A few thoughts on making the world a better place...

We were given the assignment in class to write five things that will help our spouse earn more money in their job. Here is my response:

First of all, I feel that this assignment, to describe how to help my future spouse get more money in his future career, is not congruent with the ideas we have been discussing in class. If money were the only focus of things, this may be a good assignment. However, I feel that we have been discussing finding social needs and using entrepreneur skills to satisfy those needs to improve and change the world. I do not feel that I improve the world by making my family rich. To have our needs satisfied is sufficient for me. I feel that riches come to those who are willing to us them to serve others. I don’t think that one way is better than another to serve so I’m not going to pick his career for him. When I say serve, I mean to benefit the life of another person, which doesn't mean it has to be a volunteer activity. I think service can include pay. In that vein, here are the five things that I would want for my husband in his future career that would make my family and the world a better place:

1. A flexible schedule. I feel that being able to choose and manipulate a schedule is a key ingredient to being able to serve the needs of those around you. If someone needs your help or you need a break yourself for rejuvenation, this allows the opportunity that presents itself to be taken.

2. A passion for what he does. If my husband doesn’t enjoy what he does and feel like he is making a difference in the world that suits his unique talents and capabilities, he or I will not be happy and he won’t want to go to work.

3. Maintain balance: Life requires many roles to be played: Father, Church member, employed person, soccer coach, etc. If you get burned out by doing too much of one thing then you are less effective and not good to the world.

4. Collaborate with others. I feel that no one person can do the work they need to get done on their own. There are many people with skills and expertise that need brought in on a project or situation sometimes to benefit another and sometimes for their own benefit. Serve others and improve the world by allowing them to use their skills to their maximum potential.

5. Don’t allow hurdles to stop your progress and don’t leave people behind. Build relationships with people and don’t take the phrase “it has always been done this way” to keep you from trying something new. If others aren’t initially on the band wagon, keep working it until the dream becomes a reality.