(CLAS:1600:0EXW)LifeDesign:BuildingYourFuture(1sh)ScheduleofAssignments

“Life”isashort-termgift.“Design”iscreatingaplantomaximizeit.

Instructor: DavidL.GouldOfficelocation: 405BlankHonorsCenterCellphone: (319)331-2936E-mail: david-gould@uiowa.eduSkypeofficehours: ByappointmentSkypeID: david.gould.uiRecommendedBooks:Whilenotrequired,studentsareencouragedtoread(atleast)oneofthesebooksduringthecourseofthesemester.APathAppears:TransformingLives,CreatingOpportunity(NicholasD.KristofandSherylWuDunn)Academicallyadrift:LimitedLearningonCollegeCampuses(RichardArumandJosipaRoksa)AuthenticHappiness:UsingtheNewPositivePsychologytoRealizeYourPotentialforLastingFulfillment(MartinSeligman)AWholeNewMind(DanielH.Pink)CreatingInnovators:TheMakingofYoungPeopleWhoWillChangetheWorld(TonyWagner)CreativeConfidence:UnleashingtheCreativePotentialWithinUsAll(TomKelley&DavidKelley)DeliveringHappiness:APathtoProfits,Passion,andPurpose(TonyHsieh)DesigningtheNewAmericanUniversity(MichaelCrowandWilliamDabars)Do-Over!(RobinHemley)Drive:TheSurprisingTruthAboutWhatMotivatesUs(DanielH.Pink)EmotionalIntelligence(DanielGoleman)GiveandTake(AdamGrant)ExcellentSheep:TheMiseducationoftheAmericanElite&TheWaytoaMeaningfulLife(WilliamDeresiewicz)TheHappinessProject(GretchenRubin)Linchpin:AreYouIndispensable?(SethGodin)MaketheImpossiblePossible:OneMan'sCrusadetoInspireOtherstoDreamBiggerandAchievetheExtraordinary(BillStrickland)Man’sSearchforMeaning(ViktorFrankl)OptionB:FacingAdversity,BuildingResilience,andFindingJoy(SherylSandbergandAdamGrant)Originals:HowNon-ConformistsMovetheWorld(AdamGrant)Outliers:TheStoryofSuccess(MalcolmGladwell)Plenitude:TheNewEconomicsofTrueWealth(JulietSchor)

StealLikeanArtist:10ThingsNobodyToldYouAboutBeingCreative(AustinKleon)TheElement:HowFindingYourPassionChangesEverything(KenRobinson)TheGeniusinAllofUs(DanielShenk)ToSellIsHuman:TheSurprisingTruthAboutMovingOthers(DanielH.Pink)RealityIsBroken:WhyGamesMakeUsBetterAndHowTheyCanChangeTheWorld(JaneMcGonigal)Etc.,etc.,etc.ImportantNote:Whileonlyaportionoftheassignmentsbelowwillbetunedin,itistheexpectationthatallreadings,films,exercises,etc.willbecompletedaccordingtothe“ScheduleofAssignments”andintegratedintotheexperience.WeeksOneandTwo (August20–August31)WeeksThreeandFour (September3–September14)WeeksFiveandSix (September17–September28)WeeksSevenandEight (October1–October12)WeeksNineandTen (October15–October26)WeeksElevenandTwelve (October29–November9)WeeksThirteenandFourteen (November12–November30)

Pleasenote:ThanksgivingRecessfromNovember18-25WeekFifteen (December3–December7)“Colleges…canonlyhighlyserveus,whentheyaimnottodrill,buttocreate,whenthey…settheheartoftheiryouthaflame.”--RalphWaldoEmersonWeeksOneandTwoANewVisionforHigherEducationDuringmyyearsattheUniversityofIowa,Ihaveseenmanystudents“driftaway”becausetheycouldn’tanswerthefundamentalquestion:“WhyamIhere?”Whilethereisnodoubtthatpeoplewithcollegedegreesstatisticallyhavemuchbetteroutcomesthanpeoplewhodon’t,forthesestudentsthatfactisnotenough.Theyarelookingforsomethingmore.PsychologistMihalyCsikszentmihalyicallsit“flow”—astateofbeinginwhichonebecomessoengagedinanactivityorexperiencethatnothingelseseemstomatter.CreativityexpertKenRobinsonreferstoitas“theElement”—theplacewherethethingsyoulovetodoandthethingsyouaregoodatcometogether.PsychologistMartinSeligmandescribesitasthe“meaningfullife”–whereanindividual’s“signaturestrengths”areusedintheserviceofsomethinglargerthanone’sself.Thedirtylittlesecretisthatpeoplewhoareintrinsicallymotivated,whodowhattheydooutofthejoyofthetaskitself,almostalwaysoutperformtheirextrinsicallymotivatedpeers.

Fouryears=4x365x24x60=roughly2,102,400minutes

Eachstudenthastwomillionminutes:Twomillionminutesuntilcollegegraduation…Twomillionminutestobuildone’sintellectualandemotionalfoundations…Twomillionminutestoprepareforfamily,community,serviceandcareer…Twomillionminutestoprepareforagood“launch.”Atitsbest,theUniversityofIowaisalaboratorywherethetestrunsoflifetakeplace.Formostofyou,thiswindowofopportunitywon’tcomeagain.LIFEDESIGNisaboutmakingsureyoudon’tmissit!Watch:DeliveringHappinessatSchoolwithAshtonKutcherandTonyHsiehSee:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9d5oiIL9uP0Listen:WSUIInterview-"TalkofIowa"-December10,2010http://www.uiowa.edu/~lifeclas/interviews/wsui_interview1.mp3Do:Re-calculatingHigherEducation’sPay-offhttp://www.uiowa.edu/~lifeclas/docs/eduPayoff.pptxRead:WhatIsItAbout20-Somethings?http://www.uiowa.edu/~lifeclas/docs/what_is_it_about_20somethings.pdfRecordLevelofStressFoundinCollegeFreshmenhttp://www.uiowa.edu/~lifeclas/docs/Record_Level_of_Stress_For_College_Freshman_(NYT).pdfQuestion#1:Doyouhaveaplanforyourlife?Ifso,whatisit?Whatpeopleandcircumstanceshaveinfluencedit?Doestheplandrawfrompersonalpassions,practicality,orboth?(Shortanswer)DepositonICONWatch:4/13/11-RSAAnimate-ChangingEducationParadigmsSee:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4UWatch:CanadiandesignerBruceMaulikenspurposefullearningto“beinglostintheforest.”Inthatcontext,Mauexplains,thereisurgency.Everythingintheenvironmentmustbescrutinizedasapotentialclueinone’sefforttogetout.Whiletheexperiencemaybeabituncomfortable,itisalsoexcitingandmeaningful.Itiseasytoseehowthistypeoflearningdiffersconsiderablyfrombeingona“picnic.”TogiveyoualittlebetterideawhatBrucemeans,thefollowingisavideoheproducedforArizonaStateUniversity:http://vimeo.com/3444693#

