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Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Inspirational Lie or Truth in Practice?

I think it's helpful sometimes to step away from the "inpsirational post" every so often and talk about the nuts and bolts of what it's like just being a student again, and some of the experiences around the workload.  If you have any questions I haven't touched on, please feel free to comment those, and I'll be happy to wrap them into my next posting.

I have class on Tuesday night. 

Something else you should know are my hours of operation at work.  We have a special set of hours in that we work 7:30-5:30 Monday-Thursday and then Fridays, we wrap up our 40 hours with 8:00-12:00.  Being that I'm in developement, these are merely lines in a coloring book, and to meet with donors or do presentations requires the flexibility to color outside of those lines, which can often mean lunches and before and after hour civic club presentations.  I'd say my average work week is about 45 hours, plus or minus.

Back to my point...

By the time I get to class on Tuesday night at 6PM, I have generally already worked 20 hours, if I include lunch appointments.  I usually get home on Tuesdays around 10:30, which makes for about a 15 hour day.  So by time I reach Wednesday morning, I have already pushed 25 hours... I have 22 more hours of "operation" and I haven't even begun the homework associated with that week.  Needless to say, when I arrive at 7:30am on Wednesday morning, often known as "hump day" for most work weeks, I feel like I've already climbed a mountain, only to realize it's not quite the peak. 

It's a cruel joke on replay every Wednesday.

And every Wednesday I remind myself... you can do anything for 2 years...

Here, as there are only 13 more classes this semester, and 15 next... I'm beginning to think I haven't been inspirationally lying to myself... but this really is true-you really can do this. You can do anything for 2 years.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Bull's eye

A recent story was told to me about a man named Matt Emmons.  For those of you who know Olympic trivia, you may be familiar with his name.  It was the 2004 Olympics, and Matt was participating in the 50 meter, 3 position rifle event.  He participated well, and he came up to the last target.  All he needed to do was even hit the target and he would medal.  A bull's eye guaranteed him the gold.  With one shot, he hit the middle of the target.  Only problem was he had hit the target held for the lane next to him... the result landed him in 8th place.  He hit the bull's eye, but it was the wrong target.

As I look over the last 16 months, I can't help but feel a kinship with Matt's story.  Greatness can be achieved, but if it's toward the wrong target or goal, it comes up short... it's a failure.

I love that the Concordia program has Leadership tied into its curriculum.  I love that this is tied to servant leadership and real world application.  It enabled me to dream about the leader God would call me to be, and to be honest, feel a sense of weight in the responsibilities it would carry.  It seems for the last year I've been breathing leadership... anxiously awaiting my time to come.  However, now I can't help but feel that I've had my eyes on the wrong target.

An Excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't really matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. Like anybody, I would like to live - a long life; longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. So I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.

These words continue to echo in my head.  That, compiled with songs like this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfcDVIjGQQg), and reading books like Francis Chan's Crazy Love, and I'm compelled that the leadership I've sought is not the goal in itself for me.  For me there's this new actualization of what I'm really called to be as a Christ-follower.  I must remember the whole reason I'm getting my MBA was in preparation, not of a life full of comforts and safety, but rather to be equipped for the task Christ has ahead of me.  This will mean a radical shift, but one I'll have to take a step at a time.

My eyes are shifting to the New Testament Church.  How often have I passed them off or not taken them seriously.  Assuming they had a fire to care for others that could not be sustained.  And if I do begin to really consider their plight- can we really keep all our comforts, and love Christ passionately? 

If I am to remain authentic in my growth throughout this program, I have to integrate all parts.  I sought a Christian school for this purpose, and recognize for this reason, leadership and the practice of my MBA may be continually redefined as Christ lights our path and begins to reveal His plan for our talents, skills, abilities, resources... well- pretty much all of it.  I may not know the ending location of this path, or the roles God will call me to along the way.  My only responsibility is for what has been revealed and what I am currently entrusted with.  I must keep my eyes set on the right target- and trust the Lord with details like leadership, careers and all these other things, that really do grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Semester 5: Into the looking glass

We start semester 5 today.  For one reason or another, I'd been somewhat dreading this semester... whether it had been preconcieved ideas of the professors or just the sheer magnitude of what we just accomplished, I had found it a little difficult to exhert some enthusiasm about this semester. 

Thankfully, for this semester there were no pre-assignments prior to the first class, which is a first, and a needed break.  The only assignment was reading the first chapter of each text.  I took time this weekend to do so, and my interest began to be piqued as I felt I could reconnect with the subject material.  (Last semester focused largely on manufacturing, and I had zero experience, and my interest was somewhat limited (but I was glad for the experience)).  As I began to put together my binders for class and read my printed syllabus, I'm actually feeling quite hopeful about this semeseter. 

Our 10 week class is Business, Society and Public Policy.  In the syllabus it talks about strategic collaborations between Government, the Corporate Sector and the Nonprofit Sector.  I believe this is the first time Nonprofits were actually mentioned in the class syllabus, and so I'm really interested.  I also have a nack for collaborations and partnerships for leveraging resources.  These are specific reasons why I wanted to get my MBA- to leverage nonprofit resources to serve more.  So I have to say I'm quite hopeful about this class.

The second class, also has me waiting for what might be coming.  The class is called Decision Making and Strategy in Complex Situations. The syllabus specifically covers sustainability, multiculturalism, and social and community responsibility.  All big topics for the nonprofit sector.

We all know a syllabus can say one thing and a class produce something else, but to my fellow humanitarians- stay tuned.  There is the promise that this semester is for us!

I also wanted to give a quick "shout out" to Dr. Roy Steele from last semester.  He was kind enough to invite students who were willing to complete what he calls an XT assessment.  The XTgraded our tallents and personalities based on a mid-level manager position for a "widget" maker.  Over the holiday break, Dr. Steele and I talked on the phone about what my results meant, and perhaps particular tendencies I need to be aware of.  Being that I'm driven to care for others, and see myself in a humanitarian light, the XT picked up that I can be subjective and focus on these softer qualities instead of hard driven logic.  While I consider myself a very reasoned person, as each thing I do  has a reason behind it, those things are not always hard fact based (not always a negative).  This, combined with my tendency to be a quick decision maker could leave room for error in that perhaps not all the facts have been given time for consideration.  Dr. Steele brought this to my attention and really encouraged me to slow down, just a bit, to ensure I am considering all points of view.  I bring all this up, because it gives me another reason to be interested in what I will learn this semester.  I am hopeful that Business, Society and Public Policy will help expand my worldview and my process for considerations.  Then I'm looking forward to what I will learn in Decision Making and Strategy in Complex Situations to really engage this tendency to make it more of a strength.

As it is the New Year, and we've discussed resolutions, I think about what I resolve to get out of these classes.  My goal is to provide thought out and focused efforts for the assignments, and to leave with an expanded worldview and greater insight into collaborations and decision making.  In 10-15 weeks, I'll check back (if I remember) to see if I've gotten out of these classes what I set out to do.