My Entrepreneurial Journal

As I continue to embark on my Entrepreneurial Journey, I have spent the last seven weeks focusing on discovering who I am, creating a life of meaning, creating core values, finding my hero's journey, the power of execution, and the importance of being a lifelong learner.  While each of these weeks have posed an incredible learning and growth opportunities, this week's lesson on the important of gratitude has hit me the most.      I have read, pondered and have thought a lot about President Monson's talk on "An Attitude of Gratitude."  President Monson started his talk with the story of the ten lepers.  This story has always touched me and has served as a reminder that I must always be thankful for every blessing that Father in Heaven has given me.  I have questioned time and time again, how nine people could be cured from such a devastating disease and not stop to even give thanks.  I cannot image the disappointment of Christ as he changed their l...

My Attitude on Money -  What is my attitude toward money : My attitude toward money is an attitude of gratitude.  I grew up with very little money and learned at a very young age to work hard and cherish what I had.  I started to provide for my family at a young age and was forced to learn the value of hard work.  I have a fear of debt as I watched my parents lose our home and vehicles multiple times during my childhood.  I have learned to save for a rainy day.  I also learned that money is not always guaranteed.  It doesn't just show up - it has to be earned and it has to be cherished. If we do not take care of what we have been given, we will lose it.   I do not purchase anything on credit.  If I cannot pay cash (other than my house), I do not purchase it.   I do agree that money brings security and peace.  That security and peace is so important and I know not everyone has been blessed with and it kills me.  Unfortunately ...

I have spent a lot of time studying and pondering about what it takes to be an effective entrepreneur and what Heavenly Father wants me to become.  I feel those two ideas need to be one movement.  In his talk, "The Challenge to Become," Elder Oaks shared, "What is important in the end is what we have become by our labors."  Heavenly Father has placed me on this earth to become who he needs me to become and I feel that path includes being an accomplished entrepreneur.  In studying about and talking with other entrepreneurs, the common goal and motivation seems to be a burning passion to help and serve others.  That same burning desire to bless others is the core of my existence.   The Heart of Entrepreneurship :  As I pursue this journey of becoming what Heavenly Father wants and expects me to become, I ask myself if I have what it takes to be an entrepreneur.  Am I innovative, flexible, dynamic, risk taking, create, and growth oriented?  I ca...

Moving Forward with a Driving Passion - 7 Habits of Highly Effective People As an approach to solving personal and professional problems, Stephen R. Covey created the 7 habits of highly effective people.  The 7 habits give the ability to work from the inside out to build character of total  integrity.  Through these 7 habits, we learn to develop the fiber of our own character traits, learn to work with others, and finally how to improve the effectiveness of our lives in all areas. 7 Habits: 1- Be proactive 2 - Begin with the end in mind 3 - Put first things first 4 - Think win/win 5 - Seek first to understand 6 - Synergize 7 - Sharpen the saw Which of the 7 habits has the most meaning for you? While each of the 7 habits hold its own meaning, purpose and value - and the combination of all habits together are very powerful, the habit that has the most meaning to me is the seventh - sharpen the saw.  The teaching that we need to not get so busy sawin...

A Hero's Journey... What I learned from, "A Hero's Journey" is that I have a very special mission on this earth.  A mission that I will succeed beyond my wildest dreams if I have the faith and the courage to find my entrepreneurial calling.  I am learning that the process of discovering what my calling is not a destination but rather a it is a journey. It is a process of discovering who I am and who I can serve.  I also learned that the hero's journey is all about me, but it's not about me at all.  That statement hit me hard.   A hero's journey means to live every moment of my life like it matters because it does.  It also means I need to live my life as if I have an important mission, because I do.  The most impactful words I read this week were,  "A hero's journey means seeing struggles as adventures and setbacks as lessons. What matters most isn't the prize at the end, but how to hero has changed in the process.  That statement will foreve...

 How Will I Measure My Life... Core Values : When comparing the person I am today with my ideal self I notice gaps that I am striving to close through identifying attributes I want to display and creating my personal core values. As I am gaining a clear sense of the type of person I hope to become, I am committed to visiting my "holy ground" to ponder and pray - searching for answers and a concrete plan that will get me from where I am today and where I would like to be in the future.  Identifying core values that I esteem to be of great worth has been an empowering experience.  I have identified being virtuous, honest, inspiring, dependable, grateful, humble, respectful, reliable, and loving as core values that are important to me becoming the person I want to become.  Through this experience, I have not only had the opportunity to ponder and reflect what I see my core values to be, but also took the time to define what these attributes mean to me and expand my defi...