PART 1: HERO’S JOURNEY STEP 1: Story Sometimes we do not realize how much pressure we are under until it is released. Often times parents do not realize the burden they are placing on their children with their high expectations. They believe what they are doing is best for their children and most of the time it is; however, it is not always the case. I grew up in a household which placed great importance on education. The problem was not the need for education, but the subtle demands to be at the top. As siblings, we subconsciously started to compete with each other, none of us realized how detrimental it was to us, including our parents. At one time or another most of us thought that whoever got better grades would be better liked by our parents. I think even my parents failed to see what they were doing. In their passion for the best, they were burdening us from a very young age. Everything changed when I decided that I no longer wished to follow the path set by my parents. The realization was both freeing and condemning at the same time. I was afraid to go against the wishes of my parents on something this big. I have been under pressure from my parents to pursue medicine as a profession. I realized I had to put a stop to this before I ended up doing something I was not good at or worse hated doing. In the end, once the realization set in, the decision was easy to make. However, the problem was not making the decision, the problem was following through with it. I was afraid to disappoint my parents, afraid the change would not be well received, and there were a number of what-ifsthat made me want to back out. But in the end, I decided to stick with my decision to not pursue medicine and so I discussed this decision with my parents. The relief I felt after making my own decision was a point of fundamental change in my life. This was a turning point in my life that I will never forget. Beforehand, I followed my parent’s plan and burdened myself with their expectations. I hadn’t realized that making my own life choices could be this freeing. STEP 2: Hero’ Journey Stages Based on the first stage of the Hero’s journey; I had limited awareness of the problem I was in when I was ready to follow my parent’s wish for me to become a doctor. I was unaware that there was something else I could do and other professions I could explore. I was in the second stage when I started realizing that something needed to change, I could no longer follow the path set for me. I was more interested in business related subjects, news, and articles than medical ones. Knowing the way my parents think, I knew that if I brought up this issue that there would be a huge problem and I was worried I would let them down and become a “bad example” to my siblings- as they would say. I was worried that my parents would not understand my point of view. I was afraid they would not understand that I would not succeed in the medical field and was worried that had I not listened t.

1. PART 1: HERO’S JOURNEY
STEP 1: Story
Sometimes we do not realize how much pressure we are under
until it is released. Often times parents do not realize the burden
they are placing on their children with their high expectations.
They believe what they are doing is best for their children and
most of the time it is; however, it is not always the case. I grew
up in a household which placed great importance on education.
The problem was not the need for education, but the subtle
demands to be at the top. As siblings, we subconsciously started
to compete with each other, none of us realized how detrimental
it was to us, including our parents. At one time or another most
of us thought that whoever got better grades would be better
liked by our parents. I think even my parents failed to see what
they were doing. In their passion for the best, they were
burdening us from a very young age.
Everything changed when I decided that I no longer wished to
follow the path set by my parents. The realization was both
freeing and condemning at the same time. I was afraid to go
against the wishes of my parents on something this big. I have
been under pressure from my parents to pursue medicine as a
profession. I realized I had to put a stop to this before I ended
up doing something I was not good at or worse hated doing. In
the end, once the realization set in, the decision was easy to
make. However, the problem was not making the decision, the
problem was following through with it. I was afraid to
disappoint my parents, afraid the change would not be well
received, and there were a number of what-ifsthat made me
want to back out. But in the end, I decided to stick with my
decision to not pursue medicine and so I discussed this decision
with my parents. The relief I felt after making my own decision
was a point of fundamental change in my life. This was a
turning point in my life that I will never forget. Beforehand, I
followed my parent’s plan and burdened myself with their

2. expectations. I hadn’t realized that making my own life choices
could be this freeing.
STEP 2: Hero’ Journey Stages
Based on the first stage of the Hero’s journey; I had limited
awareness of the problem I was in when I was ready to follow
my parent’s wish for me to become a doctor. I was unaware that
there was something else I could do and other professions I
could explore. I was in the second stage when I started realizing
that something needed to change, I could no longer follow the
path set for me. I was more interested in business related
subjects, news, and articles than medical ones. Knowing the
way my parents think, I knew that if I brought up this issue that
there would be a huge problem and I was worried I would let
them down and become a “bad example” to my siblings- as they
would say. I was worried that my parents would not understand
my point of view. I was afraid they would not understand that I
would not succeed in the medical field and was worried that had
I not listened to their wish that I would not succeed regardless
of the field; since I wouldn’t have their blessings. I was also
worried about what people would say about me since they
always thought I would become a doctor. All these thoughts
entered my mind and I figured that I must break through, so I
mustered up the courage and decided to confront my parents. I
sat down with my parents and discussed the situation at hand. I
explained to them everything that was going on in my mind.
When I finished talking with them, I felt a certain relief that I
finally got this off my chest and was glad I overcame my fear. It
was at that moment that I realized I had been underestimating
my parents; they were on my side this whole time. We had a
long chat about what I wanted to do, why I wanted to do it, and
how I would go about achieving it. It was a liberating
experience, realizing that I had been burdening myself too and
could have overcome the problem if only I had talked with my
parents sooner.
I overcame the most difficult part of the decision I made, which
was telling my parents. Afterwards it was not difficult for me to

