The Camera Guy Salutes Dr. Stephen R. Covey

The camera guy salutes Dr. Stephen R. Covey

The first time I saw Stephen Covey he was surrounded by people seeking his autograph.

I don’t think any of them wanted it as a keepsake or something they might be tempted to resell to a collector. They just hoped they would be able to get into in his very crowded class and needed him to sign an add slip that gave them permission to come even though the class was full. I was one of those students.

That was back in 1979 and while the rest of the world hadn’t discovered Dr. Covey, Brigham Young University students had. He was a popular teacher. Instead of forcing yourself to pay attention in his class so that you could pass an exam; students were attentive because he seemed to know how to prepare them for life’s real tests.

I remember one time I sat on the front row and was surprised when he reached down and took the glasses right off the face of a student a few seats down from me. I was even more troubled when he then took my glasses off and put her glasses on me. Suddenly he was staring down at me with a very stern look and asking, “What do you think of those glasses?”

“Well, they are kind of blurry,” I said hesitantly. I had no idea what was going on.

He snatched them back and put them on himself and said, “There is absolutely nothing wrong with these glasses. In fact, your mother and I have worn them for years, with no problems. You, young man, have a bad attitude.”

He was sort of menacing when he role-played like that.

He put them back on my face and said, “Now, what do you think of those glasses?”

I tried to have a better attitude and he laughed. He was teaching us all that just because we see things a certain way, doesn’t mean others see them the same way. Even though it was a lesson given 33 years ago, I’m still trying to master the principle he taught that day.

When I was a custodian at BYU, I helped him move some boxes from one office to the other. He treated me like an old friend and gave me a Day Timer, which is a pocket calendar, as a reward. Little did either of us know he would eventually consider Day Timer a competitor in the day-planner marketplace.

He got mildly upset with me one time when, as a student reporter, I talked one of his kids into sharing with me his private cabin number where he would go to in a nearby canyon to spend quality time with his family. I promised him that I would destroy the phone number after the interview and explained the predicament I was in. He softened and then graciously gave me the interview. Even back then he was serious about guarding his family time. (I don’t know if that was before or after his children started making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on his head if he took calls during family time.)

Dr. Covey teaches students.

When Dean Douglas D. Anderson announced that Dr. Covey had agreed to become the first Jon M. Huntsman Presidential Chair in Leadership I was so pleased that I offered to let Dr. Covey share my office. On his last visit to campus I told him if he would just use my basement office one time to make a phone call or do anything, I could brag for the rest of my life that I had shared an office with the famous
Stephen R. Covey. He promised to use my office on his next visit.

When I interviewed him for the Huntsman Alumni Magazine he showed me around his home and one wall was covered with pictures, awards and other honors he had received from the world for his contributions. There were even awards leaning up against the walls as if they were waiting in vain for some prime wall space to open up. The other wall which was much larger, two stories tall, was packed from floor to ceiling with pictures of family and friends – including and a picture of Dr. Covey with a peanut butter sandwich on his head. He was clearly proudest of the family pictures.

Dr. Covey speaks at seminar for faculty and staff.

He’d consulted with many powerful people and heads of state, including several U.S. Presidents, and I asked him if he was ever intimidated to meet anyone because they were so important. He said that of course he wasn’t and acted like that was sort of a strange and silly question to ask. I later realized that he treated everyone with equal respect, regardless of their position or rank. A president would be no more intimidating than a custodian under that paradigm.

I got to see this demonstrated over and over because when Dr. Covey made visits to the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business and to the Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence international conferences, I got a chance to spend time with him. I drove him across campus in a golf cart. Usually I was the guy taking pictures at the events he attended.

It made no difference who approached him, he gave them his full attention and never complained when yet another person wanted to have their picture taken with him. (I guess he didn’t treat them all equally. Men who were bald seemed to get an extra dose of love and teasing from him. He was always rubbing their heads and pointing out they had something in common.)

Dr. Covey recognizes something he and Al Warnick have in common.

He had a great sense of humor. He thought it was funny and strange when he sat next to me before he was about to speak at USU to a group of about 300 students and I started whispering words of encouragement to him like, “You can do this! You just have to believe in yourself!” It was sort of like telling Michael Jordan you knew he could make the team if he applied himself. Or the time that I told him before a Shingo presentation that if anything went wrong he should point at me and I could come up and clog behind him.

