On Moving

On Moving Hey, blogs. How ya doing? Long time no see Or, I guess, write. All last semester I was thinking of the right way to say goodbye to this corner of the Internet, to sum up all my feelings from the past four years into a couple paragraphs and punchy phrases. This fictional super-eloquent me would end with the blog version of a mic drop, and then peace out from MIT and the East Coast to start a new chapter. Well, its July now. I graduated more than a month ago with the double major in CMS 7A. Im a drivers license away from being an official Montana resident. Im a full-time employee writing and editing scripts for the YouTube channel SciShow. Im car owner, or at least a car loan payer. And â€" dare I say it â€" I think Im a Real Adultâ„¢ now. But Im still kind of tethered to MIT. Not in a trapped way. I just thought Id want to get as far away as fast as possible, to start fresh, to not think about the stresses of school for a loooong time. And I do, and I did, and I took a break. But I also dont mind the idea of going back to visit. I might even be back next February. More on all that later, though. Because in the past couple months, Ive said a lot of hopefully-temporary goodbyes to a lot of important people, and thats what I want to write about first. Its gonna be super autobiographical, and maybe not so coherent. Heres the thing, Ive had a lot of feels recently. A lot of these feels are about the world, and the heaviness of whats been going on in it. Feelings of scrambling, and searching for ways to help, and not adding to the media spectacle that rips stories away from bodies and gradually desensitizes us to injustice and tragedy and violence. A lot of these feels are personal, about who I am, and what I want to do now. Im pretty sure everyone has these feelings before/throughout/after college and always, so theyre kind of universally intimidating questions that you dont really need to know the answers to yet/ever/???. Ive been puzzling out answers for the past 4+ years and I still dont know how much Ive figured out. I dont really have a concrete goal for the future, or a plan, or a strong desire for a family, or a dream place to settle down. Maybe more financial stability? For now, Im kind of just taking it one day or week or month at a time. Someday Ill figure out what its like to lay down roots. A lot of these feels are about relationships, and how theyve grown and changed and ended and begun. Yknow, all those cliche dichotomies that those quote magnets like to use. I dont have very many close friends, but I surrounded myself with the strongest support system I could ever imagine in order to survive college. It was harder than I expected to rip myself away from that network, and Im grateful how some of us are still connected through emails and postcards and everything in between. And a lot of these feels are about places. About MIT and my complicated relationship with it. I dont think Im going to miss the atmosphere of MIT; I havent so far and cant see myself ever becoming nostalgic for the echoey hallways or looming buildings, even with the wealth of Pokéstops they apparently hold. Maybe a class or two, definitely a professor/advisor/lecturer/boss or eight. But it has taught me what Im willing to do to fight for happiness, and make a home in a place where, at one point, I didnt think I fit. Ive used the blogs as a platform to talk about my weird, mixed feelings about this school before. And even as a recent alumna, theyre kind of a vague collection of wonderful, hilarious, meaningful moments â€" like pinpricks of light in 4 years of swirling grey fog. Most of my memory is kind of dull, and I cant quite figure out whether its a me thing or a brain thing. I guess I thought graduating from MIT would feel more final. I spent so much of these last two years focusing on jobs, and people, and making things, that I was already pulling myself out of the student lifestyle. So making it through graduation was a relief, but it was just one final step out of a world I was already leaving. Im frustrated by how MIT the institution made me feel about myself, about my abilities, about my choice of major, about what a healthy lifestyle is. But I know I wouldnt have followed this strange, choose-your-own adventure path and met these really significant people had I not come here. So the hardest question you can ask me is, Would you do it over again? because I cant not say yes. For me, the opportunities that were tangentially related to the school were the most valuable things to come out of it. The advanced, under-enrolled, supportive writing and CMS classes were my safe haven, and taught me so much about myself and the world. If you know me on or offline, you probably know that I do video stuff. If this is the first blog post youve read from me, I cant believe youve made it through this rambling mess thus far. Also, hey. I do video stuff. Sometimes comics, too. And, in these past two years, Ive probably spent as much or more time working on media stuff than in classes. So even though I wasnt writing words for the blogs these past few months, I was writing a lot. Maybe more than ever before. Because  my Real Adultâ„¢ job(s) involve writing words! For educational online video (and the behind-the-scenes of comics)! And working with other cool SciShow people (and one of my most inspiring mentors/friends on her comic Monstress)! Using skills from both my Media Studies and Biology degrees!!! (the real MVP of overlapping interests/fandoms/etc. is this person who reads the blogs and noticed this video back in April) Anyway. Im in an okay place, now. On a small black futon thats a little too short for me â€" my feet stick off the end â€" and that 50-year-me with back problems will regret sleeping on for weeks. In a nearly-empty red-walled room with two windows, where most of my important possessions fit on a small bookshelf, and a pile of flattened cardboard is stacked against the wall to recycle. In the town of Missoula, Montana which has sidewalks on both sides of the streets, beautiful plants everywhere you look, and a Taco Time (my personal favorite fast-food Mexican restaurant chain) but no 7-Eleven. Sometimes, like in any sort of unhealthy relationship, you need to distance yourself for a while to gain perspective. And now Im far enough from MIT to understand how its pressures affected me, the ways it forced me to grow up, and how to pick a healthier path in the future â€" rather than just blaming the school for the emptiness I felt a lot of the time, which is what I did when I was most bitter. I have so much work to do, to recalibrate and figure out a new normal. But I think I have the time and space and support to do that. Now, I just hope some of these blogs help other people choose their own adventure, and know that its okay to take unconventional paths through a place like an imposing Institute of Technology. Whether theyre humanities-and-arts-laden paths, or not-academics-focused paths, or something completely different. Or even that its okay to take unconventional paths in Adult Life, because the career fair/counselors didnt help me, and none of the most stable job options really seemed all that interesting. Ive always made other people a priority over myself, and now Im finally trying to find balance. So, goodbyes are sad, but the important people stick around. And feelings can be overwhelming, but Im glad I have them sometimes instead of nothingness. Ill still lurk and read the blogs, because they were an important part of my life here. But I dont think I have anything else to say here after this goodbye (besides the folder of half-finished posts and vlog ideas that I never actually completed, but such is life). Soon, new freshmen will share their MIT perspectives, and thats way more important than a crufty voice half-reminiscing, half-complaining on a little soapbox. Im going to be at San Diego Comic Con, and I was at VidCon. Im going to be in Montana, and Washington, and maybe Massachusetts for a visit that coincides with NerdCon: Nerdfighteria. Im definitely going to be online always, posting snippets of life or dank memes, just not here. But Im easy to find. And youll be where you are â€"  at MIT, applying to MIT, completely unrelated to MIT, stumbling upon this blog 5 years in the future when were all doing who-knows-what. I hope you figure things out, and go on many adventures in the meantime, with lots of compassion and a sharp mind and a warm heart. Thats what Im trying to do, at least. Youre gonna be great.

