I have to say that today's discussion was awesome, and one of the main reasons that I got into this MBA program in the first place. Not to talk down on the curriculum (especially before I've received my first grade...hahahaha), but I really came here for the internship and the people. Discussions like the one's that we had in class today are invaluable to me because of the perspective that everyone brings. The different jobs, backgrounds, cultures, and personalities in our class are going to make for an incredible learning environment for me and I want everyone to know how much I appreciate that at the onset.
I'm in a very interesting spot with the age range, or generation, in which I fall in terms of today's topic. I've always been intrigued about how people grow up and how what they're exposed to affects the way that they view their world, and consequently their relationships, jobs, employers, etc. I'm lucky to have an increased perspective with the age, cultural, and experience differences that our class brings to the table.
All that being said, there were two things that I'm really still thinking about after being in class today. The first one is how much respect I have for the International students that we're so lucky to have in our midst. It's hard enough for me to offer up my opinion being able to understand (for the most part that is) our crazy culture and language, let alone if both of those things were to be completely foreign to me. I've had language classes in the past, all Spanish, and I've always been apprehensive to share at points just because of my own perceived inability to even just speak the language effectively. Let me be the first to say that I hope you all share more of your opinions and perspectives in class because I'm very interested in learning more from you.
Secondly, Tom's statement about 'giving us those trophies' was incredibly insightful. I've been really impressed with Tom since meeting him again, I met him only once prior when he was 14 (I think), and that statement struck a chord with me today. As we've moved to being a society where people spend so much less time actually raising their kids, hanging out as a family, etc. we've overcompensated in categories like that one to try to hide some of our inadequacies. Not everyone falls into this category, don't get me wrong I've seen some amazing young parents, but a lot of parents of the current younger generation seem to blame others for their children's problems instead of themselves. I can't imagine how hard it must be to raise kids, so my opinion might not be all that valid, but I wish everyone got the opportunity to have a family like mine growing up so that they could earn those trophies instead of being given them to cover up for something that everyone deserves.
That point about compensating for inadequacies is pretty on point Jeff. I truly believe (and this will tie in to OB in the end) that western society has become so obsessed with the idea of a "career," personal achievement, etc. that a good deal of the population has become 'workaholics.' I believe this is what makes this recession seem so bad. Today, I know innumerable people who have nothing, I mean NOTHING, outside of work. They may have kids or hobbies, but they get very little attention. When they loose that job, they loose their livelyhood, literally.
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong, I am ambitious and I like making money just as much as anyone. But I think a great deal of the middle class has lost a balance in professional life.
I agree with your feelings about the class discussion. Don't worry, there are many more to come. Not to show any disprespect to any of the other 7 classes that I have taken in the graduate program, but this and my contemporary management class last semester with Dr.Weyant have been the only worthwhile ones in my opinion. While many of my other classes have simply been regurgitating information learned from the book or a repeat of my undergraduate class, Weyant's classes have been so much more. I love the discussion in each class, the focus on new styles of management that I actually will benefit from, and most of all the perspectives of our fellow international classmates. The global society provides many opportunities for different management styles and views on work outside of the American way of life.
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