Art Museum Visit Reflection Paper

Art Museum Visit Reflection Paper Visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art at New York City Last week I visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art at New York City. This museum, also known as The Met is a huge building with nineteen departments and around two billion art pieces stored and displayed in its art galleries. The main art gallery of the museum, i.e. The Met is one of the largest galleries of the world There are several categories of art works displayed in different portions of the museum. The main categories and collections of the art works displayed at the museum are American art, Ancient Near Eastern art, American decorative arts, Asian art, Egyptian art, Greek and Roman art, African art, South American art, art related to arms and armory, European art, Islamic art and religious collections. The art works include various forms, though paintings and sculpture are the main forms. Collections comprising weapons and armory, musical instruments, costumes and building interiors are some other important art forms at display in the museum. Visit to museums has always been a pleasant experience for me. Museums open doors to a world of fantasy. By entering the doors of a good museum, it is possible to close off the doors of mind to the harsh realities of the real world for a while. Visit to a museum is akin to visiting a fairy land. It is a wonderful and refreshing experience to see the relics of past from such close proximity. I have particularly been interested in paintings. A painting is nothing less than an incarnation of the imagination of the painter. The manner in which an artist brings the lifeless canvas to life by using strokes of his or her brush is amazing. It is a life created by the artist using nothing more than few mundane objects like a brush, colors, oil or water and a canvas. Religious art works have always intrigued me a lot due to my interest in comparative study of religions and the collection at the Met was a treat for my eyes. I had a chance to observe many beautiful and mesmerizing artworks at the museum but at the moment I will discuss the following three artworks, since the memories of these artworks are still fresh in my mind due to the strong impact made by them: Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints Stoclet Madonna Temple of Dendur Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints were done by Italian painter named Raphael. Raphael belonged to the High Renaissance era of art. This form of art was patronized by Pope Julius II and Italy was the focal point of this era and Michelangelo, Leonardo de Vinci and Raphael were the prominent artists This is a conservative piece of art and it was painted by Raphael when he was about twenty one years old. This painting as the name depicts, shows Saint John, Saint Peter and Saint Paul with Madonna and the child. Raphael had painted this work for the convent of SantAntonio which was held at Perugia. On the desires of the nuns, Raphael painted this work in a very conservative manner and the painted shows Saint John and the Christ fully clothes in this work. Considering that it was an early work, this work has a strong influence of Raphaels teacher Perugino. A significant feature of this piece of art is the fact that there is only one panel of any altarpiece created by Raphael in the Un ited States and apart from this work there is no other similar artwork by Raphael in any American museum.. This art piece was completed in year 1504 and oil and gold have been used as medium on a wooden base. The second piece of art is also about Madonna and child Christ. It is a painting as well. This piece shares another commonality with Raphaels piece in terms that it has also been painted by an Italian artist. This piece was painted by Duccio di Buoninsegna in the medieval era. The medium used by Duccio for this painting is tempera and gold on a base of wood. This painting was bought by the Metropolitan Museum of Art for a cost of around forty five million US dollars and it is reportedly the costliest purchase of this museum. Surviving works of Duccio are very rare and this is the reason for the high value of this painting. This painting is known as Stoclet Madonna due to the fact that the name of the family which privately owned this paiting before its acquisition by the museum was Stoclet. The year of completion of this painting is around 1300 A.D and portrays the child Christ and the Virgin Mary only. Significant feature noted in this painting was the simplistic portrayal of the ch ild and the mother and use of rounded forms. The third artwork which I want to write about in this narrative is not a painting but a temple. This temple was gifted by the government of the Republic of Egypt to United States in 1978. The original location of this temple was around Aswan dam on the river Nile. This temple was endangered by submersion due to construction of the dam and hence it was dismantled from its original location to save. In the 15th century BC, Egypt was ruled by a Roman governor named Petronius. This temple was built by Petronius in dedication to ancient Egyptian goddess Isis and her brother Osiris. Emperor Augustus of Rome commissioned this temple. The structure of the temple is made of sandstone and the temple has various engravings and carvings depicting the religious symbols of the Roman-Egyptian era of the 15th century BC. Base of the temple shows carvings of lotus plants and papyrus. These symbols are associated with river Nile and river Nile in turn was religiously a symbol of life for the ancient E gypt in a similar manner as river Ganga is a religious connotations for Hindus in India. The most prominent theme that is repeated in the temple is the carvings of the forms of goddess Isis, her brother Osiris and their son Horus. Another striking feature is graffiti scribbled in English that were left by the visitors when the temple was in its original location.

