My Last Lecture

So, you want to be an entrepreneur. If I could say only one thing to you, it would be this: you are a hero, so live like one. Thankfully, I have time to expound on that.

Being an entrepreneur is so much more than being your own boss and crossing your fingers that you'll be rich someday. Being an entrepreneur is more than one brilliant idea and enough luck to carry you to the finish line. Being an entrepreneur is about being brave enough to step out of the box and create something new that will do good for the world - maybe even change it. Being an entrepreneur is about being willing to sacrifice your comfort, your resources, and your time to pursue a passion that may or may not take you anywhere ... simply because you love the thrill. Being an entrepreneur is about having the desire and need to create something amazing.

Take a moment and ask yourself why you're here. Why do you want to be an entrepreneur? Why do you think you have what it takes? What are you willing to give up to see your dreams come true? When I started my journey, I had no idea what my reasons or intentions were. Being an entrepreneur sounded good, so I decided to give it a shot, but I had no deep understanding of what it meant and no commitment to the lifestyle it entails. I've since learned that this pursuit isn't for the weak, and it's definitely not for anyone with a weak will or lack of motivation. You have to have a reason to be here, or life and greener pastures will see you to the front door. I guarantee it.

If you're here for the sole purpose of making money, stop right there. You need to have pure intentions, or you will never find the fulfillment that all of us seek. Being a true entrepreneur, a true world-changer and a hero, requires the intent to gain resources for the sake of helping others. It requires the intent to create things that will benefit those around you. It requires the understanding that you're here to take a little more money from the big guys and give it to the little guys, because you know what it feels like to be a little guy. If you only have your sights set on being a big guy, with a lot of money and no desire to share, you won't help the world at all.

As far as your hero's journey goes, let me promise you that it will be difficult. This is not an easy path. You will have many days when you're discouraged beyond consolation and terrified out of your wits. You will have to make difficult decisions that test every resolve and value you've ever set for yourself. It will be vital for you to write a code to live by and to stick to it. It will be vital that you shoot for dreams in the stars and never let them out of your sight. You will need allies who can help hold you in place when you start to drift, and who will hold you up when you want to give up and fall. You will need mentors who have been where you are. You will need to let go of any preconceptions you had about time or money. But despite all of the difficulties and trials that this path will bring, it is absolutely worth it.

All of you are starters on this journey, and I plead with you to also be finishers. We need more finishers in this world. We need more entrepreneurs. We need more brave warriors. We need more heroes.

Choosing an Industry is Hard

This week, we learned about several entrepreneurs and their paths to success. It's interesting that none of them began their careers by starting their own business. First, they went to school, or worked for other people, or both. They gained experience in their respective fields, or at least gained enough knowledge to know what the needs of customers were, and only then did they dive in to the risky stuff. When I interviewed my mother a few weeks back, I was especially curious about how her traditional career benefited her in her entrepreneurial endeavors, and it was definitely significant.

This makes me think about what I'm doing now and what kind of career it's preparing me for. A lot of our learning this week was about choosing ventures that fit your passions and your life. I'm still hesitant about entrepreneurship because I don't have an idea or an industry to settle in, but all of the signs point towards an obvious answer: natural health. I grew up using natural remedies and learning about these things. My current job gives me a lot of exposure to natural things and the people who use them. I have an idea of what customers are like and what they need. I'm planning to learn more about reflexology and I feel like that aligns with my passions of natural health and working closely with people, being able to talk to them.

I look forward to learning more about myself and how to be brave enough to take the steps towards being a business owner. Even if I only focus on my writing for a while, I know that I'll be guided in the right direction. I want to help people, so as long as I keep my eyes open, I'm sure I'll see the best ways to do that.

Consecration

Wow. This week gave me a whole new perspective on the purpose of business and on the purpose of my life in general. Our material this week included a lecture by Elder Robert Gay entitled "Entrepreneurship and Consecration" and I learned so much from that. This is one of my favorite thoughts from him: "Beyond making ends meet, whether you have little or much of this world's goods will never be a fundamental factor in your personal peace and happiness. But rather, it is your attitude towards wealth that will be critical." I agree that as long as we have sufficient for our needs, it's not the having that will bring us joy, but the giving.

