25 Festive Things To Do on Your Christmas Break

1. Sleep! We know you’ve had a long semester, so enjoy this season of R&R.

2. Christmas gift shopping – before Christmas Eve this year J

3. Hit up the gym to keep off any unwanted holiday pounds! Try a new Yoga or Spin class to spice things up.

4. Make a list of your favorite friends and family members and make a point to call them sometime over the Christmas break, even if only for 10 minutes!

5. Make exciting plans for NYE!

6. Send out Christmas cards to old friends

7. Finalize Registration for the Spring semester

8. Donate plasma to make some extra holiday shopping money! BioLife Plasma in Broken Arrow has a state-of-the-art, super nice facility, and they’re so friendly.

9. Buy textbooks for next semester

10. Dream & goal set for 2012

11. Get a haircut, manicure or massage – gotta look and feel your best for all those family photos and parties!

12. Read a few business books! If you need any suggestions, just ask Dr. Greene. Our current favorites? The Third Screen, Outside Innovation and Winning with People

13. Make homemade cookies and share them with your neighbors.

14. Go ice skating!

15. Visit a museum like the Philbrook – they currently have a beautiful Christmas tree exhibit that’s a must-see.

16. Volunteer at a local charity or your church. Give back this season and show Christ’s love in action!

17. Plan your summer vacation now and find the best deals! Cabo? Malibu? NYC?

18. Take a friend to see the Nutcracker Ballet. Tickets generally start @ $20 in the Mezzanine!

19. Treat yourself to Starbuck’s delicious Peppermint Brownie Cake Pop.

20. Make a snowman!


Merry Christmas everyone!

Merry Christmas from Santa Shark and the ORU College of Business!

Demonstrating an Entrepreneurial Mindset in the Workplace

Last night, a former ORU alum, Cassia Carr, spoke to the SIFE Entrepreneurial Club on how young professionals can demonstrate an entrepreneurial mindset, even in the corporate workplace.

Here are a few highlights!

Stuff doesn't just happen -- YOU make it happen.

Be PROACTIVE.

P = Positive Attitude. Next to results, this is the most important promotable metric! People are more interested in what you have to say when you are positive. A good attitude is the most effective witness in the workplace.

R = Responsibility. It IS your fault. But you CAN fix it! Taking responsibility is a sign of professional maturity.

O = Overachieve. Mediocrity MIGHT keep you in the job you have, but it will not promote you. Find the one thing you thrive while doing! Focus on your strengths, but don't ignore your weaknesses.

A = (Jump) All in! Get dirty - don't hesitate to jump all in. Understand what those under you deal with. Do something extra that may not be "your job" but betters the company. People will take notice and management will put you on their radar.

C = Cultivate relationships.

With customers: They need to see you as sincere and trustworthy. Find out what your customers’ goals are - and help them attain them. Ask and identify needs! Go to your clients with solutions to their problems.

With peers/ employer: It DOES matter what they think about you. Accept the positive AND negative feedback for them. Ask for advice from your boss. They hold the key to your promotion.

T = Time is Money! Think of every minute as a penny. You must prioritize your days.

I = Initiate change. Don't be afraid to try something different. Learn how things work first. New employees should have a slew of innovative ideas! Find out if your ideas have been done before. Evaluate the results...the good and bad. Share results with your peers. Be the go-to for ideas and creativity!

V = Vision. Catch your employer's vision. Know what the “Big Rocks” are for your company. This helps you to prioritize. Hab 2:2 - write the vision! Everything in the past is preparation for the future. Develop in every job you hold. Always remember your vision and purpose.

E = Everything in God's Will and Timing. Don't forget your ultimate purpose! Share the love of God every day. Romans 12 - stay in the Word daily. Don't define your identity by your success at work. Daily confessions are powerful! Speak success over your life and pray for the Lord’s wisdom.

A big thank you to Cassia for sharing with our students from her own experiences and successes. All the best to you as you continue to pursue greatness, Cassia!

10 Great Fall Date Ideas

Happy November!

Many students joke about the "Ring by Spring" romance that stirs during this season on the campus of ORU.

While the Grad Business students are incredibly busy with final class projects, presentations, exams and readings, we still make time for fun! And for some, even romance.

