This semester I had the chance to be in BYUs production of the musical The Light in the Piazza.

It was an awesome show that I did not know very well beforehand. One interesting thing about it is that although it is a contemporary show, the music is written like a classical golden age piece. The music was actually some of the most challenging I have ever had to learn, but through lots of effort and support, I was able to get it down.

The night of our second performance, during one of the final duets of the show, a musical track came in a little earlier than expected. In an attempt to keep on with the music I accidentally started my verse of the song a full measure early, as I was singing, I realized that I was ahead of the track and was thinking of the options that I had to correct the mistake. I decided that the smartest thing to do was just to finish the verse, and hope that my partner on stage would wait out the next measure before she started hers.

So thats what I did, I got through the rest of the verse and waited for my partner. She, having correctly heard that I started early, waited out the measure and started her verse, and we were right back on track. At that moment, I looked at my partner and felt a lot of joy. I knew that if I messed up, someone had my back. I was not at all embarrassed, or nervous about the rest of the number, in fact I actually felt more prepared for the rest of the song than I had up to that point. Rather than being worried that someone else may have to help me, I was so excited by the idea that somebody would if I ever needed it.

We often take on a lot on our own. While it is important to be able to take care of yourself, and achieve things on your own, I think we sometimes imply that reliance on others is weakness. Instead, I think that reliance on others only frees you up to be the best version of yourself. Whenever possible, Id highly recommend taking a moment to realize who you have in your life, who has your back, and who is there to help you through whatever you are going through. Even in the times that you dont feel you need that support; it could free you more than youd expect to know that its there.

I wanted to write about a story that, although not my own, made a real impact on me and on my outlook towards life, especially the hard times of life. This story was shared by Mike Gibson.

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All hands meetings are already a highlight of being on the Agile team here at OIT. I love getting to know the team better and learn from my team and leaders. But I feel this last time was especially good. Mike got up to share professional development tips from his long and successful career as a father, businessman, and BYU alumni. His simple tips turned out to be hard-hitting life lessons. One lesson and story he shared really stood out to me.

The Hill is where you Win. That was the one-liner hook of his beautiful story. The story of a devoted cross country coach that shaped the life of Mikes younger years and, in effect, his entire life.

Mike was, and still is, an avid runner. When he was in high school he ran for his school on the cross country team. During his time running on the team, he improved in his abilities, largely in part to the wonderful coaching he received. His coach was wonderful and took the time to train his team to become winners. As most good coaches do, he had a mantra to accompany his teaching. His was simple - The hill is where you win.

Mike probably heard that simple phrase a hundred times in his time running for the school. But, Mike soon discovered, and continued to learn over the course of his life, that deeper meaning is found in that simple phrase. The hill is where you win. The meaning of that phrase becomes evermore meaningful when you are yourself, literally or figuratively, running up a hill.

Its when your legs are burning, lungs bursting, and the run is getting steeper and steeper that you make the decision to keep going and win. Its when life starts feeling like a marathon and one more step seems too much. Its when uphill battle starts to take on personal meaning. Its when your tank is empty and you are running on fumes.

Thats when you win.

Not when you cross the finish line and not when you pass the person in front of you. You win on the hill. Mikes coach understood that. His mantra was more than encouragement to win a race, but a lesson on when our efforts matter the most. When perseverance leads to victory.

Unfortunately, Mikes coach tragically passed away recently. Mike made a song to commemorate his life and he sang that song in our meeting. It was fantastic. Words cant describe how the Spirit filled the room. Everyone listened intently and even halted their incremental bites of delicious J Dawgs to listen to the beautiful melody. Its impossible for me to convey through writing the emotions he delivered when he sang, but I hope the message has been received. The hill is where you win.

Thanks be to Jesus Christ who climbed the Hill of Calvary while carrying the pains and sorrows of every one of us. Because of Him, there is hope to finish the race although it may feel like the finish line is too far and everyone else is passing you. Because of Him, we never have to run completely alone although it may feel like we are completely isolated. He is our perfect coach and I am sure when He sees us struggling to topple our own individual hills, no matter how big or small, He is repeating the same mantra of Mikes coach. The Hill is where You Win.

When President Oaks came for his devotional 2 weeks ago, his third point he gave was to seek help from others.

I will be graduating early this winter. Trying to figure out the ins and outs of that seemed very daunting and unrealistic at first. I didnt even know if it was a possibility until I went and talked to one of accounting school advisors. She helped me come up with a plan that made it possible to graduate early.

There have been many hic ups in my education since then and I have seen many tender mercies throughout the process. I cant count the number of times I have been checking my graduation plan, and I see something that I believe will ruin the whole thing. Every time this happens, I go to my advisors office and together we have made changes to the plan to still allow me to graduate in December.

There is no doubt in my mind that if I wasnt for her help, I wouldnt be graduating. This goes back to the message President Oaks shared, sometimes we need to seek for and allow help form others. Often, I find that I would rather just try it on my own rather than asking help from someone else. More often than not when I dont ask for help, I do worse than if I would have gotten assistance.

