Making up for lost time V 2.0

      Over the past couple of weeks there seems to have been a pattern that has emerged.  Really, what I need to be doing is finding out how to best situate myself to serve others and lead based off of gospel principles.  We had a speaker come and talk on divine-centered leadership, or leading the way that Savior led.  When it comes to learning how to be divinely centered, you need to first know how to center yourself divinely.  The only way to become centered is through your own personal study and prayer and revelation.  To become centered and lead as Christ did you must try to have the same perception as Christ, and use his live as a road map of sorts.

     A divine centered leader has several attributes that seem to define them:

• They are often in the right place at the right time (usually because they put themselves there)
• Always see the potential in others
• Always prayerful, in any context (praying for the needs of themselves and others, not the wants)
• The divine centered leader is not competitive, but is still firm in their morals
• Is full of love (especially towards those whom it may seem hard to love)
• Values and necessitates obedience.
• Provides for others what they cannot provide for themselves.

     I know that I can work on these attributes in all aspects of my life.  To be a divinely centered leader you do not have to be a church leader or only do so in churchy settings, but you must lead in the home, in work, the community, and especially be divinely centered towards those who don't seem to like you, or even those who you may not have the warmest feelings toward.  The easiest way to love people and to serve and lead them is to really get to know them.  That is why I focus on listening to people and their stories, I always search to know what it is that makes them tick and through my understanding of them know how to respond to their individual situations.

It's not What Would Jesus Do (WWJD) but more like What Would Jesus Have Me Do (WWJHMD).  I don't think that will look as good on a bumper sticker though...

So I'm a bit late....

Man I am so good at keeping up a blog...........

So, it has been a while since my last post, so lets start there.  Personality types.

I took this Myers Briggs Personality examination that was pretty cool apparently I am ISTP meaning Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Perceiving.  and got some good insight on really what kind of person I am.  This website really helped me see what type of personality I have and was a little creepy how accurately it described me.  In case you are interested you can learn a bit about my personality type here, and judge for yourself how well you think it describes me. 

     The report I got from the test also let me know what type of job opportunities that fit my personality type.  As I assumed, I am best fitted for fast-paced, constantly active jobs.  They said I would be a good farmer, electrician, or mechanic.  I'm sort of harping on the out-doorsie idea that they talked about, interesting how that fits what I want to do for my career.  I highly encourage you all to take the test, I found a free version of it online (it's not as good as the one that I had to pay money for, but it's still rather comprehensive and lets you know basically what type you are).  You can take the test here... take it I dare you. 

Being a Leader, one step at a time

     So for this Leadership Development class that I'm in, I had to choose some book on leadership: I chose a book entitled "Leadership: The Inner side of Greatness" by Peter Koestenbaum.  Koestenbaum mainly writes about how to improve leadership in a managerial capacity, but I feel like his idea of a Leadership Diamond model sounds very interesting, and something that I would like to learn more about, and how I can apply the method to my everyday life. 

     I also learned this week about a concept called "Situational Leadership."  Adrian Klemme was the speaker and he really taught us on what he believed to be the best type of leadership: one that is flexible, yet efficient.  One of my friends was getting ready for this "stoplight" dance that our housing area was putting on.  He had been hanging out with this one girl for quite a while now, but nothing really substantial yet (at least not in her eyes).  So when he called to see what color shirt they should wear (red signifying they were a couple, yellow: it's complicated, or green letting everyone know your single) she let him know that she was planning on wearing green because he hadn't actually taken her out on a date yet.  Apparently here is where I came into the picture.

     I get a call from my friend at 4:00 that day (4 hours before the dance) he is desperately trying to pull together some sort of date that would eventually culminate in the dance.  He was frantic and really didn't know what to do for a first date (he had had a steady girlfriend back home and didn't have to do anything that "wows" her) so I got a group together and we directed just about everything he should do for that date.  He would add his input every once in a while and we would see what we could do to build off of his idea.  What ended up happening was a nice little tour through a local museum and a "nice" dinner at the school cafeteria; I was their waiter. 
    
