The Good Life Essay Example for Free

The Good Life Essay What is the good life? This ambiguous idea differs for everyone. Americans may believe that to live the good life is to live the American Dream and achieve freedom, equality, and prosperity. Others may believe that the good life involves being very wealthy or famous. Over all, the definition of the good life varies for everyone. There isn’t one specific way that a person should live in order for it to be â€Å"good†. However, although the definition of the good life is very diverse and open to multiple interpretations, in order to live the best life possible, one should concentrate on doing whatever makes him or her happy, listening to his or her conscience and doing what it right, and establishing good relationships with family and peers. The most key piece to living the good life is doing whatever makes one happy. For most adults, this could mean having a job in their dream career field, and actually wanting to get out of bed to go to work in the mornings. Or, it could mean not having a job at all. Nonetheless, most adults would be happy by achieving success in their chosen careers, and having stable and loving families. However, a small number of adults actually achieve this ideal happiness. Regardless, the good life is still attainable. In order to live the good life, one has to strive to find happiness in whatever he or she does. According to Ralph Waldo Emerson in his essay â€Å"The Over-Soul†, one can achieve happiness through God and religion. He states that God is accessible to everyone, religious or not, and that religion is essentially the key to all happiness. For Christians, Emerson’s point of view may be correct. Many Christians believe that God can bring happiness to anyone who believes in Him. For non-Christians on the other hand, Emerson’s idea is irrelevant. Still, religious or not, people should strive to find happiness in whatever they do, and they should learn to accept their lives as they are. Even though no one lives a perfect life, people should aim to make the most out of their lives, and learn to find happiness in even the smallest situations. Doing so would allow one to become closer to attaining the good life. Another important part to living the best life possible is listening to one’s conscience and doing the right thing, and actually feeling good about the decisions that are made. If one’s life consists of doing bad things, he or she will ultimately feel bad about them, and many regrets will be left behind. However, if one does a lot of good deeds throughout his or her life, there will be minimal regrets and he or she will be able to work towards living the best life possible. Listening to one’s conscience is also an effective way of avoiding regrets. Many times, when one doesn’t listen to his or her conscience, regrets occur, because one looks back on the decisions made and realizes that they should have done something differently or listened to their conscience. Even though listening to one’s conscience might not always be the right thing to do or yield the best results, it will allow for one to live with few regrets. And, by living with few regrets, doing what is right, and listening to the conscience, one will become closer to achieving their good life, in whatever way it is defined. The last way to live the best life possible is through establishing good and meaningful with one’s family and peers. A lack of friendships and substantial relationships will most likely leave one feeling very lonely and outcast. However, if one can form positive relationships, they will be more social, happy, and closer to achieving the good life. In Gary Eberle’s text, The Geography of Nowhere, Eberle states that electronics and the media are preventing many people from establishing good, intimate relationships with others. Electronics are causing us to be very disconnected from each other: â€Å"The people spend so much of their lives connected electronically to someplace else that most of the time they hardly seem to be there, or anywhere at all, for that matter† (Eberle 2). Here, Eberle is showing how electronics and the media have caused society to be very disjoint, and they have hindered meaningful relationships from forming. So, in order to live the best life possible, we should strive to overcome the power of electronics and try to continue to make successful relationships with others, as healthy friendships are one of the most important pieces to living a good life. Still, working past the power of electronics is not the only way to secure good relationships. In addition, one ought to be a trustworthy person. Trust is essential to all relationships, and if one is trustworthy, he or she will have more satisfying relationships with others. Along with trust, in order to form good relationships, one could be understanding, generous, comforting, and more. Doing so will allow one to develop healthy relationships with their friends and family, and the good life will then be more reachable. Over all, the good life remains a very unclear idea, and there is no concrete definition on what the good life is, nor is there a definite way on how one is supposed to live it. Still, one can work towards living the best life possible by striving to find happiness in his or her life, as well as listening to his or her conscience, doing what is right, and establishing valuable relationships with peers. If one can do all of these things, they will be closer to achieving their definition of a good life.

