Week 2: Life Plan

Entrepreneurial Discovery Diaries:

A Journal

by Nicolette Semmelmeyer

Week 2: Life Plan

This second week's journey down the path of discovering what I want to do in my career has been nothing short of enlightening.

The initial focus of the week was about creating a life of meaning. Where I learned about "Stars and Steppingstones" by Jeff Sandefer. A quote that stood out to me was, "Passion and drive are both a curse and a blessing." 

Next, I watched a video called "What Is Your Calling in Life" by Jeffrey A Thompson at BYU. One of the things that stood out to me was when he said, "The state of heart is as important as the tasks we do in determining whether our work is truly and eternally meaningful." 
I also read an excellent lecture called "The Last Lecture: Really achieving your childhood dreams" by Prof. Randy Pausch at Carnegie Mellon. It was his last speech in that he was dying of cancer and had only a short period to live. He talked about everything he dreamed and eventually accomplished, like being weightless and becoming a Disney Imagineer. I feel he achieved many of his childhood dreams due to a combination of factors such as determination, resilience, and a positive mindset. He demonstrated a strong belief in the power of perseverance and passion in achieving goals. One of his best quotes was, " Wait long enough, and people will surprise and impress you." I was only supposed to skim the transcript, but I read the whole thing and found it quite compelling. I took several pages of notes from what he said. Another great quote from him was, "Luck is where preparation meets opportunity." a few of his ending words of advice were to Show gratitude and not complain, cherish feedback, help others, never lose childlike wonder, work hard, and find the best in everybody. Dreaming is often considered important as it can serve as a driving force for personal growth and motivation. Dreams provide individuals with a sense of purpose and direction, encouraging them to strive for something greater. Pausch's story underscores the idea that pursuing one's dreams can lead to a fulfilling and meaningful life. As for my childhood dream, I always aspired to become a published author. I believe in the power of storytelling and the impact it can have on people. While I may face challenges in achieving this dream, such as finding the right opportunities and honing my writing skills, I remain optimistic and committed to the idea that with dedication and continuous effort, it is possible to turn this dream into a reality.

This week, I also read the first 3 chapters of the book "Launching Leaders" by Stephen A. Hitz. Chapter 1 was about taking control of your life through "The Cycle of Spiritual Guidance." I found this to be a very inspiring lesson. The steps are to discover your True Identity, Trust Your Inner Voice, Have Faith to Act Right Away, Be at Peace With Heaven's Timing, live well, and repeat the cycle. Chapter 2 was about Defining Your Core Values. The idea is that your ideas and principles define your future self. The steps of determining your core values are to Find Holy Ground (which I took as going to the Temple), Ponder, Write core value statements, Rank, Do core values align with God? This chapter was a helpful guide in creating the ideal version of myself in my journey to figure out what business I want to start. Chapter 3 was about mentors and their critical role in expanding one's vision of the future. Ideally, they serve as a person who effectively uplifts, inspires, and motivates the individual toward creating a brilliant future. I saw this chapter as a big reminder that I need to find a mentor. Whether it is a book, a historical figure, or someone I currently look up to and admire professionally, I need to seek out the guidance of a mentor. One of the most critical points in the chapter was the reminder that God is the best mentor of all. 

The "life plan bucket list" assignment, inspired by Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying," led to reflective contemplation. We were to create a document listing the 50 things we want to accomplish. My class then had a great discussion where we were to reflect on our top bucket list items. Which was intended to deepen our learning and allow us to love and serve our classmates. I really liked this assignment. It was wonderful to read my fellow classmates' top bucket list items and make thoughtful comments to them, sharing insights and follow-up questions. 

One of the last tasks of the week was a writing assignment called "Life Plan Stars and Stepping-stones Chart & Career List." I have linked my work in this post as I found the assignment to be a big step forward in my goal of figuring out what my business will be: 

Stars and Stepping Stones
Career List

Reflection

This week was really wonderful and was full of a lot of newly acquired knowledge. It marked a significant stride toward unraveling the mystery of my future business. I found all the course content to be very important, so I took a lot of notes. The lessons learned, and insights gained have set the stage for the next steps in this exciting journey. I can't wait to continue to the next steps of this journey, and I eagerly anticipate the continued exploration in the coming weeks.