Issue #12 (part 2)

Dear Burrus Inc. Employees,

I am writing this message to restate the company's policies regarding written communication with customers. Although text messaging and the style used in text messages has become ever popular lately, please refrain yourself from sending customers informal text messages. We strive to look professional to our customers, and as easy as text messaging is, it is not appropriate for the style of communication we wish to use. As always, watch what you say to customers so as to not anger or disappoint them. If you have any questions regarding this or any other issue, feel free to contact me.

Thanks,
Mark Burrus

Issue 12

I think Mr Busicks story is very unique. He sold an already successful software company to enter an industry he was not guaranteed to give him the same amount of success. Also, initially his new business was not going as planned, just like most new bossinesses, but he stuck with it and made improvements to his business and it eventually became a successful one. This story is prime example of how the being a successful entrepreneur doesn't just happen over night.

I myself would probably never be an entrepreneur unless i had disposable income to do so. I feel there are too many risks involved and statistics show that you are probably headed for failure. I is a profession that would be too stressful for my liking.

Issue #12

I found the article about Brian Busick's story about starting up the private schools meal program very interesting. It was awesome to see how all his experienced from schooling, jobs, and experiences all came together to make him a succesful entrepreneur. I also found it impressive how his early career had very little to do with the company he would eventually create. Entrepreneur a strong desire to do something and be willing to take risks, which were qualities that Busick obviously had. He took many risks in his story, including becoming the owner of a succesful software company and selling it to enter the restaruant market, which eventually evolved into him starting his own business making meals for public schools. During the early years of his company, he made less than $40,000 anually, but after improving his business plan and quality of product, he earned upwards of $1,000,000 anually. I personally would never become an entrepreneur because I am not a big risk taker, but anyone interested in starting a business would learn a lot from Busick's story.

Issue # 10

McDonalds is a well known brand and will always be. Putting healthy options on the menu would not change what Mcdonalds is known for. What it comes down to is the patrons at mcdonalds. They want their burgers and french fries. People that enjoy mcdonalds and made it what it is today because of what is on the the menu. Now adding televisions and lounge chairs will make it more of a hang out spot but they will still be eating a big mac while watching CNN and relaxing in a comfortable chair. McDonalds will never take the things that make them successful off the menu.

Resume

The job I chose to create a resume and cover letter for was a position at the Kansas Humane Society. That is not what I want to do in the future but it is something that is important to me. I am an animal lover and enjoy going to the Humane Society to see the rescued animals there. I found the job posting on craigslist while searching for something to make a cover letter for. The Humane Society seemed interesting so that is why I chose it. I am going to school for Accounting and who knows, maybe I'll be working for an animal shelter as an accountant.

Issue # 12

To Employees of Dunder Mifflin,

The use of written communication in the business setting has not been up to par in this company. We will not tolerate abbreviating words when spelling it out is much more business effective. We need clients to take us seriously and not perceive us as high school students who do not have time enough for them to write a full sentence. Clients are our main priority and we have all the time in the world. If you cannot seem to grasp this concept, your phone has another function other than texting. Dial their number and talk to them, it is much more personal and lets them know that Dunder Mifflin is there for them.

If you have any questions feel free to call anytime.

Last Post (12-7-2010)

1) I think this is a great story to read, and I have nothing but respect for someone who has this kind of work ethis. I also have some entrepreneurial aspirations. I am trying to get into law schol and would love to be a practicin lawyer someday. I also work as hard as I possibly can, and I truely believe hard work and dedication breads success.

2) Some of the skills that Mr. Busick needed to have to accomplish what he has in his life might include the skills to see an area that needed to upgraded and then to provide that need. However he would not be a success if he didn't do this in a way to make both sides very happy and satisfied.

3) I have actually worked in a restaurant before and know that verbal communication is a vital part to being successful, as is the case with many companies. The writing aspect may factor in if/when the person who is in charge needs to address their employees in any type of written communication.

4) I think that giving children healthier options is a huge key in solving this nations problem with obesity. The children in America have been facing obesity at much younger ages and it seems to only be getting worse. The only way to stop this problem is to give them healthy alternatives, as well as teach them about nutrition.

5) I feel that it is important for everyone to try to use the English language to the best of their abilities at all times. It is unfortunate that not everyone shares this same feeling. The best way to show our customers that we have the ability to help them is to show them that we are able to communicate with them very effectively. This goes for anyone who has the chance to come into contact with a customer or potential cdustomer. It is crucial to the company to treat every customer with the respect and dignity that they deserve. I trust that everyone has the ability to do this and will try to do this in the future.

Company Communication

I would like to take this opportunity to briefly remind all of you about the type of communication that we at Dunder Mifflin is appropriate and the type of communication that generates the greatestamount of positive customer feedback. That is communication based on the "you" approach. Instead of focusing on yourself in written messages or even that of presentations be sure to be other centered in your organization and your language. Doing so will allow you to become a better employee but will also generate even more success for Dunder Mifflin. I would appreiciate it if everyone would adopt this style in fomal communications between our clients. Thank you for your cooperation on this matter, and lets end this year strong our sales.

Future Career

The job that I chose to do my resume on was that of a law office runner. The position includes duties from washing dishes to running to the court house to file new litigation. I chose this job because it is in the field that I would like to pursue in the future and that is of law. It is a field that I have been interested in and have continued to be since working at a law firm here in Wichita. I want to go to law school in the future and believe that a position that would expose me to the ins and outs of the career field would be a great and rewarding experience opportunity.

Privacy and Politics

Many of my fellow colleagues that are going through our four years here at WSU trying to get to the ultimate goal of receiving a degree don't stop to think what they are putting on facebook. Especially those that are thinking of trying to obtain a job in the future where personal integrity is important. One of these jobs is politics and I believe that anyone thinking about getting involved in the realm of politics they should think twice about things that they do now and if their actions would lead them to upholding the values that their future constituents would have.

Issue #10

I have to agree there is a need for a change. The need for change is necessary because of the unhealthy content of the food. McDonald's can take a proactive approach to changing the content of their food and actively advertising charts of the change in improved quality. When something is rumored to be unhealthy chances are people will mistrust it. This applies directly to McDonald's food and can be remedied to an extent by labeling nutrition facts on the food wrappers/boxes. A good example of an advertisement would be posters boasting of the use of 100% ground beef to less artificial and more natural.

