I thought long and hard about what habit/trait that I could try and improve for a week. I decided that I would not criticize others. I do that a lot when I am driving. I was picking up my son from school last week and there was this big truck on the side of the road with its turn signal on indicating that it was about to pull on to the road, so I stopped and waited. The guy went ahead a little, then saw me and stopped, so I started driving. Then he decided he would go before me, but then stopped again. So I waved for him to just GO already ....some idiot lady in the car behind me started honking like it was my fault. Finally, I just drove off and noticed that she was going the same way that I was. Instead of calling her a "moron" as I normally would do, I just drove really slow. I did 35 in a 70 zone. I looked at my girlfriend and said "I feel bad, she must REALLY be in a hurry" ... yet I continued to drive really slow. I looked back and smiled at the car behind me. I think being vocal about my frustrations keeps me from doing stupid things, so I will not abandon it.
Cheers,
Craig
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Learning Journal Entry 03/16/10
Today's learning journal entry is to discuss economic development, funding, and innovation in our particular hometown. My hometown (I will refer to it as Central City) has a small population so it has to adapt to survive.
Central City has a local community government which employs an economic development officer. I held that postion briefly and felt it was well supported by the mayor and the town manager. Central City is one of many small communities in our area and it leads the way in terms of municipal development (great staff of heavy equipment workers who are trained in water treatment and repairing roads, etc.) and actually has a strategic plan.
There are limited services in Central City due to the smaller population, but there are opportunities for growth. Tourism has been identified as a potential revenue generator that is, to date, under-developed. Local people who may want to open a business can access the information that the EDO has to help them decide (a) what they may want to start up, and (b) the funding agencies that may assist. The EDO is required to have a good working relationship with the various funding agencies (ie. ACOA, INAC, etc.) and is often informed by these agencies when there are seminars or workshops that potential entrepreneurs may want to attend.
In terms of innovation, basically all of the businesses that exist in Central City have had to innovate or die. A grocery store can work in any town or city, but Central City has unique obstacles and challenges due to its remote location. Business owners have had to figure out what people want, how to get it into our remote community and still turn a profit. All of the stores have large storage properties so they can stockpile non-perishables to avoid running low in the event that the weather is bad for an extended period of time or whatever else that could go wrong. The size of Central City determines how many employees a business can afford to pay, and in the case of one of the convience stores, the owner also works at the freight, maintenance and sometimes even stocking shelves in his store.
Central City has a local community government which employs an economic development officer. I held that postion briefly and felt it was well supported by the mayor and the town manager. Central City is one of many small communities in our area and it leads the way in terms of municipal development (great staff of heavy equipment workers who are trained in water treatment and repairing roads, etc.) and actually has a strategic plan.
There are limited services in Central City due to the smaller population, but there are opportunities for growth. Tourism has been identified as a potential revenue generator that is, to date, under-developed. Local people who may want to open a business can access the information that the EDO has to help them decide (a) what they may want to start up, and (b) the funding agencies that may assist. The EDO is required to have a good working relationship with the various funding agencies (ie. ACOA, INAC, etc.) and is often informed by these agencies when there are seminars or workshops that potential entrepreneurs may want to attend.
In terms of innovation, basically all of the businesses that exist in Central City have had to innovate or die. A grocery store can work in any town or city, but Central City has unique obstacles and challenges due to its remote location. Business owners have had to figure out what people want, how to get it into our remote community and still turn a profit. All of the stores have large storage properties so they can stockpile non-perishables to avoid running low in the event that the weather is bad for an extended period of time or whatever else that could go wrong. The size of Central City determines how many employees a business can afford to pay, and in the case of one of the convience stores, the owner also works at the freight, maintenance and sometimes even stocking shelves in his store.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Journal Entry: 02/18/10
Progress Report:
Today I contacted a couple of the businesses on my list (plus some that weren't). Of the four managers that I spoke with, three committed to donate something for the prizes. I made an effort to be polite and informative, as some of the managers I spoke with required additional info about the conference. I explained that I was a volunteer and a student of the FNBAC and also explained the purpose of the conference. Everyone I spoke with was very open to what I had to say and even the business that declined at this time only did so because they had already been approached by various high schools for similar donations.
