Oh the joy of being me...

Like I already mentioned in a previous post, living the dream is really about the whole life in general and not just the professional aspect. In fact, it's really more about the personal life, I believe, because living in your best form is what gives you an edge in the professional world. Ask Warren Bennis, I'm not just making this up! I read his book, On Becoming a Leader. It's super good!
So tonight I was asked to play the character Joseph Smith for the 173rd anniversary celebration of the Relief Society in the Pueblo Libre ward, where I attend church. If you don't know what I'm talking about I can explain. Joseph Smith is known as the first modern day prophet who helped restore the church of Jesus Christ to the earth, according to LDS doctrine. Within the LDS church there are many organizations such as the Relief Society, an organization where all the women of the church gather for support, help, learn the doctrine, and to have fun. This is the oldest known women's organization in the world! A ward is a local congregation or unit where church members attend according to their geographic location. Pictured below is myself and all the ladies of the Pueblo Libre ward. I'll admit I did make a polygamy joke as this picture was being taken. Fortunately they all laughed and didn't kill me.

  

A woman of Courage

There are two different types of entrepreneurs down here in Peru that I love. One is the kind that has actually used innovation to come up with something new and different. The women that I work with who have launched an innovative product are so great to help because they are  literally pioneers helping put Peruvian businesses on the map. The other kind of entrepreneurs I love working with are those who came up from absolutely nothing and have shown courage. That would be the case with Devora Guevara.
Devora grew up dirt poor on the hill tops of what is now the district of San Juan de Lurigancho. She showed me pictures of her early houses and they were literally made of straw and were no bigger than a typical living room. Devora at first followed the path of many poor Peruvian women and married at an early age. She had to find work in many different forms, including selling soda at busy intersections. She eventually separated from her husband and started changing her life. She began to sew clothes and sell them at local markets until she grew enough capital to rent out a stand at Gamarra in 2003. Gamarra is the largest market for clothes and other retail items in all of Peru. This picture above is at her market stand with clothes made at the factory located on the second floor of her new house. Her house is located on the same hilltops of San Juan de Lurigancho, but the neighborhood has drastically changed. The area has grown around her and many have been able to build more stable houses. As a political leader in her neighborhood as well, Devora is an inspiration to all those that know her.

The Student Has Become The Teacher

One thing I've realized recently is the importance of having a personal life. If we really want to have a dream job, we need to have a dream life, and no life is complete with a good job alone. We need things that really matter like family, friends, and spirituality. We really are nothing if we don't somehow connect ourselves to this world we live in. That's what I love about my life. I've discovered how we can find real happiness in balance between work, family, recreation, and spirituality or religion (which I argue is one when religion is honestly lived). So many people go through this life in a furious pursuit of goals and accomplishments and what they leave behind is a path of destruction. They are in such a rush that they literally forget to stop and smell the roses. Sure you can do a lot when you're constantly working, but what for? What are you really even doing that actually makes a difference? Yesterday I was taking a taxi home from the LDS temple in Lima and my taxi driver turned to me and said, "boy, you just radiate peace!" I just laughed and said "thanks, I try." He then shared with me how most people in taxis are constantly angry and urging him to run red lights and cut off people  so they can get to where they need to go. Let's just stop and smell the roses for a second, people!
Well now I should perhaps explain the title to this post. I actually am a teacher now at the Lima Institute of Religion. I teach the Book of Mormon in English to locals in BYU-Idaho's Pathway program. After successfully completing this one-year program, students are then eligible to take BYU-Idaho classes online. It's crazy popular here! Last week I had 109 people  show up for my class. While I was scared to death and kind of lost control of the huge class at a few different moments, I love the experience. I feel that I've experienced a lot lately and now I have a chance to share what I've learned in a classroom setting. I've always wanted to teach but I've rarely had the opportunity. I want to now have that power to influence people and just say that you can be whatever you want to be and I fully support you in your endeavors. I feel like I was always made fun of by my teachers because I said weird things and always wanted to have fun. I told my class this and they laughed. In my classroom, anything is possible. In my classroom, you can be yourself.
This opportunity to teach is only helping me in my professional goals. I have something else now to look forward to besides my work opportunities. Teaching is a hard skill but when mastered, it is so useful! My hope is to become a master teacher and be fearless in front of large classrooms. Fear and doubt. Those guys suck. I don't want to listen to them anymore. 

