Five steps to finding purpose in your work

Five steps to finding purpose in your work There are millions of self-help posts about finding a sense of purpose at work. Most of them talk about the influence that purpose can have on one’s health, motivation, and job satisfaction. Some articles try to advise you on how to find true meaning and purpose, but once you start applying their techniques, you realize that they’re not very realistic. That’s because most posts discuss the philosophical notions of self-esteem, self-confidence, purposeful life, and meaningful existence, but they fail on providing any concrete advice on how to achieve anything real.A couple of years ago, when I was trying to find purpose in my work by connecting with organizations, I stumbled upon â€Å"Teach Me the Art of Small Steps† by Antoine de Saint-Exupà ©ry. The French author wrote it during a challenging period and it spoke to a lot of my own struggles. So I decided to apply the â€Å"art of small steps† to finding purpose in my everyday work. Guess what? It worked. And here is how.1. Think smallSounds counterintuitive I know, but hear me out. I always assumed that your life’s purpose should be ground-breaking - it should change the world and humanity. I missed the fact that purpose could be found in things like helping your coworker with a project, providing professional advice to your intern or keeping your colleagues level-headed during a stressful time.We always think of purpose as something vague and unattainable, but once we change our attitude towards it, it becomes entirely possible to find purpose in everyday tasks. Instead of setting ambitious goals all at once, try setting smaller goals one day at a time. Chipping away at smaller goals every day will allow you to feel more impactful.2. It’s about the journey, not the destinationA lot of people think that purpose is a destination. We get there, we change, we order a glass of rosà ©, and we chill. If this way of thinking applies to you, it is time for a persona l paradigm shift. Purpose is about the journey; where all the small steps that we make bring us one step closer to realizing our true passions.Once you’ve reached this proverbial â€Å"destination†, suddenly you lose interest. The journey is about discovering ourselves, discovering others and discovering life happening right in front of us. And remember that you are not alone in your quest (only 34% of US workers feel engaged at work).Finding purpose in your work is not going to happen overnight. It might take a couple of years. What matters most is for you to enjoy your every day and think of life as a journey.3. Play to your strengthsMost people who are having a hard time finding purpose in their work start to fix their weaknesses, as if that’s where the problem lies. Recent studies show that people who know and use their strengths are more likely to find purpose in what they do and are usually more satisfied with their work.This idea doesn’t mean ignor ing your weaknesses – it only suggests to first know your strengths and utilize them first. I used HIGH5, a strengths finder that helped me explore my top five strengths and the ways to effectively use them at work.1 in every 3 individuals can’t accurately name their strengths, so feel free to enlist the help of friends and family to pinpoint your best attributes. Once you start using your strengths, you will increase your confidence and be more likely to find purpose in your work.4. Stop thinking of purpose as a luxuryMany people think that purpose is a luxury that requires a lot of resources. This is one of the main reasons why people never succeed in finding purpose. If you think of something as being luxurious and reserved to a small group of people, you start to alienate yourself from the idea that it’s accessible to you. This makes it easier to lose motivation to even pursue purpose.Understanding that finding purpose does not require a lot of resources wil l help you find it more easily.Simplify it. Think of it as an artless act. Give it two minutes every day, and you will see that anyone can achieve personal success.5. Match purpose with meaningYou will find purpose way easier if you match it with meaning. Ask yourself what you value most. Is it empathy? Is it collaboration? Maybe positive change?Let’s say you value collaboration. Then try to find ways to collaborate more with your colleagues, other departments, or your clients. If you do something that holds meaning, it will undoubtedly light a fire in your belly and add meaning to your work.The desire for purposeful work is a modern human need. It’s a continuous journey of finding what you like and applying it to your work by taking small steps every day. Once you discover your purpose, you’ll find the motivation needed to succeed in your everyday life.About the author:Anatoli Chernyaev is a content marketing manager born in Armenia and currently residing in Ly on, France. He writes about various topics such as self-awareness, positive thinking, personal development, and career advice.