“There’s nothing like a fat man clogging behind you to make a presentation memorable,” I said.

He burst into laughter and after he spoke he joked with me that maybe he should have had me clogging behind him. (By the way, he did a great job speaking and had no need of any diversions.)

I went to his funeral held at the UCCU Center at Utah Valley University. When they rolled in his casket there was a wide line of family members who came in behind it that must have numbered in the hundreds. It was very impressive. That was his real legacy. And the funeral wasn’t about all his vocational accomplishments or the books he published. It was all about family and his deep faith. Each of his nine children spoke and shared memories of their father and how he made them each feel loved and special.

President Henry B. Eyring of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spoke and even he felt compelled to share a memory of a time he was impressed to see the respect that Dr. Covey showed for his wife Sandra.

One of my best memories of Dr. Covey was of the time I saw him just after he arrived at the Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center for a Shingo conference. He was going up an escalator on the other side of a room about 100 feet away and I was going down an escalator. In an unusually rash burst of spontaneity, I shouted “Dr. Covey!” He turned to look to see who had called him. I called out, “Captain, my captain!” quoting a line from the "Dead Poets Society" movie that I was sure he had seen. Then I saluted. He broke into a huge smile, squared his shoulders, stood at attention and saluted back as the escalator slowly took him up to the next level. I was just the camera guy that day but I felt like the president of the United States.

So, Dr. Covey, this is just a blog but if you are allowed to read such things in heaven, I have a message for you.

I still salute you and so do the many, many others you served, lifted, and empowered. We will miss you.

--Steve Eaton

What is half of 8?

While I have been searching for jobs and doing interviews, my current boss and I have talked about his job search experience and how he conducts interviews.

When I interviewed with him, he had me perform a sort of skills test for things I would be doing for him, and I am not talking about running over to Cafe Ibis and getting him coffee.

There was a question and answer part of the interview process, but it did not seem very scripted. It was more conversational.

Paul Lewis Siddoway

Come to find out, he once heard an interview question which asked the applicant what half of "8" was. I am sure that most people would say, "4." My boss said that those people would be summarily dismissed. A "correct" answer would be something more creative, like "o" or "3" (because you cut the symbol "8" in half) or "1+1+1+1" or "the square root of 16."

You get the idea. I recently read glassdoor.com's top 25 oddball interview questions of 2010, which just goes to show that a lot of companies ask questions like this.

And for some jobs, you do need people who can think outside the box. But my boss said more often than not, he just needs someone who can communicate and give him a straight answer.

And in grade school, I was taught to NOT think outside the box.

I remember in second grade, when we were learning the names of the days of the week, we had a spelling test on them. I wrote:

"Mon
Tues
Wednes
Thurs
Fri
Sat
Sun"

And then, in letters filling the page top to bottom, "day."

Obviously, I knew how to spell the names of the day of the week. And I recognized there was an easier way to do it. I was thinking out of the box.

But I got a zero. I guess creative thinking only goes so far.

Stephen R. Covey, the Jon M. Huntsman Presidential Chair in Leadership, wrote a book about seeking the third alternative. I wrote a blog post about it once. In those situations, I think it is vital to think outside the box. Especially if it means I'll get paid to move to a tropical island.

Gratefully, none of the companies I have interviewed with so far have asked any of those off-the-wall questions. They are out there, but now you know. And knowing is half the battle.

- Paul Lewis Siddoway

Applications now open!

The Fall 2011 session of Great Work Great Career is almost underway! We have our speakers all lined up for this semester and have some really great people coming to speak to us.

To recap for those unfamiliar with the course:

Great Work Great Career is a career and professional development workshop that will help you identify and develop your unique skill set, learn how to take charge of your life and get the work you want. We will also teach you how to create a custom résumé and cover letter, and you will learn how to deliver an engaging interview. So much time and energy is put into 4+ years of education, now is the time to learn how to put all of that into practice and apply it to the real world!

Applications are now being accepted, and the process will close Tuesday, September 20. The first class begins Thursday Sept. 22, and will be held every Tuesday night thereafter from 6:30-8:00 p.m. until November 15. There is a course fee of $99, which includes a copy of Dr. Covey's book, Great Work Great Career, access to Dr. Covey's online community, a certificate of completion, and a delicious closing social dinner.

