Here is my reading reflection on Chapter 5 of the textbook:
1. What stood out most to me during the reading was the one section that discussed entrepreneurship in Africa. Due to all the turmoil in Africa, I assumed that no businesses would even consider doing business there. Even though the reading mentioned how very few companies to venture there, the success of ECP and the return on their investment shocked me. Everyone just assumes there is no opportunity, which ends up leaving the door wide open to those who want to expand there.
2. The difference between Duplication and Synthesis is slightly vague to me, but not completely confusing. Duplication says it is replicating and existing product but making sure to add new touches to it to make it different; synthesis says it takes existing concepts to formulate something new. They are slightly similar so its a little confusing.
3. Two questions: How would you go about handling idea killers, so as to not derail you? what would you recommend doing to change the way you think (to be more unaffected by those comments)? Sometimes idea killers can be co-workers, and you can just ignore them, but if the idea killers are close people to you, you tend to be more affected and let yourself be influenced by their comments. If you can learn to manage your mentality and emotions, maybe it would be easier to be creative.
4. I did not notice anything that I disagreed with the author this time around. It just seems that the steps to get rid of muddling mind sets, such as stereotyping, seem to be made to look easy. As humans we develop our own opinions around our teens and 20s, and as we get older it becomes even more difficult to change a person's mentality. So I feel that the author makes it look easier than it really is, especially if you are someone much older.
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Top 5 World Problems
So last week I listed ten of what I considered to be the world's biggest problems, in no particular. This time I am narrowing it down to the Top 5 and I will be ranking them this time, as well as the solutions to each. I will re-post my explanations and solutions from last week for those who did not see my previous post:
Top 5 Problems (from most serious to least serious):
1. Human trafficking of women in prostitution. I know this is a pretty sensitive topic but I do believe it has become a global issue. Women are taken away from their loved ones against their wills, some violently, into this awful industry that forces them to become sex slaves, as if they were toys to be played with. The conditions these women live in are fit for animals. Their "bosses" sell them to different men for money, not caring at all. There are times when these women are injected with different drugs and eventually develop an involuntary addiction. Those who try to escape and are unsuccessful are beaten or sometimes even shot dead. Those who are able to escape sometimes suffer severe mental trauma. The rate has increased in areas like South America, East Asia and Southeast Asia. Some ways women can prevent putting themselves in these dangerous situations is to never travel alone, especially at night. Seems pretty obvious but its the most ignored. If you travel abroad, take this into even more consideration, because you are completely on your own. Also, don't act foolishly or put yourself in potentially dangerous situations (ex: going home piss drunk with someone you don't know, walking dangerous street in the late hours). Some governments have taken action into trying to locate and rescue these traffickers, but prevention is key.
2. Refugee and immigrant crisis. People around the world suffer many different situations. Mexico has increased violence and a serious issue with drug selling, Venezuela is suffering serious political corruption, Syria is in constant danger and political instability, etc. People decide to move leave their home countries because conditions have become unbearable and even unlivable. Other countries around the world, instead of helping, their solutions is to reject these people and close off their borders. In reference to the refugees, by all means, I understand that taking in massive amounts of people may be a little difficult, but many people are suffering and wouldn't be fleeing if they didn't think they were in danger. As for the immigrant crisis, many people see immigrants and low lives who are mooching off a country. In reality many immigrants are productive members of society who actually help the economy. These people have a serious reason for leaving their homes in search of better lives. A solution for everyday people is to get involved in immigration policies going on in your country. By that I mean: vote and support people in your local and nation government who support positive immigration policies. As for big solutions, national leaders have the power in their hands, so having elected officials who can execute plans to solve these problems without harming those refugees and immigrants is crucial.
3. Climate Change and pollution. As people, we are depleting our natural resources at a dramatic rate, it is almost scary. The amounts of fossil fuels used is massive, the amount of forests and natural land keeps being torn down and destroyed, and the amount of water that we waste has created a crisis. Now you see more power plants than you do nature. Also, all these factories create so much air and water pollution, that we are slowly destroying the planet. China's air pollution has reached deadly standards, Africa has a serious water crisis, and global warming is causing climate changes that have very significant impacts. Solutions would be to recycle more, don't waste so much water, lead a more green life. Corporations are now trying to become more green become a social concern. A small act can create impact.
4. The huge gap of the upper class with the middle and lower class. Slowly the gap between upper class and middle has become so big it is ridiculous. As the upper class gains more wealth, the middle class seems to lose ground. This financial gap leads to a social gap. In reference to the U.S. the upper class loses to lower classes in terms of number of people, but they seem to hold the most power and influence in the country. The gap has led to social instability because the largest portion of the population, with the most needs, is getting pushed to the side for the needs of the few wealthy. This gap eventually leads to political unrest among the people. Only solutions I can really think of for the immediate future, is to become successful middle class citizens in order to gain some strength; sounds cliche but it is true. Future solutions would require more intervention in income inequality and social policies.
5. Racism. Judging people by the color of their skin or where they come from is ongoing, and I am not sure where it will end. It has some similarity to my earlier reference to religious intolerance. As access to travel has become so accessible, people from one country immigrate to another, and over time their roots change the population structure of a region. There are people who refuse to accept change. I've seen many people I care about lose job opportunities because they were Black or Latino. I and several other friends have been harassed by people for being Latinos. In Asia, some people refuse to accept anyone that is not Asian. If we reject people purely on the fact that they are from somewhere else or have a different skin color, we lose the opportunity to grow. Solutions for the common individual are to look at people based on their character, try to get to know them. Another cliche, but people are more than a physical attribute.
Reasoning: The reason I chose trafficking as the the number one problem and the refugee/immigrant crisis as number two is because it has to do with human life and how people today are put in danger. Women today are in constant danger; some are being raped, attacked, and even kidnapped. As for the refugees and immigrants, they are fleeing from their homes that are unsafe and they themselves under threat of death, and when they are not given help, they end up in refugee camps or taken in by police force. Majority of the problems the world has is because of us: people. If we don't start working at the root of the problem (namely us), then nothing will ever get solved. The fact that people can treat other people in these ways shows that humans have a long way to go.