Parthenogenesis - Reproduction Without Sex

Parthenogenesis - Reproduction Without Sex Parthenogenesis is a type of asexual reproduction in which a female gamete or egg cell develops into an individual without fertilization. Animals including most kinds of wasps, bees, and ants that have no sex chromosomes reproduce by this process. Some reptiles and fish are also capable of reproducing in this manner. Many plants are also capable of reproducing by parthenogenesis. Most organisms that reproduce by parthenogenesis also reproduce sexually. This type of parthenogenesis is known as facultative parthenogenesis and organisms including water fleas, crayfish, snakes, sharks, and Komodo dragons reproduce in this manner. Other parthenogenic species, including some reptiles, amphibians, and fishes, are only capable of reproducing asexually. Key Takeaways: Parthenogenesis In parthenogenesis, reproduction occurs asexually when a female egg cell develops into a new individual without fertilization.Many different types of organisms reproduce by parthenogenesis including insects, amphibians, reptiles, fish, and plants.Most parthenogenic organisms also reproduce sexually, while others only reproduce by asexual means.Parthenogenesis is an adaptive strategy that allows organisms to reproduce when sexual reproduction is not possible due to environmental conditions.Parthenogenesis that happens by apomixis involves the replication of an egg by mitosis resulting in diploid cells that are clones of the parent.Parthenogenesis that happens by automixis involves the replication of an egg by meiosis and the transformation of the haploid egg to a diploid cell by chromosome duplication or fusion with a polar body.In arrhenotokous parthenogenesis, the unfertilized egg develops into a male.In thelytoky parthenogenesis, the unfertilized egg develops into a female.In deute rotoky parthenogenesis, a male or female may develop from the unfertilized egg. Advantages and Disadvantages of Parthenogenesis Parthenogenesis is an adaptive strategy to ensure the reproduction of organisms when conditions are not favorable for sexual reproduction. Asexual reproduction can be advantageous to organisms that must remain in a particular environment and in places where mates are scarce. Numerous offspring can be produced without costing the parent a great amount of energy or time. A disadvantage of this type of reproduction is the lack of genetic variation. There is no movement of genes from one population to another. Due to the fact that environments are unstable, populations that are genetically variable will be able to adapt to changing conditions better than those that lack genetic variation. How Does Parthenogenesis Happen? There are two main ways in which parthenogenesis occurs. One method is by apomixis, where egg cells are produced by mitosis. In apomictic parthenogenesis, the female sex cell (oocyte) replicates by mitosis producing two diploid cells. These cells have the full complement of chromosomes needed to develop into an embryo. The resulting offspring are clones of the parent cell. Among the organisms that reproduce in this manner are flowering plants and aphids. Dorling Kindersley / Getty Images The other main method of parthenogenesis is through automixis. In automictic parthenogenesis, egg cells are produced by meiosis. Normally in oogenesis (egg cell development), the resulting daughter cells are divided unequally during meiosis. This asymmetrical cytokinesis results in one large egg cell (oocyte) and smaller cells called polar bodies. The polar bodies degrade and are not fertilized. The oocyte is  haploid  and only becomes diploid after it is  fertilized by male sperm. Since  automictic parthenogenesis does not involve males, the egg cell becomes diploid by fusing with one of the polar bodies or by duplicating its chromosomes and doubling its genetic material. Since the resulting offspring are produced by meiosis, genetic recombination  occurs and these individuals are not true clones of the parent cell. Sexual Activity and Parthenogenesis In an interesting twist, some organisms that reproduce by parthenogenesis actually need sexual activity for parthenogenesis to occur. Known as pseudogamy or gynogenesis, this type of reproduction requires the presence of sperm cells to stimulate egg cell development. In the process, no genetic material is exchanged because the sperm cell does not fertilize the egg cell. The egg cell develops into an embryo by parthenogenesis. Organisms that reproduce in this manner include some salamanders, stick insects, ticks,  aphids,  mites,  cicadas, wasps, bees, and  ants. How Is Sex Determined in Parthenogenesis? In some organisms such as wasps, bees, and  ants, sex is determined by fertilization. In arrhenotokous parthenogenesis, an  unfertilized egg develops into a male and a fertilized egg develops into a female. The female is diploid and contains two sets  of chromosomes, while the male is haploid.  In thelytoky parthenogenesis,  unfertilized  eggs develop into  females.  Thelytoky parthenogenesis occurs in some ants, bees, wasps, arthropods, salamanders,  fish, and reptiles. In  deuterotoky parthenogenesis, both males and females develop from unfertilized eggs. Other Types of Asexual Reproduction In addition to parthenogenesis, there are several other types of asexual reproduction. Some of these methods include: Spores: Spores are reproductive cells that develop into new organisms without fertilization.Binary fission: In binary fission, an individual replicates and divides by mitosis creating two individuals.Budding: In budding, an individual grows out of the body of its parent.Regeneration: Regeneration occurs when the detached part of an individual forms another individual. Sources Allen, L., et al. Molecular Evidence for the First Records of Facultative Parthenogenesis in Elapid Snakes. Open Science, The Royal Society, 1 Feb. 2018, rsos.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/5/2/171901.Dudgeon, Christine L., et al. Switch from Sexual to Parthenogenetic Reproduction in a Zebra Shark. Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 16 Jan. 2017, www.nature.com/articles/srep40537.Parthenogenesis. New World Encyclopedia, www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?titleParthenogenesisoldid987045.

