A Taste of Europe

Last week I was wandering the old cobblestone streets of Bavaria. Between Munich and Salzburg and everything in between, I was able to catch of glimpse of life for these bustling European towns - whether through gleaning information through its history, experiencing the culture, learning more of its position in music, eating extremely calorie-filled pastries (and thoroughly enjoying them!), watching business in motion or just observing people in their everyday lives, I had seven full days in Central Europe - with my family of 20.

We did almost as much as any group could do in the time that we were there, but one of the things that stands out to me that took my MBA studies and brought it into real life was walking through the BMW plant in Munich. Due to competitive intelligence, no pictures were allowed on the inside, but what I saw took accounting principles into action, brought management to life, and even touched on the concept of "going green."

The first part of this two hour tour with a distance of over 1.25 miles within the plant begins with viewing the blocks of metal and then watching all sorts of robotic engineering inventions start to form the vehicles. I could have watched just this one area for at least one hour. I felt like all those movies that deal with robots may have gotten their ideas from watching something like this. Incredible! Throughout the tour, I learned interesting facts, such as BMW stands for Bavarian Motor Works, it takes 40 hours to produce a car (11 of these hours spent just getting painted), a car is ready for sale every minute on the plant, over the time period of one year and when considering all of the other locations where BMW makes vehicles, less than one ton of waste is produced.

I found the cities of Munich and Salzburg to have a reverence for their histories as well. Many buildings we explored had been demolished during World War II, but in an effort to restore life as normal, these buildings were reconstructed as they had once been. The area was not taken to construct something new and it was not used to create a modern development. Throughout the centuries, churches or cathedrals which had existed prior to the medieval period are still standing today.

Some of the structures are more recent than other. For example we explored Neuschwanstein, which by other European standards may be considered new as it is only around 200 years old. We also explored features underground as we experienced an Austrian salt mine near the town of Hallein. Before this adventure which required the wearing of large baggy pants and a frumpy top, I had only visited gold mines or coal mines. My perception of any mine being the same was crushed as my family delved into the land beneath the border of Austria and Germany, used salt mine slides, and developed an understanding of how salt had been used to expand cities.

Not too be outdone by all of the history and adventures experienced, we also caught of glimpse of the life of music within Salzburg through a Mozart and Advent concert we enjoyed at the top of the city as well as touring Mozart's Residence.

There's nothing like experiencing history when you get to see and experience it yourself. As I prepare for finals, it's nice to glance through my pictures and remember the warmth of hot apple cider on snow-covered cobblestone roads lined with Christmas trees among centuries-of-old architecture.

Dinner & the Concept of Time

A few weeks ago I read a book, The 24 Hour Customer by Adrian Ott, and since then I've been paying more attention to how the concept of time can be implemented into the marketing mix of the 4 Ps. While many companies have been seeking ways to market their product, price, place, or promotion, Ott proposes that time should also be considered and gives examples of numerous businesses starting to do this. While her examples are great, you'll have to read them for yourself to find out more about them. But in the meantime, I found an example of her concepts through my dinner the other night.

Due to work, class, or meeting with grad groups, my husband and I don't get home until about 7:30 or 8pm on most nights. Then, add in the an ample amount of graduate homework, house chores, a dog, and life outside my control, and it all adds up to me not making dinner...mostly because we just don't have the time or it's already late. So, in order to still receive some sort of sustenance for our stomachs, we'll either eat a quick salad or opt for pizza. This particular night we opted for pizza. And since it was after 8pm and we're on a bit of budget, we chose to go with what we know to be fast, easy, and actually tastes good.

Tulsa has many choices for the pizza lover. Our new favorite pizza shop that's fast and cheap - and tasty - is Little Caesars. But before they moved just a few miles from my house, we wouldn't think of eating there. The thoughts of "Pizza! Pizza!" were buried in my childhood memories, not to be turned over by possible new experiences of trekking across town to a sketchy area within a rundown looking retail store. Little Caesars had basically been written off by most pizza devourers in Tulsa. But now that they have launched multiple shops in better areas all over town, business is booming. Not only are they now just a few minutes from my house and offer pizzas for $5, the real beauty of what they have to offer is in the area of time.