3. go through with the decision I made since I realized this
decision would make me happy. I had known that I was not cut
out for the complex and extremely difficult life of a medical
student and the decision to change fields seemed appropriate for
me. This was not the decision I made late in life, rather this
fundamental change came for me early when I was in school.
Instead of dwelling in fear and waiting until college to make a
decision and to talk to my parents, I decided to get it all out so
that all of us can move on. I believe at this point in life, I
reached the ninth stage of the Hero’s Journey. I made my
decision, I stuck to it and now I am ready to bear any
consequence as well as fruits that might come from making this
decision.
STEP 3: STAR Approach
The Situation for me was the need to change my field so that I
can pursue something that would be better suited for me and
something I would be good at. I was living a life where I
blindly followed any decision my parents made regarding
important matters of my life. I was never a rebellious kid, I had
never thrown tantrums to get my way; so suddenly to make this
life-altering decision was an entirely new territory for me. My
parent’s dream that one of their children will become a doctor is
all we had heard about growing up. It was a story, an
expectation and a burden that was placed on us all. For a long
time, it had not occurred to me that there was something else I
could do or even resist my parents. This is where the Tension
came in my life. As I mentioned before I made this decision
earlier in my school days. I was young then and afraid of many
things. I never disappointed my parents whom I love a lot, and
at the same time I was afraid that I would fail had I followed
the path I chose without my parents’ support. In the process of
realizing that there was something else I wanted to do and the
fear of my parent’s reaction; I had turned my parents into an
imaginary villain. I had to blame someone for all my fear; so, I
blamed my parents. It never occurred to me that there could be a
simple solution and that they would be understanding. This

4. brings me to the Action stage. I could no longer bear to stew in
my worries and decided to talk with my parents. Honestly, I
went into the conversion thinking that I would have to fight my
way out. To my surprise, the only reaction I got was a casual,
supportive understanding from my parents. I am grateful to my
parents because if they had even tried to sway me to their will,
it would have been the cause of resentment between us. The
Result of my action was that I was able to pursue an education
in the Business field.
My journey is nowhere complete. I have yet to complete my
degree and enter the professional field. Only after getting a job
and starting a career can I determine whether I made the right
decision or not. This is one of my fears that I still have to
overcome, the fear that I made the wrong decision and that I can
fail anytime. However, I am currently happy that I made an
important life decision on my own and ready to make more
decisions in the future.
1
February 5, 2018
XYZ, Inc.
Dear Sir/Madam,
Considering my dedication to work in a dynamic and diverse
workplace environment, I am applying to this post. Please
accept my attached cover letter and resume, in response to your
recent advertisement. Bearing in mind my objectives of personal
growth and development I found myself highly motivated and
equally qualified for the said post. I am always ready to work in
challenging environment that is why I believe I can handle any
external as well as internal pressures with ease, as finance is a
sort of field that requires pressure handling and overcoming
challenges. I have attended various workshops on pressure
handling, during my academics that trained me to welcome any
challenge in my field.

5. I am being a goal-oriented person, on becoming the part of your
prestigious organization, could fulfill my professional goals. I
have recently completed my bachelor’s in finance from Virginia
Commonwealth University, these days I ‘m looking forward to a
career-oriented job in this field. Finance, has a broader scope
that requires a diversified knowledge regarding External and
Internal environment and impacts of these environments
accordingly. Experience, Qualifications that are required for the
said post are suitably matched with my academics and
experience. On becoming the part of your organization, together
we could grow in a productive way.
Your prestigious organization, also gives multiple opportunities
of personal growth and development to its employees that is
considered as imperative for employee’s productivity at
workplace. My strong interpersonal and leadership skills also
assist the organization in fulfilling its various financial and
economic goals. I believe in continuous hard word and tiresome
struggle to make my dreams come true and to excel in my
career. Please find my attached Resume for the said post. I will
be looking forward to meeting you in person on a positive note.
Highly grateful for your consideration.
Sincerely,
To be the part of an international organization, as a financial
analyst, where I can widen my vision on Business and Finance
and implement my knowledge and expertise of Accounting and
Marketing analysis, for the purpose of creating value and
becoming leader in the field.
EDUCATION