Columbia Sportswear Company Essay example -- Corporate Profile

â€Å"Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell and advertise† - Gert Boyle, Chairperson of Columbia Sportswear Columbia Sportswear Company (Columbia) is a leader in the competitive active outdoor apparel industry. A company propelled by their differentiation strategy, leveraging innovation, brand equity, and strong marketing in the design, manufacture, and distribution of outdoor apparel. Columbia’s product lines include everything from outerwear and footwear to camping equipment and skiwear. It has grown from a small hat company in the 1930’s into a company with a global strategy and a physical and online presence spanning Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Europe. To fully appreciate the evolution of Columbia from â€Å"a corporation that was a niche manufacturer of outdoor clothing aimed at fishermen†¦into an international brand and publicly traded powerhouse,† (1) one must understand the level of perseverance, work ethic, dedication, and attitude of one Gertrude Boyle: now 87, but still â€Å"One Bad Mother.† (Exhibit1) Gert Boyle took over the family business in the 1970s after the sudden death of her husband. A candid and straight person, Boyle has often admitted that, having never worked a day in her life, she had no idea what to do when she first began running the company. (2) Despite her lack of experience, Boyle helped turn Columbia from a company near bankruptcy and collapse into a billion dollar publicly traded organization. Along the way she relied on her natural business savvy and perseverance, overcoming trials such as family tragedy and even an attempted kidnapping. Columbia’s corporate culture and business personality reflects a great deal of the ideals which Gert Boyle’s leadership had imbued into the company. ... ...loomberg.com/news/2012-02-07/collective-brands-said-to-pare-pool-of-bidders-to-10-ahead-of-second-round.html?cmpid=yhoo. 41. Regenold, Stephen. Gear Junkie. Columbia calls 'B.S.' on Outdoors Industry. [Online] November 10, 2010. [Cited: April 20, 2012.] http://gearjunkie.com/columbia-sportswear-2011-electric-heated-jackets. 42. Larson, Erik. Columbia Sportswear Files European Antitrust Complaint W.L. Gore. Bloomburg L.P. [Online] June 13, 2011. [Cited: April 20, 2012.] http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-13/columbia-sportswear-files-european-antitrust-complaint-w-l-gore.html. 43. REI. 2009 Stewardship Report. REI Inc. [Online] 2010. [Cited: April 19, 2012.] http://www.rei.com/stewardship.html. 44. Columbia Sportswear Company. Columbia. About Us. [Online] April 18, 2012. [Cited: April 23, 2012.] http://www.columbia.com/About-Us/About_Us_Landing,default,pg.html.

High School and Social Support Essay

The purpose of the study was to determine possible differences in leadership behaviors, using the Revised Leadership for Sport Scale (RLSS), between male and female coaches and among different coaching levels. The researchers submitted two hypotheses. The first hypothesis was that male and female coaches would respond differently to the RLSS in overall leadership behaviors. The second hypothesis was that differences on the RLSS would occur among coaching levels: junior high, high school, and college. The sample was nonrandom, including 162 coaches that were chosen on a volunteer  basis. Within the sample, 118 (0. 73) of the coaches were male, while 44 (0. 27) were female. With regard to coaching level, 25 (0. 15) were junior high coaches, 99 (0. 61) high school, and 38 (0. 24) at the college level. While this is a good sample size, the problem lies with the distribution of the sample. The sample number for junior high coaches, in particular, is rather low. A larger sample with regard to all categories would have aided in the data analysis, particularly when looking for possible interactions between gender and coaching level. The instrument utilized was the Revised Leadership for Sport Scale (RLSS) developed by Zhang, Jensen, and Mann in 1996. This scale is used to measure six leadership behaviors: training and instruction, democratic, autocratic, social support, positive feedback, and situational consideration. The scale uses 60 statements, which were preceded by â€Å"In coaching, I:† A Likert scale was then given for each statement: 1 = never; 2 = seldom; 3 = occasionally; 4 = often; and 5 = always. This produced an ordinal level data set. Scales were administered in a number of environmental settings: classrooms, gymnasiums, practice  fields, and offices. The internal consistency for each section was calculated: 0. 84 for training and instruction; 0. 66 for democratic; 0. 70 for autocratic; 0. 52 for social support; 0. 78 for positive feedback; and 0. 69 for situational consideration. There was no information, however, regarding the validity of the RLSS. A MANOVA was used to analyze the data for differences between male and female coaches with regard to leadership behaviors. This is not consistent with the type of data collected. The RLSS used a Likert scale (ordinal), yet a MANOVA would be most  applicable for normally distributed, quantitative data. The analysis showed there were no significant differences between male and female coaches in overall leadership behaviors. When the six leadership styles were examined separately, there was a significant difference in social support between males and females. In general, females scored much higher than did the male coaches. A MANOVA was also used to examine the data for differences between the three levels of coaching (junior high, high school, and college) with regard to leadership behavior in general. There were significant differences between the three levels. When breaking down the six behaviors and examining them individually, an ANOVA was used to analyze the data. Again, because the data for the RLSS is ordinal, an ANOVA is not the best analysis tool. The three coaching levels scored differently on three of the six behaviors: democratic behaviors, training and instruction, and social support. High school coaches scored much higher than college level coaches in democratic behavior. Junior high coaches were significantly lower in training and instruction than either high school or college coaches. Junior high coaches also demonstrated a lesser degree