About two months ago, I was called as an Elders Quorum teacher. Having taught before, my "tried-and-true" method usually involved coasting until Saturday, skimming the talk, and throwing together a slide deck at the last minute. However, the presidency threw me a curveball during our orientation meeting. Instead of the usual "good luck" pat on the back, the counselor, Hunter, laid out a specific, detailed plan for success that included deep study, intentional coordination with the other teacher, and strict stake guidelines. I left that meeting stunned and frankly a bit skeptical about whether all this extra homework was actually necessary.

Despite my apprehension, I decided to trust the process. For the first week, I immersed myself in the talk, cross-referencing scriptures and feeling a genuine love for the material grow. I coordinated with the other teacher, whose excitement matched mine and who offered insights I never would have found on my own. By the time I sat down to outline my lesson a week in advancea personal recordI found myself revising and refining until the final plan looked nothing like my first draft. By Saturday morning, I had a simple slide deck ready, not as a crutch to read from, but as a compliment to a lesson I actually knew inside and out.

The real payoff came the next day in church. As I sat through Sacrament meeting, it felt like the speakers had peeked at my notes; they were teaching principles that perfectly aligned with my prepared lesson. For the first time, I wasn't sweating over slides or worrying about filling time. Instead, I felt like the windows of heaven were opening to aid me. I realized I had never felt this prepared, excited, or spiritually connected to a teaching assignment before.

I share this story because, frankly, I didnt know what it meant to magnify a calling until that experience. I learned that magnifying is much more than just hitting the minimum requirements and bringing a bag of donuts to distract from a lack of preparation. I learned that it means taking ownership of the outcome, seeing the people you serve through the Saviors eyes, and preparing honestly. As cheesy as it sounds, simply doing your best allows the Lord to bless your efforts; He opens doors that may have felt locked for decades.

Importantly, this principle doesnt end at the chapel doors. In my short time here at the Office of IT, Ive realized that the same rules apply to our professional lives. Magnifying your job isn't just about clocking in and doing the bare minimum. It means taking ownership of results, considering the people who benefit from our work, and preparing thoughtfully to give our best effort every day.

Consider how many mundane tasks we do at work on a day-to-day basis. The stand ups we attend, the documentation we create, even the time cards we submit. Consider how your thoughts towards these tasks might change if you desire to magnify your work. Asking questions like How can I bring more energy to the meetings I attend? or Could I add a little humor or insight to the report that Im writing? or even How can I make this process smoother and more efficient? is a key to magnifying. Simply put, taking initiative to create positive change, no matter how small, can be a way for God to magnify your efforts from Monday to Friday and on Sunday.

I invite you to consider how you can magnify your work just as you would a church calling. Really, everything we do should reflect our desire to glorify Godeven our spreadsheets, our emails, and our mandatory meetings. My invitation is to make our 9-to-5 a testament to our faith, not just a way to pay the bills. I promise God will bless us in ways we didnt know were possible.

Finals week is understandable, a very stressful time, this previous semester was no different. While trying to juggle all the competing responsibilities I had inadvertently mixed up my exam schedule. I had tests scheduled for Friday and Saturday and I had inadvertently mixed up the dates of the test. I distinctly remember walking into the classroom and realized that I had studied for the wrong test.

After feeling flustered for the first 10 minutes and trying to get into the right headspace, I realized that I was not as focused as I could have been. I felt confident in the general concepts of the class and took a minute to remind myself of that. After some deep breaths and silent prayers, I tried to make the best out of a bad situation. As I progressed through the test, concepts kept coming up as I recalled learning various concepts in class. I was able to get a good score and was very grateful for the ability to compose myself during the test and get focused.

In our lives we will all have these moments where life throws us a curve ball and we will feel flustered and out of control. In these moments I believe that we can still come out feeling good feeling successful. We can learn that as take deep breaths and trust in our training and our Heavenly Father, all things can work out for our benefit.

In high school I was on the Cross-Country team. I enjoyed feeling the comradery and friendship that comes from being on a team like that. It was a great experience for me to learn core values such as hard work, dedication, and teamwork. However, looking back, none of those lessons stand as clear as the lesson I learned about believing in others.