Are family businesses important in entrepreneurship - Free Essay Example

Critically discuss the suggestion that  family businesses are not important  to the study of entrepreneurship. Introduction à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ 2 Entrepreneurship a Deeper Examination à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. 4 Conclusion à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢ ‚ ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ 6 Bibliography .à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ 8 Introduction The notion that family businesses are not relevant in the study of entrepreneurship represents a contention that mathematics is not relevant to accounting. The study of the factors that cause and create entrepreneurship starts with the study of the factors as to why people start businesses a nd that very foundation does not permit the elimination of any segment or sector of classification. In most cases, the decision to start a business involves some sort of family interaction, be it from a marriage perspective, or simply a single adult interfacing with relatives. Not that the foregoing is true in all instances, but it does represent a consideration whereby the elimination of the thought of segmenting family businesses from the field of study represented by entrepreneurship. In a recent study undertaken by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, the GEM Global Report indicated that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“One Adult in Eleven is an Entrepreneurà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  (PRNewswire, 2004). The foregoing statistic represents a telling correlation in the depth as well as breathe of entrepreneurship within the human condition. In order to examine the question, the words utilized in the formulation of the postulation need to be first be clarified. The definition of an entrepreneur has been a source of debate among economists, scholars, educators as well as policy makers since t he concept itself was first brought into the human lexicon in the early part of the 17th century. The most accepted definition is generally accepted as that of economist Joseph Schumpeter who stated that it is the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ carrying out of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ enterprise and the individuals à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. (who) carry them outà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  he termed entrepreneurs (Carton et al, 1998). Carton et al (1998) have expounded upon the definition provided by Schumpeter to define the entrepreneur as a person that identifies an opportunity and then puts together the needed resources to bring that opportunity into business operation. Equally important to an examination of the question of whether or not family businesses are, or are not important to a study of entrepreneurship is an understanding of what a family business is. This aspect is more complex as it represents a concept as well as business segment that has many variables. As such, it, as well as ent repreneurship shall be further examined and discussed within The following shall seek to examine the relative important of the foregoing with respect to family businesses and entrepreneurship through a study of said businesses as well as the theories and finding associated with examinations conducted to equate the relativity between the two. There are many definitions, or proposed definitions of a family businesses, however, the perspective with respect to the foregoing encompassed those which are the mom and pop shop located in a small town, to global empires such as Ford, Wal-Mart, and Levi Strauss, to name a few. Thus, the determination of which realm the context is in reference to is important in equating the question of entrepreneurship with respect to same. If it is taken to mean a business that is started by a family in whole or in part, meaning entire family participation from the inception, or just one member whereby family members or siblings where/are groomed to run the enterprise, then that is one connotation (Carter, 2000, Pp 155-165). Or, shall it mean an enterprise that is undertaken by a member of a family whereby family members either contribute to the business from the inception or join in later but the enterprise is later handed over to professional managers? If the later is taken into account then utilizing statistics gathered for the United States one would have to correlated that out of the 12.8 million self employed individuals as estimated in 2000 (National Association for the Self-Employed, 2001), fully seventy-four of the foregoing where married thus seemingly representing a quasi or de facto family business. Handler (1989, Pp 257- 276) indicated that the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ defining the family firm is the first and most obvious challenge facing family business researchersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ . In 2000, Littunen et al (2000, P. 41) indicated that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ no widely accepted definition of a family bus inessà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  has been categorized. Taking the broad view with regard to what constitutes a family business thus represents the categorization that shall be utilized herein. Another consideration in equating what constitutes a family business is the fact that in starting a business individuals utilize their own savings, then seek assistance and or funds from family members and or relatives, as well as associates and loan institutions (PRNewswire, 2004). But, in order to obtain a field of reference with respect to family business, Hollander et al (1988, Pp 145-164) states that it is broadly defined as a business that is either owned, or controlled or managed by one or more than one family member. A view shared by Hander (1989, Pp 257-276) and Carter, (2000, Pp 155-165). Donckels et al (1991, Pp 149-160) as a result of a study among 1132 small through medium size business enterprises in Europe conducted in eight countries found that they are averse to risk as well as being less oriented towards growth and that they utilized less socio-economic networks as well as being more conservative with regard to strategies when compared against firms that are non-family. The foregoing view is also taken by Daily et al (1993, P 82) who state that professional managed enterprises exhibit growth rates that are faster than family firms, and that they utilize strategies that are more growth oriented. Interestingly, Birkey (1986, Pp 36-43) as well as Ward (1987) state that a family business can only be assumed as such when there is a transfer of ownership and thus managerial involvement to the next generation as an intended aspect of its operation. In terms of the equating the level or levels of entrepreneurship that family businesses employ and or utilize, the question also has many variables. The research findings as reported by the study conducted by the GEM Global Report (PRNewswire, 2004) indicates that it takes an entrepreneurial spirit to start up an enterprise and attributes this to one adult in eleven as having this trait. Thus, a further examination of what consists the entrepreneurial level in terms is required. Entrepreneurship a Deeper Examination Given the broad definition of entrepreneurs as provided by Schumpeter (Carton et al, 1998), an refined by Carton et al (1998) to mean that the entrepreneur as a person that identifies an opportunity and then puts together the needed resources to bring that opportunity into business operation, the observations reached in the GEM Global Report (PRNewswire, 2004) has validity. Kautz (1999) stated that entrepreneurs have the ability