Education and Happiness Essay

Mosley alludes to business as usual in a negative manner and I do concur with his perspectives. Americans just don’t appear to have some bliss in their lives any longer, and we should ask why that is the situation. The instructive framework doesn’t appear to be any better with regards to getting us out with our own satisfaction there are simply an excessive number of limitations going on. The understudies can’t act naturally. Business has become a need rather then individuals needing to get up each morning and anticipating going to work. There is simply such a great amount of going on, as financial issues, work cuts and individuals can’t discover bliss anyplace. A person’s prosperity ought to consistently be first particularly with regards to there joy. It appears that the American government has set aside what their first obligation to Americans is, which is ensuring that the individuals are upbeat. In â€Å"Get Happy† Mosley says, â€Å"But our potential for satisfaction has slacked far behind,† and what I’m getting from this is our citizen‘s prosperity isn‘t put first, rather it is being put to the side and not being a significant component of people‘s lives. The legislature isn’t carrying out their responsibility in ensuring we’re upbeat. They appear to do the absolute minimum and simply stressing over what is important to â€Å"help† the individuals inside and out they can, however they don’t show any enthusiasm for their bliss. Training is presently a major issue too, for the way that currently schools are being alluded to as being â€Å"prisonlike.† What I’m getting from this is there are simply such a large number of limitations on understudies, and there is no feeling of opportunity at schools. Schools are being worked in a jail like way and simply like in jail there is consistently somebody of more significant position authority looking out for everybody which may cause individuals to feel like they can’t act naturally and express how they may feel about specific things. Americans just aren’t content with anything that’s going on around them on the grounds that they’re being treated as is they were unimportant. We reserve the option to be cheerful, yet its like nobody is seeking after that objective any longer. They are making due with what they have. At the end of the day, they’re simply figuring out how to live their lives the manner in which they are. Occupations presently have gotten so inane, and the main explanation individuals stay at their employments is on the grounds that they need to so as to have the option to accommodate their families. We are currently simply being controlled as though we were manikins. The government’s needs have changed so a lot and satisfaction for Americans isn’t essential to them any longer. In the perusing it says, â€Å"Citizens are not rewarded like citizenry yet progressively like representatives who can be cut free in any capacity whatsoever enormous or small,† this equitable demonstrates that individuals don’t appear to be significant, particularly them being upbeat. Residents simply want to work on the grounds that that’s one of the main way they can make it throughout everyday life, and have the option to accommodate their family, regardless of whether it implies getting up each morning and not anticipating going to work. Residents are miserable on the grounds that they need to take work serious employments that oppress them. Individuals even believe that the more cash they have that they have the more joyful they will be, yet actually cash doesn't accepting joy. It may get you what you need like an immense TV, yet doesn’t mean you’ll be more joyful. On the off chance that an individual has decent enabling instruction they may be progressively certain and need to achieve numerous objectives. This will bring them more satisfaction since they realize they had the option to assume responsibility for their own lives and get to where they need to be. For instance, when somebody has an occupation they despise and don’t anticipate going to work this is on the grounds that they may not of had indistinguishable open doors from another person. Nobody ought to need to agree to what they have, if an individual continues attempting they can arrive at their bliss. On the off chance that the educational system is terrible, at that point obviously the understudies won’t feel energized yet rather feel compelled to be there since a large portion of the occasions there is no other decision. Obviously having a dull activity and awful educational system will prompt a person’s misery. At the point when an individual defines their own objectives and doesn’t surrender regardless of the snags, and later make their objectives work out as expected an individual will be much more joyful. Simply realizing they achieved what they set their brain will give them that they don’t need to make due with a trivial activity and particularly being a miserable individual. A person’s satisfaction should consistently start things out like it was decided to be by the legislature.

Personal Essay for English Class free essay sample

Vigneswaralingam ENG4U1-06 Friday, February 22nd, 2013 Love Thy Stealing Neighbor Can you envision your bike unexpectedly vanishing when you forget about it before your home for only a couple of moments? Bikes are advantageous, and when I was youthful I was in that period where they were the most famous vehicles. In the event that you carried your bike to class you naturally turned into the â€Å"coolest† kid in school. Regardless of how the bike was. It could’ve been old, new, costly, pink, or had brilliant gold lightning jolts imprinted on the barsâ€you were still piece of the â€Å"cool† kids crew. I read that around one billion individuals on the planet own a bike, that’s a great deal thinking about that there is an expected populace of marginally more than seven billion individuals on Earth. I was a piece of that one billion individuals on the planet who possessed a bike until my neighbor took my bike. We will compose a custom paper test on Individual Essay for English Class or on the other hand any comparable theme explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page Presently just 999,999,999 individuals own a bicycleâ€drastic change isn’t it, in light of the fact that my neighbor chose to take my valuable bicycle. I’ve had numerous bikes in the past however none of them resembled the one I had when I was just nine years of age. It wasn’t sumptuous or anything, only an old used bike, yet when I rode it I felt noteworthy! It was shower painted with a dull metallic blue that sparkled in the night sky during late night rides. The bike handles had this splendid yellow elastic star covers that contained bits of dark, which would clarify that it was old. The seat was simply perfect, it was anything but difficult to jump on and get offâ€it was cozy and caused me to feel truly elevated up starting from the earliest stage. That bike I had was awesome it truly caused me to feel like a sovereign when I sat on itâ€but not Queen Elizabeth could’ve conceivably had the astonishing bicycle I had. It was during maybe early June when I was approximately nine years of age, when my bike vanished from my eyes. It was a blistering summer day and I had quite recently got back home to snatch a fast supper in the wake of playing in the recreation center with two or three companions. I review there was where my companions and I would race each other on bicyclesâ€I consistently came in first! So I arrived at my home to snatch supper and later my companions and I would return back to the recreation center so I simply forgot about my bike in the front of the house, inclining toward my carport entryway. At the point when I for the most part