Week 14: Final Blog

For my final blog, I'll be answering some questions about my experiences and thoughts from the entire semester.  

• If you had one final lecture to share with a group of students on what you have learned from this course, what would you share?

This course was like the course Cynthia 300.  I thought we'd be learning about business techniques but was pleasantly surprised to find that most of the study was about me as a person.  We went into having personal integrity and honesty, what our core values were, applying safety boundaries that we would never cross, going through scenarios that we can prepare for.  It encouraged a healthy overall life balance between our relationships with God, self, family, and others.  We studied beautiful books, videos, and talks about all things virtuous, lovely, and praiseworthy.  The process of mastery, habits of success, words from great minds through time...it was all wonderful.

• What would be your last bit of advice to someone wanting to begin the entrepreneur journey?
• What words of advice, direction, or caution would you give him or her if you had only one chance to give your own last lecture?

Make sure you have a clear "Why" to the way you're spending your time and attention.  Make a plan to handle the worst case scenarios and take the steps to make sure they don't happen.  Make sure your priorities stay in line with your values.  Live in integrity with God and yourself, and your entrepreneurial experience will be beautiful.  Keep site on your eternal goals and give your best.  Keep God as your #1 business partner.  

Week 13: A Journey of Gratitude

The only talk I felt was about gratitude this week was president Monson's talk, Attitude of Gratitude, which was beautiful, but the rest of the study materiel was great anyway.   

Here are a few things I liked: 

First from the video titled, Avoid the Wrong Job-  Don't take a job just to move forward to get to another job, pain outweighs the pros.  Career or job is not necessarily a long term decision now days. Specialization is not always the way sometimes you'll want to be a generalist.  Have fun with different projects and wide variety of knowledge and experiences.  Be ready for opportunities as they arise.

Next was from a case study about Randy Haykin. (I posted this in the class discussion feed about what was most meaningful about the case study).

1. Balance:  You lose balance when you forget the little things.  During times of high stress and time demands, it's helpful to understand that you don't need huge amounts of time or energy to have special connections and experiences with those you love, keeping your relationships alive and well.   I need to remember that paying attention to the little things can help each loved one, including ourselves, feel cared for and  important.    I like that Haykin talked about setting limitations being crucial.  He reminds to pace yourself or you'll eventually crash and burn.  I also liked the idea of finding people with different strengths to balance your perspectives and alleviate frustration points.  Others can fill in the areas you are weak, the Savior being the best one to "yoke" yourself with and make you whole. 

2.  Living Your Values: Match your day to day actions with your values.  Wow this one is powerful.  It's so easy to live life in the area of urgent but necessary, or even urgent and not necessary.  It is important to evaluate your life often to make sure the things you're spending your time on are those things that matter most to you.  

3.   Fun: Leaders have charisma and an element of playfulness.   The idea that people like to see other people having fun struck me.  I see this in the natural day to day life with children.  Children naturally find fun and excitement in the smallest of things.  Seeing those we love having fun, brings us joy.  I can see how a workplace environment or leader that encourages others to naturally have fun in what they are doing, would be enjoyable and successful.

Week 12: Becoming a Changemaker

Wow, like always, the study assignments this week were phenomenal and inspiring.  First Lets look at the article by Charles Handy titled, "What's a Business For?"

• Why are virtue and integrity so vital to an economy?

I like how the first couple pages of the article explains that rules and laws depend on truth and trust, and that questionable personal ethics is an "American disease".  Thought I don't believe this to be only an "American" disease, I do see it as a disease.  It puts the person, business, and society at large at dis-ease, fostering a spirit of distrust and suspicion to others.  I see the cycle of pride and greed that comes when people are dishonest to get ahead of others, instead of taking care of those around us/our neighbors.

• According to Charles Handy, what is the “real justification” for the existence of businesses?

"to make a profit so that the business can do something more or better" people working together in a virtuous and honest company can do a lot more good than a person alone.  

• What are two solutions proposed by Handy that you agree with? Why?

1. I really like the idea of treating an organization as a community of people and putting safeguards to make sure the businesses have high accountability and loyalty to their employees as human beings, not just revenue generators.
  
2.  I also love the holistic look that comes from less time expected at work.  Less time working for a paycheck leaves more time for family affairs, individual interests, and rest, instead of the "long-hours culture".  I believe this makes for healthier happier families, and a more well rounded, creative, and satisfied people all around.

