The Disadvantages and Advantages of a Cover Letter: A Cover Letter is the Face of Your Resume

Having to write and include a cover letter with your resume has some disadvantages and disadvantages. For example, your time and effort are important. Note that while writing a cover letter, particularly when you are in a hurry may appear to be a disadvantage, it may also be the determining factor in whether or not you get a job. That would definitely be to your advantage.  

What is a cover letter? 

A cover letter is essentially the face of your resume, what you tell your potential employer about yourself. It is the first page of your resume. It may prove to be the most important part of your resume, as that is the first thing a potential employer sees and reads.

“The three main objectives of your cover letter are to: introduce yourself, identify the position you are applying for, and explain how you found out about the position, explain how you are qualified for the position and why you would be a great fit for the job and request an interview and thank the employer.”

Another disadvantage to writing a cover letter has to do with the fact that it usually goes to one specific employer. That makes it less convenient, as printing out dozens of resumes at a time is faster, but it can be to your advantage if it gets the potential employer’s attention. Many of the others may go unnoticed.   

Consider other advantages of writing a cover letter to one specific employer.

He or she is able to recognize the reality that you are serious about the specific job for which you are placing the application, cover letter and resume, immediately. There is no question as to who you are or the position you are seeking. Your qualifications are up front. You are confident enough to approach an employer professionally and graciously.     

Perhaps the real key to job seeking lies in pro-active professionalism. If you can convince your prospective employer that you are the employee he or she has been seeking by what you write in your cover letter, you may not need to send out any more resumes. That is to your advantage.

Requesting an interview seems like a bold step to take, but the power of suggestion often works. If you suggest to an employer that you are worth interviewing and do have potential with his or her company, as well as the expectation of being hired, you may find that your employer responds in a positive manner. In other words, you will probably receive an interview in the near future.

While having to put extra time and effort into writing a cover letter may seem to be a disadvantage, it does have the advantage over sending out hundreds of resumes that do not have cover letters and do not get results.  

Remember that every interview that you get presents the possibility of employment, so take the time and make the effort to write a professional cover letter and expect to have an interview.

Teaching Tips: Capacity

Has the student capacity for education changed?  Perhaps one of the most amazing aspects of academic education over the past few decades is the change in attitude, accompanying the transition of thought re the capacity of students to learn and retain knowledge. One might suggest that this may have changed the face of education forever.

Capacity, according to dictionary.com is “the ability to receive or contain”.

For many years, teachers and others have underestimated the amount of knowledge that students could process, absorb and comprehend. Interestingly, students have an amazing “ability or power of receiving impressions, knowledge, etc.; mental ability” that far surpasses our limited understanding of it.

Not only that, students have an “actual or potential ability to perform, yield, or withstand” in response to knowledge, as well as the “quality or state of being susceptible to a given treatment or action” that can result from the exposure to knowledge.  

Until the last few decades, only those students who were exceptionally gifted had access to higher levels of knowledge. Teachers or mentors taught these students on a one-to-one basis. The rest of the students had to follow a strictly formatted, academic curriculum.

One might suggest that the capacity of the human brain was probably being under-estimated.

Nowadays, current thought is that the human brain can comprehend, absorb and retain knowledge of many more different kinds than was ever thought possible. The more quickly the human brain receives it, the more retention of knowledge there is possible. Its capacity is unlimited.

What does this mean for the future of education?

Adult learners, returning to academic upgrading after many years, may find this approach to knowledge confusing, especially at first when they seem to be bombarded with excessive knowledge. Distinctions between auditory learners and visual learners may raise questions and create controversy about students' capacity to learn and retain vast amounts of knowledge being hurled at them.

In reality, beyond basic reading, writing and arithmetic lies a vast horizon of accessible knowledge, the pieces which the human brain can put together in a multiplicity of unique ways. This does not eliminate the need for reading, writing and arithmetic, but entails a different approach to learning these skills.  

Perhaps one of the reasons that the human brain has such an amazing capacity for knowledge is the reality that it operates like an ever-flowing fountain. Knowledge comes in, is processed and what is pertinent at that moment, finds its place. Time plays its own role, as the human brain categorizes knowledge in a timely fashion with appropriate recall, later. What appears to be unimportant or non-pertinent knowledge seems to disappear, but no one really knows what happens to it. Where does it go?

