The year was 2010, I was in my late teens and on the market for my first smartphone (yes I did get a smartphone later in life but I don't think kids need smartphones.. but that's another issue).
Ever since the release of the iPhone 4 I knew exactly which phone I was going to get. The sexiest looking phone on the market with some of best performance reviews versus Android. I was all set.
I went into Verizon and laid down my card. "iPhone 4, black", I said. It was beautiful. The packaging, the phone, everything. Jump to 2 months later...
"Unfortunately we cannot downgrade you back down to iOS 6", said the Apple representative over the phone.
"Are you sure??", I said, "my phone is basically a brick. I can't connect to iTunes, I can't make phone calls, my texts get lost often, and the connection is super slow and NONE of these problems were there when I was on iOS 6..."
"Unfortunately we cannot not downgrade the phone", he replied, "Apple gives a very unique customer experience that cannot be altered with".
My heart was broken. Here I just spent hundreds of dollars on a phone that was now a brick with the feature of lighting up...
But hope was not lost. Where there is a hope, there is used devices with older software on eBay!!
The used iPhone 4 come in the mail... SO EXCITED. It was iOS 6.1.3 and will work for sure!
Powered it on, and it asked for iCloud password. Didn't know the previous owner so I contacted Apple again... This time... I was pissed.
"Unfortunately we cannot unlock the phone for you".
"But I purchased it legitimately and am the owner of the phone. I just need it unlocked", I said.
"Unfortunately we cannot not unlock the phone", she replied, "Apple gives a very unique customer experience that cannot be altered with".
Now my heart was broken... over $1200 down the drain and I had TWO bricks..
Because of the "Apple Experience" I will never buy an Apple product again. If they sacrifice customer service for this crappy controlled environment then I want nothing to do with them.
Monday, December 5, 2016
Blast From the Past
Have you ever looked on your past and missed it? I know I have. It almost seems surreal and fake when you looked at who you used to be (either in high-school or college). It's like you want to go back to the "good 'ol days".
It started when I bought a new computer, while transferring files over to my new computer, I found some old pictures and started looking through them. As I found more and more pictures of past relationships, experiences, and things that are no more; I began to grow sad and sorrowful. I wanted to go back to those "good 'ol days" and remake my past to get as much of it as I could.
Back then, I didn't notice what was going on. I simply lived my life and didn't think anything different. I didn't think that those days were really the best times of my life. I had free time with good friends. We never knew what we were doing or what we were going to do. We just did what we figured was fun and enjoyed life. We made mistakes, we lived with regrets, we dealt with drama, we created laughs, and we had a blast. It was so simple.
As time passed, we hung out less, friends got jobs, moved away, or moved on. Girlfriends became ex-girlfriends, and fun became planned time with the few that stuck around. We got our hair-cut, we got jobs, we enrolled in higher education, we started getting bills and time, started to become more and more precious.
What I have to learn now, is that this is the way of life. Maturity sets in, you realize that there is a time to grow up and move on. And this is all okay, because you're ready to grow up. Growing up isn't bad, it's good. And those "good 'ol days" can become a beautiful memory of regrets and joy. And I can look at old pictures or videos with bitter-sweets thoughts. And know I had the time of my life, and hope to pass on that knowledge to my future kids someday and tell them, "kids, make the most of your youth, 'cuz once your up and grown, you'll be in a different stage of your life. That is the way of life".
If people stayed kids forever, there would be a lot of problems in this world. Maturity sets in for a valuable reason. And good times don't have to stop, they just look different.
So to finalize, I'm happy that I had the youth I had. And I can't wait for the next stage of my life, my career, my house, my wife, my new relationships to come. In fact, I think some have already started...
Thursday, December 1, 2016
Body, Truth, Reputation
There are only three things we can take to our grave when we die. Here is my opinion on those three things that should remain in the forefront of our minds as we live day in and day out.
Our Body
It seems obvious enough to see that when we die, our bodies die with us. Knowing that, we should take care of the bodies we have been given. I take this as meaning we should eat healthy, exercise, and refrain from physically and mentally damaging activities. This being said, I know I want to care of my body. Also the benefit here is that I live a happier, longer life with less pain and less worry.
