful popular uprisings in recent world history. The Revolution ended with the declaration of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) by Mao on October 1, 1949. Sharma (1989) hails Chinas 1949 revolution as one of the most authentic revolutions of the 20th century.
This thought is confirmed by Meisner (1999) who asserts that few events in world history have had as positive an impact on the lives of people than the Maoist victory of 1949. Considering this huge significance of the revolution, this paper will set out to discuss the reasons behind the success of the Communist Revolution in China.
Historical Overview
Modern China traces its roots to the Manchu Revolution of 1911 which resulted in the fall of the rule of the Manchu dynasty. Following this, China became a republic and the leader of the revolution, Dr. Sun Yat Sen was appointed the president of China. Sun Yats party, the Kuomintang (KMT) formed the government which ruled over the next 2 decades. The Communist Party was established in China in 1921 with Mao Zedong as one of the founding members.
At the onset, the relationship between the KMT and the Communists was cordial and the two worked together towards building the new Chinese Republic. In the lifetime of Sun Yat, the communist part of China and the KMT party worked in harmony and presented a united front. This United front came to an end following the death of Sun Yat in 1925. He was succeeded by Chiang Kai Shek who viewed the Communists as a threat.
As a result of this perceived threat, Chiang Kai Sheks regime threw the Communists out of the government and proceeded to imprison or exile the Communist leaders. The KMT party then banned the Communist Party from China and membership to it was criminalized. Following this dismissal from the KMT party which was beginning to become authoritarian, the Communist Party set out to regain power and restore China. The aim of the Party was to fight against the KMT so as to bring a communist Revolution in the Country.
Reasons for the Success of the Communists Party
The battle strategies employed by the communists also contributed to their success. When the communists under the leadership of Mao began to wage their campaigns against the KMT government forces, they were greatly disadvantaged. The KMT forces were larger and had better weapons and munitions (Raghunath, 1989).
The communists employed guerilla warfare in their war against the better organized Guomindang forces. Following the defeat of Maos small peasant army in Hunan during the Autumn Harvest Uprising, Mao retreated to the mountainous region of Jianxi where he recruited troops from the peasant ranks and developed guerrilla warfare tactics. This tactics were highly effective since they drew the enemy forces into hostile countryside where they were destroyed by the peasant forces.
The Communist Party set out to win the support of the peasants by promoting their interests and hence create a popular mass uprising. The rural poor were given land as a stake in the revolution which acted as an incentive for them to resist the Guomindang. Up until 1949, land in China was owned by landlords who let the rural peasants live on their land in exchange for their labor (Meisner, 1999). This old system was unfair since it allowed the oppressive landlord class to control the peasant.
The Chinese peasants had suffered from centuries of oppression by the landlords who owned most of the land in China. The peasants therefore offered their unyielding support to the communist party since the Communists promised to take land from the oppressive landlords and redistribute it to the peasant population. As such, despite the Guomindang forces far outnumbering Maos Communists and having better weapons, the Communists enjoyed wide and popular support among Chinas overwhelmingly peasant population.
The revolutions success was further aided by the presence of a great and inspirational leader, Mao Zedong. Mao was the mastermind behind the policy of the Communist party and came up with the philosophy that led to the communist victory. Contrary to orthodox Marxism views that stated that the middleclass workers were the basis of a revolution, Mao believed that it was the peasants who would form the main force in the Chinese Communism Revolution (Raghunath, 1989).
As a result of this, the real base from which the Communists run the revolution was rural North China. Mao was able to organize peasant unions which formed the backbone of the Revolution. Liu (1995) contends that the revolution was for the peasants a long-term struggle, rather than a simple function of socio-economic structure.
The progressive weakening of the Kuomintang (KMT) which was the Nationalist Government also contributed to the success of communism. The KMT had been in power for nearly 20 years and during this time, the government failed to give the people the prosperity that they desired. Draguhn and Goodman (2002) highlight the fact that the Guomindang establishment was corrupt on every level.
The bureaucracy was permeated with corruption with money and favors being exchanged by KMT officials. Bribes were commonplace and the press had regular reports of bribery to gain rights to property or position. This made the people regard KMT as a political system which only served the interests of the wealthy and powerful.
In the course of 1947, Chiang Kai-Shek was in deep political crisis and was having a hard time addressing the economic depression that the country faced (Raghunath, 1989). With high rates of inflation and rampant corruption, people were losing faith in the government and prepared for change.
The enormous size of the Chinese territory also acted in favor of the Communist revolution. The Chinese government could not establish good control over its people since China is a very large country. Uprisings could therefore take place in some parts of the country and it would take time before the government forces arrived to extinguish them (Raghunath, 1989).
The Communists were also able to retreat into the more remote parts of the country to reorganize themselves after huge military loses in the hands of KMT. For example, by 1934, KMT forces had launched major expeditions against the communists and were almost successful in destroying them. However, the communist forces led by Mao made the famous Long March into the remote parts of North West China.