6. Bachelor of Finance, Dec 2018
2.6 GPA overall
Diploma of English Language Program (ELP) 2014
Diploma of Nursing 2011
S
RELEVANT COURSES
International Finance and Accounting
EXPERIENCE
· Photographer,
2005 to 2011
· Designing banners
· Advertisement for different centers
· Wedding photographer.
· Saad Hospital
2011
SKILLS
· Computer skills: Proficient in Microsoft Office 2016
· Languages: English, Arabic
OTHER COMPETENCIES:
· Strong verbal, written, communication and interpersonal skills
· Self-Confidence and Self-Improvement
· Multi-Tasking and Problem Solving. -Positive Attitude and
Flexibility.
References Will Be Furnished on Demand

7. THANK YOU, LETTER,
Mr. XYZ
Human Resource Manager
XYZ Inc.
Respected Sir,
I hope you find this letter in good spirit. I want to thank your
good-self for interviewing me yesterday. I have learned a lot
during that meeting, I am highly indebted towards you for
giving me your precious quality time.
The interview boasts my interest and motivation regarding the
said job. I am anxiously looking forward to serving the
organization in its best interest. I believe that I would bring a
strong set of skills required by the said post like preparation of
Monthly, Quarterly & Annual Financial Statements and reports,
good understanding of accounting and financial reporting
principles and practices and Principles of Auditing and Advance
auditing.
I would greatly appreciate the privilege to discuss this position
more with you.
Thank you once again for your consideration.
Sincerely,

8. ThankYou ,Card
Running Head: Business Improvement Proposal 1
7
Business Improvement Proposal
Business Improvement Proposal
April 22, 2018

9. To: Elli Jacksons, Owner
From: Sales Department Supervisor
Date: March 10, 2018
Subject: Proposal to implement systems to curb theft in retail
stores
Joy Shop is a retail store that sells all the necessities for babies;
including clothes, shoes, bottles, baby toiletries and toys. Joy
Shop stores have a wonderful atmosphere which is one of the
main reasons the stores have been the leading baby store in the
country in recent years; having multiple branches across the
East and West Coast and serving a larger market compared to its
competitors. The store operates twelve hours a day excluding
Sundays. The stores have many staff on hand including sales
representatives, store keepers and delivery staff among others.
For the stores to continue being the best in the country, we need
to ensure that there are minimum opportunities within the
operations division that may lead to theft by customers or
employees. As the Sales Department Supervisor, I have
suggestions that if implemented could have many benefits in
terms of resources and finances. After gathering substantive
information about the stores, I found solutions to aim in
reducing and minimizing theft among our employees and
clients.
Current Situation
In the retail stores, many cases of theft from employees and
customers have been reported in recent years. The theft has
taken different forms of cash theft, inventory theft, misuse of
organization assets, vandalism and shoplifters among our

10. customers. The cases have been on the rise for a year and if not
managed, the organization might suffer a reduction in profit
levels, or it may even hinder the atmosphere that Joy Shop has
worked hard in achieving. The cases of employee theft
amounted to roughly about $500 monthly in the previous year
resulting in a total loss of over $9000 and that is only in two of
the retail stores. If these losses continue to incur it could put a
strain on the organization and possibly cause closure of
business. Theft can be greatly reduced by closing the loopholes
within the system. Targeting these loopholes could decrease
our problem with theft and therefore allow the organization to
meet financial obligations, ensures the business to run
smoother, and might stop hindering the overall outcomes on a
month to month basis. As an employee whose career started in
working at retail stores, I was able to see the problem first hand
and when I noticed it occurring at Joy Shop stores, it motivated
me to dig into the problem and do my best to find the solution
to end theft. In addition, seeing how shoplifters in supermarkets
and other stores are handled and taken seriously, made me
realize that Joy Shop Stores should also take action to rectify
this problem. With my experience in business related courses, I
am aware of the steps and the methodology we can use to solve
theft in the business, motivate, and reward employees without
sacrificing the business.
Goals
The curbing of theft could help the organization achieve both
shorter and long-term organizational goals that are very
important to the company. Sales maximization is one of the
goals that the organization is focused on achieving; to do so you
need to decrease the number of cases related to theft. By
following through with the plan to curb theft, sales may
increase since the goods that were previously being stolen from
the store could now reflect in the sales of the organization.
Sales maximization would, in turn, help the organization
achieve another one of its core goals; profit maximization.
When profits are maximized, the operation of the organization

