Fundamentals of Macroeconomics Essay Example for Free

Fundamentals of Macroeconomics Essay Some of the terms that are frequently used in economics are; gross domestic product (GDP), real GDP, nominal GDP, unemployment rate, inflation rate, and interest rates. Gross domestic product is the money value of the nation’s productivity. GDP is the value of all finished goods and services produced within the country’s border. Real GDP is the market value of the final goods and services produced in a year. Real GDP means that it was adjusted for inflation so it will show a more accurate figure. Without real GDP our market values would look a lot higher than they really were and this helps us when trying to see what our productivity was. Nominal GDP is also known as the current dollar amount. It is the gross domestic product that has not been adjusted for inflation. Nominal GDP can be misleading because it does not adjust the inflation amount. For example if the nominal GDP figure showed that it shot up 10% but inflation has been 5% the real GDP has really only increased 5%. The unemployment rate is a percent of people who are not currently working but are willing and able to work or currently seeking. There are three different types of unemployment. The unemployment rate is figured by dividing the number of unemployed people by the number of people who are working and then multiplied by 100. Inflation rate is when prices for goods and services are on the rise. Inflation results in higher prices for the same amount goods and services one could have bought the year before for a lower price. Inflation gives high prices and lower purchasing power from consumers. The dollar amount becomes less than what it previously was. An interest rate is a percentage of the principle, which is the total amount of a loan, given by a lender for the use of an asset. The asset could either be a house or vehicle. An interest rate is usually based on an annual basis so this is also known as an annual percentage rate or APR. Somebody who has a high credit score shows that they have a good track record with other loans and monthly payments and will be given a lower interest rate. Somebody who has a low credit score is considered more high risk and will be given a higher interest rate. The three sectors; government, households, and businesses all have a circular flow between the three. The purchasing of groceries affects each one of the three sectors in different ways. It goes along with the law of demand and supply and the price level or inflation. Households decide and control what and how much to buy for consumption. The income effect has part of what consumers buy also. If there is an unexpected change of price this will affect the purchasing power of the consumer. Since households have control on what they buy and how much this will affect each business that contributes to the grocery stores. The competition in the grocery stores will affect the price of each item will affect what the household buys. Distribution also plays an important role in the economy by getting goods where people want them. If goods are in high demand this may affect the price level which may affect what consumers will buy. The government in turn will make some of their money on sales tax from the groceries. This tax will be used for expenditures that will go back into the economy. A decrease in taxes could affect the three sectors in a positive way. If there is a decrease in taxes there is a chance that more tax revenue is generated. The reason is because if people are bringing in more money into their households they will likely spend more money which will help businesses. If businesses are busy and making more money they will be more likely to hire more people who in turn will also be taxed which will help the government. A massive layoff of employees would hurt the economy and the three sectors. If people are out of work they are bringing in less money for their household. Since they will not have as much money as they are used to they are less likely to spend money which will hurt businesses. If businesses are not making a profit they may be forced to lay more people off. Because there are so many people laid off they will likely collect unemployment insurance which will cost the government more money.

Concepts of Green IT and Green Computing

Concepts of Green IT and Green Computing 1. Introduction Environmental responsibility is emerging as an important topic for corporate IT organizations and their technology suppliers. With increasing market pressure to â€Å"go green† and because of its central role to the enterprise, IT is often given the role of facilitator to bring together all departments with a unified sustainability plan. Senior management may ask IT to launch innovative technologies to facilitate changes in organizational behaviour. The document describes. Green IT, the emerging new trend in the Global IT sector that can help an organization get started in an environmentally responsible manner, both to fulfil their legal and moral obligations, but also to enhance the brand and to improve corporate image. 2. What is Green IT? There are many definitions for Green IT. Some of them listed below. Green computing or Green IT is â€Å"the study and practice of designing, manufacturing, using, and disposing of computers, servers, and associated subsystems—such as monitors, printers, storage devices, and networking and communications systems—efficiently and effectively with minimal or no impact on the environment. It includes the dimensions of environmental sustainability, the economics of energy efficiency, and the total cost of ownership, which includes the cost of disposal and recycling.