During WWII, parts of China were occupied by Japanese forces. This Japanese occupation of the North China plain contributed to the success of the Revolution. Liu (1995) documents that Japanese occupation of North China after 1937 left a huge political vacuum in the countryside. The Japanese forces could not with their limited forces govern the entire region effectively and they were forced to consolidate their power in large cities and strategic towns.
This left a large region of North china ungoverned and the Communists took this opportunity to established bases and expand their forces. Liu (1995) reveals that without a well-mobilized mass base, it would have been impossible for the Communists to sustain an arduous and protracted guerrilla war. Since the KMT forces were occupied fighting off the Japanese invaders, they did not bother the Communist forces which continued to grown in number as well as strength.
The final reason for the success of the Communists was as a result of huge rural support base as well as Russian support to their war efforts. In 1947, the Russians gave the Communist forces arms and ammunitions that the Japanese had surrendered following their defeat (Raghunath, 1989).
While the Communist forced was highly disciplined and enthusiastic, there was low moral and discontent among KMT officials. The Communists were able to overrun the whole of mainland China and the KMT leader, Chiang fled to the island of Taiwan along with what remained of his army.
Conclusion
This paper set out to give the reasons behind the success of the Communist Revolution of China in 1949. It began by giving a brief history of China and the situations which led to the call for a Revolution by the Communist Party. This paper has shown that the success of the revolution was as a result of the huge support from the peasants as well as good leadership from the communist leader, Mao. The inefficiencies and corruption of the KMT government also aided the Communist in their quest for a revolution.
References
Draguhn, W., & Goodman, S.G. (2002). Chinas communist revolutions: fifty years of the Peoples Republic of China. Boston: Routledge.
Liu, C. (1995). Peasants and Revolution in Rural China: Rural political change in the North China plain and the Yangzi delta, 1850-1949. Boston: Routledge.
Meisner, M. (1999). The significance of the Chinese Revolution in world history. Working Paper. Asia Research Center. London: London School of Economics and Political Science.
Raghunath, R. (1989). Themes in World History. NY: FK Publications.
Sharma, R.K. (1989). China Revolution to Revolution. Delhi: Mittal Publications.
For over about 30 years, it has been noted by many experts that there has been a great advancement towards the African American community. With many accrediting the American civil rights movement, which was considered to have helped improve the quality of life of the under represented minorities who mostly were many African American citizens.
This paper presents the summary of the success of the African American rights movement (1950-1970) which resulted to the passing of the Voting rights Act in 1965 bringing about a significant change in the American social political and cultural practices. The movement was started with the aim of eliminating racial discrimination of the African Americans (Carey 2009).
The success of the movement
African American Rights is term that has been used to refer to Civil Rights Movements, which described a series of events that ranged through the 1950s, 1960s and the 1970s. Civil Rights Movements came to be described as the concept which brought about equality for the black Americans and people of other races in the United States of America (Herbert 1984).
The African Americans got involved with the movement in pursuit of equality and equal access to all subjects of American life. For a long time, the African Americans together with people from other cultures had been subjects to discrimination with the efforts of these local people in trying to ensure that the U.S. was in line with the ideals of the declaration of the independence of the American people including the amendment of the Fourteenth Amendment (Szulhan 2009).
The principle or policy of the movement was to stand for the basic rights which included the right to eat, live and study anywhere one chose to. The movement attracted thousands of people who participated in many different ways.
There are those who become leaders Martin Luther king Jr., Thurgood Marshall who made endless effort to win the historic case Brown vs. The Board of Education of Topeka when the court ruled in his favor stating that it was unconstitutional to have segregated schools among other great people like Andrew Jackson Young, Rosa Parks (Gretchen 2001).
In 1950, the African Americans sat only in certain parts of public buses in one incidence, Rosa parks was asked to give up her seat on a bus to a European. She refused claiming she had undergone a hard day at work and was tired and her refusal led to her arrest this resulted to too many people getting furious. It was during this era that the status quo was challenged (Dowd 2005).
In 1960, gradually the African Americans achievements begun to be recognized national as African American writers, musicians, actors got to find a way in which they shared their experiences to a multitude number of audience.
This is where the plat form for civil right movement was established which resulted to wave of change ending segregation practices and securing equal treatment for African Americans. The fundamental changes that took place in the 1960s led to African American being entitled to vote and the radical reforms were carried over in the 1970s (Smith 2003). One of the debated topics was that of women as change in the music and art industry begun to change.
It is noted that many African American were able to accomplish remarkable achievements in rights politics and music one great achievement recognized was when Steve Wonder a great African American musician won the Grammy award in 1973 as having the best album of that year. The first time a Grammy award was awarded to an African American following later many great achievements by great African American people (Wright 1999).
References
Carey, A. (2009). On the margins of citizenship: intellectual disability and civil rights in twentieth-century America. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press.
Dowd, J. H. (2005). The Long Civil Rights Movement and the Political Uses of the Past. The Journal of American History, 15-102.
Gretchen, C. E. (2001). Dissent in Wichita: the Civil Rights Movement in the Midwest, 1954-72. Champaign, IL: University of Illinois Press.
