1.   This is an activity about someone you read about in our  “The Future”   textbook.    Please answer the following questions below about Elon Musk.   Please make sure your sentences are well written with perfect spelling, good grammar, no run-on sentences (this means cramming too many ideas into one sentence) and good punctuation.  Thank you.  I look forward to reading your answers.

• who is Elon Musk?   (write no more than 2 sentences to answer this specific question)
• name 2 of his companies and the products these companies make.
• would you consider buying an Elon Musk made company product?  yes or no   If yes, identify the product and why you would buy it.  If no, explain why you wouldn’t buy any product made by an Elon Musk company.
• where does Elon Musk’s money come from?   How did he become so rich?    Please explain what he invested in which enabled him to become so wealthy. (He’s a billionaire!)
• Please explain what Elon Musk calls a “gigafactory“, what this “gigafactory” will produce and what benefits to you and I this “gigafactory” will provide.
• Please explain similarities between Elon Musk and Preston Tucker.  You have a story about Preston Tucker in your “Brand” textbook (The Development of the American Brand. page 107)
• Please explain one similarity between Elon Musk and Tony Stark, aka Iron Man.
• What is lithium and please explain why is it so important to one of Elon Musk’s products?
• Finally, I am interested in your opinion.  I am making an assumption you, like I, observe some redeeming qualities in Elon Musk.  Like any person, Musk has accomplishments and failures.  Please describe Elon Musk’s greatest quality or character trait.  A character trait is not an accomplishment; it’s an attitude.  For instance, ‘stick-to-it-iveness’ and ‘humility’ are traits.  Building a rocket is an accomplishment.  So what ‘trait’ do you most admire about him.  If you haven’t observed any redeeming quality or trait of Elon Musk, state “I don’t see any redeeming qualities or trait in Elon Musk”.   You may be right; but be prepared, I will challenge you to defend this observation.  Thank you.

Please send me your answers to my email address no later than 12am, Thursday, March 17th.   Thank you.

You made me proud today in class.  You presented yourselves very well to Mr Rivera and Mr Mercado.  Your brands continue to appreciate in value.  Thank you for being so conscientious about your brand development.

Here are two interesting videos about Tony Stark….. I mean, Elon Musk.

1.   Please read pages 1 through 40 in your exciting, new textbook, “The Future“.   After reading this author’s perspective on the ‘future’, please tell me

• if you are “optimistic” or “pessimistic” about your opportunities for success in your future.
• Then, tell me why you feel either “optimistic” or “pessimistic” about your opportunities for future success, of course, in a well written paragraph with perfect spelling, good grammar and no run-on sentences.  Thank you.

2.  If there is something you read in “The Future” text which seems preposterous, seemingly impossible to happen in the future, please tell me, in a well written, succinct paragraph, what it is and why it seems ‘unlikely’ to happen.  AND, if there is something you read which is ‘likely’ to happen and you’re excited to observe or experience in your future, tell me, in a very well written, succinct paragraph, what it is and why you are excited to observe or experience it.   BE SMART ABOUT YOUR PREDICTION;  GOOGLE what you believe is ‘unlikely’ AND ‘likely’ in order to give credence to your belief before you write your paragraph!!!    This kind of research always enhances your brand.

3.  Please tell me, in a well written, succinct paragraph, something you read in “The Future” text which has made you pause and reflect upon how you are preparing for this eventuality.

4.  Please watch this recent video on robots NOW being produced by a Massachusetts’ technology company, Boston Dynamics.    Please tell me, in a well written paragraph, how the continuing developments in robotics will affect the kind of jobs available in the workforce:

• List  jobs which exist today, in 2016, which will probably be eliminated by smart robots.
•  List new jobs which will soon be available to appropriately trained people because of the introduction of smart robots.
  

5.   Please tell me when  Wednesday, 12am, is.   Describe when 12am occurs.

• Does it begin the day at midnight?
• Is it in the middle of the day at noon?