Solutions to each problem ranked (from most possible to implement to least possible to implement):
*** solutions are given in each description above***
1. Trafficking of women for prostitution
2. Racism
3. Climate change and pollution
4. Refugee and immigrant crisis
5. Gap between upper and middle class
Reasoning: My number one solution is also for the human trafficking of women. A lot of organizations have popped up to help rescue women in these situations, as well as to offer help in moving forward from those dark times. However, the best way to prevent these problems is by women taking matters into their own hands and being careful. If some women were more careful when in certain situations, we could prevent the number of women who are kidnapped. I also listed racism as a top solution because the solution has to start with people. Our society is slowly becoming one of acceptance, but we still have a long way, so by having individuals move past it, that is the only way we can get through it. Both of the top solutions have to deal with people as the solutions. They are matters, I think, people have the most power to solve, therefore the most possible to implement. The others require more power and strategy, maybe even money.
Top 5 Problems (from most serious to least serious):
1. Human trafficking of women in prostitution. I know this is a pretty sensitive topic but I do believe it has become a global issue. Women are taken away from their loved ones against their wills, some violently, into this awful industry that forces them to become sex slaves, as if they were toys to be played with. The conditions these women live in are fit for animals. Their "bosses" sell them to different men for money, not caring at all. There are times when these women are injected with different drugs and eventually develop an involuntary addiction. Those who try to escape and are unsuccessful are beaten or sometimes even shot dead. Those who are able to escape sometimes suffer severe mental trauma. The rate has increased in areas like South America, East Asia and Southeast Asia. Some ways women can prevent putting themselves in these dangerous situations is to never travel alone, especially at night. Seems pretty obvious but its the most ignored. If you travel abroad, take this into even more consideration, because you are completely on your own. Also, don't act foolishly or put yourself in potentially dangerous situations (ex: going home piss drunk with someone you don't know, walking dangerous street in the late hours). Some governments have taken action into trying to locate and rescue these traffickers, but prevention is key.
2. Refugee and immigrant crisis. People around the world suffer many different situations. Mexico has increased violence and a serious issue with drug selling, Venezuela is suffering serious political corruption, Syria is in constant danger and political instability, etc. People decide to move leave their home countries because conditions have become unbearable and even unlivable. Other countries around the world, instead of helping, their solutions is to reject these people and close off their borders. In reference to the refugees, by all means, I understand that taking in massive amounts of people may be a little difficult, but many people are suffering and wouldn't be fleeing if they didn't think they were in danger. As for the immigrant crisis, many people see immigrants and low lives who are mooching off a country. In reality many immigrants are productive members of society who actually help the economy. These people have a serious reason for leaving their homes in search of better lives. A solution for everyday people is to get involved in immigration policies going on in your country. By that I mean: vote and support people in your local and nation government who support positive immigration policies. As for big solutions, national leaders have the power in their hands, so having elected officials who can execute plans to solve these problems without harming those refugees and immigrants is crucial.
3. Climate Change and pollution. As people, we are depleting our natural resources at a dramatic rate, it is almost scary. The amounts of fossil fuels used is massive, the amount of forests and natural land keeps being torn down and destroyed, and the amount of water that we waste has created a crisis. Now you see more power plants than you do nature. Also, all these factories create so much air and water pollution, that we are slowly destroying the planet. China's air pollution has reached deadly standards, Africa has a serious water crisis, and global warming is causing climate changes that have very significant impacts. Solutions would be to recycle more, don't waste so much water, lead a more green life. Corporations are now trying to become more green become a social concern. A small act can create impact.
4. The huge gap of the upper class with the middle and lower class. Slowly the gap between upper class and middle has become so big it is ridiculous. As the upper class gains more wealth, the middle class seems to lose ground. This financial gap leads to a social gap. In reference to the U.S. the upper class loses to lower classes in terms of number of people, but they seem to hold the most power and influence in the country. The gap has led to social instability because the largest portion of the population, with the most needs, is getting pushed to the side for the needs of the few wealthy. This gap eventually leads to political unrest among the people. Only solutions I can really think of for the immediate future, is to become successful middle class citizens in order to gain some strength; sounds cliche but it is true. Future solutions would require more intervention in income inequality and social policies.
5. Racism. Judging people by the color of their skin or where they come from is ongoing, and I am not sure where it will end. It has some similarity to my earlier reference to religious intolerance. As access to travel has become so accessible, people from one country immigrate to another, and over time their roots change the population structure of a region. There are people who refuse to accept change. I've seen many people I care about lose job opportunities because they were Black or Latino. I and several other friends have been harassed by people for being Latinos. In Asia, some people refuse to accept anyone that is not Asian. If we reject people purely on the fact that they are from somewhere else or have a different skin color, we lose the opportunity to grow. Solutions for the common individual are to look at people based on their character, try to get to know them. Another cliche, but people are more than a physical attribute.
Reasoning: The reason I chose trafficking as the the number one problem and the refugee/immigrant crisis as number two is because it has to do with human life and how people today are put in danger. Women today are in constant danger; some are being raped, attacked, and even kidnapped. As for the refugees and immigrants, they are fleeing from their homes that are unsafe and they themselves under threat of death, and when they are not given help, they end up in refugee camps or taken in by police force. Majority of the problems the world has is because of us: people. If we don't start working at the root of the problem (namely us), then nothing will ever get solved. The fact that people can treat other people in these ways shows that humans have a long way to go.