11. would run smoothly, and that way long-term goals could be met.
Cost minimization can also be achieved through curbing
employee theft; most of the financial and nonfinancial assets
that employees were pocketing might be reduced.
Proposed Methodology
Employee theft can be reduced by putting up internal measures
and controls. Segregation of duties could be adopted in the
stores to make sure that the entire duty of handling assets is not
left for one individual in an organization but rather distributed
among many individuals to lower the loopholes available that
make it easy for employees to steal (Veit, 2017). Also, whistle
blowing could help greatly in reducing employee theft. Avenues
such as complaint boxes should be implemented in the
organization to help employees raise their concerns when they
note that their colleagues are stealing from the organization.
Whistle blowing could help address the concerns whenever they
arise before they get out of hand and reach unmanageable
levels.
The HR Department has a big role in this subject, partly
because there maybe an issue during the hiring process that
does not eliminate possible thieves. Of course, it is impossible
to eliminate theft and people that steal completely but reducing
them from the beginning is important and could be done by
simply administering a personality test to see the type of person
the company might employ. Another reason they play a big role
is due to the fact that the organization lacks an incentive
program.
One of the main reasons some employees steal, is due to their
current salary package. Employee theft could be reduced by
creating a way of rewarding employees for their constant hard
work and increasing their pay. Employees could be stealing to
better their living standards by selling the stolen goods via
different outlets which increases their pay indirectly. Therefore,
if HR implements an incentive program and increases their pay,
rewarding them according to their output with incentives like
bonuses or commission, could better their living standards and

12. could decrease their desire to steal from the stores. When
employees do not get a pay commensurate to their work and
they are not rewarded for their efforts they might feel the need
to steal to cater for that gap (Robertson, 2018).
By giving the employees better incentives they might work
harder and want to avoid stealing to ruin their chances of
receiving the rewards in the incentive program. The rewards can
be both non-monetary and monetary forms. The rewards could
be accorded to employees after a performance appraisal that
could be conducted by their direct manager, the Human
Resource Department could then decide the rewards based on
the rating scales they put in place. In addition, small incentives
can be as simple as a thank you. Being recognized for hard work
and dedication might drive employees to want to achieve such
recognition. Although you may think that recognition is not
valuable, at times it is worth more than money in that it gives
the employees pride and accomplishment especially in front of
their peers. Being the employee of the month or most friendly
employee or the employee with the highest sales is something
employees could look forward to and strive to achieve. Other
non-monetary rewards could be by giving employees gift cards
for gas, coffee, or free lunch. These small gestures could
provide a fun, loving, and family-like environment; and in the
end no one steals from their own family. The rewards could
motivate employees to work hard and not only could it solve
theft but it could help your stores achieve organizational goals.
When employees’ output increases, the income of the
organization could go up and the stores could meet their
running costs with a lot of ease. In addition, lack of supervision
allows them to do as they like. By increasing supervision,
during shifts could decrease the likelihood of theft. When
employees do not have anyone to watch them as they conduct
their duties, they are likely to see an opportunity to steal.
Therefore, the HR Department needs to work on creating more
jobs for supervisors. By employing supervisors during
deliveries and recording the goods that are taken to customers

13. could help solve the problem at hand. Also, introducing
employees to be in charge of stock taking and record
inventories when they come in could better keep theft at a
minimum. This could help to easily evaluate whether all the
stock received can be accounted for by the sales.
Another solution to implement is to use mystery shoppers that
randomly stop in stores to make sure everything runs smoothly.
By informing employees that there could be secret shoppers
stopping by, could keep the employees aware that they can get
caught at any time. Any customer could be a secret shopper so
in turn they might avoid stealing. In addition, an easy, solution
is to implement the clear tote bag policy. By providing clear
bags for employees to use, they would not steal since they can’t
hide the stolen goods.
As for customer theft, and due to the fact that the products sold
at Joy Shop are high quality, we could begin to install RFID
chips onto the merchandise. The RFID tags are then linked to a
security gate that could be installed at the entrance of the store
so that if someone were to shoplift, the alarm could go off
immediately. Due to the increase of new Joy Shop stores, this
technology could to be installed in order to deter “customers”
from shoplifting.
The proposed plan is a critical process to implement and could
be first discussed by the top management to analyze benefits
and the viability of curbing theft in an organization in helping
achieve the long-term goals and objectives of the firm. After the
organization is satisfied with the proposal, the project is given
to the finance department for further analysis. The Finance
Department could come up with the analysis of the costs that
are needed to purchase required materials such as the RFID
tags, suggestion boxes, clear bags, etc. While equipment is
being purchased, the Human Resource Department could begin
simultaneously to implement the new incentive program and
start using a personality test to hire new staff or analyze current
staff for a promotion to become supervisors. The staff could
then be trained with information on how to manage customer

