Set Goals to Reach New Heights

"What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals" - Henry David Thoreau

Goal Setting

Have you ever wanted a six-pack, worked out at the gym for a month, dieted like crazy, and after four weeks saw no results? For many bodybuilders and extreme gym-goers goal setting is a must. It is most important to know where they have been so they know where they want to go. Goal setting can be a beneficial habit to form for anyone though, not just for the weight lifters. It allows the performer to evaluate their current status, envision what they want to become, then make a plan to get there. I will use working out as an example of goal setting, but these principles can be used for anything.

Evaluating Yourself

The first step is to see where you are now. Whether it be a business setting, looking at the companies financials, or looking in the mirror with your shirt off, you need to see where you are now.

The best way to evaluate yourself is to begin by being honest with yourself. If you look in the mirror and know you can do better, then that is the beginning of your plan. Being honest with yourself allows you to better evaluate the situation that you are in, thus enabling you to make more effective plans later on. Ask yourself if where you are is where you want to be.

Asking this question will help to introspect, and really delve deep into your own mind to find the correct response. Now I will add that being honest with yourself does not mean to put yourself down. Only be honest, but not critical of yourself.

The Vision

The vision comes directly after the evaluating. Find the "gap" between where you are now and what you want. New-Year resolution-ers have great vision. They all want to be more physically fit, and they usually have a picture in their head of what they want to look like. This is envisioning your goal.

These New-Year resolution-ers pack the gym throughout January, they feel good about themselves because they have been going to the gym every day for the whole month. That is when they look in a mirror and see little results. Discouragement settles in and two weeks later they stop.  

I personally anticipate those people leaving because I am a regular gym goer, and have been for over a year. Every week, almost every day, I have been at the gym. 6-7 in the morning is my sacred time to work out. But why did I make it while so many others quit after a month or two? It all has to do with the planning.

The Plan

There are some essential steps to planning. It is the most important part; it is where the steps to be taken are set, and the whole transformation is made. Here are some steps that must be considered while making a plan:

     1. Make sure you do your research

     2. Start small, then go bigger

     3. Be realistic

Making a plan is where we crunch the numbers. We see what is possible for change, and then we quantify how that change will happen. In the case of working out, we take what we have now and project into the future what we want. We then take what we are and make day by day, week by week plans to reach that goal.

Doing the research is might be the most important step. For a business, it is researching their financials, and the financials of their competitors, growth models, forecasted financials, etc. With physical fitness it is knowing the difference between carbs, fats, and proteins. From there you need to know the different types of each, how they affect the body insulin levels and blood sugar levels, and their relative calorie count. 

Starting small allows for us to ease into a harder lifestyle. For business, it allows the business to get used to certain budget cuts to maximize profits in the long run. In the gym, it is dropping your ego at the door and using weights that you can actually lift. Being realistic is a part of this step. Don't make goals or plans that are too hard, or too strenuous. A company that makes too big of budget cuts may drop the whole company. Gym goers who expect too much of themselves may hurt themselves, or burn themselves out and quit the gym. Do what you can do.

Those who learn to hone the art of goal making, setting, and reaching will go far in life. I have learned this valuable lesson, and it has been reinforced in my spiritual life too. If I make realistic goals to be closer with God, it becomes more possible. I see it happen, and I know it works. Just as I know it works for every other thing in life.

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Learning How to Network

Networking

“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” 
― Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People

For the past year or so I have found myself wanting to become introverted. Before my mission, I was very outgoing and chipper; however, for one reason or another, coming home made me introvert and lose some of my own identity. 

This is not good from a business standpoint. I love accounting, but I don't want to be that guy sitting in a corner with a green visor, punching numbers all day not ever talking to anyone. In fact, I do not see myself as being an accountant for the rest of my life. I had skills to do other things, go elsewhere; and ultimately, I want to make a difference in this world.

Recently, while wishing I could change my mannerisms, I came upon the book, "How to Win Friends and Influence People", by Dale Carnegie. From the first chapter I was hooked, and it has begun to change my life. It opened my eyes to the beauty of talking to others and how this can fit into the networking world of business.

