3 things I learned from getting fired

First a little background. I was working for a company called NuStep in Ann Arbor Michigan. I was a marketing analyst and I thought I had my career strategy in place. I had recently started my MBA and had planned to finish my degree and then move into a marketing manager position for a fitness manufacturer and to work my way up the chain in the fitness industry. Than all that changed when NuStep hired a new marketing manager, up to that point I had reported to the VP of Sales and Marketing and was primarily a sales analyst and occasionally did some marketing. This new manager started us doing true traditional marketing and planning. I quickly realized as did my boss that this was not my calling. I was terrible at the details of marketing and I was miserable. These two things being terrible and miserable led to my being let go from that job.

Luckily I knew the time was coming and had been preparing by looking for a new job. I was also given the gift of learning that traditional marketing is not something I want to do with my career. Sadly I know far too many people who hate going to work every day but they do it any way because they feel stuck. I do not want to be that person. So now I come to what I learned from getting fired:

1. Look to do something that you love and makes a difference. During this time that I hated going to work I started to pray and seek God's help in knowing what he would have me do. One Sunday while I was in church I remembered a plan I had several years earlier but had never seriously considered it an option for me to become an entrepreneur. As with many young men and women who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I served a mission for the church. I was blessed to have served in the Philippines.  I met amazing people who lived in extreme poverty and I wanted to go back and start small business in those areas I had served to help create opportunities for these families to move out of poverty. I also remembered a video I had watched about a company called Krochet Kids International about the founders of that incredible company. They built a business where women in Uganda would knit hats and these friends would sell the hats online.  All these thoughts came to me while sitting in church and I realized this is what my long term goal is. I want to build a business that makes a difference in helping people come out of poverty in a country I came to know and love while I was living their as a missionary.
2. The keys to getting a job.  I have had the opportunity to been under-or-unemployed 4 times since graduating college in 2007. I started out with Marriott and realized I wasn't happy in the hospitality industry so I left to go to Borders books as an analyst and I loved the company and what I did but was laid off. than I took the first job I could that I thought had growth potential with FranklinCovey as a retail store assistant manager. This was also not the job or industry for me. (As a side note for those that make hospitality, retail or restaurants their career I am deeply grateful to you because I learned these are not where I am supposed to be.) All this experience of looking for employment I have learned some key points:
1. Figure out what job title or company you would be the best fit for based on your experience and pursue that position with with laser like focus.
2. Use Linkedin to it's full potential. Post a picture fill out every section and if possible purchase the job seeker account that allows you to reach out to professionals.
3. Use the job description to write your resume and cover letter. I read the job description and than if I have experience that fits the job responsibilities or requirements I copy and paste into my resume and than use true facts to back up that claim. A cover letter is a great way to talk about what things qualify you for the job. 
1. I have a list of about a dozen well written paragraphs that give a key experience from my career. each of these paragraphs state a problem how a solution was reached and the results of that solution. Use quantifiable data when possible. Here is an example of one of mine. 

"As Assistant Manager, responsible for 160 employees at a highly respected Fortune 500 hospitality company; took initiative to develop and maintain databases, using MS Access and Excel, to track employee performance and evaluate customer satisfaction surveys. Based on this analysis, I created an employee rewards program, which led to increased employee morale and a dramatic 14% improvement in guest satisfaction surveys. This system allowed management to focus on specific problem areas and saved more than 728 hours of management time annually."  



4. Use the Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters book to really land a dream job. It is full of amazing ideas.
5. Use your network and reach out beyond your network and simple ask professionals for informational interviews. People love to talk about themselves and most love to give advice so use those that are where you want to be to learn how to get there.
3. I learned what I don't want to do or be. I have been laid off twice and fired twice and when getting fired I learned what kind of boss I don't want to be. I know I want to be a boss that understands people and wants to to help and love them. Does that mean I wouldn't fire them No! Sometimes the loving thing to do is to let someone go. I was never comfortable approaching either boss that fired me to ask for guidance or help in improving my performance because of the wall they they created of I'm the boss and your the subordinate. I am not one who blames others or wants a pity party I simply learned that a great boss and I have had great bosses that held me accountable and I appreciated that but they did it in a way that I learned and was inspired to be better. While after I had a conversation with my "other" bosses I came out wanting to swap stories with another co-worker thus creating a toxic environment. So I learned what type of boss not to be when the days comes for me to lead a team. I am glad I got out of those situations and I have learned from them. Also remember when you are looking for a new job you are interviewing the boss and company to make sure it is the right fit for you.  