 Next I'll talk about Elder Robert C. Gay's talk "Entrepreneurship & Consecration" which was super powerful!  Some of the thoughts that hit me:

• God gives to man the challenge of raw materials...that man might know the joys and the glories of creation. (He left the electricity in the cloud, the oil in the earth, the cities unbuilt...)
• True pioneers solve problems, and rise to bless others by...finishing he undone work [of] God. Pioneers always break the traditional patterns, thought, and deeds to create new beginnings.  (We're doing this as we are homeschooling, Ryan's trying out working from home...not the traditional pattern).
• If we just do what our resource and talents and what others suggest we do...were going to miss the mark very badly.
• look inside for answers on how and where to invest their time, talents and energies. "step outside what is the logical voice of the world and hearken to the voice within"
• Cure for poverty: bring tithes unto the storehouse that there may be meat...prove me now if I will not open the windows of heaven...
• The world does not factor in the power and mind of Heaven into business.
• "it is not what you have, but who you are, and who you are is not what you say, but what you do."
• What the Lord would call success is quite different than what the world...therefore it is highly unlikely that the world's model will yield what the Lord expects of us from our business entrepreneurship.  
• But the laborer for Zion shall labor for Zion.  And if they labor for money, they shall perish
• Shetobreyono: "In the days of service, all things were founded, in the days of special privilege, they deteriorated, and in the days of vanity they are destroyed."
• Allow the voice of God to have place in matters of business.
• Lord told Martin Harris if he could get his heart right he would be able to bless him with a blessing greater than the treasures of the earth.
• When you begin to make service to meet others needs your constant practice, you are beginning a program that will make you successful in your chosen field and your needs will begin automatically to take care of themselves.
• Business: To PROVIDE FOR BASIC NEEDS and to RESCUE OTHERS
• Before we can receive the full hand of His assistance in our labor, the Lord will prove us to see if we're not only willing, but able servants.  To see if we will remember the purpose for which we have received His resources.
• You are prepared from the foundations of the world to lift this world....This is about real people and real lives.  Don't look to yourselves in all that you do...
• The whole purpose of business is SERVICE & RESCUE.  

Wow, I wonder what all I have been prepared for.  In a recent blessing the lord told me that the choices and things I'm choosing to do now will bless myself and my children and family in the future.  I guess I'm on the right track.  I do feel the desire to bless the world around me but have really been protecting my time and focus on being a mother and focused on my family and home.  I feel that we're not strong enough yet to focus anywhere else.  I know my biggest job and role is to teach and bless my family but I wonder if there is something more...I wonder if there is a way, with my family, to serve others and it WILL bless my family and help us be stronger.

I have been thinking a lot about Entrepreneurship and why I am so interested in learning about it even thought I have no ideas or thoughts of what I specifically can and should even look into doing with it.  How can I serve others with all my weaknesses.  I'm not very organized in time or space...My home life feels pretty hectic and disheveled most of the time.  I really liked the thoughts about not trusting in/turning to look to myself in all I do.  To my flesh I am weak and quick to forget... The arm of flesh is weak.  The Lord is my strength, with him I can do all things.  Now to have a heart and mind open and willing to act on the promptings of the Lord.  I want to be able to consecrate myself fully to his service and the rescue of others.  Right now I am rescuing our children from the mediocre expectations of public schooling.  I want them to be self motivated, inspired, greatness & learning loving, God fearing, confident, spiritual leaders in this world.    

Week 11: Measuring the Cost

This week was Fascinating! (as always).  I studied...

1. The Formula for Success talk by Thomas S. Monson (March 1996), 
2. An article by the action school of business titled, Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness,
3. A few videos about balancing work and life/family  
4. Lesson 6:Financial Fitness, a Launching Leaders video
5. And an article Attitude on Money, (Stephen W. Gibson, Jan 2017) which is what this weeks post will be focusing on.

What is your attitude toward money?

The article talks about Filters in our minds (ideas, beliefs, opinions, teachings we picked up when we were young) that color our perception of money.  In the process of becoming independent thinkers, we get to choose which lenses to accept and continue using, and which to let go of. 

I feel like I'm on a continuous journey in my view of money.  I learn enlightening principles, and feel motivated and healthy about that view when I am highly aware and focused on it, but I tend to revert back to the "ignore the problem and maybe it will go away" or a passive, lack of personal responsibility view, "the Lord will take care of us, so I don't have to think about money" way of thinking as soon as I let go of that focus.  For example, Ryan and I participated in the Church's "Personal Finance for Self Reliance" Class.  While taking the class, money was at the forefront of our thinking, how to attain it, manage it instead of being a slave to it... We set monetary priorities, (Tithing/Fast off., Pay self, pay off debts, Savings...that's what I remember, since it hasn't been my focus since the class ended...).  We made plans, even did a cash envelope system and were being consistent with our daily tracking and spending of money in a tangible way.  BUT...as soon as the class was over and we reverted to a digital format of tracking, within a month, our old habits, past views, and the natural man ways of thinking kicked in and we stopped paying attention, which has taken us on one financial roller coaster after another.  I'm trying not to be too hard on ourselves as we continue to become educated and follow the process of mastery in this area of life.  

