MY LAST LECTURE

Final thoughts, it’s hard to understand the difference of perception one gains as you learn the true meaning of entrepreneurship. Not all parents understand how this works themselves and so they don’t teach a child what to look for or how they can do it for themselves. But I now understand why I didn’t know all this information when I was younger, my family are the hardcore, work for others and do the best that you can type. I was raised to go to school, get a good job and work hard for the rest of your life.

Previously I had stated that I was fine working for someone else because I would always try to do the best in whatever I had been asked to do. Now I am finding through the process of this study that I don’t mind working for others but I think that I could do so much more for the world around me if I was to be in business for myself. I have loved the truths each of these lessons has added to the unraveling discovery that has opened my mind to the possibilities.

Currently I work with family members, I am discovering ways and opportunities that could make our business better in so many ways. The challenge though is convincing those in charge that this would be a better fit in the long run. One of the many things that I have learned is that now is the time to make it happen. Jim Ritchie went over the life plan and constitutions that will help us to attack and be ready for the opportunities that will come our way. He said, “Let’s make it happen and get prepared. Your opportunities will come and if you are not striving to be at your best, your days of standing on the victory podium will pass to another. My friends it’s time to make it happen!”

The decision starts with me, I need to work on my life plan and the constitutions that will help me to be prepared for the questions my family will have. I need to be a different person, make changes, find solutions, and take a stand for what I want and then push for it. I believe that things happen in your life for reasons, I may not understand why the process has taken this path but I believe there is still more to learn. I believe that I can do so much more, and that if it is not possible to pursue my desires through working with family members then maybe the Lord is sending me in a new direction and I need to do all that I can to achieve my purpose.

I believe that each person that takes this class starts on a new journey of enlightenment that helps them to understand that there is much more that they can do, and if they put their mind to it they will achieve their desires. Our minds are opened to the possibilities of new discoveries that can bless the lives of those around us, and that there is so much more meaning to life when leveraging your time working for yourself rather than another.  

Good luck to your future endeavors and we will see you on the other side!

BECOMING A LIFE LONG LEARNER

What great insight the reading this week has given me. Randy Haykin's case study was so worth the read, his experiences on his journey of learning has helped him to become a life long learner. Garnishing experiences and words of wisdom along the way that has benefitted his employment positions and his entrepreneurial endeavors. When I was younger I had no worries about working for other people, it was part of life and I enjoyed what I did and the people I worked with. In moving to America and taking these classes I have found that I can recognize opportunities that I can maybe help others in. Is it a bug that you catch in wanting to do something that will benefit others when you see a need?  I'm starting to think that there's so much more to accomplish but like many others I'm sure...I have no clue to go about it.

I have appreciated the readings this week about recognizing and shaping opportunities. Over the past semesters I have had the opportunity to interview some great entrepreneurs and they have taught me the importance of hard work, but also to love what you do. I found the talk by President Monson on “An attitude of Gratitude” to be a good way to remember that we have so much to be grateful for especially when the Lord is involved in our lives. The process of recognizing those that have been part of the journey helps you to appreciate where you came from and what may be in store for you in your life, moving forward.

Some of the video thoughts that have been beneficial to me is a quote from Ted Zoller, “Learn something that you can leverage in building your entrepreneurial career.” I like that, I haven’t noticed it before but I feel like I have learned a lot in the process. I just need to put to work the things that I believe strongly in and continue to learn all that I can in the classes that I am taking. I also liked Stan Christansen’s thought, “A lot of bad decisions come from making unnecessary assumptions. Trying to outguess what people want is a bad decision. You get to tell your story.” Food for thought, what is my story? That’s what I want to discover, what can I do that will be beneficial to others in this life?

THE PLEASURE OF LEARNING...

Learning is a pleasure and business seems to be an essential part of helping others who may be less fortunate. This weeks readings seem to point more towards helping others rather than becoming really wealthy and successful. I especially enjoyed the reading about a poverty free world and the story of one man that “bridged the gap between economic theory and human reality.” Muhammed Yunus saw a need and was able to fill that need which was very beneficial for the men and woman in the village next to the university in Bangladesh. He saw real life economics and how the people were willing to do what was needed to succeed but did not have the funds to achieve their goals. The banks would not help lend meager amounts of money to those wanting to succeed and so this man decided that he would lend them the money. This quote was very uplifting to me, “People see what they are trained to see. It takes a serious attempt on one’s part to take off the glasses one has been fitted with during student days.”
Definitely a great man, willing to help the poor to succeed, and as we see the results from the amount of money being lent out and received back from those who are poor were a great blessing in the lives of the recipients and to the givers.

