How the Company Seeks To Deliver Customer Value Assignment

How the Company Seeks To Deliver Customer Value - Assignment Example The corporation is committed towards, meeting the needs and tastes of its discriminating customers spread across the world with continuous innovation and by delivering quality of drinks. In order to strengthen its brand image and increase customer awareness, the company makes considerable investment in sales and marketing activities. The operations of the company are categorised into six major segments which involve Eurasia and Africa, Latin America, Pacific, Europe, North America, Bottling Investments and Corporate (Hartogh, 2007). Correspondingly, the purpose of the report is to critically examine and explain how the selected company i.e. The Coca-Cola Company seeks to deliver customer value. Organisational Objectives The Coca-Cola Company has established missions and objectives in order to guide its operations in the future period. Accordingly, the mission and objectives of the company are to: Refresh the entire world Inspire moments of cheerfulness Create value and ascertain tran sformation everywhere the company involves Similarly, the organisation has also articulated certain vision in order achieve its missions effectively and smoothly. Correspondingly, the visions of the company are subdivided into six major categories which include profit, people, portfolio, partners, planet and productivity. The vision of the company is briefly explained below: Profit: The company intends to provide fair returns to its shareholders while performing its organisational responsibilities People: The organisation aims at offering a cordial place for its employees to work wherein every individual is inspired to contribute their best towards the accomplishment of the organisational missions Portfolio: Coca Cola further intends to create new brands and sustain strong ‘brand portfolio’ by prudently meeting the needs of its customers Partners: The company also intends to grow its business along with ensuring the growth of its partners as well as aims at creating nurturing relationship with all its business partners Planet: Coca Cola not only strives to increase its ability to generate the revenue but also desires to become one of the most responsible corporate citizens Productivity: It aims at being a highly operative, lean and fast-moving corporation Source: (The Coca-Cola Company, 2013) Product and Brand Portfolio Coca-Cola offers an assortment of 500 brands and 3500 beverage products in different locations of its operations. The products of the company include sparkling and still beverages such as water, teas, coffees, juice drinks, sport drinks and energy drinks. It can be stated that the organisation has strong brand image across the globe. Essentially, a brand can be defined as the promise made by the business organisation to satisfy the needs of its customers. A strong brand image facilitates the business organisation to reinforce its reputation as well as seek large customer base. As far as branding is concerned for Coca-Cola, it has been ascertained that the company has made maximum utilisation of available resources for developing a strong brand image. The strong brand image of the company has facilitated it to acquire greater competitive market in the non-alcoholic beverage segment (Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc,

Human Resources - Needs Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Human Resources - Needs Assessment - Essay Example Organizational analysis becomes necessary in some cases such as technology changes, environmental shift or when leadership changes For example in GameStop technology changes are frequent. Most important task in improving an organization’s efficiency is performance management which is basically clarifying job responsibilities and priorities to employees and indicating the performance expectations that are required from the employees. To improve the performance the best scenario is appropriate training for the employees in their own fields of work but before that any organization goes through the performance needs assessment in which the desired outcome that is required from the employees and the actual outcome are compared and analyzed. For this first of all the current situation of the present and future employee’s skills, knowledge, talents, capabilities are assessed including the organization’s internal climate provided to the employee (Rossetti,2009). Then the required state is analyzed and this includes the status of the work responsibilities and the skills, potential, efforts and knowledge required to achieve the desired position. In an efficient organization it is very necessary to focus on critical tasks to achieve the long range production goals and not just on current practices. Long range production goals are the desired destination point in future for a company which requires long range strategic interventions. This analysis will produce a list for training and career development but we must first confirm that are needs are actually real and there is a chance for proper and possible intervention. For example we will first asses that whether the problem is costing more then its solution. HR will follow the law during the possible solution and also the influence of this whole effort is analyzed. Now comes the part when we search for the reasons of the low or below desired income and the question faced is whether the employees are w orking hard enough or are they trained properly to do their jobs.