of social support than either the high school or college coaches. A MANOVA was again used to analyze the data for any interaction between gender and coaching level with regard to overall leadership behavior. Once again, a better analysis method could have been chosen based on the nature of the data collected. The results indicated no significant interactions. The ecological generaliziability for the study is fairly high. The surveys were mailed out, and returned on a volunteer basis. However, due to the nonrandom nature of the sample, the results would not generalizable beyond the 162 participants in the study. There was no effect size is listed for the study. In order to reduce threats to internal validity, the participants were asked to respond honestly and confidentiality was stressed so that the â€Å"coaches might feel more at ease in responding. † No other efforts were indicated. The researchers mention that the scales were given in a variety of settings. This could present a threat to the internal validity in that participants might not have been entirely focused on completing the scale, but instead on coordinating practice, completing  paperwork, etc. There are a number of other factors that could effect the internal validity of the study, yet were not addressed by the researchers. Coaching experience would greatly effect the responses of the participants, yet this was not considered in the study. The gender of the athletes may be a contributing factor to the coaches’ responses. It is not unreasonable to suppose that coaches of female athletes, particularly at the junior high and high school levels, will demonstrate more social support than those of male athletes. The nature of the  sport could also be critical. Certain coaching styles are more applicable for individual sports (wrestling, track, and tennis) than for team sports (football, soccer, and basketball). The socioeconomics and population of the school itself could play a factor. Certain schools have better athletes and programs in a particular sport, while others may not be able to field a winning team. In addition, at the high school level, coaches are occasionally asked/forced to work with a program they have no knowledge of or desire to coach due to staffing  shortages. This could dramatically influence a coach’s response to the scale questions. The history of the program as well as the individual coach’s personal coaching history could greatly influence responses. If the program has had several losing seasons in a row, perhaps the attitude of the coach could be different than that of a coach who has recently won a state title. An additional set of questions regarding the personal history of the coach in question could have helped reduce many of these threats. With additional information, the  researchers may have been able to use a modified matching system when analyzing the results. By increasing the number of independent variables to include things such as coaching experience and gender of the athletes, the researchers could have reduced some of the potential threats to internal validity. In addition, bringing coaches together to a common setting could have reduced location threat. Coaches meet seasonally for clinics. Perhaps obtaining permission to administer the survey during these meetings would have been possible. It would have also been possible to actually go to individual  schools and meet with the coaches as a group to administer surveys. This method would have given a good cross-section of gender and coaching experience for a variety of sports. While the study has merit, the methods need to be re-evaluated. The power of the study needs to be increased by obtaining a larger sample size. The numerous potential threats to internal validity need to be addressed and minimized where possible. It would also be helpful to be given data regarding the validity of the RLSS. Without these, it is impossible to evaluate the potential meaningfulness of this study.

The Energy Of Solar Energy - 1462 Words

According to the National Institute for Energy Research and the U.S. Energy Information Administration, solar energy makes up only 0.5% of total energy consumption in the United States, and over 65% of consumed energy is natural gas and petroleum. (2016) These statistics show that nearly two-thirds of the energy the United States uses is not only non-renewable but the processess of harnessing it also causes pollution. Solar Energy is energy that is transferred through solar radiation in the form of electromagnetic energy. In the transference of solar radiation to Earth from the Sun, only one billionth of this energy arrives at Earth s surface. A joule is the equivalence of one watt of power that is created through exertion for one second. One trillion watts of this generated energy is known as a terawatt. As Haugen and Musser (2012), examined types of alternative, renewable energy sources, they looked at hydro-power. They said that it, â€Å"is the most used renewable energy sourc e used in the United States. It accounted for almost 80 percent of the renewable energy and 9 percent of the total electricity generated in the United States in 2008.† This shows that solar is not the only option for renewable energy, nor is it the most used. Solar power, however, does not instigate change in the environment as hydro-power does. In order for many of the dams to be created to instigate the use of hydro-power, waterways have to be rerouted or otherwise altered from their naturalShow MoreRelatedThe Energy Of Solar Energy1687 Words   |  7 Pagesanalyses of solar energy deployment contained in the Word Energy Outlook, Energy Technology Perspectives and several IEA Technology Roadmaps. It aims at offering an updated picture of current technology trends and markets, as well as new analyses on how solar energy technologies for electricity, heat and fuels can be used in the various energy consuming sectors, now and in the future. If effective support policies are p ut in place in a wide number of countries during this decade, solar energy in its variousRead MoreThe Energy Of Solar Energy1176 Words   |  5 PagesS. Energy Future is one of the most talked about subjects in science. There are many different types of alternative energy to using fossil fuels. Scientists have warned the population