MSD in Aged Care Industry

Question: Examine about the MSD in Aged Care Industry. Answer: Presentation In specific occupations playing out some manual undertaking is essential piece of the calling. From that specific circumstance, in Aged Care industry, the utilization of body so as to hold or move the consideration searchers, moving, lifting or pushing streetcars are fundamental piece of the obligations that the consideration suppliers need to perform. Among the consideration suppliers, because of performing such unsafe manual assignments brings about musculoskeletal issue (MSD). With regards to the Aged Care industry in Australia, musculoskeletal clutters are the most well-known and general work place wounds. Here, it is required to examine the importance of musculoskeletal issue which is the principle accentuation of the report(Podniece and Taylor, 2008). A sickness or injury of the musculoskeletal framework, which may happen after some time or out of nowhere, might be alluded as musculoskeletal issue. Among the musculoskeletal issue that happen in relationship with work place issue low back agony (LBP) happens at the most significant level (Swezey and Calin, 2006). Different types of MSD can likewise be seen regarding the work place wounds which are strains and injuries of muscles, ligaments, tendons, harm to spinal circles, joints, bones, because of hand-arm vibration, vascular and solid issue, interminable torment and so on. Musculoskeletal scatters in the work spot may happen either from slow tearing and wearing of tendons, joints and so forth because of steady weight of a similar piece of the body or by unexpected harm caused because of arduous action or sudden body developments. An errand requiring a person to push, pull, lifts, lower or opposing an individual, dull development can be named as an unsafe manual undertaking. While performing perilous manual assignment, dreary, continued and high power are the three sorts of powers that are engaged with it(Reilly, 2006). With regards to Aged Care industry, constant and long haul utilization of restorative medicines with the assistance of back rub that is a case of tedious power, pushing and pulling of streetcar around emergency clinic wards, a case of continued power and bringing down, lifting or conveying patients, case of high power can be believed to be available in it. Consequently, based on the above conversation, the center purpose of evaluation of the report would be Musculoskeletal Disorders in Aged Care Industry. During the time spent conversation of the subject, on angles like unsafe manual assignment its effect on MSD and experts of Aged Care Industry will be featured upon. The explanation of appraisal of this point is the reality; qualities of dangerous manual undertaking can be found in the Aged Care industry, which opens the experts to high danger of MSD that makes it basic to survey this subject, which is the center accentuation of the report. All Hallows Court Residential Care has been decided for the compelling finishing of the report. System For the fruitful finish of any report choice of any suitable sort of information assumes a significant job and contributes in the information assessment process. There are two kinds of information, which are essential and optional information. With the assistance of both online just as disconnected sources optional information would be collected(Jha, 2008). Online distributed early inquires about, peer investigated diaries and articles would frame the online sources. Then again scholarly sources like paper, magazines library has been utilized to gather the disconnected sources. While so as to gather essential information 4 directors have been met and 20 medical attendants have been studied with the assistance of poll of the picked Ages Care Organization for example All Hallows Court Residential Care. 30 medical caretakers were drawn closer so as to lead the overview out of which 20 attendants took an interest in the review. In an emotional way the subjective information which are the reactions gotten with the assistance of meeting has been broke down. The quantitative information, which are the reactions of the attendants from the poll study would be investigated with the assistance of measurable instrument and methods like tables, diagrams graphs and so on. Directors have been picked so as to gather the subjective information, the explanation being, they structure the building of usefulness of the association and they are very much aware of the upgrades and systems of the association which helps in examining the circumstance adequately and get suitable information successfully. Then again, medical attendants have been picked as the objective gathering so as to lead the review since; they offer types of assistance and backing to the consideration searchers for more often than not, subsequently, they will get generally influenced from conditions like MSD, which makes the fitting objective gathering so as to direct the survey(Hadler, 2005). So as to lead the meeting with the supervisors the inquiries that were posed are: Subjective Analysis Do you locate any sort of sort of connection between expanded work weight and MSD among the representatives? In agreement to my experience, I have seen that when work pressure builds, medical attendants will in general experience the ill effects of back torment, neck torment and so on, which if proceeds with results in MSD. Likewise I have seen that, thus, their work execution and effect on the participation builds up the connection between's expanded work weight and event of MSD. Quantitative Analysis The poll with the assistance of which the study was directed were: Is it true that you are experiencing any sort of long haul musculoskeletal torment? Classification Number of respondents answered Number of respondents answered on the individual class % of the reactions Truly 20 15 75 No 20 5 25 Source: Self Are youexperiencing any MSD which is going on for over 24 hours over the most recent a year? Classification Number of respondents answered Number of respondents answered on the individual class % of the reactions Truly 20 18 90 No 20 2 10 Source: Self Any MSD persevering for over seven days is experienced by you? Class Number of respondents answered Number of respondents answered on the separate classification % of the reactions Indeed 20 16 80 No 20 4 20 Source: Self Results In the premise of the led study it very well may be seen with the assistance of the firsts figure 75% of the members were experiencing musculoskeletal torment, Figure 2 mirrored that 90% of members detailed experiencing at any rate one MSD which went on for over 24 hours in the a year prior to directing the study. Essentially, and MSD persevering for over seven days were accounted for by 80% of the members in a similar period can be found in Figure 3. The study additionally mirrored the way that, the medical attendants and the laborers experienced low back torment most much of the time alongside neck and shoulder torment. Other than the previously mentioned MSD, the medical attendants were likewise seen to experience the ill effects of wrist, knee and elbow torment. The overview further mirrored the way that, as LBP neck torment was likewise similarly pervasive among the nurses(Sadeghianet al., 2014). One of the significant negative effects of MSD like LBP is decrease of efficiency b ecause of this, which extraordinarily impacts the exhibition of the experts related with Ages Care Organization that is truly requesting. It can likewise be seen that because of the agony and experiencing the MSD it brings about affecting the work place participation of the attendants too. As the attendants experience the ill effects of MSD, it will in general influence their participation, the explanation being they are not genuinely fit to play out the obligations any more. The wiped out leave rate likewise will in general increment because of MSD. MSD over the long haul is likewise observed to bring about inability and grimness which is one of the significant negative effects on the wellbeing state of the experts. Another mentionable effect on the part of wellbeing because of MSD expanded monetary weight in medicinal services. As this condition don't permit the people to perform at their best level, as of now referenced, brings about diminishing their practical limit, execution and profitability, which may thus prompt their lost pay rates. A portion of the mentionable negative effects on the heath state of the medical attendants because of MSD are ligaments irritations and related condition like tendinitis, epicondylitis and so forth. The experts are additionally observed to experience the ill effects of myalgias which incorporate utilitarian injury of muscles and related agony and so forth. Useless nerve work especially observed to happen in the low back, wrist, lower arm are additionally seen to have affected the experts. De generative clutters like osteoarthritis are likewise observed to affect their state of being (Arden et al., 2008). The mental factor of the experts is likewise contrarily affected because of this condition. On the essential level, it expands feeling of anxiety among people. The explanation being, on one hand the exhibition of the people gets influenced because of the condition which normally expands their feeling of anxiety (safeworkaustralia, 2006). Additionally, the weakness of losing the employment due the condition further builds the anxiety. The effect of MSD is additionally supported because of the mix of feeling of anxiety among people and physiological partners of pressure which may harm tissues of the body, which thus expands the dangers related with MSD. Consequently, it very well may be expressed that, stress-related systems, psycho-physiological variables are a portion of the significant negative effects of MSD on the experts. Because of which, they are likewise now and again, seen to get uninformed towards the consideration searchers too. Proposals It is basic with respect to the consideration giving association to enhance the productivity of the experts and diminish the dangers related with the work place, which should be possible by decreasing

Handling The Great Depression :: essays research papers

Dealing with the Great Depression Hoover and Roosevelt had totally different thoughts on how the Depression ought to be taken care of. This was for the most part a consequence of two significant contrasts in their compositions; Hoover was a Republican and thought about traditionalist, and had essentially worked his way through life, while Roosevelt was not just a Democrat, he had fundamentally been brought into the world with the famous silver spoon in his mouth. Roosevelt was viewed as a liberal. As one can without much of a stretch see, from multiple points of view these two are direct inverses; truth be told, in the event that one glances at both their childhood and their political connection, it appears that Roosevelt's and Hoover's arrangements more likely than not been diverse from various perspectives. Hoover was raised in a poor family, and worked nearly as long as he can remember. At the point when he was eight years of age, his folks kicked the bucket so he went to live with his uncle. His uncle worked with him, and later got rich. Hoover had persevered through a considerable number of hardships throughout his life, and comprehended what it resembled to manage without. Indeed, Hoover was exceptionally poor as a youngster, in spite of the fact that not really living in neediness. This impact on his outline would be fairly fascinating, as it appears that he ought to have had a superior comprehension of how to deal with issues with the poor than Roosevelt. As Hoover was brought into the world poor, one would imagine that he would realize how to maintain the nation like a business, so it would remain above water; be that as it may, when stood up to with the Depression, he over and again cut assessments. Hoover was essentially a persevering Republican, the quintessential independent man. Â Â Â Â Â Roosevelt, then again, had been naturally introduced to a rich family; He grew up with instruction at Harvard, had his own horse and boat, and had everything essentially dealt with for him i n his youth by his mom. This gave him a suspicion that all is well and good, of having the option to do anything he needed, most essentially on the grounds that he didn't flop right off the bat. He had never survived what the American open was experiencing, so his perspective on the world, his composition, didn't really incorporate what it resembled to live in destitution. He accepted that the Depression could be unraveled just by giving however many individuals something to do for the legislature as would be prudent. This could identify with how, growing up, he himself didn't need to work in any capacity whatsoever.

