Is Ethical Conduct Important?

Besides being the â€Å"right thing to do,† Ethical conduct is important because it not only involves doing what is right and proper, but it is also good for business. Ethical conduct is the basis for long-term success in any organization. Here are some of the many advantages to ethical conduct at work. Ethical conduct ensures good and proper relationships with customers and vendors. Ethical conduct on the part of all employees also helps maintain quality and productivity. When employees follow ethical standards, they do not cut corners or short-change the company or its customers. Ethical conduct makes the best use of resources. Money, time, and effort are put into productive activities rather than diverted for questionable purposes or personal gain. Ethical perform promotes a strong public image for the organization. People respect an organization that makes ethical choices. Customers like doing business with an association they can trust. Ethics can be defined as a set of standards of acceptable conduct and moral judgment. Ethics provides cultural guidelines between employees, team leads or supervisor, It also provides organizational or societal , that help us decide between proper or improper conduct among each others. Compliance with laws and the behavioral treatment of employees are two completely different aspects of the manager's job. While ethical dilemmas will always occur in the supervision of employees, it is how employees are treated that largely distinguishes the ethical organization from the manager's job. It is extremely important to have a peaceful environment a work. We spend 8 hours with our coworkers every day ,that's why is important to make a great environment full of joyful moments and happiness. Viera In my job is exceptionally important to have good ethics . I work at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center with patients all day. They are all patients that are sick and going through a very hard time in their life having chemotherapy treatment and radiation treatment. We as employee have to be ethical at all times, we need to be polite, helpful, lovely and very respectful with them. I personally had an amazing training before my starting day about the job expectations and ethics. I believe every company should train their employee about ethics. The ultimate goal of ethics training is to avoid unethical behavior and adverse publicity; to gain a strategic advantage; and most of all, to treat employees in fair and equitable manner, recognizing them as productive members of the organization. Ethical conduct boosts morale and promotes teamwork. When employees can trust one another and management, they can work together more harmoniously and effectively.

Compare/Contrast Greek and Roman Cultures Essay

Assignment: Part 1: Fill in the below table with both similarities and differences of the Greek and Roman cultures. Indicate if you are describing a similarity or a difference. If you are describing a similarity then place your research information under both the Greek and Roman culture. If you are describing a difference list the difference between the two cultures under each culture. Please fill in all 10 lines within the table, each row will expand as you type in your information. Similarity/Difference Greek Culture Roman Culture 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Part 2: For the following questions, provide your response in short-answer format (2-3 sentences each). Use this Unit activities and resources to assist you in answering the questions. 1) How did the Cycladic, Minoan, and Mycenaean cultures contribute to Greeks’ sense of themselves? 2) What is a polis and how did polies shape Greek culture? The rural areas of Greece separated from one another by mountains became to form a community this is known as polis or city-states. The city-states came together to honor the gods at sanctuaries. 3) What was imperial Rome? Imperial Rome explored Rome during its reign as the dominant political, economic and military power of the western civilized world. The exhibition took a glimpse into life during the Roman Empire from 27 BC. 4) What values were retained from the Etruscans and Roman republic roots? Etruscan and republican roots? Roman Culture developed out of both Greek and in- digenous Etruscan roots. The Etruscans also provided the Romans with one of their founding myths, the legend of Romulus and Remus; Virgil’s Aeneid was the othe

Business Strategy in a Global Environment Case Study - 1

Business Strategy in a Global Environment - Case Study Example As the discussion stresses  Samsung Mobile falls under the IT and Mobile Communications division. Currently, Samsung Mobile holds the leading position in the smart phone industry with a market share of 23.7 %.   The global smart phone industry grew by 27.2 % in the second quarter of 2014. The number of units shipped has increased from 218.8 million to 281.5 million in a year in 2014. Samsung Mobile caters to a wide range of customer base, from budget conscious to premium consumers. The company holds the 13th rank in the Fortune 500 list with revenue of $ 208.9 billion.  This paper highlights that  the political scenario of a region puts significant effect on the business operations of a company. The sudden change in overseas business regulations is likely to hamper the business of multinational companies like Samsung. Moreover, large multinational companies become easy target politicians in their power play. In 2005, politician Roh Hoe-Chan allegedly released evidences of ill egal fund channelling by Samsung’s chairman Lee Kun-Hee. Although the final verdict announced Samsung’s chair man to be innocent, but as a result of the long lasting law suit, the brand image of the company was hampered and it also broke the investor’s trust.  The hostility between North Korea and South Korea has also emerged as a growing concern for Samsung. The company’s massive production plant in Tangjeong, South Korea will be affected badly if North Korea attacks South Korea.

Lifelong learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Lifelong learning - Essay Example Evaluation of Aspects of Inclusive Learning 13 B. An Analysis of Inclusive Approaches to Learning and Teaching 14 C. An Explanation of How to Motivate and Engage Learners in an Inclusive Learning Environment 15 D. An Explanation on How to Establish Ground Rules With Learners in an Inclusive Learning Environment 16 E. A Review of How to Give Constructive Feedback to Motivate Learners 16 F. A Review of How to Provide Opportunities for Learners to Practice their Literacy, Numeracy and ICT Skills 17 Task B: Professional Journal Entry 17 A) An Analysis: 17 B) An Explanation of How the Assessment Opportunity Was Made to Meet the Needs of the Learners 18 C) An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Your Approaches to Learning and Teaching in Meeting the Needs of Learners 19 References 20 Task A: Research Report A) An Analysis of Initial, Formative and Summative Assessment: Lifelong learning has emerged in recent years to be regarded as one of the key constituents for individuals to build up the ir value within the society. In order to develop the skills and diversified competencies within the entire life, it is necessary to pursue lifelong learning on account of surrounding factors. Knowledge, competencies and effective skills frame the basic requirements for fostering innovation and productivity within an organisation. With the advent of globalization, the need for change to keep up with the rapid pace of global adversaries has also accelerated, which has initiated the essence of lifelong learning for the individuals. A detailed analysis of the assessment tools have been discussed hereunder: Initial Assessment Analysis In accordance with the initial assessment methodology, it is observed that this method of application has been mainly created to be implemented in the beginning of the assessment process. It fundamentally derives knowledge about the learners’ strengths along with weaknesses and the gradual prospects for the development. Correspondingly, it has also b een ascertained that the assessment procedure mainly focuses on a particular aptitude or skill for evaluating the learners’ position. Furthermore, initial assessment methodology is also applied to detect the prior general areas, which require attention. This type of methodology is primarily adapted in order to provide the learners the appropriate courses, complying with the inherit skills and aptitudes. Considering the initial assessment tool, it basically is applied at times to determine the right learner for the right course, which will ultimately assist the learner to grow in the concerned field. Formative Assessment Tool Formative assessment is usually determined as a tool, which is applied to give continuous feedbacks to the learners for the particular duration of the course. In this context, it is generally known as the ‘assessment for learning’. The prior elements being indulged in the formative assessment reflect that the learning intentions must be made clear to the learner. Furthermore, during the planning process, the course is designed accordingly and is shared among the learners. Correspondingly, in this particular technique, the learners are directed to carry out their own evaluation process in compliance with the learning intentions. In the formative assessment technology, the learners’ usually receive their result by means of the written test or in a form of the oral test. Summative Assessment In case of the summative

Education, Globalization, And Social Change Essay - 1

Education, Globalization, And Social Change - Essay Example Equity and excellence are coincident and should be part of one educational agenda rather than being considered to be of different pursuits (Assessment Reform Group, 2006). Another factor that shapes educational assessment is increased public demand for accountability, which should be observed every day in multiple forms especially, in the media, public and political discussions about the need to improve the educational system (Assessment Reform Group, 2006). The focus on the value-added approaches to the evaluation of programs, schools, and quality of teachers is inclusive in the assessment on the community as an obvious manifestation of demand for accountability. In essence, the use of value-added approach as a way to access how systems are doing and holding entities accountable has become subject to discussion among people, politicians and education professionals (Atkinson and Claxton 2000). This ensures that almost all states have compulsory achievement tests, which are placed at multiple grade levels in the post of the subjects and are required to have such tests under current legislation with regard to the state in, which the education system is b eing practiced (Barnes 2010). In the United Kingdom, for instance, the incidence of children with autism has significantly increased over the past decade and recent prevalence has estimated that approximately one percent of the population is affected, with various reports indicating the estimation of an increase of the autism in different parts of the United Kingdom(Atkinson and Claxton 2000). However, autism is no longer viewed as a rare disorder but has made bigger the needs of education to the children and young people in reference to their areas.

