Vision

When I was eight years old, I wanted to be a tiger trainer. I loved tigers! In elementary school, I even started writing "Rachel A.J. Tigers" on my papers at school. I liked having "Tigers" for a last name. Well, until my teacher, who clearly lacked sensitivity and a heart, called home and told my mom she would fail me if I did not start writing my correct name. 

My love for tigers was not hindered in the slightest. I went to the zoo often to see them, I drew pictures of them, and I went to the library to check out books to research them. I quickly came to discover that the White Bengal tigers were close to extinction. Contact information (to one of China's prominent leaders) was located in one of the books I selected, encouraging people to take a stand. I decided to write a letter to China to inform the leaders of the terrible injustices that were occurring to the tigers there. I was trying to give a voice to a species that did not have one. 

For obvious reasons, I have not pursued this selected career. Since I was young, I have had a love for the world around me and a desire to give back. I have since chosen an entirely different career to do just that--teaching. By equipping my students with an education, I will enable them more opportunities to achieve their dreams. And hopefully, more voices will be heard.

(Gratefully, my love for people and other, more relative things, has since replaced my excessive love for tigers :))

I think the claim(WHY-WHAT-HOW mentioned below) is a great way to organize and prioritize the vision and mission. Sometimes we focus so much on the big ways of HOW to make something happen that the WHAT and especially the WHY gets lost. If one gets off track on the WHY, then what is the purpose of completing the BIG HOW. Similarly, oftentimes the WHY will fuel the motivation to continue working on the goals (HOW). 

We have to think about WHAT we want to accomplish first. Then we must reflect WHY we want to accomplish it. Followed by HOW we are going to get it done. WHY-WHAT-HOW

Example: 

1) I want to buy a bike=WHAT

2) I want to go on a cross country bike trip=WHY

               3) I need to identify a bike, earn $X, by the end of the month=HOW 

Thus Why=Vision, What=Mission/Purpose, How=Goals

I have many visions and missions for the year. 

An example includes:

Mission(WHAT): I want to become a loving and successful teacher and wife.

Vision(WHY): I want to make a difference in the world and my world.

Servant Leadership

We all can make a difference.

Brother Cox is a genuine man who gave a heartfelt lecture on servant leadership. 

Servant Leadership: a philosophy and practice of leadership in which a leader that puts others before him/herself where motivation is always outward focused. Servant leaders exemplify empathy, good listening skills, stewardship, self-aware, caring etc. (coined by Robert Greenleaf). 

Servant leadership, in my opinion is the best philosophy and form of leadership. The greatest leaders our world has ever known have been servant leaders (Martin Luther King Jr., Ghandi, Mother Theresa, Joseph Smith or Thomas S. Monson). A leader is one who "guides or directs a group." A leader represents people. The leaders that are revered are those that put the peoples' needs first. Aside from the notorious figures we familiarize ourselves with in history, servant leaders surround us every day, such as this young boy in the clip. 

My dear mother is a servant leader. She is a powerful leader and example for me. Although unknown to most of the world, to me, she is my world. Her decades of day-in and day-out services and sacrifices for me (and many others), have molded me into the young woman I am today.  

“Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest

 service to be assumed by mankind.” 


― Howard W. Hunter 

I strive, daily, to be a person who will be that selfless, loving leader in any situation I am presented with. Whether it is running a country or running a family, we all can be servant leaders in our lives. 

 For most, it is easy to crave leadership for fame, glory, personal benefit, etc.  I have witnessed, firsthand, top down leadership. The particular individual is  leader at a company. However, he is a leader that is out for himself and himself only, aspiring to be the president soon. In turn, he shuts out many bright ideas and employees due to his egoism and off-centered focus. He leads to glorify himself and his ideas. Resentment and hostility foster among the leading employees because of it. I lack trust and respect for this individual and I have no desire to work with him or for him. I will never hire or admit an individual with this leadership mindset in any future business I am apart of. It is possible, however, to be a servant leader in business. I have seen many. They do so much good in world, professionally and personally. 

 My reason for leading is NOT to indulge my own selfish pleasures and desires.  We are all human. We all suffer; we need each other. To me, being a leader is all about the people one leads. I desire to be a light and strength for others. I want to make this world a better place. I can. We all can. We ALL have the potential to benefit those around us in one way or another. 

Mahatma Gandhi said, "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." 

Be a leader. Serve others.