Launching Leaders

So it turns out that churchy self help type seminars are a huge deal. Who knew?

Now, I can't really tell you a whole lot about what this one is really about 

because I attended like 3 of the 7 or 8 or however many sessions there were.

BUT, Brother & Sister Ritchie are super sweet missionaries who I picked up some wise thoughts from.

(I also stole these super flattering photos of me from their website, http://theministryofbusiness.com/)

ANYWAY.

I was looking at my notes the other day, and there's actually some gems, so here you go:

+ Write a personal constitution.

You're not going to be what you say you want to be if you don't name them & remember.

Peak Performance Model:

+ Spiritual Toughening

+ Time Management (self esteem=productivity=tm)

+ Financial Fitness

+ Skills & Talents- find your oil

+ Nutrition & Rest

+ Humor (the most successful leader/person only laughs at themselves, no one else)

+ Creativity

+ Mental Toughness- "I will go, I will do."

+ Communication

+ Leadership

3 Es of Training (Communication, I think?)

Educate

Edify

Empower

7 Steps to a Great Talk:

+ "I remember..." story

+ Summarize

+ a Scripture

+ object lesson/visual aid

+ "Will you..."

+ "I promise..."

+ "I know..."

^ Also, 

Humor, Passion, Voice, Face, Grooming, Time

*An 8 minute talk is 8 minutes or less. That's my jam.

Gotta have a good mix of:

Message, passion, credibility

I love that. I think it applies to the way we live life,

not just the way we give talks!

So so awesome.

I also would say message/cause because of the next part...

BHAG -> Big Hairy Audacious Goal

(something we should all have! but that I can't figure out)

BHAG = cause, credibility, passion

And that's all we have! Except for a couple great videos.

The first one is a TED Talk by Benjamin Zander,

which I remember nothing about except that it was good & this:

"I will never say anything that I could not stand to be my last words."

The other one is something I just remember being adorable and hilarious:

The Story of Jonah far across the sheeaa!

k i'm done. 

best sunday

I was five minutes late to church this morning.

That hasn't happened before (and shouldn't since my ward doesn't start until 2:30),

but I walked in at the awkward point when the hymn wasn't over,

but I still hadn't sat down when the prayer began. 

So I sat by myself and I was feeling really awkward about it because there were

four rows of people behind me sitting by themselves also.

But then we were singing and the fire alarm went off.

A few verses in we decided we should maybe go outside.

And then the firetruck showed up, which was really exciting for some little boys hanging around.

It was pretty chilly outside, but SO beautiful. 

When the angry elf firemen left 15 minutes later, the alarm was still blaring.

I still don't know why they left? I guess it wasn't their problem.

We decided to finish the Sacrament and then head to the bishops house to have food early. 

You know we were all excited about that.

We gathered under some trees in the parking lot and stood in fake pew rows, 

and it was kind of awesome.

We were reminded that we would probably never have sacrament in the parking lot again.

That's true, but I wish it wasn't, because it was perfect.

And then I read Austenland tonight which gave me maybe one too many feels, but that's fine.

I would like to clarify that missing church was not cause for the best Sunday, but you know it helped a little. 

It was just a really great fall day.

dirty thirty thursday

this new tradition was the perfect boost to a weird day.

thursdays are my new favorite.

thanks, wes!

(like, I seriously can't stop thinking about how great it was)

this is my family.

i am a huge fan of family home evening groups. 

these kids are some of my favorite in the ward.

(also, please notice how I can't be normal in a picture ever)

this is our darling brother roberto, who was shopping or something while we photographed.

we still love him,

happy easter!

love, the girls in 318

p.s. Kylee said exactly what I wanted to say today.

our bishop also quoted elder wirthlin.  it was a beautiful meeting.

our sunday will come!  and it will be great.

sundays

This is what Sunday looks like at college (I know now cause I've done it four times, right?):

I jump out of bed an hour after my alarm goes off and try on clothes til I get it right, stuff a piece of bread in my face, apply mascara, get rid of the morning breath, and slather on the lipstick to distract from my hair/zits/clothing that should be ironed.

Walk out the door to make the 30 second trek to church at 10.40, which I've decided is the most perfect time for church.

Laugh, cry, and sleep for three hours (all while being spiritually enriched).

Ward choir is amazing.  Though I miss my choir friend Jaymie in Cville, I've never had so much fun.  The boys are great, our director is genius, and we sound dang good.  Come see us.

Sleep, linner, sleep, "study."

Ward prayer, stalk boys.

Tunnel singing.


Variations:
Write missionary letters.  I've already gotten two letters from my best friend missionary man.  That's basically a letter a week.  That makes me happy.

Skype.

Not make dinner.

Wait until after tunnel singing to begin weekend's homework.  It's Monday now anyway, so I feel less guilty...

Go to firesides.  Last week was Elder & Sister Oaks and as I'm sure you've heard by now, it was incredible.  I'll elaborate another time.

Anyway, Sundays are great days.  Mondays are still not.