(Goldstein,2005). If there are issues indicating and causing the low income then they may be unhappy people(customer, employee, investor) and their complaints are evident when customer satisfaction surveys, annual morale surveys are done ,poor productivity reports(too little work to be done using too many resources) show missed production schedule, poor financial report( cost of sales is too high and there is inadequate cash flow), insufficient communication( lack of feedback system, lack of coordination), lack of compliance having too many violations taking place within the system. Human resource department surveys the employee turn over rate, talent management, complaints etc. If all of this is not satisfactory then the cause are analyzed and then comes the solution part all of which cannot be mended by simple training. GameStop or any company hires already experienced employees so that the issue of training is less frequent but it is not possible all the time plus job requirements change with designation or nature of the job. Needs assessment saves time ensuring that time is not wasted in teaching which is already known. Needs does not refer to the things that are desired, it refers to the difference between the things that are â€Å"present† and those which are â€Å"

THE (ME )IN LEADERSHIP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

THE (ME )IN LEADERSHIP - Essay Example But the definition was too generalized to understand what leadership is really all about; what makes a leader, and what character trait must be learned to become an effective leader. But recent scholars however has synthesized of what really makes a good leader. The idea of being a good leader is no longer as elusive as before. While for others leadership is inherent, it can now be learned integrating the inherent intrinsic quality of an individual and developing it to be become an effective leader. II. The Poster Explained Learning leadership begins with learning the â€Å"self†; to have certainty about himself/herself to as a foundation of confidence to lead and get things done. â€Å"It is necessary for a â€Å"leader, who possesses a clear self-concept through private self-consciousness, to be more likely to possess a strong purpose-in-life. Having a strong purpose involves consistency in self-identity (i.e., self-concept clarity) (Campbell, 1990; Frankl, 1992). The â₠¬Å"possession of a clear self-concept through private self-consciousness enables an individual to recognize the gap between what he or she is (i.e., real self) and what he or she should become (i.e., ideal self). This recognition may enable a leader to develop a strong purpose-in-life by setting goals in order to narrow the gap between the real and ideal self (Frankl, 1992; Marcus & Wurf, 1987). This clarity and lucidness of self-concept is necessary not only to get things done but also to harmonize my inner sense of self to what my peers sees in me. This â€Å"self-concept of reality is again distinct from the contents of the self-structure and is instead the level of lucidity and certitude of one's own understanding of that content- how well the leader thinks they know themselves. Campbell et al. (1996). This clear awareness of myself translates to a clearer sense of goal and purpose which will evolve to Self-Belief. Self-belief, which is the inner confidence that I will succeed and overcome any obstacle to achieve the best outcomes for service improvement. This Self-Belief attribute also will enable me to transcend myself. To be conscious how I see myself and how others sees me as well. As Abraham Maslow (1968) elaborates â€Å"He thinks that there is much more to us than what we mirror about the world around us, writing, "there is not only an orientation to the outer but also to the inner". This â€Å"mirroring as the reflections of self that a group member encounters in other group members, in the group leader, or in the group as a whole (Bion, 1961) harmonizes us within and eliminates discord beginning from perception of how I look myself through my peers. This type of mirroring can include the psychological mechanisms of denial, splitting, projection, introjection, indentification and projective and introjective indentification (Pisani, Colangeli, Giordani, & Popolla, 2006). On the other side of the mirror(s) lies the possibility of self-knowledge an d true relationship. When group members can recognize and own their projections, when they can work with them carefully and honestly in group, when they can bear the reflection(s) of their full identities, they can know more about themselves. Such, this sensitivity towards myself and others comes to mind the idea of myself likening to a dynamo whom the

