Walden University Alumni Association Blog

Walden launches online communities

Walden University’s College of Management and Technology and The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership have introduced new online communities. These dynamic sites provide professionals the opportunity to network, stay abreast of current developments in their fields and share insights.

Think+Up hosted by the College of Management and Technology, explores the latest issues and trends in business, engineering, and IT through case studies, forums, blogs, exclusive interviews, and more. 

ConnectEd hosted by The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership, is designed to inform, engage, and inspire educators by allowing them to share best practices with other educators from around the globe. ConnectEd offers practical advice about the professional and personal challenges educators face in their settings as well as in their life.

You are invited to join these exciting communities so you may:

• Network with peers, colleagues and other professionals
• Share their insights by commenting on blogs, articles and other forums
• Invite colleagues, friends and others to visit these online communities

Walden presents: A Public Health Crisis – Swine Flu

Walden University's School of Health Sciences presents A Public Health Crisis - Swine Flu on  Wednesday May 6, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time. Faculty members, Angela Witt Prehn, PhD and Nancy K. Rea, PhD, MHSA will offer timely and valuable  information, as well as insights gained from personal experiences with pandemics and the role of public health officials at the epicenter of this current crisis.

Click here to register for this free presentation.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from public health experts on this urgent health issue.

Walden Case Study: eBay Bids for a Better Future

eBay has always been known for creating high-stakes drama. Back in its heyday, the San Jose, Calif.-based online auction giant prompted countless consumers to bid on everything from one-of-a-kind Pez dispensers to high-priced Beanie Babies with never-before-seen frenzy. But yesteryear’s fast-paced, white-knuckled bidding has slowly given way to harsh criticism from disgruntled sellers.

“Please quit changing the site around,” wrote an angry seller named felicitydolls on eBay’s own community forum. “It’s bad enough that you changed the MyeBay page and made it harder for us sellers to navigate the site for our selling needs…When is this all going to stop?”

“The sellers should have a say in what goes on with eBay or start a petition against eBay to have some of our seller rights and rules back for us,” said a poster named warhorse20000. “Otherwise, I see a new ghost-town forming…And what will people do when they come to shop on eBay without sellers to choose from?”

But the drama doesn’t end there. In fact, displeased sellers are only part of the problem now facing eBay. At about $16.78 (as of publication date), eBay’s stock is trading not too far above its 52-week low of $10.28 and is down more than 50% in the past 12 months. Earlier this year, the company reported revenue of $2.07 billion, down 7% from a year ago—its first revenue decline since the company launched in 1995. And eBay’s net income also fell nearly 31% to $367 million in the fourth quarter, or 29 cents a share, compared with net income of $531 million, or 39 cents a share, a year earlier.

The economic meltdown is only partially to blame for eBay’s troubles. After all, competitors such as Amazon, Taobao in China and Gmarket in Korea are booming. So what’s ailing the world’s largest Internet auctioneer? The answer lies in a number of factors including increased competition, poorly thought-out policy changes, and the public’s growing disenchantment with online haggling.

Stuck in the middle
“Consumers are less interested now in the auction format,” says Scot Wingo, CEO of ChannelAdvisor, a North Carolina-based provider of software that helps online retailers sell across ecommerce channels such as eBay. “They want to receive what they’re after faster so fixed prices are definitely on the increase.” eBay has responded to this cultural shift in spending by introducing fixed price selling as well as classified ads for a more local flavor. In fact, the auction business only accounted for 26% of eBay’s fourth-quarter revenue of $2 billion. In contrast, fixed price sales accounted for 25%, and are on the rise.

Yet offering a mixed bag of goods – namely auction, fixed price and local listings – has ensconced eBay squarely between its two main competitors – Amazon and Craigslist – when it should be carving out a niche of its own.  

“There’s a perception that eBay needs to compete against Amazon and walk this middle ground between Amazon and Craigslist and that’s a mistake,” says George Goodall, a senior analyst with research firm Info-Tech Research Group in Ontario, Canada. “Someone once said, ‘You never want to be between a rock and a hard place – the rock of Amazon and the hard place of Craiglist.’ eBay needs to change its vision and try to do something unique because if eBay solely tries to compete against these two players, it’s going to get crushed.”

Failing to measure up
But that’s not all. According to Wingo, eBay needs to seriously rethink its policies, from pricing to shipping, in order to gain a long-overdue leg-up on its competition. For example, Wingo says that by charging sellers to list their goods online, “eBay creates an economic hurdle. Conversely, Amazon doesn’t have a listing fee and encourages sellers to list their entire inventory. So in the end, Amazon has come up with a system that produces a greater selection [of goods] than eBay.”

In addition to offering innovative features such as one-click shopping and a pre-paid shipping program, Amazon has also taken steps to ensure that its third-party sellers produce a documented refund policy and user-friendly product return processes that embody the e-tailer’s own high standards. The result is a unified shopping experience that lends instant credibility to otherwise unknown vendors.

It’s a branding feat that eBay has been hard-pressed to reproduce, according to Goodall. “When you look at Amazon and its unified interface, it always looks as if you’re buying from Amazon and its big warehouse…when there are actually a whole variety of resellers in the Amazon ecosystem,” he says. “But there’s always that perception that you’re buying from Amazon and that there’s a vetting process which instils confidence in consumers.”

