Is The U.S. Education System Flawed? June 21, 2007
Posted by Bryan Povlinski in Education.5 comments
I’m still in the middle of reading Thomas Friedman’s excellent book The World is Flat, and one of the chapters poses an interesting question: How does America’s education system compare with the rest of the world? First of all, the US has a drastically different system than most other countries. Most developed nations have a national education system in which all schools follow the same curriculum, and it is tweaked to meet national ambitions. The US has a system in which each district can essentially choose its own unique course, and it may or may not be consistent with the majority of the country.
This system has its benefits because it allows for some flexibility and creativity, but in the end, it is essentially set up as if the US is not competing with the rest of the world. Most other countries define their education system based on what they’d like to accomplish as a nation which gives them a sense of purpose and ambition. This structured system has led, in large part, to the growth many countries are currently experiencing and will undeniably lead to continued growth in the future.
Now in theory, the US system should work just fine and would not leave the US at a disadvantage in terms of competitive analysis, however, the key ingredients that have led to a higher level school system in foreign countries are ambition and expectations.
In his book, Friedman recounts the experience of a 5th grade teacher who had parents of an Indian child come in and ask that their child receive more homework and more challenging assignments. An Eastern European couple demanded that their son be given a science textbook, and that the small science binder he was given was not sufficient for his educational development. On the other hand, many American parents came in to complain that the workload was just too much on their children, and there was no way they could complete it with the other activities they participated in.
This is what separates the educational system in the US with those of other countries. The other kids simply care more and have a passion for learning. American kids would much rather play video games and watch TV. Foreign students face steep expectations where straight A’s are often the norm, whereas in America many kids are rewarded for bringing home C’s.
I don’t think the blame lies in any one of the teachers, parents, or students, but society as a whole is the primary cause for our lacking education. Maybe someday school in the US will become “cool” again, but until then we are just opening the door for any other country to surpass our standard of living.
Creativity Affirmation And The Law Of Attraction June 20, 2007
Posted by Bryan Povlinski in Creativity.add a comment
There are many self-help books and theories that all center around the Law of Attraction (namely The Secret). These books present some ridiculous claims: A guy who was getting so overwhelmed with bills he couldn’t easily pay started to think positive thoughts and dream about checks coming in the mail instead. Sure enough, the next month the bills had stopped, and he was now getting several checks in the mail simply because of his hopes and dreams.
I don’t believe these claims for a second, and it’s all just a big marketing ploy that really appeals to the masses of lazy people who want to achieve wealth or desires without any kind of work. The book has become a phenomenon mainly because of this, and it’s sad to see so many people believing in it and trying to only rely on their positive thoughts rather than productive actions.
Now, hold on a second. I’m going to contradict myself slightly here.
I do believe the Law of Attraction can be very useful to one particular area, creativity.
Many people claim that they are not creative and are not able to come up with new ideas. This is a problem. With that thought process you will never come up with any new ideas because you won’t want to try. However, if you truly believe you’re creative, then you will continue to try to think up new ideas. The more you try, the more likely you are to come up with a genuinely great idea. If you continue to tell yourself that you’re creative, you’re engaging in creativity affirmation which is the key to producing new ideas.
So, the Law of Attraction probably won’t make your bills disappear, but if you practice this simple thought process, you’re well on your way to becoming a truly creative person.
New Host and Title June 20, 2007
Posted by Bryan Povlinski in Inspiration.add a comment
I recently made the switch from Blogger to WordPress after I became increasingly frustrated with the Blogger interface. There are some great features in Blogger including the ability to post ads on your site and other Java add-ons that are not allowed here at WordPress, but overall I am able to use WordPress with greater ease, and it is much better looking than any of the Blogger templates.
This blog is loosely tied to the book Why Not? by Barry Nalebuff and Ian Ayres. The basic concept of the book is that many people just assume that all the significant changes in the world are being made by very powerful, famous people. It may be slightly easier for people in power to make world-changing decisions, but why can’t you?
I think the title of the Idea Exchange better represents what I am going to convey through this blog. Taking action on something you’re passionate about is sometimes difficult because you lack a unique idea to further your vision. Through entrepreneurship, collaboration, and creativity, I believe everyone in this world can make a huge difference. All it takes is an idea.
Combine a great idea with a dream and anything is possible. Think about it, and with all the new forms of collaboration available today, start brainstorming and creating something that you’re passionate about.
Engineering Shortage June 19, 2007
Posted by Bryan Povlinski in Engineering.5 comments
I blogged recently about the world dominance of the United States being threatened due to the declining number of engineers entering the workforce. Engineering and science have made the United States what it is today because of the constant innovation individuals in these fields have created. During the Cold War, and after John F. Kennedy’s moving speech declaring the US would put a man on the moon, every kid wanted to grow up and contribute to this exhilarating field of space and exploration. Now many American kids couldn’t care less and more emphasis is put on becoming a doctor or a lawyer.