Human Resources - Needs Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Human Resources - Needs Assessment - Essay Example Organizational analysis becomes necessary in some cases such as technology changes, environmental shift or when leadership changes For example in GameStop technology changes are frequent. Most important task in improving an organization’s efficiency is performance management which is basically clarifying job responsibilities and priorities to employees and indicating the performance expectations that are required from the employees. To improve the performance the best scenario is appropriate training for the employees in their own fields of work but before that any organization goes through the performance needs assessment in which the desired outcome that is required from the employees and the actual outcome are compared and analyzed. For this first of all the current situation of the present and future employee’s skills, knowledge, talents, capabilities are assessed including the organization’s internal climate provided to the employee (Rossetti,2009). Then the required state is analyzed and this includes the status of the work responsibilities and the skills, potential, efforts and knowledge required to achieve the desired position. In an efficient organization it is very necessary to focus on critical tasks to achieve the long range production goals and not just on current practices. Long range production goals are the desired destination point in future for a company which requires long range strategic interventions. This analysis will produce a list for training and career development but we must first confirm that are needs are actually real and there is a chance for proper and possible intervention. For example we will first asses that whether the problem is costing more then its solution. HR will follow the law during the possible solution and also the influence of this whole effort is analyzed. Now comes the part when we search for the reasons of the low or below desired income and the question faced is whether the employees are w orking hard enough or are they trained properly to do their jobs.(Goldstein,2005). If there are issues indicating and causing the low income then they may be unhappy people(customer, employee, investor) and their complaints are evident when customer satisfaction surveys, annual morale surveys are done ,poor productivity reports(too little work to be done using too many resources) show missed production schedule, poor financial report( cost of sales is too high and there is inadequate cash flow), insufficient communication( lack of feedback system, lack of coordination), lack of compliance having too many violations taking place within the system. Human resource department surveys the employee turn over rate, talent management, complaints etc. If all of this is not satisfactory then the cause are analyzed and then comes the solution part all of which cannot be mended by simple training. GameStop or any company hires already experienced employees so that the issue of training is less frequent but it is not possible all the time plus job requirements change with designation or nature of the job. Needs assessment saves time ensuring that time is not wasted in teaching which is already known. Needs does not refer to the things that are desired, it refers to the difference between the things that are â€Å"present† and those which are â€Å"

Formal Outline Essay Example for Free

Formal Outline Essay INTRODUCTION Attention material: The world stopped getting warmer almost 16 years ago, according to new data released last week. The figures, which have triggered debate among climate scientists, reveal that from the beginning of 1997 until August 2012, there was no discernible rise in aggregate global temperatures. This means that the plateau or pause in global warming has now lasted for about the same time as the previous period when temperatures rose, 1980 to 1996. Before that, temperatures had been stable or declining for about 40 years. Credibility material: The current cycle of global warming is changing the rhythms of climate that all living things have come to rely upon. What will we do to slow this warming? How will we cope with the changes weve already set into motion? While we struggle to figure it all out, the face of the Earth, as we know it—coasts, forests, farms, and snowcapped mountains—hangs in the balance. Thesis statement: Today I want to share what I’ve learned about global warming and it’s causes. Preview: We need to consider causes, effects and dangers of global warming. (Transition: Lets begin by understanding more about global warming.) BODY I. The Earth is warming and human activity is the primary cause. A. U.S. scientists said in the media January 19, 2012, about the influence of mankind on the state of global warming has increased from 18% to 51%. B. The primary way humans cause global warming is by burning fossil fuels. 1. When we drive or fly. 2. When we eat meat and Exotic Foods. 3. When we use electricity. 