Does money make my world go around? No...

Tithing is my attitude concerning money.

The Lord is so eager to bless us, His daughters, and sons. We need to let those blessings come from heaven and not hinder them. Elder Bednar put it this way. “[i]I testify spiritual and temporal 

blessings come into our lives as we live the law of tithing. I bear witness that such blessings often 

are significant but subtle. I also declare that the simplicity of the Lord’s way that is so evident in the 

temporal affairs of His Church provides patterns that can guide us as individuals and as families.” 

The correlation to the gospel is that good come from and to good. As we chose to obey and follow, 

we need to prepare and even expect the windows of heave to open unto us. Turn those umbrellas 

upside down.

 

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[i] "The Windows Of Heaven” - By Elder David A. Bednar.

We hear Malachi's voice in need to be a good steward “[i]Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” I have already started asking the questions of those that have their hands in my money, from credit card companies to the cable company, so I understand why they have a right to a portion of my money. I will continue to be diligent in knowing how our increase is saved, distributed, donated, and offered. I will continue to be a conscientious steward of all that the Lord has blessed me.

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[i] Malachi 3:10

Dear friends,
I have had a fantastic, uplifting couple of weeks as I settle into my new calling as Bishop. With that, having positive, bigger than life dreams in-line with President Nelson's direction has been exciting.
Thinking and dreaming big as far as the business is concerned, has gone by the wayside. My mind is full of impressions and thoughts concerning my sisters and brothers in my ward.
For instance, President Nelson has invited all the sisters, children, youth, and young single adults to gather scattered Israel on both sides of the veil, “the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on earth today.”  If that is the focused direction given by the Lord, what changes am I, as Bishop, going to initiate in my ward to ensure the resources match the intent?
The difference between dreaming big as an entrepreneur and as a leader in the church is that they will prosper no matter what we do, we can not stop the work from progressing. Our ideas about making the world a better place while earning a salary at the same time is another story.
My good intention of interviewing a board game entrepreneur feel through due to his health this past week. So nothing to report except he is hectic, and I have a sense he is leary to share for competition's sake.

How Intro to Entrepeneaurialship Has Prepared Me as a New Bishop...

This semester I have had to think, not just outside the box, but hundreds of miles and years in the future of where and when the box was manufactured.

I have applied the principle of the harvest liberally as I have sow innovation as I have taken the counsel of President Nelson to the youth and sisters to Gather Isreal on both sides of the veil and considered how the resources of the ward need to be distributed to accommodate them in the direction they receive from the Prophet.

Since we are two hours from the Temple should we move funds to drive them to the Temple more frequently?

Do I increase the expectations for the teachers of youth to more strongly enforce the two adult rule and mandate a team-teaching style to exemplify missionary type teaching?

Do I seriously delegate the welfare responsibilities except for the approval of funds and the review of the self-reliance plan?

We shall see...

Why we keep going

My dear Sisters and Brothers,
The greatest challenge in business for me is to stay organized, having an,d complete plan in place, and then avoiding the procrastinational thoughts to do the easy things first.
The cancer of putting off today what you can always put off tomorrow is steeped in two decades of being enabled as a child, youth, and young adult with a learning disability. Not until I joined the church at 27, and realized that I had divine potential and infinite worth that I was not stupid. There is a bright horizon, the car may not make it, but I will. Once I invited the Lord to direct my paths, the first things first tasks have not become easier, but the desire to exercise the integrity of Mr. Churchhill's words of victory is clear.
Now at almost 60, I am supported in all my endeavors, the call as the new Bishop, the development of a Prioritisation of Work Integration Process (PWIP), for aviation; and as a loving husband and father. This inspired support has and will come as I ask for help. I asked my son, who served his mission in Africa, how to best communicate with a new family in the ward from Burundi. Friends help with words similar to President Holland in  "you just keep walking." The great and most trusted support comes from Heidi, my everything, when she listens, and prays, and gives me that look that says, "you know what you need to do, just do it".

7 habits of a lifetime, I'm working on the first three

 I have experience synergy first hand, and it is incredible. But with all good things, you have to line up your ducks to make amazing things happen.






Stephen Covey has put a priority to the 7 habits, and I feel I have done well with 4, 5, & 6 only when 1, 2, & 3 are the ducks that are lined up. Of the first three habits, the one I need to focus on is "First things First."

