Motivated to succeed paper.

What the heck, I'm in a posting mood and since the prof can procrastinate but I can't, here I go to post an ungraded paper, but I'm sure I got an A on it.

Motivated to Succeed

Motivated To Succeed: The drive to work.
Maurice S. Keating, Jr.
University of Phoenix
Motivated to Succeed: The drive to work.
The primary motivator of work is aptly stated by the Apostle Paul in such simple words as: “If any one will not work, let him not eat.” 2Th 3:10b, RSV (2008). As outlined by Kowalski and Weston, the basic physiological and safety needs described by Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs; food, shelter, clothing and such, are the necessities of life and the foundation of all desire to earn a living with a job (Kowalski and Weston, 2005, p.326). But what type of gainful employment might one pick in today’s modern society with it’s multitude of opportunities that have little or no bearing on actual production of food? The necessity of work aside, the motivation to do more then just any old job carries with it the desire to perform tasks that offer fulfillment and personal enrichment that one finds rewarding in other ways then just monetary gain. Also to be considered is the availability of employment and the ability of the individual to perform the job at hand among many other factors. Given that let us examine such recent phenomena as the many opportunities made available by the Internet to work at home that eliminate the actual commute to work, while offering those person’s with the drive to succeed, the means by which they can find fulfillment. The application reads: Type of employment preferred; and among the list is one particularly relevant to those with a desire to succeed not just for profit, but personal enrichment and further advancement and career development. Check mark the box labeled; student!

While being a student, specifically an online student might not seem like a job to many, there student is as an employment selection on the U.S. Census questionnaire, all financial credit applications, and even on many surveys and contest entry forms. Unlike the overwhelming majority of internet opportunities one might find online or delivered to one’s email inbox that advertise working at home-no experience necessary, training provided-online colleges require a high school diploma or G.E.D., and in some cases, previous college attendance. Of course, a computer with internet access and some prior knowledge of its use and certain other programs is also required. While paying for an online education may also require additional outside employment, financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships and loans provide the pay in this career. Even one’s outside employment may offer tuition reimbursement as an incentive bonus, sometimes for work related studies, but always dependent on maintaining satisfactory grades.

The motivation to succeed; in starting a career, advancing one’s present career or changing career’s entirely, is the driving force in selecting this initiatory job education path. Six key issues should be considered before choosing an Online University, as suggested in the article; Six Steps To Success: How To Choose The Best Online University. 1. Flexibility of either an individual’s time schedule or the programs. 2. Costs, both stated tuition and hidden costs of texts and lab fees. 3. Results of a program leading to both graduation and employment. 4. Credit Transfers from previous colleges. 5. Quality of curriculum and instruction. 6. Faculty Credentials and Accreditation of the University (1996-2008). A potential student has to have an idea of an area of study of interest, goals established, and be self disciplined and self motivated, to accomplish the task of completing a major course of study and earn a degree. Constance Spampinato outlines seven principles of good practice in undergraduate education as delineated by Chickering and Gamson as follows: 1. Encourages Student-Faculty Contact. 2. Encourages Cooperation Among Students. 3. Encourages Active Learning. 4. Gives Prompt Feedback. 5. Emphasizes Time on Task. 6. Communicates High Expectations. 7. Respects Diverse Talents and Ways of Learning (Constance Spampinato, 2005, pp. 18-21). Online education therefore, is a two way street and is available to those willing to rise to the occasion.

That the home environment is the work (study), environment, thought must be given to time and space being allotted for duties without distractions. Can’t call in sick, the computer is right there in the home. There is no excuse available for being late as there isn’t any commute to a campus. Yet the very fact that the computer is the campus and the campus is in the home can be a cause that would plague anyone with the tendency to procrastinate. A ringing telephone, baby crying, mail arriving, knock at the door, even just the thought that the computer is always there and available to be turned on any old time, can lead to delays and distractions. Overcome the difficulties and obstacles and find that opportunity is knocking at the door.

References:
Cool Savings. (1996-2008). Six Steps To Success: How To Choose The Best Online University. Retrieved February 3, 2008, from http://www.coolsavings.com/ChooseTheBestOnlineUniversity.aspx?SessionID=59e8517a-1a88-47a6-a74f-a3b24307aa9f-2
Holy Bible. (2008). 2nd Thessalonians 3:10b. Retrieved February 3, 2008, from http://www.biblelookup.com/cgi-bin/pbible.pl?maxhits=10&mode=context&subp=Get+passage&passagestring=2Th+3%3A10&subp1=Get+passage&version=rsv
Kowalski, R., and Westen, D. (2005). Psychology. New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
Spampinato, Constance M. (2005) Students' perceptions concerning the effect of personal attributes and course attributes in classroom, online, and telecourse success. Ed.D. dissertation, Wilmington College (Delaware), United States -- Delaware. Retrieved February 4, 2008, from ProQuest Digital Dissertations database. (Publication No. AAT 3164148).