Stress and Performance Essay Example for Free

Stress and Performance Essay So far, we have seen that stress is a negative experience. We have seen the short-term negative effects that stress hormones can have on your performance, and have seen how stress can contribute to burnout. The Positive Effects of Pressure Sometimes, however, the pressures and demands that may cause stress can be positive in their effect. One example of this is where sportsmen and women flood their bodies with fight-or-flight adrenaline to power an explosive performance. Another example is where deadlines are used to motivate people who seem bored or unmotivated. We will discuss this briefly here, but throughout the rest of this site we see stress as a problem that needs to be solved. And the Negative In most work situations jobs, our stress responses causes our performance to suffer. A calm, rational, controlled and sensitive approach is usually called for in dealing with most difficult problems at work: Our social inter-relationships are just too complex not to be damaged by an aggressive approach, while a passive and withdrawn response to stress means that we can fail to assert our rights when we should. Before we look further at how to manage stress and our performance, it is important to look at the relationship between pressure and performance in a little more detail, first by looking at the idea of the â€Å"Inverted-U†, and second by looking at Flow. This is the ideal state of concentration and focus that brings excellent performance. Pressure Performance – the Inverted U The relationship between pressure and performance is explained in one of the oldest and most important ideas in stress management, the â€Å"Inverted-U† relationship between pressure and performance (see below). The Inverted-U relationship focuses on people’s performance of a task. The left hand side of the graph is easy to explain for pragmatic reasons. When there is very little pressure on us to carry out an important task, there is little incentive for us to focus energy and attention on it. This is particularly the case when there may be other, more urgent, or more interesting, tasks competing for attention. As pressure on us increases, we enter the â€Å"area of best performance†. Here, we are able to focus on the task and perform well – there is enough pressure on us to focus our attention but not so much that it disrupts our performance. The right hand side of the graph is more complex to explain. Negative Thoughts Crowd Our Minds We are all aware that we have a limited short-term memory: If you try to memorize a long list of items, you will not be able to remember more than six or eight items unless you use formal memory techniques. Similarly, although we have huge processing power in our brains, we cannot be conscious of more than a few thoughts at any one time. In fact, in a very real way, we have a limited â€Å"attentional capacity†. As we become uncomfortably stressed, distractions, difficulties, anxieties and negative thinking begin to crowd our minds. This is particularly the case where we look at our definition of stress, i. e. that it occurs when a person perceives that â€Å"demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilize. † These thoughts compete with performance of the task for our attentional capacity. Concentration suffers, and focus narrows as our brain becomes overloaded. As shown in the figure, this is something of a slippery slope: the more our brain is overloaded, the more our performance can suffer. The more our performance suffers, the more new distractions, difficulties, anxieties and negative thoughts crowd our minds. Other research has shown that stress reduces people’s ability to deal with large amounts of information. Both decision-making and creativity are impaired because people are unable to take account of all the information available. This inability accounts for the common observation that highly stressed people will persist in a course of action even when better alternatives are available. It also explains why anxious people perform best when they are put under little additional stress, while calm people may need additional pressure to produce a good performance. Notes on the research behind the Inverted-U: While this is an important and useful idea, people’s evaluations of stress and performance are by necessity subjective. This has made it difficult to prove the ‘Inverted-U’ idea formally. Also, for ease of explanation, we show a smooth curve here. In reality, different people have different shaped and positioned inverted-Us at different times and in different circumstances. This is all part of â€Å"life’s rich tapestry†. Entering a State of Flow When you are operating in your â€Å"area of best performance†, you are normally able to concentrate, and focus all of your attention on the important task at hand. When you do this without distraction, you often enter what Professor Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi of Chicago University describes as a state of ‘flow’. This involves â€Å"being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved, and youre using your skills to the utmost. You perform at your best in this state because you are able to focus all of your efforts, resources and abilities on the tasks at hand. While you are sufficiently motivated to resist competing temptations, you are not so stressed that anxieties and distractions interfere with clear thought. This is an intensely creative, efficient and satisfying state of mind. It is the state of mind in which, for example, the most persuasive speeches are made, the best software is developed, and the most impressive athletic or artistic performances are delivered. Helping Yourself to Get Into Flow One of the frustrations of management is that managers can feel that they lose the ‘right’ to these periods of deep concentration when they must be readily available to others, and be able to deal with the constantly changing information, decisions and activities around them. Studies of good managers show that they rarely get more than a few minutes alone without distraction. This alone can be frustrating, and can contribute strongly to managerial stress. In jobs where concentration is a rare commodity, there are various solutions to creating the periods of flow that sustain good performance. Solutions include working from home, or setting aside parts of the day as quiet periods. Another solution might be to delegate the activities that require the greatest levels of concentration, allowing the manager to concentrate on problems as they arise, serving to create a flow of its own. One of the key aims of this site is to help you manage stress so that you can enter this state of flow, and deliver truly excellent performance in your career.