To illustrate, I want to share a story, it was in the middle of our season and we had a race at Antelope Island (an island in the Great Salt Lake). Some of our top runners who usually won the races were resting for a different race later that week. As I prepared for the race, everything was going just as every race beforehand except for one thing.

During warmups the runners who were sitting up would occasionally come up to me and offer their words of encouragement. They would say things like you got this one man or this is your race to win. Frankly I was shocked when I heard them say things like this. I had never won a race before and had never even been in the top 10 before. After my initial shock of hearing phrases like this and after a couple more people started coming up to me, I started to believe that I could have a chance winning the race. Things started to change, I became more focused on my warmups, suddenly even the small routine things I usually found boring seemed to have immense importance. At the start of the race instead of starting in the middle of the pack I started in the front. During the race I heard my teammates cheering me on and offering words of encouragement. Incredibly, I found myself pulling away and won the race.

As I look back at the race, I give full credit to my team and their belief in me. I do not believe that I would have won the race or even thought I could have won the race if it werent for my teammates first believing in me.

This brings up an important concept. That often times, the belief that we have in our team members and their abilities can sometimes make all the difference in the world. John C Maxwell said,

Believing in people before they have proved themselves is the key to motivating people to reach their potential.

In whatever team we are in, whether it is our family, work, or friends, It is remarkable what people can accomplish when we show that we believe and support them. I learned this firsthand with my Cross-Country team and I believe this principle can help improve the lives of the people around us.

In our teams here at OIT we can share with people what we think they can do and then most importantly share with them that we believe in them. In a world where negativity prevails so often, it is wonderful to hear from one of your peers the words I believe in you.

They say that the most important things are right in front of you. That can be easy to see at times, and hard to see at others. What is most important to you? Your family? Your hobbies? Your profession? Whatever you choose, it is not hard to see that thing in and around your life if you choose to focus on it. Sometimes, though, when we look at our own professional and personal development, it's easy to exclusively focus on the big picture, on the you that you want to see years from now. To be that you, it takes more than thinking about that person who is ten years away.

In this blog post, I wanted to look at myself, I wanted to look at the person who has been sure of where he is going in life for the last ten years and look at what hes been doing to get there.

The inspiration for this post comes from a change I have recently made in my own life. For as long as I have known about higher education, I have wanted it. Ive wanted to be an actor for just as long, which has meant a personal goal of getting a BFA and then an MFA in acting. In recent months as I have been working on my bachelor's here at BYU, I noticed a pattern in myself. Looking ahead to that goal of an MFA had skewed my vision. I knew that I wanted to get a Masters, and I knew that I wanted one from a great school, namely Yale. In order to go there, however, I told myself that I need a 4.0 GPA in my major. This is a goal that I have been able to keep to, but the problem here came when I noticed exactly what my goal was. I needed that 4.0, that was the goal. I needed that GPA so that I had the best chances of getting into Yale. But why did I want to go to Yale? I wanted to go to Yale so that I could become the best actor possible.

When I realized what my actual goal was, I had to take a look at myself. Was the work I was doing in my classes now making me a better actor, or was the work I was doing in my classes now getting me a good grade? While both could be true at the same time, up till now, it wasnt. Yes I was learning techniques and skills, but I was not applying them in the best ways that I could, I was coasting on talent I had already had, to ensure I was getting good grades. The improvements to my acting could wait till my Masters, because thats where I would actually learn. This is not, and should not be the case.

As this fall semester has started, I put a new goal in my mind. I want to take everything that I learn from my classes, and apply them to myself as an actor. I want to be the best actor that BYU has ever seen. By fulfilling this goal, will I get straight As, and will I get to Yale? Probably, and who knows. What I do know, is that by focusing on what I can do to improve myself now, I will be getting closer to that me that I want to be ten years from now every single day.

Yes, look at the big picture, who do you want to be? But then you need to ask yourself, what can I do here and now to get there. Because doing that thing right here and now is what will take you there.

In our constantly evolving landscape of technology, finding the right balance between security and ease of use can be a challenging task, especially from the perspective of a project manager. While security measures are crucial for protecting data and systems, overly stringent or bottlenecked controls can hinder productivity and cause projects to fall behind schedule. Conversely, prioritizing ease of use without adequate security measures can create vulnerabilities and bring the entire project to a halt. So, how can we help navigate this delicate relationship?