JournalAssignment#1:AddYourCommandmentHopingtodefineauniqueapproachtohighereducation,andwiththehelpofsomefriends,Ihavestartedasetof“TenCommandments.”Ihavefourremainingandneedyourhelp.(See:http://www.uiowa.edu/~lifeclas/commandments/index.html)Ifyouweretoaddonecommandmentfortoday’suniversityclassroom,whatwoulditbeandwhy?Aretheircommandmentsonmylistyouwouldchange?(Minimumlength:Halfapage)DepositonICONJournalAssignment#2:DedicateYourEducationLookatthepagebeforetheTableofContentsinmostbooksandyou’lltypicallyfindadedication.“Butwhyshouldauthorshaveallthefun,”asksDanielPink?Whycan’teveryone–managers,salespeople,nurses,evenstudents–dedicatetheirworktosomeoneelse?WhileIgotthisexercisefromDan,heactuallygotitfromNaomiEpel’sTheObservationDeck,whereEpelwrites,“IonceheardDannyGloversaythathededicateseveryperformancetosomeone–itmightbeNelsonMandelaortheoldmanwhoguardsthestagedoor–butheisalwaysworkingforsomeoneotherthanhimself.Thisfocusgiveshisactingpurposeandmakeshisworkrich.”Ifyouweretodedicateyourcollegeeducationtosomeone,whowoulditbeandwhy?(Minimumlength:Halfapage)DepositonICON(Source:DanielPink,AWholeNewMind,page243)AllassignmentsduebyFriday,August31,2018,4:30pmCST(DepositonICON)“Wearecurrentlypreparingstudentsforjobsthatdon’tyetexist,usingtechnologiesthathaven’tbeeninventedyet,inordertosolveproblemswedon’tevenknowareproblemsyet.”--KarlFischWeeksThreeandFourTheNewWorldofWorkHere’sachallengeforyou:Selectsomeoneyouadmireandthenaskthemtosharethepaththatgotthemwheretheyaretoday.Howcloselydidtheirinitialplanincollegematchwheretheyarenow?Whatpartdidmentorsandunforeseen

opportunitiesplayinalteringtheircourse?Howdiddisappointmentsandroadblockssendtheminnewandunexpecteddirections?Iftheyarehonest,theywilllikelyaskyoutakeaseat,andinformyouit’sgoingtobealongstory.Youwillheartheexpectedacknowledgementstohardworkandaptitude,butthetalewilltwistandturnwhenever“Destiny”,showsup.DestinyisthemomentinthestorywhentheagentwalksuptoAshtonKutcherinanIowapizzajointandasksifhe’severconsideredmodeling,orwhenateenagernamedPaulMcCartneydecidestogoandhearagroupofschool-agedmusiciansperformatSt.Peter'sChurchGardenFeteandcomeshomewithanewfriendnamedJohn.Asacolleagueofminedescribes,“It’swhenallthreelegsofthestool–hardwork,talent,andfate-touchthegroundatthesametime.”InhisCommencementaddresstoStanford’s2005graduatingclass,SteveJob’sreflectedonthekindoftrustittakestoembraceopportunity.“Youcan’tconnectthedotslookingforward”,Jobstoldthegraduates.“Youcanonlyconnectthemlookingbackwards.”AuthorDanielPinkwritesthat,“It’snicetobelievethatyoucanmapouteverystepaheadoftimeandendupwhereyouwant,butthat’safantasy.Theworldchanges.Tenyearsfromnowyourindustrymightnotevenexist.”Watch:DidYouKnow?3.0(October2008)See:http://www.uiowa.edu/~lifeclas/docs/DidYouKnowBrenmanAnimated.wmvRead:ThePaceofChangeSee:http://www.uiowa.edu/~lifeclas/docs/PaceChange.pdfRead:RevengeoftheRightBrainSee:http://www.uiowa.edu/~lifeclas/docs/Revenge_of_the_Right_Brain_(PINK).pdfListen:ListentomyinterviewwithDanielPinkhttp://flashmedia.uiowa.edu/clas/indepart/dlgould/01danielpink.mp3“Thelastfewdecadeshavebelongedtoacertainkindofpersonwithacertainkindofmind—computerprogrammerswhocouldcrankcode,lawyerswhocouldcraftcontracts,MBAswhocouldcrunchnumbers.Butthekeystothekingdomarechanginghands.Thefuturebelongstoaverydifferentkindofpersonwithaverydifferentkindofmind—creatorsandempathizers,patternrecognizers,andmeaningmakers.Thesepeople—artists,inventors,designers,storytellers,caregivers,consolers,bigpicturethinkers—willnowreapsociety’srichestrewardsandshareitsgreatestjoys.”--DanielPink,“AWholeNewMind”Inlookingtothefuture,DanielPinkasksustothinkofthelast150yearsasathree-

actdrama.

ActI,theIndustrialAgeTheleadcharacterinthisactwasthemassproductionworker.ActII,theInformationAgeThecentralfigureinthisactwastheknowledgeworker.ActIII,theConceptualAgeAsweenterthe“ConceptualAge”,creativethinkingandcollaborationbecomeessentialskillsforsuccess.Willyoubeready?“Thewholesecretofasuccessfullifeistofindoutwhatitisone'sdestinytodo,andthentodoit.”-HenryFordPeoplemakecareerdecisionsfortwodifferentreasons:

• Instrumentalreasons–Becausetheythinkit’sgoingtoleadtosomethingelse,regardlessofwhethertheyenjoyitorit’sworthwhile.

• Fundamentalreasons–Becausetheythinkit’sinherentlyvaluable,regardlessofwhatitmayormaynotleadto.

Question#2:Howdoyoumakedecisionsforyourlife?Aretheymoreoftenforfundamentalorinstrumentalreasons?Giveanexample.(Shortanswer)DepositonICONDo:Matchingindividualstotheircollegemajorexercisehttp://www.uiowa.edu/~lifeclas/docs/MatchMajor.pptxHere’sanexcerptfromaletterthatanindignantfathersenttohissonafterhearingthathehadoptedforanimpracticalmajor:“Iamappalled,evenhorrified,thatyouhaveadoptedClassicsasamajor.Asamatteroffact,Ialmostpukedonmywayhometoday.…Iamapracticalman,andforthelifeofmeIcannotpossiblyunderstandwhyyoushouldwishtospeakGreek.WithwhomwillyoucommunicateinGreek?…IsupposeyouwillfeelthatyouaredistinguishingyourselffromtheherdbybecomingaClassicalsnob.…Ithinkyouarerapidlybecomingajackass,andthesooneryougetoutofthatfilthyatmosphere,thebetteritwillsuitme.”TedTurner’sfather,Robert,pennedtheletter.Whileharsh,Robert’sreactionissadlynotthatunusual.Tedfinallyrelentedtohisfather’swishesandchangedhismajortoeconomics.ThoughhewentontofoundthecablenewsnetworkCNN,Tedsadlynevergraduated.Manystudentsencountertremendouspressurefromtheirparentstoadopt“practical”majors,andI’vetalkedtoahandfulofstudentswhoseparentsflatlyrefusetoprovidefortheireducationalexpensesunlesstheymajorinsomethingcareer-oriented.Whilemotivatedoutofconcern,isthatthebestapproach?Watch:DanielPink:ChoosingaMajorSee:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2qc2DcdUL4&feature=relmfuAssignment#1:Picktwodisciplinesyouthinkyoumightliketomajorinandanswerthefollowingquestionforeach:“Whydoestheworldneed(fillintheblank)?”Thisisverydifferentthanasking,“Howmuchmoneydoesitpay?Or“Whatkindofjobswillbeavailable?”(Minimumlength:Halfapage)DepositonICONForexample,watchProfessorChrisCheatumdescribewhytheworldneedschemistry!http://flashmedia.uiowa.edu/clas/indepart/dlgould/chris.m4v