For more information and to apply, go to huntsman.usu.edu/greatworkgreatcareer.

Any questions can be emailed to greatworkgreatcareer@gmail.com.

We hope to see you there!

Take charge of your life - now

“Taking charge of your life is really about taking responsibility for your life.”

 ~Stephen R. Covey

These last few weeks have been somewhat of a roller coaster.  As I approach my last semester before graduating, I have reflected much on both the principles I learned during my time as a student in the Great Work Great Career program, and as a current intern for the program. Lately I have become slightly overwhelmed with the common stresses of balancing summer classes with a part-time job, an internship, family vacations, preparations for the fall semester of work and school, applying for “grown-up jobs”, and how can I forget—Thursday night city league softball.  I have realized that I am in charge of my situation and in charge of what I accomplish.  

Throughout our lives we will be presented with many different obstacles and opportunities.  As college students, we are so busy finding the medium between not working so much that our schooling suffers and working enough so we can pay the bills.  Not to mention the time we must spend looking for the extra opportunities that will add to our education and future careers such as internships, volunteer work, study abroad and other summer business exploration trips. 

In one of the online videos entitled Take Charge that we discuss in the Great Work Great Career Learning Group, Dr. Covey states, “Every moment, every situation provides a new choice.  This gives you a perfect opportunity to do things differently now—to produce more positive results now.”  As the summer ends and we get ready to start a new semester, all of us have the opportunity to make new choices, do things differently and produce more positive results for ourselves and those around us.  Students have the choice to either make it another mediocre semester of only coming to class when absolutely necessary and putting in just the minimal amount of effort to pass the class, or, to be actively engaged in the material they are learning and the experiences they are having, knowing that that choices now can have a lasting impact on their lives forever. 

I don’t yet know what I want to be when I grow up, but I know that my opportunities will be multiplied as I proactively engage myself in making positive decisions as situations present themselves.  In the Great Work Great Career Learning Group, created by Dr. Stephen R. Covey, students have the potential to identify and develop their unique skill sets, learn how to take charge of their lives, get the work they want and make a lasting contribution to whatever and whomever they associate themselves. 

School starts in less than a week.  No matter what stage of school you are in you have many decisions ahead of you.  Be proactive in your decision-making.  As Dr. covey said, “Proactive people are responsible.”  Take charge of your life—now.  

Expanding my definition of "synergy"

To be honest, I don’t often go around having conversations based on Steven Covey’s “7 Habits”. It’s just not a subject that comes up all that often. However, I did find myself in such a situation last Wednesday.

I have a group of friends that gets together to play music. Sometimes we call it “band practice”, but usually it’s just an excuse to get together and play around. Usually one of us will show up with a new artist or song we’ve discovered and we’ll all spend a little time trying to figure out how it goes.

Paul Lewis Siddoway

I don’t think you have to be musically inclined to realize that five guys all doing their own thing all at once can be … overwhelming, to put it nicely. However, we’ve been doing this long enough that it doesn’t take long for us to start putting the pieces together and have it come out sounding pretty good.

I always thought that was synergy. I always defined synergy as when two or more things come together and something happens that the individual parts couldn’t make happen on their own.

Like when you listen to Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” album while watching “The Wizard of Oz”.

But I found myself last Wednesday expanding my definition of synergy.

My boss explained it to me using this purely hypothetical conversation:

Me: I want a raise.

My boss: I don’t have the money to give you a raise.

At this point, I (in the real conversation) jokingly suggested that the next step is usually some sort of compromise where I do more work, he gets the credit, and I get to take a soda out of his mini-fridge.

Little did I know I had used a dirty word.

It’s like that time Malfoy called Hermione a “Mud-Blood” and Harry had no idea what was going on. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, there are these books by this British lady about a teenage wizard you should read.

Apparently in the land of the “7 Habits” the word “compromise” is a no-no. When you  “compromise” you are settling for less than what you want, which is what Mr. Covey calls a lose-lose situation.

According to the natural properties of synergy, the correct solution is for both my boss and I to earn the same amount of money as we already do, get the same amount of credit as we already do and do the same amount of work that we already do. It’s just that now, we get to do it in Maui.