Currently I am in classes with students a year above me as part of my plan. Even though I shouldnt feel nervous about the first day of class I remember being extremely nervous the first day of the semester. I didnt think I would know anyone in the class and maybe the material would go over my head. Fortunately, I met someone who is also graduating early, and we have become good friends this semester. It is thanks to his help that I have really come to enjoy and succeed in those classes.

Whether it is my advisor or a friend in my classes, I have learned this semester that I need help. As I have sought guidance from others, I have learned a lot more and grown more this semester. I invite all of us to not be shy or ashamed about asking for help and assistance when we need it!

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.

No matter how hard we try in life, it will be hard to achieve our full potential all by ourselves and under our own power. I have had a number of experiences this year that have taught me this - from a 100-mile bike ride over the summer to finding success as a new college student. From these experiences, the reality of working with others has been reinforced so many times this year.

I had set a goal early this year to complete a 100-mile bike ride before heading off to college, but I didnt realize how hard that would be. (As a piece of background, my whole family is big into cycling so this wasnt too crazy for us, but it was still a big goal and my parents were more than happy to support me through this.) However, I found that through all my training and preparation for the big ride, I struggled to remain motivated because the goal still seemed so dauntingly large. Thats when my dad helped me realize that if we just went step by step, mile by mile, the 100 miles would slowly go down to zero. So when it came to the day of my attempt, my dad and I did exactly that, and it was awesome! We rode side-by-side for the whole 100 miles and encouraged each other when things got hard, and we reached our goal together!

Returning to college after my mission has been a big change for me, and its been a humbling experience, but I am learning that this is another area that I must reach out to others to reach my full potential as a student. I came into the semester under the idea that I could do this all by myself, but I have learned very quickly how wrong that idea was! There is a whole community built to support us and magnify our success, so we might as well take advantage of it!

We have all had a time where someone else has helped us become greater than we would have been all on our own, and we are so grateful for that person. So, as we remember how grateful we are for that person who helped us, lets be ready and willing to help someone else when they come to us looking to achieve their full potential!

Spending a month back in Korea, I experienced things I had forgotten while living in Utah. One moment that really stood out to me happened during the evening rush hour at a subway station in Seoul.

Most people uses public transportation to get anywhere in the city and as I approached to one of the subway station, I noticed the crowd growing larger and larger. Office workers were pouring out from nearby buildings, all heading toward the subway. What caught my attention, was not the number of people but the way they moved. Even outside the station, people were already forming a line, patiently waiting their turn to go down to the station.

No one was shouting instructions. There were no signs or police telling people what to do. Everyone just seemed to understand that lining up was the right thing. It was such a simple scene, yet it felt powerful because it showed how people could create order without being forced to.

From a leadership perspective, this reminded me of something important. Leadership is not only about standing at the front and giving directions. It can also mean shaping an environment where people naturally choose the right behavior. In the subway station, culture and unspoken agreements made the line possible. In a team setting, trust, clarity, and respect make collaboration possible.

As an Agile coach, I often think about how teams can work without control or orders. The strongest teams I have seen are those that already know how to move together because they share values and trust one another. In those teams, a leader does not need to micromanage. Instead, the leader builds an environment where cooperation becomes natural.

Watching that line at the subway was more than just a passing observation. It was a reminder that true leadership can be quiet and almost invisible. Sometimes it is not about the words spoken or the commands given, but about the culture that makes people willingly do what is right.

One of the lessons I keep relearning is that people are so much more than what we see on the surface. At work, it can be easy to reduce someone to their role, their title, or even a moment of frustration. But the Lord has asked us to see each other differentlythrough His eyes.

We are taught that,

(Doctrine and Covenants 18:10). That means every single person I interact with, whether in the office or at home, is of eternal worth. In the Book of Mormon we see that

(2 Nephi 26:33). It doesnt matter where we come from, what our job is, or what struggles we carry. He sees us as His children, each with divine potential.

I thought I understood this idea pretty well, as a simple but overlooked truth, but recently, when talking to Jake, he helped me see it in a more practical way. Instead of focusing on flaws, he showed me why I should choose to look for strengths. It wasnt anything big or dramatic, but it made me stop and realize: this is what it looks like to truly see people as the Lord does.

That moment has stuck with me. It reminded me that discipleship often shows up in small, quiet choices. When we choose compassion over irritation, or encouragement over judgment, we are living the way the Savior taught. As Moroni counseled,

(Moroni 7:47). That charity changes not just how we treat others, but how we feel about them deep down.

Im grateful for the opportunity to work with such great people that understand such complex and infinite truths. It made me want to be more intentional about how I see people at work. Everyone around us is a son or daughter of God, a brother or sister in this eternal family. The closer we can come to seeing others through the Lords eyes, the closer we will come to living like Him.