forget about it in the front my folks would consistently shout at me saying â€Å"one day someone’s going to take your bicycle† and constrained me to secure it up in the backyardâ€but I figured I was just going in for a few minutes, no one would take it. I immediately ate down my supper. As I completed and was going to take off the entryway I heard my most loved show’s subject songâ€who lives in a pineapple under the ocean? SpongeBob Squarepants! My sister was viewing SpongeBob Squarepants in the lounge with the volume extremely uproarious, how would I be able to conceivably decline to watch my preferred show? So I pushed my tennis shoes off and ran into the front room. A couple of moments later my companion had called inquiring as to whether we were all the while returning yet she said that she was worn out and that we will return tomorrow. I was in full SpongeBob Sqaurepants zombie mode so all I was stating was â€Å"uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh, OK bye. † As soon as the show completed I reviewed I had forgotten about my bike and in no time flat my dad would come back from work and see it out there. I headed out to carry it to the patio yet as I approached the front of my carport it was no more! At that point I had no clue what to do. I ran into my lawn to check in the event that it was there in light of the fact that perhaps my mom took it back for meâ€but no it wasn’t there. I realized somebody took my bike now, I thought perhaps they couldn’t have gotten far. I had a unique bike so it is anything but difficult to track down. So I ran towards the recreation center to check whether anybody was riding it and in the event that anybody had it some little child battles would go downâ€it wasn’t in the recreation center either. I needed to confront the way that it was goneâ€gone until the end of time. I strolled again from the recreation center and everything I could consider was the manner by which I would tell my folks and how they would react. I imagined that they’d give my an enormous embrace and resemble â€Å"aw, its alright! You’re the coolest child and the coolest child merits another bike! † Well that’s not exactly what occurred. They were simply pointing their fingers at me, censuring me for my bike being taken. Their reaction was not at all like I imagined, â€Å"you’re a total idiot! How frequently do we need to advise you not to forget about your bicycle! Presently you have no bike and don’t think once that we would get you another one. † Why couldn’t they perceive the torment I was experiencing in the wake of losing my bike. Days had passed and I was as yet denied of a bike. Every one of my companions wanted to do was ride their bikes so I generally got a handle on left. I quit going out much since I couldn’t discover a lot to manage without a bicycleâ€I had a go at jabbing openings in the soil with a stick yet wound up flicking earth into my face. There was literally nothing to do. One day as I was sitting dining with my family my dad referenced how he saw my bike. Out of bewilderment I let out my food from my mouth, which arrived into my sister’s plate, which she beat me up for after. I started to ask him the five w’s and a h questions. To summarize each one of those inquiries the appropriate responses all came to I. Saw. Our. Neighbor. With. Your. Bike. I was truly shocked and I thought my dad recovered my bike back however incredibly he didn’t on the grounds that he thought it was my obligation on the off chance that I needed it back. You realize you live in a terrible world when your neighbor takes your bike. I recollect one day I was getting back home from the recreation center with my grandmother and cousin and I saw my neighbor’s little girl. I ran the quickest I have ever ranâ€I could’ve even beat Canada’s women’s 1992 3,000 meters Olympic medalist Angela Chalmers, that’s how much adrenaline was going through me. I approached her, tapped her on the shoulder and as she pivoted I attempted to get my inhale and started shouting. She looked confounded and had a touch of dread all over. I hollered saying that her dad was a stealer who took my bike and that I needed it back. Everything she could answer to after all that shouting was â€Å"I don’t realize what you’re talking about†. How would she be able to not hear what I’m saying? I made it extremely clear her dad took my bicycle. She at that point answered, â€Å"my father didn’t take your bicycle†. I would go on and holler some more yet I saw my grandmother and cousin had gotten up to speed and was close by. My neighbor’s little girl left and my grandmother got up to speed to me and asked â€Å"are you alright? † I answered, â€Å"I’m fine† however as we strolled home everything in my psyche was stating, â€Å"no I simply need my bike back! † My neighbor’s little girl knew precisely what I was discussing. It was about seven days after my bike was taken when she came to class on my bicycleâ€my metallic blue shower painted with brilliant yellow elastic star covers, bike. She referenced that her dad had â€Å"bought† this bike for her, which just got me offended in light of the fact that he took it from me. I needed to go up to her and take my bike back however for reasons unknown I couldn’t. She wouldn’t accept it’s mine and give it back. Or on the other hand her dad wouldn’t concede he took my bike and talented it to his girl. I just didn’t do anything and strolled into schoolâ€but on the most recent day of school when I brought luscious chocolate chip treats, I didn’t even give her one. That’s how detestable I got. So I let her keep the bike, perhaps she delighted in it as much as I cherished it. I was presently one of the typical school kids who had no bike at school, or had no bike at all for my circumstance. It was difficult for me to overlook that bike however my life went on and in the long run my folks presented to me another bike. The new bike wasn’t as incredible as the one that got taken or caused me to feel like a sovereign when I sat on it, however it was a bike. It got me to places I expected to go and I was up and hustling in my friends’ bike races once more. When taking a gander at this memory now it despite everything makes me distraught. At the point when re-living this memory in my mind I can see my neighbor and I can perceive the amount I detested him for taking my bike. In the holy book it says â€Å"Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself†Ã¢â‚¬well even now I ain’t adoring thy neighbor. I’ve moved houses quite a while prior so I’ve never observed my old neighbor in years however on the off chance that I could simply pose one inquiry to him it would be, â€Å"Why? For what reason did you think it was a smart thought to take my bike? † I simply need reality to that question since that bike implied a great deal to me and we experienced significantly together. One thing I’ve gained from this tragic memory was not to leave my things staying nearby. Since I forgot about my bike when I should’ve secured it in the patio, it got taken. Since the time that occurrence you could see I developed a piece around then by not forgetting about my things where it could get taken. I’ve been significantly more cautious with my assets than I was around eight years back. My bike I at present have is constantly secured up my terrace or I lock it up in my carport so I don’t rehash a similar scene. I’m now back ready for action as an individual who claims a bike which brings the aggregate of individuals who own bikes on Earth to about a billionâ€I do have any kind of effect

Why Do I Get So Much College Mail

