Be a Taylor in a Trump world

The path to success is a cutthroat process.

In our society, in order to achieve personal goals and elevate both monetarily and socially one is expected to de-elevate others in the process.

And that makes sense. There is limited room at the top.

It is a rare thing to be able to climb the ladder of success without knocking others with each new rung.

Few can do it and those who can are worthy of admiration.

 

Taylor Swift is one of those people.

 

As a young millennial woman, I encourage my fellow leaders, trendsetters and go-getters to take note at how this young star has conducted herself on her journey to the top.

 

Upon receiving her second Album of the Year Grammy win; Swift addressed the crowd and the young women of the world with a simple truth; Nothing cocky or sappy, nothing overstated, flashy or glamorous.

“There are going to be people along the way who will try to undercut your success or take credit for your accomplishments or your fame. But if you just focus on the work and you don’t let those people sidetrack you, some day when you get where you’re going, you’ll look around and you will know that it was you and the people who love you who put you there, and that will be the greatest feeling in the world.”

Her words were a reminder to young women word-wide.

Stay strong, stay focused, stay true to yourself and remember the people that love you when you get where you want to be.

We live in a cutthroat world. As college students, as young professionals and as members of a money driven culture. Since elementary school it is instilled in us that in order to rise in the ranks, we must knock others out. Gossip and rumor are used to tarnish the reputations of some and shine the reputations of those who start them.

 

This mentality dominates the culture of academia, popular music, Hollywood and politics. It seems as if kindness and success are unable to coexist.

 

Fortunately in a world of Kenye’s, Kardahsians and Trumps – we can find an example worthy of following and a reprieve from status quo success in Swift.

 

Recently named one the world’s greatest female leaders by Fortune magazine, Swift stands among global giants like Apple C.E.O. Tim Cook, European Central Bank president Mario Draghi, People’s Republic of China president Xi Jinping, Pope Francis and India prime minister Narendra Modi.

 

Swift has repeatedly used the spotlight shone on her to bring attention to pressing social issues, most recently through her commitment to making sure musicians are paid for their art by retracting her free streaming music from Spotify.

 

She is influential without having to be forceful, strong with out overpowering others, outspoken for the greater good yet soft spoken in ego. Her music is chart topping, yet she doesn’t have to include vulgar lyrics, slander or animalize sex to make into the headphones of men and women of all ages all over the world.

 

So take note, especially my female readers and leaders.

 

More can be taken from Swift than just a catchy 22^nd birthday Instagram caption or a song to cry to:

• Stay modest.
• Remember who helped you get you to where you are.
• Value people over money.
• Be generous with what you are given.
• Stay true to yourself, especially your nerdiest self
• Retain your values at all costs.

 

Being a leader is more than calling the shots.

Being a leader is about being the best version of you and helping others to do the same in the process.

Weather you’re the CEO of a major firm, the lead singer in a chart topping band or a student at Oklahoma State University- be kind, stay modest, stay honest and when the status quo comes knocking, shake it off.

The American Dream is more alive than ever

The American Dream is dead.

Every student has heard it before, if not multiple times over their college career. And this statement is not new.

Whether it be the gloomy warnings of a pessimistic professor or the daunting precautions of our parents, this notion that the American Dream is on its deathbed has been lingering since the days of Mayflower and Madison.

Being young and optimistic, we try to ignore the claims. However, regardless of our best efforts, stepping into a job market after college with the notion that financial freedom is out of reach is a scary thought.

A recent CNN poll that found 59 percent of Americans think the American Dream is unachievable. They also found that 63 percent of American kids don’t see themselves ending up better off than their parents.

Contrary to public opinion, I believe that there has never been a better time to pursue your American dream.

We live in an age of innovation. From ground breaking apps like Uber to food trucks and boutiques – small business and inventions rules this nations economy, and there has never been a better time to create your own way.

Between 2011 and 2015, solo entrepreneurs increased by 12.5 percent in the U.S., and researchers estimate that number increase from 30 to almost 40 million by 2019.

Comfort, stability, happiness, health and financial freedom – these are some of the many things that people attribute to the attaining the American Dream. To be ones own boss, forge a path and live comfortably. Fortunately and Unfortunately- a country in which people are free means they’re free to succeed and fail. The American dream isn’t a promise, rather an opportunity.

You wouldn’t expect to achieve your dream body by simply entering the gym. Rather you go to the gym in the hope that it will give you the tools that allow you to achieve your goals.

Similarly, the American dream is not a guarantee. It is an opportunity.

Luckily, the time is ideal for those of us taking a shot at that opportunity. Unemployment is at pre-2008 levels, inflation is low, stocks have hit record highs and the U.S. economy is growing. Teens are making huge profits on inventions from their garage, stay at home moms are starting online businesses from their home computers and amateur chefs are able to live out their culinary dreams in mobile restaurants.