One thing that I found helpful was to have a prepared statement to read to the managers. I referenced it to avoid any lulls in the conversation. Tomorrow I will go to the businesses with the requested letters. I definitely owe Blossom thanks as she basically warned me that I should call ahead first. God knows I don't have gas money to waste hahaha.
As for the 4664 class, overall I have warmed up to it. I know after our first class I was skeptical, but I am glad that I stuck it out. I know from previous work experience that not everything you have to do will be right up your alley (5 minute video), but to quote Red Foreman from "That 70's Show": "work isn't supposed to be fun, work is work ... otherwise it wouldn't be called work, it would be called 'happy fun time'." Every instructor has their own style and Tina's style is more holistic than I am sometimes comfortable with ... that doesn't mean I can't learn anything from the course. Also, I am getting to know my classmates, and I very much enjoy that.
Cheers,
Craig
Today I contacted a couple of the businesses on my list (plus some that weren't). Of the four managers that I spoke with, three committed to donate something for the prizes. I made an effort to be polite and informative, as some of the managers I spoke with required additional info about the conference. I explained that I was a volunteer and a student of the FNBAC and also explained the purpose of the conference. Everyone I spoke with was very open to what I had to say and even the business that declined at this time only did so because they had already been approached by various high schools for similar donations.
One thing that I found helpful was to have a prepared statement to read to the managers. I referenced it to avoid any lulls in the conversation. Tomorrow I will go to the businesses with the requested letters. I definitely owe Blossom thanks as she basically warned me that I should call ahead first. God knows I don't have gas money to waste hahaha.
As for the 4664 class, overall I have warmed up to it. I know after our first class I was skeptical, but I am glad that I stuck it out. I know from previous work experience that not everything you have to do will be right up your alley (5 minute video), but to quote Red Foreman from "That 70's Show": "work isn't supposed to be fun, work is work ... otherwise it wouldn't be called work, it would be called 'happy fun time'." Every instructor has their own style and Tina's style is more holistic than I am sometimes comfortable with ... that doesn't mean I can't learn anything from the course. Also, I am getting to know my classmates, and I very much enjoy that.
Cheers,
Craig
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Learning Journal Entry: 02/09/10
Group Question #1
Selling native American culture is the act of taking iconic native American symbols and ideas and selling them for profit. It is passing off artificial as authentic; without understanding the context and the true meaning behind these things that are sacred to native Americans, you are just selling a generic, fast-food version of their culture. Selling cultural "items" to a mass market usually involves playing up stereotypes and can sell short what a group of people actually stand for and believe in.
Selling native American culture is the act of taking iconic native American symbols and ideas and selling them for profit. It is passing off artificial as authentic; without understanding the context and the true meaning behind these things that are sacred to native Americans, you are just selling a generic, fast-food version of their culture. Selling cultural "items" to a mass market usually involves playing up stereotypes and can sell short what a group of people actually stand for and believe in.
Professionalism Entry: 02/09/10
Today's professionalism assignment was to discuss the link between professionalism and personal connection. In general, I think it's okay to have a semi-personal relationship with a professional colleague/partner, etc. However, if you are sharing too much information or getting too familiar with someone it borders on un-professional. You can talk about your favorite sports team, or a movie that you like, or how things are going in your life to an extent. If you are telling people about some chick you hooked up with at a bar or the last time you had diarrhea you have probably gone too far.
In terms of student/Instructor relationships, I think a personal connection can be mutually beneficial, but again must have guidelines. Getting to know your instructor makes for more casual classroom sessions. It is very important to me personally to be able to approach an instructor if I am having trouble with a certain subject. This is a lot easier to do when you have a personal connection with said instructor. It also benefits the instructor; they get to know their students and it makes for a more open learning environment.