     We helped him plan his date, directed what he should do, coached him when he came up with his own plan, and I was there to support and encourage him while he was actually on his date.  The short experience here really helped me to understand the profoundness of situational leadership.  In the beginning while he was frantic I had to really direct him and show him what to do to prepare, but as the ideas started flowing, he added his own and we were able to work together to improve his ideas to something.... coherent.  Later, when he was at his "nice" meal I was there as his waiter, not only to serve them, but really to act as a support for him in case he happened to fall into any sort of trouble.  When I was done serving them, I left, leaving him entirely on his own for the remainder of the night; allowing him to use what we had taught him to apply as the situation called for.  Directing, coaching, supporting, and delegating, the 4 main stages of situational leadership, all covered and successful in under 3 hours.

     As for learning about what it means to be a leader from someone specific, this week I had the opportunity to interview my old Ultimate coach from high school.  Baker Pratt is a graduate of the University of North Carolina who came and volunteers as the coach for my high school's Ultimate team.  At the same time his is the captain of the 3rd ranked team in the state, and a board member of the local Ultimate league.  Baker was a wonderful coach for the 2 years I was able to experience with him and a great leader that I would like to one day be able to emulate. 

     Baker was a little taken aback when I asked him if he thought he was a leader; he seems as if he doesn't believe that he is a leader, but he is definitely one of the better leaders that I have met.  After a bit of an awkward pause he decides that whenever he has to be a leader, his most important goals are to 1) lead by example, and 2) to always keep in mind the thoughts and opinions of those he leads.  Baker sort of came into his love of Ultimate by a lucky break by a man who happened to see his group play in a tournament and decided to go and teach his group what real Ultimate was.  The simple outreach by that man inspired Baker enough that one day he could go and offer that same sort of outreach to my own little group that we too may become fully converted to the joy of Ultimate.  What really strikes me about Baker is his absolute devotion to those that he leads, in his own words he aims to "show loyalty to inspire loyalty."  Baker not only knows what he is doing, but knows how to teach others and how to almost extract the best from others as he expects the best out of them. 

Sorry this post is a little lengthy but here's the
WEEKLY RECAP
     I had an opening social for my Nonprofit Management minor, and met some awesome people, and even found a venture crew.  I attended and opening for the Recreational Management and Youth Leadership majors and was declared the winner of their "Minute to Win It" contest.  And I started working on my mission papers to go serve two years for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Looking at the past to plan for the future

     Pretty much everybody has someone that they look to for inspiration, for guidance, or to model their life after; but what is it about those people that inspire such admiration?  Conversely, what is it about those that we despise, or those notorious leaders that we all love to loathe?  Really, when it comes down to it, it's as Brother Ward noted, it's all about the motive, the vision, what they're challenging, their example, and their service (or lack there of).
     One of my personal heroes, or someone that I look to for inspiration, would have to be President Thomas S. Monson.  For many years now he's been my personal favorite apostle; as I look back on what he's taught and what I've heard from him, I believe that all of his stories as a young Bishop are really the reasons I've always looked up to and respected him.  President Monson's motives are never selfish, he always has the happiness of others on his mind, and when they are happy he is happy, and that makes me happy.  As for his vision, MAN he has vision, it would be very difficult to be a prophet if you didn't have that vision of what the world could and should be.  Oddly enough, that vision of a better world is exactly what he is fighting for, it's what he is challenging the natural world for.  President Monson's challenge is for a better, kinder, more selfless world, quite different from the modern trend of glorifying mediocrity.  His example is amazing as well, the people he cared for regularly, the towns he's visited, the service he's rendered, how can you not help but be amazed at his example.  The last thing that really strikes me, as shown in his example, is it complete willingness to serve and go and do whatever work needs to be done.  Not only does he do the work, but he does so compassionately, because he is entirely devoted to the people he serves.

Now what about my own motives, vision, challenge, example, and service, what are those?

Motive:
     I think I'm with President Monson on this one, when I see people happy, it definitely makes me happy.
Vision:
     My vision would have to be for a strong group of friends in the Gospel, and friends that aren't afraid to do what is right, even if it means seeming peculiar.
Challenge:
     I feel like my greatest challenge would be negative peer pressure, especially from those of the same faith, it is imperative that my friends know that there is no problem being a Peter Priesthood or a Molly Mormon.
Example:
     I hope that my example will be that of one who genuinely cares for those he serves, and lives what he preaches, someone who is not afraid to be a peculiar person (if you don't think I'm peculiar, you probably don't know me that well), and ultimately someone that they could trust and become a better person with.
Service:
     The service that I will render will be that of friendship, and creating an environment when we're together that they can feel comfortable in and  that will help each of us grow and progress.

