I wish I could recall the circumstances that led to this particular thought. I was talking to someone, probably my mother, about leadership and I thought that being a leader is like playing big game of chess.
Chess is a game that I enjoy playing and wish I was good at, but have never gotten very serious about, despite the fact that many of my friends think I must be good at chess. It's a very strategic game made of many pieces each with very unique attributes. A good chess player knows his pieces, their strengths and weaknesses, the playing field, and his end goal.
Every piece in chess is different and has special ways of acting that no make it valuable. A good chess player knows that each, if used properly can be used to great advantage, even those that seem to be less important.
The people we lead come in all varieties, from those who take center stage to those that are content to do their job in the background and not be noticed, to those who are afraid to share what they have to give. A leader needs to get to know each of his "pieces", their strengths and weakness. Don't overlook anyone. From pawn to king, each has something to contribute if you know how to use them.
A chess player knows the game board. I don't mean just knowing that there are 64 squares of alternating colors. I mean knowing what positions are most important to hold, which are best for offense and which for defense. The best chess players know the board so well that they can play without even looking at the board. By using chess notation a strong player knows where all of his and his opponents pieces are in relation to eachother. He knows who is in danger and who is in a position to attack.
Whatever our playing field is we must know it thoroughly. Perhaps we lead a nation and need to know what areas are safe and secure and which are under imminent threat. Perhaps we lead a small group of people on a campout and need to know where we can set up tents and what and where poison ivy grows.
Perhaps the most important thing to know in a game of chess or in a leadership position is the goal. In chess it is simple: capture the opponent's king, and protect your own. For leaders it can be anything from helping to chop firewood for winter to leading your troops through enemy terrain. Whatever it is it must be understood by leaders, or else little or nothing can be accomplished.
When a leader understands each of these basic principles and brings them together he can accomplish great things. He can maximise the effectiveness of those he leads and make them more together than any of them could be alone.
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Monday, February 3, 2014
Start with what you know
I am currently a college student studying electrical engineering. Recently I came across a problem that I had no idea how to solve. I looked through the book hoping to find some sort of inspiration, but to no avail. There was only one thing to do. I wrote down what I knew from the problem statement and set out to squeeze as much as information as I could out of the few details provided to me. After a few lines a solution opened up to me and I was able to complete the problem.
Another example of this happened when I was trying to fix my car. Initially it was thought that the starter had died and needed to be replaced. I wasn't sure where the starter was locacted to even begin working with it. I thought that maybe I should start with the battery and then follow the cables until it led me to the starter, but I wasn't sure if that path would be productive. I called my dad for advice and he confirmed my suspicion that following the battery cables would lead me to the starter.
I followed the battery cables, but still wasn't sure if what I had found was the starter so I called someone else who could come look at my car and give me more direct help. The first thing my friend did was to check the battery. I had already tried jumping the car with no luck and was convinced that it must be the starter. We removed the battery and went to get it tested. The voltage low enough that the battery wouldn't charge from being jumped by another car, and so we had the battery trickle charged. After an hour I recieved a call saying that the battery was beyond hope, but that because I was still under the warranty I could get a new battery free of charge.
I learned an important lesson from these experiences; one that will serve me well in my engineering career and in life in general. Start with what you know. It seems like a simple thing, but there is often great power in simple things.
In solving most any problem you can organize what is given to you and then you can expand what is given using what you already know until you are able to solve the problem. In solving my engineering problems it is often necessary to rearrange information and look at it in a different way. I have to keep my mind open and be willing to do work that may not directly help me to solve the problem, but leads me to other options that do allow me to discover a solution.
I am not always able to solve the problem at hand immediately, but rather am shown what questions I must ask so that I can solve the problem.
I have found that this is also an excellent way to learn new things. Find something that interests you and, using what you know, make your best guess about what it is and how it works and then proceed to fill in the gaps.
To continue on with the example of an engine. My younger brother recieved a dirt bike for Christmas. It needs some repairs to make it run and so my brother and I get to work on it together. I have a little knowledge of how an engine works and by applying what little I know I can see what else there is to know. If I were to simple look at it and guess how to fix it I would be at a complete loss, but by knowing that gas and oxygen need to mix together and be ignited by a spark I can check if that process is happening correctly. If it is I can move on to the next thing I know, if not I can learn more about that process and fix it.