Why Do I Get So Much College Mail? As a teenager, there is something undeniably exciting about being the recipient of an unsolicited brochure from a prestigious university, or even better yet, a seemingly personalized letter from the dean of admissions practically begging you to apply. Every year, millions of high school students experience the rush of holding what they believe represents tangible proof that they are desired by the world of higher education. Unfortunately, what they are actually holding is the post-secondary equivalent of junk mail, as personalized as a Pottery Barn catalog and as meaningful as a grocery store circular informing you of a great deal on London broil.The truth is that from the moment you first take the PSAT or Pre-ACT, you’ll be inundated with institutional correspondence. Unfortunately, this is not actually a testament to your test scores, grades, and other wonderful attributes. Instead, the mountains of glossy literature accumulating on your kitchen table can be attributed to a controversial marketing decision made nearly fifty years ago and subsequent trends in higher education recruitment that drive the modern admissions process. In this article, we will discuss:The origin story of college mailA contemporary look at why colleges send mailDoes receiving maul from a college mean that they are recruiting you?Big-name colleges that are notorious for sending mail to drum up applicationsLet’s delve in by turning back the clock to discover why this mail craze began:The origins   It began in the early 1970s when the College Board and the nation’s universities realized they were primed for synergistic marketing marriage (though they probably used more decade-appropriate business buzzwords). Names and contact info of test-takers was sold to the schools so they could engage in direct marketing to their prime audience—U.S. teenagers. In the early days, victims of this practice were generally limited to the countless forest’s worth of tr ees slain and the worn down spines of a nation’s mail carriers. In general, the schools’ motivation was fairly innocent and straightforward—â€Å"You need a college. We’re a college. Whaddya think?†Fast-forward 45+ years and the college marketplace is a high-stakes battlefield. The institutional aims and expectations placed on admissions office in 2019-20 would be wholly unrecognizable to an admissions professional of a bygone era. The mail that you receive today has a multipronged and layered purpose behind it and it’s important that applicants understand precisely what that purpose is.Why schools do it in 2019-2020 In part, a simple equation drives this mass marketing phenomenon—more marketing leads to more applications which leads to a lower acceptance rate which leads to an increased â€Å"selectivity† ranking. The rankings systems such as  U.S. News  did include the ratio of students admitted to applicants as part of t heir algorithm, however, it only counted for a minuscule 1.25% of the total rating (selectivity, in total, represents 12.5% of the total). In 2019, U.S News actually eliminated any inclusion of acceptance rate into their formula and dropped selectivity to a mere 10% of the total score. Perhaps this will lead to slightly less post-secondary junk mail, however, the push to increase applicants is about more than just a selectivity rating in a periodical—it is also about enhancing the university’s brand in an effort to increase alumni donations, recruit top-caliber professors, and keep an institution’s bond rating and perception of financial health strong.Now, let’s get to what this mail means to  you. Spoiler alert: the answers are surprisingly terse.Does receiving mail mean I have a better chance of getting in?No.Okay, but should I at least feel a bit flattered that they chose me?No.Just a tiny bit?Still no.Why not?The reasons you have received the mail r ange from 100% impersonal to â€Å"You met a certain criteria to trigger a mailing.†Some schools purchase hundreds of thousands of names indiscriminately believing that casting a wide net will ultimately pay off; others limit themselves to acquiring tens of thousands of names of students who have offered some indication that a particular institution may actually be a good match. If, for example, you filled out that your intended major is marine biology and you receive mailings from Eckerd College and The College of Atlantic, then you can deduce that at least these schools are reaching out to you in response to a stated interest. If, on the other hand, you are a B student with average SATs and an intended major of musical theory and you are being flooded with brochures for highly-selective business schools, you can chalk that up to indiscriminate marketing on the part of those universities.Other, seemingly innocuous demographic information that your students fill out prior to taking a standardized test can also trigger a flood of mailings. For example, those who list their religion as Christian can expect an armful of marketing material from the likes of Liberty University.It is also important to note that your SAT/ACT scores and stated academic performance can influence the mail that you receive. An elite liberal arts college may only purchase student names who score a 1250 or above on the SAT but their average SAT for accepted students might be 1450, rendering your being selected to receive a brochure ultimately worthless.Beware of aggressive techniquesThere are certain schools that have developed a reputation for forceful recruitment techniques that are directed to the homes of students who couldn’t even dream of sniffing an acceptance letter. Such institutions are attempting to drum up the greatest number of applications possible—a practice that is seen as unsavory by many critics.The University of Chicago is one of the more  notoriou sly aggressive marketers, a surprise to some given 1) the exceptional quality of the school; 2) its reputation for attracting young, serious-minded intellectuals; and 3) its previous reliance on what became known as â€Å"The Uncommon Application† which essentially served to discourage non-good fit applicants from even applying through a series of quirky questions.It would be one thing to assertively recruit qualified students; it is another to intentionally solicit applications from students with no real shot for acceptance into a school. Unfortunately, in our experience working with teens, UChicago falls into the latter category. In the past, officials from the school have been pretty open about the fact that they are engaged in an arms race with Columbia University, seeking to overtake them in sheer annual applications. In part due to these marketing tactics, the University of Chicago’s acceptance rate was 5.9% for the class of 2023; as recently as 2005, the schoolà ¢â‚¬â„¢s acceptance rate was over 40%.To be fair, the University of Chicago is far from the only school to employ assertive recruiting tactics, just one of the more glaring examples. Other highly-reputable, otherwise terrific schools such as Washington University in St. Louis and Tulane University are also known for sending out massive numbers of mailings each year to just about anyone with a physical address.College Transitions key takeaways Don’t be flattered by mailings, emails, or social media contacts from colleges and universities—it’s not a personal recruitment.This practice has been going on for nearly 50 years and has evolved as colleges have ramped up their efforts to generate as many applications as possible.Sometimes a mailing may actually be â€Å"personalized† in the sense that a particular factor or stated interest caused a college to add you to their list; other times it is just a pure mass mailing.Receiving mail from a college does not me an that you have a better chance to gain acceptance.Beware of highly-selective institutions that send mail to students that aren’t even close to the academic profile of their average accepted applicant.

