The Antiwar Movement During the Vietnam War :: Vietnam War Essays

The Antiwar Movement in the U.S. - End the War in Vietnam! The antiwar movement against Vietnam in the US from 1965-1971 was the most significant movement of its kind in the nation's history. The United States first became directly involved in Vietnam in 1950 when President Harry Truman started to underwrite the costs of France's war against the Viet Minh. Later, the presidencies of Dwight Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy increased the US's political, economic, and military commitments steadily throughout the fifties and early sixties in the Indochina region. Prominent senators had already begun criticizing American involvement in Vietnam during the summer of 1964, which led to the mass antiwar movement that was to appear in the summer of 1965. This antiwar movement had a great impact on policy and practically forced the US out of Vietnam. Starting with teach-ins during the spring of 1965, the massive antiwar efforts centered on the colleges, with the students playing leading roles. These teach-ins were mass public demonstrations, usually held in the spring and fall seasons. By 1968, protesters numbered almost seven million with more than half being white youths in college. The teach-in movement was at first, a gentle approach to the antiwar activity. Although, it faded when the college students went home during the summer of 1965, other types of protest that grew through 1971 soon replaced it. All of these movements captured the attention of the White House, especially when 25,000 people marched on Washington Avenue. And at times these movements attracted the interest of all the big decision-makers and their advisors (Gettleman, 54). The teach-ins began at the University of Michigan on March 24, 1965, and spread to other campuses, including Wisconsin on April 1. These protests at some of America's finest universities captured public attention. The Demonstrations were one form of attempting to go beyond mere words and research and reason, and to put direct pressure on those who were conducting policy in apparent disdain for the will expressed by the voters (Spector, 30-31). Within the US government, some saw these teach-ins as an important development that might slow down on further escalation in Vietnam. Although several hundred colleges experienced teach-ins, most campuses were untouched by this circumstance. Nevertheless, the teach-ins did concern the administration and contributed to President Johnson's decision to present a major Vietnam address at Johns Hopkins University on April 7, 1965. The address tried to respond to the teach-ins campus protest activity.

Internationalization of RMB: The Impacts on China and Its Trading Partner Essay

After the thirty years of great economic reforms, imposed in 1978, China has been showing an incredible results and performance. Due to the suitable economic conditions such as cheap labor force and low domestic currency’s (RMB) exchange rate, China has become the largest manufacturer of goods and receiver of foreign direct investments, the majority of which has been in manufacturing industry. And today China has totally changed from the poor agricultural country to the world’s arising economic power state. So with the rise of Chinese economy, its deep integration and significant influence in the world market and at the same time with the instability of euro area and in international monetary system in a whole, the issue of RMB internationalization and China’s exchange rate policy has become of huge importance to the world. So in this essay I will briefly analyze the characteristics of the international currencies, their benefits and costs, and then I will explain China’s interest and steps toward the RMB internationalization and will mainly focus on its impacts on China and its partners. The term of international currency has defined characteristics so that a currency can be considered international if it is used outside the issuing country for the transactions between other foreign states (Investopedia). And according to Chinn and Frankel (2008) (as cited in Lee, 2010) there are four criteria to determine â€Å"international currency status†: 1) Large enough size of country’s trade and output; 2) Liberal developed financial market; 3) Stable currency exchange rate; 4) High level of demand of the currency. Moreover, Kenen(1983) and Chinn&Frankel(2005) (as cited in Haihong Gao & Yongding Yu) stated that the international currency has several functions : 1. act as a store value(i.e. country’s international reserve); 2. act as a medium of exchange(e.g. in trade transactions ) and 3. be a unit of account. So, considering all these, let’s check the suitability of Yuan for international currency status and Chinese government’s challenges and policy steps in internationalizing RMB (Eichengreen, 2010). As their first step China stimulated the use of RMB in setting trade and trade transactions with the neighboring countries by allowing the companies to open RMB-denominated accounts in the banks in Hong Kong and make operating transactions (payments, transfers, etc.) in Yuan. Secondly, they encourage using Yuan in all kinds of financial transactions and permit private institutions to issue their RMB-denominated bonds, making Hong Kong the offshore RMB bond market center. And as the third step, China made arrangements with interested