Selected Quotes From Entertainer Madonna

Much-acclaimed and controversial Madonna has lived a public life deliberately outrageous, and her words reinforce and further define her public image. Madonna has also spoken out on how she relates family and a private life to her carefully-crafted public image. Selected Madonna Quotations I am rich and famous. I have a talented and gorgeous husband and two beautiful children. I could go on. To be brave is to love someone unconditionally, without expecting anything in return. To just give. That takes courage; because we dont want to fall on our faces or leave ourselves open to hurt Never forget to dream. A lot of people are afraid to say what they want. Thats why they dont get what they want. Im tough, Im ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay. Sometimes you have to be a bitch to get things done. I became an overachiever to get approval from the world. I wont be happy till Im as famous as God. I always thought I should be treated like a star. The fact of the matter is that you can use your beauty and use your charm and be flirtatious, and you can get people interested in your beauty. But you cannot maintain that. In the end, talent is the only thing. My work is the only thing thats going to change any minds. I love horses. I think I may have been one of Henry VIII’s knights in another life, riding through a great forest. Listen, everyone is entitled to my opinion. I dont care anymore if people dress like me, now I want them to think like me. If I was a girl again, I would like to be like my fans, I would like to be like Madonna. Better to live one year as a tiger, then a hundred as sheep. I never wish I had a different life. I am lucky to be in the position of power that I am in and to be intelligent. Being blonde is definitely a different state of mind. I cant really put my finger on it, but the artifice of being blonde has some incredible sort of sexual connotation. Men really respond to it. I love blonde hair but it really does something different to you. I feel more grounded when I have dark hair, and I feel more ethereal when I have light hair. Its unexplainable. I also feel more Italian when my hair is dark. There are moments when I cant believe Im as old as I am. But I feel better physically than I did 10 years ago. I dont think, Oh God, Im missing something. I have the most perfect belly button. When I stick my fingers in it, I feel a nerve in the center of my body shoot up my spine. Ive always wanted to be taller. I feel like a shrimp, but thats the way it goes. Im five-foot four-and-a-half-inches. Thats actually average. Everything about me is average. Everythings normal, in the books. Its the things inside me that make me not average. Its not my nature to just kick back. I think passive beauties have their place in the world. Its hard for me to relate to that. People think they will wake up one day and Ill be gone. But Im never going away. I have the same goal Ive had ever since I was a girl. I want to rule the world. I sometimes think I was born to live up to my name. How could I be anything else but what I am having been named Madonna? I would either have ended up a nun or this. To me, the whole process of being a brush stroke in someone elses painting is a little difficult. Poor is the man whose pleasures depend on the permission of another. I stand for freedom of expression, doing what you believe in, and going after your dreams. When Im hungry, I eat. When Im thirsty, I drink. When I feel like saying something, I say it. That we are responsible for our own fate, we reap what we sow, we get what we give, we pull in what we put out. I know these things for sure. Id like to think I am taking people on a journey; I am not just entertaining people, but giving them something to think about when they leave. I am my own experiment. I am my own work of art. I try to have thick skin, but every once in a while I read something that someone says about me, and its so slanderous and moralistic and it has nothing to do with my music. I want to be like Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, and John Lennon... but I want to stay alive. Id love to be a memorable figure in the history of entertainment in some sexual, comic, tragic way. Id like to leave the impression that Marilyn Monroe did, to be able to arouse so many different feelings in people. I think the ultimate challenge is to have some kind of style and grace, even though you havent got money, or standing in society, or formal education. I had a very middle, lower-middle class sort of upbringing, but I identify with people whove had, at some point in their lives to struggle to survive. It adds another color to your character. I think you can be defiant and rebellious and still be strong and positive. Be strong, believe in freedom and in God, love yourself, understand your sexuality, have a sense of humor, masturbate, dont judge people by their religion, color or sexual habits, love life, and your family. I laugh at myself. I dont take myself completely seriously. I think thats another quality that people have to hold on to... you have to laugh, especially at yourself. I do it in most of the things I do, and most of the videos that I make and most of my performances. Even in my concerts there are so many moments when I just stood still and laughed at myself. In everyday life I am quiet and reserved, not the housekeeper type but cool and relaxed. I dont get up in the morning wearing false eyelashes and I dont wear fancy underwear when Im cooking popcorn. Im a nice little ducky. Quotes About Lifestyle Everyone probably thinks that Im a raving nymphomaniac, that I have an insatiable sexual appetite, when the truth is Id rather read a book. I dont trust any man who hasnt kissed another man. I liked my body growing up and I wasnt ashamed of it. I liked boys and didnt feel inhibited by them. Maybe it comes from having brothers and sharing a bathroom. The boys got the wrong impression of me at high school. They mistook forwardness for promiscuity. When they dont get what they want, they turn on you. I went through this period when all the girls thought I was loose and the boys said I was a nymphomaniac. The first boy I ever slept with was my boyfriend and wed been going out a long time. About singer Prince: He reeks of lavender. It turned me on, actually. Because Ive taken my clothes off in public doesnt mean that Ive revealed every inch of my soul. Sometimes I look back at myself and remember things I used to say, or my hairstyle, and I cringe I hate polite conversation. I hate it when people stand around and go, Hi, how are you? I hate words that dont have any reason or meaning. Also I hate it when people smoke in elevators and closed in places. Its just so rude. You have to be patient. Im not. I miss New York. I still love how people talk to you on the street - just assault you and tell you what they think of your jacket. I know the aspect of my personality, being the