Rethinking the online shopping experience
Nor has eBay managed to create any real sense of unification among its disparate selling units, say experts. For example, Goodall points out that when an eBay member conducts a search for a particular product, ‘Buy It Now’ items (which allow a buyer to purchase an item at a set price) appear alongside auction items, which “are two very different ways of shopping.” Bargain-seekers interested in the thrill of the hunt find themselves face-to-face with storefront-like listings, while no-nonsense consumers are forced to sift through items up for auction.

Another error that requires correcting, according to eBay pundits: a recent spate of changes to its feedback mechanism. Under eBay’s new system, buyer feedback can significantly impact how much sellers pay for eBay’s services and how prominently the auction site displays their listings to buyers. By basing seller ratings on criteria such as a customer’s satisfaction with shipping costs, eBay has inadvertently stopped many vendors from selling internationally for fear of receiving negative feedback.

“[eBay’s competitors] have consistently improved the buying experience whereas eBay has fallen behind,” says Wingo. “eBay hasn’t thought through a lot of the processes that it’s putting in place and many times, the company has taken steps back when it’s wanted to take steps forward.”

Such missteps have raised the ire of many an eBay seller. Laments Goodall, “Back in the early days of eBay, it was all about the seller and the relationship with the seller. Now what you find is that sellers are starting to feel a little alienated by eBay because of the cost structures and some of the interface changes.”

Wingo agrees. “There’s a lot of venom out there in the seller world and most people feel as if CEO John Donahoe has already worn out his welcome.”

Hope for the future
Be that as it is, eBay isn’t about to bid adieu to the online auction world. For starters, Goodall points out that “eBay is still surprisingly profitable, particularly when you look at the PayPal and Skype divisions. There’s growth and cash there – it’s just really how eBay elects to spend it.” In fact, both PayPal, an online payment outfit, and Skype, a communications software provider, are growing. In eBay’s fourth quarter, the number of people using PayPal increased 23% year over year, while Skype revenue grew 5%.

And while there’s no denying that drastic action is required for eBay to regain its former glory as an internet powerhouse, the company’s top-management should have a clear idea of what – and what isn’t – working in terms of innovative features and new policies. And that’s in large part to the outspoken sellers flooding online forums everywhere.

Let us know what you think, can eBay recover or will it go the way of Gateway, another powerhouse that has become a distant memory?

To read more case studies, visit Think+Up.

Walden presents: The Future of Communications

Walden University’s College of Management and Technology will present The Future of Communications, an online discussion about the importance of communications in today’s world of public relations, corporate communications and Web 2.0, featuring several experienced leaders in these fields, on Wednesday, May 6, at 3 p.m. Eastern time. Click here to register for this free presentation.

“Walden is delighted to present this online event focusing on the skills required to succeed in today's business environment, on both the corporate and agency sides. The role of communication is highly underestimated in terms of the influence it has in business, and our experts will bring this to light during their discussion. Our expert guests will also delve into new skills essential for future success—including effective use of Web 2.0, blogs and social networking—and present examples of successful PR and corporate communications efforts,” said Dr. Wanda Gravett, associate dean of Walden’s School of Management.

The Future of Communications panelists:

Courtney M. Barnes, co-founder and principal member of Think Communications, a strategic communications advisory company that helps organizational leaders establish and enhance their executive voice and digital influence. Most recently, she coauthored Digital Strategies for Powerful Corporate Communications, a strategic guide to help business leaders leverage digital platforms to enhance their brands, reputations and bottom lines. Barnes is also the editor of PR News Blog, where she manages editorial content and writes on corporate communications and public relations, with particular expertise in digital communications, integration and leadership/management issues.

Mike McDougall, APR, vice president of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs for Bausch & Lomb, is responsible for leading the company’s outreach to business, financial and health care media; employee communications; government and community relations; and corporate philanthropy. He has held global PR leadership roles with Kodak and counseled over 50 organizations during his agency tenure. A frequent industry speaker, McDougall has been honored for his innovative programs with multiple Silver Anvils and awards from PRWeek and PR News.  

Irene Monley, ABC, is responsible for global human resources communications at Tyco Electronics, a leading global provider of engineered electronic components, network solutions, undersea telecommunication systems and wireless systems, with fiscal 2008 sales of $14.8 billion to customers in more than 150 countries. She is also chair of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Research Foundation, an affiliate of the IABC. IABC is a global network of communication professionals committed to improving organizational effectiveness through strategic communication. It serves almost 16,000 members in members in more than 80 countries and 100 chapters.

Dr. Henry Brashen (host) is the founder of Clear and Effective Communications, a full-service firm that provides leading organizations with hands-on service and support to maximize productivity and morale by enhancing internal and external communications. A respected expert in research, design, methodology, facilitation, training and coaching, Brashen focuses on listening, coaching, performance management and male/female communication, leadership, the performance appraisal process, conflict resolution, negotiation and train-the-trainer. Dr. Brashen has been key in the development of curriculum in the academic discipline of communications.