Synopsis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Synopsis - Essay Example He laments that he has been tricked the second time, but cannot face the group and confront them. As a way of getting rid of the shame, he walks alone in the streets while onlookers turn to stare at him. He looks devastated and confused. He feels empty, lonely but lacks the courage to join the group. Finally, the group approaches the fool still lamenting. He accepts to join them in the vehicle and feels appreciated. Together they sing that it was difficult to comprehend the future occurrences. Moreover, the boy acted like a coward for he was not able to face his colleagues, though he desired to belong. Thus, the video ends when the five boys become a group and appreciate the nerd. He smiles as the others join him to sing, â€Å"Fool again†. They hence form a strong bond of five boys, ready to tackle the obstacles that face them as a group. Therefore, the fool is able to transform after being approached and embraced by the group of gangsters (Miller, Vandome & John,

Information Searches Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Information Searches - Research Paper Example Some of the purchases that entail low involvement decisions are made without any previous though or planning and involve impulse buying. Medium involvement involves limited problem solving where the consumers already have some information about a good or a service and the continue searching for more information.Most of high involvementpurchases are not often purchased but are very vital to the consumer. Marketers should provide enough information concerning the attributes of the product. The marketers should also consider pricing their products in a manner that will entice the consumers into making a purchase decision. Medium involvement is the kind of involvement that falls between high involvement and low involvement purchasing decisions. This kind of medium involvement involves limited problem solving where the consumers already have some information about a good or a service and the continue searching for more information. High involvement purchases involve a lot of risks to the buyers if at all they fail and they are complex in nature and have high price tags. Some of the examples of high involvement purchases include a house, a car and insurance policy. Most of these purchases are not often purchased but are very vital to the consumer. While making a purchase decision, a buyer engages in an extended problem solving where they take a lot of time comparing different features, i.e. the feature of the prices, products and warranties. Every marketer has to analyze and consider the buying behavior of the customers therefore before making any decision; one has to consider the consumer’s level of involvement so as to come up with the sales strategy. As in the case of low involvement purchases, the marketers should use sales and promotion as a strategy since this will spur them into making purchase decisions. As discussed earlier, low involvement purchasers always make impulse buying therefore appealing sales promotions motivates them to buy more of the com pany’s products and services. Furthermore, the use of sales promotions like use of coupons can reach may customers at the same time therefore spurring into making a purchase decision. On the other hand, the marketers should also consider pricing their products in a manner that will entice the consumers into making a purchase decision. The company should also ensure that are low involving are available in most outlets as much as possible For, the case of medium involvement purchasers, most of them are considering the alternatives of the products. Understanding the choices made by this group assists the marketers in coming up with a sales strategy. Medium involvement consumers are in the third stage of evaluation of the alternatives before a purchase decision. The marketers should provide enough information about the product and its attributes. They should provide more of the advantages of the product or a service so as to entice the consumer into making a purchase decision. Th e customers who fall into the category of high involvement should be handled with a lot of care since they tend to make more and lengthy decisions before making a purchase. Since any purchase made by consumer requires extensive information, marketers should develop a strategy that is tailor made for this group. For example, when it comes into buying a car, the marketer must employ in broad problem solving techniques and also be willing to consider different types of brands. Since buying a car involve high involvement, brand name is very important for them. This is the reason as to why most of the manufacturers of those goods that require high involvement decisions cannot become satisfied about the value of their brands and

The Relationships Among the Four Functions Essay Example for Free

The Relationships Among the Four Functions Essay The four functions of management are planning, organizing, influencing, and controlling. These functions are interrelated because the performance of one depends on the performance of its predecessor. While each is equally important on its own, I believe that the functions are a part of a process that must be viewed and implemented as a whole. First, planning involves choosing the tasks that are to be performed to meet the organization’s goals. Next is organizing, which is the process of assigning the tasks to the people responsible for getting the job done. Then there is influencing which is the guiding of the activities of the people assigned toward a desired end. And finally, there is controlling the process of gathering and comparing information to determine whether a project, or organization, is on track or needs improvement. Once you have done the planning, and organized the players to complete the tasks, you must influence the players by getting them to buy-in your plan. In this function you are being more of a â€Å"coach† than anything. A manager’s influence over the personnel assigned and how they approach the organizations goals is key. How to motivate, lead, or direct them toward the goals is the primary goal. In a sense, influencing is a way you can obtain the fourth and final function, controlling. The fourth function, controlling, involves possible modification to existing plans, organizational structure, or the motivation system used to develop a more successful effort. Being able to measure the performance of the personnel who have responsibility for the assigned tasks, will enable one to compare this to expected standards, then either influence them towards more positive gains, plan additional tasks, or continue to monitor progress towards goals. As you can see, each of the functions, while separate, are inextricably intertwined and necessary for the effective management of a project, or the organization as a whole.