Herbert, H. H. (1984). Black radicalization and the funding of civil rights: 1957-1970. Journal of social problems Vol.32, 1.
Smith, R. C. (2003). Encyclopedia of African-American politics Facts on File library of American history. New York, NY: InfoBase Publishing.
Szulhan, R. (2009). African American History Contemporary Achievements. New York, NY: Weigl Publishers Inc.
Wright, G. (1999). The civil rights revolution as economic history. The Journal of Economic History vol. 5, 45-96.
When the federal government of the United States banned alcohol in 1920, it was an attempt to combat graft, address endemic social ills and enhance public health. The government referred to this as National Alcohol Prohibition. As enshrined in the Constitutions 18th Amendment, alcoholic beverages could not be sold, manufactured, or transported. In 1933, however, the repeal of this Amendment by the Twenty-First Amendment ended the federal governments fourteen-year campaign against alcoholic drinks. To undercut the prohibition, two widely accepted fallacies emerged. The first was that prohibition failed in part because the amount of alcohol consumed did not reduce at all. The second was that prohibition fostered the creation of organized criminal groups by fostering bootlegging and the illegal liquor trade. Hence, there is a divided opinion on the effectiveness of prohibition. Despite waning popular support, prohibition was a success since it reduced alcohol use and alcohol-related ailments, as well as accelerated the war on criminal gangs.
The decline in Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages
Consumption of alcoholic beverages considerably declined as a result of the enactment of prohibition in the United States. Adults consumed an average of 9.5 liters of alcohol per year between 1900 and 1915. In 1916, less than 9 liters of alcohol could be drunk by the average American. Between 1920 and 1925, a staggering 50 to 70 percent of Americans drank less booze, and the aggregate drop of 30 percent during Prohibition was the steepest in the countrys history. Indeed, prohibitions triumph can be explained by the fact that before it was enacted, drinking levels had been constantly increasing. As Jack Blocker elaborates, the decline in beer consumption coincided with a decline in beer production. Indeed, a decade after 1916, the United States lacked any significant beer breweries. The number of distilleries fell by 85 percent during this time period, with the majority of the remaining distilleries producing industrial ethanol. Primary evidence from the Statistical Abstract of the United States of America indicates that the volume of malt, rice, and hops used in the production of full-strength beer decreased by less than 10%, 13%, and 33%, respectively. Dried spirits income decreased from US $360 million in 1919 to less than US $13 million in 1929, while income from liquors went virtually to zero. In that same decade, the number of liquor wholesalers fell by 96 percent, while the number of legitimate merchants declined by roughly 90 percent. As a result, there was a considerable decrease in the number of alcohol-related diseases.
Decline in Rates of Alcohol-Related Diseases
National Prohibition resulted in a decrease in the prevalence of alcohol-related diseases. A decrease in the production of liquor resulted in a spike in the price of alcohol, which in turn increased the popularity of dry culture. As the prevalence of liquor-related medical and health disorders decreased, so did the prevalence of drinking alcohol. A considerable number of Americans had come to believe that excessive alcohol use was to blame for premature mortality, alcohol-induced psychoses, and public drunkenness. Therefore, as soon as prohibition became law, a large number of people in the United States saw the need to comply with it. Correspondingly, alcohol-related mortality fell from 7.3 per 100,000 people in 1907 to 2.5 per 100,000 in 1932, and public drinking prosecutions and the frequency of alcoholic psychosis were also on the wane during this time. Prohibition, as the prohibitionists intended, transformed the consumption patterns of wage workers. Hospitalizations for alcohol-induced psychosis, cirrhosis, and drunkenness fell precipitously in the years following Prohibitions repeal, as did mortality rates from these disorders and arrests for intoxication. This coincided with increased agitation by the government to fight against criminal gangs who engaged in bootlegging.
Increased War on Criminal Gangs
To a considerable extent, National Prohibition accelerated the fight against criminal gangs. When it comes to public health, removing the horrible 1920s law had some protracted crime-related benefits. This connection has been challenged, despite the fact that it has been linked to a slew of violence and intricate criminal networks. Prior to prohibition, bootleggers like Al Capone were involved in extortionate enterprises like gambling, prostitution, drug trafficking, and bribing law enforcement officers. In reality, if the Eighteenth Amendment had not been enacted, gang-style criminality would have continued to exist. During Prohibition, it was the theatrics of the media that made them famous, not their bootlegging. There were a number of gunfights, although they werent necessarily linked to wine smuggling operations. Al Capones crime-related activities or racketeering are not likely to have anything to do with the killings of seven men on Valentines Day in a Chicago driveway. Indeed, as FBI records indicate, in 1931, Capone was sentenced to prison for tax evasion rather than bootlegging. Hence, prohibition was indeed a success.
Conclusion
While public support for National Prohibition was diminishing; it was a success in reducing alcohol use and the illnesses that go along with it, as well as in hastening the fight against organized crime. The United States adoption of Prohibition significantly reduced alcoholic beverage consumption. Alcohol-related sickness rates dropped as a result of the ban. The price of alcohol rose as a result of a decrease in the production of liquor, which led to an increase in the adoption of a dry culture. Prohibition had a significant impact on the battle against criminal gangs. Removing the odious statute from the 20s has long-term positive effects on crime prevention for the general population.
