Kalamazoo Kitchen Aftermath

Whenever being assigned group projects it is hard to all agree and make time when everyone is available to meet, but we made it work and I think it went well overall. I learned a great deal on the subject as well as gained more experience with working in groups and did a much better job presenting, not being nervous this time. 

Kalamazoo Kitchen

Personally I think I took charge within the group. I assigned each person a section of the report and tried  as hard as I possibly could to keep the group on task and schedule meeting times. I created the Prezi presentation  and did a lot of the research on Internet marketing today.  I wrote the section on what I researched about Internet marketing  and also helped with the conclusion and anything else the group  needed help with.

Traveling to Sweden

If I were to go to Stockholm the capital of Sweden I feel the business etiquette would be much different than here in the United States. I would definitely do a huge amount of research to find out all about the etiquette and customs of the country. It's important to do your research so you do not do something incorrect and rude which could result in a business trip failure. I would make sure to research all about the corporate/business culture and body language of the country. It is really important to remember not all countries have the same views and traditions as you are used to and that when you are traveling you need to adapt to that culture. 

Topic Choice

My semester thus far has been going alright for the most part. I've been overwhelmed with a few of my classes and trying to get my required food marketing internship has been quite stressful. I know it's a part of college and growing older but each year has gotten harder and more stressful especially this being my senior year. 

My Presentation

I really liked my presentation topic and overall I know a great deal on the subject.  I feel I could have done a better job  by making it longer and not reading right off my slides as much.  I often get nervous when presenting but this time I said  "um" a lot which I don't usually do! For the next presentation I will try and do a better job and hopefully not be as nervous.

Team Projects

When it comes to team projects (though depending on the course) I typically am not a huge fan. In the majority of groups in the past, it seems as if my other group members lacked motivation and I ended up doing the majority of the work by myself. I always try to get my projects done in a timely manner so the team is not rushing the night before to complete it; I think I can only name two times in the past where this has actually happened. What I do really like about working in teams is the fact you have more than just your input and you get other students opinions and help if you get stuck  or confused with any of the material. It is so nice to be able to collaborate and even nicer when it comes time to present, that you are not standing in front of the classroom all by yourself.  

Public Speaking

Honestly I am terrified when it comes to public speaking. This is so strange to me because I am a very outgoing person and I love to socialize. I have very diagnosed anxiety which most likely contributes to how nervous I get presenting in front of others. The larger the audience the more nervous I get with my public speaking and if I am extremely confident and enjoy the topic in which I have to present I tend to be more relaxed and less anxious. I have gotten better over the years though I realize I still need to work on my presentation skills for future success in my career after college.

Writing

I have enjoyed reading, spelling, and writing ever since I was a little girl. I do find writing difficult at times especially trying to make sure what I am writing is formatted and structured correctly. Quite often I know exactly what I wish to say it is just harder for me to figure out how to get my words across. I love being able to express myself in all areas of writing; my favorite type however is journaling, fiction, and blogging. My least favorite being non-fiction and research based. I prefer creativity, first hand experience, and personal accounts/opinions over very structured research based writing. I hope to continue to greatly improve my writing abilities and become more confident in my areas of weakness.

Business Communication

An example of an ineffective piece of business communication would have to be when I recently received an email from my boss. The part that made it ineffective is that it was too broad of an email, I knew immediately that the same email was sent to the other employes I work with. The email was extremely general and when she was asking about a specific day she never even put the time of day it was. Her carelessness made me not even want to read it. The pieces of business communication that I really find effect are ones that are simple yet have important information given, an added bonus being that the person sending it uses your name to address you. 

5 Year Plan

One of my greatest fears in life is the fear of the unknown. When I think of where I will be in the next five years I often get overwhelmed and stressed out because of the uncertainty of the future. I know the world is huge and full of opportunities especially for someone right out of college with a degree. As of now I hope to be married and working in either sales or marketing for a large food corporation such as Kellogg's, Hormel, or Diageo. It will be challenging once I graduate and am out on my own searching for a full time job. I will find it the most challenging if I have to relocate to a place very far away or somewhere I do not really want to live. I hope my job will pay for me to attend graduate school so I can get my masters. I know it is scary to plan ahead and get out on my own but it is also thrilling and my possibilities are endless; I can't wait to see where life takes me.

Being Dependable

One trait I feel that sets me apart from other job applicants in my field is that I am dependable. I continuously strive to preform to the best of my ability and finish any tasks on time. I have noticed throughout my college career how many students try to do the least amount of work necessary to get by or are unreliable when it comes to group work and projects. Being dependable will get you farther in your career because it shows how responsible you are and people will trust in you.

Business Success

The most successful communication factor a business can have is being responsive. Being able to quickly and efficiently answer problems or questions can make a huge impact upon how employees or other companies view you as as an individual or company. Email is one of the quickest and most effective forms of communication but making a phone call will also be very beneficial. I personally love social media so when a company or organization I am interested in are current and respond quick to a Tweet or email I send I think even more highly of them and value their customer service. Availability and following up with someone is both professional and speaks positively of you.

Bus3700

Throughout this Business 3700 course I really hope to improve my writing skills and become an overall more confident writer. I honestly have never written a cover letter so I feel it would be extremely beneficial I learn how to create one. Updating my resume would also help because I will soon be interviewing for Food Marketing internships. I look forward to this course because I know how important it is to be able to effectively communicate with others on a daily basis.