As the title of his talk suggests, his main point was the importance and power of consecration. He read a heart-wrenching letter written by a girl in Africa who went through horrific things and that reminded me of how much need there really is in the world. I often feel so sheltered from that. There are so many people who are less fortunate than I am, even if I don't consider myself prosperous. I make do and that's more than so many can say.

Elder Gay taught that the purpose of business is to rescue those who are in need. It isn't about gaining wealth for our personal use or hoarding, but gaining wealth/resources for the sake of giving aid. I was a little astounded when I realized a simple truth: if so many people weren't fixated on having luxurious and ridiculously expensive things, if they were humble and didn't need to look better than everyone else, there likely wouldn't be much poverty in the world. If the wealth of the world was distributed evenly and no one took more than they needed, everyone would be better off and share in the abundance.

I finished writing a novel this week, and because of this talk, I was inspired to include the principle of consecration in my story and I felt like it was such a profound message. The world needs to hear more of it. I felt a little ill listening to the stories that dear girl in Ghana told, but I think we need more of that. I think if we were all aware of the unsettling horrors that happen to those who are poor and needy and disadvantaged, if we heard things that made our skin crawl a little more often, we might be more motivated to do something about it. I definitely feel motivated. It isn't right that so many people in the world, our brothers and sisters, are suffering so much when we live in our beautiful bubbles here in America.

We also read an article called "What's a Business For?" from Harvard Business Review and we were asked to answer these questions here in our journals:

Based on what you read in the first two pages (pages 3 and 4), why are virtue and integrity so vital to an economy? I admit, a lot of this article went over my head, but I definitely got the impression that there's a lot of deception and dishonesty about how much businesses are worth. It also seems that, again, a lot of people are hoarding profits for themselves. It sounds like a lot of companies make poor choices in order to raise their worth momentarily, and that they don't put much thought towards the future and the consequences of their choices. The article talks about the "American disease" and how it's affected Britain. It seems that focusing so much on business and profit messes up the economy, especially in the areas of health, education, and transport. We've certainly had our fair share of economic struggles and crashes in America. Clearly, being honest and having the right motivations can help keep an economy balanced.

According to Charles Handy, what is the “real justification” for the existence of businesses? To quote the article, "The purpose of a business, in other words, is not to make a profit, full stop. It is to make a profit so that the business can do something more or better." The "real justification" is the big picture. It's what gives the business a heart, and not just a pocketbook. It's the motivation to do and become something. Hopefully, it's the desire to serve those who are in need.

What are two solutions proposed by Handy that you agree with? Why? Handy proposed that we stop working our executives and employees so hard, because having their jobs feel like an all-encompassing calling will drive them away and will wear them down. I agree with this because I know I do better work when I'm less exhausted and less tired of the same old routine. We all need some time to rejuvenate. I'm sure all of our businesses would profit from having more fresh, positive employees who feel like they still have fulfilling lives outside of their occupations.

Handy also proposed that, in his words, "We should, as charitable organizations do, measure success in terms of outcomes for others as well as for ourselves." If we stop focusing so much on numbers (profit for ourselves) and start focusing more on the good we're doing, business will be drawn to us because the world is all about charity these days. The rising generations, mine included, want to see more people trying to make a difference. We want to see more businesses becoming human and caring about the individual.

Healthy Money Attitudes

This week was awesome! I was wowed by so many of the videos and readings. I've had a really rough few days, and I've been struggling a lot with not feeling happy enough ... which prepared me to be very humbled as I learned that I need to stop looking for greener grass when my life is already awesome. There's a reason I'm going through everything that I am. My favorite quote from the readings?

"Those who have experienced serious adversity earlier in life may be the luckiest. They seem to have more focus, more clarity, and more humility. Research shows the best time to face adversity is in your late teens and twenties. Don’t overprotect your children from the lessons adversity brings.” ("Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness")

That is me, right now. I am lucky to be experiencing everything I am right now because it's preparing me for the many years ahead. I'm learning how to suffer right now because it's allowing me to become who I need to be in the years ahead. That is great. It's really difficult, but it's great.