foreign central banks about adding RMB into their international reserve baskets, reaching total of China’s bilateral currency swap agreements in RMB to over RMB 800 billion (Cookson & Dyer 2010, as cited in Otero-Iglesias) and making RMB a world reserve currency. However, RMB is still far from the international status(due to highly government-controlled banking system and capital control) and its internationalization is just beginning and all these shows only China’s commitment to that policy and market’s increasing interest. But still it is obvious that the internationalization of RMB is just only a matter of time. There are several obvious benefits of RMB internationalization for China and it’s trading partners (Haihong Gao & Yongding Yu). Since there will be more RMB-denominated trade and financial transactions, the exchange risk for the trading parties (both Chinese and foreign) be will red uced and the related costs be eliminated. And this in turn will increase the cross border bilateral transactions and gains from it, especially in the East Asian region, where RMB has already become a dominant currency. Secondly, with the internationalization of RMB, China and other countries will be less dependent on USD (Haihong Gao & Yongding Yu). Since USD accounts for more than 70% of China’s exchange currency reserve, China faces a huge risk of big losses as a result of USD exchange rate fluctuations. However, with the RMB-denominated claims, China would not be so dependent on USA. Moreover, with RMB other countries will have more choice on reserve currency and will not be so dependent on USD as well. Thirdly, RMB internationalization will allow the foreign direct investments into China and also cross-border outward investments from it be in RMB. This will obviously benefit the investors, expand the circulation of RMB in both directions of investments and will expand China’s financial market, and its competitiveness and influence as well (Haihong Gao & Yongding Yu). Lastly, since the developed financial market, the currency exchange rate and currency convertibility are the criteria of the international reserve currency; China will face a need for currency and capital account liberalization reforms and further financial reforms in a whole, including unpegging RMB and RMB appreciation. Although for an export-based Chinese economy appreciation of RMB would be harmful in a short run, besides the drawbacks there are the benefits of strong RMB. Appreciation of RMB means the increase in cost of production, therefore an increase in cost for the importers from China. So the importers and the customers will switch to the cheaper substitutes produced in other countries (this statement may vary in different industries). The increasing demand for cheap substitutes will lead to developments and expansion of production in other countries, and will reduce their unemployment rates and etc. Thus, strong RMB as an international currency may benefit China’s neighbors and other developing countries. Moreover, strong RMB benefits China as well. Losing competitiveness in manufacturing industry, China will have to switch from low-efficiency and labor-intensive industries to a more efficient and developed ones and transform from an industry-based economy to a knowledge-based economy (with dominating services sector). In conclusion, with the increasing role of China in the world trade and growing demand for RMB, the internationalization of RMB is just only a matter of time. Although changing the anchor currency(USD) to RMB may cause uncertain effects, the internationalization of RMB will obviously have positive impacts on both China and the rest of the world. And in the nearest future RMB is likely to become the third international reserve currency, after euro and USD. References: Investopedia, Currency Internationalization, What Does Currency Internationalization Mean? Retrieved from http://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/currency_internationalization.asp#axzz1f5mjUVqB Lee, J-W.(2010, June) Will the Renminbi Emerge as an International Reserve Currency? Retrieved from http://aric.adb.org/grs/papers/Lee.pdf Haihong Gao & Yongding Yu. Internationalisation of the renminbi. Retrieved from http://www.bis.org/repofficepubl/arpresearch200903.05.pdf Eichengreen.B.(2010, January). The Renminbi as an International Currency Retrieved from http://elsa.berkeley.edu/~eichengr/renminbi_international_1-2011.pdf Otero-Iglesias. M. The Internationalisation of the Renminbi (RMB): A Strategy of Crossing the River by Feeling the Stones. Retrieved from http://www.igadi.org/china/2011/pdf/moi_the_internationalisation_of_the_renminbi.pdf

Commodore Matthew Perry and the Opening of Japan