4. When You Move Into A New Development. (Transition: Now, from this it becomes clear why humans are the main cause of global warming, let’s examine its major effects) II. Global Warming effect information. A. The planet is warming, from North Pole to South Pole, and everywhere in between. Globally, the mercury is already up more than 1 degree Fahrenheit (0.8 degree Celsius), and even more in sensitive polar regions. B. Some impacts from increasing temperatures are already happening. 1. Ice is melting worldwide, especially at the Earth’s poles. This includes mountain glaciers, ice sheets covering West Antarctica and Greenland, and Arctic sea ice. 2. Researcher Bill Fraser has tracked the decline of the Adà ©lie penguins on Antarctica, where their numbers have fallen from 32,000 breeding pairs to 11,000 in 30 years. 3. Sea level rise became faster over the last century. 4. Some butterflies, foxes, and alpine plants have moved farther north or to higher, cooler areas. 5. Precipitation (rain and snowfall) has increased across the globe, on average. 6. Spruce bark beetles have boomed in Alaska thanks to 20 years of warm summers. The insects have chewed up 4 million acres of spruce trees. C. Other effects could happen later this century, if warming continues. 1. Sea levels are expected to rise between 7 and 23 inches (18 and 59 centimeters) by the end of the century, and continued melting at the poles could add between 4 and 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters). 2. Floods and droughts will become more common. Rainfall in Ethiopia, where droughts are already common, could decline by 10 percent over the next 50 years. (Transition: So now, we know about global warming effects, lets see our future†¦and how we can fix it!?) III. Predicted Effects and Impacts of Global Warming. A. Future effects about global warming. 1. Increased spread of infectious diseases: an increase in the number of people exposed to vector borne diseases (e.g. cholera) and an increase in heat stress mortality. 2. Degraded water quality: Projected climate change will tend to degrade water quality through higher water temperatures and increased pollutant load from runoff and overflows of waste facilities. 3. More frequent and more intense heat waves, droughts, and tropical cyclones. B. Some basic predictions of global warming. 1. Global mean temperature should increase by between 1.4 and 5.8 C (2.5 to 10 F). 2. The sea level should rise by between 9 and 88 cm (3.5 to 35). (Transition: Finally, I want to tell you about the solution of this huge problem.) IV. Solutions to Global Warming. A. There is no single solution to global warming. 1. Boosting energy efficiency. 2. Greening transportation. 3. Revving up renewables 4. Phasing out fossil fuel electricityManaging forests and agriculture 5.Exploring nuclear 6.Developing and deploying new low-carbon and zero-carbon technologies. 7. Ensuring sustainable development CONCLUSION Summary statement: Some impacts—such as record high temperatures, melting glaciers, and severe flooding and droughts—are already becoming increasingly common across the country and around the world. However, there is much we can do to protect the health and economic well-being of current and future generations from the consequences of the heat-trapping emissions caused when we burn coal, oil, and gas to generate electricity, drive our cars, and fuel our businesses. Concluding remarks: Since 1880 the world has warmed by 0.75 degrees Celsius.

Reliance Industries Limited Business Environment Analysis

Reliance Industries Limited Business Environment Analysis Business environment is the constraints and opportunities that surround our businesses. This is about exploring the nature of the business in which it is being carried out. The analysis in this essay will be on business environment in which Reliance Industries Limited operates. Reliance Industries Limited or RIL is commonly known as Reliance. The company was founded by Shri. Dhirubhai H. Ambani in 1977 the company was initially started as a textile company and led its evolution as a world leader in materials and the energy value chain The Companys operations can be classified into four segments namely: Petroleum Refining and Marketing business Petrochemicals business Oil and Gas Exploration Production business Others There are two types of business environment INTERNAL and EXTERNAL environment Before coming on to the external forces, the internal forces should be made clear. The internal forces are those forces which are controlled by the organisation itself such as the resources knowledge and decision making Reliance in the above context has a wide variety of resources such as well qualified employees and infrastructure As far as knowledge and decision making is concerned Because Reliance recruits very well qualified persons thereby it reflects when it comes to the decision making process of the company External business environment comprises of Political, Economic, Social and Technological factors. These factors can have appositive as well as a negative impact on the company. There are two types of external business environment i.e. micro and macro External micro factors are companys suppliers, transporters, agents, distributers, and wholesalers. External macro factors comprises