Perception.

I Can Do Hard Things

That was an important lesson I didn't realize I had learned till years after my mission. When I started at Goldman Sachs and started putting in 12-15 hours days, there were days I wanted to quit, but I didn't. Why? I learned on my mission that you don't quit. You couldn't quit. There was days when 25-30 people would reject you in a row, they wouldn't listen, they'd curse at you. But, you just kept on going - "Hi, my name is Elder Chua..." There were hard days when you just didn't get along with your mission companion, or you especially missed your friends, family, and even college. But, what did you do? You woke up and followed the routine. Exercise, breakfast, study, talk to people, lunch, talk to people, home. And that routine continued day in, day out.

Since then, whether it's been at school or work, I've learned to persevere and push through what might be hard or seem even quite impossible. Because of my mission, I hardly ever give up, I can do hard things.

What's Rejection?
"No."
"Go away."
"This is of the devil."
"You're not welcome here."
"I'm calling security."

Not many people are willing to listen to two awkward kids barely past their teenage years asking them to meet up to read a newfangled scripture. You get rejected A LOT in the two years. Let's say you talk to 50 people a day, and about 40 of them reject you daily. That's 40 people x 365 days x 2. That's 29,200 people who say no to you.

That's why, Mormons make excellent door-to-door salesmen, and why Provo, Utah, is littered with companies that push door-to-door sales - alarm system, trash collection, pest control and more.

Religion is the thing to sell, and you develop a great sales pitch. Most people either have it, or want it, but they just don't know it yet.

Social Graces
Whether you like it or not, you're stuck with a companion 24/7 (aside from the bathroom, of course). This means that sometimes, you get stuck with someone you really don'y get along with, but have to be with anyway. While this can be extremely stressful (and at times, cause shingles), being on a mission teaches you to tolerate and even love someone, even if you don't really like them.

You learn together, you suffer together, you grow together. What greater way is there to build a bond? Some of my mission companions (and non-companions) continue to be some of my best friends. Even though we don't see eye to eye on religion anymore, we still trust and respect one another, and have all the fun along the way. Some of my best memories in life are from that time - getting stuck on 10 foot high fences, playing Settlers in the evenings, splitting pants trying to carry too many pamphlet boxes or getting drenched by passing buses.

All in All
All of the above is why many people who serve missions go on to lead successful lives in their entrepreneurial endeavors, or in their careers. Missions aren't a through train for success, and not everyone comes out with the same perspective, but in my personal experience, it taught me a lot about myself, about other people, and how to be a better person.

I'm not perfect, I've made some mistakes along the way (Mormon or not). But, I learned that we can always make it eight, with ourselves and good values that grounded me, and while if uprooted, can be re-soiled.

Lastly, and without getting too preachy, I developed a stronger faith in Jesus Christ. I learned that there are certain things in this world that I cannot do alone. There were times on my mission that I know there was more than just me carrying me through. I'm glad I got to spread His message of love and hope and joy, and hope that as I find my new (religious) path in life, I continue to draw on the good I learned.

Hire a Mormon missionary, and you'll get a honest, hardworking, kind (and sober) employee or business partner. Good luck!