Commodore Matthew C. Perry was a noted American naval officer in the first half of the 19th century who earned fame for opening Japan to American trade. A veteran of the War of 1812, Perry endeavored to promote and develop steam technology in the U.S. Navy and earned the nickname Father of the Steam Navy. During the Mexican-American War, he directed operations in the Gulf of Mexico and captured several towns along the coast. In 1853, Perry received orders from President Millard Fillmore to force the opening of Japanese ports to American trade. Arriving in the islands the following year, he successfully concluded the Convention of Kanagawa which opened two ports to trade as well as ensured the protection of American sailors and property. Early Life and Career Born at Newport, RI, on April 10, 1794, Matthew Calbraith Perry was the son of Captain Christopher Perry and Sarah Perry. In addition, he was the younger brother of Oliver Hazard Perry who would go on to earn fame at the Battle of Lake Erie. The son of a naval officer, Perry prepared for a similar career and received a warrant as a midshipman on January 16, 1809. A young man, he was assigned to the schooner USS Revenge, then commanded by his older brother. In October 1810, Perry was transferred to the frigate USS President where he served under Commodore John Rodgers. A strict disciplinarian, Rodgers imparted many of his leadership skills to the young Perry. While aboard, Perry took part in an exchange of gunfire with the British sloop-of-war HMS Little Belt on May 16, 1811. The event, known as the Little Belt Affair, further strained relations between the United States and Britain. With the beginning of the War of 1812, Perry was aboard President when it fought an eight-hour running battle with the frigate HMS Belvidere on June 23, 1812. In the fighting, Perry was slightly wounded. War of 1812 Promoted to lieutenant on July 24, 1813, Perry remained aboard President for cruises in the North Atlantic and Europe. That November, he was transferred to the frigate USS United States, then at New London, CT. Part of the squadron commanded by Commodore Stephen Decatur, Perry saw little action as the ships were blockaded in port by the British. Due to these circumstances, Decatur transferred his crew, including Perry, to President which was anchored in New York. When Decatur unsuccessfully attempted to escape the blockade of New York in January 1815, Perry was not with him as he had been reassigned to the brig USS Chippawa for service in the Mediterranean. With the wars end, Perry and Chippawa cruised Mediterranean as part of Commodore William Bainbridges squadron. After a brief furlough in which he worked in the merchant service, Perry returned to active duty in September 1817, and was assigned to the New York Navy Yard. Posted to the frigate USS Cyane in April 1819, as executive officer, he aided in the initial settlement of Liberia. Captain Matthew C. Perry. U.S. Navy History and Heritage Command Fast Facts: Commodore Matthew C. Perry Rank: CommodoreService: U.S. NavyBorn: April 10, 1794 in Newport, RIDied: March 4, 1858 in New York, NYParents: Captain Christopher Perry and Sarah PerrySpouse: Jane SlidellConflicts: Mexican-American WarKnown For: First and Second Battles of Tabasco, Capture of Tampico, Opening Japan Rising Through the Ranks Completing his duty, Perry was rewarded with his first command, the twelve-gun schooner USS Shark. Serving as the vessels captain for four years, Perry was assigned to suppress piracy and the slave trade in the West Indies. In September 1824, Perry was reunited with Commodore Rodgers when he was posted as executive officer of USS North Carolina, the flagship of the Mediterranean Squadron. During the cruise, Perry was able to meet with Greek revolutionaries and the Captain Pasha of Turkish fleet. Before returning home, he was promoted to master commandant on March 21, 1826. Naval Pioneer After moving through a series of shore assignments, Perry went back to sea in April 1830, as the captain of the sloop USS Concord. Transporting the U.S. envoy to Russia, Perry declined an invitation from the czar to join the Russian Navy. Arriving back in the United States, Perry was made second-in-command of the New York Navy Yard in January 1833. Deeply interested in naval education, Perry developed a naval apprentice system and helped establish the U.S. Naval Lyceum for the education of officers. After four years of lobbying, his apprentice system was passed by Congress. During this time he served on the committee that advised the Secretary of the Navy in regard to the U.S. Exploring Expedition, though he declined command of the mission when offered. As he moved through various posts, he remained devoted to education and in 1845, assisted in developing the initial curriculum for the new U.S. Naval Academy. Promoted to captain on February 9, 1837, he was given command of the new steam frigate USS Fulton. A significant advocate for the development of steam technology, Perry conducted experiments to improve its performance and ultimately earned the nickname Father of the Steam Navy. This was reinforced when he founded the first Naval Engineer Corps. During his command of Fulton, Perry conducted the U.S. Navys first gunnery school off Sandy Hook in 1839-1840. On June 12, 1841, he was appointed the Commandant of the New York Navy Yard with the rank of commodore. This was largely due to his expertise in steam engineering and other naval inventions. After two years, he was appointed commander of the U.S. African Squadron and sailed aboard the sloop-of-war USS Saratoga. Tasked with fighting the slave trade, Perry cruised the African coast until May 1845, when he returned home. Second Battle of Tabasco, June 15-16, 1847. Public Domain Mexican-American War With the beginning of the Mexican-American War in 1846, Perry was given command of the steam frigate USS Mississippi and made second-in-command of the Home Squadron. Serving under Commodore David Connor, Perry led successful expeditions against Frontera, Tabasco and Laguna. After returning to Norfolk for repairs in early 1847, Perry was given