Some problems may take more work and ingenuity than others, but with any problem, you have to start somewhere, so you might as well start with what you know.
Another example of this happened when I was trying to fix my car. Initially it was thought that the starter had died and needed to be replaced. I wasn't sure where the starter was locacted to even begin working with it. I thought that maybe I should start with the battery and then follow the cables until it led me to the starter, but I wasn't sure if that path would be productive. I called my dad for advice and he confirmed my suspicion that following the battery cables would lead me to the starter.
I followed the battery cables, but still wasn't sure if what I had found was the starter so I called someone else who could come look at my car and give me more direct help. The first thing my friend did was to check the battery. I had already tried jumping the car with no luck and was convinced that it must be the starter. We removed the battery and went to get it tested. The voltage low enough that the battery wouldn't charge from being jumped by another car, and so we had the battery trickle charged. After an hour I recieved a call saying that the battery was beyond hope, but that because I was still under the warranty I could get a new battery free of charge.
I learned an important lesson from these experiences; one that will serve me well in my engineering career and in life in general. Start with what you know. It seems like a simple thing, but there is often great power in simple things.
In solving most any problem you can organize what is given to you and then you can expand what is given using what you already know until you are able to solve the problem. In solving my engineering problems it is often necessary to rearrange information and look at it in a different way. I have to keep my mind open and be willing to do work that may not directly help me to solve the problem, but leads me to other options that do allow me to discover a solution.
I am not always able to solve the problem at hand immediately, but rather am shown what questions I must ask so that I can solve the problem.
I have found that this is also an excellent way to learn new things. Find something that interests you and, using what you know, make your best guess about what it is and how it works and then proceed to fill in the gaps.
To continue on with the example of an engine. My younger brother recieved a dirt bike for Christmas. It needs some repairs to make it run and so my brother and I get to work on it together. I have a little knowledge of how an engine works and by applying what little I know I can see what else there is to know. If I were to simple look at it and guess how to fix it I would be at a complete loss, but by knowing that gas and oxygen need to mix together and be ignited by a spark I can check if that process is happening correctly. If it is I can move on to the next thing I know, if not I can learn more about that process and fix it.
Some problems may take more work and ingenuity than others, but with any problem, you have to start somewhere, so you might as well start with what you know.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
First Dates
The first date. For some it's simple and easy. For others it can be one of the most nerve wracking experiences known to man. And why shouldn't it be? You face an entire evening (or monring or whatever time of day you choose) with a person that you hardly know. You probably think they are good looking and could be a fun person, or maybe a deep thinker, or the sporty type. It's a mystery just begging to be solved. And so we go on a date and see what happens.
The funny thing is, after that first date you still know nothing about the person! Sure you can spout off a few random facts about them, but that doesn't tell you anything, and no one really remembers any of that stuff.
It takes time to really get to know someone. On a first date no one is really themself. You have to learn how they really are when they are comfortable enough to be themself. You have to learn what's really important to them.
You can't learn enough about a person to decide if you want to be in a relationship with them or not on a first date. And yet we try to do it all the time. We try to learn all the superficial stuff at first and then decide if we like that person.
All that stuff should really come later. Or rather it will come later. As a relationship build you will eventually learn all the little details, like their favorite movie, their favorite memory from childhood, who their first grade teacher was. You'll never stop learning the little things about a person.
But how can we do it differently? How can you open up to a person when you first meet them to let them get to know you? Maybe you can't. What you can do is this: give it time. Don't jump to conclusions about people until you get to know them. Give them a chance to be with you without having any expectations, just go on dates to have fun and see where things go.
You can certainly build a friendship without having romantic interest. On the other hand you can't really build a lasting relationship without a foundational friendship. Frienship is a much more durable commodity than romance. And when the going gets tough what you really need is a friend, not someone to cuddle, though hugs are certainly helpful after a rough day.
So go on dates and be friends. Don't make it more complicated than it really is. Maybe it won't lead to marriage, but if you can gain a friend, then it is worth it.
The funny thing is, after that first date you still know nothing about the person! Sure you can spout off a few random facts about them, but that doesn't tell you anything, and no one really remembers any of that stuff.