† Another definition for Green IT says, it is the â€Å"optimal use of information and communication technology (ICT) for managing the environmental sustainability of enterprise operations and the supply chain, as well as that of its products, services, and resources, throughout their life cycles.†(The Gartner report, Green IT: The New Industry Shock Wave, by analyst Simon Mingay) â€Å"Green Computing† is defined as the study and practice of using computing resources efficiently through a methodology that combines reducing hazardous materials, maximizing energy efficiency during the products lifetime, and recycling older technologies and defunct products. (San Murugesan, August 2007) In short Green Computing enables companies to meet business demands for cost-effective, energy-efficient, flexible, secure stable solutions while being environmentally responsible. 3. Why Green IT Matters IT systems are not only a large source of emissions that need to be carefully managed, but they are also the most important part of an organisations compliance. IT is the measuring tool and the data repository. ICT typically accounts for more than 20% of the energy used in an office building, with some offices registering up to 70% attributed to ICT. Although energy costs typically comprise less than 10% of an overall IT budget. A recent report states that this could rise to more than 50% over the next few years (Gartner Research). Green IT is about ITs contribution to reducing the whole organisations carbon footprint, and to facilitating mandatory reporting on carbon emissions and the subsequent emissions trading system. Green IT is part of a fundamental change in the economy and society (see Figure 1). It is a subset of the larger green (or sustainable) business trend, which reconciles sustainable business practices with profitable business operations. In the IT industry, both suppliers and buyers are coming to realize that they should incorporate green principles into the design, manufacturing, operation, and disposal of IT assets. The momentum for this change comes from a variety of sources which is listed below: Government mandates Energy efficiency Product and Company differentiation and CSR Companies efforts to improve their IT efficiency and governance have direct green benefits as well. This is just the beginning of a long-term shift in the behaviour of corporate IT organizations and businesses generally. The companies are expected to adopt a combination of â€Å"quick win† activities and longer-term planning that will result in a significantly greener IT industry. 4. What Companies are doing with Green Computing Green Computing is making significant progress in businesses and organizations, according to the More Green Progress in Enterprise IT study from Forrester Research. The report shows that companies are increasingly taking the environmental impact of technology needs into consideration as part of their regular operations. For this report, Forrester surveyed 738 companies, almost three quarters of which employ more than 1,000 people. Over 40% responded that environmental concerns were â€Å"very important† to their companies; 45% of those companies are either implementing or creating a green-IT strategy to guide future purchasing or end-of-life technology product considerations. The survey also found that half of the companies already incorporate environmental criteria into purchasing decisions and almost 80% recycle hardware at end-of-life, either through OEMs or third parties. Globally, the top three reasons listed for making greener IT choices include reducing energy-related expenses; doing â€Å"the right thing† for the environment; and bringing IT in-line with larger corporate initiatives. IBM has been singled out by leading technology media for its emphasis on energy-efficient technology and services internally and for clients. IDGs Computerworld, the leading source of technology information worldwide, has named IBM the top Green IT Company for 2008. A Computerworld executive noted that â€Å"IBM†¦has taken a serious look at how they impact the environment and how they can address those challenges with good business sense, through their Project Big Green initiative and a company-wide focus on energy-efficient technology services.† (Segan, Sascha (2007)) 5. IBM Project Big Green IBM is among the first of the Corporate IT giants which looked at going green. In order to be a leader in this IBM came up with an Initiative in May 2007. Project Big Green is IBMs billion-dollar initiative to dramatically reduce energy use by IBM and its customers. The initiative includes new energy-efficient IBM products and services, and a five-step approach to energy efficiency in the data centre. If the approach is followed, IBM believes it can sharply reduce data centre energy consumption, transform technology infrastructure into green operations and provide up to 42% in energy savings for the average data centre. The initiative also includes a new global â€Å"green team† of more than 850 energy efficiency architects throughout IBM. IBM expects to double the computing capacity of its own data centres over the next three years, without increasing power consumption or its carbon footprint. Based on greenhouse gas production, the size of a carbon footprint is determined by the amount of carbon dioxide that comes from human activities. Compared to building new space to double the size of its own data centres, IBM expects to help save more than five billion kilowatt hours of energy per year. As a result of these initiatives, IBM was named the â€Å"Top Green IT Company for 2008† by IDGs Computerworld. (Jon Brodkin, 2009) IBM combined with Mainline developed a range of Products and Processes that combine Information Technology, energy efficiency and environmental responsibility, as well as address the following challenges in a company: Continued rise of overall energy costs and demand Cost of air conditioning to cool data centres