Our Truth
Lying these days seems to be a normal method to keep us out of trouble or to keep someone in the dark. People lie for many different reasons by a liar is not one who can be counted on. Lying to an extreme can even be unlawful and liars can be punished. One person's word can be his or her reputation. When I know someone who lies, I don't count on that person for anything. Their word is dead to me. This being said, I will retain my word and try my very best not to lie. The benefit here is that people will trust an honest person. It will make it easier to have better friends and better acquaintances.
Our Reputation
One person's reputation ties directly with their word. Reputation can be the difference between a better life and
Our Body
It seems obvious enough to see that when we die, our bodies die with us. Knowing that, we should take care of the bodies we have been given. I take this as meaning we should eat healthy, exercise, and refrain from physically and mentally damaging activities. This being said, I know I want to care of my body. Also the benefit here is that I live a happier, longer life with less pain and less worry.
Our Truth
Lying these days seems to be a normal method to keep us out of trouble or to keep someone in the dark. People lie for many different reasons by a liar is not one who can be counted on. Lying to an extreme can even be unlawful and liars can be punished. One person's word can be his or her reputation. When I know someone who lies, I don't count on that person for anything. Their word is dead to me. This being said, I will retain my word and try my very best not to lie. The benefit here is that people will trust an honest person. It will make it easier to have better friends and better acquaintances.
Our Reputation
One person's reputation ties directly with their word. Reputation can be the difference between a better life and
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Is Money The Answer?
Everyone says that money is "king". That without money life is nothing and money can determine whether someone's life is good or not.
I am inclined to disagree as many people live without wealthiness and are happy. They are the ones who have decided for themselves that a simpler life style can still be good and that the meaning of happiness is not necessarily money. Some might call it being content.
Now I am not saying money is bad, for our whole economy runs off of it. What I am saying is that the love of money is bad. And happiness cannot be bought with money. I like to think that happiness comes with the joys of family, friends, love, memories (past, present, and future, song, etc. Money is not "king".
Having more money on the other hand can actually cause more stress. Think about it: the more you have, the more you can lose. And many who have lots of money and lose it often get put under a lot of stress. Even to the point of committing suicide. What a poor state of mind one has to be in the put a "$" sign on the value of their own life.
No, with more money comes more stresses. 50% of divorces are due of money issues in the relationship. I people stopped putting so much importance on money and more on value of life, I believe we would have a lot happier and content nation.
My advice would be to live humbly and simply. And count your blessings, for in counting what you already have, you will realize you have a lot to be happy about. No one's life is perfect, but that is okay. Your not the only one.
I am inclined to disagree as many people live without wealthiness and are happy. They are the ones who have decided for themselves that a simpler life style can still be good and that the meaning of happiness is not necessarily money. Some might call it being content.
Now I am not saying money is bad, for our whole economy runs off of it. What I am saying is that the love of money is bad. And happiness cannot be bought with money. I like to think that happiness comes with the joys of family, friends, love, memories (past, present, and future, song, etc. Money is not "king".
Having more money on the other hand can actually cause more stress. Think about it: the more you have, the more you can lose. And many who have lots of money and lose it often get put under a lot of stress. Even to the point of committing suicide. What a poor state of mind one has to be in the put a "$" sign on the value of their own life.
No, with more money comes more stresses. 50% of divorces are due of money issues in the relationship. I people stopped putting so much importance on money and more on value of life, I believe we would have a lot happier and content nation.
My advice would be to live humbly and simply. And count your blessings, for in counting what you already have, you will realize you have a lot to be happy about. No one's life is perfect, but that is okay. Your not the only one.
Monday, November 28, 2016
Music Moves
Whenever you go to a concert, or listen to your favorite song. Something moves inside you. Something changes that you like. That's why people invest so much into a good sound system, they want to get the vibe of the music that they like and enjoy. Whether its country, metal, hip-hop, indie or jazz, music has a power over us that we all love and enjoy.
Music can promote peace, war, conformity, change, indifference and so many other things. One can tell if their artist really cares or not, if their artist is suggesting a strong message or if their artist wants good or bad. Music is truly passion.
A good friend of mine who is a music major was once asked, " What makes music good?"
He replied, "If it sounds good to you, then it is good music".
I like to take that approach when listening, especially to new artists. If the music is good, then it is good.