Smartcorporationsrightlyidentifycreativityastheirmostpreciouscommodity.Productionmattersnow,butcreativityisthesourceofallgrowth–thenewproducts,techniques,services,andsolutionsthatdistinguishcompaniesthatthrive.Isanybodyhereanartist?ThelateGordonMacKenzielikedtovisitgradeschools.Infact,theself-proclaimed,"loyallysubversive",HallmarkCardemployeewouldstartthedaywitharoomfulofkindergarteners,andworkinghiswaythroughtheranks,endupinthesixthgrade.Gordonbeganeachclasswiththesamequestion:"Isanybodyhereanartist?"Ifyouhaveafive-year-oldinyourlifeorcandrudgeupanoldmemoryofwhatitwasliketobeone,itisprettyeasytoguesshowGordon’sfirststopgoes.Thekindergartenerspredictablyeruptwithexcitement,andjostleforGordon’sattention.Everyoneintheroomisanartist!Butasthedayprogresses,theexcitementwanes.AndwhenGordonfinallyaskshisquestionforthelasttime,onlytwowarysixthgradersarewillingtoacceptthelabel.“Whathappened?”Gordonprobes.“Ijustvisitedthekindergartenclassthismorningandit’sfullofartists!Didtheyalltransferout?”Andthengivinghimselfaway,Gordonpausesandregrettablyconcludes,“No”,Isuspectsomethingmuchworsehashappenedhere.Someonehastoldyouit’snotok.”PabloPicassoclaimedthat,“Everychildisanartist.Theproblemishowtoremainanartistonceyougrowup.”Iamnotsureanyonehasmasteredholdingontoallthe“fairydust”thatissprinkledoverachildhood,butonlyfoolsleteverythingblowaway.“Iaminterested,”wroteculturalanthropologist,MargaretMead,“inwhathappenstopeoplewhofindthewholelifesorewardingthattheyareabletomovethroughitwiththesamekindofdelightinwhichachildmovesthroughagame.”MeadisreferringtothespotattheedgeofabluffwhereAlexanderGrahamBellfoundhis“dreamingplace.”Orthefirst“imaginationworkshop”StevenSpielbergconceivedbehindhisclosedbedroomdoor.Itishowadrawingoftwopolka-dottedanimals,byafour-year-oldKeithHaring,canstillechoinhismatureworkeighteenyearslater.

#1KeithHaring's“ChildhoodDrawingofTwoAnimals”(1962)

#2KeithHaringUntitledWork(1980)Do:“30CirclesTest"http://www.uiowa.edu/~lifeclas/docs/PLAY_and_CREATIVITYCircle_exercise.pdfBobMcKimwasacreativityresearcherinthe'60sand'70swholedtheStanforddesignprogram.Helikedtodoanexercisewithhisstudentscalledthe"30CirclesTest."Hereishowitgoes:Usingthe"30CirclesTest"sheetprovided,adaptasmanycircles,asfastasyoucan,intoobjects.(E.g.abaseball,moon)Youhaveoneminute.Ready–set–go!(Aminutelater…)Howmanydidyouget?Didyoudoavariationonatheme?Asmileyface?Happyface?Sadface?Sleepyface?DidyouusetheexamplesIgave?(E.g.abaseball,moon)WhatMcKim’sexercisetypicallydemonstratesisthatadultstendtoeditthemselves.Children,ontheotherhand,aremuchbetteratjustgoingforit.Severalyearsago,theSmithsonianInstitutehadatravelingexhibitentitled,InventionatPlay.(See:http://inventionatplay.org)Theexhibitwasbasedontheknowledgethatnumerousinventorslinktheirchildhoodplaywiththeirworkinglivesasinventors.Diariesandnotebooksof19thandearly20thcenturyinventorsprovidehistoricalevidenceoftheroleofplayintheinventionprocess.AsktheHarryPotterseriesauthor,J.K.Rowlingwherehervividimaginationcamefromandshewon’tpointtotelevision,movies,orvideogames.InsteadshewillsharestoriesofachildhoodspentexploringthewildandbeautifulForestofDeaninBritain.

JournalAssignment#3:GoalsInthebookEat,Pray,Love,ElizabethGilbertnotesthatthegreatSufipoetandphilosopherRumionceadvisedhisstudentstowritedownthethreethingstheymostwantedinlife.Ifanyitemonthelistclasheswithanyotheritem,Rumiwarned,youaredestinedforunhappiness.Whatareyourgoalsinlife,andwhy?Areyourgoalsstillconnectedtoyourdreams?(Minimumlength:Onepage)DepositonICON

AshtonKutcherandme(Incaseyouareconfused,Iamontheleft.)Don’tPutYourHandDown!Acoupleofyearsago,“TwoandaHalfMen”co-starAshtonKutchervisitedmyLIFEDESIGNclass.Ikeptitasasurprisetomystudents,andwhenhewalkedintotheroomtherewasa“buzz”ofexcitementthatIwishIcouldreplicateineverylecture.AshtonandIreallydidn’thaveagameplan,andIimmediatelybeganworryingabouthowwewouldfillthetime.Whatresulted,however,wasoneofthemostthoughtfuldiscussionsIhaveheardonacollegecampus.Ashtonspokeabouthissmall-townupbringing,andthebitterdivorceofhisparents.HesharedthestoriesofthehighschoolarrestthatconfinedhimtoIowaCity,andthe“bigbreak”thattookhimtoNewYork.ButtherewasonemomentinparticularthatIhavecarriedwithmeeversince.ItwaswhenAshtonaskedmystudentstoraisetheirhandstoaseriesofquestions:Howmanyofyouthinkyoucouldbeafireman?HowmanyofyoucanpictureyourselfasaCEO?Anartist?Anengineer?Ateacher?Witheachinquiry,onlyascatteringofhandswouldgoup.AndwhenAshtonasked,“HowmanyofyoubelieveyoucouldbethePresidentoftheUnitedStates?”therewasbutone

outstretchedarm.“Why”,imploredAshton,“especially,whenyouareatapointinyourliveswheneverythingisstillpossible!”Manyofmystudentstoldmelaterthattheypromisedthemselvesthatafternoontoneverputtheirhanddownagain.Watch:AshtonKutchervisitsLIFEDESIGNhttp://flashmedia.uiowa.edu/clas/indepart/dlgould/ashton.m4vAllassignmentsduebyFriday,September14,2018,4:30pmCST(DepositonICON)“I'velearnedthatpeoplewillforgetwhatyousaid,peoplewillforgetwhatyoudid,butpeoplewillneverforgethowyoumadethemfeel.”--MayaAngelouWeeksFiveandSixWho’sYourElvis?(TheImportanceofMentors)Thestereotypegoesthatmenwillneveraskfordirections,butIbegtodiffer.Infact,notonlywillIaskfordirectionswhenI’mlost,butifyou’rewillingleadme,I’llfollowyouthere.Ifthegoalweretoreachthedestination,whywouldanyonedootherwise?Andyetmanyofusstrugglethroughlife,ignoringthepotentialguidesallaroundus.Atthestart,wealllearnbypretendingtobeourheroes.Musicmogul,JayZwrites,“Wewerekidswithoutfathers…sowefoundourfathersonwaxandonthestreetsandinhistory.Wegottopickandchoosetheancestorswhowouldinspiretheworldweweregoingtomakeforourselves.”In“StealLikeAnArtist”,AustinKleonadvocatesforselectingonethinkeryoureallylove–writer,artist,scientist,philosopher–andthenlearningeverythingyoucanaboutthatperson.Whenyou’veexhaustedyourresearch,selectthreepeoplethatthinkerlovedanddoitalloveragain.Climbthetreeashighasyoucango,andembracetheemerginglineage.Intime,Kleonpromises,abranchofyourownwillappear.Eachsemester,Iaskmystudentsthequestion:“Ifyoucouldselectanyoneintheworldtoguideyourlife,whowoulditbe,andwhatwouldyouask?”Nowimaginethatyoucan!