How can your view of money affect the way you live?

"Money has the power to make good men better but also makes bad men worse", "Money often reveals the kind of person we are".  We can mange our money with agency, having self reliance as a priority and using it as a tool to better our lives and the lives of those around us, or we can be a slave to money, thinking it as a kind of magic, never really understanding how to attain it or manage it.  our view on money very much affects the way we live.  Living in financial ignorance and debt, fosters anxiety and fear, while living a self reliant life encourages peace, and opportunity.     

What rules are recommended for prospering?

1. Seek the Lord and have hope in him

2. Keep the Commandments and be faithful in paying Tithes and Fast Offerings

3. Think about and plan how to become self reliant

4. Take opportunity to learn-continue seeking education.

5. Learn the laws upon which the blessings of money are predicated.

6. Do not send away the naked, hungry, thirsty, captive.  (education releases the ignorant and captive).

The beautiful reminders this week have motivated me to again get on the same financial page with Ryan.  We've talked about having a fresh start after we get home from this Thanksgiving travels and family adventures.  We want to sit down and refresh ourselves on the finance course we took, setting goals and priorities, and schedules to keep track and again become wise stewards of our finances.  

Week 10: Dream Big Dreams

Things I liked about this week's studies:

The Heart of Entrepreneurship (Howard H. Stevenson & David E. Gumpert 1985)

• All they need from a resource is the ability to use it
• Avoid owning equipment or hiring people
• Using rather than owning enables the company to reduce its risk and its fixed costs
• Leasing or renting reduces risk
• Using instead of owning a resource lowers the cost of pulling out of a project
• THE SEARCH FOR PERFECTION IS THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD
• Keep their organizations learning-effective Entrepreneurs who are effective make the sparest allotment of resources.   necessity is the mother of invention, make imaginative use of their limited resources. Do more with less.
• Most of the risk in entrepreneurial management lies in the effort to pursue opportunity with inappropriate resources, either too few or too many.  (large corporations tend to make the basic error of over committing resources.)
• A multistage commitment allows responsiveness; a one-time commitment creates unnecessary risk.

I loved everything about the talk The Challenge to Become, by elder Dallin H Oaks (Oct 2000 Gen Conference).  Mostly that it matters more about who we are becoming than about who we are now.

 Your emotional fingerprint by Woody Woodward sounds like a fascinating book that I'd love to read.  I am very interested in understanding myself at a deeper level; what makes me feel important, how I respond, and what my key driving forces in life are, so I can better take control of my life.  I like the idea of validating inward emotions and letting go of outward stimuli and validation.  What motivates and drives me to feel important and accomplished?  This is a real question that comes back continually in my life.  What is my definition of success?  How can I feel accomplished and important in what I'm doing and not feel that I'm always "not quite there yet"...

Week 9: Disciple Leadership

Disciple Leadership: Learning from and faithfully following Jesus Christ, and bringing others to higher ground.

Wow, this week has been amazing, like every week!  Though I feel  anxiety over the deadlines and assignments, I absolutely LOVE learning from the inspired truths we've been studying each week.  The books, videos, and articles from entrepreneurs, prophets and other spiritual leaders, and great minds through the ages of time.  These people understand true underlying principles that govern all areas of life, not only business, which is why I find things so applicable to my life right now, even though I'm not in the market to actually start a business.  I apply the entrepreneurial principles to myself, my life, and my family. 

Being a great entrepreneur starts with being a great person.  We are studying about overcoming human nature and working on ourselves.  It is not about the details of running business as I thought it would be.  I am fascinated by studying human nature, how one forms and changes habits, and builds character.  I'm gaining new insights and understanding that help me be patient with my process to greatness.

I'm constantly evaluation and inspecting myself.  In the Hero's Journey book this week I read stories like the parable of the talents and wise stewardship, about Icarus who's wax wings melted because of his neglecting to heed his fathers warning, about the emperor and flower seed where the girl told the truth that her flower didn't grow and she was the one to become the next emperor because of her honesty, greedy king Midas with his golden touch, the lion and the mouse... each motivating, inspiring, making my heart burn and grow, hungering for more. Constantly fueling my mind with great ideas and truths, I'm sure it will help in my journey to become my best self.

I learned about 3 principles of leading with a small L: Leading by Example, Vision, and Love.

