Supporting Neighborhoods Through Small Business

Neighborhood nuggets sometimes become uncovered when you take the time to explore your neighborhood. As an avid biker who pedals my way to coffee shops, grocery store, and completing general errands I often find myself surprised by the hidden gems in the nooks and crannies of my neighborhood.

The perspective from a bike is very different from the vantage point of a car. You can see so many more things and take your time on small things.

I found a small fruit market that matched the price of one of my favorite stores I typically have to drive to after work. No driving, no out of the way effort, or wasted time. It was right there under my nose!

The store is owned by an ethnic immigrant family in a hidden location someone would not suspect to find a niche outlet. A small sign on the main street and a small parking lot behind the building. You would hardly know its there unless you were introduced to it or happened to look in that direction.

Such hidden nuggets are what makes a neighborhood stronger. People who can buy their basic items within a mile or so of their house might soon become familiar with other people if they frequent these businesses on a regular basis.

The advent of the car and supermarket destroyed local stores and business. However, the strongest and most sustainable neighborhoods have the right kind of small businesses dotting their landscape. They are eclectic with small town charm.

Coffee shops, clothing, grocery, cafes, bars, mechanic, movies, and recreational business attract locals and create a sense of community by the people who go there regularly. No need to drive when you can walk of bike just down the street.

Urban planning should consider the aesthetic and strategically placed small business to support neighborhoods, improve housing values, create a sense of community, and reduce crime. That means helping a neighborhood to form a sense of identity by creating social landmarks.

Developing Intellectual Capital for Economic Growth

Intellectual capital is an investment in the future as knowledge that pays dividends across a wide range of economic activities. Intellectual capital is the knowledge of people within an organization or society and provides those entities with competitive value. Nations and businesses improve their competitive positions by foster knowledge workers that can create value generating products and services on the market.

Intellectual capital is an asset capable of yielding profits, a competitive resource, a process and knowledge, and a level of skill (Vlasenko & Vasylenko, 2015). Intellectual capital is based in those skill sets that have the highest values on the international market and therefore can create the most lucrative products. Companies that have more highly knowledgeable employees are generally more successful that those who don't.

The value is dependent on the competitive position and market segmentation the entity seeks to maintain a presence in. The right skills will either need to be fostered from either training, education, or borrowing. Each choice has a cost both at the individual company level and at the national level. Where and how each nation seeks to invest determines it long-term competitiveness.

Companies can provide better training for those skills that have the most benefit. They do have the ability to put people through rigorous programs specific to their company. As a nation we can choose to fix our student loan and access problems to foster more intellectual capital in specific industries. Of course we may also choose to either outsource or provide visas to highly skilled individuals.

I am an advocate of creating home grown intellectual capital and offering visas and eventual citizenship to those who fill the gaps in our own skill sets. This requires government to be a partner with industry, understand industry, and further international economic development. Preparing America for a higher level of performance rests on our ability to get the right people in the right places.That means encouraging people to learn and train on relevant jobs that expand the economic engines.

Vlasenko, T. & Vasylenko, Y. (2015). Theoretical and methodological aspects of defining the intellectual capital. Problems of Economy, 1.

The Similarities and Differences Between Online and Offline Professors

Online education is growing and so is the need for full-time online faculty. For those who have become accustomed to traditional educational models and the historical buildings on campus they should expect a few differences before migrating to a full-time online position. Even though online teaching is rewarding it isn't for everyone due to the differences in the nature of work.

Some simply won't be able to work for long periods of time remotely and miss going onto campus everyday. Cultural shock is one of the reasons why hopeful professors seek to transfer back to campus based systems. However, some enjoy the experience and freedom to work from home that online teaching offers.

The type of work such as teaching, research, committees, publishing, and mentoring stay the same. Differences often include:

Interaction with Students: Interaction with students will be different. Even though there is email, phone, text and many other methods the overall process is remote. This is very different than meeting your students face-to-face every day. The interaction can be just as rewarding but takes on a different form.

24/7 Schedule: Where the traditional professor has a specific class schedule and office hours the online professor is engaged throughout the day and week. He/she may not need to be connected all the time and has flexibility to work at various times they generally check in often.

Interacting With Colleagues: Professors at traditional universities interact throughout the day and many times in face-to-face sessions. Online professors also interact but do so via virtual format. They do meet each other during conferences, special meetings and events.

Pre-Designed Courses: Depending on where someone works most course are going to be pre-designed in the online world. Online professors can implement and change curriculum but not to the same extent as a traditional university. The reason being that the online format requires programming and basic shells are applied.