One of my favorite blog sites is "The Art of Manliness." As a female, I love to gain perspective and insight from a dude's point of view. This blog site is actually managed by a fantastic couple, and you'll enjoy their wit, relevant advice and humor as they tackle life issues such as relationships, health and wellness, careers, sports and family.

Today's highlight is on one of their recent articles entitled, "10 Great Fall Date Ideas." It was so fabulous I thought I'd share it in hopes of spurring a few ideas for yourself (for now or in the future). Enjoy!

Click here to read the blog article "10 Great Fall Date Ideas"

Inspiration Friday

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.

Live the life you've imagined."

--Thoreau

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things

that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream. Discover."

--Mark Twain

ORU College of Business Travels to Peru

Yesterday, a team of ORU students, along with Dr. Russell, the Undergrad Chair, from the College of Business departed for the beautiful country of Peru!

Stay posted on what Team Peru will be involved in over the next 10 days. They have an exciting itinerary!

Thursday, October 6:

Visit Elim Christian School, Interview on Radio Cadena, El Agustino Civic Center service

Friday, October 7:

Interview at Pacifico TV, Conference Kick-Off "Peru's Cambia tu Futuro!" and then watch the Peru vs Paraguay Soccer Game

Saturday, October 8:

Speak at the Conference again, then at a Young Adults Service that night

Sunday, October 9:

Cathedral of Faith church services, Visit and Presentation in Jose Galvez

Monday, October 10:

Word of Faith Bible School, School Visits, Meeting with the Dean of the School of Administration - USIL

Tuesday, October 11:

Word of Faith Bible School, Visit to Congress, Church Service in San Camilo

Wednesday, October 12:

Word of Faith Bible School, Children's Home Visit - "Albergue Nino Emmanuel," Meeting with Young Professionals Team

Thursday, October 13:

City Tour, Shopping Trip, Prepare to head back to the USA!

Be praying for Team Peru - specifically for their safety, clearness of mind, divine connections, and many healings and miracles (emotionally, physically, and even business-related)!

Best Places for Coffee & Studying in Tulsa

Tomorrow is the first day of Autumn, and nothing says "Happy Fall" better than a Pumpkin Spice Latte!

Here are some of my favorite places to get a cup o' joe and study here in Tulsa:

• Starbucks. We have quite a few of these around town…at least a dozen. Find your favorite one and get to know the baristas. They have been known to allow free 2nd cups of coffee.
  


• Kaffe Bona. 2 locations within just a few miles of ORU. They have a lot of tables and leather couches for the perfect studying atmosphere, although it can get a little loud sometimes (just bring earbuds). And, bonus, they offer ORU students a discount!



• Nordaggios. The classic coffee shop located across the street from ORU, so even if you don’t have a car, a nice jaunt across the street can stimulate your brain for studying with a cup of roasted joe (discounts here too for ORU students).



• Barnes & Noble. This place is usually quite crowded but occasionally there are some free tables…however, power outlets are no where to be found (just charge up before you g0).



• Cosi. This little café is just a few miles from ORU and not only offers oven-baked bread sandwiches, pizzas, and an assortment of coffee drinks, but it has free wi-fi, s’mores, and an outlet at almost every table They also offer $2 off your order when you flash your ORU ID!



• Library. There are lots of these around town. Besides the one on campus which has multiple locations conducive to studying, the Tulsa public libraries have also been known to be great places to get away and think. Again, no coffee here, but with all the Starbucks in town, there’s probably one less than a mile from whatever library you go to – and some libraries have been known to have little coffee carts.



• Shades of Brown. This is a coffee shop in Brookside with funky décor and some back rooms to avoid the activity at the front of the store. Amazing hot spiced chai!



• Coffee Shop on Cherry Street. This place is on 15th Street near Utica Square so it is a bit further than some of the nearby places to ORU (a plus if you want to get-away). A bit eclectic like Shades of Brown but great atmosphere with plenty of tables! Beware of their homemade pies and cookies. ;)
  

These are just some of the places I have found in Tulsa that have been great places to study. If you are from Tulsa or are currently studying here, feel free to share your favorite study place as well – I’m always looking for additional places to check out!