Solutions to each problem ranked (from most possible to implement to least possible to implement):
*** solutions are given in each description above***
1. Trafficking of women for prostitution
2. Racism
3. Climate change and pollution
4. Refugee and immigrant crisis
5. Gap between upper and middle class
Reasoning: My number one solution is also for the human trafficking of women. A lot of organizations have popped up to help rescue women in these situations, as well as to offer help in moving forward from those dark times. However, the best way to prevent these problems is by women taking matters into their own hands and being careful. If some women were more careful when in certain situations, we could prevent the number of women who are kidnapped. I also listed racism as a top solution because the solution has to start with people. Our society is slowly becoming one of acceptance, but we still have a long way, so by having individuals move past it, that is the only way we can get through it. Both of the top solutions have to deal with people as the solutions. They are matters, I think, people have the most power to solve, therefore the most possible to implement. The others require more power and strategy, maybe even money.Sunday, January 24, 2016
Identifying Local Opportunities
All my articles came from the local South Florida paper, the Sun Sentinel:
1."Firms fear leak of business data - Customers of office merger candidates want confidentiality protected"
http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/15A83809A89ED590?p=AWNB
- According to the article, the Free Trade Commission has rejected the merger between Staples and Office Depot for specific reasons. Now when the FTC was reviewing the proposal for the merger, they accumulated a lot of confidential information from the big giants' clients. These clients, such as AAA and Lowe's, gave the information willingly under the circumstances that it would remain confidential. Staples and Office Depot say they want access to the information so that they can understand why their proposal was denied, however the clients say that the info they are asking for is not relevant to their issue and could put potentially put them at risk in terms of business and competitive advantage in the market.
- The main problem is that the client companies of Staples and Office Depot are at risk of having confidential information leaked to the giants. Like I mentioned above, if this info is leaked they could lose their competitive advantage, or even other business partners.
- The ones who have the problems are the client companies such as AAA, Lowe's, and Ecolab, just to name a few
2."Dispute keeps WVSN offscreen - Channel blacked out on U-verse"
http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/15A88E9994C08FA0?p=AWNB
- There is a dispute occurring between AT&T U-Verse and the broadcast channel WVSN Channel 7. AT&T has blocked the broadcast of WSVN on their service because they believe that the amount the broadcast channel is asking for, in terms of compensation, is ridiculously high. On the other hand, WVSN believes that they are asking for a fair price for their service. with the upcoming NFL divisional playoff game coming, customers are hoping broadcast is restored. The article states that a lot of broadcast companies wait until major events come up, like the NFL playoffs or award shows like the Emmy's, to jack up their price up to 6 times as much, expecting the cable providers to pay.
- The problem is that neither AT&T nor WSVN are willing to give in in resolving their issue. AT&T believes the broadcast company is asking an unreasonable amount of money for the broadcast, while WSVN argues that it wants, what they believe, is fair pay.
- While it seems logical that AT&T and WSVN have the problem, I actually think it is the CUSTOMERS of the cable service that have the biggest problem. Many customers were expecting to watch the big game this coming weekend and now are inconvenienced by this issue. Now they have to find other means of watching the game because they cannot rely on their cable provider.
3."Video of Carnival worker's death sparks Internet uproar"
http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/15A2F5C7A0CA3DC8?p=AWNB
- A video shot by a passenger of the Carnival Ecstasy captured the death of a ship electrician. According to the passenger, he was on his way to dinner when he saw blood dripping non-stop down the front of the elevator door. The passenger received a lot of negative feedback on social media due to the fact that he filmed it, but an attorney mentioned that it was actually good that is was filmed because sometimes large companies fail to acknowledge the truth or change up the story. The FBI, Coast Guard, and the Miami-Dade police homicide unit are now investigating the situation
- The problem is that a death of a Carnival employee occurred while it was on its final-leg of its three day schedule.
- Carnival cruise line is now the one who has the problem. Not only did a death occur on their ship, but it was filmed and witnessed by many passengers. This can cause controversy for the ship since the cause of death has not been identified; they may have drops in sales or loss of customers due to this incident, maybe even slightly taint their reputation.
4."Can cancer radiation damage the heart?"
http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/15A34A7E917A1730?p=AWNB
- A person, by the name of T.B.M, sends a message to Dr. Roach asking for more information on how breast cancer radiation may cause heart attacks. Dr, Roach responds to her saying that radiation to the heart can damage the blood vessels, but that the risk is very small. Dr. Roach does say, however, that is is beneficial to use medication to prevent heart disease while under radiation treatment and to live a healthy lifestyle to prevent it as well.
- The problem was whether or not radiation for breast cancer patients lead to the development of heart disease or increase the chances of heart attacks.
- The one with the problem was T.B.M., but also any breast cancer patients under radiation (indirectly).
5."Pipelines carry Great Lakes danger? - 540K barrels of oil, liquid natural gas travel under the water daily"
http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/15A3EF1F4AA1E0C8?p=AWNB
- A pipeline called "Line 5" was discovered in the waters of the Straits of Mackinac, which is where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet. The set of pipes is 62 years old, and it was long forgotten until another Enbridge pipe, Line 6B, burst in 2010. This line operates in what is considered to be the world's most sensitive fresh water areas. The shutdown of the pipe was rejected, and instead a Pipleline Safety Advisory Board was established to study all the pipelines. The company that the shutdown would be too costly and even riskier than just continuing its use and monitoring it. Others, like Chris Shepler who runs a ferryboat business on those waters, say that even if what Enbridge says is true, the risk is too high because 40 million people depend on those waters for drinking water. Other researchers state that if there was a leak the spread would be too quick to control even if action was taken immediately.
- The problem is the continued use of Line 5 to transport oil under the the Great Lakes waters
- The ones who have the problem are the residents of the area who use the Great Lakes waters as a source of drinking water. They are in possible danger of water contamination.
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
World's Biggest Problems (and Solutions!)