Dialects :: Language Talking Dialect Essays

Dialects "Here you are the Top Ten List for the evening. Tonight’s Top Ten, Rejected TV show ideas to replace Seinfeld. If you know what I mean? Ha Ha!" (The Late Show 1998). As a student at Ball State University I come across many different people daily within a term. These individuals come from numerous locations within the state and beyond our identified state boundaries or even regional area of the nation. Considering the vast diversity, the common student will at a majority of the time encounter many different dialects in various conversational situations. These regional standard dialects are all brought together at an institution for higher learning. This leads to issues pertaining to the idea of dialect area and dialect variation involving the factors of Dialectic Region. If these issues exist then would it not be logical that dialect mixing would then be relevant. In this case then the idea of repentance of a certain phrase would then become an incorporation into one’s o wn dialect after a certain period of exposure. Yet, is this exposure just limited to environment or does the mass technological revolution have a word in otherwise with the television and the music industry. These questions were the basic motivation for the research I conducted in order to find a better understanding to the issue pertaining to the environment in which I am trying to benefit from higher learning. On the 24th of April in 1998, at Bracken Library I issued a ‘Regional Standard Dialect Questionnaire’. The outcome of the survey was quite interesting and insightful when considering the issue at hand. The survey consisted of fifty random students entering Bracken Library. These students were split into two basic categories by gender. The two groups answered multiple questions in reference to the notion of, "You hear what I’m saying" and "You know what I mean?". The questions were aimed toward the aspect of usage and knowledge of the sayings themselves. The age range of the participants was between seventeen and twenty-four. Though other age ranges were offered the only area gathered was in the context of traditional undergraduate students. The males were sufficient in covering all aspects of the survey. The results of the questionnaire are as followed: 52% "You know what I mean?" 8% "You hear what I’m saying?" 36% used both expressions 4% used none of the above From these results the aspect of regional dialect was examined.

Act 3, Scene 1 of Julius Caesar :: essays research papers

Act 3, Scene 1 Rome. Before the Capitol; the Senate sitting above. [ previous scene ][ home page ][ next scene ] A crowd of people; among them ARTEMIDORUS and the Soothsayer. Flourish. Enter CAESAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS BRUTUS, METELLUS CIMBER, TREBONIUS, CINNA, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, POPILIUS, PUBLIUS, and others CAESAR [To the Soothsayer] The ides of March are come. Soothsayer Ay, Caesar; but not gone. ARTEMIDORUS Hail, Caesar! read this schedule. DECIUS BRUTUS Trebonius doth desire you to o'erread, At your best leisure, this his humble suit. ARTEMIDORUS O Caesar, read mine first; for mine's a suit That touches Caesar nearer: read it, great Caesar. CAESAR What touches us ourself shall be last served. ARTEMIDORUS Delay not, Caesar; read it instantly. CAESAR What, is the fellow mad? PUBLIUS Sirrah, give place. CASSIUS What, urge you your petitions in the street? Come to the Capitol. CAESAR goes up to the Senate-House, the rest following POPILIUS I wish your enterprise to-day may thrive. CASSIUS What enterprise, Popilius? POPILIUS Fare you well. Advances to CAESAR BRUTUS What said Popilius Lena? CASSIUS He wish'd to-day our enterprise might thrive. I fear our purpose is discovered. BRUTUS Look, how he makes to Caesar; mark him. CASSIUS Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention. Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known, Cassius or Caesar never shall turn back, For I will slay myself. BRUTUS Cassius, be constant: Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes; For, look, he smiles, and Caesar doth not change. CASSIUS Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Brutus. He draws Mark Antony out of the way. Exeunt ANTONY and TREBONIUS DECIUS BRUTUS Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go, And presently prefer his suit to Caesar. BRUTUS He is address'd: press near and second him. CINNA Casca, you are the first that rears your hand. CAESAR Are we all ready? What is now amiss That Caesar and his senate must redress? METELLUS CIMBER Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Caesar, Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat An humble heart,-- Kneeling CAESAR I must prevent thee, Cimber. These couchings and these lowly courtesies Might fire the blood of ordinary men, And turn pre-ordinance and first decree Into the law of children. Be not fond, To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood That will be thaw'd from the true quality With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet words, Low-crooked court'sies and base spaniel-fawning. Thy brother by decree is banished: If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him, I spurn thee like a cur out of my way. Know, Caesar doth not wrong, nor without cause Will he be satisfied. METELLUS CIMBER Is there no voice more worthy than my own To sound more sweetly in great Caesar's ear

