Don't Sell Yourself Short - January 11, 2024

Here I sit at the beginning of another semester in school, but only 7 months (22 credits) away from graduating with a bachelor’s degree in applied business management, and yet, I still don’t know how to answer the question, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s funny, that question, it seems like at 43 years old and one successful career in the books, it would be easy to answer that question, especially after working hard for the last four year on a formal education. But the truth is, all I know right now, is that I am good with others, I am a strong and compassionate leader, and I want to do something that helps others. 

A Lesson Learned: 

This first week in BUS 110 – Intro to Entrepreneurship at BYU-Idaho, I learned that there are three major purposes of this course: 

1. Start the journey with the end in mind. 

2. “The start-up of you” 

3. To ask yourself: 

    a. What is my calling in life? 

    b. How will I create meaning? 

    c. How will I measure my life? 

With these three major purposes in mind, I was inspired this week as I watched the video, “BYU-Idaho Hinckley Building Dedication President Gordon B. Hinckley’s Address to Students”. In the address, President Hinckley got weepy when he spoke of his love for the rising generation. He boldly directed those in attendance to stay close to God and to stay prayerful and honest. Then he said something that really hit me. He said, “Don’t sell yourself short. You look in the mirror every morning when you boys get up to scrape the fuzz and you girls get up to put on the paint, look into the mirror and say, ‘I can do the right thing today, God be my helper, and I will do”. (Hinckley, 2002)  Even though I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up, I know that a good measurement of success is if I have included God in my plan, execution, and daily decisions. I also need to not “sell myself short”. I am capable of reinventing myself and working hard to be successful. 

Finally, I also was reminded that, “we have it within ourselves to take control of our career and build the future we want.” (Hoffman & Casnocha, 2012)  I don’t have to have it all worked out yet, but small progress and recognizing my strengths will help me to figure out exactly what I do want to do. It will take baby steps, but it is my goal to determine, at least in part, an answer to these three questions: 

1. What is my calling in life? 

2. How will I create meaning? 

3. How will I measure my life? 

What I Know: 

1. I enjoy working with others / teamwork. 

2. I am a strong and compassionate leader. 

3. I want to do something that helps others. 

4. Including God in my plan, execution and daily decisions is a great measurement for success. 

What I don’t know yet / A lesson not learned: 

1. I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. 

What is my calling in life? 

1. Working with people 

How will I create meaning? 

1. ? 

How will I measure my life? 

1. Include God in my life and plan.