vixen, the heartbreaker and the incredibly provocative girl is a very marketable image — but its not insincere. You just cant take it seriously. The worst thing about being famous? I think its what everybody says... the lack of privacy and the idea that youre not really allowed to make mistakes and everything that you do is viewed under a microscope. I think my biggest flaw is my insecurity. Im terribly insecure. Im plagued with insecurities 24/7. I have had many challenges in my life, including some very big ones when I was young and Ive learned a lot of valuable lessons along the way. I have seen life from just about every angle you can see it from. I was sacked from Dunkin Donuts for squirting the donuts jelly all over the customers. I wouldnt have turned out the way I was if I didnt have all those old-fashioned values to rebel against. Quotes About Gender and Race Not only does society suffer from racism and sexism but it also suffers from ageism. Once you reach a certain age youre not allowed to be adventurous, youre not allowed to be sexual. I mean, is there a rule? Are you supposed to just die? Im not a feminist, Im a humanist. Straight men need to be emasculated. Im sorry. They all need to be slapped around. Women have been kept down for too long. Every straight guy should have a mans tongue in his mouth at least once. Quotes About Family My father was very strong. I dont agree with a lot of the ways he brought me up. I dont agree with a lot of his values, but he did have a lot of integrity, and if he told us not to do something, he didnt do it either. Im anal retentive. Im a workaholic. I have insomnia. And Im a control freak. Thats why Im not married. Who could stand me? Im a very old-fashioned girl. Marriage is a great thing when its right. And I did celebrate it and embrace it, and I wanted the whole world to know that this was the man I loved more than anything. But theres a price to pay for that, which is something I realize now. Ever since I was in high school, when I was madly in love with someone, I was so proud of that person. I wanted the world to know that I loved him. But once you reveal it to the world, and youre in the public eye, you give it up, and its not your own anymore. I began to realize how important it is to hold on to privacy and keeping things to yourself as much as possible. Its like a runaway train afterwards. I could probably bring up a child as normal as I can live my life. I surround myself with people who dont treat me like a celebrity or a freak or whatever, and I would do the same with my child. Im not interested in being Wonder Woman in the delivery room. Give me drugs. My having a child is not for public consumption. Its not a career move. Its not a performance to be judged or rated. Nor is my role as a mother. Family is everything. Family comes first. Its not what I expected it to be, but nothing ever is. The last thing I want is to raise a brat. We could definitely go down the wrong road. I dont want Lola to have everything she wants. I want her to appreciate things, and not to be presumptuous. I want her to have manners and social graces. Ever since my daughter was born I feel the fleetingness of time. And I dont want to waste it on getting the perfect lip color. Lourdes really is the love of my life. I dont want to traipse around with nannies and tutors. I think its important for children to stay in one place, to socialize with other children. Obviously, my tastes and my priorities have changed, Just because Im a mother doesnt mean Im not still a rebel and that I dont want to go in the face of convention and challenge the system. I never wanted to think in a robotic way, and I dont want my children to think that way, either. I think parents should be constantly questioning society. Quotes About Faith With the crucifixes I was exorcising the extremes that my upbringing dwelt on. Putting them up on the wall and throwing darts at them. And the Boy Toy thing was a joke, a tag name given to me when I first arrived in New York because I flirted with the boys. All the graffiti artists wore their nicknames on their belt buckles. Catholicism is not a soothing religion. Its a painful religion. Were all gluttons for punishment. It is difficult to believe in a religion that places such a high premium on chastity and virginity. When I get down on my knees, it is not to pray. I would like to see the Pope wearing my T-shirt. I loved nuns when I was growing up. I thought they were beautiful. For several years I wanted to be a nun. I saw them as really pure, disciplined, above average people. They had these serene faces. Nuns are sexy. I think that life is a paradox and you have to embrace that in your work and your belief systems ... you cant be a literalist, and thats the trouble that people always find themselves in. Thats why people always hit a wall with any of my stuff, because you cant take it literally. Quotes About Madonna Britney Spears I would really, really, really like to be a legend like Madonna. Madonna knows what to do next, and when shes performing, the audience is just in awe of her. I performed at Mom and Dads party when I was four. Oh my gosh, I was singing a Madonna song and I peed myself. Cher No one knows how to work this business like she does. Susan Sarandon The history of women in popular music can, pretty much, be divided into before and after Madonna. Rosie ODonnell She is no symbol. She is human. More brilliant than most. The real deal. Miley Cyrus Madonna always reinvents herself, and thats what I want to do. Whatever comes my way that sounds good, thats what I want to do. Whether its designing clothes or photography or whatever. Gwyneth Paltrow Shes like an older sister. Everything I have gone through, she went through ten times worse and ten times longer. She gives me good advice about how to say no and take care of myself. Tori Amos Madonna’s sound was made for the dance floor when she epitomized the New York club kid; it got a bit closer to rock when she started presenting herself that way, connected with RB when her image became softer again, went New Age techno when she got into spirituality, and so on. Fashion has become a part of the musical exploration and experience. Sean Penn She was in the process of becoming the biggest star in the world. I just wanted to make my films and hide. I was an angry young man. I had a lot of demons and dont really know who couldve lived with me at the time. I was just as badly behaved as her, so I cant point the finger of blame. Sarah Jessica Parker Madonnas probably the most disciplined person around and so I can only pale in comparison. Its just too impressive. Michael Moore If we had a royal system shed be the queen of Michigan and all the Michiganders would bow down to her, and Im not kidding. Shes a person with a good heart; she does a lot of good for other people. I really admire her. Beyonce It all works for Madonna. I mean, I couldn’t do a lot of the things she does, but it works for her.