I learned a lot about the importance of priorities, which we've covered in previous weeks as well. I was impressed by two mini cases that we studied and how well they fit into our previous learning and all of the experiences I've been having lately. I know that I need to put my family and my relationships above myself, above my goals, above my work, and especially above my fears. I've spent the last few days reacting instead of acting, so now is the time to act. I found myself reading the personal constitution that I wrote for myself and leaning on the principles that I chose as my priorities. This class is helping me in life so much.

We read a wonderful talk/lecture/devotional called "Attitude on Money" by Stephen W. Gibson, and I was floored by his contradiction of beliefs that I didn't even know I had. He teaches that God wants us to prosper, and that being poor doesn't necessarily make us better or more humble in His eyes. He wants us to do well so we can serve others. He doesn't want us to suffer. I had no idea I had such a negative view of money until I read this talk.

We were asked to answer these three questions after reading the article:

What is your attitude toward money?

I grew up with a father who had very strange attitudes about money, so when I became an adult, I decided to allow myself some freedom. I often treat myself and spend money on silly things because I can and I want to enjoy the freedom of being able to. I'm careful not to make this a destructive habit, but instead a healthy way of reinventing the 'filters' I've had over my eyes all of these years. I try to put money away for savings, but to also spend enough that more can come back to me. I believe money needs to leave me in order to come back.
How can your view of money affect the way you live?

You can either limit yourself by penny-pinching or learn to enjoy giving a little. God wants us to prosper, but he doesn't want us to stress. He wants us to be mindful, but not overly pessimistic or selfish. He doesn't want us to hoard our resources when we have the opportunity to give. The way we view money is a huge part of the way we view life and the people around us. If we worry about it too much, it will become an idol, and it will prevent us from seeing, loving, and serving others.
What rules are recommended for prospering?

Seek the Lord and have hope in Him. Keep the commandments. Think about money and plan how you can become self-reliant. Take advantage of chances for learning. (Education is the Key to Opportunity.) Learn the laws upon which the blessings of wealth are predicated. Do not send away those in need.

My Mama, the Entrepreneur

This week, we finished an assignment where we interviewed an entrepreneur. I chose to interview my mother, and it was amazing to finally hear the details of her story and get to invest real interest in her life's work. I've always taken it for granted. When I was a kid, I was more irritated by how her business inconvenienced me than how it really helped us. My father decided a few years ago that he no longer had any interest in providing for the family, and that left my mother to carry the weight. She's done so admirably and with a miraculously positive attitude. It was such a blessing to be able to spend that time writing her story.

We learned a lot about pursuing dreams this week and we read an incredible talk called "The Challenge to Become." That helped me a lot to remember that as long as I'm becoming who I need to become, setbacks aren't the end of the world. I'm so grateful for this class and all that it's teaching me.

We also learned about entrepreneurship within companies and that really intrigued me, because I never realized it was possible to have an entrepreneur spirit and still work for someone else. But I learned from my mother that working for someone else can really help you build character and skills. All of this made me wonder what I can be doing at my place of employment to better both the company and myself.

How Much Land Does a Man Need?

This week, we continued to read "A Field Guide for the Hero's Journey." I really loved the story by Leo Tolstoy that was called "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" This story is about a man who is promised that he can own as much land as he can walk the perimeter of by sunset. This man is overly zealous/greedy and walks so far that it becomes late and he is forced to return and therefore makes his land more of a triangle than a square. By the time he reaches his starting point, he has pushed himself so hard that he dies. In the end, the only land he truly needs is enough to be buried in. He tries to take too much and suffers the ultimate cost (death) for doing so. I feel like I can relate to this a lot, because I often push myself so far that my work becomes less valuable and I use up valuable time by needing to recover - more time than I would have taken if I'd simply slowed down and paced myself.

We also learned a lot about the purpose of BYU-Idaho this week and I am so grateful to be a part of this incredible school. I love connecting my spiritual and vocational educations.

We read a summary of the book "Good to Great" by Jim Collins and I was very impressed by the principles explained there. I've seen many of those concepts be fruitful at the company I work for, especially the need for the right people. My company is very particular about who we hire and that makes for a great work atmosphere and great productivity.