I share this in my book report:

Covey has introduced us to the habit, "First Things First." In the context of the job, the instructor for mastering the prioritization of tasks falls to FAA orders and organizational intent, with a little critical thinking at the local and division level thrown in for good measure. "Practice" is daily dealing with the public, stakeholders, and inspectors alike in emphasizing the why of risk-based decisions on what to do first. "Surrender" has become more comfortable as regulation is written to support work tasks selected and assigned. "Intentionality" lives on my whiteboard at work and in the discussion as Dan and I invent scenarios to overcome in the complex arena of aviation safety. "The Edge" comes in a few weeks as we shared the revolutionary process of seeing and prioritizing general aviation work tasks at an office or division level to the other district leadership teams in the division.

Applying this at work is one thing, but I need to master doing first things first at home. I have a excellent board of advisors and a proper documentation or tracking system. I need to focus my efforts on the "Practice," this has become more urgent since last Sunday as I was set apart as the Bishop of my ward. During this week alone, I added at least 100 items to the Bishopric to-do list, adding to the previous 60 from the former Bishop. I am comfortable with my added board members to the advisory board in the ward council.

Mastering Change

This has been helpful in the reading of the phases and steps of mastery. Thursday night, Heidi and I were asked to visit with the Stake President, where I was asked to serve as the bishop of our ward. I thought os the video by Jan Newman in the study module and almost laughed out loud, remembering Newman's stern direction to always accept a calling form the Lord to do his work.

During the ride home, I turned to my advisory board of advisors and shared how grateful I am that she is with me and the other board members. Heidi shared that she felt it was coming an was not surprised.

Hence, two of my board members knew what was going on before I did.

My Personal Board of Advisors

Chairwoman, Heidi R Pratt

I chose Heidi, my wife, as my chairperson and lead advisor because she is. I completely trust and depend upon her direct and honest counsel, correction, and commendation. Her goals align with my own but rarely in execution and priority, allowing us to communicate and synergize continually. She has an uncanny ability to discern the personal puzzle pieces in any situation.

Jesus Christ

The Savior, as an advisor, is just a smart move. To have a member of the Godhead identified as a member of my board of advisors brings the absolute standard of which all decisions can be measured, supporting my ethical guardrails.

Dr. Stephen Covey

Having read Dr. Covey's as well as his son's, Sean, works on forming and sharing habits that build competence and confidence, I have grown as a person, father, manager, and servant.

Author John Flanagan

Mr. Flanagan, the writer of the Rangers Apprentice and Brotherband Chronicles, brings to life the troubles inherent to all of us and the inspired ingenuity and courage good people receive when fighting to overcome evil.

Malory Evens

Sister Evens is a newer member of my church congregation that exemplifies faithful perseverance in doing the right thing at the right time for the right reason. Sister Evans and the chairperson will complement and support each other in advising me. She is a scholar of the Ever Lasting Gospel of Jesus Christ, and she has an excellent sense of humor.

Raymond V Mitchell Jr.

Papa is my father-in-law and is consistent in being deliberate as he follows every step of every task he has ever done. His conservation of resources is extensive down to each inch of string or drop of used motor oil. He will be the steady voice on the board that has me think through each subject.

Gordon B Pratt

My father and I never see eye to eye on how and when to do anything. I will have to justify and prove each aspect of the course of my life, even though he will not agree. The fine-tooth come will be run, bolstering my confidence in my direction because of the microscope.

Changing the World Through My Entrepreneurial Calling

Jeff Sandefer shared a moving and motivating discourse on the reasons and outcomes of taking our own hero's journey.
The thoughts and direction he shared with the BYU-I students helped me come to understand why some people are motivated by having better things, and some people are motivated by having better relationships.
As I reflect on my life, I can see where one of my relationships got better because someone started her own hero's journey. Jennifer Rose, my step-daughter, and I met a few months before I married her mother, Heidi, in 1994. I was a hated invading force that ruined life as she knew it. At 12, Jennifer was "all set," as is said in New England. She and her mother had a beautiful arrangement, and all was going to plan. Jennifer had run off a few suiters that were unworthy, and she would get rid of Scott too.
Once married, and as a parent, I became accustomed to the phrase, "Scott, I hare you," followed by the sound of a slamming door. Heidi and I determined to focus on a consistent response to all of Jennifer's very well planned attacks. I went to every marching band, choral, jazz band, and awards event, sharing words of praise.
Graduating top ten in her high school class in 1999, she went off to BYU, and I was sure her life would be successful, but without me as an influence.
Then something remarkable happened, the week after September 11, 2001, I received the letter spoken of by Sandefer as one of the first steps on the journey to changing the world. It was full of gratitude and love for the efforts I made in creating a better relationship with her.
Jeniffer has changed the world, and I am grateful for her example as I aspire to follow in her footsteps and take the journey.