command of the Home Squadron and aided General Winfield Scott in the capture of Vera Cruz. As the army moved inland, Perry operated against the remaining Mexican ports cities, capturing Tuxpan and attacking Tabasco. USS Mississippi (1841). U.S. Navy Opening Japan With the end of the war in 1848, Perry moved through various shore assignments before being returned to Mississippi in 1852, with orders to prepare for a voyage to the Far East. Instructed to negotiate a treaty with Japan, then closed to foreigners, Perry was to seek an agreement which would open at least one Japanese port to trade and would secure the protection of American seamen and property in that country. Departing Norfolk in November 1852, Perry proceeded around the Cape of Good Hope and across the Indian Ocean before reaching Shanghai on May 4, 1853. Sailing north with Mississippi, the steam frigate USS Susquehanna, and the sloops-of-war USS Plymouth and Saratoga, Perry reached Edo, Japan on July 8. Met by Japanese officials, Perry was ordered to sail for Nagasaki where the Dutch had a small trading post. Refusing, he demanded permission to present a letter from President Millard Fillmore and threatened to use force if denied. Unable to resist Perrys modern weaponry, the Japanese permitted him to land on the 14th to present his letter. This done, he promised the Japanese that he would return for a response. Commodore Matthew C. Perry lands in Japan, 1854. Public Domain Returning the following February with a larger squadron, Perry was warmly received by Japanese officials who had acquiesced and prepared a treaty that fulfilled many of Fillmores demands. Signed on March 31, 1854, the Convention of Kanagawa ensured the protection of American property and opened the ports of Hakodate and Shimoda to trade. His mission complete, Perry returned home by merchant steamer later that year. Later Life Voted a reward of $20,000 by Congress for his success, Perry embarked on writing a three-volume history of the mission. Assigned to the Efficiency Board in February 1855, his main task was the completion of the report. This was published by the government in 1856, and Perry was advanced to the rank of rear admiral on the retired list. Living in his adopted home of New York City, Perrys health began to fail as he suffered from cirrhosis of the liver due to heavy drinking. On March 4, 1858, Perry died in New York. His remains were moved to Newport, RI by his family in 1866.

The Traditional Media Is A Mixed Blessing For Feminists

Brenda Nguonly Professor John Baker HN 110, Section 012 30 October 2014 The traditional media is a mixed blessing for feminists; on one hand, they educate the American public about issues like wife-beating and the gender gap, and on the other, both synthesize feminism into a homogenous mold and reinforce â€Å"post-feminist† repudiation of feminist wins. Traditional mass communications impose a gender dualism that made no room for gray - â€Å"bad† feminism versus â€Å"good† masculine norm - ignore marginal (feminist) voices, distort feminism, and delimit the spread of feminist principles (Beck 140). Media backlash typically follows women’s efforts to make significant strides towards independence and equality - perpetuating binaries of bra-burning â€Å"dykes† and subservient (and thus attractive) women, likening philosophical disagreements amongst feminists with â€Å"catfights† and mud-wrestling women (Beck 144). This portrayal causes women’s hesitancy to own their own movement, which is then perceived as petty and confrontational. The media ignores the fact that feminism is multi-faceted and thus subject to internal disagreement, and instead sells the entertainment value of fighting women while maintaining the status quo of cool-headed and right male codes (Beck 142). They pass cultural codes - generally white and heterosexual male - for ‘raw’ reality. Reality is never a universal concept; the basic concept of â€Å"woman† is riddled with cultural codes conveyed and interpreted in media texts. ThereShow MoreRelatedInfluence Of Western Customs Of Wedding Essay9329 Words   |  38 PagesAfrican socio-cultural setting, first, with the contact of Europeans with Africa. With Africa subjugated and dominated, the Western culture and European mode of civilization began to thrive and outgrow African cultural heritage including marriage. Traditional African cultural practices paved the way for foreign way of doing things as Africans became fully ‘westernized†™. Western culture now is regarded as frontline civilization by mostly Africans. African ways of doing things became primitive, archaicRead MoreHonour Killing in Pakistan19346 Words   |  78 Pageswho’s assistance, encouragement and support in shape of useful comments on my thesis drafts work from the initial to the final stage enabled me to develop my understanding of the subject in an analytical way. Lastly, I offer my kind regards and blessings to all of those who helped me to make this research possible such as my Family, who gave me the moral support to complete my thesis. ~ II ~ Abbreviations AHRC†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.Asian Human Rights Commission ALRC†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.Asian Legal Resource Centre CEDAW†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦

What We Are Who We Should Be Literary Realism - 1132 Words