Music can never be pushed out of our lives, especially in America. Music drives us like the caffeine for the soul.
I will always try to discover new artists and new ways to do music. and I hope you do the same
Music can promote peace, war, conformity, change, indifference and so many other things. One can tell if their artist really cares or not, if their artist is suggesting a strong message or if their artist wants good or bad. Music is truly passion.
A good friend of mine who is a music major was once asked, " What makes music good?"
He replied, "If it sounds good to you, then it is good music".
I like to take that approach when listening, especially to new artists. If the music is good, then it is good.
Music can never be pushed out of our lives, especially in America. Music drives us like the caffeine for the soul.
I will always try to discover new artists and new ways to do music. and I hope you do the same
Monday, November 14, 2016
Dead to Deadlines
Procrastination and perfection seem to move hand in hand. However perfection does not automatically imply that one procrastinates. Situations arise that require a deadline for a valid reason and that reason may require great sacrifice. Unfulfilled deadlines may bring about unsatisfactory results. While procrastination (putting off a task for no valid reason) can become an undesirable trait in an individual who relies on it to avoid perceived hard work, legitimate reasons exist for certain projects to take longer than the desired amount of time.
When public safety or protection of personal property becomes a factor in the situation, deadlines sometimes need adjustment. For example, a construction project may use materials that require a certain amount of time to reach full strength. Abbreviating the cure time in order to meet a deadline can result in a catastrophic failure resulting in death, serious injury, or destruction of property. Another circumstance where deadlines could cause problems involve rushing to get somewhere by a certain time and breaking the law to get there, therefore risking the safety of fellow drivers, passengers, and pedestrians on the road. Additionally, rushing to meet a deadline may preclude one from gathering all the facts and there by endangering the final premise of a report or essay.
Of course, not all responsibilities in a person’s life allow the setting aside of deadlines. Situations occur that require a final result in a timely manner. School work may require punctual completion for the satisfaction of a good grade. Preparation for an exam or final test can necessitate long hours of study in order to do well on that specific date. Getting a desirable job or contract may demand punctuality in the completion and submission of a report or application. Often times a work environment compels a person to submit reports or to meet deadlines due to the nature of the work or others who rely on its timely presentation.
Over-thinking a project and making it more complicated than it calls for can cause worry and unwanted pressure resulting in procrastination. Focusing on every little detail may additionally cause unwanted stress and a feeling of unwillingness to even commence the project. One must also prioritize their schedule to fit their commitments in an orderly fashion. Randomly tackling whatever seems most pressing at the time wastes effort to complete a task. Often times what seems the most pressing in retrospect actually interferes with suitable completion of an assignment.
To conclude, while reasons exist for delay, more often than not the better choice remains to complete one’s work as well as possible in the time frame allotted. As a doctor often only has limited time to save the life of a patient other circumstances exist that require our best effort by a specific time. Perhaps the best effort a person can make for the long term would include determining their ability to handle the pressures of deadlines when choosing a career or committing to a project. One cannot pick and choose when they will face a time limit, however knowing one’s ability to cope with them will go a long way towards achieving satisfaction in one’s life. In short, situations exist that require deadlines and all efforts should focus toward that end.
When public safety or protection of personal property becomes a factor in the situation, deadlines sometimes need adjustment. For example, a construction project may use materials that require a certain amount of time to reach full strength. Abbreviating the cure time in order to meet a deadline can result in a catastrophic failure resulting in death, serious injury, or destruction of property. Another circumstance where deadlines could cause problems involve rushing to get somewhere by a certain time and breaking the law to get there, therefore risking the safety of fellow drivers, passengers, and pedestrians on the road. Additionally, rushing to meet a deadline may preclude one from gathering all the facts and there by endangering the final premise of a report or essay.
Of course, not all responsibilities in a person’s life allow the setting aside of deadlines. Situations occur that require a final result in a timely manner. School work may require punctual completion for the satisfaction of a good grade. Preparation for an exam or final test can necessitate long hours of study in order to do well on that specific date. Getting a desirable job or contract may demand punctuality in the completion and submission of a report or application. Often times a work environment compels a person to submit reports or to meet deadlines due to the nature of the work or others who rely on its timely presentation.