That way, we both get something even better that we didn’t realize we wanted in the first place. Like discovering my “band” can play at restaurants and get free dinner.

Maybe I’m still way off, but I like the idea of what synergy can do for me.

Paul Lewis Siddoway

A center for centers?

A group of us recently visited the University of Minnesota to tour the Carlson School of Management (http://www.carlsonschool.umn.edu).  We make visits like these to learn things that might help us with the design of our new building.

One of the questions we’ve been wrestling with when it comes to deciding how to design and layout our building is how can we best integrate programs and centers into the physical structure of a building. We plan several programs and centers that serve all students no matter which department or major the student is in. For example, we plan a Stephen R. Covey Center for Ethical Leadership, a Center for Entrepreneurship and a Center for Global Engagement.

Ken Snyder

We saw a really great solution to the space for centers and programs at the Carlson School. They locate all of their centers in a specific location so that it can share resources. They’ve created sort of a center for centers. The set-up makes it more likely that school leaders will communicate with each other about ongoing and shared initiatives. The programs share a receptionist, the same conference room and the facility features a suite of offices that can be assigned out according to need. If the staffing and faculty support needs for one center are greater than for another area, for example, space can be allocated based on those needs. They placed this center of centers in a high-traffic area of the building in what they identify as “beachfront real estate” where it is easily accessible by students.

I am grateful that the Carlson School opened its doors and shared with us the things it has learned. Carolyn Chase, the assistant dean of operations, was very gracious as she showed us around and let us see the results of all their planning and work.

These are the kind of ideas we will be challenging and considering in the next few months as we create our new space. 

Ken Snyder

Be a contributor - with purpose, passion and cause

Stephen Covey and Jennifer Colosimo, the authors of the book our course is based on, make an interesting claim, saying, “You are not a ‘job description with legs.’”  What could that possibly mean?  In their book, they expound upon this topic multiple times.  They explain that what you do for, or at, a certain company, isn’t just your “job description”; it’s more.  They go on to explain:

“You are more than just your passion and instincts: that would make you merely an animal.  And a key distinction is your conscience—the part of you that whispers what you should do with your life, what your responsibility is.  Your talents, passions, and conscience together add up to a whole person.  Unless you are invested as a whole person in your career, you will always find yourself underemployed, frustrated, and perhaps burdened with guilt.”

They say that people in the workplace should be more than just employees with a title or job description. They can be solutions to their employer’s problems – a focused contributor with purpose, passion and cause.  We believe in these principles.  We desire to instill this confident mindset into students, so that as they go through the years of education and prepare to enter the world of work, they can incorporate their talents, passions and conscience together to make a significant contribution in whatever field they choose to involve themselves.

A few pages back in the book, another profound statement is made, that “Every person should be able to respond to the question ‘What do you do?’ not with a job title, but with a statement of personal responsibility.”  Through very experienced guest speakers, an engaging book and interactive online work, we help students understand the responsibility they have in discovering their unique skill set and voice, compiled of their talents, passions, and conscience.  We help them understand how they can be able to use this to take charge of their lives and get the work they want. 

This course isn’t just for those students who are graduating after this next semester. It can have a lasting impact for new, young students as they trek through the adventure of finding out what degree to pursue and how to do it.

The dates have been set for this upcoming session.  Applications will open August 29^th, which is the first day of school.  Classes will begin on September 20^th and will occur every Tuesday evening for nine weeks, ending on November 15^th. 

We are confident this course will continue to develop and will have a lasting impact as its timeless principles are presented, explored and put into practice.  

Great Work Great Career will be back in the fall semester

We really appreciate all the support we are getting from the Huntsman faculty, as well as the faculty and staff from other colleges and Career Services as the program continues to grow and develop.  Week after week, we hear from the best of the best this university has to offer.  The lessons the students learn and the connections they have the opportunity to make are invaluable. 

Everything is coming together for the fall session.  The dates aren’t set in stone yet but applications will open around the first week of school with the course beginning possibly the third week in September and going for nine weeks.  We’ll get everything finalized in the next week so be sure to check out our next post!

In the very book we study, Dr. Stephen R. Covey and Jennifer Colosimo make a claim that “it’s a natural principle that you cannot achieve anything truly worthwhile alone – at least not in the world of work.”  We stand by that claim and implement that principle into this course.  There are great lessons taught concerning the importance of taking charge of your life, defining your contribution, getting the work you want, and how to perform well on résumés and during interviews.  On top of that, the relationships formed between students and with the elite guest speakers have the potential to accelerate ones career.