Where Do The Mermaids Stand - 1219 Words

In current society today, technology is advancing at a rapid rate and with so much exposure to the media it is difficult to control what is being seen by children. Disney is one of the largest and most successful companies in the film industry. From children 4 years old to adults and every age in between, Disney has found a way to create films that entertain all ages. The seemingly innocent content of Disney movies are enjoyed from a very young age; however, behind the colorful and lighthearted storylines of many Disney films lies many unreasonable social ideologies that children may be subconsciously becoming accustomed to. In her work, â€Å"Where Do the Mermaids Stand,† Laura Sells discusses the hidden messages in Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Sells explains how this movie expresses a hierarchy of gender and exaggerated femininity by demeaning the role of women in society. Susan Jeffords, author of â€Å"The Curse of Masculinity,† discusses similar ideologies in her article. This article looks at Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and focuses primarily the role of men and the how they perform to fit into this white male system by means of upholding hegemonic masculinity. The two articles â€Å"Where do the Mermaids stand† and â€Å"The curse of Masculinity,† bring to attention the reinforcement of the white male system, the racialization in the white male system, and the reinforcement of hegemonic masculinity in beloved childhood Disney movies. Firstly, both the articles reinforce the idea ofShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Movie Bella 1419 Words   |  6 Pagesshe will have to meet them their. Bella also invites her friend Emma. Bella goes in while Emma is getting candy from the small stand. Bella sees Sarah and Nathan at the snack stand together. Bella wonders how her best friend could betray her like that, with the guy she liked. Bella stormed away from the movie. Bella ran to the bridge over looking the beach where she goes to when she needs to be alone. 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Soft Skills Free Essays

string(151) " or training for personal habits or traits such as dependability and conscientiousness can yield significant return on investment for an organization\." What is softskills? Soft skill is the ability required and expected from persons for finding a suitable job, its maintenance and promotion. Softskills is an important facet of life. It is essential in all spheres of life. We will write a custom essay sample on Soft Skills or any similar topic only for you Order Now Be it an interview or dealing with the project leader or working out a solution with a team or writing a report, getting across the point effectively is what matters. The success of an endeavour hinges on the ability to communicate effectively in today’s fast paced life, everyone is asked to do more with less. In such a scenario effective communication holds the key. Effectively communication centers round the usage of words, speed of delivery of words, pitch modulation and body language. Using the right tools to communicate the right messages at the right time can salvage a crises and motivate people to work towards success. Truly said, communication works but for those who work at it. In the existing globalization scenario, most of the Information Technology, I. T Enabled Services, management institutes, public and private sector, multi-national Companies, Union Public Service Commission, and State Public Service Commission are search for a right and suitable fresher for executive posts. Whatever be the recruiting criteria that I. T, ITES, industry giants had in their agenda, once this was clear a first class degree would not serve the purpose, the candidate have to satisfy the skill sets that the companies were looking for. And unanimously, the skills set that they were looking for Softskills. The immediate results of developing good communication skills are: 1. Ability to Listen effectively 2. Ability to send Clear Messages 3. To win confidence and respect of peers, employers 4. Impressive non-verbal behaviour Scope of softskills development It is very important to develop softskills because it enables you to: * To handle interpersonal relations * To take appropriate decisions * To communicate effectively * To have good impression and impact to gain professional development Types of Softskills 1. Verbal Communication skills * Softskills form the corner stone of soft skills Every human being has to essentially ; effectively communicate with others * Effective communication is the hallmark of one’s education * The ability to speak fluently using the right word in the right order is an good communication * Message using appropriate vocabulary and syntax form effective communication 2. Body language Non verbal language * Face is the index of the mind and it clearly dis plays the persons   interest * Body language presents to the audience what we feel think about the particular matter * Body language (e. , arms crossed, standing, sitting, relaxed) * Emotion of the sender receiver (e. g, speaking clearly, enthusiastic) 3. Written communication Skills * Writing evaluates a person’s proficiency indications, spelling grammar etc†¦ * Errors committed while writing circulars, reports ; agenda considerably spoil the image of the writer * Good visual presentation using graphics, color, balanced design layout- adds so much to written communication. * Keep handouts and other written materials for your presentation 4. Presentation Skills Presentation skills include planning, preparation ; delivery of the message. Making a formal speech is also one form of presentation. Presentation skills can be broadly categorized into physical oral, ; electronics. * Success in life depends on presenting ideas in an appropriate manners * Look at the eyes of audience ; speak in a natural, conversational voice * Appropriate voice will make the presentation effective and interesting * Ask for feed back from your audience about your presentation ; change accordingly * In presentation especially, stop occasionally to ask the audience understand what you have said . Team Work * People of either gender, different age groups, qualification, status ; skills work as a team with a common objective of accomplishing the task * The success of any organization largely depends on in the coordinated efforts of its employees * It mainly refers to the agreeableness ; co-operation among the team members 6. Professional ethics * Professional ethics is the need of the hour in India * When a person is at the work spot, he must thi nk of his work only * He must put his heart ; soul into the work Each employee is a organic part of the organization ; must strive to contribute his mite to the successful functioning of the organization 7. Interpersonal Skills Man is a social animal ; his success in life largely depends on his relationship ; interaction with others We must respect the views ; sentiments of others. When we want to differ their views, we must very politely give hints to them without wondering their feelings 8. Time ; Stress Management Prioritize the work ; schedule your time accordingly * Impotent work should be allotted more time ; taken up first * Listening to classical music ; practicing Yoga will considerably reduce the physical,emotional ; mental stress of an individual 9. Leadership Softskills Leaders, executives ; managers need to be very clear about what they expect from others * Trust your self * Keep smiling * Share ; stay together * Always learn new things * Accept responsibility for your self ; your actions * Look at problems ; challenges * Be grateful always * Love your self So if you want to improve upon your softskills, this is the best time to go ahead. Start now, Start well Soft skills is a sociological term relating to a person’s â€Å"EQ† (Emotional Intelligence Quotient), the cluster of personality traits, social graces, communication, language, personal habits, friendliness, and optimism that characterize relationships with other people. [1] Soft skills complement hard skills (part of a person’s IQ), which are the occupational requirements of a job and many other activities. Soft skills are personal attributes that enhance an individual’s interactions, job performance and career prospects. Unlike hard skills, which are about a person’s skill set and ability to perform a certain type of task or activity, soft skills relate to a person’s ability to interact effectively with coworkers and customers and are broadly applicable both in and outside the workplace. A person’s soft skill EQ is an important part of their individual contribution to the success of an organization. Particularly those organizations dealing with customers face-to-face are generally more successful, if they train their staff to use these skills. Screening or training for personal habits or traits such as dependability and conscientiousness can yield significant return on investment for an organization. You read "Soft Skills" in category "Papers" [2] For this reason, soft skills are increasingly sought out by employers in addition to standard qualifications. It has been suggested that in a number of professions soft skills may be more important over the long term than occupational skills. The legal profession is one example where the ability to deal with people effectively and politely, more than their mere occupational skills, can determine the professional success of a lawyer. 3] Soft Skills are behavioral competencies. Also known as Interpersonal Skills, or people skills, they include proficiencies such as communication skills, conflict resolution and negotiation, personal effectiveness, creative problem solving, strategic thinking, team building, influencing skills and selling skills, to name a few Meaning Critical thinki ng clarifies goals, examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, accomplishes actions, and assesses conclusions. â€Å"Critical† as used in the expression â€Å"critical thinking† connotes involving skillful judgment as to truth, merit, etc. Critical† in this context does not mean â€Å"disapproval† or â€Å"negative. † There are many positive uses of critical thinking, for example formulating a workable solution to a complex personal problem, deliberating as a group about what course of action to take, or analyzing the assumptions and the quality of the methods used in scientifically arriving at a reasonable level of confidence about a given hypothesis. To add further clarification on what is meant by thinking critically, Richard Paul (1995) articulated critical thinking as either weak or strong. The weak-sense critical thinker is a highly skilled but selfishly motivated pseudo-intellectual who works to advance one’s personal agenda without seriously considering the ethical consequences and implications. Conceived as such, the weak-sense critical thinker is often highly skilled but uses those skills selectively so as to pursue unjust and selfish ends (Paul, 1995). Conversely, the strong-sense critical thinker skillfully enters into the logic of problems and issues to see the problem for what it is without egocentric and/or socio-centric bias. Thus conceived, the strong-sense mind seeks to actively, systematically, reflectively, and fair-mindedly construct insight with sensitivity to expose and address the many obstacles that compromise high quality thought and learning. Using strong critical thinking we might evaluate an argument, for example, as worthy of acceptance because it is valid and based on true premises. Upon reflection, a speaker may be evaluated as a credible source of knowledge on a given topic. Critical thinking can occur whenever one judges, decides, or solves a problem; in general, whenever one must figure out what to believe or what to do, and do so in a reasonable and reflective way. Reading, writing, speaking, and listening can all be done critically or uncritically. Critical thinking is crucial to becoming a close reader and a substantive writer. Expressed in most general terms, critical thinking is â€Å"a way of taking up the problems of life. â€Å"[10] Skills The list of core critical thinking skills includes observation, interpretation, analysis, inference, evaluation, explanation, and meta-cognition. There is a reasonable level of consensus among experts that an individual or group