W14 - The End

Over the course of the last fourteen weeks I’ve learned a great deal about my nature and how I view my future and the opportunities that lay before me. I said from the beginning that I took this class to position myself to learn how to pursue career 2.0. That is to say, my next career when I finish my current job. However, the last three months have been transformative to me. This course, and many external factors in the world, have caused me to re-evaluate my plan and “move some things around”.

First, I now believe I have less time to work with. The April 2020 General Conference has left me the profound impression that I need to apply some of the principles I learned in this class much sooner than I originally anticipated. I believe that now is the time to look for additional opportunities and that time is much more critical. Not to “make a fortune” but to “Find Oil and Make my Mark”.

I have known for some time that I didn’t seek the grandeur of billionaires. That kind of wealth is ridiculous. But I also know that I want to position myself well enough to serve others without compromising my time with family or church service. No, this mind set does not align me with traditional entrepreneurs. But it does align me with God’s plan for me.

Also, this class has helped me develop insights in how I can better serve others, especially those I serve at church. We must develop our ability to accomplish tasks. To become finishers of the work. Far too often I see leaders in units across my Stake struggle because assignments and tasks go incomplete. I believe the six part process Jim Ritchie has described over the course of the term is the right mix of business acumen and spiritual insight to tech men and women to become doers of the work, and I plan to share this process with my fellows in the Stake.

It has become more clear that, as President Nelson said in Oct 2019 ”…Time is running out”. I believed I had more time. That I would not see the Saviors return, but that my children might. I don’t know if I will be in the Earth when he returns, but I now believe it will be within my perceived lifetime.  I am grateful to have taken this class and to learn the principles of success through a gospel lens. That is the most significant takeaway from this term.

Thank you.

W13 - An Attitude of Gratitude

Gratitude is something I struggle with…. a lot. Not because I’m not thankful for the things that I have. I am thankful. I struggle with taking the time to stop and assess my blessings, which is probably worse. Gratitude is also hard because I feel like I spend so much time trying to get things done that I’m too focused on my task list.

I was less active in the church for a very long time and I really do feel like I’m be working to make up for lost service opportunities until the day I die. There is no time to sit back and think about how good I have it and “count my many blessings”. However, my wife tells me all the time that’s exactly why I need to do it.

That’s what really stood out to me this week. The idea that gratitude can be more than just being thankful. I think my service is a way I try to express my gratitude to the Lord for the things I have received. Unfortunately, I don’t every think I’ll be comfortable with my level of service. There is always something else to do!

I’m also something of a loner when it comes to managing a work effort. As a project manager I have a solid understanding of the importance of stakeholder management. But in my personal life and in my church service, I struggle with delegation. I just don’t often feel like someone else is going to do the job the way I would. That probably pretty arrogant. I mean, I learn new ways of doing things from people all the time. I should be welcoming the opportunity to learn skills from others. But I really struggle with it.

My hope is that the Lord accepts my effort as a way of expressing my gratitude and is merciful with me to keep blessing me as much as I can take.