Week 12

This week we were giving a talk to read by President Monson An Attitude of Gratitude.

 https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1992/04/an-attitude-of-gratitude

I think it is such a great reminder in this holiday season, when things get taken for granted. Monson expresses that we should be grateful for our parents, teachers and friends. I know I have many things to be grateful for. I am patiently waiting for the arrival of my first baby. It can be any day now. I know without the support of my parents, husband and family I wouldn’t have made it through these past nine months.

A couple of weeks ago I was assigned to give a talk at church regarding gratitude. However there was a twist, I had to talk about being grateful for our trials. It is easy to be grateful for the good things in life, but we also have to remember to be grateful for our trials that help us grow and learn. Although they suck at the time, they are really to our benefit.

President Monson quotes one of my favorite songs from the hymn book. One of the versus goes

“When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings; name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord has done. …

So amid the conflict, whether great or small,

Do not be discouraged; God is over all.

Count your many blessings; angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.”

During this holiday season remember what our blessings are. Right now I am excited that I only have two more assignments left in this course!!!!

Week 11

Christmas time is one my most beloved holidays. I love the decorations, the food the spirit of giving. I can list a whole bunch of things but one thing that I hadn’t thought about that unfortunately goes in had with these holidays is debt. President Monson’s talk Constant Truths for Changing Times really hit home for me. I see it all around me when people spend money they don’t have to try to make this holiday season more memorable. Putting it on a credit card… we need to live within our means. Which can be hard at times, but like the Grinch said “What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!”

I am expecting my first baby right before Christmas on the 21^st. It has been a crazy shopping spree trying to get ready. Like most moms I want to be fully prepared and to be able to give my baby everything he needs. Have I gotten a carried away? Yes, yes I have.  I have had to make a couple of returns recently because some of the items I purchased are not really needed. I have spent more than my allotted budget that my husband and I came up with. Budgeting is what has helped us live within our means. Now that I am not working it is more important that I stick to this budget.

How does this tie into business? Well you have to manage the money coming in and out don’t you. Well being involved in your finances is what will make or break a business.

Week 10

This week’s reading and assignments have definitely opened my mind to reflection. From time management between work and family, to attitude about money, to what I need to really focus on to be successful.

In the talk given by President Thomas S. Monson Formula for Success, he gives three steps for success. He says “First, fill your mind with truth; second, fill your life with service; and third, fill your heart with love.”

http://www.lds.org/ensign/1996/03/formula-for-success

I agree with his statement but the one that had me thinking the most is filling my life with service. Over the years I have been involved in many a service project for either school or for church. I remember for some reason I always had something else I could do that would be more fun or entertaining. I also remember the job I would get from helping others and I know that my time was better spent serving others.

Time… we have so little of it and there is always so much to do I find. I am very dedicated to my job. I do the best that I can in the time that I have, but sometimes I have to spend more time in the office to get things done, and the same goes for my husband. We are currently excepting our first child (any time now) so I have to think how we can put our family first. Children grow up so fast and both my husband and I don’t want to miss out on it because of work. Of course working pays the bills but on the flip side family needs to come first.

Last reflection from this week’s assignment is money will not buy us happiness. Sure it would help and it would be nice not having to live paycheck to paycheck. However, it has always been my experience that more money does not mean an easier life. We have to be happy with what we have or we won’t be happy when we have more…

Week 9

A couple of weeks ago I was at a stake conference and one of the speakers said something that really stood out to me. “Goals aren't started with maybe's and there are no spots on your calendar for sometime.”

I often find myself saying maybe ill do that, or I will find sometime to get that one thing done. These words only hold me back and don’t let me progress. I am my own worst enemy, Elder Oaks in his talk The Challenge to Become said, “In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something.”

http://www.lds.org/ensign/2000/11/the-challenge-to-become

I learned that I need to challenge myself. I tend to under estimate my abilities and think that I wont be able to do it and end up failing, but the thought occurred to me that if I don’t try I have already failed! Taylor Richards emphasized this in the video “Think Big”. http://vimeo.com/27928168

I made a goal this week to at least get through 2 of my art projects that have been sitting around on my desk for the past year. Giving myself a timeline and then sticking to it helped. I found that my problem all along was time management. Something I was good at while I was in the work force. At home… not so much.

