Analyzing Ebbet's Lunch Atop A Skyscraper

Imagine floating on a raft in the middle of the ocean. You are famished and dehydrated and on the brink of death. Sores cover your sunburnt skin, and sharks surround the raft waiting for you to fall in. But somehow you remain optimistic. You find happiness in the little things. Perhaps a rain storm passed and you were able to drink and collect water. Maybe you caught a fish or a bird to eat. It’s the little things that are keeping you alive. This is how Louie and Phil were in Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken. They were both very optimistic about the situation. However, their friend Mac was very pessimistic. He would not talk, ate all the chocolate rations, and was just trying to protect himself. All of these men were able-bodied, fit, and received

Success is a funny thing. Some define success as having a lot of money or a high power career. Others define it as how happy a person is within their life. No matter how success is defined, Margaret Mead's view on success applies. "But while we often rejoice in the success of people far removed from ourselves-people who work in another profession, live in another community, or are endowed with a talent that we do not especially want for ourselves-we tend to regard the success of people close at hand, within our own small group, as a threat" (Margaret Mead). Mead traveled the world studying different cultures and would be able to observe this behavior in cultures outside of America. Her statement isn't specific to one culture or another; it

Success is a relative term. To a wealthy CEO, success is making his business one million in sales that day. To a child living on the streets, eating dinner that day is a success. What someone might not see though is that the child can teach the businessman a thing or two about about how to live life: humility. Realising that there is more to life than monetary gains, some people just need to appreciate meeting their basic needs. Furthermore, this easy lesson of humility provides the people living in wealth with a sense of how privileged they are.

Even though most people easily recognize societal success easily, it does little in regards to enhancing the apparently “successful” person’s sense of

In the strength of positivity, an individual is often smiling, praising other people for their accomplishments, smiling and always keeping a positive attitude in every situation (Rath, 2007). The eager for enjoyment in life is very attracting, as an individual with positivity strength views the world in a better place. As this person comes in contact with other people in this world, a positive vibe is transformed into their lives. Even if negative things are happening around this individual, the positivity strength defeats and overcomes the negative energy (Rath,

Thinking positively can be a difficult task, no matter the circumstance. When negativity fills you up like helium in a balloon you should always try to find the light in the darkness. Thinking positively doesn’t make the hard times disappear, it helps you survive negativity and the daily conflicts that challenge you. Looking on the bright side of things increases attentiveness, improves your ability to think, and leads to happier thoughts (Psychology Today). No matter what you are going through, you should always stay optimistic. “Man’s Search for Meaning” and “Dear Miss Breed” are great examples of how having a bright outlook can help you survive conflict.

How the world defines success varies from one's personal achievements and the culture from which that motivation to succeed grows. What is to say the worlds greatest achievement is the ability to praise the very accomplishment of others, or perhaps its biggest atrocity. The success of others is often viewed not in their achievement that originally made them a successor, but what that prosperity has done. What is the atrocity of success is not its foundation, but the multitude of fortune’s it might bring. Such fortunes include money, popularity, and power. No “successful” person is absent of these staples to their success. Perhaps what is worse is how success, in its most prevalent form, creates sentiments of exclusivism.

When watching a television show, anyone might see success being portrayed as someone being wealthy, having fancy materialistic items and goes on great vacations. Yes, that might be true in certain opinions but not in every case. My extraordinary father, Matt Mills, is successful, not only in being able to support his family but, also in regards to being a role model for everyone around him. Mills provides his family with everything they need and more. When asked what success he has had in his life he responded with: “My family. My kids grew up to be respectable young adults that I love to brag about to others.” In retrospect, many other people may have mentioned money, having a good job, or materialistic items, when asked this question. Mills

As Americans, we are generally recognized as a “positive and optimistic” group of people. This is our reputation as well as our self-image as a nation. The entire idea of positivity has overruled us and has been set almost as a basic, unquestioned standard in our nation. Through Barbara Ehrenreich’s novel, Bright-Sided, one can essentially generalize ideas about American culture, American society and the American experience in relation to this topic. To begin with, this novel describes to readers that the typical American cultural stereotype includes ideas that we “value the positive affect that seems to signal internal happiness” (Ehrenriech, 13).

This black and white picture was taken in 1932 in New York City, United States of America, during the construction of the RCA Building at 30 Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. Nevertheless, it was only a few years ago that Charles C. Ebbets was credited as the photographer; during many years the picture was attributed to “unknown” author. Bettman Archive currently owns the image, but it was first published in the supplement of the New York Herald Tribune. The shot was taken in order to promote the new skyscraper that was being erected. This image could evoke alternative reactions and feelings depending on the scope of the analysis, but it mainly represents community, progress and power.

It allows you to maintain a positive attitude. It’s equally important to focus and eliminate the negative aspects of your life. Seattle’s news is important but it doesn’t feel right. Something isn’t adding up. The announcements timing was pre scheduled but it still didn’t feel right.

In the passage, Margaret Mead states that Americans tend to celebrate other people’s success far than those people who are close at hand as a threat. As I have read the author’s analysis I noticed that there is some positive and negative statement. There are some circumstances were Americans feel jealous, insecure, competitive and anxious around people’s success. Most of the time, when someone close to you like a family member , a close friend and a co-worker become successful we tend to feel jealous and we start seeing them as a threat. On the other hand, people who’s far away from us or have a different career as we are. We congratulate them, praise them, support them with all our heart without bitterness and we truly celebrate their success. It is a confusing thing but real.

Based on the image given, one can assume that the author of the illustration has a background in success. Success is different for all individuals and cannot be explained by words but by images. The image presented was one consisting of two arrows arranged under the word "success". One arrow represented what most people see as success; a straight arrow rising upward. The other arrow represented what success actually is; a jumbled mess that while seeming inconsistent is pressing its way to the top.

Success is interpreted differently by anyone who has the opportunity to encounter it. Some view the amount of monetary wealth one has to be the primary factor of success, while others feel they’ve succeeded if they have happy relationships with those close to them. Charles Dickens illustrates this vast spectrum in his serial novel, Great Expectations. Each and every character experiences differing levels of success, and in various forms. Some strive for large figures of money, while others find happiness in the basic experiences of life. By maintaining this more compassionate and gratuitous lifestyle, Joe and Wemmick both find the key to happiness and reap success.

Imagine how you feel, when you think about a beautiful car you’ve just seen on TV, or, for instance, when you look at a picture of someone like Rock Hudson (he used to be a very popular movie star in the 50s and 60s, also known as the Hollywood Golden years). Now, the car propels you into an imaginative space, when you are actually driving it and a lot of fortunate stuff happen to you (like people envying you, or you becoming incredibly self-confident). The picture of a very handsome Rock Hudson would make you go wow! They were good looking back then”. All these things make you feel good and positive. They are attention grabbers that’s why they are called “feel-good gurus”.