15 Productivity Hacks Successful CEOs and Founders Use to Get More Done

15 Productivity Hacks Successful CEOs and Founders Use to Get More Done When was the last time you made a list of New Year resolutions? How did that work out for you? Most people, break a significant number of these resolutions by the time the first quarter of year ends.This is because goals are easy to set but very hard to keep. Motivation is usually high at the outset, but it has a way of dwindling down with progress of a project. Picture this: You have set yourself the goal of doing 50 pushups every day before you hit the shower. Let’s split those pushups into bunches of 10 pushups. Which bunch is the most difficult one? The first one between 1 and 10, the middle one between 20 and 30, or the last one between 40 and 50?If you are like most people, you will agree with me that the last 10 pushups are the most difficult. Let’s make this more interesting. Supposing you set a goal of 30 pushups daily instead of 50. Would the third bunch of pushups be as easy as the third bunch in the first case when you had a target of doing 50 pushups? Absolutely not. If your goal is doing 30 pushups, the last 10 will be just as difficult as they would have been if you had set a target of 50 pushups.The point is, every goal will appear easy at first, but it will get more and more difficult as time goes. To achieve the goal, you need to find a way of staying productive no matter the circumstances. You will not have a problem staying productive in the early days when you are highly motivated. The real problem comes during those low-motivation spans.In this discussion, we are going to look at some of the most effective productivity tasks that you can use to get the productivity that you need to accomplish any goal. These are hacks that have been used by successful CEOs and founders to get more work done out of the limited time that we all have. WHAT IS PRODUCTIVITY?First things first. Let’s start with first understanding what productivity is. In economics, as defined by Investopedia, productivity is “a measure of output per unit of input”. The inputs mentioned here include labor and capital while the outputs are the revenues achieved or other gross domestic product components like business inventories.The simple definition is that productivity is a measure of the efficiency of production. The goal here being to produce more output from as little input as possible. For you as an individual, the goal is to get as much work done as possible in the time when you are working.Most people confuse productivity with being busy. You can look busy, and still be unproductive. The catch here is to do work that produces results. Work that contributes positively to your end goal or target as an individual.For example, you could be busy on your work computer reading your email when your job is to edit an article for publication. Alth ough you look busy, you are really not productive because your pile of work is not reducing and you are not producing any relevant output.So for you to be productive, you need to be producing something.FACTORS AFFECTING PRODUCTIVITYTaking Breaks: No matter who you are or how much you love your job, your body can only take so much. This is to mean that there will come a time when you will need to take a break. Failure to do that will see your productivity suffer a hit and if you are not careful, you might end up doing more harm than good on your projects. Breaks help your work in many ways. Studies have shown that people who take a break once an hour perform better than those who just keep going without resting.Satisfaction: This is about how happy you feel with your job. A study was done to determine how satisfaction affected the productivity of employees and they found out that employees who are more satisfied with their work were more productive than those who were doing it becaus e they don’t have another way out.Stress: Stress is another factor that affects productivity. However, unlike satisfaction and regular breaks, this one affects your productivity negatively. Workers who are stressed are not able to stay focused hence they are not able to process new information effectively. It also makes it hard to remember things you already know hence the whole process becomes long and inefficient. This leads to distractions that could easily end up in expensive mistakes that further reduce productivity.Technology Applied: This is usually beyond the power of the employees, but if you have a position in management, it is something worth considering. It’s not too early to start embracing automation. There are software and machines that when used correctly can significantly improve the productivity of employees in organizations. This doesn’t only apply to big companies. Even at an individual level, you can make use of technology to improve your productivity. For example, if you want to send five emails at different times during the day, rather than logging in to your email mailbox five times in the day, you can schedule and forget using tools like Boomerang and have each email sent at the most opportune time without having to go back to your mailbox.Team Spirit: When every employee feels as a valuable member of a system that depends on his output, they will be well motivated to keep producing good results even when they are not very well motivated. If you know that your output directly affects the results that the department or organization will have as a whole, you are more likely to do all you can to ensure that your results are the best possible results that you can produce.PARKINSON’S LAWAn important aspect of human nature is shown by Parkinson’s Law. The law states that work will expand to fill the time available for its completion.Let’s take a minute to think about this law. Remember your days in college? What would happen when your professor told you to write a paper and said that it had to be completed in two days? More likely than not, despite your frowns and unhappiness, you would still complete the assignment in the two days.What happens if you are given two weeks to complete the task? You will find that in one way or the other, the work required to complete the assignment will fill up the two weeks that you have to complete it.If you have ever been in charge of assigning tasks to people, you will agree with me that this law is true almost all the time. Give someone a month to finish the work, it will be done in a month despite the fact that it could easily be done in two weeks or less.Even simple tasks will increase in complexity until they fill up the time that is allocated to them. On the flip side, if you reduce the time allocated to a task, the task will become simpler and easier to solve so as to fit in the limited time available.With this understanding, we can tune ourselves to become more pro ductive in our jobs. If you need a week to finish a project, give it a week. Setting tight deadlines ensures that you avoid distractions and that you get straight to the point when you get to work. This way, you will get more done faster, hence you will have more time to do even more.Here are some things you can do to make the Parkinson’s Law work to your advantage:If you work on a laptop, unplug it and have a list of tasks that you must complete before the battery runs out of power.Use the Pomodoro Technique to break down big tasks into smaller chunks and assign time to each chunk. Your job here will be to ensure that every chunk fits in the time allocated.Be more specific on your goals. Rather than saying that you want to write 1,000 words every day, aim at something more specific like I’ll do research on the topic before 10am, I’ll create the outlines by noon etc.If circumstances allow, you can set a goal like Sean Ogle to never work after noon. This will push you to do as much work as possible in the morning hours since you are trying to fit a whole day’s work into the first half. It will encourage you to wake up early and best of all, you will be rewarded with more free time.Blackmail yourself with punishment. Find an accountability partner who will make you pay up every time you break a rule that you have set. For example, if you decide to stop working at noon, you can set a penalty and have a partner enforce it every time you work beyond noon. This will give you the kick you need to actually walk the talk.Set hard deadlines. Set specific goals and have specific timelines for each of the goals. Have a reward for achieving that goal and a penalty should you fail to achieve it. You can lose 10 pounds in 5 months, but you can also do it in 8 weeks if you set that as your target.If you find that you are struggling with a task which seems to always go above the allocated time, force yourself by doing it in an environment beyond your control. For examp le, if you find that you always take more than the 30 minutes allocated to checking and responding to email, find a place with a strict timetable like a coffee shop or public library. If they close at 9pm, go there at 8.30pm and start checking your email. Stop working when they close and wait until the next day to resume. After the first few days, you’ll find that you naturally find a way of getting it all done in the available time.PRODUCTIVITY VS. ACTIVITYThere’s no denying the fact that we are in a day and age where we have the ability to get more done than we could ever have been able to do in the past. With email, text messaging, social media and the internet, we are able to do many things that seemed impossible a couple of decades ago.This ability brought with it new problems. One of them is the large number of distractions that we are constantly exposed to every single day. It’s no longer a question of what we can do, but more of what we actually end up doing. Are you d oing the right things with the immense power that modern technology has given you?This brings an interesting question: is what you are doing helping you get closer to where you want to go? Of course, you need to first know where you are going before you can ask yourself if you are heading there, but that’s a story for another day. To answer this, we’ll look at the difference between productivity and activity and what makes the difference between busy people and productive people.Busy people have a constant stream of activity surrounding them, most of which is not relevant to their goal. Although activity ensures that you are not dormant, it’s important to make sure that you spend your time doing the right activities.I’m not saying that it is bad to be busy. However, it’s important to note that it is dangerous to be busy without being productive. Just because you are doing something, doesn’t mean that you are really getting anywhere. Let’s dive in and identify some of t he differences between these two people.Busy people want to look like they have a goal and a mission. Productive people on the other hand actually have a goal and mission for their lives. Busy people will act confident and fill their lives with a lot of things so as to hide their doubt about the destination. Productive people on the other hand know exactly where they are going and they have no problem trying different paths.Busy people have many priorities while productive people have fewer priorities. There is no such thing as being too busy. If you care enough about something, you will make time for it. It’s a question of priority. If you have 5 priorities, you have priorities. But if you have 25 of them, you have a mess. Henry Ford built one of the biggest car makers not by building better cars, but by developing better systems for making cars.Productive people are careful about the promises they make. As a result, they say no to most things. Busy people on the other hand, say yes to most things and will usually end up swamped with work and that’s where the stress and frustrations kick in. Saying yes to many things is really just splitting your life into hundreds or thousands of little pieces, each of which will require your attention.Busy people are quick to point out all the tasks they have to do while productive people will allow their results to speak for them. Busy people always have a long list of pending tasks. They are the people who have so much to do that they end up doing very little. Productive people will remove all unnecessary tasks and focus only on what is needed. As a result, they end up achieving more and having results to show at the end of the day.Busy people multitask while productive people focus. A study has shown that you reduce your efficiency by as much as 40% when you multitask. The brain needs time to refocus on a task after a distraction. Sometimes it could take as much as 15 minutes before you are fully focused again. Multi tasking costs you time. It also overloads your brain, which explains why you will feel tired faster when you multitask. It doesn’t have to be multiple large projects. Even chatting on an IM app as you work on your report qualifies as multi-tasking so make the change and notice the effect on your work productivity.As you can see, it’s really simple to be more productive in your job. It may not be easy at first, but when the results start streaming in, you will be happy that you started. Start with the small things like making a conscious decision to stop multitasking and focusing on one goal at a time and work your way up until you are operating at peak performance.The following list contains hacks that have been proven to boost productivity in the workplace. Although they are very effective, trying to use them all at once will not help you. Remember what we said about multi-tasking. So