that the fossil fuels that we current use for our main fuel source may run out in less than 100 years (James Trefil Robert Hazen, 2013). While the fossil fuels are readily available to our current generations, we need to start making great results in switching our main energy source to more renewable energy forRead MoreThe Solar Of Solar Energy1637 Words   |  7 Pagesin solar energy has been growing in recent years. Solar energy is abundant, clean and renewable. There are two main methods to tap solar energy, i.e. with PV cells and with solar collectors. The former converts sun light directly to electricity while the latter collects the solar ther mal energy (heat) to be used for various applications. Solar collectors have been in existent for many decades. Their usages are experiencing resurgence in the recent years due to the interest in renewable energy sourcesRead MoreThe Solar Of Solar Energy1304 Words   |  6 Pagesthat uses Solar? Solar power is a great way to save money as well as conserve energy. Solar panels convert sunlight into usable energy for housing, businesses, sections of properties, and even stuff like pool equipment. I want to discuss out the three important points about photovoltaic panels starting with the history of solar panels to understanding panels and how they are built, and finally the environmental aspects of photovoltaic panels. For those who don t know, solar energy is radiantRead MoreThe Solar Of Solar Energy1316 Words   |  6 Pagesterawatts of energy. Solar cells offer a means to harness this energy by converting solar energy into electrical energy. While some may argue that solar energy is an inconsistent energy source, research is being poured into creating more efficient solar cells so that when light is incident on the solar cell, the solar cells operate at their highest possible efficiency levels. Currently, the most efficient solar cells convert 34.5% of sunlight to energy. With innovations like floating solar farms, suchRead MoreThe Solar Of Solar Energy1321 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Photovoltaic Solar Energy Throughout history, mankind had always wonder the mysterious secrets of nature with an attempt to make a replica of its magnificent work. Solar photovoltaic energy is the process to convert sunlight into electrical power as energy; imitating the process of photosynthesis that plants create to survive. Photovoltaic energy is not something recently discovered, it actually goes over 160 years The basic science was first discovered in 1839 but the pace of advancementRead MoreAlternative Energy: Solar Energy1323 Words   |  5 PagesIn the world today, alternative energy source which is an alternative to fossil fuel and nuclear energy is becoming more and more of a necessity. Right now, the world’s population growth has caused an increase in the energy demand. Rosenberg (2009) pointed out that the world’s current growth rate is about 1.14%, representing a doubling time of 61 years. OECDs International Energy Agency[IEA] (2014) found that from 2011 to 2035 the world energy demand is likely to rise by more than two-thirds. ThoughRead MoreRenewable Energy And Solar Energy921 Words   |  4 Pagesrenewable energy . Most of these renewable energies depend in one way or another on sunlight. Wind and hydroelectric power are the direct result of differential heating of the Ear th s surface which leads to air moving about (wind) and precipitation forming as the air is lifted. Solar energy is the direct conversion of sunlight using panels or collectors. Biomass energy is stored sunlight contained in plants. Other renewable energies that do not depend on sunlight are geothermal energy, which isRead MoreSolar Energy1128 Words   |  5 Pageshouses be powered only by solar panels? Powering a home by converting sunlight into usable energy to power the house and being off-grid. Electricity is usually made by burning coal, oil or gas and to use these resources a lot of money is being used (Bbc.co.uk, 2017). Approximately 173000000000000000 terawatts are given off by the sun which is 10 times more power than what people already use thus using the free energy would be the wiser option (Sapowernetworks.com.au, n.d.). Solar panels use small photonsRead MoreEnergy Sources Of Solar Energy1680 Words   |  7 PagesThe earth has lots of energy sources such as nuclear energy, fossil energy, and renewable sources. Solar, wind, geothermal, and water are renewable sources of energy. These energy sources are clean. They do not produce any pollution. But the most reliable energy source is the sun. The sun is an important part of living things. It produces an energy called solar energy. Solar energy is the earth’s main source of energy which can be transformed into heat and electricity. Its energy was used to heat and

Personal Reflection On The Social Work Profession - 847 Words

My paper is a personal reflection on my understanding of the social work profession, as I get ready for my field placement. I will reflect on my evolving sense of professional identity, and will discuss my growth in terms of self-awareness. I will further deliberate about my knowledge of the Social Work profession. My current understanding of the profession, and activities, tasks and roles that I may undertake in a placement situation The Social Work profession in Ontario is a complete, accredited program that is acknowledged by the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). The profession is oriented to social justice, and social workers try to bring about change through real change and transformation. Social Work is geared towards achieving optimal psychosocial function (Maclean, 2009) for the client, through a holistic approach that utilises professional knowledge, values and skills. The scope of practice for Registered Social Workers includes assessment, diagnoses, treatment and evaluation of individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations and communities (CASW Code of Ethics, 2008). Activities, tasks and roles that I may undertake in my field placement, are those based on the theory that I have learnt in my academic program. I hope to transfer the theory into real-life practice. The NOC code for Social Workers, as presented by Maclean (2009), lists about twenty roles delegated to the profession. I anticipate