Skip to main content
        The last couple of weeks my wife and I have been on a trip to British Columbia. I had a lot of time to reflect while my wife and I traveling around the province enjoying each other and the sites.  I finally was able to complete this assignment, in terribly late fashion, while bunking in a hotel room in multiple small towns.  While completing research into other careers and what it is to be an entrepreneur, I was able to ponder and understand my own personal choices to become involved with a mechanical trade.  I can see now, twenty years later, how the Lord blessed me with skills and abilities to succeed in this career.  It hasn’t always been easy; however, I’ve found that as I apply different technical and communicative skills, I’ve been able to thrive at whatever I’ve set out to accomplish.  I realize most of these skills were learned or developed while serving a full-time mission.

         This past week during study time I really enjoyed a quote by President Gordon B. Hinckley, “There is no substitute under the heavens for productive labor. It is the process by which dreams become realities. It is the process by which idle visions become dynamic achievements. It is work that spells the difference in life. It is stretching our minds and utilizing the skills of our hands that lift us from mediocrity.”  I first learned from my parents that hard work is a principle from God.  Then, through life lessons and experiences, I’ve applied that principle and found it true.  By serving without complaint in church responsibilities and going the extra mile at work, I try and show, by example, that there truly is no substitute for productive labor.
        During our past travels we had the opportunity to watch an old movie with Robin Williams as the star, "Dead Poets Society."  Upon close reflection, I’ve got mixed feelings about the whole “Carpe Diem” idea.  When service opportunities arise, I think it’s best to seize the opportunity and get things done.  However, I believe mortality is a time best suited for contemplation and listening.  I don’t think “we’ll just be food for the worms, cold…”, I think we’re here to learn and adjust.  I love the anecdote by Pres. Thomas S. Monson about listening to the spirit.  He’s lived a life of straining to hear the whispering and directions of the spirit, then jumping to the task.  If this is “Carpe Diem”, then I agree with that principle.  However, Mr. Keating (played by Williams), taught the lesson of “eat, drink and be merry”, make yourself happy.  This is one principle that I strive and debunk to my kids, the quick and easy choice rarely is the best.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Week 8 Journal

I was completely astounded this week while studying about different company motivations, hiring practices and employee engagement practices.   I read about a software company SAS Institute.   This company has an internal daycare, personal ergonomic coach, employee cafeteria, employee gym and unlimited sick leave for employees to enjoy.   Jim Goodnight believes that a company will only succeed as long as the employees are healthy and happy.   I didn’t realize there were companies that practiced these kinds of principles.   My current employer has a mission statement that includes words like “Mission, Vision, Values and Goals”, however upon further reading of my own company propaganda it appears that most of these words are fluff, with no real intent or plans behind the hype.   Hopefully, after earning a degree, I might be able to find a company that can afford to treat its employees as well as the stock holders believe they do.    ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Week 13 Journal

This week my wife and I sat down to discuss our own personal finances.   We decided to create a budget, not unlike a small business budget that I’ve created in the past.   We slowly applied each debit and credit to our budget sheet and when concluded, I created a simple balance sheet with a projected profit and loss statement.   If I was to ask Sadie to do this with me years ago, it wouldn’t have been near as meaningful as we are now very close to paying our mortgage off and starting a new and exciting chapter in our lives.   I included both my pension and 401K as, with projections for retirement in 15 years.   We both feel if we remain strict to our budget we can have both mission funds and college education set aside for our two sons.   At times, discussing the budget was tense and nerve-racking.   However, we have had the same goals for over 18 years now and will continue to do so.   We are looking forward to the future. After the last t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Last Lecture Exercise

Lessons learned:   Last Lecture Exercise       Placing God first can transform difficult challenges into rewarding and spiritual experiences.   This term while completing case studies and trying to understand lessons from others’ lives, it brought to memory the time my wife and I had to learn a very tough lesson.   As a field service technician for Cummins, one of my first assignments was to shadow a journeyman mechanic in the Phoenix valley.   I would travel with him and work either on the same projects or on the same work-site as he would.   This was a rewarding experience for me; it was successful in building a solid foundation with Cummins.   After six months, I was assigned to be a resident diagnostician for one of our larger clients.   Each day I would report to their service facilities and diagnose and direct repairs on their fleet.   I had three new co-workers that seemed dependable and easy to work with. ...
Post a Comment
Read more