One major downside could be that if the students are too casual with the instructor they may think that they can get away with not working as hard. This would lead to a lack of respect on the part of both the instructor and the student and could effect what could have been learned in the course. There has to be a level of professionalism that allows the instructor to do their job and the students to learn what the instructor is trying to teach.
Cheers,
Craig
In terms of student/Instructor relationships, I think a personal connection can be mutually beneficial, but again must have guidelines. Getting to know your instructor makes for more casual classroom sessions. It is very important to me personally to be able to approach an instructor if I am having trouble with a certain subject. This is a lot easier to do when you have a personal connection with said instructor. It also benefits the instructor; they get to know their students and it makes for a more open learning environment.
One major downside could be that if the students are too casual with the instructor they may think that they can get away with not working as hard. This would lead to a lack of respect on the part of both the instructor and the student and could effect what could have been learned in the course. There has to be a level of professionalism that allows the instructor to do their job and the students to learn what the instructor is trying to teach.
Cheers,
Craig
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Learning Journal Entry 02/02/10
Today's Learning Journal Entry assignment is to discuss what we learned from listening to one of the other group's presentations. Group 1 summarized the article "The 10 Questions Entrepreneurs Should Ask But Don't". They talked about all the work that has to be completed even before you develop a business plan. They touched on the benefits of a feasibility study and how answering a few simple questions before you start a business can increase the chances of success. It seems like most people fail because they don't do the initial prep work.
What I took away from their presentation is that there is a lot more work to coming up with a successful business idea than some people realize. That makes sense to me, you often hear about how people try to start a business and end up over their heads because they either didn't realize how much work is actually involved, or were not set up to deal with the "unforeseeable".
Cheers,
Craig
What I took away from their presentation is that there is a lot more work to coming up with a successful business idea than some people realize. That makes sense to me, you often hear about how people try to start a business and end up over their heads because they either didn't realize how much work is actually involved, or were not set up to deal with the "unforeseeable".
Cheers,
Craig
Professionalism Entry 02/02/10
Unofficial Contract
For the remainder of this semester, I plan on:
For the remainder of this semester, I plan on:
- attending class regularly (unless I have a legitimate reason for not being there)
- completing the assigned work WHEN it is due
- actively participating in classroom discussions/assignments
- assisting any classmates if they ever need help and I am capable of helping
- hopefully learning something that will help me in my future endeavors
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Journal Entry: 01/26/10
Cluster Chart/Brainstorming in-class assignment.
Angel and I picked the topic of Marketing. Here is what we came up with:
Marketing (definition: the process of creating, distributing, promoting, pricing goods and services to facilitate satisfying exchanges and relationships with customers. )
-Small Communities
Angel and I picked the topic of Marketing. Here is what we came up with:
Marketing (definition: the process of creating, distributing, promoting, pricing goods and services to facilitate satisfying exchanges and relationships with customers. )
-Small Communities
- can benefit from small population.
- inside knowledge of what type of marketing will be most effective
-Planning
- know the target market
- fimiliar with competitive environment
-Product
- relative to target market/region
- identify what could be successful in your given region
-Place
- is the product something that can be created within the community?
- potential job creation
- does it need to be imported?
- Pricing
- knowing the spending habits/income of your target market
- tax exemption
-Promotion
- can depend on word of mouth in a small community
- use local events to promote self and community
- good will (how you can contribute to your community)
Professionalism Entry: 01/26/10
In today's class we did an overview of what our responsibilities would be if we chose to join the Committee. Tina explained what the conference is all about and what would be expected of us both on the Committee and in the related homework. I thought it might be something I'd like to try, as I have worked on a similar type of conference in the past (Northern Solutions Conference held in Happy Valley-Goose Bay back in 2002). I figured once we sat in with the Committee members that I would get a clearer idea of how it would all work.