Exploring The Novel Poisonwood Bible And Macbeth English Literature Essay

The drama Macbeth by William Shakespeare and the fresh Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, are literary plants that explore the deep desires of self fulfilment. While many different literary devices are outstanding in both plants, this paper will concentrate on the intervention of subjects by both writers. Namely the subjects of power and control. These subjects are best highlighted in Lady Macbeth from Macbeth and Nathan Price from the Poisonwood Bible. These two characters best develop the subjects of power and control through their shared features of aspiration, use and pitilessness. Ambition is a reoccurring tool of character development in both The Poisonwood Bible and Macbeth, employed by the writers to stress the overall subjects of power and control. Nathan is a clergyman from America in the Congo trying to conform the small town of Kilanga to the Catholic religion. His aspiration and motivations are powered by fright and blind religion in God, coupled with desire for personal power-which he self interestedly translated into taking control of the small town and holding power over the people. He besides believes that if he does non finish the undertaking he will be unable to come in heaven. His aspiration begins to over power his judgement, his ability to ground and his construct of household, which causes the small town people to beat up against him to seek and re derive their freedom and independency hence exercising their ain signifier of power and re-enforcing the overall subjects. Unlike Nathan ‘s gradual and increased aspiration, Lady Macbeth â₠¬Ëœs aspiration is instantly apparent from the beginning of the drama, and merely grows as the desire for the throne and its power direct her over the border. She right off begins to piece a program to kill King Duncan in order to put her hubby Macbeth in line for the throne. This compulsion drives her insane, and like Nathan her ability to ground, her judgement and her scruples are clouded by her demand for power and control. She acted in ways that showed that she would halt at nil in order to derive the throne even if it meant slaying. Both characters became so ambitious in their efforts to derive power and wield control, that it finally drives them to their ain deceases. Manipulation is another changeless, though more subtly employed, word picture tool in both plants. She manipulated Macbeth into killing Duncan, in order to derive the rubric of King and Queen. Lady Macbeth ironically, felt excessively guilty to kill Duncan herself-due to resemblance to her father-however, had no scruple or concern for Macbeths witting when she manipulated him into killing his friend. In order to carry through this she began oppugning Macbeth ‘s manhood, seeking to convert him that he was emasculate -hence weaker so she, so she and that he could non step up to the undertaking of killing Duncan. This mental use made him oppugn his judgement, which led to him going really baffled. In the terminal her uses were successful, assisting her achieve the power and control she so greatly desired. Nathan like Lady Macbeth, abused his household in order to acquire what he wanted. The villagers had become so fed up with Nathan seeking to command them and their faith that the y rebelled, killing all the white people in their small town. Nathan ‘s married woman and kids are in secret fixing to get away to America, but Nathan, out of fright of solitariness, begins to mistreat and pull strings his married woman, and endanger the lives of his kids, in order to acquire them to stay in the small town and let him to go on his quest. This maltreatment and use allowed Nathan to recover power and control over his household, while doing them even more anguish as they impotently watch the deceases of many people they loved. Both Lady Macbeth and Nathan ‘s uses and evident deficiency of guilt over them, show to the audience merely how pitiless both characters are. This pitilessness is a 3rd of import manner the characters are both developed and the subjects enriched. Nathan is so determined to complete the quest God sent him to make that he forgot his ethical motives and committed awful Acts of the Apostless in order to obtain power over the small town people and control over his household ensuing in the loss of many guiltless lives. His chief distressing act of pitilessness was working his girls and coercing them to remain in the Congo so that he could keep his control over them while the