of Political, Economic, Social and Technological factors. The external micro factors can be influenced by the organisation whereas macro factors cannot be influenced by the organisation Polypropylene market in India Over the past forty years polypropylene growth has exceeded that of other major plastics and has become the largest volume commodity resin. Throughout the history of PP through research efforts of various companies, PP has continued to rapidly evolve with new generation of catalyst and post reactor technology. Because of the improvements made to process and application technology, this polymer has developed into one of the cost-effective bulk thermoplastic. Polypropylene is the worlds fastest growing polymer with an average growth rate of about 7-8%. It is very important for a company to understand and try to manage the external micro factors i.e. PEST forces as discussed above (P)OLITICAL FACTORS Political factors include government policies relating to the industry, tax policies, laws and regulations, trade restrictions and tariffs etc. As in any part of the world, political influence is highly essential to start a business in India. Especially if you are planning to start a multi-billion business, some sort of political patronage is an absolute necessity. Not only for safeguarding the interest of the company but even to begin the process of getting the required sanctions, one requires hold in the high echelons of politics and administrative circles. Reliance industries also hold a high echelon of political and administrative circles so as to safeguard the interest of a company and for getting the required sanctions. (E)CONOMICAL FACTORS The economic factors relate to changes in the wider economy such as economic growth, interest rates, exchange rates and inflation rate, etc. These factors comprise of Government intervention in the free market, infrastructure quality, economic growth rate, availability of labour, wage rate of labour. (S)OCIAL FACTORS Social factors often look at the cultural aspects and include health consciousness, population growth rate, age distribution, changes in tastes and buying patterns, etc. Safety of a person overrides all the production targets is the Health, Safety and Environment Policy of Reliance. Occupational Health Centres (OHCs) have been established to provide education on health and awareness issues, diagnostic camps and health exhibitions are also arranged. RIL also offers periodic medical examination of all the employees (including Contractors employees) along with their family members. In case of any hospitalisation RIL employees are supported by consistent co-operation and cashless hospitalisation amenities from one corner of a country to another. The company also provides fully equipped hospitals in all its major townships. The company also helps conduct Periodic potable water sampling analysis and health audits for the canteens and guest houses. A new initiative was launched by RIL called (CASHe) programme i.e. Change Agents for Safety, Health workplace Environment. This initiative was launched to promote healthy workplaces and reduce health and safety risks. It has also facilitated the Syndicate to advance its enactment on the occupational health and safety front. The companys long term objective is to address all environmental initiatives as they want to become more positive about water conservation, carbon neutral and conduct the maximum possible recycling and reuse of wastes. The company has further been reinforced in context of companys management framework with roles responsibilities, group standards and defined structures. RILs Patlganga plant has changed over to use of a cleaner fuel. This resulted in substantial reduction of suspended particulate substance and sulphur dioxide releases in the air. RIL has indoctrinated a practice to be in coordination with nature and in this circumstance, afforestation, upkeep of green belts and promoting lush green surroundings as they have decided to planted around 1,00,000 plants at the OT, gardens, vermin-compost of waste and its use as manure, they also reuse treated water for horticulture activities as a routine. (T)ECHNOLOGICAL FACTORS The technological factors relate to the application of new inventions and ideas such as RD activity, automation, technology incentives and the rate of technological change. RIL has always laid emphasis on RD, technology development and innovation. The reliance Group (RTG) undergoes various research and technology functions which help them produce improved value supply by leveraging all the abilities, and creating new prospects at the interfaces. At the time of recession also RIL did not even step back their zeal to innovate helped them convert the adversity into an opportunity. The company launched a ground-breaking initiative called mission kurukshetra which was aimed at emerging the organisation to rise to the occasion and also help the company to emerge stronger. This initiative not only helped in combatting the challenges with a win but also identified serial ideators; the enterprise facilitated them by rewarding them for their leadership. The Leading