Bibliography
Blocker, Jack. Did Prohibition Really Work? Alcohol Prohibition as a Public Health Innovation. American Journal of Public Health 96, no. 2 (2006): 233243.
Hamilton, David and Johnathan ONeill. Was Prohibition a Success or a Failure. Bill of Rights Institute. Web.
Hoover, Edgar. FBI Records: The Vault Alphonse Capone. Washington, DC: Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1928.
National Constitution Center. 18th Amendment. Prohibition of Liquor. Web.
National Constitution Center. 21st Amendment. Repeal of Prohibition. National Constitution Center website. Web.
National Institutes of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Apparent Per Capita Ethanol Consumption, United States, 18502017. Web.
Schrad, Mark. Constitutional Blemishes: American Alcohol Prohibition and Repeal as Policy Punctuation. The Policy Studies Journal 35, no. 3 (2007): 437-463.
Statistical Abstract of the United States: 1928. Washington, DC: US Bureau of the Census, 1928.
Thornton, Mark. Alcohol Prohibition Was a Failure. CATO Institute Policy Analysis. Web.
James Dysons claim to fame did not start off from being a rich industrialist who helped to advance the economy of the U.K., neither was he a prolific inventor, instead the origin of his success as an entrepreneur can all be traced to sheer frustration at a product that worked in such an inefficient manner that he desired to improve upon the design just so he could clean his home properly!
The product I am referring to was his Hoover vacuum cleaner and how its inefficient design propelled Dyson into fixing the problem which subsequently launched his entrepreneurial career.
Dysons Early Life
When examining Dysons early life, it can be seen that he was not born into a rich family and could arguably called middle class. The death of his father through cancer as well as his passion for distance running and design helped him develop the necessary determination and desire for excellence that that propelled him into engineering.
In fact, Dyson may very well have been destined for a life of a simple engineer if it was not for this brother encouraging him to attempt entrepreneurship and inventing solutions to practical problems. It was from this early encouragement that Dyson began his career as an inventor during the latter half of the 1960s (Helm, 74).
Dyson the Inventor
During the latter half of the 1970s, Dyson became increasingly frustrated at the design of the Hoover vacuum cleaner that he was utilizing. The bag that was supposed to act as a catcher for all the dust that the vacuum sucked up kept on getting clogged up with dust making it necessary to stop the vacuum every once in a while in order to remove the bag and remove the dust clog that was causing the problem.
It was due to his increasing level of frustration that Dyson developed the concept of a cyclonic separator which sucked up the dirt in such a way that it condensed into a cohesive whole which made it far easier to vacuum and dispose of the accumulated dirt. Best of all, through the implementation of such a design feature, this in effect did away with the necessity of using disposable bags for the dirt to accumulate in.
Interestingly enough, his invention of the cyclonic separator was not his only invention. He is actually credited with the design of a wheel boat, a type of hybrid car that could function both on land and water. Its inception was based off the concept of allowing boat enthusiasts to easily transition from land into water.
Considering the relative lack of wheel boats in the U.K. at the present, it is relatively safe to assume that this particular invention did not become as successful as his cyclonic vacuum cleaners (Seabrook, 66-73).
Early Failures
Despite the operational effectiveness of his idea, it actually took Dyson well over 10 years from his initial idea conception to actually being able to sell his product on an industrial scale. He had initially developed the G-force cleaner as an initial product design that utilized his cyclone design concept (Helm, 74).
Unfortunately, distributors and manufacturers refused to carry or buy the rights to his product given that that the market for disposable vacuum bags at the time within the U.K. amounted to 100 million pounds annually. It is due to this that Dyson looked towards other markets as potential avenues for the sale of his product.
The result was that he was able to find a considerable degree of success in Japan and, as a result, was able to obtain a U.S. patent on his design giving him exclusive rights towards the production and distribution of dual cyclone vacuum cleaners (Aldersey-Williams, 36).
Dyson the Industrialist
In 1993, Dyson had begun to expand on his initial success of mail order vacuum cleaners by putting up a research center and factory within Malmesbury, Wiltshire which initially employed less than 50 people yet expanded to well over 800 by early 2000s.
It is at this point that Dysons success as an entrepreneur truly took off wherein through a clever marketing ploy of emphasizing that the standard disposable vacuum bag that was endemic within the vacuum market was no longer necessary, he was able to capture a majority share of the U.K. market making him the undisputed king , so to speak, of the U.K. vacuum industry (Helm, 74).
Fast forward to 2005 and we see that his company, Dyson cleaners, has become a market leader in the U.S. as well due to manner in which his vacuums were able to prove their design superiority over other brands such as Hoover which had dominated the market for decades.
Despite his success in nearly dominating the vacuum markets in both the U.S., U.K. and in other markets, Dyson continues to be criticized till this day for his move to shift his manufacturing operations from Malmesbury, Wiltshire to Malaysia which in effect cost 800 workers their jobs (Helm, 74).
