Journal Entry ~ Week 9

This week we did a lot of reading on the differences between the corporate world and being an entrepreneur.  I found myself identifying with the entrepreneur.  These questions are always what I ask myself in any business situation.  I was happy that I could identify so well with the entrepreneur mindset.  Here are the questions.

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Where is the opportunity?

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How do I capitalize on it?

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What resources do I need?

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How do I gain control over them?

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What structure is best?

Entrepreneurs who are effective make the sparest allotment of resources.  This idea really countered my previous thoughts that it takes money to make money.  It would be nice to have the resources I want and need, but more often than not entrepreneurs work with little.  I believe that because they are forced to get creative, that this is where the magic happens.  Because most of the risk in entrepreneurial management lies in the effort to pursue opportunity with inappropriate resources, entrepreneurs work harder to reduce that risk...because it is their own resources.  I also liked the idea presented that entrepreneurs chose different tools to get tasks done.  This goes along with my creative thinking and I look forward to building on my own ideas.  

I was also able to watch a few videos this week, the one that stood out to me was given my Marissa Mayer.  I believe she has since left Google and is CEO at Amazon.  She outlined how big business can keep the entrepreneurial spirit going through freedom to create.  At the time, the groundbreaking company practice of setting aside 20 percent of an employee's time for creative projects. By her own assessment, nearly half of the company's most recent launches came from ideas sparked during this unstructured time. I really like the idea that large companies are starting to understand how less structure can equate to more results.  

My last thought for the week was from a talk called "The Challenge to Become" by Dallin Oaks.  In it Elder Oaks teaches that it is not enough to just do, he adds we must become.  He says, " From such teachings we conclude that the Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become"  Understand this helps motivate me to forget the checklist of good and bad I subconsciously keep,and really ponder on what type of person I have become and want to become.  

Journal Entry ~ Week 8

I feel such gratitude for this class and my education.  I have been dealing with someone in my family who is very indecisive and it is causing worry and stress for the rest of the family.  The essay called “A Message to Garcia” held so many useful keys in helping me articulate how I feel about indecisiveness.  The first quote that hit home for me is when Hubbard says, “The ability to execute is more valuable than education or talent, because it is far rarer.”  Being an older student with adult children I have been able to watch and try to teach my own children this concept.  One child, who struggled all through childhood to get the “B” average learned how to work hard and is about to get his master’s degree this year.  Another child, who got “A’s” easily and is just shy of her bachelor’s degree has quit school and working as a landscaper.  This real life example validates Hubbard’s essay and will help me in parenting.    

The second significant thought I had while studying this week is when I read this, “People in their late teens and early twenties often have a misconception about life.  They believe that their greatest challenges will come from unforeseen events and external circumstances. This turns out to be untrue. The greatest challenges always come from within.” Understanding that we are our own worst enemies helps me to dispel my own inner negative chatter and move forward with a positive attitude.  This essay articulated so much wisdom I used it in FHE this week. 

Another insight I gained this week came from a talk President Hinckley gave in 2003 called, “Loyalty.”   Our family mantra is “Nice Matters.”  Because there is so much indifference in the world, many end up being indecisive.  Even church members do not want to take sides on moral issues.  President Hinckley uses these scriptures to teach about this dangerous attitude. 

The book of Revelation declares: “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth” (Rev. 3:15–16).

“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:17).

 Being nice is important, but standing for what is right is more important.  I hope that as my children face life’s challenges they will be able to stick to their values and stand up for what they know to be right. 

Journal Entry ~ Week 7

This week I read a lot about perseverance.  Elder Holland's talk called, " However Long and Hard the Road" was insightful and hit close to home for me.  I was very impatient in love early on.  I met and got engaged at age 17, while I was a senior in high school.  That marriage ended in a divorce after 3 years.  That early decision has impacted many innocent people.  My oldest son, is the one mostly impacted by this.  He now has two sets of parents, and although we did our best to raise him, I know the pull between two sets of parents has not been easy.  I really loved how Elder Holland used Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida to emphasise this point.  In quoting Holland he says,
"Love at first sight—if there is such a thing—is nothing like love after 19 years, 7 months, and 11 days, if my marriage to Sister Holland is any indication. Indeed “the best is [always] yet to be” (Robert Browning, “Rabi Ben Ezra,” line 2).

In that sense Troilus, whose impatient love for Cressida makes him something of a basket case, teaches us a valuable lesson. “He that will have a cake out of the wheat must needs tarry the grinding,” Pandarus says to Troilus. “Have I not tarried?” Troilus pouts.

Pandarus: “Aye, the grinding. But you must tarry the bolting.”

Troilus: “Have I not tarried?”

Pandarus: “Aye, the bolting. But you must tarry the leavening.”

Troilus: “Still have I tarried?”

Pandarus: “Aye, to the leavening. But here’s yet … the kneading, the making of the cake, the heating of the oven, and the baking. Nay, you must stay the cooling too, or you may chance to burn your lips” (William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida, act 1, sc. 1, lines 14–26).

The baking of life’s best cakes takes time. Don’t despair of tarrying and trying. And don’t “burn your lips” with impatience. Let me say just one bit more about the modern tragedy of sweethearts who will not tarry. It is of increasing alarm to me."

Early in my life I did burn my lips with impatience, I am so grateful that we are hear to progress, and that we can learn from our shortcomings and mistakes.  

The second aspect of this weeks learning I enjoyed was a video by Heath Bradley.  In it he talks about how he was thrown into entrepreneurship early in life, learning the value of being resourceful while repairing his family's broken roof. He has since built a successful restoration business that helps families recover after natural disasters.  Like Heath, I too do some of my most innovative and best work while under pressure.  Sometime we just need to dive in feet first, and figure our business out.  Understanding this, will help me move forward without having to plan everything out to the last detail.  I know I can trust my intuition because of my past experiences. 

 

Some quotes I want to remember from this week are:

"No one wants to buy a service they want to support a cause."

"Life is about how much knowledge you can gain, not about how much you can give."

"Seek out mentors"

"Involve the lord, you can do great things, he will open doors."