Conflict of Slavery and Religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Conflict of Slavery and Religion - Essay Example Slavery is, in fact, one unique human / inhuman(e) universe in which meaning-making is perpetually created and-recreated in order to maintain a status quo of control on master’s side and dependence and exploitation on slave’s side. If the case against slavery should not be one negotiated based on â€Å"humane† reasons, suffice it to dispel slavery as an antithesis to religion based on raison d’à ªtre grounds alone. That is, no one man can truly claim he is a man (small letter) of God unless he not only subjects himself to God’s – and only God’s – will. Therefore, a man subjugating a fellow man by means of enslavement and exploitation is only one who claims a divine status. In essence, all claims of anti-slavery abolitionists coalesce around one fundamental creed that is; all men are God’s children. Probably, one outspoken and specially gifted orator who voiced religion vs. slavery case most eloquently during Antebellum i s Fredrick Douglass. In his Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, Douglass employs a set of rhetorical as well as narrative strategies by which he not only dispels slavery as an antithesis to religion but also reclaims slavery discourse as an African American meaning-making universe par excellence.

Should all organisations consider their brand as an employer Essay - 1

Should all organisations consider their brand as an employer - Essay Example to establish brand as an employer as such practices enhance the value proposition of the employer that is reflected in their business operations (Kashyap and Rangnekar, 2014). In order to sustain frequent economic and financial turmoil in the complex business environment, an organization has to possess relevant human assets with technological and behavioural competencies. As the process of employer branding involves extensive research of internal and external environment to understand the exact position of the employer in the market, determining further fundamental action plan for fulfilling the gap in the perceived image of the employer among the target group becomes easier (Newell, 2005). Therefore, the organization gets an opportunity to communicate its employers’ value proposition (EVP) and areas of improvement according to the research result in the market segment to be perceived as one of the distinct employers in its area of operations (Edwards, 2012). With a quest to be a part of good organizational environment, which is really scarce in the corporate world, potential candidates are willing to put less emphasis on monetary benefits if they understand long term career prospects, sound values and cultural practices in an organization (Saini, Rai and Chaudhary, 2014). Hence, adoption of employer branding serves business environment in two ways. The organization gets an easy access to skill enriched pool of candidates for serving the organizational purpose in an efficient manner and the candidates also receives an opportunity to exercise their existing talents in the organizational framework (Grà ¼newà ¤lder, 2008). Moreover, international mobility of skilled workforce and archaic skills of the aging personnel has also necessitated organizations to create an employer brand to retain and attract the best talents for enhancing business performance in the upcoming future (Kupfernagel, 2009). Researchers have shown that almost 69% of t he Americans prefer to be

Social Media Marketing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Social Media Marketing - Research Paper Example Social media marketing refers to the concept of gaining traffic and attention through launching and running promotional campaigns, through identifying and engaging with influencers and interested parties through social media. Social media marketing is most especially effective and vital for businesses, institutions and organizations that rely heavily on referral and the word-of-mouth as their marketing and communication strategies, considering that there is no easier ways to make referrals or pass word of mouth, than through the social media, owing to its extensive coverage and accessibility. Social media marketing is thus a category of internet marketing, which applies the social media networks as the platforms for communicating and achieving the branding goals of an institution. Fundamentally, this form of marketing entails sharing of written content, audio, images and videos through the social networks, to make such contents accessible by other parties within the social media netw orks, for marketing and branding the institution. Posing for a moment to dissect the assertions that Social Media Marketing is effective for referrals and word of mouth communication, it is apparent that there is no better way to market an educational institution, than through referrals and the word of mouth. Social media is the most effective channel of discovering and combining news with promotional content, while also serving as the most effective tool for building links to different other networks. Thus, finding and responding to online conversation can be the most effective way of marketing, since social media enables even small business which has no established systems and channels of advertisement, as well as those facing resource shortages to reach more customers. (Deis & Kyle, 2010). Therefore, social media does not only offer an opportunity to advertise and promote a brand, but also an opportunity to combine and reinforce the branding content with more informative news, and in a more entertaining and interactive way, that is rarely offered by other communication and promotional channels. Thus, despite the concept of Social Media Marketing being a comparatively recent phenomenon, its role in the current business world has shifted from that of a trendy presence, into a necessary marketing and advertising platform for any business that seeks to remain relevant both in the traditional and the digital marketing (DeMers, 2013). According to a report published by the Forbes Magazine, the 2012 Social Media Marketing Industry indicated that 94% of all businesses that had a marketing department utilized the social media as one of their major

Comparison -contrast essay army vs airforce Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Comparison -contrast army vs airforce - Essay Example One of the main differences of course lies in the defence regulations of each branch. It is usually assumed that the air force is the only primary air defence whereas, it is often overlooked that the army also has a large number of defensive aircrafts. The basic difference is that the air force has more aircrafts devoted to research and development wherein new and latest technology is used to make more powerful aircrafts, while the army is always in preparedness and maintains constantly a battle ready fleet of aircrafts. The army when compared to the air force is capable of deploying its own massive air defence if required at anytime. The air force is however focused on maintaining a larger scope and geographically distributed air defence with its fleet, the army on the other hand concentrates on short range and more of emergency support which explains the functional designs of the aircrafts used by them. This reflects why the army uses short range aircrafts as opposed to the long range ones used in the air force, as they are mainly used for the in and out missions which does not require the long distance and high altitude defence strategies. This clearly defines each unit’s role in the defence function and its goals in general. When we take aircraft as the criteria the most general difference is the fact that aircraft focus or specialisation is a part of a very small function of these units when compared to the military as a whole. Stealth aircrafts are more for long range purposes which is why the airforce posses them while the army focuses more on maneuverability which is the main issue when it comes to the capabilities and functions of the aircraft. The airforce which concentrates on airpower therefore focuses on a combination of stealth, maneuverability and super speed with letahl exponents. Thus we can assume that the airforce jets don’t focus on the survivability factor while the the army tends to carry out more

Globalization and Volkswagen Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Globalization and Volkswagen - Essay Example Volkswagen was incorporated in the year 1937. Volkswagen group is regarded as one the globe’s foremost automobile manufactures with its headquarters situated in Wolfsburg at Germany.Volkswagen was incorporated in the year 1937. Volkswagen group is regarded as one the globe’s foremost automobile manufactures with its headquarters situated in Wolfsburg at Germany. By globalising its business activities, Volkswagen has not only spread its activities in all the five continents of the globe but also able to transfer its technology to these markets, has created local employment and by adding local contents in its products it has opened the doors for local businessmen and has offered jobs to local people, it has helped to nourish local industries in foreign markets and has achieved cost savings about 15 to 25% due to local contents. This research essay is going to analyse how Volkswagen has benefitted from the process of globalisation. Volkswagen and Globalisation Globalizatio n can be referred as an active method of liberlisation, integration of market across the extensive array of markets internationally from goods to labor and from capital to services and technology. Globalisation is footed on the principle of freedom: the freedom to have commerce with the rest of the globe and capitalise on each nation’s relative gains; the freedom to invest where returns on capital are deemed to be highest within a tolerable magnitude of risk and the freedom to establish business of country’s of one’s choice... MNCs hold strong places in all three channels of globalisation and by clarity, they vouch for all foreign direct investment ( FDI), they are very active in trade , with thirty percent of global trade taking place within the MNCs and not between the MNCs and they transfer the knowledge and the bulk of technology across borders through intrafirm business transactions , create employment in host countries , responsible for rapid growth of GDP in the host countries and can be said to be responsible for increasing the standard of living in the countries, they conduct the business. (Ervin & Smith, 2008, p.24). Thus, due to the poignant position of MNCs, globalisation can be referred as the business decisions made by the MNCs as regards to their international business activities under transforming scenarios of international competition. (Kleinert, 2004, p.3). Globalisation also refers to the liberalisation of financial flow. Financial liberalisation eventually increases economic growth, eff iciency and development by infusing new technical know and foreign investment. Economic liberalisation connotes introduction of policies like removal of credit controls, deregulation of interest rates, privatisation of banks controlled by government, elimination of credit controls, permitting foreign financial institutions in the domestic financial markets and relaxation of the bar on the entry of private sectors. In short, it can be said that liberalisation means removal all barriers from the inflow of capital outside the frontiers of a nation. (Ariccia, 2008, p.3). It is to be noted that one cannot expect that mere economic liberalisation cannot achieve inflow of capital as only about 14 nations could attract in excess of eighty-five percent of