Crime And Punishment In Wuthering Heights Essay -- essays research pap

The complex and furious creation of Emily Brontà «, Wuthering Heights is a powerful novel that fiercely combines many of the greatest themes in literature, such as love and its intricacies, revenge and the its terrible effects, and the contrasts between nature and society. One of the most prevalent themes in this celebrated work is that of crime and punishment, or sin and retribution. One character in particular, Heathcliff, stands apart as a conduit for both of these, es-pecially his sins. His past crimes, both worldly and metaphysical, coincide with his punishments.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Heathcliff, to some, began life as a crime. His foster brother Hindley shunned him as a reject from society while viewing Heathcliff’s very existence a grievous crime, particularly because Mr. Earnshaw’s love and affection were displaced towards Heathcliff instead of himself. Far later in the novel, this terrible attitude backfires upon Hindley, who is misused and cheated out of ownership of Wuthering Heights by Heathcliff. This crime parallels another: Heathcliff’s abhorrent abuse of both Hindley in his weakened state and Hindley’s son Hareton, who is made the stablehand instead of the rightful owner of the Heights. Heathcliff also trespassed when he imprisoned Catherine upon her visits to his son Linton. He coerced her into marrying Linton while her own father was dying, and so gained ownership of Thrushcross Grange as well as the Heights. &...