The Best Places to Eat, See & Play in Tulsa

For all of you Tulsa-newbies, this blog post below should become your places-to-eat-see-and-play-in-Tulsa checklist before you graduate!

Your City Guide to Tulsa, Oklahoma

Get the low-down on where all the action happens in Downtown, Cherry Steet, Utica Square, Brookside, and everywhere in between. ORU even got a shout-out at the very end for our "futuristic" architecture design (yes, we know it's unique)!

Happy exploring!

P.S. Tell us, what are your favorite places to eat, see and play at in Tulsa?

Celebrating Our Differences

“We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.”
--Maya Angelous

The Fall term is off to a fabulous start on the campus of ORU!

We have 50 new students in the MBA and Master of Not for Profit Management programs, from all over the world.

That’s one of the best things about ORU… diversity.

China, Zambia, Brazil, Ethiopia, Angola, Sweden, Zimbabwe, El Salvador, Nigeria and Barbados… just a few of the countries represented by our new students. And of course, we love our USA students too!

The Importance of Diversity in a Team

Understanding that each individual has his or her own skill set, knowledge and worldview is a vital concept. A group of individuals sharing their unique (and often diverse) assets is an integral part of what teamwork is all about.

A person’s cultural background can offer areas of possibilities you might not have otherwise incorporated into your work. To employ the fundamentals of diversity and teamwork, utilize differences between others while respecting those differences as well.

Communication is key. Keep those lines open by sharing your viewpoints. Teamwork is cooperating together as a team, working toward a common goal.

VIDEO: Cultural Diversity - Tips for communicating with cultural awareness

How to Succeed in Grad Business School

This post below was written by the former Grad Business Representative, Rebecca, and provided such great insight I thought I’d share it again! Enjoy.

--Elle




It is the first day of a new school year! This is a day to celebrate - the start of something new!

I have been asked by students over the past few years what advice I would give to them as they begin the journey of graduate studies (or continue in them) so I thought I would pass on some of what I have learned as a graduate student (as well as working full-time and being married) that I believe can assist in helping you become a successful student.


* Always work ahead. If you know you have 10 books to read during the semester, start early (talking to myself here as well). And if you finish one early, begin the next. If you know a test is coming up, don't wait until the night before to begin studying - start preparing for it early. This will give you more time to soak in the knowledge while not being incredibly stressed out the night before a test (you can actually get some decent sleep by doing this).

* Set early deadlines. This kind of applies to working ahead - when you know the deadline for submitting a paper, set an early deadline for yourself to finish it...like maybe a week early. This will give you time to review it several times, make all those nice grammatical corrections, and make your paper spectacular.

* Engage in the classroom. Don't just sit there. Be a sponge. Ask questions. Apply what you learn in the classroom to your life.

* Enjoy the process of learning. Don't wish away the class or count down the weeks until it's over. All that will do will leave you anxious. Instead, take in all you can and live in the now. It will do you no good to look so far ahead that you can't see what's directly in front of you. Enjoy the journey.

* Give yourself a night off. It does no good to burn yourself out from studying. I always try to schedule Friday nights as my night off from studying (unless of course it's finals week or something major is coming up the next week). Again, this kind of coincides with working ahead so you can have the night off, but do it. It will refresh your mind and allow you to be more focused later on.

* Get to know people in the program. Don't be an island. The people in your classes all have busy lives too, but they can be an immense encouragement to you during stressful times. Some people come from far-away places, some have years of experience, others have families or careers or both. Get to know them - especially since you will have group projects in nearly every class. Making connections now with your classmates can lead to a lifetime of friendships and connections around the world.

* Pray. Perhaps being in a graduate program already lends itself to giving you great opportunities for increasing prayer in your life, but this is definitely a time in your life that you don't want to forget to pray. Pray for your classmates, your professors, your families and friends, yourself...cast your cares to the Lord and trust in Him (but apply yourself too). He's got everything under control - even in the most stressful of times.

I know this is going to be a fantastic year, full of amazing discoveries, and memories along the way. And when you don't feel like doing that homework, just remember this is only a season and it'll be worth it in the end! (I know I will probably need to be reminded of this myself somewhere during the semester.)