What does this mean for today and the future generation of students?

Perhaps one example of the implications of this kind of teaching methodology for today has to do with memory and memory loss. In elderly people with memory loss, is this somehow related to the basic education methodology used in the past? Has it adversely affected or limited their capacity to continue learning?

Is it only those who have managed to break free who realize their capacity to receive or contain knowledge, as well as use it? No one knows.

Is today’s teaching methodology maximizing the learning capacity of the student? Perhaps only trial and error reveal what is actually happening. 

One might suggest that a lot more research may reveal interesting truths on the relationship between teaching methodology and capacity. The capacity of students for education probably has not changed, but rather, just been discovered. The question becomes one of where does it go from here?  

The Difference Between Flexibility and Firmness as it Relates to Management: Why is a Healthy Balance of Flexibility and Firmness Important?

Flexibility and firmness are crucial to good management principles and practices in any business. Knowing when to be flexible and when to hold firm, calls for discernment and entails judgment on the part of a manager, or management team.

What are flexibility and firmness, as they relate to management?

Businessdirectory.com suggests managerial flexibility is “the management team’s ability to adapt investment decisions, including timing and scale, to existing market conditions as opposed to preset assumptions and goals”.

All businesses need to have a degree of managerial flexibility and firmness. Being flexible allows fluidity and elasticity, bending and stretching, while firmness holds to designated limits without give and take.

Being too flexible can be problematic, as can being too firm or rigid. A healthy balance between the two is essential in terms of the financial survival of any business.

Excessive rigidity in management indicates economic fear, typical of the attitude in any era when the economy can swing any direction. Excessive flexibility may be indicative of an irresponsible attitude on the part of management or an inappropriate, business plan.

Managerial responsibility involves acknowledging and maintaining a healthy business perspective based upon an appropriate business plan. Most business plans have a predetermined degree of flexibility, as well as firmness, because markets are seldom predictable and are subject to change.

Management teams function as a whole, keeping profit and loss at an acceptable level in the light of fluctuating markets. Decision-making is invariably an ongoing process, as well as a vital aspect of managerial responsibility when it comes to investments and expenditures. Timing is a crucial aspect in the decision-making process. Realistic expectations are also important.

This is where flexibility and firmness play an important role. Being too flexible can place a business in a precarious position financially, as can being too firm.  

For example, the scale of financial transactions as determined by management, can accelerate the profit or loss of a business. When that scale is preset or predetermined and does not have built-in flexibility, a valuable investment opportunity may be lost. That same preset scale can prevent an over-extension of investment that could prove problematic in terms of allowing too much flexibility.    

Managerial flexibility and firmness in a financially healthy business, does not lead to a dictatorship. Principles and practice based upon a balanced degree of flexibility and firmness ensure that does not happen and allows a business to function on a relatively secure financial basis. While no one can guarantee economic success, flexibility and firmness are vital to the survival of a business in any fluctuating economy.  

Preset assumptions and goals can be idealistic and are only as realistic as the unpredictable nature of the global economy and thus, managerial flexibility and firmness have to take priority, at times.       

How Multitasking Affects a Small Business: Are Men Better Than Women at Multitasking?

Multitasking is just that, doing more than one task at the same time. When it comes to small businesses, most small business owners do multitasking because many of them work alone or have a few employees to whom a multiplicity of simultaneous tasks can be delegated.

The word multitask is defined by dictionary.com as “to work at several different tasks simultaneously”.

Multitasking in a small business context tends toward many variations and is not always simultaneous, but usually depicts a multiplicity of different tasks carried out by the same person, during a designated time. The multitasking may constitute different tasks where one bounces back and forth between them.

The article, “The myth of multitasking” suggests that the word multitasking was “used for decades to describe the parallel processing abilities of computers, multitasking is now shorthand for the human attempt to do simultaneously as many things as possible, as quickly as possible, preferably marshaling the power of as many technologies as possible.” 