14. and employee theft. A cost-benefit analysis could be done to
make sure the proposal is successful. After implementing the
plan, frequent evaluation is required to make sure that the plan
is working and producing desired results.
Time and Cost
Due to the scale and complexity of the issue, it could take about
six months to a year to fully plan and implement the entire
proposal. Some steps like purchasing clear bags or complaint
boxes can be implemented as soon as possible to begin with
curbing theft immediately. Costs for purchasing clear tote bags
in bulk could be as cheap as $2.80 per bag with a minimum
purchase of 1,000 pieces (Discount Mugs, 2018). If Joy Shop
were to order more based on the number of employees, the cost
could be even lower. As for complaint boxes the prices range
depending on the type of box the company is looking for. The
suggestion box can start at $3.80 and run up to $100+
dollars(ULINE, 2018).
Also, depending on the type of RFID tags needed to be installed
the cost ranges between 10 cents up to $20; readers can range
from $150 to about $3,000 and more (Watson, 2013). Depending
on company needs if implemented, this technology could be
useful in the long run and could help eliminate shoplifters,
employee theft, and save money.
As for the other steps like improving the hiring procedures,
creating incentive programs, and finding proper supervisors
could require time in order to get approvals, finalize the
program and implement it. A trial period could be used for
certain aspects of the plan. During this trial period, the
organization could look keenly at how the methods work to
establish what areas need improvement. Costs are going to vary
based on what could be approved for implementation. The
Human Resource Department staff could recruit supervisors and
employees that could undertake the process of stock taking. The
cost to recruit and hire new staff could include the cost of
advertising that there are vacancies to attract applicants, cost of
paying staff to screen the applications and also interview the

15. applicants to arrive at the perfect candidates for the positions.
Finally, by using mystery shoppers it could cost only $12-$25
dollars per visit and the number of visits could be decided based
on the need of the company (Secret Shopper, 2017). Not only
could the mystery shoppers help with theft, but they could also
give a complete analysis on their experience as a whole during
their visit, could give different views on product placement, and
could provide solutions to improve the business in other
aspects. By paying for this service you could be able to get
more than one benefit from them; which is a bargain and is very
beneficial to your business.
Background/ Qualifications
The experience I have working at Joy Shop has enabled me to
have an understanding of how the company operates which is
why I was able to identify employee theft as a problem in the
organization. If addressed, a lot of benefits could be reaped. I
have achieved a lot as a loyal and proud employee in the
organization and find it very important to better the business in
anyway possible. This proposal, once implemented, could
improve the company from operations, to financials, to even
employee morale. I believe it could be a win-win situation all
around. The concepts that I have gained on the job and during
my days as a student, helped me identify ways of helping your
organization achieve its long-term goals by minimizing any
wastage of resources.
Benefits
The curbing of theft in the organization could yield lots of
benefits to the stakeholders of the organization. Shareholder
wealth maximization which is one of the most important
organizational goals could be achieved in the long run
(Robertson, 2018). When the organization curbs theft, the cost
of production could decrease, causing an increase of profit
levels. The profits are then distributed to the shareholders in the
form of dividends. When shareholders’ wealth is maximized, the
shareholders confidence could also increase. The increase in
profit levels could also help ease operations because there could

16. be enough funds to meet any obligations when they arise. The
financial benefits of the proposal are around $3000 per month
that could amount to around $36000 per year per store apart
from usual profits.
Limitations
Whistle blowing might not be very effective because employees
are torn between protecting the interests of the stores and
covering for their colleagues who they may consider as friends.
The process is lengthy, and it could take a lot of time to
implement because its a sensitive and risky issue. It could take
a long time for the stakeholders to adapt to the proposed
methodology. Also, initial costs might be very high depending
on which solutions are chosen to be implemented.
Conclusion
The problem of theft has disturbed lots of other organizations
including and most importantly Joy Shop stores, but many have
succeeded in solving the problem. Theft has been rampant due
to the existence of loopholes that make it easy to steal (Kelkar,
2016). The proposal provided could create a long-lasting
solution to the problem that might ensure that the company
achieves its major organizational goals. These multiple
solutions could benefit the company greatly. Until the whole
plan is studied carefully, implementing at the very least the
clear tote bag policy and employing new supervisors and
inventory controller to start the program, could have a high
impact alone and decrease theft greatly until the rest of the
program is approved. By following through with the complete
proposal, theft could decrease significantly if not get eliminated
completely. During which Joy Shop could gain lots of benefits
that include shareholder wealth maximization, increase profits,
boost morale due to increase in salary and incentives, and could
create a more efficient environment by using RFID. The costs
include human resource costs, costs of acquiring material, and
adding a third party to help with the mystery shopping. Despite
the lengthy procedure of implementing the plan and the