pick one hack, use it for a week, note the difference and see if you can accommodate another. Keep doing this until you are at peak performance.1. THE POMODORO TECHNIQUEhttps://www.shutterstock.com/de/image-photo/mechanical-tomato-shaped-kitchen-timer-cooking-658270489?src=Ld_EZOdc6uYs5BtgURu_jA-1-32The Pomodoro technique can help you plan your workday effectively and get rid of distractions throughout the day. It was invented in the early 90s by an Italian entrepreneur known as Francesco Cirillo. He named the technique Pomodoro after the tomato-shaped timer he was using to track time. Pomodoro is the Italian name for a tomato.The technique is very simple to understand. When you are given any huge task, break it down into small timed intervals known as Pomodoros. These intervals are separated by short breaks to give your brain some breathing space before going back to razor focused work.The main aim of this technique is to train your brain to give full concentration for short periods and also to give you time to rest. When correctly implemented, it can help improve your atte ntion span and consequently increase your concentration.It works well because the intervals are short enough to focus on only one task at a time, thus eliminating any temptation to multitask, and at the same time, it allows you to take regular breaks to keep you motivated and creative.How it WorksThe Pomodoro technique is one of the simplest productivity hacks around. All you need is a timer and some work and you will be ready to go. Cirillo wrote a book, The Pomodoro Technique about this method, but you won’t need to read it to be able to use the technique. However, it is a helpful read if you want to get more done from your time using this technique.Here’s how you do it:Choose a task that you would like to work onSet the timer to countdown from 25 minutesWork on the task until the timer rings then mark the first Pomodoro as completeTake a 5 minute break. You can use the same timer to time your break. Don’t be tempted to take the break without timing. You might be tempted to stay longer and end up wasting time, or you could come back before the 5 minutes and not reap the full benefit of the break.One Pomodoro is 25 minutes of work and a 5 minute break. After 4 Pomodoros, take a 15 or 30 minute break before going back to work.That’s all there is to the Pomodoro technique. It may sound simple but it is very powerful when it comes to improving productivity. Just one day following this technique will prove to you how much you need it. The best thing about it is that the results come immediately when you start using it.For best result, you need to make sure that you are focused on the task at hand in each Pomodoro. You can’t divide a Pomodoro. When you are distracted before the Pomodoro ends, you have to either stop working there with the intention of starting a new Pomodoro later, or you can postpone the distraction.For obvious reasons, it will be better if you can postpone the distraction. To do this, Cirillo suggests a strategy where you inform the ot her party that you have your hands full, negotiate a time when you can get back to them about the distracting issue and to schedule that follow-up immediately then you can call back the other party after your Pomodoro is complete or at the scheduled time. This time, you will make sure that there are no Pomodoros going on hence it won’t be a distraction.While this is not possible at all times, a big chunk of the distractions that we get do not need our immediate attention. Those are the distractions that should be postponed. It will keep you focused and you will take control of your workday.Getting StartedAs mentioned above, all you need is a timer and some work. This means that any phone with a timer can easily do the job. You can even use the countdown timer on a digital watch or the old egg timer. Cirillo used a manual timer. He prefers the manual timer because according to him, winding it confirms that you are determined to work.If you don’t have access to a manual timer, her e are some apps that can do the job:Tomighty: This is a desktop Pomodoro timer that has all the traditional Pomodoro rules programmed into it. You only need to download it and fire it up whenever you have some work that needs doing. It has the timer and four dots that serve as counters to help you keep track of the number of Pomodoros that you have completed so far. It is a free-to-use cross platform app that will work on Windows, Linux or Mac.Pomodorable: This is a 2-in-1 productivity app that can function both as a Pomodoro timer and a to-do list app. It works on the Mac OS X so Windows and Linus users will have to make do with other apps. This one integrates with the Reminders app on OS X to bring you notifications about your Pomodoros and your upcoming tasks. It allows you to estimate the number of Pomodoros you will need for a task and then use this number to check whether you are on track.Marinara Timer: This is a web app that runs as a tab on your browser. It enables you to t rack your sessions at the end of the day with a history of all the sessions that you have had. You can configure the length of the work sessions or breaks to suit your individual preferences. The good news is that it all runs on any web browser so you don’t have to install anything.Simple Pomodoro: This is a free, open source Android timer. It doesn’t have a lot of the fancy graphics, but it has everything you need to effectively use the Pomodoro Technique. It follows the traditional Pomodoro rules and doesn’t give you the power to change the time in the work or break periods, but it has notifications that tell you when to take a break and when to get back to work. At the end of the day, you can go back to the app and see how many Pomodoros you were able to accomplish. It can also integrate with Google Tasks.Focus Timer: This is a feature-rich iOS app for your iPhone and iPad. If you feel that 25 minutes are too short for a Pomodoro, you can adjust the time accordingly to suit your unique preferences. You can also adjust the breaks. This app also gives you the ability to review your work history so that you can see if you are making progress or not. You can rate each Pomodoro using stars to keep you motivated. It also has a variety of sounds to pick from, with the option of hearing the clock tick as you work to ensure that you are not distracted.The Pomodoro technique is a very effective productivity hack for many industries. Regardless of whether you work in a creative environment where you are expected to produce something for review, or if you have an in tray where all your work is sent, you can use it to get more organized.Despite its benefits, it’s important to note that the technique is a system that tries to make your workday more productive. It is not a pair of handcuffs. So when the timer goes off when you are in the zone, it is okay to pause the timer, finish your breakthrough, and then you can take a break. The main aim is to keep you focuse d throughout the day, but also to remind you to take breaks because they are vital in keeping you productive.2. THE FIVE SECOND RULEThe five second rule was invented by Mel Robbins in 2009 in a bid to beat the habit of hitting the snooze button. She invented this rule to fight with the temptation to hit snooze and stay in the warmth of the bed for just another 15 minutes.Although it was intended to get you out of bed in the morning, it works like a charm in many other aspects of our lives. Basically, it will work in anything that you need to do but your body wants to remain in the comfort zone.How it WorksTo use the 5 second rule, you only need to have a goal that you are working towards. As Mel Robbins puts it in her website, “the moment you have an instinct to act on a goal, you must physically move within 5 seconds or your brain will stop you.”Watch this video of Mel Robbins introducing the five second rule in front of a live audience.The rule is useful when your instincts fi re up and you know that you should do something. There is always some resistance that makes us hesitate and start second guessing our abilities, the timing or our preparedness for the action.That resistance, according to Mel Robbins, is what you will overcome with the 5 second rule. If you don’t move in 5 seconds, you have a higher chance of not making any move and your self-doubt will kick in and kill the idea.When you act in 5 seconds, you will not overthink and all the focus will be on you taking a new action hence you will not have to deal with the self-doubt that comes with overthinking. You will actually be thinking about how you are going to do it as opposed to whether or not you are able to do it.The best thing about the five second rule is the fact that it is applicable in all the times when we hold ourselves back because of fear. Whether it is talking to an attractive guy or girl at the bar, or speaking your mind in a meeting or waking up in the morning, the five second rule will help you fight doubt and take action.This rule is important and effective because thinking about change alone anything. Without taking action, everything else is wishful thinking. However, to take action, you will need to find courage to make the first move. If you find yourself saying that you can wait and do it tomorrow or that you are not yet ready to take the plunge, then you should consider the five second rule.When you take the plunge, you will realize that the move really isn’t fatal no matter how bad it turns out to be. That realization is where you start to build confidence and momentum. It is a simple idea, but it is very powerful.3. THE PARETO PRINCIPLEThis principle is has caused a number of people disagree with the popular cliché that there is no shortcut to success. I’m not going to argue about whether or not this rule is a shortcut to success, but since it is quite effective at improving productivity, I think it’s worth discussing.Also known as the 80 -20 rule, the law of the vital few or the principle of factor sparcity, the Pareto Principle is the reason why some students who studied day and night still ended up scoring less than those who started studying a day or two before the exams. Want to hear an interesting fact? About 80% of the wealth lies with about 20% of the population. Anyway, today we are talking about productivity so we won’t look into that.Here’s what it states:The Pareto Principle states that 80% of the results come from 20% of the effort or 20% of the inputs produce 80% of the outputs.What does that mean? In simple terms, it means that a minority is responsible for causing the majority. The principle was named after Vilfred Pareto who was an Italian economist. He was doing a study in 1897 when he discovered this interesting trend. The study was about land ownership in Italy and he noted that almost 80% of it was owned by about 20% of the population.The interesting thing about this ratio was that the same w as noticed when looking at other spheres of life. Pareto even noticed that 20% of the pea pods in his garden produced 80% of the peas. Further research found even more areas.While the ratio does not strictly apply in all situations, it is the general rule of thumb in many aspects of our life. Here are a few examples:80% of the sales come from 20% of the clients80% of software failure comes from 20% of the bugs80% of a company’s profits come from 20% of its investments80% of the customer complaints come from 20% of the customers80% of your output comes from 20% of your timeWe are going to focus on the last one: 80% of your output comes from 20% of your time. Think about it. If 80% of your results will come from only 20% of your inputs, doesn’t it make sense, then to at least start with the 20% that create the best results? This way, you will still be able to get a big chunk of the results even if you don’t manage to do everything that you had planned.How it WorksTo improve your productivity using this principle you only need to do one thing: scheduling. Proper use of the Pareto Principle involves good understanding of the importance of each task on your to-do list. How much does each task contribute to the end result?Once you have sorted the tasks in order of importance, allocate time on the ones that have the biggest effect. Start with those. The others that don’t have a direct impact on the results can be outsourced or postponed unless they are mandatory before the important ones can be done.If you are working on a tight deadline like in the case of a student studying for exams, starting with the significant 20% will see to it that he has enough to pass the exam even if there isn’t enough time to study for everything.Let’s finish with a story.Once upon a time, an ordinary guy challenged a professional fighter in Chinese Kickboxing Championships. The guy admits that he was not good at kickboxing, but he went ahead with the challenge. For an ordinar y person, there’s only one way this would have ended. The guy would get a decent beating in the first match and serve as an example.However, that’s not what happened. The guy won the match, and went ahead to walk away as a gold medalist. How did it work, you ask? The Pareto Principle.The ordinary guy in our story is Tim Ferris and as he writes in his book The Four Hour Workweek, he only needed to win and since he didn’t have the advantage of having trained for years like his competition, he had to find a different way of winning.He analyzed all rules and found two loopholes that helped him win without the years of training.First, he discovered that all participants were weighed one day before the competition so he