Tomakemypoint,IcreatedtheDave’sDreamMentorChallenge,andrequestmystudentsgivemethenamesofthreeinfluential–yetseeminglyunreachable-peopleintheirlives.MychallengeistoconnectthemwithoneofthenamesontheirlistforaninterviewItcouldbetheUniversityofIowafootballcoach,KirkFerentz,orDougUlman,PresidentandChiefExecutiveOfficerofLIVESTRONG,orLanceBenson,amarathonathlete,whoafterbeingbornwithoutlegs,competesusingaskateboardandhisarms.Whiletheconversationsarealwaysmeaningful,themostrewardingthingtomehasbeenwatchingastudent’sideaofwhat’spossibleshift.Onceyougetabackstagepasstolife,sittinginthe“lawnseats”isneverthesame!Interestingly,theinsightsseemtodeepeninrelationshiptothespanofyearsbetweenthementorandstudent.

SimonEstesandChaz'menWilliams-AliWhenChaz'menWilliams-Aliinterviewedhismentor,74-year-oldoperasingerSimonEstes,theconversationwasmorethanalectureonvocaltechniqueanddiction.ThediscussionwasfilledwithglimpsesintoatimewhenAfricanAmericanoperasingershadtotraveltoEuropetobeheard.Estestoldhisstoryofbeingthegrandsonofaslavesoldfor$500,andthesonofafatherthatcouldneitherreadnorwrite.Withsadnesshesharedthathehassunginmoreoperahousesthanalltheblackmeninthehistoryoftheartformcombined.WhenChazaskedSimonwhatdistinguishedagreatsingerfromagoodone,Simonansweredwithouthesitation,“thegreatsingerssingwiththeirheartandsoul,notjusttheirmind.”Leaningforward,Simonasked,“Whereisyourbrainlocated?”Chazpointedtohishead.“Whereisyourheart?”Chazobedientlyloweredhishandtohischest.“Andwhereisyourvoice?Simonconcluded.“Itislocatedinbetween.”

Watch:Chaz'menWilliams-Aliinterviewshismentor,operasingerSimonEsteshttp://flashmedia.uiowa.edu/clas/indepart/dlgould/estes.m4vQuestion#3:”IfIcouldselectanyoneintheworldtolearnfrom,whomwouldIpick,andwhatwouldIask?”(Shortanswer)DepositonICONJournalAssignment#4:Createa"MentorMap"Identifysomeoneestablishedinhis/hercareerwhoyourespect,andmaptheirpathtosuccess.Howcloselydidtheirinitialplanaftercollegematchwheretheyarenow?Whatroledidmentors,opportunity,anddestinyplayingettingthemwheretheyaretoday?Iftheycouldgiveyouonepieceofadviceonhowbesttouseyourtimeincollege,whatwoulditbe?(Minimumlength:Onepage)DepositonICON(Inspiration:ConversationwithDanielPink)Listen:ListentomyinterviewwithSethGodinSee:http://flashmedia.uiowa.edu/clas/indepart/dlgould/02sethgodin.mp3SethGodinBiographySethistheauthorof17booksthathavebeenbestsellersaroundtheworldandhavebeentranslatedintomorethan35languages.Hewritesaboutthepost-industrialrevolution,thewayideasspread,marketing,quitting,leadershipandmostofall,changingeverything.YoumightbefamiliarwithhisbooksLinchpin,Tribes,TheDipandPurpleCow.Inadditiontohiswritingandspeaking,Sethisfounderofsquidoo.com,afastgrowing,easytousewebsite.Hisblog(whichyoucanfindbytyping"seth"intoGoogle)isoneofthemostpopularintheworld.Beforehisworkasawriterandblogger,GodinwasVicePresidentofDirectMarketingatYahoo!,ajobhegotaftersellingthemhispioneering1990sonlinestartup,Yoyodyne.In2013,GodinwasinductedintotheDirectMarketingHallofFame,oneofthreechosenforthishonor.AllassignmentsduebyFriday,September28,2018,4:30pmCST(DepositonICON)“Neverdoubtthatasmall,groupofthoughtful,committedcitizenscanchangetheworld.Indeed,itistheonlythingthateverhas.”--MargaretMead

WeeksSevenandEightTurningtheCityIntoaClassroom

AveryBangandclassmatesFacedwithaseniordesignproject,Bangandfourofhercivil/environmentalengineeringclassmatesproposedaradicalideatotheirprofessors:“Whatifweactuallybuiltsomething?”AsAverysaysnow,“ToseeaprojectfromconcepttoimplementationwasnotanexperienceIhadeverhad,andIwasabouttograduateasanengineer.”WhatAveryandherfellowstudentshadinmindwastodesignandbuildafootbridgeneartheruralcommunityofYavina,Peru.Toapopulationcutofffromtheonlyschool,healthcarefacility,andmarketplace,thisproposalpromisedprofoundchange.NowtheExecutiveDirectoratBridgestoProsperity,Averyunderstandsjusthowimportantthatearlydecisionwastoherprofessionaltrajectory.“ItwasthefirsttimeIrealizedthatIcouldhaveateamoutsideofsports”,Averyrecalls.“ThatIcouldrelyonpeople.Ihadthesefourindividualswhowoulddoanythingforme,andIforthem,inasettingwhereweweremovingtowardsacommongood.”Whilesmartcorporationsrightlyidentifyingenuityastheirmostpreciouscommodity,fartoooftenhighereducationisstuckinanoldIndustrialAgemodel

