¶ … along with some ideas and strategies that are not helpful. It is interesting and ironic that the principal leader who launched his faith (Jesus Christ) is spelled out in his name; he is a Christian and he lives by his faith, which he shares with his students and those who read his books and his essays.
"How Will You Measure Your Life?"
Christensen shares a strategy on the first page of his paper when he explains his visit to Intel and Chairman Grove's insistence that Christiansen give him information on how disruptive technology can help Intel. "Instead of telling him what to think, I taught him how to think"; Grove followed up by figuring out his own strategy. That example is similar to the old saying, "Give me a fish and I eat for a day, but teach me to fish and I eat for a lifetime."
The professor's whole point is about solving problems, measuring one's ability to conduct a meaningful life, and using theories that apply to both business and one's personal life....
For example, he insists that those who leave college with a degree and think they will be happy making money are missing the point; managing means "building up people," he says, not just doing deals and becoming wealthy. Reading through the essay by Christensen one can clearly see that his Christian faith has an enormous influence on his business and social concepts. He emphasizes the quality of life and the purpose of life over and over, and clearly he is sad when his former students don't "…keep the purpose of their lives front and center."
Yes, he admits, he does apply the tools of "econometrics a few times a year," but because he also applies the "…knowledge of the purpose of my life every day" he is fulfilled as a human. Living life -- a purposeful life -- for Christensen means not undervaluing one's relationship with his family or his spouse because too much energy and attention was directed toward his career. Things that matter most -- family, faith, and friends -- often…