dehydrated his body and lost 28 pounds. He weighed in at 165 pounds and after weighing he hyper hydrated back to 193 pounds. This means that he got opponents who were three classes below him, which allowed him to beat them easily.The other loophole one involved winni ng automatically if your opponent fell off the platform three times in a single round. He exploited this in all his games, working to push his opponents off the platform as opposed to fighting like it’s supposed to be. Granted, his games may not have been the most entertaining to watch, but he knew what he wanted and he had found a way of getting it.In other words, to win the championships at that time only required mastery of these two and you could have saved yourself years of training. But that’s only if you are interested in winning and winning alone.In the same way, it’s important to choose how we allocate our time. You could be going a long way when you can achieve the same results in a fraction of the time using a fraction of the effort.4. START RIGHTThe way you start your day determines how you are going to live for the rest of the day. If you begin your day with things that you know are going to make you hate yourself, it’s highly likely that you will spend a signif icant portion of that day sulking.On the other hand, if you start your day with things that you are confident in, you will start your day feeling that you are in the right place hence you will be more confident in yourself and that will show in your results.Before we even start talking about what you do in the morning, let’s talk about something that is commonly overlooked. The best way to start your day is by ensuring that you get enough rest. If you don’t get enough sleep, don’t expect to wake up feeling fresh and energetic. So make sure you get 7-9 hours of sleep every night.Once you have that, you can now focus on habits that energize you. One common way to build your momentum in the morning is to make your bed immediately after you wake up. It might sound meaningless, but it does give you a sense of achievement and control. It also makes you eager to take on the next item on your schedule.Unless you are a night owl, try and begin your day as early as possible. This is the time for doing your most important assignments. There are fewer distractions and you will be able to focus better because you are energetic and generally more enthusiastic.You can start with a simple resolution like saying that for the next 60 days, you are going to spend the first 60 minutes of your workday doing just one important task. The one thing that you know will have a big impact on your work if done religiously for 60 days.If you are trying to get a beach body for summer, spend the first 60 minutes working out. If you are trying to build traction for your blog, spend the first 60 minutes writing. Make sure you go to bed knowing exactly what this task is so you don’t find yourself stuck trying to figure out what you are going to do.5. HANG AROUND LIKE MINDED PEOPLEWe all unconsciously adopt feelings, beliefs and behaviors of the people we spend time with. Think about your time in high school. Chances are your group of friends shared the same opinion about most things in life. This is the reason why you were quick to defend your friends any time they were attacked because you agreed with them on the matter that caused them to be attacked in the first place.Behavioral scientists call this emotional contagion. According to this phenomenon, we will unconsciously adopt the behaviors and feelings of the people we spend time with. Isn’t it also true that our feelings and behaviors will ultimately control our moods?With this in mind, it will help if you can hang around people who are headed in the same direction as you are. If you are trying to save to buy a house, spend time with people who are also saving for a house. When sharing experiences, you will learn a lot of new things and at the same time, they will keep you motivated towards your goal.So if you have a sales or revenue target that you want to hit, don’t hang around the colleague who is tired with the company and is looking for a way out. This colleague will show you all the bad things about your company and you will leave feeling used. At the end of the day, you will end up not giving your job as much as you should and as a result, you will not reach your target.6. GO ON A SOCIAL MEDIA AND NEWS DIETThink about it. How often do you see an interesting news headline and click through? How often do you see that email from Facebook about an interesting post by an interesting friend and you click through to view it? How many times did you see a Facebook notification pop up on your phone and you had to stop everything and check it out? What happens after that? Usually, you will end up wasting about 10-30 minutes before you can get back to work.This simply makes you a prisoner of these news and social websites. It makes it that you will only work when there are no interesting things happening around you. Let’s face it: interesting things will never stop happening. What you need to do is to watch or read about them on your terms.According to the New York Times, the average p erson spent about 50 minutes every day on Facebook in 2016. That was Facebook alone. If you count the time spent on all the other news and social websites, you’ll find that you are losing a lot of time. If we take a minimum of 2 hours every day, that is 14 hours every week and about 60 every month. That’s enough time for exercise, meditation or even learning a new skill like playing a music instrument.I’m not saying that you cut yourself off from all news sources. That will not do you any good. You also need to be informed. However, this doesn’t need to come at the expense of your work. That’s why it’s called a diet.Disable notifications and turn off news feeds that send news updates and social media updates constantly to your computer or mobile phone. Then focus on your work. During working hours, keep off these distractions. You’ll find that you are able to focus more on your work and that will produce better results.7. JUST STARTNewton’s first law of motion states that “A body will remain at rest or move at a constant velocity in a straight line unless it is acted upon by an external unbalanced force”That makes sense in physics, but what does it have to do with productivity? Well, when you are procrastinating or doing all the other seemingly important things that are keeping you from doing what you are supposed to do, you are at rest. This is a pleasant state that is hard to come from. This is where you need a kick.Get yourself to start. It’s not going to be easy, but once you have given yourself that kick and started the progress, it will become easier to continue since you are already in motion.A good example is getting out of bed in the morning. The act of leaving the warm, comfortable bed is very hard. However, the moment you are out of bed, everything becomes easier because you are now in motion.So remember this every time you face the resistance that comes with starting something new. If it helps, use the 5 Second Rule discussed above to give yourself the kick before your brain starts questioning your ability to complete the job.8. LIMIT DISTRACTIONSDistractions tend to drive you away from your current task and before you are back and focused again, you will have lost a lot of time. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to say no to all distractions because some of them are important and need your immediate attention. However, most of them aren’t. The good news is that you can achieve more by limiting the distractions that aren’t urgent.So close all those tabs with holiday destinations, articles that you are going to read when you get time, your gmail inbox, and pretty much everything that is not related to your current task. Tackle work one tab at a time and you will be rewarded with more efficiency.9. IF YOU HAVE TO EAT TWO FROGS, EAT THE UGLIEST ONE FIRSTMany people have talked about eating frogs. Brian Tracy said that “if you have to eat two frogs, eat the ugliest one first”. Mark Twain also talked a bout this, saying that if you start your day by eating a live, frog, you can go through your day knowing that the early morning frog is probably the worst thing that will happen to you all day.Of course, we are not saying that you should go out and start catching frogs.The frog here represents your biggest, hardest, most important task. The task that is most likely to cause you to procrastinate every time you think about doing it. When you do this, everything else you do that day will be easier and simpler. You will have no problem finding motivation because if you were able to eat the big frog, the small frog will not be as tough.10. AVOID UNNECESSARY MEETINGSTruth be told, most meetings are not needed, and a majority of those that are needed need less than 30 minutes to accomplish their mission. Since you can’t do away with meetings altogether, you need to figure out how to get the most out of them without compromising on anything else.First, manage time by the clock. Start on t ime and more importantly, end on time. Secondly, have the agenda sent out before the meeting. This will ensure that you hit the ground running when you start. Next, limit the time to a maximum of 30 minutes unless the agenda is too long. You can try stand up meetings if they are appropriate in your business.Finally, set apart a day of the week when you will have no meetings. For example, you can set Tuesday to be the day when you will not schedule any meetings and communicate it effectively. If someone asks for a meeting on a Tuesday, tell them that your schedule is full on Tuesday and reschedule to another day.11. DELEGATE, SYSTEMIZE AND AUTOMATETrust your employees. IF you hired them, they must be good. There is no point hiring someone if you will spend three quarters of the time looking over their shoulder. Train them, and trust them to make decisions. Cultivate a sense of ownership and they will surprise you with the results. Let them feel like they are the boss and they will ac t in the company’s best interest.Create systems for your main processes and automate the work. Systemizing the work ensures that there doesn’t come a time when you are not sure what they are supposed to do next. Each process should lead to the next one until the task is complete.12. FIGURE OUT YOUR GOLDEN HOURS AND PROTECT THEMFind out when you are most productive. Those are your golden hours and protect them at all costs. List any interruptions that come during this time to be dealt with later. Try to get as much ground covered during this time.13. SET FIXED DEADLINESWhen you have a task, set yourself a deadline for it. We all have an inner perfectionist who will always want us to keep checking if the work is perfect enough to be released to the next department. Silence this perfectionist and send it out when it’s due regardless of whether it’s perfect or not.14. STAY ORGANIZEDIn addition to making it easy for you to plan your workload, staying organized helps make big prob lems appear smaller. If you have a plan for doing something, it somehow looks easier and manageable as opposed to only having the end in mind.Start by de-cluttering your desk. A messy work desk will make you feel anxious and overwhelmed. Throw away what needs to go to the trash and keep everything else neat and organized. Then break down your projects into small, time sensitive and measurable victories.15. EISENHOWER BOXThe Eisenhower Box was used by Dwight Eisenhower, who was the 34th President of the United States. He served two terms between 1953 and 1961. He had many achievements even before he became president and during his two terms in office. Some of these achievements include development of the US Interstate Highway System, launch of the internet, space exploration and the use of alternative sources of energy.He was able to do all these by making very good use of his time.   The Eisenhower Box is his famous productivity tool that you can start using right away and start see ing benefits. Let’s take a closer look at how it works.Basically, the Eisenhower Box is a decision making matrix that helps you decide which tasks you are going to tackle and what to do with the rest. The matrix has four boxes as shown below.URGENTNOT URGENTIMPORTANTDO Work on these tasks nowDECIDEDecide when to do itNOT IMPORTANTDELEGATEFind someone to do the task for youDELETEEliminate themAs you can see above, separate your tasks into four categories:Urgent and important tasks: These ones you will work on them immediately.Important, but not urgent tasks: These are the tasks that you will schedule for laterUrgent, but not important: These are the tasks that will be delegated to someone elseNeither urgent nor important tasks: These are the tasks you do away withThis matrix helps you decide how you are going to spend your time and also in managing your assignments. It is very easy to find yourself stuck with a lot to do yet you don’t see results in your bottom-line. You could be spending too much time on tasks that you don’t need to spend time on because they can be delegated, or tasks that can be eliminated altogether.Start with eliminating tasks until you have no more tasks that can be eliminated. As Kevlin Henney once said about computer programming, there is no code faster than no code. What this means is that the smaller the number of tasks you have to work on, the faster you’ll finish.Remember, don’t be busy. Be productive instead. Spend time on tasks that help you advance towards the goal or target you are shooting at.