thatrewardsstudentswiththebestmemoriesandbubblesheetexams.Butthegoodnewsisthatitdoesn’thavetobethatway.ThegreatKurtVonnegut,authorofsuchclassicworksofliteratureasSlaughterhouse-FiveandCat'sCradle,understoodthespiritofatrueacademicadventure.Addressinghis1965classas“Beloved,”Vonnegutdescribedthetwistandturnstheirinquirytogethermighttake.“Aswassaidtomeyearsagobyadear,dearfriend,”Vonnegutwroteonthecoursesyllabus,“‘Keepyourhaton.Wemayendupmilesfromhere.”While20somethingshaveauniquegenerational“voice”tooffersociety,alackofopportunity,resources,andexperienceoftenholdsthemback.Thisisalossonbothsides.Notonlydoourcitiesandcommunitiesneedtheirenergyandidealism,butyoungadultsneedmentoredopportunitiestostartconstructingtheircontributionsaswell.YoungpeoplealsohavethecapacitytodreamBIG!Whilefrequentlydismissedasyouthfulinnocence,thosewhofindawaytoprotectthatfragilequalityoftenmakethegreatestdifferenceintheend.Watch:WatchmyprofileonAveryBang–MakingaDifferencehttp://flashmedia.uiowa.edu/clas/indepart/dlgould/avery.m4vWatch:WatchmyprofileonAndyStoll–CommunitySee:http://flashmedia.uiowa.edu/clas/indepart/dlgould/andy.m4vAndyStollBiographyAndyStollrecentlyfoundedSeedHere,asocialgoodstartupdesignedtoconnectandgrowtheentrepreneurialecosystemandcreativecommunitiesinCedarRapids/IowaCityregions(stillrecoveringfromthemassive2008IowaFloods);isindevelopmentonareality-basedaround-the-worldtravelshowforamajornetworkandisservinginadvisoryroleswithanumberofstartups.Stollrecentlycompleteda4-yeartrip-around-the-worldandispresentlylaunchingamultimediacollegiatespeakingtourbuiltaroundhistravelexperiences.FORACLOSERLOOKATANDY’STRAVELS,WATCH:4YearsAroundTheWorldin4Minutes(See:http://vimeo.com/28443990)Question#4:Afterwatchingtheprofilepiece,whatquestionswouldyouliketoaskAndyStoll?Pleasesubmitthreepossibilities,andAndywillrespondtothetenbestquestionsfromtheclass.Andy’sanswerswillbeforwardedtoeveryone.(Threequestions)DepositonICON

ReimaginingDowntownclassWatch:Duringthecourseofourjourney,theReimaginingDowntownstudentsmadetwovideos:Oneearlyintheprocesstoexpressthechallengebeforethem,andtheotherasclosuretotheexperience.http://vimeo.com/m/61822388(Createdinthefirstsixweeksofclass.)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCxDJfYYLBM(Producedaftertheproject'scompletion)JournalAssignment#5:ReturntothestartingpointIfpossible,talktoyourparentsaboutthedayyouwereborn.Nothoworwhen,butwhattheywerethinkingandfeelingwhentheyfirstheldyou.Trytogetthemtobeasspecificaspossible.Whatweretheirdreamsandhopes?Whatdidtheyfearmost?Whatperspectivedoesthisinformationgiveyou?Howcloselydoesyourcurrentpathalignwiththisinformation?(Minimumlength:Onepage)DepositonICON(Inspiration:ConversationwithDanielPink)Note:Ifyouareunabletodiscussthiswithyourparents,pleasepicksomeonewhohasknownyousinceyouwereyoung.Whatweretheirearlythoughtsofyou?AllassignmentsduebyFriday,October12,2018,4:30pmCST(DepositonICON)Goldmedalsaren'treallymadeofgold.They'remadeofsweat,determination,andahard-to-findalloycalledguts.--DanGable

WeeksNineandTenThePowerofPersistenceTappingintoyour“beyondhours”Ifirstheardtheterm“beyond”hoursusedtodescribeMarkWahlberg,andhiscommitmenttothefilm,TheFighter."Itwastough”,Wahlbergsaidinthearticle.“Goingoutandmakinganothermovieandstillcontinuingtotrainforsomethingthatmaynothappenisnotaneasythingtodo.We'reshooting12to14hoursadayononemovieandI'mgettingup2hoursearlierthannormalsoIcantrain."ToWahlbergandotherslikehim,beyondhoursarethe“hoursthatignorewhat'sexpectedandacknowledgewhat'snecessary.”TheyarethepriceJoeLewiswasreferringtowhenhesaid,“EverybodywantstogotoHeaven,butnobodywantstodie.”KirkFerentzmaybethedeanofBigTenfootballcoachesnow,butinhisfirstterm,the1999UniversityofIowaHawkeyeswent0-8intheconference.Itmusthavebeenaprettylonelyoff-season,withKirktravelingonlybynight,andavoidingcomedyclubs.Butwiththedawnofanewcampaign,Kirkcamearmedwithtwofreshweapons–abigboulderandanaccompanyingslogan,“beattherock.”Kirktoldhispuzzledathletesthattherocksymbolizedthestrugglenecessarytobecomeachampionshiplevelprogram.“Breakingtherock”,Kirkasserted,“isnotsomethingthathappenseasilyorovernight.Ratherittakesmonths,perhapsevenyears,ofhardwork–chiselingawaybitbybit.WhileIcan’ttellyouwhenitwillhappen,”hesaid,“Ipromiseifyoudothat,itwill.”

Therockwasfinallybrokenin2002whentheHawkeyessweptthroughtheBigTenConferenceschedulewithanundefeatedrecordof8winsandnolosses.TheBigTenChampionshadanIowabestelevenHawkeyeshonoredasFirst-TeamAll-BigTenselections.Inasymbolicgesture,Kirkhadtheboulderremovedfromthefootballfacilityandshatteredintohundredsofpieces.Henotonlygaveastonetoeachofhiscurrentplayers,butalltheathleteswhohadlaboredonthatrockbeforethem.

Theworldislitteredwithtalentedpeoplewhodidn’tputinthehours,whodidn’tpersist,whogaveuptooearly,whothoughttheycouldrideontalentalone.Meanwhile,peoplewhomighthavelesstalentpassthemby.Beethovenwrote60to70draftsofasinglephraseofmusic.HallofFamer,TedWilliamshitpracticepitchesuntilhishandsbled.Whatrockareyoutryingtobreak?Do:12-ItemGritScaleSee:http://www.uiowa.edu/~lifeclas/readings/docs/12_item_Grit_Scale_Duckworth.pdfReadaftercompletingexercise:AngelaDuckworthdevelopedatesttomeasurewhatshedescribesas“grit.”TheGritScaleisadeceptivelysimpletestthatasksuserstoratethemselvesonaseriesof12questions.Whileitreliesentirelyonself-report,Dr.Duckworthhasfoundthetestremarkablypredictiveofsuccess.Duckworthhasfoundthatpeoplewhoaccomplishgreatthingsoftencombineapassionforasinglemission,withanunswervingdedicationtoachievethatmission–whatevertheobstaclesandhoweverlongitmighttake.Usingthescoringchartonpagethreeofthetest,how“gritty”areyou?Listen:ListentomyinterviewwithDavidShenkSee:http://flashmedia.uiowa.edu/clas/indepart/dlgould/DavidShenk.mp3DavidShenktellsusinhisbook,TheGeniusinAllofUs,aboutBeethovenwriting60to70draftsofasinglephraseofmusic,andTedWilliamshittingpracticepitchesuntilhishandsbled.PriortohisdeathinRomein1564,Michelangeloburned"alargenumberofhisowndrawings,sketchesandcartoonssothatnooneshouldseethelaborsheenduredandthewayshetestedhisgenius,andlestheshouldappearlessthanperfect."(Source:Vasari)Read:TheSuccessMythhttp://www.uiowa.edu/~lifeclas/readings/docs/The_Success_Myth(WSJ).pdfAKidWhoDoesn'tKidAroundhttp://www.uiowa.edu/~lifeclas/readings/docs/A_Kid_Who_Doesn't_Kid_Around.pdf

Watch:Watchmydocumentary,Freestyle:TheVictoriesofDanGablehttp://flashmedia.uiowa.edu/clas/indepart/dlgould/gable.m4v