Jordan Jennings, a marketing student graduating this December, had this to say after completing the course,

“Great Work Great Career gave me the preparation I needed to step out of college and into the career search with confidence and direction.  Thanks to Great Work Great Career I know I can take control.  Where most people go through the application process in the standard way, I know I can take control, be proactive, and not simply find a job opening, but create a place for myself in a company where I can make a significant contribution.”

Jordan, along with many others, have expressed their increase in confidence as they get ready to graduate and prepare to enter the job market. 

To students, we encourage you to participate in this program.  To professors, we ask you to encourage your students to participate in this program.  

Sharpening the saw and making the best of your situation

I’m in the middle of reading Robinson Crusoe. It’s one of those books that I've always felt like I should read but never have. I don’t know if you’ve ever read it before, it’s rather new, but I’m going to spoil it a little for you: He gets shipwrecked on a deserted island and has to survive by himself.

As I've read this account of a lone man’s struggle and his determination to keep living, I can’t help but compare myself to what he’s going through.

Paul Lewis Siddoway

He farms corn, tames goats, and builds two separate housing/fortification complexes and a boat all by himself.

I’m working two jobs and am taking an online summer class.

It makes me very grateful for everything I have, from the turkey sandwich I had for lunch to the fact that I don’t have to worry about the natives.

When I compare myself to the character of Robinson, I’m irked that I don’t quite have the motivation he does. I’m sure that if my one goal was stay alive, I could do it. But I have a hard time wanting to actually work. I don’t know if it’s that I haven’t taken time to sharpen that proverbial saw Stephen Covey told me about, or if I don’t feel like I’m validated through my work or something else entirely.

Working two jobs and going to school can make it hard for me to find some “me” time to allow myself to recharge. Whenever I do sneak in some R&R, I usually feel guilty, like I should be doing something more productive. Unlike being a grade schooler, I don’t have a whole summer to have fun. I have to schedule it in and earn every minute of it. I think of all that squandered fun time I had not that long ago and wish that I could have saved that somehow, so I could withdraw it now. And when I do find myself with a little relaxation time, I try to take full advantage of it.

My brother is a lawyer and he often will work 10-hour days. And he says he likes it, which is fine. I would not. I like what I do. However, I need fixed hours. When those hours are up, I need to go home and spend some time by myself and some with my wife.

I care about what I do, but it always makes my job easier when my boss says I did a good job on something. Student jobs don’t often allow for any promotions, so it’s hard not to feel stagnant, which could lead to feeling unimportant.

I worked for a bowling alley once. I looked at where I was at that point in life and thought, “Why am I working here?” I was working there because I needed the money. I didn’t think I was going to change the world. It happened to be a really fun job, and I got to work with some pretty fun people. I enjoyed my job, and I’m pretty sure my customers knew it. Looking back, I hope that because I liked my job, I transferred some of that happiness to my customers. They were going bowling, so it was pretty easy to be a catalyst for happiness. But maybe I did change the world, just a little. I made it better for a few people, a half an hour at a time.

So now when I’m working and I remember that I’m not a doctor or something that has obvious positive rewards and I have a hard time staying motivated, I just try and focus on how whatever I’m doing is an improvement on the world in any little way. It makes me feel less like a cog in the corporate wheel and more like Robinson Crusoe. Then I take a break.

My work might not determine life or death (you can breathe a deep sigh of relief now), but I’m still trying to make the world I live in a better place.

Paul Lewis Siddoway

Build your village

Tuesday night we had the opportunity to hear from Barry Heninger, career accelerator and professor for the Huntsman School. Mr. Heninger shared the many experiences he has had throughout the progression of his career.

In Dr. Covey’s book, he teaches of the difference between simply a group of people you know and a “village.” He explains that in a village there are many diverse skills, talents, and professions, where each individual helps the other. Mr. Heninger shared multiple experiences where he was able to escalate his career through networking, and he also talked about times when he was able to help others out along the way. Mr. Heninger cautioned us to give at least as much as we receive.

We discussed different ways to network and build our village through social networking sites, as well as taking advantage of the many people we are associated with at our various jobs, internships and even our classes.