Investment and fluctuation in the gold market - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 18 Words: 5408 Downloads: 8 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Argumentative essay Did you like this example? Someone rightly said that practical training is far better than the classroom training. During practical training, person comes to know about the actual difficulties faced during the work. Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons) {BBA(H)} imparts the student with such virtues and prepares to take the business world in their stride. The project gives a considerable exposure to students and provides them with an opportunity to see the practical aspects of working of the corporate world. This project is yet another opportunity to see the application part of what we study or learn. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Our sincere thanks to Ms. Garima Baluja (Project guide) for having the conviction to believe that the project we had undertaken might be useful to others. We wish to thank them for having taken the trouble to read the contents again and again so the project is perfect in all respects. Without her advice, support and guidance the project would never have been complete. All cannot be mentioned but none has been forgotten. Biswajit Singh Prashant vohra Ramandeep singh Gurpreet singh Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Investment and fluctuation in the gold market" essay for you Create order CONTENT Chapter no. Title Page no CERTIFICATE I PREFACE Ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Iii Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION Meaning Gold as investment Types of gold investment Factors affecting gold price and investment Importance of gold in market Gold investment vecihle Gold investment strategies Gold versus stock The performance of gold and the US Stock Market 1-17 2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE 18-22 3 OBJECTIVES NEED OF THE STUDY 23-24 4 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 25-27 5 ANALYSIS OF DATA 6 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, LIMITATION RECOMMENDATION 7 REFERENCES 8 QUESTIONNAIRE INTRODUCTION 1.1 MEANING:- A metallic element, constituting the most precious metal used as a common commercial medium of exchange. It has a characteristic yellow color, is one of the heaviest substances, is soft, and very malleable and ductile. It is quite unalterable by heat, moisture, and most corrosive agents, and therefore well suited for its use in coin, jewelry and for other monetary uses. Gold has to compete with the stock market, investment in internet industries, and a wide range of consumer goods. In the rural areas 22 carat jewellery remains the basic investment. The government announced a new initiative in its budget to tap the hoard of private gold in India by permitting commercial banks to take gold deposits of bars, coins or jewellery against payment of interest. Interest levels can be set by each bank, and deposits must be for three to seven years. Interest and any capital gains on the gold will be exempt from tax. The banks can lend the gold to local fabricators or sell it in the Indian market or to local banks. The depositor has to declare the origin of the gold, so that metal bought illegally to hide wealth cannot be deposited. The State Bank of India was the first to accept deposits. Figure 1.1.1 1.2 Gold as investment Indians purchased 94.0 tons of gold for investment from January to September 2004, while it was 67.8 tons during the same period in 2003. Investment in physical gold must always be in the form of coins/bars and should be in addition to the jewellery held by the household. Advantages of gold in a portfolio can be explained through the following points: Gold has a low to negative correlation with most other asset classes. An investment portfolio with an allocation to gold improves the consistency of portfolio performance during both stable and unstable periods. The price of gold is not linked to the performance of economy, industry or companies. Gold offers the benefit of diversifying portfolio risks. Cost efficient ways of investment in gold internationally Gold has been possible over the years in the form of mutual funds or stocks of gold mining companies. However, investors have been awaiting a more cost effective platform for owning gold. The World Gold council recognized this fact and launched the following ETF gold products across the world. Figure1.2.1 Cost efficient ways of investment in gold internationally Gold has been possible over the years in the form of mutual funds or stocks of gold mining companies. However, investors have been awaiting a more cost effective platform for owning gold. The World Gold council recognized this fact and launched the following ETF gold products across the world. Gold Bullion Securities Gold was made available at the stock exchange just like an equity share to the investors through a World Gold Council initiated ETF product called Gold Bullion Securities. Each share of Gold Bullion Securities (GBS) is equal to 1/10th of an ounce of gold and is supported by physical holding of gold in the custody of HSBC. This is the first time ever that a metal has been listed on an international Stock Exchange and can be conveniently traded or invested by institutional investors as well as individuals. GBS is listed on the London Stock Exchange and also the Australian Stock Exchange. At present GBS is the most cost efficient way of investing in gold, as a potential investor has to only pay 0.3% p.a. as management fees, which includes the cost of storage and insurance apart from the brokerage that they have to pay to the brokers. 1.3 TYPES OF GOLD INVESTMENT:- 1. Gold exchange-traded funds: The recent explosion in exchange traded funds (ETFs) presents an even more interesting way to invest in gold. An ETF is a type of mutual fund that trades on a stock exchange like an ordinary stock. The ETFs exact portfolio is fixed in advance and does not change. Thus, the two gold ETFs that trade in the United States both hold gold bullion as their one and only asset. You can locate these two ETFs under the symbol GLD (for the streetTRACKS Gold Trust) and IAU (for the iShares COMEX Gold Trust). Either ETF offers a practical way to hold gold in an investment portfolio. 2. Direct ownership: There is nothing like gold bullion, the ultimate expression of pure value. Gold is the only real money, and its value cannot be changed or controlled by government fiat-the underlying reason for governments to go off the gold standard, unfortunately. Golds value will rise based on the pure forces of supply and demand, no matter what Mr. Greenspan decrees regard ing interest rates or greenbacks in circulation. The big disadvantage to owning gold is that it tends to trade with a wide spread between bid and ask prices.. 3. Gold mutual funds: For people who are hesitant to invest in physical gold, but still desire some exposure to the precious metal, gold mutual funds provide a helpful alternative. These funds hold portfolios of gold stocks-that is, the stocks of companies like Newmont Mining that mine for gold. Newmont is an example of a senior gold stock. A senior is a large, well-capitalized company that has been around several years and has a profitable track record 4.   Junior gold stocks: This level of stock is more speculative. Junior stocks are less likely to own productive mines, and may be exploration plays-with higher potential profits but also with greater risk of loss. Capitalization is likely to be smaller than capitalization of the senior gold stocks. This range of investments is for investors whose risk tolerance is broader, and who accept the possibility of gold-based losses in exchange for the potential for triple-digit gains. 5.   Gold options and futures: For the more sophisticated and experienced investor, options allow you to speculate in gold prices. But in the options market, you can speculate on price movements in either direction. If you buy a call, you are hoping prices will rise. A call fixes the purchase price so the higher that price goes, the greater the margin between your fixed option price and current market price. When you buy a put, you expect the price to fall. Buying options is risky, and more people lose than win. In fact, about three-fourths of all options bought expire worthless. The options market is complex and requires experience and understanding 1.4 FACTORS AFFECTING GOLD PRICE AND INVESTMENT:- Weak US Dollar: Projections about a declining dollar due to an ever-increasing twin deficit supported by many investment veterans are met by much denial from politicians as well as from investors. As long as foreigners are willing to pour in the amount of $2 billion dollars every working day, the dollar wont crash. But if foreign confidence were to wane, the US dollar will be heading south. No matter how you look at the US twin deficits and Americas future fiscal liabilities, this problem is huge and some painful adjustments not only seem to be necessary but unavoidable as well. Growth in Demand for Jewelry: The demand for gold jewelry has seen a regular growth year on year. Countries which are primarily responsible for this growth are India, China, Italy, Turkey and the USA. The demand for consumption of gold in jewelry was 6% higher at 735 tonnes and also comprised a new first-quarter record. The US, which accounts for 10 % of world gold demand, is also one of the markets wh ere public taste in gold jewelry is enjoying a renaissance. The renewed interest in gold also extends to Japan, a market which showed a 19% increase in demand. Increase in demand for exchange traded paper backed products: -For the first time in history, gold can be purchased like any listed stock at select stock exchanges of the world like London Stock Exchange, Australian Stock Exchange (Gold Bullion Securities) and New York Stock Exchange. The World Gold Council initiated Electronic Traded Funds have displayed very good performance and growth in volumes since launch. Central banks reserves: Central banks keep ignot reserves as a hedge against inflation. Other monetary policies of the central banks also affect the price of gold. Low interest rates discourage people to invest in paper money; they turn towards the golden metal in the hope of better returns. If the central banks give high interest rates, the chances are that the ignot price will fall. Gold during times of fl uctuation: Gold is purchased more during a downturn in economy. This is because; the companies might start reducing production due to declining sales. Due to this, the stock prices will start going down. In this scenario, Gold is the safest option to invest in. Thought the return on investment may not be as high as other investment options, safety and good value for money are very important in times of fluctuation 1.5 IMPORTANCE OF GOLD IN MARKET Electronics: Gold is highly conductive to electricity, and has been used for electrical wiring in some high-energy applications. For example, gold electrical wires were used during some of the Manhattan Projects atomic experiments. Gold is used in the connectors of the more expensive electronics cables, such as audio, video and USB cables. The benefit of using gold over other connector metals such as tin in these applications is highly debated Fine gold wires are used to connect semiconductor devices to their packages through a process known as wire bonding Aerospace: Gold is used in hundreds of ways in every space vehicle that NASA launches. Gold is used in circuitry because it is a dependable conductor and connector. Many parts of every space vehicle are fitted with gold-coated polyester film. Gold is also used as a lubricant between mechanical parts. Gold has very low shear strength and thin films of gold between critical moving parts serves as a lubricant the gold mole cules slip past one another under the forces of friction and that provides a lubricant action. Jewelry: Gold is found in the pure state, is very easy to work and was probably the first metal used by humans. Today, most of the gold that is newly mined or recycled is used in the manufacture of jewelry About 78% of the gold consumed each year is used in the manufacture of jewelry. Special properties of gold make it perfect for manufacturing jewelry. These include: very high luster; desirable yellow color; tarnish resistance; ability to be drawn into wires, hammered into sheets or cast into shapes. Medicine:- Gold was often seen as beneficial for the health, in the belief that something that rare and beautiful could not be anything but healthy. Even some modern esotericisms and forms of alternative medicine assign metallic gold a healing power. Inject able gold has been proven to help to reduce the pain and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis and tuberculosis. Gold alloys are used i n restorative dentistry, especially in tooth restorations, such as crowns and permanent bridges. The isotope gold-198, is used in some cancer treatments and for treating other diseases. Decoration: Gold has the highest malleability of any metal. This enables gold to be beaten into sheets that are only a few millionths of an inch thick. These thin sheets, known as gold leaf can be applied over the irregular surfaces of picture frames, molding or furniture Public investment: Gold is also considered as a public investment. Many countries have huge Gold reserves. Countries like India, United States are supposed to have huge Gold reserves that can be sold in times of need. It also gives these countries an edge in various financial deals. Various banks also have huge reserves of Gold that are used at times of crisis in the economy. This Gold is sold at times of economic crisis to stabilize the economy. 