Does marketing create or satisfy needs? Essay

When we talk about marketing, there are lot things that we should know first. Marketing is activities of creating value that desired by the potential buyers and receiving value from the potential buyers for the value that they have received. When marketers want to create something that has value to the potential buyers, marketers must know first, what do the potential buyers need or want. As a marketer, it does not make any sense if we sell something that does not have value, or if the marketers want people to purchase something that they do not need of even want. Marketers can not force anyone to do something. They can only ask them to buy their product or service. Some people might not care about what they are asking for. So, in the business of selling product or service, we know word â€Å"marketing†. Marketing is an art of identifying and meeting the people’s needs and wants. It is all about communication between two parties that profitable for the both sides by exc hanging value. Marketing is not that easy to do. As we know, we can not mess with the â€Å"free will† of the people around us or people that we see as the potential buyers. It is up to them if they are willing to buy the marketers’ products or service. In this case, the marketers have to do their marketing activities. Their job is to tell people that their product or service is suit with the people’s need or want. Therefore, the marketers have to know what do people need or want. How can the marketers find out about what the people need or want? They analyze the potential buyers. They have to collect data about the potential buyers. The data is all about their behavior and so on. Anything that can help the marketers to make the potential buyers recognize their product or service and tell them that they should buy it because it is something that they need or want. Products and services can not be created or even sold if people do not need or even want them. So, the data about t he potential buyers’ behavior is important. When the marketers analyze the data, they can tell if their product or service is desirable or not. In the marketing, we know â€Å"4p’s†. 4p’s are product, place, price, and promotion. First is product. It means that in order to make the potential buyers purchase the marketers’ product or service, they have to create a product or service that has desirable value. In another word, a useful product must be created for the potential buyers. Second is place. When the marketers want to sell their product or service, they have to consider the place also. Place that geographically potential to sell the product or service. Selling product or service at a wrong place can bring the marketers to the misery of loss. It can happen because place or environment can affect the ways of thinking or the behavior of the people in it. Different place means different need and want. Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) recognize the need of Indonesia people for chicken that being eaten with rice. So, unlike in the other countries, they sell not only fried chicken, but also rice in In donesia. So, it is an important thing to consider the place to sell the product or service. Third is price. When the marketers sell their product or service, they have to set price that suit with their product or service. For example, we can not sell T-shirt at a price of $10,000. It will make sense if what we sell is car. So, the marketers have to set the price based on the value they are offering to the potential buyers. Nowadays, discounts can make the product or service being purchased. Setting the lowest price to pull the potential buyers is becoming trend to many companies. The last one is promotion. Talking about promotion is all about sending message to the potential buyers. The message tells the potential buyers that they need or want the product or service. That is why they have to buy it to fulfill their need or want. Promotion can be in any forms. The product or service can be promoted in commercials, banners, and any other media. The message must reach the way of thinking of the potential buyers or even their heart. Whatever it takes to make them desire and purchase the product or service. To sell the product or service, any marketers have to really consider about the 4 p’s. As we know, nowadays, people are independent and have their own thought. So, marketers have to think hard in order to reach a lot of people. But only reach people, but they also have to pull people to recognize and purchase the product or service. We can not avoid the fact, different  person, different personality, different thought, and different perception. What the marketers think is not the same as the people think. The way people think is influenced by the environment or the society around them. Places with different cultures must have different kind of people. Culture influences people time after time. So, it is something that can not be easily erased or changed by any marketers. And people with different kind of family backgrounds and different kind of friends must have different perception or way of thinking. People or group around the potential buyer influence their way of thinkin g and sometimes help them to decide what do they need or want. So, any marketers can not underestimate the 4 p’s. The needs and wants of the customers are differently created because of factors, such as cultural factors, social factors, and personal factors. First, cultural factors like the cultures around the customers create several certain needs and wants. Mostly, the culture in a country is different from the other countries. In a culture of a country, people have a different perception and way of thinking than people in the other country. It is a fundamental determinant of the marketers’ opportunities to enter the market. The second is social factors, such as reference group, family, role, and status. As we know, people around the customers are influence the way of thinking or perception and the behavior of the customers. We also know that people with different roles and status must have different needs and wants. For example, a person with a role as a governor needs a security. Unlike the common people who do not need any added security need. High status people usually purchase more than low status people. The high status people might need an expensive brand like Armani to show other people that they have a high status and power. Unlike the common people with middle to low status. They do not need more than a well known brand like Zara or something like that. As long as they are wearing an outfit that looks good on them. The third one is personal factors, such as gender, age and life cycle, economic circumstances, and lifestyle. Gender is really matter to create needs and wants. Women and men have different perception and circumstances. Women routinely need cosmetic to make them look good. But men do not need any cosmetics. Age and life cycle of the customers determine their need. A person in age 1 up to 2 or in ‘baby’ life cycle needs nappies. But a girl in  age 16 or in ‘teenager’ life cycle needs tampons. Economic circumstances of people are also determining what do they purchase. People with a good economic circumstance can recognize more needs and wants and purchase more than the other people. Next is lifestyle. It is obviously that lifestyles of the customer influence their behavior and they can also recognize their need and want. Because of their lifestyle, people purchase different thing with the other people. Lifestyle is a person’s pattern of living in the world as expressed in activities, interests, and opinion. For example, mostly of the people with a healthy lifestyle do not purchase junk foods. They only purchase fresh foods. So, they basically create their need based on the way they are thinking and their own perceptions. We can think of marketing as a way of making sure the customers have the right types of product and service experiences to create the right brand knowledge structures and maintain them in the customers’ memory. In practice, marketing is following the logical. First, marketers have to analyzing their opportunities, and then they have to select their target market. Market is a group of consumers or potential buyers. Marketers select the market which is desire their product or service, because they need or want it. Targeting market is about targeting people who do you think want to buy your product or experience your service. In practicing marketing in the target market, marketers also have to consider the four dimension of SIVA. SIVA contains of solution, information, value, and access. These are the questions of the customers that are designed to be answered in order to make the benefit exchange between the customers and the marketers. Solution : How can I solve this problem? Information : Where can I learn more about it? Value : What is my total sacrifice to get this solution? Access : Where can I find it? The dimensions above are the basic questions that must be answered by the marketers. So, to attract the customers, marketers must tell them that they can solve their problem. Somehow, the marketers must communicate with the  customers and make them sure that the marketers are really care about their problem and also care to solve it. In communication, marketers not only make the customers recognize their care, but also recognize the capability of the marketers to help the customers. The marketing process cans not being processed without any push by any means from the customers. Marketers are developing the marketing plan by analyzing the customers’ behavior or customers’ environment first. Any strategies that created are basically reflected by the data of the customers and their environment. Marketers communicate with customers in order to find out what do they need or what is their problem and tell them that marketers can fulfill it and also solve their problem. So, we can say that Marketing is reflect the needs and wants of the customers and happening in order to satisfy customers’ needs and wants. There is no way a company creates a useless product or service. There must be reasons and goal to reach when a company creates product or service. The marketing plan that developed by the marketers simply reflected by needs and wants of the customers. Marketing exist in order to satisfy the needs and wants of the customers. There is another thought that say ‘Marketing shapes or create the need of the customers’. Some people might be agreed with the statement. There are a lot of marketers that have innovative and creative thinking who usually ‘think outside the box’. They make a new product and service. An unusual product or service that launched by the marketers. They promote them and tell the market that they should buy this for goodness sake. Because they need it. So, people simply think that marketing might shapes or even create the need of the customers. But there is something that we have to consider. They are creative and innovative marketers who basically just like the other marketers. They collect data from the customers and the environment around them and then transform it into useful information. But, they who think outside the box can recognize the ‘new need’ of the customer. So they create product or service based on their recognition. Product or servic e that the customers might do not think to need it but in the end, the customers hold on that product or service. All we can say is that the marketers just recognize the ‘new need’ of the  customers, but not create them. Who creates them are the customers themselves. For example, when they need communication, they have cable telephone. But, the marketers recognize that the cable telephone might not appropriate for people nowadays. So now there are cell phones. Portable phones are now become a basic need. People can not live without communicate with the other people by cell phones. The marketers found the ‘new need’ just by analyzing the customers and the environment. But, the customers are basically creating them time after time. Marketing is about recognize the existing problem or even the new problem of the customers and tell the customers that they can solve it by their product or service. It is all about satisfying the customers’ need and want to gain value from them too.

