Entrepreneurial Journal Entry - Week 3

I really enjoyed the study material from this week. There was an article we were required to read that I had read in a previous semester. I’m so thankful that I was required to read it again. I remember really enjoying it the first time, but after reading it again I realized there was quite a bit of incredible information that I had forgotten the specifics of. That’s what I’d like to share in this week’s post.

The article is “How Will You Measure Your Life?” by Clayton M. Christensen. In this article Christensen asks three different questions: First, how can I be sure that I’ll be happy in my career? Second, how can I be sure that my relationships with my spouse and family become an enduring source of happiness? And third, how can I be sure I’ll stay out of jail.

The first question is given a quote by Frederick Herzberg. He says “the powerful motivator in our lives isn't money; it’s the opportunity to learn, grow in responsibilities, contribute to others, and be recognized for achievements. Christensen concludes that management is the most noble of professions if it’s practiced well. No other occupation offers as many ways to help others learn and grow, take responsibility and be recognized for achievement, and contribute to the success of a team. It’s a priceless opportunity to build people up.

The second question is answered by teaching about the importance of creating a strategy for your life. For Christensen, having a clear purpose in life has been essential. It was something he had to think long and hard about before understanding. He decided to commit one hour every night to reading, thinking, and praying about why God put him on this earth. It was time well spent. He applies that knowledge of the purpose of his life every day. Clarity about our purpose in life will trump academic knowledge every time.

And the final question is answered by having us avoid the “marginal costs” mistake. When Christensen was sixteen he decided that he would not participate in sports on Sunday. This was a huge upset for his basketball team and coach. They pressured him to make an exception just this once. He chose not to break his commitment – so didn't play in the championship game. He says that resisting the temptation whose logic was “In this extenuating circumstance, just this once, it’s OK” has proven to be one of the most important decisions of his life. Why? Because his life has been one unending stream of extenuating circumstances. Had he crossed the line just that one time, he would have done it over and over in the years that followed. This is how we stay out of jail. Never assume that crossing the line is OK “just this once.” He also teaches that it’s crucial to take a sense of humility into the world. You can be humble only if you feel really good about yourself – and you want to help those around you feel really good about themselves too.

I love how he ends his article: “I've concluded that the metric by which God will assess my life isn't dollars but the individual people whose lives I've touched. Don’t worry about the prominence you have achieved; worry about the individuals you have helped become better people. Think about the metric by which your life will be judged, and make a resolution to live every day so that in the end, your life will be judged a success.”