Don't Become Weary in Well-Doing

This week was truly inspiring! Many of the readings were about enduring hard times, finding courage, and having a vision. I was especially touched by a devotional given at BYU by Elder Holland and his wife. Elder Holland talked a lot about not becoming weary in well-doing. I want to write that on the wall of my bedroom because I so often feel weary and I forget how much strength the Lord will give me if I simply ask for it. I also loved his mention of leaning on our sword and resting a while before continuing to fight. Sometimes we need to rest, but when the resting is over, we need to get back up and keep doing good.

We started reading "A Field Guide for the Hero's Journey" by Jeff Sandefer and Rev. Robert Sirico. What an amazing compilation of incredible literature, words of encouragement, and pleas to be better and do better. I'm so excited to read more of that book and gain more motivation from it. I was definitely inspired to be courageous, conquer my dragons, and accomplish my life's work - whatever that may be.

This class has been such a gift in my life. I'm learning and growing with every week. I hope it's preparing me for the days and weeks ahead.

Sharpening My Saw

This week, we learned about the book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. The most meaningful of those habits to me is the seventh: "Sharpen the saw."

I am very guilty of using a blunt saw because I'm too busy or distracted to take care of it. I often feel myself burning out because I'm not taking the time to care for myself - physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Covey talks about sharpening our saw in four dimensions: physical exercise, spiritual, mental, and social/emotional.

I always feel rejuvenated and positive after taking even a short jog. Exercising in that way brings me a great deal of joy, and yet, it's one of the things I procrastinate against the most. That's strange. I also find joy in studying scriptures and attending church meetings and dedicating myself to my faith, but sometimes it feels difficult to make enough time for those things. I also struggle to make time and energy for church service, even though I know it will bless me.

The dimension that my saw is the most blunt in is social/emotional. I work so hard to remain positive and lift up the people around me, but I tend to take so much water out of my own bucket that I'm eventually scraping the bottom with nothing left to give. I need to rejuvenate my own emotional stores and be more secure within myself so I can form and maintain better relationships.

I often get so obsessed over different areas in my life that my relationships suffer. I push myself too hard emotionally and then I'm constantly crying on the shoulders of the people I want to be happy with. That's why I'm going to focus on this seventh habit, sharpening my saw, so I can be truly successful both on the outside and the inside.

Self-Mastery

I've been most touched by two things this week:

1. There was a talk by N. Eldon Tanner in our readings this week called "Success is Gauged by Self-Mastery." In that talk, President Tanner shared this quote by Plato: "The first and best victory is to conquer self; to be conquered by self is, of all things, the most shameful and vile." This hit me hard. We can take on a lot of worthwhile endeavors and change the lives of a lot of people, but the life we need to change most, or the person we need to change most ... is ourselves. I've struggled so much with myself this week, especially with my fears and insecurities. I've had such a hard time being able to visualize success. I need to conquer myself - my weaknesses, my worries, all of those natural things that are preventing me from pursuing the life I want.

2. In the book Mastery, I learned that "man is a learning animal." The book says, "In this light, the mastery of skills that are not genetically programmed is the most characteristically human of all activities." We were made to learn. Our purpose here on earth is to learn, and we've been given incredible bodies and especially minds to help us do so. Anything is possible because we are designed to learn and grow.

I also learned a lot this week about the importance of prioritizing family over business, as well as overcoming feelings of inadequacy. It seems that truly anyone with enough determination and a good idea can be an entrepreneur. That gives me a lot of hope.

Meaning and Mastery

I am learning so much about myself! I love that. This week has been a great lesson in courage, perseverance, and hard work.

We started reading Mastery by George Leonard and I was enthralled by the concepts described in the first chapters. Leonard talks a lot about how our society is fixated on the idea that we should have one climax after another - that we should keep experiencing highs and never plateau. He shares his own experiences with learning to embrace the plateau, which is a normal and vital part of progress. He emphasizes that we need to learn to love practice and find joy in simply doing what we love.

We also listened to a lecture called "A Hero's Journey" by Jeff Sandefer, which was quite profound. He taught us that a hero's journey is all about you and not at all about you. I think that's pretty typical of any hero - you have to be good enough to be completely selfless and serve. He also talked a lot about the importance of living a life of meaning, and that when we grow old, that's what will matter most. He said that when people over the age of 60 are interviewed, they will all voice similar opinions that only three things matter: Did I contribute something meaningful? Am I a good person? Who did I love, and who loved me? Those three questions bring everything we do into perspective. Am I working to contribute something meaningful? Am I becoming the person I want to be? Am I loving the people around me and allowing them to love me? I'll definitely be pondering those things this week.