Description:DanGablehasbeencalledthe"BabeRuth"ofwrestling.HewontheOlympicGoldMedalin1972bynotsurrenderingapointtoanyofhisopponents.This,despitethefacttheSovietscametotheOlympicswithonlyonegoalinmind,todefeatGable.FollowingtheOlympics,Gablewentontobethemostsuccessfulcoachinthehistoryofthesport.Fromthebrutalmurderofhissisterthatdrovehimtowin181consecutivematches,totheterroristshaken1972OlympicsthatearnedhimaGoldMedal,DanGabledefinesatrueAmericanchampion.EarlyfootageofGable'slifeiscombinedwithabehindthescenesviewofhislastseasonasthecoachattheUniversityofIowa.Thisdocumentarypresentsaninsidelookintotheuniquecultureofwrestling,andarareviewofthislegendarysportsfigure.Question#5:Afterwatchingthedocumentary,whatquestionswouldyouliketoaskDanGable?Pleasesubmitthreepossibilities,andDanwillrespondtothetenbestquestionsfromtheclass.Dan’sanswerswillbeforwardedtoeveryone.(Threequestions)DepositonICONQuestion#6:Whendoespersistencebecomedelusion?Hastherebeenatimewhenyouwishyouhadworkedharder?(Shortanswer)DepositonICON

Watch:WatchmyprofileonTaraFall–AdversitySee:http://flashmedia.uiowa.edu/clas/indepart/dlgould/tara.m4vWHATISPROSOPAGNOSIA?Prosopagnosiaisadisorderoffaceperceptionwheretheabilitytorecognizefacesisimpaired,whiletheabilitytorecognizeotherobjectsmayberelativelyintact.Thetermoriginallyreferredtoaconditionfollowingacutebraindamage.Abouttwopercentofthepopulationsuffersfromsomesortoffacialblindness.Fewsuccessfultherapieshavesofarbeendevelopedforaffectedpeople,althoughindividualsoftenlearntouse'piecemeal'or'featurebyfeature'recognitionstrategies.Thismayinvolvesecondarycluessuchasclothing,gait,haircolor,bodyshape,andvoice.Becausethefaceseemstofunctionasanimportantidentifyingfeatureinmemory,itcanalsobedifficultforpeoplewiththisconditiontokeeptrackofinformationaboutpeople,andsocializenormallywithothers.JournalAssignment#6:DoOver!Kidshavetheluxuryofcalling“do-over!”whenthingsgowrong.Whycan’twe?Whatareyourbiggestregrets,andifyoucould,howwouldyoure-dothem?Movingforward,whatcanyoulearnfromtheseexperiences?(Minimumlength:Onepage)DepositonICON(Inspiration:RobinHemley’sBook,Do-Over!)Read:Do-Over!See:http://www.uiowa.edu/~lifeclas/readings/docs/DoOver_09.pdfAllassignmentsduebyFriday,October26,2018,4:30pmCST(DepositonICON)“WhenIwas5yearsoldmymotheralwaystoldmethathappinesswasthekeytolife.WhenIwenttoschooltheyaskedmewhatIwantedtobewhenIgrewup.Iwrotedown‘happy’.TheytoldmeIdidn’tunderstandtheassignment,andItoldthemtheydidn’tunderstandlife.”--JohnLennon

WeeksElevenandTwelveThePursuitofHappinessZapposCEO,TonyHsieh,enjoysaskingpeopletosharetheirgoals.Forsakeofinteraction,I’dlikeyoutothinkofoneofyourown.Doeseverybodyhaveone?Itcouldbetogrowacompany.Discoveragreatjob.Findsomeonetoshareyourlifewith.Nowaskyourself,“why?”Maybeit’storetireearly,makegoodmoney,orfindasoulmate.Nowaskyourself,“why?”again.Tospendtimewithfamily,buyahome,getmarried.But“why?”Ifyoudothatexerciselongenough,asvariedasourinitialgoalsmayhavebeen,weallarriveatacommondenominator:Wethinkwhateverwe’vechosenwillmakeushappy!

Ifhappinessiswhatweareallafterthendoesn’titmakesensetolearnasmuchaboutitaswecan?Aportionofourhappiness–perhaps50percent–issimplygenetic.Buteverydaywelearnmoreabouttheenvironmentalandsocialconditionsthatimpacttheremainingshare.Havingarichsocialnetwork,engaginginsatisfyingwork,andfeelingasenseofgratitudeareamongthethingsweknowcontributetohappiness.Whatdoesn’tseemtomattermuchismakingexcessiveamountsofmoneyorgettinglotsofeducation.

InterestingFact:Panamamaybethehappiestcountryintheworld,rackingupthehighestscoreintheGallup-HealthwaysGlobalWell-BeingIndexfor2013.Incontrast,conflict-afflictedcountriessuchasSyriaandAfghanistanshowedthelowestscoresinthissurveyof135countries.TheUnitedStatescameinatnumber14inthepoll.TheGlobalWell-BeingIndexaimstogaugepeople'sperceptionsoftheirwell-being,bylookingatfinancialstatusaswellasfourotherfactorsthatcontributetowell-being:socialwell-being,whichmeanshavingsupportiverelationshipsandloveinlife;communitywell-being,whichisaboutlikingone'splaceofresidence;havingpurposeandgoals;andphysicalhealth.Only1in6adults(17percent)worldwidewereconsideredtobe"thriving"inatleastthreeofthesefiveelementsofwell-being.Themajorityofglobalpopulationswere"struggling"or"suffering"inmanyofthesedomains,theresearchersfound.Herearethe10happiestcountries,withthepercentageofpeoplewhoare"thriving"inthreeormoreoftheelementsofwell-being:

• Panama:61percent• CostaRica:44• Denmark:40• Austria:39• Brazil:39• ElSalvador:37• Uruguay:37• Sweden:36• Canada:34• Guatemala:34

The10lowest-rankedcountries:

• Syria:1percent• Afghanistan:1• Haiti:3• DemocraticRepublicofCongo:5• Chad:5• Madagascar:6• Uganda:6

• Benin:6• Croatia:7• Georgia:7

Do:WhatMakesUsHappy–TheScienceofHappinessQUIZSee:http://www.uiowa.edu/~lifeclas/readings/docs/HappyQuiz.pptxAssignment#2:Writeabriefbiographyaboutyourself,andthenreadinstructionsbelow.(MinimumLength:Onepage)DepositonICONFurtherInstructions,Assignment#3:Afteryouhavecompletedyourbiography,lookatthewordsyouused.Doesthelanguageexpresspositiveemotionsoraretheymoredeadpan?Inastudyofnuns,thosewhoatagetwentyincludedpositive-emotionwordsintheirbiographieslivedaboutadecadelongerthantheirmoredeadpanpeers.(Shortanswer)DepositonICON(SOURCE:DeborahD.Danner,DavidA.Snowdon,andWallaceV.Friesen,“PositiveEmotionsinEarlyLifeandLongevity:FindingsfromtheNunStudy,”JournalofPersonalityandSocialPsychology80(5)(2001):804–813.)Read:ButWillItMakeYouHappy?http://www.uiowa.edu/~lifeclas/readings/docs/Will_It_Make_You_Happy_(NYT).pdfTheSecretsofHappinesshttp://www.uiowa.edu/~lifeclas/readings/docs/Happiness(Csikszentmihalyi).pdfListen:ListentomyinterviewwithChrisPetersonSee:http://flashmedia.uiowa.edu/clas/indepart/dlgould/03chrispeterson.mp3Watch:WatchmyprofileonNateStaniforth–Magichttp://flashmedia.uiowa.edu/clas/indepart/dlgould/nate.m4vNateStaniforthBiography:NateStaniforthbegantouringwhilestillastudenttheUniversityofIowa,studyingtheater,history,andreligionbydayanddrivingforhourstoperformonothercampusesatnight.Nate’s2007webseriesTheMagicianProjectcaughttheeyeofsuperstarDavidBlainewhorecruitedNatetodesignanoriginalillusionforBlainetouseonhisnationalABCtelevisionspecial.In2009NatetraveledextensivelythroughIndiaandSoutheastAsiatoexplorethemagicintheseculturesaspartofa