Understand Stakeholder Needs

The first step is to understand the needs of both stakeholders and end-users. Security teams are focused on safeguarding against threats, while end-users are concerned with functionality and convenience. Along with the development teams we work beside, we can help bridge the gap between these two groups.

Where appropriate, help to define the projects priorities clearly. Are there regulatory requirements or BYU security standards that come into play? Is user convenience a significant factor for the projects success? These and similar questions will enable concerns to bubble to the surface early.

Implementing Security Without Compromising Usability

Here are some strategies to ensure that security and ease of use are both addressed effectively:

1. Assess the risk of the system and its components. Not all features or data require the same level of security controls. Conducting a thorough risk assessment gives insight into which aspects of the system need stringent protection and which can afford some flexibility. This approach helps apply the right level of security where its most needed without overburdening users.

2. Iterative testing and feedback. Test and gather feedback on how security features impact the user experience. Refine these features based on real-world usage. This process helps identify potential friction points.

3. Ensure all security compliance is documented. Anywhere a system or project falls under the jurisdiction of a security policy, be sure to document how the system meets those standards. This prevents any last-minute hangups right before go-live.

These are just a few suggestions. Each project is unique and will require custom approaches. But with these fundamental concepts as guiding principles, we can be an asset to our teams. Striking the right balance between security and ease of use requires effort, but it vastly improves the final product in the long run. Achieving this balance not only protects valuable assets but also ensures a positive user experience, leading to satisfaction among our customers.

Was I the only one who was ever asked the question, Where do you see yourself in 1, 5, 10, or 20 years from now? Growing up, I could always answer with something like in college or married with a family. However, during my senior year of high school and freshman year of college, I had to put more thought into my future than ever before. I began to carefully craft a plan for the next few years of my life, investing a lot of time and effort. The hardest part of this process for me was deciding which path to take. I had so many things I wanted to do and experiences I wanted to have. It was extremely difficult to choose between all these exciting options.

I found this overwhelming because I wanted to pick the right path while still having a safety net, knowing that whichever path I chose would drastically affect how my life unfolded. This caused me a lot of stress and anxiety. Eventually, I decided that since I had so many good options in front of meeach one beneficial for my future in some waythe best course of action was to choose one and move forward with faith. So I did, and that door was promptly closed.

I moved on to Plan B and started working towards that, but shortly thereafter, that door closed as well. Then I moved on to Plan C, and later Plan D. More doors closed. Plans E, F, and G yielded the same result. At this point, I was beginning to feel very discouraged. I couldnt understand why all these plans, which felt so right and for which I had prayed, invested time and money, kept falling through. With each plan that didnt work out, I thought that surely my next plan would be the right one, and I had simply chosen wrongly the last time.

As I am currently living out what I call Plan I for my life, I have come to realize that sometimes the Lord doesnt want us to know exactly where we are going or for our first plan to work out. He wants us to have goals and something to work towards, but He also wants to shape and mold our lives according to His will. I love the video the church released a while ago titled The Refiners Fire. It reminds us that, while trials can be hard and we may never fully understand the reasons behind them, each rejection, experience, trial, and loss is part of being molded into the person Christ needs us to be. Although I am working towards my current goals, I now move forward with the understanding that its okay not to know exactly what to do, as long as you have the faith to take action and allow the Lord to guide you on the right path.

The Refiner's Fire Video:

Ego Depletion. It is a term we often do not use, or might not even know, but this is the key to

successfully completing challenging tasks on your every day, and taking the best options in the most important decisions we have. To explain Ego Depletion and how avoiding it can help you that much, we need to go for an analogy:

Imagine you have a bucket full of water, this bucket gets filled up every day when you

wake up (it might take you a second to realize it is full, but it does start that way). Every time

throughout the day, whenever you need to complete a task or decide something, no matter how small or big it is, you take a certain amount of water out the bucket. This amount of water depends on the size of the task or decision. At the end of the day, you usually have less or no water at all.