Human beings are just beginning to discover their own innate ability to multitask and are finding more and more appropriate applications in terms of small business. This is not suggesting that multitasking is a new phenomenon as humankind has been multitasking ever since the beginning of time. There is a transition in terms of technology.

The ability of the owner to multitask, or the willingness to allow employees to multitask, will often determine the impact of multitasking on a small business. Not every owner is good at multitasking and his or her employees may not be able to multitask effectively, either. When that is the case, more employees cover the diversity of tasks.

There is always the possibility of error on the part of anyone who is multitasking.

A time factor is involved in multitasking too, one that requires good judgment in terms of setting and carrying out task priorities. Changing from task to task, takes time and is not always easy, depending upon the ability of the person engaged in the multitasking. In this kind of a scenario, it can have a negative impact on a small business.        

At the same time, when a small business owner is skilled at multitasking, as many are, he or she can avoid hiring more employees. If one person can multitask in terms of carrying out all of the jobs, fewer employees are needed. Problems may arise when that person is not available and someone else has to do the multitasking. 

Employers often seek employees who are able to multitask.   

When a small business owner sees him or herself as being indispensable because of his or her multitasking ability, that is not usually a problem, but when it is an employee, tensions can arise in a small business. No employee is indispensable, whether he or she can multitask or not.

Questions about the impact of multitasking on a small business may arise when one begins to assess the stress and burnout level of those who are multitasking. There is also the question of men versus women. Who are the most effective at multitasking? 

Perhaps future research will reveal new and different phenomena related to the impact of multitasking on a small business.

The Philosophical Notion of Participation: Inclusion of the Marginalized

The word participation, in its philosophical notion, expands horizons beyond the everyday usage of the word suggesting that participation in its philosophical context means to “to allow the expression of alternate views.”

Compare this to the understanding of participation in other contexts.

According to dictionary.com, participation is “an act or instance of participating”, “the fact of taking part, as in some action or attempt”, a “sharing, as in benefits or profits” or “of or pertaining to a venture characterized by more than one person, bank, or company participating in risk or profit.”

In the article entitled, "Different Approaches to Participation", philosophical participation works in conjunction with functional participation that “increases efficiency and effectiveness of research and development.” It also includes empowering participation that tends to “to increase the independence, awareness and capacity of marginalized groups.”

According to this article, there are three kinds of motives, philosophical, functional and empowering.

Functional participation motives “are those concerned with the efficiency and effectiveness of research and development, and are the main driving force behind the efforts of many governments to improve participation.”

Empowering motives “are concerned with participation as an end in itself and are closely linked to democratic processes”.

Philosophical motives “have explored the understanding of knowledge and knowledge systems between formal science and indigenous culture, and tried to encourage a greater interaction between them.”

Continual progress requires ongoing research and development, but this is not possible without some degree of participation from others, globally. People have to become involved beyond the level of mere awareness with no response or a response of mere complacency.

Mutual inter-active, proactive participation effects transition. Functionality and empowerment, in conjunction with philosophical participation alone, are not sufficient. Positivity generated in conjunction with care and compassion for others particularly with respect to minorities, breaks down barriers and encourages active participation.

Abandoned, recklessly emblazoned trails of development and progress, carved without care and compassion for others can leave marginalized communities and countries disillusioned with feelings of frustration, hopelessness and helplessness.

The philosophical notion of participation includes the marginalized in such a way that this does not happen. 

Note that the philosophical notion of participation does not imply the accumulation of wealth or acquisitions by greed. When research and development results in prosperity, it is prosperity for all.

Research and development tend to go in many different directions, at times, in terms of temporary investment with the expectation of a later profit. In the meantime, marginalized people should not have to suffer. Ideally, there is a greater vision leading research and development to new horizons that includes the philosophical notion of participation.          

  

Teacher Tips: Dealing With a Difficult Classroom Assistant

Having a classroom assistant can be a tremendous boon to a busy teacher, but when he or she has to contend with a difficult classroom assistant, as well as his or her students, it is not always easy. A difficult classroom assistant can take up more valuable time than any teacher has to spare.

What is the normal role of a teaching assistant?

