Quote of the week:

“God left this world unfinished for man to work his skill . . . God gives to man the challenge of raw materials, not the ease of finish things”,  President Thomas S. Monson

My Last Lecture

When I think about giving my “last lecture” I can’t help it but think of Lehi and the important counsel he gave his sons, or King Benjamin and the desire that he had for all to hear his instruction, or Alma and the important things he wanted to share with each of his sons.  Each of these men, inspired by the Lord had a desire to leave with some instructions and ultimately to leave sharing their own personal experiences and testimony.  I know we don't have the records but I imagine each of their mothers also expressed the desires of their hearts for each child as well.  It seems after many years of experience, successes and failures,  people become wise and want to pass on life lessons.  Here are a few things I learned this semester about entrepreneurship:

 Do what you love and be passionate about it – when we do the things we truly love doing we tend to do them well.

·      Be honest in all you do – when we are honest, when we prove that we can be trusted we will stand out as leaders.

     Work hard every day - people who are successful work hard every single day.  They get up with purpose for the day, they start with the hard things and don't stop until they complete the things on their lists.  The wise also know to take a day off each week.  They "renew", as members of the church we know the blessing that can come from observing the Sabbath day and the privilege we have to partake the sacrament.

     Take a few risks – we shouldn’t take wild, or thoughtless risks but we shouldn’t be afraid to try either.  With a little homework, a little faith and a few prayers we can minimize risks and learn to stretch ourselves beyond what we otherwise may have thought we could.

·      Be willing to give back – most successful leaders and entrepreneurs that we’ve studied share a need, maybe even considered a calling to “give back” as they have been so blessed.

Becoming an Entrepreneur comes with lots of blessings but it also comes with lots of responsibilities as well.  Learning to recognize those responsibilities and acting on them is what will set us apart.

“Beyond making ends meet, whether you have a little or much, of this world’s goods, will never be a fundamental determining factor of personal peace or happiness, but rather your attitude towards wealth that will be critical.”  By Elder Robert C. Gay, First Quorum of Seventy

Quote of the week:
One person can make a difference and everyone should try.
John F. Kennedy

After spending the time to read and watch the assignments this week, there were two that really had a profound affect on me.  The first was Elder Holland's talk, "Are we not all Beggars?"  I learned from Elder Holland that no matter what you have or do not have we are all responsible to help others.  My favorite story was the story about President Monson giving the shoes off his feet to help those in East Germany who had nothing.  We are responsible to help when and where we can and it seems like we may be able to help more than we do. 
The second address was from Elder Gay, I've never heard this before and I didn't even really know who Elder Gay was until this video but I felt the Spirit while listening to his remarks.  Elder Gay talked about what the purpose of business is really for. It's not to make men or their companies rich, it's not even so men can help others to get notoriety or recognition, it is simply to rescue others who could otherwise not rescue themselves.  God allows us to create with the talents he has given us and then gives us opportunities to rescue others. 
As I think about the temple and the covenants I made there and then I try to apply the things that Elder Gay taught it makes everything we do, even down to the way we make money seem so much more meaningful if we will use it for it's righteous purposes.  To rescue others.  As Elder Gay says, "We need to understand why God has put us here in America and not in Darfore."  The story he told about the little 14 year old girl who watched so many horrific thing happen in her young life was unbelievable, she is just one of so many who need to be rescued in this dark world.
I also really learned a lot from Elder Gay's lesson on why the plates were held from Joseph Smith for so many years.  He needed to make sure Joseph was not only willing but able to understand the purpose of the plates and that he was not tempted by the peculiar treasure that they were and that Joseph was not tempted by any monetary gain.  We also can learn from this in our own lives, before we can receive the full assistance of the Lord in our business we need to not only be willing but able servants to prove ourselves worthy to assist others according to the will of the Lord.

Quote of the week: 
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."
Ecclesiastes 

Measuring the Cost: Life Balance
This week we read two case studies that helped me examine the cost of putting carrier over family and sometimes not choosing family things over the responsibilities of work and career.  Sometimes real life gets in the way of everything being fun and perfect.  This week I learned that balance and communication can help get through most trials.

The Secret to Happiness, is that I'm already quite happy.
This week I learned that there is a difference between being happy, fulfilled and satisfied.  Most people are actually pretty happy, we are born that way, we work through problems and maintain a sense of happiness most of the time. Once we have achieved a basic standard of living, more things and more money doesn't really make us any happier. Sometimes we confuse enjoyment for satisfaction and we seek that enjoyment far too often and then our happiness can decrease.  I learned to find true satisfaction and fulfillment we must live a good life full of meaningful relationships and a search of things that are satisfying long term, not short term.

Formula for Success

by President Thomas S. Monson

 First – fill your mind with truth

“I’d like to suggest that when we search for truth, we search among those books and in those places where truth is most likely to be found”

 Second – fill you life with service

From the Book of Mormon we learn, “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:17).

