Sandra's Business Journal 2020

A Hero's Journey

What were my takeaways from the video, "A Hero's Journey"

https://video.byui.edu/media/122201_02_Large/0_7ghlpqpk/26923962

(I have looked all over and cannot find the last name of the person in this video. I did find out that his first name is Jeff because he references writing a letter to himself and says, "dear Jeff." )

In this video he talks about "living every moment of your life like it matters, because it does." This means that we should look at set back and struggles or adventures as lesson we can learn. The important lessons change who we are, making us better people.

Another piece of advice was to find ten role models. This seems like a huge number of people to me. However, this week in class I had an assignment to choose 6 people to be on my "board table of life." This was an interesting assignment. I could choose any person, living or dead, to participate as a member. I choose close family and some noted professionals. I could see that even those people would have gaps in knowledge. I didn't choose a lawyer and looking back that would have been a great person to have on the team.

The guides from Jeff about role models were:

Ask them about

1. Their triumphs

2. Their regrets

3. Lessons they wished they had learned earlier.

Who to seek out

1. Three people your same age

2. Three people who were age 45-60

3. at least three people over 60

These interviews lead to some very powerful insights. The oldest group always said basically the same thing to the students. The most important questions in life were:

1. Have I contributed something meaningful?

2. Am I a good person?

3. Who did I love and who loved me?

These three questions have lingered with me this week as I have pondered my life. I can see that these three questions can guide me in how I interact and respond with those around me. I can take everyday situations and chose to respond after I think about these questions. I can reshape my answers to help me reshape myself into the person I want to be.

How Will You Measure Your Life?

How will you measure your life? This is a question that is best thought about in the early stages of your life IF you plan on achieving your goals.

What type of person do you want to become?

If you know what kind of person you want to become you can create steppingstones to become that person. These steppingstones will guide you on your journey to becoming. Each step can transform you into your future self. We take this journey every day, but do we walk with purpose? By reflecting on how you will measure your life you will be able to decide what steps you want to take and put them in order so you can reach your final destination with the fewest missteps.

This week we read a talk by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin titled Little Things Are Important. (link to the talk is below) Brother Wirthlin teaches us that me must care for three relationships in this life. These are:

1. Our relationship with self. -- We must take care of our bodies and minds. Are we getting the sleep and exercise we need to take on our everyday life? Are we fueling our bodies properly? How can we expect to our bodies to perform at a high level if we are not taking care of our body?

2. Our relationship with others. -- Caring and serving others teaches us and helps us to grow. I love this quote in the talk, "God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other in the kingdom” (“Small Acts of Service,” Tambuli, December 1976).

3. Our relationship with God. -- By improving ourselves every day we are showing God that we love Him. Trying to be our best self is a gift to God. Choosing to be a little better and avoid sin, one little step at a time will lead to becoming a person that can stand before God.

So, how will I measure my life? I will decide where I want to be at the end of my life. I will set up a long-term goal and follow that with many short-term goals to help me reach my potential. When I look back on my life, I want to say that I measured up to the person I dreamed I could become.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/1988/06/little-things-are-important?lang=eng

Honesty in Business

Lessons Learned:

This week in my Business 110 class we read and listened to several speakers. The topic that was being addressed was honesty in business. I particularly liked the address by Sister Sheri Dew: True Blue: Through and Through. Sister Dew defined integrity as simply being true. Being true and honest is another way of expressing the virtue of integrity. Dew imparted a 7-step plan that guides your actions to keep you within the ethical guiderails of integrity it is:

1. Decide today, once and for all, that you will be worthy of trust.

2. Have faith the Lord can and will will help you, and then diligently seek His help.

3. Make covenants and keep them.

4. Stand up for what you believe.

5. Expect your integrity to be challenged

6. Don't give up.

7. Covenant-or perhaps I should say, renew your covenant- with our Father and His Son to do what you came here to do. For doing what we agreed to do pre-mortally is the ultimate expression of our integrity.

Sister Dew invited each of us to enroll in Integrity 101. This would be a way to inventory how we are doing in regards to having and maintaining our personal integrity. These are the steps to enroll in this personal integrity course:

1. Take inventory of your integrity. Do you have cracks? Be honest with yourself.

2. For the next 30 days take time every night to assess how you did that day.

3. As you become more aware of your strengths and weaknesses, turn to the Savior more frequently and with increasing fervor.