to take a unique business idea and develop it, either by working as a member of a team, or individually, utilizing others, who also has the capacity to multi task and take on the various functions required in differing levels of capability. A distinction within the context of entrepreneur has been indicated by Richman (1997) who states that t he amateur entrepreneur is basically locally oriented, independent, tends to be self-reliant and utilizes an unorthodox business methodology. He states that the professional entrepreneur is characterized by being global in his view, has poses innovative as well as inquisitive attributes with a career oriented vent and is prepared to implement as well as carry through ideas and strategies developed. Some of the preceding can be attributed to family business, although it is a small percentage of the whole. Such examples have been illustrated in naming Ford, Wal-Mart, and Levi Strauss. Thus, the contributory aspects that individuals who comprise family businesses with respect to entrepreneurship can not be discounted as it represents a creative activity with new examples emerging all of the time. The context of the family business engages a more complex mixture of entrepreneurship in that the family structure itself is a variable included in the process. The foregoing also calls to mind those instances whereby an large enterprise is owned by family interests whose influence and appointment of a board constitutes a family business even though they are removed from the day to day operational aspects. The foregoing also applies to any instances whereby the influence of the originating family through the Board, holding companies or the like is a factor. The entrepreneurial enterprise represents a business seeking opportunities to profit from and grow and as such they are constantly on this quest through new products, services and market nuances as they develop (Churchill et al, 1994, p. 17). This culture generates a continued cycle in terms of renewal and examination of the companyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s products, goods or services, and thus the firm is always seeking to further expand and guard against stagnation. The process of entrepreneurship represents the seizing and or creating of an opportunity and pursuing it without regard as to whether there are the need ed resources or processes on hand (Low et al, 1988, Pp 139-161). The popular conception of entrepreneurship entails the individual who begins a new venture and sees to its growth, eventually resulting in its merger or sale or public offering. Such examples are noted by Bill Gates of Microsoft, Sam Walton of Wal-Mart, and Phil Knight of Nike. The fact is that entrepreneurs have a significantly different vision, and methodology than non-entrepreneurs and is illustrated by a number of studies conducted by Sashkin (1987, Pp 19-28) as well as Westley et al (1989, Pp 17-32) which discerned that entrepreneurs have the following general attributes in common; Vision, which is connected to a strategic emphasis, Vision that entails the implementation of communications as well as successful integration, Adaptation that is proactive and reveals innovation as well as a flexible response to conditions, The ability to detail and formalize an approach, Being able to generalize difficult aspects and weave through the complexities to arrive at solutions, The focus of profit orientation that is concerned with achieving positive financial results, And the understanding that risk taking is an integral aspect The preceding are attributes that can be found in all sizes and manner of family business enterprises. Conclusion The suggestion that family business are not important to the study of entrepreneurship represents a broad, complex and sweeping context that seemingly is based in the vision that such enterprises are small, local and run or operated by a few family members. The view does not take into account the potential for future growth and success as provided by numerous business examples whereby such modest beginnings lead to greater things. The notion of limiting the field of reference with respect to the question does not take into account the creativity, innovativeness and ingenuity that is the human condition. Denton et al (1989, Pp 67-69) as well as Hornaday (1992, Pp 12 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" 23) see entrepreneurs as risk takers who represent the driving force of new as well as established ventures regardless of their size or complexity. Given Schumpeterà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s (Carton et al, 1998) broad definition of entrepreneurship as later refined by Carton et al (1998) to mean a person that identifies an opportunity and then puts together the needed resources to bring that opportunity into business operation, discounting any segment that contributes to our understanding of the process might seemingly overlook an important context or contribution that furthers our understanding Bibliography Birkey, S. (1986). Succession in the family firm: The inheritorà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s view. Vol. 3, Issue 3. Journal of Small Business Management. Carter, Sara, Jones-Evans, Dylan (2000) Enterprise and Small Business. Prentice Hall. ISBN: 0201398524 Carton, R.B, Hofer, C.W., Meeks, M.D. (1998). The Entrepreneur and Entrepreneurship Operational Definitions of their Role in Society. https://www.sbaer.uca.edu/Research/1998/ICSB/k004.htm. Assessed 08-03-06 Churchill, N., Muzyka, D. (1994). Entrepreneurial Management: A converging theory for large and s mall enterprises. Congress of Racial Equality Working Papers Daily, C., Dollinger, M. (1993). Alternative Methodologies for Identifying Family à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Versus Non Family-managed Businesses. Journal of Small Business Management. Denton, D., Wisdom, B. (1989). Shared Vision. Vol. 32, Issue 4. Business Horizons Donckels, R. Frohlich, E. (1991). Are Family Businesses Really Different? European Experiences from STRATOS. Vol. 5, Issue 2. Family Business Review Handler, W. (1989). Methodological issues and considerations in studying family businesses. Vol. 2, Issue 3. Family Business Review Hollander, B., Elman, N. (1988). Family-owned businesses: An emerging field of inquiry. Vol. 5, Issue 1. Family Business Review Hornaday, R. (1992). Thinking About Entrepreneurship: A Fuzzy Set Approach. Vol. 30, Issue4. Journal of Small Business Management. Kautz, Judith. (1999). What is An Entrepreneur. https://entrepreneurs.about.com/ Accessed 8 March 2006 Littunen, H., Hyrsky, K. (2000). The early entrepreneurial stage in Finnish family and nonfamily firms. Vol. 8, Issue 2. Family Business review. Low, M., MacMillan, I. (1988) Entrepreneurship: Past Research and Future Challenges. Vol. 14, Issue 2. Journal of Management National Association for the Self-Employed (2001) Americas Young Entrepreneurs Trend Data At-a-Glance. https://www.nase.org/FEY/youngentrepreneurs_stats.htm Assessed 08-03-06 PRNewswire. (2004) One Adult in Eleven is an Entrepreneur: Entrepreneurs Supply 65% of Start Up Capital. 20 January 2004. https://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109STORY=/www/story/01-20-2005/0002866038EDATE=. Assessed 08-03-06 Richman, Tom. (1997). Creators of a New Economy. https://www.inc.com/magazine/19970515/1492.html/. Access 8 March 2006 Sashkin, M. (1987). Management Development: New Directions. Vol. 6, Issue 4. Journal of Management Development Ward, J. L. (1987). Keeping the family business healthy: How to plan for c ontinuing growth, profitability and family leadership. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA Westley, F., Mintzberg, H. (1989). Visionary Leadership and Strategic Management. Vol. 10. Strategic Management Journal.

