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.