“The teaching assistant takes on tasks that allow the teacher to concentrate on teaching (eg, by preparing the classroom for lessons and clearing up afterwards). To support pupils with particular individual needs, some teaching assistants work one-to-one, while others work in small groups.”

How to deal with a difficult classroom assistant is normally between the teacher and the classroom assistant, but not always. Others may become involved in difficult situations. If they begin taking sides, the teacher’s job can become increasingly difficult. Remember that classroom assistants are not always professionally trained, teaching assistants. 

Consider the following guidelines when dealing with a difficult classroom assistant:

Goals:

Having positive, constructive and proactive goals in teaching is important. Many teaching goals appear to be idealistic rather than realistic, which can prove to be one reason for a classroom assistant to be difficult to work with. A trained teaching assistant may try to work with his or her understanding of realistic goals, rather than striving for the teacher’s higher ideals, which he or she may not be able to comprehend. It is important to know if the teacher and classroom assistant have the same goals.     

Communication:

Conveying or effectively communicating positive, constructive and proactive goals to the teaching or classroom assistant appropriately, prior to his or her assuming any tasks, is vital for his or her understanding of the required assistant or helper role. The teacher’s expectations must be plain in order for the teaching assistant or classroom assistant to be able to function effectively with students. Continually seeking better ways to communicate with a designated helper is a good idea.

Ability:

Classroom assistants have varying abilities. The ability of the teaching assistant is a determining factor in goal achievement. When goals prove to be above or beyond the ability of the teaching assistant or classroom helper, he or she may become difficult to work with. At times, it is a good idea to work carefully with a teaching assistant or classroom helper for the first while, in order to determine what he or she is actually capable of doing. Further guidance or instructions may be indicated, as nothing should be taken for granted.    

“Teaching assistants must be trained to a level matching their responsibilities.”

Concerns:

The onus is on the teacher as a professional, to identify and attempt to resolve any areas of concern that cause the teaching assistant or classroom helper to be difficult. In other words, the teacher needs to deal with the teaching assistant’s or classroom helper's frustrations, anxieties or fears in a realistic way. At times, the problems or concerns are part of his or her role as a teaching assistant or classroom helper, but not always; there may be problems of a more personal nature that need resolution.

Following these guidelines should make working with a difficult, teaching assistant or classroom helper easier. Remember to say please and thank you to whoever is assisting you in your classroom. A smile and a reward now and then, can work wonders too.

How Reading Fiction Can Help Children to Relate to Each Other: A Real World Versus a Fantasy World

Children live in a real world, but often have to learn how to relate to others from within the realm of fiction that depicts the lives of other children. One child’s fiction can be another child’s reality.  

Relating to one another can prove to be problematic for some children at times, particularly when fiction appears to be in the realm of exaggeration. At other times, the influence of fiction can be instrumental in helping others. 

For example, the article, “Changing our minds” discusses the nature of fiction in terms of how reading fiction helps to create empathy for others.

"Fiction is about possible selves in possible worlds."

Children can usually relate reasonably well to their own siblings, because they tend think alike. Parents and teachers teach the same kinds of things to siblings who understand their basic values, ideas and concepts. Because these children are in constant contact with one another, it makes relating to one another easier.

Bringing other children into the picture can introduce a whole collection of different values, ideas and concepts. Because contact with these children is often minimal, relating to them is not always easy. When children cannot relate to the values, ideas and concepts of other children, they do not relate well to them either. Building positive, constructive relationships takes time and effort on their part.

The world of fiction offers the opportunity for children to grasp new values, ideas and concepts, far beyond their own. When children read the same fiction or the same kind of fiction, the new values, ideas and concepts become part of a mutual realm where children can understand them in a different light. Then, they begin to understand each other, as well.

In the world of today, electronic books and computers play a major role in the education of children. At home, in school or at a library, children can read fiction online. They read what other children around the globe read on the Internet too.

Reading fiction helps children to surpass regional, cultural and religious values, which may divide them otherwise. When reading fiction there is an element of adventure and fun, which makes it exciting for them. Children usually relate well to the adventure and fun in other children’s lives.

Many of the issues and concerns children have today can be resolved by reading fiction because it opens their hearts and minds to other values, ideas and concepts. It also increases their empathy for others, making it easier to relate to them at the same time. They begin to see that children everywhere are very much alike.

