Week 1: Introduction, Teambuilding, Transition and Fun.

The first week is finished.

Wow.

It feels like it went by so fast and yet, because of the intensity, it feels like we have all been here for a month and known eachother for most of our lives.

I am very tired from this demanding week and looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow. That way I will be well rested for the "transition" activities that are planned for tomorrow as members from the MBA class that just graduated hand over the reigns to the clubs and student executive as well as other learnings and rituals. It promises to be a night everyone will remember.

A few of the the things we did this week:

• Were introduced to the program, the faculty, and the staff
• Assigned to our teams
• Given extensive teambuilding training
• Given extensive self evaluation and strength building material
• Introduced to the Career Centre
• Introduced to the IT staff and assisted with setting up and using the tools provided

Everything so far has been incredibly well organized. All the material required has just "magically" appeared on my desk or at my seat in the lecture theatre.

Finally, I am really impressed with how strong all of the members of the class are. I am looking forward to learning from all of them and sharing my knowledge with them. I can definitely say at this point, the end of week one, I made the right decision returning to school to get an MBA and choosing Queen's as the school to do it at.

The Four Agreements

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word. Speak with integrity. Say only what you really mean. Avoid using the power of your word to speak against yourself or gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and kindness. Our words have the power to create ripples; to create an atmosphere of safety, respect, learning and trust. They also have the power to work against our goals and the common good or purpose. Choose your words with intention to create the sort of experience you desire for yourself and others.

2. Don't Take Anything Personally. Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality. When you are immune to the actions and opinions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering. Nor will you feel the need to get defensive and create conflicts. It isn't necessary for us to believe others' judgements about us-- even if they are positive. Approval needs to come from within. You can trust yourself to make the right choices when you also remember not to take your own opinions of yourself too personally.

3. Don't Make Assumptions. Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. Most of us have been socially trained not to ask questions at all; that it is unsafe or impolite or more than we want to know-- but making assumptions is the result that can often yield 10 times the level of discomfort-- including inner and sometimes outer conflict-- for no reason at all.

4. Always Do Your Best. Your best may vary from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply challenge yourself to do your personal best-- no more, no less-- in any given moment. By doing this, you will hopefully avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.

(this is a brief summary of a book by the same name)