Week 8

Loyalty and Leadership

This week were assigned to read a talk by President Kim B. Clark called

Leadership with a Small "L".

President Clark said “To you mothers and fathers and prospective mothers and fathers, the very most important thing you can do for your children is to love each other and support each other and help each other become everything Heavenly Father wants you to be.  You stand before God and your children as husband and wife, father and mother, equal partners in the sacred responsibility of creating an eternal family.

Lead by example.”

How true is this principle in family life but also in the business world?

A while ago I had a customer service job that you had to answer the phone as the calls came in. There were 4 girls in the office (it was a small company), there were some days the phone would ring three times and we would all look at each other and see who would pick it up. I was new and still afraid of running into problems with the callers so I would hesitate and not answer and let someone else take the call. As with customer service jobs there is a high turn over rate. I remember one girl coming in a few days after I was hired that would always be the first to answer the phone and just take charge. She didn’t know all the answers but she took charge and tried. Soon after I saw a difference in the office. I no longer saw anyone hesitate to answer the phones. With her example the office productivity changed in a good way. She led by example, and she is what I call a doer personality, she got things done.

Since thing I have tried to follow her example. I have seen what a difference it can make in an office environment when you are willing to go just a bit over the call of duty. Managers notice it and other employees as well, not to mention it can be contagious.

I try to live my life as an example. “Woody Allen said that 90% of life is “just showing up.” If so, the most important 10% of life is execution. Far too few people do either consistently. But if the ability to execute is so valuable, why is it so rare?”

Overcoming Challenges - Week 7

This week we were assigned to read a talk by Elder Jeffrey Holland, An High Priest of Good Things to Come.

http://www.lds.org/ensign/1999/11/an-high-priest-of-good-things-to-come

Elder Holland said, “Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come.”

This week has been tough on me. I want to be done with my degree but there is so much left to do still. Right now I have this great opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom and still have help from my family to pay for school. It must be the pregnancy hormones or something but I got this overwhelming depressed feeling that school will never end. I know this isn’t true but that is how I was feeling at the time when I read Elder Holland’s talk.

I took much comfort from this quote. “Every one of us has times when we need to know things will get better. Moroni spoke of it in the Book of Mormon as “hope for a better world.” For emotional health and spiritual stamina, everyone needs to be able to look forward to some respite, to something pleasant and renewing and hopeful, whether that blessing be near at hand or still some distance ahead. It is enough just to know we can get there, that however measured or far away, there is the promise of “good things to come.”

School is a challenge for me. I have to work hard because it doesn’t come naturally. My husband is a genius when it comes to writing papers. For me on the other hand I get stuck writing introductions to my essays for hours at a time! I have faith that I can overcome my challenges and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Eventually my son will be born and I will graduate with my degree. Till then I have to wait and work hard.

Week 6

Asking questions… When you learn something new or try something new we are taught from a young age to ask questions. It is a simple thing, but it is something I struggle with. I often try to figure things out on my own instead of taking the time to ask a question. This is probably something I should work on if I want to start my own business. In one of the videos assigned this week, Carly Fiorina talks about three things you need for leadership. Capability, Collaboration and Character. http://ecorner.stanford.edu/authorMaterialInfo.html?mid=1719

She goes on to talk about learning. She says to always keep learning and trying new things that it will keep you vibrant.

Another talk that assigned to be read this week was a talk given by President Gordon B. Hinckley Stand True and Faithful.

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1996/04/stand-true-and-faithful

What I most enjoyed about his talk that he tells women to continue learning. Often times in the church I see women give up on their education to start families. Don’t get me wrong having a family is very important. One of my top of my priorities even. However, just like Carly Fiorina said we have to continue learning to be effective leaders. I want my children to be able to come to me to learn new things. To make this possible I have to constantly adapt and learn new things. Just like I would in my (hopefully) future business.