Click here to register for this free presentation.

Walden offer new specialization: New Media Communication Technologies

Walden University is offering a new concentration in its B.S. in Computer Information Systems program: New Media Communication Technologies. With this concentration, students will learn how to use the latest technologies to effectively share information and knowledge with audiences throughout the world. This new concentration will help prepare students to

• Expand their ability to effectively reach a global market.
• Understand computer-mediated communications and select technology approaches and tools for specific applications.
• Examine the Web 2.0 phenomenon and analyze the properties of social networks, special interest communications, and innovative incentive systems.
• Develop a conceptual technology prototype to enhance mass communication.

“Technological advances have dramatically changed the ways we interact, communicate, and connect with one another,” said Wanda Gravett, Ph.D., associate dean of Walden’s School of Management. “Through this new concentration, students can gain critical experience working with the latest technologies to reach and engage global audiences and to help gain significant communication advantages for their organizations and for themselves.”

Walden Faculty Author: Howard C. Carlson, Ed.D.

So Now You're the Superintendent!
Howard C. Carlson, Ed.D., faculty member, The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership
Corwin Press, 2008

The opportunities and responsibilities in the crucial first years of a superintendency can be challenging as well as exciting. This practical resource provides ready-to-use techniques that help superintendents build the relationships and teamwork needed to face these challenges with success.

This insightful guide provides new superintendents with guidelines for making a positive difference while handling transitions, culture changes, financial issues, staff supervision, and team building. Using their combined experience as district administrators, the authors uncover the complexities of the job and offer candid discussions about how to:

• Establish yourself as the instructional leader
• Determine staff and community expectations for your performance
• Prepare for landmines that may be waiting around the corner
• Develop positive communications with all stakeholders

Addressing the most common issues faced by new superintendents, this valuable reference provides the leadership tools to help a school district move forward.

How one Walden faculty member—and you—can inspire teens to go to college

Walden University faculty member Jason Lum, M.P.P., J.D., meets many low-income and at-risk teenagers when he volunteers at high schools in Saint Paul, Minn. The teens say they want to attend college but cannot afford it. Lum disagrees. He knows scholarships can help the students reach their higher education goals, and he volunteers to help these teens get excited about applying for college scholarships and financial aid.

Lum’s volunteer work doesn’t just inspire high school students. The School of Public Policy and Administration faculty member finds that his role as a scholar-practitioner translates into valuable real-world knowledge for his Walden students too.

“When we’re discussing things in a classroom, such as public policy issues about school vouchers or wider access to higher education, I talk about my work with these high school students and how there is oftentimes no expectation in going to college,” he says. “It reinforces in my mind that what we are doing is so vital.”

He urges his Walden Ph.D. students to use their research as a way to push for social justice. “I always tell them about the work I do and how rewarding it has been for me,” he says.

Here, Lum shares tips on motivating teens to find money for college:

Share real-life stories. “I use my experience as an example to those who say that it cannot be done. I grew up in a very poor family. There was no money to pay for college. Instead of giving up, I applied for every award I could, and I won more than $250,000 in scholarship money. Today, I see a lot of kids who are either lethargic or shell-shocked by the costs of education, but they have got to do something. I want to make it clear to these teens that they can find the money if they take the time to apply.”

Know rejection isn’t personal. “In life, teens must look at every rejection as a learning opportunity. I always use the example of a specific scholarship rejection I received. Instead of mulling over the loss, I called the scholarship committee, asked what I could do to improve, reapplied the following year—and many times won. If teens do not succeed the first time, the worst thing they can do is get angry.”

Emphasize personal experiences. “I volunteer at the Hmong College Prep Academy [in Saint Paul, Minn.], where virtually all of the students are immigrants and live in families below the poverty line. When they apply for schools, I advise them to describe their unique experiences, such as arriving in the United States without knowing a word of English. I don’t believe that any good school in America takes a grade point average and simply adds on an SAT score and says whether a student is smart or not.”

Encourage volunteer work. “It is essential students volunteer to give back and display an interest in their communities. Colleges and universities today are simply not going to give scholarship money to someone who does not show compassion toward others. It’s not just the right thing to do; it will also give them an idea of what they want to do later in life.”

Fear is natural, but it should not stop them. “Some teens experience trepidation about the idea of leaving home and the friends they know very well. I tell them that I’m from Honolulu, and the first time I left the islands was to go to college. I realized once I got to college there was an entire new vista of learning out there. I tell students that these will be some of the best years of their lives.”

Celebrate National Nurses Week with Walden

Join Walden University in celebration of National Nurses Appreciation Week (May 6–12, 2009) by nominating yourself or a nurse who is going above and beyond in service to their community or organization. Visit Honor Nurses and take a minute to complete this survey by Thursday, May 13.

Selected nominations will be posted on Honor Nurses beginning the week of May 15.

Walden Contributing Scholar Keith Ferrazzi: Passion for a brand

Keith Ferrazzi, founder and CEO of Ferrazzi Greenlight and author of Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time, is a contributing scholar to Walden University's M.B.A. program. You can view more videos at Think+Up, a community of business, engineering and IT professionals exchanging ideas to improve organizations and industries.

