"A Disciple Preparation Center (DPC)" Elder Bednar

Characteristics of the Disciple Preparation Center (BYU-Idaho)

 (1) This institution of higher education is a temple of learning.

(2) this institution will be located next to a holy temple, even a House of the Lord.

(3) this institution is surrounded by strong stakes of Zion.

Elder Bednar says, "For a member who desires a temple recommend and for a student who wishes to enter into one of the temples of learning, there is a standard of worthiness." An education of higher learning is one that requires more and evokes a higher standard. Especially at BYU-Idaho, students are held to a higher esteem. Their personal commitment changes the efficiency of education. 

Having a house of the Lord on campus positively changes the perspective of students."The temple as a quiet but consistent reminder in our midst of the centrality of Jesus Christ and of the immortality of the soul cannot but elevate the quality of our education and the depth and beauty of our associations." Having that constant reminder keeps students aligned with their goals and aware of the bigger picture. I know that for me, I have a beautiful view of the temple from my apartment complex. Everyday I look at the temple and remind myself of my intentions and my purpose. I love that I have a  temple so close and readily available to me. I can say with assured mind that the temple brings me peace and is a beacon of hope up on that hill here in  Rexburg. 

The strong stakes of Zion  here in Rexburg, Idaho have changed my testimony and my life. As a member of a part-member family, from an incredibly small Mormon-populated area, I have enjoyed my time here at school immensely. The opportunity to study and grow with like-minded saints has improved my personal life as well as  my education. I feel comfortable and inspired here. 

Elder Bednar describes three lessons he hopes we will take away from our time here at the disciple preparation center (BYU-Idaho.)

Lesson (1) A disciple’s faith is focused upon the Son of God.

Lesson (2) A disciple recognizes that faith in the Savior is a spiritual gift and appropriately seeks for that gift in his or her life.

Lesson (3) A disciple’s faith in the Savior and spiritual preparation dispel fear. 

I thought it was interesting that every lesson Elder Bednar described was centered around the Savior Jesus Christ. It was not surprising because our lives, every aspect of them, should revolve around our Savior and his great Atonement. I am so  glad I read this talk because it reminded me to keep my mind in perspective of what I value most. I often get overwhelmed by school, work, the future, etc. And sometimes I forget to remember the Savior and my Heavenly Father. I was put on this earth to learn, grow, and ultimately return to my Heavenly Father. Therefore I need to be involving myself in activities that will get me there. Those are the most important and need to be at the top of my daily task list. 

"A Steady Upward Course" Elder Eyring

1. Change is a part of life.
2. God, through prophets, prepared us to expect changes to accelerate in  the world.

These truths were the basis of Elder Eyring's article, which was given only a few days after the 9/11 tragedy. When an act of terrorism shakes the world, it is natural for one to take a step back and re-evaluate one's life. I think Elder Eyring was inspiring the students at BYU-Idaho to dive deep into those thoughts and he was reminding them to "Remember who you are." 
I am so grateful for my opportunity to be here at BYU-Idaho; a university so dedicated and fixated on the progression of education and knowledge. Elder Eyring described the school as an institution which "inspires inquiry and innovation." We are not here to just learn, but to do. Applying that principle to the Business Deptartment, we have multiple resources and opportunities to help us get out into the "real" business world and start applying our knowledge to real life situations and careers. 


Another thought that Elder Eyring shared that really struck me was, "Although we face an increase in challenges, there is another change sweeping the earth. It is a flood of opportunity." I love the idea of looking on the bright side in the case of tradegy. Hard times are here. As the world begins to tear through with chaos and destruction, we as Saints must remember to have strength, peace and joy. It is getting worse, and things are getting scarier, but we have the opportunity to be bright beacons of hope. Whether we are at home, at work, or even at the grocery store, we as Saints are different and people notice. We need to be setting an example and holding fast to our principles as the world degrades further and further into dark chaos. 