When teachers, parents and others read fiction together regularly, it often draws other children into the same world, where they begin to interact with one another with empathy and more realistically.

Motivation and Students: What Teachers Should Know

Teachers should know their students, as well as what motivates them. They do not always recognize the triggering factors that lead or cause students to do what they do, much less when or how they do things. Motivation of various kinds can lead students in many different directions, some good, but others not so good.

Teachers who know how to motivate students in a positive, constructive and pro-active direction succeed as teachers.

The article “Teaching Strategies: Motivating Students” suggests that

“Instructors who understand student motivation can greatly enhance the classroom experience and student performance.”

Motivation can appear to be as much of an illusion, as a dream or disappear completely from a student’s world, just as easily. Tapping into student motivation as a teacher can work wonders for them academically.

What is motivation?

The word motivation, according to dictionary.com is “the act or an instance of motivating, or providing with a reason to act in a certain way”, “the state or condition of being motivated” or “something that motivates”.

  

Some students always appear to be highly motivated, while others appear to lack academic motivation. In terms of their education and future in general, teachers and parents should be concerned about them.

Teachers should know that motivation is the direct or indirect result of many different kinds of things in the lives of students.

For example, Mary Lou is highly motivated and invariably achieves top marks, because she takes personal pride in her academic life. On the other hand, Josh appears lethargic and non-ambitious academically, but outshines all of the others when it comes to sports activities. Matthew does not write or spell very well, but he gets excited when he is involved with artwork. Petra, who appears to be a slow learner, blossoms every time there is a concert at school.

A teacher who understands motivation and how it can be instrumental in changing the lives of his or her students, has a distinct advantage over other teachers.

For example, Mary Lou continues to excel because her teacher knows she is proud of her accomplishments and continues to praise her for work that is well done. Josh’s marks improve when his teacher links his academic world to his sports activities, insisting that unless he studies harder, he will have to cut back on his participation in sports activities. Matthew’s spelling improves when his teacher ties his spelling to artwork, in terms of creating word pictures. Petra’s learning curve grows in leaps and bounds when her teacher encourages her to participate in school concerts.    

Motivation differs from student to student and thus, it is important for teachers to get to know their students and their interests because that is one major factor in their motivation. Other factors may be books they have read or influential figures in their lives who may be their teachers or gifted artisans.

When a teacher understands the motivational factors n the lives of students and how to use them to help students, academic improvement is inevitable.

Current Trends in Teenage Behavior: Something to Chuckle About?

Current trends in teenage behavior often cause consternation to parents, grandparents and teachers. This is not something new or different, as teenage behavior has always tended to be unique, unlike adult behavior in the same generation.

Perhaps one might suggest that teenage behavior trends reveals one of the ways teenagers learn to assert their own authority and express themselves as independent, almost adults. Adults, regardless of the era that they are from, have already gone through their own teenage behavior trends, some even more radical.

The article entitled, “10 troublesome teen trends” discusses current trends and explains them as “a measure of impulsiveness and experimentalism”.

This list only touches the tip of the iceberg. In other words, there are numerous trends in teenage behavior not included in this list.

For example, smart phones of various kinds are a reality that enables teenagers to engage in new and different kinds of communication, at the same time as they are developing current behavior trends that have never been part of previous history.

Cyber bullying is another recent teenage behavior trend surfacing as something unique for the electronic era and yet bullying is not new. Many teenagers are using social media to engage in unexpected teenage behavior trends, like taking pictures of other teens and posting them. Knowingly or unknowingly, these pictures or videos can go viral.

Teenage curiosity and experimentation can be a good thing, as it helps teenagers to develop their learning curves while they become responsible adults. Sometimes, it takes adults a long time to get past their own teenage behavior trends, but eventually, they do.

So what if the hairdos of teenagers, male and female are bizarre in this era? Is it all right for them to tint their hair with wild psychedelic colors? Does it matter if their clothes match? Their fingernails and toenails can be different colors, gaudy shades of purple and black, but who notices? Probably everyone, but no one really cares, or do they? Teenage behavior trends always state something, to them or others.