It takes time to really get to know someone. On a first date no one is really themself. You have to learn how they really are when they are comfortable enough to be themself. You have to learn what's really important to them.
You can't learn enough about a person to decide if you want to be in a relationship with them or not on a first date. And yet we try to do it all the time. We try to learn all the superficial stuff at first and then decide if we like that person.
All that stuff should really come later. Or rather it will come later. As a relationship build you will eventually learn all the little details, like their favorite movie, their favorite memory from childhood, who their first grade teacher was. You'll never stop learning the little things about a person.
But how can we do it differently? How can you open up to a person when you first meet them to let them get to know you? Maybe you can't. What you can do is this: give it time. Don't jump to conclusions about people until you get to know them. Give them a chance to be with you without having any expectations, just go on dates to have fun and see where things go.
You can certainly build a friendship without having romantic interest. On the other hand you can't really build a lasting relationship without a foundational friendship. Frienship is a much more durable commodity than romance. And when the going gets tough what you really need is a friend, not someone to cuddle, though hugs are certainly helpful after a rough day.
So go on dates and be friends. Don't make it more complicated than it really is. Maybe it won't lead to marriage, but if you can gain a friend, then it is worth it.
Friday, November 8, 2013
Wonder
Wonder. Awe. Marvel. These are just a few words I could use to describe one of my favorite feelings. And yet I am not sure that any of them really capture the spirit of what I feel. I hope that through the words I share here that you can capture something of the vision I have.
If I were to choose a beginning to this particular story I suppose the best place to start would be in the summer of 2011. The feeling of course goes back much further than that and I may have even contemplated it before, but that summer had a few experiences that make it as good a time as any to start. I worked at Island Park Scout Camp that summer. I was the director of the Trail to Eagle,which was designed to help scouts complete their first few ranks through 1st class. As part of my assignment I had to teach the scouts a large variety of skills. The one pertinent to this story was that of plant identification. It was during that time that I started to really appreciate the wide variety and beauty of nature. Lord Baden Powell summed it up wonderfully in a farewell letter to the scouts of the world that was published after his death. "Nature study will show you how full of beautiful and wonderful things God has made the world for you to enjoy. Be contented with what you have got and make the best of it. Look on the bright side of things instead of the gloomy one." I had the opportunity to read that as part of our honor trail at the camp. I made a goal to study nature more and learn to identify more plants. I have not learned any more plants since that time, but I try to be more conscious of the world as I go throughout my day. At any rate it started a way of approaching life that I do my best to live to this day.
I wish I could say that there was an immediate change in my life after that summer, but the next several months turned out to be a very dark time for me and the seed lay dormant. When I began to come out of the darkness and back into the light, I decided I wanted to make changes in my life; I didn't want to be the same person I had been. I wanted to live a fuller life and see just how far I could go. In truth I had had similar thoughts in many periods of my life, but after having been very nearly destroyed I had a unique opportunity to rebuild myself. I simply felt that I was capable of doing amazing things with my life and I didn't want to lose any opportunities because I wasn't living my life in a way to take advantage of them.
In the spring of 2013 I took an institute class in which my teacher taught us that we should live our lives' in crescendo. In life we are either improving or we are declining; there is no stagnation. We should live each day a little better than the one before. The lessons he taught about living in crescendo that semester resonated with me in a way few things had. I wanted to become all that God intended me to be. I wanted to live my life in such a way that nothing could hinder my progression, and that would enable me to recieve every blessing my Heavenly Father had in store for me.
I began to see the world through new eyes, partly because I was laying aside anything that would hinder my spirit and partly because I was making a determined effort to see and experience all the amazing things this world has to offer. The best word I can find to describe what I felt is "wonder". It's the feeling I get when I learn something new and I become totally immersed in what I'm studying, and I just can't stop; When I take time to really admire the beauty of creation; the range of emotions that good music can inspire; the feeling when some beautiful divine truth is made manifest in a new way.
I can't very well describe that feeling, but it makes me feel as if nothing is impossible; as if I'm not even in this world and my spirit yearns to leave mortal bounds and go onward to infinite. It's a feeling of pure joy and exhilaration; one of not being weighed down by anything. I crave that feeling. I don't always do things that let me feel it, and sometimes I let it get lost in the hustle and bustle of living.