Walden names new Vice President for the College of Health Sciences

Walden University has named Dr. Donald Zimmerman as vice president for the College of Health Sciences. Zimmerman, who has been involved in U.S. health care policy and innovations in higher education, will be responsible for managing overall college operations, academic programs and program performance.

“Dr. Zimmerman’s qualifications will prove to be a great asset to Walden, and we look forward to the experience and insight he brings to our university, our College of Health Sciences, and our School of Health Sciences and School of Nursing,” said Jonathan Kaplan, president of Walden University.

Previously, Zimmerman served as director of graduate business programs and associate professor of healthcare business and policy at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP). In addition to his teaching and program leadership roles at USP, he developed the innovative “G-Learning” model, based on a strategic business partnership with Google, Inc.

Prior to his time at USP, Zimmerman was an associate professor and executive director of the Center for Healthcare Management Studies at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he developed new graduate programming for health care and pharmaceutical professionals, worked closely with the World Health Organization on global learning issues and received the dean’s award for teaching effectiveness with adult learners. He also served as a visiting associate professor at Cornell University, adjunct professor at the University of Maryland and senior advisor to Western Governors University.

In addition to his academic career, Zimmerman was actively involved in U.S. health care policy as senior sociologist and project director at Research Triangle Institute International, executive director of the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council, senior analyst at the nonpartisan National Health Policy Forum and senior aide to the chair of the National Committee of Vital and Health Statistics.

As a consultant, he has worked with the U.S. Congress, federal and state government agencies and companies that include KPMG, the Intergovernmental Health Policy Project, Merck & Co., Inc., Schering-Plough, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and Mt. Sinai Medical Center.

Zimmerman received his doctoral training in sociology from Stony Brook University and earned a bachelor’s degree with distinction from the University of Washington. He has published widely and is a frequent speaker on health care and business issues.

Walden Community News

Stephanie Haynes, an M.S. in Education student specializing in Mathematics (Grades 6–8), was recently appointed to Georgia's Professional Standards Commission by Governor Sonny Perdue. Click here to read the full story.

Dr. Cheryl Keen, a faculty member in The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership, published her article "Reflections on Discussing 'Hot Topics' on Campus and Antioch College’s Legacy of Open Community Dialogue" in the April 2008 issue of the Journal of College and Character. She also co-wrote "Post-Graduation Service and Civic Outcomes for High Financial Need Students of a Multi-Campus, Co-Curricular Service-Learning College Program" in the November 2008 issue of the Journal of College and Character.

Steven D. Mairs, a Master of Public Administration student, published his article "Are Socio-Economic and Diversity Discrimination Codified Within U.S. Immigration Law?" in the March 2009 edition of PA Times, published by the American Society for Public Administration.

Dr. Darlington Mgbeke, a faculty member in the Center for Undergraduate Studies, co-published the article "Organizational Change Models: Conceptualized Dynamics and Behavior" in Volume 2008, Issue 4, of the Leadership & Organizational Management Journal.

Christina Oboh-Bugh, RN, a Ph.D. in Public Health student specializing in Community Health Promotion and Education, was the keynote speaker at the Go Red for Women Luncheon in Macon, Ga., on Feb. 20, 2009. She spoke on "Heart Health for Women: Spirit, Soul and Body" as part of the Go Red for Women Movement for heart health.

Heidi Rivers, Laurel Walsh, Brian Timmerman and Jamie Patterson, staff members in Walden’s Writing Center, were chosen to present a panel discussion titled "Bridging the Digital Divide: Successful Online Tutoring" at the MnCUEW (Minnesota Colleges and Universities English and Writing) Conference held April 3 and 4 in St. Paul, Minn.

Jarrod H. Simmons, a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration student, published his article "Public Policy and Diversity in High Definition" in the March 2009 edition of PA Times, published by the American Society for Public Administration.

Dr. Georgalu Swoboda and Dr. Dale Swoboda, faculty members in the School of Public Policy and Administration, co-published the book Managing Nonprofit Financial and Fiscal Operations (Management Concepts, 2008). Dale Swoboda recently presented an online Walden Forum based on a chapter in the book, "Weathering the Storm: Flexibility in Budgeting and Finance."
Click here to view the archived presentation.

Jason R. Willoughby, a Ph.D. in Applied Management and Decision Sciences student specializing in Finance, co-wrote the article "A Paradigm for Creating a Sustainable Learning and Service Community in an Online Graduate School of Management," which he will present at the Distance Learning Administration Conference 2009.

Earth Day 2009

In recognition of Earth Day, we have compiled a list of our sustainability posts, including case studies, videos, books and articles. This is a wealth of information and we encourage you to read and share it with your colleagues, friends and families.

A Natural Educator

Walden Case Study: Fusion Advancing as Future Energy Source

The Way to Fusion

Under the Vineyard Sun: From Scientist to Sustainable Vintner

Green IT: The Benefits of Server Virtualization

Green IT: Hype or Happening?

Walden Alumni Author: Sharon T. Freeman, Ph.D.

