Machiavelli, Lao-Tzu and Carnegie Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Machiavelli, Lao-Tzu and Carnegie - Essay Example Generally, when leaders need to make regular decisions that deal with the day to day running of the organization, they may choose to use democratic leadership to involve their subjects and other subordinates. Where there is the need for most executive and finance based decision to be made also, leaders may keep their cards close to their chest, exercising authoritative leadership. However, judging from the fact that some trend of leadership; not necessarily concerned about leadership style have produced more exemplary results of organizational success than others makes it possible to generally say that one concept of leadership is more effective and relevant than others. In this paper therefore, the works of Machiavelli and Lao-Tzu are compared to argue on which of the two authors offers a more proactive and relevant approach to modern leadership. Relevance and Effectiveness of advice in a Modern day Society To pass judgment on the advice on leadership that is most relevant and effec tive in a modern day society, it would be important to consider the kind of setting within which each of the two leaders gave out their advice and compare that to the kind of society we have today. Machiavelli wrote â€Å"The Prince† from a perspective of authoritarianism, where the prince is seen to be a superior, whose offenses to his subjects must be expected, but cannot be questioned. It is for instance stated specifically that â€Å"the prince cannot avoid giving offence to his new subjects, either in respect of the troops he quarters on them† (c. 3). Meanwhile in modern society, democratic practice is hailed in all facets of life, right from an individual level, to organizational level, then to state levels. On the other hand, â€Å"Thoughts from the Tao-te Ching† can be said to have been written in a state of general peace and calmness in the land. This notion is exemplified with a quote such as, â€Å"The good I meet with goodness; the bad I also meet w ith goodness. Thus I actualize goodness† (p. 121). Given the fact that modern society is currently backed by several pressure groups, international organizations and non-governmental organizations that champion the course of global peace and goodness as against war and violence, the advice given by Lao-Tzu on the need to embrace all with goodness can be said to be the most relevant and effective in a modern day society. There would be several justifications for pointing to Lao-Tzu’s advice on leadership as the most relevant and effective in modern day society. In the first place, most modern theories of leadership can be seen as directed towards the need for current leaders to raise the next generation of leaders right within their midst and in their presence. But to do this, it is important that followers will see diligence and trust in their leaders. It is for this reason Lao-Tzu states that â€Å"Not priding oneself on one’s worth forestalls the peopleâ€℠¢s envy. Not prizing treasures that are difficult to obtain keeps people from committing theft† (p. 98, line 18-20). That is to say that, leaders must see the need to create value in their followers rather than depending on the values of their worth and treasures. Meanwhile, when the advice of Machiavelli on the establishment of

Text and tradition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Text and tradition - Essay Example Socrates objects, pointing to existence of various Gods and, as a result, different ways of pleasing them; there is a logical contradiction when one the same action can be represented at the same time pious and improper: Later Euthyphro modifies definition by saying that pious is something that causes unanimously positive reaction in all Gods without exception (and vice versa). Socrates in reply formulates "Euthyphro`s dilemma": the act is pious because it is dear to Gods or it is dear to Gods because it is pious in nature? â€Å"And a thing is not seen because it is visible, but conversely, visible because it is seen; nor is a thing led because it is in the state of being led, or carried because it is in the state of being carried, but the converse of this. And now I think, Euthyphro, that my meaning will be intelligible; and my meaning is, that any state of action or passion implies previous action or passion" Socrates offers his own variant of the definition combining piety with justice. However, reflections on this concept, make the interlocutors reject such definition because all pious is fair, thus not all fair is pious. Attempt to specify the concept of justice leads Socrates and Euthyphro to the thought that justice involves interaction with Gods in this or that sense. Euthyphro formulates the definition according to which piety is intervened with sacrificing and praying. However, both interlocutors agree that sacrificing is reasonable in case when someone needs gifts while Gods cannot require anything, and, therefore, the acts of praying and sacrificing do not make sense and cannot solely characterize piety. On the contrary these acts remind trade. As a result Socrates and Euthyphro return to the thought that piety is a gratification to God. The general sense of "Euthyphro" is clear. It is correct that piety is a gratification to Gods but it is not exact. It is also correct that piety is an aspiration to justice but it is not precise as well.