New artistic expression is a part of every generation. Somehow, previous artistic expressions manage to re-surface every now and then, too. For example, current teenage behavior can shift towards wild gyrations, as they dance to what some might consider outrageous music in a rock concerts. The noisier the better, some teenagers argue. Is it really a problem as they use up their excess adrenalin converted to expressions of positive energy? Is this anything new or different?

When current trends in teenage behavior become problematic is when what they do endangers their own lives or the lives of others. For example, engaging in current protest behavior is one thing, but when protests resort to violence and destruction, then parents, teachers and police may have to intervene or act to protect them and others, as well as personal property.

Teenage behavior trends often do not have rules, except perhaps among the teenagers. These rules are unwritten for the most part and not discovered by those who attempt to assume authority over teenagers and current teenage behavior trends. It may take many years before they are uncovered.

Problematically speaking, parents, grandparents and teachers find that teenagers eventually outgrow their current behavior trends. Looking back, they see that they did. They also begin to realize that the behavior trends typical of their own era, were likely equally radical and upsetting to those who were older and wiser, at that time. Now it is something about which they can chuckle!

                  

Social Media Tips on Common Facebook Marketing Errors to Avoid: Is Your Marketing in Good Taste?

Social media marketing on Facebook or other social media sites, appears to be a growing trend. For serious marketers, social media marketing might work in their favor.

The article, “What is social media marketing?’ offers guidelines for anyone who is marketing on Facebook.

“Social media marketing refers to the process of gaining traffic or attention through social media sites.”

Does anyone really want a social media page that is primarily marketing or advertising? There may be a problem when social media family, friends and other contacts do not want to receive or promote marketing on their social media web pages. It may seem interesting or informative for some, while others do not appreciate it. Do you enjoy advertising or other forms of marketing on your own website?

Potential Facebook advocates will benefit from the following guidelines that will help them to avoid marketing mistakes on social media web sites.

Avoid overly aggressive marketing strategies. Overly aggressive marketing may result in family or friends, as well as other network contacts removing your name, advertising banners or other kinds of marketing information from their social web sites.

Avoid abusive marketing strategies. Abusive marketing strategies like inappropriate language tend to concern or upset social media contacts. Repeated abusive, marketing attempts lead others to think you agree with and participate in this kind of abuse. You stand to lose your own contacts by allowing abusive marketing on your social media page; as do others. 

Is your Facebook marketing in good taste? Others may be willing to allow some marketing on their Facebook social media, web pages if it is consistently in good taste. If could be deleted immediately if it is undesirable advertising, contains inappropriate language, photographs or videos. As the owner of the webpage, you may refuse to support marketing that is not in good taste. Facebook, as well as other social media website owners may choose to remove marketing that is not in good taste.

Is the Facebook marketing family oriented? Social media web sites often include participation by children and thus, having only appropriate family-oriented advertising marketing on your website is important. No parents or teachers want children to read adverse advertising or marketing that could be potentially detrimental to them.  

Keep advertising at a minimum on social media web pages. While your family members, friends and networking contacts may be interested in what you are selling, repeatedly advertising and marketing the same products on their web sites may not be a good idea. Limiting marketing to a minimum may work in your favor, particularly if you create a link to your website. There, you can use maximum marketing techniques, but you may not want to do that there either. After all, it too is a social media web page. Is it not? Do you separate your social life from your work?

What is Criminal Intent and Why is it Important in the Justice System: Criminal Intent and the Justice System

Understanding what criminal intent is by definition makes it immediately evident why it is such an important determinant in the justice system.

The "criminal act” is the definition purported by thelawdictionary.org.

An example this source gives is the “intent to deprive or defraud the true owner of his property.”

In the justice system, it may not always be easy for a judge or jury to determine whether or not there is or has been actual criminal intent behind a crime that has been committed. There is always the possibility of “spontaneous action.”

Addressing the question of criminality is seldom easy. Criminal intent is an important determinant in the justice system because reprimand and punishment serve as deterrents, or at least they should serve as deterrents, even though in the justice system, it does not always seem to work that way.  

