A Hero's Journey


Journal Entry Week 5: A Hero’s Journey

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            This week was really motivational and inspiring. We read four chapters in “Mastery,” by George Leonard, an article by James E. Faust titled, “Perseverance,” and another from the ACTON Foundation titled, “Are Successful Entrepreneurs Born or Made?” We also watched some really inspiring videos that made me very excited for the future. Some of the content that had the greatest impact on me are as follows:
“Mastery”
            We were introduced to three different paths, or styles, that people often have/take when it comes to mastery:


·         The Dabbler: Enjoys the initial thrill of starting something but rationalizes and quits when things start to get tough.
·         The Obsessive: Pushes himself to the extreme to perfect his talents, skills, career, and relationships. When things begin to get tough or cool down, he pushes harder to maintain or increase the high of the original conquest. Watch out for the crash!
·         The Hacker: Happy to just get by. The Hacker is satisfied with half-hearted attempts and doesn’t really want to invest in increasing his knowledge base. Rather, he wants to just have fun at each plateau he lands on after attempting something new. A minimum effort, maximum fun kind of person.
I think I saw a bit of each of these in myself. There are some things I attempt that just aren’t the right fit for me and I give them up after a while. Others, I push myself to accomplish. And still other efforts, I am happy to just get by with. For instance, I took piano lessons as a teenager so I could learn to accompany myself when I sang. I wasn’t interested in learning to master the piano, I just wanted someone available to play for me when I wanted to sing. I took lessons for two years and stopped when I had learned the songs I wanted to learn. My teacher was not very happy about my attitude.

“Again and again we are told to do one thing only so that we can get something else. We spend our lives stretched on an iron rack of contingencies” (Leonard, 1991, p. 39). 

This quote really struck me because I find myself living this way. I work hard at school so I can graduate with good grades, so I can have a competitive chance at getting the internship I want, so I can find a job that will lead me to the career I am hoping to have, so that I can age with dignity and not be a burden on my family. I find myself telling my family and friends and ward members all the time, “As soon as I graduate, then I will have time to…” I always pray that I am doing the right thing. I have this fear that, after all this work I will die before I graduate or someone I love will die before I graduate, and then what will I do? What will I have accomplished? I would have missed out on opportunities to share and express love and create memories with the people who mean the most to me. So, I try very hard to spend time with those I love now, because the thrill of graduating will mean nothing to me if I have guilt over losing something infinitely more important.

“…recognition is often unsatisfying and fame is like seawater for the thirsty” (Leonard, 1991, p. 47). It is so important to keep things in perspective!

“Perseverance”
“Perseverance is demonstrated by those who keep going when the going gets tough, who don’t give up even when others say, “It can’t be done” (Faust, 2005).

Skills to Develop to Increase Opportunities:
·         Organize and use time wisely
·         Hard work – you reap what you sow
·         Leadership skills
·         People skills
·         Gospel study
·         Respect for authority
·         Prayer
·         Humility and dependence on the Lord

“Are Successful People Born or Made?”

“Nothing in this world will take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common that unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proveb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan, ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race” (ACTON, 2010).
“Sure, luck played a part…but you asked about success. Luck is the difference between making a million dollars and ten million or a hundred million. It’s not the difference between success and failure. Each of us was going to be a success; it was just a matter of how long it took” (ACTON, 2010).

Success seems to require a paradigm shift. I need to start thinking like a successful person!

“A Hero’s Journey”

            From the moment this lecture started, I felt like I had goosebumps on my arms! He started off by saying,

“I came here to BYU-Idaho to speak to you because I think some of you in this room are destined to change the world.”

What a powerful start to a speech! He continued by saying,

“You have a special mission to succeed beyond your wildest dreams if you have the faith and courage to find your entrepreneurial calling.”

What does it mean to choose a hero’s journey?
  • ·         Live every day, every moment, like it matters
  • ·         Live as if you have an important mission
  • ·         See struggles as adventures
  • ·         See setbacks as lessons
  • ·         “What matters most isn’t the prize at the end, but how the hero is changed in the process.”

People over 60 often reflect back and wonder:
  • ·         Was I a good person?
  • ·         Who did I love, and who loved me?
  • ·         Have I contributed something meaningful?

“Be world class at something!”

Your Calling:

  1.       How to find your God-given talents:

·         Ask 5 people you know well to tell you what you do better than anyone else in the world
·         Press for specifics, examples, and evidence
·         You’ll be surprised by what you find; their answers will be consistent
·         You’ll find that your gift is something you assumed was easy, because it is easy for you, even though it is very difficult for others.
  1.   2.  How to Know What Brings You Joy:

·         When was the last time you lost track of time while you were doing something?
·         What is something you would practice merely for the sake of practice alone?
·         What is something that could become a life-long discipline that you’re committed to master?
            3.    “If you find where these two intersect, you’ll be very close to finding your calling…You must              satisfy a deep, burning need in the world. A calling must serve others.”
·         What need today calls out to your heart?
·         What problem do you feel you were put on this earth to solve?

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