Charles Handy’s article about “what a business is for?” deal with the reasons why virtue and integrity are so vital to an economy. This was great reading and the reason is because they help people find comfort in putting their money into companies that can be trusted. Handy said, “Trust, too, is fragile. Like a piece of china, once cracked its never quite the same.” There are varying strategies that people can take to change the look of an outcome so that a business might look like it is doing better than it really is. Greed is the culprit where stock options and share markets are made to look more favorable then what they are. Virtue and Integrity are traits that are so vital to an economy because it helps business people to be more honest with themselves. It seems to be a new game, “Business cannot always afford to be so generous to so many people, but doing good does not necessarily rule out making a reasonable profit. You can make money by serving the poor and the rich.” We need to look to those around us that need help and in turn we will prosper as well.

REST, WE REALLY DO NEED IT!!

As I write in my entrepreneurial journal tonight I have to admit that there really is truth to the need for rest as part of your journey. Today was our Multi Stake Youth Conference involving 8 Stakes of youth. In preparation for this day we spent 3hours after work setting up chairs, putting up signs and getting rooms ready for various workshops, keynote speakers, and our regional representative. I headed home for the night and then had an early start in the morning, with a 14hr day in total after putting everything away, cleaning up and getting the facilities ready for the Sabbath.
What a day and now that I am sitting down with my feet up and writing in my journal I can understand the challenge of being in business and working long hours, burning the candle at both ends is not helpful. Each person needs to take the time to rest from their labors and do something that they enjoy and taking their minds off business just for a little while. Today was a long busy day and my mind was busy as well, the chance to rest my mind right now feels so good. Yes, I do have to write my entrepreneurial journal but compared to the day of trying to stay on top of everything that was happening and helping direct the youth...I can see why we need to have rest as part of the hero's journey.
The readings were very helpful and the videos have helped learn more about the joys people face in being entrepreneurs, its great to learn from what things have worked with others as part of that process. My greatest piece of learning is that I know the steps that I can take to be financially independent. I just have to find something that I like to do and start investing in things that will make me happy and that will help others in the process. I love that concept of becoming an entrepreneur because I believe that we all have a purpose and part of that purpose is to make sure that we take the opportunity to bless the lives of those around us especially those that are in need.
I missed the part about the importance of money, though I do realize that money is important, I don't care too much for it. I use it because I need to but I am not a slave to money and I save much of what I don't need because I'm the simple type and most things please me that are cheap. Money is not the route of all evil but the way we use it is, I pray that I will always strive to use it well.

THE JOY OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Interviewing an entrepreneur like Earl Gaspar has given me hope that even a Polynesian from a little island like mine can find success if you will work hard and do your best. I appreciated the insight gained from my interview and the knowledge that the possibilities are only limited to what you believe you cannot do. It’s a matter of trusting in your capabilities and then going to work.

I liked the videos shared, especially the idea that Google had to dedicate 20% of time to working on something you want to do rather than the have to do. Thus allowing its workers to spend time having fun and come up with some new and inventive ideas that would be beneficial for the company that you work for. I realize that can not be done in all companies but I wonder if it could be initiated in some way, how much a company could increase its productivity because workers feel the trust that their company has in them.

I have seen the growth of co-workers when given the opportunities to take the job they are doing and find ways that will make their jobs easier, and more productive. When you learn a new job, you could be shown a way to do what you need to do, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best way for you to perform those duties. I have found that when you develop a system that works for you then you can sometimes work smarter and better than previously expressed.

This semester has been a great journey, especially with the discoveries made that have opened our minds to the new possibilities businesses can bring into our lives. Its true that not everyone wants to go into business for themselves but when you find the right fit for your talents or something that you love to do then work doesn’t seem like work because it becomes something you enjoy. I believe entrepreneurs learn to love what they do or find something better.

MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN.

I have enjoyed being able to go over the principles learned in the ‘Good to Great’ readings and to share those ideas with others. A friend had asked me about an idea to start a business and I felt excited about sharing the things I have learned from this book, I encouraged her to get a copy and read through it. She liked the thought of having disciplined people, and then working on disciplined thought and ending with disciplined action. She especially liked trying to get the right people on the bus right from the start rather than teaching the wrong people the right behaviors.

I have found another thought to be true, “Tempting as this may be, it is impossible to build an effective organization without delegating important tasks to talented and capable people. It’s the only way to make a grand vision a reality.” I know that you can’t do things by yourself; to achieve your goal you need help. And having the right people helping you will be very important for the growth of your organization. I have seen a task that would have taken much longer to get done without the help of others that I work with. The task is completed in much less time and so i have the opportunity to complete another task. 