RECAP OF THE WEEK
     I hiked Mt. Nebo on Saturday, I left at 4:00 in the morning (at least that was the plan, it was really like 4:40) and got to the trail head around 5:45.  As we ascended so did the sun, and we were lucky enough to catch the sun as it breached the mountains on our first ridge.  That view was gorgeous, especially after such a clear night, when even the Milky Way was in full array.  By 9:30 I was the tallest thing for 100 square miles, it was a great feeling.  We made the whole hike in about 6 hours, what I feel was very good time.
   I also watched this great international movie called "Babbette's Feast".  It's hard to describe what made this movie so good, it seems as if the whole movie was saying, 'there's something special here, you just have to find it.' Following that I watched another international movie called "Ping Pong" and it reminded me why I love Japanese melodrama so much, that movie was hilarious.
    I got my calling in my ward today as well; I am now a Sunday School leader, essentially I will work with the other leader to assign who has the lesson each week, and I will be there in case a lesson falls through.  I'm excited for the calling and I hope that I will be able to serve the group in the spirit that I may edify their souls.

My mission for Fall Semester

Ok, so no a week of college has come and gone and I'm almost completed with week 2.  How does that make me feel?  A little overwhelmed, I'm still in the mind-set (I guess) that if the teacher doesn't say it, it isn't due, but I know that, that simply isn't true anymore. It's almost like a new revelation every time I look at a syllabus calendar and see something is due the next day that I hadn't done anything for: this will take some getting used to.  At least there were some exciting things that happened: I joined BYU's 200 club in bowling; I hiked the Y (with the help of Andy, Trevor, and Tallulah); and I visited some hot springs for the first time in my life.

In my previous post I mentioned how my mission thus far was to (at the very least) be a good friend; but what does that even mean?  I suppose it could be living my standards and holding others to those same standards, or maybe just being there for them when they need someone to talk to or just to be around.  Sometimes, I've noticed, a great way to be a friend is to just be there, nothing really has to be said or acknowledged, there needs to be no transfer of goods/services/whatever else, just time and proximity.  Maybe that's just me but I think that purely being there is important. ANYWAY, a good friend could also be someone that can lead by finding service opportunities for, and with, the group.  I recently found this awesome site *http://volunteer.truist.com/byu/volunteer/home/* that has definitely helped broaden my horizons and expand my sphere of influence. 

I think I like that thought; I know how I can be a leader for this semester; I believe I know what my over arching mission (or maybe it's just the under written mission) will be.  I will lead my friends by:
     1) Being there for them when they have questions or just need a friend
     2) Finding service opportunities that either we can do as a group or we can split up and do
     3) Maybe most importantly I will enforce and encourage the standards of the church and of Christlike living.



So my plan for this blog is that it'll become possibly a weekly, or bi-weekly occurrence.  Let me know what you think my mission should be and how you think I can improve my mission here at BYU

Here it begins

So first things first, let me tell you a bit about me.  My name is Ben and I go to Brigham Young University (BYU).  I'm looking at a major in recreational management and youth leadership with an emphasis on non-profit organizations; with this I hope to get into the professional Boy Scouting scene, possibly with a minor in film to maybe help out the organization that way. I was born in Florida and later moved to North Carolina where I pretty much spent my entire school career.  I am an Eagle Scout from troop 231 and I love ultimate (captain/creator of my high school team), bowling (ever since I was 10) and archery (taught it for the last 3 years).  As far as entertainment and other such information, I love listening to classic rock, mainly Styx and most others from that era, and I enjoy pretty much any movie or TV show that I watch.

So, why a blog, well, in all actuality, I started this blog because I am being graded on it for a school assignment (some leadership seminar thing) and I figure, heck, why not have some fun with it. 

As my title says, my name is Ben and I am indeed on a mission; but what mission am I exactly on?  Well, that's what I guess this whole blog is about, to really find out what my mission is, and hopefully how that mission can help others outside of myself.  Right now I feel like my mission is about helping others, and mainly getting situated in the rigors of college life.  I've always been "others" oriented and I don't really see that changing now that I'm 2000 miles from where I was raised. 


My assignment so far is to declare what sort of leadership role I will assume and how I can accomplish that role.  Honestly, I don't know what I am going to be, maybe on the hall committee, maybe doing service through Y Serve, maybe just in whatever calling my Bishop and the lord sees fit to but me in; but whatever the outlet, I can assure you this, I will always, always live my my standards which are based off of my church teachings and the scout law.