Finally, we studied a woman named Erica Mills and her journey as an entrepreneur, which was very inspiring. Erica faced a lot of difficult situations and not only made the best of them, but used them as opportunities to grow and become better. I was very inspired by her example.

Faith, Goals, and Fears

This week was really amazing! I learned so much about myself. I finished reading "The Ministry of Business" by Steven Hitz and James Ritchie. That taught me so much about the connection between faith and business, and also a lot about ethics and the importance of self-awareness. My favorite part of the book (and class this week) was the assignment to write myself a personal constitution. I chose and prioritized my foundational values and then wrote about what kind of person I want to become. I also set a few goals that I've really needed to set.

One of my other assignments was an exercise called "Deconstructing Your Fears." In that exercise, I wrote down four of my main business fears, how I can avoid them, and how I'd act if they happened. In reflection, I was asked to answer these questions in my journal:

1. If you pursue your calling with discipline, intentionality, and the help of fellow travelers, what are the chances that your worst case scenario will really happen? Highly doubtful. Many of my biggest fears are completely ridiculous.
2. As you look at your list of fears, what themes emerge? What is at the core of what you really fear? Financial ruin? The judgment or disapproval of others? Physical harm? Endangering the ones you love? Embarrassment? The only theme I see is that three out of four leave me going full-time with my employer instead of pursuing my own dreams. I suppose I'm afraid of halted progress.
3. What is the risk of taking no action – not following your calling? How do you plan to deal with fear when it pops up on your entrepreneurial journey? The risk is never finding the best way that I can help people. That also includes never finding the best fulfillment for myself. I plan to deal with fear by leaning on my faith, my covenants, and all of the principles that I've learned in this class. I will try my best to never get discouraged and to work hard instead.

Our Hero: Magdalena

This week was absolutely profound. It began with many readings and videos about ethics and integrity. I was especially touched by this quote about Ezra Taft Benson, taken from a devotional by Sheri Dew:

"He acts like a man whose conscience is always clear–his testimony today will be the same next week...or a year from now. He doesn’t have to remember what he said to an opposition Senator at their last meeting. This is a built-in ulcer-saving device not always found in Washington" (New York Times Magazine, 11 April 1954).

I want to have such consistent morals and convictions that I never have to guess what I said about an important matter. I want to be so firm in my beliefs that I'll never cave and say something I don't mean.

I also gained a lot from a devotional called "Making a Living and a Life" by Elder Lynn G. Robbins. In this devotional, Elder Robbins discusses the importance of both making a living and taking care of the people around us. He uses a letter grading system to illustrate what level a person or company can be at in regards to motives. I am so grateful to work for a Grade A company.

Elder Robbins says this about Level A: "They will be a beloved employer and endeavor to help, not only their customers, but also their employees and community. They will have a baker’s dozen mentality with superior customer service." For the last year, I've been in an atmosphere of incredible love and encouragement, and we have the best customer service I've ever seen. We often talk about our 'hustle' to help our customers and the importance of dropping everything to do so. I hope I can always remain at Level A as I start my own business and walk through life.

In class, we also did a case study on a woman named Magdalena Yesil, and she is absolutely inspiring. The thing that impressed me most about her life and personality is that she didn't get discouraged. She was so brave and patient as she made her way from a young girl in Hungary to a successful, educated entrepreneur in America. She was also very teachable - a trait I'm still trying to develop. I hope to have the fire, passion, and light of Magdalena as I pursue my own dreams.

Childhood Dreams

This week, Randy Pausch's last lecture was part of my readings. I was asked to reflect on how he achieved his childhood dreams, and I think a lot of it is due to his determination and enthusiasm for life. He recognized the things he enjoyed and took it one step further from enjoyment to creation - such as his love for Disneyland.

One of my greatest childhood dreams was to become an actress. I was blessed with many opportunities growing up to pursue this dream. I was part of a local TV show and auditioned for a part in Les Mis when it came to Salt Lake City. I took advantage of youth programs at local theaters and took voice lessons, etc. But as I grew older and realized my standards, I decided the atmosphere around acting and theatre wasn't for me. It felt too worldly. I'm often grateful that I didn't continue to pursue that dream, because I think it would have caused me great heartache.