Manu Soccer - Case Study Essay Example for Free

Manu Soccer Case Study Essay Situational Problem Tom Owen is working towards increasing his business and profit by the means of changing his current services and products or offering new ones to meet his customers needs, or by keeping his current products and services the same, but offering them to new markets. S.W.O.T. Analysis Strengths: †¢Tom Owen himself is an asset in his knowledge of soccer and his ability to get along with the kids hes teaching. †¢Hiring instructors with similar qualities to create a good workforce. †¢MANUs market penetration of the Fort Collins area ensures that all soccer players age 11 to 14 are aware of his soccer program. Weaknesses: †¢MANUs dependence on Tom Owen in all of its functions offers little opportunity for him to expand to other locations. Opportunities: †¢The close proximity to three large cities that offer limited soccer training camps. Threats: †¢Some parents may consider soccer as a luxury that can be eliminated in face of economic downturn and growing unemployment. †¢The emergence of new soccer training programs in direct competition with MANU. Market Situation Approximately 90 percent of MANU’s customers live in Fort Collins which has a population of 110,000. Greeley and Longmont are about 25 miles away by interstate highway and have a population of approximately 80,000 each. Loveland is a city that is also about 25 miles from Fort Collins and has a population of approximately 60,000. Competitive Situation There is almost no direct competition for MANU in Fort Collins. The surrounding cities of Loveland, Greeley, and Longmont offer even less developed soccer programs. Target Customer The target customer for the MANUs services would be competitive soccer players from the ages of 11 to 14. However, the ultimate purchaser of these services would be the mother or father of the soccer player. This would necessitate the need of a market strategy that caters to both the parent and the soccer player. Potential Solutions †¢Develop programs that are aimed at kids over the age of 14 since the majority of the kids move on to other sports upon reaching that age. oPro These kids are already familiar with Tom and are the most likely to sign up for programs in this age group. oCon Most kids in this age group do not find soccer as appealing as other sports and are unlikely to pursue soccer. †¢Develop a marketing strategy to encourage more product purchases from his existing customer base. oPro Availability of good and recommended equipment would make soccer more appealing. oCon Extra costs can be a deterrent when the economy is bad. †¢Develop new programs to cater to the 6 to 9 age group market of Fort Collins that is still low. oPro Having more children from this age group would ensure a larger, future enlistment from the 11 to 14 age group which has shown to already be considerably large. oCon Children from the 6 to 9 age group are very different from the 11 to 14 age group and have to be treated and taught differently. Tom and his instructors have proven to be more effective with the latter age group and would have to work up a way to be appealing with the younger age group. †¢Develop programs to attract the kids of Loveland, Longmont, and Greeley. oPro These three cities have a combined population that is twice that of Fort Collins. Which in turn, offers the potential of Tom being able to triple his current enrollment. Also, these cities have little to no soccer programs in place that would be of major competition to Tom. oCon The 25 mile distance would be a large deterrent for many parents to desire driving to. Tom cannot be at all of these places at once to supervise the programs. Recommended Solution The best solution for Tom would be the fourth option of expanding into the nearby cities of Loveland, Longmont, and Greeley. Considering his current good market penetration of Fort Collins, it would be unwise to spend his resources on trying to acquire more customers from this existing market rather than entering new markets. This course of action would also not require Tom to change or recreate his products, but to continue using what he is already familiar with. Potential Marketing Strategies Tom could offer his current instructors the chance to head up the MANU soccer programs in each of the new markets. Tom had already hired them based on their qualifications and personalities being similar to his own. This course of action would not require Tom to be in four places at once, but the close proximity would allow for him to stay involved. Tom could reach out to any of the existing soccer programs in these towns and offer them the opportunity to sign on with him if he found their instructors to have a compatible program to his own. This would allow an easier entrance into these new markets as the current soccer programs already have a customer base to work with and build on. This would also decrease any potential competition he may have had to contend with upon entering these new markets.