and/or computer rooms Concern over power surges and energy shortages affecting business Government-imposed levies on carbon production and regulations on power consumption and waste Increased drive toward centralized data centres Too many servers that are partially used or not used to capacity Need for an environmentally safe way to dispose of old software or hardware IBM and Mainliners energy-efficient IT solutions deliver an immediate and tangible return on investment for its customers by proven technologies and practices. (Jon Brodkin, 2009) 6. Benefits of Green IT Green IT solutions benefit the environment, as well as the bottom-line. By focusing on Green Computing, an IT organization can: Lower overall energy expenses including general energy consumption, as well as power and cooling costs. Optimize server capacities and performance. Reduce data centre footprint, reclaiming valuable floor space through consolidation and/or virtualization. Provide required, rapid and secure access to data. Increase ease of systems and solutions management. Recycle end-of-life equipment. Recapture resiliency. Free-up budget components In short, Green Computing enables companies to meet business demands for cost-effective, energy-efficient, flexible, secure and stable solutions while being environmentally responsible (Jon Brodkin, 2009) 7. Five Steps to a Successful Green Computing Solution Green Computing involves a range of services and technologies based on best practices for reducing energy usage. As noted above, IBM recommends a comprehensive five-step plan in developing energy-efficient, cost-effective, environmentally responsible information technology operations. Analyses of the five steps follow. Diagnose It is difficult to manage what cannot be measured, particularly when it comes to energy efficiency. It is important for a company to collect accurate, detailed information on its energy efficiency as a first step in pinpointing areas for potential improvement and to identify existing systems ready for retirement. Mainline and IBM provides Energy Efficiency Assessments, which are proven tools for diagnosing the energy demands of physical infrastructure and IT equipment. Build After identifying needs and solution requirements, and reviewing Energy Efficiency Assessments, the second step includes planning and designing the new solution including building or preparing facilities for replacements, migrations or upgrades. Implementing best practices, innovative technologies and solution expertise will result in improved operations while reducing costs. Virtualize Virtualization can produce the fastest and greatest impact on energy efficiency in an information technology centre. Consolidating an IT infrastructure can increase utilization and lower annual power costs. Reducing the number of servers and storage devices through virtualization strategies can create a leaner data centre without sacrificing performance. Less complexity, reduced cost, better utilization and improved management are all benefits of server, storage and desktop virtualization, and helps achieve Green Computing. Manage Data centre energy consumption is managed through provisioning and virtualization management software, providing important power alerts, as well as trending, capping and heat measurements. Such software can reduce power consumption by 80% annually. Cool Excessive heat threatens equipment performance and operating stability. Innovative IBM cooling solutions for inside and outside the data centre minimize hotspots and reduce energy consumption. IBMs patented Rear Door Heat exchanger cooling doors are now available across most IBM Systems offerings. While requiring no additional fans or electricity, they reduce server heat output in data centres up to 60% by utilizing chilled water to dissipate heat generated by computer systems. 8. Conclusion Most IT Corporate, with little knowledge of how IT can help them measure and maintain their Carbon Reporting requirements are under prepared in the competition to go green. There are over 50 carbon reporting tools available but fewer than 10% of organisations are using one. One half of all CIOs and IT managers take the environmental credentials of the vendor into account when buying products. One third of all user organisations have appointed someone in charge of Green IT, and another one third will do so this year (Excom 2008). These are main reasons why Green IT has to be on top of the list in the companys annual budget. Corporations, governments, and individuals alike can slash greenhouse emissions 50% from projected levels in 2030 by using technologies that already exist—as well as those in the pipeline.(Mckinsey Report, Green IT: Corporate Strategies). The report also says 40% of the recommended practices would save companies and organizations money too. In other words, going green can mean dollars saved—clearly a motivating factor for the tech companies already pushing for more earth-saving IT policies, not to mention for those corporations outside the realm of tech that look at such reports to gauge how policies are evolving—and how to emulate them. 9. References San Murugesan,Going Green with IT: Your Responsibility Toward Environmental Sustainability. Cutter Consortium Business-IT Strategies Executive Report, Vol. 10, No. 8, August 2007. Jon Brodkin, 2009 â€Å"IBM claims top four greenest supercomputers and 18 of top 19† Network World. http://www.greenit.net/whygreenit.html retrieved on 3/09/2009 Gardiner, Bryan January-February 2008 â€Å"Harnessing Green IT: Principles and Practices,† IEEEIT Professional, pp 24-33. Segan, Sascha (2007-10-02). Green Tech: Reduce, Reuse, Thats It.PC Magazine 26(19): 56. Retrieved 2009-09-03. November 26, 2007, ‘Topic Overview: Green IT by Christopher Mines and Euan Davis for IT Infrastructure Operations Professionals.

