Mastery of Self

If you think about it, any problem you face should be solvable if you only learn to master yourself.  What does it mean to master yourself?  It means not letting other people, things, emotions or addictions make your decisions for you.  It means having complete control over achieving what you want to get out of your life.  Thinking of ways that we could accomplish such a task reminded me of an experience that we had in the mission.  Our mission president would counsel us to make the white rule handbook part of our daily scripture study.  At first, I didn't understand, I thought it was even a little silly.  We know what a missionary should and should not do, why must we go over it again and again?  The truth of the matter is that if it is constantly in mind, we constantly have our guard up against temptation that could have otherwise caught us unaware.  Likewise, we must constantly study the commandments found in the scriptures, and make a personal code of things that you would like to live by.  Make personal goals and keep track of them.  Second, you must fulfill your obligations that you make.  Keep your covenants as well as your word.  Go to church and your church meetings.  be honest to others as well as to yourself and the Lord.  Lastly, always include Him in your life through prayer and fasting.  Who could be a better watchman than He who has seen everything, created everything, and knows you and your circumstances better than you do.  Why would you shut Him out of your plans and goals?  Do these things and you will notice the difference in your life.

The Start Up of You

The Start Up of You was an inspiring book that had a large focus on expanding and treasuring your personal and professional network.  "I" to the power of "we" means that your efforts are multiplied exponentially with the support and alliance of others.  LinkedIn is a great tool for our efforts of networking more efficiently.  It is a social network, like Facebook, designed for professionals.   LinkedIn expands and solicits that network actively, even when you are active doing something else.  If used correctly, it will do the job searching for you even when you are not currently searching for a position.  I got my job that I am in now through the friend of the friend of my uncle, so I am a firm believer of this concept of networking, and I am excited to take advantage of LinkedIn and the network that it will help create for me.

May 10th, 2014

Integrity as a business way of life is a plan for success.  Especially in a world that is ever lacking of this unique but precious virtue, businessmen and women who are found with this quality are more likely to be invested in than those who have years and years of experience over them.  Leaders who lack this quality are like shady ice cream men.  Kids may be enticed by the concept and the idea, but much wiser and wealthier adults are hesitant about investing in them or letting their kids near them.  You don't want to be a shady ice cream man in the business world.  If you establish trust with your team and especially with your customers, you will do fine, even if your idea isn’t the next Internet.  The beauty of it all is that you will be able to live with yourself after all is said and done, you will end your careers with no regrets regarding honesty or integrity.  You will develop professional relationships that will open doors to many new opportunities for advancement and expansion so you can achieve your dreams.  These relationships will stay with you and will vouch for you when you need them.  This is why the life of integrity in the business world is so essential. 

Dreams

This was another week of heavy reflection on my past and what I hope and dream of my future.  I didn't know consciously that I had a dream until today.  I never was one of those types of kids that always knew and never doubted what I wanted to be when I grew up.  I was socially awkward and liked to ponder to myself a lot.  Before I was eight, I was a difficult child who always was thinking about myself and what I wanted.  There was an event that changed all of that, and caused me to have a dream that I have been unconsciously holding with me all of these years.  After making an unexpected trip to the hospital, I sat there reflecting in my temporary wheelchair.  I didn't want to live a full life, leave it and not be missed.  I wanted to be Christ like.  I wanted to learn to put others before myself.  My dream in life was to learn to be good.  This awakening in me has been a turning point in my life.  Even now, my dream is to become a benevolent leader.  I want to inspire people to be the best they can be, more than just in the work force, but also as fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters.  I want people to know the sweetness that comes from living an honorable life.  I want for that knowledge to work in them until they too dream of a better world.  Change starts with one, and my dream is to be that one.