While such a move was unfortunate, Dyson explained that the cost savings that could be realized through the move as well as the ability for the company to expand its operations cheaply due to the high cost of land within the U.K. prompted him to realize the necessity of off-shoring the production of his vacuum cleaners to another country.
What can we learn from Dyson?
Based on everything that has been presented so far, the most important lesson that we can take from the experiences of Dyson is to never be afraid to pursue what we believe in to be right.
For example, if Dyson had just succumbed and never actively attempted to resolve the issue he had with his vacuum cleaner it is likely that to this day consumers would still be relying on an inefficient vacuum design that requires a paper bag in order to collect the dust and dirt.
Another important lesson is that an entrepreneur should not let his/her early failures define who he/she is, instead, such failures can be learned from in order to develop the necessary skills and mindset to overcome obstacles that will await them on their path towards success.
Dyson encountered numerous early setbacks in the form of an initially unreceptive market, low levels of income as well as a considerable degree of doubt over the potential of his product.
However, he did not give up and instead relied on these failures as learning opportunities in order to further improve his product and design concept resulting in his current net worth of roughly 1.5 billion dollars. Dyson is an inspiration not for what he invented, rather, for his perseverance in wanting to become a success despite the odds against him.
Works Cited
Aldersey-Williams, Hugh. On The Sucking Edge. New Statesman 125.4306 (1996): 36. Literary Reference Center. Web.
A support system is a network of people or items that provide an individual with practical and psychological support to accomplish any given task. As a graduate nursing student, my career is filled with many opportunities, challenges, and rewards. This program is rigorous and involving and as such, I must be adequately prepared to meet all those challenges and utilize opportunities effectively. This will allow me to progress through the program successfully by utilizing various support systems that enhance my confidence and success within the program. Various support systems listed below will play a role in assisting me with stress management while pursuing this program.
When pursuing my goals and aims, a social support system is essential, as it provides a group of individuals I can trust and ask for help and direction when necessary. My immediate social support network includes my family members, close friends, professors, and advisors. A college is a place where you can face different challenges throughout the academic calendar, and it is important to have people to lean on and rely on in times of need.
When difficulties and challenges emerge, my social support system assists me in dealing with challenging situations, and I occasionally require assistance in keeping my job goals in perspective. After a long and exhausting day in class, or if I feel overwhelmed by my schoolwork, I will invite several people in my close circle to talk to. Supportive family members and friends always cheer on my success and encourage me to endure my challenges.
Effective clinical instructors demonstrate commitment, internal motivation, problem-solving skills, flexibility and creativity, time management, leadership and management, accessibility, lifelong learning, morality, and up-to-date knowledge and skills (Samson, 2020). The clinical instructors characteristics, such as teaching ability, behavior, and character, will greatly have an impact on my learning and interaction skills across nursing. Through my interaction with them, I will develop a professional network with colleagues who will take part in my career development and efficient care for a patient.
Environmental support system refers to services and other factors near a learning institution that contribute to students overall health and safety. They are one of the factors considered when evaluating an institutions overall health performance (Masi et al., 2011). I will take part in classroom activities and have discussions that will promote my creative capacity and critical thinking. This will enable colleagues to express themselves and allow me to learn from them.
Students learn better when they are motivated, and rewarding accomplishments is a terrific method to keep them motivated. Most school-based prizes are often given to high achievers solely, which can make weaker pupils feel left out and unmotivated. My immediate environmental support system in the classroom and hospital where I usually do my course and practical studies and thus enhancing my professionalism. In our small discussion panel, I will introduce incentives for awarding peers who excel in exams and achieve weekly goals. Here I can meet with patients, their families, and colleagues who will enhance my drive and desire to see the patient recover from their illness, thus making me focus my strengths, abilities, and my time in school doing more research.
Without an emotional support system, I would feel alone when they are going through a difficult period. During my studies, I usually get strong emotional support from my friends, parents, and counselors, who ensure that I get more fulfilled and more resilient in difficult times while undergoing my studies. College Counsellors and my parents talk to me by complimenting me on my positives, thus making me feel very positive about my studies and restoring my confidence in my academic journey. The nursing educational environment is notorious for being exhausting emotionally and mentally, and thus I and other students would be in an even greater need for a robust support system than on average. Without it, my progress throughout the course and while enrolled in my future employment will likely be undermined.
The sense of fatigue in the classroom has been linked to a number of health issues, including impairment in academics, such as decreased accuracy, more mistakes, and the inability to complete tasks. Decreased willingness to attempt schoolwork. Deteriorations in behavior such as decreased compliance and increased frustration (Masi et al., 2011). Proper support and guidance from my classroom professor will enable me to have enough rest.
In the course of my education, various support systems would help me reduce mental anguish and improve my ability to cope with stressful and difficult situations. At the same time, Im forming and nurturing relationships with my family, friends, academics, and the rest of society. (Ditzen & Heinrichs, 2014). A strong support system has an overall impact on our performance in School during studies and our general health. Therefore, a strong support system will be very impactful in ensuring that I succeed in pursuing my Nursing program.