Over-thinking a project and making it more complicated than it calls for can cause worry and unwanted pressure resulting in procrastination. Focusing on every little detail may additionally cause unwanted stress and a feeling of unwillingness to even commence the project. One must also prioritize their schedule to fit their commitments in an orderly fashion. Randomly tackling whatever seems most pressing at the time wastes effort to complete a task. Often times what seems the most pressing in retrospect actually interferes with suitable completion of an assignment.
To conclude, while reasons exist for delay, more often than not the better choice remains to complete one’s work as well as possible in the time frame allotted. As a doctor often only has limited time to save the life of a patient other circumstances exist that require our best effort by a specific time. Perhaps the best effort a person can make for the long term would include determining their ability to handle the pressures of deadlines when choosing a career or committing to a project. One cannot pick and choose when they will face a time limit, however knowing one’s ability to cope with them will go a long way towards achieving satisfaction in one’s life. In short, situations exist that require deadlines and all efforts should focus toward that end.
Thursday, November 10, 2016
A fun diet for all!
There are many different diets out there. But finding the right one for you can be a difficult task. And because I like to find my own ways of doing things, I came up with my own diet plan that is simple and works!
You simply replace 20% of all meals with popcorn.
That's right, just replace 1/5 meals with popcorn.
There are some things you have to follow. It can't be butter (or butter substitute) covered popcorn and it can't be covered in salt. Microwavable, and theater popcorn is also out as they are often covered in preservatives and chemicals.
Popcorn is naturally high in fiber and low in calories. Popcorn also has antioxidants and whole grains!
Now nothing can substitute for fresh fruits and vegetables but when your a person of variety (like me), you'll want to know all the alternatives.
Hope you enjoy!
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Does College Really Pay Off?
34.38 hours spent per week in class on average for full time student (1.25 hour class twice a week)
3 hours/homework per week per unit = 36 hours (12-15 hours realistically)
34.38 + 13.5 = 47.88 hours per week on average
16 weeks per semester
16 * 47.88 = 766.08 hours per semester NOT including finals week
4-year degree (let's be realistic again ... 5 years)
7660.8 hours (319.2 days straight) spent getting 4-year degree
Average hourly wage with a 4-year degree $1137 / 40hrs = $28.425 per hour
Average hourly wage without college education $678 / 40hrs = $16.95 per hour
Hours spent working with degree (23-65 years old): 42yrs * 49wks * 40hrs
Hours spent working without degree (18-65 years old): 47yrs * 49wks * 40hrs
3 weeks vacation/sick time taken per year average
Money made without degree: $1,561,434
Money made with degree: $2,618,511
Mind you I'm averaging a lot of stuff and not taking into consideration taxes and unexpected expenses/incomes... But still... College better be worth it.
3 hours/homework per week per unit = 36 hours (12-15 hours realistically)
34.38 + 13.5 = 47.88 hours per week on average
16 weeks per semester
16 * 47.88 = 766.08 hours per semester NOT including finals week
4-year degree (let's be realistic again ... 5 years)
7660.8 hours (319.2 days straight) spent getting 4-year degree
Average hourly wage with a 4-year degree $1137 / 40hrs = $28.425 per hour
Average hourly wage without college education $678 / 40hrs = $16.95 per hour
Hours spent working with degree (23-65 years old): 42yrs * 49wks * 40hrs
Hours spent working without degree (18-65 years old): 47yrs * 49wks * 40hrs
3 weeks vacation/sick time taken per year average
Money made without degree: $1,561,434
Money made with degree: $2,618,511
Mind you I'm averaging a lot of stuff and not taking into consideration taxes and unexpected expenses/incomes... But still... College better be worth it.
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
The Perfect Pizookie!
After many trial and errors and a plethora of different recipes, I believe I have found the perfect Pizookie recipe. Make sure to read all the way through before starting as I have included one last final ingredient at the end.
Dry ingredients:
- 2 cups flower
-1/2 teaspoon baking soda
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-1 cup brown sugar (packed)
-1/2 cup white sugar
Wet ingredients:
-3/4 cup butter (melted)
-1 tablespoon vanilla extract
-2 eggs
Mix both lists of ingredients in separate bowls then blend together. Stir in 2 cups of chocolate chips.
Then cook in a pie pan at 325 degrees for 15 minutes.