While the $5 deal is super great, what's even better is that I can walk into their little pizza site and give them $5 (plus 43 cents for tax) and walk out with a pizza less than a minute later - all without calling ahead or ordering. Little Caesars is completely accessing the concept of time and are using it to sell pizzas. Don't want to call in and wait for your $13 pizza to be done? No problem - just come by and pick up a cheese or pepperoni pizza for $5. You want a $5 pizza but it's not Monday? Just swing by our place any day. Need a pizza after 9pm? We're open late. Don't want to cook for dinner? Come see us.

It's brilliant. Every time I go (which is just about once a week), there will be a line of people picking up pizzas. But I know my car will driving away just two minutes later. Fresh, hot, tasty pizza, all for $5 and ready when I am. Little Caesars has captured this market of offering a good product at a reasonable price while using time to drive more sales. And I am part of that market. It's good to see that my favorable childhood memories have been restored. To this I say, "Welcome back, Little Caesars. (I'll probably see you again in a week!)"

Remember to Live

This past weekend I was in California for my grandmother's memorial service. My grandmother was a special lady, full of prayer and love for family. I will miss her. I don't really know if I can really put all my thoughts into words, but here I'll try...

*Don't let yourself become so consumed with the cares of this world, that you forget to treasure those things that cannot be replaced - time with your family, making memories with friends, and conversations with loved ones.

*Be careful what you write down...one day another family member may read it (my grandma left many great memories down on paper and gobs of amazing black and white photographs).

*When it comes down to the things that matter most in life, there's really nothing better than the fellowship of family.

*Prayer is powerful and lasts forever.

*Life does not slow down, you'll blink and suddenly it's five or ten years later.

*Having a positive attitude really does make a difference.

*Love, God, and family are all you really need to be happy in this life.

*Leaving a legacy of love, prayer, and laughter is one of the best legacies there is.

Christmas is coming to ORU

I'm one of those people who is not ashamed to begin playing Christmas music the day after Halloween. For me, the months of November and December are some of the most enjoyable months - full of thankfulness, family, a break from school, and warm hearts. Why not celebrate the season as long as possible? Now, while I may love all things Christmas, I'm not like my parents' neighbors who put up their tree the day after Halloween...no, I save that for after Thanksgiving.

Anyway, all this to say that last night's Lighting of the Prayer Garden event on ORU's campus was full of Christmas joy. The Student Association provided some yummy hot cocoa and cookies with the Alumni Association giving out ornaments. Since the event was at 7pm, it was a great after-dinner gathering of hundreds of students who needed a fun study break before going back to the books. The honor of flipping the switch to turn on all 10,000 wondering lights was given to none other than the College of Business' long time professor, Dr. George Gillan. Christmas songs were sung and giddiness for Christmas abounded. This was the first year such an event has taken place on the campus and I hope this will become an annual tradition!

Fast Track Program

The past week I have been visiting several classes at ORU presenting information about our Fast Track program...something specific to undergraduate ORU students with at least 60 credit hours completed. I visit for a few reasons...1) it lets current students know of an opportunity they have to begin working on grad classes now, 2) I enjoy being able to share the information, and 3) I want them to know it's available.

When I was an undergraduate student holding two minors in business, I was never presented the information about the Fast Track program. During my last semester I only needed 9 credit hours to finish but wanted to stay full-time so I filled up my schedule with needless elective courses when I could have taken several grad classes and maybe finished earlier. It is from this experience as an undergraduate student that really gives me passion for speaking in the undergraduate courses. I want them to know that this is available for them, that they can begin adding value to the resume before they even finish a four-year degree, and that through this program a MBA degree can be completed in just two semester after completing an undergraduate degree.

Now for those students who are not from ORU or have already graduated, there is an excellerated 3 semester program that still allows students to finish faster than the traditional 4-semester program. Degree plans can be found online by clicking here.

(Just in case you're wondering, the picture is not me presenting at ORU, but rather in South Korea)

As the semester begins winding down and students begin contemplating next semester's courses, the Graduate School of Business always has options for classes that can be taken.