Topic #13

Dear employees of Gazenya Industry,

I would like to take the time to reiterate the importance of electronic communication with clients. We cannot make use of text messages to relay any information with our clients but instead our policy clearly states the usefulness of communication via email. It is fine to communicate with co-workers by text messaging but please limit it only to important work related issues. In our line of work we must keep a professional appearance and atmosphere in order to keep our current clients. Let us get use to the idea of professional communication as it will be our success.

issue#8

Regarding my resume and cover letter assignment, I chose the accounting assistant because I found this job open from my blackboard announcement. This is a perfect inter ship opportunity that I can work in the field I am studying now. I have friend graduated in summer 2010, he is still seeking for a job. He sent out more than 50 resumes to different companies around the United States, but he never heard from any of them. He has a very good GPA, and he also has two years working experiences during his college. The reason behind his current situation is that he is lack of to expand his net working. Since I realized that, he spends most of his time at home after graduate, he relies too much on the internet. He should go out to attend some activities to expand his net working. According to the survey, networking is the most common way that employees find jobs. Net working is about people help each other, not just other people help you.

Issue#8

I would like to describe myself as a man who loves numbers. This does not mean that am some sort of a genius of mathematics and statistical values. I am just a regular average student with an average life, but a not so average will to find a solution to every numerical problem put forward in front of me. I love to do anything related to numbers, and that explains why I chose to pursue a bachelors degree in mathematics and accounting. I was not at all good in mathematics at a young age, but I developed in me some form of a stubbornness to tackle all the questions that my teacher asked me as a student in high school, since I was embarrassed before for not being able to do anything related to that subject. It made me feel dumb and useless, but now I feel more content with myself. I had picked an assistant accountant job designation for my cover letter and resume assignment. The profession used in this assignment is a part of what I want to do in the future, but it is not limited to it. I want to see myself in the future as a chief finance officer at a multinational organization. I personally hate the 8 to 5 job routines, and do not want to see myself making that my schedule for the rest of my life. Although after graduation I have to start small to make it big in my life, and so I will accept a position as an assistant accountant for sometime. The job market is full of opportunities for everyone. Therefore the only advise I would like to give to a potential job seeker is that he or she should try networking with each and everyone around him or her, as this creates awareness of what is and is not available outside the school campus, and will enable one to shape oneself accordingly. The only obstacle I faced while applying for the job that I applied for was that I lacked experience in that job. I have the required skills for it but just lack the know how of working in an accounting firm. This does not mean I have given up, it just gave me an urge to better myself in other aspects that I have been good at, like my academics. I am still trying hard in searching for a job that will give me experience that is relevant to my job description in the future. All in all, I would like to tell everyone to develop in themselves the urge to be stubborn, for this skill if used positively can make one succeed in anything.

Blog #8 (Issue #8)

I geared my cover letter and resume toward a corrections job in Kansas. This is definitely not the job that I would want after graduation. My dream job is to be an investigator for sex crimes or homicide. I want to eventually earn a masters in Psychology so I can further study the sex offenders and their motives, also research them along with their past.

The reason I gearn my cover letter and resumes toward a corrections job is because I am not 21, which is one of the first requirements for most criminal justice careers. Another requirement is experience. After graduation, I will not be able to just jump into investigations. I will have to becom a police officer, working in the field and then work my way up to an investigator.

One thing I can do to help with my lack of experience is attend the Police Academy in Wichita, which occurs once a year. Another thing I can do is apply for a job within the Co-op to gain experience. Something else that I can do and that I have done is go on "ride-alongs" with current police officers during their shifts to lean about their daily tasks as well as getting an inside look of what police officers actually do. Job shadowing is another way for me to gain experience.

The problem is this, I know what I want to do as a career, but I don't really know what the job title is and if I'll ever be able to reach my goal. I would love to work for the FBI, but that is one of the most challenging careers to get, let alone do. I would settle for working as an investigator for KBI though.

-Ashley Grubb

Issue #10

The idea that change is bad only work for Hershey's so I applaud McDonald's effort to become a better with the 21st century. I believe that change is important for any powerful brand that wants to continue doing business in today rapidly changing economy. One reason i believe change for McDonald's is so drastic is their brand power has made them relatively exempt but that is no longer the case. If McDonalds wishes to continue to grow their business and capture a place in the childhoods of todays children they are going to need to incorporate a twenty first century feel. The changes they they are making seem appropriate because they are not changing their core coals of fast cheap service but are just attempting to put a new fresh face on their time tested products. It is important to not that their menu is still undergoing small changes like the addition of salads that we are seeing across the industry as a whole. In my opinion, McDonald's is doing exactly what they need to be doing. Hold true to your core value and just shift the image to something that is more palatable to todays younger generation. One thing I do disagree with is the idea that they are going for a "coffee shop feel". I don't believe this is necessarily appropriate because I don't view McDonalds as a coffee shop and i don't believe that is where they will find success in the future. Never the less, the face lift that they are accomplishing through this pursuit has no reason to be rejected by consumers today. We as consumers have nothing to loose and will likely be rejuvenated by the fresh look with the classic value that we are already familiar with.

Issue #12

The story of Brian Busick is inspiring. He did not ask for help to succeed, he took charge of his life by working his way through college. He aspired to be something better than just a citizen working for a bank. He saw an opportunity and took a chance. It seemed as though he was always looking for new opportunities to make more money. He worked his way up and bought/sold companies. His hard work and ambition paid off. He knew how to keep overhead low, therefore creating a higher margin of profit. He did many things himself such as creating a website for his Schoolhouse Grill business, as well as, preparing and delivering lunches himself. He expanded his business to more and more schools, therefore creating a brand worth millions. It's very inspiring to see people become successful on their own.

Blog #7 (Issue #12)

I think that Brian Busick's story is very originial. You don't hear many stories about the average man making it in the big world. It's usually some poor person, who catches a lucky break and becomes rich. You know, the usual "rags to riches" story. His ambition is what kept his dream alive, and while he may not have his dream job...I'm sure that owning and operating your own company as well as making a fortune off of it can become anyones dream job.

He did the work to make his company a success by pursuing other schools around his area. That shows his hard work and dedication to make his company one of a kind. His work ethic did not go unnoticed and is what made him the entrepreneuer that he is today. He also made a great point to give the customers what they wanted. Day-care children require and want different items than the high schoolers. He catered to his customers and gave them what they wanted. Busick's story may not be the "rags to riches" but it is definitely proof that hard work pays off in the long run.

-Ashley Grubb

Issue #13

Here at Scheer Enterprises, we believe that communication has value in many forms. As such, we applaud the many means in which we can communicate both internally and externally. However, just because a certain mode of communication promotes abbreviated or even coded language, we expect that all exchanges will contain salutations as well as verbiage and content commensurate with more formal written communication. In so doing, expediency will still be achieved, but professionalism will also be preserved.

Issue #12

Brian Busick's entrepreneurial story is great because is isn't the classic and overemphasized rags to riches story of the unrealistically wealthy few, but a more attainable effort for many more. The ability to take risks in business is the prerequisite for success, but not just any risk. Taking calculated risks is key, and that goes beyond following your gut. It takes a good degree of business acumen, whether gained from experience or education. Brian had both. There are only so many Carnegie's, McDonald's, or Winfrey's, but there can be many, many Busicks.