These types of opportunities aren’t happening as frequently on a global level – but they’re happening rapidly, right here. 

Immigrants from all over the world want to live and work in the United States, and the desire among many to take a shot at this “American dream” is a welcoming sign of the lasting integrity of the term “land of opportunity.”

Times change, and today’s American Dream is inevitably different from the American dream that our grandparents knew. Decades of affluence have altered the level of wealth that many feel entitled to, and when you believe that you deserve more, the “success” of yesterday looks more like failure.

This mindset is especially prevalent among my generation.

News flash millennials: The American Dream doesn’t represents easy living or a pre-set pathway to success. If this is your idea of the American Dream than, yes. It is dead.

However for those who are willing to push forward and put in the effort,

the American Dream has never been more alive.

The Trump takeover: It’s a love hate thing

Fifty four million is a big number. It’s difficult to wrap your head around numbers like that, especially when it comes to demographics. The Hispanic population represents 54 million of the 318 million people that live in the United States, that’s about 17 percent; and Donald Trump has succeeded in turning all 54 million against him.

The Hispanic population gets it. Trump is a political joke rather than a legitimate contender. He’s a journalists dream because he gives us hours upon hours of material. Trump’s antics boost views which in-turn furthers his publicity; the cycle feeds itself when reporters, politicians and columnists like me take the time to fuel the fire, essentially acting as players in his game, with our commentary.

But what I’m wondering is how educated adults have been hypnotized into thinking that the game is a logical reality?

Trump supporters seem to fall into two categories, those that sincerely believe in his ability to “make America great again,” and those that are entertained by the sheer hilarity of his success.

To be honest, I get it.

How could you not be enamored with a man who goes from a television game show host to presidential candidate seemingly over night? Someone who says bold statements like “I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for it.”

Sensationalism is his saving grace, and despite all of his shortcomings, the one main thing that he has succeeded in is making politics interesting for the general public.

He captivates the audience with spontaneous behavior and radical statements; he makes people want to keep up with politics, which is something that has been nearly non-existent in my generation.

People are over being politically correct.

They’re over indoor voices and disguised insults said with smiling faces. My generation wants emotion, honesty and transparency.

To us, anger and outrage are better than boredom and forced friendliness. And that is exactly what Donald Trump gives, even if it comes in a twisted and ill-informed package.

His polarizing personality forces the public to either love or hate him, both of which are better than disinterest.

Ultimately, there is a greater chance of me voting for Kenye than Donald Trump. However where credit is earned credit is due, and he has certainly succeeded and bringing some pizzazz back to politics.

Voting – It’s time to abandon the booth

We can do just about anything online.

From shopping and dating to paying bills and gambling, almost anything can be done from the comfort of our couch.

Why not voting?

A CNN study found that a mere 57 percent of eligible citizens voted in the 2012 presidential election. Just 19 percent of the total turn out was under the age of 29.

How would those numbers have looked if voters were able to participate with the ease of sending a text?

Many would say drastically.

In a time when news is summed up in 140 character tweets, few will take the time to pick up a news paper, none the less drive to a polling location to stand in line and fill out a ballot. To make matters worse, we live in one of the reddest states in the nation.

Oklahomans view their vote to be about as valuable as a drop of water in the ocean; and they’re not wrong.

Unfortunately, when millions of voters deem their vote irrelevant, it becomes relevant.

Young people don’t care about politics.

To most under the age of 35 it is a dull waste of time and if they barely have the patients to wait for their next Netflix episode to load, they’re certainly not going to take the time to vote.

Because of this, elections are being determined by the votes of our parents and grand parents.

Switching to electronic voting is not only logical, but also necessary for an accurate representation of public opinion in future elections.

To begin this switch, we can look to our Estonian friends who have been using electronic methods for the past decade.

Since switching to online voting, the Estonian turnout has increased from a low 2 percent in 2005 to 30 percent in their most recent election.

That’s huge.

Those in opposition of making the switch fear that privacy will be compromised without the security of a polling booth.

Will people be subject to bribery?

Possibly, but if we can find a way to overcome that hiccup online voting will be replacing polling booths for good.

Drops in the bucket

Conservative – To fit the occasion

One week ago today, two young journalists were fatally shot while broadcasting in Virginia. This tragedy has reignited the gun control debate, rendering it now a hotter topic than ever.

Republicans, of course, oppose the public push to increase gun regulation; which leaves me asking, why?

Conservatives push to regulate drugs, marriage, immigration and all things sex and birth related, but when it comes to a loaded weapon, their obsession with social conservancy is no-where to be found.