Example: I gained heart and adjusted my focus from "getting my kids to do things" to being reminded that they are watching me closely and my example speaks louder than any lecture I try to teach.  I only need to live, respond, and be, the way I want them to live, respond, and be.

Here I recognized some things to work on.  I expect them to react and respond to each other calmly, say ok or disagree appropriately, and have good attitudes about their responsibility.  Regretfully, my reactions, responses, and attitudes can be at times curt, annoyed, overwhelmed, and I tend to be easily discouraged...  I realize I need to address and work on my own health and wellness in this area so that my kids will know how to respond and react to each other, and their responsibilities in healthier more productive ways.

Vision:  Where there is no vision, the people perish!  Leading with vision just makes so much sense!  I'd like to do better at that, and making each task meaningful/purposeful instead of focusing so much on the tasks at hand needing to get done.

Love: "we love him because he first loved us" (John in bible)  Energize others with love in action.  care and nurture, have family home evening, teaching to love and serve others and keep commandments.  Support and encourage by having structure and discipline.  LOVE THIS!

What!?!?!!!
I was dreading studying the summary of Good to Great It seemed long and boring. (I should know by now that boring is a state of mind unwilling to learn...rarely do I find learning anything truly boring.  I think I was more overwhelmed by the sheer amount of readings and videos I needed to get through the beginning of this week;)  I applied my family anywhere it talked about business and WOW! it was amazing how much sense each step made.

The 3 elements that create a standard of excellence.

1. Disciplined People, 2. Disciplined Thought, and 3. Disciplined Action

These 3 elements broken down into 6 key concepts in the good to great transition process: 

1. Level 5 leadership:  Are Ryan and I level 5 leaders?

2. First "Who" then "What":  I Can't really choose the who, we have the children we have, but the idea of "getting the right people on board" hit me hard!  I need my whole family on board with the family we want to create and where we want to go.

3. Confront the True Facts:  Looooooong sigh, I know.  Openly face the realities without losing faith  (the loosing faith part is where I struggle.  I am really good at observing and pointing out what's wrong).  Analysis, leading discussions with questions, genuine dialogue and debate, with moderators/mediators, continue until a consensus reached.  mistakes turned into learning experiences...Wow, just all of this idea of confronting the facts was amazing when I thought of applying it to our family.  I've been working so hard and so long to find the perfect ideal family I want and push the others to join my vision but seem to be pulling all the weight myself.  I felt these quotes deeply:

" leading from good to great does not mean coming up with the answers 

and then motivating everyone to follow your messianic vision." 

"They didn't use discussion as a sham process to let people 'have their say' 

so that they could 'buy in' to a predetermined decision.  the process was 

more like a heated scientific debate, with people engaged in a search 

for the best answers."  Jim Collins

The inspiration of this book kept going but I might as well write a novel if I wanted to address them all.  I'll just wrap it up with a short explanation of the last few concepts.

4. Hedgehog Concept:  focused on exactly what you want, not distracted.

5. Culture of Discipline: Building a culture of freedom and responsibility within a well defined framework. 

6. Technology accelerator: balanced viewpoint, only use if it would accelerate their progress. Technology used as a TOOL to further hedgehog principle.

Week 8.5 More on Overcoming Challenges (2 of 2 posts)

I've been noticing a lot of frustration, chaos, bad attitudes, jealousy, anger, fighting, pessimism, critical words, unkind body language, distraction and short fuses in our home lately...by ALL of us. I keep trying to change things that I know are problems, trying to work on home management skills, healthy communication, cause and effect with extra chores given for negative behaviors...but I feel that my efforts are getting me centimeters of progress, or backsliding further. I have been quick to forget even when I make a plan and start to implement, the natural man in me is so strong trying to stay where I am and not change even as my spirit reaches and longs for the needed change in myself, my home and family.

After feeling the decline of the spirit in my home, and praying and pondering about a solution for a while, I woke up with these specific words in my mind. Upon searching, I found that they originated from a talk given by Boyd K Packer in 1986 in a talk titled, "Little Children", (before I was born). The scripture is true that says that the Holy Ghost shall "teach you all things, and bring all things to your rememberance" (John 14:26), and "by the power of the Holy Ghost, ye may know that truth of all things" (Moroni 10:5). The spirit did bring this to my mind whether I heard it quoted from someone else or I remember it from before I was born;)

Specific spiritual direction:

• Study Come Follow Me as a family
• Have FUN together, (In Family Home Evening and else wear)
• Make family meals a priority
• Take the time to pray fervently with and for my family.
• Take turns reading aloud and discussing together the Book of Mormon with Jenna and Hannah specifically. (help with learning doctrines, changing attitudes and behaviors, building faith, and reading skills as well)
• My friend April at TJED commonwealth school brought up the idea of a morning basket with morning family devotional items in it. I could keep J, H, and My scriptures in there to read at the table, along with a friend magazine, and poetry, family read aloud...I like the idea of having it all in one place. (Just checked on my friend magazine subscription ordered end of September, It should be coming soon! I miss having it laying around the house to be picked up through the day;)

We have been neglecting to study come follow me as a family, I have been listening to conference talks each morning but it's before anybody is awake. We have half-hearted family prayers at night and the meals that we actually sit down together, not that often lately either. I've been going to sleep with kids while Ryan stays up doing homework/work, I wake up at 3-5am to do homework before kids are awake. I am feeling like a negative Nancy and am having a hard time noticing and feeling loved and blessed. I've been feeling really bad about myself and am taking out all my frustrations on my family. (Especially since Hannah's dentist appointment and finding out her teeth are rotting around many old cavity fillings and all over her mouth...eek! this scares me).
I feel like we need to change our home environment in many ways. I go back and forth from overwhelmed to hopeful and know that satan and his angels are working on me overtime...I must be doing a great work! I also know that My Savior and His angels are more powerful and are working together to lift me. I know that the atonement of Jesus Christ has the power to strengthen me and help my small and simple efforts become something great! All things are possible through Christ who strengthens me. I can do this! I can strengthen my family by my example, by my mothering, managing and nurturing efforts and call upon every angel who can be spared to protect me from evil as I pray, show my faith, and work hard to be humble and guided by the spirit and implement a healthier faith-filled happier lifestyle with my family.

Another cool thing! Since that day (Thursday 10/31/19 last week) that I woke up with those thoughts, another was right out of reach in my mind. I know I read it recently about strengthening the home and family by coming unto Christ and that instead of teaching what not to do, "don't think you're better than your sister, stop doing this, stop doing that"...bring the children unto Christ...something like that, I couldn't even figure out how to search for it and just couldn't remember who had talked about it. This morning! I remembered it was President Eyring, with a quick search, I found it! A Home Where the Spirit of the Lord Dwells April 2019 General Conference! I'm so happy! Here are a few lines from the talk I loved:

• You could have limited success by calling a child to repent, for instance, of pride. You might try persuading children to share what they have more generously. You could ask them to stop feeling they are better than someone else in the family. But then you come to the symptom I described earlier as “They began to diminish in their faith in Jesus Christ.”
• As you help them grow in faith that Jesus Christ is their loving Redeemer, they will feel a desire to repent. As they do, humility will begin to replace pride. As they begin to feel what the Lord has given them, they will want to share more generously. Rivalry for prominence or recognition will diminish. Hate will be driven out by love. And finally, like it did for the people converted by King Benjamin, the desire to do good will fortify them against temptation to sin. King Benjamin’s people testified that they had “no more disposition to do evil.”3
• "So building faith in Jesus Christ is the beginning of reversing spiritual decline in your family and in your home. That faith is more likely to bring repentance than your preaching against each symptom of spiritual decline."

Week 8: Overcoming Challenges (1 of 2 posts)

We discussed all kinds of inspirational messages this week!  I probably feel this way because I'm constantly overcoming challenges and it is a struggle. Of course we had to watch Elder Holland's video from his talk "Good Things to Come".  I love this talk! 

"“Don’t you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead.” Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven. But for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come. It will be all right in the end. Trust God and believe in good things to come."

President Monson's message on "looking back and moving forward" talks about one of our sweetest blessings being the guiding promptings of the spirit to direct us in furthering His work.  

Then there was another talk by Elder Holland, "However Long and Hard the Road",  He talks about keeping a sense of humor, (the only thing that keeps me sane at times!) and putting our energies into becoming, being excited about growing, developing, and our personal potential.  The only limitations are from ourselves. Sacrifice, effort, and patience.  Some things are good to terminate, others to persevere, hang one, keep going, Lord can make small things into something great. 

One video we watched talked about the idea of "5 whys". (Stanford Technology Venture Program with Eric Ries) When encountered with a problem, it is usually a surface problem, by asking "Why?" a few times, you can dig down to the root cause/problem and by addressing that, little by little, you fix future problems from surfacing.  It reminds me of the "give a mouse a cookie" effect from a problem to a solution:

1. Why didn't I do the dishes, I don't have soap,
2. Why don't I have soap, I didn't go to the grocery story,
3. Why? Don't know if I have money in the bank,
4. Why? Didn't do my weekly Finance meeting
5. Why? Meeting isn't scheduled on my calendar so forgot.