17. expenses, it is clear that the benefits outweigh the costs.
Thank you for taking the time to read the proposal to help
reduce and curb theft in your company. I look forward to
receiving your feedback on the proposal and providing you with
further information and details on where we can start. Thank
you once again for your kind consideration.
Yours Sincerely,
Amal Alsheikh
References
Discount Mugs. (2018). Clear Tote Bags. Retrieved from
Discount Mugs: https://www.discountmugs.com/product/tot209-
cheap-clear-tote-bags-with-zipper/
Kelkar, M. M., & Emilus, Y. (2016). Applying the Theory of
Planned Behavior to the Problem of Employee Theft in the
Retail Industry.
Robertson, A. (2018). Theft at work. In Profiling property
crimes (pp. 195-218). Routledge.
Secret Shopper. (2017). Shopper FAQ. Retrieved from Secret
Shopper:
https://www.secretshopper.com/info/shoppers/shopperFAQ.asp
ULINE. (2018). Ballot Boxes. Retrieved from ULINE:
https://www.uline.com/BL_5611/Ballot-
Boxes?keywords=Suggestion+Box
Veit, D. R., Lacerda, D. P., Camargo, L. F. R., Kipper, L. M., &
Dresch, A. (2017). Towards Mode 2 knowledge production:
Analysis and proposal of a framework for research in business
processes. Business Process Management Journal, 23(2), 293-
328.
Watson, T. (2013, October 29). Cost Analysis for RFID.
Retrieved from Ami Tracks:
https://www.amitracks.com/2013/10/simple-cost-analysis-for-
rfid-options/

18. INTERVIEWING A PROFESSIONAL
An informational interview is conducted for gaining insight
from a person you consider your mentor or has enough
knowledge in an industry which you want guidance for your
own career path. To conduct this informational interview, I met
with one of my teachers. Professor X is one of the most
outstanding professors that I crossed path with during my
education years from school to college. He has over 20 years of
experience in the education sector. He started to develop his
career during his school years then during college and now he is
working as a lecturer in the university. I asked him many
questions which I thought were relevant and important within
the education field. I had a wonderful experience during the
informational interview as it was very eye-opening. Below are
some questions and answers which I believe is most intriguing
and captivates Professor X’s heroic journey and his positive
influence on people.
“When did you realize you wanted to become a teacher?”
Professor X: During my teenage years, I realized my passion in
helping others in studies and other aspects of life. By the end of
my high school years, I realized my passion in education and
development. That passion became stronger when I met one of
my college instructors and was inspired by him. I looked up to
him and always wanted to be like him. (He paused, smiled and
laughed a little remembering those college days.) I began by
teaching my friends in college and that urge for teaching
became stronger. After completing my studies, I professionally
joined the education sector.

19. “Are there any challenges that you face in your teaching
career?”
Professor: Oh, wow! There are many different emotional and
mental challenges that arise within the development and
education industry. Working as a mentor and instructor there
are some restrictions and margins which I have to follow
because my students are learning from me. They consider me as
their mentor and will follow me in their life. That’s why I need
to lead by example. If I do something beyond these boundaries
it will definitely put adverse effects on them. Initially, there are
some students who are not comfortable with my teaching and
counseling style. But I take this positively and start changing
my style according to my student’s expectations. Sometimes it
was difficult for me to find out whether or not my students
understand me. Also, some students are introverts. They have
enough potential but they don’t realize it. In this situation, a lot
of efforts are required by the teacher to show their students they
have the ability to do something. I always try to show them that
they are indebted to someone and their parents invest a lot for
their bright future.
“How do you keep active and up-to-date in the teaching
profession?”
Professor X: It’s very crucial to be active in the field of
education and development. I look into different blogs related
to my field and join social media for new ideas. For instance,
during the Olympics a communist posted a few themed games
that helped students learn. Using a gamified system of learning
is very useful, especially in subjects like Mathematics, which
students lack interest in. If I did not join social media, I would
not be able to learn this new way of teaching. Keeping
connected allows me to keep my teaching techniques relevant to
recent news and evolving technologies. Doing so allows me to
connect with my students and teach them not only in education,
but by helping them grow as a person and realize their self-
confidence to see their own abilities. I love my job and being

