Last Lecture

Well here we are, at the end of another semester of academic learning. While this certainly has not been my first semester in college it was my first semester at BYU-Idaho and my first semester completely online. Over the course of this semester I have gained a few personal guidelines for my life as they relate to taking on any entrepreneurial endeavor. I am not the person constantly thinking about what I could do to start a business, I have a good job that I enjoy and that provides the necessities for my family, my wife does not have to work, and I am being developed professionally for future opportunities. However as I have taken this course I have had my eyes opened to the many opportunities that are out there and how many people really are living the entrepreneurial life. What I have learned is how to set yourself apart and see success where many see failure.

The advice I would give to someone with a desire to become and entrepreneur would be, first, do your homework, second, determine what is more important to you than your business, and third, have fun.

Do your homework. I have had opportunities to talk with individuals who have started their own businesses, some have be very successful and some have failed. One conclusion I came to was the people that were successful were also prepared. They had planned, studied the market, studied how to be successful businessmen, and kept on learning. Those that failed had great ideas but never got beyond being the “technician.” They are now working for a large organization and make a good living, but they are missing out on their dream of being an entrepreneur because they did not do their homework. Another important reason to do your homework is that you may simply realize that this isn’t what you actually wanted, and that is okay.

Determine what is more important to you than your business. Over the course of this semester I have made one finite conclusion about the world of entrepreneurship. The greatest failure an entrepreneur can face is a failed marriage. This is a personal conclusion but it allows me to focus on things that matter most. As Latter-day Saints the other portion of this, which can apply to all entrepreneurs, is the standards you will keep in your business. Integrity is vital, don’t allow your business to participate in activities that will break commandments. Believe it or not but your business is not what matters most in your life, if you don’t believe this, you need to get your priorities straightened out.

Have fun. At work we had an employee lose his job because he simply could not stand the work we did and was not willing to put in the effort. His performance was abysmal and eventually the day came where his final check was handed to him and he left the building. He was not happy and was not having fun. I, on the other hand thoroughly enjoy my job in that same department. Our responsibilities were different, but I had previously done what he was then doing. The only thing I wished this man had done different was work hard until the end. He showed part of his character as he gave up, but I do not blame him at all for not liking the work and not enjoying his job. In a similar manner the life of an entrepreneur can be exhausting, stressful, and time consuming. If you are only in it for the money you are missing the bigger fulfillment in life.  

I have enjoyed this course and have learned many lessons that pertain to the entrepreneur, but also relate to every person out there. These are life skills that will help all of us become our best.

Gratitude and Purpose

President Monson 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. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues.” I have thought a lot about the importance of being grateful for everything we have, if we step back and think about it there are so many people on a daily basis we can express our gratitude especially our Father in Heaven. I think of my wife and how much she does to manage our home and raise our child and I realize that I do not come close to expressing gratitude as I should. So that is my goal!

The video we watched titled “Avoid the Wrong Job” caused me to think a lot about living with purpose in life. While this may not have been the specific words used it is where my thoughts turned, I’m still working through these thoughts so hopefully this makes sense! Each of us can do incredible things in life and this is no different in the working world. I believe it takes time, concentration, and guidance to determine what we can do to contribute, we will all have different paths to take and there is not one set path for each of us. It is what we choose to do and how much effort we put into it. The fact is there aren’t enough jobs in the world for everybody to do exactly what they want, unless there are many people that dream of working in a grocery store or other similar job, but it may very well be a part someone’s purpose to spend a few years working in a grocery store, gaining skills and work ethic.