The Discovery Of The Traditional Orthodox Form Of...

Gnosticism can be defined as the mystical perception of knowledge and was considered to be a heresy that was condemned by those who followed the traditional Orthodox form of Christianity. In the second century the movement of Gnostic Christianity occurred; it is also referred to as a Christian sect (Carus). Though people viewed Gnostic Christianity as a sect, it has never been denied that Gnosticism is older than Christianity and the relation and importance between the two groups have never been acknowledged (Gnostic Discoveries). Since the discovery of texts found at Nag Hammadi which presents Jesus as a Gnostic teacher, the connection between the two groups has grown exponentially, and Paul Carus the author of The Monist even believes that Christianity is a branch of Gnosticism. Marvin Meyer a professor of Bible and Christian studies, has found that the discovery of the Gnostic texts allows scholars to get a deeper understanding of Christian teachings and relate the findings to bib lical texts (Gnostic Discoveries). It is said that Gnosticism formed when early Christians did not agree with the Old Testament and that Gnosticism was another way for them to understand Jesus’ teachings, which is why there are differences between Orthodox beliefs and Gnostic beliefs (Mansager). In Gnosticism, Jesus, instead of being looked at as a human, is only looked at as a divine being and the divine being presents the key to reaching salvation. In line 39 of the Gospel of Thomas it isShow MoreRelated Christianity Essay1635 Words   |  7 Pages Christianity religion was founded in Palestine by the followers of Jesus. 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Assisted Suicide Should Be Legal - 2253 Words

Assisted Suicide should be made legal because many people suffer from diseases that aren’t always curable, it doesn t make sense to let them go through all that pain and some families have financial struggles paying for their medical bill. This controversial debate is whether or not assisted suicide or mercy killing should be legal, whether or not doctors should be allowed to help patients kill themselves or give guidance on how to. People argue that assisted suicide should be considered legal, â€Å"In a spirit of compassion for all, this manifesto proclaims that every competent adult has the incontestable right to humankind’s ultimate civil and personal liberty -- the right to die in a manner and at a time of their own choosing. Whereas†¦show more content†¦So on this side of the argument they have the law to back them up and justify their statement and say that it should be illegal. This topic of assisted suicide aroused in 1906 in ohio as they drafted a bi ll to legalize it but it did not succeed. This debate began in 1994, Oregon voters passed the Death with Dignity Act, which legalized physician-assisted suicide for the terminally ill. Since then, it has become legal in 4 more states, including New Mexico. In 2008 in Montana,† a 76 year old truck driver from Billings dying of lymphocytic leukemia asked the court to establish a constitutional right to receive and provide aid in dying.Judge Dorothy McCarter ruled that a terminally ill, competent patient has a legal right to die with dignity under Article II, Sections 4 and 10 of the Montana Constitution. With that said that gives the right for the physician to give or aid the patient in his or hers suicide and not be arrested or charged in anyway. And also california has just recently passed assisted suicide to be legal in oct 2015. A lot of the people that are involved with this debate are patients and patients family who see what there friends or family members who have seen what the treatment of cancer and other diseases have put them through and how much they suffered. The people that are affected by this debate are people who have to live with a dying disease and whether or not they have to suffer through all the pain

Browning, Robert My Last Duchess And Porphyrias Essay Example For Students

Browning, Robert: My Last Duchess And Porphyrias Essay LoverMike SobierajEnglish 203Roger GilbertThe Lover and the DukeThe creation of a plausible character within literature is one of the most difficult challenges to a writer, and development to a level at which the reader identifies with them can take a long time. However, through the masterful use of poetic devices and language Browning is able to create two living and breathing characters in sixty or less lines. When one examines these works one has to that they are quite the achievements for they not only display the personas of two distinct men but also when compared show large differences while dealing with essentially the same subject. A brief examination of the structural aspects of Porphyrias Lover is needed before further analysis is done. One can break the poem up into twelve stanzas with an ababb stanzaic rhyme structure, though it is most often printed as a block poem. This would make it an alternately rhymed quatrain with a fifth line attached to create a couplet ending. The majority of the lines contain four iambic feet, though a few are nonasyllabic. Five of the twelve stanzas spill into the next stanza, thus detracting from their free-standing integrity. These stanzas are not syntactically self-containing and therefore the end-couplet value is undercut. If we examine the end of the eighth stanza we see that there is enjambment into the ninth stanza. In one long yellow string I wound,Three times her little throat around,And strangled her. (Browning, Porphyrias Lover, Lines 39-41)This does detract from the couplet though it emphasizes the tone, making the understated nature even more sociopathic.This is one example of how this simple tool in itself masterfully accentuates the overall tone of understatement and the impression of lackadaisical unaffected speech. The majority of the words in this poem are monosyllabic which adds to the mood. However, what is more important is that the words that are polysyllabic are quiet and unassuming. They do not break the tense tranquility of the piece. Burrows points out that, Much of the force of the narrative lies in its almost naive simplicity and in the corresponding quiet, matter-of-fact tone of voice, a tone which in effect is not shouting Horrible murder! Read all about it! but murmuring, I am going to tell you a nice little bedtime story. (Burrrows, page 53)Despite the fact that the metrical pattern is often strayed from, some lines contain 3 or 5 stresses, the poem is rhythmically appealing. According to Burrows, the poem suggests the accents and modulations of speech and also remains quietly unemphatic. (page 56)A similar