Protecting our egg

Goals and objectives were clearly defined by professor so we skipped this part of the process. We went trough all other phases accept for picking the leader but that was mostly because lack of the time. We understood what was expected from us and we jumped straight to the process of constructing the device that would protect our egg. We worked very well as a team. We didn't have set roles in the group, but we were all jumping in with the ideas and to me this worked incredibly well.
We started by brainstorming ideas for the device and trying to predict it's possible success. When realizing that we need to share the scissor with the whole class one of us ran to the Writing Center to borrow a pair. To test on which side the egg is likely to fall (because eggs have that air bubble that would theoretically be on the top when the egg falls) we dropped the egg few times. Every one's ideas were taken into consideration and thought about. Finally we agreed on the final design and made the device. One person was specially skillful with bending the straws certain way, so he took over that part. One person was holding the egg the other sticking the straws on it. We decided that the shortest team member should be one to drop the egg. Unfortunately our egg, called Survivor, didn't "survive" the test. I won't lie, the failure was very painful, but the experience as a whole was positive. I can't think of anything I would change in our work, except of course for the design that didn't work:)
Everyone contributed very spontaneously. I am extremely proud how our group worked as a team and feel lucky to have such smart and considerate teammates. I believe that we did a great job in such short amount of time. Although our device wasn't successful in protecting the egg, this was valuable experience in terms of learning the planning process. If the planning process was just thought as a theory, it wouldn't be so well understood. This way we get to link the phase of the process with what we actually did on our project.

How not to manage people

My management problem in not knowing how to appropriately deal with "subordinates". It all started back in Croatia where I grew up and had few jobs before coming here to NYC, about four years ago. On my last two jobs there, when I had to train new people, I would loose my temper very easily. Also, here in school I had an opportunity to be the "project manager" on four out of the five group projects I was a part of. I don't assert my self to that position, it just somehow happens. And although I do have the natural ability to lead and direct, I don't think I do it effectively, although at the end all of the projects turned out to be successful. Few times I caught my self not listening to my team mate but thinking my own thing and then interrupting in half of their sentence with something completely different than they were discussing at the time. Also, it very hard for me to admit that my way of doing things is not necessarily always the best way. I don't think I show the respect to people, I get caught up in executing the project, and I want to do it as fast and as efficient as possible not paying much attention to what others have to say. But, the good thing is that I realized my mistakes and I am trying to be aware of them (the last project was much better), and hopefully with experience I will overcome them.

subprime crisis 101 - lol

Following video analyzes sub prime crises in very comic yet simple and true manner.