1.6 GOLD INVESTMENT VECIHLE:- Bars Gold bars can be held either directly (i.e. held directly by you or in your own safe) or indirectly (held in a safe deposit box or bank vault on your behalf). Because of the many difficulties of transporting, storing and verifying pure gold bars, an increasingly popular method of investing in gold bars for the small investor is via allocated holdings using a gold account. Coins Buying gold coins is a popular way of holding gold. Typically bullion coins are priced according to their weight, plus a premium above the gold spot price. Again, the large Swiss and Liechtenstein banks buy and sell these coins over the counter. Exchange-traded funds Gold ETFs represent an easy way to gain exposure to the gold price, without the inconvenience of storing physical bars. Typically a small commission is charged for trading in gold ETFs and a small annual storage fee is charged. The annual expenses of the fund such as storage, insurance, and management fees are charged by selling a small amount of gold represented by each certificate, so the amount of gold in each certificate will gradually decline over time. Certificates A certificate of ownership can be held by gold investors, instead of storing the actual gold bullion. Gold certificates allow investors to buy and sell the security without the inconvenience associated with the transfer of actual physical gold. Accounts Most Swiss banks offer gold accounts where gold can be instantly bought or sold just like any foreign currency. Digital gold currency accounts and the Bullion Vault gold exchange work on a similar principle. Gold accounts are typically backed through unallocated (fungible or pooled) or allocated (also known as non-fungible) gold storage. Different accounts impose varying levels of intermediation between the client and their gold, for example through bailment or within a trust Derivatives, CFDs and spread betting Derivatives, such as gold forwards, futures and options, currently trade on various exchanges around the world and over-the-counter (OTC) directly in the private market. In the U.S., gold futures are primarily traded on the New York Commodities Exchange (COMEX), a division of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), and NYSE Life US. In India, gold futures are traded on the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) and Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX).] 1.7 GOLD INVESTMENT STRATEGIES:- Fundamental analysis Investors using fundamental analysis analyze the macroeconomic situation, which includes international economic indicators, such as GDP growth rates, inflation, interest rates, productivity and energy prices. They would also analyze the yearly global gold supply versus demand. Over 2005 the World Gold Council estimated yearly global gold supply to be 3,859 tonnes and demand to be 3,754 tonnes, giving a surplus of 105 tonnes. While gold production is unlikely to change in the near future, supply and demand due to private ownership is highly liquid and subject to rapid changes. This makes gold very different from almost every other commodity.Identifiable investment demand for gold, which includes gold exchange-traded funds, bars and coins, was up 64 percent in 2008 over the year before. Technical analysis As with stocks, gold investors may base their investment decision partly on, or solely on, technical analysis. Typically, this involves analyzing chart patterns, moving averages, market trends and/or the economic cycle in order to speculate on the future price Using leverage Bullish investors may choose to leverage their position by borrowing money against their existing assets and then purchasing gold on account with the loaned funds. Leverage is also an integral part of buying gold derivatives and unhedged gold mining company shares (see gold mining companies). Leverage or derivatives may increase investment gains but also increases the corresponding risk of capital loss if/when the trend reverses. 1.8 GOLD VERSUS STOCK:- The performance of gold bullion is often compared to stocks due to their fundamental differences. Gold is regarded by some as a store of value (without growth) whereas stocks are regarded as a return on value (i.e., growth from anticipated real price increase plus dividends). Stocks and bonds perform best in a stable political climate with strong property rights and little turmoil. The attached graph shows the value of Dow Jones Industrial Average divided by the price of an ounce of gold. Since 1800, stocks have consistently gained value in comparison to gold in part because of the stability of the American political system. This appreciation has been cyclical with long periods of stock outperformance followed by long periods of gold outperformance. The Dow Industrials bottomed out a ratio of 1:1 with gold during 1980 (the end of the 1970s bear market) and proceeded to post gains throughout the 1980s and 1990s. The gold price peak of 1980 also coincided with the Soviet Unions invas ion of Afghanistan and the threat of the global expansion of communism. The ratio peaked on January 14, 2000 a value of 41.3 and has fallen sharply since. On November 30, 2005, Rick Munarriz of The Motley Fool posed the question of which represented a better investment: a share of Google or an ounce of gold. The specific comparison between these two very different investments seems to have captured the imagination of many in the investment community and is serving to crystallize the broader debate. At the time of writing, a share of Googles stock was $405 and an ounce of gold was one day from breaking the $500 barrier, which it did December 1. On January 4, 2008 23:58 New York Time, it was reported that an ounce of gold outpaced the share price of Google by 30.77%, with gold closing at $859.19 per ounce and a share of Google closing at $657 on U.S. market exchanges. On January 24, 2008, the gold price broke the $900 mark per ounce for the first time. The price of gold topped $1,0 00 an ounce for the first time ever on March 13, 2008 amid recession fears in the United States. Google closed 2008 at $307.65 while gold closed the year at $866. 1.9 The performance of gold and the US Stock Market:- Theres been an inverse relationship, such that when gold rises, the market is generally falling and vice versa. Gold is traditionally seen as a hedge against inflation, and inflation typically is seen as being negative for the stock market. Also, in uncertain economic times (especially with a falling US Dollar), gold is a more attractive investment than Stocks and so the two asset classes, much like stocks and bonds, compete for your investment capital. Gold prices in 2008 around $600 were not a problem for the stock market. As signs of recession began to emerge, and investors began to be spooked by deteriorating financial conditions, larger investors likely began rotating out of the US Stock Market and into other markets such as gold, bonds, etc. The rotation accelerate as the stock market began to fall going into 2009, when the price of gold skyrocketed from just under $700 per ounce to over $1,000 per ounce in March 2009. The SP fell from a peak of 1,575 to just above 1 ,250 during the same period. The recent fall of gold prices has contributed with other factors to a rise in the current stock market since March. While there may be some correlation between gold prices and the US Stock Market, gold prices are much more inversely correlated with the US Dollar Index. 1.10 GOLD CHART OF LAST 35 YEAR:- TABLE1.10.1 YEAR US DOLLER ( Cumulative Avg) 1982 $375.81 1983 $424.18 1984 $360.42 1985 $317.22 1986 $367.53 1987 $446.48 1988 $436.98 1989 $381.44 1990 $383.51 1991 $362.11 1992 $343.82 1993 $359.77 1994 $384.00 1995 $383.7916392 1996 $387.81 1997 $331.02 1998 $294.24 1999 $278.98 2000 $279.11 2001 $271.04 2002 $309.63 2003 $363.38 2004 $409.72 2005 $444.74 2006 $603.46 2007 $696.39 2008 $871.96 REVIEW OF LITERATURE Obstfeld (1997) has conducted a research on saving, investment and gold as a reassessment of historical account data and found that. The standard historical data sources often fail to distinguish between monetary gold exports, which are capital-account credits, and nonmonetary gold exports, which are current-account credits. The paper also adjusts historical investment data to account for changes in inventories. The revised data are used to construct estimates of saving and investment over the period from 1850 to 1945. The regression results are in broad agreement with those of Eichengreen, who found a significantly positive cross-sectional correlation between saving and investment even during some periods when the gold standard prevailed. Despite reaching broadly similar conclusions, we estimate correlations between saving and investment that are somewhat lower and less significant than those Eichengreen found. Soenem (1997) made a research on gold as an investment assets: pers pective from different countries to know that the efficiency of gold as a portfolio component over 1978 1995 is examined here from the perspective of seven major industrialized countries. Gold offers diversification benefits but dismal performance in terms of a risk-return trade-off. As a result, the inclusion of gold in test portfolios did not provide any increase in risk-adjusted return over the period as a whole. Zimmerman (2006) reveled a research on gold as a zero-beta asset? Analysis of the investment potential of precious metal in which Gold shows the characteristics of a zero-beta asset. It has approximately the same mean return as a Treasury Bill and bears no market risk. Silver also bears no market risk but has returns inferior to Treasury Bills. Both gold and silver show evidence of inflation-hedging ability, with the case being much stronger for gold. The prices of both metals are cointegrated with consumer prices, showing additional evidence of hedging ability. B anz (2002) had research on the concept of Hedge fund as all that glitter is not gold as they provided those interested in hedge funds with a series of insights into the specific risks that such investments pose. The aim of the paper is not to discourage investors but rather to assist them with a list of seven questions that need to be addressed in order to invest wisely. They examine the characteristics of hedge funds from different angles. They progress from basic issues concerning performance records to risk considerations and then to the role of hedge funds in overall asset allocation. Feldstein (1981) made a survey on topic The Effect of Inflation on the Prices of Land and Gold and concluded that Traditional theory implies that the relative price of consumer goods and of such real assets as land and gold should not be permanently affected by the rate of inflation. A change in the general rate of inflation should, in equilibrium, cause an equal change in the rate of inflation for each asset price The experience of the past decade has been very different from the predictions of this theory: the prices of land, gold, and other such stores of value have increased by substantially more than the general price level. The present paper presents a simple theoretical model that explains the positive relation between the rate of inflation and the relative price of such real assets. More specifically, in an economy with an income tax, an increase in the expected rate of inflation Faugà ¨re Erlach (2006) researched on topic The Price of Gold: A Global Required Yield Theory that We construct a gold valuation theory based on viewing gold as a global real store of wealth. We show that the real price of gold varies inversely to the stock market P/E and thus is a direct function of a global yield required to achieve a constant real after-tax return equal to long-term global real GDP per-capita growth. We introduce a new exchange rate parity rule based on the equaliz ation of inverse stock market P/Es (required yields) across nations. A quarterly valuation model is constructed using concurrent economic data that is within 12% mean percentage tracking error from real U.S. gold prices from 1979- 2002. Several major world events have had a large but fleeting impact on gold prices. Riley (2009) made a research on A New Gold Rush as Investing in Precious Metals as Following a huge run-up in the 1970s, precious metal prices have, until recent years, been very subdued. Investors tend to overlook precious metals, except to take note of the strong correlation properties with other asset classes, which justifies only a small allocation. However, given current macroeconomic conditions and the extreme policy response that has been initiated due to these conditions, investors should not only be looking at the correlation properties, but also the exceptional returns that precious metals will provide in the coming years Martins (1994) reveled a research on Interests, Prices and the Barsky and Summers Resolution of the Gibson Paradox under the Gold Standard System and analyzed that structural monetary framework featuring a demand function for non-monetary uses of gold, such as the one drawn by Barsky and Summers in their 