In conclusion don't feel bad for me I have a great job with TRW an automotive supplier that is a truly global company with lots of future opportunities and I have a great boss. I am still pursuing my MBA but with an emphasis in International business. My goal is to begin setting up my business once I am out of school and move into it full time in about 10 years.

-Nate Shepherd 

General conference.

During the first weekend in April and October every year The Church of Jesus Christ has a General Conference where leaders speak to the members all around the world on a variety of topics. I love this conference it uplifts me for the next six months. As I review and re-read or re-watch these great talks I am inspired to do better and be better. I wanted to share 2 of my personal favorites with you in hope them will help you want to do better and be better.

The first is a talk by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland about letting our faith lead us. If we are willing to state Lord I believe than stop dragging your feet and act upon that belief.

The second is by a man I believe to be a prophet called of God in our day his name is Thomas Monson. He speaks to us about obedience.

Life is full of love

The statement that God is love is so very true. I have witnessed great amounts of love recently. I want to begin with a video I watched this morning with my little girl. I was deeply moved by this video which tells the story of Abraham sacrificing Issac. I learned 2 things from this video the first was the point of it, which was the necessity of obedience and teaching our children to be obedient. Isaac does not struggle but willing obeys his father and is willing to give himself up to the will of the Lord.
The second thing I learned was how great love one can have for their children. I saw Abraham's struggle greatly with this commandment because he loves his son so much. Since this story is symbolic of the saviors sacrifice I felt the pain of God as he allowed his son to be killed for us. The reason being he loves us so much.
I thought about my little girl and cried at the thought of having anything ever hurt her. I love her deeply and I know that God feels the same for each of here on earth.

I also have been the witness of countless others loving examples for me and my family. My parents were willing to give up their car for us. They have worked hard and they did not need to give of their car but because I know that they love me and my family they made a huge sacrifice when our car died.
I saw another friend give of her time as she came and helped my wife finish a project when my wife would not be able to finish it by herself in time.
Today we had a great women that is a member of our church offer us of her resources and money because she knows that is one thing she has the ability to help us with as I am currently unemployed. I saw that love in her eyes as she offered to give of the hard earned money she has made over years of work. What an example of sacrifice and love.
I am grateful for love and pray that I may give of mine worthily, as I have seen so many other do for us of late. 

The peace that God can give us!

I just wanted to share my testimony about my experiences this week.  On May 14 and 15 there was an incredible stake conference where our local leaders truly shared inspirational messages. The first meeting was with leadership that I was fortunate to attend and we discussed President Dieter Uchtdorf's talk from the last General Conference.  It was about living below your privileges as priesthood holders.  It was an amazing talk but we had even more amazing instruction.  During that session I felt inspired to call two members in our ward (congregation) both of which were in need of contact, and I know that God truly works miracles through us.

Then that evening was the adult session of the conference where, even though I learned very little from the actual talks, the spirit was so strong and both Mari and I felt a great peace after the session.  Then Sunday morning was the general session of the conference where we heard from church leaders, and especially Elder Eyring spoke on being wisely optimistic.

Now a little background:  I have been looking for a new job since mid January.  My job at FranklinCovey was not working out and not paying nearly enough to support our family. So we had been praying and fasting about a new job.

Now back to our story: That Sunday evening we were both talking about the incredible peace we felt that things would work out soon.  I would find a new job and God was in control and not to worry.  This feeling of peace was incredible for both of us.  We also decided to have family scripture reading and prayer in the morning with Isabelle every day rather than at night with just the two of us, and we have given up a couple media choices that distracted from the spirit in our home.

Monday morning we had family scripture study and it was a really great morning.  Then as I walked into work my boss was there with a security guard and she asked for my key and told me that it was no longer working for me to be working there because I caused contention on the team, which anyone who knows me and even the other employees would agree I am one of the least contentious people they know.  It really came down to the fact that it was time for me to move on from that position.

As I walked out of the mall to my car and called Mari I felt that same peace we had felt the entire weekend and we both knew this was right.  This week has been incredible. We have spent time as family, we have been consistent with our scripture study; we have just felt wonderful all week.

I want to testify that God truly does love His children and when we put Him first and turn over our problems to him He will carry us through these times of trouble.      

My Savior and Redeemer

I know that my Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ lived on the earth and the atonement was the pinnacle of his life and human history.  Through his atonement I can be cleansed because Christ suffered all the demands of justice, for my sins which bring me further from God my Father. I know Jesus Christ truly lived and is the only begotten of the Father.  As his atonement was the pinnacle the resurrection was its apex.  Christ came forth to do the will of the Father.  He would come down in the humblest of circumstances.  He would be raised in a loving home learning as all children but as he learned he never disobeyed the laws of God. He then stepped forward at the age of 30 to teach and lead his people.  In 3 years he established his church, showed mercy and compassion as well as incredible power.  He taught his higher law and did this by word and action.  This is why he is known as the Prince of Peace, The Light of the World, The Word, The Lamb.  He is the great I AM, Jehovah.  He was perfect in his obedience and example.  All of this culminated in the 3 most important days in history where he took on our sins was crucified and than raised himself from the dead brining the gifts of overcoming physical and spiritual death to all people.