Changing culture and progressive advancement may be responsible for this shift. Recently more than ever, conservatives have been forced to bend on many of their historically staple beliefs.

From gay marriage to marijuana legalization, many of the restrictions that Republicans support have been overturned, and it’s beginning to look like gun control is next in line.

This could be an explanation as to why conservatives are standing firm when it comes to the push for increased regulation. The restrictions would include assault weapons, basically anything with a high capacity magazine. I do not hunt, nor am I educated on the details of the sport, however I do not know anyone who goes out with an assault weapon.

You don’t need 30 rounds in a clip to shoot a deer.

These regulations would also and require states to increase their attention to the mental health of gun buyers. Ultimately, a healthy and sane citizen has no reason to protest increased background regulation. The laws would only effect the mentally impaired.

Social regulation is typically a non-liberal practice, and Republicans have historically supported socially conservative policies. Increased attention to the mental health of gun purchasers would require an increase in background checks, which ultimately is a more conservative social practice.

Stricter gun control is inevitable.

Ultimately public pressure fueled by mass shootings and gun violence will outweigh the conservative agenda, and that will be a great day for America.

Unfortunately, many lives had to be lost, and many more will likely be lost in the process of convincing conservative America that their agenda is inferior to public safety.

Through the eyes of the enemy

Everyone thinks that they are doing what is right.

Most people do not start their day hell bent on ruining the lives of others. The same is true for governments and groups. We

feel a responsibility to defend our own and most will give their lives, and takes the lives of others, to do that.

Sense a political conversation coming up? You sensed right.

Thinking about tuning out? Not yet! As much as I love a fuzzy article about pug puppies in costume or the best places to travel on a budget, this stuff matters.

We are in the middle of a heated era. The war on terrorism has consumed much of the twenty first century political (and

cultural) scene and that does not look like it will change any time soon.

It is comforting to assume that every life taken by American soldiers is justified, that we are the heroes and “they” are

the bad guys 100 percent of the time, unfortunately one man’s terrorist is another mans freedom fighter.

 From the American perspective, terrorists are the epitome of evil. Slaughtering innocent people, wreaking havoc on our land

and endangering our security. While these things are true, we must remember that many of the terrorist organizations that

pose the biggest threat today exist largely because of us.

There are always two sides to a story and most Americans find it difficult to see the perspective of those that we consider

our enemy.

 It is easier to justify a war when we see ourselves as victims rather than equal contributors. It is charmingly patriotic to

believe that the U.S. is targeted because of our freedom, democracy and wealth, rather than as a result to something that we

did to enrage another country or people.

A Department of Defense study in 1997 found that “Historical data show a strong correlation between US involvement

in international situations and an increase in terrorist attacks against the US.”

 Similarly, the individuals responsible for the bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993 sent a letter to the New York Times

claiming that “this action was done in response for the American political, economical and military support to Israel,

the state of terrorism, and to the rest of the dictator countries in the region.”

From the American perspective, we are defending international peace, homeland security and doing the hard tasks that

must be done to protect democracy.

However to the countries that we have invaded, unwelcome, and the families of the people that we have killed in the

name of “justice” or “freedom” or “democracy,” we are the terrorists.

Our soldiers pride themselves on laying down their lives for the freedom of the American public. Ironically the same is true for

many the terrorist groups that we deal with today. They feel that America has wronged them and their people, and they are

seeking revenge, as we did following 9-11.

It is easy to label ourselves heroes, doing the hard things to make the world a better place. But when it comes to the war on

terrorism this is a tainted perspective.

The reality is that we have gone where we were not welcome and often times don’t belong.

In doing that we have saved innocent people … and killed innocent people.

We have aided nations in need… and caused destruction and pain for many nations.

There are always two sides to a story, even in the case of the war on terrorism. Both sides are wrong in the same way that

both sides are right. It all comes down to perspective and even though it may be unpleasant, it is necessary to look at every

situation through the eyes of the enemy.

Question everything

Guard your ears. Take every thing with a grain of salt and above all follow your inner truth.

Why women make terrible leaders

The 2016 elections are just around the corner and with a woman in the race for president, America is warming up to the sound of its first ‘first man.’

The possibility of a Mrs. President symbolizes leaps and bounds for all of woman kind. But regardless of how far we’ve come, women will never be able to escape the fact that we’re just not genetically cut-out for leadership.

Here’s why:

• Woman CEO’s suck: A Harvard business review study found that out of 7,300 CEO’s surveyed, women rated higher than men in 12 out of 16 competency categories.

• The public hates women governors: A study conducted by Various found that the highest approval ratings for U.S. governors were Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Susana Martinez of New Mexico and Nikki Haley of South Carolina; While the lowest rated governors were Rick Scott of Florida and Chris Christie of New Jersey.

