Highlights from President’s Executive Group Q&A June 2013
Question: How does a person who experiences success through natural ability, hard work, persistence, sacrifice, mental effort keep from letting the success go to his/her head? How does a person remain humble if colleagues and society in general publicly praise his/her accomplishments, and so forth? President Clark: I think Alma 26 is a great lesson on this. Ammon is with his fellow missionaries and waxing eloquent about their great success among the Lamanites when Aaron rebukes him for boasting. Ammon replies that he does not boast of himself but of his God, for in His strength he can do anything. The principle is that even someone as accomplished and powerful as Ammon sees the Lord in all of his great success. Part of the challenge is to always keep in mind that even what you might describe as natural ability is a gift. Hard work is absolutely crucial, and we have responsibility in these things. But I think it’s healthy to see that it’s really the Lord who’s helping you. That’s my number one.
There’s a wonderful talk by President Henry B. Eyring on this topic called “A Child of God.” I want to read a passage from it:
Question: What do you do to address an employee who has crossed the line from doing due diligence to always being the devil’s advocate?
“I will tell you that not only can you pursue excellence and humility at the same time to avoid spiritual danger, but that the way to humility is also the doorway to excellence. The best antidote I know for pride also can produce in us the characteristics that lead to excellence.”
President Clark: You do want helpful feedback. But when it has gone from being healthy to being unhealthy, I think you have a direct conversation with the employee. Totally upfront and straight-on, say, “Let’s talk about this—how you feel about it, how I feel about it. Here’s where I think it’s healthy and where I think it’s actually unhealthy.” You have to be careful that you don’t become pejorative, but I would do it in the spirit of trying to understand why they feel it is helpful and helping them understand why you’re experiencing the process differently. Then you both can calibrate.
There’s my second point. Ammon’s point is, it’s the Lord. That helps us to stay clear about why success and accomplishments are happening. President Eyring’s argument is that the process of recognizing who God really is, who we really are, and what it means to be His child produces in us a humility that is not debilitating—it is inspiring. It’s humility that encourages in us habits of mind and behavior that lead to excellence. The whole talk is about what that means and how you do that. It’s wonderful. You can find it in President Eyring’s new book Choose Higher Ground.
UPCOMING Q&A The next Q&A session will be held Friday, August 23 at noon in the MC Special Events Room.
Interior design student receives award in national competition Rebecca Gardner, an interior design major at BYU-Idaho, was honored in a nationwide light fixture design competition this summer. Gardner’s submission, titled “Falling Blossoms,” earned her an excellence in presentation award and a $500 cash prize.
from my professors and others in the interior design program at BYU-Idaho. It was hard work, but well worth it.” The annual competition is sponsored by the Robert Bruce Thompson Trust and draws students from all over the United States. Gardner competed against students from Virginia Commonwealth University, Miami University, the University of Texas at Arlington, and Woodbury University, among others.
The design problem presented in the competition asked students to design and create a feature pendant light for the entry lobby of a new building, visible through a two-story, 22-foot high glass curtain wall. Gardner’s fixture featured a cascade of lights reminiscent of budding apple blossoms. “I was hesitant to enter as a sophomore,” Gardner said. “The competition rules suggest that because of the high level of competition, entrants should be undergraduate seniors or graduate students. Looking back, I am so glad that I went for it. I am grateful for the guidance and feedback I received 2
l B Y U - I DA H O N E W S & N O T E S
“Falling Blossoms,” by Rebecca Gardner
In their remarks about Gardner’s entry, the judges wrote: “The images you gathered to describe the design intent were playful and memorable. Each judge was transcended by the imagery of the multitude of delicate blossoms. Across disciplines everyone agreed that the presentation was the best of the competition. The judges all wanted to visit the beautifully and artfully illustrated lobby space.”