Every human being has the expectation of justice rendered to him or her in terms of compassion, care and community. Even the most hardened criminals who have committed heinous crimes need compassion. It is not as if there are global hard-fast rules with any guarantees of compassion.

One might ask whether criminals who receive reprimands or punishment in conjunction with compassion continue in their crime.

Is their crime the result of non-compassion in their lives?

Is compassion or the lack thereof behind criminal intent?  

Criminal intent becomes an individual matter assessed by a judge or jury. No two criminal cases are identical, simply because no two individuals have the same thought processes regarding their intent.

The word “aim or purpose” according to the free dictionary.com suggests that this depends upon whether that intent includes direct or oblique intent.

The burden of proof with respect to criminal intent becomes the responsibility of a person charged with breaking the law or committing a crime. The degree of reprimand or punishment for a crime depends on whether it is possible to obtain proof.         

Ideally, reprimands and punishment meted out by the justice system are fair, but in a less than ideal world, 

fairness often becomes somewhat of an ideal. In other words, there are situations in which reprimand and punishment do not fit the crime. Ideally, criminal intent should be the determining factor, but dealing with ideals can leave a lot of room for error or misjudgments in the justice system.

Justice is a process that is continually subject to change and revision, and rightly so.

When is Complacency at Work a Good Thing? Understanding the Meaning of Complacency

Complacency at work can be a good thing at almost any time, but in troubled economic times, many employer and their employees are anything but complacent. There may be escalating discontent with resulting disruptions that interfere with work in progress. The entire work environment can change from a bright and happy one to a dark, discouraging place when there is a lack of complacency.

What is complacency?

The freedictionary.com defines complacency as “a feeling of contentment or self-satisfaction, especially when coupled with an unawareness of danger, trouble or controversy”. Complacency can also depict “an instance of contented self-satisfaction”.

Appropriate interpersonal relationships and interaction between employers and employees play a major role with respect to the success of any organization or company. Complacent employers and employees are more likely to be able to function together in an appropriate manner, while one non-complacent employer can disrupt an entire work environment. It can be difficult for employees to work under a non-complacent employer or with non-complacent fellow employees.

When a company or organization is functioning well, an employer usually experiences some degree of self-satisfaction, reflected by his or her employees in their work.

Even when there may be danger, trouble or controversy, by minimizing it, employers and employees are able to continue to function on a platform of relative complacency. It is usually more appropriate to keep employees informed, as there may be concern re lack of disclosure. Pending danger, trouble and controversy can create potential havoc that requires wisdom on the part of employers, management and employees. 

Timing is always important in dealing with issues of concern.              

Employee complacency and contentment are vital with respect to any work environment. Problems leading to non-complacency can arise immediately with the awareness of pending transitions in a company or organization. An example of this might be economic cutbacks or lay offs, where there can be unrest rooted in fear.

Most employees experience self-satisfaction and take pride in their work, as well as in individual and collective achievements in the work place. Appropriate rewards, bonuses and promotions help to encourage and enhance the complacency of employees, while unjustified criticism does just the opposite.

A complacent employer or employee often radiates a gentleness, quietness and inner peace that others recognize. One complacent person can set the atmosphere of peace for everyone in a work environment. In these kinds of scenarios, complacency at work is a good thing, even though some may perceive it differently. For example, a non-complacent employee may see it as a way of choosing to ignore something that is about to happen or is actually happening.

Encouraging complacency at work is the role of employers, managers or others in authority. No one can force complacency on employers or employees. It is not be instigated, but rather comes naturally to those who are inwardly happy and content. 

Complacency has a degree of contagion as it spreads among workers. Note that complacency and compliance can be mitigating factors that work together or in opposition to each other.

Understanding the nature of complacency helps one to understand when complacency at work is a good thing.   

What is Inspirational Literature: The Art or Occupation of an Inspired Writer

Inspirational literature is something that has touched the hearts and minds of humankind for centuries.

Famous writers over the years have written various kinds of inspirational literature, because they felt inspired to write, either by someone or something. Perhaps they experienced an inner urge to write or felt they had to write to convey something of merit to others and thereby, fulfill their respective destinies.