6.  Hope Life Skills Annual Pawtucket Red Sox Networking Event:  Please answer the following questions:

• Are you interested in attending this event?  yes or no
• What are the 2 best dates for you to attend?
  1. _______________________________
  2. _______________________________
• Would you like to be considered for throwing out the first pitch of the game?   yes or no
• Please name a person(s) you’ve met in class AND/OR  a career or job type you would like someone with experience  to come to this event for you to meet and learn about a career or job in this field:
  • example:  a graphic designer
  •  example:  Jeshua Zapata from Xzito Marketing agency
  • ____________________________________
  • ____________________________________

Please send me your answers electronically by Wednesday, 12am, March 2.

1.   We spoke today about the importance of reading;  not only, to prepare ourselves for the realities of college, but also for the realities of lifetime success.   Today’s guest, entrepreneur and marketer, Jeshua Zapata, the Founder and President of  Xzito Creative Solutions, LLC (www.xzito.com) made this very clear in his comments.  “I was assigned to read 30 to 40 pages per class as a student at Bryant University.  And, I was taking 5 classes per semester and each class met at least twice a week!   And today, as the owner of my own company, I must read constantly, daily, to keep up with the changes in the marketplace and my business.  You must read all the time if you want to become and remain successful.  The world is constantly changing and you must keep up with the changes or you’ll be left behind.”    I have a responsibility to you all to prepare you for the realities of college, your career and life and, as a result, I will start assigning your more reading.  If I didn’t do this, I would be letting you down.   Here is your assignment to be completed by next Wednesday, February 17th, by 12am.

• Read pages 1 through 50 in your new textbook, “The Awakening: Massasoit’s Journey of Change, Renewal and Destiny”.
•  Complete Activity 8 on page 61.   (Don’t be confused;  there are 2 Activity 8s.   Do the one on page 61.
  • What is your interpretation of the “Life Without Learning”  poem? (This poem also appears on page 7 in the textbook.)  What is the lesson the poet is trying to teach with this poem?
  • Do you agree with the poet’s message or lesson?  yes or no
  • Explain, in a well written paragraph, why you feel this way.
• Complete Activity 4 on page 56.
  • Massasoit’s kindness –
  • Massasoit’s empathy –
  • Massasoit’s decision for the common good –

1. Despite the fact there is no class today because of the snow, I’d would still like you to watch this video on the award ceremony of a recently completed tennis tournament in Australia, The Australian Open.  It was a historic and exciting final in the women’s division as a German, Angelique Kerber, beat the heavily favored American, Serena Williams, in three sets.  We speak often in class about personal brand and how people make judgements about us based on how we conduct ourselves when they meet us or observe us from afar.  As a result, our challenge is to always be aware of this possibility and, then, be disciplined to act in a way which builds a positive brand for ourselves and those we represent:   a brand that creates admiration and respect rather than scorn;   a brand that opens doors of opportunities rather than shutting them;  a brand others wish to associate with and not avoid; a brand which others want to add to their network.   This video displays how one person, the winner Angelique Kerber, conducts herself in victory.   Be the observer of Angelique Kerber at the Australian Open.  Then, share your perspective of Ms Kerber’s brand based on how she conducted herself at the award ceremony.   List 4 adjectives which describe your perspective of Angelique Kerber’s brand and, then, in a well written paragraph, explain what you observed in Ms Kerber’s demeanor during the award ceremony that caused you to choose the adjectives you did.

Please email your answer by next Tuesday, February 9th.

Have a nice day and be safe.

I hope to see you next Friday.

1.   Go to page 140 in the “Story of Change” text book.   Answer questions 1,2,3, and 4.  Thank you.

2.  For those of you given the first draft of our next textbook, “The Awakening:  Massasoit’s Journey of Change, Renewal and Destiny“, I look forward to your constructive criticism of this document.  Thank you for accepting this task.  I will take it seriously.  Please feel free to tell me if there is anything you disagree with.   If there is part of this story you find  confusing, please let me know.  At the same time, please tell me if there is anything you agree with.  If there is a perspective in the draft you find helpful or enlightening, please let me know too.  Point out spelling and grammatical mistakes.   You are expected to act as my teacher.  I look forward to your constructive criticism.     My goal is to refine what I’ve written to improve the expression of my ideas.   Thank you again.

Please complete your assignment by next Sunday, January 17th, 9am.