villagers fought for their freedom. These egoistic actions resulted in the decease of his four girls and married woman, go forthing him entirely. Lady Macbeth was far more pitiless so Nathan, upon hearing that Macbeth was to be king she immediately began to inquire God to do her into more of a adult male in order to be able to perpetrate slaying. â€Å" Come, you spirits that tend on moral ideas, unsex me here, aˆ?aˆ?And make full me, from the Crown to the toe, Top-full of direst inhuman treatment. aˆ?aˆ?A Make midst my blood. â€Å" ( Lady Macbeth- Act 1 scene V ) . She lost her scruples wholly and began to move without witting in the effort to derive the throne, her symbols of power and control. Lady Macbeth increasingly becomes more pitiless, until she does non even question the idea of killing Duncan in order to be following in line to the throne, she is over whelmed in her ain desires, that she forgot about everything else that use to affair. Throughout both Macbeth and the Poisonwood Bible both writers develop their several characters of Lady Macbeth and Nathan Price by foregrounding their picks and actions through aspiration, use and pitiless action. These characters therefore serve to foreground the overall subjects of power and control in both plants. Both Nathan and Lady Macbeth sacrificed everything for power and control non recognizing the true cost. Nathan losingss his full household and is left to populate entirely, and Lady Macbeth looses her saneness, driving herself to take her ain life. Their battle for power and control wrecked many lives and in the terminal their several triumphs was so little that it all did non look worth the attempt. COMPARATIVE ESSAY Having†¦ Lady Macbeth from Shakespear ‘s Macbeth and Nathan Price from the Poisonwood Bible By: Tori Skot For: Ms.Zaikos January 7, 2008

Communication: Death and Life Essay

Describe ethical dilemmas that may arise in own area of responsibility when balancing individual rights and duty of care. Nurses and other medical personnel normally confront ethical dilemmas when caring for terminally ill patients. Correct understanding of the fundamental ethical principles aids the nurses to examine major dilemmas in the delivery of healthcare to the very sick patients or terminally ill patients. Due to a boost in medical knowledge and expertise, so are alternatives for healthcare. These alternatives present intricate moral dilemmas when decisions arise regarding the treatment of dying patients. Majority of the medical personnel are faced with the decisions related to the treatment of dying patients to ease a patient’s final misery. Conceivably, a decision will need to be made about whether to allow a patient to continue living or to end his or her life by terminating treatment when all’s said and done. Often, these decisions concerning the care of a dying loved one confront people from all walks of life (Butts and Rich, 2005) End of life is a concept that is often ignored despite the fact that everyone will die some day. It is because death is a part of life that people are familiar with palliative care given at the end of life. Yet, the end of life concept is generally thought to be something equated with human life. At least, that is what people tend to think of when the phrase â€Å"end of life† is uttered. Today, palliative care is offered when someone is dying, and when the end is predictable. Some people die a slow death from issues like cancer or heart disease, but others die abruptly from an accident or heart attack when life ends. In the latter case, the end of life is only known in retrospect. How is the end of life defined? Death is very difficult to define. Yet, doctors have determined some criteria to at least allow someone into a hospice program. Still, the end of life can be looked at philosophically, and examined in regard to a number of different domains. For everyone, death is inevitable, and each loss is personally felt by those close to the one who has died. It is very important that nurses, the medical staff and or love ones understand the end of life process of the being in order to care for them. The dying person should be allowed to have a peaceful, pain free, and dignified death. The World Health Organization (2009) has defined palliative care as: â€Å"an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems such as physical, psychosocial and spiritual.