1988 analysis of the Gibson paradox as a natural concomitant of the gold standard period. That structural model is subject to government rules to command the money supply. Its fiduciary version obtains Fisherian relationships as particular cases. Its gold standard solution yields a model similar to the Barsky and Summers model, in which interest rates are exogenous and subject to productivity or thrift external shocks. This paper integrates government bonds in the analysis, treats interest rates endogenously, and shifts the responsibility for the shocks to the government budgetary financing policies. Gillman Nakov (2000) researched on the topic A Monetary Explanation of Oil and Gold Prices During Postwar Stagfla tion and Recovery: 1957-1999 that the effect of the inflation on oil and gold prices in the post-war period. It presents a monetary explanation of oil and gold pricing through a cash-in-advance economy. It tests the hypothesis that the oil and gold price rises, including those during the oil shocks in 1974 and 1979, were a consequence rather than a cause of accelerating inflation in the developed industrial world. Granger casuality and cointegration evidence support the models prediction that the oil and gold price behavior can be explained by money supply changes. The evidence includes support for an asset price relation derived from the model that formalizes the monetary explanation. Amir Leyla (2005) made a research on the factors affecting gold price and a neuro-fuzzy model of forcast that the Traditional methods of forcast, e.g.Regresion, ARIMA, Exponential Smoothing, Moving Average, and methods of this kind have been applied. Only recently Artificial Intelligence, Neural N etworks and Fuzzy Logic have been proposed as forcast models. In this paper after considering gold role in the international finance, its Demand and supply, and the relationship between gold and Dollar, factors affecting the gold price fluctuations are considered; then a Neuro-Fuzzy approach based on the Takagy-Sogno Moel is employed to forcast gold price. The results obtained by this method are compared with Regression Analysis, which show that a Neuro-Fuzzy yields a better and more promissing forcast. McCown (July 24, 2006) Gold shows the characteristics of a zero-beta asset. It has approximately the same mean return as a Treasury Bill and bears no market risk. Silver also bears no market risk but has returns inferior to Treasury Bills. Both gold and silver show evidence of inflation-hedging ability, with the case being much stronger for gold. The prices of both metals are co integrated with consumer prices, showing additional evidence of hedging ability. Daly (May 2005) Thi s paper finds a strong correlation between deviations in the once widely popular Fed model to the price of gold. A simple tactical asset allocation strategy can be implemented. Empirical test of the model show the implicit timing signals to be statistically significant. The degree of accuracy, including the month gold peaked in 1980, can be an extremely valuable asset for portfolio managers looking for positive alphas. Of course, building an investment theory based on one component (Fed model) can be perilous; this paper will also look at the DJIA to gold ratio as a relative value assessment. Johnson (1997) The efficiency of gold as a portfolio component over 1978 1995 is examined here from the perspective of seven major industrialized countries. Gold offers diversification benefits but dismal performance in terms of a risk-return trade-off. As a result, the inclusion of gold in test portfolios did not provide any increase in risk-adjusted return over the period as a whole. It w as an attractive component of a diversified portfolio only for the subperiod 1978 1983 and never thereafter. Jun (May 2, 2009) While most researches on the gold market are focusing on empirical studies, few researches existed about how each macroeconomic phenomenon can affect gold market. gold is rarely dealt with macroeconomic perspective, because of lack of analyzing tools. By including gold in a portfolio of risky assets and analyzing the portfolio indirectly, we can perform macroeconomic research on gold market. Specifically in this report, I focused on macroeconomic phenomena related to the global financial crisis. Callaghan (December 1991) This paper describes the structure of the world gold market, its sources of supply and demand, and how it functions. The market has three principal functions in three major locations: the New York futures market speculates on spot prices, which are largely determined in London, whereas physical gold is in large part shipped through Zu rich. The market is dominated by large suppliers and gold holders, including monetary authorities. Some unique characteristics of the gold market ensure confidentiality, and as a result, there are gaps in existing knowledge and data. The paper identifies and attempts to fill these gaps. OBJECTIVE OF STUDY To study how investment done in gold market in present scenario. To study the reasons of investment in the gold market. To find out the performance and fluctuation in gold market. Investment in fluctuation period in market SCOPE OF STUDY Scope of our study is quite generalized and limited to gold market. As we are referring to the gold market of jalandhar as a scope of our study NEED OF STUDY To fill the gap in the existing researches done on gold investment. As we referred some of the existing researches done on investment in gold but we are trying to do the study at the time of fluctuation RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Research in common parlance refers to a search for knowledge. One can also define research as a scientific and systematic search for pertinent information on specific topic. RESEARCH DESIGN As an descriptive and analytical study is conducted with an objective to gain familiarity with the phenomenon or to achieve new insight into it, we study with an aim to find or achieve the new insight in terms of finding the relationship between the various parameters or variety which impact on gold market SOURCES FOR DATA COLLECTION Data Source: This refers to the sources that are used for collecting the data. Mainly it consists of two sources. Secondary Sources: Out of the various secondary sources mainly newspapers, internet and Journals have been used for the study. Primary Sources: The survey was conducted through an unstructured questionnaire consisting of closed ended as well as open ended questions. SAMPLING PLAN A sample design is a defined plan for obtaining a sample from a given population . While developing the sampling design following aspects are covered Sample Size : In current research , 50 respondents are covered . Sample Unit: In current research, the sample unit consists of the following individuals having the knowledge about investment and fluctuation of gold and the individuals who invest in gold Market Universe of the study: Theoretical population: In the current research , the universe consist of all the respondents that are aware about the investment and fluctuation of gold. Accessible population: The respondents within Punjab i.e Jallandhar have been covered under the study. Sampling Technique Convenient sampling: study conducted on the basis of availability of the data requirement of the project. Study requires the events that have impact on the market.

Factor Affecting Organizational Behavior - 2103 Words

MACRO-ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR BUS 765 Facilitator: Harry J. Bury, Ph.D. Office: (216) 826-2395 Home: (216) 891-9517 E MAIL: hbury@bw.edu Website: http://homepages.bw.edu/~hbury The macro-perspective provides a broader view of organizational effectiveness by dealing with the major sub-units of the organization rather than individuals and small groups. This perspective deals with employee behavior as well as with overall design of the organization, efficiency, and adaptation to the environment. The macro-route to organizational change includes design of individual roles and organizational structures, relationships among roles, control systems, and†¦show more content†¦Using information from Chapter 21, redesign their workgroups jobs for the purpose of increasing performance and intrinsic motivation. Return to the workgroup and share your new design with both the workers and the supervisor separately and be attentive to their feedback. Capture the learning from this entire experience in a paper of about 3 to 4 pages and be prepared to present your findings to the class. Everyone attending every class meeting will have two points added to the final grade. If one misses a class, two points will be deducted from the final grade unless one watches an assigned video and write a paper. This is not punishment. It is an opportunity to get one’s money’s worth by added learning. All team members will receive the same grade for the company research project. The same for the two person facilitation project. In addition, both the quality of the content as well as the spirit of the contributions are significant variables in grading. A+ = 99 to 100% Facilitator Project First Learning Opportunity, 50% A = 94 to 98% Company Research Second Learning Opportunity, 30% A- = 90 to 93% Third Learning Opportunity and Participation each 10% B+ = 87 to 89% B =Show MoreRelatedOrganizational behavior1577 Words   |  7 PagesOrganizational Behavior: An Analysis of Helm Fire and Rescue Company Introduction Organizational Behavior is referred to as the study of individuals and their relative behavior subject to the existing organizational environment. The concept applies in a diverse workplace setting in different ways and had diverse impacts to the organization. Organizational behavior field includes communication, sociology, psychology, and management. 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In case you forget Free Essays

string(63) " out all the pain, that as a soldier he was trained to ignore\." There was death at the start, just as there was death at the end. Though whether a fleeting wisp of this crossed the Irishman’s dreams and shook him awake on this least likely of mornings, he would never know. All he knew that when he opened his eyes that the world was somehow changed. We will write a custom essay sample on In case you forget or any similar topic only for you Order Now As always the first thought that come to his head was the quick, searing hope that the last eight weeks had never happened. But as he saw the pale morning light filtering through her curtains, reality hit him with an icy certainty-Aileen was dead, and it was his entire fault. He looked at his alarm clock; 7:00 shone angrily at him in red, making him turn back to the wall. It beeped impatiently at him, and it was that, not the cold, which finally gave him the thought to give up his worthy fight and struggle out of bed. He breathed in the faint lingering smell of musty perfume. Photos of horses stared down at him from the walls. He was in his wife’s room. A coat was slung over the chair where Aileen had left that morning of the accident. The hairbrush of the table was coated in a fine layer of dust, a few blonde hairs clinging to the bristles. Nothing in the room had changed for four weeks, not since the day Aileen Flaherty died. At the sight of the familiar things, his stomach twisted. He glanced at the photo of him and her. Pat and Allie. Patrick Harper and Aileen Flaherty. Sergeant Major and Horse whisperer. Mr and Mrs Patrick Harper. Husband and wife. There were tears in his eyes, which he reckoned was from the dust in the room. He got dressed. His kharki and olive uniform was oddly loose after the tight dress uniform of the funeral. Harper gazed in the mirror. Everything was to military precision. His blue eyes had not lost the desperation and soulessness that the dark alleyways of Dublin required. He picked up his rifle and placed a finger in a notch of unpolished metal. It was this small dip, in the butt of the gun, which gave Patrick Harper the small amount of Gaelic luck, which soldiers said was invincible. He just wanted to get out of this room. It was too much to bear; knowing that Allie was never coming back. A small silver locket was worn around his throat. It had saved the sergeant-major’s life once, a stranger had fired across the street and the tall Irishman shivered at the thought of what would have happened if the precious metal heart had not been attached around his neck. A small photo of his soul mate was in it, and he was suddenly angry that he had it. He made a mental note to take it off later. The week that had followed Aillie’s death had been a blur, and for him it was probably best that it had remained like that. For days he had been almost catatonic. The Latin words had washed meaninglessly over him and he read, dry-eyed, over and over her name and date of birth and death. And still tears would not come. He wanted to cry, he really did, but something was stopping him. He could only think of the blood on her neck which looked like a necklace of broken rubies and that he had noticed irrelevantly that red didn’t not suit her and he made a note not to buy her a ruby necklace for her birthday. He had felt the sting of tears as he knelt beside her and held the silent, still warm body that he most loved in the world and had cried out inside at his own brutality. Her warmth would fade just as the memory of her would fade and he would forget the character that gave this exquisite creature life and love. She would exist now only in his memory and of those of who had known her best. She had given herself to him and never doubted the decision, unlike him. And now he had killed her. It should have been himself who had been caught in the blast, he who died, not this and his grief was formless, incoherent, a pain of betrayed love. The war-lord had not even noticed the girl in Harper’s arms. ‘Congratulations. You did it.’ He had done it so that he could free Ireland and St Patrick. He had done it so that innocent blood had been spilt on the pavement. He had done it so that he could feel a pain, so great, that he would never feel it again. They had then given him thirty silver coins, for his service to Ireland. Five pounds fifty in change, exactly. Every one of those thirty pieces of silver to him was blood money. Blood that was still fresh on his hands and would remain so for evermore. Sometimes he would wake up and feel happy and then he would see the blank postcard on the desk, still franked, but it meant that someone close had died for his or her country. Then the happiness went. Sometimes he would see her in the street and his heart leaped. Then the knowledge that she no longer existed would sink in. It was the training day of the recruits that had brought about the change. The sergeant- major had stabbed his bayonet repeatedly into the belly of the straw bales dressed in the uniform of English paratroopers. He had lost his humanity then, humanity that Allie had unearthed during their married years. He had felt the tears coming to his eyes. Tears of guilt and anger, no longer held back by the crushing weight of guilt, flooded over his cheeks. It unlocked a sluice gate inside of him and for two weeks he wept and let out all the pain, that as a soldier he was trained to ignore. You read "In case you forget" in category "Papers" He could have drowned himself in the salty water that was not rain. But in the calm aftermath, Harper took stock and decided to survive. In that moment he had became an adult. You could see it when he didn’t know he was being watched, and from his eyes glittered a sad and old Gaelic magic, as old as time itself. Patrick Harper opened his diary. It was April the 12th, six weeks since the bomb had been secretly planted and with it buried the bloodied remains of his spouse’s body. That was strange. April was already a dozen days old, Allie’s death already eight weeks in the past. He had marked with a pencil March the twenty-fourth to the first of April because that was when he had expected his first child. He remembered how the bloom of pregnancy was in her and how beautiful she had looked in those heavy months. He looked at the chair, in which she had sat and told him about his child and he had held her, speechless. His child. He had been so happy then. There was no joy now. The rifle was thrown down because he did not want to hold a killing machine any longer. As a top marksman he had spilt enough innocent blood. Much more than he could count. He checked his wallet. A library card that expired today, but he had not the heart or the energy to renew it. Aillie had encouraged him to read, to take his mind off what he knew she knew that he had done the whole day. She had kept silent on the whole issue, but he knew that she didn’t approve. He had read just to keep her happy, but in the week before the accident he had taken to reading her the story of Macbeth. The man who had killed to get what he had wanted, lost his humanity, and could not back out. In the end it had destroyed him. He remembered that Lady Macbeth went mad from the blood on her hands. That there was a darkness in her that she could not escape. Perhaps there was a darkness in him too. There was a shopping list in there too, which she had typed up so that he could go and get something to eat. She had said that she was coming in a bit later as she had to check up on the horses at the stables. She had never come home. He had ripped it into three pieces, because he thought it not worthy of her. He had saved a piece, the only bit where her actual handwriting was shown and he pulled it out now and marvelled that he had never actually seen her own scruffy hand until after her death. His hand carefully placed the relic back into his wallet along with the library card, the pocket diary and the thirty silver coins that he had yet to summon the courage to either ignore or destroy them. The cuckoo clock on the wall opened its tiny wooden doors and the cheerful little bird popped out announcing that it was half past seven. It was always late and Harper automatically checked the time on his own analogue watch, without realising that it had already stopped working on the twenty-second of March. The day his world stood still. Harper reckoned it was the blast that had destroyed the mainspring. But he had taken it along to the fixing shop anyway and had said that it had fallen off the table onto the floor. No one noticed the lie, nor the pricking of tears that covered up the real truth. He had wanted to tell them the truth, to shrug off the awful weight of his conscience, but there was a lady behind him. They could not fix it and told him that it was a lost cause and also asked him if he was sure if it had fallen onto the table as surely a greater force had broken it. He answered curtly that he had an extremely hard floor and the case was left as that, as no one dared cross the tall man with dried blood on his shirt. It was getting light and he knew that he should have left the house by this time. It was a dangerous time to be out on the streets and alleyways at dawn. The bright light, fierce and orange, made it hard to see the camouflaged barrels of guns and the dark green uniforms of British riflemen. He checked his pockets for any spare ammunition, bandages and anything else that might come in useful if a vengeful enemy was on the prowl. Emptied out onto the table, the pockets produced a piece of string, a couple of Irish punts, a small shiny paperclip, a chewed pencil and a piece of paper which a sketchy map had been scrawled on. He screwed the map up and threw it away. The other objects, he decided, were not of any use so he left them on the dresser next to the blank postcard. Harper took the thin rectangular card in his hand. The Irishman took one look at it and stashed it irritably into his pocket, so that he would not have to go through the torture of seeing it every morning. He would burn it later. A bunch of keys, all shapes and sizes, hung by the bedroom door. He plucked them from their resting-place, wanting to keep his hands and mind busy so as not to dwell on the bitterness inside of him. There was the front door key, the back door key, and the key to the small battered car of his that was collecting dust in the garage. There was also a group of strange shaped keys, their handle diamond shaped instead of the regular circular ones. They called up a distant memory in him, the faded pictures in his mind kept in rhythm with the metallic jangle of their knocking together. He still could not think what they were for, and so not wanting to annoy himself any longer he freed them from the main group and put those in his pocket too. Subconsciously he knew that he was taking them with him because they were connected with Allie’s mortise lock, which she had put absolute faith in. It did not matter that their house had been burgled three times in a row, she still insisted that the rusty metal clump remain on the door. They had had their first argument over that lock and Allie had thrown a book at him, cutting his cheek and leaving a small scar. Harper had been the stock of jokes from the soldiers for a few weeks after that. He did not care. He was lucky. He had Allie. They were in it together. The mirror, from which he still had not moved, glittered in the light. It made his uniform look grey. His eyes were grey. His heart was grey. A shadow of his former personality. He was glad Aileen could not of seen him now. She wouldn’t have even recognised him. ****** Blood pounded in his head, his breath rasped in his chest. The rifle on his back thumped on his spine, the metal foresight dug into his skin. It slipped into the hinge of his elbow with the rhythm of his feet, which slipped on the slushy cat-ice. Harper and Liam Kelly dived into the relative shelter of a brick corner. Bullets ricocheted, taking pieces of brick and dust off the wall. Hot air seared past their pulsing cheeks, tiny metal balls, so destructive, slapped into the pavement, inches away from their feet. The sergeant and the private loaded quickly, knowing every second the procedure took, minutes were stole from their lives. Instinct took over, the movements refined by practice and desperation. There was no time to think about what happened next; to the best fighters, it came as a second nature. Harper touched the familiar small island of unpolished metal, something to fight against the curse of bad luck. Kelly saw his friend feel the small dip in the rifle’s butt, and he knew that the sergeant’s keen mind was already at work. He had bruised his shoulder and had twisted his ankle on the sloppy slush, but that was all. He could see the pink in the snow, the pigment caused by the fresh blood of his comrade’s. Worst of all was the sound of their screams, a sound that he had heard many times before, but now it seemed to have been magnified a hundredfold. Now Harper turned and worked his way around the wall again, giving space to the flickering bullets, Kelly supposed so as not to drive them nearer to the young fresh teenagers, who hid round the opposite corner. He stopped and looked at Kelly and then called out to him. ‘Stay there Liam. Don’t move.’ Then without any sign of fear, he walked towards the men in the green uniforms of British Riflemen. Kelly could see his lips moving, but he could not hear the words over the sharp, snapping retort of the rifles. Perhaps he was praying, or maybe not at all. He did not stop until he was right up to them and only then did they seem to register his tall looming presence. Liam saw him reach for a screaming horse’s bridle and grip them hard. With a firm hand, ignoring the slapping bullets by his face, he pulled the bay mare off her hind legs. Then he slapped her hard on the rump and sent her away. Thus cheated of their game, the Rifleman turned their attention to the tall Irishman. The picture of what followed stayed with every man and women on the street till the day they died. And never would they know for sure what had happened. The platoon of green-jackets wheeled to their left, sending beautiful, crystal shards of snow and slush up into the air. For a moment they appeared not to know what to make of the man who stood undaunted before them. What was certain was that Harper could have walked away. Two or three steps to the side could have denied the British the glory of another Irish death. The Riflemen, so Kelly believed, would simply have let him be gone, where others had led. Instead, Harper stepped towards them. The moment he moved, as he must have foreseen, the Rifles snapped into action. And even now, Harper could have stepped away. He knew where the guns would fire, what was happening inside the mechanics of them and why, before it even knew itself. Yet on this day, he neither dodged nor ducked nor even flinched, and, once more, walked forward. Harper could hear Aileens voice calling out his name. ‘I’m here.’ He whispered ‘What is it?’ The group of green jackets raised the barrels, the light reflecting off the metal onto the snow. They licked their lips and they lined up the foresight onto the lone solitary target. At this distance they could not miss. The settling snow was still too thick for Kelly to be sure, but he thought he saw Harper open his hands a touch and, in a movement so flowing that he may of imagined it, showed the British his open palms. It was as though the Irishman was offering something and perhaps it was what he had always wanted to offer the gift of friendship and peace. But although he would never from this day forth mention the thought to anyone, Kelly had a vivid impression that it was otherwise and that Harper, without fear or despair, was somehow offering himself. ‘I’m here. What is it?’ And then he knew. ******* They buried Patrick Harper by Aileen. The intention was to keep the funeral small and for family only, but on the day about one hundred people came, touched by the actions of the tall, handsome soldier in the white-sugared street. There was room for only a few in the small but ornate Catholic Church, so they threw open the doors and people watched from outside where cherry blossom danced and cartwheeled in the small breeze. He was found, lying there, a tiny smile on his face, motionless on the snowy carpet. It eyes were loosely shut as if he were sleeping peacefully. They typed this up on the army records of births and deaths. But there was one thing which they had not mentioned. Tucked away, from all sight were two claddagh rings. One gold and one silver. The Irish icon of friendship, love and loyalty. They were wrapped in a torn piece of paper, one side a list of food items and on the other side, scrawled blue ink pen which was in the handwriting of Aileen Harper. On the paper, all she’d written, inscribed in the ancient language of the Irish Celts were the small italic letters which made up four short words. In case you forget. How to cite In case you forget, Papers