Othello protagonist Essay Example for Free

Othello protagonist Essay The protagonist of the play, Othello is a man trapped by his own weaknesses rather than a victim of circumstance. Even though the situations that Othello finds himself in are not ideal and contribute to his downfall, it is his own fatal flaws that end up destroying him. In act 3 scene 3 Iago starts to plant a seed of doubt in Othello’s mind about his wife Desdemona and her infidelity. Iago proceeds to ask Othello, â€Å"Did Michael Cassio, when you wooed my lady, know of you love? † This question immediately causes Othello to become suspicious. Iago then follows with a series of rhetorical questions that enrage Othello as well increase the doubt that is building up in his mind. By the end of this scene we see one of Othello’s weaknesses present itself, jealousy. This particular flaw becomes one of the major contributions to Othello’s downfall. By the end of the play jealousy has clouded his judgment and taken over his perspective on everything. At first Othello insists that he needs proof of the alleged affair but quickly changes his mind. â€Å"Must be to loathe her. O curse of marriage. Act 4 scene 1, Iago informs Othello that Desdemona and Cassio have slept together and he has seen that she has given Cassio the handkerchief Othello gave her when they first fell in love. All this news that Iago keeps telling him sends Othello off into a rant, â€Å"Is’t possible? Confess? Handkerchief? O devil! † After this his falls into a trance. This is the moment when all Othello’s insecurities, fears and aversions as well as the obvious lack of judgment that a leader is assumed to have combine to create this kind of epileptic fit. In this scene stage directions are used to help the reader understand what is going on for a dramatic effect. Two of Othello’s flaws that cause this downfall are passion and gullibility. These feelings enabled Iago fill his head with lies that caused him to get so worked up that he lost control. In act 5 scene 1 Iago had convinced Othello that he would kill Cassio and that Othello had to kill Desdemona. Othello begins this scene with a soliloquy, reflecting and attempting to justify his decision to kill her. Othello refers to Desdemona as light. â€Å"Put out the light and then put out he light†. So sweet we ne’er so fatal. † Othello describes how she was so sweet but her actions caused so much pain. Before he kills her, Othello makes sure she has prayed or confessed so that she will go to heaven. â€Å"I will not kill thy unprepared spirit. † Othello’s blind faith in Iago is the flaw that leads all his other weaknesses to rise to the surfac e and in the end the inevitable happens. Othello, once a great man, falls. Desdemona speak for one last time in the play. â€Å"A guiltless death I die. † This quote enforces the reality of what has just taken place. This innocent woman was a victim because of another man’s weakness. In this play it is clear what jealousy and misguided trust can do to a person. These weaknesses, along with others, are the reason for Othello’s downfall. Each flaw produced another weakness or doubt. The fact that Othello was manipulated to be part of Iago’s plan for revenge only accelerated the speed of his demise. The fatal mix of passion, jealousy, insecurity as well as how easily he could be manipulated caused Othello to be a man snared by his own weaknesses.

Skills for running a small business

Skills for running a small business SKILLS FOR RUNNING A SMALL BUSINESS There are a number of skills required to run a business. You will need to use the skills you have and probably develop new ones as well It is often not possible for one person to have all the skills, in this case you might consider taking on staff or perhaps a partner to fill the gaps What kind of skills do you think are needed to run a business? Skills relating to products or services Management skills Recording and checking performance skills Selling skills Administration skills Previous experience, although not a skill will help The ability to recognise your own strengths and weaknesses 1. Skills relating to products and/or services Some products or services require specialist skills to produce or provide Even if you buy your products or services in, the people in your business that deal with customers still need a detailed knowledge of what is on offer You will need to think about these skills for your business, do you have them, are you planning to develop them, or are you going to employ someone who has them? 2. Management skills Henry Fayol suggested there are 5 primary functions of management, to be a successful manager you will need to have or develop skills in these areas. Planning Organizing Leading Co-ordinating Controlling (processes, performance etc, NOT people) Some people now think Fayols ideas are a bit old fashioned, however the basic principles of management remain the same A more modern writer, Katz, identified 3 main components to being a good manager Technical skills about the product or service Human skills, interacting with others and leading effectively Conceptual skills, coming up with new ideas, decision making and problem solving 3. Recording and checking performance skills One of the main roles of a business owner is to monitor how well the business is doing so that things can be changed if needed Performance standards need to be set, these should relate back to the aims and objectives and be SMART Actual performance is measured, information is collected. What information would your business need to collect? Actual performance is compared to the standards, if they are being met no further action is needed Corrective action is taken where required How good are you at following this kind of process, do you have an eye for detail, are you likely to follow up and measure? You will need to make use of your organisational and analytical skills 4. Selling skills As a small business owner you may need to use personal selling to get your potential customers to buy Good communication skills Persuasion skills An awareness of buying signals from customers (Observational skills) The ability to close a sale (Negotiation Skills) Good listening skills Identifying product needs in the customer Good product knowledge A lot of these skills can be learnt if you dont have them 5. Administration skills . Administration skills are vital to any business. To be good at administration you need to have a logical approach, be well organised, pay attention to detail and have good communication skills Accurate organisation of customer files and data Letter writing, faxing, emails, telephone calls etc (Technological skills) Preparation and dispatch of invoices, paying bills Managing budgets 6. Previous experience (although not a skill, this would be useful) If you have already worked in a similar company or related business this will help you. Also if you are basing your idea around a hobby or interest this may also give you some expertise If you have worked in a similar business you may have seen problems in that one that help you to avoid them yourself 7. Strengths and Weaknesses No-one is good at everything so you need to be honest about what you can and cant do Recognising your strengths will help you build the business around things you are good at Weaknesses should not be ignored. Once you are aware of them its important to implement a strategy to either eliminate them or prevent them from undermining the business Training you could enroll on a course, possibly with a local college. There are also lots of companies around that specialise in training so you might be able to contact one of them. Beware though, sometimes they can be very expensive, particularly if they are specialised Take on a partner if they compliment your skills this may be a good idea. There may be no upfront expense associated with this but they will expect a share of the profits Do some business networking this is where you attend events that attract other business people, you can talk to them, make contacts, get advice and possibly sales leads as well. For most small businesses this is an excellent option. Business Link, Chamber of Commerce and trade associations are sources that can help with this Employees you could always advertise for an employee with particular skills. Specialist employees may expect   higher salaries so could be expensive There are a number of areas that you can get professional help in. It can be really expensive so be sure you know what youre getting into before you commit. What kind of professions do you think can help? Business consultants you can employ experienced business people who will share their expertise and knowledge Accountants Most small businesses will need to employ a professional accountant, particularly to set up the legal status of the business and produce the annual accounts Solicitors will advise on any legal matters, contracts and the like with regards to the business Business Link an organisation set up by the government (Department for Trade and Industry), they offer services similar to business consultants but because they are government funded they are cheaper. You may have to wait for them, they are generally very busy You are now ready to do a skills audit. You need to perform an objective and accurate assessment of your suitability and the skills you possess to run the business you have chosen. You need to appraise your own skills and abilities honestly and identify any gaps For the first part you need to compile a list of the skills needed to run your business and a realistic assessment of whether or not you have them at the moment. You now need to put an outline job description together that describes the skills needed to run your business. Skills relating to products or services A keen interest in the product sold by my business shal be a necessity n the working of the company, Also a ability to know the whole of the procut along with its functionality shall also be required. It would also be needed that a ability to answer customer demands in regards to a product, to run the business smoothly. Obvioulsy therefore in light of this a ability to use and demonstrate the product shall be required along with a ability to market the product as well as the business enteprie itself. Management skills Team management shall be needed when running my business, especially in the field of marketing. Whereby groups of ndividuals shall market the product outside the company, and therefore good management technique shall need to be drawn upon. Furthermore to this senior management shall be needed to direct the company and its product as the business gros and develops. This ability to lead the business shal undoubtably be a massive requirement in regards to moving th company forward in the future. Recording and checking performance skills Recording and checking the companies performance shall be a necessity as in any other eneterprise. Particularly in the business of a new innovative product, market analysis and checking shll be a hugely needed requirement. Furthermore a ability to check company financial performance shall be needed to ensure the company is hitting projected performance targets as a whole. Selling skills A strong ability to sell the product of which we sell shall be neededwithin my business, for It continued success. A ability to sell the product in bulk orders would be preferable and also to sel the product in a friendly manner too. Also when sales are lost an ability to record and suggest how the sale went wrong shall also b e a required skillset. Administration skills Administration skills as in any business shall be critically important. In order to run my business successfully a srong administration skillset shall be needed. This shall allow for all paperwork and smaller tasks within the business to all be completed to a standard that ensures the company in kept up-to-date in all its work and legality documents. Previous experience, although not a skill will be useful Internal audit Strengths Weaknesses External audit Opportunities Threats Skills Assessment Team Member (Anonymous) Skill Administration Skill Management Skill Selling Skill Product Knowledge Skill Operations Skill Customer Service 1 3 3 2 3 5 3 2 4 4 2 2 4 3 3 5 3 1 2 5 2 4 3 2 2 3 4 1 Tally Priority Rating Scale 1-5 (1=Good, 5=Poor) Statement 1 Your selling skills within your business at the momen its its greatest quality. However its clear that the area of operations can greatly do with improvement Statement 2 Operations is a poor area of your business to date, in terms of how everything works and things fit together however management like selling is a better quality existing. Statement 3 Your customer service at the moment is good, however a better knowledge of the products you shall would be of greater use and further help your customer service. Statement 4 Your management skills however currently good theres a great amount of room for improvement in this skillset. This can be achieved by leading your employees more effectively of which shall also cross over and improve your results for the operations section of your business. Skills I need to run my business Do I currently have these Evidence Selling Skills in regards to the product Good Customer Service I feel that currently my selling skills are of a good standard however would greatly need improvement in the future. In order to run my product based business to a successful level. It key therefore that this skill is worked upon and developed. Along with a ability to sell, with my business being around a product good customer service shall be essential. It shall be preferred that I develop a good level of customer service skills that are used throughout my business. Selling products within young enterprise group. Speaking to customers of young enterprise and helping with order placements. Skills I need to develop Purpose for development How will I achieve this By When Need to develop operations skills To improve my ability to work a business. And to get it functioning towards a objective. Allowing for the business to run smoothly and operate successfully. This shall be key in ensuring my business is of a good working level and leads to a strong company as a whole. I shall achieve this by working on the area of operations within a business. I shall therefore take roles relating to operations more frequently and work in those areas with great care in order to improve within that particular area. I aim to achieve this particular goal by February 2010. Target Review point 1:   February 2010 Date achieved Evidence If not achieved how   can you achieve them in the future Target Review point 1: April 2010 Date achieved Evidence If not achieved how   can you achieve them in the future

