E-cigarettes are an interesting substitute that not only rivals products such as Nicorette or other nicotine-filled chewing gums, but also rival the traditional cigarette.  It is a very efficient substitute as e-cigarettes are less harmful in that they do not contain tobacco and they are cost-efficient, as you only have to buy the one e-cigarette as opposed to continuously purchasing packs of the traditional cigarette.

(http://www.vapeatron.com/e-cigarette-models-update-kanger-e-cigs-added-186/)

Clarence Lam’s blog post “Technological Advances: Electronic Cigarette” caught my attention because I thought that the e-cigarette was such a brilliantly designed product.  It is a safer replacement for the average cigarette and it can also be used as a stepping-stone towards quitting smoking.  I thought that Clarence’s point about cigarettes becoming obsolete with the introduction of the advanced e-cigarette, was very probable.  With such a strong competitor in the market, cigarette companies definitely have a compelling threat to deal with.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCiNHv67Pa0

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCiNHv67Pa0)

Another reason this post caught my eye is because my aunt actually has her own e-cigarette.  She has been a dedicated chain smoker for many years and realizing that the result of smoking multiple packs per day may not be so pleasant, she decided to attempt to quit by using an e-cigarette instead.  Although this choice is not completely the outcome that I was hoping for, at least she is no longer smoking cigarettes that would potentially be more hazardous for her health.  I thank the e-cigarette for pushing my aunt a step towards the right direction!

Sources:

http://digitaljournal.com/article/362055

https://blogs.ubc.ca/clarencelam/2013/10/08/technological-advances/

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/dcde108e-47d3-11e3-b1c4-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2kyMoeY64

Sleep is a luxury that people who work don’t always have…or do they?  Employees are busy trying to work enough so that they can pay bills, feed their families, and buy the goods and services that they want and need.  Work becomes the main priority so that they can achieve these objectives, so sleep sometimes gets put in the back burner as something that can be done later when there is “more time.”  This leads to tired employees that may not be able to function as well as they would if they had otherwise gotten more rest.  I happened upon the blog post by Liz Strauss called “Should You Allow Your Employees to Nap While on the Job?” and I thought that it was especially interesting because as a university student, getting enough sleep is also quite rare.  In the post Liz talks about how sleep deprivation cost US businesses $63 billion in lost productivity every year.  This is an enormous amount of money lost just because of a problem that can be so easily solved.  I thought that it was interesting how some companies are recognizing the colossal problem that is sleep deprivation in their employees, so they graciously allow them nap-time or designated nap rooms.

Employers realize that by allowing their employees to nap, they are promoting their worker’s well-being which ultimately leads to the company’s well-being because of enhanced performances and less sick days.

(http://thedementiaqueen.com/2012/12/get-some-sleep/)

Jawa, a software developer based in Scottsdale, Arizona, installed two nap rooms in their workplace.  The theme of one of the nap rooms is zen, having feng shui décor and earthy tones, while the other room is beach-themed with a unique sleeping pod.  By offering their employees space and time for rest, they are promoting their belief that their employees’ health and well-being are important to them.  This organizational culture that they have built caters to their employees needs and guarantees that their workers are happy and healthy.

Sleep does not have to be a fantasy anymore for those hardworking employees.  They no longer need to constantly wonder: What is sleep?  Sleep is available for them to take advantage of thanks to their wonderful employers.  Now only if UBC had some of these nap rooms…

(http://www.returnofkings.com/10565/10-surprising-facts-about-sleep)

Sources:

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/sleep/articles/2010/11/15/why-power-naps-at-work-are-catching-on

http://www.successful-blog.com/1/should-you-allow-your-employees-to-nap-while-on-the-job/

http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_northeast_valley/scottsdale/scottsdale-company-promotes-work-time-naps

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_36/b4193084949626.htm

(http://www.chnook.org/partner/the-arc-initiative/)

During the course of my high school career, I developed a passion for volunteering and helping out in my community.  I loved knowing that I helped make a difference, even in the smallest possible ways.  It has always been a dream of mine to go on humanitarian trips and experience what life is really like in the developing world.  Although this goal was definitely on my bucket list, I never imagined that I could combine my passion for volunteering with my passion for business, until I was introduced to the Arc initiative.

The Arc initiative is an opportunity for Sauder students to go to developing countries and provide aid in local communities by teaching aspiring entrepreneurs about business skills.  Using knowledge that the students learn in class, they help these entrepreneurs build upon their own business tool kits and in turn these entrepreneurs act as catalysts that improve their own communities’ economic well-being. I was so inspired by the stories that I heard and by the whole program itself.  The story of Tesfaye Mekonnen from Ethiopia was one that especially resonated with me.  Tesfaye creates paper, cards, and folders using banana plants.  It was so inspiring how even though his eco-paper factory is small and his methods of making the paper were simple and without modern technology he was still determined enough to accept the challenges of large orders, such as that of the Sauder folders.  His genuinely kind heart, and determination and drive to advance in his business venture makes him a great role model.  Overall I think that the Arc initiative is a fantastic channel for students to apply skills and concepts that they learned in class, while also helping other people achieve their goals and dreams.  It is definitely an opportunity that I want to be involved with in my future.

Sources:

https://startanevolution.ubc.ca/projects/the-arc-initiative/

https://connect.ubc.ca/bbcswebdav/pid-1691811-dt-content-rid-6151623_1/courses/SIS.UBC.COMM.101.105.2013W1.17408/Class%2021%20Arc%20Stories%202013.pdf

http://www.sauder.ubc.ca/Global_Reach/ARC_Initiative

http://www.sauder.ubc.ca/News/2012/Sauders_Arc_Initiative_mentors_entrepreneurs_in_Ethiopia