Thought Leaders Offer Insight in Social Impact Speaker Series

Walden Faculty & Student Receive Poster Session Awards

Walden Case Study: Hybrids vehicles moving beyond the Prius

Earth Day April 22, 2009

Walden Case Study: Cutting Data Centers' Carbon Footprint

Walden Case Study: Corporate Sustainability 101

Walden Case Study: Don't throw away that e-Waste

Walden Case Study: LEED, a Solution or Just a Work-Around?

Walden Psychology Alumna and Student Making News

Walden community members are making news.

"I grew up poor, on the north side of Flint. We got a lot of things for free. So I know what it's like to need a ride somewhere, to have a coach buy your shoes so you can play on the team. ... These kids need help, and if I'm able to help them, that's something I want to do."

—Recco Richardson, a Ph.D. in Psychology student, quoted in an article about ways he reaches out to help children as a Carman-Ainsworth Board of Education member and a licensed professional counselor in Michigan, in the Jan. 13, 2009, edition of The Flint Journal and MLive.com.

“Most of the uses [of Schwartz’s] lists are commonsensical: Humor can be an outlet for feelings that are taboo or painful. It’s a way of getting perspective, an effective defense when ‘facing difficulty, feeling overwhelmed, out of control.’ It can decrease sadness and fear, help you form bonds with others, decrease tension around you, help you see the ridiculousness of the situation. Laughter can buffer stress better than crying.”

—Enid Schwartz, who earned a Ph.D. in Psychology, had her article "Humor in Healthcare: The Laughter Prescription," mentioned in a story for the Jan. 8, 2009, issue of the Chicago Reader. The article gives Schwartz’s recommendations for dealing with cancer through humor. Schwartz is a nurse and a breast cancer survivor. Read Schwartz’s tips for “How to Lighten Life’s Problems with Laughter”.

Walden Faculty Author: Stephen D. Musacco, Ph.D.

Beyond Going Postal: Shifting from Workplace Tragedies and Toxic Work Environments to a Safe and Healthy Organization
Stephen D. Musacco, Ph.D., faculty member, School of Psychology
BookSurge Publishing, 2009

Beyond Going Postal examines the history of violence and toxic work environments within the U.S. Postal Service organization and its negative impacts on the health and psychological well-being of its employees. This book is, to date, the most comprehensive analysis available on postal workplace violence and postal culture in general, and it includes a blueprint for postal management and government leaders to make the U.S. Postal Service a healthier organization for its employees. Written with postal rank and file, union, management, and government leaders in mind, this book sounds a clarion call to action that cannot be ignored.

Walden Community News

Walden’s students and faculty are contributing to their disciplines through publications, presentations and other professional activities.

Dr. Raphael Becvar, a faculty member in the School of Counseling and Social Service, co-authored the seventh edition of the book Family Therapy: A Systemic Integration (Allyn & Bacon, 2008).

Yashica Brooks, an Ed.D. student in The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership specializing in Teacher Leadership, was named Teacher of the Year at West Point Elementary School in West Point, Ga.

Lynna Lan Tien Nguyen Do, a Ph.D. in Psychology student specializing in Clinical Psychology, presented her paper "Gay and Lesbian Adoption: The Next Battle for Rights" at the American Association of Behavioral and Social Sciences 12th Annual Meeting in Las Vegas in February.

Dr. Andrew Forshee, a faculty member in the School of Counseling and Social Service, published the article "Transgender Men: A Demographic Snapshot" in the September 2008 issue of the Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services.

Dr. Harris Friedman, a faculty member in the School of Psychology,published "Humanistic and Positive Psychology: The Methodological and Epistemological Divide" in the April 2008 issue of The Humanistic Psychologist.

Dr. Larry Fulton, a faculty member in the School of Health Sciences, co-published "Including Quality, Access, and Efficiency in Healthcare Cost Models" in the fall 2008 edition of the journal Hospital Topics.

Dr. Dahli Gray, a faculty member in the School of Management, published his article “Forensic Accounting and Auditing: Compared and Contrasted to Traditional Accounting and Auditing" in the fourth quarter 2008 edition of the American Journal of Business Education.

Dr. Mary Ann Hautman, a faculty member in the School of Nursing, co-published "Recruitment and Retention of Alaska Natives into Nursing (RRANN)" in the July 2008 edition of the Journal of Nursing Education.

Walden Alumna says, "Life is like a box of chocolates..."

For the past three years I've sensed a significant wind of change that has now breached the naive impression of security many of us blindly embraced. So, here we are--national economic, housing, education and employment challenges that even the most astute are struggling with. But I strongly contend that this breach of our naiveté had to occur in order for many of us to change or surrender to the "possibilities" we've denied ourselves of for so long. Some will admit that relinquishing ourselves to the unknown is just too risky. But as the quote that character Forrest Gump made so popular notes, "Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get." Well at least, not until you pick it up and bite into it.

Many people have never considered the "risk" in doing something they're unsure about--trusting in an uncertain direction, the initial belief in the value of it, and allowing it to permeate their lives for personal satisfaction and enjoyment. Feeling the anxiety of the initial first bite as it relates to anything in our lives is filled with the anticipation that says; "will I like it" or "how will it benefit me? Risk is a hard choice for those who have lived in comfortable surroundings or had their choices dictated by someone else. But with risk comes the fear of rejection, or the fear of failure; and when pride and security is threatened, we tend to retreat to protect what we have, even though it may only delay the outcome.