To be a better society we have to first look within. I think that this talk helps me to look within and choose to have more integrity in my life. I want to be surrounded by people in my personal and professional life that prize the virtue of integrity.

Reference & Categorization of Notes and Tools:

https://www2.byui.edu/Presentations/Transcripts/Devotionals/2004_03_16_Dew.htm

Childhood Dreams

*Why do you think Randy Pausch was able to achieve so many of his childhood dreams?

I think the Randy Pausch was able to achieve so many of his childhood dreams because I wrote them down and took steps to achieve those dreams. Pausch said of a picture of himself, “there I actually have a picture of me dreaming. I did that a lot.” By focusing on what was important to him, he was able to achieve his dreams.

* Do you feel that dreaming is important? Why or why not?

I think that dreaming is important. I also think that taking action is important. You need to dream and have aspirations. If you don’t dream you won’t know what you really want. Pasch’s dreams are very different. Zero gravity experience, NFL player, writing an article for the World Book encyclopedia, and a Disney Imagineer. These seem like 4 different career possibilities. Pasch wanted to accomplish a lot of things and was able to because it was a priority. Making dreams or wants and desires a priority will keep us learning and growing through out our lives.

*Discuss at least one of your childhood dreams. Explain why you believe you can or cannot achieve this dream.

I have pondered about what my childhood dreams were. I could not come up with any dreams that I had. I thought long and hard, even asking my older brother and sister. Not surprising, they could only come up with the same thing that I did. I was not the typical child who wanted to be a doctor, nurse, lawyer, or teacher. All I wanted was to be a Mom. I played house all the time and was always the mother. I mothered all our family pets. When my mother had another baby, when I was 8, I mothered her as well. I remember going to the babysitters’ house after school and before doing anything else, I would check her diaper and make sure she was fed. Then I was free to play with others and have a snack. I have achieved this dream. I have five children whom I love more than anything in this life. I currently have three amazing grandchildren who light up my world. These people make my life complete. I often look at them in amazement and say to my husband, “Can you believe we created these people?” Amazing!

Individual Learning Experiences September 19, 2020

Lessons Learned:

I liked the video from Reed Hoffman, "Personal Branding." The comments from Reed Hoffman were intriguing to me. Personal branding is a way of setting yourself apart from others in your field. I had not thought about one of the questions or statements he said, "it’s important in terms of how do other people think about you." This got me thinking of how do other people think about me? Am I an expert in any field? Am I someone wants to work with? Would others think of me when a new opportunity arose?

I also liked the video from Guy Kawasaki, "Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow." I think that he makes a great point about doing what you love. He encourages people to do what they love not to do what is "hot" or popular. I think in today's world that is very wonderful advice. We are easily attracted to follow the trends of the day and put what we love aside. The peer and family pressure Kawasaki felt to be either a Doctor, Lawyer, or Dentist is real. His ability to know that will not make him happy in the long run is important. I think that it is important to not fall prey to peer pressures or family pressure when you are embarking on a career choice. Doing what you love will make your daily life better in the long run.

I loved the comments from President Gordon B. Hinkley. President Hinkley was the same age as my grandfather. They were companions on a train ride to the east coast. As I listened to him express his love for this generation, I could feel the love of my own grandfather. It is also really important to heed the advice to, "Now don’t ever do a cheap or a tawdry or a mean or an evil thing." What great advise! His love and concern for the youth of the church are palpable in this address. When we choose to listen to those who have already walked the path of career choice and are on the other side, we are able to glean great knowledge from them.

Lessons Not Yet Learned:

I have not learned what my entrepreneur path is yet.

What is the Next Step?

I am not sure what the next step will be, but I am sure it will be taught in this class.

Reference & Categorization of Notes and Tools:

These are the links to the addresses above.

https://youtu.be/1419ltWPBDU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEjIe2aZooM https://docs.google.com/document/u/1/d/e/2PACX-1vQu9rd5Muvh9vf26Xv3_JCbIvdIeUwobWO0SeHO_vnu9b553Syf4L3kemIoji9qPl20u4unCU-49sIi/pub