Ways To Manage Work Life Balance English Language Essay

Ways To Manage Work Life Balance English Language Essay This is the sentence that brings the idea when we talk of work-life balance. When we work every day, all day, with no time set aside for living life, we just get more stressed. We are unable to find sight of reality. We may not have the touch with creativity, which is just as important for producing quality work as it is for innovating in business. There are no benefits to living a workaholic lifestyle. A good work-life balance is very important in our life. Working is necessary and hard working is surely not bad but we need to find the right balance to keep our body healthy. Some rest is always necessary and that is something that the so called workaholics many times forget. A recent study shows that people who are stressed out in their jobs have a higher risk for dementia later in life.   This is bad news for the American worker who often has long hours and can often loose work-life balance on their way to climbing to the top of the corporate ladder. Deadlines, conflicting demands, promised delivery, increased accessibility, mixed with a need for a life outside of work, does not easily tip the scales to personal well-being. We have to focus on prioritizing and setting goals for ourselves, and create an action plan that will help us organize our life at work and in the home. Follow this Work Life Balance guide to get ourselves focused, and to create a plan that will help us to reduce stress. Setting healthy boundaries is essential for a healthy work life balance. Be attuned to our patterns of working, as well as our high alert, medium concentration, and down times during a 24 hour cycle. This will help us allocate tasks to appropriate times in which to complete them. Three more GETS to consider for a balanced life that will help us to sleep through out the night! These are Get Organized, Get Connected and Get Going. This paper deals with the ways to manage work life and reduce stress. Ways to Manage Your Work-Life Balance and Reduce Stress Introduction: Work to LIVE. Dont LIVE to work. This is the sentence that brings the idea when we talk of work-life balance. Its important to get a handle on mood swings or energy shifts if we want to maintain our work life balance and be successful in business. A good work-life balance is very important in our life. Working is necessary and hard working is surely not bad but you need to find the right balance to keep your body healthy. Some rest is always necessary and that is something that the so called workaholics many times forget. In todays intensely competitive global environment, companies that support work-life balance practices and encourage their employees to manage their personal energy effectively will come out on top. According to studies by the National Institute of Occupational Health, American businesses lose more that $300 billion a year due to absenteeism, employee turnover and workers compensation benefits directly resulting from overwork. We need to make priorities; it is necessary to take time for your family life. If you are married you need to spent time with your wife and your children. What are you with all the money if you dont have time to spend together. It is very often better to divide your time in working time and relax time. Work life imbalance leads to Stress: Happiness on your work is very important but when you come home you need to put all the sorrows and problems of your work away .A stressful job can lead to unhappiness that seeps into your leisure life and leads to bad health.   A recent study shows that people who are stressed out in their jobs have a higher risk for dementia later in life.   This is bad news for the American worker who often has long hours and can often loose work-life balance on their way to climbing to the top of the corporate ladder. There is good news though.   Companies realize that they need healthy employees and some are starting to take notice of new ways to handle work-life balance.   NPR reports said that in 2010 one percent of U.S. companies allow unlimited paid vacation for their employees.   Employees are allowed to take time when they need it as long as they get their work done.   This number also appears to be on the rise as companies pay more attention to results rather than tradition. As long as youre working, juggling the demands of career and personal life will probably be an ongoing challenge. Use these ideas to help you find the work-life balance thats best for you. Strike a better work-life balance: When your work life and personal life are out of balance, your stress level is likely to soar. Use these practical strategies to restore harmony. Deadlines, conflicting demands, promised delivery, increased accessibility, mixed with a need for a life outside of work, does not easily tip the scales to personal well-being. You have to focus on prioritizing and setting goals for yourself, and create an action plan that will help you organize your life at work and in the home. Follow this Work Life Balance guide to get you focused, and to create a plan that will help you to reduce stress. Be attuned to your patterns of working, as well as your high alert, medium concentration, and down times during a 24 hour cycle. This will help you allocate tasks to appropriate times in which to complete them. Ultimately you want to optimize the time you have available in order to reach your goals. This means disciplining yourself to work on your most important tasks, even though they may only be bite-sized chunks of a much larger project, rather than do the quick and easy, less important tasks that will make you feel better to cross them off in short order on your to-do list but, in reality, will bring you no closer to your goals. Three more GETS to consider for a balanced life that will help you sleep through the night! i.e. Get OrganizedGet ConnectedGet Going   Tips for Better Work-Life Balance: There was a time when the boundaries between work and home were fairly clear. Today, however, work is likely to invade your personal life and maintaining work-life balance is no simple task. Still, work-life balance isnt out of reach. Start by evaluating your relationship to work. Then apply specific strategies