Whether we're ready or not, it's time to welcome in the new academic year!

3 Ways to Maximize the Rest of Your Summer Break

Hard to believe, but summer vacation is about to come to an end as the new term starts in just 15 days!

Here are 3 ways you can maximize the rest of your glorious summer break:


1. If you haven't been having a lot of it already, make FUN a necessary element of these next two weeks!

Call your best friend or a long-long buddy you've been meaning to connect with, and try a few of these great summer activities.

• Go to a Drillers game



• Volunteer at a local charity like John 3:16 Mission
  


• Watch a Friday night movie on the Philbrook Museum lawn



• Catch $2 gelato night at Mod's Coffee & Crepes
  


• Bike on Riverside
  


• Maybe even squeeze in some lake time or a float trip!
  

2. Prep for the new term by doing all the new-school-year To-Do's.

Buy a few new pieces for your wardrobe to freshen it up, take inventory of your school supply needs, start thinking about what classes to take (and enroll if you want to ensure your spot!), and catch up on any chores, projects or big errands before your schedule gets super busy again.

The most important part is to start now so you don't stress yourself out the week classes begin!


3. Begin with the end in mind.

Start thinking about this upcoming term and see yourself at the very end of Finals Week in December. Ask yourself: What do I want to gain out of the Fall 2011 term?

Once you've identified a few personal and professional goals, write them down (frame it if necessary) and review them daily and weekly.

Plan to succeed, and you will!



P.S. If you are a new or returning student, plan to join us for Group Advisement & Orientation on Wednesday, August 10th from 10-11AM in GC4116.

It's very important that you attend; you'll receive advice on what classes to take, how to register for classes, your Degree Plan Sheet, validation and enrollment, and personal one-on-one advisement.

Mid-semester Tips

Spring Break has been over for a week, the weather is getting warmer, and graduation paraphernalia is beginning to be seen on campus. That only means one thing....we are getting closer to the semester - and the year - being finished! In fact, only five more weeks remain of the spring 2011 semester. Now before you begin to stress out about all the things left that need to be done (myself included), here are a few tips that may help in finalizing those research papers or reading assignments...

In my experience with the capstone level course of Strategic Management, I feel I have picked up a few tricks of the trade. To give a background of what this course entails, a company is given to you for you to research just about every single item of, to perform multiple analyses, and the select strategies for the company to pursue. Honestly, I don't find it extremely difficult in terms of the information to produce; what I find difficulty is the time it takes to perform one of these research projects in the very limited amount of time I have: about 3 weeks. It is not uncommon to have about 200-300 pages of information. So how do I organize all this research into a nice and neat orderly paper?

Well, perhaps to the chargrin of environmentalists, I print a bunch of information (but don't worry, it is one recycled or scrap paper!). I organize my findings by category and then by group. After compiling the sources together, I then take my lovely fat yellow highlighter and a colored pen and begin reading away. As I highlight information I write in the margin what it pertain to within my research. Does it apply to the mission of the organziation, it's capabilities, a financial aspect? After going through my research with my handy dandy writing utinzels, I then begin organizing my findings through a bulleted format in a Word document while also citing every point. As I write the bullet point I am putting it into my own words, thus avoiding the evils of plagerism. After spending some time going through all of my highlighted sections and rewording them, it is then time for the paragraph formation.

I generally look for trends or topics that seemed to repeat themselves and group them together before writing the sections. I have noticed that through this approach, sections that I once thought would take hours, don't take quite as long...they still take hours, but I can write about a 15-18 page paper in under 2 hours using this approach. Granted, that doesn't include the time it takes to do the research, read/highlight it, and then type it into my own words, but I love the fact that I can organize and write a spiffy paper in what feels like less time. Perhaps this system may help you, maybe not. I just felt like passing on the tip since it has helped me.

With just several weeks left of the semester, it is important to make sure you don't let your time get away from you. It can be hard to stay motivated, but you can do it! Keep pressing on, keep working hard, and remember that what you're learning now will be beneficial sometime in your future.