â€Å"True realism consists in revealing the surprising things which habit keeps covered and prevents us from seeing.† This quote by Jean Cocteau provides an accurate summary of realism in American literature. Authors such as Raymond Carver and William Faulkner strived to expose their readers to defects, either internal or external. Their literature puts humanity under the microscope, and allows the reader to examine their daily life from a safe distance. Under examination, many shortcomings can be uncovered. Occasionally, an author will not only reveal these flaws, but provide a practical solution. More often than not though, realists will leave it up to their reader to formulate a cure. In A Rose for Emily, Faulkner looks back on the†¦show more content†¦Klein supports this point, stating, â€Å"The difficulty is that so much of what the story claims â€Å"we said† or â€Å"we learned† reflects the incoherence (and cruelty) of group thought.† (Klein 230) The inarticulate nature of groupthink is a defect present in many societies. Despite clearly exhibiting a concern about these issues, Faulkner does little more than expose these perceived defects of society. A solution is not offered. The behavioral patterns of codependency are almost impossible to correct, and gossip will persist in societies for years to come. Emily’s death was her escape from these personal and societal shortcomings. Faulkner is suggesting that death is the only way to rid ourselves of certain defects. Fortunately, not every writer is as bleak in their outlook on society as Faulkner. Raymond Carver addresses the ever-present issue of stereotyping in his short story, Cathedral. Before the narrator meets his wife’s blind friend for the first time, he imagines what it will be like having a blind man in his home. He remarks, â€Å"And his being blind bothered me. My idea of blindness came from the movies. In the movies, the blind moved slowly and never laughed. Sometimes they were led by seeing eye dogs. A blind man in my house was not something I looked forward to.† (Carver 84) Regardless of the fact his wife loves the blind man dearly, the narrator is poised to enter the situation with a negative mindset, simply because of an image adopted from theShow MoreRelatedThe Use of Magical Realism in Laura Esquivels Like Water for Chocolate1055 Words   |  5 Pagesmagical realism, a literary mode where the fantastical is seamlessly blended with the ordinary, creating a sort o f enhanced reality. 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Alfred Prufrock: A Good Example of Modernism1066 Words   |  5 Pagesis to deal with new ideas.It is a break with the tradition.Modernist Poetry occurs between the 1890 and 1970.It’s key elements can be experimentation,anti realism,individualism.Experimentation means searching constantly.Anti-realism means to be against realism and concreteness.Individualism means to be an intellectual and to be an individual who has a self-confidence.The stress is mainly on the human mind rather than emotions.Many Modernist poets are from Universities,they appreciate their work aRead MoreThe Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, by Haruki Murakami , 100 Years of Solitude, by Macondo, and Inferno, by Dante Alighieri973 Words   |  4 Pages Magical realism, as described by Michael Woods, is not a style of writing, just a modest fidelity to the magic of reality in places where we are not. 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Factors of Success Free Essays

Heather N English 001A Midterm Essay 13 February 2013 The Factors of Success Success is a term that many use as a way to describe ideals. Living in a world that exalts the extraordinary, praises the leaders, and puts the best up on a pedestal, it is not hard to guess why achieving success is what the human race strives to do. Youth look up to the exceptional people in their life, media grasps stories of thriving individuals, and the world idolizes those who stand out. We will write a custom essay sample on Factors of Success or any similar topic only for you Order Now People endeavor great struggles and hardships to obtain that blissful feeling of reward and individuals are taught from day one to do whatever it takes to thrive. The book Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell is a story of success and how it is achieved. Though having many different theories on success, the story focuses on the sociological phenomena of the importance of all the factors it takes to truly be an accomplished individual. Malcolm Gladwell uses different anecdotes and real life examples in his book Outliers to illustrate how success is not just solely ambition and other intrinsic factors, but a function of broader points influenced by innate, societal, and cultural factors. To support the theory on success not only being the indigenous feeling to achieve, Gladwell uses the example of The Matthew Effect, which is basically opportunities based on timing. He explains how the best Canadian hockey players have a birthday closer to January 1st and, â€Å"in the beginning, his advantage isn’t so much that he is inherently better but only that he is a little older† (25). The older the player is, the more experienced, dedicated, and capable he will be, and be scouted to move on to a higher rank. They then start to train with the best coaches and facilities, giving them success. This is showing how a factor of success is just evidently age, timing, and, â€Å"it is those who