Expert Access Programme (LEAP). The people at RIL are inspired by leaders and also provide them access to global thought. The RIL draws an agenda on innovation with the help of The Reliance Innovation Leadership Centre (RILC) which helps the company to stay amongst one of the most innovative companies in the world. RIL continues its journey to make improvement a way of life and want to confirm that the growth of the next generation are led by innovation. Advantages of PEST analysis: PEST analysis is an effective and efficient tool, which provides a framework to an organisation for effective decision making. By making effective use of PEST analysis, one can ensure affirmative orientation of the business organisation. PEST analysis also helps an organisation in avoiding decisions which should not be taken. PEST analysis helps in making lawful decisions for the companies which are willing to enter into a new market. Disadvantages of PEST analysis: PEST analysis considers only the external business factors, but in reality all the factors should be considered in order to make effective decisions for an organisation. Most of the data gathered through this analysis is based on assumptions, which sometimes may not prove to be fruitful for an organisation. The rapid changes in the world economy can also make it difficult in analysing PEST factors for an organisation. Another factor which comes under consideration is the SWOT analysis of the company SWOT stands for strengths weakness opportunities and threats. RILs SWOT analysis is as follows: (S)TRENGTHS Consolidations: There are only two main players of in petrochemicals and a solid consolidation has been seen in last few years as 85% of polymer capacity is with these companies namely reliance and haldia (W)EAKNESS Low bargaining power from the suppliers: The input prices form nearly 50-60% of the raw material costs. Reliance being a petrochemical player does not have much of a negotiating power counter to the suppliers. Therefore they always remain unprotected to the prices of the raw material. Low bargaining to from the customers: As there is an increase in the input cost therefore the companies are not able to offer any price reductions or bargains to the customers. (O)PPORTUNITIES Low per capita income: Currently, domestic per person polymer consumption is nearly 4 kgs while if we see the global average it is nearly 20 kgs. This tells the fact that there is huge scope of volume expansion in INDIA as the market to be selected is very massive.therefore there is a massive scope of product development. Also, currently, India has a chemicals trade deficit of about US$ 1.5 bn a year, which leaves enough investment opportunities in the industry. (T)hreats Customs duties: The polymer industry has a protection from overseas competition by leveraging high import duties imposed by the government. However, of late, Import duty on polymers has been steadily reduced and is currently at 20%. As part of its commitment to various multilateral and bilateral trade agreements, the government is likely to reduce duties.

I Am Deaf Essay -- essays research papers

Otherness Project Exceptional Learners I am deaf. I am at Starbucks. I want to order coffee. I have to do it on paper rather than out loud because I speak so poorly, I don’t like to try. I intend to write it down and show it to the barrista, but I am nervous. I don’t know if I am more nervous because I am not really deaf and I feel guilty or because I am different from the other customers and I will be labeled as disabled. I am not looking forward to placing my order. I order a medium decaf coffee by holding up a notebook with the phrase â€Å"Medium Decaf Coffee, Please.† The young man at the counter does a quick transformation from a confident good looking guy to a bumbling embarrassed guy. He says,† yes sir† three or four times. He spends a long time giving change from a five dollar bill for a coffee. Then, he hands me $4.27. (The bill was $1.73) He seems hesitant and confused, and I’m thinking that he’s too worried about hurting my feelings to reconsider if he has the cor rect change. I shake my head: â€Å"no.† He goes thru an explanation (that makes absolutely no sense) of why it is the correct change. Then, he hands it back to me, and I again shake my head: â€Å"no.† He then thinks a second, and he gives me $2.27 change, shorting me a dollar, and then as an afterthought he finally corrects it and gives me the right change. He is clearly addled. And I feel bad for causing him anxiety, especially since it is all a drama for the paper. But, I am trying to maintain my position as a deaf man. I am trying not to respond to sound stimuli. There’s no crime in looking though—for a deaf man. In fact, I enjoyed a heightened sense of sight as I drove without radio accompaniment in my car. I am not talking to anybody. And if they are talking to me, I am avoiding their eyes because I am so busy looking at the words coming out of their mouths. Though I am a bit excited by my isolation, I am also of course, just plain lonely to be so apart from others and their community. I notice I have a message on my cell