Entrepreneur Resources

This week I was able to learn about some of the different resources I have available to me as an entrepreneur.  I was able to visit several entrepreneur blogs containing helpful advice, insight, and information. 

A couple of them in particularly stood out to me.  The first one is Wisebread.com.  I love the WiseBread.com blog!  It focuses on saving money through person finance and frugal living.  As a young mother, I want to do all I can to save money so we can buy a house soon, as well as pay for our regular bills and expenses.  I think that being able to save money and live frugally applies personally as well as in a business.  When starting your own business, you want to cut back on as many costs as possible, as well as cut out any unnecessary costs.  Having this mindset can help increase revenue and success.  Additionally, we feel better out ourselves and our lives when we use our resources wisely.

The other one is the Young Entrepreneur blog on Entrepreneur.com.  I felt like I related more to this one since it was focused on young entrepreneurs.  It discusses a variety of things ranging from social media marketing, New Year’s Resolutions from young entrepreneurs, to why the “Millenials” are great people to hire.  It shares advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and helps them to identify and develop traits that will help them to be more successful.  It contains resources on goal setting, tips on being a better entrepreneur, overcoming struggles, and ways to build good credit for a new startup.  As a student, I feel like this blog can be an excellent resource for me as I begin my own business.  I feel like it’s targeted for beginners like me.

I am excited about this semester and starting my own business for the $100.00 challenge!  I know I will learn a lot of valuable lessons and gain experience.  This journal will help me to track my progress and allow me to review the experiences and remember the things I will learn.

Entrepreneurial Journal: Last Lecture

            I think the most important thing to do as a new entrepreneur is to set goals.  Don’t only think of goals you’d like to achieve, but write them down and plan the steps that are required to get there.  With specific goals written down, you will be much more likely to attain them.  Setting goals will help you to focus on what you want to accomplish.  Knowing what you want to accomplish will also help you to do so faster.  It is amazing how quickly your goals can become a reality when you stay focused and align your actions with what you want to accomplish.

            Another important thing to do is to believe in yourself.  Believe in your ability to be successful and to accomplish great things.  I think that people are often unsure of their abilities and are afraid to even attempt their big ideas or goals.  But that fear is what holds us back from being successful.  Dream big and make those dreams a reality. 

Be grateful for the people in your life and the experiences you encounter.  As we show gratitude to the things we have, we will be more content and satisfied with our lives.  This contentment can make it easier when we face challenges and difficulties. 

Learn from mistakes and don’t be afraid to try again.  Enjoy the journey to success rather than focusing solely on the destination.  Be generous and willing to help others.  Karma will take care of you as you care for others.

Always be honest with yourself and with others.  Never compromise your integrity, even if it means less success on the surface.  But if you are ever dishonest, your success will never be as satisfying as it would have otherwise.  Surround yourself with honest people that you trust and value.  Be willing to trust others and they will trust you in return.  This trust will lead to loyalty and you can build a wonderful network that you can rely on for a lifetime.

Be sure to do something that you enjoy – why spend your time and efforts on something that you don’t like or believe in?  Most importantly, maintain a healthy perspective of your work.  Being an entrepreneur requires a lot of time, effort, investment, and dedication.  But there have to be limits – especially if you have a family.  Don’t let your loved ones disappear into the background as you absorb yourself in your work.  Always make time for them and know when it’s time to “clock out” and be home.  Keep your life balanced.  A successful entrepreneurial venture isn’t worth much unless you have a supportive family that you take the time to spend time with.

Week 12: Entrepreneurial Journal

Lessons Learned:
This week was focused on gratitude.  Having and expressing an attitude of gratitude helps us to maintain a positive outlook and to recognize all the blessings we receive.  President Monson’s talk, An Attitude of Gratitude, reminded me of so many things I am thankful for.  From the big things to the small things, we are blessed with so much.  One of the points that President Monson discussed was that of focusing on the positive and eliminating the negative in our lives.  He said “We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude.”  I have seen this to be so true in my own life.  A positive attitude is contagious, just as a negative one is.  We can spread happiness as we show gratitude for the things we have rather than mope about the things we don’t have.
Furthermore, President Monson discussed the importance of having gratitude for our friends.  He said “let us have gratitude for our friends. Our most cherished friend is our partner in marriage. This old world would be so much better off today if kindness and deference were daily a reflection of our gratitude for wife, for husband.”  I think that showing gratitude for those we love is so important.  I think that more than expressing gratitude by word, we must express gratitude by action.