marketing rules Essay -- essays research papers

This is an introduction with insight on what Guerrilla Marketing is. The main idea of Guerrilla Marketing is to try and get the most out of advertising, by using the least expense. There was a statement that suggested using alternative plans rather than standard expensive plans discussed in textbooks. Most of those plans are developed for large corporations with a huge spending budget. Guerrilla's don't have the same revenue to spend on large advertising campaigns. The best plan is to make the most of the money that is available to the company. Technology is a huge benefit to business owners of today. In today's society this is something that must be pursued and will also offer huge benefits to the Guerrilla's. There also was general information about tomorrow's customer. One aspect that stood out, was the fact that they will be less forgiving and will greatly appreciate warmth and attention. There was also a list of the fastest growing areas. These areas are Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Texas and Utah.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Entrepreneurial marketing is to be very profitable for the owner who wants to get it right the first time. This helps by focusing on the task at hand and trying to perfect the operation. The single most effective improvement a company can make, is reducing as many errors as possible. There also is a slim possibility that only a few customers are enough to run a business and make a profit. This is very important in understanding the way key customers spend at your company. 80/20 rules are very important to keep in mind. This is a rule that tells us that 80% of the profits come from 20% of the customers. There is also the key to try and make the most out of the money spent. One great example is how to use a business card effectively. The business card should have as much information as possible. This will help to get the entire guerilla effect. A business card can provide valuable information, but it can also be used as a resume. A small business also has the chance to get up close and personal with it's customers. This is a great tool for the Guerrilla that is willing to try and be involved with the customer.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are thirteen important marketing secrets. This is a list of secrets that are used by the guerilla's in the marketing industry. The main secrets that stood out t... ...Guerilla that understands the thought process of the consumer and uses that understanding to better the chances of the sale. This can be the use of the point of purchase displays or the way the music is played, and the overall feel of the area. It is good to create a human bond that will help to enforce the quality of the shopping experience. There are also language of colors that will help the business. It is important to understand the aspects of the colors and how they affect the consumer. One of the best aspects is to use the name of the individual. This makes the consumer comfortable and will help them in repeating business.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  How Guerilla's win battles is very important in creating a marketing plan to be followed. This can be a very tough task and hard to implement. It is also very important to launch this in a slow motion. Take small steps to the goal and be sure to move slowly. This will allow for a comfort level to be developed. Another very important aspect is to measure the results. It is impossible to know how a marketing plan is if there is no data to compare the changes to.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Coconut Oil Essay

Edible oils are found in large amounts in our daily diets hence adding up to a great amount of fatty acids in our system. Examples are in our stews, some soups, several rice dishes, fried or grilled meat and fish. Many have thus perceived that oil has been the cause for several of the ailments that have plagued and still plague our race, especially heart disease and other related cholesterol issues (Blonz, 1991).Nature gives the best source of oils, such as palm kernel and coconut oil. Coconut oil was maligned as one of such oils by the American Soybean Association (ASA), when the true cause was rather the vegetable oils in our food. Why was coconut oil the victim and what truly does coconut oil do? Coconut is scientifically known as Cocos nucifera. Coconut oil, just one of the many products from the coconut plant, comprises medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) found also in breast milk, which strengthen the immunity of babies to diseases.Coconut oil is in two main types; RBD (Refined, bleached and deodorized) coconut oil and Virgin coconut oil (the others that are often seen on the market are just versions of these two).The difference is characterized by the amount of processing the oil undergoes. RBD oils are made from dried coconut meat, ‘copra’ as Virgin oil is made from fresh coconut meat, ‘non-copra’. Another method for differentiating