that under supervision, IShow MoreRelatedSelf Awareness And The Social Work1603 Words   |  7 PagesSelf-awareness and the use of self is a key component in social work practice. Depending upon how one integrates their personal being and accompanying thoughts, experiences, emotions, and consciousness into the helping profession has a profound impact on whether that integration is positive or negative, particularly when it comes to that of one’s relationships with their clients. While remaining impartial is often critical to effective social work practice, the complete separation of self from one’sRead MoreHealth Care : Social Work Essay1161 W ords   |  5 PagesThis paper will focus on what health care; social work is. It will also discuss my personal self-reflection on how I will prepare to work with individuals, families, and communities affected by disease, illness and public health issues. Lastly a brief self- appraisal of my skills will be processed along with my hope to assist individuals, families and communities in a healthcare context. To introduce what health care, social work, is it’s important to examine it from a historical standpoint. DueRead MoreReflective Reflection Essay999 Words   |  4 Pagesoutcomes. This essay will focus on how reflective practice is critical for professional life, and how the use of reflection and theory can be used by counselling practitioners to inform their practice. Reflective practice is a complex concept and has many alternate definitions and understandings of what reflective practice actually means. By breaking down the two parts and defining reflection as â€Å"serious thought or consideration†, and practice as â€Å"the actual application or use of an idea, belief, orRead MoreSelf Care Pl An Essential Tool Within The Health Care Profession969 Words   |  4 Pagesessential tool within the health care profession. A plan not only helps create balance in one s life, but it also assists in maintaining professional standards as a service provider. In this type of work can be taxing on an individual s mental, physical and spiritual mentality, as such, can affect the mannerism in which a professional engages with their clientele. As a social worker it is our responsibility to maintain the ethical values of our profession. The following is a discussion of my intendedRead MorePersonal Values And Social Work Values1443 Words   |  6 Page s...............................................................................3-4 PERSONAL VALUES VS SOCIAL WORK VALUES.......................................................4 ETHICAL REASONING.....................................................................................................5 AMBIGUITY IN RESOLVING CONFLICT......................................................................5-6 REFLECTION....................................................................................Read MoreEthical Ethics And Ethical Issues1311 Words   |  6 Pagesethical issues that are frequently complex and thought provoking. Readers are further implored to examine their personal, moral and ethical value systems and codes they work from in an attempt to assist them in developing an informed ethical conscience for making sound moral and ethical judgments. The author presents ethical dilemmas throughout the book which readers are encouraged to work through. The book is comprised of 14 chapters which are subdivided into three parts with respective part titlesRead MoreProfessional Identity And Social Work1395 Words   |  6 PagesProfessional Identity in Social Work. There are certain guidelines, expectations and ethical codes to be adhered to in all disciplines in the healthcare system and social work is of no exception to this. The following piece shall explain how the social work discipline requires from its members, that they obtain a professional identity and assimilate this identity not only into their work life but also into an extensive amount of their private life as well. Clients and/or patients have to placeRead MoreReporting Studying senior social science subjects was the most influential factor which provided a1600 Words   |  7 PagesReporting Studying senior social science subjects was the most influential factor which provided a wonderful opportunity to discover my abilities and develop skills and confidence in critical thinking and systematic research processes. Especially, getting an A+ for a psychology report assignment and genuinely enjoying the process have given me a sense of competence in performing similar tasks such as planning and conducting experiments, analysing results, and evaluating research processes. AfterRead MoreCognitive Coaching1394 Words   |  6 PagesThe Effects of Cognitive Coaching on Education and in Supporting Teacher Leadership â€Å"Creating a profession of teaching in which teachers have the opportunity for continual learning is the likeliest way to inspire greater achievement for children, especially those for whom education is the only pathway to survival and success† (Sumner, 2011, p. 10). Educators today are required to have a different set of skills to effectively prepare students to be global competitors in the workplace. EducatorsRead MoreWhere Do I Go From Here?1368 Words   |  6 Pagesfield of Social Work has greatly increased. I have learned that values and ethics are crucial in succeeding in social work and helping a client overcome an issue. The National Association of Social Work (NASW) created the Code of Ethics, which professional Social Workers can refer to and know how to best handle a situation (2008). The text, From the front lines: Student cases in social work ethics, states that the Code of Ethics should be a professional’s guide to constantly refer in social work pr actice

Human Trafficking And Its Effects On Society - 1173 Words