engaged in strong critical thinking gives due consideration to establish: * Evidence through observation * Context * Relevant criteria for making the judgment well * Applicable methods or techniques for forming the judgment * Applicable theoretical constructs for understanding the problem and the question at hand In addition to possessing strong critical-thinking skills, one must be disposed to engage problems and decisions using those skills. Critical thinking employs not only logic but broad intellectual criteria such as clarity, credibility, accuracy, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, significance, and fairness. Habits or traits of mind The habits of mind that characterize a person strongly disposed toward critical thinking include a desire to follow reason and evidence wherever they may lead, a systematic approach to problem solving, inquisitiveness, even-handedness, and confidence in reasoning. [16] When individuals possess intellectual skills alone, without the intellectual traits of mind, weak sense critical thinking results. Fair-minded or strong sense critical thinking requires intellectual humility, empathy, integrity, perseverance, courage, autonomy, confidence in reason, and other intellectual traits. Thus, critical thinking without essential intellectual traits often results in clever, but manipulative and often unethical or subjective thought. The clients have indicated that, after  inspecting the progress of the project they have outsourced, they would like to meet  the team members working on it. Why? To select one team member for a stint onsite — something  almost every software engineer  aspires for. Ravi has been one of the most active members in the project and has done a wonderful job. He is technically brilliant, but has some concerns: * Will he able to communicate his performance to the client in an impressive manner so that he is chosen? * Why do his team mates not prefer to come to him for solutions and go to less capable people instead? * His project manager doesn’t seem to be very warm towards him either, although he does drop in those occasional mails appreciating his work. Here is a  typical scenario in an IT company; or for that matter, any organisation where interpersonal communication is involved. Or, like in Ravi’s case, where an employee suffers from  a lack of interpersonal skills. Are technical/ job-related skills enough? Technical and job-related skills are a  must, but they are NOT sufficient when it comes to progressing up the ladder. With the traditional paternalistic style of leadership becoming passe, professional managers expect their teams to be proactive and communicate openly. â€Å"Soft skills are very important in business. It is essential to be technically sound, but one should also have the ability to convey the idea to the masses in the simplest possible manner,† says  Mayurkumar Gadewar, an ERP consultant with Pricewaterhouse Coopers. With the  boom in outsourcing taking root across industries, many  professionals and subject matter experts directly deal with their clients on a regular basis. Their approachability and people skills are what ultimately sustain the contract their employers have bagged. â€Å"Planning is necessary but execution is also equally important. And it takes soft skills to execute any idea because it involves dealing with people directly,†Ã‚  says Gadewar. 6 soft skills for every hard-nosed professional Behavioural training experts say there are several soft skills are required in these circumstances. Some of them  include: i. Interpersonal skills ii. Team spirit iii. Social grace iv. Business etiquette v. Negotiation skills vi. Behavioural traits such as attitude, motivation and time management Do you have these? If your answer is yes, good for you. But if your answer is no, then you know it is time to approach either a  training organisation or a training  consultant. Will formal training enhance your soft skills? There is a lot of argument in the industry as to whether it is possible to enhance soft skills in a few hours of training, especially when one considers the fact that  a person has lived with those traits all his life. To this, the answer is harsh but real — a professional who wants to do well in his/ her career does not really have a choice. In the initial years of your career, your  technical abilities are important to get good assignments. However, when it comes to growing in an organisation, it is your  personality that matters, more so in large organisations where several people with imilar technical expertise will compete for a promotion. Training on soft skills becomes all the more relevant in a country like India where the education system does not delve into personality development. â€Å"Soft skills training is essential because we do not have it in our academic curricula. Therefore, corporate houses have to take up the task of grooming employees who are the link between the company and the external world, so that they are able to present themselves better, † says Sumeet Mehta, an equity research analyst with Fortis Securities Ltd. Be your own trainer! While organisations are definitely investing in augmenting their staff’s people skills, here are some inputs for professionals and students who would like to initiate the process themselves: i. Be a part of team activities It could be  either as a part of your church choir, or an NGO, or your local youth circle. Observe your own behaviour in the group and how you relate to others. ii. Ask  family members or close friends to write down your best and worst traits. Ideally, have at least four to five people do this for you. Evaluate the common traits all of them have mentioned. Thus, you can be aware of your strengths and work improving your weaknesses. iii. How well do you manage your time? Think. Can you do more in life? Or is your day too crammed with activities? Effective time management is very essential in the corporate world. iv. Introspect on how you react to feedback. In organisations, people skills mostly come into the picture when there is feedback given — be it for an idea, an executed project or a presentation. You are judged by the way you respond to feedback. Do you get