Nowadays, freelance writers write on inspiration for the same reasons, as they recognize the power, potency and merit of freelance writing with respect to influencing others, as well as in respect to their individual and collective pathways to success.

What does the word inspiration mean?

Dictionary.com defines inspiration as “an inspiring or animating action or influence,” or “something inspired”. Inspiration is “the result of an inspired activity” or “a thing or a person that inspires”. Theologically, an inspiration is “a divine influence directly exerted upon the mind or soul” or “the divine quality of the writings or words of a person so influenced”.

Inspirational literature can take many different forms or formats with respect to being “written works of a language, period or culture”, including “imaginative or creative writing”, “scholarly” works like “research” or musical “compositions”.

The creation of inspirational literature becomes the “art or occupation of a literary writer”.

Avid readers gather collections of “printed material” written by inspirited writers, because it is perceived to have significant value. Many pieces of inspirational literature are time-dated and have increased value when the writings are difficult to obtain.  

Inspirational literature has a timeless aspect that arouses the hearts and minds of humankind to be proactive, in any era. In other words, it can be instrumental in leading, guiding or teaching readers.

Globally, writers of inspirational literature respond to divine inspiration. Some prefer not to acknowledge it or refer to the divine realm and claim the presence of a muse that inspires them instead. Writers usually claim either divine inspiration or the presence of a muse, depending upon which appears to be more appropriate. One can also be the other.

The art of writing inspirational literature does not change from era to era, but its formatting and presentation undergoes a distinct change. For instance, the scrolls of the ancients transitioned to book format. In the current era, inspirational writings published in book format, are gradually being outmoded. Writing that is published on the Internet offers the same kind of literary inspiration in terms of content and context, but technologically, the presentation differs considerably.

Recognizing inspiration as an essential source of writing is important for freelance writers, particularly those who want to write and publish on the Internet. While the genre and format varies, it may prove secondary to the inspirational content and context.

Inspirational literature often acts as a stepping-stone or a trigger for future inspirational literature. The written works by writers of inspirational literature in any era may inspire new freelance writers to write, as the realm of writing inspirational literature continues to expand its horizons.

What Makes a Business Person a Thought Leader: The Gift of Thought Leadership Ability

In business, there are inevitably leaders who are innovative thinkers and then, there are those who are followers. Implementing new thoughts and ideas makes a person a thought-leader, rather than a follower. Followers seldom introduce innovations to a business.

What does being a thought leadership in business mean?

“Thought leadership means being recognized as an authority in a particular field. Recognition may come from peers as references in blogs, magazines and other media, and as invitations to participate in expert panels and keynote talks at conferences.”

Not every person has the expertise, ability or knowledge to introduce or follow through on new, productive thoughts and ideas. In any organization, there may only be a few people or perhaps just one person, who demonstrates that gift.   

“The concept of thought leadership applies to specific people rather than technology or organizations. 

However, people who seek thought leadership indirectly promote their organizations and technology.”

Not every person in business has sufficient interest or the foresight to recognize the needs of a business, or to see the possibility of resolution by implementing transitions. In fact, many people cannot perceive how changes in a business could prove beneficial over time and because of that, there is often strong resistance to change.

Thought-leaders generally have excellent foresight and can sway the majority in their favor, when given the opportunity to do so. They can be instrumental in resolving tensions and restoring peace.

What is it that makes a person a thought-leader in business?

Perhaps the key to thought leadership in business lies in the ingenuity, integrity and the positive attitude demonstrated by those who are competent thought-leaders. Many thought-leaders demonstrate high ethical standards and thus, shine in their business worlds. They are respected and admired by others less gifted, but able to recognize the reality and merit of proactive motivation.

Others often tend to follow thought-leaders and try to think the same way they do. Some people continue to resist new ideas that initiated by thought-leaders. They may cause internal conflict. Quite often jealousy prevails, particularly when thought-leaders rise in the ranks of a business or receive bonuses. Even employers can be jealous of thought-leaders, but most recognize and acknowledge the value of their contributions to their businesses. 

Academically, thought-leaders are relatively ambitious and often seek to rise above their fellow workers, realizing that this is possible, feasible and the most logical thing to do.

Professionally, thought-leaders have high standards and often set an excellent example for others.