In the play Twelve Angry Men, there are surprisingly 13 cast members. In the current production of Twelve Angry Men that I am in, I play that 13th man. It is the role of the guard, and the part is basically a glorified prop. I bring in props throughout the piece to the rest of the cast and am on stage for a total of three minutes during the two-hour show. Because of that, I have had the opportunity to watch the play more times than I can count.

For those of you who dont know the piece, it is the story of a jury placed on a murder trial. It is the trial of a 16-year-old boy accused of killing his father. The case is stacked against the boy, and all of the evidence from the trial points to him having done it. The entire jury feels that the boy is guilty, except for one man, who asks to talk about it a bit more. If the jury convicts the boy, then he would be sentenced to the electric chair. Slowly but surely, the one man is able to convince the rest that there is enough reasonable doubt to not convict the boy. After having seen the show so many times, here are my takeaways. While that short synopsis of the show I provided would sound accurate to most who have seen the play before, it is slightly inaccurate. I said that one man is able to convince the rest, when in reality, the first man really only convinces two or three others.

Many of the major points brought up throughout the show come from those who have changed sidespeople who started out saying the boy was guilty, who now think hes innocent. This is an important point because even the first man to not vote guilty isnt doing so claiming that the boy is innocent. He just isnt sure and wants to talk about it. As the others start to talk about it more, they discover doubts and questions that they had had inside themselvesthings that they either thought about but didnt feel were important enough to bring up, or things that they had once thought but were then covered up by new information that convinced them of the guilt. There are also those who come up with questions as the group continues talking.

The point is, it took more than one person; it took the whole group. On top of that, it took people being willing to question what they thought they were sure of. If the people in that room were not willing to consider a view outside of their own, they would have convicted the boy. None of them had bad intent in their hearts; they just had no reason to doubt what they were sure of. When we are offered the chance to reconsider things that we think are true, we should be willing to look past our own prejudices and ideas to honestly consider those things. While we likely wont find ourselves in a jury surrounded by 11 others trying to send a 16-year-old boy to the electric chair, we will likely find ourselves in situations where others are sure of something, and we want to talk about it a little more. If were willing to ask those questions and open those conversations, there are a lot of things that we can find that we would not have found otherwise.

Something Ive been slowly learning at work is that asking questions, the right kind of questions, might be one of the most underrated skills in project management. At first, I thought meetings were just about giving updates, making decisions, checking boxes. But the more time Ive spent in rooms with people who actually move things forward, the more Ive noticed theyre the ones who know how to ask the right thing at the right time.

Its not about being the loudest voice or pretending to have all the answers. Sometimes its just asking, Why are we doing it this way? or What does success look like here? or even, Is this actually a priority? I used to be scared of sounding dumb, but Ive realized those basic questions are often the ones that make people pause and rethink the direction.

Before meetings now, I try to jot down a few questions in advance. I look over the agenda and just think about whats unclear to me or what assumptions we might be making. And during the meeting, Ive found that asking with curiosity instead of criticism helps people open up and work together better.

But Ive seen how just one honest question can shift the entire conversation. It does not have to be deep or impressive, you just need to be interested enough, it just has to come from paying attention. And the more I practice that, the more I feel like I am actually part of the conversation, not just sitting there watching it happen.

My first experience working at OIT was in the Winter of 2023, I got hired a week or so before Gordon, so I was able to see a lot about the work culture, how it was before and how it has been shaped and steered to what it is now. I first started working at Program Granite, and stayed there until Fall 2023, when I started working again at the ITB.

That transition wasnt easy, as there are very schignificant differences between those two workplaces, but it was great to start having an experience with Agile and having such a great team to be around. I got used to the work and adapted to a point when it became my new comfort zone. I feel like when we let our work fall into a routine sometimes we can overlook opportunities to grow and improve. It is hard to even realize we have fallen to that cycle, but that is one thing that can show us that, and it is change.

During the summer I had the chance to have an internship as an IT Project Manager at the Church, in the Riverton Office Building. While working there I was able to see that many of the habits I had were suboptimal, if I wanted to be at least a valuable part of the team I had to do more and to make my routine to challenge myself to do more. It is a lot harder than it sounds, but if I hadnt realized that, I dont think I could ever come back to OIT nor would I deserve it. This job and this environment are very precious and we need to give out our best efforts to be able to keep our place here.

Im very thankful I was given the opportunity to return and be able to do a better job now. There are opportunities to grow at every corner, we just need to look for it and be willing to be self-critical and put effort in improving

Since starting my higher education, it sometimes feels like Ive been studying forever. The challenge of maintaining motivation and giving my best doesnt get any easier with time.

When I returned from my mission in 2018, I was excited to begin this new phase of life. Enrolling at LDS Business College (now Ensign College) felt like a welcome change after two years of gospel study and service. My time there was precious. The challenges stretched me to improve, and I graduated with a great GPA and a job I loved.

As an international student, I could work for a year in my field and relished not worrying about homework or tests. When that year ended, I decided to pursue another degree. In 2022, I began my studies at BYU. The classes were more challenging, and my motivation soon faded. After two semesters, I was exhausted and felt I couldnt give my best anymore.

