Our Rockhurst students do a variety of tasks and activities over their four (or so) years. One thing they do a lot of is writing . . . more than they would certainly choose to do on their own. For my job I have to write as well. Today I spent time with my colleage Dr. Tocco working on a case study we are co-authoring. This document is about 7,500 words as we are working on at least or third revision. While I enjoy getting such things completed and published, the work of revising is quite tedious.
This leads me to the month of November, which starts in a couple of hours. November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). People from all over the country sign up on the website, pledging to write a 50,000 + word novel -- in 30 days. This is like running a marathon. I know about this not because I am writing a novel (nor do I have any kind of time or talent to do so) but because my oldest daughter is. For the last few weeks she has been very busy preparing for the event by developing character profiles, doing research (her story is historical), and plotting (read her blog to find out about her novel). She has been working with her younger sister on writing and this sister is signed up for the junior NaNaWrimo -- pledged to write 15,000 words.
What's interesting to me is that both these daughter participants are looking forward to this writing journey; both are doing this in addition to their regular school tasks, household chores, etc. It doesn't count for extra credit. I suspect many of the other participants are the same. Yes, these are marathoners . . . may you all finish the race!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
The Gould Award
Often--too often, perhaps--student work has an audience of just the teacher. Many of my colleagues, however, look for ways to stretch students with bigger audiences. This past week, my colleage Dr. Brian Fitzpatrick attended the 2007 Robert L. Gould annual meeting to watch a former student accept the award for the top paper for the year. This competition has been going 16 years and involves three schools--Northeastern, University of Denver, and Rockhurst.
This year's winner--the second year in a row from Rockhurst--is Katie Hull. Each fall Dr. Fitzpatrick assigns the comprehensive research report for his Investments class; Katie was a student last fall, writing on the topic of how to make mutual fund fee reporting more transparent. Currently, Katie is in her first year of law school at Vanderbilt University.
Besides receiving a trip to Washington, D.C. to be recognized for the award, she received $1,000 -- something that should come in handy during law school. She majored in Finance/Economics and also got degrees in Spanish and Political Science. And if you notice her holding office years down the road--she has that as a goal--then remember you saw it here first.
This year's winner--the second year in a row from Rockhurst--is Katie Hull. Each fall Dr. Fitzpatrick assigns the comprehensive research report for his Investments class; Katie was a student last fall, writing on the topic of how to make mutual fund fee reporting more transparent. Currently, Katie is in her first year of law school at Vanderbilt University.
Besides receiving a trip to Washington, D.C. to be recognized for the award, she received $1,000 -- something that should come in handy during law school. She majored in Finance/Economics and also got degrees in Spanish and Political Science. And if you notice her holding office years down the road--she has that as a goal--then remember you saw it here first.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Working Part III
Just to finish my thread on why people work . . . last post I made the easy claim that they love the high of performing or doing the work. Duh! But my lovely wife (an expert in most thing involving human nature) asked a better question -- why do so many people choose a vocation they do not love?
One answer could be that there are lots of bad jobs out there, or that there just aren't enough good ones available. True enough, though this can be fixed in many cases by better management (the one thing I can assert over my wife), as too many managers prefer to give people little jobs or they don't do enough to create a winning atmosphere (everyone likes to work for a winner).
My wife or my oldest daughter (both can claim it) had a better answer to the question, saying that too often people just never figure out their calling. College graduates should have the most leverage to follow their calling so that they can do that which they love and do well. My only advice college students: Don't count being a good student a calling. In fact, (and as a teacher I love good students) I often feel students whose primary focus is simply making good grades can handicap themselves from actually pursing their . . . calling.
It is not my idea of even a good job, but my wife's cousin (see earlier post on Allison Briner), sans college degree, is doing something she loves and is good at. And I am very happy for her because of that. My hope for my students at Rockhurst is no different.
One answer could be that there are lots of bad jobs out there, or that there just aren't enough good ones available. True enough, though this can be fixed in many cases by better management (the one thing I can assert over my wife), as too many managers prefer to give people little jobs or they don't do enough to create a winning atmosphere (everyone likes to work for a winner).