to help you strike a healthier balance. Track your time. Track everything you do for one week, including work-related and personal activities. Decide whats necessary and what satisfies you the most. Cut or delegate activities you dont enjoy or cant handle or share your concerns and possible solutions with your employer or others. Take advantage of your options. Ask your employer about flex hours, a compressed workweek, job sharing, telecommuting or other scheduling flexibility. The more control you have over your hours, the less stressed youre likely to be. Learn to say no. Whether its a co-worker asking you to spearhead an extra project or your childs teacher asking you to manage the class play, remember that its OK to respectfully say no. When you quit doing the things you do only out of guilt or a false sense of obligation, youll make more room in your life for the activities that are meaningful to you and bring you joy. Leave work at work. With the technology to connect to anyone at any time from virtually anywhere, there may be no boundary between work and home unless you create it. Make a conscious decision to separate work time from personal time. When youre with your family, for instance, turn off your cell phone and put away your laptop computer. Manage your time. Organize household tasks efficiently, such as running errands in batches or doing a load of laundry every day, rather than saving it all for your day off. Put family events on a weekly family calendar and keep a daily to-do list. Do what needs to be done and let the rest go. Limit time-consuming. Bolster your support system. At work, join forces with co-workers who can cover for you and vice versa when family conflicts arise. At home, enlist trusted friends and loved ones to pitch in with child care or household responsibilities when you need to work overtime or travel. Nurture yourself. Eat healthy foods, include physical activity in your daily routine and get enough sleep. Set aside time each day for an activity that you enjoy, such as practicing yoga or reading. Better yet, discover activities you can do with your partner, family or friends such as hiking, dancing or taking cooking classes. ABCDE for restore work life balance: Heres a practice recommends for shifting from hopelessness to hopefulness. I successfully use it with my clients to help them restore their work life balance. He calls it ABCDE for: Adversity Beliefs Consequences Disputation Energization. A Adversity Start by spelling out the nature of the situation. Notice that you can experience hopelessness in response to ostensibly positive situations as well as to negative ones. For example, getting a new client or being accepted into a final round of interviews can upset your balance and send you into a whirlwind of anxiety and fear that produces just as much hopelessness and overwhelm as not getting the job or not making the cut. B Beliefs This is your opportunity to spell out the thoughts and beliefs that are fueling the negative response. C Consequences Look at the consequences of your beliefs what happened as a result? How do you behave? What happened then? D Disputation Actively dispute the beliefs that break your life balance and send you into the downward spiral. This is where you practice arguing with yourself in a productive way. E Energization When you have been effective in disputing the problem beliefs, you feel an influx of energy, a sense of renewed hope, or at least of peacefulness. Strategies for managing work life balance and reduce stress: Here are nine strategies that, taken together, can help to change course without abandoning the destination and help you restore your work life balance: 1. Dont panic. Even if you feel panicky, you can choose modest, recoverable steps to address the situation. This is no time to get a divorce, fire an employee, or buy a new computer system. Tip: Talk with a coach or therapist to get perspective. 2. Return to Source. Whatever our spiritual orientation or tradition, connect with what for you is the Source of life or spirit. Know that there is something larger than you that encompasses you. Spend at least 15 minutes each day connecting with that Source. (I like Mark Silvers Remembrance Practice described in his free downloadable workbook Getting to the Core of Your Business.) 3. Take a body inventory. Are you sleeping well? How are you eating? Whats your energy level? If these are not up to par, get a professional evaluation and take the steps that will restore your well being. 4. Tell the truth. Sometimes energy flags when weve gotten into a pattern of pleasing others or living according to standards that are not our own. Notice if there is any imbalance. Notice where youre being less than forthright and get clear about your motives, then clean it up. (Talking to a coach or therapist can facilitate clear, authentic communication.) 5. Keep good company. Are you stimulated and encouraged by your peers and clients? Do you have great playmates? Playing on the wrong playground with the wrong kids is neither fun nor productive. 6. Tune Up Your Thinking. Theres substantial evidence that managing the way we think can have a profound and lasting effect on mood and motivation. 7. Set Healthy, Flexible Boundaries. Yes, real life and real business are intimately connected, but that doesnt mean that you need to give up your privacy. To find your work life balance, set boundaries so that you can feel generous without feeling depleted and available without feeling invaded. Keep them flexible, because things change. 8. Create or Refine Systems. We cant manage real life and a real business or hope to achieve meaningful balance without good systems. Look at where things feel most out of sorts and resolve to create or improve a system to get things on track. 