Lessons Learned in My Lessons Learned in My CareerCareer

Jim BorchersJim Borchers

BYU- Idaho Business SummitBYU- Idaho Business Summit

March 27, 2003March 27, 2003

Career OverviewCareer Overview

Prior to Mission - KBCI -TV Asst. ProducerPrior to Mission - KBCI -TV Asst. Producer After Mission - Mobile Home Manufacturer; After Mission - Mobile Home Manufacturer;

Freight Company Dock WorkFreight Company Dock Work Media / Photography CompanyMedia / Photography Company Marketing / Consulting Marketing / Consulting Idaho Dept. of CommerceIdaho Dept. of Commerce Blue Cross Of IdahoBlue Cross Of Idaho Xerox CorporationXerox Corporation

What do I do?What do I do?

Find and Identify Business ProblemsFind and Identify Business Problems Act as a Business Problem Solver - Act as a Business Problem Solver -

“Consultant”“Consultant” Call on “C” Levels - CEO, CFO, CIO, CTO, CMOCall on “C” Levels - CEO, CFO, CIO, CTO, CMO Present to Senior Management TeamsPresent to Senior Management Teams Manage teams of professionals in IT, Manage teams of professionals in IT,

Information Management, Document Information Management, Document Management fieldsManagement fields

Develop “solutions” made up of software, Develop “solutions” made up of software, hardware, and serviceshardware, and services

Prior to MissionPrior to Mission

Prepare to ServePrepare to Serve Prepare Prepare FinanciallyFinancially

Work Full TimeWork Full Time Go to schoolGo to school Prepare SpirituallyPrepare Spiritually

–InstituteInstitute–Ward Mission SplitsWard Mission Splits

Lesson #1 - Serve a Lesson #1 - Serve a Mission!Mission!

Lesson Learned - “There was no Lesson Learned - “There was no penalty for serving an honorable penalty for serving an honorable mission.”mission.”

– Better Prepared to Study Better Prepared to Study – More Mature More Mature – Mission Habits Last a LifetimeMission Habits Last a Lifetime

Lesson #2Lesson #2 Do not delay getting your educationDo not delay getting your education

– Get into school as soon as you can after Get into school as soon as you can after your missionyour mission

– It will never be easier than it is nowIt will never be easier than it is now– Get as much education as you canGet as much education as you can– Try to work as you go to school - try get Try to work as you go to school - try get

experience as you learn experience as you learn – Serve in the churchServe in the church

Lesson #3Lesson #3

No one is more interested in your No one is more interested in your future than you.future than you.

– You are the steward of your futureYou are the steward of your future– Find others that are interested in you Find others that are interested in you

- your family, friends, business - your family, friends, business leadersleaders

Lesson #4Lesson #4

Set your standards and live themSet your standards and live them

– There is no reward in compromising There is no reward in compromising your standards to “get ahead” - you your standards to “get ahead” - you won’t in the long runwon’t in the long run

– Honesty and hard work pay off but...Honesty and hard work pay off but...– Life is not fair. We knew that when we Life is not fair. We knew that when we

came here. Sometimes others with other came here. Sometimes others with other standards do win - in the short term.standards do win - in the short term.

Lesson #5Lesson #5

Be financially conservative.Be financially conservative.

– Do not live above your meansDo not live above your means– Pay your tithingPay your tithing– Save - you will be old somedaySave - you will be old someday– Do not try to keep up with anyone - Do not try to keep up with anyone -

there will always be those who have there will always be those who have less and those who have moreless and those who have more

Lesson #6Lesson #6

Take the “Men in Black” approach - Take the “Men in Black” approach -

– Stick your neck out - sometimes it might Stick your neck out - sometimes it might sting but it will grow back!sting but it will grow back!

– Stretch to see what you really can doStretch to see what you really can do– Try things both in and out of your career Try things both in and out of your career

pathpath– Not everyone will be “entrepreneur of Not everyone will be “entrepreneur of

the year”the year”

Lesson #7Lesson #7

Never burn a Never burn a bridgebridge

– You may end up You may end up working for that working for that personperson

– You may need You may need that connection that connection againagain

Always build Always build bridgesbridges

– Meet those who Meet those who have done what have done what you want to doyou want to do

Lesson #8Lesson #8

Timing Plays a Larger Role Than Timing Plays a Larger Role Than You Might ThinkYou Might Think

– Be prepared when the time comes!Be prepared when the time comes!– Sometimes timing is on your side - Sometimes timing is on your side -

sometimes it is not.sometimes it is not.

Lesson #9Lesson #9

Real freedom is having choicesReal freedom is having choices

– The more options you have the easier The more options you have the easier it is to move when and if you need toit is to move when and if you need to

– Prepare for the next step (job)Prepare for the next step (job)– Never stop learningNever stop learning

Lesson #10Lesson #10

Know yourselfKnow yourself– After a while you get to know what After a while you get to know what

you really enjoy doingyou really enjoy doing– Even if you find a job you enjoy there Even if you find a job you enjoy there

will be things you don’t enjoywill be things you don’t enjoy– The grass is not always greener on The grass is not always greener on

the other side the other side – If you don’t enjoy your work - change If you don’t enjoy your work - change

you or find a new jobyou or find a new job

Practical LessonsPractical Lessons

Understand Money Understand Money and Finances and Finances – Learn about the Learn about the

marketmarket– Invest do not Invest do not

speculatespeculate– There is no free lunchThere is no free lunch

Talk to your Talk to your customerscustomers– it is the only way no it is the only way no

know what they really know what they really thinkthink

Be Leader not a Be Leader not a ManagerManager– set an exampleset an example– set the standardset the standard

Don’t try to go it Don’t try to go it alonealone– Two or three heads Two or three heads

give you more ideasgive you more ideas– We are people first We are people first

then employeesthen employees

Other ThoughtsOther Thoughts

Give back to the communityGive back to the community People will work miracles if they think they People will work miracles if they think they

will be successfulwill be successful ““Your next success is only on the other side Your next success is only on the other side

of fear.” Remember the death-o-meter!of fear.” Remember the death-o-meter! Learn how to find your cheese - regardless of Learn how to find your cheese - regardless of

where it goeswhere it goes ““It does not matter what you do as long as It does not matter what you do as long as

you do it well and are worthy of a temple you do it well and are worthy of a temple recommend”recommend”

Remember who you are!Remember who you are!

Q & AQ & A

Jim BorchersJim Borchers

Manager, Advanced SolutionsManager, Advanced Solutions

Xerox Global ServicesXerox Global Services