Anytime, anywhere, anyone

I had a thought come to me when I woke up in the morning. It's the concept of offering your services anytime and anywhere-for free! This is something I have learned from an unlikely role model of mine, Andrew W.K. Andrew W.K. is a musician/ motivational speaker who actually delivers a powerful message. His story of becoming who he is today is truly inspiring because he started as a crazy keyboard player who would play shows anytime and anywhere. He believed in bringing his music to absolutely anybody who wanted to hear it. He eventually struck a deal with a record label simply through his reputation for playing crazy shows all the time, everywhere.

I feel the same passion for teaching business principles and inspiring entrepreneurs to carry out their ideas. That's what I love about my job; it's something that I actually enjoy talking about while I'm not at work. Often times I'll be at church or I'll be running in the park or at a party and people want to know more about what I do. After I tell them I'm a small business mentor they of course have lots of questions for me because they, like so many people in this country, have their own small business and they want to know how to expand. I've learned that sharing these ideas and principles that I have learned at school or on the job freely with others makes me happy. Why not just give someone a simple tip that will help them, even if you get "nothing" out of it?

 I think this principle of anytime, anywhere, anyone is what can make any idea succeed. If Andrew W.K. wants to be a musician that truly inspires he needs to bring it to those who really want it, when they want it! If I want to take my ideas further and start my own foundation helping entrepreneurs here in Peru, I'm going to have to commit to offering my tips and advice anytime, anywhere, to anyone.

Lost in adventure

I sometimes laugh at myself and my ways. I'm constantly the oddball in any situation. In the BYU/Mormon world, I'm definitely the only one who seems to be taking this particular path in life. I literally cannot think of any role models who have done what I am trying to do. I guess that's what makes this fun! In the international/ NGO community here in Lima, I am the only Mormon that I know of. In the Mormon community here in Peru, I am the only gringo. Everything that I do for fun down here is completely Peruvian. No more singing songs by the bonfire, but salsa dancing is in grand supply! Being the oddball has definitely been my challenge over the past couple of years, but I'm learning now how to completely harness the idea and just rock out to it! I'm living my dream! I've had my mind blown every single day lately and why would I want it any other way?

Here is another one of the brands I'm working with, Chiflazos. Chiflazos is a brand of Chifle, a common snack in Northern Peru which is made by frying up pieces of plantain. It's actually quite tasty. My clients here and hoping to penetrate the market down south in Lima where they have a very small presence. My task is to help them do just that! Of course, like all Peruvian businesses they would love to export outside of the country as well.

Climbing to new heights

I have been thinking so much lately about how I can really put into action all of the ideas, emotions, and knowledge I have inside of me. At this point there is no turning back. I simply cannot live a regular, boring life that isn't dedicated to happiness, service, and adventure. The experiences we have in life all happen for a reason, and I strongly believe that I have been through my own personal hell to bring me to this conclusion. I've reached a new height in life and I want to just enjoy the view from up here. It's ridiculous to think that I doubted myself for so long just because I didn't fit in with other internationally minded people. The thing I've learned is that people who try to pull you down are already beneath you. It's that simple! Why on earth would you ever try to stop someone from expressing their true self. It's because you might feel threatened. From the dreamer perspective, I've learned that you just got to go for it and not worry for a single second about what people will think of you. You know what I'm saying?!?!

This is a picture of myself, Liliana, and her sister Elizabeth after making their website for their events decorations and catering business. This is a brand new skill of mine that I hope to use many times over while here in Peru!

Back in Peru!

Well it's been a few months since my last post, but a lot has happened in my life! As I indicated in my previous post, I have had this constant hunger for more adventures and for following my heart- the gushy dream stuff you know?! Towards the end of this past semester I was looking at all my job prospects and nothing really jumped out to me. I have contacts with Hilti, a great company in the construction industry, but no other offers or options would be bringing me to Latin America doing what I really love to do.

By grand design, I believe, Craig Brammer from Thunderbird for Good reached out directly to me and asked that I apply to the Farmer-to-Farmer internship. I knew about this internship the whole time, but because it was only 6 months long and it only paid a small stipend I figured that it might not be the best option for a business school grad with huge school loans. Nonetheless, the nature of the situation made it very clear that I would be a fool not to accept this offer, being that it was made to me after I rapped at Americas Regional night. I figured that if this offer came my way only after displaying sheer Connorness, it was meant to be.

I've been in Peru for 1 month now and my mind continues to be blown! This experience has been so amazing thus far and it really feels like everything happens for a reason. Here I am doing what I dreamed of doing just a year and a half ago. I'm already doing it! My thinking now is that I need to completely embrace this experience and not look back. When following your dream you can't have any doubt that you will fail, because if you do doubt your life will be horrible. Believe me, I know from experience! I have faith that the money will come when you follow your passion. That's what they say at least! During this 6 month project I am going to be on the hunt for any other possible options that could come my way. I know they're out there.