Make sure you don't make the layer to thick as you want it to cook all the way through.
Hope you enjoy your Pizookie!
Please comment with things that might make this recipe better! Thanks!
Monday, October 24, 2016
Tips on Running/Training for a Marathon
Ever wanted to run a marathon but just don't know where to start? Well here are some tips on how you can start and stay motivated all the way 'till the finish line!
Marathons have lots of benefits. Physical exercise, social interaction, building self-esteem, and accomplishing something that's downright very difficult to do. I started running marathons when I was 15 years old. I am now 18 and I have completed 4 with my 5th being in under 2 weeks from today. I have calculated that I have run over 1,600 miles and I'm on my 4th pair of running shoes.
I have to start by saying that running a marathon is anything but easy to do. Commitment, motivation, and perseverance are all qualities one needs to have... or develop.
To start off running, you need a game plan. Figure out how many times a week you will be running and how far you will go. As the marathon date comes closer, you will need to be pretty far up there in mileage. I started by running 2 miles every other weekday and 4 miles on Saturdays. I wasn't going for time, just distance. Once I got further along in my weeks, I started running 4 miles every other weekday and 6 miles on Saturdays. I never went above 4 miles on weekdays but rather worked on how fast I could run those 4 miles as the weeks progressed. And on my "Saturday Long Run" as I soon called it, I increased my mileage by 2 miles every week.
Now being young and healing quickly was on my side, but as I grew older I realized that I needed to give myself more space in between runs. And you have to find a run that works for you. As long as it gets you where you need to be.
Never ever run the 26.2 miles before the marathon day. Accomplishing that distance is meant for the day you do it. I never ran more than 24 miles in my training. It gave my mind something to shoot for and helped with the motivation.
Some people need coaches or a friend to push them. This will help with commitment. Whoever you choose to encourage you, make sure they know that they won't always be playing the "good guy".
Sometimes anger is the only motivation you have to keep you going.
Others either don't have a coach or prefer not to have one (like myself). You'll still need motivation. Thankfully with new technology, you can plug in your mp3 player and crank up some tunes to keep you going.
Also, electrolytes are very important. Potassium, sodium, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are all burnt up when you work out and sweat.
Your body will function 110% better when running off fuels that power it. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and white meats are all power foods that will help you do your best. If your a vegan or vegetarian, try beans and rice together or toast and beans to make a perfect protein. Try to stay away from refried beans and white rice as those have been either bleached or fried.
Stay focused, stay on task, and go for the finish line!
I hope some of these tips help and if you do decide to run a marathon, half marathon, 10k, 5k, or triathlon I wish you the best of luck. Finishing something that big gives you a euphoria and a happiness that you will remember for the rest of your life.
I have to start by saying that running a marathon is anything but easy to do. Commitment, motivation, and perseverance are all qualities one needs to have... or develop.
To start off running, you need a game plan. Figure out how many times a week you will be running and how far you will go. As the marathon date comes closer, you will need to be pretty far up there in mileage. I started by running 2 miles every other weekday and 4 miles on Saturdays. I wasn't going for time, just distance. Once I got further along in my weeks, I started running 4 miles every other weekday and 6 miles on Saturdays. I never went above 4 miles on weekdays but rather worked on how fast I could run those 4 miles as the weeks progressed. And on my "Saturday Long Run" as I soon called it, I increased my mileage by 2 miles every week.
Now being young and healing quickly was on my side, but as I grew older I realized that I needed to give myself more space in between runs. And you have to find a run that works for you. As long as it gets you where you need to be.
Never ever run the 26.2 miles before the marathon day. Accomplishing that distance is meant for the day you do it. I never ran more than 24 miles in my training. It gave my mind something to shoot for and helped with the motivation.
Some people need coaches or a friend to push them. This will help with commitment. Whoever you choose to encourage you, make sure they know that they won't always be playing the "good guy".
Sometimes anger is the only motivation you have to keep you going.
Others either don't have a coach or prefer not to have one (like myself). You'll still need motivation. Thankfully with new technology, you can plug in your mp3 player and crank up some tunes to keep you going.
Also, electrolytes are very important. Potassium, sodium, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are all burnt up when you work out and sweat.