Don Delillo s White Noise - 841 Words

Don DeLillo’s White Noise demonstrates the fictitiousness of capitalist ideology, thereby implying the ignorance of the public towards their oppression under the corporate aristocracy. Consequently, DeLillo displays the self-propagation of the mercantile system as the ultimate form of material freedom, and accentuates the use of marketing to create false needs for commodities, which appear according to Karl Marx’s definition in his A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy. Three aspects of his writing appear accordingly: the creation of false satiation to complement the nonexistent needs, the ignorance of the public, and ultimately, the confusion of the difference between material value and the Aristotelian sublime. The consumerism present in White Noise manifests through the constant interjections of branded products’ names throughout the work. For instance, DeLillo presents the necessities of â€Å"Waffelos and Kabooms†¦ Dum-Dum pops†¦ [An d] Mystic mints† (DeLillo, 1). Meanwhile, synthetically produced foods with destructive effects do not have any uses, whether necessary or practical. Consequently, the products become the ultimate form of commodity, each truly â€Å"[A]n object of human wants† (Marx, 19). These desires clearly act detrimentally to the consumer, not only through the unhealthy aspects of such foods, but also as addiction to brands causes the public’s ignorance to the true aspects of the capitalist system, in particular the rise of the corporateShow MoreRelatedDon Delillo s White Noise1239 Words   |  5 PagesDon Delillo’s White Noise is a novel set in twentieth century Middle America. The story follows the life and journey of Jack Gladney, a teacher of Hitler Studies at a liberal arts college, and his family through their lives, which are invaded by white noise, the constant murmur of American consumerism. The narrative follows these characters as they struggle to survive, distracting them from their sense of reality. 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People unconsciously dedicate more onto the stories that mediaRead MoreAnalysis Of White Noise By Don Delillo Uses Babette s Moral Ambiguity817 Words   |  4 PagesFox News Equals Media Equals Fear of Death Equals Adultery Malcolm X once said â€Å"The media s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that s power. Because they control the minds of the masses.† The media reaches out to all places and affects everyone. It changes how we think and what we do. In the novel White Noise, Don Delillo uses Babette’s moral ambiguity, conveyed through her decisions and actions, to reveal the influenceRead More The Power of the Family in White Noise Essay examples1139 Words   |  5 PagesThe Power of the Family in White Noise    Don Dellilos protagonist in his novel White Noise, Jack Gladney, has a nuclear family that is, ostensibly, a prime example of the disjointed nature way of the family of the 80s and 90s -- what with Jacks multiple past marriages and the fact that his children arent all related. Its basically the antipodal image of the 1950s nuclear family. Despite this surface-level disjointedness, it is his family and the extrasensory rapport thatRead More The Failure of Technology in White Noise by Don Delillo Essay1055 Words   |  5 PagesThe Failure of Technology in White Noise by Don Delillo One particularly unfortunate trait of modern society is our futile attempt to use technology to immunize ourselves against the fear of death. The failure of technology in this regard is the general subject of Don Delillos book White Noise. Throughout this novel, technology is depicted as the ominous messenger of our common fate, an increasing sense of dread over loss of control of our lives and the approach of inevitable death in spiteRead MoreAnalysis Of White Noise By Don Delillo765 Words   |  4 PagesIn White Noise by Don DeLillo, postmodern anxiety is expressed throughout the story in the way we, as readers, interpret the text. There are several examples of postmodern anxiety being presented and felt in the story. Feeling of anxiety can also be felt throughout the story from following Jack on his journey to adapt to the uncertainty of his death. There are many elements of postmodern anxiety being in this story mainly because of the author Don DeLillo. Don DeLillo was part of t he ParanoidRead MoreWhite Noise1154 Words   |  5 PagesDeath is probably the most feared word in the English language. Its undesired uncertainty threatens societys desire to believe that life never ends. Don DeLillos novel White Noise tells the bizarre story of how Jack Gladney and his family illustrate the postmodern ideas of religion, death, and popular culture. The theme of deaths influence over the character mentality, consumer lifestyle, and media manipulation is used often throughout DeLillos story. Perhaps, the character most responsiveRead MoreEssay on The Death of Identity in DeLillos White Noise2934 Words   |  12 PagesThe Death of Identity in DeLillos White Noise In addition to addressing the premonitory electricity of death, the title of Don DeLillos White Noise alludes to another, subtler, sort of white noise - the muted death of suburban white identity. College-on-the-Hill is not only an elite academic promontory, but also a bastion for white flight in which Jack Gladneys family has taken refuge. Instead of John Winthrops clear City-on-a-Hill morality, DeLillo presents us with J.A.K. Gladneys

Whistle Blowing (Human Resource Management) Free Essay Example, 1750 words

Whistle-blowers help in encouraging transparency and honesty. Whistle-blowers in the Pfizer drug case helped in encouraging honesty among employees. Kopchinski, one of the whistle-blowers, saw the need to protect the lives of people. He found it necessary to be honest and transparent by bringing into light the misgivings of the drug. Transparency and honesty helped in averting health problems. Organizations that encourage whistle-blowing promote effective and transparent structures (Devine 67). Organizations that have effective structures help in serving the society and create a positive image. The society demands honesty and transparency from organization that serve it. Whistle-blowers, thus, help in creating transparency within that organization. The whistle-blower system is different from a general top down monitoring system in some ways. A top-down monitoring system refers to how an organization divides its systems to gain an insight in its integrative sub-systems. Information is, thus, shared from within the sub-systems. A whistle-blower system is different from a top-down monitoring system because it is open for all people who want to report information. Top down monitoring system is only open to people working within a sub-system. We will write a custom essay sample on Whistle Blowing (Human Resource Management) or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now A whistle-blower system helps in safe guarding the interests of the organization or public (Arszulowicz 145). A top-down monitoring system advocates for monitoring within a sub-system. This means that the greatest initiative is to protect and safeguard interests within a subsystem. Encouraging Whistle Blowing Whistle-blowing has its own disadvantage. Whistle-blowers are often victims of retaliation. They are considered as villains by organizations and end up being blacklisted by other organizations. Encouraging whistle blowing has its own negative side effects (Secunda 99). There is, however, need to prevent fear of retaliation by employers and encourage whistle-blowing. One of the ways of preventing fear is by maintaining secrecy. Maintaining secrecy implies ensuring confidentiality of the information. Information gathered from whistle blowers should be treated as confidential. Whistle-blowers should also be shielded from the media which may expose their identity and personal life. Encouraging transparency and honesty in employees is another way that can help in preventing fear of retaliation. Employees should be encouraged that whistle-blowing helps in serving a common good. Employees should be taught the need to promote the welfare of the public.

Family Values and The Status of The Traditional American...