The Bespoke Conditions Of Contracts Construction Essay

The Bespoke Conditions Of Contracts Construction Essay This chapter focused on areas of Conditions of Contracts of bespoke Forms of Contract in the Dubai Construction Industry. The bespoke Conditions of Contracts prevalent were modified version of the Red Book. As a Dubai construction industry professional the idea was to investigate in depth of the bespoke Conditions of Contracts were vital and useful to the industry and in particular to the professionals in the industry. It was not anticipated that the current practice to be revised by this research. The real understanding of the issues was to investigate and analysis of the result that enable for a healthy awareness to the construction industry in Dubai. Study Background The construction industry has characteristics that separately are shared by other industries but in combination appear in construction alone (Hillebrandt, 1984: pg1). The UAE is one of the largest and fastest growing economies in the Middle East. The country has witnessed massive investment in the construction industry from both public and private enterprises in recent years. It outpaced Saudi Arabia and became the largest construction market in the GCC region in 2008. Followed by Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Egypt the UAE accounted for nearly 20.3% of total construction industry in the region. Despite the sluggish growth in 2009 amidst the global financial distress, the construction industry managed to record strong growth during 2007-2009 and contributed approx. 8% to the countrys GDP in 2009 (uae_construction_industry_outlook_2012.html). According to the new research report UAE Construction Industry Outlook to 2012, the UAE construction industry is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of around 20% during 2010-2013. Rapid economic development is the main factor driving construction activities and infrastructure development in the UAE. The UAE has drawn investments from all around the world. Most of the investments were generally focused on the development of infrastructure for tourism, hospitality, retail and healthcare industry. In addition, the efforts of the government to diversify its economy to free from oil-based enabled to boost other industries with adequate infrastructure that will enable investments in future (uae_construction_industry_outlook_2012.html). The UAE will continue to develop despite the global economic slowdown, several projects in tourism, housing, industrial and commercial facilities, education and healthcare amenities, transportation, communications, utilities, ports and airports (uae_construction_industry_outlook_2012.html). As per the study conducted by Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry it was revealed that UAE was currently leading the current Gulf infrastructure and construction projects. The details appended below in table form as well as graphical presentations. The figures as per the study shows the UAE infrastructure, real estate and construction has vast opportunities for the construction industry professionals (Gulf News Sunday, August 1, 2010) Figure 1.1 Source: Dubai Chamber based on data from various government agencies (Gulf News Sunday, August 1, 2010) Figure 1.2 Source: Dubai Chamber based on data from various government agencies (Gulf News Sunday, August 1, 2010) Table 1.1 Aims and Objectives for the Research Aims To study the bespoke Form of Contracts prevalent in Dubai to enable and test the selected hypothesis Employers in Dubai preferred FIDIC 1987 fourth edition (Red Book) than FIDIC 1999 first edition (New Red Book). Objectives To compare and contrast all relevant Clauses of both Forms To research and weigh the pro and cons of clauses in both Forms To research the existing weakness and show how clauses are amended by various employers in the Conditions of Contract. To research the terms in the Form of Contracts and how it affects the Parties involved. To research how the RB is used in Lump Sum contracts. To test the hypothesis Employers in Dubai preferred FIDIC 1987 Fourth edition than FIDIC 1999 First edition Construction law and the legal system The term construction law is now understood universally to cover the whole field of law which directly affects the construction industry and the legal instruments through which it operates. Efficient and workable construction contracts requires that the needs of the construction process and should be taken into account by applying the principles of management. Construction law is, thus, an inter-active subject in which both lawyers and construction professionals, including managers, have an essential part to play (Construction Law by John Uff, Ninth edition 2005). Construction law and construction contracts The term construction contracts has a statutory definitions covering most but not all types of construction work, and including both building and engineering work (Construction Law by John Uff, Ninth edition 2005). A contract is a binding agreement between two or more persons (such as individuals, businesses, organizations or government agencies) to do, or to refrain from doing, a particular thing in exchange for something of value. The Contracts generally can be written, using formal or informal terms, or entirely verbal. If one party fails to live up to its part of the bargain, theres a breach and certain remedies for solving the differences are available. The terms of the contract (such as who, what, where, when, and how of the agreement) define the binding promises of each party to the contract (http://law.freeadvice.com/general_practice/contract_law/contract_agreement.htm [Accessed on 07 August 2010]). Hypothesis The hypothesis of the dissertation is Employers in Dubai preferred FIDIC 1987 fourth edition (Red Book) than FIDIC 1999 first edition (New Red Book). In UAE most of the bespoke Conditions of Contract are modified based on FIDIC that could arrive based on the environment and nature of the Employer. The Engineering News Record publication states that 55% of the worlds major construction project (Blick J, 1999) is dealing with the Red Book. It is considered that the Red Book is commonly used as the base to create bespoke Conditions of Contract by the Employers. Outline Methodology Fourteen major bespoke Conditions of Contract prevalent in Dubai has been selected for analysis in detail. Further six numbers of bespoke Conditions of Contract has been selected including Abu Dhabi Employers bespoke Conditions of Contract. The Dubai Employers Conditions of Contract are based on RB and the Abu Dhabi Employers bespoke Conditions of Contract are based on NRB. The analysis will be focused on detailed study of the bespoke Conditions of Contracts and the result shall be discussed in brief at Chapter 5 Analysis and presentation of evidence and a detailed result shall be annexed in the Appendix to enable the reader to aware of the amendments and additional provisions in the bespoke Conditions of Contracts prevalent in Dubai. The appendices shall be helpful for the reader in case the reader is dealing with any professional involvement in the construction industry of Dubai. The survey questionnaires have been forwarded to forty eight selected construction industry professionals in Dubai. The respondents are selected such as RICS qualified Chartered Quantity Surveyors, Resident Engineers, Project Managers etc. to get the analysis of the responses questionnaires from senior level professionals in the Dubai construction industry. The United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates comprise Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Al Fujeirah, Al Sharjah, Dubai, Um Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaima. (http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/ae.htm [Accessed 09 August 2010]) Population 2,563,200 Capital City Abu Dhabi Currency Emirati Dirham (AED) Languages Arabic (official), English, others National Day December 2 Religions Muslim (96%), others Geographic Coordinates Latitude/Longitude (Capital City) 24Â ° 27 N, 54Â ° 23 E the statics is as follows :Coastline is 1,318 km ; 82,880 sq. km of land ; Highest Point Jabal Yibir 1,727 m; Lowest Point Persian Gulf 0 m. (http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/ae.htm [Accessed 09 August 2010]) Figure 1.3 Map of Dubai Figure 1.4 Map of the United Arab Emirates Source: http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/lgcolor/aecolor.htm [Accessed 09 August 2010] The Structure The structure of the dissertation comprises the following: The abstract Table of content Acknowledgment Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Literature review Chapter 3 Methodology Chapter 4 Data collection Chapter 5 Analysis and presentation of evidence Chapter 6 Conclusions Chapter 7 Recommendations