Now imagine that throughout the day you have been pulling water out of your bucket, cup by cup, and suddenly you are in the need of using more water than normal (you have an

important decision to make, or maybe you must do something you find hard to accomplish or just hate). When you look inside your bucket, you will see you do not have enough water for that task. This will end up with you not being able to use the optimal amount of water that is needed.

There are easy fixes for you to be able to use the optimal amount of water. First, with hard,

challenging, or even just disliked tasks, the best is to do them first thing in the morning. I am fine with exercise, but I do not love it. My solution, I go every morning, right before work and classes. Later in the day I do not need to complain about my need to exercise or I wont be too tired to go to the gym. Second, for important decisions. There are two things you can do, you can either choose to reevaluate and rethink your decision (or just the problem) the next day once you feel refreshed. If waiting is not an option, you could also take a break, relax your mind, and try your best to refill your bucket, even by a little. Realize that you might not be able to make the most optimal decision and move forward with it.

Ego Depletion is when we do not have enough decision making resources in us, and therefore we are not able to decide as we would otherwise. It affects everyone, you might even have a week where you feel ego depleted. If you ever feel like you could do better on a specific task or that you could think better about your options, try your best to fill up your bucket again, and try once you are out of the Ego Depletion state.

In a time where it seems that everyone is tired, it almost seems nonsensical that there are not more people who are concerned about the time they spend sleeping and the quality of sleep they have on any given night.

Not getting enough sleep has almost been interpreted as a sign of ultimate productivity. They cant have been working that hard if they still look well-rested, right? Wrong. Sleep is a crucial component of our lives, especially when we are seeking to get more done in less time. This post will focus on what sleep can do for you and how you can improve your nights rest.

According to the Sleep Foundation, it is estimated that decreases in productivity cost each individual employer about $1,967 per employee per year. In an organization such as BYU, which has about 14,670 employees according to Zippia.com, that is a total of $28,855,890 lost annually due to a lack of employees being well-rested. Additionally, chronic sleep deprivation can have serious health implications and increase the risk of conditions such as anxiety, depression, obesity, and heart disease. People who sleep more are less prone to making errors due to quicker reaction times and an overall higher alertness.

When someone comes into work and did not sleep well the night before, it shows. Part of becoming a dependable and capable employee is consistently being able to perform well. Without enough sleep, we can only hope to perform at a suboptimal level, leading others to believe that we are inconsistent rather than consistent performers.

So how can you go about improving your sleep? For starters, you can limit the time spent looking at a screen before bed. Studies show that the blue light emitted from screens reduces melatonin, which decreases the feelings of sleepiness, leading to a harder time falling asleep. Another suggestion is to not even have electronics in the bedroom. Keep the TV and cell phone out of the room and buy an inexpensive old-fashioned alarm clock. Adults should seek to get at least 7 hours of sleep at night. A big part of being able to fall asleep at a reasonable time is having a set sleep schedule. Decide when you are going to stop looking at screens and start getting ready for bed. Consistency is the key. Finally, create a hard line between work and home. In a world that prides itself on staying connected, it is important to find some boundaries that allow you to take back the time you need to relax. Decide not to answer calls and emails past a certain time and let those who work around you know that you are working hard on creating a better balance.

All in all, it is the small, daily things we do that can have the biggest impacts on our work and personal life. If sleep has been something that has been neglected, then it is time to shift your focus and set yourself up for success.

In an era where digital threats loom large, project management has evolved to encompass the ever-growing importance of cybersecurity.

Traditional project management methodologies often struggle to adapt swiftly to the dynamic landscape of cybersecurity threats. However, the agile approach presents a compelling framework that harmonizes well with the challenges posed by cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

While traditional project management methodologies focus on extensive planning and linear execution, they can falter when faced with the rapidly evolving threat landscape of cybersecurity. Agile methodologies, on the other hand, thrive on adaptability, collaboration, and iterative development, making them an ideal fit for managing cybersecurity risks in modern projects.

1. Leadership & Integrity

Leadership plays a pivotal role in fostering a cybersecurity-centric culture within agile teams. Project managers need to champion security initiatives, emphasizing the criticality of cybersecurity in all phases of development. Integrity in upholding security standards amidst fast-paced development cycles is non-negotiable. Integrating security measures without impeding progress is a testament to effective leadership.