Tao Of Pooh And Application Life And Therapy Philosophy Essay

Tao Of Pooh And Application Life And Therapy Philosophy Essay This paper discusses how the book the Tao Of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff relates the concept of Taoism to the characters from the Winnie The Pooh by A A Milne and their application to life and therapy. In The Tao of Pooh, Benjamin Hoff utilizes characters from Winnie the Pooh to attempt to explain the fundamentals of Taoism. By observing Eeyore, Piglet, Rabbit, Owl, Tigger, and Pooh, it is easy to see that the actions of the character Pooh best describe Taoism. One of the most important principles of Taoism used in the book is the uncarved block. Hoff uses the characters from A A Milnes Winnie the Pooh books to illustrate and explain the basics of Taoist philosophy, showing how Pooh himself is the epitome of the Taoist thinker, enjoying life with simplicity but not stupidity. The author explains that Taoists try to appreciate, learn from, and work with whatever happens in life, whereas, in contrast, Confucianism attempts to impose order, and Buddhists see lifes tribulations as obstacles to be overcome before achieving Nirvana. He describes how Tao is the Way, which can be understood but not defined, and illustrates key elements of Tao such as Pu, the uncarved block, and Wu wei, goi ng with the flow. In case you should think that this book is altogether too simplistic, I should add that Hoff touches on the writings of Lao-Tzu (author of the Tao Te Ching), Chuang-tse, the poet Li Po, and other Taoist philosophers, giving his own interpretations of the passages. Hoff shows how Pooh best explains the Uncarved Block. The principle of the Uncarved Block is that things that are simple contain their own natural power, power that can be spoiled and lost when overcomplicated. Using the characters he shows how our lives can be sabotaged by errors in thinking and how it can be prevented. Hoff uses Rabbit to show when you are racing through life you can miss out on the valuable things that make up life itself. We seem to jeopardize ourselves by thinking too much of the self. Owl is used to show that when trying to find underlying meaning for everything you overcomplicate it. Hoff uses Piglet in the sense that Piglet is always scared and as a result scared to try things, if Piglet wouldnt dwell in worry, he would accomplish more, and find happiness .Sometimes staying less in your head is an advantage. Hoff goes on to show that the character of Eeyore is always depressed and dwells in negativity. If he abstained from this life would be completely different. Now finally we come to Pooh. The author exemplifies how Pooh doesnt stay in worry, nor is he over-analytical, he stays in the spontaneous. As a result of staying in the way he finds everything goes its own course and works out as a result of his non-action. Pooh goes with the flow of nature and doesnt interfere. He leads a life of simplicity and one free of worry. This is a perfect reflection of someone who follows the Tao. I think this is more or less a basic explanation of Tao and how to apply it to our lives by modeling out behavior in a likewise manner. There arent any obscure references here only face value application. The use of the cartoon characters that we all are familiar with is a very u seful strategy. It is a way of explanation that transcends all racial, sexual, gender barriers. For example, we wont try too hard or explain too much, because that would only Confuse things, and because it would leave the impression that it was all only an intellectual idea that could be left on the intellectual level and ignored. (p. 10) He uses each chapter of the book to teach a new principle of the Uncarved Block of Taoism. In each chapter he tells a Winnie the Pooh story and then explains how it relates to Taoism. Hoff writes a chapter teaching how cleverness does not