analysis of My Last Duchess is also needed before the two can be compared adequately. The frigid decorum of the Duke is established by the imperceptible, but unfailing, rhyming couplets. The inability for the reader to notice these during recital of the poem is due to the extreme prevalence of enjambment within the work. According to Burrows, It is decidedly the open couplet that he uses, and there are many run-on lines since syntactical pauses rarely coincide with couple-endings or line endings. (page 116) The meter of the poem is iambic pentameter though the rhythm feels more irregular due to the deliberate disregard for the formal couplet pattern. This also creates the sense or beat of regular s peech and helps to create the tone of the Dukes voice. The Duke does not seem as formal in this poem (as his created persona suggests him to be normally). This laxness is done in a coldly calculating way creating a visible facade. Burrows realizes that,The quiet, casual conversation tone prevails throughout the except for one brief moment when the Duke reaches the understated climax of his last duchesss history and his phrases harder into a lapidary laconism. Before it was written, The Iliad was a poem told o EssayPorphyrias Lover and My Last Duchess are two of Brownings impressive monologues that, through the use of poetic devices, develop unique male protagonists. Evident class differences and social issues arise from these works. Porphyrias Lover contains the detail and development that would normally be found in a short story while the much denser My Last Duchess could be said to encompass an entire novel. Thus we can see that these brief works both show a unique mastery by Browning of creating the fictional psyche. The bizarre interrelationship between man and woman is fully captured within these works. There is pain, jealousy, rejection and happiness. The majority of the spectrum of emotions associated with love and marriage is contained by these pieces.From them we can learn the nature of love should allow people to conquer class distinction and that marriage should avoid sexist male tendencies. Inadequacy is a feeling that perva des both poems, and is evident through the voices of their protagonists. One can see its horrifying effect immediately. Men need to learn to deal with their possessive and aggressive natures in a way that creates a love that is beneficial to both partners not to just one. Browning, in these works, is painting the side the Romantics before him neglected to. Works CitedBrowning, Robert, Robert Browning: Selected Poetry, (London: Penguin Books, 1989), pp. 17-8 and 25-6Burrows, Leonard, Browning the Poet, (Perth: University of Western Australia Press, 1969), pp. 51-61 and 115-121 DeVane, William Clyde, A Browning Handbook, (New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc. 1955), pp. 108-9Category: English

Rock of Ages Case Study free essay sample

Executive Summary Rock of Ages (ROA) is an industry leader in granite quarrying and manufacturing, specializing in memorials. With nine quarries ranging through Vermont, Quebec, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and recently Ukraine, ROA offers a variety of granite colors and grades for the selective consumer. Until January, 2008, ROA also had a retail division dedicated to memorials. Although ROA has been in business for over a century, economic factors in a global economy are eroding on their once rock-solid consumer base. Specifically, ROA has operated at a loss over the last several years, with 2008 being a transition year due to the discontinuation of the Retail division. This case study serves to evaluate ROA’s strategic direction given both internal and external environmental factors using best-of-breed analysis tools. Table of Contents Executive Summary2 Rock of Ages Case Study 2 Table of Contents2 Introduction3 Mission and Goals4 Situation Analysis5 SWOT Analysis10 Porter’s Five Forces12 Sustainable Competitive Advantage13 Resources and Capabilities14 Performance Measures16 Strategic Integration17 Bibliography22 Introduction Rock of Ages is in trouble. We will write a custom essay sample on Rock of Ages Case Study or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The following pages illustrate ROA’s declining performance over the last five years in revenue while operational costs continue to rise. Return on equity plummets while debt continues to climb. This diminishes shareholder value for ROA, and impacts their long-term viability. The time for action is upon them. To evaluate the appropriate strategy to revitalize ROA’s business, we employ several analyses essentially inspecting the company from separate facets as though it were a prism. First, we analyze the current strategy and direction. What does the organization already have in motion to change their fiscal landscape? Next, we perform situational analyses of ROA by evaluating both internal and external factors which have shaped their current situation. These include: A financial analysis over the last five years, marking both long and short term trends. SWOT analysis to determine where ROA shapes their future, and where the present situations are allowed to shape ROA. Porters Five Forces analysis to evaluate how well ROA is positioned to respond to competitive pressures and which area of competition require immediate response. A competitive advantage analysis appraises how ROA differentiates them from the competition, and whether this advantage is sustainable. After gathering the data from these analyses, it’s used to create performance measures and mapped to strategic integration throughout the organization. The case study ends with recommendations based on the analyses for ROA to regain market share and preserve brand equity. Mission and Goals Founded in 1885, Rock of Ages (ROA) is nearing its 125’s birthday as a granite quarrying and manufacturing company. Priding themselves on lasting granite memorialization, the company sells wholesale memorials to independent retailers in the US and Canada. Until January of 2008, ROA operated three separate lines of business: Manufacturing, Quarrying, and Retail. The Retail division has been discontinued, allowing the company to focus on the remaining two core business divisions. ROA’s newly revised strategy now focuses on the following elements (ROA, 2008): Strategic alliances With the Retail division’s discontinuation, business partnerships with local and regional retailers, funeral directors, and cemetery owners is critical to ROA’s continued growth and success. Direct sales of private mausoleums and civic memorials Local, state, and federal funding are available for creating and renovating civic memorials. One of the