My wife or my oldest daughter (both can claim it) had a better answer to the question, saying that too often people just never figure out their calling. College graduates should have the most leverage to follow their calling so that they can do that which they love and do well. My only advice college students: Don't count being a good student a calling. In fact, (and as a teacher I love good students) I often feel students whose primary focus is simply making good grades can handicap themselves from actually pursing their . . . calling.
It is not my idea of even a good job, but my wife's cousin (see earlier post on Allison Briner), sans college degree, is doing something she loves and is good at. And I am very happy for her because of that. My hope for my students at Rockhurst is no different.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Working Part II
The cast of a travelling Broadway play perform 5-6 days a week. Evidently, the cast and crew call their Saturday performance the hump--the one where they can see the end in sight. Only to begin again the next week. (Those 9-5 grinders reach the hump on Wednesday as we look forward to a weekend.) I don't know the pay, but suspect the business model for these events doesn't allow for big money (lot's of overhead in these productions).
Yet, to get these jobs is against the odds of stiff competition. Obviously, they do this because they love the work. While I don't envy the schedule of those cast members travelling the continent to perform (over and over again) Mamma Mia! I do respect that they are likely doing something they love to do. People will sacrifice much in order to do those things they love to do. In talent industries such as entertainment the high is not easily replaced -- and simply making money will not have a long-lasting impact. The motivation to pursue an acting career is intrinsic.
So students, I hope you are pursuing vocational love not just money as you think beyond your degree . . .
Yet, to get these jobs is against the odds of stiff competition. Obviously, they do this because they love the work. While I don't envy the schedule of those cast members travelling the continent to perform (over and over again) Mamma Mia! I do respect that they are likely doing something they love to do. People will sacrifice much in order to do those things they love to do. In talent industries such as entertainment the high is not easily replaced -- and simply making money will not have a long-lasting impact. The motivation to pursue an acting career is intrinsic.
So students, I hope you are pursuing vocational love not just money as you think beyond your degree . . .
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Mamma Mia and Working Part I
I am not an avid arts person – just not something that usually gets on my schedule or in my budget with 4 children. Last night, however, my wife and I made the performance, Mamma Mia, playing at the Music Hall (and just a couple blocks from the debut performance at the new Sprint Center). Actually, we were attending because Allison Briner was one of the performers for the touring company—she is my wife’s cousin. It was a family gathering as her mother and some other family members also attended.
Well, the play exceeded my expectations—both Allison’s performance and overall entertainment value of the event. Mamma Mia reprises all the top songs from an old Swedish pop group name ABBA (evidently they have sold more music all time than everyone except Elvis and someone else). Thanks to Allison for getting us to something we ordinarily wouldn’t do.
Visiting with Allison and seeing the performance got me to thinking about why people do the things they do. Allison has been doing this show for 6 months, touring all over the nation. Her Kansas City week was a typical one – travel on Monday and perform from Tuesday through Sunday (including matinees on Saturday and Sunday). Next week, her Broadway Across America show travels to Norfolk, Virginia, followed the next week by Melbourne, Florida. In fact, the show doesn’t take a break until after the December 1st performance in Boston (not a long one as they start back up the day after Christmas in Ottawa, Canada). In addition to the schedule, these performers—especially this rollicking show—have an exhausting job of singing, dancing, and costume changing. This kind of schedule may sound like fun at 22, but for forty-somethings (which a number of the starring roles were) this simply sounds grueling. So it got me thinking about “working for a living” . . . which will be Part II of this thread.
Well, the play exceeded my expectations—both Allison’s performance and overall entertainment value of the event. Mamma Mia reprises all the top songs from an old Swedish pop group name ABBA (evidently they have sold more music all time than everyone except Elvis and someone else). Thanks to Allison for getting us to something we ordinarily wouldn’t do.