A Gathering of Grad Students

This past weekend was the annual fall GBA event and this year we held it on campus by Lake Evelyn. Nice fall weather, nice scenerly, lots of food...and rain. That's right - we had a picnic in the rain! Luckly there was a gazbo so we all enjoyed each other's company and the span of food. Here are some pictures from the event:

More pictures can be found on our facebook page. The picnic was a huge hit - and I look forward to more times of fellowship with our amazing graduate students!

New College of Business Lobby

The College of Business' new lobby has been officially unveiled! Yesterday we had our ribbon-cutting ceremony, complete with our dean, president, the donors, some trustees, professors, and dozens of students. Below you can see some of the before pictures:

First the LCD board was attached to the wall and then our ticker tape. Following that, we tore out the carpet (and not just in our lobby, the hallways too) and painted the walls:
Then it was time to bring in the furniture and have a celebration!

Fall Revival

Where else can you get a master's education where the quality of the education is only part of what is offered...where the spiritual and physical components that make us human are also considered?

At ORU, we believe that not only is it important to get a quality education that will allow you to do whatever it is God has called you to do, but the physical and spiritual parts are considered just as important. Without an understanding of leading a healthy lifestyle, what good is the call that you have on your life unless you can physically do it? Without learning and growing in God, what good is that call?

Today and tomorrow consist of what is known on campus as Fall Revival - additional Chapel times - to focus in on God and his plan for our lives. It is so important that all classes have been cancelled today and tomorrow (until after the morning service). A special speaker will be coming in tonight. I don't know if I know of any other campus that specially takes time out of the class schedule to draw closer to the Lord during additional services.

This is just another area that makes ORU so unique and gives something additional to graduate students as they prepare for the business realm.

27 Days

What is 27 days from now, you might ask? Well, 27 class days from now it will be the beginning of Thanksgiving break. It's not like I'm counting down the number of classes I have because I can't wait to be done and I won't be keeping a calendar next to my computer crossing off days until then, but I just wanted to show how fast this semester will soon be coming to an end. Perhaps my counting days until Thanksgiving Break may have some to do with what I will be doing during that time. And what exactly could I be doing that would usher me to count class days left on the first day back from Fall Break? Traveling to Europe!

I have been extremely blessed with a family that loves to travel and can put aside differences for a week in some random location in the world. This year the location of our annual family reunion is in Germany and Austria. And while I am so excited to be headed for Europe, I know it means I must buckle down on my studies over the next 5 weeks (yes, only 5...plus 2 days on the 6th week) in order to be able fully enjoy a trip to Europe without lingering projects, papers, and assignments.

Hopefully we all will be able to push through these next several weeks and have some great time management!

Photo credit: from Epoch Times

Learning during Break

Although it's Fall Break, it doesn't mean that I'm on break from learning or trying to apply what I'm learning to life. Sometime during this past week I drove over a nail. Nail in tire = air escaping = flat tire. So my husband put the spare tire on and went to find out if a nearby car place could fix it up. He went to a car maintenance place not too far from our home. I had never been to it since I usually take my car to the dealership for an oil change or check-up. Since it was closer to our home though, he decided to check out. We were hoping they would charge a small fee for plugging the tire. They charged nothing. Instead they just said if we ever needed something done to feel free to drop by their place. They definitely won over my recommendation to people. And while I'll probably still go to the dealer for some of the bigger maintenance, it's good to know that just 2 miles from my house I can take my car in to a place where they believe knowing what they offer is something of value before selling them something.

This event reminded me of so many things I've been reading in my Marketing class - from sampling, to offering something free, to giving something of value, to creating a relationship with a customer...it's all very interesting to see some of these things played out in everyday life - and applying those incidences to what's being taught in the classroom.

Fall Break

Although the temperature reads nearly 90 degrees outside, Fall Break is here! For some, this week may include traveling while for others, it means staying in Tulsa working, studying, maybe catching up on sleep...