phone, and I am not supposed to answer it, because I am not able to answer it at this time. I answer it anyway thinking it may be someone I love or it may be someone I work with that will give me money. I am so fortunate to be able to communicate by cell phone with such ease when my alter ego that is deaf is unable to do so. In fact, my alter ego can us... ...fic and up the driveway of the parking lot on the other side of the street. As he makes his way across I think of going to him and asking him out, and how that would infuriate my boyfriend. I think of how confident he is and how skilled and strong. I think of how able he is. And I remember how I was feeling at Starbuck’s knowing that the cashier was trying so hard not to hurt my feelings, because he was apparently certain how sensitive I would be to social discomfort regarding my condition of deafness. I felt offended and hurt and disappointed that the cashier did not recognize my talents. I’m deaf but I’m still an astrologer, numerologer, massage therapist, meditation instructor, teacher, and businessman. I am a well rounded person with an added dimension due to my lack of hearing. I have perspectives that come to me entirely from my deafness that no one but a deaf person can access. Will he recognize my strengths? Will he recognize my completeness, my whole ness, the synthesis of all my individual parts? Right now he doesn’t. These are the things I thought of as I watched that attractive man make his way across the street, while I wished that I was trotting along beside him. I Am Deaf Essay -- essays research papers Otherness Project Exceptional Learners I am deaf. I am at Starbucks. I want to order coffee. I have to do it on paper rather than out loud because I speak so poorly, I don’t like to try. I intend to write it down and show it to the barrista, but I am nervous. I don’t know if I am more nervous because I am not really deaf and I feel guilty or because I am different from the other customers and I will be labeled as disabled. I am not looking forward to placing my order. I order a medium decaf coffee by holding up a notebook with the phrase â€Å"Medium Decaf Coffee, Please.† The young man at the counter does a quick transformation from a confident good looking guy to a bumbling embarrassed guy. He says,† yes sir† three or four times. He spends a long time giving change from a five dollar bill for a coffee. Then, he hands me $4.27. (The bill was $1.73) He seems hesitant and confused, and I’m thinking that he’s too worried about hurting my feelings to reconsider if he has the cor rect change. I shake my head: â€Å"no.† He goes thru an explanation (that makes absolutely no sense) of why it is the correct change. Then, he hands it back to me, and I again shake my head: â€Å"no.† He then thinks a second, and he gives me $2.27 change, shorting me a dollar, and then as an afterthought he finally corrects it and gives me the right change. He is clearly addled. And I feel bad for causing him anxiety, especially since it is all a drama for the paper. But, I am trying to maintain my position as a deaf man. I am trying not to respond to sound stimuli. There’s no crime in looking though—for a deaf man. In fact, I enjoyed a heightened sense of sight as I drove without radio accompaniment in my car. I am not talking to anybody. And if they are talking to me, I am avoiding their eyes because I am so busy looking at the words coming out of their mouths. Though I am a bit excited by my isolation, I am also of course, just plain lonely to be so apart from others and their community. I notice I have a message on my cell phone, and I am not supposed to answer it, because I am not able to answer it at this time. I answer it anyway thinking it may be someone I love or it may be someone I work with that will give me money. I am so fortunate to be able to communicate by cell phone with such ease when my alter ego that is deaf is unable to do so. In fact, my alter ego can us... ...fic and up the driveway of the parking lot on the other side of the street. As he makes his way across I think of going to him and asking him out, and how that would infuriate my boyfriend. I think of how confident he is and how skilled and strong. I think of how able he is. And I remember how I was feeling at Starbuck’s knowing that the cashier was trying so hard not to hurt my feelings, because he was apparently certain how sensitive I would be to social discomfort regarding my condition of deafness. I felt offended and hurt and disappointed that the cashier did not recognize my talents. I’m deaf but I’m still an astrologer, numerologer, massage therapist, meditation instructor, teacher, and businessman. I am a well rounded person with an added dimension due to my lack of hearing. I have perspectives that come to me entirely from my deafness that no one but a deaf person can access. Will he recognize my strengths? Will he recognize my completeness, my whole ness, the synthesis of all my individual parts? Right now he doesn’t. These are the things I thought of as I watched that attractive man make his way across the street, while I wished that I was trotting along beside him.