I love my Lord and have shared a couple of other testimonies on this page for your enjoyment.  

Christ is the Bread of Life.

This phrase has been with me recently as I studied John chapter 6 as Christ taught his apostles that is is the bread of life and the living water.  I know that when I come to Christ and rely on him things will go right but when I seek to take things upon myself without his help they fail.  At this point in time I am looking for a new job for many reasons.  I have done everything I can think of and now I need to rely upon the Lord to take me where he would have me go.  I know that God does look down with love upon his children and wants to bless them.  His blessings often come in the form that we learn something and that is a very hard lesson to learn some times.  I have to learn to go where he would have me go and understand it is not about money but providing.  I am learning that lesson through my three jobs since graduation that I need to seek one that brings the most blessings to my family which is not money but time and benefits for them.
Back to the bread of life. only by partaking of what he has to offer which is peace and love and guidance can we be filled.  I have learned that my body can go longer than I thought without food and be okay but my spirit needs Christ daily in order to stay healthy.  He is like bread and water in that as we seek him and obey his laws and commandments we will be filled with things we didn't know we had before.
So on at this Easter season as you partake of a great bounty please remember the bread of life is Christ.

A day of Miracles

The power of Fasting is real and wonderful.  God truly will grant unto us what we need when we need it.  Yesterday was a wonderful sabbath day.  To start at the beginning Saturday we started fasting for several different things and while I was practicing the piano I had an idea on how to go about paying off what we will owe in taxes. It was a peaceful evening. Then Sunday morning we had a truly wonderful sacrament meeting where many got up and shared amazing testimonies about prophets and the Savior.  I was greatly enriched.  I want to share the two stories that most impressed me.  The first Brother was able to attend general conference and he gave the example that when a high ranking official enters an area in the military everyone is called to attention or when the president of the United States enters congress he is announced and all arise.  But at conference when president Monson entered no one announced him but all of the sudden 21,000 people stopped talking and everyone arose until he ushered them to sit. What an amazing experience and what respect all these people have for the mantle of prophet.  The second experience was told about an experience after a particularly tough men's church basketball game.  Many people were upset, there were lots of hard fouls and the game was not filled with an atmosphere of love.  After the game was over a large player walked over to the audience and stretched forth his arms wide open and said, "The church is still true".  As soon as he said it a peaceful spirit settled over the gym and the rest of the tournament was much more peaceful.

Now on to our evening.  Mari, while playing the piano, received an answer to her prayer and she now has an idea of what she needs to do to help support our family.  She will begin teaching art classes next month dealing with painting, puppetry and acting. What a miraculous blessing.

Our last prayer to be answered last night occurred while we were outside on our deck enjoying a beautiful evening reading and working on projects.  Alex our cat jumped off the deck, which she frequently does, but she always goes under the deck and then comes back up.  Tonight she did not come back.  Mari worried so she got a flashlight and looked but Alex was not under the deck!  So we spent the next 2 hours calling for and looking in the dark for our cat Alex, who is not an outdoors cat and not the brightest either.  We prayed and prayed for help to get her home knowing she was lost somewhere in our neighborhood.  Then Mari went out on her bike at about 11:00 pm and for some reason she  rode the opposite way than where she really believed Alex might be.  While riding she saw Alex walking about a 1/2 a block away and she was running away from our house looking very lost.

We are grateful for spirit building days such as yesterday.  

The power of Fasting

A while ago Elder Bednar, one of the leaders of the LDS church, came and spoke to us and one thing he taught was that he had to travel across the world to a 3rd world country to learn about fasting.  A teacher in a class said that fasting was giving up eating when you have the choice to eat.  For these people they ate 1 very meager meal a day which means they would fast for 2-3 days.  Not like most of us that if we fast we do it from 8:00 pm after we ate snacks during a Saturday night movie to 3:00 pm in the afternoon on Sunday claiming we skipped breakfast and lunch.
I am a guilty party in this type of fasting.  So I decided to try to fast for real and to spend as much time thinking about my fast reason as I could.  I know not everyone can do this and luckily I had Monday off so I fasted for about 36 hours and spent a lot of time in prayer.  It was a great experience.  I felt very enlightened and for the first time in a long time actually got something out of my fast.  It was not the length of time that mattered but it was the first truly meaningful fast I fast I have tried in a long time.
I guess what I am saying is I am grateful for this opportunity to fast and what power it has for any of God's children. 