I was very impressed this week as I learned about successful people and their relationships with God. I suppose it should have been obvious to me that success is directly related to belief and obedience. It's one of those principles I've taken for granted and that I want to be more aware of in my own life.

Jeffrey A. Thompson gave a speech at BYU entitled "What Is Your Calling in Life?" and this quote really touched me: "I testify that when you focus your work first and foremost on blessing others, you will become extraordinary at what you do and will find fulfillment and success much more reliably than if you spend your time at work trying to get ahead or get rich." I've definitely found this to be true in my life. Every morning before I go to work, I pray to be able to be part of miracles. I think this has blessed my life even more than the lives of those around me.

I'm looking forward to learning more about myself during this class. I'm already considering new career choices that I never considered before and I'm sure I'm being spiritually guided.

Why I'm Here

Today marks my first official day as a student of BYU-Idaho Online. I've decided to study business management, and my first class is an introduction to entrepreneurship. I'm completely terrified ... and that's how I know this is a good thing. One of my assignments for the class is to have an entrepreneurial journal, and that's the purpose that this blog will be serving. I'd like to start my journal by explaining why I've chosen this path.

It's been almost a year since I started my first real job. I work for a local company - a natural health food store - and I love it. I remember thinking, when I was applying for jobs, that I hated the idea of being tied down and having a boss. I was spoiled by my flexible, homeschooled schedule growing up, and it didn't help that my parents were both self-employed and could take me on adventures whenever they wanted. I made money by doing flexible things like working for my parents and babysitting. I loved freedom. I was also in a relationship that was growing more serious and my heart screamed that I didn't want to find a job, but instead get married and have a child. Unfortunately, that dream was beyond unrealistic.

Somehow, I managed to embrace adulthood and the fact that I couldn't fly free forever. The bird inside me settled in the branches of a tree on the Good Earth Natural Foods logo and made herself comfortable - very comfortable.

Before I knew it, my dreams altered completely. I fell in love with retail. My relationship fell apart and my work became my backbone. I became so attached to my job that I couldn't bear the thought of ever losing it. I decided to pursue a degree in business management with the hope of eventually going corporate with my company. I worked hard, was rewarded greatly for it, and thrived. I was enjoying my comfortable tree branches a great deal until I came to two realizations:

1. BYU-Idaho's only online degree option for business management has an emphasis on entrepreneurship.
2. Working long-term with my company doesn't fit in at all with my ultimate goal of being a mother. I want to be the one to raise my children.

In one of my readings for this week, Jeff Sandefer states, "No one ever really wants change. We fear change. We want safety and stability and comfort." I couldn't agree with him more. When I came to those realizations, they really shook things up. I noticed that I'd become too comfortable and content with my present state. I'd let go of my ultimate dreams. I flew out of my tree just long enough to take a peek at possibilities, and I suddenly felt very conflicted.

Commit to a career with Good Earth, or encourage the hope of motherhood? Be content with my journey in retail, or pursue my writing and other passions I haven't yet discovered? Safety or adventure?

I always struggled with the fact that my degree choice had an emphasis on entrepreneurship - until I realized that was likely divinely planned, just as my entire life has been. As much as I adore where I work, I can see now that it's a stage that will eventually end. Deep down, I always knew that I couldn't reconcile the idea of a full-time management position with my other ambitions.

Until I settle down and have a family, I plan to enjoy my job and learn all that I can from it. But the moment I have a child, things will have to be different. I can't stand the thought of not being home with my children. If I need to contribute to the financial health of my family, the only option my heart will allow is working from home. And that is why I'm here.

We're encouraged to plan our futures and set goals, and that is my ultimate goal. Not to build a career working for someone else, but to build a family and to do what is necessary from home. I didn't completely make this decision until today. I was stubborn for a long time. I couldn't see how to choose both parts of myself. Now, however, I believe it's possible to fulfill both dreams. There must be a way to find the same kind of fulfillment I do at work in an independent pursuit, and still have my children on my lap. That is what I'm here to discover.

This is my journey. This is the first step in me choosing to fly.