†Caring for those receiving palliative care in the community during the end stages of life requires an extraordinary commitment from the nursing team, not only human resource but also competence, compassion and focus in anticipating the needs of the patient and family. It is a complex activity involving a holistic approach, building relationships together with expert professional skills and decision making processes (Melvin 2003). Similarly, in caring for older people the Gerontologists and ethicists argue that nursing home residents would receive more humane care at the end of life if they remained in nursing homes rather than were transferred to hospitals. Yet, there are legitimate concerns when advocating that nursing homes care for dying residents. Nursing homes recognize the need to earn society’s confidence in their ability to provide the dying the highest standard of care. Many homes do, in fact, deliver principled and compassionate are. Yet, even those homes that adhere to high standards point to the lack of industry guidelines on what constitutes quality end-of-life care as a barrier to their ability to assure that care to dying residents conforms to the highest quality. Nursing homes need public policy that supports their efforts to explore the use of palliative care models. Explain the principle of informed choices People approaching the end of life should have the opportunity to make informed decisions about their care and treatment, in partnership with health and social care professionals and with their families and carers. Good communication between health and social care professionals and people approaching the end of life and their families and carers is essential and should be sensitive to personal preferences. Treatment and care, and the information given about it, should be culturally appropriate. It should also be accessible to people with additional needs such as physical, cognitive, sensory or learning disabilities, and to people who do not speak or read English. People approaching the end of life should have access to an interpreter or advocate if needed. Workforces involved in end of life care should adopt an agreed, consistent approach and attitude to end of life care that encourages and accepts patient choice, regardless of their own background, culture and views. (Www diversity, equality and language, NHS, NICE guidelines) These principles should include: 1. The choices and priorities of the individual are at the centre of all End of Life care planning and delivery. 2. Effective, straightforward, sensitive and open communication between individuals, families, friends and staff underpins all planning and activity. Communication reflects an understanding of the significance of each individual’s beliefs and needs. 3. High quality End of Life Care is delivered via the process of close multi disciplinary and inter-agency working. Collaborative working ensures that the needs of the individual are articulated, shared, understood and reviewed. By developing and utilising networks the right resources and support are identified and provided. 4. Individuals, their families and friends are well informed about the range of options and resources available to them to enable them to be involved in the planning, developing and evaluating of End of Life Care plans and services. 5. Care is delivered in a sensitive, person-centred way that takes account of the circumstances, wishes and priorities of the individual, their family and friends 6. Care and support are available to, and continue for, anyone affected by the end life, and death, of the individual 7. Workers are supported to develop knowledge, skills and attitudes that enable them to initiate and deliver high quality End of Life Care, or where appropriate to seek advice and guidance from other colleagues Workers recognise the importance of their continuing professional development, and take responsibility for it

F. Scott Fitzgerald and Gatsby S Business

Chapter 7 Questions: 1. Who is Pammy? How does Gatsby react when he sees her? How does her existence complicate Gatsby’s dream? Pammy is the daughter of Daisy and Tom Buchanan. Gatsby looks at Pammy with surprise when he meets her, Tom and Daisy's daughter. He is hurt that Daisy has moved on in life without him, while he remains trapped in the love he has had for her all those years. Pammy is living proof, something you cannot undo, and that is why it hurts Gatsby. 2. How does Tom suddenly come to realize that Daisy loves Gatsby? How does he react?Tom suddenly comes to realize that Daisy loves Gatsby when before lunch Gatsby eyes and Daisy's eyes meet, and â€Å"†¦ stare at each other, alone in space. † Tom realizes that they love each other. Their eyes reveal this to him. Tom reacts in shock and did not say anything. He opened his mouth, looked at Gatsby, then back to Daisy as if in disbelief. 3. What important discovery does Wilson make in this chapter? How does he react? Wilson discovers that his wife had an affair. He believes that Myrtle is unworthy. He needs money so he can go out West. 4. What things has Tom discovered about Gatsby’s business dealings?Tom perceives Gatsby as a low-class hustler, a bootlegger who will never be able to distance himself from his past. In Tom's selective mind, Gatsby is common and therefore his existence is meaningless. He comes from ordinary roots and can never change that. The illusion of Jay Gatsby comes tumbling down. In all of Gatsby's years of dreaming, he never once suspected that he might not have his way. He is no longer able to define himself because the dream defined him and now the dream is gone. 