The Many Signs of Dance :: essays research papers

The many signs of Dance "To learn the language of dance, one must perform." That quote is taken from C. Nicholas Johnson, director of dance. In the following paper, I will review the Wichita Contemporary Dance Theater performance that took place April 8-9 at 7:30. I will be reviewing Friday nights performance. As C. Nicholas Johnson said, "In doing so, we hope to encourage personal growth beyond the art itself. Ever since I heard about the Spring Dance Concert, I was very excited to go and be part of that. For some reason that night I thought I was going to be seeing a Ballet concert. So when the first piece came on "Dear Me" choreographed by Cheyla Cabrales, I was in for a real shock. Soloist Stephanie Davis started the show out with a very modern dance, by doing all her moves by simply sitting in a chair. The audience was then surprised with a outburst of dancers right beside them. All over the room there were breaths that were taken at the same time and complete surround dancing. I enjoyed this piece not just for the uniqueness, but for the music and the openness affect it had on me and the audience. The second piece, "Warfaring" choreographed by Janice Garrett, was much more different from the first piece. It was much more brighter, the girls wore green dresses, and the music was fiddles and guitars. It involved 4 dancers, but it seemed like more because they were doing so much work throughout the movement. I liked this piece, it made me smile, because the girls had smiles on their faces as they were dancing. They looked as if they could have danced all day and be completely satisfied. The third piece "Inside Out" choreographed by Nick Johnson, was one of my favorites. "To all my female dance majors...I understand!" That was the quote that was under the piece's title. In my head I was thinking that this was probably going to be a slow emotional dance with soft music. But instead it was very humorous. Nick Johnson was half a women and half a man. The costume was perfect, it was literally haft women and half man. I thought of the act as a "dating" scene. The man being all nervous and wanting the women, but the women showing that she likes him, but making sure he knows that she is in charge.

From Taco Bell to Tanzania Essay example -- Graduate Admissions Essays

From Taco Bell to Tanzania I lived until the age of 18 in Lacey, Washington, a small town made up mostly of the strip malls and Taco Bell fast food restaurants that line Interstate 5 from Portland to Seattle. Very few of my high school classmates left this town, and instead moved back into the service industries and lower rungs of state bureaucracy where their parents had worked before them. For those of us who wanted to leave, the only routes, at the time, seemed to be the military or higher education. Since, by middle school, I had been tracked into college prep courses, I assumed that I would go to college but did not know where or what to study. In our garage, my grandfather kept back issues of National Geographic dating to the 1920's. The summer before starting high school, he paid me to dust them and it was then that I discovered something called "Anthropology" which, when studied, appeared to lead to a more interesting life in a more interesting place. For my Freshman Physical Science course's "SCIENCE CAREERS DAY," I wrote "Anthropology" down as my career goal, though I knew nothing at the time about the discipline besides the name. I likewise chose a college which I knew nothing about - Lewis and Clark in Oregon - because the brochure mentioned that there were several dozen overseas programs available through the school. Though I could have gone to India, Indonesia, Ecuador, Australia, Korea or many other countries, I decided to apply for Kenya because the year before I had read a book about nomads and the program included a unit on nomadic pastoralism and ecology. After rereading this book much later, I discovered it to be an incredibly sappy, melodramatic and condescending ... ...conflicts in other areas of social life. In the summer of 1994, I had the opportunity to travel to Tanzania on an SSRC Predissertation Grant to begin to establish affiliation, research clearance and possible fieldsites. I have also made contacts at the district level with officials and academics in the area. Though I already speak Kiswahili, the national language of Tanzania, I also have made arrangements to study Maa, the language of the Kisongo Maasai and WaArusha who live in the district in which I will be working. I am looking forward to working in Tanzania not only because of its political stability and unique history as a nation, but also because of the opportunity to generate information about children and education in pastoral communities there, a topic which is still under-researched despite the restructuring of national curriculum in recent years.

Leadership :: essays research papers

Webster's Dictionary defines leadership as the position or guidance of a person or thing that leads, directing, commanding, or guiding head, as of a group or activity. However Leadership has not one single definition, but many. Leadership is often an intangible factor that makes one group more effective than another. It exists at different levels within organizations and should be woven throughout the entire organization. Different organizations use different ways in effectively teaching or molding their employees how to be an effective leader. One such company is the R.E. Brown Company and Associates, who have developed a yearlong program that is strictly used as a program to teach their employees how to become a more effective leader. They use what they believe as the Nine Behaviors of leaders. This program doesn't directly start off with the introduction of the nine behaviors, but of little tasks given to the participants. They are broken into small groups where they interact with each other, summarize common threads, and then present their findings to the larger group. Then once this has taken place they develop specific action plans to take back to their groups and from there on they work coherently together as a team. This develops a bond, and creates a model of team leadership, sharing, and reflection. Once this has happened then the teams are introduced to the nine behaviors of leadership where they discuss each one and try to use the information that they have gathered to take back to their own jobs were they can become even more successful then they have ever been before. The Nine Behaviors that develop exception leaders are: 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Motivating others through adaptive leadership, who knows when to direct, coach, facilitate, or delegate, depending on the task and person. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Empowering others, which is a sort of delegation that will help you as a leader to control the situation with the help of others. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Encouraging teamwork, which is balancing results, process, and relationships. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Preparing people for change allowing you to understand their psychological responses and helping them to create a positive change with force-field analysis. 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Vision/Mission, which establishes guidelines for accomplishing a specific goal. 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Using multiple options by allowing you to see different strategic possibilities and being open to more day-to-day options. 7.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Taking intelligent risks, relating decision-making to risks and getting consensus. 8.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Stretching personal creativity that renews personal resources. 9.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Showing passion for work by demonstrating presence, inspiration, and energy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Each company has their own way of developing programs that center on ones ability to become an effective leader; this was just one aspect that I was able to find.

Remote Access Control Policy: Richman Corporation

Authorization Rules: Controls will be configured to ensure access is approved for only company/corporate employees. These controls will be set up based off of the position (job roles) of the employees to ensure they can only access what is required to allow them to perform their duties. The policy will include group membership policies as well as authority-level policies. The employee access will be assigned to the appropriate groups and authority- level policies.Identification Rules: Employees of Richmond Corporation will be given an employee identification number. Every employee will have a key badge as well in order to enter their building and/or floor if the building contains elevators. The unique employee ID number will be engrained into the employee badge and will be used to allow employees access the corporate system. Authentication: The key badge given to each employee will be used to allow access and authenticate that employee.An initial temporary password will be applied to each employee logon information and require the employee to change the password on first login. The policy will be set up to ensure that the employees create strong passwords and are required to change their passwords every 60 to 90 days. Employees at higher levels who have access to sensitive information may also be required to use two-factor authentication such as fingerprint biometric access to get into rooms and buildings and/or simply login to their computer system.PIN numbers will be used to access server rooms. Token will be issued to provide access remotely to allow for secure logins. Accountability: Richmond Corporation IT department will keep record of Log Files to be able to see who has logged into the system and when. The IT department will ensure they keep back-up files of required resources. They will apply access controls using different levels of restriction and access. Multiple security controls will be in place. There will be a policy for media disposal as well.