always help, but it sometimes destroys things and is the reason that things do not work out. Hoff teaches that the Taoist believe that if you understand Inner Nature it is far more effective than knowledge or cleverness. He uses a poem called Cottleston Pie. The poem explains how things just are as they are and how people try to violate these principles with their everyday lives. There is also the story of Tigger and Roo. Tigger tries to be what he is not and as a result everything goes wrong and he always ends up getting stuck in a tree. Hoff also explains that working with Nature is best in the sense that you do not screw things up with a story about Eeyore getting stuck in the river. Everybody had been trying to think of clever ways to get Eeyore out of the river when Pooh said that if they just dropped a big stone into it, then it would just wash Eeyore ashore. He did it without even thinking, because thinking would complicate things, and of course it worked. Pooh worked with Nature and things worked out for him. As you can see, Hoff uses many different Winnie the Pooh stories to teach the uncomplicated ways of the Taoist. The only argument that Hoff really presents is whether or not the Taoist way is the best way and whether or not it really works. When you look at it from the point of Pooh and the stories he is a part of, you are able to see how easily the Taoist ideology fits snuggly into Pooh and his world. Obviously if you do not believe that cleverness and knowledge are not important, then you will not agree with anything Hoff is saying, but he makes you believe in showing you how it always works out with Pooh. He argues whether or not cleverness and knowledge really are important. For example, it can be explained in the story when Eeyore gets stuck in the river. Clever ways do not work, but Poohs simple way always seem to work surprisingly well. Hoff also argues how the Taoist believes that over exhausting ourselves needlessly only works against us. He uses Rabbit to explain this. Quite simply, Rabbit is always in a hurry, he is the very face of stress itself. Hoff explains these so called creatures like a shadow. Shadows are always rushing along. They are also always trying to lose their shadows. They try to run from them not realizing that they cannot, that they are one and the same. Hoff argues that by just sitting down and enjoying a nice sunny day, like Pooh would do, you can complicate things. You do not get the full fulfillment of your life. There is the argument that this is just using examples to match the conclusions that we have already come to. I believe however, that one cannot free himself of the weight of our foolish ways until we have exposed that fallacy and this is a vehicle to do that without feeling condescended by an authority figure that many associate with other comparative theories. Case and point Hoffs adaption of Winnie the Pooh to Taoist philosophy is brilliant and yet never strays from its humility. Through this I can now see how the field of psychology, is a chaotic discipline much more suited to the Taoist approach of going with the flow-the Wu wei, then against it. In Hoffs description of A A Milnes characters I was able to see myself trying to be like the Owl, while actually being a combination of the Rabbit and the pessimistic Eeyor e. Hoff has shown me how the ideal is to be a simple character such as Pooh himself, accepting life, work, and other people as they are rather than trying to impose order on them. I now seek to accept and move with events as they occur, preferring not to try to impose change nor viewing changes it as an obstacle to be overcome. It all comes down to acceptance and will. When you yield to the flow you find that it goes along with the grain of your life instead of against it. This approach spills over into every aspect of life, keeping them simple, letting nature direct the flow as it were.

