Hunter Daniels

4/27/2017
Bus 1050
My Renaissance

Change is a constant force that is forever shaping who we are, how we

live, and where we head next. The universe is an ever-changing medium that
shapes our experiences and understanding. As humans, we must come to
embrace change. With change comes knowledge and experience, which in
turn can lead to success through rationality. It is vital to the success of an
individual and society to embrace new ideas that form from logic and
empirical experiences. The Renaissance was a great change in knowledge
and society that came about at the end of the dark ages. The Renaissance
allowed for great change to come to a time of stagnant thinking. The rise of
science and the arts fueled a drive in the progression of human society. Great
thinkers led the charge into the progression of mechanics, science, culture,
and art. Throughout the course of this class, I have come across many
concepts that were new to me. Thinking of business in terms of philosophical
issues and concepts have brought a great change of how I view the
fundamentals and foundation of modern business. I was made aware of
finding my renaissance moment at the beginning of the semester. Since
then, I have thought critically about what truly changed my perspective on
business. There have been numerous readings that have taught me new
ways of looking at the history and modern progression of business. As I look
back through these readings, the one that truly stands out to me is Charles
Darwins Natural Selection. I understood the concepts and ideas presented in
this reading, but I had yet to apply this logic to the foundations of business. If
I look at business as fluid and evolving, it changes my perspective on where
success lies within this subject. It is after this reading that I truly felt that I
had discovered my renaissance moment. Throughout this paper, I will
discuss the concept of Natural Selection that was presented by Darwin, how
it relates to business, and finally what concepts changed my thinking of
business because of this reading.
Charles Darwin was a naturalist and geologist. He lived in England
during the early to late 1800s. He is best known for his work regarding
evolution of species and mutations over time. He describes how certain
species adapted to survive and thrive in Natural Selection. A major concept
of change is discussed in Charles Darwins Natural Selection. It is the essay
that presented evidence and logic of the evolution of species through the
course of time and experience. Darwins ideas and contentions changed the
way humans think of the past and future. It is evidence that shows the origin
of humankind and life on Earth. It is a major step forward in progressive and
rational thinking regarding humanity. Natural Selection deals with a species
struggle for existence. It is the will to survive and thrive as they overcome
obstacles and adapt to the world around them. Natural selection will modify
the structure of the young in relation to the parent, and of the parent in
relation to the young. In social animals, it will adapt the structure of each
individual for the benefit of the community; if each in consequence profits by
the selected change. This states that the reason a change occurs within an
organism is to fully benefit the survival of the organism or for the group as a
whole. Changes come about through mutations to overcome and adapt to
hardship. To accord with this logic, if a species or organism is static and
unwilling to change, then that species or organism will fail to find success.
In turn, it will die out or fail. The future generations will not be suited to
survive. Diversity is the thriving point for a species. A broad spectrum of
diversity, will lead to further success and survivability. It is the mutations in
DNA and genes over time that will offer the best path for adapting to an
environment. Species evolve over time by conceiving offspring with varying
DNA, or mutations, in their offspring. This diversity leads to growth and
change. These traits can be physiological changes and psychological as well.
Another term frequently thought of when it comes to Natural Selection is
survival of the fittest. This is a popular term that addresses the survival of
species that can adapt to situations and environments as they evolve
through changes. It is inferred that species without the ability to adapt will
die off and fail altogether. Life can be a brutal phenomenon, but it is a
natural process that we must come to terms with. Natural Selection changed
the way society and modern knowledge has come to understand the origin of
life. It is important to study and analyze the concepts that Charles Darwin
presented.
Business is a fluid, ever-changing aspect that has existed from the
creation of human civilization. From the beginning of its origins, it has
evolved and adapted to fit changing markets, landscapes, and
demographics. As the needs and interest of the consumer change, so must
business. Static business practices will lead to the downfall of that business.
If a species is static, that species is not adapting to the environment around
them. It is important that a species is dynamic in order to survive and thrive
in a multitude of environments. As we look at the current economy, thriving
businesses adapt to a changing climate and trends. In free markets,
competition fuels diversity. Diversity fuels change which leads to evolution of
business. In order to find success in the business world, you must be
adaptable. As we compare the survival aspects of an organism and the
survival of a business, we see many commonalities. Just as a business
thrives in diversity, so will the individual employees. The employees that
make up a company or corporation are forced to adapt just as much as the
whole entity is. Workers with diverse backgrounds will find more
opportunities within business and varying markets. It allows an individual to
thrive in a position that others might fail. Entrepreneurs and workers must be
open to change and work critically to hurdle obstacles that arise. Adaptability
is key to climbing a corporate ladder or creating your own wake with the
creation of a new business. Entrepreneurs who are resolute on their ideas
and unwilling to change, will not find success in the world of business. Just as
an organism who will not adapt to a changing food pattern, the static
entrepreneur will starve. Evolution is vital to flourishing in the competitive
markets that exist today. The same term from Natural Selection can be used
regarding business as well; survival of the fittest. Competitive markets can
be brutal for the underdog. It is the strong, evolving businesses that will rise
to the top of their markets. The organizations that fail to evolve will be
defeated by the competition and hold no market place. It is a fact of business
that all will not succeed. Just as in nature, the strongest organisms will find
survival and thrive in their environments. You can apply many topics and
ideas from Natural Selection to business foundations and its future.
Before I read Natural Selection, I was familiar with the ideas and
concepts Darwin raises about origin of life and evolution. I understood that
adaptation to environments that an organism is no longer suited to live in is
what caused the evolution of species over time. I understood the concepts
regarding competition, diversity, and survival of the fittest. It was upon
reading Natural Selection for this course that I began to apply these concepts
to the subject of business. It was easy to recognize the similarities very
quickly. I began to think critically regarding the origin of business
foundations and the path that business and individuals must take to find
success and maintain their spot above the competition. When I looked at the
concepts of Natural Selection from a business point of view, I found my
renaissance moment. It was clear to me that a business must be always
adapting to a changing landscape as markets evolve and change.
Entrepreneurs must be diverse in thought and skill to rise above the
competition that exists in their market. In order for a business to flourish,
they must not be static in operation, however adapting to changing times.
Diversity will lead to increased profits, marketing, and new opportunities that
are waiting to be discovered. Individuals who own or work in corporate
settings can learn a lot from reading Natural Selection. I was able to
understand the dynamics of survival and how it can be applied to business
over time. It was an eye-opening experience to see how old knowledge
changes and adapts as I had a new perspective regarding it.
Throughout the time I have been in this course, I have learned to think
critically and rational about a diverse subject category. Works of writing can
be applied to various subjects. It is important to keep an open perspective
when it comes to knowledge. Being able to think critically about situations or
texts will allow you to explore a vast number of outcomes and conclusions.
Knowledge can be applied only as the one learning will allow it. It is
important to hunger for knowledge and new experiences so that you can
create the most logical and rational conclusions. I have enjoyed my time
learning about the foundations of business through philosophical,
informative, and existentially broad topics.