We can't do everything always, but we can do something now

"Any task in life is easier if we approach it with the one at a time attitude. ... To cite a whimsical saying; 'If you chase two rabbits, both of them will escape.' No one is adequate to do everything all at once. We have to select what is important, what is possible, and begin where we are, with what we have. And if we begin and if we keep going, the weight, the worry, the doubt, the depression will begin to lift .... We can't do everything always, but we can do something now, and doing something will help to lift the weight and lessen the worry, 'The beginning,' said Plato, 'is the most important part.'" Richard L. Evans

Shrinking the fudge factor - when we remind people about morality, they cheat less

Today I gave a speech (a "talk") that touched on several life principles, one of them, morality's influence on decision making.

Behavioral Economist Dan Ariely author of the book "Predictably Irrational", created a fascinating social experiment intended to understand how people handle being tempted with cheating.

He called it, shrinking the fudge factor. In other words how much are we willing to "fudge", or walk the line or cheat a little or a lot.

Dan gave two tasks to a large group of students. He asked half the people to recall either 10 books they read in high school or to recall the 10 commandments and then he tempted them with cheating. Turns out the people who tried to recall the 10 commandments given the opportunity to cheat did not cheat at all. The moment people thought about trying to recall the 10 commandments, they stopped cheating. The 10 commandments is something hard to bring into the educational system so Dan brought an honor code. Again, once signed. No cheating whatsoever.

His biggest conclusion: When we remind people about morality, they cheat less.

To watch Dan's TED talk in its entirety, check out the embedded video below. For more of Dan's thinking, visit his website.

"The best time spent is one invested in others"

What I have learned is that the most rewarding of feelings comes when time is spent invested in others. It's one thing to get a lot done and have a productive hour or day all about you ... it's another to truly mentor, coach, teach, train, help, listen to somebody else. While getting things done for yourself is a tremendously gratifying feeling, and is s simple reality, you will never quite feel fully satisfied with how you spend your time until you spend more time on behalf of someone else.

Choices

It is the incremental, small choices we make, that shape our destiny. Every moment is a new moment and a new opportunity to choose.

"Choices are not always easy to see clearly. You make choices every day and almost every hour that keep you walking in the light or moving away toward darkness. Some of the most important choices are about what you set your heart upon." Henry Eyring

A small quote that means a lot ... from C.S. Lewis

“The event of falling in love... in one high bound it has overleaped the massive wall of our selfhood; it has made appetite itself altruistic, tossed personal happiness aside as a triviality and planted the interests of another in the centre of our being.” C.S. Lewis

Patience

"We should learn to be patient with ourselves. Recognizing our strengths and our weaknesses, we should strive to use good judgment in all of our choices and decisions, make good use of every opportunity, and do our best in every task we undertake. We should not be unduly discouraged nor in despair at any time when we are doing the best we can. Rather, we should be satisfied with our progress even though it may come slowly at times." Joseph B. Wirthlin

A moving video about a 9/11 survivor

Kolyma and the Russian Siberian Saints - a creative short story

Kolyma and the Russian Siberian Saints

The Gates Foundation CEO (Jeff Raikes) on Being a Leader

Every human life has equal value. So what are we doing about it? Well, I had the opportunity to sit front row last week at a breakfast and listen to the Gates Foundation CEO Jeff Raikes speak on what the the Foundation is doing with their $30+ billion endowment to bring equality to society. He also spoke to the type of leader he is striving to be.

(For those who are not aware, the Gates Foundation primarily focuses on poverty, hunger, health, and education. No small feat. That's pretty much everything.)

Jeff started off by talking about the role of the nonprofit and where it sits in society. And it is helpful to think of it in terms of a triangle with each sector playing a critical role in progressing society forward.

The profit sector is motivated by profit. The government sector should be motivated by providing basic needs for its people. The philanthropy sector should be motivated by doing good. The reason why the philanthropy sector exists is because it can take risks with capital and explore innovative solutions where other sectors are either constrained or not motivated in that manner. (On a personal note, imagine the power when a for profit organization is able to blur the lines appropriately and start thinking of its impact in ways like the triple bottom line.)