Marketing promotional strategies Essay

For this task I have chosen to write about Ben and Jerrys and Haagen-Dazs ice cream. These are two rival brands at the top end of the market. I decided to write about ice cream because it is very popular and there is lots of information available about them. They also both have good marketing and promotional strategies. I chose to write about Haagen-Dazs, as it is the best known ice cream. It is the number one super premium ice cream with 43 % of the market share. It is quite expensive as it is about  £5 for a carton on the ice cream but it is very nice. It is made with natural ingredients and its flavours are Chocolate, Butter Pecan and Cherry Vanilla. It was first made over 40 years ago. Haagen-Dazs uses the finest and purest ingredients. Ben and Jerrys is also at the top end of the market but it is a newer brand as it was first made in 1978. It has 39% of the market share and is the number two brand. It costs a little bit less than Haagen-Dazs as well. The price is still quite expensive though as all the products used are bought from minority and disadvantaged workers. It has a more fun image and has flavours such as Phish Food, Berry Nice and Cherry Garcia. It is aimed more towards young people than Haagen-Dazs is. It is aimed at young men and women in their teens, twenties and thirties with a high disposable income. Although these products are both at the top end of the market and are luxury ice creams they have very different approaches to their marketing and promotional strategies. Ben and Jerrys is marketed as a fun brand. It aims to try and attract younger people than Haagen-Dazs. This is shown by the names of its ice cream flavours and also by the design of the packet. Haagen-Dazs has a more sophisticated image and it has a more grown-up carton. It is aimed more towards older people, for example, people in their late 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. Marketing Promotional Strategies Marketing Mix and Promotion has four main aims. It is known as AIDA. It sums up the purpose of communication with customers through promotions. A companies Unique Selling Point (USP) is what they use to make them different to other companies who are selling the same things as them. Ben and Jerrys have got a laid back image but they also have a social awareness. When Ben and Jerry first started their company, they started the concept of giving back to the community as a whole. They make sure that the milk they use is bought from Vermont farmers and they buy the brownies they use in some of their ice creams from disadvantaged workers. They also give 7.5% of their profit away to help social and environmental causes. This is their Unique Selling Point. Haagen-Dazs USP is that they are an ice cream aimed at adults that uses only the finest ingredients. They market themselves as the ultimate in luxury and extravagance. There are lots of different types of media that can be used to advertise products. These are the mass media: television, radio, cinema and the internet. There is also billboards, magazines, planes and product placement. Local media can also be used and this is notice boards, shop windows and public places. These influence buyer behaviour by persuading them to buy the product they are advertising. Haagen-Dazs has a lot of advertising. They advertise at cinemas and also on the television. They also have magazine and billboard advertisements. They advertise themselves as being a luxury ice cream and have started a new advertising campaign – â€Å"Made for Movies†. This is going along with a special offer at Blockbuster videos where they offer free video rentals. When Haagen-Dazs first started in England they had a word of mouth campaign to make them seem very credible. They had marketed it as an upmarket product and at first it was only sold in upmarket shops. They ran advertisements in magazines like Vogue in order to attract the right sort of audience they wanted. Haagen-Dazs used AIDA to drip feed information in order to get peoples attention. Most people wouldn’t be able to buy it at first though because they didn’t shop at the right shops and it was expensive but after a while they started selling it at lots of shops. People bought Haagen-Dazs because they wanted to see what all the fuss was about and if it really was as good as other people said. Ben and Jerrys also advertise their products but not as much as Haagen-Dazs. They do not have any television advertising at the moment; neither do they have any magazine adverts. They have a lot of promotional evens however, such as buses that go round universities and offer free tasting days. Ben and Jerrys is often bringing out new flavours of ice cream and often has a â€Å"Flavour of the Month† They also stop making flavours that are not selling well. This is so customers do not get bored of the same thing. They advertise these new flavours in magazines and on billboards and people are keen to try what these new flavours taste like. They also advertise that they give a percentage of their profits to charity and the Ben and Jerry Foundation and this is used to gain customers. Both Ben and Jerrys and Haagen-Dazs have an upmarket image and at the moment they are the only two ice-cream brands to have this image. People would rather buy the more expensive brand and get the image that goes with it than buy a cheaper ice-cream which tastes just as good because they don’t get the image that is associated with it.