Issue #12

I loved reading the Brian Busick story.I found it truly inspiring how he started just by making lunches for school kids and turned that into a million dollar business I think that is what America is all making your own way.Reading this story made me think of my own dreams of starting a business. My dream is to one day have my own music production company. I have loved music from a very young age and I would like to start producing it myself. The music business is very hard to break into I have thought of other small businesses i could start to help me make it to my ultimate goal I think that is what Brian's story is all about starting small and building your way up to see it takes you.

Issue # 12 (2nd)

Hi, all
I appreciate your efforts for Young Forever Co. in the past few years, and the high sales in hard times. All of you are valuable assets to the company.
After several meeting discussion, we conclude that we need to do some improvements in the manner of the communication within the company as well as with potential customers. The company will adopt the business blogs instead of e-mail. Compare to e-mail, blog is more convenient way to distribute information to customers, and it is much easier to personalize and update than a conventional website and it deliveries new information quickly. As a cosmetic retailer, we would like to hear from our customers’ voice about the thought of our products. Blog is a perfect way to invite former customers to leave products’ comments. They can easily share their story of using Young Forever. From the internal perspective, I encourage all of the employees to use blog as a major communication tool. On another hand, Company can use blogs to keep employees updated about general business matter. Blog also sever as an online communication forums; give each of you opportunity to raise questions. I am looking forward the progressive of the high efficiency in both of the internal and the external communication.

Thanks all for your great performance,

Best Regard,
Ru Fan
CEO

Issue #12

After reading Brain Busick’s story, I admire his ability of the developing of business, the idea of opening new business, and the entrepreneurial ambitions of starting from small business, and make it big eventually. As an entrepreneur, he is not only creative, but also is a hard working person. After work as a branch manager for four franchised sub shop outlets, and paid $115,000 a year, but he worked seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day. This is another personality I need learn from him. In 2005, the opportunities of his new business of Schoolhouse Grill came to him, he realize there is market on the school lunch business, and he takes the advantage of his Jerry’s kitchen, which make the overhead low. I had a idea to open a Chinese Hot Pot restraint in the United States for a long time, but I am dare to start it, because I am afraid of lose. Busick’s story motivates me to seek the opportunity to start my business. I would rather to say that as an entrepreneur, hard working is as important as idea of new business.

Issue #13

Attention Dunder Mifflin employees:

I would like to make a brief announcement of our overall communication with our customers. It is important to be personal and understand what it is our customers use our products for, but it is also important to keep our customer relationships on a professional level. Abbreviations and quick-text style is alright being used in the office with fellow employees, but please keep your writing and language at a formal level with our customers. I expect you to know what proper communication would be considered. Remember, we want our customers to view us as qualified sells men and women in professional business. Thank you for your consideration.


Whitney Corkins
Dunder Mifflin, CEO

Issue #12

Seeing an average person go from investing in minor things that create huge outcomes is very inspiring. It is hard to imagine being able to put such an extreme amount of time and still be able to make time for the family. Not only to have spent so much time working in the business, Busick would have had to spend multiple hours reaching out and researching surrounding schools to offer his service. He would have to do so in a professional manner so schools would understand the seriousness of his business. Busick would have to have a great amount of people skills and being able to communicate with customers on a personal level as well.

Issue #13

Hi everyone:

I would like to thank all of you for your unprecedented support and effort in making this company a success. I appreciate your assistance in all the past and current matters, and looking forward to the same diligence and exceptional future for our company. As we move onto fulfilling our goals for the future, I would like to take this opportunity to bring to your attention some issues that I think need to be addressed for a better channel of communication. Communication is the major aspect of any successful organization, and therefore we ought to be efficient in it to achieve our set forth objectives. I would like to enlighten you all regarding the written part of communication. I believe although time is of a valuable concern to all of us, but when forced to repeat a process at work just adds up to the loss of time and money at times. Such repeats in processes may occur due to an error in understanding a written message, this may not be due to bad handwriting or spelling mistakes, but due to abbreviated writings such "ASAP" for as soon as possible, or "GTG" for good to go. This abbreviations may be misunderstood for something else and may cause a breakdown in the communication process. I would therefore appreciate it if you may all use complete sentences in communicating written messages.

Thank you all for the conducive and efficient environment at work.

Best regards,
Allarakha Nizar
CEO

Issue #12

The article on Brian Busick's story motivates and captivates me as I too have an interest for an entrepreneurial career. I like the idea of Brian Busick to use the profits he earned in the business and bringing them back into the business to use them for growth and expansion of the business. I also got very attracted to the idea of him borrowing the funds to finance his businesses rather than using his own money. He does this to minimize risks associated with opening of new businesses, such as them becoming an utter failure and lead to a total loss of private funds. If Brian's business idea did not work out, he would not be as much effected as the banks would have since he had his liabilities transferred to the financing institutions when borrowing their funds. I would like to look at myself indulging in such small scale businesses in the future too. I am working my way in opening a series of gas stations and hotels all around the country, and Brian's story enriches my motivation to go on with my ideas. Brian started his path in entrepreneurial success with small scale businesses, and eventually made it big. I would also like to see myself doing that in the future.

Issue #12 (Technology)

Attention all TechCorp. employees,

I am well aware of the fact that language use changes over time. The definitions that we employ to delineate the boundary between "standard" and "non-standard" uese of language are constantly in flux, as are the meanings of words and phrases; only 100 years ago, the way we used language was vastly different from the way we use it today.
That said, I want to make it very clear that we must maintain a high level of professionalism in all of our work-related communication. The text message shortcuts that we use to communicate with our friends are not to be used here, for one main reason: they affect customer (and co-workers) perception of our professional standards. The type of communication to which I am referring is often perceived as lazy by clients, primarily because it is lazy. We use it with our friends to affect a casual, carefree tone, which is not what we want to convey to our clients. We must always keep in mind the fact that what we say (and how we say it) matters in the long run. In this day and age, that cliche means a lot more than it did just ten years ago. The right actions are not enough to keep a business afloat; that also requires the right ideas, and the right words to express them.

Joe Ryan
CEO TechCorp.

Issue #12 (Busick)

Overall, I am impressed by both Busick's drive and ambition; each of these qualities requires a set of skills that the author does not fully elaborate on, such as a high degree of skill in mathematics. Many of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world have had high math aptitude. While I'm not certain that Busick's business necessarily requires anything complex, I would not be surprised if he expressed an affinity for mathematics, a skill that is vital in maintaining payrolls and keeping one's accounts in order. Busick would also have to have a high degree of interpersonal ability, as well as an ability to express himself well, in order to communicate his entrepreneurial vision to his employees.
In truth, I could not see myself doing what Busick did. Success in business not only requires interpersonal skill (which I do not possess in spades), but also keen leadership ability, which I do not have. My hat is off to Mr. Busick, but I have no intention of following in his footsteps.