When we're confronted with the need or opportunity to change, especially when we think it's been imposed on us by others, or it's not of our doing, we can become psychologically disoriented, disengaged, angry and anxious. While I understand these emotional episodes, it would truly be madness for any of us to get stuck here. According to John Fisher's "Process of Transition" because of the constantly changing nature of our nature we are not "the victims of our biography." This means we have the choice (although sometimes it may not appear that way) at any time to give ourselves permission to embrace our power to change, shift, and grow. During times of transformation we're only limited in our vision of ourselves and our future by our own internal blinders. A type of one-dimensional foresight that obscures any clear perceptions and discernments we may have of ourselves or our future-hence, restricting our ability to transition effectively when necessary. We have to realize that circumstances happen, fade away, and happen again--but more importantly, we have to recognize when to refocus and redirect our lives.

There's a phrase that I'm constantly trying to get my clients to buy into and that's "transference of skills." Transference of skills relates to the degree that a person is able to shift the skills, knowledge, and attitudes they've learned in one environment or job to another. Unfortunately, many of us are masters at compartmentalizing our lives and our experiences--never realizing that many things are interrelated. And when we're in the midst of transition it's even harder to see the connections.

For most of us, when we embark on the arduous task of finding a new job or a new path in life, we unconsciously seek out what is similar to what we already know. We get a title change, some new responsibilities, a little bit of emotional candy and we're actually convinced that we've made some real changes--when in fact we've basically stayed on the same course. If you've never heard the audio version of Dr. Spencer Johnson's Who Moved My Cheese I strongly encourage you to get it. The audio version a must have for anyone who thinks they have good reason for resisting change or who feels entitled to the comfort of status quo. Don't get the book--it doesn't have the same affect, you have to experience this audibly. But, I digress.

In a rough economy where many people are struggling just to find ANY job, there are just as many taking advantage of the situation by using these times as an excuse to reevaluate their priorities and reinvent their lives. Most people I've talked to who have confessed they hate their jobs, also admit they've never really spent any time mapping out a strategy to prepare for the career that best fits their personality or their interest. But I'll be the first to admit making a career or life modification is easier decided on, than done; and if your life is anything like mine, information on just what to do, where to go, and how to start never comes easy. So, let me offer some links and tips to help you get back on track if you're experiencing the unexpected opportunity of being released from a job or you just want to find out how your present skills can be transferred to begin a path towards a more satisfying career and quality of life.

O*Net is the most comprehensive source of occupational information you can find, and allows you to access a searchable database of more than 900 occupations. But the real value of this site is the skills search. By answering questions in one or more of six broad skills areas (basic skills, social skills, complex problem solving skills, technical skills, system skills and resource management skills), you'll generate a list of occupations your skills can be transferred to. It also offers a Computerized Interest Profiler and the Work Importance Locator. I usually assist my clients with this, but with some computer savvy and patience this site can offer you great insight.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook provides narrative descriptions of approximately 275 occupational groups, which includes information of what employees do on a particular job, the working conditions, the training and education needed, the earnings, expected job prospects, and sources of additional information in a wide range of occupations. This site is a little more user friendly, but make sure to set aside some time because it will take you a while to go through all information. Again, it's worth it.

As you consider the possibilities of your career future keep in mind, the Associated Press released a report earlier this year that revealed certain jobs can't be outsourced, such as education, healthcare, government, utilities, gas and oil, and railroad.

This guest post first appeared on Asking for Richer Ground, a blog by Pennie Murray, who earned her Master's in Psychology from Walden in 2004 and is currently a Ph.D. in Psychology candidate at Walden.

Walden Case Study: LEED, a Solution or Just a Work-Around?

There is one rating system for green construction that stands above all others—LEED—Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED was drafted by the U.S. Green Building Council and uses a points system to measure a structure’s “greenness.” The system is not without its problems.

When builders in Aspen, Colorado, were constructing The Sundeck—a restaurant that was going to be LEED-certified—they pondered whether to install a reflective roof and gain more LEED points.

Standard commercial roofing uses a black tar surface that absorbs solar heat and contributes to the heat island effect, which raises cooling costs in dense neighborhoods. Reflective roofs lessen this heating effect and save money and energy. So if the builders could save on energy costs and earn LEED points, it makes sense to install a reflective roof for the restaurant, right? Wrong, says Auden Schendler, executive director of sustainability for Aspen Skiing Company, the builders of The Sundeck.

The Sundeck was being built 8,000 feet up in the Rocky Mountains, where heat islands are not an issue, says Schendler. He says this is an example of how sometimes the LEED system can award points for something that does not actually improve the building’s green potential.

“That heat island issue is an example of a point that’s not relevant to us, but at the same time if it’s easy for us to get that point …” he adds, calling that “gaming the process.”

The spirit vs. the letter of the code
Through the complex system of LEED points, some builders have complained that these methods of “gaming” the process can muddle the definition of green building.