When one thinks of the term family values, many different ideas can come to mind. Morals, religion, beliefs, tradition, expectation, controversy, and misuse are some things that may come to mind when the term â€Å"family values† is mentioned. The true definition and meaning of family values can most likely never be directly pinpointed, but it is always going to be a known fact that family values are always going to have different meanings to different people. It is the common misunderstanding that family values are just simply the things that shape a growing persons values and morals. From a the beginning of a child’s life, they are instilled with values to go by in the life that lies ahead of them by either their own family or the†¦show more content†¦When it comes time to make an important decision, ones personal courage and self discipline are put to the test and what has been instilled in them from the beginning of their lives is the determining factor of how the situation will turn out. There are many things that can go wrong in the process of passing family values on from generation to generation. If certain values are instilled in a particular family since the dawn of its existence, and those values are not necessarily the best ones, it is more than likely going to be considered a perfectly acceptable value and taught to members of that family to come. When negative family values are taught, it is common that when someone applies those same values to real world situations, they will encounter conflict among people and situations that they come across. This is common with families that are prejudice, racist, sheltered, or just plain ignorant to modern cultural standards. It is a very sad thing when incorrect or socially unacceptable values are taught to the youth in a family. For the reason that, to a young and impressionable mind what is taught to them is the only thing that they know and it is always considered right. It is not the youth’s fault, or the parents fault for that matter, it is just simply a matter of how a particular family or group of people adapt and conform to contemporary socially acceptable customs. Sometimes, the teaching of family values is diverted byShow MoreRelatedA Questionnaire on the American Samoan Society960 Words   |  4 PagesIn what ways was the traditional leadership of Samoan villages different from typical American leadership? On the political level in the United States, most leaders are elected directly or appointed to office by politicians, although they often come from very wealthy and privileged backgrounds and have their political careers financed by various special interests. Of course, much of the real leadership in the country is based on wealth and income, or control of large corporations, bureaucraciesRead MoreChinese Culture1223 Words   |  5 PagesSocialization ------ American Born Chinese Children under Chinese Culture According to the American Heritage Dictionary, socialization is the process of learning interpersonal and interactional skills that are in conformity with the values of one s society (American Heritage). It is a process of learning culture. During socialization, children will acquire attitudes, norms, values, behaviors, personalities, etc. within agencies of socialization, which were described as Agencies of socializationRead MoreChinese Traditional Wedding1230 Words   |  5 PagesChinese Traditional Wedding In the different culture, there are many different customs and traditions in festival celebrations. Wedding customs are one of the most representative and symbolic customs in revealing the differences. Wedding ceremony shows not only the love of couple or two families involved, but also reflects the heritage of Chinese civilization. Ever since ancient times, the most delightful moments in one’s life come with success in marriage and birth of son. Chinese wedding decoratesRead MoreComparison Between Russia And Germany905 Words   |  4 Pagesplayed a role in if, when, and why people were getting married throughout history, but is it still as influential in today’s world? A comparison of Russia and Germany shows that this may not always be the case. Russia is heavily promoting â€Å"traditional family values†, pushing back against cultural change of marriage (Petrova, 2015b). Germany, on the other hand, is embracing and supporting the cultural change. The two cou ntries, while similar in their marital practices in the past, are vastly differentRead MoreWomen And Women s Rights879 Words   |  4 Pagesin the modern values and norms of our society. While both men and women have had difficulties revolving around these changes, the Nineteenth Century really impacted â€Å"a sharp differentiation between the gender roles† (Radek, 2001, para. 1). Males and females are thought to have separate societal duties based on gender differences. The male’s duties began to be in the public sphere and the woman’s duties are confined to the privacy of the home. During this changing century, female status began to dramaticallyRead More Chinese Culture Essay1208 Words   |  5 Pages Socialization ------ American Born Chinese Children under Chinese Culture According to the American Heritage Dictionary, socialization is â€Å"the process of learning interpersonal and interactional skills that are in conformity with the values of ones society† (American Heritage). It is a process of learning culture. During socialization, children will acquire attitudes, norms, values, behaviors, personalities, etc. within agencies of socialization, which were described as â€Å"Agencies of socializationRead MoreCulture Paper1120 Words   |  5 Pages0.44% of the population (10 cities and towns in MA with largest population of Korean Americans, 2010). Post-immigration, Korean immigrants experienced a sense of displacement due to the language barrier. With communication difficulties, opportunities to assimilate and participate in the American mainstream were limited. This displacement is further illustrated by the racial discrimination against Asian Americans such as discriminatory immigration laws preventing immigration and preventing citizenshipRead MoreDifferences Between American And Chinese Cultures932 Words   |  4 Pagesoverall cultural value structures among different cultures has gradually grew business’s attention across the world. No matter small companies or global conglomerates, how to get involve and maintain their competitive advantages and long-term sustainable success in global business trade has been a heated topic to discuss. To fully understand the ethic differences and cultural influences, the following four aspects will help us to uncover the similarities and differences between the American and Chin eseRead MoreMany scholars have written about the particularly intimate connection between food and family1400 Words   |  6 Pagesbetween food and family prevalent in Italian-American culture. Herbert Gans interprets this to be a legacy of the traditional Southern Italian peasant culture that the immigrant generation successfully passed down to the younger generations in America. Thus, the connection is implied to be a â€Å"transplanted† cultural trait. However, when viewed in light of the social changes in America, this bond was inevitably affected by the Italians’ experiences in America. Italian-American food culture wasRead MoreThe American Dream Essay1565 Words   |  7 Pagesor her tough times and sticking to it and working hard after moving to America. This phenomenon is called the American Dream. Being called this due to the freedom of opportunity for prosperity and success, the American Dream is considered to be full of happiness, love, laughter, and an ything one could ever hope for in life. 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The Judicial System In South Africa And Russias Judicial...