So you already heard my rant on things that particularly bug me and cause some minor problems. However, it's time to think on a larger scale. So many things are currently happening in the world that its sometimes hard to just skip by them without noticing. Some may be huge issues while other might be smaller yet still significant. Here is a list of what I think are the biggest problems in the world and some possible solutions to the matter:
1. Food waste. Food waste, to be clear, is food that has not been eaten or has been thrown away. The world produces so much food but a large majority is thrown out, especially in well developed countries such as the United States. How is it that we have so many people starving to death in the world but we have enough food to throw out? Some simple solutions are to only order or prepare the amount of food you are going to eat, only buy the food you know you will use, and for places like restaurants, sell smaller portions of food so half the meal doesn't get thrown out! Also, food that is not used could be donated to homeless shelters or people who have nothing to eat, they sure need it more than you do.
2. Something that goes along with the previous problem, starvation. So many people around the world are dying of hunger every day. This is mostly prominent in lesser developed regions, such as Africa, the Middle East or Southeast Asia. There is enough food produced to feed the starving, but nothing is done. It gets to a point where you will see thousands of people bone-thin, literally I can see their skin clinging to their bones for dear life. Some solutions are similar to the ones above. Donate food to those who need it, or donate funds to organizations that help those in need in other countries. Just verify that those organizations are transparent with how the money is allocated.
3. Human trafficking of women in prostitution. I know this is a pretty sensitive topic but I do believe it has become a global issue. Women are taken away from their loved ones against their wills, some violently, into this awful industry that forces them to become sex slaves, as if they were toys to be played with. The conditions these women live in are fit for animals. Their "bosses" sell them to different men for money, not caring at all. There are times when these women are injected with different drugs and eventually develop an involuntary addiction. Those who try to escape and are unsuccessful are beaten or sometimes even shot dead. Those who are able to escape sometimes suffer severe mental trauma. The rate has increased in areas like South America, East Asia and Southeast Asia. Some ways women can prevent putting themselves in these dangerous situations is to never travel alone, especially at night. Seems pretty obvious but its the most ignored. If you travel abroad, take this into even more consideration, because you are completely on your own. Also, don't act foolishly or put yourself in potentially dangerous situations (ex: going home piss drunk with someone you don't know, walking dangerous street in the late hours). Some governments have taken action into trying to locate and rescue these traffickers, but prevention is key.
4. Religious intolerance and animosity. Over the past few years religious intolerance has become more obvious. World War II was the first major incident involving innocent Jewish people being killed just because of what they believed in. After 9/11 this growing hatred towards Muslims increased, and now with ISIS and acts of terrorism, the Muslim population is being attacked. How can you associate a massive population with the acts of a few unrelated people? Solutions are pretty easy: try accepting people for who they are and not what their faith is. Actions speak louder than words. Just because someone doesn't believe in the same thing that you do, it doesn't mean they are wrong, they are just different.
5. Politicians that are bought out and push their own agendas and don't consider the people. Corruption is on-going, and I am not sure when it will end. In reference to The U.S. (I don't have a deep understanding of international politics), we see all these potential presidential candidates being funded by these large corporations and are pushing their agendas. They will do whatever is need to keep their funding, ignoring the problems the people are now facing, such as increased student loans, the conditions of education for children, healthcare that is affordable etc. The best solution is to not stand around and complain but actually get involved and vote for the change you want to see. The people can be stronger than one government official.
6. Climate Change and pollution. As people, we are depleting our natural resources at a dramatic rate, it is almost scary. The amounts of fossil fuels used is massive, the amount of forests and natural land keeps being torn down and destroyed, and the amount of water that we waste has created a crisis. Now you see more power plants than you do nature. Also, all these factories create so much air and water pollution, that we are slowly destroying the planet. China's air pollution has reached deadly standards, Africa has a serious water crisis, and global warming is causing climate changes that have very significant impacts. Solutions would be to recycle more, don't waste so much water, lead a more green life. Corporations are now trying to become more green become a social concern. A small act can create impact.
7. Poaching/Hunting/Capturing of animals for profit. Animals today are being hunted, almost to extinction, for money and it can literally be anything. Africa has the Ivory trade, and thousands of elephants are assassinated purely for their tusks; the West African Rhino went extinct less than 5 years ago due to over hunting . You also have lions, leopards, cheetahs, tigers being killed for their pelts or teeth. Japan is under-fire for the hunting of whales and dolphins. Many animals are killed as a sort of prize to be won. SeaWorld takes animals out of their natural habitats, only to keep them locked up in small tanks. Solutions would be to not support these organizations by not paying for their "entertainment" and get involved in local or global organizations and find ways to get involved, I did it in Namibia. Slowly governments are trying to increase areas for animal protection and have strict laws against poaching.
8. The huge gap of the upper class with the middle and lower class. Slowly the gap between upper class and middle has become so big it is ridiculous. As the upper class gains more wealth, the middle class seems to lose ground. This financial gap leads to a social gap. In reference to the U.S. the upper class loses to lower classes in terms of number of people, but they seem to hold the most power and influence in the country. The gap has led to social instability because the largest portion of the population, with the most needs, is getting pushed to the side for the needs of the few wealthy. This gap eventually leads to political unrest among the people. Only solutions I can really think of for the immediate future, is to become successful middle class citizens in order to gain some strength; sounds cliche but it is true. Future solutions would require more intervention in income inequality and social policies.
9. Racism. Judging people by the color of their skin or where they come from is ongoing, and I am not sure where it will end. It has some similarity to my earlier reference to religious intolerance. As access to travel has become so accessible, people from one country immigrate to another, and over time their roots change the population structure of a region. There are people who refuse to accept change. I've seen many people I care about lose job opportunities because they were Black or Latino. I and several other friends have been harassed by people for being Latinos. In Asia, some people refuse to accept anyone that is not Asian. If we reject people purely on the fact that they are from somewhere else or have a different skin color, we lose the opportunity to grow. Solutions for the common individual are to look at people based on their character, try to get to know them. Another cliche, but people are more than a physical attribute.