The root cause here seems to be time management instead of a lazy dishwasher.  

In the book we're reading "Hero's Journey" it talks about facing our dragons, (Chapter 8)  Dig down until you come to an actual "dragon" you need to face to resolve the problem once and for all.  (I can always dig down deeper to my needing to strengthen faith in and acceptance of the Savior's Atonement to help me accept and love myself and call upon his power to help me change and make great, what I feel like I have only a small and simple effort to give).

I've really enjoyed reading the Hero's Journey book.  What I've read so far has been small sections of beautiful, inspiring and substantial messages.  The authors pull direct stories, speeches, and quotes from great minds and historical figures, and have put them together into chapters.  This makes me feel that the information is credible, as well as enjoyable and easy to read.  

Week 7: Moving forward with a driving passion

This week as I was finishing reading and writing a report on the book Mastery by George Leonard, I also studied The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven R Covey.  I didn't read the actual 7 habits book but studied a summary of the book from summaries.com and watched an introduction and summarizing video of the 7 habits with Jim Ritchie from The Ministry of Business and Launching Leaders LLC.

I've picked up the 7 habits book a few times in the past with every intention of reading it only to find my attention waning after a couple pages.  Because of my previous lack of success with reading the book, I appreciated the thorough summaries we studied.

1. Which of the 7 habits  has the most meaning for you?

At this point in my life the most meaningful, or one that is the most relevant at the moment, is to put first things first.  I make plans, I make SO MANY PLANS! Inspiring and beautiful goals and plans of life...but I haven't ever felt like I've got it right.  I don't quite know what I want and have a difficult time visualizing when the goals are abstract thoughts and feelings.  How do I measure that? How do I see progress toward being happy, feeling peaceful, or living in the present with my eye on the eternal?  How do I even know where to start?!  I have made myself print my goals out anyway, then I put them in a binder, in my journal, or even post them on the wall, only to glance right past them it's like it becomes part of the unnoticed walls in the house. 

I have been quick to forget and slow to remember... want to change this and keep a focus on the bigger picture and be able to bring those abstract thoughts into doable daily habits and steps with assurance that if I just keep on the path of mastery, continually practicing and doing my healthy habits, I will transform into the person I want to be even if it seems immeasurable right now.

2. Why will the 7 habits help you fill your life with passion and purpose as you seek to achieve both a private and public victory?

I have found myself desiring to make a difference with others; to utilize and collaborate with others to find win win life experiences and develop deep friendships.  I've recognized this week that I need to work more on my private victory habits to prepare me for the public victories I seek. 

I've again come across the thought recently that you be the friend you're looking for...and I realized that I want to be more clear on the kind of friend I'm looking for, so I have a better idea of what parts of my character to work on.  As I focus on being disciplined and implementing the first few habits of being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, and put first things first, I will be better able to think win/win, to understand and be understood, and to have a synergistic life and continue sharpening my saw. 

Week 6: So you want to be an Entrepreneur

This week I watched videos on making sure God and family are center and prioritized during the creation of startups and entrepreneurial ventures.  You have to implement boundaries of time that make sure you're consistently focusing on the highest priorities.  "The Entrepreneur and the family" video talked about ideas like putting the kids to bed, no working on the weekend, or making sure to have family dinners together each night, something often and scheduled.   

N. Eldon Tanner's April 1975 talk, Success is Gauged by Self-Mastery really spoke to me.  the thought that I won't be able to be the great leader/mentor I want to be until I learn to master myself is a motivating principle. 

He also said this quote which sums up the desires of my heart, "No greater goal could be set, no greater progress could be made, and no greater joy and satisfaction could be experienced than to determine that we will accept Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world, and live his teachings." 

As I read and simultaneously evaluated my life, a couple things kept coming to mind that I could use some self-mastery on.  

1.  Exercising:  I feel peace and rejuvenation being outside but find myself wrapped up in the responsibilities and anxieties in my house, that I don't go outside very often. I also have my many children and lack of stroller as an excuse for not going on walks or moving very quickly as well.

2. Healthy eating.  I enjoy healthy foods and vegetables, and have dreams and visions of eating whole nutritious foods with my family, growing a garden, having a greenhouse, and eating the foods I grow...but I also find myself habitually eating sugar and candy, (if not every day, most days), buying easy/unhealthy convenience foods at the grocery store and resorting to fast food when I have a challenging or discouraging day.  I justify these purchases by feeling sorry for myself with all my responsibilities and difficulties of life, or by the many memories of disappointing textures and attempts at seasoning the said "wholesome foods".  