Issue #12

Fellow Apple Employees:

I wanted to address a few points with you all about written communication.

Obviously, Apple is a very technologically advanced company that wants to keep up with all of the needs in the communication world. With such a broad range of written communication nowadays, it may be hard to differentiate which type to use and when. Let me set a few things straight for anyone wondering.

If you are addressing myself or a person of a higher rank in our company than you, please send an email or write a letter. This is the professional way to do things and I feel that it is the best way to make a request or statement to someone in a higher rank than you.

If you are addressing someone at the same level or below yourself, it is a judgment call. Anytime you are in a professional situation, an email is the most suitable form of communication. However, if you simply need to send a quick message or request, we are not at all against shooting them a text or picture message. I simply advise you to use your phones for work purposes while at work.

Thanks,

Steve Jobs

Issue #12 CEO

I fully support the use of blogs for everyday business communication. However, I must state that while using blogs I expect all employees to be courteous and professional. The dialogue used in blogs must pertain only to business activities and disrepectful material will not be tolerated. When communicating with customers feel free to use a more personal tone but always be respectful of them. If you have any questions feel free to contact me as soon as possible.

Thanks,


Ryan
CEO Fedex Ground

Issue #12 Brian Busick Story

I liked the Brian Busick story. I thought that it was awesome that he is making lunches for children. To me a more restaurant style food would have been a lot more appetizing then some of the foods I ate while attending public school, even though is only targeting private schools. The amount of money he is making in this business sounds like its definitely going well. I went to a private school at one point, and definitely would have enjoyed a variety of food outside of the school.
I really do not have any entrepreneurial ambitions, but if i had to think of something that could make some good business, it would probably be a variety store where people could buy everything and anything. I know plenty of these stores that target small towns, and it is actually really nice to have a store that sells nice flat-screen TVs where some would not really think would have such a store.

Issue #12 CEO of a business

I fully support the use of blogs in the everyday course of business. However, I must state that professionalism must be maintained at all times. Disrespect and material not in relation to your assigned duties will not be tolerated. Also, please use your judgement when dealing with material that would be better suited for direct, person-to-person communication. Please feel free to e-mail me if you should have any questions and I will be more than happy to get back to you in a timely manner.

Thanks,

Tara
CEO of Airliners

Issue # 12

Brian Busick seems like a very motivated individual. His story is a good example of a successful small business in America. However, all his new business really did was take away market share from a competitor. The kids were probably already eating lunch before he began supplying the schools with his products. I applaud him for his business skills and his ability to open and operate his own business. I do not have his entrepreneurial spirit and I admire those who do and are willing to follow their dreams.

issue #12

Brian has way too much enthusiasm about making food for day cares and private schools. Although it would appear that he has done his research and had a lot of motivation and intuition to achieve what he has achieved. Brian would have needed to have tons of motivation to work 14 hour days 7 days a week when he owned the fast food restaurants, but also would have needed to have the people skills and capability to communicate with all these different schools administration to set up these lunches. He needs the knowledge of foods to know what different range kids like to eat, daycare kids like finger foods, while high schoolers like pizza.

Issue #12

My overall reaction to Brian Busick's story is he did what he wanted and did not let anything get in his way. He seems to have that killer instinct to make a tough decision when he needs to and does not look back at that decision. A few things that stuck with me when reading this article is that Mr. Busick was a very ambitious person who was dedicated to become successful, motivated to accomplish his goals and had the work ethic to make all of his dreams and goals come true. It is pretty apparent that Mr. Busick understands the way to be successful. A quote that stuck out to me the most in this article was Mr. Busick saying "we created a brand". His constant strive for understanding his brand and researching what was demanded also played a major role in his success as he wanted to know what the kids favorite foods were. As a business student, and having a father who is a successful entrepreneur, I also have entrepreneurial ambitions. My ambitions relate to Mr. Busick because striving for excellence in everything and achieving your short and long term goals are what make the difference between a successful entrepreneur and an unsuccessful one.

Issue 12

I really enjoyed Brian's story. While I don't have any entrepreneurial ambitions, Brian would be a great role model for someone that does. He used to spend most of his time working long hours in order to make enough money and keep his business running, but eventually that got old, and he decided to try something new. Brian's idea was ingenious, and I think the schools benefit from him providing lunch to their students because the food is all hand-made, and not processed. In the end, Brian gets to work a job that is a little less demanding, but pays good, and the schools get healthy meals for their kids.

Issue 10

I think McDonald's is going over the top with their changes. Spending 5 million dollars on upgrades to the decor seems a little crazy to me. I applaud their efforts to revamp their menu items and make them healthier, but putting so much time and effort into redoing the inside of the restaurant is unnecessary. On average, people are likely going to be spending 15-20 minutes inside the restaurant, and most people are going to be worried about eating their food rather than staring at a fireplace. Now, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want to eat at a McDonald's that is filthy, or has outdated furniture, but I feel like they're going a little over the top. I realize that this renovation is an effort to draw a new crowd to the chain, but I feel like they're attracting the wrong people. In my eyes, McDonald's is always going to be seen as a fast food restaurant that you can easily take your kids to, not a coffee shop.

Issue #11

Britain is not the only country that has been implementing such programs especially with a country's political structure. Even Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon proclaimed that one of his goals while in office is to have more women participate in the solutions the UN proposes. The UN is currently hiring more women than ever before, as they have recognized the benefits that come with having a female perspective. Many African states, such as Rwanda have implemented domestic policy to ensure that they have at least 40% of women representation in their governments.

The end result of these policies is positive, as gender equality always is. However, a significant drawback is that discrimination now exist favoring women. Candidates who may be less qualified for these jobs may be selected just to make up the percentage. These could leave us with gender equality in the political sector, but with unqualified, or less qualified representatives. On the other hand, this policy could motivate young women, who are interested in politics, to strive for theses positions. Because the opportunity is there for women, we should trust that they will rise to the occasion.

Issue #9 Nikki Nguyen

I believe that the "greed is good" mentality has good and bad sides. It can become overwhelming, but the motivation from it may create something very powerful. Businesses thrive off of this mentality. If this mentality is non-existent than countries like America would not be where they are today.

The negative portrayal of Zuckerberg shows how another person's success may affect the view of how people perceive that person. The movie showed that his greed for success became an issue with the one friend he had. He wanted something different for his company and in order to do that he saw the only way was to cut out his best friend. Maybe he saw it as the best move for him because the company was more important to him than a personal relationship.