For me, it means that while I don't have class, I will be at work. However, this does not mean I will not be enjoying my week off of class! My schedule this next week (besides work), includes the following:

-Read, read, and read! Definitely want to take advantage of this week and try to read ahead for my classes. I'd like to try and read everything left, but I still want to enjoy some of the week "off" too.

-Photography! While I am enrolled as a part-time graduate student only 2 classes away from finishing my MBA (and the rest of this semester's classes), I am also enrolled in a photography school through distance study and really need to get my next project turned in. I figured it's also a great time to enjoy this amazing weather and take my camera around town.

-Clean. For some reason, my house just seems to get cluttered during school (maybe I'm applying all my organizational skills to homework and class...), so on the agenda this week is to definitely get the house ready for the second half of this semester.

-Have fun! In the middle of all cleaning, getting ahead, and photography, I want to just have some fun doing simple things...like maybe watching a movie or going out to a coffee shop to chat and not because I need to study.

Whatever we all do, the week is bound to move quickly, so enjoy it and take advantage of it!

International Experiences

I love how I can pass through the hallways of ORU and hear languages other than my native tongue. From Spanish, to German, Russian, and Swahili, the flair of international students can definitely be heard on the campus of ORU. I believe this really adds a dimension to ORU that not many campuses have. This year, 56 different nations are represented on the campus of ORU. Within the Graduate School of Business, nearly 20 nations are present, giving us about 30% of all countries on ORU in our graduate business classes.

Having such a number of international students in classes gives a greater understanding of the world in which we live as well as giving opportunities to make international connections. I appreciate being able to learn not only about globalization, but being able to live it within my classes.

Two years ago I was given the privilege of traveling to Asia for a three-week recruitment trip to six different countries. Getting to meet prospective students where they live and seeing everything they have to do in order to study in the US made me realize how much of a process it is to get here and gives me an even greater respect for those in my courses.

I thoroughly enjoy traveling to different parts of the world, meeting new people, and seeing new things. If I can't travel all the time, at least I can learn more about the international students in my classes - where they're from, what they feel, how they react to different things mentioned in class.

Tips for Midterm Week

Fall Break is one week away, but before students can go frolicking into the wild blue yonder for a week, we must pass the intense week of Midterms.

When I was in my undergraduate studies some classes pushed midterms until after break or just had a normal test. Midterms for graduate studies are quite different. It's putting everything and more that has been studied thus far onto paper in just 150 minutes of time. One specific class I have to thank for my feelings of frenzied-ness comes in the form of Marketing Management. This class makes me not only feel like I'm in grad school, it makes me know I'm in grad school. Besides our notes from lectures and the chapters from the textbook, we've been reading additional books each week since before the semester began (yes, before). Put all of this stuff together and it leaves LOTS of information to study or prepare for. So, in honor of this class and what I'm reviewing, I thought I would pull a few things from some of the books we've read in the class and use them as tips of the week because some of them can truly be used this week...

*Get some sleep. Yes, as tempting as it can be to pull all-nighters, it really might not be that beneficial to you. According to Fried & Hansson of the book Rework, all nighters could become habits that lead to stubbornness, lack of creativity, diminished morale, and irritability. Add to that, when you're sitting down to take a test covering information from the past 8 weeks, pulling an all-nighter the night before probably will not have helped much. By now you either know it or you don't. Stressing out and lack of sleep can be no bueno for taking exams.

*According to Blink by Malcolm Gladwell, your initial reactions to something (thin-slicing) can be correct, so don't discount your first thoughts about the answer to a question on a test. At the same time, be vigilant in reviewing your work, as I believe it is beneficial to review your work to make sure you didn't forget something.

*Take a deep breath - it's going to be okay. Rework also specifies this in the book as says to resist those urges to panic. With midterms this week, I know several people may be feeling a bit like panicking - but don't. It won't give you more time studying, it will take away. It won't help you feel better, it will make you feel worse. It doesn't encourage, so just hit the books and study what you can.

Another tip I would give from just personal experience would be to study what you don't know. Such a simple concept but it can really be helpful. I have a habit of studying everything. Things I know and things I'm not strong in. By going over everything, I'm taking away some of the time I could be reviewing those areas I need more time in. So, as easy as it sounds, don't dwell on what you know - push yourself in those areas you need to develop.