I know that when I master these couple things, it will bless myself and my family physically, mentally, and spiritually.  

Here's to today and the future!

Week 5: Mastery, Skill, Character, or Luck

The biggest takeaway I've gotten from my studies this week is Perseverance; line upon line, here a little there a little.  We studied about Mastery, and asked the question is if skill, character, or luck.  Really, it takes character to keep going, and skills to move forward, and maybe a little luck sometimes.  Perseverance is both a skill and it take character to practice that skill.  God can make weak things become strong, from small and simple things become that which is great!  I can dedicate my efforts, no matter how small they seem to me, and God will consecrate my performance for my good.  This makes me feel so good inside. 

So often I think I'm not doing anything great, and maybe I'm really not, what is the definition of great anyway?  I guess it could be defined as continuously doing little good things;little right things.  Every time I intentionally choose to do something good, to follow Jesus Christ, to love and serve..I'm doing something GREAT! 

When I look at the definition that way, I am doing great things every day.  Every diaper change, cleaned up spilled cereal, mundane task around the house is me doing something great.  Every time I gather my children to do an after meal cleanup, or to have family prayer, it is proof that I am doing great things.  I am choosing to be a mother, to teach and raise up children unto the Lord.  I am a daughter of a loving Heavenly Father, I have a loving Savior, and because of them, I AM GREAT.

When in comes to living my passions or fulfilling my potential in this life, I don't have to stress out and aim for one spot on the horizon, just turn myself in the right direction and keep taking little steps.  This is empowering and much more doable than thinking I have to know my "ultimate purpose" right now and feel stress and pressure to somehow get there, when it is so far from where I am now.     

Week 4: How Will You Measure Your Life?

Wow, this week has been full of hard work, soul searching, and inspiration!

Almost every day since starting this class I have felt conflicted inside.  On the one hand I feel pushed too fast; Not feeling like I have enough time to really ponder and let all the information sink, or be thorough enough with the action steps.  On the other hand, I recognize that it is an overwhelming process and without the deadlines and push to just "get it done", It would be easy to put it off till another, perhaps nonexistent day.  

I finished reading the book Launching Leaders: An empowering journey for a new generation.  I found it to have simple yet profound messages similar to, if not the same as, other leadership and success books I've read.  The layout and constant summarizing made it easy to read and review the concepts through the chapters.  The book encourages a lot of time to ponder, self evaluate, take action steps, ,all in the process of ultimately aligning our will and life with God.  I recognized that the spirit was confirming true principles throughout the book.  

Financial concerns have been constantly on my mind since we've gotten into a lot of necessary, and for sure some unnecessary/lack of self discipline, debt this year with the move and purchase of our Suburban.  The Financial Fitness chapter filled me with hope that we can take small step to get out of all this debt and become financially fit.

I really enjoyed learning about the habits of success, especially that small things really can bring about greatness.  In the past as my husband and I have made long term goals, It really has seemed to me that the plans would take too long and I would try everything to expedite the process only to become discouraged.  I want to develop more of a successful mindset of doing consistent small steps, and developing habits that will lead me to long term success.

We did an assignment about facing our fears stopping us from moving forward with something.  I chose to dig down and find out what my fears were with going to SVU for their music program.  It really was empowering and neat to see that some of my fears when put into the light, were really not that big.  The idea that fears thrive in being vague and unknown was fascinating to me.  It's true, when you really look at the details of a fear, you can them make plans to not have that worst-case-scenario happen at all, and have a plan of what to do if it does.  I'm encouraged by the thought of this life really being an experiment.  What are the risks of taking a step, and what are the risks of inaction?

Week 3: Honesty and Business Ethics

At first glance, this week's topic seemed too simple, Yes,of course be honest and ethical in your dealings with others, what more is there to say?

BUT...

I found studying different simple yet profound ideas this week have been enlightening and have made me feel reflective, humble, and hopeful.

Though I tend to think I'm a pretty ethical person, I appreciated the invitation by Sheri Dew in her talk "True, Blue, Through and Through" to do some spring cleaning.  To be honest with myself as I ask sincere questions about present or past "gray areas" in my behaviors and choices.  Where I may not have been/be perfectly obedient, following "every word of command" with exactness like the stripling warriors.

Reading Launching Leaders chapters 4-6 talked about the importance of living congruently through all areas of life, and charting a course, with the end in mind, and searching for "way points" on the way; landmarks and course corrections that will lead me to my ultimate destination.  This sounds a lot like a saying that I love, to live intentionally for excellence.

 "If you don't prioritize your life, someone else will".  