References
Ditzen, B., & Heinrichs, M. (2014). Psychobiology of social support: The social dimension of stress buffering. Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, 32(1), 149-162.
Masi, C., Chen, H., Hawkley, L., & Cacioppo, J. (2010). A Meta-Analysis of Interventions to Reduce Loneliness. Personality And Social Psychology Review, 15(3), 219-266.
Samson, P. (2020). Effect of perceived social support on stress, anxiety and depression among Nepalese nursing students. Indian Journal of Continuing Nursing Education, 21(1), 59.
The accomplishment of goals and self-fulfillment on personal and professional levels are the things I take seriously. The achievement of both implies that I have a vision in my life and set specific objectives that drive my daily activities and reasoning. The purpose of this paper is to discuss my ten personal rules of success and explain why they have quite a significant impact on my life.
Discussion
My first rule coincides with the one specified in the video, which is just do right ( Maya Angelous Top 10 Rules for Success ). The attainment of goals adds meaning to my life; however, it is of paramount importance to set specific moral boundaries for myself. Other two principles are related to the way these goals are measured. I consider an objective attained if I have been able to transform the world around me while putting the interests of others first.
I try to stay calm in any situation since it helps make rational and thought-out decisions. It is necessary to consider all sides of any situation while not taking anything too seriously. This approach enables me to achieve success and avoid the feeling of frustration in case of failure. Staying positive and believing in myself are other two significant rules. Finally, letting go of the things easily is the tenet, which allows shifting the focus of attention from my personality to the world around me.
Conclusion
Thus, it can be concluded that my ten personal rules of success are based on universal and fundamental values. It is crucial for me to concentrate on positive emotions while making efforts to achieve the aims I have set. Importantly, it is critical to act in accordance with my ethical principles to avoid situations when my success may negatively affect the well-being of other people.
Work Cited
Maya Angelous Top 10 Rules for Success. YouTube, uploaded by Evan Carmichael. 2016. Web.
The article by Brettel, Reich, Gavilanes, and Flatten is a summary of a 2015 study that sought to analyze and discuss the factors behind the advertising success on Facebook and other online social networks. The study used field data from one of the Germany top-ten eCommerce retailers. The analysis of the data utilized direct aggression approach to calculate the compound advertising effect for each of the stimulus that was studied. The stimuli that were studied included likes , page views, stream, and comments on Facebook. The findings of the study indicated that advertising on Facebook had an influence on the sales of a company. Among the stimuli, likes had a long-term positive impact on sales.
The authors point out that online social networks have revolutionized the way advertising is undertaken, yet very few studies have been published to understand the reason behind the success of social platforms, especially Facebook. Of great interest is how various stimuli on social networks influence advertising outcomes. Some of the stimuli on social media include the likes , page views, stream, and comments on Facebook among others on other. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the above research by providing insights such as how the study was undertaken, the language construction, assumptions, and the presentation of the findings.
Assumptions in the Article
It is very important for a research to make its purpose clear from the beginning. Such an approach ensures that the readers and the targeted audience are aware of what to expect as the subject of discussion and research through the study report. The implication is that the audiences are learned and have an understanding of marketing trends such as the use of online social networks. Further, the audiences are scholarly since they understand the meaning of the research methods and analysis that have been used. The study by Brettel et al. (2015) has met these requirements by providing the purpose of the study in the introduction. In this case, the introduction of the study reveals how Brettel et al. (2015) sought to address two research questions. The research questions and the purpose of the study were as follows:
Which stimuli in a social network drive short-term sales?
What is the long-term impact of Facebook stimuli on sales?
In the study, the authors have made various assumptions. Firstly, they have assumed that the audience understands the meaning of online social network and Facebook. As such, no definition has been provided to explain the meaning of the two terms. The second assumption has been made on the analysis section of the study. The study notes that it used &a direct-aggression approach to calculate a compound advertising effect (Brettel et al., 2015, p. 167). Compound advertising effect refers to how response to advertising rises and decays within a given duration. However, the study does not define the meaning of the direct-aggregation approach. Therefore, it is evident that the authors assumed that the intended audience understands the meaning of the analysis method that the study utilized.
Analysis of Literature Review
The use of literature review is an important part of any research since it provides the position of the current research in relation to the existing knowledge on a given subject (Aveyard, 2014). Most importantly, literature review provides an analysis of existing knowledge to identify the gaps that a given research seeks to fill (Saunders & Philip, 2012). In the study by Brettel et al. (2015), the literature review forms an important basis for the research.
The research utilizes sixty-four sources that address various issues concerning the usage of social media in advertising. For instance, the article uses various authors and previous studies to show the increased popularity of online social networks in advertising. Brettel et al. (2015) assert, Scholars have noted the importance of using social networks to improve social network effectiveness (p. 163). The reflection on other scholars helps to put into perspective the interest the subject has attracted.
