[Ayn Rand University]

Hello everyone!

I am Don Watkins, your instructor (along with Tal Tsfany and Onkar Ghate), and welcome to Philosophy, Work, and Business. This is an initial communication to introduce myself and to orient you to the course, which will have its first live class on Wednesday, April 19, at 12 PM Pacific Time. I look forward to meeting you all.

About Your Instructors

Don Watkins manages the Ayn Rand University coaching and mentorship practice, where he works closely with students to help them achieve their learning, career, and life goals. He is the author of five books, including the national best-seller Free Market Revolution: How Ayn Rand’s Ideas Can End Big Government (with Yaron Brook).

Tal Tsfany is the president and CEO of the Ayn Rand Institute. He has been an entrepreneur, investor and executive in the software world. He has built and grown successful teams and businesses in Israel and the United States. Tal is a co-founder of the Ayn Rand Center Israel. He holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and an MBA in business management.

Onkar Ghate, Ph.D. in philosophy, is Chief Philosophy Officer, senior fellow, and ARI board member. He is a contributing author to many books on Rand’s fiction and philosophy. He leads ARI’s intellectual development program, serves as a senior editor and instructor, and provides philosophic oversight for the Institute’s projects. (See here for his Expert information.)

Course Purpose

Objectivism upholds productive work as the central activity of a good life. To take your life seriously requires taking work seriously. This course will explore principles and attitudes that will help guide you in your work, your career, and the world of business more generally. A major focus will be on what the application of the ideas looks like, explored in part through a series of interviews and discussions with Objectivist businessmen, entrepreneurs, intellectuals, and professionals in various fields.

Over the course of 8 classes, we will cover the following topics:

• The philosophy of work and philosophy at work
• Choosing a career path
• Career skills
• Developing a career vision and strategy

Course Calendar and Live Class Times

There will be eight classes, taking place each Wednesday, April 19 to June 7, and lasting two hours (12-2 pm Pacific Time).

Don will host regular office hours each Thursday, 1-2 pm Pacific Time. You may also request office hours with Tal Tsfany or Onkar Ghate. See the syllabus for details.

Course Website and Syllabus

The course website is now live, and accessible through your ARU dashboard. Here is the direct link to access it. Please visit the website and read the course syllabus as soon as possible, in preparation for the start of the course. If you have any issue accessing the website, contact university@aynrand.org.

Course Texts

There are no mandatory readings for this course.

Communication

The best way to contact your instructors is to email Don Watkins at dwatkins@aynrand.org. If your question or comment is directed at one of the other instructors, please note that in your email.

I look forward to seeing you in class! 

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This message can also be viewed on the Announcement Forum of the course Philosophy, Work, and Business.

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