As a response to the guiding question: “If the United Nations was fully funded why would we need the Arc or social enterprise?” many thoughts of the effects of smaller initiatives compared to global initiatives like the United Nations came to mind. The Arc initiative, and similar projects provide more hands on experience, as well as deeper change into a specific community, while organizations like the United Nations focus on issues in a more global sense. Even if the United Nations were to be fully funded, the outcomes they could provide would not be as personal, or effective as providing help to certain groups or areas in need.

As the United Nations is a global government group, who aims to provide positive change in our society, many decisions and mutual agreement must be decided upon; a long and tedious process in which change may not be brought for many months or possibly years to come. Initiatives like the Arc do not require this kind of process, as they aim to focus on one specific issue in a localized area. The United Nations, even with all the resources in the world could not possibly provide the localized and specialized effects initiatives like the Arc provides.

The Arc Initiative 

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As Troy Mcgee says in his blog post, Planet Fitness comes to Canada with a very unique business model to opening an inexpensive workout space for Canadians. The company is based upon $10 a month membership fees, a strategic method to get Canadians who are either intimidated by the gym, or simply can’t afford it to go workout.

Troy predicts the business will be very successful and Canada, a point in which I agree upon. Planet Fitness is a “judgement free zone,” something I think many Canadians would value in a fitness location. Planet Fitness targets those who haven’t started their journey to becoming healthier, while most current gyms target those who are far past that stage.

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Planet Fitness has endured in some very strategic marketing campaigns, including partnering with NBC’s The Biggest Loser, a transformation reality TV show where contestants go to lose weight and learn to live healthier lives, the value proposition Planet Fitness is based upon.

In the article, it comments upon the fact that the company will place their businesses anywhere; that no matter where in the city, there will be a place for Planet Fitness and its customers, no matter the demographic or community. If Planet Fitness continues upon the successful path they are currently on, I think Canada will be introduced and love the new way to workout.

Penelope Trunk’s blog post on finding a career that provides stability caught my eye immediately as I was scrolling through her business blog. As a woman who has started four startup companies, she has gained experience in the business world and offering advice on finding a comfortable place for yourself.

Penelope’s blog post about career stability talks about finding a place in business where you work to guarantee a permanent spot for your future. This post reminded me of the discussion in class, as to whether or not students wanted to start their own company, or work for a current business or corporation. This blog post talks about the  ways to find the perfect job, one where you are in a stable position, but in an already existing company and doesn’t mention entrepreneurship.

For me, this is the route I see myself taking, a pathway of working my way through a corporation to find a place where I fit best. Trunk provides excellent examples of the ways of doing this, like being creative but eliminating ones that aren’t possible, and ideas that you aren’t confident in. She provides a solid basis to her arguments in ways of finding a home in your career and that career stability is one of the most important aspects of your life.

http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2014/11/04/career-paths-that-provide-the-most-stability/#more-13775

As gas prices continue to drop across the United States, citizens interest and car purchases have been focused back to the gas guzzling sport utility vehicles. As global climate change and global warming become more and more prevalent in today’s society, you would think the opposite effect would come forth: more sustainable decisions. However, as gas prices continue to fall, Fiat Chrysler, who produces Jeep vehicles (known to be some of the highest gas guzzling vehicles), announced a 52% increase in sales.

What continues to shock me is how little the citizens of the world seem to care about the constantly deteriorating environment, and move away from sustainable decisions, in business and our personal lives. To me, not enough effort is being made to promote sustainable decisions and lifestyles. Sales of the most popular hybrid on the market, the Toyota Prius, dropped by 13.5%, as decreasing gas prices provide less incentive to go green. Our generation is in charge of creating an environment and world we can save for many more years to come, it just doesn’t seem like there is enough incentive for our businesses to do so. Maybe its time for tougher legislation on companies, as a major root in tarnishing global climate change.

http://money.cnn.com/2014/11/03/autos/cheap-gas-suv-pickup-sales/index.html?iid=SF_BN_River 

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