Put it all together with some prayers and maybe a morning coffee, and go do well!

Tulsa State Fair & Chick-fil-A

Last night my husband and I went to the Tulsa State Fair to check on the status of the pictures I entered and the one of my puppy in black and white won second place! Yay! I feel as digital photography is becoming more accessible to the mass population, hidden talents of people are beginning to surface. Some incredible talent is displayed there and I am glad to be among those recognized at the fair.

After roaming the stands of greasy fried food and through the chaotic lines of people trying to take a 60 second ride on a traveling carnival machine, I was ready to go and eat something a little more health concise then a Krispy Kreme burger or fried stick of butter (who eats this stuff?!?). So off to Chick-fil-A we went...away from the crowds, away from the smell of fried grease, and somewhere a little closer to our house.

Chick-fil-A always does a good job in trying to show their appreciation for the customer. It is unheard of to not hear an employee say, "My pleasure" after a customer says thanks or thank you. Last night was no exception to great customer service. We went inside to order since it was one of those rare times when there were no screaming kids inside with lines to the back of the door. The girl who took our order had "In Training" written under her name on her name badge. The service I received from her though made me feel like she was a manager in training. When I couldn't decide what to order, she made a suggestion that actually caused me to consider the choice (which is what I ended up going for). I'm not sure if she purposely recommended a higher priced item (if she did, she was real good it) but it's what I decided to order. She made us laugh during our order, told us she'd bring our food to us (which she promptly did), got our picky orders right, and complemented us. Because of the great service I felt I received and the fact that I truly enjoyed the food she recommended, I'll probably get that next time I go there, which translates into additional revenue for the restaurant.

On our way out, my husband made it a point to tell the manager on duty how well the girl in training did. Now I understand the purpose behind writing those two little words on a badge of those in training. If more companies did that, those in training would actually become challenged to become great employees.

Asset Based Thinking

Yesterday in my Creative Thinking class our professor spent the class time discussing Asset Based Thinking and Deficit Based Thinking. He wasn't really describing these thinking concepts in terms of finance or accounting, but more in terms of how people think of themselves.

He described Deficit Based Thinking as knowing of those things that you don't want to do, while Asset Based Thinking (ABT) asks what your strengths and talents are that God has given you and how can you use those with your God-given mighty cause.

Asset Based Thinking takes those things that are personal assets - those gifts, talents, and abilities that God has give you - and considers how they might make your signature presence known. I really enjoyed learning about this concept of signature presence. How do people perceive you? What footmark do you leave in a room? By understanding more of those gifts that God has given you, you can leave a stronger presence.

All of this leads to your mighty cause. Not necessary a vision, but a mighty cause - something that you can begin working on today. Something that drives you, that you're passionate about. So many times I've heard people say they want to do something, make a global impact, do something that leaves them fulfilled, but never start toward that goal. Having a mighty cause forces a person to begin doing something now. If the mighty cause is to change a city, people have to start somewhere. Research needs to be done. You can start in your own city or town. The point of the mighty cause is to start, no matter how small, and begin building a bridge to that bigger cause.

I had never really considered Asset Based Thinking much...I know a lot of what I don't want to do, but to begin thinking towards those areas that I am gifted in and blending them together with a mighty cause can really impact the rest of my life. I hope you will be able to take some time today to think about ABT, your signature presence, and your mighty cause - it could just change your life.

Autumn is Here!

Fall officially began yesterday and it is an exciting time! Fall means cooler weather, brilliant colors, and that Fall Break is just around the corner. To celebrate the coming season, here are some fun photos to get you ready for the season!

The great outdoors may provide an excellent place to study - or a fun study break. However you enjoy the weather and season, know that winter will soon arrive in Tulsa, so enjoy what you can now! :)

Tip of the Week

One of my favorite things about ORU are the people. Whether, students, faculty, staff - the people at ORU are unlike those anywhere else. As a student, I have always appreciated the professors who teach in my classes. Besides getting to know your name and who you are, their offices are always open. I've sat in professors' offices discussing homework assignments, travel excursions, and my future. I've been to professors' homes and attended ORU events where the professors were active in what was taking place.

