I don't have too much time tonight, but I wanted to include a little anecdote about organization.
While this post might not show a whole lot of organization, in life it's a very handy thing.
For example.
In my chosen career pursuit of Investment Banking, networking is a very key skill. There's an old phrase that states that in business, "it's not what you know, it's who you know." Of all career fields, Finance is likely one of the most influenced by that mantra. The people you are connected with can quite literally make the difference in a company's decision on whether or not to extend an offer. Thus, it is encouraged to make an effort to connect with the people ahead of you in the process and seek their input.
Enter my situation. Earlier last week I scheduled opportunities to talk with several people within the finance program here at BYU. I contacted them through email, set the potential times we could meet, and promised to check back with them to confirm on an exact time and place. While I did much of it right, I nonetheless neglected to record for future recall who I was scheduled to meet with and at what time. As this week passed, there were several instances in which I suddenly remembered, too late, that I could have talked with someone that day. While these conversations might not be the difference between working and unemployment, it is nonetheless worrisome to think on the message they display. In essence, I conveyed that their time was not of high priority to me and that I didn't really, deeply care about what they had to say.
Not the sort of message one in my position would like to convey.
The moral of the story is to be organized for the future so as to bring about opportunities that might otherwise have been swept down stream.
Carpe Diem Everyone.
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Saturday, September 19, 2015
Your Not Doing It Right
Goals are a tricky thing.
It seems to be the notion of our society that goal-setters are a notch above the rest of us. They're the go-get'ers, the achievers, the driven. They're the ones who actually keep their New Year's Resolutions, the ones that stay with the diet, the ones that follow through with their exercise plans. They skip the butter with the popcorn and forgo the ice cream after dinner. They take the extra class - AND do the extra credit - all in the name of a goal. We look up to them, admire them, and possibly even envy them for their success - because we could never do that.
BUT WHY NOT??
Good Question.
At this point someone else might continue into a high-level discourse on the eternal potential of the human soul and the incredible power within all of us. The quote about the light within each of us - you know the one, "Your playing small does not serve the world" - and attributed to at least four influential people, would probably be inserted. A call would be made to burn the ships and face the future, trusting in your inner light to guide you to soaring heights.
I'm not going to say that yet.
You see, there's more to goals than rabid enthusiasm of momentary desire. Goals require more than desire - they require RESOLVE, and resolve needs commitment and clarity of purpose. There has to be a conviction to change and a direction that the conviction can be aimed. To illustrate goals, an example is frequently used of a man stranded in a boat in the middle of the ocean, with only a glimpse of land in sight. The man's goal is, obviously, to reach land. He sees it, he knows the end from the beginning. Contrast this with a man who just wants to reach land, but doesn't bother to look where it is. They both may begin with the same energy, but only one knows where exactly he will end up. President Uchtdorf, an Apostle within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, put it this way:
I have learned that the difference between happiness and misery ... often comes down to an error of only a few degrees.
Goals are hard to set because they must both reflect our ambitions and lead us in a wise direction. I'm preparing to set some goals in my own life - perhaps I'll share them on here - but before I set out the details, I need to know where I want to end up. Knowing that, I believe it is far easier to set goals that will truly make us successful. Preparation is the greater part of victory, after all.
Carpe Diem Everyone.
Now, cue the motivation:
It seems to be the notion of our society that goal-setters are a notch above the rest of us. They're the go-get'ers, the achievers, the driven. They're the ones who actually keep their New Year's Resolutions, the ones that stay with the diet, the ones that follow through with their exercise plans. They skip the butter with the popcorn and forgo the ice cream after dinner. They take the extra class - AND do the extra credit - all in the name of a goal. We look up to them, admire them, and possibly even envy them for their success - because we could never do that.
BUT WHY NOT??
Good Question.
At this point someone else might continue into a high-level discourse on the eternal potential of the human soul and the incredible power within all of us. The quote about the light within each of us - you know the one, "Your playing small does not serve the world" - and attributed to at least four influential people, would probably be inserted. A call would be made to burn the ships and face the future, trusting in your inner light to guide you to soaring heights.
I'm not going to say that yet.
You see, there's more to goals than rabid enthusiasm of momentary desire. Goals require more than desire - they require RESOLVE, and resolve needs commitment and clarity of purpose. There has to be a conviction to change and a direction that the conviction can be aimed. To illustrate goals, an example is frequently used of a man stranded in a boat in the middle of the ocean, with only a glimpse of land in sight. The man's goal is, obviously, to reach land. He sees it, he knows the end from the beginning. Contrast this with a man who just wants to reach land, but doesn't bother to look where it is. They both may begin with the same energy, but only one knows where exactly he will end up. President Uchtdorf, an Apostle within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, put it this way:
I have learned that the difference between happiness and misery ... often comes down to an error of only a few degrees.
Goals are hard to set because they must both reflect our ambitions and lead us in a wise direction. I'm preparing to set some goals in my own life - perhaps I'll share them on here - but before I set out the details, I need to know where I want to end up. Knowing that, I believe it is far easier to set goals that will truly make us successful. Preparation is the greater part of victory, after all.
Carpe Diem Everyone.
Now, cue the motivation:
Friday, September 11, 2015
Beginnings
As Goes the Sun.
What do I mean with that enigmatic little phrase? Good question.
The sun is never changing direction. It has, at least to our perspective, one direction only: forward. It does not pause in its progress nor reverse direction. It is constant, steady, and dependable, and yet - it is never in the same place. It moves in an orbit of its own around the galaxy, constantly heading forward.
I believe there's a lesson in that. We are allotted a set, if unknown, number of days, with some having less than others. We may have different ideas about progress, and our desires may point us to different destinations. That is immaterial to me. All that matters is that we push forward toward those goals with steadiness and sureness, using our time as best as we are able.
That's the theme of this blog-thingy. Life is an open opportunity, and we are largely rewarded according to the effort we spend seizing it.
So I'm going to write about that. I'll write out my goals, share inspirational stories, say what I learned that day, report on my progress and maybe even do some good along the way - as goes the sun.
Carpe Diem Everyone.
What do I mean with that enigmatic little phrase? Good question.
The sun is never changing direction. It has, at least to our perspective, one direction only: forward. It does not pause in its progress nor reverse direction. It is constant, steady, and dependable, and yet - it is never in the same place. It moves in an orbit of its own around the galaxy, constantly heading forward.
I believe there's a lesson in that. We are allotted a set, if unknown, number of days, with some having less than others. We may have different ideas about progress, and our desires may point us to different destinations. That is immaterial to me. All that matters is that we push forward toward those goals with steadiness and sureness, using our time as best as we are able.
That's the theme of this blog-thingy. Life is an open opportunity, and we are largely rewarded according to the effort we spend seizing it.
So I'm going to write about that. I'll write out my goals, share inspirational stories, say what I learned that day, report on my progress and maybe even do some good along the way - as goes the sun.
Carpe Diem Everyone.
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