10. Refugee and immigrant crisis. People around the world suffer many different situations. Mexico has increased violence and a serious issue with drug selling, Venezuela is suffering serious political corruption, Syria is in constant danger and political instability, etc. People decide to move leave their home countries because conditions have become unbearable and even unlivable. Other countries around the world, instead of helping, their solutions is to reject these people and close off their borders. In reference to the refugees, by all means, I understand that taking in massive amounts of people may be a little difficult, but many people are suffering and wouldn't be fleeing if they didn't think they were in danger. As for the immigrant crisis, many people see immigrants and low lives who are mooching off a country. In reality many immigrants are productive members of society who actually help the economy. These people have a serious reason for leaving their homes in search of better lives. A solution for everyday people is to get involved in immigration policies going on in your country. By that I mean: vote and support people in your local and nation government who support positive immigration policies. As for big solutions, national leaders have the power in their hands, so having elected officials who can execute plans to solve these problems without harming those refugees and immigrants is crucial.
Well there you have it! Sorry if they are lengthy explanations but some of them are topics I consider very important. If you have any others or maybe differ in opinion, by all means let me know in the comments! Thanks and have a great day! :D
2. Something that goes along with the previous problem, starvation. So many people around the world are dying of hunger every day. This is mostly prominent in lesser developed regions, such as Africa, the Middle East or Southeast Asia. There is enough food produced to feed the starving, but nothing is done. It gets to a point where you will see thousands of people bone-thin, literally I can see their skin clinging to their bones for dear life. Some solutions are similar to the ones above. Donate food to those who need it, or donate funds to organizations that help those in need in other countries. Just verify that those organizations are transparent with how the money is allocated.
3. Human trafficking of women in prostitution. I know this is a pretty sensitive topic but I do believe it has become a global issue. Women are taken away from their loved ones against their wills, some violently, into this awful industry that forces them to become sex slaves, as if they were toys to be played with. The conditions these women live in are fit for animals. Their "bosses" sell them to different men for money, not caring at all. There are times when these women are injected with different drugs and eventually develop an involuntary addiction. Those who try to escape and are unsuccessful are beaten or sometimes even shot dead. Those who are able to escape sometimes suffer severe mental trauma. The rate has increased in areas like South America, East Asia and Southeast Asia. Some ways women can prevent putting themselves in these dangerous situations is to never travel alone, especially at night. Seems pretty obvious but its the most ignored. If you travel abroad, take this into even more consideration, because you are completely on your own. Also, don't act foolishly or put yourself in potentially dangerous situations (ex: going home piss drunk with someone you don't know, walking dangerous street in the late hours). Some governments have taken action into trying to locate and rescue these traffickers, but prevention is key.
4. Religious intolerance and animosity. Over the past few years religious intolerance has become more obvious. World War II was the first major incident involving innocent Jewish people being killed just because of what they believed in. After 9/11 this growing hatred towards Muslims increased, and now with ISIS and acts of terrorism, the Muslim population is being attacked. How can you associate a massive population with the acts of a few unrelated people? Solutions are pretty easy: try accepting people for who they are and not what their faith is. Actions speak louder than words. Just because someone doesn't believe in the same thing that you do, it doesn't mean they are wrong, they are just different.
5. Politicians that are bought out and push their own agendas and don't consider the people. Corruption is on-going, and I am not sure when it will end. In reference to The U.S. (I don't have a deep understanding of international politics), we see all these potential presidential candidates being funded by these large corporations and are pushing their agendas. They will do whatever is need to keep their funding, ignoring the problems the people are now facing, such as increased student loans, the conditions of education for children, healthcare that is affordable etc. The best solution is to not stand around and complain but actually get involved and vote for the change you want to see. The people can be stronger than one government official.
6. Climate Change and pollution. As people, we are depleting our natural resources at a dramatic rate, it is almost scary. The amounts of fossil fuels used is massive, the amount of forests and natural land keeps being torn down and destroyed, and the amount of water that we waste has created a crisis. Now you see more power plants than you do nature. Also, all these factories create so much air and water pollution, that we are slowly destroying the planet. China's air pollution has reached deadly standards, Africa has a serious water crisis, and global warming is causing climate changes that have very significant impacts. Solutions would be to recycle more, don't waste so much water, lead a more green life. Corporations are now trying to become more green become a social concern. A small act can create impact.
7. Poaching/Hunting/Capturing of animals for profit. Animals today are being hunted, almost to extinction, for money and it can literally be anything. Africa has the Ivory trade, and thousands of elephants are assassinated purely for their tusks; the West African Rhino went extinct less than 5 years ago due to over hunting . You also have lions, leopards, cheetahs, tigers being killed for their pelts or teeth. Japan is under-fire for the hunting of whales and dolphins. Many animals are killed as a sort of prize to be won. SeaWorld takes animals out of their natural habitats, only to keep them locked up in small tanks. Solutions would be to not support these organizations by not paying for their "entertainment" and get involved in local or global organizations and find ways to get involved, I did it in Namibia. Slowly governments are trying to increase areas for animal protection and have strict laws against poaching.
8. The huge gap of the upper class with the middle and lower class. Slowly the gap between upper class and middle has become so big it is ridiculous. As the upper class gains more wealth, the middle class seems to lose ground. This financial gap leads to a social gap. In reference to the U.S. the upper class loses to lower classes in terms of number of people, but they seem to hold the most power and influence in the country. The gap has led to social instability because the largest portion of the population, with the most needs, is getting pushed to the side for the needs of the few wealthy. This gap eventually leads to political unrest among the people. Only solutions I can really think of for the immediate future, is to become successful middle class citizens in order to gain some strength; sounds cliche but it is true. Future solutions would require more intervention in income inequality and social policies.
9. Racism. Judging people by the color of their skin or where they come from is ongoing, and I am not sure where it will end. It has some similarity to my earlier reference to religious intolerance. As access to travel has become so accessible, people from one country immigrate to another, and over time their roots change the population structure of a region. There are people who refuse to accept change. I've seen many people I care about lose job opportunities because they were Black or Latino. I and several other friends have been harassed by people for being Latinos. In Asia, some people refuse to accept anyone that is not Asian. If we reject people purely on the fact that they are from somewhere else or have a different skin color, we lose the opportunity to grow. Solutions for the common individual are to look at people based on their character, try to get to know them. Another cliche, but people are more than a physical attribute.