Theatre History essays

Theatre History essays Throughout history, religion has played perhaps the most important role in the influence of cultural and societal trends. The ethics and values that a society holds dear are a direct result of the faith that binds that society together. Faith is something that governs, something that punishes, and when in jeopardy, it is something that people dont mind fighting over. Faith is a reflection of many things. Like literature, theatre has proven to be a reflection of faith. Both theatre and faith share common ground-they are both art forms of emotion, self-expression, and self-discovery. Faith influences society and society looks for an outlet of expression. Society often finds that outlet in theatre and despite restrictions, theatre has always had a way of outlining the best and worst of a societys faith. Before the widespread growth of Christianity over the last 2000 years, a majority of the world was polytheistic. In the Abydos Passion Play, possibly the earliest surviving evidence of theatre existence, Osiris, son of the supreme god, Geb, is murdered in a jealous rage and then later resurrected. After his resurrection, Osiris is unable to live on earth and goes on to live in the afterworld, judging the souls of others (8). This story strongly resembles the Christian passion play and although there is no definite proof that it was ever actually acted out in theatrical form, just the story itself and what it could possibly imply is enough to make one uneasy (9). The fact that the Abydos story is so much like the passion of Jesus Christ is interesting considering that they are separated by 2500 years and take place under totally opposite cultural roofs. This coincidence supports the notion generally agreed upon by most theatre scholars that as a social barometer, theatre has al ways been one step ahead of societal trends. As a twenty- first century Christian, it would appear that the theatre of ancient Egypt has h...