We went to the conference room and were introduced to some of the heads of the committee. I took notes about what the different groups involved are and what they do. Of all the different groups (communications, hospitality, finance, etc.) the one that got my attention was finance. It seemed like my type of work: more behind the scenes, budgeting, and careful planning. As of typing this blog, I still haven't decided if I will join the Committee or work on an alternate assignment.
Being on the Committee would definitely have it's advantages:
* fun work experience
* meet people in the business community and try and impress them with your hard work
* reference letter from Tina for your résumé
* practical learning is ALWAYS more fun than theoretical learning
Some disadvantages may be:
* might get stuck doing crappy grunt work
* some people are a pain to deal with
* it may be time consuming (you definitely need to be into this sort of thing to make the most of it)
* may not get to work in the group of your choosing
Meeting with the Committee members did give me a more rounded idea of what to expect, but I am still undecided. If anyone has anything to add, feel free.
Cheers,
Craig
We went to the conference room and were introduced to some of the heads of the committee. I took notes about what the different groups involved are and what they do. Of all the different groups (communications, hospitality, finance, etc.) the one that got my attention was finance. It seemed like my type of work: more behind the scenes, budgeting, and careful planning. As of typing this blog, I still haven't decided if I will join the Committee or work on an alternate assignment.
Being on the Committee would definitely have it's advantages:
* fun work experience
* meet people in the business community and try and impress them with your hard work
* reference letter from Tina for your résumé
* practical learning is ALWAYS more fun than theoretical learning
Some disadvantages may be:
* might get stuck doing crappy grunt work
* some people are a pain to deal with
* it may be time consuming (you definitely need to be into this sort of thing to make the most of it)
* may not get to work in the group of your choosing
Meeting with the Committee members did give me a more rounded idea of what to expect, but I am still undecided. If anyone has anything to add, feel free.
Cheers,
Craig
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Blog Entry: 01/19/10
Today's blog assignment is to comment on what we expect of ourselves as students/professionals in training.
Personally, I try to conduct myself in a mature manner when attending classes. I make every effort to show up to all my classes and have any assigned work completed (the video project was an exception). I feel that preparation is important; I check the syllabus for each course that I am registered in to get some idea of what the instructor expects of their students. If there is an emphasis on class participation, I make sure I speak up every now and then. It is also helpful to get to know your classmates, just in case you do miss a class and are in need of the notes you may have missed out on. In turn, I am sure to assist any of my classmates who approach me for assistance. Attending University is more than just reading books (I could stay home and do that), the act of meeting new people with different perspectives in a learning environment adds more dimension to any subject. Class participation (speaking AND listening) is why I am here.
Two geologists that I worked with this Summer gave me some very good advice just before I came to Fredericton to attend UNB. The first one, who is a former Physics Instructor, told me to get to know my instructor right away. She said that if my instructor knows me as more than just a name on a piece of paper, they would be more approachable if I ever needed help, or had to miss a class for a doctor's appointment, etc.
The second geologist simply said "you never know where your next meal is coming from" .... by which he meant play it safe and be nice to everyone.
Personally, I try to conduct myself in a mature manner when attending classes. I make every effort to show up to all my classes and have any assigned work completed (the video project was an exception). I feel that preparation is important; I check the syllabus for each course that I am registered in to get some idea of what the instructor expects of their students. If there is an emphasis on class participation, I make sure I speak up every now and then. It is also helpful to get to know your classmates, just in case you do miss a class and are in need of the notes you may have missed out on. In turn, I am sure to assist any of my classmates who approach me for assistance. Attending University is more than just reading books (I could stay home and do that), the act of meeting new people with different perspectives in a learning environment adds more dimension to any subject. Class participation (speaking AND listening) is why I am here.
Two geologists that I worked with this Summer gave me some very good advice just before I came to Fredericton to attend UNB. The first one, who is a former Physics Instructor, told me to get to know my instructor right away. She said that if my instructor knows me as more than just a name on a piece of paper, they would be more approachable if I ever needed help, or had to miss a class for a doctor's appointment, etc.