Your body will function 110% better when running off fuels that power it. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and white meats are all power foods that will help you do your best. If your a vegan or vegetarian, try beans and rice together or toast and beans to make a perfect protein. Try to stay away from refried beans and white rice as those have been either bleached or fried.
Stay focused, stay on task, and go for the finish line!
I hope some of these tips help and if you do decide to run a marathon, half marathon, 10k, 5k, or triathlon I wish you the best of luck. Finishing something that big gives you a euphoria and a happiness that you will remember for the rest of your life.
Best Wishes!
Thursday, October 6, 2016
How to Get Your Moneys Worth at a Buffet
In America, we enjoy food... a lot! And not just good food, but large quantities of food. Buffet restaurants offer us the quantities and varieties we all crave. So how do we get our full money out of visiting a buffet restaurant?
Just like with any buffet, there will be a large variety and quantity of food available to each customer. And with prices of buffet restaurants ranging from $8 to $25+ a meal (not including drinks), how do we get the most out of the buffet experience? Especially when on a budget.
First, take a stroll through the aisles upon aisles of soups, salads, entrees, desserts and drinks. See what looks good and what doesn't. When you start loading up your first plate, try starting with something light that will digest within the time you are there. Such as vegetables or fruit (no heavy dressing as this will defeat the purpose of eating something light). The reason why you would start with something easy is so that you can have room for that last plate later.
After eating something small and dainty is when you can really let loose. Start loading up your plate with everything you had seen before and crave. Eating a large quantity of food is like exercising, just keep a good pace and breathe. Try taking a few sips of soda every couple of bites so that the carbonation assists with removing air from your stomach (a.k.a. burping) which gives you more space to work with. I call this the "Tetris Effect". Like the lines disappearing in the game "Tetris", the food will settle down further into your stomach allowing for a more efficient use of space. More space = more food.
Also while eating away at your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd plate of food, eat a slice of orange or lemon. The acid will help break down the food in your stomach and give you a head start in the digesting process. With a good buffet, you'll need all the space you can get.
Second, try staying away from anything with chili's like hot sauce or peppered foods. It may seem difficult for all those spice lovers (such as myself) but statistics show that when one eats any sort of chili's, they consume an average of 17% less food. An ingredient in chili's give the eater a sense of being "full" more quickly than normal. So stay away from the spicy.
Finally, try eating something light for dessert such as frozen yogurt or jello. You basically just stuffed yourself so you don't want to feel like crap afterword. Buffets are an experience you should enjoy and remember. Who wants to be moaning and groaning on the way out? No fun.
And remember, your stomach can only digest 1 cup of food at a time. So give yourself at least an hour of cool down time before doing anything physically stressful.
Monday, October 3, 2016
How to Create an Awesome Password
Privacy is everything now a days and one needs a good password to keep out certain people and groups.
Generating a strong password is actually more difficult than it seems. Especially for people like me who tend to forget such things. And when you have multiple accounts, it can become very difficult to remember all of them.
Here are a few things you can do to help generate and remember your password.
On your personal smart phone, or any device that can have applications. Download an app called "Keeper Password & Data Vault". Its a free app that allows you to only have to remember a 4 digit pass code to access all of your passwords for different online sites. Once you have imputed all of your previous passwords into this app, you can back up your device to your computer (in case anything ever happens to it).
Now there are a few things to remember when generating a password.
Remember to use upper and lower case letters with preferably some digits at the end. You know how some people name stuff? Like how you name your car, or maybe a personal item, or perhaps a gift someone gave you. Well, you can help yourself remember your passwords by using an item of yours, followed by a article ("a", "an", or "the"). Then declare what it is. Like if you named your car joey. Your password would look something like: Joeythecar31.
Or if you had a favorite toy growing up: Mikealego113
The digits that follow can either be the date you got it, or maybe your birthday.
Having a solid password is valuable for private information. And as more and more people are trying to get your information. Its very important to have and update passwords on all your accounts.
Monday, September 26, 2016
Consumerism and the Struggle of First World Economies
As a consumer I believe we all have come to expect certain things. The power of the marketplace has switched from the business to the consumer. Any business living in the past will not last very long under this new system thanks to demands from consumers such as transparent business practices, ethical sourcing, and a steady supply of the things we expect each business to provide. ESPECIALLY when it comes to big business. Thanks to the power Yelp.com, TripAdvisor.com, consumer reports and a plethora of online review sites give us, we are now the ones to say whether a business is meeting/succeeding/or falling short of our expectations.
