A Hero's Journey

 This might have been my favorite week of school so far. Jeff Sanderfer spoke to the students at BYU, Idaho in 2011. It was interesting because I couldn’t find his name in the class documents including the transcript of the video, so I had to depend on Google. Mr. Sanderfer’s message was entitled, “Creating a Life of Meaning” and he started with “I know some of the people I’m speaking to in here will change the world”. He stipulated that we would be able to succeed beyond our wildest dreams if we have faith and the courage to find that entrepreneurial calling. Of course, many of us listening are thinking of the money we are going to make and how wonderful it will be to financially secure and then some.

He then brought us back to reality and made a thought-provoking statement about the hero’s journey being all about us, but it’s not about us at all. Again, interest completely peaked. He explained that they promise to teach their students 3 things; learn how to learn, learn how to make money, learn how to live a life of meaning. It’s the third item on the list that will lead to a fulfilling life. And isn’t that what we all desire in the end? How do we achieve that?

What was most impressive to me was his vulnerability about his divorce and it is the wake-up call for him and to seek a fulfilling life. He talked about temptations and that we will all have them. That they teach their students to anticipate these, write them down as “I will nots” and take it a step further by writing ourselves a letter for that specific temptation. This way we can open that letter and hear from ourselves when we have a clearer vision of what we want for ourselves in our lives. That in the end, we will be humble, understanding our lives were not about us, and hear the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

At first, I didn’t think that I would need to write my “I will nots” but then I realized that already I was not being humble and that is when we are most vulnerable to be hit with temptations. I have sent this video to my three adult children and am currently working on my “I will nots”. I plan on creating a franchise and plan on including this message in the training for franchisees. Thanks to my professor for being inspired to share this powerful speach.