PJ's job blog journal

12/15/2015 "Are we having fun yet?"  That was the question my dad would often pose.  He was all about fun and wanted to make sure that we found the fun in our daily lives.  Working hard was important but having fun was too.  Finding that balance can be tricky. This week's readings and instruction helped me step back and refocus my perspective on where I'm sat now and where I'd like to be in the future. Stan Christiansen was my favorite speaker as he explained how we should avoid getting the wrong job.  He advised us to not make unnecessary assumptions. Dont' do things that you think others want you to do.  Don't outguess what people want. Pick something you will enjoy.  Don't stress about longterm careers.  People switch around jobs these days.  Your first job out of college will surely not be your only company you work with or for. Specializing is not he best path to success.  If you specialize in something and it becomes ob...

Charles Handy wrote a very interesting (and very deep) piece called "What's a Business For?" He pointed out many ways of how there are corruptions in American and European businesses. They've abandoned virtue and trust and result is loss of trust with the consumer and even the shareholders. "Trust, too, is fragile. Like a piece of china, once cracked it is never quite the same." "Markets rely on rules and laws, but those rules and laws in turn depend on truth and trust. Conceal truth or erode trust, and the game becomes so unreliable that no one will want to play. The markets will empty and share prices will collapse, as ordinary people find other places to put their money – into their houses, maybe, or under their beds. The great virtue of capitalism – that it provides a way for the savings of society to be used for the creation of wealth will have been eroded." (Handy, "Business") Handy explains that the real justification for ...

America has been given many titles: Yankeeland, Land of the Free and Home of the Brave, Land of Properity and also the Land of Opportunity.   I’d like to discuss how it is the land of Opportunity. I have recently returned from a trip overseas.  It was fabulous and enlightening.  We saw buildings and relics that predated the Savior's birth.  We ate strange foods and chatted with the locals, whenever we could.  Although it’s always fun to get away, the best part about travel is coming home. For me, that home is the United States of America.  Right after we cleared customs, this is the welcome home banner that was hanging so proudly.   I am grateful to be born into this beautiful country where everyone has the right to an education and anyone willing to work hard enough and smart enough can make whatever life they choose.  Find your passion and find a way to make money doing it. Here are a few of the lessons that stood out to me this week...

“Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them.” (Albert Einstein) As I was racing through the Zurich airport last week this giant ad caught my eye.  At first I didn’t understand it.  It seemed like a contraction.  Limits limit is.  They show us how far we can go.  They are barriers.  Road blocks.  Limitations!  Or are they? Albert seems to believe they are not.  By understanding them we understand ourselves.  Our strengths and weaknesses.  Our assets.  Our deficits.  How can this help?  It allows us to see ourselves from all angles and better address ways to overcome hurdles.   Taylor Richards  gave a lecture entitled: “Think Big”. He emphasized that we can do what we dream.  We should involve the Lord in our plans.  It is no harder to be great than to be good. Elder Dallin H. Oaks spoke about "The Challenge to Become" as being something that we should always be working towards. ...

11/15/2019 Leadership  skills are essential in nearly every situation.  Children playing on a playground will eventually make decisions about their game or their play and one (or more) leaders will emerge.  Every sports team needs a coach or a captain to established goals and rules and keep things organized.  I’m business, it is the same.  From the smallest business to the largest corporation, effective leadership is key to happiness and success. According to Guy K. there are three aspects of building trust. 1. Trustworthiness- are you who you say you are? 2. Kinds of people- 1. Baker sees a pie and wants to get as much as possible , make more pies- opportunity -. 2, Eater- my gain of the pie is your loss - greedy  3. Default to yes: “how can I help that person?” is a question we should always be asking ourselves.   In a speech entitled “Hiring Ethical people” we were taught  Try to hire nice people-dynamics of small teams Moral Goal of business i...

11/15/2019 Leadership  skills are essential in nearly every situation.  Children playing on a playground will eventually make decisions about their game or their play and one (or more) leaders will emerge.  Every sports team needs a coach or a captain to established goals and rules and keep things organized.  I’m business, it is the same.  From the smallest business to the largest corporation, effective leadership is key to happiness and success. According to Guy K. there are three aspects of building trust. 1. Trustworthiness- are you who you say you are? 2. Kinds of people- 1. Baker sees a pie and wants to get as much as possible , make more pies- opportunity -. 2, Eater- my gain of the pie is your loss - greedy  3. Default to yes: “how can I help that person?” is a question we should always be asking ourselves.