recent commissions for ROA produced the world’s largest statue of Pope John Paul II at over 30 feet tall. (ROA Civic, 2008) Personalization ROA seeks to provide a product line with enough variability to meet the needs of anybody in search of a memorialization solution. Expansion of quarries and quarry business Until recently, ROA focused the business on domestic quarries only; owning and operating ten quarry properties in the US and Canada. ROA recently brokered a partnership with VIKA, Ltd. , a Ukrainian quarrying company, to broaden their product offering and remain competitive with overseas competition. Reduce overhead and streamline operations Having recently sold the Retail division, ROA seeks to decrease redundant job functions and administrative office space costs. ROA focuses on product differentiation through quality. The only company who offers a perpetual warranty (guaranteed forever), ROA products set the standard for granite memorials. Situation Analysis ROA’s situation is defined largely by recent financials. They have demonstrated year over year decline in revenue, profit, and net income since 2003 as demonstrated in Figure 1 (below). (MSN Money, 2008) Figure 1 ROA’s 2006 and 2007 financials have been resubmitted to accommodate for the discontinuation of the Retail organization, providing skewed trend lines. However, one will still note continued decline of net income between 2006 and 2007 in spite of a slight increase in both revenue and gross profit. This additional loss has been attributed to the costs of discontinued operations (Retail), and constitutes a $5. 2 million cost in 2007. The resubmission of 2006 financials have repositioned 2006 as a bounce-back year for some key metrics. Figure 2 (below) illustrates improved fixed assets turnover and inventory turnover, with a minor decline in total asset turnover. Figure 2 Figure 3 Not all key metrics show positive gain since the 2006 resubmission due to the Retail discontinuation. Figure 3 (right) shows continued decline of return on equity following the same trend line as 2003-2004. This demonstrates poor performance for stockholders. While return on equity falls, ROA’s debt ration continues to climb. Years 2006-2007 show this trend leveling off, and the current ratio in figure 5 has started to climb. These ratios will need to significantly improve to increase the company’s liquidity. Figures 4 5 While sales performance appears dismal, recent trends are largely due to the resubmission of the 2006 financials and the discontinuation of Retail. Sales revenue increased approximately 10% between 2006 and 2007 with the restated financials removing the Retail division. Figure 6 Figure 7 (below) evaluates the company’s assets and liabilities over time. This more clearly illustrates the benefit of selling the Retail organization, as the working capital once again approaches the current liabilities, and current assets are back on the rise. Again, as ROA reduces debt their market attractiveness will improve. Figure 7 Financial Summary While much of the fiscal landscape is in a period flux for ROA due to the discontinuation of the Retail business line, much work is left to put them on the road to financial recovery. Based on the company’s performance and analysts predictions, few investors would risk ROAC in their portfolio. (MSN Money, 2008) SWOT Analysis Highlights of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats currently met by ROA are illustrated in figure 8 (below). Figure 8 (Chapman, 2008) Strengths ROA has a long history of product quality. Backed by the industry’s only perpetual warranty, ROA stands behind their product for the customer and the customer’s heirs forever. The quality begins with the type of stone quarried from the Earth, as many of ROA’s quarries yield granite composition among the best in the world. (Granite Museum, 2008) In addition to quality, ROA also moves more quantity of granite than any other quarrying company in the US. (USGS, 1997) These factors have drawn and kept a talented workforce at ROA, and provided a brand name well recognized in the granite industry. Weaknesses Although ROA demonstrates generations of granite expertise, there are some modern day business challenges which impact ROA’s profitability. Distribution channels are in need of expansion to reach a broader and more diverse customer segment. While this must be driven through key business partnerships, better management of enhanced distribution partnerships will require investment in information technology systems to integrate the ROA web presence with consumers, partners, and suppliers. ROA suffers from limited RD funding, relying on an industry as stable and solid as the product they sell. With consumers growing increasingly demanding in terms of customization, ROA needs to stay ahead of the curve in terms of innovation. Perhaps a prospective customer could upload a photo and see various types of stone to virtually carve it onto in an effort to facilitate better and faster sales. Putting choice into the hand of the consumer will create another differentiating factor for ROA to sustain their competitive advantage. Opportunities Threats Some of the external factors for ROA present themselves as opportunities rather than threats. For example, the rate of cremation is rising – currently ~25% and expected to rise to ~40% by 2010 (see figure 9 below). This presents an opportunity for the growing customer market that need an alternate method for memorializing these loved ones. A new product or deviation from the existing product line would be required to meet this need. Figure 9 (CANA, 2006) SWOT Summary This SWOT analysis reinforces ROA’s key strengths (branding, quality, labor force) which the company should continue to maintain. More importantly, however, is the revelation of the weaknesses in the organization (distribution, RD, strategic partnerships) and threats (overseas competition, labor unions) requiring a plan of action. This case study’s recommendations for that plan can be found in the Conclusion and Recommendation section. Porter’s Five Forces ROA’s competition framework is illustrated in Figure 10 below. Porter’s framework maps out the five competitive pressures for an industry. Figure 10 For ROA’s quarrying and manufacturing divisions, the larger threats stem from buyer power and substitution. Buyer power is a significant force as ROA maintains high pricing in comparison to the competition. ROA seeks to differentiate their product offering through quality and their perpetual warranty, charging a premium for these services. Buyer power is also emphasized by the growing number of alternative solutions available for memorialization. Lower cost bronze markers