Friday, March 20, 2020

Free Essays on Cal Thomas

Critical Review: Cal Thomas & Ed Dobson â€Å"Blinded by Night† I found the article by Cal Thomas and Ed Dobson to be the most upfront and honest piece of work that I have read from the religious right in this class. When compared to the article written by Falwell I find this article to be better written with less political and religious spin. I find the article so effective in part because of the way it was composed. They gave you the view of the Moral Majority in 1980. It was an organization bursting with excitement, enthusiasm, and expectations. With the election of President Reagan the sky was supposed to be the limit for the moral majority. It was supposed to be only a matter of time before the country under went massive changes for the better. Fast forward twenty years and you see that very little of what the moral majority intended to accomplish was ever achieved. The authors hold the belief that top down activism cannot and will not work. This is a different point of view than most religious conservatives hold. In this respect I find that they are ahead of their counterparts such as Falwell in recognizing the mistakes that were made in the past. Instead they say that you must begin by fixing things from the bottom and working your way up. This article held more weight with me because the authors acknowledged the inefficiencies that existed in the moral majority and continue to exist in organizations such as the Christian Coalition. For members of the moral majority it was a sad reality that when they said, â€Å"With a few pen strokes, Bill Clinton erased the little Moral Majority had been able to achieve during its brief existence.† I believe the overriding argument being made throughout the article is best summed up in the last line, â€Å"The tragedy was not the failure to succeed, but the waste of spiritual energy that would have been better spent on strategies and methods more likely to succeed than the ... Free Essays on Cal Thomas Free Essays on Cal Thomas Critical Review: Cal Thomas & Ed Dobson â€Å"Blinded by Night† I found the article by Cal Thomas and Ed Dobson to be the most upfront and honest piece of work that I have read from the religious right in this class. When compared to the article written by Falwell I find this article to be better written with less political and religious spin. I find the article so effective in part because of the way it was composed. They gave you the view of the Moral Majority in 1980. It was an organization bursting with excitement, enthusiasm, and expectations. With the election of President Reagan the sky was supposed to be the limit for the moral majority. It was supposed to be only a matter of time before the country under went massive changes for the better. Fast forward twenty years and you see that very little of what the moral majority intended to accomplish was ever achieved. The authors hold the belief that top down activism cannot and will not work. This is a different point of view than most religious conservatives hold. In this respect I find that they are ahead of their counterparts such as Falwell in recognizing the mistakes that were made in the past. Instead they say that you must begin by fixing things from the bottom and working your way up. This article held more weight with me because the authors acknowledged the inefficiencies that existed in the moral majority and continue to exist in organizations such as the Christian Coalition. For members of the moral majority it was a sad reality that when they said, â€Å"With a few pen strokes, Bill Clinton erased the little Moral Majority had been able to achieve during its brief existence.† I believe the overriding argument being made throughout the article is best summed up in the last line, â€Å"The tragedy was not the failure to succeed, but the waste of spiritual energy that would have been better spent on strategies and methods more likely to succeed than the ...

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

6 Skills and Traits Employers Want in a Receptionist

6 Skills and Traits Employers Want in a Receptionist Over one million receptionist jobs exist in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Demand for administrative professionals extends across most industries, from general practical medical clinics to Realtor offices. If youre looking for a job as a receptionist, sharpen these seven skills to give yourself a competitive advantage.1. OrganizationWhether theyre booking travel arrangements for executives, populating spreadsheets with data, greeting visitors, or answering phones, receptionists must stay on top of their to-do lists. Sometimes this means moving from one task to another at a moments notice.Exhibit your organizational skills by arriving for interviews on time. Take notes when you meet with employers to show that you value organization in your work life.2. FriendlinessReceptionists serve as the public faces of the companies that employ them. They welcome visitors through the front door, offer guests refreshments, and connect callers to the appropriate par ty.When interviewing for a job, show prospective employers your ability to put others at ease. A smile, a firm handshake, and a friendly personality help grease the wheels of employment.3. Active ListeningAccording to Psychology Today, social media and other influences have shortened attention spans to as few as 20 seconds. A receptionist needs active listening skills to quickly process requests from visitors and superiors.To improve your active listening skills, maintain eye contact with correspondents and ask clarifying questions. Remember the names of people with whom you speak and refer to them by name every so often to demonstrate your attentiveness.4. Technology AdaptabilitySeveral years ago, a receptionist who could create spreadsheets and respond to email could hold his or her own in this position. Now, however, receptionists use dozens of different software applications. They might manage their employers social media accounts or access web-based accounting programs.With the wide variety of computer solutions available to employers, you cant easily anticipate which program youll need to use on the job. Focus instead on familiarizing yourself with technology in general. Use the computer frequently and increase your comfort level with the user interfaces of different programs.5. MemoryHave you ever walked into a business, such as your bank or supermarket, and responded with a smile when an employee greeted you by name? Memory skills serve receptionists well because a good memory allows them to respond to and even anticipate others needs.If you suffer from frequent forgetfulness, start carrying a pad of paper and a pen wherever you go. Jot down notes to help you remember key details. Not only can you refer to your notes later, but actively writing down key information makes it more likely to stick in your mind. The U.S. Air Force reports that people remember 90 percent of the things they do (versus 75 percent of what they see and 20 percent of what they hear).6. CommunicationReceptionists write emails, answer phone calls, dictate memos, and meet with customers. They articulate messages between colleagues and correspond with business associates. All of these activities require advanced communication skills.If you struggle with communication, develop a familiar script for communicating with others. For example, when you greet visitors, use similar language to welcome them, ask them what they need, and invite them to sit down.