The manager who couldn't manage

A manager without vision

Is a manager without a goal.

It’s like his brain is in prison

And it’s still not whole.

He needs to learn how to effectively communicate

And that’s only half the job.

He most definitely needs to delegate

And I like to call him Bob.

Maybe he should have a McGangbang or two,

He’ll manage like Jackie Chan

And bust out the business kung-fu.

He needs to learn from Professor Kurpis,

He’ll have as much fun,

As he can have at a circus.

Blog You!

When I first learned about the blog assignments we would be given for class, my first thought was, ah crap.  I thought they would be annoying since I’m not a huge fan of writing but I was wrong.  I believe the blog has been a great tool for this class because everyone was able to apply what was learned in class to their own lives.  I found it interesting to read about others’ opinions and views about the week’s blog topic.  What made it even better was being able to write on others’ blogs.  You can disagree, agree and add on to whatever idea another person had.  This way, both people can learn something either about themselves or about the topic.  

Another benefit of the blog was getting to know other people in class.  After writing something on someone’s blog, you can bring it up next time you see the person.  Who knows, that person might become your best friend one day and you wouldn’t have known them if it weren’t for the blog.  

One of the best things about the blog is that it’s worth 20% of the grade.  You are completely in control of whether you receive the full 20% or not.  This is very beneficial because it relieves a lot of pressure from all the students.  Most classes rely solely on test grades, meanwhile this one does not.  It’s less to worry about; something that every college student wishes for more of.

The blog is great to keep working on because it’s an excellent way to keep in touch with others from the class and even the professor.  You can learn a lot and ask a lot by keeping the blog active.  Your next interview might come from someone you know through the blog or you can even use the blog as an example during an interview. 

I now see that there are countless benefits to this blog that I couldn’t notice in the very beginning.      

When is it okay to ask for a gangbang?

Can you say that you’ve asked someone for a gangbang?  Anyone’s answer is most likely going to be no.  Well, I can proudly say that I have…a McGangbang that is.  For those of you who thought I was talking about the other thing, get your mind out of the gutter!  I don’t know what the best part of this assignment was.  It was either the five points or the look on the cashier’s face when I asked for the sandwich. 

            I started my search for a McGangbang during the first days of spring break and wasn’t very successful.  I figured I would try a McDonald’s restaurant that wasn’t near my house because I thought that it would be too slow since they don’t get much business.  My first unsuccessful restaurant I visited was a McDonalds on 8^th between 43^rd and 44^th.  The store wasn’t very busy so I figured I would definitely get it but the total opposite happened.  As soon as I asked for the sandwich, the cashier said, there’s no way we can do that and proceeded to help the next customer.  I was quite surprised how quickly I was denied my request but I wasn’t going to give up so soon.  On my way home I stopped off at a McDonald’s in Brooklyn and proceeded to order the sandwich the same way I did in the other restaurant.  At first the cashier gave me a confused look because she didn’t know what I was saying.  After I explained what the sandwich was she started shaking her head no.  This is when I started begging her to make the sandwich.  My friends found this rather amusing so they decided to record it (watching the video afterward was quite funny).  Although she wasn’t as stern as the cashier in the previous store, she wouldn’t fulfill my order.  At this point I asked to see the manager and unfortunately she was the manager.  After two consecutive failed tries, I felt as if this was going to be impossible so I actually started to type up a paper talking about how I couldn’t get my sandwich. 

            In a very last minute decision (April 26th, the day before this is due), I chose to go to the McDonald’s closest to my house on Beach 92^nd Street in Queens after I got out of work.  Before this assignment, I haven’t walked into a McDonald’s in over five years.  I think fast food is disgusting so I don’t have any reason to go inside.  From driving past this restaurant I’ve always noticed that they’re never busy.  Since observing this, I figured it would be next to impossible to get the sandwich from this McDonald’s.  Well…it turns out I was very wrong.  There was no line so I walked right up to the cashier and straight out asked for a McGangbang.  To my surprise she turned to her manager and said, “Hey…we’ve got another one of those gangbang sandwiches”.  I couldn’t even begin to describe the look on my face.  I was floored that she knew what I was talking about.  The manager comes up to me and tells me that someone else came in today and asked for the same thing and had to have the receipt signed just like I asked her.  Whoever this person is has to be in our class.  It’s pretty ironic that someone would come into a McDonald’s, ask for that sandwich and then ask for the manager to sign the receipt.  She then proceeded to tell the people making the sandwiches that she needs another double cheeseburger with a McChicken in it.  My order was finished in just over 60 seconds which I thought to be very fast for such a bizarre custom order. 

            I feel that because someone else came in not too long before I did and asked for the same sandwich, my McGangbang experience was not what it should have been.  I should have confused the cashier and maybe gotten one or two people angry since I kept asking for a gangbang.  I also feel that what I observed would have been much different as well.  The manager and the cashier handled the order just like I asked for a Big Mac.  The cashier didn’t ask her manager one question; she knew exactly what to ring it up as.  The only thing I realized that was different than the fulfillment of a regular order was that the manager had to go to the back and tell the workers who put the sandwiches together what to do.  Since this sandwich isn’t on the regular menu, it would not come up the computer screens which tell the workers what the customer has ordered. 