defensive? Do you insist you were right? Do you meekly accept criticism? Remember, people tend to be judged and stereotyped according to their responses. You will, too. v. How good are you at critiquing? While responding to feedback is one side of the coin, giving feedback is the other side. Are you aggressive? Pessimistic? Do you believe in constructive criticism? Or prefer to be the yes-man? vi. Live consciously Any organisation is manned by people, therefore soft skills are all about how you deal with people and present yourself. Though it may be easier said than done, soft skills can be enhanced simply by being aware of oneself and living consciously. Rukmini Iyer is a corporate trainer and instructional designer. She  writes regularly on business etiquette, communication, language enhancement  and grooming. Definition soft skills Soft skills are personal attributes that enhance an individual’s interactions, job performance and career prospects. Unlike hard skills, which are about a person’s skill set and ability to perform a certain type of task or activity, soft skills are interpersonal and broadly applicable. Soft skills are often described by using terms often associated with personality traits, such as: * optimism * common sense * responsibility * a sense of humor * integrity and abilities that can be practiced (but require the individual to genuinely like other people) such as: * empathy * teamwork * leadership * communication * good manners * negotiation * sociability * the ability to teach. It’s often said that hard skills will get you an interview but you need soft skills to get (and keep) the job. Definition Emotional intelligence (EI) is the area of cognitive ability involving traits nd social skills that facilitate interpersonal behavior. Intelligence can be broadly defined as the capacity for goal-oriented adaptive behavior; emotional intelligence focuses on the aspects of intelligence that govern self-knowledge and social adaptation. The term first appeared in 1985, in Wayne Payne’s doctoral thesis, A study of emotion: Developing emotional intelligence. Payne†™s thesis centered on the idea that society’s historical repression of emotion is the source of wide-scale problems such as addiction, depression, illness, religious conflict, violence and war. Daniel Goleman, a psychologist and behavioral science journalist, later popularized the term and developed related concepts in his influential book, Emotional Intelligence (1995). In Working with Emotional Intelligence (1998), Goleman explored the function of EI on the job. According to Goleman, emotional intelligence is the largest single predictor of success in the workplace. Goleman and others have developed the concept of a testable EQ (emotional intelligence quotient) counterpart to the IQ (intelligence quotient). In contrast to the focus on academically-oriented skills, such as mathematical ability, that are evaluated in an IQ test, an EQ test focuses more on the individual’s capacity to deal effectively with others. To that end, it evaluates traits and abilities such as self-awareness and empathy, which are sometimes referred to as soft skills. Goleman describes emotional intelligence as â€Å"managing feelings so that they are expressed appropriately and effectively, enabling people to work together smoothly toward their common goals. † According to Goleman, the four major skills that make up emotional intelligence are: * Self-Awareness Self-Management * Social Awareness * Relationship Management. The Importance of Soft skills When it comes to skills in employment, the first line of emphasis is typically towards abilities, training and knowledge of specific skill sets. These are referred to as hard skills. Soft skills are often overlooked, but they also play an important role in day-to-day operations. Small business owners should place equal importance on hard and soft skills during the hiring process for new employees. In addition, current employees should be encouraged to develop soft skills if they are lacking in this area. Drive/Work Ethic This is a difficult skill to quantify, but employees will typically either display a strong work ethic and the drive to complete tasks, or they won’t. While a work ethic is largely an innate skill, it can be learned with proper training and motivation. Some employees may be able to develop a stronger work ethic with incentive based pay or monetary rewards such as bonuses if they reach a certain goal. Communication Skills Communication skills are the most important soft skills for an employee. The ability to communicate through the spoken and written word is a necessity in nearly every industry and in every workplace. Communication skills can be learned and improved with the right training. It may take time for employees to learn effective communication skills, particularly if they have a naturally shy disposition. In this case, a course on public speaking can work wonders. The techniques learned by speaking to a large crowd can be adapted for daily communications and these lessons are typically good confidence builders for employees. Teamwork The ability to work well within a team is another important soft skill. Some employees may naturally feel comfortable working within a group, while others may have problems and prefer to work alone. It is necessary to spot these personality types ahead of time for proper group formation. Every team should have a diverse set of personalities that mesh together as a cohesive whole. Team building exercises can be very beneficial in helping employees develop this skill. Decision Making and Problem Solving Being able to make quick decisions, think on their feet, and solve simple problems are important employee traits. Even simple problems such as a copier being out of toner can grind an office to a halt if no one displays these simple skills. At least one employee needs to have the ability to take charge of a situation and guide the others through if they have difficulty. The employees who display these decision making skills are often excellent candidates for promotion to management level. Importance of Soft Skills in Our Life Most of us feel that if we have good technical knowledge skills we will achieve success. Hence; not many try to learn soft skills. This presentation brings out the importance of soft skills in our life. It shows that without soft skills, it will be difficult for us to achieve progress be successful How to cite Soft Skills, Papers