Thats when a friend offered me advice inspired by Alma 32: "When the people lacked faith, Alma told them to pray for the desire to have faith. Maybe you could pray for the desire to keep going." I took that advice to heart. While Im not perfect at completing homework or attending classes fully prepared, Im better at not giving up. Im grateful for friends who share wise counsel and for scriptural examples that help us keep trying to improve.

When I started college, feedback felt intimidating. Whether it was a professors comments on an essay or a teammates input during a group project, I couldnt help but feel it was more about criticism than improvement. But over time, I realized that feedback, when approached with the right mindset, can be one of the most valuable tools for growth.

Shifting How You See Feedback

One of the biggest lessons Ive learned is that feedback isnt about pointing out whats badits about showing where you can grow. A wise AI bot once said, Its not about what you did wrong, its about what you can do better. That shift in perspective made a huge difference for me. Instead of dreading feedback, I started looking at it as a chance to sharpen my skills, whether in academics, group projects, or personal pursuits.

Seeking Feedback Proactively

Waiting for feedback to come to you is passiveand you might miss out on valuable insights. I found that asking specific questions like How can I make this section clearer? or Whats one thing youd change about my approach? leads to much more useful advice than a vague What do you think? This approach also shows others that youre open and willing to improve, which often encourages more honest and helpful responses. Staying Open and Calm Hearing feedback can be tough, especially when youve worked hard on something. Ive learned that the key is to listen without reacting defensively. Instead of focusing on how the feedback makes me feel, I try to focus on what I can learn from it. It helps to remind yourself that feedback isnt personalits about the work, not you.

Making Feedback Actionable

Feedback is most effective when you turn it into steps you can act on. For example, if someone tells you your presentation is too wordy, break it down: revise your slides to use bullet points, practice summarizing key ideas, and get someone to review your updated version. Small, specific actions make it easier to implement feedback and see results.

Using Feedback Everywhere

What surprised me most is how feedback applies beyond serious situations like school or work. Whether its improving how you explain ideas to friends, refining a hobby, or even cooking a better meal, feedback can make a difference in unexpected ways. The key is staying open to suggestions and experimenting with changeseven small ones.

Final Thoughts

Feedback can feel intimidating, but its one of the most powerful ways to grow. By seeking it out, listening without defensiveness, and acting on it step by step, youll see improvements in areas you didnt even expect. Whether its for your next essay, a group project, or a hobby you love, embracing feedback is a skill that pays off every time.

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.

This summer, I had the distinct privilege of working for the Fortune One company, the worlds largest retailer, Walmart. I had such an amazing experience that it was hard to choose just one lesson to share. Today, I want to talk about the story of a decades-old Walmart tradition that inspires company unity, tears down walls between associates all over the world, and made a particular impact on me, a lowly intern.

One of Sam Waltons catchphrases that defined Walmart, Inc. is, Our people make the difference! He was always watching people and adopting the best ideas that he saw in others. One of these ideas was the Walmart Cheer. Heres a quote from Helen Walton, Mr. Sams wife, telling the story of their visit to South Korea.

The Walmart cheer persists today as a company-wide tradition of unity and enthusiasm. From Arkansas to Africa, associates worldwide use the Walmart cheer to kick off and close meetings. It goes like this, with one associate calling out the words on the left and the others responding with the words on the right:

Give Me a W! W!

Give Me an A! A!

Give Me an L! L!

Give Me a Squiggly! Squiggly!

(While saying squiggly, everyone does a little butt wiggle)

Give Me an M! M!

Give Me an A! A! Give Me an R! R!

Give Me a T! T!

Whats that spell? Walmart!

Whose Walmart is it? Its my Walmart!

Whos number one? The Customer, Always! Huh!

The Walmart cheer isnt just a part of the corporate office culture, its popular all around the globe. Follow these links to watch associates from Mexico, India, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Japan, and China perform the Walmart cheer, often in their own language!

The Walmart cheer reminds me of one super important aspect of belongingunity! An organization can only be effective if its members are unified. We would do good to remember that the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind (Moses 7:18). He also commanded His latter-day saints to be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine (Doctrine and Covenants 38:27). As employees of Brigham Young University, we have the responsibility to follow that commandment in our workplace as well as our wards.

Too often, I have seen people sit around and wait for unity to happen to them. These people expect the organization to go out of its way to make them feel welcomed and wanted. They want red carpet, royalty treatment from their employer, but they dont want to do anything about it. While in Arkansas, I met interns like this. For one reason or another, they saw the Walmart cheer as uncool and would loathe doing it with everyone else. These very same interns would often complain that they werent a part of the team or that they didnt feel like a real employee.

Belonging and inclusion are essential in a workplace, but it doesnt just happen. In fact, the organization cant really do anything at all. Belonging happens when individuals decide to commit to creating an environment of support, forgiveness, and understanding. If you are a part of a team or a class or a group and you feel like you just dont belong, find someone who is willing to belong together with you. Then find another, and another. Soon enough, the community will grow and will begin to create change where you are. Like Christ told his chief disciple, Simon Peter, When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren (Luke 22:32). As we make belonging a personal matterindividually motivated and executedwe will find that we create stronger teams with stronger bonds because we are stronger ourselves.