When I was younger I wanted to become a lawyer. When I told that to my friend’s dad, he cringed and said, “We have enough lawyers. What we need is more do’ers.” That has really stuck with me through the years, and I wish all high school graduates were given that advice.
Asian countries are currently producing 8 times the number of undergraduate engineering degrees as the United States, and that number is rapidly growing. 60% of all bachelor’s degrees in China are engineering degrees compared to only 31% in the United States. The number of jobs requiring science and engineering degrees will continue to grow. How are these jobs going to be filled if the number of graduates in an engineering field continues to slide?
Science and engineering is the backbone of our high standard of living, and if something isn’t done to combat this issue, the global economic landscape in the next several decades could be drastically different. Thoughts?
World Changing Websites June 19, 2007
Posted by Bryan Povlinski in Changing the World.add a comment
I recenctly came across two outstanding websites that really give everyone a chance to collaborate and make the difference you want to see in the world. Check them out: Change.org and Idealist.org. Also, a great resource to see what is going on in the efforts to make the world a better place, particularly the environment, is Worldchanging.org. Enjoy!
Is US Dominance Being Threatened? June 18, 2007
Posted by Bryan Povlinski in Uncategorized.add a comment
Since the fall of the Soviet Union the United States has been looked to as the lone superpower in the world. The US has the best technology, armed forces, established businesses, etc. Most other countries aren’t even close in any of these categories. This excellence has been reached through cultivating the brightest minds in the world and creating the most human value.
However, with the rise of countries like China and India, the question must be asked: Will these countries overtake the US and become a bigger superpower?
The answer, in my opinion (formed in large part by the outstanding book The World Is Flat) is no, at least not for a while. However, important changes need to be made in order for the US to maintain its lofty status.
First, a National Engineering Program absolutely needs to be formed to encourage kids to study to be engineers. Any kind of engineer is always in demand because of the brainpower that is required. With India likely surpassing the United States as the country with the most English speaking citizens in 2010, and the fact that India is sending more “Straight A” students to college than the US, something needs to be done. I think a national program should be formed to encourage this among students with some of these facts presented at a young age so that kids are motivated. I know several organizations like this exist, but nothing is truly making a substantial impact. I know I was never motivated to study engineering.
Having this foundation for students in the US will help catch up to the rapidly growing pool of Indian engineers who are just as talented if not more than the Americans.
If anyone is interested in looking into forming such an organization I’d love to hear from you. Any thoughts?
The Most Important Brand June 17, 2007
Posted by Bryan Povlinski in Branding.1 comment so far
When you think of brands, some popular companies may come to your mind such as Coca Cola, Nike, or McDonalds, but the most important brand to you should be yourself. If you are not recognized or respected it will be difficult to get anywhere in the world of business. This is why networking and building up contacts are so important so that you can improve your overall brand. If people like you, then they will refer you and help you along your way. Opportunities that you may have never thought of will be opened, and improving your personal brand is the best way to accomplish this. Some great resources on this topic are POP! Stand Out in Any Crowd and The Brand Called You.
Useful Web 2.0 Sites June 16, 2007
Posted by Bryan Povlinski in Uncategorized.add a comment
I ran across this outstanding list over at the Write Ideas Marketing blog. I tend to agree with most of her ideas, especially her take on Twitter about it being basically useless. I also am somewhat skeptical of her views on LinkedIn. I haven’t been able to use LinkedIn for much, and I’m curious as to how some of you may have used it or gotten much benefit from it before. I’d love to get some feedback.
Sports and Business June 15, 2007
Posted by Bryan Povlinski in Uncategorized.add a comment
I think the intersection between sports and business is fascinating, and this article from Fast Company on Lebron James is very compelling.
I think the NBA Finals in general can be related a lot to business. The Spurs showed how valuable the ability to handle pressure, teamwork, and experience are to success. Cleveland showed that no matter how good a few of your players are, you are still only as strong as your weakest link. These traits ring true in the world of business, and it takes sports to make them truly visible and easy to understand.
Why Most Efforts At Entrepreneurship Fail June 15, 2007
Posted by Bryan Povlinski in Uncategorized.add a comment
Many people these days are looking to make money fast. There are so many seminars, books, tapes, DVDs, and you name it out there promising you $500,000 in two weeks or something ridiculous like that. Many people believe that they can start their own business to make the quick buck. This is a valid option and one that takes a lot of courage and effort. The problem lies in the motives to start the business.
Many entrepreneurs are in business solely to make money for themselves. Most of these businesses will fail no matter how much work is put into them. The key to a successful business is focusing on the customer. The most successful business is going to be one that is built upon a business model that exists to make something better or to improve their customers’ lives.
Think about this if you have the desire to start a business. If you put your customers before yourself and build your business and products around what will improve their lives–yours will improve greatly as well.