I wish I could find some way to let you inside my head and show you what I want to say. As hard as I try I can find no words that don't feel like an injustice. Although I cannot express my thoughts adequately, I may be successful if you feel something inside you that you also cannot express, but that you recognize. It's something that we all feel at times in our lives, but that we often miss because we aren't looking for it. Please, live in crescendo, look for the wonder in life, grab life by the horns or however you want to say it. Don't let anything stop you. Set your spirit free and let it fly.
If I were to choose a beginning to this particular story I suppose the best place to start would be in the summer of 2011. The feeling of course goes back much further than that and I may have even contemplated it before, but that summer had a few experiences that make it as good a time as any to start. I worked at Island Park Scout Camp that summer. I was the director of the Trail to Eagle,which was designed to help scouts complete their first few ranks through 1st class. As part of my assignment I had to teach the scouts a large variety of skills. The one pertinent to this story was that of plant identification. It was during that time that I started to really appreciate the wide variety and beauty of nature. Lord Baden Powell summed it up wonderfully in a farewell letter to the scouts of the world that was published after his death. "Nature study will show you how full of beautiful and wonderful things God has made the world for you to enjoy. Be contented with what you have got and make the best of it. Look on the bright side of things instead of the gloomy one." I had the opportunity to read that as part of our honor trail at the camp. I made a goal to study nature more and learn to identify more plants. I have not learned any more plants since that time, but I try to be more conscious of the world as I go throughout my day. At any rate it started a way of approaching life that I do my best to live to this day.
I wish I could say that there was an immediate change in my life after that summer, but the next several months turned out to be a very dark time for me and the seed lay dormant. When I began to come out of the darkness and back into the light, I decided I wanted to make changes in my life; I didn't want to be the same person I had been. I wanted to live a fuller life and see just how far I could go. In truth I had had similar thoughts in many periods of my life, but after having been very nearly destroyed I had a unique opportunity to rebuild myself. I simply felt that I was capable of doing amazing things with my life and I didn't want to lose any opportunities because I wasn't living my life in a way to take advantage of them.
In the spring of 2013 I took an institute class in which my teacher taught us that we should live our lives' in crescendo. In life we are either improving or we are declining; there is no stagnation. We should live each day a little better than the one before. The lessons he taught about living in crescendo that semester resonated with me in a way few things had. I wanted to become all that God intended me to be. I wanted to live my life in such a way that nothing could hinder my progression, and that would enable me to recieve every blessing my Heavenly Father had in store for me.
I began to see the world through new eyes, partly because I was laying aside anything that would hinder my spirit and partly because I was making a determined effort to see and experience all the amazing things this world has to offer. The best word I can find to describe what I felt is "wonder". It's the feeling I get when I learn something new and I become totally immersed in what I'm studying, and I just can't stop; When I take time to really admire the beauty of creation; the range of emotions that good music can inspire; the feeling when some beautiful divine truth is made manifest in a new way.
I can't very well describe that feeling, but it makes me feel as if nothing is impossible; as if I'm not even in this world and my spirit yearns to leave mortal bounds and go onward to infinite. It's a feeling of pure joy and exhilaration; one of not being weighed down by anything. I crave that feeling. I don't always do things that let me feel it, and sometimes I let it get lost in the hustle and bustle of living.
I wish I could find some way to let you inside my head and show you what I want to say. As hard as I try I can find no words that don't feel like an injustice. Although I cannot express my thoughts adequately, I may be successful if you feel something inside you that you also cannot express, but that you recognize. It's something that we all feel at times in our lives, but that we often miss because we aren't looking for it. Please, live in crescendo, look for the wonder in life, grab life by the horns or however you want to say it. Don't let anything stop you. Set your spirit free and let it fly.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
The Really Important Things in Life
As of the time of writing I am in my junior year of electrical engineering-which means I am busy. It also meas my classes are really hard right now. As a result I have often questioned if I am going to pass my classes and become an engineer at all. I have learned that whether or not I do isn't really all that important. If I am unsuccessful in this endeavor then I will find another way to provide for myself and the family I will someday have. One way or another I will be able to meet my financial obligations and provide the necessities of life. So then what does matter?