5. Why was Myrtle running towards Gatsby’s car? Who was driving the car that hit Myrtle Wilson? Who does Tom think was driving?Myrtle was running away from her husband because he would not let her go. Daisy was driving the car that hit Myrtle Wilson. Tom thought that Gatsby was driving th e car. 6. How does the accident seem to affect Jordan? Jordan doesn’t seem affected by the accident. She acts as if it is just another event in her partying-lifestyle. Nick refers to all of them as â€Å"rotten† because they are self-absorbed, uncaring, selfish, and dishonest people. Daisy killed Myrtle and doesn't seem to feel a thing. Analysis: 7. What has changed about Gatsby’s house? What might this change symbolize or foreshadow?Gatsby’s house has been overtaken by his dream. He let his own desires corrupt his internal sanctuary. 8. What does the author mean when he writes that Tom looked at Daisy â€Å"as if he had just recognized her as someone he knew a long time ago. † He saw the real Daisy, a person that has been covered up by everyone’s desires. She let people think what they want to feel a part of everything. She let people build up their own reputation for her rather than building it up herself. 9. Why do you think Fitzgerald re fers to Daisy as â€Å"the golden girl†? What does Gatsby say Daisy’s voice is â€Å"full of†?What does this comparison suggest about what really attracts men to her? I think that Fitzgerald refers to Daisy as â€Å"the golden girl† because, she was always expected to do everything perfect so that she did not mess up her family’s reputation. Many are drawn to the rich crowd even if they disapprove of them, like Nick. Daisy represents  material wealth  and all that comes with it. These things are class, beauty, comfort and power. Gatsby said that Daisy’s voice was full of money. This shows that she has power over men. Daisy has always had what she wanted growing up in a wealthy home, including her choice of men. 0. How has Gatsby’s dream died in this chapter? How has everyone else suffered loss in this chapter? Gatsby's dream leads him to the destruction, of both the dream and himself. Gatsby wants to be loved by everyone. He doesà ‚  want to have to earn  Daisy. He constantly wants to be the center of attention and have a reputation as a pillar of society. He wants to be wealthy and almost â€Å"god-like†. 11. After the confrontational scene in the hotel room, why do you think Fitzgerald has Nick report that he has turned thirty that day? What is ironic about Nick turning thirty in this particular chapter?It shows Nick maturing and realizing who everyonje really is rather than hiding in the background. It is ironic because as one is celebrating life others are mourning the death of Myrtle Wilson. 12. In this chapter, Gatsby’s car is described as the â€Å"death car. † If his car symbolizes materialism, how does this add meaning to that symbolism? Identify other â€Å"deaths† found in Chapter 7. Gatsby’s dream has become a death and Daisy’s covered up personality has as well. Gatsby’s car was just a role in this charade because Tom was trying to prove a point to everyone. 13. Why is Nick disgusted with Jordan in the end of the chapter?What has she done or said that irritates him? Nick is disgusted with Jordan in the end of chapter 7 because, he finds out that Jordan was dating  another man. Nick did not see Jordan for a long time. Nick is disgusted by the fact that Jordan is spoiled, dishonest, and careless. Jordan wants to win everything at the expense of honesty and trust. Therefore, she makes herself out to be a dishonest person who lies to get what she wants. 14. Chapter 7 parallels Chapter 1 in many ways. One example is the initial setting at the Buchanan’s; a second example is the heat. Identify at least three other similarities.What might be Fitzgerald’s purpose for this parallelism? Three other similarities are. I think that Fitzgerald’s purpose for this parallelism is, 15. How are Tom Buchanan and George Wilson alike? What might Fitzgerald be suggesting through these similarities? Tom used George to get to his wife Myrtle, who gave him the sense of vitality that he longed for, the sense of vitality that Daisy just could not give him. Tom meditated a devious plan to rid Gatsby from Daisy's life. He purposely took Gatsby's car to Wilson's garage so Myrtle would see it and think that it was Tom's new car. 6. How does Fitzgerald draw comparisons between Tom and Gatsby? What might he be suggesting through these similarities? Both want Daisy to be their very own. Being wealthy, wanting Daisy to be their own, and having hostile feelings towards one another. Both Gatsby and Tom strive to be financially successful. Both Gatsby and Tom find their high status in society important. Differences between one another can lead to negative consequences. They see the bad qualities in themselves and hate each other for it. 17. Compare and contrast the following two images.Identify where each occurs in the story and discuss the meaning behind the similarities and differences. 