Book Review: How Will You Measure Your Life?

How Will You Measure Your Life? is a New York Times Bestselling book by author, businessman, and professor, Clayton Christensen, along with James Allworth and Karen Dillon. In it, Christensen relates business theories and case studies to personal life to create a paradigmatic framework for how to live a successful life.

Favorite Parts:

• Theory. The use of broad theories and case studies to teach principles causes you to critically examine the ideas he proposes and to look for application to your own life instead of feeling disconnected because of ill-fitted advice.
• Balance. Life doesn't always work out how we planned. Christensen discusses how we can find the balance between making a plan for our life and following the serendipitous opportunities that present themselves.
• Strategy. We learn that what is truly important to use shows in how we allocate our resources (time, energy, etc.) and not what we merely say matters to us.
• Outsourcing. The reader is reminded that while outsourcing can be an effective business model, we loose opportunities to connect in the home when we outsource family responsibilities.
• Needs. Just as businesses must provide products that fulfill customer needs, it is not solely important that we serve others, we must ensure that what we provide to others is meeting their needs. This is how family relationships can be truly fulfilling.
• Experience. We see from the book how our experiences--both successes and failures--help qualify us for the future roles and responsibilities we will fill. 
• Integrity. Christensen not only explains why integrity is important, but shows the reader how to live a life of integrity.

Questions I am still pondering:

• How can I apply Christensen's advice about family to myself as a single person?
• What can I do today to prepare myself to have a happy and fulfilling family life in the future?
• How can I better assess the needs of others so that I can more fully meet those needs? How can I learn the needs of those who are not aware of their own needs or who struggle to clearly communicate their needs?
• How have my experiences--both of success and failure--uniquely prepared me for the future?

Excerpts:

"...how I have pursued my purpose has evolved, step by step. Sometimes unanticipated crises and opportunities have felt like a wind at my back as I have worked toward my purpose. At other times they have felt like a numbing wind in my face. I'm glad that I wasn't too rigid in how I would achieve my purpose."

"It's easier to hold to your principles 100 percent of the time than it is to hold to them 98 percent of the time."

"If you defer investing your time and energy until you see that you need to, chances are it will already be too late."

To learn more about the book, visit the website: http://www.measureyourlife.com/

Book Review: The Power of Everyday Missionaries

The Power of Everyday Missionaries is the latest book by Mormon author, businessman, and professor, Clayton Christensen. I read it as part of a book club over a period of three months. In it, Christensen discusses various ways Latter-day Saints can share the gospel with those around them.

Favorite Parts:

• Inspiring true stories. In this book, Christensen shares many true and recent stories about members sharing the gospel. He shares success stories and stories where the success is not immediately evident (I say this because we may not always know the long-term effects of our efforts). I loved that so many of the stories were from his own life. As I read them, I felt like if he had personally experienced so many of those things, the expectation to share my beliefs was something attainable for me.
• Practical, everyday tips. So many of the tips that Christensen offers involve only minor lifestyle changes. If we can make these adjustments (that feel so attainable) we can open the door to greater possibilities for missionary work.
• A good review of the doctrine. Christensen addresses some important points of doctrine and reminds us about the foundations of conversion.
• No excuses given. Christensen does not make excuses for our feears or apprehensions about sharing the gospel. 
• Encouragement to be innovative. We are encouraged to come up with solutions that match the needs of the area where we live. We are reminded of revelation and the fact that we are stewards over our own lives (and for church leaders, our own areas) and can be guided to help people come unto Christ in new and innovative ways. 

Who this book is for:
This book is for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who have testimonies of Christ and want to share it with others. It would be good for returned-missionaries and those who have not served a mission. I especially recommend it for those who have a strong desire to be better missionaries but are scared to share their beliefs or are stuck on trying to figure out more ideas about how to be member missionaries.

Excerpts:
After sharing several examples of church units that were able to build a successful missionary program, Christensen writes:

"Each of these members and leaders were entrepreneurs in Zion. They rightly assumed that the power was in their hands to bring to pass much righteousness... The programs of the Church are designed to leave room for a great deal of individual initiative and personal guidance."

To learn more about the book, please visit the website www.everydaymissionaries.org

Book Review: Go Forward with Faith

Go Forward with Faith is the biography of Gordon B. Hinckley, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1995 to 2008, written by Sheri L. Dew. I listened to the book on CD twice and recently bought the book and am reading it. It's long (560 pages), but worth it. A friend brought the book up the other day and I thought I'd share my review with those who haven't read it to encourage you to read it!

Favorite Parts:

• When being interviewed for the book, President Hinckley was very open about mistakes he had made and the lessons he learned from them. There are many stories of his parents helping him learn from mistakes to become a great man.
• Gordon and Marjorie's story is amazing. I love hearing how much respect they had for each other. I especially have learned a lot with how patient they were with each other.
• I gain hope from seeing how far President Hinckley has come. It is interesting to see how his relationship with his work and other experiences mold his character and personality. He is a man that I deeply respect and admire.
• I love hearing about President Hinckley's family. One story in the book tells of one of their children coming home saying their friend had been grounded. When the child explained what a grounding was, Marjorie responded something like, "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard!"
• A section of the book talks about President Hinckley's college experience at the University of Utah. It discusses how he faced questions in the Church that he was able to work through by studying and by talking with his father. I remember hearing this when I was young and remembering it. It has given me great strength as I have progressed as a member of the Church.

Who this book is for: This book is for anyone who is looking for successful life principles to implement. It is inspiring to learn how a simple boy was prepared and guided to serve in ways he never could have planned. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will probably especially appreciate learning about a man that was its president for almost 13 years.

Excerpts:

"Finally the day of their wedding approached. But Gordon in particular was anxious about the economic realities of marriage. One the eve of their wedding he called Marjorie and asked her to meet him at Keeley's Cafe on Main Street. As they sat at the lunch counter he explained their problem: He had totaled up his assets, and they were less than $150. More alarming, he earned only $185 a month.

"Marjorie, whose basic philosophy was that things always worked out somehow, was not concerned. A hundred and fifty dollars sounded like a fortune to her, and she replied with characteristic optimism that she had hoped for a husband and now she found out she was getting $150 too. 'This will work out wonderfully,' she told him. 'If you've got $150, we're set' (p. 115-6)."

Go Forward With Faith is an excellent biography. One of President Hinckley’s favorite scriptures is D&C 112:10: “Be thou humble; and the Lord they God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers.” If you read this book, you will see this exemplified in his life and gain an increased admiration for Gordon Hinckley. Has anyone else read it? Thoughts?