            All in all, my McGangbang experience was interesting but not as much fun as I anticipated.  Getting nasty looks and confused faces would have made my day!

The D, I, S, to the C

Participating in class activities in Professor Kurpis’ class is always fun.  I always learn something about myself and others around me.  I’m sure others feel the same.  During the professional profiling system I noticed that quite a few of the characteristics in the PowerPoint described me so well that I knew to immediately pick them.  

The test nailed it.  The results told me I was a ‘D’, which is 100% correct.  I’m the type of person who knows what they want and won’t give up very easily to get it.  From the first slide, I knew that this test would accurately pinpoint me.  The whole sheet where I wrote down my letter selections was almost all Z’s.  Not for a second do I wish I was another letter.  It would be nice if it were possible to be dominant in two traits but I’ll gladly stick with what I have.

I believe that this test is a fairly good tool to determine ones management type.  The reason why I say fairly is because everyone is different.  For example, just because there is a room full of D’s, it doesn’t mean that they are all the same.  Everyone manages and handles things in a different way.  There is no said right way of managing something.  Two people who both have the same management type can handle a situation in two very different ways.  This test would help in interacting with people because you can know what to generally expect when dealing with someone and not be surprised by their reaction.  

Finding that starfish to throw back into the ocean...

Most start out by saying how amazing the movie was (sarcasm if you didn't catch that) but I need to start out by saying, holy crap...that cost $850?!  I don't know about anyone else but I think we are all in the wrong business.  It's time to enter the world of educational videos.  Anyway, back to the topic...

Yes, we all know the video was uber corny but it did make some valid points.  Having a vision is definitely necessary to have a successful career.  Success doesn't come to people who just sit around and wait for anything to happen.  Being proactive and confident is what will make your vision come true.  Anyone can have a vision, and I'm sure most people have several but never take action to make them happen. 

After I graduate (Spring 2012) I am going to be a police officer.  Yes...I know exactly what you're thinking: Why does he go to Baruch if he wants to be a police officer?  Well, coming into Baruch my first career choice was something in the business field and being a police officer was sort of a back up plan.  After my first internship and taking more classes in the field, I decided that the business world is not for me.  Being a police officer is something I've wanted to do my whole life so I decided to take action.  After I decided that I want a career in law enforcement I took the next step in becoming a police officer which is taking the written exam.  I took the NYPD test over a year ago and scored a 105 out of 100 (5 extra points for living in one of the 5 boroughs). I ranked 14 out of 3,500 test takers (not trying to toot my own horn....well....maybe a little). 

I don't just want to be a 'street cop' for the rest of my life, I want to rank up in the department to Lieutenant in the anti-crime division.  This isn't exactly an easy task so I decided to become more familiar with what is going to be required of me.  My best friends father is the President of my local community police council.  I started attending monthly meetings and introducing myself to the police officers, sargents, lieutenants, and captains.  Long story short...I am now good friends with almost half the precinct and have learned valuable information that will help me make my vision come reality.

Mass chaos in the classroom

While the tests were being given out, the room was full of sighs.  For some, it was like dreams were shot down.  Once we were told what we were to do, I knew it would be difficult regardless of which way it was going to be handled.  It was chaos from the very beginning until someone named themselves a leader. 

            Out of the five ways people act when they encounter a decision making conflict, I chose “accommodation.”  Personally, I was fine with the test the way it was.  It was very clear that not many people agreed with me so I was open to everyone’s suggestions and was eager to listen to their proposals. Taking the first test showed me what to expect for the next one and now I know how to study for it.  

            I feel that most of the class chose “compete to win.”  There were many people that were arguing with others that didn’t approve of their other classmates’ ideas.  Coming to a unanimous decision was no where near easy.  The back and forth arguing continued until most of the class realized that if we don’t come to an agreement on something then we get nothing.  This is when some people started to accommodate others and compromise.

            I think the only way this could have been done quicker is if there was one leader who was reported to by a small group of leaders that listened to a designated group of students.  Although a unanimous decision would still be difficult to get, there would be more order and things may have gone a little smoother.   

Playing with raw eggs

When Professor Kurpis told us that Wednesdays class would be one of the most interesting classes we've ever had, he wasn't kidding.  Its not every day where you're asked to drop raw eggs in class.  When I walked in on Wednesday, I was dumbfounded to see a dozen eggs, a box of straws, and tape.  No one could even begin to think what we would be doing with all this stuff.  When we were told what we had to do, the class blurted out in laughter; it wasn't exactly what most of us were expecting.  Thankfully, I was happy with most of my group members and we worked together well.

For the most part, we followed pretty much all the steps in the 25 minute planning process.  We were quite organized and followed something like a protocol.  We addressed priorities first and took care of the less important things last.  We spent most of our planning time trying to come up with a suitable idea for something to protect our egg from cracking.  Not only did we have to think about it but we also had to try to "sell"  the idea to our fellow group members.  The majority of us agreed on a said design but it didn't turn out as planned.  When the team was given its supplies, we were still discussing our best option to protect the egg.  While we were doing this, two of our group members started building their "idea" of what we were going to build.  At this point, we didn't have enough time to start all over again and build what we wanted and it wasn't worth getting into an arguement.  Although a few members of the group, including myself, did not agree with what was being done, we all helped because after all...there's no "i" in team.