20. able to make a difference in my student’s lives means the world
to me.
Amal: “Do you discuss your career path with your students?”
Professor X: Yes, I always try to share my experience with my
students and help them see what they can do in order to develop
and achieve their career goals. Some students also ask different
kinds of question for further guidance and I try to guide them
according to their career choices and needs.
What is the most crucial method of teaching that you use to
make strong interactions with the students?”
Professor X: Every week I assign group work to my students so
that they can build their team working skills. I also arrange one
presentation every week so that they can improve their
communication skills. I open group discussions for everyone to
interact and to help increase their brainstorming techniques.
Group members of every project change and vary every time so
that every student gets a chance to interact with each other.
“What are the strengths in your teaching methods?”
Professor X: My persistence, certainty, patience, and belief in
every student has aptitude and capability that supports me to
encourage my students. I have faith in cooperative
“Do you have any advice for those who just started this
profession?”
Professor X: In this field of development and education
everyone should remember one thing, that this field is about
helping others at whatever age; whether they are teenagers or
adults. As a counsellor one should not force something on
students. You just need to motivate them and try not to be
emotional with them because if you treat them emotionally then
you will lose your strong personality and will not be able to
make your students strong. (He says this in one of those stern
teacher voices we all know.)
“Does this occupation have prospects to raise and grow?”
Professor X: Surely, this profession has many opportunities for
jobs. In this profession you will not only achieve a respectable
job, but by teaching others you can also learn a lot of things and

21. grow on a personal level.
“According to your opinion, what must be the foremost goal of
a teacher?”
Professor X: To teach honestly and adding a fun learning
experience. Also, by being impartial and fair to every student
should be the goal of a teacher.
“Do you think that you are self-confident in teaching all
subjects? Are there some areas which you think that you are
more comfortable in teaching? Has specialization in an area
assisted you in teaching?”
Professor X: (With all confidence he replied like a true hero.)
Yes, I feel competent and confident teaching all areas. I have a
concentration in all subjects and enjoy teaching diverse range of
subjects to my students. I believe all subjects bring a certain
way and technique to teaching. For example, Mathematics
requires more critical and logical thinking versus Business and
English requires understanding and uses more creativity when
writing and composing. All of these techniques go hand in hand
and assist in teaching as a whole.
“What is the most pleasing part in your career?”
Professor X: When my previous students come to meet me after
achieving their career goals and give me credit for their
success; that moment is most rewarding for me. It makes me
feel special that I have such a positive influence on their
careers. (He replied with such pride that I felt that I could
envision these moments myself.)
Listening to Professor X’s journey was really inspiring. Going
through many challenges and being able to adapt to today’s
society and still being able to connect with his students, showed
that he truly is a hero. The way he influences people’s lives and
guides them on a day to day basis makes me feel good that there
are still people in the world that care about others. Just like
Professor X looked up to one of his own professors, I look up to
him. He followed the footsteps of someone amazing and became
his own version of an awesome professor! This interview made
me believe even more that education is the right career path for

22. me. I also want to make a difference in people’s lives just like
him.
Question 1
Combative listening: This is the sort of listening that is
occasioned when persons want to thrust their own sort of view
or judgment rather than pay attention to someone else's. With
this sort of listening, we frequently are waiting to jump in and
say somewhat or point out faults in what the other individual is
saying. We put up like we are listening, when actually we are
expressing our own notions and just waiting for the individual
to break so we can exclaim them out. The shortcoming is that
we stop to in fact take in what the other individual is saying and
have barred our minds, which is a barricade to virtuous
listening.
Question 2
Passive, attentive listening: In this sort of listening, we are
sincerely interested in what the individual is saying. At this
juncture, we are not yet at the place of replying and being
complicated, but we comprehend the points that the narrator is
trying to make. We may come to an understanding with what is
being uttered, but we are doing so in an inert method,
reasonably than in a contemplative one.
Question 3
Active listening: This is the sort of listening model that one
wants to use. In this prototype, you aggressively listen and
comprehend what the other persons are saying. Here, we pay
attention to what the other persons has to say before we try to
interpolate what we would like to portion. In this archetypal,
you reaffirm or share back info with the narrator, displaying
that you are paying attention and vigorously involved.
Question 4

23. When you can showcase your own concepts clearly, precisely,
visually and most significantly contextually in the setting of a
profound understanding of other person’s models and
apprehensions you expressively upsurge the trustworthiness of
your notions. Once we really profoundly comprehend each
other, we open the door to imaginative explanations and third
substitutions. Our variances are no longer uncertain blocks to
communiqué and advancement. As an alternative they turn out
to be the stepping stones to association.
Question 5
The point is, look profounder into things. Pay attention to the
significance rather than only listening to the words. If one only
listens to the words you will never comprehend populaces. Our
words emanate from the understanding, from the persona, which
has every so often turned out to be so illusory that we do not
mean what comes out of our mouths. Communication has
turned out to be a social etiquette; it does not really emanate
from our persona or our existence.
Summary and Understanding “Ten ways to have a better
conversation” by Celeste Headlee (TED TALK)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1vskiVDwl4)
1. Do not multi-task- This is a key flaw for most people. In the
21st century people tend to be quick to handle other things
while at the same time trying to strike a meaningful
conversation. Quite a lot of my friends really do this most of
the time.
2. Do not pontificate- This is generally not my weak point. I
always give the other person the chance to help me actually
understand things better since am a believer that each and every
person is an expert at something. Being dogmatic is usually a
big turn-off.