Human trafficking is organized crime where human beings are controlled and exploited (Merriam-Webster). Despite slavery being illegal in the United States and countless countries around the world, human trafficking known as the modern slavery still exists both domestically and internationally. There are multiple forms of human trafficking such as forced labor, sex trafficking, child exploitation, organ and tissue trafficking, and people smuggling (INTERPOL). Specifically looking at sex trafficking there are issues in ensuring that individuals can lead successful lives in the aftermath of victimization. Sex trafficking is defines as sexual exploitation of an individual s body in exchange for money or goods. Often these victims are†¦show more content†¦Despite the valiant effort, these acts failed to protect women and children. Since the 1990s steps have been taken to both address and educate people on human and sex trafficking. A recent stride in education was in 2011 President Obama declared January Human Trafficking Awareness Month (Yong 2011). Find Recent Event THEORY Applying the Marxist conflict theory, one can see a perpetuating system of capitalism. The class system has some economic depth, but the true measure is the supply and demand of the system. The sex industry has illegal practices, but has proven to be one of the most profitable businesses (Beeks and Amir 2006). The bourgeoisie (upper class) are comparable to the traffickers, these individuals run the system of oppression. They create the laws, enforce them, and have the most financial and social gain. The middle class does not exist in the traditional Marxist model, but in the sex trafficking system, there seems to be a middle class. This middle class are the individuals that allow the system to exist; these individuals are both consumers and third-party bystanders that assist in the dealings. This class of individuals have a range of socio-economic backgrounds and there is no true stereotype. The lower class are the victimized individuals, who become slaves to the sex indust ry. These individuals are forced to provide the services to make money forShow MoreRelatedHuman Trafficking And Its Effects On Society1273 Words   |  6 Pagesalmost identical. Human trafficking, or â€Å"the modern slavery,† is defined as the â€Å"organized criminal activity in which human beings are treated as possessions to be controlled and exploited (as by being forced into prostitution or involuntary labor)† by Merriam Webster Dictionary (np). At any given time this affects 2.4 million people, 80% of whom are sexually exploited. This paper will highlight the tragic past of human trafficking for sexual exploitation and its current effect on society. To begin withRead MoreHuman Trafficking And Its Effects On Society2954 Words   |  12 PagesNothing drives our emotions or influences our understanding of horrific stories-than those of the modern-day trafficking. Human trafficking is a very problematic issue in our society today and more victims are being taken advantage of whether it’s through slavery, sexual exploitation, organ trade, or even forced labour. In most cases, the victims of trafficking is often known to be transferred from one country to another and forced to work for a benefit of the crime. In other words, it’s very commonRead MoreHuman Trafficking And Its Effects On Society2231 Words   |  9 PagesHuman Trafficking When the word slavery is heard, what usually comes to mind? For me, something of the past that usually involves the deportation by means of force of Africans into a colonizing America. The word usually makes me reflect on all of my history classes that I’ve been in throughout the years learning about how tragic it was, and how we, over the course of many years, abolished it. If you asked me a couple weeks ago what I knew about modern slavery, I would tell you that it’s a smallRead MoreHuman Trafficking And Its Effects On Society2095 Words   |  9 Pagesof women have disappeared due to sexual labor and trafficking in Moldova, Ukraine, and Russia. There are people around the world suffering from psychological damage, PTSD, anxiety, flashbacks, fear, insomnia, depression, sleep disorders, panic attacks, self-blame, and suicidal thoughts. Men and women are locked in factories at night to prevent escape. Traffickers use their patterns of travel to move terrorists. The prof its made from human trafficking are part of the funding power for conflict and corruptionRead MoreHuman Trafficking And Its Effects On Society1206 Words   |  5 PagesHuman rights are something that everyone receives as soon as they are born in the world. These rights are given to everyone just for simply living on the earth no matter their race, sex, religion, or ethnicity. When someone tries to take one of those rights away it is called a human rights violation. A right that is interesting is the Right to Freedom. Something that violates the Right to Freedom is human trafficking, which also violates the 13th Amendment which abolished slavery in 1865, with theRead MoreHuman Trafficking And Its Effects On Society1156 Words   |  5 Pageslabor or sex. In today society pimp is glorified as a lady’s man. In reality pimp are not lady’s men, pimps are criminal. The relationship between pimps and prostitutess is not what the society, imagining it more brute than what peo ple perceive. Many people think that pimps are harmless because of the movies and the songs. Society needs to look deeper than the surface when it comes to pimps and prostitutes, that the relationship is master and slave as in human trafficking. The pimp is a person thatRead MoreHuman Trafficking And Its Effects On Society Essay1829 Words   |  8 Pages Human Trafficking Imagine an individual having a pet that they raised and loved for, then one day that pet got taken away from them by another individual. The one who stole the animal then claims it as their own and forces the pet to breed with another and then keeps it locked in a cage until they find a new use for it. They barely provide it with the efficient amount of attention and feed it only enough to not starve it out. Picturing this is disgusting and hard to imagine to happen to suchRead MoreHuman Trafficking And Its Effects On Society Essay1751 Words   |  8 PagesHuman Trafficking is one of the many horrors that occur across the world that is not spoken about enough in society. Human trafficking can include organ trafficking, prostitution, child pornography, forced labor, debt bondage, child labor and child soldiers. In all cases of human trafficking, human beings are controlled and exposed for profit the most common type of profit being money. People who are victims of human trafficking can be found working in a myriad of places such as massage parlorsRead MoreHuman Trafficking, the Modern Slavery1034 Words   |  5 PagesGlobal Perspectives Essay #2 Human Trafficking Causes and Effects Human Trafficking, The Modern Slavery Introduction Human trafficking is a big problem all around the world. Every year, thousands of men, women and children are kidnapped by traffickers, and forced into sexual exploitation and slavery. In this essay, I will talk about the causes of human trafficking and what effects it has on the victims, families, and society. Causes The cause of human trafficking is mainly the organizedRead MoreHuman Trafficking Is A Grave Crime And A Serious Violation Of Human Rights1555 Words   |  7 PagesHumana Trafficking Introduction Human trafficking refers to the practice of recruiting, transferring, transporting, receiving, or harboring people through the use of force, threat, or other forms of abduction, coercion, deception, fraud, as well as abuse of power or vulnerability position (Segrave 2). Human trafficking is a grave crime and a serious violation of human rights as it involves a broad range of human exploitations, including forced labor, sexual exploitation, slavery practices, as well

Nike Financial Analysis free essay sample

Nike  is a company that has thoroughly embedded itself into the psyche of people around the world. Its a company that started with humble origins from selling footwear in the basement to becoming the behemoth in the athletic industry. Bill Bowerman, University of Oregon track ; field coach, and Phil Knight, middle-distance runner under Bowerman co-founded Nike. Nike was first established as Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964 as a partnership and the name Nike was officially adopted on May 30, 1978. The infamous Nike Logo Swoosh, was created for a fee of $35 by Carolyn Davidson, a graphics design student.In 1980, Nike becomes a publicly traded company with the completion of its Initial Public Offering of 2,377,000 shares of Class B Common Stock on New York Stock Exchange with the stock symbol NKE. Today, Nike employs over 27,000 people across the globe, and has net revenue in excess of $13 billion. The purpose of this paper is to provide investors with comprehensive information on Nike, its financial health and activities, its strength and weaknesses, and whether Nike creates value to its shareholders. This paper will analyze Nikes capital structure, scope of international operations, recent stock performance, and dividend policy. We will examine how Nikes international operations are conducted, its criticisms and strengths. Nikes debt ratios, dividend payout ratios, dividend yield, and interest coverage ratios over the previous 5 years will be discussed and compared with industry benchmarks. Its bond ratings and the relation between the operating characteristics and its leverage will also be analyzed. Managers for Nike are creating value for shareholders by expanding Nike operations in foreign markets as much as possible. Nikes sales and earnings outpaced Wall Street estimates FY 06. Nikes sales reached $15 billion and its earnings per share were up 18%.Over the past 5 years, Nikes earnings per share on compounded rate were up 20%, gross margins averaged 42% and in the past year, Nike delivered 44% margins in a period of rising costs. The current managers are maximizing shareholders wealth but in the footwear industry, Nikes performance still falls. The footwear industry averaged about 14. 25%, while Nikes growth in stock was 10. 48%. If the increase in value of shares is a benchmark of performance for managers, Nikes performance is unimpressive. Nike has a Price to Book (MRQ) ratio of 3. 97, while the industry Nike competes in has a ratio of 3. 96.S;P 500 has a Price to Book (MRQ) ratio of 3. 90. Nike has a Price to Tangible Book (MRQ) ratio of 4. 26, while the industry has a ratio of 4. 44, and the S;P 500 has a ratio of 7. 22. The Nike brand itself is the biggest strength of Nike. Its other strengths include international operations where it is expanding aggressively, innovation of new products and ability to connect with its consumers. Peoples perception of Nike as an exploiter of workers in developing nations, might cause considerable damage to its brand, and the poor performance of its stock relative to its industry is also one of its weaknesses.Nikes managers must maximize shareholders wealth, which is not at its optimum level. As a world-renowned multi-national corporation, Nike has a presence in almost every nation. Nike itself started by importing athletic shoes from a Japanese company called Onitsuka Tiger Company. Nike earns more revenues from its international operations than its domestic market. Nike earned about $6. 5 billion FY 2005 from its international operations, compared to $5. 1 billion from its domestic market. International operations appear to be a key driver of Nikes growth. Nikes international operations are divided into 3 different regions.The EMEA region oversees operations in Europe, Middle East, and Africa. The Asia Pacific Region oversees operations in East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. The Americas region oversees operations in South America, and North America (excluding United States). Europe, Middle East, ; Africa (EMEA) is headquartered in Hilversum, Netherlands. In terms of revenue, the EMEA is Nikes second largest region. EMEA region contributed about $4. 3 billion in revenues for Nike. Of these, footwear revenues contributed $2. 5 billion, apparel revenues contributed $1. 5 billion and equipment revenues contributed $284. million. FY05, 31% of Nike brand revenue was generated by sales in the EMEA region. This region is also the third largest in terms of manufacturing. EMEA region employs about 6,000 Nike employees, and has about 104 contract factories. These factories in addition, employ 29,242 workers. The Asia Pacific region is Nikes third largest in terms of revenue, and the largest in terms of manufacturing. Nike has 13 branch offices and subsidiaries in the Asia Pacific region. China has become both a source country and a vital market for Nike. Asia Pacific region has 3,282 Nike employees approximately.The region also has 252 contract factories located in North Asia, and 238 contract factories located in South Asia. Combined, these factories employ 550,821 workers. Nikes revenues for year 2004 from its Asian operations were about $1. 