Euthanasia In The United States Essay Example For Students

Euthanasia In The United States Essay Euthanasia in the United StatesEvery year two million people die in North America. Chronic illness, such as cancer or heart disease, accounts for two of every three deaths. It is estimated that approximately seventy percent of these people die after a decision is made to forgo life-sustaining treatment (Choice in Dying). In America and all around the world, the ongoing debate is whether patients should have the opportunity to implement this critical alternative of euthanasia. Although controversial, it is imperative that United States citizens are not denied this right to a humane death. Groups in opposition to euthanasia say that patients who yearn to make this decision are neither in a healthy psychological state of mind nor have the God-willing right to do so. These groups feel if euthanasia were to become a publicly accepted option to the terminally ill that physicians, family, and even patients may abuse it. They also strongly support modern end-of-life treatment, known as palli ative care, as a more logical and moral option. Perhaps the strongest belief that euthanasia is wrong comes from those who follow the words of the Bible and believe that every aspect of life belongs to God. The Old Testament records an incident involving King Saul of Israel, who became seriously wounded on the battlefield. Fearing the advancing enemy, Saul took his own sword and tried to fall against it. He cried to a soldier, ?Come and put me out of my misery for I am in terrible pain but life lingers on.? The soldier acted in accordance with the wishes of the king and killed him. The soldier then brought some of Sauls armor to David and said, ?I killed him, for I knew he couldnt live.? David ordered the soldier put to death (Eareckson, 111). Those who believe in the Bible clearly see here that, whether a monarch or a common person, mercy killing is perceived as iniquitous in the Lords eyes. To see a more recent example of the Catholic Churchs disagreement of euthanasia we only have to look back a few years. In 1994, for instance , the Dutch television station IKONs filming of the death of a man with Lou Gehrigs disease in a documentary, ?Death on Request,? brought a denunciation from the Vatican (Branegan, 30). Equally important to those supporting the anti-euthanasia cause is the thought of any physician, family member or patient who would abuse this right if given the chance. Naturally, much trust is bestowed in these key players of our lives if anything were to happen to us. The question in this sense is how do we know that they will make decisions in the best interest of the patient if they are unable to speak for themselves? Would the financial and emotional burden on the family of a terminally ill patient cause them to make an irrational decision to directly affect the life of the patient? If the emotional stress doesnt get to some people, the financial burden may definitely hit some families hard these days with the high costs of modern medical treatment. And who couldnt use thousands of dollars in life insurance? The temptation is definitely there. A harsh example of this can be seen in the experience of a fifty-year-old woman with cancer of the bones, liver, lungs, and breast. Her doctor was a Polish-born oncologist, Dr. Ben Zylicz. Dr. Zylicz explained to the woman that he could lessen her pain with drugs, and offered her a hospital room. Aware of Hollands policy allowing doctors to end the lives of the terminally ill by such means, the woman stated, ?I am Catholic. My religious beliefs would never allow me to accept euthanasia.? Zylicz assured the woman that he would take care of her, and she agreed to take the room. After twenty-four hours of morphine treatment she was able to see her family (Eads, 93). Later, a nurse called Zylicz at home with some distressing news. After Zylicz had left the hospital, another doctor entered the patients hospital room and asked her husband and sister to leave. He then ordered an increase in her morphine dosage, but refused to confirm the order in writing. Within minutes the woman was dead. Zylicz demanded an explanation from his colleague. The other doctors reply was, ?It could have taken another week before she died. I needed the bed? (Eads, 93). For reasons like these, if a person were to become disabled without previously completing a living will in a clear state of mind, they should not be put to death. Anyone that would truly wish to die in that state would have taken the initiative to make his or her intentions clear before the crippling event took place. As in all cases, the responsibility of the patients life should be up to a medical staff in concurrence with the patient and family. Undoubtedly, euthanasia can be gruesome and downright immoral if not managed with extreme responsibility, but groups in support of euthanasia still support terminally ill patients option to die with dignity and respect. Euthanasia can be administered with positive effects as long as certain situational factors are always considered. These factors include: the type of assistance, t he type of assistant, the type of illness being dealt with, and the age of the patient. Furthermore, euthanasia or assisted suicide should only be a last ditch effort after optimal palliative care has been administered. Euthanasia, which means ?good death? in Greek, became a world renown movement launched by a celebrated 1973 case of a doctor who helped her mother die and then was acquitted of criminal charges (Branegan, 31). Since then it has been praised and protested all around the world, the United States is a special case though. In the land of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, I initially assumed that this should not really be an issue. Regardless of race, religion, color, or creed, everyone in this country should have the right to make their own decisions regarding their quality of life and where it is heading. A case in point of where euthanasia may be accepted comes in the following story: On her 85th birthday, Virginia Eddy celebrated with her family at a party with all the trimmings. Then, her son wrote, She relished her last piece of chocolate, and then stopped eating and drinking. Her son arranged for her to be placed on a self-administered morphine drip to relieve the pain of dehydration. She died six days later. This death was not a sad death; it was a happy death, Eddy wrote. She had done just what she wanted to do, just the way she wanted to do it?