24. 3. Use open-ended questions- Letting the listeners give you a
more of an experiential answer is the best way to go when
striking a conversation. Personally I would say this is a recently
acquired taste.
4. Go with the flow- With the same zeal of letting ideas come
in, let them go too. Do not let them be interruptive. Am sure so
many people actually have experienced such moments
depending on the environment the conversation is being held as
well as depending on their state of mind at the time of the
conversation.
5. If you do not know, say that you do not know- It’s as simple
as do not be a know-it-all person. This kind of attitude in more
than one bit always kills the conversation. I have frequently
experienced such conversations and I must admit more than
often I usually drift away.
6. Do not equate experiences – This is the point where you think
you understand somebody’s experience better than themselves.
It is flatly impossible. Back in the day I used to be very guilty
of this flaw. Am glad I stopped and let someone tell their own
experience without hijacking it.
7. Try not to repeat yourself- Speak and be forthright with
whatever you are saying. The moment you start repeating your
points, you will definitely be boring and the other person will
quickly opt out of the conversation. I have a friend who actually
suffers from this flaw. He always repeats himself day in day
out.
8. Stay out of the wits – Forget the minor details, years, dates.
Keep the conversation intact by maintaining the core of
information intact. Another big flaw that I occasionally struggle
with. Am glad it was highlighted here.
9. Listen- The biggest skill of a successful conversation is when
you both listen and understand each other. If neither of you can
listen then definitely what you are having is not a conversation

25. but probably a shouting match. Over the years I have developed
my listening skills and I can confidently say am a good and
keen listener, the attribute has made me strike some good
conversations with great minds over the years.
10. Be brief – Always understand your audience or the other
person(s) in a conversation. Depending on the setting of the
conversation and your understanding of the audience always be
brief and maintain interest so as to strike a balance and drive
your points home.
Final Reflection Assignment
BUSN 325 - McKeel
READ CAREFULLY: Your Final Reflection Assignment will
cover five (5) topics that we have covered in BUSN
325. You must write about ALL four of the topics listed in the
REQUIRED section. Then, you will choose one
of the three options in the YOUR CHOICE section. Before you
begin, you should have reviewed the document
on Reflection sent to you by email last week. You should
commit to 1) a minimum of a half page of content for
each topic; 2) use 12 point, Times New Roman font; 3) 1 inch
margins all around, and 4) single spaced. Please
follow these directions closely. Submissions should be free of
spelling and grammar mistakes.
Required Topics for Final Reflection (You must write on all
four topics)
Each of these topics must be included in your Final Reflection
Paper
▪ Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understand & Active-

26. Reflective Listening
What is the essence of Seek First to Understand . . . ? Why is it
important? Relate this concept to the concept of active
reflective listening. Explain the idea discussed in class of
matching or mirroring someone’s emotions and in what
situations that becomes important. Use examples to
demonstrate your understanding.
▪ The Hero’s Journey | Interviewing
What is it? Why is it considered a universal model for
understanding human and their path toward personal growth.
Why is it important to your future, career and reputation? Why
is the dilemma step so critical to the journey? What are
the steps / stages in the Hero’s Journey? Use examples to
demonstrate your understanding.
▪ The Business Improvement Proposal
Why is the BIP so important in business? Concepts covered
should include, among others, certainty versus uncertainty,
the role of limited resources, problem solving and your job, and
the element of persuasion. Why is each element of the
proposal so important to the entire persuasion effort? Use
examples to demonstrate your understanding.
▪ Conversation
Using at least four of the ten things discussed from Celeste
Headlee’s TED Talk, demonstrate your understanding of the
importance of meaningful conversation. Use examples to
demonstrate your understanding.

27. YOUR CHOICE | Topics for Final Reflection – CHOOSE ONE
BELOW
One of the following topics must be included in your Final
Reflection Paper
□ Ethos Pathos Logos & the Elements of a Good Speech
Tie together the elements of a good speech in the context of
your understanding of Ethos, Pathos & Logos. Why is your
perspective important in a speech and where can it be used most
effectively?
□ Resumes & Cover Letters
Discuss the appropriate role of the resume and cover letter in
job hunting. What are the resume and cover letter
designed to effectively accomplishment? What are they
generally not good at accomplishing? How has technology
changed the application and use of resumes? What is the most
important part of the Experience section of the resume?
□ Bad News
How do you give bad news to people in an organization? What
must be considered before giving bad news? Based on
what you have learned in the class, why is it so important to be
careful in delivering bad news?