What really matters is that I am still a son of God and a bearer of his priesthood. This also is one thing that no one can take away from me. I can lose almost everything in this life, my job, mobility, even my mind can be lost, but I will ALWAYS be a son of God. As long as I am living my life the way I know that I should, which is solely dependent upon my own actions and not on any outside force, I will hold the priesthood of my Heavenly Father, and be able to use it to bless others.
I will keep on working toward my degree, and I believe I will accomplish my desire and become an electrical engineer. No matter what happens I am glad that I have come to such a clear understanding of what really matters in life. Even if I don't earn my bachelor's degree as planned, I have grown in ways I never thought I would as a result of my educational pursuits.
I am eternally grateful for the perspective that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has given me. I know it is God's true church and nothing will bring us greater happiness than following by the principles taught by God's servants, both living and those of ancient time.
What really matters is that I am still a son of God and a bearer of his priesthood. This also is one thing that no one can take away from me. I can lose almost everything in this life, my job, mobility, even my mind can be lost, but I will ALWAYS be a son of God. As long as I am living my life the way I know that I should, which is solely dependent upon my own actions and not on any outside force, I will hold the priesthood of my Heavenly Father, and be able to use it to bless others.
I will keep on working toward my degree, and I believe I will accomplish my desire and become an electrical engineer. No matter what happens I am glad that I have come to such a clear understanding of what really matters in life. Even if I don't earn my bachelor's degree as planned, I have grown in ways I never thought I would as a result of my educational pursuits.
I am eternally grateful for the perspective that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has given me. I know it is God's true church and nothing will bring us greater happiness than following by the principles taught by God's servants, both living and those of ancient time.
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Make the Covenant, Enter Into it, and Have it Sealed by the Spirit of Promise
This is a follow up to another article about marriage as a stepping stone. If you haven't read it click here
In the Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints section 132 vs 7 we read "And verily I say unto you, that the conditions of this law are these: All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation and commandment through the medium of mine anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this power (and I have appointed unto my servant Joseph to hold this power in the last days, and there is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred), are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead."
The three words I want to focus on are: make, enter, and seal.
When we enter the temple we make a covenant with God and with our spouse. It is a simple event that only takes a few minutes to do.
Once we have made the covenant we have to enter into it. By this I mean that we continually work to improve our relationship with our spouse and grow and become one.
After we have worked and grown in marriage, then the Spirit of Promise can come and seal our marriage covenant. It is then that we are sealed and promised that we will be united forever.
In the Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints section 132 vs 7 we read "And verily I say unto you, that the conditions of this law are these: All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation and commandment through the medium of mine anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this power (and I have appointed unto my servant Joseph to hold this power in the last days, and there is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred), are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead."
The three words I want to focus on are: make, enter, and seal.
When we enter the temple we make a covenant with God and with our spouse. It is a simple event that only takes a few minutes to do.
Once we have made the covenant we have to enter into it. By this I mean that we continually work to improve our relationship with our spouse and grow and become one.
After we have worked and grown in marriage, then the Spirit of Promise can come and seal our marriage covenant. It is then that we are sealed and promised that we will be united forever.
Marriage is a Stepping Stone
"Marriage. That blessed event. That dream within a dream"
These few lines from the movie "The Princess Bride" make marriage sound as if it is the cure to all of life's problems. Most of us know this is far from the truth, but I think there are a few who still see marriage as an end. Others may say it is only a beginning. I say it is a stepping stone.
I used to think that marriage was the end result of a successful relationship. During my last relationship I began to think of it in a new light. I wanted to take that relationship as far as it could go, and in my mind that meant marriage. However as my relationship progressed I realized that relationships go much further than marriage. If done right the process of learning, growing, and falling ever deeper in love never stops. The best couples I know are still learning about eachother, even after thirty or more years of marriage!
I have long known that humans are not static beings, so why would human relationships be so? They aren't! Two people are either becoming closer or they are drifting apart. There are periods of both in any relationship, but the goal is to come closer and closer in the long run.
With that thought in mind marriage then becomes merely a stepping stone in a relationship. It shows the man and woman, and the world their commitment to each other. It also opens the door for a family to begin and greater growth and deeper joy than either of them could ever hope to acchieve by themselves. From that small step the process continues onward forever, as husband and wife slowly, but surely become one.
I delve further into this idea with a more spiritual tone, drawing from my religious beliefs here.
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