Because of the assembly next Friday, January 15, our Life Skills class is cancelled.  Our next class will be January 22nd.    Make the most of your assembly on the 17th about after school activity choices.   They seem interesting.  I hope you find one to join.

Today’s guest was Collin Bailey, Senior Director for Strategic Procurement Contracts at CVS Health Corporation.  Today’s Life Skills class host was Djovan Davega who welcomed Collin to Hope and introduced him to our Life Skills class.

Collin (right) is welcomed to Hope by Djovan Davega before the start of today’s Life Skills class.

Djovan introduces Collin to his Life Skills classmates.

Collin shares his story with the Life Skills class.

Collin’s story began on the Caribbean island of Jamaica and then onto the United States, New Jersey specifically, when he was five years old.   Collin’s life seemingly revolved around sports, mainly football and basketball.  He played high school and AAU ball with athletes who went on to play Division 1.  “Eventually,

I realized I wasn’t going to play professional basketball and academics had to be taken seriously if I was going to be successful. 

So, I started studying harder than I ever had.  Got my undergraduate degree and then went on to Roger Williams University Law School to become an attorney” he said.   He also took risks, measured risk, by moving away from his New Jersey home for school at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island and then later for a consultant job at CVS Health, at their corporate office in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.  “The CVS job was initially not expected to be a permanent job.  But I took the job seriously. 

1.  Hard work.  Fulfilling responsibilities.  Getting out of one’s comfort zone.  Never Giving Up.  A network of positive people. Optimum brand!  These characteristics rest upon a foundation of ‘attitude’, a mindset,

which creates the focus for all the aforementioned qualities.  These traits are consistent themes from the personal stories of our Life Skills guests first semester.  The common denominator from all our guests has been their positive, ‘growth mindset’ attitude which enables them to focus on goals, give respect to others, push themselves out of their comfort zones, work hard, never give up, find lessons in their failure and mistakes, attract a network of positive, successful people and a belief in themselves!     Please watch this video.

If there is one celebrity today who epitomizes these traits and the ‘attitude’ to sustain them, it’s Stephen Curry.   Coming out of high school, no one believed tiny, skinny Stephen was good enough to play Division 1 college basketball.   Despite the fact that Stephen worked extremely hard and never gave up after no Division 1 coach recruited him with a scholarship is a testament to Stephen’s ‘attitude’ which kept him focused and positive. When no coach believed in him, he found one, Bob McKillop, from Davidson College.  McKillop believed in Stephen which reinforced Stephen’s belief in himself.  “I saw brilliance…..”  McKillop said of Steph.  In other words, McKillop recognized Steph’s powerful belief in himself, his growth mindset, an ‘attitude’ which pushed him to work harder than most, an ‘attitude’ to put failure in its proper perspective, a never give up ‘attitude’ and a network of positive people.  This is the recipe that has enabled Steph Curry to be the successful man he is today. “He’s going to make a lot of money in this game some day”  Coach McKillop once told Stephen’s incredulous parents.  Please watch this short video about the longshot, the player only 1 Division One college coach believed in and a person who always believed in himself, Stephen Curry.

2. Describe, in a well written paragraph, your present day ‘growth set attitude’ or ‘fixed set mindset’.   In this description, please explain what sustains this attitude;  in other words, are their people in your life who provide you with feedback which maintains this sustain attitude?  Does your ‘attitude’ help you go out of your comfort zone to try new things and meet new people and push you to work harder than most?  Are there other things you do to sustain your attitude like a network of people, exercising, meditation or prayer?

3.  Read the profile of Abraham Lincoln in your textbook, ‘A Study of Change‘ from pages 87 to 99.  Please describe a quality of Mr Lincoln which enabled him to become the successful person he eventually became.  Please express your opinion in well written, short sentences sentences with perfect spelling and punctuation.  Thank you.

4.  Please state the name of a person you’ve connected to on LinkedIn.  Please add the company this person works for and his or her title at this company.

Please send your well thought, well written homework to me electronically no later than December 27th, 2015.

I hope you and your loved ones have a happy holiday!  Hope this video puts a smile on your face.