6 billion. Of these revenues, approximately $855 million were from footwear sales, $612 million from apparel sales and $146 million from equipment sales. The Americas region is the smallest in terms of revenue 2nd largest in regards to manufacturing. The first Nike shoe ever contracted out was done in Mexico in 1971. For year 2003, the region provided Nike with revenues of $624 million.Of these revenues $412 million were from footwear sales, $166 million from apparel sales and $47 million from equipment sales. This region has approximately 1076 Nike employees and additional 44,568 workers working in 137 total contract factories. Nike has branch offices and subsidiaries in five countries. Some of the challenges that Nike has faced and still faces are in regards to its manufacturing facilities and violation of labor laws. Nike has been accused on numerous occasions of employing children in its factories or exploiting workers in developing countries.In response to these allegations, Nike implemented strict standards for manufacturing facilities, including minimum age, air quality, mandatory education programs, expansion of micro-loan programs, factory monitoring, and enhanced transparency of Nikes corporate responsibility practices. In order to better its image, Nike even ceased orders from Pakistan in November 20, 2006 as the soccer-ball manufacturer there failed to correct labor-compliance violations. Examination of Nikes debt ratios reveals that the company has less debt in proportion to its assets.In 2002, Nike had a debt ratio of . 404 with total assets being worth about $6. 44 billion, and total debt of $2. 60 billion. In 2003, Nikes debt ratio increased to . 415, its total assets increased by $378. 1 million, and its total debt increased by $226. 4 million. Debt ratio fell to . 394 in 2004, and fell further in 2005 to . 358. In the year 2006, Nikes debt ratio increased to . 363, and had total assets of $9. 87 billion and total debt of $3. 58 billion. Examination of Nikes interest coverage ratio reveals that the firm can sufficiently pay outstanding debt. If one were to take only Nikes interest coverage ratios into account, it can be said that Nike generates sufficient revenue to satisfy interest expenses. In the year 2002, Nike had an interest coverage ratio of 22. 43. This further increased to 29. 04 the following year with EBIT amounting $1. 25 billion and interest expense amounting to $42. 9 million. In the year 2004, interest coverage ratio increased phenomenally to 59, with EBIT being $1. 48 billion and interest expense being $25 million. Finally for the year 2005, the interest coverage ratio was 388. 485 with EBIT being $1. 86 billion and interest expense being $4. million. Nike has a 5-year average leverage ratio of 1. 5, the industry leverage ratio is about 1. 5, and S;P 500 Index has a leverage of 4. 9. The firms leverage shows that Nike is using long-term debt, and it is measurable and appropriate. The operating characteristics include volume of sales in tune of $13,739. 7 million FY 2005, $12,739. 7 million sales in 2004, $10,697. 0 million sales in 2003, 9893. 0 million sales in 2002, and 9488. 8 million sales in 2001. These financial conditions indicate that Nike, Inc. percentages are not high and provide protection for the stockholders.Nikes bond ratings by Moody for Senior Unsecured loan has a rating of A2, an Aa3 rating for Credit Default Swap, Aaa for Equity-Implied, and an A2 rating for Bond-implied. Nike pays dividends to its shareholders every quarter. In the past 5 years, Nikes dividends ranged from $. 12 a share in March of 2002 to $. 37 a share in December of 2006. Nikes dividend rate is much higher than both the industry average, and the S;P 500 Index. For the last 12 months, the dividend rate paid by Nike was 1. 48; while the industry average was . 32, and the S;P index dividend rate was . 74. Nikes annual dividend yield is about 1. 0%, while the payout ratio is 24%. K-Swiss, one of Nikes competitors has an annual dividend rate of . 20, annual dividend yield of . 60% and a payout ratio of 9%. Skechers USA, another competitor, paid no dividends. The dividend yield of S;P 500 was 2. 06%, while the dividend yield in the footwear industry was 1. 44%. The payout ratio for the footwear industry was 20. 37%, and the S;P payout ratio was 28. 23%. Although, S;P 500 performed better than Nike in regards to dividend yield and payout ratio, one has to take into account that in footwear industry, Nikes dividend yield and payout ratio were considerably higher than its competitors. In regards to its dividend policy, Nike is very attractive, and is very much ahead of the pack. Nike also has a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP) and allows its shareholders to participate in it through its Nike Direct-SERVICE Program. Through this program, shareholders can convert their cash dividends into shares at a significant discount to the current share price. Nike has a market value of $24. 41 billion. Approximately 1. 33 million shares are traded daily on average. Over the course of 5 years, Nikes stock price went from $56. 92 as of Jan 2, 2002 to $97. 45 as of Dec 11, 2006 an increase of 71. 5%. The graph below illustrates Nikes 5 Year trend. In the recent year, the firms shares were traded as high as $99. 30, and as low as $75. 52. The firm started with a stock price of $85. 95 in the beginning of the year and as of December 12, 2006 closed at $96. 57 a . 90% decrease from the previous day. The stock performance trend reveals that Nike experiences a greater loss during the months of August and September, and greater gains in October thru December, which is the holiday season. The graph below shows Nikes stock performance trend in the recent year. The chart below shows growth in Footwear Industry in comparison to SP 500 index. In conclusion, Nikes future growth would primarily derive from its foreign operations. As the footwear industry in the domestic market has slowed, Nike has to expand aggressively in foreign markets. Nike pays more dividends in comparison to its competitors; the firm should reinvest that money in aggressive expansion in foreign markets rather than giving back the shareholders the profit. Nikes returns are also significantly less than the SP 500 index and within its own industry.