Dennis Darcy is a New York City builder who has also encountered some LEED rules that seem counterintuitive to the green process. Darcy, who owns Brooklyn Interiors, is currently building a LEED-certified radio and television studio in Manhattan for the non-profit Democracy Now!

“‘Recycle and reuse’ is kind of the mantra for every LEED project. But according to LEED, by sending, let's say, light fixtures with your carting company to be shredded and recycled, you receive more points for LEED certification than ‘re-using’ those items. And the value is an arbitrary monetary system, based on what those lights are worth in real money, similar to a tax write off. The balance is definitely tipped towards recycle rather than reuse.”

Darcy, whose current project for Democracy Now! is donor-funded, says there is pressure to achieve a high LEED status, and his project is striving for platinum. “It is so precise, if you screw up. If you lose a credit, you could go from platinum to gold or from gold to silver.”
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Code fails in specialized situations
Schendler, from Aspen, says one area where the system could be improved is making it site specific. “Some of the credits are credits that you either have or you don’t, and they don’t represent action on the part of the developer,” he says, citing community connectivity as one example. “If you’re close to mass transit you get a point. And you either are or you aren’t.” Location plays a big factor in how LEED points might be unevenly awarded. Schendler adds that whether you are building in rural Montana or downtown Manhattan, the same points apply. He says that’s one area where the LEED process could be easily revised to more precisely meet its goal and certify buildings. “You could say, if you’re in a city, you can get this point, you could say if you’re in a rural area, you don’t get this point. That would be pretty easy to fix.”

Currently, Schendler is working on another restaurant in the Rockies, and this go-round, he says, recent improvements made to LEED rules make it both easier to follow the point system and have a more significant positive environmental impact.

“When we did LEED the first time, we had two telephone books worth of paper documents, and now it is 100 percent online, which is a huge benefit.” He adds that the exchange of information between the builder and the LEED organization has also gotten better. “The actual communication on credits has gone from a faceless person trying to prevent you from being certified to someone who is helping you get certified.”

And Schendler says that certification also means more now than it did the in the past, because LEED added a requirement this year that in order to obtain certification, the commercial buildings need to be more energy efficient—they need to at least beat code requirements by at least 14%.

Before this new rule, builders could earn ten LEED points for improving energy efficiency, but it was not a requirement to be more energy efficient. “One of my gripes earlier was you’d LEED certify a building, and it didn’t mean anything,” says Schendler, “because a building has to be energy efficient to be green.”

Despite these improvements, Schendler adds there is room to grow as far as the LEED criteria are concerned. Recently, he worked on a building with one project manager who expressed his frustration with complex and intricate rules that hindered, as he felt, his ability do the job. He told Schendler that the building had already met a lower LEED certification, but in the pursuit of a higher, less-realistic LEED certification, he was wasting his time building parking spaces for hybrid cars and installing particular vent fans instead of focusing on the fast-track schedule originally proposed for the project.

But after years of sustainable building experience, Schendler is quick to defend the LEED certification process.

“To someone who knows nothing, it helps you understand what green building means,” he says. “That’s the good.” He adds that where the process goes bad is when people use LEED as a way to learn specifically how to build green. “It’s a certification process. It’s not a guide to green building. That’s not LEED’s fault, that people use it as a guide. It’s the same issue as studying to the test.”

Darcy agrees. “LEED is providing an outline. You don’t need to follow it to the letter of the law.”

To read more case studies, visit Think+Up.

Walden Case Study: Don't throw away that e-Waste

The Consumer Electronics Association estimates that the average American has 24 gadgets in his home. Of that potential “e-waste,” only a scant 18% is recycled, according to the United States’ Environmental Protection Agency. The desire for the latest “must-have” gadgets, coupled with rapid engineering advances, has accelerated the volume of electronic products flooding the marketplace. The primary effect is the obvious increase in overall consumption of electronic goods but the secondary issue is an incredible drop off in resale value for products as little as 6 months old. As customers rush out for the latest and greatest electronic goods, what is the responsible thing to do with outdated electronics, for both consumers and retailers?

The responsibility of recycling still lies primarily in the laps of consumers rather than retailers, but a slow shift is happening. Consumers are being targeted via government regulations—California passed the Electronic Waste Recycling Act in 2003 mandating that Advanced Recycling Fees (ARFs) ranging from $6–10 are tacked onto product cost to cover recycling. Also in 2003, the European Union passed the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive, setting the bar for electronic recycling target numbers in Europe. The opportunity for retailers to make an impact is handled most notably through organizations like the RBRC (Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation). This non-profit has set-up more than 50,000 recycling stations in the US for rechargeable batteries and battery-powered products. To date it has collected more than 42 million pounds of rechargeable batteries.

Also on the retail side, TigerDirect.com, CompUSA and Amazon.com are utilizing a service provided by Techforward.com. At the point-of-sale the customer is given the opportunity to purchase an agreement that locks in a product's resale value for up to two years. The amount received upon resale declines as time elapses. When the consumer decides to trade in a product, Techforward.com sends a box, packing supplies and mailing labels. Payment is made following inspection.