South Africa and Russia’s judicial system are divided in different ways. Although both countries acknowledge that the Supreme Court is deemed as the highest court of law, there are some differentials. Both South Africa and Russia are known for their excellent leadership, and there are prestigious colleges for students to learn the law. As far as the form of government, both countries assert by accepting the democratic form of supremacy; thereby, embracing principles that are affiliated with this nature of power. The administrative structure within the country of South Africa is divided into two courts of law. The two structures of South America consist of one that one is larger than the other. The superior courts are controlled†¦show more content†¦The members of the JSC also are responsible for taking care of the grievances brought against the magistrates. The JSC executes as a consultative type of part to the â€Å"President and the â€Å"national government† with issues regarding the â€Å"judiciary† supervision. When a grievance is reported, it goes through the office assistant of the JSC whose headquarters is located within that of the â€Å"Chief Justice†. It is mandatory that all of the judges conduct themselves decently and proficiently (Introduction to the JSC, 2017). The individual who has day-to-day power in the management of trials within the republic is referred as the private instructor. The â€Å"President of the Supreme Court of Appeal† appoints the â€Å"National Director of Public Prosecutions†. This leader is responsible for the global day-to-day power when it comes to the republic’s hearings. There are nine jurisdictions with their leader who has a personal staff. These individual agents are responsible for carrying out a particular duty to compile evidence for the person being tried. Some specified divisions have been recognized as the necessitating of particular notice inside the à ¢â‚¬Å"National Prosecutions Service† (Terrill, 2016). As Terrill (2016) indicates, â€Å"They include the Office of Witness Protection, Asset Forfeiture unit, Specialized Commercial Crime Unit, Priority Crimes Litigation Unit, and the SexualShow MoreRelatedTheory of Democratic Peace2965 Words   |  12 Pagesdemocratic states, who start the war, are generally held responsible for the costs and effects of war. Another argument of the democratic peace proponents is interdependence, which is economic related. Since democratic states have a free market system, they are more likely to trade with other democratic states to generate profit and develop a relationship with other countries. Through developing these relationships, it increases peace between the countries. 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Succubus Heat CHAPTER 13 Free Essays

string(51) " go ask Erik if you’re too nervous about it\." Hearing Cedric assure me I couldn’t die lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. I left the Cellar with much less anxiety, though I still had no intention of doing anything that might test how exactly we’d heal from decapitation. So, while I still operated with caution, I no longer felt suffocated or threatened by every aspect of the world. We will write a custom essay sample on Succubus Heat CHAPTER 13 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Rather than go home, I drove down to Dante’s shop. His store/apartment was in Rainier Valley, on the southeast side of Seattle. He had no regularly posted hours for his assorted â€Å"psychic† services, but he would usually hang around there at night if he had nothing else to do. It tended to be the time drunk people or couples out on dates (or high teens) would wander in looking for fun and novelty. Daytime business hours didn’t generally bring out that many who were seeking help from the divine unless, perhaps, it was someone seeking advice on stock trading. Dante had no customers tonight, however. The shop and its flickering neon sign seemed sad and lonely. I pushed through the unlocked door and found him leaning against the checkout counter, leafing through a copy of Maxim . â€Å"What gives?† I asked. â€Å"Your subscription to Frauds and Scams Weekly run out?† He glanced up at me with a smile, flipping black hair out of his face. â€Å"Just needed something pretty to look at since I didn’t know when I’d be seeing you again.† I planted a kiss on his cheek. â€Å"Holy shit. That’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.† â€Å"Yeah, well, I can make some filthy sexual suggestions to you if you’d prefer.† â€Å"What, and ruin foreplay for next time?† This made his grin grow, and he shut the magazine. â€Å"To what do I owe the pleasure? Shouldn’t you be visiting our neighbors to the north? Or is that done? I honestly can’t keep track.† â€Å"Well. About that.† God, how I was going to explain what had happened? Had all of this seriously happened in just one day? It felt like a year had gone by since I got woozy in the car. â€Å"Something strange happened today.† â€Å"Strange like you sold out of Jane Austen books at the store or strange like the rules of time and space as we know them are about to be ripped apart?† â€Å"Mmm†¦more like that last one.† â€Å"Shit.† I took a deep breath, figuring I should just get the big stuff out of the way. â€Å"There’s no easy way to put this, but†¦I’m not a succubus anymore.† â€Å"I never believed you were a succubus.† I groaned. That had been an old joke between us when we’d first met. Oh, the irony. â€Å"I’m serious,† I said. â€Å"No more succubus. And Jerome’s disappeared too, possibly opening up Seattle to a new demonic reign.† Dante stared at me, eyes speculative as he assessed me for the truth. He was speechless for the first time I’d known him. Not waiting for more witty commentary, I plunged forward. I explained about the summoning, what it had done to all of us lesser immortals, how demons everywhere were now sizing up Seattle, and why I needed to find Jerome as soon as possible. When I finally finished, it took Dante several moments to gather his thoughts. â€Å"So†¦you’ve seriously lost your succubus powers?† â€Å"Abilities,† I corrected. â€Å"And yes, I have. Are you saying that after all that other stuff I just told you about the balance of power in Seattle, my succubus status is what caught your attention the most?† He shrugged. â€Å"You gotta admit it’s weird. Besides, that other stuff doesn’t affect me. You do.† His eyes narrowed. â€Å"Am I going to have to use a condom now?† â€Å"What? No. Of course not.† â€Å"You sure?† â€Å"You’ve never batted an eye over me stealing pieces of your soul these last few months, but the nonexistent threat of child support suddenly scares you?† â€Å"Well, yeah, seeing as my bank account’s got more in it than my soul.† I glanced around the shabby room. â€Å"Debatable.† â€Å"Cute,† he conceded. â€Å"But I’d be asking a few more questions about all of this if I were you. Like, can you die?† â€Å"I already asked that one,† I said smugly. â€Å"And the answer is no. Our immortal bodies are still essentially the same. We’re just cut off from all the perks.† I hoped he didn’t ask about decapitation because I honestly wasn’t in the mood to debate that. â€Å"Okay, so what do you want from me?† he asked. â€Å"What makes you think I want anything?† He looked at me. â€Å"Okay, maybe I do want something. But come on, who else would know more about this stuff than you?† â€Å"Who knows more about demons? Hmm, let me think. I know. How about the demons you work for , the ones who are all-powerful and have been around since the beginning of time?† â€Å"They’re not all-powerful. Otherwise they wouldn’t need a human for the summoning-or end up getting summoned in the first place. And that’s what I need you for. There can’t be that many humans in the area capable of doing this, are there? You have to know who they are.