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.

As Agile Coaches, we are often faced with the need to respond to challenging situations. The following is a story from my childhood that illustrates how I had to step up as a leader when my friend was struggling.

Several years ago, while living in Stuttgart, Germany, I was in the 7th grade. My school was unique; my entire grade consisted of just 15 or so students, and we had all followed the same curriculum since the 2nd grade. By then, my class felt like a close-knit family. However, I was particularly close to two best friends, Hunter and Mikolaj.

Hunter, an American from Hawaii, became my fast friend when he joined our class in the 6th grade. Mikolaj, on the other hand, had been my friend since 2nd grade. His family was from Poland, and I remember feeling a sense of accomplishment when I finally learned to spell his last name correctly: Dzierzanowski. Ive still got it.

That year, we were given a significant end-of-semester project: a live, broadcasted radio adaptation of "The Little Prince". (Yep Ive wanted to tell Gordon this story but I keep forgetting, so now Im blog posting it ;) ) Overall, the project consisted of three parts: Reading the book, creating the script with assigned characters, and performing our roles live on radio. I was assigned the role of the Tippler, the drunken character who the Little Prince encounters on the third planet. It was a quite a fun role to play since I was able to pretend to be drunk all the time. I cant remember who Miko played, but I do remember that Hunter played the Fox who teaches the Little Prince the importance of relationships near the end of the book.

As the project progressed, we practiced diligently in the broadcast room, perfecting our parts. When the day came we were ready. From what I can remember, I played my part alright, albeit a bit of stuttering. However, when I exited the booth, I was met with an unexpected sceneHunter was in tears, comforted by one of our teachers. Most of our class were standing around awkwardly, unsure of what to do.

I quickly learned that Hunter had been overwhelmed by the pressure of playing the Fox, and the stress had gotten to him. Miko and I tried our best to reassure him, but Hunter was resolute in his decision not to continue.

In that moment I knew the show had to go on, so I volunteered to take over his lines. It was difficult seeing my friend in such a vulnerable state, but by stepping up, I hoped to give him strength and show that he wasnt alone.

This experience taught me the essence of integrity and leadership. It wasnt just about doing my part; it was about being there for others, especially when they needed it most. By supporting Hunter, I learned that leadership is often about stepping in, not just to guide, but to uplift others in their moments of weakness

At the Olympics this year there was one sport that I was looking forward to more than the rest. To me, pole vault is one of the most entertaining sports to watch. The technical skill that is required for the Olympians to throw themselves to insane heights is something to behold. I might be a little biased, seeing as I was a pole vaulter throughout high school, but I do think that there is something that everyone can learn from this sport.

It may or may not surprise you to find out that pole vault is incredibly difficult. The training that we underwent was brutal and extensive. A surprising amount of muscle groups are required to get yourself into the air. We had to train our legs for that initial sprint down the track, our arms and back to not buckle under the force of the pole bending, our core to then to pull ourselves up into the strangest pull-up you have ever seen, and finally gymnastic exercises to flip and get over the bar without hitting it. Not to mention learning to jump in a very specific way so that we didnt accidentally break the pole, not bend it enough, or get thrown backward by it bending too much.

Pole vault is a very individualistic sport. You cant rely on anyone else to get you over that bar. Someone might look at this and think teamwork is unimportant to a pole vaulter. My high school coach, Coach Garcia disagreed with this notion.

Coach Ryan Garcia was an enthusiastic fan of pole vaulting. A talented athlete in his younger years, he knew more about the sport than anyone I have met. He coached some of Southern California's most talented pole vaulters and consistently got students to Nationals. He excelled as a coach, and it was only until I was a few years removed from the sport that I began to recognize why.

Coach Garcia believed teamwork was the true path to success - even in pole vault. While Pole Vaulting is an individual event, he felt that having a team to support you and push you to improve was the only way to ensure growth. This inspired his favorite quote: Rise Up!. While one would rightly assume that this was referring to the literal act of rising into the air, it also referred to stepping up and being the best teammate and athlete possible. Without someone to cheer you on and push you harder, it would be so much harder to improve.

I believe that this philosophy extends well beyond pole vault. Having people around you to support you and push you to be better, is the only way to ensure growth. We need diversity of thoughts, opinions, talents, strengths, and personalities to create change in the world, so logically the same would be true of ourselves. We need outside catalysts to create change within ourselves, no matter how individualistic our struggles may be. It is the only way to rise to the level of success that we desire

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.

Sleeping is a superpower.

Real-world superhumans like Kobe Bryant and Elon Musk are known for being highly effective, creative, and high achievers. In addition, they are known for a very particular characteristic: they sleep much less than average people. Although their lack of sleep is NOT one of the attributes related to their remarkable success, we may see it as the key element that contributed to their achievements (Less sleep equals more hours of work, right? It seems to make sense). This misunderstanding has led many of us to consider sacrificing our sleep to achieve our goals and dreams, especially those related to school performance and professional careers. But is it actually true that if we sleep less, we accomplish more?

