Brain Food

There is an old Native American proverb that came to my mind during my studies this week. In short, it goes like this:

A grandfather tells his grandson, “There are two wolves inside of him. One is good, kind, and generous, and the other is bad, mean, and greedy. They are constantly fighting inside me.” Very concerned, the grandson asks his grandfather, “Which one will win?” to which he replies, “The one I feed.”

I have had the pleasure of listening to Earl Nightingale’s The Strangest Secret when he told us that, “You become what you think about.” I have viewed the documentary, The Secret, based on the book of the same title by Rhonda Byrne where she explains that one can change one’s life based on ones’ thoughts. I have heard multiple times the famous quote by Zig Ziglar, “You are what you are and you are where you are because of what has gone into your mind. You change what you are and you change where you are by changing what goes into your mind.” And, I believe every one of them to be true.

Our minds are powerful tools for good or for ill. And, like a powerful engine, it will function efficiently and appropriately if we feed it with good, wholesome nutrition. Over time, it will exceed our expectations. Conversely, if we put junk in, we will get junk out, and after a while, it will become pretty weak, feeble, and eventually utterly useless.

Watch uplifting shows and movies (in limited quanitites). Read books to improve yourself (no limit here!). Study the scriptures and follow is Christ’s footsteps (always). Feed our brains only the best. Believe we can do all things. With our Heavenly Father’s help, we certainly can. 

Why NOT Me?

During this week's assignments, I read from The Ministry of Business by Steven Hitz and James Ritchie. Both authors, with their wives as their partners, have built very successful businesses, and they have mentored others to do likewise. In chapter four of the book, Mr. Ritchie mentions "The Formula" that he created that would lead him to find the success he sought. He is then quoted as saying, "If God would allow these principles of success to work on a polio stricken, stuttering, chicken farmer from Heber, Utah (speaking of himself), then why wouldn't He do the same for you?"

Mr. Ritchie's statement seemed to really speak to me this week. I scoured LDS.com, searching for a Conference talk (that I just KNOW I heard recently) that had that very same theme. Unfortunately, I was not able to find the talk that I thought I was looking for. I then had another thought.

This time, I didn't need to hear words of counsel from our Church leaders; I needed to receive this revelation on my own. I am a child of my Heavenly Father, my Lord and King. It struck me that I have been blessed with many talents and abilities that will help me succeed. In fact, God loves me, He wants me to prosper, and He will help me. Knowing who I am, who I am NOT to be successful? Why NOT me?

Intentionality

The first time I heard the word “intentionality,” I thought Dave Ramsey had made it up. But, my Miriam-Webster smart phone app has it, and since they decide what words are real and don’t list those that aren’t, “intentionality” must be legit. The powers that be in the English language define it as “done in a way that is planned or intended.”

Dave taught me something else, “A goal that isn’t written down is just a wish.” Intentionality. Randy Pausch must have learned this early in his lifetime. When he was a kid, he listed a bunch of things he wanted to do. And, before he passed away, he DID them! I suppose he wrote them down. Intentionality.

The exercises that we completed this week in our Introduction to Entrepreneurship class are all about setting goals and writing them down. We cannot forget the “writing down” part! We acknowledge who we are now, we look at where we want to be, and, keeping in mind our values, map out a way to get there. Intentionality.

Another class exercise had us create a list of 50 things we want to do before we “check out” of this life. Doing that caused me to dream a little. I then thought of Dave again.

Dave suggests that we use dreaming as a reason to set (and write down) goals (they gotta be written down!). Dreaming gives us a reason to do what it takes to achieve those goals. We will not reach any goals (even if they are written down) if we do not act. Dreaming is a HUGE part of goal-setting.

I had a dream when I was younger. This dream wasn’t from childhood; it was more from my young adulthood, but it was a dream, just the same. I wanted to play volleyball in college and maybe in the Olympics. I was really good, but I didn't realize it then. I know that now, but it is too late. I will not achieve that goal because, quite frankly, I am too old. But, I am okay with that. I have moved on to other goals that I can achieve, even at my age.

So, in my homework this week, I have let myself dream about some things I want to do before I “cross the River Jordan.” I have written down some goals. I am moving forward with intentionality.

Do What You Gotta Do

By the time you turn 50, you should know what you want. You should’ve found your "calling" in life, and do what you love. I am staring down the barrel at 50, and I still have no idea what I want to do. I have DONE lots. I guess you can say, "I did what I had to do," but it’s never really been who I am. 

I have worked for an county elections office and a county auditor’s office. I have been a 911 dispatcher, a crossing guard, a secretary, a day-care provider, a multi-level marketer, a shipping clerk, an insurance agent, a part-time housekeeper, and a part-time transcriptionist. I have been a lunch lady, an entrepreneur/online marketer, and I have been unemployed. And, I have always tried to grow some sort of home based business on the side in addition to being a mom and wife. In every employment aspect, I’ve felt that I’ve done what I had to do at the time.

Most of my education has been through the school of hard knocks. I had very few college credits to my name for a long time. About two years ago, I felt impressed to return to school. So, I added “student” to the list of job titles I've held.  BYU-Idaho had the program that I needed. It may have been designed just for me.

I have chosen a career field that I am not yet sure is my passion, but it’s one in which I do have an interest. I have faith that I can learn what I need to in order to be successful. And, the knowledge I gain will be beneficial in my desire to continue my entrepreneurship.

Today I am starting my entrepreneurship BLOG. I can see the value in this, but at this moment in time, I am doing what I gotta do.