are successful, in other words, who are most likely to be given the kinds of special opportunities that lead to further success† (30). Another example of the success by timing and opportunities is the story of the Beatles. The Beatles were invited to play in Hamburg and it was by pure accident that, â€Å"Bruno went to London to look for bands. But he happened to meet an entrepreneur from Liverpool in Soho who was down in London by pure chance† (48). Obviously the Beatles are one of the most aesthetically pleasing bands of the 20th century and they have considerable talent, but if it were not for that one accidental connection that was established, who knows what would have happened to their success. These examples go to show that opportunities and luck are huge factors in describing what success is. Another factor of describing what constitutes success are societal and cultural perception. Gladwell uses his narrative of Joe Flom’s classmate at Harvard, Alexander Bickel. He was the top of his class and, â€Å"perhaps the finest constitutional scholar of his generation† (121). As a Jewish man with a thick Brooklyn accent, he did not fit the cookie cutter image they were looking for and the firm was not interested. This goes to show the correlation between perception and success by simply being denied a job because of cultural factors. It is universally known that people judge based on opinions, which causes hindering on success. The way someone was raised in their culture might negatively affect their opportunity for success purely based on someone else’s opinion on their culture. A Wall Street Journal article titled, Race and ‘Privilege’, talks about the phenomenon of the term ‘white privilege’ and how it ties to success. The article says, â€Å"We’re [whites] privileged that people see us, not a color,† and, â€Å"we’re privileged because society was set up for us, and our silence keeps it in place†. As much as society choses to ignore it, a factor of success is cultural race. Some races are considered privileged because they do not have that hindering stereotype targeted on their back and are more likely to get a perception of something different and be presented with more opportunities. Other races are considered successful solely by the societal factors of just where they live and the culture they grew up in. Cultural and societal factors tie into success as well. The article Asian-American Parenting and Academic Success in Pacific Standard, delves deep into discussing the unique style of Asian American parenting. It goes to say, â€Å"Over the past two decades, a spate of studies has examined cultural beliefs that shape Asian-American parenting, and their effect on kids’ learning†. Then it goes on to explain how cultural ancient beliefs have shaped how parents raise their kids to this day. The 5th century philosopher, Confucius, has influenced Asian culture and, â€Å"taught that human beings should strive their whole lifetime to improve or perfect themselves†. These ideas that have transmitted down through generations have statistics to prove that the Asian culture is no stranger to working hard to achieve success and, â€Å"such veneration of diligence helps account for the widespread Asian belief that when striving for academic success, effort counts more than innate ability†. The culture embraces the idea of shape parenting and managing by a more hands on style. Because of this more governed culture, Asian Americans come out on top resulting in becoming more successful. However, one of the most important factors of success is the intrinsic motivation that one possesses and the actual time put into what is trying to be achieved. The 10,000-hour rule is another one of Gladwell’s theories used to explain success in Outliers. Based on a study by Anders Ericsson, â€Å"The emerging picture from such studies is that ten thousand hours of practice is required to achieve the level of mastery associated with being a world-class expert in anything† (40). Or in other words, the most successful people have spent grueling time, hour after hour, to work and become experts at their craft. He uses the example of one of the most influential people, Bill Gates. When he stumbled upon a high school computer in 1968, Gates lived at the computer to learn and program his way into leading one of the top grossing industries in the world. It goes to show how much practice is needed to go into a craft to reach that threshold of expertise, which then leads to success. If a person has neither stamina nor drive to push them to work to become powerful in what they do, success cannot be achieved. Malcolm Gladwell uses different anecdotes and real life examples in his book Outliers to illustrate how success is not just solely ambition and other intrinsic factors, but a function of broader points influenced by innate, societal, and cultural factors. Combinations of all these factors are what really influence the idea of success. Success is elusive because to acquire such rare opportunities, be raised specifically to always do well, have a culture that pushes to perform exceptionally, and have the motivation to dedicate 10,000 hours to the craft, can be grueling. However, not having the perfect combination of the factors of success does not mean that success cannot be achieved. Everyone has a different viewpoint of what success means to them and their own innate way of getting on the path to their life fulfillment. All it takes is the will to have the presence of the mind and the rest is up to the person. No one is able to have a guaranteed success. If they desperately aspire to be the best, there is a path for them. Works Cited Gladwell, Malcolm. Outliers: The Story of Success. New York: Little, Brown and, 2008. Print. Seal, Kathy. â€Å"Asian-American Parenting and Academic Success. †Ã‚  Pacific Standard. Pacific Standard Magazine, 13 Dec. 2010. Web. 9 Feb. 2013. Taranto, James. â€Å"Race and ‘Privilege'†Ã‚  Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones Company, 21 June 2012. Web. 9 Feb. 2013. How to cite Factors of Success, Essay examples