18 He put his hands in his c oat pockets and turned back eagerly to his scrutiny of the house, as though my presence marred the sacredness of the vigil. So I walked away and left him standing there in the moonlight—watching over nothing. 19 But I didn’t call to him, for he gave a sudden intimation that he was content to be alone—he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling.Involuntarily I glanced seaward— and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and faraway, that might have been the end of a dock. In both of these scenes Gatsby pushes away the help of others. He does not want people to see the real him or get too close. Everyone has feelings and Gatsby is hit hard when people get in between him and his dreams. Staring out into the big sky and open world helps him clear his head.

Case Study: Imaginative Staffing, Inc

Imaginative Staffing Inc, a temporary-services firm in New York was formed in 1990. Since then, it had grown to a total of $17 million in revenues. The company is composed of a minimal number of employees – the CEO and her assistant, a sales director, a chief financial officer, four sales representatives, an operations manager, 10 account managers, five administrative assistant and a receptionist. The CEO, Angie Roberts, came up with the idea of engaging into team selling for the reason that she was frustrated with the length of time the company closes a deal with a good prospect. In most cases, it took them 6 months before closing a deal with a good prospect. In one of their meetings, Roberts discussed the idea of team selling to the board. Among the members who attended the meeting, it was only Susan Borland, the sales director, who had an idea about team selling but she didn’t want to take the lead. Roberts asked her to prepare a plan for possible training and development of sales team. Since she didn’t want to take the lead and just wanted to focus on her assignment instead, she asked her assistant, Judy Morgan to the research. In one instance, Borland got the chance to talk to a friend about team selling. Her friend advised her not to put too much person on the team – it might only be a disaster. Also, the members of the team haven’t undergone training; hence, it is quite hard to work successfully. After the conversation, Susan already had in mind who would best become a member of the team. Of course, everybody needs to be trained. (B) – Should Imaginative Staffing adopt a team-selling system for selling to important accounts? Imaginative Staffing, Inc has practiced individual selling; but the result made the CEO a little dismayed. With this, the idea of Roberts to engage in team selling is one of the things the company has to respond quickly. Team selling is a good idea since more than one person can try to convince the other party – to close the deal or not. However, before each member starts working in the team, they must undergo extensive training to ensure they get the appropriate knowledge. Training is one good way so employees can become better and improve their skills. With this, the management must prepare a budget to cover the training expenses. The management must plan, together with the members of the team, about how to successfully implement the project and how to increase more their net income. Moreover, the management must be willing to support the training development programs to, also, improve their services to their clients. – If so, who should be on the team? The team must be composed of employees who are have passion in what they do and those who are willing to expose themselves to various trainings and workshops. The members of the team can be composed of a sales representative, 1 account manager and 1 administrative assistant. These 3 persons must undergo extensive training before they will go on a battle in the field. – What training would be needed by the team? To what extent should the team’s presentation be planned? The team must be exposed to the basic concept of team selling, including its advantages and disadvantages; how to engage successfully in team selling and how to easily convince a prospect to finally close the deal. Basically, the training may revolve in improving oneself in terms of establishing rapport with prospective customers. Before implementing such project, the management must carefully analyze the project and must undergo a systematic way of developing a training program. In addition, training on good communication skills must also conducted to establish a healthy relationship between and among company personnel. (C) Training people is important if an organization wants to achieve competitive advantage. Since the technology is ever-changing, everybody must be well-updated of what’s new in the market. In the process of selecting who can best qualify to become members of the team, the management must include in the program the training of some experienced sales reps; this may be done to further enhance their skills and to improve in