them is by their smell and taste (Fife, 2005). Virgin coconut oil is highly favoured due to its flavoured taste and sweet aroma in comparison to its counterpart, RBD oil which is bland. Coconut oil is referred to generally as the â€Å"functional food† by dieticians, since it possesses health benefits beyond its nutritional content. Diabetic and hypoglycaemic patients have at certain instances being prescribed coconut oil, based on scientific evidence that it gives the user energy, much more than those found in glucose or insulin, not fat as do the other oils (vegetable oils) we take in daily, which contain long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) which require the pancreatic enzymes and bile from the gall bladder, necessary for fat digestion. After breakage of the LCFAs, the individual fatty acids are then absorbed into the intestinal walls and converted into little fat bundles (lipoproteins). As the lipoproteins circulate the body through the blood, small fats are released from them, thus causing the fat that collects in arteries, clogging blood flow and thus leading to atherosclerosis and its kind. LCFAs are found largely in vegetable oils which we consume incessantly every day, in our meals, like our beef, chicken, some butter, corn and in most palm oils. MCFAs on the other hand, are easily soluble in water so they are easily taken into the intestinal tract, needing very little activity from the enzymes and bile, thus travel straight to the liver through the portal vein as they bypass the lipoprotein formation stage. So, they do not circulate the blood as other fats do they just produce the needed energy for the body’s usage. This was proven by Applegate (1996) as essential for use by even athletes and some other professionals. Due to the easy ability of MCFAs to be digested, they tend to also improve the absorption of nutrients, taken with it. The inclusion of coconut oil in diets, enhances calcium, fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) and some of the B vitamins uptake by the body, this is possible by the coconut oil being able to quickly get into the bloodstream as it needs less work done on it by the enzymes and other factors present. The coconut oil can be applied on the skin of patients or people whofind it difficult to ingest substances or have problems with their digestive tracts. Consumers of coconut oil have also testified that, it serves as a sort of weight manager. The underweight and malnourished have testified that it increased their weight considerably, as the overweight and obese said they experienced loss in weight, all because the presence of coconut oil controls the rate of metabolism. Metabolism is evaluated by measuring energy expenditure, which is the rate at which calories are consumed. The MCFAs found in coconut oil, according to research has been seen to cure, even prevent the most infectious of diseases, making it difficult for fungal (ringworm, athlete’s foot and candidiasis), bacterial (ulcers, pneumonia and gonorrhoea) and viral (influenza, measles, hepatitis C) infections to exist in any condition in which they both exist. For this reason, many medical professionals have instilled the practice of adding coconut oil to their formulas. These sightings of the antimicrobial property of coconut oil, were first reported by Jon Kabara, Ph.D. in 1966, when trying to solve food preservation problems. Parasites, such as giardia were also discovered to be affected by this action of the oil. According to Fife (1996), the antimicrobial action undertaken by coconut oil, can be briefly explained based on the size of the trans fatty acid (medium) and its reaction when in man. The MCFAs in coconut oil (namely, lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid) are broken down to short-chain fatty acids, SCFAs (monolaurin, monocaprylin and monocaprin); only then, do they become activated in the digestive tract. Each SCFA has a specific function, thus they synergistically work together to destroy germs. As a result, studies are on the path to obtain the cures for the currently tormenting infirmities that we live with, AIDS and SARS, to name a few are still under the microscope, undergoing gruesome tests to see how best they can be eradicated. Truly nature is serving us with a panacea, but whether we’ll take it depends on us. To further buttress on the attributed medical prowess possessed by coconut oil, consider Porfirio (Paul) Sorse, a Filipino, who later turned an American because the Philippines were a U.S. territory and served as cook in the First World War. Paul was considered by many as a remarkable individual who lived by coconut oil. He was hailed by those living close to him as a physician, all because he miraculously cured many conditions with the application of coconut oil to the affected region, be it internal or external. He was even approached by somepharmaceutical companies, all in search for his secret formula in making the oil, which he refused. Paul used the oil for every imaginable use; as a lotion, in cooking, as a