Dale Carnegie

There are three things that have been a main take-away from this book about networking. Here are those three things:

          1. Always focus on others,

          2. Everyone wants to feel important, and

          3. Always be sincere

Sounds like being a good friend doesn't it? Well that is the essence of networking. I think that too many people focus on, "What can others do for me?" when they want to network instead of, "What can I do for others." The latter is the most important question, because if we keep trying to get others to help us and never help in return, then we will become a nagging fly on the wall, always wanting something. 

Dale Carnegie wrote, “Talk to someone about themselves and they'll listen for hours.” This I am finding to be the key to networking. Stop focusing on yourself, and focus on them. They will love to talk your ear off, and not only will you fain a network, but you will gain a friend.

As a last note, don't drop someone just because they didn't help you. Networking must be more than yourself. The beauty of networking is that it builds friendships. Friendships last a life-time. The best skill someone could develop is how to make others like them and how to make others feel important, then to always stay in contact.

Networking is a skill, developed in love. In essence, it is friendship.

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BEARDS FOR BYU... Maybe.

Gimli?

Throughout the last year I have noticed that many of the students at BYU want to wear their beards. They understand that the honor code at BYU is strict, yet there is a lot of protest to that (see Beards for BYU on Facebook). Students throughout BYU are surely thinking about the possibility of beards being brought back to BYU, but no one knows for sure.

The real question is, why are beads banned from BYU? Beards were banned somewhere in the 1960's because of the counter-culture that was appearing. Longer hairstyles and beards were big, and the school administration did not see this as a good thing. So, beards were banned. Yet with a school that is professed to live the standards of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, then why the beards?

From Pinterest

First observation. Beards cannot be worn by temple workers. Second, General authorities cannot have beards. Third, full-time missionaries must be clean shaven. What do all of these people have in common? They represent the Lord. I find it very interesting that anyone in a position to represent the Savior must be clean shaven. Why is that? Is it because the Savior is clean shaven?

I cannot say a thing about that last question, but the answer to this came from Brother Brau's class in Finance 201. The reason why we don't wear beards is to not distract from out purpose of pointing others to Him. Now, I am not saying that this is true for all people, but I ask the reader to look inside him or herself and ask, "When others see me, do they think more of Him or of me? Do I glorify God, or myself?" 

"Ye are the light of the world," (St. Matthew 5:14) Christ taught. So if we are a light to the world, what light to we emulate? This has nothing to do anymore with just beards, but everything that we do. The way we speak, the way we treat others, and even ourselves. Do we reflect the Lord Savior in all that we do and are? 

This is much bigger than having beards or not, it is whether we are we willing to remember Him in all that we do. I have learned this lesson this week, and I hope that it is some inspiration to whoever is reading it. I wish to try my best to live up to the standards that I set for myself, so that I may be worthy of Him.

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It's Time to Accept Failure

The Rolling Stones may just have had it right with their hit song, "You Can't Always Get What You Want" (Click Here for SoundClip) A title that demonstrates the frustrations of life. It shows the difficulties faced by the human race that act with more than instinct, but with desire.

I have many things that I want. Money, good job, wife, be accepted into the Accounting program at BYU, etc. These are only a beginning of a never ending list of wants and desires. However, life doesn't always play out how we want it to. Something that I am learning to cope with is to accept failure. 

What is Failure?

Failure consists of two points: one is from a lack or inability to perform; i.e., trying to ice-skate but failing. The other, is completely separate from what we do; it is when outside forces cause a failed situation; i.e., the stock market crashes and you loose money (a big failure, but it was based on something that was out of your control). Now, the later may be better than the first, but most of the time when one fails they will ask him or herself, "what if". These "what if" questions stem from the failure and usually go as follows, "What if I had studied more?", or "What if I had sold my stock earlier?" These "What if" questions are dangerous and should be avoided.

