Week 17

Week in Review

Monday April 23, 2018

Today in class we talked about franchising and the differences between a franchise and a franchisor. We went into detail about the process of buying a franchise and different types of franchises around today. The lesson we went over today was very valuable, especially if one day we want to be owners of a franchise or even purchasing an existing business. We can be better prepared to figure out what type of business we want to own in the future and what type of route we will take. We’ve learned that it can be very beneficial to us to invest into the right franchise if given an opportunity in the future, and now with the knowledge we’ve learned today, if the opportunity arises, we will be ready.

Aaron C. (a.k.a. “Little Daisy”)

Tuesday April 24, 2018

A portion of our PEP brothers have computer lab today. They are busy putting the final touches on their business plans. The servant-leaders who work in the computer lab are invaluable assets to the guys who need assistance working with the Microsoft Office programs. The rest of us had the day off to study for our last class with Bert S.

In addition to the studying, we could pass the afternoon by going to afternoon recreation. It was a marvelous, sunny day. The sky was blue and the temperature was a perfect 85 degrees. For some of us, today was a perfect opportunity to give a Toastmaster speech in the pod. By doing so, we are able to receive some great feedback from our PEP brothers. All in all, it was excellent afternoon.

Grieg C. (a.k.a. “Jerry From Liar Liar”)

Wednesday April 25, 2018

Today is an exciting day, it is our last day in Bert S.’s class dealing with entrepreneurship. It’s almost as if a weight has been lifted off our shoulders. We are nearing the end of the tunnel and heading into new light. The knowledge that Bert has bestowed on us will last a lifetime and will instill in us a level of success that nobody can take away – we are the makers of our destiny.

We, the Soldiers of Spring ’18, want to send a shout out to you, Bert S., for your kindness, understanding and your loving heart. This road that you have started us on is only the beginning. Soldiers, this is a challenge for us all: now that you know you can, will you?

Charles H. (a.k.a. “Lollipop”)

Thursday April 26, 2018

Today the Soldiers of Spring ’18 had the day off, and you would think that with the finish line in sight that things would slow down and everybody would be relaxing. Well, here on the Cleveland Unit, it’s the complete opposite. In the dayroom, you can see heads down and pens moving as the Soldiers prepare themselves for our final test and putting the finishing touches on our pitches.

We, the Soldiers of Spring ’18, are striving to finish strong and deliver outstanding results when it’s time. Success at anything will always come down to focus and effort; we control both. The future belongs to those who prepare for it today. When we start to think differently, we behave differently, we experience differently and we finally realize we are different. Not simply by acting, but we are genuinely changed from the inside out. Congratulations Soldiers!

Lamonte R. (a.k.a. “Ezell”)

Friday April 27, 2018

We started off our day with our daily pray-in and Scripture reading. PEP gave us a few minutes so that everyone could show up to class. We all got into our assigned seats and grabbed our clipboards while the servant-leaders passed out our tests to Crime and Punishment, parts five and six. They gave us thirty minutes for this test, which was clearly enough time for us. We finished swiftly and then we prayed-out and were dismissed.

In all, it was a great day for us. This last phase of our PEP class is where we will have to give an eight to ten minute business pitch to the executives. Then we will finally get to where we all want to be: graduation day on June 8^th. We are almost there Soldiers, so keep up the good work. God bless us all.

James T. (a.k.a. “Leche”)

Expressions

“What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight. Build anyway.”

~ Mother Teresa

What comes to mind for me as I read this quote is something that I deal with on a daily basis. For example, if you’re an artist who puts his heart and soul into a project and goes over small details that could be very meticulous and tedious, the time spent going over them will never be given back. Then I face the possibility of severe scrutiny and may have to deal with someone who believes there are things that should be changed, but if it is art, who’s to say that it’s wrong? However, one thing that I’ve learned is that when I’m working with art that is part of a group project, such as the Chronicle (newsletter), I’ve got to look outside of myself and embrace the feedback that comes with it. Most of the time it is very helpful to gain knowledge from someone who has experience, but if we are a team, then it should be a two-way street. At the end of the day, a job has to be done and our journey needs to be documented and shared with the world. It is an honor to be a part of this journey with the Soldiers of Spring ’18. I want to thank everyone for inspiring me to be better in all that I do. Thanks, and I will continue building new projects.

Alex P. (a.k.a. “Tinky Winky”)