Getting to know your professors outside of a class setting can be extremely beneficial. Our professors have a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and a network of connections. Don't be afraid to ask professors questions about what assignments you may be working on. Feel free to stop by just to say hello. The professors want to know who you are, what you want to do with your life, and how they can help you achieve your goals. So, the tip of the week, don't be a stranger to your professors. By getting to know them your MBA experience will flourish.

Memories of You

Life as a grad students isn't always about studying. Family is something very important to me and I think probably to most, if not all, of our grad students here. Last week I mentioned that one of my class assignments was to create a poem after constructing a mind map. Later in the evening after the project was assigned, I received a phone call saying that my grandmother may not live too much longer. In an effort to corral my thoughts and feelings, I decided to use my grandmother as the subject of my poem. It's great when a project is assigned that allows you to pour out your thoughts, feelings, and ideas. I have copied the poem below. The name Grandmother doesn't exist in the poem since it was my main topic, but you can definitely picture her. Kind of interesting how you can take a brainstorming business feature like a mind map and create a wonderful piece of work for someone who means a lot to you.

Memories of You

Christmas turkey and tantalizing sugar glazed cookies;
Unending mashed potatoes and overflowing gravy;
Italian lasagna made from scratch and perfectly crunchy garlic bread;
The smell of early morning sizzling bacon and scrambled eggs cooked just so –
These are memories I have of you.

A slight hobble from the kitchen to the recliner;
Twinkling blue eyes glistening with mischief;
A big toothy grin and happy chuckle;
Bobby pins in your hair each night, tightly wound curls each day;
Homespun dresses in floral and polka dot print –
These are memories I have of you.

Happy Birthday renditions each year;
Cards and notes throughout the twelve months;
Celebrations each time someone could visit;
Sending us out with more than what we came with –
These are memories I have of you.

German and Czech history filled with tales of good and bad;
Reflections of Chicago living and growing up in the city;
A blind date with a dashing handsome man and moving to the West;
A house on Marshall Street with a big pine tree reaching to the sky –
These are memories I have of you.

Clothes carrying the natural scent of line dry from flapping in the wind;
Computers nonexistent and cell phones nowhere to be seen;
Washing and drying dishes as a time of fellowship instead of a chore;
Talking around the table preferable over an evening out –
These are memories I have of you.

A tender gentle heart;
Always optimistic;
Heart and head forever turned towards God;
Praying for all family and friends before the sun arose;
Outstretched arms to rich and poor, friend or foe; Joy amidst pain, thankfulness in sorrow,
And unconditional love.
These are memories I have of you…and always will.

My Study Break: A Bit of Photography

When I'm not busy studying, reading, or researching - or if the weather is just so nice I have to take advantage of it - I like to take my camera out and see what I can capture. Over the last several years I have been able to participate in various photography contests and have been successful at some of them. This weekend I will be submitting some photos at Tulsa's State Fair and will find out in a few weeks how they compare to other amateur photographers in the area (I'll make sure to give an update when I find out). It's just a fun thing I like to do when I'm traveling or taking a study break. Maybe one day I'll do a bit more with it other than enter contests, but in the meantime, I hope you will enjoy a few of the photos I put on here!

Tip of the Week: Mind Mapping

As a student, it is always great when classes mix together and relate to each other. This semester I am enrolled in two courses - Creative Thinking and Marketing Management. Different yet definitely related.

In the Marketing Management class, part of our diet of broadening our horizons includes reading a book a week as chosen by our professor. Taking some of my own advice and tips I've been handing out to heart, I am reading ahead and already into the book that's due next week which talks about organization. This book is full of information on how to better organize what you're doing in life so you're not always having to think about or worry about what to do next. There's a section in the book where the author discusses is a tool called Mind Mapping.