Endeering Day Spa Essay Example For Students

Endeering Day Spa Essay The Endeering Day Spa is a full-service day spa dedicated to consistently providing high customer satisfaction by rendering excellent service, quality products, and furnishing an enjoyable atmosphere at an acceptable price/value relationship. We will also maintain a friendly, fair, and creative work environment, which respects diversity, ideas, and hard work. Market research indicates a specific and growing need in the area for the products and services Endeering Day Spa will offer in the market it serves. This market strategy will be based on a cost-effective approach to reach this clearly defined target market. This approach will utilize resources to create awareness of the spa and encourage customers to benefit from the convenience and services it offers. Endeering Day Spa will focus on its client requests, specialty services, premier products, and competitive pricing. Their mission is to supply services and products that enhance clients physical health, appearance, and mental relaxation. The marketing objective is to promote rapid growth and profitability through effective implementation of the strategy. Owners, Matt and Heather Deering, have successfully ran a reputable school that teaches esthetics, massage therapy, manicuring, and many other services. They have an extensive background in this industry and have a very good reputation. Endeering Day Spa will, upon commencement of operations, sell a wide range of beauty services and products. It will provide quality nail and skin services, along with body treatments. Courses and information on homeopathic treatments will also be available. What will set Endeering Day Spa apart from the competition is the commitment to provide all of these specialized services in one convenient location. The basic market need is to offer a variety of services at reasonable prices, for the owe-it-to-yourself clients, through a personalized spa that offers excellent service and treatment that encourages people to pamper themselvesWe possess good information about our market and know a great deal about the common attributes of our potentially loyal clien ts. We will leverage this information to better understand whom we serve, their specific needs, and how we can better communicate with them. The profile of the Endeering Day Spa customer consists of the following geographic, demographic, psychographic, and behavior factors:Our immediate geographic market is the Maryland Heights area, with a population of 24,470. The City of Maryland Heights encompasses 23.14 square miles of geographic area in need of our products and services. Maryland Heights is home to many of St. Louis’s major employers. The Riverport Casino Complex is Maryland Heights largest employer, with about 3,240 employees. Other local businesses with more than 500 employees are Edward Jones, Quest Diagnostics Clinical Laboratories, Mastercard International, United Healthcare of the Midwest, Watlow Electric Manufacturing, Electronic Data Systems, KY Pharmaceutical Company, and Schnucks Markets, Inc. Maryland Heights’ residents are mobile. Of the residents her e in 1999, 61 percent have moved in since the city incorporated in 1985. The City of Maryland Heights has a relatively young population base. Over half of the total population is between the ages of 14 and 44. The predominately young age distribution is most likely associated with the high number of multi-family housing units within the city that are attractive to young persons. The 1999 median age was 31.4 years. The City of Maryland Heights contained a relatively well educated population in 1990. Census data indicated that overwhelming majorities, approximately 86%, of the residents are high school graduates and 66% of the high school graduates have some college education. A household annual income in excess of $43,000. Age range of 20 to 45 years, with a median age of 32. Rents apartment or owns their home, townhouse and/or condominium valued at approximately $88,000. Work in a professional/business setting in Maryland Heights and its surrounding areas. Personal appearance is a p riority. Has strong awareness of the necessities of mental well being and physical healthAssociates spas as a prestigious form of â€Å"self-pampering†Initial Question Results: The staff will note customer responses to the How did you hear about us? question. We attempt to correlate that with our advertising and promotional activities and referral-generation programs. Suggestions: The suggestion box is another method to gain additional information from clients. Some of the most productive questions are: oWhat suggestion do you have to improve the quality of service? oWhat other products or services would