Reflection on Reading Assignment #5

This weeks reading consisted of two chapters from the textbook.  Chapter eight was about writing proposals and solving problems, and chapter nine was about conducting and documenting business research; both of which I know absolutely nothing about!  I'm not much of a writer or a business man, but there are a few things that stood out and will likely be useful for me to know at this stage of my life.

Problems are a normal and common part of any business, but being able to address and find quality solutions to these day-to-day problems are what determines the long-term success of any business.  For the last 2 years I have been working to get a start-up business going with my father. Two weeks ago we were finally able to get a $500,000 loan.  Now that we have the money things are running very smooth.  The hardest part was finding solutions to all of the problems we crossed along the way.  The book teaches that brainstorming, both in an individual and group setting, can foster creativity and help develop potential solutions to these types of problems.

The brainstorming process includes four basic steps:
        1. Understand: Comprehend the problem and its related issues.
        2. Incubate: Engage in divergent thinking, pondering endless possibilities, to discover                       possible solutions.
        3. Develop: Discover, or uncover, one or more potential solutions.
        4. Refine: Polish, and customize the idea to fi the need.

Creativity cannot be forced.  We need to realize that often times the best ideas only come after long periods of persistently pondering over the problem at hand.  It is usually more difficult to come up with the solution to the problem than it is to implement it.  Brainstorming and developing solutions to problems took the most effort and time for us.    

Reflection on Reading Assignment #4

This weeks reading was about revising and editing text.  Writing errors will damage your effectiveness in the business world, and limit your ability to be taken seriously.  If a document is submitted to a company with many errors, you immediately lose credibility.  The reader will assume that you do not know or care about what you are doing.  If the writing is unclear, then more time is also required to understand what you have wrote.  This could also annoy the reader. And if you writing contains factual errors, the reader may even draw improper conclusions about what you are trying to portray.  Often times we do not realize the errors that we are making when writing or typing a document.  I'm sure we have all received or sent text messages where the message sent or received was no where near what was trying to be conveyed.  Simply rereading what we have wrote can make a huge difference.  Good revision is all about making sure that the message your are trying to get across is clear.  Often times the more simple the message the better it is understood, and the more effective it becomes.  

The book gives four methods for revising and editing text effectively.  Remember the four levels with the acronym DOCS: Level 1 - Review the Design, Level 2 - Review the Organization, Level 3 - Review the Content, and Level 4 - Review the Sentences.  Using DOCS as a rubric for revising and editing will help you to cover all of the various aspects in your writing where errors could be made.

We move through life so fast!  Taking the time to review our work can benefit us not only is writing, but in all aspects of life.  It's also mice to take time slow and enjoy the outdoors.  Check out this fish I caught last weekend!!!