10. Refugee and immigrant crisis. People around the world suffer many different situations. Mexico has increased violence and a serious issue with drug selling, Venezuela is suffering serious political corruption, Syria is in constant danger and political instability, etc. People decide to move leave their home countries because conditions have become unbearable and even unlivable. Other countries around the world, instead of helping, their solutions is to reject these people and close off their borders. In reference to the refugees, by all means, I understand that taking in massive amounts of people may be a little difficult, but many people are suffering and wouldn't be fleeing if they didn't think they were in danger. As for the immigrant crisis, many people see immigrants and low lives who are mooching off a country. In reality many immigrants are productive members of society who actually help the economy. These people have a serious reason for leaving their homes in search of better lives. A solution for everyday people is to get involved in immigration policies going on in your country. By that I mean: vote and support people in your local and nation government who support positive immigration policies. As for big solutions, national leaders have the power in their hands, so having elected officials who can execute plans to solve these problems without harming those refugees and immigrants is crucial.
Well there you have it! Sorry if they are lengthy explanations but some of them are topics I consider very important. If you have any others or maybe differ in opinion, by all means let me know in the comments! Thanks and have a great day! :D
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Bug List
Ok everyone so here is a list of the few things that "bug" me and why I think they may exist (in no particular order):
1. When my mother says that I should be more "feminine". Am I not a woman? haha. I think the reason behind is not to offend me but because when she was younger and in Colombia, the way girls dressed and acted was more old-fashioned and she still might have that ingrained.
2. People who see my Facebook messages that I have sent them and do not answer. It does not take that much to answer. Maybe they just don't want to talk to me, or maybe they were busy at the time and couldn't talk to me, I do not know.
3. People who take up the whole sidewalk and walk at a turtle pace, especially around Turlington Plaza. Walk with a purpose my friend before I shove you out of the way. My only possible explanation would be that they are not aware of their surroundings and other people.
4. When random people, who I have just met, touch my hair. I have curly hair and I work hard to make it look nice, so DO NOT TOUCH. I get that people might touch it because it is different from theirs or they might really like it, but I just think it is weird.
5. My roommates eating my pizza without asking me. Every once in a while I will order, and for some reason part of it disappears! Reason: they like pizza but are too lazy to pay for it.
6. Guys who look at me weird when I go to Southwest Rec in the evenings. I feel like because I am in a baggy t-shirt, no makeup, and workout pants, they are suddenly shocked. My reasoning is they are probably focusing too much on what girls wear than their workout haha.
7. When people try to stomp all over because I am "too nice", especially at work. I try to be as polite as possible, but don't think you can whack me around like a rag doll. They probably translate my being nice with being weak and easy.
8. People who look at me weird when I say I like Korean dramas and K-Pop, and I am not korean. Last time I checked there were tons of non-latinos listening to latino music, how am I any different? The only reason I can see is that they are not very exposed to other cultures or music.
9. When my friend messages me, last minute, and asks if I can write my blog post for the next day. I understand she might need the content, or there is not enough on the blog, but I have other responsibilities and I need time to write my post.
10. It might be very stereotypical: When my grandma asks me if I have a boyfriend. She literally does it EVERY TIME I come back home for the holidays. I understand that she just wants to see me happy and she's concerned, but I am fine being on my own for now haha.
11. Whenever I do something, my aunt immediately compares it to something my cousin did, and tries to one-up me. My cousin also is a UF class of '08 grad, and I am happy she has been successful. I guess my aunt does it because she likes when people praise her daughter, but I don't like living in my cousin's shadow.
12. This one is in reference to Korea: Public displays of affection. I get it that you're in love, but I don't need to see it ALL THE TIME. I get it that they just want to share their love in the open and want to have fun with their significant other, but sometimes it is just too much.
13. Guys who wear too much cologne. I get it that you might want to smell nice, but if I can smell you from a mile away, there is a problem.
14. Girls who look like they just tattooed their eyebrows on; trust me they do not look natural. I get it, when we do our make up we want to highlight our eyebrows, but there is a right way to do it and a wrong way.
15. Teenage girls who look like they could use more clothing. In my hometown I see tons of middle school girls showing their stomachs, cleavage, and butts all the time in their uniforms. Did your mom see you walk out the door?! I know they might feel pressure to look a certain way, but dressing like that won't get you the respect you want.
16. When my friend judges me while I am eating, literally, ANYTHING. She is one of my closest childhood friends but I now refuse to go out to dinner with her. We would go to Chili's and she would order a salad, I would order a burger, and immediately: "wow you must be hungry" or "I don't think I would be able to eat that because of my diet". I am a girl who likes food and I don't need your commentary. Reason behind it: she cares too much haha.
17. When two people are in a large group conversation and begin speaking a different language that others do not understand. I get it, I am bilingual and when I find someone who speaks Spanish I want to speak with them in Spanish, but there is a time and place for it. It i super disrespectful when others cannot join in, so either everyone speaks the same language or you can leave and hav your own convo.
18. Rush hour in Miami. I literally want to cry. Reason: people leave work at the same time. I have nothing more to say on the matter, it is just too painful.
19. When random strangers look at me and ask "are you Mexican?". Mexico is not the only Latin speaking country my friend, there are a bunch of other ones. I guess they are not exposed to Latino culture, but yea.
20. Blue cheese. Nope. I do not know how people like it; it is a concept I cannot understand. I hate when any food meal I have has blue cheese, even after I ask the restaurant staff to remove it! I don't know why blue cheese was created, probably to make people sad.