I failed this week, I had a big test, an important test, and I did not do well. It hurt me because I felt I had adequately prepared; I also felt pretty good walking out of the testing center to go see my score. However, once I saw the score on the screen my hopes dropped and so did my demeanor. I was crushed. This happens to many people, and there is only one thing to do after a failure like this, move on.

It's Time to Accept Failure

Failure, when it has already happened, needs to be accepted. At the point of failure there is no return, and we must learn to say, "That's okay". Life isn't about to end. Thomas Edison once said, "I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Edison had the right idea, to take what was given then find another way. When failure enters our lives we mustn't think that it is the end of the road, but look for another road that will lead to success. Barak Obama, when he ran against Bobby Rush for congress he got his “rear end handed to [him].” (NY Times) But if we look at Obama now he is the President of the United States.

This is my call to action, to face defeat with an attitude of optimism. When failure happens it is not the end of the road, and I wish to see myself rise above it. Many of the most successful people in the world had faced failure. We have only failed when we have given up. 

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Learn to Love, Love to Learn

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."

- Mahatma Gahndi (Read more quotes here)

Life happens. Honestly, I do not know what that is supposed to mean, but it is a quote that is used a fair amount. But I would state something else, "I make life happen." That is more how I like it. Life does not just happen, it is not a thing that imposes consequences on our heads. Life is something to be lived; something to live for. Life is beautiful; life is short. If we were to just sit down and say, "Well, life will happen" then what would we have at the end of our lives? Life as I see it has three components: (1) Become stronger, (2) Love deeper, and (3) Learn more.

 Become stronger. God did not intend for us to wander aimlessly here on earth; that is something that I do not believe. We are meant for something greater, something magnificent. We are magnificent. All of us. No matter how insignificant or powerless we feel there is someone who will always believe in us--God. This I have learned this week, through trials and questions. Sometimes we ask why life is so hard; we ask why there are so many trials and difficulties. Some would respond "Life happens", but this is to think that we cannot do anything about the circumstances put on us. However, I disagree. Henry Ford once stated, "Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger, even though sometimes it is hard to realize this. For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks and grieves which we endure help us in our marching onward." When life gives you lemons you take the lemon you make lemonade, you extract the seeds, you take the seeds and plant them, and soon you have a lemon tree, then an orchard of lemon trees and you make gallons of lemonade. That is what I believe. We take the trials given to us and we make them our strengths.

Click Here

Learn to love. Christ taught "love one another .... " (St. John 15:12, KJV Bible). What does it mean to love others? My girlfriend, who is a great example of love, has taught me this lesson this week: the more you give the more you receive. So, the more love we give to others the more we receive in return. It is the law of the harvest. If we do nothing but expect love to return to us we will be greatly disappointed. I can be better at this. I saw a quote the other day that said this, "Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody."

I have a tendency to want to introvert myself; I have to fight to want to be outgoing and reach out to others. It is not something that I am particularly proud of. From what my girlfriend taught me this week though I know that if I keep trying the feeling will come in return. Learning to love is actually a hard task. Love is confused as a rush of emotions, an overwhelming feeling that we get when we are close to that person who we are attracted to. But this I have learned is not love. Love is more than a feeling, it is an action. We learn to love others as we serve them and make them feel that they are important to this world.

Love to learn. This lesson sometimes is the hardest for me to learn (ironic right?). Learning is a life-long process, something that starts but never stops. I have learned this week that our perspective on learning can be changed. We can choose to love to learn something new, no matter what it is. If we make it our life goal to learn all that we can while here we will find hidden treasures of knowledge all along the way. To become a good learner is the most prized possession anyone could have. Those who learn to love learning can in turn learn all things. They can learn from trials, from failures, from success, and from God. They can learn to love, to write, to do almost anything they put there minds to.

Learning is the essence of all things that we do. We learned to walk and talk from infancy, and we continue to learn if we allow ourselves to. We can learn to love others, and to extend that love. We can learn from our trials, and make ourselves better today than what we were yesterday. We can love learning, and grow exponentially. This I have learned, and I wish to extend into all areas of my life, to want to learn all.

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