I also enjoyed Elder Eyring's definition of, "Spartanism." Elder Eyring describes, "it refers to rigorously self-disciplined and self-restrained. That is part of the spirit of Ricks at Brigham Young University-Idaho—simple, frugal, or austere; courageous in the face of pain, danger, or adversity." This quote completely embodies the 'spirit of Ricks.' As I have been getting further into my major, I find myself with less 'free' time and with more items to add to my to-do list. But, no matter how busy I am, I feel good knowing that I am progressing towards my goals, and that I am capable of handling more than I ever knew I could. 'I can do hard things' has been a sort of mantra for me as of late. 

With that in mind, I also like to remember the foundation for why I do what I do."Our hearts, fixed on Him and His work, will keep us on course, however the wind blows. We will follow His prophet. We will see the greatest work of our lives as nurturing others as the Savior did. We will see the potential in others as He sees it. We will treat every resource that comes into our hands as a trust from Him. We will see our victories as a gift from Him and so be proof against pride. We will not fear because we will know we are on His errand." 

As I continue on my 'steady, upward course' I will keep the Savior and my Heavenly Father in mind always. They are the reason I have this incredible opportunity to get a quality education. I know that life is full of changes. As I change, and as the world changes, I will look for the opportunities to do good, instead of focus on the negative aspects of change. I know that as a latter-day Saint, I have a lot expected of me. I will prepare now to reach my fullest potential and to do so with dignity and honestly. I am glad I was able to read this incredible talk which inspired me to re-evaluate my choices and set my sights on what is most important to me. 

Week 4

Today's class we had our first guest speaker! He was a few years older than us, and he is an entrepreneur who has created 3 businesses. He made some really great points that I jotted down:

• THINK like an entrepreneur
• "Be anxiously engaged"
• Just START
• Instead of what do I want out of life?....What does LIFE want out of ME?

I really enjoyed hearing from a real entrepreneur's perspective who is close in age, and not too far from where we will all be in a few years. 

We also watched a video from "Launching Leaders" which described the 3 Tools for Success, or something along those lines....

• The Tri-quation
• The Productivity Pyramid
• The Personal Constitution

The "Tri-quation" is made up of Self Esteem, Productivity, and Event Control. It shows how the three work together in business. 

The Productivity Pyramid is something we read last week which begins with Governing Tasks at the bottom, then Long-term goals, Short-term goals, and works its way up to the top at Daily Tasks. I find the pyramid really useful when I am trying to get my thought organized. 

The Personal Constitution I wrote down previously in a recent blog post. It is an essential tool as I experience my entrepreneurial journey. 

Class was really interesting today, and I really enjoyed the readings and videos we had the opportunity to watch outside of class. We watched a video where he described that finding a job that you were "born to do" is one of the most difficult things. I am excited to continue to learn and grow the confidence I need to hold my head high as I walk through my entrepreneurial journey. 

Deconstructing Fears

Worst Case Scenario:

My worst fear is getting stuck in a boring, dead end job, being married to a deadbeat husband, and setting a bad example for my children after choosing not to pursue my calling for whatever reason. This sort of life is one that I see a lot of  my family members possessing. This fear has been deep-seated in me for quite a while and it is my ultimate goal to lead a very different life from that of my family members.

My Fears:

1. Disappointing my parents

2. Failing in my chosen career

3. Living a boring life

4. Not living up to my potential 


Deconstructing my Fears:

1. I know that my parents have never really been disappointed in me, but this is an irrational fear I have. I need to remember that they are proud and I need to stop worrying so much about what they think of me. 

2. I need to recognize that failure is a part of life and it is a part of success. It s important to allow failure  to happen so I can learn from past business decisions and grow from those experiences. 

3. The solution to this fear, almost seems easy. My life won't be boring if I choose to make it exciting and fulfilling. As I go about my endeavors, I should always be working hard and keeping my motives in mind. 

4. The most important part to living up to my potential is to work hard, stay humble, and NEVER give up. It is easy to get off track and to lose faith, but in order to avoid this fear, I need to avoid losing faith. 



