Of Humility and Becoming

Taylor Richards, in his presentation Think Big, made a statement I really like: “Do not over under-estimate yourself.”

At first I thought he had mis-spoken. Then I thought about it. We have a tendency to under-estimate ourselves. He was telling us to not do that to a larger extent than we usually do. Really wise words.

“Do not over under-estimate yourself.”

-          Taylor Richards

In The Hero’s Journey they discussed the importance of choosing your companions wisely. We want to have the companions who will stick around when times get tough as well as in the good times. Not just “fair weather friends.”  We also need to be humble enough to seek out people who make up for our weaknesses.

“It takes humility to admit that others are better than we are at certain things, and that these other things are important. This sort of honesty is hard, but it is the stuff of real humility (quite distinct from being a wimp) and will bring us indispensable and highly beneficial companions for our journey.” – Hero’s Journey

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, in his Conference address The Challenge to Become, stated:

 “In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something.”

I guess these are all things I hope to continue learning. To not over under-estimate myself, make sure I remain humble to select the best of companions, and to make something of my life and become something that my Savior would be happy with.

On Becoming Great

To become a disciple-leader is to “lead as Christ leads. It is leadership with a small “L” – the kind of leadership that builds and lifts and inspires through kindness and love and unselfish devotion to the Lord and His work.”[i]

I try to be this type of leader. It is my hope to truly learn to become this way.

A true leader is a person who takes others to a higher ground.

-          Jim Ritchie

One of the greatest abilities to have, in a world full of “average,” is the “ability to execute [and it] is more valuable than education or talent, because it is far rarer.” [ii]

If you want to become the kind of person who others call when something needs to get done, learn how to get the job done. Doing this, without requiring explicit step by step instructions, assembling a task force or consultants, or complaining that something “isn’t your job,” will help you become just such a person.

No matter what has happened in your life, “Make no mistake about it. You have a choice. You can blame your parents, teachers, coaches or bosses. Or you can choose to start developing the attitudes, habits and instincts so your name will be called when success hangs in the balance.” [iii]

It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but those most adaptive to change.

-          Charles Darwin

Carly Fiorina stated that the capability to ask a question and hear an answer is crucial. Customer satisfaction is a vital leading indicator of how a company is doing. Customers always know what is wrong with a company.[iv]

Innovation, the ability to take risks, and the ability to celebrate new ideas are also leading indicators. [v]

Keep learning – learn something every day.

-          Carly Fiorina

Since going back to school, I remember how much I love learning. It is my goal to always keep learning!

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[i] Leadership with a Small L. Kim B. Clark

[ii] Message to Garcia. Acton Foundation for Entrepreneurial Excellence

[iii] (ibid)

[iv] Leadership & Capability. Carly Fiorina

[v]  (ibid)

Of Perseverance and Heroes

This week we read a talk given by President James E. Faust called Perseverance. When he was younger he wondered “What will be my place in this world, and how will I find it?” His only real goal at that time was to serve a mission. That mission eventually became "like a North Star." An important lesson he learned was: 

"If I faithfully persevered in my Church callings, the Lord would open up the way and guide me to other opportunities and blessings, even beyond my dreams."

He talked of President Hinckley who had as his theme "Carry On." Referring to carry on and endure. President Hinckley left an amazing legacy of temple building. He then quoted President George Q. Cannon who said of temples:

“Every foundation stone that is laid for a Temple, and every Temple completed according to the order the Lord has revealed for his holy Priesthood, lessens the power of Satan on the earth, and increases the power of God and Godliness, moves the heavens in mighty power in our behalf, invokes and calls down upon us the blessings of the Eternal Gods, and those who reside in their presence.”

At the time, it seemed like such an undoable task, to get to 100 temples. Now we are over 140. He carried on and did amazing things with the help of God.

Jeff Sandefer of the Acton Foundation gave a speech about a Hero’s Journey. We can all be heroes if we find our true calling in life. He said:

“You have a mission on this earth that will succeed beyond your wildest dreams; IF you have the faith and courage to find your entrepreneurial calling.”

“Choosing a Hero’s Journey is to live every moment of your life like it mattered; because it does; to live as if you have an important mission; because you do; seeing struggles as adventures and setbacks as lessons. And like Sir Lancelot and the Holy Grail or Harry Potter and Voldemort, what matters most isn’t the prize at the end but how the Hero is changed in the process.”

In surveys of people over 60, it was found that they generally only had three questions that mattered at the end of life:

1.      Have I contributed something meaningful?

2.      Am I a good person?

3.      Who did I love and who loved me?

Contribute something meaningful by finding your calling – something that you are naturally gifted at, that brings you joy, and satisfies a deep burning need in the world.

Be a good person by creating ethical guardrails.

Remain loveable and loving by choosing your fellow travelers well. You will come to be like those who surround you.

I wonder what my place in this world is. What is my true calling in life? I look forward to finding that out.

Reference:
Perseverance, James E. Faust, April 2005
A Hero's Journey, Jeff Sandefer, BYU-Idaho 

Of Fellow Travelers and Chameleons

What is an entrepreneurial hero? It is someone who lives life as an adventure, as did Sir Lancelot or Harry Potter—or any other mythical childhood hero. It is one who digs deeply to find special talents and gifts, then uses them to bring joy, enrich life, and serve others. This isn’t an easy journey, which is why it is called heroic.

Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths.  It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it.

—M. Scott Peck

In learning about living life as an entrepreneurial hero, one of the ideas that stood out was the concept of choosing your fellow travelers well. 

I read somewhere that you are the aggregate of the five people you spend the most time with. I had to stop and think - am I spending time with people who lift me, make me better, share my goals and morals?

We are like chameleons; we take our hue and the color of our moral character, from those who are around us.

                                                                                                    --John Locke

According to Jeff Sandefer of the Action Foundation for Entrepreneurial Excellence, "Choosing your fellow travelers may not seem as exciting as slaying the dragons of competition, but it may well be the most important decision an entrepreneurial hero will make."

And – “No matter how talented the person is, life is too short to put up with jerks. And life is too long to associate with liars or cheats or gossips.”

Lesson Learned: Surround yourself with people you want to be like. Not jerks.

Reference:

Sandefer, Jeff. "Living Life as an Entrepreneurial Hero." n.d.