Michelangelo Essay -- essays research papers

In the time of the Renaissance there were many artists but one really stood out to me, he was Michelangelo. He stood out the most to me because he had some of the most beautiful work I have ever seen. He painted some of the most beautiful building that is still around today. One of the most that I enjoyed looking at was the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. It took him a lot of time to paint the entire building. I feel this was his best piece of art ever. He had many accomplishments that were outstanding. The second of five brothers, Michelangelo was born on March 6, 1475, at Caprese, in Tuscany, to Ludovico di Leonardo di Buonarotto Simoni and Francesca Neri. The same day, his father noted down: "Today March 6, 1475, a child of the male sex has been born to me and I have named him Michelangelo. He was born on Monday between 4 and 5 in the morning, at Caprese, where I am the Podestà  ." Although born in the small village of Caprese, Michelangelo always considered himself a "son of Florence," as did his father, "a Citizen of Florence." Buonarroti's mother, Francesca Neri, was too sick and frail to nurse Michelangelo, so he was placed with a wet nurse, in a family of stonecutters, where he, "sucked in the craft of hammer and chisel with my foster mother. When he told my father that he wished to be an artist, he flew into a rage, 'artists are laborers, no better than shoemakers." Buonarroti's mother died young, when the child was only six years ol d. But even before then, Michelangelo's childhood had been lacking affection, and he was always to retain a good position in his father’s heart. Touchy and quick to respond with fierce words, he tended to keep to himself, out of shyness according to some but also, according to others, a lack of trust in his fellows. His father soon recognized the boy's intelligence and "anxious for him to learn his letters, sent him to the school of a master, Francesco Galeota from Urbino, who in that time taught grammar." While he studied the principles of Latin, Michelangelo made friends with a student, Francesco Granacci six years older than him, who was learning the art of painting in Ghirlandaio's studio and who encouraged Michelangelo to follow his own artistic vocation. Michelangelo studied the human anatomy in order to make his painting more life like. In doing things the pictures l... ...onna and Christ, may have been begun by Michelangelo before 1550 but had remained unfinished. Now his friends - we are told by Vasari - had asked him to start work on it again "so that he could continue using his chisel everyday." Still perfectly lucid, the almost ninety-year-old Michelangelo created one of his most spiritual images, in which the Mother and Christ almost interpenetrate in an indissoluble union, beyond passion and physical death. While residing in Florence for this extended period, Michelangelo also undertook-between 1519 and 1534-the commission of the Medici Tombs for the New Sacristy of San Lorenzo. His design called for two large wall tombs facing each other across the high, domed room. One was intended for Lorenzo De’ Medici, duke of Urbino; the other for Giulinao De’ Medici duke of Nemours. The tombs of the Medici were of a completely new form. Michelangelo abandoned the use of architecture and arabesques that decorated all Florentine tombs, and that he himself had widely used in his designs for the tomb of Pope Julius II. Here, he wanted no accessory forms, and only the statues were to express the thoughts of his soul.

Haiku master Essay -- essays papers

Haiku master Matsuo Basho radically redefined the three-line, 17-syllable haiku poetic form from an entertaining pastime in 16th-century Japan to a major literary genre in the 17th century. An early Basho haiku provides an example of his meticulous and sensitive approach in selecting and arranging words and images to produce highly evocative allusions: On a leafless bough In the gathering autumn dusk: A solitary crow! Haiku emanates from the 31 syllable, five-line "tanka" (short poem) which was originally arranged in two parts, an opening triplet (hokku) and a couplet. The Haiku form was popularized during the Heian period (794-1185). At that time, it was customary for the educated elite of Japan to engage in writing, singing, and reciting poetry as forms of cultural entertainment. In addition, social customs of the day demanded that the aristocracy of the refined court society display both a sensitivity to nature in their poetic expression and an ability to discuss the poetic classics of Japanese and Chinese literature. Tanka, then, could express a wealth ...

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time

The narrator of the book; ‘The curious Incident of the dog in the night-time’ by Mark Haddon, is a kid named Christopher who is born with Asperberg’s syndrome, and therefore he narrates the novel from his point of view which is very interesting because he sees things in a much simpler way than people who do not suffer this mental birth defect. Christopher shows the ‘otherness’ in society because he is living in a social environment that unconsciously discriminates and excludes people that are different. A moment where we can see how Christopher is treated differently is in school. He goes to a school for kids that have mental problems that need special cares. Even though Christopher has this mental dementia, he is a genius in mathematics and physics, and as his school does not count with ‘A’ math classes, Christopher requested them. The school wanted to deprive this kind of education to him because they thought he was not going to endure it and that it was not necessary. But finally, Christopher’s father complained and he was allowed to take those classes. Also, he is discriminated when the police comes to Mrs. Shear’s house and sees him with the dead dog in his arms. The policeman acted alert from the beginning, when he realized that Christopher had a mental problem. He was quickly judged and considered guilty, and any move that he made played against him (the policeman touched him, and as Christopher does not like to be touched, hit him and was accused for attacking the police). He was taken to the police station and ended up with a mark on his personal register. Finally Christopher’s father saved him from being accused as the murderer of Mrs. Shears’s dog. In conclusion, Christopher lives unconscious of how differently he is treated and passes through them without caring. However, many people love him and take care of him.