are common for cremation memorials, as well as spending alternatives for the urn. In these instances, the granite products ROA is known for are losing market demand, and as a result consumers have a higher bargaining power. Another of the forces in need of attention is industry rivalry. In conference calls with Norwich MBA students, ROA representatives have stated overseas competition is the fastest growing threat. â€Å"A granite company in China can quarry, manufacture, ship and resell a product for less [cost] than it takes [ROA] to create a finished product. † (Brock, 2007) While ROA contends these overseas monuments are inferior quality, this source for price competition creates diminished profit margins for ROA. Summary Similar to our SWOT analysis, we’re seeing a common theme for ROA to focus on specific areas of the business: Overseas competition Price Dwindling market segment Need for strategic partnerships (distribution, retail) Focusing on these factors will stabilize the company and provide a basis for sustained competitive advantage. Sustainable Competitive Advantage ROA’s competitive advantage is based on quality in raw materials, quality in manufacturing, and the industry’s only perpetual warranty. While these differentiating factors allow dominance over a portion of the target consumer market, the remaining consumers are less discerning on quality and more driven by price. To meet the needs of this consumer segment, ROA will need to offer a lower priced alternative product line. This can be accomplished through overseas partnerships, similar to the VIKA partnership in the Ukraine. Limiting themselves to the premier segment of a diminishing market will spell ROA’s doom. To protect the ROA brand’s association to quality, the lower-end product marketing could be done under a separate business name. The following table lists the resources and capacities for ROA. Resources and Capabilities Table 1 Importance Relative Strength Comments RESOURCES R1. Finance 9 2 ROA has shown steady decline year over year. R2. Technology 5 2 ROA has not made significant investments in technology to enable the business R3. Plant Equipment 8 8 These facilities are key components to ROAs continued success R4. Location 4 8 ROA operates in Vermont in close proximity to their quarries R5. Distribution (dealership network) 9 6 With sale of the retail division, the distribution network is critical. R6. Brands 7 7 ROA has a strong brand in the industry CAPABILITIES C1. Product Development 6 5 ROA must develop new products to meet changing market needs C2. Purchasing 7 4 ROA needs to perform a cost benefit analysis for overseas procurement of raw and semi-finished product C3. Engineering 8 9 ROA has a strong skilled labor force C4. Manufacturing 8 7 Additional cost-saving measures may be available through partnerships. C5. Financial Management 9 4 Though the Retail division has now been discontinued, the company has suffered financial losses year over year. C6. RD 5 1 No real RD investment C7. Marketing Sales 8 5 Limited web presence, lack of integrated CRM C8. Government Relations 8 8 Much of the Civic Memorial business is dependent on this business line. C9. Strategic Management 9 6 Discontinuing Retail was a sound decision, but was it too late? The company needs to get a few profitable quarters to satisfy shareholder concerns. Figure 11 Several key strengths and weaknesses are evident based on this evaluation. Of particular note is R1- ROA’s financials. This has been an area of weakness due, in large part, to the Retail organization. By discontinuing Retail, ROA has stepped onto the road to financial recovery, yet there are still additional steps needed to ensure that recovery takes place. These are addressed in other key weaknesses, such as partnership management, market incentives for distribution dealers, and contraction of operational expenses. Focusing on ROA’s strengths, engineering and manufacturing remain core assets to the company. The government relations ROA has been making are also strong assets for the organization, allowing growth in the civic memorial business where federal funding is required. Performance Measures Through the SWOT, Porter’s Five, and Resource and Capabilities matrixes, we have identified several strategic areas within ROA which are core to the growth and business success. Table 2 (below) captures these objectives with key performance measurements. These metrics above are broken into the strategic areas of financial, customer, internal processes, and learning and growth. Table 2 Strategic Performance Areas Objectives Measures Actual (2006) Actual (2007) Change Financial Cash Flow Positive net cash flow Net change in cash $ 1. 36 Mil. ($ 1. 39 Mil) ($ 2. 75 Mil. ) Revenue Increase sales Gross sales $ 50. 16 Mil. $ 55. 55 Mil. $ 5. 39 Mil. Debt Decrease debt Current Liabilities $ 47. 00 Mil. $ 27. 87 Mil. ($19. 13Mil. ) Customer Dealer relations Improve relations Dealer based sales N/A N/A N/A New products Introduce new low end product lines Customer adoption of new product N/A N/A N/A Customer satisfaction Survey to evaluate customer satisfaction Survey results N/A N/A N/A Internal Processes Manufacturing costs Decrease costs Manufacturing COGS $ 17. 6 Mil. $ 18. 0 Mil. $ 0. 4 Mil. Inventory Turnover Maintain or improve Inventory Turnover 1. 77 1. 89 0. 12 Distributor relations Improve relations Distributor survey N/A N/A N/A Learning and Growth Employee Satisfaction Maintain or improve Employee survey N/A N/A N/A Core skill competencies Improve skills Skills testing N/A N/A N/A The financial section outlines areas of positive performance, but also opportunities for improvement. Revenue improved 10% between 2006 and 2007, and debt fell 40%. While these numbers are drastic improvements, they are tempered with the discontinuation of the Retail business line, providing uncertainty on the sustainability of the recovery trend. More troubling is the slip in cash flow, as it fell from a positive $1. 36 million to a negative $1. 4 million. One will note that many of the metrics necessary in other sections are unavailable. These are metrics critical for the organization to monitor, and have either been ignored or are not publicly unavailable. Dealer relations are of particular importance with the discontinuation of the Retail organization. Strategic Integration Many suggestions brought about from these analyses are consistent with ROA’s stated mission and goals. However, while the goals ROA works towards are correct, there is still some question on the strategy in place to achieve those goals. Table 3 (below) suggests a point rating for the various segments of the business. The following section will delve into each of these initiatives in further detail. Table 3 Functional Initiatives BSC Performance Areas Affected Objectives Measures Change (2006-2007) Points HRM Human Capital Focus on strategic job families to decrease overhead SGA Increased $0. 