Day 15

Monday, February 11, 2008

As soon as we arrived we turned in our first real FIMSIM decision. We then started the morning off with Professor Arnold talking about our Nielsen case study, before moving on to analyzing labor for FIMSIM using the decision making model he presented to us on Thursday. After that we discussed trends in the industry related to increased government regulation and health & wellness, using a story from today's morningnewsbeat.com (about DeCicco Markets in New York) and finished up with an article from the Harvard Business Review titled "What is Strategy?" which we're to read and be prepared to discuss on Thursday.

After Tom's class, Professor Donna Miles presented us with more Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator information which we're all enjoying very much. It's really fun to better understand why we all do the crazy little things we do and be able to predict, to some extent, what will happen when different types interact, all based on our natural preferences.

Donna then imparted to us the correct way to put together persuasive presentations and we now know that just about every presentation we've ever done, or seen for that matter, was set up exactly opposite of how it should have been and actually hindered the ability of the speaker to persuade anyone of anything rather than helping them.

If there's one consistent theme I've discovered throughout the program so far it's this:
Nearly everything you've ever learned is wrong, but the right way is not only more effective, it's easier, more fun, and more intuitive.

Where I originally thought we'd be learning how to be more "corporate" it's precisely the opposite. Particularly with communications the message is that you don't have to be a clone. Using your own unique abilities and voice and bringing your passion to your work is what really makes you stand out and achieve great things.

I then spent the rest of the afternoon meeting with two different groups on three different projects before catching a ride back to Oakwood to work on reading and homework.