Snow on ORU

Today Tulsa is expected to hit 60 degrees. Last week we had over 14 inches of snow on the ground. Is it possible to have a snowball fight while wearing shorts? In Oklahoma it is.

Two weeks ago Tulsa received the most snow it's ever received in a 24-hour period: 14+ inches. Two days later we hit with a 20% chance of snow flurries becoming 4 inches. Last Tuesday the winter weather came again, giving us another 6 inches of snow. So within a ten-day period, we received two feet of snow. Now, for some folks who live up North, 2 feet may seem like nothing, but to us here in Tulsa, this is something that had never happened before. Schools and businesses were shut for days (in fact, the Tulsa Public Schools didn't have school for almost 2 weeks!).

Among all this snow, we also had our Homecoming events on campus. Nearly 100 business alumni braved the snow and Arctic temperatures to meet up once again for our Power Luncheon. Quite a number of ORU alumni gathered for the Homecoming Banquet and then cheered as our basketball team on to a great win.

With the higher temperatures coming Tulsa's way and melting what has been on the ground the last two weeks , these pictures now seem but a memory, but I hope you still enjoy them!

Spring Semester

Well, the spring 2011 semester is now in its fourth week. A big welcome to our 20 new MBA and Master of Not for Profit Management students this semester! I am excited about what is in store for this semester...maybe not so excited about the amount of homework I'll have, but I am excited about the concepts I'll be learning and that in just a little over 3 months, I'll be graduating (wow, lots of stuff to finish before then!).

My classes this semester consist of the capstone course Strategic Management with a co-requisite of Management Simulation and Business Ethics...a good healthy dose of everything business related. So far, I'm really enjoying these classes; granted, I did just get swamped with project assignments in Strat, but I feel like I'm learning and that's a good feeling. I'm not sure how this semester will unfold, but I'll just take one week at a time...and in some cases, one day at a time.

I hope to post little blurbs on here to keep everyone connected with things going on at ORU. For example, right now is a great time to begin working on getting an application in to join us next fall - especially if you qualify for scholarships. Our scholarships are not guaranteed but are awarded based on the availability of funds, the type of scholarship, and the date in which students are accepted. So don't wait too long before beginning the process. It is terrible to miss out on free money if you qualify for it. The application is online at https://webapps.oru.edu/gradapps/business/. Happy spring semester!

Finding a Need and Filling it...Airport Security Style

We hear it on a semester basis - that one of the keys to successful product implementation is to find a need and fill it. Sometimes marketers can create a need and fill it, but some only need to be creative enough to find a need in the market and then do something about. Marc Carey is one such individual who has done this.

During the holiday season, a time of air high travel for Americans, scanners considered intrusive by some travelers were set up at airports while at the same time a more thorough pat-down was approved for TSA members to use. This created a stir all over the radio waves, television, newspapers, social media...some argued that other forms of security could be used, that some should not have to take part in either one of the security options, that this was violating the rights of travelers, and some even said that it would hurt the air travel industry. Instead of joining in on the speculations and complaints of new security procedures, Mr. Carey decided to take action and create a product that would allow travelers to pass through the scanner while still retaining a form of privacy. Thus entered Scannershirts into the market.

These Scannershirts have a special ink printed onto the shirts in areas that flying travelers want to keep to themselves. When they pass through the scanner, the areas on the product where the ink has been printed will show up as blurred on the monitors that TSA members review. According to Scannershirt's website, TSA is okay with certain areas of the body being blurred.

The demand for this product skyrocketed as people began to hear more and more about this choice in the privacy of traveling. Marc Carey didn't just create a product that fit a need though, he chose to create his product solely in the United States in order to create more jobs. In addition, 20% of his net profit from sales will be going to the children effected by the 9/11 attacks. Mr. Carey realized there was an open market for his scannershirts and combined with his American patriotism, created a product that helps other Americans and also protects the privacy of travelers who fly.

While this product may seem trivial to some, to others it gives a deeper sense of security. Travelers can now fly free of the worry of someone peering too deeply into their screened image while knowing that their physical safety is being protected on a higher level. Considering the amount of travel I do and the hours of business learning I have done, I found this product to be innovative, creative, and one that fills the demand of protection for personal rights while still maintaining a high level of security during air travel.