2. Innovative Solutions and learning

Agile methodologies encourage innovative problem-solving approaches. Leveraging this flexibility within security frameworks enables the creation of adaptive solutions to counter emerging threats. Continuous learning is indispensable in the realm of cybersecurity. Encouraging team members to stay updated with evolving security practices ensures a proactive stance against potential vulnerabilities.

3. Productivity & Cybersecurity

Contrary to common belief, robust cybersecurity measures do not inhibit productivity; they safeguard it. While short-term gains might seem impacted by stringent security protocols, the long-term benefits in averting disruptions and data breaches significantly enhance productivity. Prioritizing security within agile frameworks ultimately leads to more sustainable and efficient project outcomes.

In project management, seamlessly integrating cybersecurity into agile practices involves several strategic steps:

Educate and Train: Ensure all team members understand the importance of cybersecurity and provide regular training on security best practices.

Embed Security in Development: Integrate security checkpoints within each iteration of the development process rather than treating it as a separate phase.

Collaboration and Communication: Foster open communication channels where cybersecurity concerns can be addressed promptly and collaboratively.

In a landscape where cyber threats constantly evolve, the amalgamation of cybersecurity principles with agile methodologies is no longer a choice but a necessity. By embracing a proactive approach and aligning cybersecurity practices within agile frameworks, project managers can safeguard their projects while nurturing an environment of innovation and productivity.

Remember, the successful implementation of cybersecurity in agile environments requires a collective effort. When project managers lead by example, champion integrity, foster innovation, and prioritize cybersecurity, they pave the way for a more secure and resilient project management ecosystem.

Running has saved my life. These were the words Jessica Morgan used to describe her return to normalcy after battling the effects of sexual assault while in college.

It was not until Jessica discovered the therapeutic power of running that her recovery took a turn for the better. Suicide ideation, medication and low

self-esteem were all obstacles she learned to manage by physically challenging herself.

Her story is not an individual one; it reveals a broader truth about the benefits of running, even within the corporate world. As companies increasingly prioritize employee well-being, the positive impact made by running on mental health and overall employee performance is gaining recognition.

The remainder of this article aims to convince those in corporate roles that running should be an integral part of their weekly routineone they cannot afford to skip. This focus will be supported by exploring three key points:

1. Running promotes physical and mental health.

2. Running is economic.

3. Running develops resilience.

In the pursuit of a longer and healthier life, putting on running shoes may be one of the most effective steps a person takes. According to a recent study conducted by faculty members at Iowa State University, individuals who incorporate running into their routines tend to enjoy an approximate three-year increase in life expectancy compared to their non-running counterparts. This finding not only places emphasis on the link between running and longevity but also points to the role of running in preventing running diseases.

A study published by the National Institute of Health sought to discover if even casual jogging resulted in long-term improved health. With a sample size of over 55,000 participants and over the course of 15 years, it was discovered that even minimal amounts of running each week had a large impact on the persons health over those who did not run at all. A reduction in mortality risk was seen beginning even if the runner was running less than 51 minutes, 6 miles, and 3 times a week. Consistent runners were seen to have a 29% lower risk of death by all causes and a 50% lower risk of death due to cardiovascular complications.

Feeling good is an important prerequisite for peak performance, whether at work or in day-to-day life. Many can relate to the struggle of navigating a full workday while under the weather. In this context, running is a dual solution to augment workplace performance, contributing not only to ones physical health but also their mental health.

Positive correlations between mental health and exercise have been found and confirmed by a various number of scientific studies. One study published by the National Library of Medicine, explored this connection by following individuals studying law and individuals studying psychology at the same university. They discovered that the more a student exercised, the better their physical state, which would in turn improve their mental state. As a general recommendation to all seeking to improve their mental well-being, they suggest increasing time spend exercising.

In fact, a healthier life was Jessicas initial pull to running. When faced with health challenges that traditional methods could not be adequately addressed, she turned to running. Bolstered by the effects of an active body and mind, Jessica adopted life changing practices and was able to overcome what might have been a life cut short through suicide.