Jeff then sharing his thoughts on what it takes to be a great leader to lead one of those organizations and truly have great impact on society. A good leader is one who LISTENS. Who connects with PEOPLE, who coaches and supports and makes his or her people be greater than they otherwise would have been. A leader distills complex issues down to its essence and simplifies the complex. That leader then rolls-up their sleeves and adds value. A leader does not just delegate or sit by the wayside. He or she goes to WORK.

For a quick, and inspirational take on leadership check out Harvard Business School's slideshow:




Jeff then went on to talk about an experience he had with Lou Piniella when Lou was manager of the Seattle Mariners. The two of them were having dinner when Jeff asked Lou what makes a great baseball manager. Without hesitation, Lou listed the following:

(1) a great leader cannot rule as an autocrat - you must engage with people
(2) help people perform at their peak - you are only as good as your team
(3) understand public relations - people on the outside need to like you and what the organization is doing
(4) Be accountable - when the team is losing, you take the brunt
(5) Get along with the front office -

Finally, put people in the position where they are most likely to succeed.

Notice how much being a leader is associated with how you are able to work with people. No grades, no test scores, no accolades, no degree will make you the leader you want to be. You have to understand and CARE about people. And empower them to do great things. Think of a great leader and why they are so great and it is probably because they were able to do great things with their teams.

I would love to hear of any great leadership stories or videos, or slideshows and I will add them here. Thanks for reading!

Your complete self

A complete life is not just about one thing - whither that thing be a job, school, a healthy lifestyle, friends, or hobbies - a complete life is about stretching your self, physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually. Those five aspects of life must all be addressed, considered, and emphasized. No one aspect can stand alone - each aspect depends on another to reach its maximum potential.

examine your life

"I urge you to examine your life. Determine where you are and what you need to do to be the kind of person you want to be. Create inspiring, noble, and righteous goals that fire your imagination and create excitement in your heart. And then keep your eye on them. Work consistently towards achieving them." Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Life's Lessons Learned", May 2007 Ensign

Just keep moving

No matter the shifts in the external environment, just keep moving. That's all you can do. Just keep moving. Keep the momentum - the inertia.

When challenged most

I had the opportunity to listen to inspiring words this last weekend as I tuned in to our semi-annual worldwide church conference. I was reminded of one of my favorite quotes: "Trials and tribulations, tend to squeeze the artificiality out of us, leaving the essence of what we really are and clarifying what we really yearn for." Neal A. Maxwell

our future

"Young people are the messengers we send to a life we will never see." Larry Miller (the late owner of the Utah Jazz and eminent entrepreneur)

So how do we treat and educate them? And what kind of knowledge are our young consuming?

They walked in circles

I witnessed a family walk circles outside a hotel chain. They were lobbying for better contracts. "Fair wages" they yelled one by one and in unison. Mothers, fathers and eight year olds. Someday I want to help them and help corporations listen to them. And broker a win-win. I understand organizations exist (unions) but a 3rd party who is business minded and connected, might help.

The 3E's and 3F's

Live your life with the 3E’s: Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy. And the 3F’s: Faith, Family and Friends. And good karma will come your way.

True Character

My grandpa recently shared with me a quote that has really resonated - and I believe it will with you as well.

"True character is the ability to follow through and reach the desired objective ... long after the mood in which the resolve was made has past."

Words to Remember

We have to know the intent of opposition ... which wants us to become discouraged because when we are, we are weakened.

Long Walk Part of Gift

Continuous effort -- not strength or intelligence -- is the key to unlocking our potential." Black Elk

The African boy listened carefully as the teacher explained why it is that Christians give presents to each other on Christmas day. “The gift is an expression of our joy over the birth of Jesus and our friendship for each other,” she said. When Christmas day came, the boy brought the teacher a sea shell of lustrous beauty. “Where did you ever find such a beautiful shell?” the teacher asked as she gently fingered the gift. The youth told her that there was only one spot where such extraordinary shells could be found. When he named the place, a certain bay several miles away, the teacher was left speechless. “Why...why, it’s gorgeous...wonderful, but you shouldn’t have gone all that way to get a gift for me.” His eyes brightening, the boy answered, “Long walk part of gift.” – Gerald Horton Bath

“Vision with out effort is daydreaming, effort without vision is drudgery, but vision coupled with effort will obtain the prize.” Thomas S. Monson

Go Get It

“Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.” Ralph Waldo Emerson