Sleeping plays a vital role in developing human capabilities and has been one of the subjects of research and study for many decades. There have been many interesting findings regarding the importance of sleep. However, none of them has even gotten close to suggesting that lowering the amount of sleep an individual has will result in any form of success. Furthermore, Dr. Lawrence Epstein, MD, medical director of Sleep Health Centers in Brighton, Mass., and instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, said, "Recent studies have shown that adequate sleep is essential to feeling awake and alert, maintaining good health, and working at peak performance. After two weeks of sleeping six hours or less a night, students feel as bad and perform as poorly as someone who has gone without sleep for 48 hours." In other words, Dr. Epstein said that there is no correlation between thriving and lacking sleep. Therefore, the fact that Kobe Bryant's sleep habits worked for him does not mean that it's sustainable and it will work for everyone.

Now, let's go back in time to your childhood, even earlier, when you were just a baby. Imagine how nostalgic it would be to see the young version of your parents and to see yourself as a baby. Among the things you would notice, you would see your parents taking such good care of you. You would see them making everything possible for you to grow healthy, strong, and intelligent. You would see your parents treating your sleep schedule as something sacred, something that couldn't be skipped or interrupted. You would see them missing out on parties, sports events, friends' gatherings, movie nights, and other social events. Their reason for those sacrifices was simple and undoubtedly important: "the baby (you) needs to sleep at that time."

Let's pause and consider why your sleep schedule was so important to your parents. Why was it worth so many sacrifices?

Now let's come back to the present. Have you ever heard someone say about their New Year's resolution, "This year, I will prioritize my sleep. I will sleep better. I will plan to sleep"? You probably have never heard someone say that. In contrast, we hear people listing all sorts of other things: "getting an A in all the classes," "doing an internship at the dream company," "going to the gym every day," and the list goes on. Interestingly, most of the resolutions we hear from people are purely outcomes, things we wish to happen.

The message of this article is simple: if you commit to a strict and constant sleep scheduleif you plan to sleepyou'll see improvement in all areas of your life that are important to you. Therefore, let's focus for a moment on things that will make that happen.

First, make your sleep a priority on your list. As an international student and first generation college student in my family, I had to figure this out by myself. During my first four semesters at BYU, I constantly struggled with a lack of energy and fatigue throughout the day. Consequently, my academic performance was very poor, and my self-confidence went down. Every semester I started with new resolutions that I thought would help me thrive. Some of those resolutions were "Planning my week" or "studying every day for one hour for each class." I found out that those goals had such little impact on me because I still lacked energy and was tired throughout my day. I thought that it was because I was waking up too early and working too much; I even tried taking naps during the day; however, I found myself waking up more tired than before.

One day, thinking about people I admire (Im not talking about famous people, but normal

people like me and you), looking for patterns in their lives that could benefit mine, I found

something very interesting. I noticed that people who got the grades I wanted and had the balance I longed for had something in common. They were very responsible with the

number of hours they slept; they didnt let anything get in the way of sleeping. That day was indeed an "Aha" moment in my life. It is empowering to be aware of how important sleep is. Small changes in one's daily routine can have a huge impact. Having sleep as one of my life's priorities has been the driving force for change.

Second, plan to sleep. After I became aware of how important sleep is, I made it a clear priority in my life, and my weekly planning switched to planning everything around my hours of sleep. Knowing that my body needs at least 7 hours of sleep was very relevant in

determining how to organize my week. It was less hard to say no to certain things because

knowing that the outcomes I had written in my beginning-of-the-semester resolutions list

depended on it.

A study directed at students at Auburn Universitys Harrison School of Pharmacy suggests that there is an association between the hours of sleep you have and the score you get on a test. Individuals who sleep for 7 hours or more get better scores compared to those who sleep 6 hours or less. Therefore, this finding proves that cognitive performance is very fragile and can be negatively affected by inadequate sleep duration. Furthermore, Salisa

Westrick, PhD, MS, James E. Foy Hall, Health Outcomes Research and Policy, Auburn University, explained more, "Inadequate sleep decreases general alertness and impairs

attention, resulting in slowed cognitive processing. Lack of adequate sleep also interferes with the function of brain structures critical to cognitive processes." Along with the subject of adequate sleep duration, it is also relevant to mention that there won't be long-lasting results without consistency in the time you go to bed. Yu Chih Chiang and Susan W.

Arendt, two Online Learning Faculty Fellows and professors of hospitality management at

Iowa State University, conducted a study that suggests not being consistent with a sleep

routine is a common problem associated with poor sleep quality. They said, "The results of

our study suggest a high prevalence of both an irregular bedtime schedule and insufficient

sleep among university students in Taiwan. Students with an irregular bedtime schedule

may experience poor sleep quality."