Facebook has changed the way people communicate. Now you are able to find millions and millions of people with a click of a button. It is a revolution.

Zuckerberg's success is inspirational. It shows how such simple ideas can become powerful given the right tools. He accomplished something that others attempted and failed. Many people thought Facebook would become unpopular after it was finished being a "new trend", yet it is still growing everyday.

Issue #9

I think the greed is good mentality refers to how people had to be greedy in order to become wealthy. I think that mentality is true and very alive today. All of the wealthy people today form Bill Gates to Oprah got that way because they thought about themselves and I don't think that is a bad thing. I think you have to have a certain of greed to become wealthy why do you think rich people have so much. I think Mark Zucherberg was just capitalizing on an opportunity when it came along, The negative publicity he gets will only make him and Facebook more money.

Issue #11 - Elizabeth Mears

Females have never had the same opportunities as men have in the work force. As a female, it is easy to sympathize with women who face prejudices and discrimination in the workplace based on gender. However I do not agree with the policies that have been adopted in Europe. Although equality for women is a prominent issue in the work force, there is not an immediate solution. Allowing women more privileges is going to create discrimination against men. The balance will remain off. More research is needed in order to come up with a more sensible solution that makes sense.

While the idea of having a certain percentage of female employees is an honorable idea, it is simply unfeasible. The fact of having a set percentage of a company is women is just like saying 40% of our employees must be white or 75% of our employees have to be Christian. It is unrelated to the job. A man may be just as qualified as a woman for a position in the company, but if 60% of the positions are already full, she will get the job before him. That does not make any sense. The company should strive to hire the most qualified candidate for the position, and not be gender bias.

Issue #9

I think the "greed is good" mentality is good to a certain extent. You must always be looking out for yourself in this day and age and you must fight to keep on your feet anymore. In order to achieve goals there must be some greed involved.

I think the negative portrayal of Zuckerberg in the movie portrays the jealousy most people have when others are more successful then themselves. People will always criticize others success and degrade them for it.

I think facebook is a revolution. Anymore it is the best way I communicate with my family because of our busy schedules. I can see what they are up to, how they are doing, ask questions, and make comments all in a matter of minutes. And when I have a chance to get on again I know that their replys will be there and if I can't respond right away I can always come back. It's much easier than playing phone tag.

I think Zuckerberg's story should be an inspiration to people with a vision. He did what he had to do to accomplish what he wanted and I think for entrepreneurs, the mentality to do what it takes needs to be there.

Issue #10

I think giving McDonalds a new look will get more people to come in, whether it be the food or the free wi-fi or just to lounge around and watch tv is hard to say. I think changing the menu or adding better choices would be a better route to take. Although a lot of people would say you can't change the food because then... well it just wouldn't be the same. Which is kind of the point. I think that adding plasma tv's and lounge chairs will just give people another reason to be lazy and eat McDonalds food. Which might possibly be their goal but its diffinatly not a healthy choice. I don't eat at McDonalds personally I think its disgusting and I don't think changing it to make it feel like more of a coffee house would ever change my mind. I guess for some a change of scenery may make it more appealing but like I said before, the best change to make would be to the menu. Fast food is not classy, why waste millions of dollars to upscale a restaurant where basically kids and people on the go are the main consumers.


Coffee houses are good places for meetings and doing homework; you also don't find many children in coffee houses but McDonalds will always have kids in it.

Issue #11

As others have pointed out on this blog, perhaps we should look to culture, rather than corporate power structure, if we want to help women break through the glass ceiling. Perhaps we should change the environment in which we raise our children, do so in such a way as to prevent them from falling into sterotypical molds as they grow up. I know that I am painting in very broad strokes as I say this, but my main point still stands: I do not believe that companies should be required to balance their workforce unless there were some evidence showing that such actions would improve profit or productivity. Fortunately, the authors of the article do provide such evidence, although not all of it is convincing. The first study merely shows a correlation: it does not provide a definitive link between high investment returns and a high number of women in management. The second study is more interesting, as it establishes a real connection (that of the tendency to avoid groupthink) between gender equality and productivity. Clearly such research is valuable, and more of it should be pursued along these lines. My overall opinion, in light of the preceding, is split. I still stand by my earlier statement that companies should not be forced to adopt gender equality, though tentative studies have shown a connections between a high number of employed women and a high degree of success. Barring further evidence, and more case studies, I do not really know what to think. More definitive evidence one way or another is what I would like to see.

Issue #11

I agree with the European polices Hewlett mentions. I think that government should help to make it easier for women to go back to work by putting some of the "parental needs" toward the father. Giving both parents paid time off from work when a child is born is indeed a good idea. I also think the name-blind job application forms would be a good idea because it eliminates prejudice in terms of gender. If the employer doesn't know whether the applicant is male or female then when determining which applicant to hire it doesn't come down to gender, just their experience. I also think having both women and men on a staff would lead to better production because women and men think differently and can give different perspectives and ideas.

Issue #9 Nikki Troyer

I personally have not seen this movie yet, but my boyfriend and I would love to see it when it is rentable. My reaction to the hype is that is well respected and needed. These young men designed the most popular social network in our entire history. His ups and downs through the years have shown that success can be very hard to obtain, but if you are persistant you will prevail. The negatives about success show through his trials and tributes. Facebook is a great social network that many have learned to love and be addicted to! The negative media will always be down technological people, but I would like to see them come up with any of those ideas. I appreciate Mark and all his ideas are to bring people who are socially akward closer to their other peers.

issue 10

Changing McDonald's image will almost be impossible without totally changing the name and entire menu. McDonald's has tried to do this in the past without much success. I even remember when I was very young that McDonald's even tried to introduce pizza to their menu. When you think McDonald's you think cheap, fast, tasty, and unhealthy. To eliminate "unhealthy" McDonald's will have to keep the same food but made in a healthier way.

I believe McDonald's is just saying it is trying to improve their image to get the criticizers off their back. You will notice they add healthy items to their menu, but they never dare take an unhealthy one off. ( supersize doesn't count) Why would they seriously take something that is successful but unhealthy off their menu? Why would they mess with something that makes them so much money?

Issue 9

I think Zuckerberg's story is truly one of a kind and young entrepreneurs should not use his experience as a model. Most of what he accomplished can be attributed to luck which is not what you persons looking to start a business should bet their hopes on. What the should follow is Zuckerberg's drive to succeed. Although greedy, he accomplished his dream and thats what he initially set out to do.

I think the big amount of money Zuckerberg donated just before the release of his film had more to do with bettering his image than an act of good will. Zuckerberg from the beginning did not agree with how the film portrayed him, and how better to soften the blow than to donate an enormous sum of money to a struggling school district.