Being fit does not mean being rich. Many companies are built upon the common mental error that many have, which is that to get in shape they need to buy new equipment, gym membership or specialty clothing. The average gym membership in America is currently between $40 and $70 a month, totaling to about $500 to $850 a year for a single person to attend the gym. This cost would be similar to purchasing a new smartphone every year.

The main cost for those looking to get into running is shoes. Typical running shoes can cost anywhere between $40-$100 and can last up to about 350 miles. A person who is running as a balance to working will go through maybe two or three pairs of shoes a year, bring their total to roughly $300 a year for consistent running.

The true beauty of running lies in simplicity. Running calls back to a earlier time when all that was needed to get a good work out is a pair of shoes and a desire to be active. The beforementioned Iowa State University study stated that, Running may be the most cost-effective lifestyle medication from public health perspective, more important than other lifestyle and risk factors such as smoking, [and] obesity. This value proposition makes running an attractive option for those with busy schedules or those looking for a cost-effect exercise alternative.

In the pursuit of success, human nature demonstrates an ability to thrive upon challenges. As individuals accomplish feats, they are naturally inclined to take on larger challenges as a result. Whether it is winning a single game and then aiming to win an entire season or surpassing last months sales goal and setting an even higher goal for this month, the cycle of achievements propel people to reach higher.

This mindset is outlined in a study titled The Effort Paradox: Effort Is Both Costly and Valued. It illustrates that human behavior is drawn to occasionally choose a harder option simply because it requires more effort. The paradox is that despite effort being viewed as costly, individuals brains revel in the opportunity to be challenged; finding increased value in tasks that demand greater exertion.

Running is a challenge that is difficult for all but also has a clear goal in mind. Everyone can push themselves physically and mentally to run a certain number of miles or for a certain period of time. These growth situations allow individuals to gain several experiences in which they overcame a challenge they might have previously been unsure about.

As individuals and teams test their limits, a shift in thinking occurs. Effort, once thought of as a step in achieving results, becomes a reason for celebration on its own. Teams and individuals learn to appreciate the work going into a project, regardless of the projects success. This celebration of effort, when integrated into the workplace, becomes a springboard for innovation. Teams become more fearless in attempting new methods and meet challenges with resilience, knowing they do not have to find the answer the first time.

The Physical Fitness Research Institute in Japan confirms this principle. Their study consisted of over 1,300 employees and measured the employees engagement in their work based on how many times they exercised during the week.

For those who exercised at least once a week their engagement in work increased almost 70%. For employees looking for more fulfillment out of their jobs, exercising even just one time a week can yield large results.

A mindset focused on effort was adapted early on by Jessica. She knew that her problems would not be solved in one day but rather it would be a process of developing resilience through her challenges. By reaching her smaller goals she was motivated to attempt even larger goals, completing her first marathon just one year after getting back into running. She learned what she was capable of by allowing herself to be challenged without fear of failure.

Occasionally, the best solutions are the simplest ones. Running is the wholistic answer to staying fit, saving money, and adding value at the workplace. Jessicas story is not an outlier. Many have come to discover the benefits of running in their own lives, and many more have yet to experience these benefits. For those in corporate jobs looking to adopt a worthwhile change in their lives that will impact more areas than only a hobby, running is that worthwhile change.

In a world inundated with information, the ability to convey ideas clearly is a superpower. Whether you're a student, a professional, or someone navigating everyday conversations, presenting information in a way that others can understand is a skill worth honing. As a student working on Program Granite, I was given an opportunity to take some information about where we are in the program and organize it in a way that someone not directly involved in the program would understand. For example, I had a graph that showed the status of where a couple hundred items were at in their process of being transitioned into a new software program. If I had shown that graph to higher-up leaders of the university, they may say something like Great! But Im not quite sure what that is actually telling me. Is that good or are we behind schedule?

One way that I was able to help in presenting the information in a more effective way was to create a new graph that showed the current status and where those 200 items were at as of month ago, as well as provide a few brief bullet-points that explained if we were on track or what was preventing us from moving forward. This was able to show the progress that was made over the last 30 days, but it was only one small step in the process of effectively communicating information.