9. Keep the Goal, Drop the Plan. Sometimes the best way to achieve a goal is to let go of our plans. Promptly and clearly revise commitments and offers as necessary to bring current activity in line with current resources. Why abandon ship when you can drop anchor while you make some repairs. As for me, these strategies led me to postpone the re-launch of the Authentic Promotion teleclass and take a break from Internet marketing. Having stopped the war between myself and my business, I restored my work life balance and now feel more engaged with the things that I choose to take on (like writing this article.) My audacious goals are now shining possibilities instead of looming obligations, and if it takes a little longer to reach them, arriving will be all the sweeter. Boost up Your Bottom Line by Encouraging Work-Life Balance: Overwork also takes its toll on employee creativity. Bruce Van Horn, CEO of Yogaforbusiness.com and author of Firm Footing in a Changing Marketplace, writes, We need to be human beings, not human doers. Here are seven practices you can introduce into your organization to increase productivity and creativity and reduce costs at the same time. Train your managers to listen and use their best judgment to work with their employees to co-design arrangements that foster better work-life integration. Linda Stokes of PRISM International, Inc. puts it well: The real challenge here is to identify actual requirements of the job versus traditions of the company or preferences of the manager that sometimes masquerade as real job requirements. Use the actual job requirements and employee needs to design a better work-life integration plan.   Bring back lunch. Encourage everyone to regularly take at least 30 to 60 minutes for lunch away from the workplace. Encourage real vacations. A real vacation involves more than a few days away from the office while fielding cell phone calls and e-mail. Encourage managers to do what managers in European countries with paid leave legislation have been doing for years . . . cross-train employees.   Encourage productivity phases. Dr. Krista Kurth states, According to research, the human brain is hardwired to take a rest, or shift in attention, at least every 90 to 120 minutes. If we do not take this mental break, our brains will take it anyway. This is when we most often make errors. People who take productivity pauses return to the task at hand with renewed vigor and focus. Provide resources. Offer articles, books, brown-bag lunches and online seminars about stress and overwork, work-life balance and personal energy management. This will give employees the information they need to make better choices about balancing their energies across their work and life. Use the material in this article to begin designing your own seminar. Better yet, hire an expert to speak to your managers and employees or enroll them in appropriate training. Look for ways to sneak in a little fun. For example, if you have a cafeteria, you can transform lunchtimes into concert times inexpensively by inviting employees with musical instruments and hopefully a modicum of talent to play and/or sing for their colleagues.   Consider providing employees training in relaxation methods, such as Yoga and meditation. These practices help strengthen the body and lower stress. Meditation, Van Horn points out is the perfect vehicle to refresh physical and mental functioning and to enhance the emotional intelligence, which is a prerequisite for business building and developing entrepreneurial skills. Conclusion: In todays world, managing work life balance can be tough if you dont know what youre doing. Work is such a large part of your life that it can seem easier to forgo the other areas such as recreation, spirituality and family, to name just a few. But its important that you find enough time to enjoy all different aspects of your life, otherwise you can burn out. The first thing you need to do is write down your Intentions. These are things that you want to turn into reality for the next week. Attending your daughters recital, going to church or taking care of your tax return are all Intentions. So make sure you write your Intentions down in your diary for a certain day and allow time for them. Intentions dont have to be tasks, either. They can be as simple as wanting to Be Kind. If you want to live your ideal life, first you have to plan it, and then live it! This is the key to managing work life balance. Its important that you dont put off until retirement something youve always wanted to do. Remember, dreams are goals without a deadline. So if you want to turn your dream into reality, then you need to give it a deadline.

Bobber Barons :: Free Essays

The American work ethic is something our country should be proud of. Since the days of George Washington Americans have worked hard for what they believe in, what they need, and what they want. It is our right as Americans to be able to work for these ideals. Without out a strong work ethic our country would crumble. From businessmen to politicians a strong work ethic is necessary to keep our country financially and politically stable.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  People like Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, and J.P. Morgan are men who possessed the intellect, the foresight, and most importantly the work ethic to become powerful industrialists. These men displayed their work ethic to the country by being ruthless and tireless. They started something so important that a hundred years later it is still making a huge contribution to our country (Maury Klein pg. 32). What they started was the industrial revolution. Today our country is the most powerful in the world because of our great wealth. This wealth comes from the strength of our industry. â€Å"If thou does not sow, thou does not reap†(Hofstadter Recon.-Present Day pg.79). Carnegie, Rockefeller, and Morgan are the epitome of this statement.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Some of these industrialists’ methods may not have been fair. However, unfair acts are not always illegal acts. For the most part these men stayed within the boundaries of the law. In the cruel world we live in it is necessary to be ruthless in your work. There are several people who took their ruthlessness too far and contributed nothing to society but worked only for their own personal fortune. An example of this type of industrialist is Jay Gould (Maury Klein pg. 34). He is a robber baron in the truest sense of the word. However most of the powerful industrialists had financial goals for themselves as well as society. Had Rockefeller not been ruthless in building his railroad empire, our country would not have had as strong a railroad system.