Anatomy and Physiology Ch. 1 Study Guide Essay

Anatomy – the study of the form or structure and arrangement of body parts and their relationships Physiology – the study of the functions of the body parts or structures and their relationships in maintaining life processes. Levels of Structural Organization The human body consists of levels of structural organization that are associated with one another. There are six levels of structural organization: I. chemical level – It is the simplest level and it includes all of the chemical substances essential for maintaining life. These substances are made up of atoms. An atom is the smallest unit of matter. Matter is anything that takes up space and has mass.  Atoms combine to form molecules, which may be simple or  complex. Different types of molecules combine to form or~anelles (â€Å"little organs†). Organelles are specific structures that carry out specific functions. 2. cellular level – The cell is the basic unit of structure  and function and of life. Cells vary in size, shape, and function and may contain many types of organelles. 3. tissue level – Tissues are groups of similar cells that perform a specific function. There are four major types of tissues in the human body: a. epithelial tissue – It is found lining body cavities and covers the surface of the body. It functions in  protection, secretion, and excretion. b. connective tissue – It is found on the surfaces of  and in organs and tissues and functions in protection, support, and attaching organs and tissues to each other and to the walls of body cavities. c. muscle tissue – It functions in the movement of body parts and organs, and in the movement of substances throughout the body. There are three major types of muscle tissue: (1) skeletal muscle – It is found attached to and covering bones and it functions in body movement. (2) cardiac muscle – It is located in the heart wall and functions in the contraction and relaxation of the heart as it beats. (3) smooth muscle – It is located in the walls of internal or visceral organs and it functions in moving substances throughout the body. d. nervous tissue  It is located in the brain and  spinal cord, and extends to various tissues and organs.  It  functions in transmitting electrical or nerve impulses from the external and internal environments to the brain and spinal cord where it is interpreted and a response occurs. 4. organ level – Organs are groups of two or more types of  tissue working together to perform a specific function. 5. organ system level – ~ sTstems are groups of organs that work closely together to perform a common function. There are eleven organ systems in the human body: ao g. h. i. j. k. integumentary system muscular system skeletal system nervous system endocrine system cardiovascular system lymphatic system respiratory system digestive system urinary system reproductive system 6. organismal level – It is the highest level of structural organization and it consists of groups of organ systems working together to maintain body structure and function. Organ systems work together to maintain an internal environment that is fairly constant, stable, or balanced. This is referred to as homeostasis (â€Å"to stay the same†). Changes do occur, but within very narrow ranges or limits. Homeostasis Body parts or structures function efficiently in maintaining metabolic processes and when the survival needs are within certain limits or optimum levels. The survival needs include: water,  oxyqen, nutrients, an appropriate bod~ temperature, and atmospheric pressure. Water is necessary for chemical reactions, excretion, and secretion.  Oxyqen is required for many of the metabolic  reactions that break down nutrients and provide energy. Nutrients provide energy for cells and cell processes. Bod~ temperature must be maintained within a certain range for chemical reactions and cell processes to perform efficiently. If the body temperature falls too low or increases too high, chemical reactions will slow down or may stop. Atmospheric pressure is the force of air on the body surface by the weight of air. It is important in breathing and in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs. To maintain homeostasis there are control mechanisms. Control mechanisms consist of three parts: i. receptor – It responds to sensory stimuli from the internal and external environments. The information is sent along afferent pathways to the control center. 2. control center – It consists of the brain and spinal cord which interpret and analyze the information and determine an appropriate response.  Information is then sent along efferent pathways to the effector. 3. effector – It consists of tissues, organs, or glands that perform a motor response to the original stimulus that was received by the receptor. The response involves a feedback mechanism. If the response slows down or inhibit~ the stimulus it is a neqative feedback mechanism. If the response speeds up or enhances the stimulus, it is a positive feedback mechanism. Most control mechanisms for homeostasis in the human body are negative feedback mechanisms.

Constructivist Approach

I think when a secondry student starts learning new language for the first time in school It is very useful and important that the feeling of freedom of action they were to thought and responds. Consructivist approach is a helpful way to get a new trainee interested in learning English as a second language. When a students begins to learn,they rest and concern whould are not just for remembering and memorizing. unfortunately, in most of our public schools, The teacher was alone as the center of attention And only he is eloquent and the rest of the learning is specific to the subject matter of the book and the examinations and questions include just book content. Even behaviourism has not been implemented, and lack of the build-up,beginners have begun teaching of the same lesson without making innovation and research and thought of students in relation to the culture that they are learning the language and have no participation, their interest It reduces the scope of research in that branch. The teacher is written not only as a guide but as an absolute spokesman who only reads the contents of the book and students have to memorize the word of their words and questions are written without any stimulation of the initiative and the action of students from the concrete content of the curriculum. Dont give them any experience and just impact their behaviour.In this condition reinforcement and punishment is become more important.Student just imitating teacher and learning is done through repititon.They have no volountry to control their reflex to stimulus and response. These students continue to maintain and provide repetitive lessons without learning to take initiative and collaborate with their other classmates, even in the curriculum.The lack of psychological knowledge and no image of the culture of the target language of the teacher leads to the development of students without initiative and interaction.