Cross over into my Creative Thinking class...we were recently assigned a small project in which we had to develop a mind map and then write a poem about it. Not your typical graduate assignment, but through it I began to enjoy mind mapping. Before this assignment, someone would say the words mind map and I would shudder. Maybe feel a rock in the pit of my stomach. Inwardly groan. I was not a fan. Perhaps I had first been taught mind mapping from a structured point of view in high school instead of just having the freedom to sporadically collect my thoughts through this system.

Through this activity of having to dig within myself and uncover creativity, I am now a beliver in the use of mind maps and see incredible potential in using them. They are messy yet organized. They allow all random thoughts to be collected but still connected to some greater thought. They can be used for huge projects or for the simpliest of tasks.

What I learned through the Mind Map assignment of creating a poem was that each person, whether we originally believed it or not, could indeed construct a poem with deep meaning and a unique way of blending words on paper to share a story. About half of the poems were shared in my Creative Thinking class last night and I was stunned at the what was uncovered. Here were students, who are busy with life, school, work, extracurricular student activities, and family, with amazing pieces of art. And most of them business students - not your typical English writing majors. It made me appreciate creativity more and showed me the benefit of using mind mapping.

Back to Marketing Management...I have a group in my class with a big project we're working on. We recently went through a mind map exercise on ideas for the project and filled up a page with dozens of thoughts. And the great thing about it is that those thoughts are safe on that piece of paper. We don't have to remember to not forget them; we can come back and ponder them when we need to. So my tip of the week...if you have a paper, project, some kind of assignment that may have multiple steps or pieces, try collecting your thoughts through a mind map. You may be surprised at the amount of information and creativity that can pop up through this process.

Puppy Training and Business

It's been said that having a puppy is good training for what it will be like having children. Between the disciplining, rewarding, cleaning, looking after, spending time with, etc., I can see how some of this could be true - especially since my husband and I just adopted a puppy several weeks ago. Puppies are fun, but they can be a bit of work. As I was thinking about training a puppy and all it entails, I realized there are probably some business aspects that I could learn from owning a puppy (because that's just what happens when you're working on a graduate business degree-everything somehow relates to business).

As part of the stipulations for keeping the stray puppy we found (who we named Samson), my husband said he must go through puppy school training, so besides taking graduate business courses, we're also taking puppy school classes. Quite different, but there are some good parallels to be drawn relating to business. For example, one of the first things we learned was to consistently reward good behavior as soon as it is demonstrated. If the puppy is not immediately rewarded, he may not know why he is being rewarded and may not do what he is asked later, or it could even enforce the wrong kind of behavior. From a business perpective, this could be similar to rewarding employees. If an employee is given an award for a job well done, but the action being rewarded was from weeks or months ago, it may not have an effect of motivating good behavior.

Another lesson we had to learn was loose leash walking. Since dogs can be incredibly distracted while on a walk, it is important that they don't lose focus on their owners. So in this activity, we toss out little doggie treats every so often which encourages our puppy to look at us or pay attention to what we're doing. We've seen some pretty good results in the few weeks we have been practicing this. From a business sense, this could be like the employee who is getting distracted on job responsibilities by different aspects, competition, or people. To help the employee get back on track, small rewards, verbal praise, or motivation for following through a company's mission statement or goals could be given to help get that employee's focus back.

As our puppy continues to learn boundaries and what is correct behavior (or behavior to not repete), we will eventually not have to check up on him as much. Just as when a new employee is hired and tasks have to be followed up on or double-checked, eventually he or she will learn the correct and best way of completing their job responsibilities and the manager won't need to wonder or worry if the employee can get the job done right.

In the long run, I know puppy school will be a great learning tool for Samson and hopefully make our lives easier when he is older (and bigger!). And in the meantime, maybe I can continue to glean some other parrallels between business practices and puppy classes. At least for now he is learning good behavior - and being photogenic with the camera!

A Tale of Wal-Mart Woes

Last week my husband and I had to make a trip to the local Wal-Mart during our lunch hour. Since it's right across the street from ORU, I felt we could run in, get what we needed, and get out...all while still having time to eat before heading back to work. Apparently I haven't shopped at Wal-Mart in awhile because things have been moved around.