Responding To Customer Complaints On Social Media

Responding To Customer Complaints On Social Media You’re human. Mistakes will happen. Nothing is perfect and something will go wrong. Not every customer will be satisfied. This is not a failure. The best businesses are the ones that mess up and show how they fix their mistakes. They build their customer’s trust and prove they are listening to them. When a significant other makes a mistake and owns up to it, do you dump them because they messed up or do forgive them and trust them more because they were honest? Depending on the situation, you’ll forgive them and that will make your relationship stronger. It’s similar with business. Mistakes happen, but when a business owns up to it and apologizes, they’ll build a better relationship with the customer. Listen To Your Customer Complaints When customers complain, sometimes they just want someone to hear them out. They had a poor experience, and no matter how big or small it was, the least you can do is listen. What do you learn when you listen? You find out about problems that would have created more dissatisfied customers in the future. When you listen to a customer, you have an opportunity to establish a relationship with that customer. By listening to them, youll let them know you care. Just because a customer is upset doesnt mean they are a lost cause, or gone forever. Regardless of the size of the issue, let the customer know you heard their problem and understand their frustration. One of my first jobs was a clerk at a small drug store/gift shop. I was 16 and terrified when customers complained because I had no idea what to do and no authority to do anything about it. This is when I discovered if I let a customer vent their frustrations to me and apologize for their poor experience, they would always leave happier than when they came in. Business Is About Relationships It is easy to forget the fact that business is all about relationships. Relationships  with your current customers, but with vendors, former customers, clients, the community, and more. The Perfect Apology, a site dedicated to helping readers craft the perfect mea culpa,  understands this relationship connection between a business and customer. It offers the following strategy about how to protect that relationship: 1.  Look at the reason behind your business apology and  who  has been affected by the situation. 2.  Determine the most appropriate way to apologize and  when  that apology should be given. 3.  Ask and answer the following four basic questions: What are you apologizing for? Who are you apologizing to? How do you apologize? When should you apologize? When someone complains, its not the end of the relationship. Instead, its an opportunity. Its a chance to strengthen that relationship and rebuild it. Business is about relationships. Complaints are a chance to preserve and build relationships.How To Apologize Face-To-Face When I was in the first grade, a teacher of mine told us that if we were going to apologize to someone, sorry is never enough. When you apologize you should state their name, tell them what happened, tell them why it happened, and that you’ll never do it agin. As Ive been doing research on business apologies, Ive been learning this form of apology is what most businesses use. Its a five-step process. Apologize.  Actually say you are sorry. Dont say that you are sorry they feel that way but say I am sorry. State what you did wrong.  Make sure you inform the customer what your business did wrong. This is you owning up to your mistakes and taking ownership of them. Acknowledge how they are feeling.  Imagine yourself in their shoes, and let them know you understand (or are trying to understand) how the situation made/makes them feel. Express regret.  Let them know you feel bad about the situation. Promise it wont happen again. It’s hard to promise that something will never happen again, but you can at least mention how you will do your best to prevent a mistake from happening again. A crisis is never fun but it does give you an opportunity to build a lasting relationship with your audience. Of course, this is based on how you handle it. Customers Value Apology More What do customers value more? An apology or some form of monetary value in exchange for the poor experience? The Nottingham School of Economics  conducted a study and found that unhappy customers are more willing to forgive a company that offers an apology rather than monetary compensation. Why would customers be more willing to forgive a company that offers an apology? Researchers theorized that when customers hear Im sorry, it triggers an instinct to forgive. Its an instinct that is difficult for people to overcome. I have to admit that the results of this study came as a surprise for me. From my experience, I know customers always value a genuine apology. Im on the marketing team for a sandwich shop and like anyone in the food industry knows, mistakes happen. Typically when a customer complains, we apologize and offer to send them something in the mail. That something is usually a free sandwich. Well typically say something that directly addresses their poor experience, apologize for it and ask for them to give us another chance to make up for their poor experience. I believe this is a good balance between an apology and compensation. Author Bruna Martinuzzi wrote a wonderful post on the best way for businesses to apologize, sharing some great apology dos and donts. Whats the big takeaway? Don’t use the word â€Å"if†.  An apology that is â€Å"if I offended you, I’m sorry† is basically saying â€Å"I don’t understand how you can be offended, but if you are so sensitive to being offended, let me apologize.† That’s not the vibe you want to give off to your customers. You don’t want to insult them again. Just say, â€Å"I’m sorry we offended you.† That’s straight to the point and you took ownership of the situation. Don’t give excuses.  Excuses are tempting because there is usually a reason behind your actions. Yet excuses are easily one of the most annoying things about apologies. â€Å"I’m sorry I offended you, but I was just following customer policy.† Even if you have an actual reason as to why a situation occurred, refrain from making excuses. You can explain the situation, but don’t use an excuse. It will make your apology less genuine. Make it brief.  Keep your apology short. It’s easy to ramble on, but don’t. Short and sweet is the rule. This will make it seem more genuine and less about you. The sooner the better.  The time frame on giving an apology does expire. Don’t delay an apology. 50% of consumers give a brand only one week to respond to a question before they stop doing business with them, according to RightNow Customer Experience Impact Report. If possible, apologize before the customer even knows about the situation. It will make the customer trust you more. For business, trust is everything. Value the relationship.  You dont always need to be right. The value of a relationship will often overshadow your need to be right. By arguing about who is right and who is wrong, youre doing more damage. Does it matter who is right? Will it harm the relationship between you and the customer? Is it worth it? Create an apology policy.  If you have multiple employees, it can be hard to keep everyone in the loop on whats the best way to apologize. Even if you are the only person in your company, an apology policy will help keep you on track with consistent and level headed responses.  Martinuzzi points out Starbucks LATTE method for dealing with complaints.  Starbucks baristas are trained to respond to complaints by Listening (L), Acknowledging (A), (T)  Taking Action, Thanking (T), and Explaining (E). There is emphasis on listening first and only lastly on explaining what happened. Try to create an easy to remember policy that will help you and your employees deal with complaints. How To Apologize On Social Media One reason business owners dont want to go into  social media  is because they are afraid theyll be on defense the entire time. Any time a customer has so much as a mediocre experience they come flocking to their social media networks and complain. It seems like all they would do  on social media is apologize.

Electronic Commerce Of Bumble Corporation Essay

Electronic Commerce Of Bumble Corporation - Essay Example Therefore usability, persuasion, power, and branding of Bumble Corporation will help the company to concentrate on ways to run a successful online business. The initial key to building a profitable online business is to make the client’s shopping experience effortless, therefore the company website needs to be extremely user-friendly. Bumble Corporation can thus attain this by ensuring their clients can navigate the website without difficulty and that their clients will always identify where they are on the site as well as easily find the things they are looking for. Another important feature of a successful online business is to have an orderly web page. In this example, it is good to follow the ‘less is more’ principle. Sharp, powerful websites use other techniques for advertising promotions. For example, e-mail newsletters can alert clients to present promotion items that are based on their history of purchase. By utilizing email to bring this extra data, Bumble Corporation could maintain its website free from surplus information, which otherwise could be an overload for the customers. Influencing the client to purchase any product is highly made effective when the company’s support number is posted on all single pages of the web site. Doing so will first of all be convenient for the customer, as they can call support no matter on which page they are, and this will also alert the client to the organization’s eagerness to help at any point throughout the shopping experience of customers.