Here are some of the other steps that will help us present information more effectively:

1. Know Your Audience

Understanding your audience is the cornerstone of effective communication. Tailor your message to resonate with their background, knowledge level, and interests. Speak their language, and ask yourselves, What information are those listening to me actually going to care about? What should I maybe exclude as it has little to do with this persons interests?

2. Structure Matters

A well-organized presentation is like a well-built house it stands strong and makes sense. Use a clear structure, whether it's the classic beginning, middle, and end or a more intricate framework. Headings, subheadings, and bullet points can be your allies in creating a roadmap for your audience to follow.

3. Visual Aids: Less is More

Visual aids can enhance understanding, but the key is moderation. Use visuals sparingly and purposefully to emphasize key points. Whether it's charts, graphs, or images, ensure they are clear, relevant, and support rather than overshadow your spoken words.

4. Plain Language is Powerful

Avoid jargon and convoluted language. Strive for simplicity without sacrificing accuracy. Imagine explaining your concept to someone unfamiliar with the topic if they can understand, chances are your broader audience will too.

5. Engage in Two-Way Communication

Communication is not a one-way street. Encourage questions, welcome feedback, and be ready to clarify any uncertainties. This two-way interaction not only enhances understanding but also fosters a collaborative and open environment.

6. Repetition for Reinforcement

Repetition is not just for rote learning; it's a powerful tool for reinforcing key points. Reiterate your main ideas throughout your presentation, using different words and examples to drive them home. Repetition aids retention.

7. Seek and Accept Feedback

After your presentation, seek feedback from trusted sources. Understand what worked well and what could be improved. Constructive criticism is a valuable tool for continuous improvement.

Conclusion:

You see? Even if you just read the bolded steps above, my point was still communicated, pretty cool right! Mastering the art of clarity in information presentation is a journey, not a destination. It's an ongoing process of refinement and adaptation. By understanding your audience, structuring your content, embracing visuals, using plain language, engaging in two-way communication, repetition, and welcoming feedback, you can become a proficient communicator, leaving a lasting impact on your audience. Clear communication is not just a skill; it's a gift you give to those who seek to understand.

Hard work and determination equals success. Nothing comes easy. Put your mind to something. - Kevin Hart

Every generation and person is unique but one thing that has survived the test of time is the idea that hard work and determination equals success. From parents yelling at their kids on the way to school to celebrities addressing audiences through a television screen, it is a teaching that has been restated and reprised as we progress through different stages in life. Although there is much truth to working hard and being determined leading a person to success they are not the only attributes worth pursuing. Sometimes the little things in our lives can lead to unexpected teachings as well.

Patience

Though Im not yet as good as Id like to be, something that I have always enjoyed is baking. I love getting to work with different tools and ingredients to make something good. However one thing that I have not always been good at is learning that all good things take patience. Once something goes in the oven there is literally nothing I can do for that item except wait for the oven to finish doing its job. And I kind of hate that. Sometimes I wish that there was something more I could do to help the oven or that maybe turning up the heat would speed the process up. But besides hard work all good things take time. Just as I cannot expect my cakes to finish when I want them to, I cannot push unrealistic expectations upon myself or on others to finish things in record time.

Be Kind to Yourself

Have you ever watched a video and thought, I can totally make that only to find out the hard way that you cannot actually make that? There have definitely been times where I spent way too much time and money trying to make something only for it to be lacking in taste or presentation (or sometimes embarrassingly enough both) leaving me discouraged and wondering where I went wrong when I had felt so confident that I had followed the instructions exactly as I was supposed to. Unfortunately, sometimes we can try our very hardest to do everything right and still not feel as though we measure up. It is something very human where no matter how good we are at something we will always compare ourselves to someone better. This is something I felt throughout the IS core and is something I struggle with even now. But pushing yourself past your limits

of the time can be exhausting. I cant be great at everything or expect myself to never struggle. Sometimes there are just going to be things that I wont be very quick in becoming good at and sometimes Im going to make a little bit of a mess of things. But not everything can always be perfect. In both baking and life you cannot expect to discover good and wonderful things without making a few messes.

Dont be afraid to ask for help!