As one becomes more aware of the importance of getting a good night's sleep, making sleeping a priority will come naturally. As you plan to sleep, make sure to focus on two important aspects: sleep duration and a regular bedtime schedule. However, be aware

that neither of these two key aspects will significantly impact your life without consistency. Therefore, as students commit themselves to the strict routine of making time to sleep one of their top priorities, their grades at school and the quality of other aspects of their lives will improve significantly.

Sources:

1. Straten, Tim van. 2021. Kobe Bryant Wound up Regretting the Astonishing Lack of Sleep He Got throughout His Career: why Am I Playing like Crap? - Sportscasting. Sportscasting | Pure Sports. November 14, 2021. https://www.sportscasting.com/kobebryant-wound-up-regretting-astonishing-lack-sleep-throughout-career-why-playing-likecrap/

2. Importance of Sleep & Effects of Sleep Deprivation on College Students. 2007. American Academy of Sleep Medicine Association for Sleep Clinicians and Researchers. November 30, 2007. https://aasm.org/college-students-getting-enough-sleep-is-vital-toacademic-success/

3. Zeek, Megan L., Matthew J. Savoie, Matthew Song, Leanna M. Kennemur, Jingjing Qian,

Paul W. Jungnickel, and Salisa C. Westrick. 2015. Sleep Duration and Academic Performance among Student Pharmacists. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 79 (5): 63. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe79563

4. Zeek, Megan L., Matthew J. Savoie, Matthew Song, Leanna M. Kennemur, Jingjing Qian, Paul W. Jungnickel, and Salisa C. Westrick. 2015. Sleep Duration and Academic Performance among Student Pharmacists. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 79 (5): 63. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe79563

5. Hannah G.Lund B.A. Brian D.Reider B.A. Annie B. Whiting R.N. J. Roxanne Prichard.

2010. Sleep Patterns and Predictors of Disturbed Sleep in a Large Population of College Students. Sciencedirect.Com. February 2010 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1054139X09002389

Applying for internships and entry-level jobs as college students can be a daunting task, especially in the competitive job market today.

However, I found that my experience as an Agile coach in project management provided me with valuable skills and perspectives that proved instrumental in cracking job interviews in the tech industry as a cybersecurity professional. Let me share how my background in Agile coaching uniquely positioned me for success in the cybersecurity domain.

As an Agile coach working in the project management team, my role centered around facilitating the adoption of Agile methodologies within teams, guiding teams through transformational journeys, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. This experience honed various skills crucial for success in any domain, including communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and adaptability.

One of the key tenets of Agile methodology is adaptability to change. In the realm of cybersecurity, where threats are constantly evolving, the ability to quickly adapt strategies and defenses is paramount. My experience in Agile coaching equipped me with the mindset and tools to navigate dynamic environments, identify emerging challenges, and devise effective solutions on the fly.

Effective communication and collaboration are essential skills for any role, but they are particularly vital in the tech industry, where teamwork and information sharing are crucial for thwarting cyber threats. As an Agile coach, I facilitated open dialogue and collaboration among diverse stakeholders, fostering a shared understanding of goals and priorities. These communication skills proved invaluable during job interviews, allowing me to articulate complex concepts clearly and engage with interviewers effectively.

Agile methodologies emphasize risk management and mitigation as integral parts of project management. Similarly, cybersecurity professionals must be adept at

identifying vulnerabilities, assessing risks, and implementing strategies to mitigate potential threats. Drawing from my experience in Agile coaching, I was able to demonstrate my understanding of risk management principles and showcase how they could be applied in the context of cybersecurity to proactively address

vulnerabilities and enhance defenses.

During the interview process at tech companies, I leveraged my Agile coaching experience to highlight my transferable skills. I shared anecdotes from my Agile coaching journey that showcased my problem-solving abilities, collaborative approach, and ability to thrive in fast-paced environmentsall qualities highly valued by cybersecurity professionals.

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 a world where work and personal lives are seamlessly interlaced, nurturing an environment that fosters empathy and support empowers individuals to balance their stressors effectively.

Life often throws curveballs at us in quick succession, requiring resilience to navigate obstacles. Recognizing the significance of our surroundings and the influence of those around us can facilitate the creation of a dynamic that accommodates work-life balance. It is pivotal that we take the time to understand our colleagues and know who they are and the background they come from.

Such understanding goes beyond the superficial. It involves actively listening to their

concerns, recognizing their unique challenges, and appreciating the diverse perspectives they

bring to the table. This level of empathy can transform a workplace from a mere space of

professional engagement into a community where individuals feel valued and understood. In

more cohesive and productive work environment. When employees feel supported, they are more likely to engage fully with their work, collaborate effectively, and bring their best selves to the office every day. Therefore, cultivating a culture of support and understanding is not just a moral imperative but also a strategic one, leading to a resilient and adaptable workforce capable of weathering both personal and professional storms.