The Civil War Essay -- American History, War

The growing decline in morale and suffrage on the Confederate home front eventually led to its collapse between 1864 and 1865. Seeing as it was the main arena for combat during the Civil War, the south felt many effects from the war (N). The prolonged war ultimately led to an economic decline and lack of resources in the Confederacy along with a negative sentiment among southerners (N). Due to the internal demise, the Confederacy could not carry on a war without the support of its home front. Beginning with the onset of the war, differences between the northern and southern economies and resources proved to be detrimental to the Confederacy (N). The north contained the majority of the factories, iron works, and railroads in the United States (N). Agriculture in the north was based on cereal crops whereas the south depended on staple crops (N). In addition, the north contained the majority of the financial assets in the United States and allowed them the ability to fight a prolonged war (N). The south, lacking economic diversity and financial affluence, could only sustain itself for so long before its economy collapsed and the effects threatened the livelihood of its home front (N). As the war continued to escalate, the south began to feel the effects of its inadequacies (N). Due to the lack of transportation resources and the blockade established by the Union, the south was unable to import and export goods needed to maintain its economy (N). The diminishing availability of goods led the Confederate government to search for alternative measures to obtain the financial support required to continue the war (N). The Confederate government decided to pass a progressive income tax and excise tax on goods (N). In additio... ...federacy that it would be too difficult to continue a long drawn out war, especially with its home front in turmoil (T 288). The Civil War was a war in which both sides, the Union and Confederacy, expected a war which would subside quickly (N). With the north having a diverse and abundant number of resources, it was able to fight the war as long as was required (N). As for the Confederacy, from the beginning, it was destined to have its hardships (N). Since most of the war was fought along the home front of the south, the south faced more disparities than the north (N). The home front ultimately played a considerable role in the collapse of the Confederacy. Furthermore, Sherman’s march and the election of 1864 contributed to the inability of the Confederacy to continue the war. The south had a good run, but in the end, its own internal turmoil failed it.

Fear of Death

Some old people are oppressed by the fear of death. In the young there is a justification for this feeling. Young men who have reason to fear that they will be killed in battle may justifiably feel bitter in the thought that they have been cheated of the best things that life has to offer. But in an old man who has known human joys and sorrows, and has achieved whatever work it was in him to do, the fear of death is somewhat abject and ignoble.The best way to overcome it – as at least it seems to me – is to make your interests gradually wider and more impersonal, until bit by bit the walls of the ego recede, and your life becomes increasingly merged in the universal life. An individual human existence should be like a river – small at first, narrowly contained within its banks, and rushing passionately past boulders and over waterfalls. Gradually the river grows wider, the banks recede, the waters flow more quietly, and in the end, without any visible break, they become merged in the sea, and painlessly lose their individual being.The man who, in old age, can see his life in this way, will not suffer from the fear of death, since the things he cares for will continue. And if, with the decay of vitality, weariness increases, the thought of rest will be not unwelcome. I should wish to die while still at work, knowing that others will carry on what I can no longer do, and content in the thought that what was possible has been done. Fear of Death Some old people are oppressed by the fear of death. In the young there is a justification for this feeling. Young men who have reason to fear that they will be killed in battle may justifiably feel bitter in the thought that they have been cheated of the best things that life has to offer. But in an old man who has known human joys and sorrows, and has achieved whatever work it was in him to do, the fear of death is somewhat abject and ignoble.The best way to overcome it – as at least it seems to me – is to make your interests gradually wider and more impersonal, until bit by bit the walls of the ego recede, and your life becomes increasingly merged in the universal life. An individual human existence should be like a river – small at first, narrowly contained within its banks, and rushing passionately past boulders and over waterfalls. Gradually the river grows wider, the banks recede, the waters flow more quietly, and in the end, without any visible break, they become merged in the sea, and painlessly lose their individual being.The man who, in old age, can see his life in this way, will not suffer from the fear of death, since the things he cares for will continue. And if, with the decay of vitality, weariness increases, the thought of rest will be not unwelcome. I should wish to die while still at work, knowing that others will carry on what I can no longer do, and content in the thought that what was possible has been done.