Visiting with Allison and seeing the performance got me to thinking about why people do the things they do. Allison has been doing this show for 6 months, touring all over the nation. Her Kansas City week was a typical one – travel on Monday and perform from Tuesday through Sunday (including matinees on Saturday and Sunday). Next week, her Broadway Across America show travels to Norfolk, Virginia, followed the next week by Melbourne, Florida. In fact, the show doesn’t take a break until after the December 1st performance in Boston (not a long one as they start back up the day after Christmas in Ottawa, Canada). In addition to the schedule, these performers—especially this rollicking show—have an exhausting job of singing, dancing, and costume changing. This kind of schedule may sound like fun at 22, but for forty-somethings (which a number of the starring roles were) this simply sounds grueling. So it got me thinking about “working for a living” . . . which will be Part II of this thread.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Community Talent
One of the nice things about working in an urban university is the rich business community it lives in. And for Rockhurst, this has helped it create and nurture a number of alumni and friends that provide a rich resource of talent for our students and faculty to draw from. For instance, last week we two such people on our campus speaking to student groups.
Mary Pat McCarthy, Vice Chairman for KPMG, spoke to over 100 students and faculty on Oct. 3rd. She spoke primarily about leadership and ethics, but she also shared her stories about managing a career. In addition to being an accomplished businessperson in her field, she is author of several books (you'll find them in Amazon.com) and has a Jesuit background (she and much of her family attended Creighton University). Many of my day students attended the event and one student reflected how helpful it was to hear someone give their real life struggles with delegating work and trusting others--seems that many good students tend to like to be controlling, something good managers must give up. This event, sponsored by our Center for Ethics and Leadership, was the first in a series . . . we have another speaker coming in November as part of this series.
Also last week, a Rockhurst MBA alum, Ronald Rittenmeyer, spoke to our executive fellows class. Mr. Rittenmeyer is CEO of EDS, an international IT solutions company founded by Ross Perot. You can read Mr. Rittenmeyer's bio here. I missd his Friday morning presentation, but it is not uncommon for our students at all levels (and faculty) to have access to the alumni and community talent right here in K.C.
Mary Pat McCarthy, Vice Chairman for KPMG, spoke to over 100 students and faculty on Oct. 3rd. She spoke primarily about leadership and ethics, but she also shared her stories about managing a career. In addition to being an accomplished businessperson in her field, she is author of several books (you'll find them in Amazon.com) and has a Jesuit background (she and much of her family attended Creighton University). Many of my day students attended the event and one student reflected how helpful it was to hear someone give their real life struggles with delegating work and trusting others--seems that many good students tend to like to be controlling, something good managers must give up. This event, sponsored by our Center for Ethics and Leadership, was the first in a series . . . we have another speaker coming in November as part of this series.
Also last week, a Rockhurst MBA alum, Ronald Rittenmeyer, spoke to our executive fellows class. Mr. Rittenmeyer is CEO of EDS, an international IT solutions company founded by Ross Perot. You can read Mr. Rittenmeyer's bio here. I missd his Friday morning presentation, but it is not uncommon for our students at all levels (and faculty) to have access to the alumni and community talent right here in K.C.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
New Students from all over
We are in the busy grind of the semester, which means lots of things going on. Among them this week was our Freshmen in Business luncheon on Tuesday. I guess we have done this for a few years now but this was the first one I was able to attend. Good food, but especially good company as I got to speak with several freshmen considering business as a major.
The students I talked with came from all over the region -- from Cape Girardeau, St. Louis, Nebraska, and Manhattan (where I believe one of the young men pictured here is from).
I appreciate our faculty, staff, and student facilitators who organize this event and lead the 1-hour course called Freshmen in Business. In this course, students get the opportunity to meet many of our faculty in accounting, international business, finance, and economics -- in addition to meeting faculty at this event. Thus, new students don't have to wait a year or two before knowing something about their major.
The students I talked with came from all over the region -- from Cape Girardeau, St. Louis, Nebraska, and Manhattan (where I believe one of the young men pictured here is from).
I appreciate our faculty, staff, and student facilitators who organize this event and lead the 1-hour course called Freshmen in Business. In this course, students get the opportunity to meet many of our faculty in accounting, international business, finance, and economics -- in addition to meeting faculty at this event. Thus, new students don't have to wait a year or two before knowing something about their major.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
The Chevette
Following up on my prior post, it turns out the Chevette was not an Edsel -- exactly. While it was the top selling American small car in 1979 and 1980, it is described as a "functional and inexpensive" alternative to the flood of Japanese imports. It was made with old technology (e.g., rear wheel drive) and did not age very well. Not a real image-conscious vehicle. Forgive my surface level research here (Wikipedia) . . . perhaps others know more with better research.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
