Dreams and Plans

This week I learned so much.  I am really enjoying my class.  I didn’t think that I would learn so much in this class.  

I read about Randy Haykin in an article called “The Making of an Entrepreneur”.  It was really interesting to see how he has become successful, and the thought process he went through to get there.  The process he went through reminded me about the book The Start-up of You.  He really did his research and discovered what skills he needed to learn and each step in his career was a conscious decision.  

What really was interesting is that three different times this week I was told or read to “start with the end in mind”.  My son told me that in his leadership class they had a CEO come in from a local company and he told them “You always start with the end in mind.” I am reading another business book and that is what the author said and in the Acton Guide it stated that Stephen Covey says “start with the end in mind.”  There must be something to that statement.

The Acton guide “Stars and Steppingstones” and the talk called “What is Your Calling in Life” by Jeffery Thompson were very inspiring to me.  First the Acton Guide talked about starting to think about what your life will be at seventy, fifty, thirty and dream about it.  Make steppingstones that will help you stay focused on your vision and your values.  I have heard about envisioning where you want to be but I had never heard about the steppingstones.  It makes complete sense to reevaluate and change things as needed so you can still keep focus on the ultimate vision.

The talk given by Bro. Thompson inspired me as well.  It made me so excited to have chosen to be able to help others with their family history.  I want to serve others and this is a way to serve others that is meaningful to me.  I know I have been called to this and it has taken me a long time to realize it.  I am grateful that he talked about how the world is leaving out the spiritual side of having a “calling”. 

The Randy Pauch lecture was also inspiring. I recorded a few of the things he said.  He said “If you lead your life the right way, the dreams will come to you.”  This really goes along with what Brother Thompson talked about.  If we are paying attention to the gift our Heavenly Father has given us and are true to those gifts, then we will be living the kind of life that we desire and we will be happy.  That doesn’t mean things will be easy but we will be happy.

The next thing that Randy Pauch said that stood out to me was, “The brick walls are there for a reason: they let us prove how badly we want something.”  Boy do I believe this.  I think the Lord has set it up this way.  I think he blesses those who endure as well as those who are thankful for it all.  Which leads me to the last thing Randy Pauch stated, “Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted.”  We can’t be afraid to fail.  Failing can be a very good thing because it gives us experience and it helps us to grow.

As I look back at my life and see where I have been and the failures and successes I have had, I am grateful for them.  Each one has brought me the knowledge, understanding and confidence that I would have never had without those experiences!  I am so grateful the Lord has blessed me with this.  Even today, I look around and see how extremely busy I am and I recognize that the Lord is testing me to see if I am willing to really work for the life I want.  He is teaching me management skills that I would not have received if I wasn’t running two business, going to school full-time, raising five children and watching an extra (I watch a 2 year old during the day).  Sometimes I want to lay in my bed all day long and cover my head with a pillow but I don’t.  I still get up and workout in the morning.  I still do my client work.  I still make lunch and teach my daughter that is homeschooled.  I know this time will pass and I will have more time to share with my family but in the next few months I am learning habits and getting over the brick walls I would have never had if the Lord had not placed all these things in my life.  Just as the Lord stated to Joseph Smith in the Doctrine and Covenants while he was in the Liberty Jail “…peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;” I think this will be my new mantra!