areas which need improvement. It is also observed that the highest return on dollars is invested in training the middle managers. In addition, sales manager must also be trained in some managerial tasks. This may be done to develop the manager in all these five competencies – planning and business organization skills, strategic implementation ability, human resource management, leadership and team building and professional commitment. (D) Training Modality for initial training and recurrent training †¢ For initial training – it is best to include newly hired sales rep. This may be done to give them an overview of what it’s really like to work in the real-world. The newly hired sales reps may be exposed to case study analyses in the training; this is done to prepare them on how to attack when similar situations happen in the real-world scenario. In the conduct of an initial training, the management must carefully choose the topic – the one which is most useful for the newly hired sales reps. The management must carefully design the program to cater the needs of the newly hired personnel. In the program design, it must be clearly stated who will conduct the training. In the case of initial training, it may be conducted by an experienced sales rep which may either be an employee of the organization or an invited speaker who is willing to share his expertise in the field. Teaching methodologies may include lecture-discussion, case study analysis, demonstration and most importantly on-the job training. The latter may widen their horizon and let them experience what it’s like to be in the corporate world. This type of training may be done twice every year – January and June. This may also serve as an orientation for newly hired employees. †¢ For recurrent training – it is best to offer refresher course to the sales reps as well as to the administrative staffs and the sales workforce. This is to ensure that they get to know and be reminded constantly how to get customers attention and how to improve their satisfaction rating. In the design of the training program, refresher course in terms of the ideas and concepts in winning customers and in making them satisfied at all times. In addition, it may also be a good topic to include in the program ways on how to motivate themselves to do better in their assigned tasks. Most importantly, the program must include topics on the latest training tools available in the market such as web-based training. This is a good venue for the experienced sales reps to explore the web and find out what’s best in persuading clients. The methodologies which can be applied may be lecture-discussion, demonstrations and role-playing. Refresher course must be given once every quarter to refresh the memory of the employees. This may not only be regarded as a refresher course but an enhancement program as well. (E) To motivate a team, the members must spend some time once in a while to continue establishing an open communication link. This will also enable them to build a positive relationship with each team member. In addition, each member must be a colleague and a coach at the same time. Being a coach enables them to tell other team members about any feedback – positive or negative. And the member must be a believer and each member and leader must have the power of empowerment. The process of empowerment is basically about utilizing the skills, knowledge and experience of an employee. (Fairweather, 2009) In addition, to motivate employees on sales training, some financial methods may be applied such as bonus, commission, profit sharing and piece work. In piece work, the employees are paid according to the number of items they finish in a given time frame. Other than financial motivation, non-financial ones also exist such as job rotation/sharing or team working, consultation, quality circles and fringe benefits. http://www. hoddersamplepages. co. uk/pdfs/cceabus4. pdf) Employee Motivation may be quite a difficult to achieve since each individual may be satisfied in different areas. However, a common meeting for various individuals is through financial motivation. For Imaginative Staffing, it is best to consider giving bonus and rewards to those who can patiently attend the extensive training program. For Imaginative Staffing, it is best to apply some motiva tion methodologies so personnel can feel they are given importance. Borland must carefully prepare documentation regarding factors which can greatly affect the performance of the sales reps. Most importantly, the management of Imaginative Staffing must continue designing programs for the old employees as well as training programs for the newly hired sales reps so they can continue to achieve competitive advantage. Being in a the world where change is bound to happen most of the time, it is best to be updated with the latest trends as well as to keep informed of what’s happening. With this, the management must design a program to suit the needs of the market and the client as well.