• Women don’t have the power to get things done: A 2014 study done by Zenger Folkman found that women scored five percent higher in overall leadership effectiveness.

• Women don’t have the right traits to lead: The same 2014 Zenger study found that surveyed female leaders scored higher than surveyed male leaders in initiative, integrity, honesty, self-development and over-all achievement of desired results.

• The employees of female leaders are not impressed: A study done by the American Psychological Association found that in a survey of American company leaders and employees, male leaders rated themselves as more effective than women while women leaders were rated by their employees as more effective than men.

• Women are unable to get money: According to a study done by the American Journal of Political Science, women legislators secured $49 million more per year for their district than male legislators. Ultimately, the study found that bills sponsored by women survived longer in the legislative process, had more press attention and were considered more important by the public.

• America doesn’t want women in political leadership: In a Gallup survey, 63 percent of citizens interviewed said than women govern better while a mere 13 percent said that women govern worse.

• Men are better communicators: Unlike men, the majority of women don’t have a need to control the people below them. This makes for a more community based work environment and ultimately increases effectiveness.

• Women don’t understand business: A Dow Jones study found that business start-ups are more likely to succeed long-term if they have a woman on the executive team.

• Women aren’t as smart as men: A Psychology Today study found that in 2012, women earned 63 percent of the master’s degrees and 54 percent of the doctoral and professional degrees in America.

• Women are bad at saving and managing money: A BMO study found that men are more likely to carry large amounts of debt, with 30 percent reporting more than $100,000 of debt compared to 22 percent of women.

• Women are dangerous: A 2011 United States Department of Justice report showed that 91 percent of all homicides in the United States were committed by men.

• Women just cant seem to grow up: According to a Nickelodeon headquarters study, men have an 11 year lag behind women when it comes to mental maturity.

 

Facts don’t lie.

Clearly, we’re better suited for baking than business.

The price of entertainment is too high

Athletic programs bring in big bucks. Universities all over the nation, including Oklahoma State, have built a name for themselves off the success of 100 men and their ability to carry a piece of leather down a field.

 Sports generate money but they also cost a fortune. Most athletically successful universities offer their players specialized physical, nutritional, psychological and academic accommodations. These accommodations do not come cheap. According to a 2010 The Knight Commission study, Division I football programs spent $91,936 per athlete, more than triple the non-athlete student spending.

The U.S. Department of Education report showed that the OSU athletic department spent roughly $87 million on athletics in 2014 and made roughly $93 million. Football alone kept OSU above the profit loss mark for athletics. The football program made back roughly $49 of its $22 million spent in 2014. However, all sports apart from football cost the university. Basketball for example cost OSU roughly 14 million and made roughly 12 million, leaving a profit loss of roughly 2 million

 No amount of revenue can make up for disproportional priorities that these statistics show.

These huge numbers prove our twisted priorities as a society. We have elevated a game above education. The OSU revenues and expenditures summary for 2014 show that a mere $29 million was spent on research compared to the roughly $87 million spent on athletics.

This priority issue will not be solved easily, it is an issues imbedded in our society. My generation needs to catalyst this switch in priority as we graduate and take leadership positions. I love sports and as a college athlete appreciate every minute on the field, but athletics are not going to heal my mother in her old age, build my child’s school or advance a cleaner fuel for future generations transportation.

Rather than praising numbers on a score board, we should be recognizing innovative scientists like OSU’s Gerald Schoenknecht who’s cutting edge research over a species of red algae, published in Science Magazine, has lead to changes in the future of biofule. Or Savannah Kalman, who’s work in the OSU Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services has lead to a reduction in state-wide suicides. These are the people and accomplishments worthy of praise.

 Advocates of college sports will claim that athletics are vital for building school pride and that they bring in needed revenues for the school, but in times of massive budget cuts and higher tuition rates, does spending millions on college athletics make sense?

D1 players do not come cheap. From medical care, to uniforms and special tutors, Oklahoma State spends on average three times more on an athlete than the average student.

College football is a full-time job. The average athlete will spend 45 hours per week between practice and conditioning. Taking this into consideration, spending extra on athletic tutors and increased medical care makes sense. However, it would be beneficial to the athlete and the university to find a healthy balance between indulgence and athlete exploitation.

Some college athletes are made to feel like gods during their college years and expect the same treatment following graduation. As a former employee of the OSU athletic department, I worked with scholarship athletes on a daily basis. I unfortunately witnessed a glamorous reality built around them and know first hand that the mirage will not be a reality when they leave college.

 Over-glamorizing an athletes experience inside the walls of a stadium is expensive and detrimental to their post-college life.

Of course, this is nothing new. Perhaps with NCAA payment discussions, concussion news and increased awareness my generation can change the status quo.