† Dante opened his mouth, no doubt with a snappy reply ready, and then abruptly closed it. â€Å"I don’t know,† he said slowly. â€Å"I don’t keep track of those things.† I leaned toward him, incredulous. â€Å"Of course you do! Do you not want to tell me? Why?† He sighed, his hesitant expression turning typically annoyed. â€Å"Because those kinds of people get pissed off if you start advertising their names.† â€Å"What, you’re afraid they’re going to come beat you up?† â€Å"No. Not exactly. But there’s sort of†¦a professional courtesy in these circles.† â€Å"I’ll be discreet. I won’t tell them where I got the information.† â€Å"Most of them already know we’re together. They’d figure it out. They keep an eye on those kinds of things.† He turned considering. â€Å"Of course, in that same vein, a lot of them know you as a succubus and might just think you knew through your own connections.† He still seemed hesitant, so I played a mean card. â€Å"Well, I can always go ask Erik if you’re too nervous about it. You read "Succubus Heat CHAPTER 13" in category "Essay examples"† Erik was another mortal in town who dealt with the occult and paranormal. Unlike Dante, who was a practitioner, Erik simply studied and built up knowledge of the magical undercurrents in the city. He had a psychic’s gifts and was attuned to what most human eyes didn’t see. Sometimes he could even see what immortals couldn’t. He and Dante had an old, old grudge and didn’t enjoy being around each other, to put it mildly. My attempt to bait Dante didn’t work, though. â€Å"Don’t even try it, succubus. Making me jealous of the old man won’t make me help you.† I looked up at him pleadingly. â€Å"What will make you help me?† He traced the outline of my lips with his fingertip, gray eyes wicked and thoughtful. â€Å"Not sure it’s anything you can do while cut off from your super-secret powers. You’re not a sex goddess anymore.† â€Å"Hey, I don’t need super-secret powers to be a sex goddess.† Just then, three twentysomethings stumbled in, staring wide-eyed at the shop as they tried to stifle nervous giggles. They undoubtedly had the same kind of potential that high teens did. I gave Dante one last frantic plea. â€Å"Please? Just give me the names. You don’t have to do anything else. And I won’t say anything. I swear it.† Dante scowled, glanced at me, at the potential customers, and then back at me. He told them he’d be with them in a minute and then hastily jotted four names down on a scrap of paper. Two of them I recognized. â€Å"Thank you,† I said. I beamed, and to my surprise, something in his cynical expression softened a little. â€Å"God, that smile,† he muttered. â€Å"You might just be right.† â€Å"About what?† â€Å"You really don’t need any powers to be a sex goddess. Your hair’s a little messy, though.† He walked around the counter and gave me a quick half-hug. â€Å"Be safe, succubus. Don’t test the limits of that not-dying thing.† â€Å"And buy some condoms?† I teased. He shrugged. â€Å"You’re the one who was having prophetic dreams about having kids a little while ago.† Turning away from me, he put on his jovial con-man persona and beckoned the group over with pitches about palms and Tarot. He’d spoken the words in a light, off-hand kind of way, but as I slowly walked back to my car, they slapped me in the face. Prophetic dreams†¦ Nyx’s dreams. The things she’d shown me during that time had been so vivid that they seemed almost more real than my own life. The thing is, by almost all accounts, Nyx had a grasp on the future and could show people things that would happen to them. That was how she spread chaos in the world, by showing people these visions and making them think they knew how their futures would unfold. Unfortunately, while the visions came true, they never came true the way their victims thought they would. She’d led a lot of people to their deaths that way. Nonetheless, it seemed fairly clear that the dreams she’d sent to me had been distractions, not destructive images of what would come. In my visions, she’d shown me-over and over-with a daughter, waiting for a man I loved to come home. The dreams had consumed me, almost making me want to sleep and have my energy taken each night. As I’d noted while holding Kayla, there was no way any piece of the vision could ever happen to me. I couldn’t have any sort of relationship like that. And I certainly couldn’t have a daughter, not of my own blood. Immortals didn’t reproduce. When I’d sold my soul for immortality and shape-shifting, I’d given up certain aspects of my humanity. There could be no child for me. Not ever. And yet†¦ I came to a stop on the sidewalk, still about a block away from my car. What if Dante had inadvertently stumbled onto something? What if being in this stasis had altered that piece of me that had lost the ability to conceive? Cedric had said I was still technically immortal, but he’d also said my body would respond and heal like a human’s. What all did that entail? Would unprotected sex lead to conception? Is that what Nyx’s visions had been pointing to? She’d sworn she’d shown me the truth. Had she? I was breathing fast again, though at least this time, I knew I didn’t have to worry about giving myself a heart attack. Okay. I needed to calm down. This pregnancy possibility was as distracting as the hooking-up-with-Seth possibility. I’d never get anything accomplished if I lost myself in fantasies. With a sigh, I glanced down at Dante’s piece of paper, now crumpled in my hand. I’d clenched it into a ball without even realizing it as I walked. I’d been too preoccupied to even notice†¦ Babies and Seth. The things I wanted most. I forced myself to keep moving toward my car. But as I unlocked the door, I had to wonder ruefully if maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to get Jerome back after all. I started following up on Dante’s leads the next morning. Leaving my place was a little harder than I’d expected, though. Despite the fact I got ready plenty of mornings without shape-shifting, my closet seemed terribly small. And while my hair seemed fine when I finished it, I had a feeling it’d be frizzy the next time I checked the mirror. The only bright part was when I found Dante’s watch under the bed. I thought I’d lost it yesterday, so at least my accessories collection was still respectable. Nonetheless, I had a feeling I was soon going to discover just how much I’d come to rely on my abilities. Locating addresses from Dante’s list of names required a little sleuthing here and there, but for the most part, I didn’t have much difficulty finding them. Unfortunately, once found, these magicians weren’t exactly helpful. One of the ones I visited knew me. She was familiar with Hell’s local servants, and while she gave me a small degree of respect, she was as hesitant to answer questions as Dante had insinuated. Two of the other names were people who didn’t know me, and that immediately created a problem. With my succubus powers shut off, I had no immortal signature, and both of these people were the types who could sense that. Me coming in and claiming to be a succubus was met with scorn and disbelief. I managed to glean some information from them but nothing of any use. Equally difficult was that not only could they not sense me, I couldn’t sense them. Admittedly, a succubus didn’t have the same ability to gauge human power the way a full-fledged demon could, but I could occasionally sense magic around a person or object. Today, I was completely blind. I had to rely on my strength to read people, but these dark magicians were as good at cons as Dante. They were well-versed in the art of concealing the truth. It was almost noon by the time I visited the last name, a guy named Greg. I felt pretty discouraged by this point and even cracked and had a cigarette along the way. Greg had no storefront like Dante and mostly worked his spells out of his house, a small bungalow in Wallingford. When he answered the door, his disheveled state told me I’d woken him up. On the bright side, he recognized me, which meant I wouldn’t have to convince him I was a succubus. â€Å"What do you want?