Blog #7 (Issue #10)

McDonald's is one of the most well-known fast food companies in the world. There are over 31,000 restaurants found in 119 countries globally. They are mostly known for the sale of hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken, french fries, shakes, breakfast items, desserts and now healthier items such as fruit, salads, and wraps.

Over the past few decades, McDonald's has become a model for many controversies. One of the biggest being their supposed cause of obesity. McDonald's is the fast food company that continues to be the prime target for attack. To relieve themselves of this reputation, they have tried to change their image.

McDonald's is a business, a billion dollar industry. They may be getting bad publicity, but people STILL eat there. Yes, they may lose a few customers but their bad publicity isn't so bad that it's making EVERYONE refuse to eat there.

There may be some things that McDonald's does that people don't agree with. Low wages, unhealthy food options, offering toys to children as encouragement to eat there, and the treatment of the animals are all big topics that are commonly discussed when refering to the bad image McDonald's has. But how many other THOUSANDS of fast food restaurants are there in this world that do the same things. How many other companies are destroying the earth, cruelly killing animals, "causing" obesity, and offering unhealthy food options? Many of them.

If people don't like the way McDonald's runs their company, they don't have to eat there. They don't have to support their business. If McDonald's is breaking laws in reference to wages, animal cruelty, distruction of habitats, and whatever else there is, then that is for the law and the government to take care of. But McDonald's is a billion dollar industry and nothing has stopped the millions of customers from spending their money there.

I think it is great that they have offered a somewhat healthier menu. But in my opinion, if people don't want to eat something unhealthy...no one is making people eat there! And while McDonald's may be serving food that is higher in fat, calories, sugar, carbs, etc...it is all determined by how much of it a person eats. Eating McDonald's once every couple of weeks or once a month is not going to be the cause of obesity.

I don't think that McDonald's should change their image. If they feel that they should increase their popularity by changing their image, then that's their choice. But McDonald's will probably never go out of business because people love to eat there. Regardless of their image. And with the economy the way it is, McDonald's employs more than 1.5 million people. If they go out of business, where will all of the unemployeed people go?

Issue #10

Yes, I am a little sick of talking about McDonald's, so I am going to talk about a company that I never get tired of talking about, Wal-Mart. Recently our friends at Wal-Mart figured out that they didn't exactly have the greatest of corporate images, so they kicked the smiley face to curb, and set out for a new, shinier, happier Wal-Mart. They have gone with a strategy to tell the masses about all of the energy efficient changes that they have made as a company, and if you shop in their stores, you are actually making the planet better. Nevermind the fact that they consistently pay their employees a substandard wage, and probably would have continued on with their pollution spree if they hadn't figured out that saving energy is actually making them even more money. I think that they are probably winning over new customers with their new approach, but until they show this consumer that they are actually caring for their employees, vendors, and truly giving back to the communities that they have bullied their way into, there will never be a reason for me to set foot in anyone of their stores.

Issue #9

At times I feel that I am one of the last breathing people on this planet that does not have a Facebook. Perhaps I am an old fuddy duddy, but it appears to me that Facebook is actually harmful to our society rather than the social "revolution" that many people believe that it is. As I previously stated, I am in no way a Facebook expert, but my observations that I have had of it, have led me to believe that it is not conducive to a happy culture. With the invention of texting, it seems that we have lost our ability to really communicate with each other. Long gone are the days where people actually picked up the phone and could hear the other person's voice. Over the weekend I went to a family Thanksgiving where the dominant topic of conversation was about Facebook, some of the women actually brought their phone chargers with them, just so they wouldn't miss out on what was going on in their Facebook world. When it came to light that I do not partake in their newfound obsession, I was literally shunned, and none of the "Facebookers" talked to me for the rest of the dinner. I truly believe that in the world today that there are millions of fascinating and important things that we should all be engaging in serious discussions about, but instead of talking to you about it, I guess I will just have to post something on your "wall"......whatever that is.

Issue #8

When searching for the job that I drafted my cover letter for, I used CareerBuilder. I find that this particular website has a vast array of jobs that are posted for my specific degree. Everyday they send me an email to update me on jobs that have been recently posted in the accounting field. After having been away from the workforce for quite some time, it is great that there is a website for basically one stop job shopping. I have not actually started submitting my resume yet, but I think that after the exercise in class, that I am confidant about my resume, and with this fantastic resource, I feel that I will be successful in finding the career of my choice.

Issue# 11 Equalization between the sexes

The idea of equalization between genders in the workplace is a good goal, especially concerning pay rates, raises, and promotions. But I feel that to truly be equal, a law mandating positions for women is not the right solution at this time.

Right now, Americans are clamoring for less government (or government control) in their lives. For the government to exercise control over hiring decisions for top executives and boards allows for more influence in the workplace then most people would feel comfortable with. This would greatly effect thousands of companies, and not necessarily in a positive way. There may be some fields, there may not be, but there may be some fields where there are not a great deal of qualified women or men working. To counter this phenomena, a greater number of women could begin to study said field, but that takes time. Should major companies such as Walmart, the largest retailer in the world, fire half of it's board because the government feels it should?

Though this idea does support equality for women, it doesn't necessarily mandate equality for all. What if a board of directors consists of all women? Should men be allowed or mandated top positions, even at companies that cater to and are designed for women, such as Curves? Just as some qualified women today are not promoted in lieu of less qualified men, the program suggested may result in qualified men not being promoted in lieu of less qualified women.

To ensure both fairness and equality, rather then mandating a percentage of women on boards and in executive positions, a merit and/or voting system can be used, much like the congressional approval process for presidential nominees. Those panels consist of equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans. Similarly, when a position opens for a board of executives, an equal number of shareholders or other executives should be allowed to select the individual for the position. The panel should consist of equal numbers of men and women, all with equal voting power. The logistics of a stalemate could be worked out at a later date, as needs arise. But this seems far more acceptable then mandating positions for either sex, and keeps government offices from further controlling business decisions.

Jason Yates Issue#9 Facebook not a revolution.

Facebook, it allows you to engage in conversations with friends and strangers, sharing stories, pictures, and lives. But, we could do all these things already. The history of Facebook as portrayed by The Social Network is interesting, but only as interesting at the history of Myspace, Xanga, party lines or speed dating. My reaction to the hype is that this film gives an interesting look at marketing and consumerism and the "better, faster, cooler" desires of the Facebook generation, which I include myself in. We want the fastest Internet, the smallest phones, and the most convenient (at the moment) method of communicating with our peers.