The study also uses the existing literature to discuss the application of advertising in an effective manner that can reach the intended audience. Previous studies have identified the message that marketers should use. Such studies stimulate several outcomes, including cognition, sensation, and experience. The authors have also reviewed the existing research on the efficacy of various tools on Facebook and their relation to advertising.
For instance, the study analyzes literature on the efficiency of streaming, page views, likes, and the use of content such as photos, comments, or videos. Other important areas of discussion from previous researches are time lag and effect, which imply the time a potential customer takes from exposure to advert to the period of purchasing an item that was being advertised. The authors quote various researches that have been used to discuss the issue of time lag and effect on various approaches to advertising such as television, radio, and social network. Brettel et al. (2015) assert, 90% of the cumulative advertising effect in sales occurred three to nine months after exposure (p. 166). Such findings from other studies are important in putting into perspective the course that the current study should take to add or introduce new knowledge on the subject.
The Use of Hedging Tactics and Metadiscourse
The use of metadiscourse is evident throughout the study. Metadiscourse has been evidently used in the literature review to communicate how the authors understand various studies that they have analyzed. The metadiscourse shows how the authors understand the various scholarly works that they have investigated. Further, it helps the reader to follow the ideas that the authors are systematically trying to present in their study.
The hedging tactics that have been used in the study are very important in reducing the risk exposure in the application of the research findings in real-life advertising environment. In this case, although the authors call for the generalization of the findings of the study, they are quick to note that for effectiveness, companies must be willing to invest time and workforce to engage the user (Brettel et al., 2015).
Objectivity of the Authors
Various guidelines dictate how research is carried and reported. Among the rules, the use of first person is discouraged where pronouns such as I , We , and other related references to an individual is not encouraged (Zahavi, 2008). In the current study, the authors do not use first-person pronouns. Hence, the article is in line with the requirements of many studies. Such an approach allows researchers to separate their study from their personal opinions, consequently allowing more objectivity, which gives the study more credibility (De Vos et al., 2011).
However, the use of metadiscourse allows the study to acknowledge the presence of the authors in terms of the systematic manner that ideas contained in the paper are presented. The lack of express presence in the text allows the research to be more credible and believable since it does not provide personal opinions, but rather the outcomes of the study process. Lastly, the limitations provided on the paper allow the audience to understand the various hindrances that the researchers may have faced, thus ensuring that their presence is felt.
Vision of Reality
The study can be categorized under social sciences. It utilizes various approaches that majorly interpret the existing works to provide the basis for the research (Charmaz, 2011). The researchs vision of reality is the establishment and enshrinement of online social network as an important part of advertising in the business world. In essence, the article reflects the methods and epistemology of the social sciences since the authors reveal the potential of Facebooks advertising, which has unfortunately been underutilized. Consequently, they provide ways of utilizing such potential in driving future advertising on social networks. However, the authors are keen by setting conditions for the generalization of the research. For their findings to be applicable in the business world, they point out that organizations must be ready to dedicate time and resources.
Conclusion
The article is well written since it articulates and follows the rules that guide research by avoiding the use of first-person pronouns. Further, the authors have done a commendable work by ensuring that the generalization has conditions that govern the applicability of the study. The article has a very clear introduction, which provides the purpose of the study, thus ensuring that the reader is aware of what to expect. Lastly, the literature review has provided an in-depth understanding of the subject to ensure that the study points to gaps in knowledge that the study has filled. Any reader who goes through the article will be quick to declare it a commendable piece since it has been written in an easy-to-understand manner. The article provides a detailed investigation of the subject of advertising and the use of Facebook as a marketing tool.
Reference List
Aveyard, H. (2014). Doing a literature review in health and social care: a practical guide. London, UK: McGraw-Hill Education. Web.
Brettel, M., Reich, J., Gavilanes, J., & Flatten, T. (2015). What Drives Advertising Success on Facebook? An Advertising-Effectiveness Model Measuring the Effects on Sales Of Likes and Other Social-Network Stimuli. Journal of Advertising Research, 55(2), 162-175. Web.
Charmaz, K. (2011). Grounded theory methods in social justice research. The Sage handbook of qualitative research, 4(1), 359-380. Web.
De Vos, A., Delport, C., Fouche, C., & Strydom, H. (2011). Research at grass roots: A primer for the social science and human professions. Johannesburg, SA: Van Schaik Publishers. Web.
Saunders, M., & Lewis, P. (2012). Doing research in business and management: An essential guide to planning your project. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Financial Times Prentice Hall. Web.
Zahavi, D. (2008). Subjectivity and selfhood: Investigating the first-person perspective. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Web.
The biography of Audrey Hepburn examines similar factors of survival that lead to a successful life. According to Spoto (56), Audrey Hepburn has grown to be a rich and famous actor with a successful life that many admire. However, not all is rosy, as Audrey Hepburn has a background of war that challenged her to desire the best for herself. Although successful, the life of Audrey Hepburn is from a demographic trough that contributed to her efforts to uplift her family out of trouble.
