Week 6: Self-Mastery

From this weeks study the greatest takeaway for me, was about self-mastery. We read a great talk from N. Eldon Tanner titled "Success is Gauged by Self-Mastery". 

This quote was in the talk but it is from da Vinci, “You will never have a greater or lesser dominion than that over yourself.”

It was a great reminder how important it is to be disciplined and have self control. This is something I want to strengthen in my own life. 

My favorite quote form the talk was, 

"If you wish to achieve financial success, if you wish to be happy, if you wish to be healthy, if you would be morally clean, if you wish to find religious peace of mind, there is only one sure way, and that is the straight and narrow path—the way of honor, the way of industry, of moderation, simplicity, and virtue."

Week 5: A Hero's Journey

 This weeks study included some powerful talks and readings. In the talk "A Hero's Journey" we learn that the key to a hero's journey is "it's all about you, but it's not about you at all." 

This sounds a little confusing but I equate it to the scripture Matt 10:39  "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." 

This was my greatest takeaway from the talk and I was thankful for this reminder. Even in our work or career choices we should be seeking to serve others because this brings us the greatest and lasting happiness. 

Another influential talk for me was "Perseverance" by President Faust given back in 2005. My favorite quote from the talk was "Success is usually earned by persevering and not becoming discouraged when we encounter challenges. Paul Harvey, the famous news analyst and author, once said: “Someday I hope to enjoy enough of what the world calls success so that someone will ask me, ‘What’s the secret of it?’ I shall say simply this: ‘I get up when I fall down."

Perseverance is one of the greatest qualities to poses; with it we can overcome anything! 

Week Four: Launching Leaders

 A highlight of this weeks study was completing the book "Launching Leaders" by Steven A Hitz. This book spoke to my heart by addressing how important God's influence is to our personal and career success. 

It gave us a six-step formula to follow to help achieve our aspirations. 

1. Get Up Early

2. Work Hard 

3. Get Your Education 

4. Find Your Oil 

5. Make Your Mark 

6. Give Back. 

My favorite step is the last one "Give Back". I think it is so important to have this end goal as the reason for wanting to succeed. I hope to always keep this as my focus. 

Week 3: True Blue

 This week's study of honesty and business ethics was such a great reminder of how important it is to have integrity in all we do. For me, one of the most influential things we studied this week was Sheri Dew's talk "True Blue, Through and Through".  Sheri Dew is one of my favorite speakers, I am always inspired by her counsel, and this talk was no exception. I enjoyed it so much, I shared it with my husband and asked him to read it. 

Sheri Dew gave 7 points to remember and take action to become men and women of integrity:

1. Decide today, once and for all, that you will be worthy of trust

2. Have faith that the Lord can and will help you, and then diligently seek His help.

3. Make covenants and keep them. 

4. Stand up for what you believe. 

5. Expect your integrity to be challenged.

6. Don’t give up. 

7. Covenant–or perhaps I should say, renew your covenant–with our Father and His Son to do what you came here to do. 

This was my favorite quote from her talk,

"We too made premortal commitments, among them surely being a willingness to come during this “eleventh hour” (see D&C 33:3). Surely we followed our Elder Brother’s example. Perhaps we said something like this: “If you need someone who will have the courage and determination to face the world at its worst, here am I, send me. If you need husbands and wives who will be faithful to each other, raise their children in the admonition of the Lord, and defend the family, here am I, send me. If you need men and women who will see through the lies of the world about family and gender and intimacy, and who will never confuse being tolerant of others with tolerating sin, here am I, send me. If you need men and women who can think straight in a confused, twisted world, here am I, send me. If you need men and women who will be fearless in building the kingdom of God, please, here am I, send me.”