 Third – fill your heart with love

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me and the love Jesus offers you.

Dream Big Dreams

Quote of the Week:
"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." 
"If you can dream it, you can do it."
Walt Disney

This weeks topic was to Dream Big Dreams,  it was fun to hear people who had the courage to follow their dreams and hear about their successes and failures.
I interviewed a man who was named one of the top 35 entrepreneurs under 35 in the state of Arizona.  I learned so much from our interview and have some great take-aways as a result.
 When I asked him if he would have done anything different, he had this to say.

 " I would've brought on a partner sooner. I think partnerships, if done properly, can be really powerful.  I'm really proud of how open and emotionally intelligent our workplace is.. I would've done more of that sooner. I would swing bigger and take bigger risks.. time flies and there's no room for being too conservative! I would have been much more careful about hiring. The cost is super high for making a bad hire. I wouldn't have taken on customers just because they had money. I would be choosier with customers. Some people's money is greener than others.

I would have niched sooner. The more niche you are, the better the profit margins."

  

I loved the honesty about the risks of hiring bad employees and also the honesty about working with customers who aren't worth the money you may make.

My favorite quote from this interview is this, "I would swing bigger and take bigger risks, time flies and there's no room for being too conservative."

Taylor Richards of Taylor boats said, "You don't know how regular of a person I really am, do not over underestimate yourself.  If you will involve the Lord, you can do the impossible, you can do the amazing.!"

Disciple Leadership

Quote of the Week:

"People want to make a difference. Be as cynical as you like, but deep inside every

seemingly lazy and distracted person is an individual with rare gifts who longs to be

called to an important mission. It’s just that somewhere in life, through overbearing

or overindulgent parents or disinterested teachers, tyrannical coaches or uncaring

bosses, the passion for a job well done has been extinguished."

Developing the right habits, attitudes and instincts.

• Accept the mission and get started
• Be curious
• Immediately sketch out a plan
• Don't be afraid to ask questions
• Enlist help when needed
• Report back and show your work
• Underpromise and overdeliver
• Expect to make small mistakes
• Put results before schmoozing
• Replace the voices in your head with positive action

Leadership with a small "L"

1. Lead by Example
2. Lead with Vision
3. Lead with Love

Frank Levinson says, "Hire people who are nice"  People who are generally nice are most likely also ethical people.

1. See your life as a calling
2. Become world class at something
3. Find a deep burning need you care about
4. Surround yourself with good people and good role models.

Over Coming Challenges

Quote Of The Week:

"I would say to the House as I said to those who have joined this Government: I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.”Winston Churchill

This week I learned a lot about "hanging on and hanging in" life is never going to go the way we hoped, and we need to be ready for challenges and be prepared with tools to overcome those challenges.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland gave an address at BYU entitled "However Long and Hard Road" and encouraged students not to become discouraged but to give it your all as you move through challenges and setbacks.  Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work.  And our of small things proceedeth that which is great.
Victory, Victory at all costs was Winston Churchill's call to motivate his people when they faced the ruthless Nazi powers.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland also taught in a video message about what he would tell his younger self if he had the chance. He would say, "things are going to be ok".  There are good things to come.

Stones in the Road

·    You can choose to see problems as opportunities, as challenges spurring new ways of thinking and personal growth

·    Pushing against the obstacles on your hero’s journey will help build mental, physical and spiritual muscle

·    How you reach your goal, what you do before the end . . . so that at the end of your journey you not only achieve something great but also become something great

The Giant of Despair

·      Keep your goal in mind, focus on your purpose, not on the present darkness

·      Seek for help from your companions, chances are not everyone in your life will feel discourage at the seam time.

·      A connection to the transcendent puts temporary problems in their proper perspective, devote yourself to prayer.

·      When you are in the valley of darkness, go on believing in the light

Fighting the Dragon

·      When this great fight comes, you will succeed only if you have prepared in advance for the moment.

Be True to Your Best Self

Quote of the week.

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

This week I learned about 7 steps I can take to become a highly effective person.  Each step is about deliberate actions I can take that will optimize success in life and in business. Steven R. Covey developed this formula to help people become the best they can be.

Highly Effective People:

• Be Proactive
• Begin with the End in Mind
• Put First things First
• Think Win Win
• Seek first to Understand, then to be Understood
• Synergy
• Sharpen the Saw

 President Hinckley's address was to the women and young women of the Church and helped us to understand the vital principles relating to being true to your best self.  If you know who you are and never veer from that you will never compromise the things that matter most.  He taught that virtue, cleanliness, honesty and integrity are all necessary in righteous living.  We are each born with a conscience and know right from wrong and continually choosing right with ultimately lead to continued happiness

President Gorden B. Hinckley Stand True and Faithful

•  Be true to your faith
• Be true to yourselves 
• Be true to your associates
• Be true to your parents
• Be true to your heritage
• Be true to the Church
• Be true to God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