Marrying Business Schools and Industry for Relevant Curriculum

Business schools prepare students for business-that is what they are known for! They move through the basic business principles, theories, and skill sets needed to succeed in a highly complex world of international commerce. The curriculum is based in the needs of the business community and the general needs of society. The closer the curriculum is tied to actual business requirements, the higher the relevance of the school.

It should be noted that there is a difference between the brand of a school and the quality of its education. In many cases, brands do recognize quality but are not exactly the same thing. The best schools continue to look at, connect with, and research industry needs to develop appropriate skill sets.

Sometimes this knowledge comes through  looking at larger industry reports, reviewing previous studies, and other impartial public information. The other option is to conduct surveys and research that asks industry leaders what they are looking for. Let the market lead the school!

I am advocate of generating research by connecting with industry. It does two important things. First it turns a university from a knowledge user to a knowledge generator, and secondly it advertises the university to potential employers. No harm in offering stronger collaboration when the free results are sent and published.

The more business schools can connect with industry needs the better they can prepare students to take leading jobs. The education offered by the school becomes relevant and continuously updates each time a program and/or course goes through a developmental cycle. Universities that are focused on their end users will find themselves as praised gatekeepers to higher knowledge and higher paying jobs.

5 Sites That Help Student's Find Jobs

With a freshly printed degree in hands students walk off the podium in full gown and begin to capitalize on that degree as soon as possible. Their hopes and dreams are associated with providing a better life for themselves and the people they support. Reality hits when they have to find gainful employment but don't know where to use their new skills.

College often focuses on the skills needed to obtain employment but doesn't help student necessarily know where those jobs are or what they will need to apply. Sometimes students lack of employment prospects could be a direct result of not knowing where to apply. Schools that help students understand the job market may also benefit from better ratings.

Of course finding a job isn't only about the university and knowledge. It is necessary for student's to also have the motivation to apply for those jobs, communication skills, be ready for employment, and have something to sell on the market. Yet getting them in the right place to start looking can make a big difference if they are inclined to maximize their degree. 

5 Sites to Help Students Find Jobs:

http://www.indeed.com

http://www.simplyhired.com/

http://www.monster.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/

https://www.usajobs.gov/

The Problem of International Online Students and Local Adjuncts

Colleges adopted online platforms throughout the higher education institutions to enhance their current models. Traditional colleges are hiring local professors for online adjuncting work while not fully considering the benefits of diverse geographical hiring online education offers.  Moving beyond the traditional hiring model can help in creating an enhance educational experience.

Using local professors is great but doesn't really open the students mind to new places, ideas, and peoples. Local cultures have different values and these values are based on the way they see the world. Culture seeps through everything they do, think about, and say.

You can look around the adjunct job boards and find that many traditional universities don't post out adjunct work. Some of this is due to the influx of applications they receive but many others are a result of not yet fully understanding the online economy. They are relying on their land oriented models.

The risk is that they don't fully embrace the online economy and the potential advantages it offers. Colleges have always been slow to adapt. Very qualified adjunct, or full-time professors, are not included in their applicant pool simply because they are unaware of the opportunities. At the end of the day, the student and the university suffer from a lack of perspective.

Is Delayed Gratification the Key to Financial Success?

Your standing in a store and there in front of your eyes is a brand new watch at the bargain price of $250. Looks great on your watch and people will notice the next time you sit in a meeting. Do you buy it then or do you wait a few days to think before purchasing it? The way in which you answer that question will likely determine your overall financial success in life.

Many of the purchases we make are based on impulse. We see something that attracts us and our mind starts thinking about all the positive things the item offers. Sometimes this is about its utility and at other times it is more about how we perceive the item in relation to ourselves.

Positive images in our heads leads to positive feelings which increases our impulses to buy the product. We evaluate cost in terms of money and then decide on a purchase. If the item really has us salivating the money seems so much less important.

Those who can plan their purchases, save for items, and cut back spending on unnecessary items are likely to be successful because they can put their money into savings and investments. The more they can delay gratification for unnecessary things and focus on their long term goals the more successful they will be. A few tips below:

-Wait a few days to buy a product.
-Plan large purchases through savings.
-Understand what you need and what you don't need.
-Avoid using credit cards and debt.
-Put away money each paycheck.
-Cut back on fixed expenses and budget discretionary income.
-Rethink the first impulse.
-Evaluate the cost of items in terms of work hours.