Nurture Your Child’s Self-Esteem Essay

Kids start developing their sense of self as babies when they see themselves through their parents’ eyes. Your tone of voice, your body language, and your every expression are absorbed by your kids. Your words and actions as a parent affect their developing self-esteem more than anything else. Praising accomplishments, however small, will make them feel proud; letting kids do things independently will make them feel capable and strong. By contrast, belittling comments or comparing a child unfavorably with another will make kids feel worthless. Avoid making loaded statements or using words as weapons. Comments like â€Å"What a stupid thing to do!† or â€Å"You act more like a baby than your little brother!† cause damage just as physical blows do. Choose your words carefully and be compassionate. Let your kids know that everyone makes mistakes and that you still love them, even when you don’t love their behavior. Catch Kids Being Good Have you ever stopped to think about how many times you react negatively to your kids in a given day? You may find yourself criticizing far more often than complimenting. How would you feel about a boss who treated you with that much negative guidance, even if it was well intentioned? The more effective approach is to catch kids doing something right: â€Å"You made your bed without being asked — that’s terrific!† or â€Å"I was watching you play with your sister and you were very patient.† These statements will do more to encourage good behavior over the long run than repeated scoldings. Make a point of finding something to praise every day. Be generous with rewards — your love, hugs, and compliments can work wonders and are often reward enough. Soon you will find you are â€Å"growing† more of the behavior you would like to see. Set Limits and Be Consistent With Your Discipline Discipline is necessary in every household. The goal of discipline is to help kids choose acceptable behaviors and learn self-control. They may test the limits you establish for them, but they need those limits to grow into responsible adults. Establishing house rules helps kids understand your expectations and develop self-control. Some rules might include: no TV untilhomework is done, and no hitting, name-calling, or hurtful teasing allowed. You might want to have a system in place: one warning, followed by consequences such as a â€Å"time out† or loss of privileges. A common mistake parents make is failure to follow through with the consequences. You can’t discipline kids for talking back one day and ignore it the next. Being consistent teaches what you expect. Make Time for Your Kids It’s often difficult for parents and kids to get together for a family meal, let alone spend quality time together. But there is probably nothing kids would like more. Get up 10 minutes earlier in the morning so you can eat breakfast with your child or leave the dishes in the sink and take a walk after dinner. Kids who aren’t getting the attention they want from their parents often act out or misbehave because they’re sure to be noticed that way. Many parents find it rewarding to schedule together time with their kids. Create a â€Å"special night† each week to be together and let your kids help decide how to spend the time. Look for other ways to connect — put a note or something special in your kid’s lunchbox. Adolescents seem to need less undivided attention from their parents than younger kids. Because there are fewer windows of opportunity for parents and teens to get together, parents should do their best to be available when their teen does express a desire to talk or participate in family activities. Attending concerts, games, and other events with your teen communicates caring and lets you get to know more about your child and his or her friends in important ways. Don’t feel guilty if you’re a working parent. It is the many little things you do — making popcorn, playing cards, window shopping — that kids will remember. Be a Good Role Model Young kids learn a lot about how to act by watching their parents. The younger they are, the more cues they take from you. Before you lash out or blow your top in front of your child, think about this: is that how you want your child to behave when angry? Be aware that you’re constantly being observed by your kids. Studies have shown that children who hit usually have a role model for aggression at home. Model the traits you wish to cultivate in your kids: respect, friendliness, honesty, kindness, tolerance. Exhibit unselfish behavior. Do things for other people without expecting a reward. Express thanks and offer compliments. Above all, treat your kids the way you expect other people to treat you. Make Communication a Priority You can’t expect kids to do everything simply because you, as a parent, â€Å"say so.† They want and deserve explanations as much as adults do. If we don’t take time to explain, kids will begin to wonder about our values and motives and whether they have any basis. Parents who reason with their kids allow them to understand and learn in a nonjudgmental way. Make your expectations clear. If there is a problem, describe it, express your feelings, and invite your child to work on a solution with you. Be sure to include consequences. Make suggestions and offer choices. Be open to your child’s suggestions as well. Negotiate. Kids who participate in decisions are more motivated to carry them out. Be Flexible and Willing to Adjust Your Parenting Style If you frequently feel â€Å"let down† by your child’s behavior, perhaps you have unrealistic expectations. Parents who think in â€Å"shoulds† (for example, â€Å"My kid should be potty-trained by now†) might find it helpful to read up on the matter or to talk to other parents or child development specialists. Kids’ environments have an impact on their behavior, so you may be able to modify that behavior by changing the environment. If you find yourself constantly saying â€Å"no† to your 2-year-old, look for ways to restructure your surroundings so that fewer things are off-limits. This will cause less frustration for both of you. As your child changes, you’ll gradually have to change your parenting style. Chances are, what works with your child now won’t work as well in a year or two. Teens tend to look less to their parents and more to their peers for role models. But continue to provide guidance, encouragement, and appropriate discipline while allowing your teen to earn more independence. And seize every available moment to make a connection! Show That Your Love Is Unconditional As a parent, you’re responsible for correcting and guiding your kids. But how you express your corrective guidance makes all the difference in how a child receives it. When you have to confront your child, avoid blaming, criticizing, or fault-finding, which undermine self-esteem and can lead to resentment. Instead, strive to nurture and encourage, even when disciplining your kids. Make sure they know that although you want and expect better next time, your love is there no matter what. Know Your Own Needs and Limitations as a Parent Face it — you are an imperfect parent. You have strengths and weaknesses as a family leader. Recognize your abilities — â€Å"I am loving and dedicated.† Vow to work on your weaknesses — â€Å"I need to be more consistent with discipline.† Try to have realistic expectations for yourself, your spouse, and your kids. You don’t have to have all the answers — be forgiving of yourself. And try to make parenting a manageable job. Focus on the areas that need the most attention rather than trying to address everything all at once. Admit it when you’re burned out. Take time out from parenting to do things that will make you happy as a person (or as a couple). Focusing on your needs does not make you selfish. It simply means you care about your own well-being, which is another important value to model for your children.