Way Back  to the Status Quo:

1. If I did disappoint my parents, I think it  would be difficult to not let it affect me. But, the best thing for me to do would be to pray for  guidance and peace, then get out there and make them proud. I would prove them wrong and show them how successful I am.

2. If I did fail in my chosen career the best thing to do would be to get up and try again. I think I would re-evaluate my choices, and then create a plan of action. Where do I go from here? Failing would just give me the chance to try again and be better.

3. Hm, if I lead a boring life, the solution is, it is never too late to change! I would go over my bucket list, and my goal list and start working on making my dreams come true! It is never too late to dream a new dream. 

4. I believe this one is similar to the last one as well. It is never too late! If I am not living up to my potential, I can change. Whether I need to quit my job and find a new one, or start using my talents more often, I can make it happen if I just set my mind to it. 

Questions:

1. If you pursue your calling discipline, intentionally, and the help of your fellow travelers, what are the chances that your worst case scenario will ever happen?

My worst case scenario is less likely to happen if I am diligently pursuing my calling. I believe with hard work, the right motives, and some help, I will be able to achieve success. Even if I do suffer failure, the blow  wont't be detrimental because I will have support and I will know where to go from there.

2. As you look at your fears, what themes emerge? What is at the core of what you really fear? 

Failure. My truly worst fear is failing. Failing my parents, failing in my career, failing to unleash my potential--failure.

3. What is the risk of taking no action--not following your calling? How do you plan to deal with fear on your entrepreneurial journey? 

It is high risk to not  following my calling. I truly wouldn't live up to all that I am capable of, and I would lead a unfulfilled life--two of my biggest fears.
As I go through my entrepreneurial journey, I am going  to recognize my fears and conquer them. If I am scared of something occurring, or not occurring, I will just make it happen. I will work to reverse whatever it is that I fear. I will look at fear, and remember that I am so much more than my fears. I will remind myself that I have the ability and potential to achieve whatever it is that I set my mind to.

Personal Constitution

Who am I?

• I enjoy helping other people
• I am a good listener
• Typically witty
• I like organization
• I look at the big picture
• I relatively enjoy public speaking
• I have a strong desire for knowledge
• I am sometimes insecure
• I most often take the initiative/ lead on projects
• Open to new ideas/things
• I dream big
• Lazy sometimes/not always willing to hustle
• Although sometimes I am 100% in it to win it
• I am creative
• Motivated by my family/future family/the common good
• Sometimes put too much on my plate; become stressed/overwhelmed

Who do I want to become?

• I want to be a part of an organization that helps other people
• I want to be more courageous
• I want to be more confident/risk taker
• I want to be a kinder, softer person 
• I  want to get my degree and continue to further my education
• I want to become financially stable
• I want my voice to be heard
• I  want to be more protective about my beliefs and stand stronger
• I want to travel and immerse myself in  culture and knowledge
• I want to raise children and teach them good morals 
• I want to be a more intellectual person 

I have noticed that the primary attribute that will get me from point A to point B is confidence. Truthfully, I have come a significantly long way in terms of confidence, but if I want to achieve my goals I need to continue to build and grow. This semester I have been trying to put myself out there and try new things. I have noticed that the more I push, the stronger my confidence grows. This world is scary, but I know that the only person who can help me is, me. Therefore, I am going to continue to push myself and discover where my true potential lies. 

Another clear attribute that will help me transition into who I want to become is hard work. I have noticed that I thrive when I am busier. I truly enjoy going to school, getting my education, and studying all this world has to offer. There are times when the natural man takes over me and I become lazy; shirking on my goals and responsibilities. In order to succeed, I need to fight that urge and work harder. I am trying to spend less time being idle and filling my time with more substantial activities. 

I think goal setting is the best way for me to become the person I want to be. If I strive to work on my small goals; those everyday things; I will be able to come closer to this person. 

