Learning to Work with People

For one of my classes this semester we are required to read the book How to win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.  To be honest I thought the book sounded a bit weird.  I mean I usually don’t try to win over my friends and gaining friendships usually isn’t some kind of game to me.  To be honest I am still a bit skeptical about the book, but what I have read thus far has been really rewarding and valuable.  The first three chapters are about handling people, and gives three different principles.  The one that stuck out to me was not to criticize, complain or condemn.  As I read this chapter I was astonished by the simplicity of this task, but how it can really go so far.  Thinking back in my life about the days when I worked customer service in restaurants and at a hotel, it was always such a welcome relief to have someone that didn’t complain, in contrast to those that were upset and criticizing me for things completely out of my control.  Ever since I worked with such people, and reading this book, just confirmed it, I have vowed never to be such people.  I vowed that even if something goes wrong, don’t ever belittle and condemn a person for it.  Kindness can go a long way, and will help you go far in life.

Networking, Networking, Networking

This week in MCOM class we learned about the importance of Networking.  Prior to this class, I had heard the word “Networking” all the time.  I heard it from my professors, my friends, everyone in the Marriott Schol, but I guess I really didn’t know what, and how to go about doing this extremely important action.  The MCOM class I had this week made it very clear to me.  I always wondered how I was going to offer any thing as a student to professionals.  After going to class, I realized that there is something I can offer.  I realized that the best way to Network with others is to find something in common with someone and a way to help a person in a need that they have.  In fact it is kind of like visiting teaching in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I was taught that when you go visiting teaching, you should go looking for a need and then solve that need.  The same principle can be applied to Networking.  If we go to a networking event looking to help we will have a positive experience.  Going forth I will apply these Networking techniques and work on always seeking to help those I come in contact with, because I would want the same thing in return. 

2 tasks a day

This week I was able to hear a speech given by George Bunt, an absolutely amazing guy.  Mr. Brunt is the CEO of what seemed to be five different companies-the biggest one being biologic.  He touched on some great points that inspired me to be a better person.  When he went through his day, it made my daily tasks seem small and menial.  His biggest point was about action.  We can make all the decisions we want, but without action, they will be just decisions.  He gave us a challenge to list each area in our life, be it social, spiritual, emotional, school or physical, and make a list of two things we can do each day to fulfill that area.  For physical it could be to go on a quick run, and eat 3 servings of vegetables that day; for social it could be to spend 10 min on Facebook and eat lunch with a good friend.  Whatever the two things are, if you all of them in your life, you will find much more time and you will find balance in your life.  So what have I begun doing, I have begun to make lists of tasks, and hopefully that will make a big difference in my life.

Its the Climb!

This past Saturday I had the opportunity to hike Mount Timpanogoes. I enjoy hiking, but this is one of those hikes that, for me, is super hard. It is not necessarily a hard hike, but what makes it hard is its length.  It is steep and challenging, but the view at the top is so worth all the effort.  Now this might seem a little cliché, but the song that always came in my head as I hiked was The Climb, by Miley Cyrus. In this song it says that, “Ain't about how fast I get there, Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side, It's the climb…These are the moments that I'm gonna remember most.”  To me this means that it isn’t about the big events in our life that we remember, but the small things that add up to the big events if our lives.  The things that really shape our lives in the journey that we take to reach certain points.  In the gospel it is the little everyday things such as reading our scriptures and saying our prayers that makes us who we are today.  Sure Giant spiritual experiences come, but they also fade and what we are left with is the little things.  So what am I going to do now- I am going to find joy in the journey and focus on the little things and living each day to the fullest.  Sure I will remember the view that I say at the top of the Mountain, but I will remember more the conversation I had with some great friends that I hiked with.

BYU is great!!!

The first week of a new semester is always a little crazy. Between new classes, new roommates and a new ward, it can be a little stressful and this week was no different. With all this going on, sometimes I forget the many blessings that I have been given. I was just trying to survive this week, when I had one of the most powerful lectures, which reminded me of the wonderful opportunity I have to be here at Brigham Young University. I am taking an Executive Lectures series, and on Friday we watched a presentation made by Professor Stice from the Marriott School. In his address to MBA students, he explained about the opportunity he had to travel the world to interview prospective BYU MBA students. He told of one lady in Mexico that he interviewed who was very intelligent and talented, but unfortunately didn't know enough English to make it through the program. He told her the sad news and a little later he saw this women getting on a bus. He asked where she was off to and she relied that her kids were waiting for her. He asked how far away home was, she replied 13 hours.

Professor Stice was quick to point out that she was not able to come to BYU, but her tithing comes to BYU so that we can attend this university. So what did I learn from this. I cannot take my education here for granted. I need to work harder than I ever have. Once I leave this university I need to the things I learned here and bring them to the world, so that the world can experience the things that I have learned and felt at BYU.