† he asked suspiciously. He was built big and could have had an impressive physique if he’d ever gone to the gym. It was obvious he hadn’t. â€Å"I wanted to talk to you about demon summoning.† â€Å"I don’t know anything about it.† He started to shut the door. I stuck my foot out to block it. â€Å"Wait. Do you know anyone who would?† â€Å"No. And even if I did, what makes you think I’d tell you?† He tried to close the door again, then paused. He narrowed his already too-small eyes at me. â€Å"There’s something weird about you. No aura.† I didn’t answer right away. â€Å"Maybe you’re losing your touch.† This actually brought a small smile. â€Å"Not likely. What happened? Who got summoned?† â€Å"No one. And even if they did, what makes you think I’d tell you?† I mimicked. He laughed, a guttural sound that came from low in his throat. When the laughter faded, he studied me for several long seconds, face cunning and speculative. â€Å"Okay. I’ll talk to you.† He pushed the door open. â€Å"Come on in.† I gingerly stepped into his living room. The place was a disaster. Dirty dishes were piled on the coffee table, the remains of food hardened and crusty. Dust coated every piece of furniture, and the wood floor looked like it hadn’t been swept since the last century. Uneasily, I wondered if my new humanlike body was susceptible to germs. Several books were piled on the couch, their covers meant to look sinister in shades of black and red with drawings of pentagrams. It put me in mind of Evan’s faux Satanic accoutrements, though as hard as it was to believe, Evan had a thousand times more class than this guy. Greg offered me neither a chair nor refreshments, which was fine by me. He stood in front of me, arms crossed. â€Å"Well? What do you want to know?† â€Å"I want to know if you’ve done any demon summoning lately.† â€Å"Not that any demons have been summoned, of course.† â€Å"This is speculative,† I replied with a simpering smile. I studied as much of his home as I could while I spoke. Beyond him, I could see an equally messy kitchen with a gas stove and magnet-covered refrigerator. â€Å"You think if I’d summoned a demon, I’d be living like this? Fuck, I’d have plasma-screen TVs and concubines.† I recalled the discussion with my friends, noting that any human who’d summoned Jerome would simply keep the demon hidden and not use it for personal gain and errands. Still, if Greg had summoned Jerome on behalf of another demon, there would have been some reward involved. Maybe it wouldn’t entail TVs or concubines, but it seemed like there’d be some sign of a windfall here. Maybe he’d gotten a Swiss bank account. â€Å"Okay. You know anyone who recently acquired concubines?† â€Å"Nope. But I can give you some names of people who’d be more likely.† He listed two of the magicians I’d already visited. â€Å"I’ve talked to them.† â€Å"Sorry. Not my problem.† My eyes returned to the books on the couch. I stepped toward them. â€Å"May I?† â€Å"Knock yourself out.† I picked up one of the books, skimming through it in hopes of finding information about summoning. Nope. It was fluffy â€Å"evil† stuff, exactly like the Army of Darkness’ propaganda. The second book proved the same. The third, however, was a legitimate spell book, filled with the kind of dark rites Dante practiced. Hopeful, I flipped through the pages one by one. It had some vile contents, but there was nothing about summoning. Greg’s willingness to let me browse the books should have been a tip-off that they contained nothing of use. â€Å"All done?† I jerked around. Greg’s voice was close to me-too close. I’d had my back to him while checking out the books, but now he was right behind me. I took a few steps back and bumped the couch. â€Å"Yeah,† I said nervously. â€Å"Thanks for the help. I should leave now.† â€Å"Not yet,† he said, moving closer. â€Å"You just got here.† I tried to wriggle off to the side, but his hands suddenly reached out and grabbed a hold of my arms, pinning me into place. â€Å"What are you doing?† I demanded. There went my heart rate again. â€Å"I don’t know what’s going on with all this summoning stuff, but I do know there’s a succubus here who doesn’t feel like a succubus anymore, which probably means you can’t fight like one.† I tried to break from his grasp, but his hands were like steel. â€Å"You’re crazy. Of course I’m a succubus. You know I am.† â€Å"Yeah? Then shape-shift away from me. Turn into a bird. Turn into a bodybuilder.† I clenched my teeth and tried to shake his hold again. â€Å"Let me go, you son of a bitch. You hurt me, and a whole host of demons are going to show up and rip you limb from limb.† â€Å"Not so sure about that,† he chuckled. â€Å"This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. You think any succubus would fuck someone like me?† He shoved me down onto the couch, one strong arm pinning me in place while the other hand fumbled awkwardly under my shirt and grabbed a hold of my breast. Moving his head close, he tried to press his lips against mine, but I turned my head just in time. â€Å"Let me go!† I screamed. I managed to wriggle a leg free and knee him in the gut. It wasn’t enough to free me, but it made him scowl. I’d worried about getting hit by cars, meteors, and structurally unsound overpasses. Never, never had I thought about being raped. It hadn’t been a fear of mine for centuries, not since I realized I could shape-shift into someone larger and stronger, someone capable of throwing off any assailant. Maybe it shouldn’t have bothered me so much. I’d had sex with plenty of people I didn’t like over the years. I’d always grimaced and waited it out. But there was something about this that was different. It wasn’t my choice, and compounding it all was the feeling of helplessness I had. I hated not having options. I hated not being able to think my way out of something. There was nothing to be done, though. Not this time. The most I could do was keep struggling and flailing. I did have some self-defense training, after all. I’d learned to use weapons and punch over the years. I’d nailed Niphon pretty good at Christmas. Unfortunately, what I could do now was limited with Greg on me like this. He simply outweighed me. Still, my efforts must have proven annoying because Greg growled and grabbed both my arms in an attempt to flip me over. I yelled profanities at him and got another knee-jab in, close to his groin but not close enough. And that’s when it happened. The smell hit me first. An overwhelming and suffocating odor of natural gas. I stopped struggling for half a second. I didn’t need to be human to know that meant trouble. Before I could process that further, the kitchen exploded into flames. Fire expanded out into the living room. It didn’t quite reach us, but I think Greg must have still gotten burned because he screamed in pain and released his hold on me. His body had shielded the worst from me, and mostly all I felt was a rolling wave of heat and air. I didn’t bother to think or question anything. Greg had released me in his confusion, and I bolted. I scrambled from the couch and ran out the front door, away from the fire. Away from Greg. I drove off as fast as I could, my Passat’s tires squealing on the pavement. Sweat poured off me, and my hands could barely grip the steering wheel through their shaking. About a mile away, I heard the singing of sirens, but I couldn’t spare a thought for what had happened. I couldn’t think about whether Greg had made it out or not. I couldn’t think about how a gas leak had miraculously saved me. The only thing I could think about now was getting away and getting to safety. How to cite Succubus Heat CHAPTER 13, Essay examples