you like to have available? Competitive Shopping: We will continually shop other day spas. We plan to visit each competitor in our market at least once each quarter for competitive information, and we subscribe to many catalogs that have beauty products, herbs, essential oils, and other specialty products available to the market. Endeering Day Spa is providing its customers the opportunity to relax and pamper themselves in a comfortable environment. They have the choice of many services that will help them look and feel better. They desire their experience to be personal, unique, and informational as well as a form of stress relief. We seek to fulfill the following benefits that we know are important to our clients:Selection A wide variety of services, products and treatments. Accessibility The client can directly purchase beauty products used in the spa. Personal Client Services Employees have had extensive training and can help clients design a spa package that would be most beneficial for them. This enables clients to benefit from suggestions regarding the services and products in a manner to complement their skin type and individual needs. They also have access to information on home treatment taught by professionals at the spa. Pshycology test EssayStrong relationships with suppliers of beauty products that offer credit arrangements, flexibility, and response to special product requirements. Excellent well trained staff, offering personalized customer service. Location: providing an easily accessible location for customers. We are currently the only day spa located in the City of Maryland Heights. Environment: providing an environment conducive to giving professional service in an attractive, relaxing atmosphere. Convenience: offering clients a wide range of services in one setting, and extended business hours. Reputation: reputation of the owner and other technicians as providing superior personal service. Great referral benefits for clients. In-store complimentary juice bar and refreshments. Growing market with a significant percentage of our target market unaware that we exist. Continuing opportunity through strategic alliances for referrals and marketing activities. Benefiting from high levels young professionals in the area. Continuing awareness of spa industry and its importance to health. Increasing sales opportunities beyond our 20-mile target area. Internet potential for selling beauty products to other markets. Competition from a current high profile day spas. Salary commission structure of employees. Potential new competitors in the areaCompetition in the area comes from the following three day spas:Green Door Spa – Plaza Frontenac: Green Door has a very good name in the spa industry. They have been around for a long time. Their pricing is very high but they can get away with this because of the location and market they serve. They are associated with prestige and a certain amount of glamour is represented here. Although we aren’t specifically targeting the same clientele, we would like Endeering Day Spa to also represent prestige and glamour. Ginger Bay – Manchester: Ginger Bay has also been around for several years. They will be our largest competitor. They located less than 10 miles from our spa. They have the major share of our target market. We hope to attract and serve many of the clients that they are currently serving. Our advantage is that we offer the same services but at a significantly lower price. We are also located closer to our target market. Cary Obrien’s-St. Charles: Cary Obrien’s is new to the industry. They have a lot of new clients and are comparatively priced. They offer many of the same services we will be offering and also have a full service hair salon. This is a major advantage for them. However, they are located in St. Charles, which is approximately 10 miles away. There is a lot of traffic during some of our peak hours of operation. Our target market lives in Maryland Heights and if they are currently clients at Cary Obrien’s, we feel that they would prefer not to deal with the traffic heading toward St. Charles. Heather Deering, the owner, is the one primarily responsible for marketing activities. This is in addition to her other activities, and she does depend on some outside resources for mailings and graphic design work. Heather intends to delegate responsibilities for special event planning to Matt Deering. The personnel plan calls for a receptionist who will greet customers and receive payments for services and products. There will be one nail technician, three estheticians, and a massage therapist. Everyone but the receptionist will be contract workers, and will be paid a sliding commission scale based on the amount of revenue created. Like any new ventures, there are many risks involved in opening a new business. Although a significant amount of market research supports the opening of the Endeering Day Spa, there will undoubtedly be obstacles to overcome in the near future. Heather and Matt Deering have dedicated a tremendous amount of time and effort in developing a product that meets the needs of their target market. They must not stop here. In order to be successful, they will need to continue market research and listen to the demands of their market. The industry is booming and with careful planning and marketing, the Deerings will be on their way to a prosperous and successful future. Bibliography: