Week 12 - A Journey of Gratitude

When most people think of the topic of gratitude they think of Thanksgiving. We use this holiday to remember all that we are grateful for and to kick off the season of giving. If we are grateful, why do we only express it once a year?  As latter-day Saints we have been taught that we need to cultivate an attitude of gratitude and give thanks daily. We may do this publicly or we may do it privately. As we show our gratitude for all that we have and all that we are able to do we become more in-tune with the Spirit and are prepared to do the will of God. Our purpose here on earth is to build the kingdom of God. We do this in our families in our communities, and in our career and business choices. We understand that all we have is from Him and therefore, we should use all that we have to honor Him. In a "me" driven world we would do well to thank "Thee".

So You Want to be an Entrepreneur - I was less than thrilled to be reading this book as I consider it to be very narrow in scope and it is difficult to relate to when you know that you don't want to own a business.  However, I felt that I submitted a fair book report that was neutral in voice.  I am really glad to be done with it.

A couple of weeks ago I began reading A Hero's Journey. I think that this would have been a much better book to based this course on. It provides similar introspection and activities but speaks to people of all walks of life. The teachings/ideas/stories are applicable to young and old, intrapreneur and entrepreneur alike. I will be submitting this book report a little early.

In President Monson's talk, "An Attitude of Gratitude" he mentions a 1940's refrain:

Accentuate the positive;

Eliminate the negative.

Latch on to the affirmative;

Don’t mess with Mr. In-between.

If we could take the time to really live by this advice we would be much happier and would be more successful in all that we undertake.

The e-corner videos this week were interesting. One talked about making sure you accept the right job. I liked that it mentioned that if we make unnecessary assumptions they will often lead to bad decisions.  Sometimes we need to remind ourselves what "assume" really means.  It then talks about making sure that you find a job you love. I think this can be taken two ways. Love the job you have or find a job you love. Sometimes the job you love can't provide for your family in this case, learn to love the job you have and you can be successful. Other times, you need to learn to love the job you have because it provides for your needs. Both jobs can be fulfilling it is all about attitude and perspective.

Week 11 - Changing the World

When you are a child you think that you will change the world as an adult. You don't care about how big things are you just have huge dreams. As you get older your views change and you begin to wonder if change is really possible. If you take the time to make life better for even one person then you have changed the world.

One of the application activities asked us if we think that poverty can be eliminated. I don't think this is possible. Even if you change people's mindset there will always be poverty. I believe poverty has existed from very early on in the human race on earth. Poverty can start with the poor in heart and it can also be those who are physically poor. I think what we must consider is that if there were no poverty, would there still be charity?

In President Monson's talk "Constant Truths for Changing Times" we are challenged to think about what should be constant with us. We are also warned to not become complacent. Complacency is a tool of the devil and he is extremely proficient in using it. Complacency allows our defenses to be in a weakened state. We must be ever vigilant.

Mentor Session 8 - Although I really didn't like this book or the associated activities, I did put significantly more effort into answering the questions this time. I have solidified my decision to be an intrapreneur instead of an entrepreneur. At this stage in my life and given my career experiences I really prefer to work within a corporate structure. I enjoy going to mom and pop stores/companies but I do not like working for them. The are too unstable and would require too must sacrifice. I have spent the last 10+ years trying to find a good work/life balance and have finally found something that works. I wouldn't want to upset the balance with a start up venture. My husband loves his job and it requires us to move from time to time (3 moves in 4 years!) and it wouldn't be financially advantages for us to start a business here.

Week 10: Measuring the Cost: Life Balance

Measuring the Cost of Entrepreneurship. For some it is the right decision. For others it is not. Each person will have a unique answer and reason.  For me being an entrepreneur doesn't mean being dependent on the income a start up will make. It doesn't mean being my own boss or setting my own hours. For me being an entrepreneur is being a productive member of society and living a life that is fulfilling for me.

Formula for Success - President Monson discusses the parable of the talents.  Each of us has been given talents and it is up to us to decide how we will use our talents. Do we know what our talents are? Will we be satisfied with what we have been given?  Will we strive to develop what we have been given?  Will we seek to develop additional talents?  These are questions we must ask our self. We have been taught that if we will take what we have been given, develop it and look for more opportunities, the opportunities will be given to us.  If we do nothing we can expect nothing.

Is Life Balance Possible - This is the key question I think this course is trying to have us understand. For some being their own boss can create balance.  For others like me, I need the balance that comes from working for someone else. Something that takes me away from the everyday environment and allows me to feel successful. Owing a business wouldn't allow that kind of balance in my life. The constant stress of work spilling into family time would take a toll that woudn't be worth it.  Part of creating balance is making sure that you are in control of your career/business and that you don't allow the career/business to begin controlling you.  If you allow this to happen you stand to lose more than your business will ever provide.

Mini Cases - What are you willing to sacrifice in order to be successful?  Will you miss your children's activities? Will you allow clients to dictate the terms?  These mini cases allowed us to determine what our values are and what we are willing to sacrifice for success.  These are important decisions to make prior to accepting a position or starting a business. You and your family need to be on board with the values that you consider most important.

Attitude on Money - Money is not the root of all evil - The love of money is.  In this essay we discussed what role money plays in our life and how money can be used to bless others. We have been taught that being wealthy is all fine and good as long as we use our money for the right things. We should consider the story of the Good Samaritan.  He used his wealth to provide for one who could not provide for himself. He didn't just provide the minimum instead he provided all that was necessary to improve this man's life.  We need to look at our increase and consider how we can best use it to build the kingdom of God.

Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness/Mentor Session 7 - What are you willing to sacrifice to achieve your dreams. This article reminded me of the movie staring Will Smith, The Pursuit of Happyness. He was down on his luck his wife had left him with his young son. He had to humble himself to survive the challenges he had to endure but his son was part of what kept him motivated and helped him achieve his dream. The message really is that family is the most important thing and they can help get us through anything. Without family I don't think Will Smith's character would have been able to achieve as much as he did. He found happiness and shared it with others. In the church we learn that family is central to God's plan for his children. We are not taught that money and career are central to His plan. There are many poor people who are much happier than those with lots of money.

Week 9 Dream Big Dreams

The main idea from this week is dream big but don't do it alone.

The Dip - Book report submitted.  Know when you should quit and when you should persevere and propel yourself to new heights.

Application Activities
Heart of Entrepreneurship - Being in business alone can limit your success. Dreaming big is great when you take the ones you love with you.

Become - Dallin H Oaks reminds us that this life is a journey and it is up to us to become the best us we can. The best us should resemble Christ

So Your Want to be an Entrepreneur & e-corner videos
Balance is necessary in all aspects of our lives. Being an entrepreneur can be time consuming and cause strain on our most valuable relationships. Part of God's plan for us is to live in families. One reason is because we need love and support. That support is what can get us through the challenges we will experience. WE must remember to stay in control and not allow our pursuits to control us.

I am not really looking forward to the next book report, "So You Want to be an Entrepreneur".  I have not really enjoyed this book and it has been really difficult to relate to. I am grateful that I was able to work a week ahead in this class. Hopefully I can get another week ahead next week over the Thanksgiving break.

Week 8 - Loyalty and Leadership

This week's learning really came down to hire people that get along with others and are loyal. They will be more successful for your business and can be trusted because they are loyal to you and your goals.

LDS Perspectives
In" Leadership with a small l" we are taught to lead as the Savior did. We lead through example and serving others.  In "Loyalty" we are instructed to be loyal to our true self and expect the same of others.

e-Corner
This weeks videos encouraged us to find those who will be loyal and to learn to be a "Yes" person. Instead of asking what someone can do for us, we need to ask "what can we do for them."  We also need to realize that the majority of youth today do not know how to really work. They live in a gimme culture and it is critical that we change how they are raised.

How to be an entrepreneur
Mentor Session 5 led us through an introspective exercise that had us list what our wishes are, what we believe our personal mission statement to be and set goals for how we will fulfill our list using our mission statement as our guide.

The end is in sight!!!

Week 7 - Overcoming Challenges

This should be the title for my life! Especially while I am taking classes on-line. It seems that the assignments I struggle with the most are the ones that aren't clearly defined.  Definitely a huge obstacle that I need to overcome.

LDS Perspective
"The great work is you - your life, your future, the very fulfillment of your dreams" (Elder Holland) How often do we take the time to consider that we are the "great work" and our ability to come off conqueror is what we all hope to achieve?

There are so many who have given so much to be members of the church, they used the same dedication to live a life worth living. What sacrifices are we making to show God that we appreciate all that we have been given and all that we are able to accomplish?

Children were once taught the value of hard work, as a society we no longer know what hard work really is. Work is a gift and the ability to work should be cherished, it builds character and refines who we are.

e-corner Videos
All of the videos really focused on getting to the root of the problem. Often we try and treat the symptoms but until we get to the root cause we really aren't moving forward.

So You Want to be an Entrepreneur?
This section of the book asked us to take a personal inventory of our skills, accomplishments, abilities. It then asked us to identify people in our life that could be resources for starting a business. The inventory assignment was fine, albeit lengthy but I really didn't like the format of the people that could be resources section. I felt that it focused too much on using people. I have seen so many relationships ruined by people using the "friends" as financial/capital investors for their start-up businesses, mostly MLM.   This is especially true amongst members of the church. It wouldn't surprise me if someone said that it is easier to "sucker" a Mormon into an MLM than any other group of people. At the same time, I think that it is interesting that most sales companies actively seek young RM's because of their ability to cold call customers. I think that there needs to be a real discussion about how abusing relationships in this way can be detrimental to being successful in business. It would have been nice to have had the option of doing this assignment from a potential start-up or an entrepreneurial employee. Our friends and family can be a great source of strength and knowledge. We don't always need to think of them with dollar signs on they back.

Week 6: Moving Forward with Driving Passion

The theme for this week was Moving Forward with Driving Passion. I find this interesting because the book "So You Want to Be an Entrepreneur" focuses so much on owning your own business, being a start-up, etc that some people might this this is the only way to move forward with driving passion. I do no believe this to be true. I think that there are many opportunities to move forward with passion within the bounds of an organization or already established business. I think that sometimes trying to branch out and do it on your own can be your demise. You can have all the drive and passion you want but owning a business is just not the right thing for everyone. Business would fail with out people to work in them. As business grow you can't just do it on your own anymore. I you start-up fails you have to be humble enough to realize that may not be your calling.

Assignments:
Submitted my book report for "Mastery". The next book up is "The Dip"  thankfully I have already read this book (prior to the start of the semester) and have already begun writing my book report. I actually enjoyed this book and thought that it had good point about knowing when to just stop.

Stand True and Faithful - We must always remember to do what is right even when it may not be the popular thing to do. This is true in business and in all aspects of our life.

e-Corner - Our goal in life is to make the world a better place be this in our personal scope of the world or the world at large. We have the opportunity to influence many and should see to do so in a positive way.  We must also recognize that there is always something more we can learn.

D&C 122:7 "know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."  (aka Grandpa Dave's Learning Scripture)

Mentor Session 3 - Finally an opportunity to speak candidly about what an entrepreneur really is and not just about how the book defines one.  I really wish that they was a different book/text for this course. It forces one definition and yet we are asked to be open-minded. There isn't enough of the entrepreneurship "realities"  to balance what is being taught, especially for an intro course.

Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment

(Written as a speech based on the book) 

                Good Evening ladies and gentlemen. Tonight we will be going on a journey of self-mastery.  I would like each of you to imagine a time in your life when you tried something new, a new skill perhaps. Now try and remember how you progressed or improved in that skill?  Was it quickly, slowly or somewhere in-between?  Did you enjoy learning the new skill or did you just want to learn enough that you could use the skill but not necessarily master it? Or, did you quit because you couldn’t master it fast enough?

Our guide book for this evening will be George Leonard’s book “Mastery: The keys to success and long-term fulfillment” as our guide as we discover how to have travel effectively on the road to self-mastery. Mr. Leonard begins by trying to define mastery. He says, “It resists definition yet can be instantly recognized. It come in many varieties, yet follows certain unchanging laws. It brings rich rewards, yet is not really a goal or a destination but rather a process, a journey…It’s available to anyone who is willing to get on the path and stay on it – regardless of age, sex or previous experience.” (p5)

When children are first learning to walk they start with free standing. Once they master this step they try moving one foot. Often this end with the child falling down. But where did the child get the idea that they can or should stand on two feet and walk?  They had a teacher. That teacher was likely a parent or sibling whom they had watched over and over. The teacher did fall or trip and probably encouraged the child to try and walk.  Earlier this week I had the privilege of watching a friends child go through this very experience. Kaden isn’t quite one and had gotten confident standing while holding on to anything that is around him. He recently started letting go of the objects to try and stand on his own. With his mother close beside he did this over and over again. Each time he fell he would look to his mother for her approval, which she offered whole-heartedly, followed by words of encouragement to try again. The became a fun game and I am confident in the next few weeks I will get to see Kaden taking his first steps on his journey to becoming a master of walking on two feet!

There are some key things that Kaden did that we should all do on our own personal journeies to self-mastery. First he had a desire. He wanted to walk. Each of us must have a desire for the thing that we want to master. Personal convictions will provide you a good foundation for your journey. Second, Kaden observed. He watched the people around him walking on two feet and chose the one that would be the best teacher for him. He could have chosen his older sister Katie who loves him dearly, but she isn’t always home when he wants to practice his skills, the same is true of his dad. So he chose the one person that gives him the most support and has proven herself a worthy teacher, his mom. His mother Kim, holds his hands and helps him balance, she cheers him on when he tries on his own. She makes a game of the activity so that he wants to continue on. She encourages him to try again when he falls. Because of her support he will enjoy trying until he is ready to move forward. This time between steps is referred to as “the plateau” by Mr. Leonard. He explains, “Goals and contingencies…are important. But they exist in the future and the past…Practice, the path of mastery, exists only in the present…To love the plateau is to love the eternal now, to enjoy the inevitable spurts of progress and the fruits of accomplishment, then serenely to accept the new plateau that waits just beyond them.

Return now to my initial question about learning a new skill and how long it took you to master it.  Did you learn to enjoy practicing the new skill? Or were you so focused on the next level that you forgot to live in the present and perfect it?

When I was a child my greatest desire was to be a cosmetologist. I couldn’t wait to learn how to cut hair. My impatience got me and my friends several interesting “hair do’s” over the years but once I entered beauty school I really learned to love the process of how to become a stylist. I was fascinated by the chemistry of hair and how holding your hands this way or that could cause a person to have a great haircut or one of those “just give it two weeks” haircuts. I practiced constantly taking the clients no one else wanted, staying late for the customer that came it at closing and even meeting people outside of school. My teachers praised my accomplishments and in time introduced me to more technical cuts and colors. By the time I completed school I had mastered all I could there and it was time to find a new teacher that could take me to the next level. This required moving to the next plateau and enjoying that journey until it was time to make the next jump. Each plateau brought a new sense of focus and opportunity for mastery and each was essential for the next plateau.

In his book, Mr. Leonard discusses the five master keys. They are:

1.        Instruction.  He says, “There are some skills you can learn on your own, and some you can try to learn, but if you intend to take the journey of mastery, the best thing you can do is arrange for first-rate instruction.” (p55)  As we already discussed a good teacher makes all the difference, Kaden could have chosen someone else but he picked the best person for him, someone who was already a master.

2.       Practice. Practice is an action word. It requires effort and the effects are compounding. In our journey for mastery we need to think of practice as a noun. “not as something you do, but as something you have, something you are…The people we know as masters don’t devote themselves to their particular skill just to get better at it. The truth is, they love to practice – and because of this they get better.”  (p75) This was my experience learning to do hair, I loved to do it. I loved people who would just sit in a chair and let me do. I wasn’t trying to get better I just was enjoying the experience.

3.       Surrender. “This means surrendering to your teacher and the demands of your discipline. It also means surrendering your own hard-won proficiency from time to time in order to reach a higher or different level of proficiency.” (p81) When you first enter beauty school they spend a lot of time correcting hand positions and posture. At some point you just have to trust that what your teachers are doing is right, after all they are experts and you have agreed to be taught by them. This was hard for me at first as I had been cutting with scissors since kindergarten! But the technique for cutting hair is very different and is important if you are to avoid medical problems in the future.

4.       Intentionality. This key focuses on your ability to imagine yourself as a master and often employs self-talk and positivity. There have been countless studies done where a person is asked to repeat a positive self-talk mantra each day. At first it is ackward but as the individual continues they start to believe the words from the mantra and it begins to empower them. While on the journey of mastery you must be able to visual yourself as a master if you can’t your destructive thoughts will prevent you from achieving mastery. A close friend of mine was applying for a position that she felt was above her level of experience. She was convinced that she wasn’t qualified. The week leading up to the interview she used positive self talk/imagery to see herself as one who was worthy of a capable of the job. By the time she interviewed her view of herself had completely changed and she went into the interview empowered and impressed enough people that she was hired.

5.       The edge. “Playing the edge is a balancing act. It demands the awareness to know when you are pushing yourself beyond safe limits.”  Several years ago there was a news story about a woman who ran a marathon 8.5 months pregnant. Many people were horrified that she would run in such a state. In a post-race interview the woman said that she had run all of her life and that even pregnant she was in great shape. She consulted with her doctor throughout her training and was consistent in her training. A week later she gave birth to a healthy baby, no complications.

We have spent a good time tonight talking about the path to mastery and I have shared some experiences with you. Now I would like to take a minute and tell you some of the tools that will help you on your path.  Don’t go it alone. Find a support system, someone who will encourage you and cheer you on, but who will also hold you accountable. If this journey is important to you, make time for it. Don’t give up part way because the journey seem tough. Live a healthy lifestyle so you will have the energy necessary to persevere. Recognize pitfalls on your journey and don’t let them stop you. Find a rhythm that works for you. Our lives are all hectic but don’t allow chaos to rule you, take control of the crazy and the serene and let them work for you not against you. Finally, start your journey today. There is no better time than the present.

                As you begin your journey, may you remember these two things: Self-Mastery is a journey, a process, not a race and find joy along the way.  May your life be full and may your journey be filled with peace, renewal and progress as you become the master of your life.

So You Want to be an Entrepreneur

This has not been a great week for school. Too many tests/quizzes and not enough time to get everything done at a level that I expect of myself. This is one of the weeks where you wonder is it really worth it.  As of tonight the answer to that question is definitely up in the air.

LDS Perspectives
The LDS Perspectives really focused on self-mastery. As a high school student I couldn't function without getting straight "A's". In junior college I was a busy young adult and working full time and didn't put my full effort forward, especially in classes that didn't interest me.  For example, I absolutely hated attending sociology It was a lecture class and I often didn't go because I couldn't see how it benefited me personally. So I didn't. I attended on test days and required guest lecturer days and that was about it.  When I started the Pathway program I set a goal for myself to graduate from BYU with honors. I fought for each "A" I received.  This semester has been a challenge. I spend 30+ hours a week studying, doing assignments, discussion boards, etc and am really starting to struggle in a couple of my classes. In fact the ones that I should be excelling in as they are my stronger subjects.  I think this fits in with the whole Mastery concept that we have been studying this week. I need to re-evaluate and get back on the path to Self-Mastery. The hardest part is to figure out where I fell off so that it won't happen again.

E-Corner
The video this week talked about the importance of writing down your priorities and sticking to them. Doing this will help you not to compromise your values for your work.  Watching these really reminded me why I really don't want to be an entrepreneur that owns my own business. I can't separate who I am at work and who I am at home. Being able to do so is very important to me and more easily attained when I am working for someone else.

Mentor Session 2
After reading the chapter and starting the assignment I really didn't have time this week to complete it. Although having had this discussion with family and friends they pretty firmly believe that I would be successful in whatever I choose to do. They can see me both as a entrepreneur (owning my own business) and working in a professional business. Most of them agreed that I would be much happier working for someone else because as one said "I would obsess over my own business too much."

Personal Wealth
Most of this was the same information that was presented in Math 100 from Pathway. Funny that it also aligned with the finance project in FDREL 200.

Week 4: Mastery: Skill, Character or Luck

This week I started off really strong in all of my classes. In fact I was done with most of my assignments by Tuesday!  It should be a major accomplishment until you consider the assignments that I had no desire to do. Yes, they were for B183 but I will get to that in a moment.

Application Activities
This week seemed to focus a lot on the need for perseverance in anything we decide to do. While some skills come naturally others may not. It is those skills and areas that we must focus our greatest efforts if we desire success. President James E Faust taught, "Perseverance is demonstrated by those who keep going when the going gets tough, who don't give up even when others say, 'It can't be done.'" This week's e-corner videos taught that it is important to determine what our passion are. This is more important that how much money can be made. There is always money to be made but if we are not doing something that that we are passionate about we are not benefiting anyone, least of all ourselves. One of the things that stuck out this week was learning about God given callings. The steps to discovery involve considering what you love to do, what you were doing the last time you lost track of time and asking 5 people that know you well, "What do I do better than anyone?".  Using this information we can discover what our talents really are. Often they are things we do well and may take for granted.  Jeff Sandafer in A Hero's Journey - Living a Life of Meaning explained that, "What matters most is not the prize at the end but how the hero has changed in the process."  This life is a journey and it is all about who we become.  This applies to our personal, professional and spiritual journeys.

Case Study
Our case study this week was Spreading Happiness: Warm Fuzz Cards. It was the story of Erica Mills who started a pen and ink card company and had to decide what to do two years into her business when she and her husband decided they wanted to start a family. She enjoyed the slow growth while her husband felt that fast growth was a good option.Ultimately she needs to determine what her values really are and what she is and is not willing to sacrifice. Taking the time to consider this will direct her path.

So You Want to Be an Entrepreneur
This was the assignment that I had no desire to do. I believe that entrepreneurs exist in many facet throughout the business world. They can be found in corporate careers, small business, start ups, families and even in civic organizations. An entrepreneur is really someone who takes on a project and runs with it. They are in control of their decisions, choices and destiny. I think this book focuses too much on entrepreneurs who are interested in being owning their own business. This made it especially difficult to complete the Mentor assignment as I have no desire to be this kind of entrepreneur. I have been there and know for myself that this is not what I want. I wish that this class and major focused more on the broad definition and less on the specific idea of owning a business. There are many people at BYU-I that are majoring in Business Management with an emphasis in Entrepreneurial Management not because they want to own a business or be their own boss but because BYU-I lacks a comprehensive on-line business program. There are few options for those interested in business and this just happens to be the path that many of us opt to take. While there is some good introspection. I am not looking forward to other Mentor interviews that focus on this type of Entrepreneurial spirit. It is disappointing that we are asked to be broad in our concept of what an entrepreneur is but we are forced to do assignments that are single minded.  Needless to say, I completed this assignment but with great difficulty. The example in the book is from the prospective of someone considering a possible career as an entrepreneur. Her answers were unsure and full of trepidation, yet we are asked to answer in-depth as those this is our intended and chosen career path. That would be great as an end of course assignment or end of book assignment but not as the first assignment for this book. I felt that it was unfair and not an accurate representation of mirroring the book and fictional character, Jane.

Week 3 - A Life Well Lived

This week the learning has been focused realizing who I am as an individual.

We started the week by submitting our first book report, "The Start-up of You" by Reid Hoffman and Ben Casnocha. The book focused on the importance of networks and nourishing relationships so they will be available to you when you need them.

We then started books two and three. Mastery and So You Want to be an Entrepreneur. At this point I don't think I will want to read another book once I am done with this course. Not that the books aren't interesting but between my four courses and being in the process of reading 3 different books right now they all start to meld together and I can't always remember if an idea came from this book or that book.

This week's readings included "How Will You Measure Your Life" by Clayton Christensen and "The Little Things" by Joseph B Wirthlin.  In both readings you are encouraged to think about your values and how the role that they play in your career decisions and more importantly in your work/life balance. If family is the most important thing then you can't spend all your time at the office and expect that your family will be happy and well adjusted. Elder Wirthlin taught that the little things really do matter, especially the relationships we have with others and with God.  We must take the time to develop these relationships so they become what we need them to become.

Our e-videos this week were very inspirational their emphasis was on determining what we love to do what we are born to do, and what our priorities are. If we can figure these out then we are well on our way to finding a career that will be fulfilling.

I am a little concerned about the mentor exercises because there hasn't been much information provided about the kind of mentor we should look for. Should it be someone who knows us well, someone in a field that we are interested in, etc.

Exercise and Healthy Eating

Like several others I am pretty excited about this Unit.  I seem to go through spurts of being really active and eating really well. Up until a week ago I was biking at least 4 miles 4-5 times a week. I can tell the difference. Also, I have been horrible about meal planning since moving to ID, we have spent way too much time eating out.

My goal is to exercise at least 3 times each week for a minimum of 30 minutes.  Also I will plan out dinners for my family for the next two weeks making sure to include at least 1 fruit and 1 vegetable. This also means that we will not eat out for any dinners for the next 14 days.

I hope to record the meal plan in my "journal" so that I can refer back to it for future planning. 

Week 2 - Honesty and Business Ethics

This week seems to be flying by!  I have just a couple of chapters left in "The Start-up of You" by Reid Hoffmn and Ben Casnocha.  This has been a very interesting book that really focuses on the importance of networking and how networking has evolved.  My favorite chapters this week discussed how Benjamin Franklin networked way back when. He would invite intellectuals over once a week to discuss ideas.  It has been interesting to think about my own network and if all those in it are the right kind of people and I can best maintain relationships with them.

This weeks e-corner videos weren't my favorite.  In "10 Things You Must Have to Start a Business", the information was good but some of it did seem a little outdated. It was hard to know when the speaker was being facetious and when he was being serious.  I think this may be because his experience was so industry specific that it was hard to relate some of the information to general business.   I did like the "Risks in Business" because it talked about what it takes to be successful. The most important thing I got out of the video is that you need to have skin in the game otherwise, it is too easy to walk away or not care about the success of the business.

I thought the LDS Perspectives tied in very well to the topic. They stressed the importance of remembering that God should come before money and success. This will help us be successful and happy in our endeavors. We also need to remember to be people of integrity and let that be a guiding trait in our business and in those we hire.

Our case study this week was the story of Magdalena Yesil, a Turkish woman who decided at a young age that she wanted to come to America to study technology and engineering. She helped start up many ventures and was very successful. This story reminded me of the need for home/life balance. She had a multi-generational household that allowed her to spend a lot of time on her work. The majority of Americans do not have this - and yet we still allow work to monopolize out time. This can be a detriment to the family. We must see balance in all aspects of our life if we are to be truly happy.

Lessons Learned - Week 1

This was quite a week. Trying to balance and keep up with all the assignments can feel very daunting. The majority of the assignments are listed on the "Due in Two Week" as due on Saturday. I have had to create my own schedule to manage all of my courses.

I finished reading the CapSim Team Member guide and I finally feel like I get what this simulation is about. While doing the rehearsal rounds I forgot to purchase additional production time which caused me to go from top performing to not so hot. I was able to make some changes in the next round and pull myself out and become competitive. I found that I ran out of my low end segment product in multiple rounds. I had spent a good amount of money on Marketing and ended the four rounds near 80%. I think doing this in the individual rounds will work in my favor.  I also added a new product in round 2 and that helped increase my market share.

I also found the Harvard Excel Pre-test very challenging and full of opportunity. While creating my "bucket list" for another course, I listed becoming proficient in advanced excel functions. This pre-test gave me a good idea of where I am, where I need to improve and provides the tools to cross this off the list.  Excel is not my strong point, although, I can do what I need to do-just not the most efficient way.

I am trudging along with "Good to Great". I think I might opt to buy this on audible as I really don't have a lot of time to just sit and read.

HUMILITY + WILL = LEVEL 5

*Level 5 Executive - builds enduring greatness through a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will.

Key points to remember:

1.  When in doubt, don't hire - keep looking

2.  When you know you need to make a people change, act

3.  Put your best people on your biggest opportunities, not your biggest problems.

*The right people are your most important asset

50 things I want to do

50 Things I want to do!

1.       Graduate from college

2.       Graduate with honors

3.       Run in a Disney half-marathon

4.       Take my kids to Disney World

5.       Take my kids to Cedar Point

6.       Visit church history sites

7.       Go to Mt. Rushmore

8.       Go on a mission with my husband

9.       Adopt a child from a foreign country

10.   Visit Guatemala with John

11.   Live outside the United States

12.   Fill my passport with stamps from foreign countries

13.   Learn to speak Spanish

14.   Lose 20+ lbs

15.   Have a house big enough for all the kids to have their own room

16.   Pay off all of our debt

17.   Live on a cash basis

18.   Fly first class

19.   Complete a sprint triathlon in sub 1:30

20.   Go Scuba diving

21.   Be the house where the teenagers want to hang out

22.   Go on a cruise

23.   Learn to swing dance (again)

24.   Gain advanced Excel skills

25.   Donate a large sum of money to an organization

26.   Take Cooking Classes

27.   Have food storage that I will actually use

28.   Have a garden that actually is taken care of!

29.   Officiate at a NCAA Division I volleyball game

30.   Own a vacation home

31.   Anonymously donate to people in need

32.   Invite a different family over for a meal every month

33.   Establish family reunions for my immediate family

34.   Take a vacation somewhere new every year

35.   Travel by train

36.   Shower in a waterfall

37.   Complete my living will

38.   Go on an African Safari

39.   Eat Swiss Chocolate in Switzerland

40.   Be proficient at shooting a hand gun

41.   Host an old fashioned holiday meal – that you dress up for

42.   Leave a waitress a huge (over $100) tip

43.   Go skydiving

44.   Have a Christmas with no presents

45.   See all my kids graduate from college

46.   Take Andrew to NYC

47.   Go to Rio, Brazil for Carnival

48.   Invent something

49.   Be independently wealthy

50.   See the 7 wonders of the world

Week 1 - Create a life of meaning

I love hearing The Last Lecture by Randy Pauch. He teaches so many important life lessons that are often forgotten. Each step we take in life is an opportunity to become a better you. He teaches that it is important to have dreams and to try and achieve those dreams. When you do accomplish one we don't simply check it off the list we need to remember the experiences that helped us get there. These experiences will often help us achieve other dreams.

I also listened to the devotional by Brother Jeffrey Thompson. In his devotional, "What's your calling in life?",  he discusses that we all have talents. We must discover what they are. One way he suggests doing this is to think back to our childhood and the games that we played and ask, "what was my role?"  I thought this was an interesting suggestion. When I was a child I knew exactly what I wanted and who I wanted to be. As I have returned to school it has been much harder to decide what I want to do when I graduate.  Financially we don't need the money but emotionally I need to have the connection that I have worth outside my home when my children are in school.  Bro. Thompson goes on to dispel some of the myths about secular callings. I found the history of careers to be very interesting.  In closing he encouraged us to seek heavenly help in determining what our calling is. The talents we have been given may be many, and there may be many acceptable callings for us but Heavenly Father is there waiting to guide us to the best option.

The future belongs to those who belive in the beauty of their dreams.  - Eleanor Roosevelt

Introduction Week

The most important thing I learned this week was in President Hinckley's dedicatory address of the Hinckley Library.  He said, "You don't have to be a genius...you just have to do your best."  As we begin our adventure in learning about becoming an entrepreneur we must remember that it isn't going to be a paved path. There will be bumps, potholes, and even construction that will prevent us from going at the pace and in the way that we had planned. As we work to do our best we will be able to patch those rough spots and look back and see all that we have become and all that we have accomplished.

I thought that it was interesting reading about the process that caused these journals to become a requirement.  A young man unable to recollect what he had learned in a professors class showed the professor that there was another way to remember all that he had learned. He carried a folder with him that he reflected on often that reminded him of the skills and lessons he had learned. As we reflect we remember that we have the ability to overcome. We can become more than we are today. Each lesson and activity that we participate in is an opportunity to learn and grow and get one step closer to achieving our goals.

President Bednar reminds us that we are at a unique place at a unique time in our lives. While I am not be on campus I still can create a DPC within the walls of my home as I study and fully participate as a BYU-I student. I can take advantage of the resources around me. Though I am not a genius, I can do my best and become a better disciple of Christ so that I can offer my whole self to righteous pursuits.

Provident Living Plan - Unit 1 Scripture Study

For the next two weeks we have been asked to study the scriptures daily for at least 20 minutes and create a plan for how we will achieve this goal. I have decided that I will read daily after I drop Juli off at school. I usually get home around 12:40. I will spend the first 10 minutes reading from the Doctrine & Covenants. I will then spend 5-10 minutes reading 1-2 articles from the April 2014 General Conference in preparation for the upcoming October General Conference. I will conclude by spending at least 5 minutes updating my personal journal/blog with my thoughts and feelings from the day's reading.  On Tuesdays I attend the temple in the afternoon, so I will do my reading in the morning after I get the boys off to school, around 8:30 am.
**Amended to just reading in the Doctrine and Covenants and write in journal. It was difficult to read from both sources.

Day 1

D&C 1:38 "What I the Lord have spoken I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same."

Latter-day Commandments from the Lord's servants
*Ezra Taft Benson - Read the Book of Mormon
*David O McKay - Every Member a Missionary
*Howard W Hunter - Every Worthy Member a Temple Recommend
*Gordon B Hinckley - No Multiple Piercings
*Spencer W Kimball - Keep a Garden

The Cost - and Blessings - of Discipleship
by Jeffrey R Holland

"Pure Christlike love flowing from true righteousness can change the world".
There may be times in our life when we are asked to defend the gospel. There are other times we will need to be the bigger person and just walk away from those who seek to harms us. This has been true through all generations of time.

"Be strong. Live the gospel faithfully even if others around you don't live it at all."

Day2

D&C 3:7-8 "For, behold, you should not have feared mean more than God...Yet you should have been faithful; and he would have extended his arm and supported you against all the fiery darts of the adversary. and he would have been with you in every time of trouble."

Martin Harris was many years Joseph Smith's senior. This may have been part of the reason Joseph was willing to inquire of the Lord three times on Martin's behalf. The Lord upset that Joseph would continue to ask after receiving an answer finally gave in and gave very explicit instructions, all the while knowing what the outcome would be. How often do we miss out on blessings because we are focused on the answer we want instead of the answer we are given? As a result of losing the pages, Joseph lost his gift to translate for a time. This must have been a difficult time for him.

The Joyful Burden of Discipleship
by Ronald A Rasband

"First, tell them I love them.
Second, tell them I am praying for them
Third, please thank all those who are helping."

Is this how we approach difficult situations in which we are asking to be a part of?

"I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." (D&C 84:88)

Do we recognize the hand of the Lord and the angles round about that are guiding us to safety? Do we act as the hand of the Lord in the lives of those whom we have stewardship over? We are placed in situations to bless the lives of others we are an instrument in His hands, we must be willing to act.

Day 3

D&C 5:22 "And that you be firm in keeping the commandments, wherewith I have commanded you; and if you do this, behold I grant unto you eternal life, even if you should be slain."

This makes it pretty clear that even if something terrible happens to us, like being killed, as long as we have kept the commandments we will be granted eternal life. We can't wait until the last moment to repent and keep the commandments.

Christ the Redeemer
by Carlos H Amado

"and gave then the commandment to love one another through sincere service."

We are often willing to provide service to those around us, but are we sincere in our service? When the Savior was on the earth He took the time to listen to those that came and asked forgiveness. When He raised Lazarus from the dead He did so because He loved Lazarus and his family. Each of His actions were deliberate to show His sincerity to those He was there to serve.

Day 4

D&C 6:14 "...for thou hast inquired of me, and behold, as often as thou hast inquired thou hast received instruction of my Spirit..."

How often do we take the time to reach out and use our lifeline?  Do we take the time time to inquire of the Lord? He has promised that if we will do so in righteousness he will instruct us through the Spirit. Sometimes we get discouraged because we don't learn the lesson we want to learn or receive the answer we want to receive. The Lord knows us better than we know ourselves and He is constantly preparing us for bigger and better things. We need to realize His wisdom as He instructs in all things.

D&C 6:37 "be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven."

Day 5

D&C 7:3,8 "And the Lord said unto me: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, because thou desirest this thou shalt tarry until I come in my glory, and shalt prophesy before nations, kindreds, tongues and people."

"Verily I say unto you, ye shall both have according to your desires, for ye both joy in that which ye have desired."

John and Peter desired to stay a little longer and bring more souls unto the Lord. Yet Peter also wanted to be with the Lord. Because of their righteousness both were granted their desires.  If the Lord asked me today what I desired, how would I respond?

Day 6
What is the "Gift of Aaron?"

D&C 8:6–9. What Was the Gift of Aaron?

“There was another gift bestowed upon Oliver Cowdery, and that was the gift of Aaron. Like Aaron with his rod in his hand going before Moses as a spokesman, so Oliver Cowdery was to go before Joseph Smith. Whatever he should ask the Lord by power of this gift should be granted if asked in faith and in wisdom. Oliver was blessed with the great honor of holding the keys of this dispensation with Joseph Smith, and, like Aaron, did become a spokesman on numerous occasions. It was Oliver who delivered the first public discourse in this dispensation.” (Smith, Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:52.)

“Oliver Cowdery also had the ‘gift of Aaron.’ Aaron was the elder brother of Moses. Being prompted by the Spirit of the Lord, he met his younger brother in the wilderness and accompanied him to Egypt. He introduced him to the children of Israel in the land of Goshen. He was his spokesman before Pharaoh, and he assisted him in opening up the dispensation which Moses was commissioned to proclaim (Exodus 4:27–31). This was the gift of Aaron. In some respects Oliver Cowdery was the Aaron of the new and last dispensation.” (Smith and Sjodahl, Commentary, p. 44.)

(https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/sections-1-9/section-8-the-spirit-of-revelation?lang=eng)

Will Heavenly Father bless us with any gifts we desire?

Day 7

D&C 9:7-8 "Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to as me.

But, behold I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right."

We need to make a selection on our own after we have studied it out and give it our best effort then we can do to the Lord. If is is right you will have no reason to doubt. Doubt is the Spirit telling us that it is not the right choice.

We should only ask when we are at peace. God will not be constrained by our constraints.

Day 8

D&C 10:43 "I will not suffer that they shall destroy my work; yea, I will show unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil."

The Lord knew that the 116 pages would be lost. Nephi was told to write a second account, his own account, of his history. He didn't know why, but he willingly wrote. This passage shows how the Lord is all knowing and that He will show unto those who follow Satan that there is more light and knowledge to be had. I think it is interesting that the story of the lost pages stops here. What happened to those paged? Did the people destroy them when they weren't re-translated?  Has a family passed them down from generation to generation?

Day 9
Section 6 & 11, 12, 14 start out the same way, "A great and marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men..."

D&C 11:7 "Seek not for riches but for wisdom; and, behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich."

Physical wealth cannot compare to eternal life.

D&C 11:20 "Behold this is your work, to keep my commandments, yea with all your might, mind and strength."

Day 10

D&C 15:6 "And now, behold, I say unto you, that the things which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father."


Day 11

D&C 17:6 "And he has translated the book, even that part which I have commanded him, and as your Lord and your God liveth it is true."

This was Jesus Christ's witness of the Book of Mormon.

Day 12

D&C 18:19 "And if you have not faith hope, and charity you can do nothing."

If we do not possess these traits we will not be as effective as if we had had them.

D&C 18:44 "And by your hands I will work a marvelous work among the children of men, unto the convincing of many of their sins that they may come unto repentance, and that they may come unto the kingdom of my Father."

The Father works miracles through His children that we may be blessed and prepared in this life.

Day 13


Day 14

So many journals so little time

I am taking four classes this semester. Each requires their own journal for activities, projects, lesson learned, etc.  I think I will be spending a lot of time reflecting this semester, provided that I have any time.  Let the adventures in learning begin!