"Greed is good" mentality only appeals in my opinion to those who benefit. The have-nots of society are more likely to support distributing wealth. While I feel there should be a wide mix of socio-economic classes in society. Capitalism dictates that not everyone profits from the ideas of one, or a few. Business is cutthroat and people on their way "to the top" can't bring everyone with them. I think Zuckerberg's donation corresponding with the movie release is a poor ploy to improve his image, but in spite of that I can't deny that genuine benefit will be derived from a donation of that amount.

For future entrepreneurs I think this story encourages them to value and protect their ideas, and pursue their dreams before anyone else does for them.

Issue #10 - Elizabeth Mears

I think McDonald’s is taking an extremely well thought out step by changing the image of their company. Personally, when the topic of McDonald’s comes up, I think cheap food, lots of plastic, and average service. This revamp will allow them to appeal to a broader audience by making it more sophisticated. If they had approached me to ask my advice on their change, I would have told them the sooner the better.

I understand that this will not change people’s perception on their food, but the food is only half of the dining experience. The other half is environment. If they want more customers, they have to appeal to a wider audience. This change is definitely the way to go. However, there are some issues that need to be addressed first. I understand the concern of the franchise owners having to fund their own remodeling. With all the changes, there will barely be a profit for them. If a better solution is created for everyone to have equal funding and opportunity for change, the franchises are more likely to have a positive response.

Issue #9

I think that Mark Zuckerberg should definitely be considered as a role model in the business world, especially for other young adults with aspirations to enter the business field. The “Greed is Good” mentality of the eighties has its place. It is a good thing to be greedy to a certain degree in order to achieve your goals to the highest of your abilities. In today’s day and age I think that we are somewhat revolving back to that mentality with the perception that having all the money and fame is the only way to be happy.

The negative portrayal of Zuckerberg says that our culture looks down upon successful business people because of a jealousy factor. Not everyone can be successful in the business world, and they can DEFINITELY not all be as successful as Zuckerberg. I think Zuckerberg’s philanthropy was not related to the negative image of The Social Network. Any time that someone gets into the public eye, anything that they do is going to be criticized. He is getting way too much flack over all of this, when he is trying to do a good thing.

Facebook IS most certainly revolution. It has changed social networking forever. Zuckerberg’s story will live on and be an inspiration to other entrepreneurs. His story will allow them to assume a similar role of the cutthroat tactics and the do whatever it takes mentality.

Issue 11 Jon Parker

My opinion on this is not quite for or against the article. I believe that equality needs to be seen in our culture but forcing it will not help. If our kids are educated and brought up with the idea of equality than they will take it into corporate atmospheres. However parents today still treat boys and girls so differently. From the color schemes in their rooms, to the clothes they wear, to what toys they play with and how they treat everyday situations. If we really want true equality than we need to quit segregating these things into boy/girl categories at such a young age and let kids define their colors/toys/situations for themselves. Will this ever happen? Probably not but its the only way I can see it happening. Forcing equality on creates resentment, if you dont believe me go look at US history and tell me the wasnt resenment after the emancipation proclimation.

Issue 10 Jon Parker

I feel as though the change isnt about just trying to stray away from fat foods and onto the premium items like coffee. It seems to be McD is trying to get away from looking like they are catering to kids. They were hit and smakcked around for years for trying to get kids hooked to their food and everyone was suing them for it. These renevations definately feel more adult and serene and detract from past ideas of them trying to fatten america's youth.

Other companies are trying to do the same thing. Look at walkgreens over the last 5-10 years. They have moved from a cornerstore pharmacy to a small grocery/convientent store. Their image has changed drastically in that time. Another store to do so is Barnes and nobles. They went from being a small bookstore to being a meeting place. They have lounges now and a coffee shop, some even have a sandwhich shop now. All so people will come in spend time there and hopefully pick up a book on the way out.

Issue 8 Jon Parker

I Found the job I wrote about on the intranet at quiktrip. I wasn't sure I was going to be right for the job when I first read the title but after reading the requirements and seeing what duties are delegated to that job i feel as though I would be the perfect canadate for such a position. I feel that when looking for a job people have got to learn not to sell themselves short. Always understand that you will pick up valuable skills at every job you have. You should never be afraid to stick your head out there and try for a position you might not think your qualified for. The worst that can happen is you get turned down. If that happens get up and try try again.

Issue #11

I think that British parliament is moving in the right direction. If there is an overall increase in productivity, and a larger benefit gained from an increase in female board members, then policies like these should be initiated. If, however, there can be no proof linking these low percentages to that of discrimination, then I think that it is crossing a line to force companies to change their percentage of board members to 40%.

I believe in social equality more than the next, but when it comes to forcing companies to allow positions of great power and responsibility to someone who does not deserve it, then it would be fool-hearty to allow such a thing. Companies thrive under strong direction, not to opposition. I think that the proposals offered by David Cameron's party are brilliant. There are restrictions to discrimination, and consequences that should follow if a company operates in such a way. The idea to audit an entire companies pay scale is a great idea, if a company shows signs of paying on the basis of sex.

Corporate entry-level graduates may be comprised of 47% women, but I think the question is not statistics, but if put to the task, can the said employee operate under the strenuous conditions. Another question to be answered is , why is the number of top executives only 17% , and what are the reasons behind hiring large proportions of men as executive, versus that of women. If the answer to those questions are Discriminatory, then companies should be forced to comply with legislature opposing those actions.

What might work for some individuals, might not work for everyone. If a certain few companies are discriminative, then it should not be imposed on the rest of the countries companies. That being said, I think that any combination of board members or executives should be used to gain favor for any type of industry. The overall goal, of course, is maximizing shareholder wealth.

Issue #10

I think that it is a good idea for McDonald's to change their look. They have come under heavy fire lately, because of how unhealthy their food is and how it contributes to Obesity in the United States. I think the change will take people off the idea that McDonald's is a cheap unhealthy eatery, and make them think of McDonald's as a more classy restaurant, with options for healthy and unhealthy items.

If McDonald's were to ask me for advice, I would say to continue on course. The only difference in the strategy they have now, is what they will do about parking and heavy traffic areas. If McDonald's wishes to become a local hang-out, then they need to look at a larger, more spacious area. Overall I think the branding strategy could very well be a success. The only problem is to get their franchisees to go along with the plan.

The one thing McDonald's needs, is unity within all of their franchisees. If they plan to go ahead with this re-branding strategy, then they need everyone to be cooperative. They need to first organize a business plan, and make everyone aware of what their intentions are and how it will benefit everyone in either the short-run or the long-run.

Issue #10

I think it is absolutely a positive thing that McDonalds is trying to change their image. As one of the most successful brands in America, the company must be willing to change their ways in order to put up with customer demands. The local McDonalds in my area has already switched their restaurant over to this setting, complete with plasma televisions, couches, and a much more grown up look.