Church welfare.

I really love to read some of the things the church is doing around the world here is a n article about brining water to remote areas of Africa Africa Water Project Brings Happiness.

Here is an article about the churches presence in Haiti A Year Later, Church Continues to Provide Aid to Haiti.

A video of what local members do even in Brazil.

I love this video that the church helps even in small things.

http://lds.org/service/humanitarian/videos?lang=eng

The church is truly amazing in how it reaches out to people and offers service.

I will conclude with something that happened to my family over Christmas. We are not poor but by no means can we give each other really nice gifts. But this year someone from our ward left us a Kitchen-aid mixer by the front door. We still have no idea who it was and we are so blessed that someone thought about us and our need. The mixer has been a blessing when it comes to making homemade food during this year already. The church is full of wonderful people who know how to serve and help our home is furnished mostly from donated furniture and we are richly blessed that we have had to but Isabelle very few things.

For all those out there who serve so faithfully,

thank you.

The blessings I am surrounded by.

This week my back went out which gave me time to think about many of my blessings.  I have so many of them to be grateful for.  My testimony is strengthened every day by the witness that I have what matters most in this life.  My health is here for which I am grateful.  I have an amazing family.  My wife is talented, fun, smart, hot and the love of my life.  My little girl is so cute and fun she loves to walk and talk I just love her. Like Nephi I was born of goodly parents who worked hard and taught me much.  I have great siblings who love the Lord and I love them.  I have a beautiful home to live in that keeps us warm and allows the spirit to reside here. I have everything someone needs plus more.   I have a job and even if I am looking for a new one I am grateful that I have something to provide for my family while I am looking.  I have goals to reach towards and great friends to help me.  I have freedom and peace.
I also have the Church which helped me to learn and come to know Jesus Christ whom I am most grateful for.  I have a loving Father in heaven who knows me and cares for me in-spite of my rebellious nature.
I am richly blessed by the Lord and I wanted everyone to know that is ow I feel tonight.      

It's a new year!

A new year is a cause of reflection and a chance to improve oneself. The question for most people is how (besides getting in shape). The true litmus test is how each year we are growing closer to the savior and his example. I love my savior so very much and my ultimate goal is to become like him. I hope you try to do the same.

Elder Bednar

Today we had the amazing experience of listening to an apostle of the Lord speak.  David A. Bednar came and spoke here in Ann Arbor.  What an inspired meeting it was.  He taught about the enabling or strengthening power of the atonement which in the scriptures is referred to as grace.  We sang How Firm a Foundation with emphasis placed on this power of the atonement.  This power enables us to do more than we can do by ourselves.  Our capacity is strengthened and our mind enlightened through this power.   He left us with 2 messages. 1. you can do it.  Pray for this strength and press forward and be grateful for a God who asks us to do hard things.
2. Men you can and must be better.  He told a story that he learned in Africa as he listened to this humble women teach about fasting.  Her definition wasn't to just go hungry for a purpose but to put off two meals that when you can eat you choose not to for the lord.  which for this people meant going two days because they ate 1 meal a day if that.  It is choosing the lord when it isn't easy.  Not just obeying but truly sacrificing.

This was powerful meeting and I know that we have a living prophet and a council of twelve apostles living today.  

Testimony of the Book of Mormon

Ever Learning

One of the most wonderful things about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the knowledge of modern revelation.  god did not just speak to men in ancient times he loves men today as he did than.  He has given us a modern Prophet and council of twelve modern apostles to give us a revelation.  

We also have local leaders who can receive revelation for local members.  Most amazing is that you can receive revelation for your self and family.  I know that God has plans for us and he reveals it to us through the power of his Holy Spirit.  This weekend we were able to hear from the local leaders I spoke about earlier and it was amazing.  I felt the love of God and some small promptings came into my mind of things I need to work on.
God loves us and he wants each of us to know his will but only through our worthiness and searching can this truth be revealed unto each of us a small piece at a time.  God does not just at one time give us everything.  He lights our way one step at a time.

Feeling blessed

We often look at trials in our lives as hard and then afterwards realize how much the Lord is blessing us.  I am currently looking for work and really feel at peace with it.  I believe I needed to change myself and my daily pattern and this has allowed me time to re-energize myself every morning.  I wake up at 6:00 am and try to work out for 20 minutes and then I have what I call a morning devotional for a little over 1 hour (we'll discuss this further) and then I spend 30 minutes to 1 hour reading a business book (currently the Truth Shall Make you Rich).  I then make a game plan for the day of what I need to and want to accomplish.  This has been a huge blessing in helping me cope and for me to believe that God has great things in store for this family.