documentaryaboutmagicaroundtheworld,meetingwithpsychics,snakecharmers,streetperformers,shaman,andanyonewhocouldshowhimsomethingamazing.Natenowtoursthecountryfulltime,bringinghisunique“unplugged”styleofmagictooverahundredcolleges,universities,andtheaterseveryyear.Question#7:Afterwatchingtheprofilepiece,whatquestionswouldyouliketoaskNateStaniforth?Pleasesubmitthreepossibilities,andNatewillrespondtothetenbestquestionsfromtheclass.Nate’sanswerswillbeforwardedtoeveryone.(Threequestions)DepositonICONJournalAssignment#7:TheSecretGoodDeedThinkofsomethingspecialyoucoulddoforsomeone,andwithoutlettinganyone(butme)know–doit!Whatdidyoudo,andhowdiditmakeyoufeel?Whatwastheperson’sreaction?(Minimumlength:Onepage)DepositonICON(Inspiration:ConversationwithChristopherPeterson)AllassignmentsduebyFriday,November9,2018,4:30pmCST(DepositonICON)“Amanisnotolduntilregretstaketheplaceofdreams.”--JohnBarrymoreWeeksThirteenandFourteenTakingaLongViewonLifeUntilrecently,wehumansspentourtimewithpeopleofallgenerations.Growingup,myfather’swhereaboutsweremonitoredbyanetworkofcommunityeldersthathadknownhimhisentirelife.Thisisnolongertrue.Infact,asauthor,RobertBlydescribeswearenowlivingin“siblingsocieties”–educatedawayfromthoseoutsideourhorizontalgaze.Overthepasttwodecades,agrowingbodyofliteratureisbeginningtoemergethatdescribesatrendinwhichtheyoungandtheoldarebecomingincreasinglydisconnected.Thisagesegregationhasbeenlinkedtoadeclineinlifesatisfactionintheelderly,andanincreaseinnegativestereotypestowardtheagedandagingamongouryouth.AccordingtoYalepsychologistBeccaLevy,“Agestereotypesareofteninternalizedatayoungage–longbeforetheyareevenrelevanttopeople,”andearlyattitudestendtobereinforcedoveralifetime.

Tocallsomethingoldinourcultureisaninsult,asinoldhatoroldideas.Tocallsomethingyoungisacompliment,asinyoungthinkingoryoungacting.MaggieLittle,theDirectorofGeorgetown’sKennedyInstituteofEthics,worriesthatourcultureisinastateofdenialaboutaging.“Thenotionofwhatwe’resupposedtolooklikecomesfromcelebritiesandit’sreallydistorted,”shesays.“Asaculture,we’vedevelopedthisverynarrowedviewofbeauty—onlyonedecade,the20s.Wespendadolescencegearingupforthispeak,andthenwespendtherestofourlivestryingtoreclaimit.”Listen:ListentomyinterviewwithHarryR.MoodySee:http://flashmedia.uiowa.edu/clas/indepart/dlgould/06rickmoody.mp3

Watch:Watchmydocumentary,TheCheckerKingSee:http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/the_checker_kingTheCheckerKingSynopsis:"Youknowhowmanyofustherearewholosttheirspouses?Thereareninemillionofus.Andyouknowifyou'renotcarefulyou'llhavealotofsuicidesbecausepeopledon'ttalktous."--HaroldO'BrienAttheageof68,HaroldO'Brienmeetstheloveofhislife,Norma,andmarriesforthefirsttime.ExceptforabriefperiodduringWorldWarII,Haroldhasneverventuredfarfromhishometown.Butoneday,NormaconvinceshimtoentertheIowaStateCheckerChampionship.WithherencouragementandfaithHaroldwins.Afewmonthslater,Normadiesunexpectedly,andHaroldbeginsasix-yearstrugglewith

severedepression.Realizingheissuicidal,Haroldadmitshimselfintothehospital.Onemorning,HaroldbeginsthinkingabouthowdisappointedNormawouldbewithhisflounderinglife,andinhermemory,decidestoentertheNationalCheckerChampionship.Thisisawarmandinspiringstory,thatalsotakesanhonestlookatthedarkerrealitiesofaginganddepression.Watch:LostGenerationSee:http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=42E2fAWM6rANOTE:LostGenerationisanexampleofapalindrome,whichreadsthesamebackwardsasforward.Inthiscase,themeaningisalsotheexactopposite.Thisvideowassubmittedinacontestbya20-yearold.Thecontestwastitled"u@50"byAARP.Thisvideowonsecondplace.Whentheyshowedit,everyoneintheroomwasawe-struckandbrokeintospontaneousapplause.Sosimple,andyetsobrilliant.LegacyLetterProjectHowItBegan:InJanuary2007,Ibegansolicitingpeopleage50andoldertosendletterstomycollegestudents.Theauthorswereaskedtogiveinsightonwhattheyknownowthattheywishtheywouldhaveknownwhentheywereintheir20s.IreceivedlettersnotonlyfromallovertheUnitedStates,butafewforeigncountriesaswell.Theyarrivedintheformofpoems,shortstories,eulogies,andmore.TheysharedthewisdomgainedfromraisingaDownsSyndromechild,tosurvivingdomesticviolenceorbreastcancer.Betweenthelines,theygaveglimpsesintothechangethatprecededyourarrival.Whenundergraduategirlswererequiredtopassaswimmingtesttograduate;orwhentheMarchingBandwasmadeupofonlyguys;orwhena1964ivygreenMustangcostonly$2,400.Attheendofthesemester,everystudentreceivedapersonalletter.Theresponsesurpassedmywildestdreams,andwiththelaunchingofthiswebsite,theLegacyLetterProjecthasgrownintoanationalinitiative.See:http://www.legacyletterproject.com

CarolAltRead:CarolAlt’sLegacyLetterhttp://www.uiowa.edu/~lifeclas/readings/docs/Carol_Alt_LegacyLetter.pdfJournalAssignment#8:BeginningWiththeEndOneofmyfriendsistheauthorJohnIrving,(CiderHouseRules,TheWorldAccordingtoGarp,APrayerforOwenMeany,etc.)Johnstartseverynovelbyfirstcreatingthelastsentence.Onceestablished,everywordofthenovelleadstothatpoint.Ifyourlifewasframedinasimilarmanner,whatwouldyourlastsentencebe?Howwouldthatawarenessreshapethewayyouseeyourlife,andtreattheworldtoday?(Minimumlength:Onepage)DepositonICON AllassignmentsduebyFriday,November30,2018,4:30pmCST(DepositonICON)