Hard work and determination wont take you as far or as fast if you dont even know what you're doing. Good things can be very difficult, however they dont need to feel so impossible with a helping hand. Even when the tasks seem simple and familiar the agile principles emphasize how counterintuitive things such as multitasking really are. Too often I find myself in the same predicament. Ive invited some friends for dinner and dessert and have declined their offers to help with the cooking or to bring some food over. Although I know that I am capable of doing the tasks that need to be done, theyll be at my apartment in 20 minutes and not only is the kitchen a mess but the ham needs at least another 40 minutes in the oven. This is not the first time Ive known that if I had just reached out or accepted a little help, I could have saved myself the stress and anxiety of having to complete so much in such a short amount of time. The BYU IS program taught me that we should always be willing to give and receive help because we are not alone. Most of the time in reaching out to others for help, I am able to learn and progress a lot faster than I would on my own. Another benefit to receiving help from others is that it better prepares us to help others. In helping one another, we help ourselves in the process! Working with others makes the process more efficient and helps us to work smarter and not necessarily harder in achieving success for ourselves and our teammates! By applying these principles, it becomes much easier to create a delicious meal that everyone can enjoy taking part in.

ChatGPT at Work: A Cheat Code for Productivity

Program Granite,Innovative Solutions,Productivity

July 11, 11:30 AM July 11, 01:55 PM

In this article, I am going to discuss how you can use OpenAIs ChatGPT API to automate monotonous tasks and skyrocket productivity, saving countless dollars and labor hours in the process.

Earlier this summer, I was searching for things to do at work and was given the task to help the HR student interns make job profile summaries using existing job descriptions. At first, I was delighted to help but after finding out that there were more than 1500 summaries to be created, I thought that there must be a better way. To paint a picture in your head of this monumental task, I will describe the process of creating one summary. You first had to look at a spreadsheet, read all the essential functions of a job, and then synthesize the essential functions to be under 100 words. After reviewing some summaries that were already finished, I found that the interns were not spending enough time reading, internalizing, and producing meaningful summaries that were descriptive enough to be featured on an official job listing. But was it their fault?

If you were asked to read 1500 paragraphs, condense them, review them, edit them, and then send them to someone else to revise, all while under the pressure that these would be seen by potential BYU employees, you would simply get burned out. Quick.

So, because of my ingenuity (a fancy word for laziness) I copied the essential functions of a job and put them into chatGPT, asking it to summarize the text into a 100-word paragraph. To my surprise, they were not bad, and they were far more comprehensive than the man-made summaries. After showing them to the functional lead in charge of this project, she said that AI generated summaries great and that we should transition our efforts into automating all 1500. After a day of sporadic programming, I created a python script that iterates through a list of job grids, converts them to CSVs, and feeds them to the ChatGPT API, placing all the finished summaries in a Word document. After conducting some tests on the efficiency of my script, we discovered that to do all 1500 job profile summaries, it would take 29 minutes, and would cost roughly $3.50 in API call expenses. Considering that Program Granite was willing to pay two interns $15 an hour over the course of four months to complete this project, I would say that we have saved a great deal of time and effort.

The biggest roadblock we encountered amid our exploration of the chatGPT API was the potential risk of sharing proprietary information with Open AI. BYU does not have any Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) with Open AI so anything that we feed the ChatGPT web interface, or the API gets stored in their servers and is used to train their learning models. When the Program Granite leadership committee heard about our little project, they asked that we place it on hold until we know more about the risks of sharing potentially sensitive information with a third party. After talking to some of BYUs head IT people, they determined that if we cleaned the Job grid spreadsheets and got rid of the private information, they would not be considered proprietary since Job descriptions are already available to the public. This was a massive breakthrough as we could now continue our project to summarize all 1500+ job descriptions and eventually implement them into Workday.

As an information systems major, I actively search for opportunities to combine the fields of computer science and business to make better decisions, optimize my work, and save resources. As the world embraces AI and machine learning, it is crucial to understand how they work so that we can continue to create value for clients and improve the efficiency of our business processes. The example that I shared in this article is a small but effective way of how new technologies can be used to boost productivity and save money. I hope that anyone who reads this article will seek out and find opportunities to improve their technical skills and use them to benefit their teams.