Week 8

Week in Review

Monday February 27, 2017

Monday we had an amazing session of Toastmasters. Being that I am on the Gib Lewis Initiative Team I haven’t had much exposure to Toastmasters, so I was a bit skeptical of it. Speaking in public is fearful enough, but throw in the fact that I didn’t really know the people to whom I was speaking, and “fearful” turns into “nearly impossible.” However I persisted through it, and now that I am on my fifth speech, I actually like Toastmasters.

Don’t get me wrong – I still get nervous before every speech, but I’m learning how to cope with that nervousness, and once I actually start talking it gets a bit easier and I am able to loosen up.

Everyone in some capacity or another will do some form of public speaking, whether it’s in front of one’s family, or friends or business partners. So to have the chance to perfect those skills is a wonderful opportunity. When I address my next employer I will be able to do so with comfort, ease and professionalism. I will be able to speak with confidence and know without a doubt that I can convey my message in a purposeful way. These are all tools that I learned from Toastmasters.

Jonathan O. (Initiative Team)

Tuesday February 28, 2017

Today we were honored with having Bert S. (a.k.a. Chocolate Truffles) come and teach us more about entrepreneurship, which is always amazing. After our class one of my brothers came up to me and asked me if everything was okay, saying that he saw me in class with a dazed look on my face as if something was bothering me. I replied to him that I was actually stuck in the moment.

While Bert was teaching class it dawned on me that we are learning Entrepreneurship from a proven business leader. This really is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Sure college students are given some of the same information and knowledge. Yet, with all due respect to their respective professors, even if they are taught wonderful economic theories, we are being taught by a proven business leader.

Some of the same information that I’ve read about in the Wall Street Journal, my brothers and I are actually learning. It’s as if we are learning a new language, a language that gives us an advantage in the workplace and the upper hand on other budding entrepreneurs. Today we learned about accounts payable, equity investments, and profit and loss statements, and we were actually excited about it. Looking at my brothers faces as we digest this valuable information lets us know that we are in fact changed men!

Jeremi R. (a.k.a. Left Eye)

Wednesday March 1, 2017

For the past few months the Kings of Spring ‘17 have been grinding away day in and day out, spending our days and nights building our business plans. We’ve had a couple of days to rest, which was much needed, we would also like to send out a congratulations to our brothers who are about to graduate PEP on the Estes Unit.

As the new class of Fall ‘17 men start to roll in, I sit back and watch as they begin to come together as a class. This is the first step, coming together to study and learn about each other’s backgrounds and history. This is what the brotherhood is all about: wanting to see your brothers succeed and holding them to the highest vision that they have of themselves.

All of us come here seeking some type of change. As we come together each class, we learn about entrepreneurship, how to interact with other and how to deliver speeches in front of large groups. But most important of all, we learn the importance of friendship. My brothers and I have grown close over the past few months, and our hearts and minds are on the same journey toward greater fulfillment and greater desire to live our lives to the fullest…WE ARE PEP!

Christopher V. (a.k.a. Ernest goes to PEP)

Thursday March 2, 2017

We are officially over halfway through the entrepreneurship book that we are taught out of weekly. The last seven lessons have had a tremendous amount of knowledge and information in them that will assist us on our entrepreneurial journey. Regardless of whether any of us decide to become business owners or not, this information will be extremely useful in the business world.

Financing and accounting are both very useful in a person’s everyday life. We are being taught everything from equity investments to ratio analysis. We are also being provided with the tools necessary to become successful businessmen while having a good time. One thing that the Kings of Spring ‘17 enjoy is the energy that Bert S. brings into the classroom every Wednesday. Work is an important part of life and it should be fun and rewarding. Our CEO provides this!

As the day comes to an end, Kings of Spring ‘17 begin to crunch for next week’s test. Anticipating great results, these are the times that set us apart from our former selves and continue to create men of valor. We will continue to unify our community to the best of our abilities upon our release.

Darrell M. (a.k.a. Peter Pan)

Friday March 3, 2017

Well it is Friday, a free day if you will, to do as you please. But let me tell you, free time should be used wisely. There is nothing wrong with working out or playing sports, everyone needs that time to relax and rest the brain in a sense.

One of the subtle things that you learn in PEP is time management and the importance of prioritizing. Time is an important commodity, one that should be cherished and valued, not wasted. We do what we can to utilize it effectively, whether by doing our homework, reading a book, studying for the upcoming test, working out, meditating or praying … we just want to protect ourselves from the ills of wasting time.

If you fail to protect your time, then situations will arise, assignments will be missed, homework will start to pile up and you’ll find yourself with the overwhelming feeling of defeat. And we know that a lack of discipline will spill over to our home life, and we will again be fighting time rather than living life. Do what needs to be done now, so that you can live life, rather than chasing life.

William E. (a.k.a. Elmo)

Expressions

 “The world is but a canvas to the imagination.”

-Henry David Thoreau

It takes a great deal of imagination to succeed, so it follows that a lack of imagination leads to failure. Oftentimes the worlds in which we come from show us vivid pictures of destitution and poverty. Psychologically that does a great deal to stymie our intellectual processing. It renders the world around us black and grey, and it becomes very difficult to imagine a world outside of what we can see and touch. We are bound by a distorted reality. So in order to rise above, we must develop the ability to dream and imagine. Our subconscious minds (rather topographic or qualitative) are directly linked to our successes and/or our failures. In order to succeed one must be able to construct an idea in his mind. A man can only go as far as he allows himself to go. There is a big, beautiful, adventurous world beyond our current trappings, and you and I can be a part of that world. We can become wildly successful, provide affluence and wealth for our families and vacation on lovely islands off the Gulf of Tunis. I dare you to dream again! Once we have established that childlike gift, we can then focus on the fulfillment of that dream. The world is but a canvas … paint on …

Jaa’far A. (a.k.a. Sweet Jolly Rancher)