drug, for massages and the lot. Paul died at the ripe age of 102, not suffering any ailment, as he never smoked or drunk in his entire life but survived on coconut oil (Fife, 2005). Coconut oil can cure every ailment in this world though not yet completely proven with scientific facts for some of them. Many ailments have so far being treated with coconut oil and have been flushed out of the systems of the ill. Though the list is quite lengthy, it contains many familiar names, a few include; aches and pains, acne, allergies, arthritis and stiff joints, asthma, athlete’s foot, atherosclerosis, bad breath and body odour, insect bites and stings, bladder infection, bacterial and viral infections, blisters, blood pressure, boils, bruises, cancer, candidiasis, cataracts, colds, liver disease, constipation, dandruff, diabetes, insomnia, indigestion, nose bleed, obesity, ulcer and wrinkles. As a medicine, coconut oil can also be included in diets to treat illnesses, that is serving as cooking oil or even just mixed with any food. It can also be applied on the skin as a lotion, hair pomade, massaging oil or suntan oil. The direct application of coconut oil to the skin, allows the body easily get access to the nutrients for energy, as a result giving the skin the much sought smoothness that the ailment might have tampered with. In other words producing a more happy, healthy and beautiful handsome you free from any ailment as the immunity of the human is enhanced. These facts go a long way to disprove the evidence provided, that coconut oil is the cause of heart diseases and explains why coconut lovers or coconut bearing communities live longer and experience at times no illness in their lives. REFERENCES Applegate, L. (1996). Runners World. Nutrition, (31), 26-27. Blonz, E.R. (1991, January 23). Scientists revising villain status of coconut oil. Oakland Tribune, p. 22. Fife, B. (2005). Coconut cures: Preventing and Treating Common Health Problems with Coconut. Colorado: Piccadilly Books Limited. Fife, B. (1996). Coconut: Eat fat, Lose weight. Retrieved April 3, 2011 from the World Wide Web: http://www.simplycoconut.com//

Clash Of Civilizations Summary - 780 Words

In Amartya Sens book, Identity and Violence, he discusses an article that was written by Samuel Huntington, called Clash of civilizations. The article Clash of Civilizations is Huntingtons take on how violence will be caused post Cold War. . He argues that the cause of violence after the Cold War will be due to differences within cultural and religious identities. However, this article was written in 1993, and surely times have changed from then. Theres been quite a few articles written critiquing Huntingtons, Clash of Civilization since it was written. Of those critiques, I will be using Edward Saids article â€Å"The Clash of Ignorance,† and of course Sen’s discussion of the Clash of Civilizations in Identity and Violence. Sen jumps†¦show more content†¦I remember interrupting a man who, after a lecture I had given at a West Bank university in 1994, rose from the audience and started to attack my ideas as Western, as opposed to the strict Islamic ones he es poused. Why are you wearing a suit and tie? was the first retort that came to mind. They’re Western too. He sat down with an embarrassed smile on his face†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He also goes on to say that the Clash of Civilization that the comparison of the West and Islam needs to stop and we must find more parallels between the two groups to resolve some issues. When I first read Clash of Civilization I agreed with everything Huntington said. After I read the critiques and saw a new perspective on the article I felt very different about it. Once I had read the critiques and had a better grasp on the Clash of Civilizations I saw the article as something that only scratched the surface of all the issues that would develop post cold war. I can understand why the article was so popular at the time of when it first came out because then it was accurate and easy to read. However, as time goes on politics, culture, and society in general is becoming increasingly more complex and the Cla sh of Civilization has failed to keep up with it. The article is overlyShow MoreRelatedA Summary Of The Clash Of Civilization1608 Words   |  7 Pageseconomic lifestyles of multiple civilizations created with are two of the greatest theories on the future of the world. First, Huntington P. Samuel writing the â€Å"Clash of Civilizations: And the Remaking of World Order, then Edward Said writing a scholarly essay on his theory known as Orientalism. These two theories both established in the same era refer to issues within economies like the Women in the Middle World. Clash of Civilization The Clash of Civilizations is a theory or hypothesis that cameRead MoreThe Clash of Civilizations: a Summary of Samuel Huntington’s Controversial Political Analysis and Its Critics2367 Words   |  10 PagesPOLI 100 - F10N01 Gabrielle Bishop The Clash of Civilizations: A Summary of Samuel Huntington’s controversial