Well that is my list of things that "bug" me. This list was extremely difficult for me to compile because I really needed to think hard of what actually bothers me haha. I am usually the type of person who get bothered by something immediately, I vent about it to someone or myself, and then I forget about it and move on. So hope that helps you understand me a little. See you guys in class! Oh, and if you are walking to class and someone shoves you with their arm as they walk past you, it was me and you should move those legs faster. :)
1. When my mother says that I should be more "feminine". Am I not a woman? haha. I think the reason behind is not to offend me but because when she was younger and in Colombia, the way girls dressed and acted was more old-fashioned and she still might have that ingrained.
2. People who see my Facebook messages that I have sent them and do not answer. It does not take that much to answer. Maybe they just don't want to talk to me, or maybe they were busy at the time and couldn't talk to me, I do not know.
3. People who take up the whole sidewalk and walk at a turtle pace, especially around Turlington Plaza. Walk with a purpose my friend before I shove you out of the way. My only possible explanation would be that they are not aware of their surroundings and other people.
4. When random people, who I have just met, touch my hair. I have curly hair and I work hard to make it look nice, so DO NOT TOUCH. I get that people might touch it because it is different from theirs or they might really like it, but I just think it is weird.
5. My roommates eating my pizza without asking me. Every once in a while I will order, and for some reason part of it disappears! Reason: they like pizza but are too lazy to pay for it.
6. Guys who look at me weird when I go to Southwest Rec in the evenings. I feel like because I am in a baggy t-shirt, no makeup, and workout pants, they are suddenly shocked. My reasoning is they are probably focusing too much on what girls wear than their workout haha.
7. When people try to stomp all over because I am "too nice", especially at work. I try to be as polite as possible, but don't think you can whack me around like a rag doll. They probably translate my being nice with being weak and easy.
8. People who look at me weird when I say I like Korean dramas and K-Pop, and I am not korean. Last time I checked there were tons of non-latinos listening to latino music, how am I any different? The only reason I can see is that they are not very exposed to other cultures or music.
9. When my friend messages me, last minute, and asks if I can write my blog post for the next day. I understand she might need the content, or there is not enough on the blog, but I have other responsibilities and I need time to write my post.
10. It might be very stereotypical: When my grandma asks me if I have a boyfriend. She literally does it EVERY TIME I come back home for the holidays. I understand that she just wants to see me happy and she's concerned, but I am fine being on my own for now haha.
11. Whenever I do something, my aunt immediately compares it to something my cousin did, and tries to one-up me. My cousin also is a UF class of '08 grad, and I am happy she has been successful. I guess my aunt does it because she likes when people praise her daughter, but I don't like living in my cousin's shadow.
12. This one is in reference to Korea: Public displays of affection. I get it that you're in love, but I don't need to see it ALL THE TIME. I get it that they just want to share their love in the open and want to have fun with their significant other, but sometimes it is just too much.
13. Guys who wear too much cologne. I get it that you might want to smell nice, but if I can smell you from a mile away, there is a problem.
14. Girls who look like they just tattooed their eyebrows on; trust me they do not look natural. I get it, when we do our make up we want to highlight our eyebrows, but there is a right way to do it and a wrong way.
15. Teenage girls who look like they could use more clothing. In my hometown I see tons of middle school girls showing their stomachs, cleavage, and butts all the time in their uniforms. Did your mom see you walk out the door?! I know they might feel pressure to look a certain way, but dressing like that won't get you the respect you want.
16. When my friend judges me while I am eating, literally, ANYTHING. She is one of my closest childhood friends but I now refuse to go out to dinner with her. We would go to Chili's and she would order a salad, I would order a burger, and immediately: "wow you must be hungry" or "I don't think I would be able to eat that because of my diet". I am a girl who likes food and I don't need your commentary. Reason behind it: she cares too much haha.
17. When two people are in a large group conversation and begin speaking a different language that others do not understand. I get it, I am bilingual and when I find someone who speaks Spanish I want to speak with them in Spanish, but there is a time and place for it. It i super disrespectful when others cannot join in, so either everyone speaks the same language or you can leave and hav your own convo.
18. Rush hour in Miami. I literally want to cry. Reason: people leave work at the same time. I have nothing more to say on the matter, it is just too painful.
19. When random strangers look at me and ask "are you Mexican?". Mexico is not the only Latin speaking country my friend, there are a bunch of other ones. I guess they are not exposed to Latino culture, but yea.
20. Blue cheese. Nope. I do not know how people like it; it is a concept I cannot understand. I hate when any food meal I have has blue cheese, even after I ask the restaurant staff to remove it! I don't know why blue cheese was created, probably to make people sad.
Well that is my list of things that "bug" me. This list was extremely difficult for me to compile because I really needed to think hard of what actually bothers me haha. I am usually the type of person who get bothered by something immediately, I vent about it to someone or myself, and then I forget about it and move on. So hope that helps you understand me a little. See you guys in class! Oh, and if you are walking to class and someone shoves you with their arm as they walk past you, it was me and you should move those legs faster. :)
Thursday, January 14, 2016
My Entrepreneurship Story
The first time I was exposed to Entrepreneurship, without even really thinking about it, was my dad. My dad is a very well-educated man, an I am not just saying that because he's my dad. He knows anything and everything that is going on in the world of politics, business, health, and society both past and present. He graduated from the top university in Colombia with a bachelor's degree in Economics and Finance. When he moved to the United States with my mom, finding work became difficult because his degree wasn't from the U.S. and the language barrier was difficult. After a few years, he joined a company in Miami that sold language sets for people who wanted to learn English. He was doing well but was not satisfied. At around the time that I was 8 or 9, my dad decided to start his own business. His start-up business was selling multi-vitamin products via phone; he decided on vitamins because there was a slow, but growing trend towards healthier living and the vitamins he sold could not be found in stores. He started as a one-man show, but he worked hard. I would watch him from the minute we woke up, to the time we would go to sleep, the work was never-ending. Business did well for a few years until the economic crisis hit. Unfortunately he couldn't recover but he remembers those times as one of his happiest.