As someone who is a healthy eater and usually strays away from the restaurant, I really like the changes. Rather than encountering a gross, kid-infested McDonalds with red and yellow surrounding me at all times, I am greeted with a much more comfortable, relaxed setting.

As far as the new menu items go, I also believe that it is a positive change. By appealing to different target markets, McDonalds is able to expand the amount of people coming into their restaurant.

I don't believe that McDonalds needs to change much of anything about their revamp. It is appealing to many people and makes the restaurant seem like a much more modern place.

Issue #12

Brian Busick's success in business is extraordinary. He certainly has a mind for developoing businesses and the discipline to move on when it is time. His story is very inspiring and certainly makes me want to start company tomorrow. However, if you really appreciate all the work that he does you will acknowledge that it is not that easy. He mentions in the article he worked from 6 am-11pm most days. Even the story of how he put himself through college is impressive. In my mind I have this concept of an entrepreneur that achieves instant success without breaking a sweat. That's not true at all. There are significant risks and lots and lots of hard work that go into developing a business from startup. I'm sure he had a grasp of the numbers behind a business. He had a degree in finance so he understand the implication of fixed overhead and the ratio to income. Having the skill set to understand the implications of financial decisions was vital to his success.

Issue #10

Given the extraordinary success that Starbucks has been able to develop out of its marketing efforts there are several firms that are following suit. McDonalds in some respect almost seems like a copy of the coffee retailer. However, it makes sense for McDonalds to re-brand its stores because it communicates to customers that the firm is innovative. If you look at marketing principles, McDonalds has seen success because it has differentiated itself from it competitors. As its profitability grows it has developed the ability to have better systems and provide better service. It would seem natural for it to begin to start to expand their innovation to atmospherics present in restaurants and to begin to communicate to customers that they want to provide a better dining experience. However, there is reservation on the part of franchisee's because the cost of remodeling would come from their pocket. Not every franchise owner may not be liquid or have the working capital to undertake such a venture. The process of rebranding could easily backfire and lead a number of restaurants to become insolvent and go bankrupt. If McDonalds wants to do this they should somehow provide security to franchisee's. This could be a subsidy of some sort or a guarantee that they will step in if something goes wrong. The change is necessary but the things every franchisee needs to keep in mind is their ability to pay for it.

Topic # 10

I think McDonalds is heading down the wrong path. They have spent so much time and money developing an image that is known worldwide. They have made some good changes recently, like their improved coffee. This apparently was a great boost for their business. I would tell McDonalds that food quality is their greatest weakness right now. I have not been there in quite some time because it seems like their quality has gone off a cliff in the last 2 or 3 years. They have wrung every bit of efficiency out of their enormous network, and the result is a product that is almost inedible. I would much rather pay twice as much for my burger at a place like Five Guys, which is so much better than McDonalds. I couldn't care less if the McDonalds has a new flatscreen TV or an armchair.

Issue #12 Part2

Here at Koch Industries we are adding a new policy which applies to communication in the workplace. This policy will take effect January 1, 2011. After this date, failure to comply with the new policy will result in one written notice stating you are not following policy and after this written notification if such instance is to occur again you will be terminated immediately.

Communication in the workplace:

There will no longer be communication via text messaging. If you have to use a means of communication away from the computer you must call the person you are trying to contact. We want to set a more professional environment here at Koch Industries and text messaging will no longer be accepted. The preferred means of communication is email but as we all know there are times we cannot get to a computer so you must call in advance.

Policy implication 1.) No text messages.

There will no longer be a written communication in the form of a "text message" style. This means you must use proper grammar as well as proper english. We need to proof read as well as watch our tone in our emails. Please no longer send quick emails without looking over them before sending. Our style here at Koch Industry is formal. Every message should be sent in a formal manner with a well put together structure.

Please work on these changes. For some of us with this new technology advance it will be hard to make the change. Let us know if you have any questions about the new policy changes.

Issue #8

I wrote my cover letter in response to an employment ad for an accounting position. Accounting is a field that I have long been interested in but which requires specific knowledge and training. Hence the reason that I am a returning adult student at Wichita State. WSU, through its faculty, student organizations, and local business community connections, provides invaluable networking resources and opportunities to aid in the job search process. This is a second career for me, but one in which I believe I can be successful because of the variety of employment options available.

Issue #8

For my resume assignment, I chose to write it in regards to an accounting internship at Koch Industries. I chose this because I found it to be helpful in the field I want to enter when I graduate. Koch Industries is a world reknown company that would give me valuable experience in the real world of accounting. I heard about it from a speaker that came to my accounting class to discuss this internship. Some obstacles I would need to overcome to actually get this job is take more upper level accounting classes. A job like this is definitely a job that I would pursue for the summer, because it would teach me what my classes are not able to. I applied for a co-op position with the co-op office and hope that it helps me find a job similer to the Koch job presented to me in class.

issue #10

Everyone always yelled as a child "I wanna go to Mickey D's!", well will that still be the case with their new makeover? I think it will be to some extent, but I believe BK is attracting many children as well. I love the idea of having an armchair to eat in or the double drive thru lanes, it makes their service better. If you can go to a fast food restaurant and sit in a comfortable arm chair and watch tv or study with a few friends then why not? Or if you can choose to go in either lane to speed the process of ordering and getting your food in the drive thru ... then why not do it? I think that the makeover was long over due and that many other fast food chains will be doing makeovers similar to keep up with the times.
I do think that making franchise owners pay for this renovation completely out of their pocket is a little overboard since they are basically forcing the renovation upon the franchise owners.
Dillons, Walmart, and Braums are all trying to change their images. Dillons is trying to be bigger and carry more items to compete more with Walmart. If you walk into the Dillons at 21st and Maize, you can buy furniture, pictures, mirrors, tv's, and much more along with buying your groceries. What's next? A lube express with a shop out of the back of the store?
Walmart is actually downsizing a couple of its locations. There is supposed to be a Walmart built at Central and West across from the Dillons, but there isn't room for a full sized Walmart, so what i've been told is that it will be just the grocery portion of a Walmart. Will that work?
Braums now has their own grocery section called the "fresh market place" I believe. I've never seen Braums as having groceries only as having ice cream, so who knows if all these changes will really benefit these three companies.

issue #8

I chose the job of bank teller, simply because it seems like a logical position to get into when going for an accounting degree. I've been at my current job for almost four years now and since I didn't even have an interview for my current job, I really have no job hunting skills. I know that keeping a positive attitude with your coworkers and leaving the job on a positive note will help you in the long run. You can use an old manager or coworker as a reference for a new job.
I would like to get into a job like this during school, but would like to move onto something better after graduation. I found the job on www.wichitahelpwanted.com. My main issue with most job is going to be lack of experience. I do have almost four years of customer service help which should help out a lot though.