The greatest things I am learning in this life is the opportunity to learn has been given to everyone but if you then turn around and help teach another the things that you have learned, then it is beneficial for them and for you. What a great learning experience!

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES.

I really have loved the learning that an education in this class has given me, this week’s opportunity to discover how to overcome the varying challenges that you will face in life has been awesome. From an entrepreneur’s perspective, knowing how to overcome those challenges will make it so much easier to face whatever comes our way.

My favorite story from the ‘Hero’s Journey’ readings this week was ‘The Stone on the Road’ by Sarah Arnold, the story was awesome and I’m including it in my blog so I wont forget it.

There was once a very rich man who lived in a beautiful castle near a village. He loved the people who lived in the village, and he tried to help them. He planted beautiful trees near their houses, and made picnics for their children, and every Christmas he gave them a Christmas tree. But the people did not love to work. They were very unhappy, because they, too, could not be rich –like their friend in the castle.

One day the rich man got up very early in the morning, and placed a large stone in the road which led past his house. Then he hid himself behind the hedge and waited to see what would happen.

By and by, a poor man came along driving a cow. He scolded because the stone lay in his path, but he walked around it, and went on his way. Then a farmer came, on his way to the mill. He complained, too, because the stone was there; but he, too, drove around it, and went on his way.

So the day passed. Everyone who came by scolded because the stone lay in the road, but no one touched it.

At last, just at nightfall, the miller’s boy came past. He was a hard working fellow, and was very tired, because he had been busy since early morning at the mill. But he said to himself: “It is almost dark. Somebody may fall over this stone in the night, and perhaps be badly hurt, I will move it out of the way.”

So he tugged at the heavy stone. It was hard to move, but he pulled, and pushed, and lifted until at last he moved it from it’s placed. To his surprise he found a bag lying underneath.

He lifted the bag. It was heavy, for it was filled with gold. Upon it was written: “This gold belongs to the one who moves the stone!”

The miller’s boy went home with a happy heart, and the rich man went back to his castle. He was glad, indeed, that he had found someone who was not afraid to do hard things.

In deciding to become an entrepreneur there will be many stones on the road, are you willing to do the work that will be needed to succeed? Yes there will be challenges but I also know that if you are willing to do the work needed you will gain the prize. Nelson Mandela went to prison for twenty-seven years for what he believed in, there were many stones on the road he chose but he refused to let others break his spirit. What an amazing attitude he had and what a great example of courage he was to many of the people in that country. Becoming and entrepreneur will not be easy but if you are willing to make the sacrifices needed and to also think of others that you can help along the way, you will find the strength you need to face each stone on that road.

Another thought that stood out to me was from the talk given by Elder Holland. “Be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work.” YOU are that great work and with effort and patience, and God’s help you can become great!  So do I want to become an entrepreneur? Bring it on, I am willing to do the work to achieve success.

LEARNING MASTERY

The process of learning develops each day as we gain new insights into how we can improve our own lives as well as those around us. This week has been another opportunity to look in the mirror and see the things in my life that could be or should be improved.
It is important to stand true and faithful to who you are. President Hinckley taught that, "Being true to ourselves means being honest." This truth is very important in the world we live in, there is so much dishonesty out there and when you deal with elderly clients, who don't always see the world as it really is, my task has been to encourage the voice of truth and honesty that they can rely on.
Reading 'The seven habits of highly effective people' has been very beneficial. The habits are awesome and I know the process of developing them is not going to be easy but I believe it will be highly effective in all aspects of my life.
Those habits are -Be Proactive
                           -Begin with the end in mind
                           -Put first things first
                           -Think win/win
                           -Seek first to understand, then to be understood
                           -Create Synergy
                           -Sharpen the Saw
In studying these habits I decided to start with the first one and try out my skills at the office, as I worked with my co-workers. On Wednesday I tried to look at things in the office that needed to be done, encouraging others to help me with the task. My task was moving the extra boxes, chairs and unwanted items from the office to the storage. As I started to push things together and make pile Mark came and helped me to move the things around. He and Latashia took on the task of moving the items downstairs and packing the vehicle and we drove it to the storage.
As I look around the office now, its not so cluttered and feels nicer to work in. My co-workers helped me in the task but it had to start with me to be pro-active in this idea and get it done. This is just a small example, but I could see the sense of working together as a team to achieve the end result. I think I will have to challenge my self to try and access these ideas into my work environment and see how it goes. That task needs to be extended to me calling and to working with others in the various areas of my life.
I have also enjoyed the book on Mastery, it really has helped me to look inwardly. The process of mastery in my life maybe a very slow one but its a learning that I can do forever. I am seeing the joy of this journey, Life is Learning and Learning is Life!