(Euthanasia.com). According to Eddy, his mother had chosen the time and manner of her death and this had been a positive experience for the entire family. Although we will miss her greatly, her ability to achieve her death at the right time and in her right way transformed for us what could have been a desolate and crushing loss into a time for joy?(Euthanasia.com). Obviously, this man truly cared for his mother and her well being, just as any son would. Another demonstration of where euthanasia worked out in the best interest of the patient and family can be found a story of just having t he option of euthanasia available to them. When Annemie Douwes Dekkers husband Hink was first told he had multiple sclerosis in 1978, his family doctor agreed to discuss the possibility of euthanasia when the time ever came to seriously consider it. ?That was a great help to us,? Annemie recalled (Choice in dying). .u61a7ab582acd6f24e7ebd0562890ffa6 , .u61a7ab582acd6f24e7ebd0562890ffa6 .postImageUrl , .u61a7ab582acd6f24e7ebd0562890ffa6 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u61a7ab582acd6f24e7ebd0562890ffa6 , .u61a7ab582acd6f24e7ebd0562890ffa6:hover , .u61a7ab582acd6f24e7ebd0562890ffa6:visited , .u61a7ab582acd6f24e7ebd0562890ffa6:active { border:0!important; } .u61a7ab582acd6f24e7ebd0562890ffa6 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u61a7ab582acd6f24e7ebd0562890ffa6 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u61a7ab582acd6f24e7ebd0562890ffa6:active , .u61a7ab582acd6f24e7ebd0562890ffa6:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u61a7ab582acd6f24e7ebd0562890ffa6 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u61a7ab582acd6f24e7ebd0562890ffa6 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u61a7ab582acd6f24e7ebd0562890ffa6 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u61a7ab582acd6f24e7ebd0562890ffa6 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u61a7ab582acd6f24e7ebd0562890ffa6:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u61a7ab582acd6f24e7ebd0562890ffa6 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u61a7ab582acd6f24e7ebd0562890ffa6 .u61a7ab582acd6f24e7ebd0562890ffa6-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u61a7ab582acd6f24e7ebd0562890ffa6:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Child Obesity EssayFive years later Hink, now fifty years old, had been in a nursing home for a year and was deteriorating rapidly, losing his abilities to communicate and control bodily functions. His widow, now sixty-two, says, ?he had a strong heart; he could have gone on living for years.? When Hink originally requested to be put to death he was denied, but after multiple months and multiple requests he came home from the nursing home to be with his family and was administered poison by a doctor. ?Im convinced we did the right thing,? said Annimie, ?He died a good death? (Choice in dying). Personally, I prefer to think that human factors change society, not that society changes the human factor. The choice of euthanasia is a special thing, and is a decision that belongs to individuals and their consequences. Courts and legislature really have no part in making this an illegal or legal issue (The right to choose to die, 15). Although it is widely believed that euthanasia is wrong under any conditions due to religion, many people are not spiritually strong enough to handle a terminal illness such as cancer or multiple sclerosis in its final stages. I am personally comfortable with the position of my religion, but that does not blind me to the retching realities and soul-searching involved in euthanasia decisions. If a terminally ill patient in great pain makes an informed choice to die and asks for the assistance of a loved one or a long-time personal physician, that should not be publicly viewed as a problem. It shouldnt be wrong to do it for someones mother if it were her dying wish. When making a decision that entails the termination of a life, it should be left up to the patient or the patients living will to express what minimal quality of life would be acceptable to that individual. The view this paper has taken is not to say that euthanasia or assisted suicide should be flat out legal, but rather that it should be accepted by the public in respect of those who suffer more than they can handle and wish to put it to an end. In order to manage these cases effectively there should be limitations to the types of cases that receive this form of treatment. Much like the guidelines put together by the Royal Dutch Medical Association in 1984, the patients condition should be one of ?unbearable suffering that cannot be relieved, and the patient must freely request to die. When a patient does ask, the doctor should not proceed without consulting another independent physician. Then each case must be reported as an ?unnatural death to local officials?(Eads, 95). In addition to these guidelines I propose the patient should also have to provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt that he or she would have made this decision in a stable psychological state. I also feel the patient and immediate family should see a psychologist on at least two separate occasions before the euthanasia takes place to ensure that the intentions are within acceptable limits. Finally, doctors who violate these guidelines before providing their services should have to face anything up to first-degree murder charges. When I first chose to look into this topic I was just concerned that Americans should be given the right to die if it is their wish to do so. After all of my research and analyzing of