Give or get?
Other options for consumers stuck with last year’s wonder gadget can be found in the used marketplace where a few companies offer a new spin on the eBay marketplace. As the adage goes, one man's trash is another man's treasure, and that couldn't be more accurate when it comes to modern devices. While the value of a three-year-old iPod is nil to first adopters, there is a marketplace for it.

It's a seller's market
Gazelle.com bills itself as a “one-stop shop” for reselling electronics. After a year of beta testing, the site was launched July 2008 by Second Rotation, a Boston-based business run by former eBay sellers. Unlike peer-to-peer Internet sales, Gazelle.com offers a set market price for electronic devices depending on their age and condition.

On the site, a user inputs the make and model of a cell phone, laptop, satellite radio or other device accepted by Gazelle.com, registers and is then told what price they will be paid for their electronics. Once they accept the terms a post-paid shipping box arrives and payment is made via PayPal or check after final inspection.

“The average consumer is overwhelmed by the amount of choices when it comes to reselling” said Thos Niles, director of product and experience for Gazelle.com. “‘Do I donate it? Do I sell it? If I do sell it, where do I sell it? What if the potential buyer asks questions I can’t answer?’ and so on. What we’ve tried to [create] is a service that takes care of all that.”

“We’re not a consignment shop that’s going to sell [equipment] for you. You’re getting an actual offer with a fair market value,” Niles says.

Gazelle.com takes the equipment it receives and resells it with wholesale partners. Niles said the vast majority of his company’s sales remain in the United States, but they also ship to emerging markets like Brazil. The Treo 700w is popular there, he says. Gazelle.com also works with an agency in Chicago that follows best practices for reusing materials, so as to make a minimal impact on the environment.

Give to a cause…or to a neighbor
For consumers who want to donate their old wares, there are non-profit groups that will reuse electronics. Women’s shelters and youth homes often accept cell phones at the local level to give to those they help. CharitableRecycling.com offers a national database of charities that you can raise money for by becoming a collection partner/site. Other "giveaway" sites without emphasis on social aid include:
    • Freecycle.com: Posts items for people by ZIP code to take if it meets their needs. Sometimes products offered are broken or defective and are only good for parts. Pick-up is usually in-person at a common meeting place agreed upon via email.

    • Neighborrow.com: Similar to Freecycle, this site has electronics that are offered for free, but the majority are traded for other goods or offered on short-term lending agreements made between individuals.

    • Craigslist.com: Offers a "free" section to post any and all types of items based on your geographic location.

The third “R”
There is also a free recycling program being rolled out through the United States Postal Service, which has contracted with Clover Technologies, a maker of laser toner and inkjet cartridges. In early 2008, in major cities like Chicago and Los Angeles, USPS began offering postage paid envelopes in post office lobbies for depositing inkjet cartridges, PDAs, Blackberries, digital cameras, iPods and MP3 players. The goods are shipped to a processing plant in Mexico where the equipment is either refurbished and sold or recycled.

“This pilot phase has been going well, and we hope to expand the service to more locations in the near future,” said Brian Regan, executive vice president of Clover Environmental Solutions.

The USPS also has a fluorescent light bulb recycling program with the company Sylvania, but that program requires you to purchase special packaging for shipping.

To read more case studies, visit Think+Up.

Walden Contributing Scholar Daryl Travis: Your Best Customers

Daryl Travis, CEO of Brandtrust, is a contributing scholar to Walden University's M.B.A. program. You can view more videos at Think+Up, a community of business, engineering and IT professionals exchanging ideas to improve organizations and industries.

Spotlight on Michelle Marshall, Walden MSN student

Michelle Marshall, RN, AAS, is excited; in August, she will complete her program of study, and earn her Master’s degree in nursing with a concentration in leadership and management. Michelle is a long time resident of Anchorage, Alaska, having moved there with her family as a teenager. When Michelle set her sights on earning a Master’s degree, she started by using the Google search engine to locate online programs for nurses with associate degrees that progress to the master’ level. She investigated the Walden program along with others, but selected Walden, she states, because of the way that the courses were organized on an every 8 week basis. Michelle feels that this fits her life style perfectly by allowing her to conveniently meet course requirements and focus on work and family obligations when needed. “I find it very satisfying to work on one course at a time, rather than have two or three to contend with over a longer period of time,” says Michelle.

As she progressed through the program, Michelle became a self-described Walden cheerleader. She contacted a Walden student recruiter and suggested a visit to Anchorage. She was instrumental in having the recruiter work with the three major hospitals in town and facilitated Walden exhibiting at an Alaska State Nurses Association’ annual convention. She reports that there are now a number of Walden students in the Anchorage area. Michelle has been a major factor in bringing online graduate education opportunities to the attention of agencies and nurses in town.

Michelle will begin her practicum experience shortly; she has made a decision to leave her Alaska Digestive Center nurse manager position to focus full time on this important aspect of her academic experience. On a more personal level, she shares that she enjoys traveling in Mexico and “did not miss a beat” in school when traveling. In fact, Michelle was married during the program and took her lap top on her honeymoon – now that is dedication.

This guest post was submitted by Sara Torres, RN, PhD, FAAN, Associate Dean in the School of Nursing at Walden University.