I joined ENT3003 not to run my own business, but to think more like an entrepreneur. I feel like I want to surround myself with students and professors who think creatively. I am keeping an open mind throughout the class, with no expectations other than to get more from the class than I thought I could.
Thanks :)
I joined ENT3003 not to run my own business, but to think more like an entrepreneur. I feel like I want to surround myself with students and professors who think creatively. I am keeping an open mind throughout the class, with no expectations other than to get more from the class than I thought I could.
Thanks :)
Introduction
Hi guys, my name is Camila Gomez-Franco :)
I was born in South Florida but my family is Colombian; actually out of the 20 members in my family, I was the first born in the United States. When I mean 20 family members, those are just the ones on my mom's side who all live in the U.S. My dad's side of the family is MUCH bigger and they all live in Colombia (around 9 aunts and uncles, and over 30 cousins). So yeah, my family is the most important aspect of my life. Though I am an only child, I have my cousins who I grew up with and they are basically my siblings.
I am currently a Junior here at UF and am majoring in Marketing. I was actually supposed to graduate with my bachelors my sophomore year but I switched majors. I used to be an Animal Sciences major on track for Vet school. Weird right?! Well I got involved with marketing slowly and overtime I realized something really important: I HATE CHEMISTRY WITH A PASSION. As I transitioned into the business school I realized that I felt like I had found the area I enjoy the most. I think my favorite aspect of marketing is consumer behavior. I am currently preparing to apply for the Masters of International Business for their combined program.
I think the most important thing you will realize about me is my never-ending love for travel (if my blog's title didn't already give it away haha). I first started traveling when I was around 9 or 10 years old and I have never stopped. To list the countries I can count off the top of my head: Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Italy, England, France, Aruba, South Korea, Philippines, South Africa, Namibia...etc. There are several more in addition to those. I think what I love about traveling is meeting new people and experiencing different cultures. I always believe that that there is something we can learn from other cultures and that we can apply to our own lives. Thanks to my travels I have made several friends all over the world and have been able to learn new things. The one thing I love doing is "going local"; you will never find me following tour guides or in fancy hotels. I am usually the lone wolf who goes to hang out with locals and find the secret spots tourists don't get the fun of finding. I want to be able to have an authentic experience while abroad. My favorite trips have been South Korea and Namibia. Namibia was a month-long volunteer experience at a wildlife reserve in the desert. It was the first international trip I had done by myself at 18 years old, which I considered I milestone haha. South Korea was even more meaningful because it was a study abroad experience. I have always loved Korea and the culture, so it was a plus being able to live there for 4.5 months by myself. That experience made my love for global business even bigger.
As for what I want to do in the future, I am not entirely sure yet. I know I want to work in an international setting just not sure what specifically. My dad and I are roughly sketching out to start and import/export business with some contacts we have in Colombia, but it is not concrete yet. I am taking all the opportunities I am given and testing out the waters. I feel the more I experience different things, the easier it will be for me to narrow down my real interests.
Well that's enough about me, later guys! :)
I was born in South Florida but my family is Colombian; actually out of the 20 members in my family, I was the first born in the United States. When I mean 20 family members, those are just the ones on my mom's side who all live in the U.S. My dad's side of the family is MUCH bigger and they all live in Colombia (around 9 aunts and uncles, and over 30 cousins). So yeah, my family is the most important aspect of my life. Though I am an only child, I have my cousins who I grew up with and they are basically my siblings.
I am currently a Junior here at UF and am majoring in Marketing. I was actually supposed to graduate with my bachelors my sophomore year but I switched majors. I used to be an Animal Sciences major on track for Vet school. Weird right?! Well I got involved with marketing slowly and overtime I realized something really important: I HATE CHEMISTRY WITH A PASSION. As I transitioned into the business school I realized that I felt like I had found the area I enjoy the most. I think my favorite aspect of marketing is consumer behavior. I am currently preparing to apply for the Masters of International Business for their combined program.
I think the most important thing you will realize about me is my never-ending love for travel (if my blog's title didn't already give it away haha). I first started traveling when I was around 9 or 10 years old and I have never stopped. To list the countries I can count off the top of my head: Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Italy, England, France, Aruba, South Korea, Philippines, South Africa, Namibia...etc. There are several more in addition to those. I think what I love about traveling is meeting new people and experiencing different cultures. I always believe that that there is something we can learn from other cultures and that we can apply to our own lives. Thanks to my travels I have made several friends all over the world and have been able to learn new things. The one thing I love doing is "going local"; you will never find me following tour guides or in fancy hotels. I am usually the lone wolf who goes to hang out with locals and find the secret spots tourists don't get the fun of finding. I want to be able to have an authentic experience while abroad. My favorite trips have been South Korea and Namibia. Namibia was a month-long volunteer experience at a wildlife reserve in the desert. It was the first international trip I had done by myself at 18 years old, which I considered I milestone haha. South Korea was even more meaningful because it was a study abroad experience. I have always loved Korea and the culture, so it was a plus being able to live there for 4.5 months by myself. That experience made my love for global business even bigger.
As for what I want to do in the future, I am not entirely sure yet. I know I want to work in an international setting just not sure what specifically. My dad and I are roughly sketching out to start and import/export business with some contacts we have in Colombia, but it is not concrete yet. I am taking all the opportunities I am given and testing out the waters. I feel the more I experience different things, the easier it will be for me to narrow down my real interests.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
ENT3003: Entrepreneur's Mantra
Hey everyone, it's me again! So here is my YouTube video on my account reciting the Entrepreneur's Mantra.
Please excuse the the slight awkwardness of the video, I am no professional YouTuber haha at least not yet!
Have a great day everyone! :)
Please excuse the the slight awkwardness of the video, I am no professional YouTuber haha at least not yet!
Have a great day everyone! :)
Welcome to the Blog!
Hi there, my name is Camila :) Just wanted to put out a welcome test post to make sure everything is running smoothly. Looking forward to putting more content up!
Until next time :)
Until next time :)
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