The Secret of Ella and Micha Chapter 4

Micha â€Å"She's already got you all hot and bothered.† Ethan sips on his soda. â€Å"Look at you. Drunk after eight months of sobriety and I don't believe it's a coincidence it happened on the same night she showed up.† I slam another shot back and wipe my lips with the back of my hand. â€Å"I'm fine man. And I can't blame what I do on anyone else but myself. This isn't Ella's fault. â€Å" Ethan laughs, tipping his head back, bumping it on the edge of the cupboard. â€Å"Who the hell are you trying to convince? You know just as well as every single person in the room knows that you two are each other's problem and it's never going to be fixed until you fuck and get it over with.† I punch him in the arm, harder than I planned. â€Å"Watch it. You're walking on thin ice tonight.† He holds up his hands, surrendering. â€Å"Sorry, I forgot how you get when you're like this.† I grab a fist full of his shirt and jerk him toward me. â€Å"Like what?† Again, he forfeits up his hands. â€Å"Micha man, calm down and go drink some coffee or something. You're trashed out of your mind.† I release him and rake my fingers through my hair, frustrated with something I can't grasp. â€Å"Coffee's a myth†¦ And I need something else.† My eyes travel to the back door window, and suddenly I understand what I need. I pat Ethan's shoulder. â€Å"Clear everyone out before my mom gets home, okay?† â€Å"Alright, man will do,† he replies confoundedly. â€Å"But where are you going?† â€Å"On a walk.† I knock people out of my way, and stumble out the back door. Regaining my balance, I trip across the grass and climb over the fence. Ella's dad's Firebird is parked in the driveway, so he must be home from the bar. Doesn't matter, though. He won't notice or care if I sneak in. I've been doing it since we were kids. Although, my intentions did get a bit dirtier the older we got. I stare up at her bedroom window until I reach the tree. After a drunken struggle, I make it to the top and I inch along the branch to the window. Cupping me hands around my eyes, I peek inside. The lights are off, but the glow of the moon lights a trail to her bed. She's fast asleep. I inch open the window, slicing my finger on a rusty nail. â€Å"Mother†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I suck on my finger tip, the taste of blood and vodka bitter against my tongue as I head dive through the window and hit the floor with a soft thud. Her friend shoots upright from the bed on the floor, her eyes wide. â€Å"Oh my God.† I put my finger to my lips as I get to my feet. â€Å"Shh†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She still looks worried so I dazzle her with my most charming smile. That seems to win her over and she settles back in her bed. As carefully as I can, I step over her bed and crawl in with Ella. She's always been a heavy sleeper and doesn't stir. I press my chest against her back, drape my arm over her waist, and feel the rhythm of her breathing. God, I've missed this way too much. It's not healthy. I burrow my face in her neck, smelling the scent of her hair, vanilla mixed with something that's only her. I shut my eyes and for the first time in eight months, I fall into a peaceful sleep. Ella I sleep horribly for half the night, tossing and turning, like the princess sleeping on a pea. Only I am far from a princess and the pea is my guilty conscience. I don't know why I feel guilty about blowing off Micha. I've done it breezily for the past eight months. Although, he wasn't living right next door with his sad puppy dog eyes and charming sexiness. My sleep deprivation only got worse when my dad stumbled into the house in the middle of the night, bumping over cups and bottles, drunk off his ass. Later, I heard him crying in the bathroom my mom died in. It still hurts to hear because his tears are my fault. Once I fall asleep, I am out and it ends up being the best night's rest I've had in ages. When I wake up in the late afternoon, I feel refreshed and calm. Until I realize why. Micha is in my bed and has me in his long, lean arms. His body is curved into mine, so every single part of him is touching me. I know it's him by the smell of his cologne mixed with mint and something else that only belongs to Micha. I pretend to be asleep, engulfed in a wonderful dream, refusing to wake up until he leaves. â€Å"I know you're awake,† he whispers in my ear. His voice is hoarse and his breath is stale with booze. â€Å"So open your eyes and quit avoiding me.† â€Å"You know it's illegal to walk into someone's house without permission,† I say with my eyes shut. â€Å"And sneaking into someone's bed – that's the move of a pervert.† â€Å"I didn't walk in. I fell in,† he says, amused. I pinch his firm chest and he laughs. â€Å"Now there's my feisty girl.† He brushes his soft lips across my forehead. â€Å"I've missed you, Ella May.† Opening my eyes, I wiggle in his arms. â€Å"Please don't start. It's too early.† His eyes are guarded and his hair is a mess. He chuckles lowly, a sound that ripples deep inside my core. â€Å"Pretend all you want, pretty girl. You and I know that deep down you're secretly glad to be pressed up to my body.† He urges our chests together as he snakes his legs around mine. My eyelids flutter against his warmth. God, I've missed this so much. Way too much and so has my body, evidently. â€Å"So where did you go?† he asks, crushing my moment of bliss. â€Å"To school in Vegas? Because it kind of surprises me. You never really liked school.† My mind snaps back to reality. â€Å"I don't want to get into this right now. I just want to have a relaxing summer and then I'm headed back to campus.† He blinks, his eyelashes fluttering against my forehead. The feel of him sends a warm tingle up my thighs and I seal my lips to keep from moaning. His eyebrows knit. â€Å"It's like you've been kidnapped by a bunch of nuns or something.† â€Å"Maybe I was,† I say submissively. â€Å"It wouldn't hurt anyone if I was.† He considers this and an artful smirk curves at his lip. â€Å"That's not true. Nuns can't have sex and I still haven't fulfilled my lifelong dream of having sex with you.† I open my mouth, my tongue locked and loaded with an equally perverted comeback, but I bite down, remembering I'm not that kind of a girl anymore. â€Å"I need to wake Lila up. She's got a long drive ahead of her.† With one swift roll, he has me pinned down beneath his body and my arms trapped above my head. His aqua eyes search mine and it's like staring at the endless ocean. He sucks on his lip ring, lost in thought. â€Å"You're going to tell me, pretty girl,† he asserts, tilting his head so his lips are next to my cheek. â€Å"You always tell me everything.† â€Å"Micha, please†¦.† I despise how breathless I sound. â€Å"You know why I left. You were there that night†¦ you saw me†¦ I can't do it again.† Anxiety claws up my throat and my muscles tense beneath the weight of his body. â€Å"Please let me up. I can't breathe.† He props up on his arms. â€Å"You could have talked to me, instead of running away. You know that.† I shake my head. â€Å"No, I couldn't. Not that time. That time it was different. You were part of the reason I had to leave.† â€Å"Because you kissed me?† he asks, dipping his voice to a husky growl. â€Å"Or because I found you that way†¦ that night.† I swallow the giant lump in my throat. The kiss was part of it. It was an earthshattering kiss, one that stole breaths, stopped hearts, and scared the shit out of me because it surfaced feelings I'd never felt before, ones that rendered me helpless. â€Å"I don't want to talk about it. Now get off of me.† I wiggle my arms between us and push on his chest. He sighs and rolls off me. â€Å"Fine, don't talk about it, but it doesn't mean you can run away from me again. I'll chase you down this time,† he threatens with a wink as he climbs off the bed, and the chain hooked to his studded belt jingles. â€Å"Get dressed and meet me out in the driveway. You have to go visit Grady today.† â€Å"No, thanks,† I decline and tug the blanket over my head. â€Å"And I told you last night I have stuff to do today. Besides aren't you hung over from last night? You were pretty wasted.† â€Å"Don't do that,† he says, aggravated. â€Å"Don't pretend like you have some deep insight into me anymore. You've been gone for eight months and a lot has changed.† I'm speechless. â€Å"Micha, I†¦ â€Å" â€Å"Come on, get out of bed. You're going to see Grady, whether you like it or not.† He yanks the blanket off me and tosses it on the floor, so I'm lying there in my plaid shorts and skin-tight tank top with no bra on underneath. He gives me a prolonged once over, with a dark, lustful glint in his eyes and goosebumps sprout all over my skin. I cover myself with my arms. â€Å"I'm not going to Grady's. I just got home and I have things to do.† â€Å"He's got cancer, Ella.† He backs for the door, tucking his hands into the pockets of his faded jeans. â€Å"So get your bratty, split-personality ass out of bed and go see him before you can't.† My arms fall to my sides as I sit up. â€Å"Why didn't anyone tell me?† â€Å"If you would have told someone where you were, we would have,† he says. â€Å"Although, I'm pretty sure your father knew where you were, he just wouldn't tell anyone.† I don't deny it. â€Å"Besides, I told you in the voicemail I left yesterday,† he says, glancing at my phone on the desk. â€Å"But I'm guessing you haven't listened to that?† I shake my head. â€Å"No, I was too surprised to see your number on the screen.† He bites on his lip ring, something he does when he's nervous. â€Å"Yeah, you should probably just delete that. I don't think you're ready for it yet.† My gaze moves to my phone. What the hell is on it? I climb out of bed, arching my back and stretching like a cat. â€Å"How bad is Grady?† He swallows hard. â€Å"He's dying, so you need to get dressed and let me take you to see him.† I begin to object, but rethink my initial stupidity. Grady is the one part of my past that I could never run from. At one point, he was like a father to Micha and me. I even called him from Vegas once, although I didn't tell him where I was. I nod. â€Å"Let me get dressed and I'll be out in a second.† â€Å"See you in a few.† He winks at me and vanishes into the hall, leaving the door wide open behind him. Lila quickly springs up from the trundle bed, clutching the sheet. â€Å"Oh. My. Hell. What was that about? I mean, he crawled in here through the window in the middle of the night, and just climbed into bed with you.† â€Å"That's what he does.† I open the window letting in the gentle breeze. Loose pieces of my hair dance around the frame of my face. â€Å"Oh, no.† Lila stretches her arms above her head. â€Å"What's wrong?† I reluctantly look at her. â€Å"I think someone might have confused your car for a canvas.† She jumps out of bed and elbows me out of the way to get a look at the damage done to her beautiful, nearly brand new Mercedes. â€Å"My poor baby!† I pull a skirt and a pink tank top out of my duffel bag. â€Å"Get dressed and we'll go check out the damage.† She pouts, looking like she might cry. â€Å"I can't drive it home like that. My parents will kill me.† â€Å"I know plenty of people who can fix it for you,† I say, opening the door. â€Å"Or I use to, but I'm sure it's all the same.† She nods and I go to the downstairs bathroom to change, avoiding the upstairs one. I turn on the shower so the mirror will fog up and hide my reflection. I comb my hair until it flips up at the ends naturally. Then I apply a light shade of lip gloss and head out the door, but run into my dad on the stairway. â€Å"When did you get here?† His breath smells like gin and his eyes are red. His cheeks have sunken in over the last eight months and his skin is wrinkled like leather with sores. He's in his late forties, but looks like he's pushing sixty. â€Å"Last night,† I tell him, taking his arm and helping him up the stairs. â€Å"I was in bed before you got home.† He offers me a pat on the back. â€Å"Well, I'm glad to have you home.