Yeah so there are a lot of small business' out there that can still get away with old business practices of the twentieth century but really, everyone should be shifting to the new role of finding out consumers wants and needs and how to best meet those wants and needs. Which brings me to a funny story...
Here I am, a consumer, 22 years of age looking for an inexpensive pair of sneakers to wear. I know that shoes tend to be pricey but regardless of price the shoes will be trashed within 1 year so I set my budget to $30 and head to the local mall which has over 41 stores that sell clothing, shoes, and more. Out of the 41, about 7 sell shoes exclusively. Now I know I won't be walking away with a pair of Chuck Taylor's or Nike's or even a pair of Sketchers. I just want a pair of flats at a reasonable price. So I head to H&M first seeing that they don't sell mainstream name brand shoes. I love the styles they have to offer but the largest they go is a 10.5 (I'm a 12, which I consider on the outskirts of standard). No biggie, there is still many stores to visit and the night is young. So I head to Aeropostale; they are having a sale so this should be great. No men's shoes. Next, Old Navy. No men's shoes. Tilly's? No men's shoes under $60. American Eagle? No men's shoes. You get the picture. So I give up on general clothing stores and head to the shoe stores. First Line, Off Broadway Shoes, Robert Wagne Footware, Shoe Palace, and basically everywhere else except the Crocs store.
I got smart and gave up looking and just asked as soon as I entered a store if they were selling men's shoes and if they had a pair of affordable sneakers. Nothing that I consider to be difficult to find considering I'm really not picky just have a budget to follow and money in my wallet ready to throw at the first person who can offer me a pair of clothe and rubber thingy's to put on my feet (maybe some thread too would be nice but not necessary if they slip on).
So I went through an entire mall looking for something that I guess doesn't exist. I would prefer not to buy online because I would like to try them on before buying. But I guess Wal-Mart gets my money yet again because they have exactly what I'm looking for... Is this the only business that can satisfy a want and need of basic footwear? Also, when did buying a pair of shoes cost over $100 if they aren't cheap and the cheap ones cost more than $50? This seems more frustrating to me then it needs to be.
To wrap things up, I think I could have spent my time doing something better like working, studying or relaxing to get ready to work and/or study. In a society advanced enough to have more than the basic needs (i.e. shelter, clean water and food) I'd consider this a tragedy. But this will only speak of the times we are living in rather than the blessings that we American's so often take for granted.
Yeah so there are a lot of small business' out there that can still get away with old business practices of the twentieth century but really, everyone should be shifting to the new role of finding out consumers wants and needs and how to best meet those wants and needs. Which brings me to a funny story...
Here I am, a consumer, 22 years of age looking for an inexpensive pair of sneakers to wear. I know that shoes tend to be pricey but regardless of price the shoes will be trashed within 1 year so I set my budget to $30 and head to the local mall which has over 41 stores that sell clothing, shoes, and more. Out of the 41, about 7 sell shoes exclusively. Now I know I won't be walking away with a pair of Chuck Taylor's or Nike's or even a pair of Sketchers. I just want a pair of flats at a reasonable price. So I head to H&M first seeing that they don't sell mainstream name brand shoes. I love the styles they have to offer but the largest they go is a 10.5 (I'm a 12, which I consider on the outskirts of standard). No biggie, there is still many stores to visit and the night is young. So I head to Aeropostale; they are having a sale so this should be great. No men's shoes. Next, Old Navy. No men's shoes. Tilly's? No men's shoes under $60. American Eagle? No men's shoes. You get the picture. So I give up on general clothing stores and head to the shoe stores. First Line, Off Broadway Shoes, Robert Wagne Footware, Shoe Palace, and basically everywhere else except the Crocs store.
I got smart and gave up looking and just asked as soon as I entered a store if they were selling men's shoes and if they had a pair of affordable sneakers. Nothing that I consider to be difficult to find considering I'm really not picky just have a budget to follow and money in my wallet ready to throw at the first person who can offer me a pair of clothe and rubber thingy's to put on my feet (maybe some thread too would be nice but not necessary if they slip on).