The main principle of Mr. Heninger’s counsel was clearly stated: “To get a great career, you have to ask for it.”

Delivering an engaging interview

Tuesday night we had the opportunity to hear from Ron Godfrey, career accelerator and lecturer for the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business. Mr. Godfrey has held many positions in both professional and volunteer settings. His experiences in those realms has greatly contributed to his expertise in interviewing skills.

We were taught about the types of common questions asked in job interviews. It was said that some time ago, interviewers would ask situational questions. For example, the interviewer may ask, "What would you do in this type of situation?" Nowadays, interviewers (at least the good interviewers) ask behavioral-based questions. They are looking for an experience that describes certain qualities and characteristics necessary for that specific job. Mr. Godfrey gave us great suggestions on how to be completely prepared for a job interview as if knowing the answers to a test before the test.

We encourage everyone to visit the career accelerator office to schedule a time to meet with Mr. Godfrey or any of the other career accelerators. They can help you discover the secrets about how to ace your next interview.

Also, Mr. Godfrey discussed proper dress for males and females, as well as other "do's" and "don'ts" in interviews. The participants really enjoyed Tuesday night's lecture and seem to have left with more confidence as they gain a better understanding of how to have an engaging interview.

Creating a custom cover letter and resume

Tuesday night our Great Work Great Career class learned about the role of a custom cover letter and resume in getting us an interview.

We had the opportunity to hear from Melissa Scheaffer, associate director of career services, who used her professional skills in resume writing to explain the importance of said subjects. As a member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches, she had many invaluable counsels and practices for us to apply to our career searching endeavors.

A few of our participants volunteered their personal resumes to be critiqued in front of the class, and this was followed by group peer critiquing. Both activities were incredibly beneficial for everyone in attendance.

This class was our first real “hands-on” group session. Judging by the reactions of the participants, this was definitely one of our best sessions yet!

Take Charge

On Tuesday night, our Great Work Great Career class learned about the importance of having an idea of what you want to do in life and working towards it.

The course we have been taking is based on the book of the same name that was written by Stephen R. Covey and Jennifer Colosimo. It helps people identify and develop their unique talents and passions. It also helps people better tap those skills, and it prepares them for the job market by helping them improve their resume and interviewing abilities.

Most recently, we had the opportunity to hear from Dave Patel, director of executive outreach at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business. He talked about when he graduated from Utah State University and immediately drove to Washington, D.C., to take charge of his life and pursue a great career. He had the opportunity of working for the office of Senator Orrin Hatch and later for the office of the Secretary of Defense. Mr. Patel explained that integrity, initiative and intelligence are crucial characteristics when working to improve your life.

Mr. Patel closed by saying that the world needs more Aggies. He encouraged us to get involved, take advantage of our opportunities along the way and get out as we take charge.

Get the Work You Want

Tuesday night our Great Work Great Career class learned about how to be persistent and about the importance of understanding the broad spectrum as we pursue our desired career path.

The course we have been taking is based on the book of the same name by Stephen R. Covey and Jennifer Colosimo. It helps people identify and develop their unique talents and passions. It also helps people better tap those skills, and it prepares them for the job market by improving their resume building and interviewing abilities.

We had the opportunity to hear from Bernadette Caldwell, a current participant in the course. She spoke about the potential women have in the workplace, and she also gave encouraging words about effective negotiation.

We also heard from Barbara Sidwell, current Huntsman career accelerator. Barbara explained that as we develop our careers, we will need seven people as part of our network:

1) Mentor - someone to teach, guide and be a professional example

2) Godfather - someone to champion you to your boss (pull some strings)

3) Headhunter - someone who will look out for you and help place you in ideal situations

4) Visionary - someone who has a broad perspective and helps you dream

5) Realist - someone who says, "Good idea ... but what about X, Y and Z?"

6) Partner - a supporter through the highs and lows

7) Mentee - someone for you to teach, train and guide

To close Tuesday night's class, Lynne Pettit explained the difference between being PROACTIVE and REACTIVE and avoiding the "victim mentality." We were taught that we must first identify the need, then identify our skills, and lastly, identify a solution. Being proactive is key to getting the work you want.

Find Your Voice

Tuesday night we learned about intersections in our “Great Work, Great Career” class.