My Top 5 Priorities (at this point in my life): 

I want to be more courageous

I want to be a more intellectual person 

I want to be more confident/risk taker

I want my voice to be heard

I  want to be more protective about my beliefs and stand stronger

In order for me to adapt these attributes I will (as I said before) work harder and grow my confidence. I think by putting myself out there, and practicing speaking out and speaking up often, I can achieve this persona. I will achieve these things because the only direction I care to go in is onward and upward. If I am not working on achieving these things, I am not progressing. Therefore I will work on these things and I will succeed. 

Week 3

This week we discussed 'Honesty and Divine Guidance.'

My group, (group 1) did a presentation and activity having to do with this assignment. We shared the story of Nephi when he was commanded to build a boat; a task he had never attempted before. His brothers mocked him, telling him he couldn't do it. This story is relevant to the entrepreneurial world. As entrepreneurs, we take risks, and we often think outside the box. We may even be swayed by divine guidance. People will see these things and try to tell us we cannot accomplish our mission. As we know, Nephi did build a boat and that boat brought Nephi and his family safely to America. Nephi chose to listen to divine guidance and he succeeded.

Honesty in business is essential to a successful, respectful, thriving environment. Honest communication between a business and its customers, or an employer and their employees creates trustworthy relationships. Those relationships make all the difference when it comes to competing companies. If you are not honest in your dealings with customers, they are gonna go to the other guy. It is just that simple.

I think it is also important to remember that money is not everything. Most dishonest behavior in business has to do with personal gain. What is your motivation? Why do you do what you do? If money is your primary answer, you may want to rethink things.

We read a couple of great talks, one in particular was Sheri Dew's 'True Blue, Through and Through.' She related the story of Joseph F. Smith standing up for his religion. He had the confidence and integrity to do what was right. I think in business this is important. Let people know who you are and what you are all about.

A couple of quotes about honesty in business that we used in our presentation and that I enjoyed very much:

“I hope that I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.” - George Washington.

‘If people like you they will listen to you, but if they trust you they will do business with you.” - Zig Zigler.

Magdalena Yesil Case Study

1. How did Magdalena Yesil’s habit of lifelong learning benefit her career.

Yesil's habit of lifelong learning was the most important quality that furthered her career. Yesil had the motive of 'being all the way there,' in every situation. She did not let distractions get to her. She stayed focused on her tasks at hand and she had a strong desire to learn all there was to learn. Yesil also recognized that life is hard. Making it to the top is not a  cake walk. Yesil got her degree and put herself out there; absorbing all the knowledge she could and seeking for more learning opportunities. By doing these things, Yesil achieved many successes and grew to have more freedom and opportunities in her life. 

1. If you were in Yesil’s position, how would you respond to the offer made by USVP?

Although I cannot speak for Yesil or her particular situation, from my stand point, I think she should not take the offer from USVP. From her story it sounds like Yesil has many options and an ample amount of connections. If Yesil were to continue to lead an entrepreneurial life, she would no doubt thrive. Also, Yesil sounds like she truly enjoys the freedom an entrepreneurial life brings. I think Yesil's happiness accounts for a majority of her decision. 

1. How would you address the challenges to family life that this kind of career would present to you? Why would you remain or not remain in this type of career?

Balancing family life, along with having this kind of career is definitely difficult but it is doable. Yesil has stood her ground with her decision not to move out of her home in California. Yesil lives with her husband, two kids, and her mother. She sounds very family-oriented. I believe that it is possible to balance the two lifestyles if you are diligent and committed. If it comes to the point of choosing which of the two is most important, I think most people would say family comes first. For me, family absolutely comes first. If I need to step back at work, or even quit and find a solution that works better with my schedule so I can be with my kids and spend time with my family, then I will do it. But I really believe that if I am willing to work hard, I can have it all. 

1. Magdalena pondered one more transition from entrepreneur to financier. What would you recommend she consider doing? Why?

As I said before, I think Magdalena should stay an entrepreneur. Yesil is passionate about working with people and she enjoys her freedom in her working lifestyle. Yesil is a 'life-long learner' and in her position as an entrepreneur, she has the ability to be exposed to many different ideas and projects, furthering her knowledge. I believe that entrepreneurship is a good fit for Yesil.