What is empathic leadership? Why is it important? Empathic leadership is best described as the ability to understand what others need while being aware of their thoughts and feelings. (Pimentel, 2022) Empathic leadership invites an open and supportive work ethic, where workers feel more valued and motivated toward a common goal, thus increasing productivity. The reason empathic leadership is important is not just because it increases productivity, but it also gives people the push to go the extra mile when it comes to their work. Empathic leadership has been shown to improve cultural awareness, boost innovative thinking, and create more value for customers. According to an article written by the Center for Creative Leadership, they found that leaders who were more empathetic to their employees were viewed to have better performance by their bosses. Additionally, those who have higher ratings of empathy according to their employees, tend to create more value within their work, as people become more motivated to produce the best quality work they can.

There are a variety of ways to be empathetic and to extend empathy to your colleagues and employees. An article written by Harriet Jamieson, Why Empathy in the Work Place is Important outlines various forms of empathy as viewed by employees. For example, Business Solver's "2023 State of Workplace Empathy" study found that 96% of people surveyed said flexible working hours are the most empathetic benefit an employer can offer, followed by workplace location at 93%.(Jamieson, 2024) However, there are common traits among empathic leaders we should all strive to have:

1. Self-Awareness: Cultivating self-awareness as an empathic leader allows you to have more of an understanding of yourself and your struggles. By having more self-awareness, you have a deeper understanding of your strengths, weaknesses, and needs, and by default, you begin looking at those characteristics in other people, from a human standpoint rather than an employer standpoint. Those who practice empathy in the workplace are often shown to have higher levels of self-awareness.

2. Sincerity: This trait shows itself in a variety of ways, the first being inquisition. Asking your employees how they are doing, offering your help, and giving them emotional support during their difficult circumstances can build job security, trust, and motivation within that employee. Being sincere and putting people over process can result in better work and more productivity than otherwise.

3. Direct Communication: Being direct in what your needs are when it comes to work can save time and stress for your employees. If one of your employees is going through a difficult situation, but you still need them to meet a deadline, making sure that you are directly communicating your needs to them while also being empathic to their situation will result in an employee wanting to meet the deadline, and perhaps going that extra mile in their work. Listening and acknowledging when mistakes have been made, as well as communicating them directly gives room for improvement

In conclusion, fostering empathy and support in the workplace is crucial for creating a dynamic that accommodates work-life balance and enhances overall well-being. By actively listening, recognizing unique challenges, and appreciating diverse perspectives, leaders can transform the workplace into a community where individuals feel valued and understood. This not only benefits employees emotionally but also contributes to a more cohesive and productive work environment. Empathic leadership, characterized by the ability to understand others' needs and feelings, is essential for driving motivation, productivity, and cultural awareness. By cultivating self-awareness, sincerity, and direct communication, leaders can create an empathetic workplace that encourages employees to go the extra mile and deliver high-quality work.

Sources:

https://www.teambonding.com/empathy-in-the-workplace/

https://www.techtarget.com/WhatIs/feature/Why-empathy-in-the-workplace-is-important

https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/empathy-in-the-workplace-a-tool-for-effective-leadership/

Working on projects with diverse teams has always been a seamless experience for me.

Adaptability and effective communication have been my strengths, making presentations and collaborative efforts my preferred mode of assessment. However, this semester presented a unique challenge that pushed me to reassess my approach.

Typically, I could delegate tasks and ensure their completion, even if it meant taking on a heavier workload myself. The philosophy of "if you want something done right, do it yourself" guided my actions. This time, however, I encountered a team member, let's call him Paul, who operated differently. Despite attending meetings and classes diligently, Paul contributed little to the project. Even during designated work times, his efforts seemed futile, repeatedly copying, pasting, and undoing actions without any tangible progress.

Concerned, I confronted Paul, only to receive assurances that he was almost done. Yet, the results were consistently underwhelming. It wasn't until an encounter with a TA, responsible for test grading, that I began to suspect there might be more to Paul's behavior. The TA's private conversation with Paul hinted at struggles beyond mere laziness.

As the project unfolded, I hit a roadblock and sought Paul's assistance. Surprisingly, he admitted to facing the same challenges but lacked the expertise to overcome them. Investigating the project log revealed his sincerity he genuinely lacked the necessary knowledge. Faced with this realization, another team member and I devised a workaround, resulting in a successful project presentation and a commendable grade.

Paul's gratitude was overwhelming, prompting reflection on the situation. This experience taught me the value of patience and understanding in collaborative efforts. It challenged my preconceptions about the abilities of team members and reminded me that everyone is on a unique learning journey. While it added some stress to the project, the satisfaction of contributing to Paul's growth made it worthwhile.

This encounter with Paul emphasized that assuming someone is lazy, or incompetent may not be accurate. I recalled instances when I lacked knowledge but still contributed to the best of my abilities, much like Paul. Ultimately, the collaboration taught me to be patient, acknowledge diverse skill levels, and recognize that success is achievable with perseverance.

In conclusion, this group project provided invaluable lessons, shaping my perspective on teamwork and emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding in collaborative endeavors.

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.