Following the Second World War, Audrey became the most prominent actress in the world. Gladwell (12) affirms that major challenges in an individuals life could lead someone towards a successful life, making them prominent people in the world. The era of birth, the presumption to be heard, and the democratic trough, she was raised in; explain Audreys desire to make a name for herself. The current paper applies the three concepts from Gladwells principle of success to understand the success factors of the actor born in a demographic trough.
According to Gladwell (17) some people possess special background skills that may lead them towards success. These background skills often appear among families who notice the future of the child by studying their passions at tender ages. Some children are brought up under the instruction of how to get rich and live to outgrow these wild dreams and gain success (Gladwell 17). The background of a child is a key determining factor that propels the motivation in children to grow towards a successful life. During the early years of the 1900s, first graduates from university got jobs in market places before the destruction associated with the depression set in.
The talented Hollywood actress Audrey Hepburn spent most of her early years in England schools (Ferrer 21). Before the war, she was studying in one of the colleges in the Netherlands. After the Nazis invaded the country, she and her mother struggled for a long period to make ends meet. Following World War 2, Audrey began following her career in dancing that led to her enrollment in several schools in London. In 1948, Hepburn was the best performer in a concert that featured her as a chorus girl. Audrey was able to gauge what was really important from a very narrow period experience and translate it into a success (Gladwell 34). Her story of success was not through as she proceeded to perform at concerts in New York.
The presumption to be heard
Gladwell (21) states that some individuals who were born into harsh lives and who witnessed atrocities of the society towards citizens grew up with the conviction to make a change in their lives by seeking an opportunity to be heard. Pushed by their poor backgrounds, people look for livelihood opportunities and practice their skills as the main way out of poverty. Such people embrace their inborn talents and try to nurture them at a very tender age.
Apart from having inborn traits, there are people who adopt skills due to the backgrounds of their lives. They view these as opportunities for success and start working on success through practice. The skills, which people may draw from a specific background have a bearing on the future success of an individual. Backgrounds give children the opportunity to adopt skills that they can nurture as they continue growing. Those with the privilege of visiting schools got the opportunity to nurture their talents further.
The grave nature of the World War left Audrey emotionally torn, and she began reading books to take her mind off the events of the year. Ferrer states, She remembered vividly the fear she felt as a child when German troops invaded the city in Anhem (4). With the fear pushing her, she got the opportunity to learn ballet dance, and to act in movies. Audrey began making some funds on acting to sustain her mother, who did not work then.
As a ballet dancer and actress, Audrey went through intensive training that mould her into the successful figure that she grew up to be. Her teacher taught her dancing and often encouraged her to be a qualified performer of ballet dance (Ferrer 5). She rose to prominence before winning the academy award for best actress in 1953. She grew in stature to become the revered actress in Hollywood that she is today. The harsh life truly cultivated the desire to be heard.
The advantageous era of birth
Malcolm Gladwell (33) states that individual chances of success rely on a particular place that presents the history of the people who have been successful in their lives. This theme applied to all upcoming children whose parents wanted to determine their success by showering them with opportunities. Gladwell (33) affirms that being rich is dependent on the income level surrounding the growth of a child.
Children who grew up from families with high-income levels got the opportunity to grow up into geniuses since all the best schools were available, and money was not a concern. In contrast, those who came from low-income levels strived to make a living for themselves to educate themselves, and had a hard time growing up. The key to success among these groups was letting your background be the main factor pushing and individual towards success (Gladwell 33).
The culture of the era worked to Audreys favor, as they shaped her priorities that children pick up. For instance, young children that were successful in their lives got the opportunity to learn physical talents such as sports in schools. World War 2 affected the work cluster of this generation with many who were born in those years during time of war taken out from their schools, and drafted to war (Spoto 56). Many people did not view this job opportunity and viewed it as a hindrance that disrupted their lives. It is true that through the lessons associated with the depression and the World Wars pushed Audrey to look for a better life for herself.
Gladwells model of success shows what pushed Audrey Hepburn to look for better opportunities for her life and to make it as the successful actor that she is today. The era of birth, the presumption to be heard, and the democratic trough, she was raised in; explain Audreys desire to make a name for herself. She grew from ballet dancer to an actor of great prominence pushed by her background and the will to make a change in the life of her family.
Her success story is one of courage amidst trying times, accompanied with the passion to do what one knows and loves best. Yet she emerged from her own life as a powerful person: strong willed and sure of what she wanted (Ferrer 14). According to Gladwell, sufferings and poor backgrounds are factors, which may shape or destroy the future success story of an individual. Indeed, Audrey Hepburns history is a story about a girl with the presumption to be heard. Audrey came into an era that was only advantageous for its motivation to inspire a person towards success.
Bibliography
Ferrer, Sean Hepburn. Audrey Hepburn, An Elegant Spirit, Toronto, Canada: Simon and Schuster, 2005, Print.
Gladwell, Malcolm. Outliers: The Story of Success. London, UK: Little, Brown, 2008. Print.
Spoto, Donald. Enchantment: The Life of Audrey Hepburn, Nevada City, US: Harmony Books, 2006.