The second geologist simply said "you never know where your next meal is coming from" .... by which he meant play it safe and be nice to everyone.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Professionalism Blog
I received my diploma in Computer Support from the College of the North Atlantic back in 1998. In February 1999, I was offered a job with ATCO Frontec in Ottawa, which I gladly accepted. I was hired on as a Microsoft Application Support trainee (a fancy title which meant I was tech support for people who didn't know how to use MS Excel or Access). Due to my brief training in website design, I was approached to work on a test project: to create an Intranet site for the Ottawa office. This involved gathering information from each department which would be hosted on a single server, thus making it easily accessible for all other departments. Once a month I had to host meetings with representatives from each department and discuss design ideas for the site, gather data to be centralized and hear any comments/concerns that any of the departments may have regarding this project. Some departments were excited about the project, and gladly lent their time and resources. Some departments (and some individuals more than others) did not like the idea of having certain information on the site. Their thinking was that "if people can now just go online and get what they used to have to come and see me about, I'll eventually have less to do". This made for some uncomfortable meetings, but I had to remain professional; I was tasked with a job to do and I did my best to perform it. I was 21 and some of the people I was trying to convince had been with the company close to 20 years.
I have worked many jobs since finishing College. Over the years the work I have been getting has been further away from what I would like to be doing. The past couple of years I have worked in the mining industry. I have always wanted to get a comfortable office job, but have been forced to take what I can get. That is why I decided to attend University. I hope to eventually get my Business degree and find a job that is rewarding and that I enjoy doing.
I have worked many jobs since finishing College. Over the years the work I have been getting has been further away from what I would like to be doing. The past couple of years I have worked in the mining industry. I have always wanted to get a comfortable office job, but have been forced to take what I can get. That is why I decided to attend University. I hope to eventually get my Business degree and find a job that is rewarding and that I enjoy doing.
Learning Journal
January 12th was my first time attending an ABRG 4664 class for this semester (I was out of town the previous week). We went over the syllabus for the course and talked about the work load for the upcoming term. My initial reaction to all of this was that this course is nothing like I had envisioned it. I thought the Entrepreneur class would be all about having guest speakers come in and tell us about how they started successful businesses ... or meeting with agencies and/or funding groups and learning how to go about taking an idea for a business and making it become a reality.
Our first assignment is to create a 5 minute video about a random entrepreneur. The one I selected was John Kim Bell. He is a very accomplished musician and philantropist, but the fact that I have never used iMovie, let alone a Mac, had me a bit concerned. As of this evening (January 17), I have spent 4 afternoons trying to put together my video. I have wrestled with iMovie, been very careful to cite all references and record every website I have used to get pictures from to use in my presentation. This afternoon I went to the Multimedia lab to record the narration I carefully worded. To my horror, the whole thing only adds up to about 2:48 of a movie. I will have to try and fill it out a bit more, all the while fighting the little voice in the back of my head saying "it's only worth 5%" ....
The first class gave me a clearer idea of what the course is going to be like. To be honest, the work load is a little intimidating. Public speaking and careful referencing are two of my weaknesses, but I guess that's why I came to University; to improve.
cheers,
Craig
Our first assignment is to create a 5 minute video about a random entrepreneur. The one I selected was John Kim Bell. He is a very accomplished musician and philantropist, but the fact that I have never used iMovie, let alone a Mac, had me a bit concerned. As of this evening (January 17), I have spent 4 afternoons trying to put together my video. I have wrestled with iMovie, been very careful to cite all references and record every website I have used to get pictures from to use in my presentation. This afternoon I went to the Multimedia lab to record the narration I carefully worded. To my horror, the whole thing only adds up to about 2:48 of a movie. I will have to try and fill it out a bit more, all the while fighting the little voice in the back of my head saying "it's only worth 5%" ....
The first class gave me a clearer idea of what the course is going to be like. To be honest, the work load is a little intimidating. Public speaking and careful referencing are two of my weaknesses, but I guess that's why I came to University; to improve.
cheers,
Craig
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