Political Analysis and its Critics â€Å"Culture and cultural identities, which at the broadest level are civilizational identities, are shaping patterns of cohesion, disintegration, and conflict in the post-Cold War World† - Samuel Huntington POLI 100 - F10N01! Gabrielle Bishop In a 1993 article published in Foreign Affairs, Harvard Professor of Government and Political Scientist SamuelRead MoreThe Clash of Civilizations: a Summary of Samuel Huntingtons Controversial Political Analysis and Its Critics2376 Words   |  10 PagesPOLI 100 - F10N01 Gabrielle Bishop The Clash of Civilizations: A Summary of Samuel Huntington’s controversial Political Analysis and its Critics â€Å"Culture and cultural identities, which at the broadest level are civilizational identities, are shaping patterns of cohesion, disintegration, and conflict in the post-Cold War World† - Samuel Huntington POLI 100 - F10N01! Gabrielle Bishop In a 1993 article published in Foreign Affairs, Harvard Professor of Government and PoliticalRead MoreThe Cold War Was Easy : Capitalism Vs. Communism1402 Words   |  6 PagesUniversal Civilization.† Although he stated that, â€Å"you need to start with a certain kind of sensibility† he admitted, â€Å"I have no unifying theory of things† as well as, â€Å"I am not going to attempt to define this civilization.† Not accepting Naipaul’s theory that, â€Å"in general, the cultural coming together of humanity and the increasing acceptance of common values, beliefs, orientations, practices and institutions by peoples throughout the world†¦Ã¢â‚¬  would create this â€Å"Universal Civilization,† Samuel PRead More Clash Of Civilizations Essay examples1587 Words   |  7 Pages The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order by Samuel P. Huntington is an extremely well written and insightful book. Samuel P. Huntington is the Albert J. Weatherhead III University Professor at Harvard University, director of the John M. Olin Institute for Strategic Studies, the chairman of the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies, and the president of the American Political Science Association. During the Carter administration, Huntington was the director of securityRead MoreAnalysis Of Alfred Huntington s The Cold War 1808 Words   |  8 PagesHuntington Essay Summary Critique The Huntington Essay is a piece that was written in 1993, and was written to hypothesize a world order that was to come with the end of the Cold War. Before this time, many of the problems in society had to do with ideologies or political disputes, such as democracy against communism. In the Huntington Essay, the main point/argument that he is trying to portray is that the biggest differences between people in the world are no longer ideological, political, orRead MoreSeptember 11 Attacks and Nationalist Terrorist Groups Essay1414 Words   |  6 Pageswar as a clash between Islam and Western civilization. The al-Qaeda terrorist campaign against the United States has been classified as a war between the â€Å"ummah†Ã¢â‚¬â€Arabic for the â€Å"Muslim community†Ã¢â‚¬â€and the Christian and Jewish West. Bin Laden openly perpetuates conflict between Islam and the West. â€Å"This battle is not between al-Qaeda and the U.S.,† the al-Qaeda leader said in October 200 1, yet â€Å"this is a battle of Muslims against the global crusaders.† From Bin Laden’s perspective, this â€Å"clash of civilizations†Read MorePolitics, Religion, And The War Of Ideas951 Words   |  4 Pagesfreedom.† That is to say, that in the Quran, Muslims are encouraged to respect other religions, although the media shows a different story. In contrast, a contributor to the book Debating the War of Ideas Akbar Ahmed answers the question The Clash of Civilization? â€Å"When the conversation turned to further humiliations, notably Abu Ghraib, my companion drew a direct link between American policies and Muslim anger and despair in this part of the world.† Ahmed’s argues that there is a lack of respectRead MoreC112 Theorist Critique Assignment1913 Words   |  8 Pages Barnett The Pentagon’s New Map: It Explains why We’re Going to War and why We’ll Keep Going to War Friedman National Strategies and Capabilities for a Changing World: Globalization and National Security Huntington The Clash of Civilizations Kaplan The Coming Anarchy: How Scarcity, Crime, Overpopulation, Tribalism, and Disease are Rapidly Destroying the Social Fabric of Our Planet Your paper must be typed and double-spaced; use Times New Roman 12-pitch font and one-inchRead MoreThe s Argument Of The International System Essay2098 Words   |  9 Pagesmany examples of the point being made puts it into perspective for the reader and helps them understand it, making them more likely to accept it as being true. Total Word Count (509) Analysis #2: Public Diplomacy and Soft Power – Joseph S. Nye Jr. Summary (184) There are three types of power, soft power, in which a state gets others to want what they want, it is an attractive power. Soft power comes from a state’s culture, political values, and foreign policy (Nye, 96). Hard power is coercive power