"Okinawanscallitikigai,andNicoyanscallitplandevida,butinbothculturesthephraseessentiallytranslatesto"whyIwakeupinthemorning."--DanBuettner

Please note that classes close for Thanksgiving recess on Sunday, November 18th and resume on Monday, November 26th

WeekFifteenAMeaningfulLife

ViktorFrankl“Success,likehappiness”,writesViktorFrankl,“cannotbepursued;itmustensue...astheunintendedside-effectofone'spersonaldedicationtoacoursegreaterthanoneself.”Viktor’sgreatinsightwasformedinthewinterof1942,whenasayoungpsychiatrist,heandhiswife,Tilly,wereamongthehundredsofJewsroundedupandarrestedinVienna.Atthetime,Viktorwasalreadyhardatworkonatheoryofpsychologicalwell-being.Anticipatingtheroundup,theyoungcoupletookgreatpainstosavetheirmostcherishedpossession–themanuscriptViktorwaswriting.Beforetheofficialsmarchedintotheirhome,TillysewedthedocumentintotheliningofViktor’scoat.ViktorworethatcoatwhenthecouplewaslaterdispatchedtoAuschwitz,butonhisseconddayintheconcentrationcamp,hewasstrippedbytheSSguards,andneversawthemanuscriptagain.Intheensuingthreeyears,atAuschwitzandlateratDachau–ashisbrother,mother,father,andpregnantwifeallperishedinthegasovens–Viktorworkedtorecreatethetextbyscratchingnotesonstolenscrapsofpaper.Andin1946,oneyearafterAlliedforcesliberatedtheconcentrationcamps,thosecrumpledpiecesweretransformedintowhatwouldbecomeoneofthemostpowerfulandenduringbooksofthelastcentury,“Man’sSearchforMeaning.”Withinthosepages,Viktorarguedthat,“Man’smainconcernisnottogainpleasureortoavoidpainbutrathertoseeameaninginhislife.”

Whenwearenolongerabletochangeasituation,wearechallengedtochangeourselves.Read:(Excerpt)Man'sSearchforMeaning/ViktorFrankhttp://www.uiowa.edu/~lifeclas/readings/docs/meaning.pdfWatch:Watchmysearchtoanswerthe"eternalquestions"inthefilm,TheSearchforMeaninghttp://flashmedia.uiowa.edu/clas/indepart/dlgould/thesearchformeaning.m4vQuestion#8:Doyouaskyourselfthe“eternalquestions”—ordoyouavoidthem?Whatgivesyourlifemeaning?(Shortanswer)DepositonICON

Read:In1968,attheUniversityofKansas,SenatorRobertF.KennedygaveoneofthemostbeautifulandcourageousspeechesinAmericanpoliticalhistory.FewAmericansremembernowwhathesaid,soI’dliketosharewithyouashortexcerpt:Read:http://www.uiowa.edu/~lifeclas/readings/docs/Kennedy_1968.pdf

AbrahamMaslow'sHierarchyofNeeds

ManyofyouarefamiliarwithAbrahamMaslow'shierarchyofneeds:Oftenportrayedintheshapeofapyramid,withthelargestandmostfundamentallevelsofneedsatthebottom,andtheneedforself-actualizationatthetop.Interestingly,laterinlifeMaslowwantedtotakethishierarchyfortheindividualandapplyittothecollective,toorganizationsandspecificallytobusiness.Butunfortunately,hediedprematurelyin1970.Theideahasneverthelesstakenholdinsomeofthemostinnovativecompanies.OneexampleisZappos.Zappos’CEO,TonyHsiehhasdrawntheparallelbetweenbusinessandhappiness,andintegrateditintothecultureofhiscompany.

"Somanypeoplewhentheygototheoffice,theyleavealittlebitofthemselvesathome,oralotofthemselvesathome,"hesays."Andwhilethere’sbeenalotoftalkovertheyearsaboutworklifeseparationorworklifebalance,ourwholethingis

aboutworklifeintegration.Becauseit’sjustlife–andtheidealwouldbeifyoucanbethesamepersonathomeasyouareintheofficeandviceversa."-Zappos’CEO,TonyHsiehThecompany’sannuallypublishedCultureBookcontainshundredsofshortessayswrittenbyZapposemployeesandvendorsexplainingwhatmakestheculturesospecialandsuccessful.SaysHsieh:"Corporatecultureiseverybitasimportantasthebottomline."MartinSeligman(UniversityofPennsylvania),hasidentifiedthreedifferenthappylivesthatcorrespondtothesethreedesires:1.The"PleasantLife"–Alifefullofpositiveemotionsaboutthepast,present,andfuture.2.The"GoodLife"–Usingyour"signaturestrengths"toachievegratificationinthemainareasofyourlife.3.The"MeaningfulLife"-KnowingwhatyourhigheststrengthsareanddeployingthemintheserviceofsomethinglargerthanyouareRead:Canhappinessbetaught?MartinE.P.Seligmanhttp://www.uiowa.edu/~lifeclas/readings/docs/Happiness(Seligman).pdfADreamJob–(IowaAlumniMagazine)http://www.iowalum.com/magazine/dec12/dreamjob.cfm?page=allWatch:SteveJobs'2005StanfordCommencementAddress(See:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF8uR6Z6KLc)TextofSteveJobs'2005StanfordCommencementAddresshttp://www.uiowa.edu/~lifeclas/readings/docs/Steve_Jobs_Address_(TEXT).pdfWatch:Apartingshotofmyown:IwouldliketoextendmydeepgratitudetotheUniversityofIowaCollegeofLiberalArts&Sciencesforthehonorofparticipatinginthespringcommencementceremony.(May17,2014atCarverHawkeyeArena.)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4orX1IalaI&index=6&list=PL7d8BMotflM1mTmZ-Ivs9cCL3fcQJS3QeThefollowingisthetextofmycommencementaddress.(https://db.tt/ngNcnTkm)Iamparticularlypleasedthatmyparentswereinattendance.Wearegivenfew

chancestopubliclythankthepeoplewhoimpactourlivesandIwasgratefulfortheopportunity.

Mom,Dad,andmebeforethecommencementceremonyWatch:"Whatifmoneywasnoobject?"isourclosingvideoofthesemester.http://www.wimp.com/noobjectJournalAssignment#9:SayThanksGratitudereallyworks.Infact,accordingtoMartinSeligman,feelingsofappreciationenhancewell-beinganddeepenone’ssenseofmeaning.Inthatspirit,thinkofapersoninyourlifewhohasbeenkindorgeneroustoyou,butwhomyou’veneverproperlythanked.Writeadetailed“gratitudeletter”tothatpersonexplaininginconcretetermswhyyou’regratefulandmailit!(Don’tforgettogivemeacopyaswell.)(Minimumlength:Onepage)DepositonICON(Source:DanielPink,AWholeNewMind,page235)Assignment#4:FromHeretoTherePaperINSTRUCTIONS:Drawingfromthevideos,journalassignments,andexercises,describewhatresonatedmostwithyou,andhowyouseeyourlifemovingforward.(Minimumlength:Threepages)DepositonICONAllassignmentsduebyFriday,December7,2018,4:30pmCST(DepositonICON)