The course, based on the book by Stephen R. Covey and Jennifer Colosimo by the same name, helps people identify and develop their unique skills and passions. It also helps people better tap those skills and it prepares them for the job market by helping them improve their resume and interviewing skills.

Tuesday we had the wonderful opportunity to hear from Lynne Pettit, career acceleration specialist and course facilitator. The topic of discussion, based on the readings and online assignments done before hand, was entitled, “Find Your Voice.” Professor Pettit shared many stories and examples to illustrate the importance of each person discovering and tapping their own talents to contribute, not only the workplace, but, in life in general. He said that while there is suffering and hardship in the world, such realities should not detour us from proactively doing what we can to improve things. We must change the focus from looking at the circumstances that impact us, to discovering how we can better draw on our own talents, strengths and abilities to help those around us, he said.

In his book and online, Dr. Covey explains what he means when he says we should discover our voice. The book says that each person needs to find what they feel is a worthy cause that taps their talents, fuels their passion and meets a need. It’s at the intersection of what he calls talent, passion, need and conscience that one finds their voice.

As Dr. Covey said, “Regardless of the historical, societal, and environmental challenges and opportunities you uniquely face, you have immense choice in what to do right now.”

Class based on Stephen Covey book to start May 17

The Great Work Great Career Summer 2011 session is ready to go!

This will be the fourth group that has gone through this nine-week training group. The course is based on the book by Stephen R. Covey and Jennifer Colosimo entitled Great Work Great Career. The course helps identify and develop your unique skills and passions and how to put them to use, as well as improving your resume and interviewing skills.

Registration for this group is closed, however, students may apply for the Fall 2011 session toward the end of the summer. The cost for the course is $99 which includes the book and access to the Stephen Covey Community website.

This past week things have really been coming together for the summer session. We are so excited to meet so many new participants, as well as have the great opportunity to hear from so many great speakers. As of yesterday, all the guest speakers are all locked in and ready to go! We’ve really put a lot of effort into continuing this program’s reputation of quality, knowledgeable and experienced guest speakers.

For this session, our real pride and joy is the student workbook. We have put considerable time and effort into creating a workbook that will supplement the book, as well as the progression of this course. The workbook has been designed to go right along with the course, making it easier for students to take notes during the specified readings, videos, guest speakers and class discussions. It will really add to the ongoing development and integrity of the course.

Our opening social is this Tuesday, May 17, where we are going to have the opportunity to hear from Dr. Chris Fawson, professor and associate dean for international and entrepreneurial programs, Barbara Sidwell, career accelerator and Great Work Great Career alumna and finally, Lynne Pettit, career accelerator and course facilitator. It will be a great night to better get to know one another and be enlightened by some of our elite staff.

~Great Work Great Career Team

The Jon M. Huntsman School of Business is a school that I am proud to be a part of. Over the past few years the School of Business seems to have grown in prestige and worth. The school seems to keep growing in the eyes of the public, but the thing I appreciate and respect most about the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business is a thing of less visibility to the view of outsiders. I am talking about the teachers and the way that they interact with students. On top of being the best in their fields of expertise, the teachers at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business care about students a great deal. Any other school would be hard pressed to compete with the incredible education students are receiving at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business.

Many stories have been relayed to me by friends and acquaintances about ways that professors from The Jon M. Huntsman School of Business have gone the extra mile for them. This comes as no surprise to me because I have experienced the same kindness from professors on many occasions. There have been countless times when many of my professors have spent long hours in their offices with me to help me learn and truly understand concepts that were being covered in class. Professors have gone out of their way to help me find personal tutors or any other resources that I was in need of. I recall a time when one professor invited me to her home when I was not able to meet during office hours. She worked with me to help me prepare for a test that I needed to take. I thought this act of kindness was above and beyond what a student might expect of a college professor.

The Jon M. Huntsman School of Business is no ordinary college and that is because the college does not have just ordinary professors. In an article discussing Stephen R. Covey joining the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business faculty Dr. Covey was quoted. The article reported that Dr. Covey said, “The leaders and faculty at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business just seem to get it." I could not agree more with Dr. Covey. I am so grateful to my professors at The Jon M. Huntsman School of Business; they truly enhance student’s education in and out of the classroom.

Matt Seeley