† â€Å"I'm glad to be home,† I lie with a smile as we reach the top of the stairs. He moves his arm away from my hand and rubs the back of his neck. â€Å"Do you need anything? Like help carrying in your boxes?† â€Å"I think I can handle it on my own, but thanks.† I decline, sticking my arm out as he teeters toward the stairs. He nods and his eyes drift to the bathroom down the hall. He's probably thinking about how much I look like her. It hurts his eyes, at least that's what he told me the night I went to the bridge. â€Å"I guess I'll talk to you later then. Maybe we could go to dinner or something?† He doesn't leave me time to answer as he zigzags down the hall to his room, slamming the door shut behind him. My dad started drinking when I was about six, a few months after my mom got diagnosed with a bipolar disorder. His drinking habit wasn't that bad back then. He would spend a few nights at the bar and sometimes on the weekends, but after my mom died, beer and vodka took over both our lives. When I return to my room, Lila is dressed in a yellow sundress, with her blonde hair curled up and there is a pair of overly large sunglasses concealing her eyes. â€Å"I feel like crap,† she declares, putting her hands on her hips. â€Å"This place has that effect on most people.† I grab my phone, noting the flashing voicemail as I slip on my flip flops. We go outside, leaving the smoky air behind and step into the bright sunlight, surrounded by the scenery of rundown homes and apartments. The neighborhood is filled with motorcycle engines revving and far in the distance are the sounds of a lovers' quarrel and Micha is nowhere to be seen. A long time ago, it felt like home, back when street racing and running wild felt natural, but now I just feel lost. Lila starts biting at her fingernails as she gapes confoundedly at her car. â€Å"It looks worse up close.† I circle her car with my arms folded, assessing the damage. It looks like a fruit basket, only instead of being filled with fruit it's crammed with innuendos and colorful words. I'm on the verge of laughing for some reason. â€Å"They got you good.† She shakes her head. â€Å"This isn't funny. Do you know how much it's going to cost to fix this?† Lila's dad is a big shot lawyer over in California. Her parents are always sending her things like clothes, money, cars. She has never worked a day in her life and gave me a hard time for my waitressing job at Applebee's, begging me to take time off to go to parties. â€Å"So what do we do?† She chips at some green paint on the headlight with her fingernail. I point up the street. â€Å"There's an auto body shop not too far from here.† She glances down the road, which is covered in potholes and lined with filthy gutters. â€Å"But this is a Mercedes.† â€Å"I'm sure painting a car, no matter who the maker is, is all the same.† â€Å"But what if they do something to it?† â€Å"Like spray paint it again after they paint it?† I say sarcastically and she scowls. â€Å"Sorry. We'll find someone, okay? We can take it to someplace in Alpine. It's a little nicer over there.† â€Å"I can't drive it when it looks like this,† she complains, motioning at the car. â€Å"It's hideous.† â€Å"I'll drive it, then,† I offer my hand out for her to give me the keys. â€Å"Are you joking?† She pats the hood of her car. â€Å"This is my baby. No one drives it but me. You know that.† â€Å"I think your baby is in serious need of some plastic surgery.† Micha strides off the porch of his house and onto the driveway. He's changed into black jeans, a fitted grey t-shirt, and his blonde hair hangs in his eyes. Using his long legs, he jumps over the chain-linked fence between our yards. â€Å"I know the perfect place to get it fixed and it's here in town, so you won't have to drive it so far.† He gives Lila a wink. â€Å"I'm Micha, by the way.† â€Å"Hi, I'm Ella's roommate or old roommate anyway,† she says with a warm smile and slides her sunglasses down the brim of her nose. â€Å"We're not sure if we're sharing a dorm room next semester.† He presents her with his player grin. â€Å"Sharing a room with Ella? That had to be tough.† He shoots me a mischievous look, trying to get a rise out of me. She laughs and returns her glasses over her eyes. â€Å"No, she's a pretty great roommate, actually. She cleans and cooks and everything. It's like having my own house maid.† â€Å"Ella was always good at that stuff,† he agrees, knowing the real reason why. Even before my mom died, she was never good at taking care of the house. I had to learn how to take care of myself at a very young age, otherwise I'd have starved and rotted away in a rat-infested house. â€Å"So do you want me to take your car to that shop I was talking about? Like I said, it's really close.† â€Å"Yeah, that sounds great.† She shuffles her sandals against the concrete. â€Å"I'd rather go someplace close.† I mentally roll my eyes. Leave it to Micha. He can get any woman to contradict herself if he wants to. He swings his arm around my shoulder and kisses me on the forehead. â€Å"But I have to take pretty girl over here to see an old friend first.† â€Å"Please stop calling me that,† I beg. â€Å"I've never liked the nickname and you know that. I never even got why you called me it.† â€Å"And that's the appeal of it, pretty girl.† He tempts me closer to him and caresses my cheek with his lips, giving me a kiss that brings warmth to my skin. â€Å"Now are you ready to go see Grady? You can come, too, if you want†¦ is it Lila?† â€Å"Yeah, it's Lila. Lila Summers.† She offers her hand and Micha shakes it. â€Å"And sure I'll go. This place makes me a little nervous.† â€Å"Isn't your family expecting you to be home tonight?† I escape from underneath Micha's arm. â€Å"I'll text them and tell them I'm not leaving until tomorrow.† She retrieves her cell phone and scrolls through her contacts. â€Å"The car will be done by tomorrow, right?† â€Å"It's hard to say,† Micha says. â€Å"Ethan is the best, but a little slow.† Her head snaps up and there's delight in her eyes. â€Å"Ethan as in Ethan from the party last night? The one with the sexy hair and the really big hands?† Micha bites down on his lip, stifling a laugh, and flicks me a sideways glance. I can't help but smile. â€Å"Yep, that's the one,† he says. â€Å"Do you feel better about taking your car to him now?† â€Å"Well, yeah, if you think it's okay?† she checks. â€Å"I'm very picky about who works on my car or at least my dad is very picky about who works on it.† â€Å"It'll be fine,† he assures her with a wink. â€Å"I've never disappointed a girl yet.† â€Å"Oh yeah?† Lila laughs, glancing at me uneasily, like she's worried she's stepping on my territory. â€Å"So are we going to go or what?† A ping of jealousy pinches inside my chest. â€Å"Yep, let's go, beautiful.† Micha leads the way around the fence and up his driveway to the garage. When I step inside, my mouth falls open. Parked in the middle, between the walls lined with shelves and tools, is a shiny 1969 Chevy Chevelle SS. It's painted in a smoky black with a cherry red racing stripe down the center. â€Å"You finally fixed it up?† He pats the shiny flawless hood, his eyes sparkling with excitement. â€Å"I finally got around to it, after talking about it for four years.† His eyes find mine, seeking my approval. â€Å"So what do you think?† â€Å"It's kind of old.† Lila pulls a face at the car. â€Å"And really big.† â€Å"I thought you liked things big?† Micha teases. I punch him in the arm and he laughs. â€Å"Ow, I meant hands. Jeez get your mind out of the gutter.† I roll my eyes. â€Å"You did not, you pervert.† He shrugs, his eyes lustrous in the sunlight filtering through the gritty windows. â€Å"So what. It got you to lighten up, didn't it?† â€Å"Are we driving it to Grady's?† I opt for a neutral voice. He slips his keys out of his pocket and tosses them to me. â€Å"Yeah, go ahead. It's all yours.† I swiftly shake my head and throw the keys back at him, like they're scorching hot. â€Å"No thanks. I don't want to.† He cocks an eyebrow, looking sexy. â€Å"What do you mean you don't want to?† â€Å"I mean I don't want to drive it.† It nearly kills me to say it. I walk around the front of the car, open the door, and gesture for Lila to get in. â€Å"But it has a blown 572 Big Block in it,† he says astounded with the keys hanging loosely from his fingers. â€Å"How can you not want to drive it?† My insides twitch to drive it, but I won't buckle. â€Å"It's fine, Micha. I'd rather be the passenger.† â€Å"What does that mean? A blown big block or whatever you said?† Lila wonders as she walks to the side of the car. â€Å"Wait, are you guys talking cars? El doesn't like cars. In fact, she made us take the bus most of the time when we left campus.† â€Å"Oh really?† His tone implies otherwise. â€Å"That's news to me.† â€Å"It's a waste of gas,† I lie, attempting to mask the truth; that I miss it. The rush, the speed, the adrenaline high. Lila ducks inside the car and into the backseat. I climb into the passenger side and Micha opens the garage door. He revs up the engine, letting it rumble, teasing me, before backing down the driveway. â€Å"I'm starting to think that the Ella you knew isn't the same one as I know.† Lila buckles her seatbelt up. He spins the tires down the road. â€Å"I think you might be on to something Lila, because the one I knew loved cars. In fact she used to hang out in the garage all day with the guys while the other girls played with their hair and makeup.† He flashes me a dangerous grin. â€Å"She used to get all excited when we'd go racing.† No matter how hard I try to hinder myself from getting energized, I can't. Those hot summer nights, flying down the highway, neck and neck with another car, the rush soaring through my body. Micha trails his finger along my neck and rests it on my pulse. â€Å"You're getting excited just thinking about it.† His touch spreads a longing through my body. I swat his hand away, cross my arms, and focus on the window, watching the neighborhood blur by as he cruises over the speed limit. Micha shifts the gears and the engine thunders louder, begging to burn rubber. â€Å"Is it legal to be driving this fast?† Lila asks nervously. We glance back at her and she grips the edge of the leather seat. â€Å"It just seems like we're going really fast, especially in a neighborhood.† Micha holds my gaze resolutely as he downshifts and pumps up the rpms. â€Å"What do you think? Speed up? Or slow down?† I want to tell him to slow down, pull on my seatbelt, and look away, but a passion that was dead raves. He throttles the gas pedal, keeping his eyes on mine, venturing me to look away first. â€Å"Um†¦ I don't think this is a good idea.† Lila's voice is far away. The car surges faster down the narrow road and his eyes dare me to tell him to slow down and part of me wants to. Desperately. But as he shoves the shifter into the next gear, going faster and faster, my body pleads to let go. Suddenly, Lila screams, â€Å"Stop sign!† Micha's eyes sparkle like sunlight reflecting into the ocean. He slams on the brakes, squealing the car to a halt, and throwing us all forward. My hand shoots out and I brace myself from hitting the dashboard. â€Å"Are you crazy?† Lila's voice cracks as she situates back into the seat and realigns her dress over her legs. â€Å"What is wrong with you two?† Micha and I look at each other and my body is burning with a hidden desire that I won't admit exists. My heart beats in my chest, rock steady and alive again. For a second, I'm back in the place I lost. Then Micha ruins it. â€Å"See, the same old Ella still lives.† He grins arrogantly as he drives through the intersection. â€Å"She just needed a little push out.† I click the seatbelt locked, proving a point. â€Å"No, she doesn't. She's gone forever.† â€Å"Try all you want, but I'm bringing her back.† He bites his lip, refocusing on the street as he mutters, â€Å"I won't let that night ruin you forever.† But it did. It broke me into a million pieces and blew them away in the wind, like crumbled leaves. That night was one of the most incredible nights I've ever had. Then I quickly plummeted toward rock bottom.

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