I am also very grateful to be able to spend time with my little girl and allow my wife to take on more work.  It is a blessing to be with her and my wife and to be able to just read more.

Morning Devotional begins with a hymn and then about 10 minutes of meditation followed by prayer.  Than I read an article form the ensign and write my thoughts in a notebook.  I then study the Sunday School or Priesthood lesson for 30 minutes.  Things than end in a song and a prayer.  This has been a great blessing and I am using several sources for my study I have the Old Testament Made Easier by David Ridges and the old testament manual as study guides.  I then write what key learnings I have by verse set in my journal.  I have noticed the peace that daily communion with God can give us.

I also have journal of thoughts while I read a business book.  My goal is to try and figure out some entrepreneurial ventures that I can begin as a side job.  Most of my thoughts have been different ways to utilize my wifes many artistic talents in as many venues as possible.

I am grateful for the many ways the Lord blesses us and gives us challenges to set us on course.  I love the church and am grateful for the truth and light it sheds for to me.

Reflection on Fort Hood tragedy

Do you ever feel like we are part of something greater than ourselves?  Life is so precious and fleeting.  My heart and prayers go out to the families and colleagues of the great service men and women who were killed at Fort Hood Texas.  We often hear of such tragedy and wonder why something could happen to people who are trying simply to serve their country.  While many reasons come forth we do learn in the book of Mormon that
      "For behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day."  Alma 14:11. (for more on the Book of Mormon a book I believe to be true and I beg you to read and learn more.  Click here for more)  
People are given agency to choose what they may but they can not choose the reward of those actions.  I am also eternally grateful for the knowledge that through temple sealing families are united and connected in an eternal link from generation to generation.  That is one of the reasons family history is so important.  To begin your family history you can try either Family Search or ancestry.com.

I know that God loves his children and many times we don't understand exactly why things happen but we must realize that this life is only a blink of an eye and that in the grand scheme of of your life which never ends or is eternal in nature this mere short life is nothing and we should look more closely at our life and what choices we have made.

In conclusion again my hearts and prayers go out to the families and friends of those who died or were injured in this horrible shooting.  I hope that we continue to appreciate the service that those who fight for our freedom give us.

The Miracle of life

God truly blesses us here on earth with the ability to create and bring forth life.  Life is so precious and beautiful.  I am so happy to be a part of this process to be able to raise our little daughter in righteousness.
Psalms 127 reads.

3 Lo, achildren are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

I believe it is true and am grateful for those that choose to bring forth children and do so in the righteous bonds of marriage.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints published a The Family: A Proclamation to the World Please read it teaches the true nature of the family and the roles and goals that should be set for the family.  

Life is amazing and should be protected and cherished as the miracle it is.  

Thanks for reading.

Choose This Day

Choose This Day

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Geneology Work

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has some amazing resources for researching your family history and genelogical lines.  The first site to check out would be at Family Search.  Part of the teachings of the church believes that we can be married for not just till dealth do we part but for eternity.  Part of this belief is also that we can be sealed or linked eternally to our ancestors.  These ordinaces take place in our holy temples.  I love family history and learning more about where I come from and who lived before me to make my existance possible.  I hope you would utilize the many resources like Ancestry.com or Geneology.com.

In Salt Lake City, Utah you can find the enormous Family History Library.   Take a tour of the Family History Library.  There are millions of records and data that can be sorted through here.
Families are forever and I am grateful for this wonderful knowledge.  I know this is true doctrine and am grateful for it.  The church will even give you a free video about eternal families.

Alma 3 and 4

Today I studied Alma 3 and 4 and these were the things I was taught from those chapters.
Alma 3:  By having faith in the Lord we can gain physical strength even to overcome our enemies (usually more inward than outward).  Many times we see that the Lord strenthens the group as a whole to win the battle but many people are lost in the overall victory.  The church has a promise that it will not fail and the Lord will lead the group onward and upward but that is a collective not an individual promise.  We must do our part to partake of the Lord's victories. 

Alma 4: We are accountable for our own sins and if we fall we, become seperated from the Lord and it can even lead to a physical change that comes over us a loss of light as has been said. Our reward comes from he whom we enlist to obey.  Do we want the reward Christ will give us or what Satan will give us?  We are servants also and must be worthy of our hire.  Do we labor in the Lord's kingdom to be worthy of the reward promised?

I love the Church and hope you will read the Book of Mormon too.  Read it online here.  Read The Book of Mormon..