In an effort to appear maybe more consumer-friendly, Wal-Mart stores have been going through a remodel phase where all their stores have a consistent layout so people can walk into any Wal-Mart across the country and find what they need. Perhaps a good idea, but until the entire embodiment of consumers learn where everything has been relocated, we're in for a bit of frustration.

So here's what I experienced during my first trip to the newly remodeled Wal-Mart:

Problem #1: Photo Kiosk

The first department I needed to visit was the Photography Center. So when we walked in, we headed straight for the electronic section where TVs used to be located...except now that part of the store is filled with home decor products. After wandering around for a bit, we found the Photography Center had taken over the old layaway section. Maybe a good use of space, but there are some issues with their photography printing area. For example, they have a kiosk in the middle of the electronics section where amateur photographers, such as myself, can make prints in minutes. A receipt is printed out after ordering and when I'm ready to retrieve my completed pictures, I can just scan the receipt, and a door opens revealing my prints. The part that I'm not so sure is going to work is that Wal-Mart then expects consumers to have an ethical approach to the payment of goods and take their now completed pictures they have in their hands to the old layaway room in the very back of the building to pay for them separately from their other products or be given an envelope with the price on it.

Problem #2: Unempowered Employees

I took my few pictures to the old layway room and no one was there. I stood around for about 2 minutes wondering when someone would see that I was waiting to pay for something. Several employees walked in and out of the area (since there was an "Employees Only" door in this part of the building). No one said anything. They would look at me and keep walking. After waiting and not being assisted, I went to the lady who was at a register in the electronics section. This employee wasn't aware of how to charge consumers for pictures so she had to call for back-up. Besides trying to help me, she was also having to deal with an irate customer who couldn't believe Wal-Mart's new layout included no processing of film-only digital photos, two customers who wanted to check out at that register, and employees asking her questions she didn't know the answer to. Someone from the Photography Center finally came and escorted me back to the layaway section again...to get an envelope with the price listed. The first time it was done, the price showed I was only paying for one picture. It's a good thing I'm a trustworthy customer and pointed out the error.

Problem #3: Layout

Now after having spent a good 30 minutes in the store trying to figure out how their new Photography Center operates, we had to go find puppy food. In the past, pet supplies were always near the Garden Center. So off to the Garden Center we go. No pet supplies. Just cosmetics and toys. We walked around and finally asked the employee working in the outdoor activity section of the store where dog food could be found (and this section used to be the paint section). Turns out that it's near the dairy section of Wal-Mart. Maybe it's easy for customers to remember to pick up food for Fido when they are gathering milk and eggs, but it's definitely on the most opposite end from where it used to be. I wonder how many people have had to make the lovely trek all the way to the other part of the store.

Problem #4: Inconvenient Lines

Everyone knows Wal-Mart is always busy, so maybe I shouldn't have hoped that the lines would be small since it was after 2pm. Unfortunately, not only were over half of the registers closed, but lines of 5 or 6 people deep with carts overflowing with stuff were standing in these lines. I'm pretty sure any ice cream was completely melted by the time consumers finished payment. My solution to these terrible lines...the Garden Center checkout.

Problem #5: Poor Communication to the Customer

No employees were present at the register in the Garden Center so my husband had to go find someone. As we're checking out, I noticed a sign..."We hope you enjoy our new store layout. Here's a map to better serve you," and sure enough, a map of the new layout was underneath. This actually made me laugh. Really? How is that supposed to help me now? I've already wandered all over the store trying to locate where everything has be located and now I'm being offered a map? Perhaps a better location of this map would be upon entering the store...or at each center in the store...maybe employees could have some on hand if someone asks where a section has now been moved. I walked out of Wal-Mart wondering if this "new and better" layout was really worth all this trouble.

Two days later I had to go grocery shopping. I try to do all of that at the Neighborhood Markets by Wal-Mart so I don't have to be overwhelmed by bigger stores. Unfortunately the new layout design has also been implemented into these smaller stores. As I passed an older couple on my way in, I heard the woman sigh to her husband, "Now we're not going to know where anything is anymore." I completely understand...I couldn't agree more.

These opinions do not necessarily reflect those of Oral Roberts University; they are specific to the author.