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 5 - Entrepreneur Journal

Lessons Learned:

There were a couple of things that stood out to me this week.  First is the importance of maintaining an eternal perspective, especially concerning wealth.  God does not care how much money I earn or what I buy with that money.  Wealth is an opportunity to help and serve others.  I want to apply this principle of generosity in all aspects of my life – everything I have is a blessing from God and I should share my blessings with others.  This not only includes money, but also time, talents, and other resources.  I want to have a more giving heart and to reach out and serve those around me -  and wealth is not a requirement of doing so.

I also want to develop self-mastery in my life.  I was impressed by the examples given in Elder Tanner’s talk “Success is Gauged by Self-Mastery.”  I know that living a self-disciplined life with commitment to goals and improvement will lead to self-mastery.  I read the book “Mastery,” by George Leonard, and we can develop mastery in all facets of our lives - including daily chores and routines.  We must live each day to the fullest and use every opportunity we can to constantly improve ourselves.  If we become complacent or stop striving to improve, we end up taking steps backwards.

I am a firm believer of setting goals and developing self-discipline to achieve them.  We need to act now to achieve our goals and become the people we hope to be.  Elder Tanner said, “If you want to be successful or outstanding in any field of endeavor, it is important that you determine while young to be a great boy, and not wait to be a man to be a great man; and then have the courage and strength and determination to discipline yourself, apply self-control and self-mastery.”  As we make decisions and commit ourselves to our goals, we can achieve so much and become inspirational people who can influence the world for good.  There is one thing that one of my former bishops shared with my ward a few years ago.  It has always stuck with me and I still apply what he shared into my life on a regular bases.  It is something that I think can help us apply the principles of self-mastery and know how we can continually improve our lives.  He told us to:

1. Write down something you should start doing
2. Write down something you should keep doing
3. Write down something you should stop doing

And he said to do this on a regular basis and to evaluate how you are doing.  Ideally, I would love to do this exercise every week, but I think I do this every month.  It is so interesting to see how things build on each other.  Doing this helps me to identify little things that I should or shouldn’t be doing and motivates me to set goals to do so.  It helps me to waste less time on Facebook, to remember to pray and ready my scriptures, and helps me to use my time more wisely.