11 Mil 15 Finance Financial Perspective Increase Profit Net Income ($1. 19 Mil) 25 Marketing Customer Management Process Increase customer base Number of sales N/A 25 Operations Inventory Turnover Increase quality, reduce errors Number of returns 0. 12 15 Change Leadership Organizational Capital Successful discontinuation of Retail and subsequent cultural adoption Strategic job employee satisfaction N/A 20 The order of importance suggested of 1) Finance 2) Marketing 3) Change Leadership 4) Operations 5) Human Resources are based on ROA’s SWOT and Porters 5 analyses. The company has been in steady fiscal decline over the last 5 years, and every effort must be made to limit overhead and spending while increasing sales in this pivotal time. To carry these sales out, a new marketing effort is required, and strategic partnerships with retailers and distributors are a core component to that effort. Based on the recent company changes and forecasted changes necessary, leadership must focus on careful strategic communication to bolster morale and align culture with the new business direction. These new directions require operational processes and systems in place to enable the business. Finally, the company cannot afford to lose the talent which provides their competitive advantage. The human capital component must focus on retaining key performers during this transition period. Conclusions Recommendations Following the suggested order of importance listed in the previous section, we begin the recommendations with Finance. As a publicly traded company, ROA has a fiduciary responsibility to their stockholders. (Friedman, 1970) Today, that responsibility is in direct conflict with the strongly held cultural values of ROA. The company has been slow to react to the overseas threat in availability and price, and has suffered significant market erosion due to this sluggishness. ROA prides themselves on being a US (and Vermont) company, and as a result of their industry and location are subject to significant overhead due to US Labor Union rates. While the quality of these skilled workers remains a differentiating factor, ROA must find ways to either lower domestic costs or increase offshore investments and partnerships to lower operational costs and provide a product line priced appropriately for the less discerning market segment unwilling to pay a premium for their product. This leads us into marketing recommendations. With the discontinuation of Retail, ROA is far more dependent on strategic partnerships in distribution and retail. Incentives for these partners are critical, and must be compelling enough to differentiate ROA from other granite wholesalers. ROA needs retailers and funeral home directors to sell ROA’s product line preferentially and only use a competing brand to save a customer sale. To facilitate this brand loyalty, ROA needs current marketing materials for consumers and information which is readily available and emphasizes ROA’s competitive advantage (quality, skilled labor, perpetual warranty) over the competition. ROA also needs a product line and pricing schedule which meets the needs of a broader segment of the market base. The ROA website needs a partner portal, such that retailers can sell ROA products through ROA’s site, as well as manage inventory and orders to ROA. This brings us to operations recommendations (we’ll address leadership at the end)†¦ One critical facet of operations is inventory management. ROA’s inventory turnover is too low. By implementing a partner portal, orders can be integrated into both lines of business (Quarry and Manufacturing), ensuring lead times are effectively managed and inventory reduced. As ROA increases its offshore presence, this type of a management system will be increasingly important to highlight areas of surplus and shortfall. By setting expectation with business partners accurately, ROA is enabling their partners to succeed, which in turn will anchor the partnership into the future. As ROA chooses where to allocate capital funds, marketing and operations should receive funding specific to these initiatives. As mentioned, ROA differentiates itself based on quality, and much of this quality stems from the skilled craftsmen and artisans which create their product offerings. Quality is core to ROA’s business, and outsourcing or off shoring these strategic job functions would likely lead to diminished quality, thereby destroying the competitive advantage ROA offers. Therefore ROA should maintain the finishing and final quality assurance inspection of all products domestic, but increase the offshore supply of raw materials (granite) and have products semi-finished shipped in. This will reduce both quarrying and manufacturing overhead, while maintaining the high levels of quality ROA is known for. The final section for recommendation is leadership. ROA’s leadership team has taken a bold step forward with discontinuation of the Retail division. However, it was done too late. The business has sustained years of lost revenue due to the failing Retail division. The leadership team has invested in offshore opportunities with VIKA. This, too, was done too late. International competition has eroded ROA’s consumer base and undersold their pricing structure. The first point of concern in evaluating ROA’s leadership is the sluggish reaction to threats and opportunities rather than proactively maneuvering the company for quicker responses. Now is the time to unite the company behind the manufacturing and quarry divisions to ensure positive momentum from the sales of Retail. Now is the time to confront the international competition threats by investing in offshore opportunities. Now is the time to solidify the relationships with distributors and retailers with strong incentives to bolster ROA’s sales and reinforce the market branding. The second point of concern is the culture in ROA which has lead to this situation. With the discontinuation of Retail, the company is provided with a rare opportunity to capitalize on the sense of urgency ensues to create change. (Kotter, 1996) With a carefully articulated vision and strategy, ROA has the opportunity to change the culture in the company from a lethargic reactive one to an energetic, proactive culture less likely to balk at the investment of an offshore manufacturing facility. Focusing inward on resource alignment is as critical (if not more so) as the external factors in ROA’s stated strategy. (ROA, 2008) Bibliography