Archive for category: LivingEd – Charlotte

On Thursday we received a well-designed talk about pursuing our future careers after our time at Living Education. Dr. John Cole, a Charlotte local, entrepreneur, and businessman, provided us with an energetic and passionate forum in which he covered tips to achieve success in our future work endeavors.

Dr. Cole began by asking all of us what would be our dream job to tailor the discussion to better suit every one of us. He then wanted to emphasize the importance of, what he called, “Swot Analysis.”  Swot analysis stands for–strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.  He recommended that we identify these in future companies and ourselves. It is necessary for us while looking at new opportunities to weigh the options presented before us.  When we focus on our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, it allows us a more rounded look at where we can and need to grow. 

Research

 Dr. Cole said from his personal experience that before even applying for a position, it is worthwhile to prepare by researching the company in which you are interested. This preparation will allow us to stand out positively in the interview stage. It is wise to become familiar with the organization as well as their competitors so we can better answer the interviewer’s questions. He also went on to warn that research is double-sided. Anything that is put online can and will be found by the employer before a company hires somebody. That is why we must think about how others will view our social media posts before we post them. This will protect us from any unforeseen side effects in the future.

Be Personable

Dr. Cole shared that a key to having an impact on other people, especially interviewers, is to simply be natural. This is easier said than done. It is only natural that an employer would feel more inclined to hire someone they genuinely want to spend time around rather than a potentially more qualified individual with whom  they can’t get along. Dr. Cole went on to explain that there are four different types of people. He summed them up as:

1. Those that know they know.
2. Those that know they don’t know.
3. Those that don’t know they know.
4. Those that don’t know they don’t know.

This example of 4 different people emphasizes the need to be knowledgeable in our fields, yet more importantly, we must remain humble through our wisdom. 

Innovative 

We need to be up to date with current and future innovations that will affect our future career fields. Dr. Cole gave the example of AI. He recommended that everyone pay attention to the latest developments in their field so that when posed with a question regarding it, we can be ready to give an educated response on the matter. This will allow us to not be caught off guard by any changes in our work and careers.

God’s Hand

While we can do our part to develop better career readiness skills described by Dr. Cole, only with God can we truly succeed. The largest aspect that guides our endeavors is prayer. Dr. Cole explained that God may guide an event in a direction that we may not immediately understand. We should always remember, however, that God is in control and wants what is best for us. He shared a personal account of when he first got out of school. He applied for a good entry-level job. He fervently prayed asking for God’s assistance, yet was ultimately rejected because he was overqualified. What he did not realize at the time was God was protecting him. Just a few months later, the company he applied to declared bankruptcy. We must realize that even if God may close a door, it is to protect us from future suffering. 

Dr. Cole reminded us that if we, or other brethren need a hand, to send him an email. He offered to be a reference, give his feedback on any writing for higher education, or read over a resume. If there ever is a time that he can be of assistance Dr. Cole would be more than happy to offer help. Just contact him at [email protected]. 

The wisdom that was passed onto us on how we can establish more extensive ways to go about treating others and researching for employment, was beneficial to hear. This will all be taken and ready for us to put to action when the time comes!

Are you creative? Mr. Jonathan McNair began the recent forum by posing this question to the students. He put forth a passion for this topic and how it relates to our Father in Heaven.

The Creative Process 

After presenting the question, Mr. McNair used a video to demonstrate the process of creativity. The video was of a man who sat down at the piano, and wrote a short piece of music for himself and an orchestra in 10 minutes. All he used for inspiration was a few lines of text from a program of the evenings musical performance. He asked the audience for a “key” in which to write, and began to create. The end product was a powerful mini-ballad, amazing the audience as they listened to his work brought musically to life. 

God Is Creative

Mr. McNair dug in and emphasized just how creative the Creator of this world is. God did not have to make such a variety of scenery or taste, yet he did.  Genesis 1:26 says:  “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”  Mr. McNair pointed out mankind was created in the image of God, and he also instilled in us the desire to be creative.  

Biblical Craftsmanship 

He went on to show examples from the Bible of God’s guidance concerning creative projects.  The guidance that God gave to Noah in Genesis chapter 6, is very detailed. “Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. 15 And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.” Exodus 31 shows God’s guidance to create works of art as well; “And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, 4 to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, 5 in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship.”

Making it Personal 

To make the topic real in the student’s daily lives, Mr. McNair brought out a personal story of how remarkably man can use the creativity he was given.  He shared how he is reviewing the project for the new hymnal and that it is inspiring to witness just how much creativity God has provided within the church. He then went on to warn that creativity must be used, lest it be taken away.  

Keys To Creativity 

To wrap up his forum, Mr. McNair brought to light what he called three keys to achieving creativity.  The first was, “Use patterns for success.” He said that when you look at it, there are patterns everywhere; use these patterns to your advantage. The second key is, “Get the little things right.” Mr. McNair established that when a chance for a grand creative endeavor appears, if you do not have the fundamentals down then that chance will pass you by.  The final point is, “Work in harmony.”  He told the students that they shouldn’t view others as stepping stones to get them where they want to go and then leave, but instead care for the people and the connection during the creative process

 Mr. McNair left the students with a challenge.  “I challenge you to live a creative life!”

Mr. Mike DeSimone provided us, newly arrived Living Education students, with an insightful lesson on how to become even more effective in our work, academics, and personal lives. He provided an interactive game that made his points stand out even more. This was a much-appreciated discussion, and it inspired us as we begin to kick off these exciting nine months here!

The Myth of Multitasking… 

Mr. DeSimone started by sharing a story of how shift-tasking can be falsely confused with multitasking.  Unlike how we think of multitasking being a good and productive way to manage our time, shift tasking, also known as switch tasking, takes the focus off the project at hand and distorts it elsewhere.  Instead of being able to do the work quicker, shift tasking takes longer to complete because of the time to “switch” back and forth between tasks.  It is better to do one task efficiently, then move on to a second, instead of a poor attempt at doing two things at once.  

The 5 S’s 

A large key to Mr. Desimone’s discussion was focused on the 5 S’s.  

1. Sort:  Keep only what is necessary and discard everything else.
2. Set in Order: Arrange and label only necessary items for easy use and return.
3. Shine:  Keep everything swept clean, and tidy.
4. Standardize:  The state that exists when the first three pillars of the 5 S’s are properly kept.
5. Sustain:  Make a habit of properly maintaining correct procedures.

The 5 S’s, we have learned, are beneficial in ensuring that the precious resource of time is well cared for.  Mr. DeSimone provided a handout to assist our grasping of how the 5 S’s can play a drastic role in the effectiveness, efficiency, and accuracy in our lives.

Further Than Just the Physical

When posed with the question of whether the 5 S’s could be taken past the obvious physical principles they hold, Mr. DeSimone responded with, “These can be taken and used to assist the personal relationships we hold with others.”  If how we interact with others is not sorted, then we may be spending time as a group when it should be one-on-one.  Setting the time spent with others in order can aid in a stronger relationship with other people. Mr. DeSimone’s lessons were taken to heart by all of us as we strive to be the most efficient and effective students/workers we can!