So I went through an entire mall looking for something that I guess doesn't exist. I would prefer not to buy online because I would like to try them on before buying. But I guess Wal-Mart gets my money yet again because they have exactly what I'm looking for... Is this the only business that can satisfy a want and need of basic footwear? Also, when did buying a pair of shoes cost over $100 if they aren't cheap and the cheap ones cost more than $50? This seems more frustrating to me then it needs to be.
To wrap things up, I think I could have spent my time doing something better like working, studying or relaxing to get ready to work and/or study. In a society advanced enough to have more than the basic needs (i.e. shelter, clean water and food) I'd consider this a tragedy. But this will only speak of the times we are living in rather than the blessings that we American's so often take for granted.
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
A Day in the Life of a Mihaylo Business Student at the Notorious California State University in Fullerton
Its starts in the dark
First creep of light comes through the bedroom window. You peek your eyes open to see that the alarm didn't go off but that's okay.
"I have over 3 hours before class starts", you say.
But wait, over 3 hours doesn't mean you have all the time in the world.
No.
3 hours means you only have 2 hours and 45 minutes remaining to look for parking. Oh the pain begins. You rush out of bed and grab the coffee (thank God you made it the night before). Forget breakfast; actually forget the coffee, with any luck you can find parking with just enough time to wait another 20 minutes for coffee at the local Starbucks (students need their caffeine you know).
It's now 7:20 AM and the sun is now bright.
It continues in the dark
Now you're telling yourself a bunch of stuff
"I'm just another college student looking for parking, it's OKAY, we are all heading the same place trying to get the same thing".
But then a 'kind-hearted' gentleman with his SUV of a Lincoln decides he is driving the smallest little car in the road and fits between you and another car with no signal, no warning, and not a care in the world. Wow, you know if he could fit there I could fit anywhere. With his guts I could run for an election but not to become president just to eat up the other candidate and not share any of my own policies or opinions. Now you just dated yourself, great.
"I just need one spot, that's all".
You're driving down the road now the next big decision of the day; Which structure are you going to choose? Don't choose wrongly because by the time you get to the next structure to look for parking it will already be full. The time is 7:40 AM and you feel like you have the guts of that driver from earlier. Let's head for Eastside parking structure.
As if
Nice one Copernicus.
To Narnia!
So maybe this is more of an inside joke but lots A and G I've always called Narnia because of the hardship and difficulty of getting to and from Narnia (a popular fiction by C.S. Lewis). So if you have a Fitbit you'll love Narnia because getting 10,000 steps seems like a walk in the park (Ha!). So you drive to Narnia because you gave up on the Nutwood structure along with your hopes of getting a college degree in a timely manner. You think for a second of how much you paid for a parking permit and the fact that you basically gave up Disneyland for a year to spend the equivalent amount of time looking for parking (I go to Disneyland a lot). But its best not to think about that... Just get to campus on time.
On the off chance
But more likely than not
You double park in Narnia and hand your keys over to a friendly attendant who you hope has a driving license. You wish you didn't have to hand your key over not because this person isn't nice but because when you get back here in 11 hours you want to just go home and now have to wait for your keys.
You get your 10,000 steps in, get to the local Starbucks and look at this! The line is only out the door! This is actually good news because now its only going to be a 15 minute wait for coffee. You want to buy a breakfast sandwich 'cuz you're hungry too but also you're a college student and financial aid is for the lucky. So stick with coffee. You can have some water from the drinking fountain if you're hungry later. Or go to the local shop and get some foo... oh wait, later you're still broke.
Then your classes begin
Go to class, takes some notes, get a B, C is okay too sometimes, and 8-11 hours later... go home.
Good thing you only have 1 semester left (maybe two 'cuz you might not get the classes you need next semester; oh wait, definitely two semesters because you won't get the classes you need next semester).
Some Stats:
Average wait time for parking: 25-35 minutes
Shortest wait time: 30 seconds (rare)
Longest wait time: 50 minutes
Average distance drove looking for parking: 1.5-2.5miles
In one semester I calculated that I spent over 20 hours looking for parking alone. The current price of a CSUF parking permit is $240
Perhaps I should just ride a bike... TITAN STRONG!!!
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