I have found this to often be true for me.  There have been many times that I've struggled with feeling that I was merely going around putting out fire after fire, dealing with one urgent task after another, feeling like a victim of circumstance, that I had no agency, and that life was living me instead of the other way around!  I am grateful for different understanding and skills I have gained because of these times through prayer, journaling, and counseling with others (whether professional, family, friends, and/or mentors).  Prioritization of time and energy is so important if I want to live the congruent and purposeful life I desire.

The thought of living congruent and authentically "by pursuing a more unified, consistent, holistic life" spoke to my soul.  It is not natural for me to intertwine and find connections through all areas of my life.  I'm still pleasantly shocked and surprised to be studying doctrine of the gospel meshed with my readings on business.

I have never thought of myself as a business woman or company owner and this week as I read about A-level companies, I was finally able to put my thumb on the reason; because it seemed so eternally meaningless, worldly and cold.  Making connections between the person I want to be anyway, and an A-level company felt good and right to me.

I can:

• put God and his kingdom first, 
• intend to do good, 
• build his kingdom, 
• have a zeal toward my fellowmen, 
• be perfectly honest and upright, 
• worthy of hire,  
• have superior customer service and quality of product, and 
• understand the individual worth of the customer. 
• treat others with respect, love and kindness 

At the same time as doing business?!  Awesome!  

Week 2: Create a Life of Meaning and My Stars

I watched a video this week with a man named Randy Pausch.  At the time of the speech he had cancer and would not live much longer.  He gave a lecture all about what he would say if it was his last Lecture.  He talked about his life and all the dreams he had accomplished. I feel like the reason he was able to accomplish so many of his dreams is that he fully believed he could.  He had a growth mindset and tenacity that when he hit a brick wall, he climbed over it and said the wall was there to keep the "other people" out and to prove how badly you wanted something.  He looked at problems in all angles and figured out a way to make his dreams happen even if conventionally it just "wasn't done" that way, or at all.  I love this quote from his lecture, "It's not about how to achieve your dream, it's about how to lead your life.  If you Lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself, the dreams will come to you."

I'd like to say that I believe dreaming is important and every time I see or hear a beautiful performance or speech, I'm inspired and believe I can do anything!...for a while. Sometimes I forget and start to feel the heaviness, stress, and monotony of every day responsibilities.  I forget that dreaming rejuvenates me.  When I'm in a place of hope, dreams, and possibilities, the menial tasks seem lighter, even exciting, and difficult tasks are a little easier.  When there is something to look forward to everything changes. I'm happier, I want to make others happy.  I love myself more, I love others more.  I even smile folding the laundry and lightheartedly do piles of stinky dishes.  Dreaming makes life meaningful.    

One of my childhood dreams, that I revisit from time to time, is to do a variety show performing with my family.  I come from a big family with a lot of musical talent.  I grew up listening to and watching tv recordings and performances of River Dance, the Celtic Singers, the Vienna Boys Choir, the Swingle Singers, the Duttons, (a big family with a show in Branson Missouri), Voice Male, and of course the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square every Sunday. We would watch plays and movies like The Fiddler on the Roof , The Sound of Music, Newsies, and 7 brides for 7 brothers.  Every year's family reunion involved a talent show, and every Christmastime was filled with caroling to family, neighbors, and friends.  When we were old enough to sit still, we could even join the ward choir.  My whole life I've been surrounded by and enjoyed all things musical.  

I joined the middle school choir then in high school my love of music really bloomed.  I'd watched my 5 older siblings choir concerts and my parents singing in the community Messiah my whole life so when it was my turn, I joined every choir the high school had, from beginners girl's glee, to the Madrigal performing choir as well as joining with my parents to sing in the Messiah. Not only did I have THE MOST AMAZING choir teacher that ever lived, Mrs. Adrianne Tawa, but I loved the experiences of performing, traveling, and competing in state Solo & Ensembles.  I even sang a solo national anthem for one of our high school basketball games!  

After high school I went to Snow College on a full ride scholarship and a smaller music scholarship.  I thought "this is it, the culmination of my life's work, college choirs here I come!  This is going to be most amazing experience of my life!" 

I didn't make it into the performing institute choir, which I thought was pretty cheesy at the time. I guess that reflected in the auditions, oops.   The choir that I made it into was very...academic?  No emotion, no inspiration, no connection, no joy, only singing notes.  I felt far from euphoric and little more than crushed.  For that reason, or a culmination of all the unprepared for pressures, anxieties, and responsibilities of adult life I experienced at this time,...I stopped singing and performing. After all, these were the optional classes that weren't "necessary" for my degree anyway.

After college, and adding in marriage and babies, I found how unique of a time and setting a school campus life is in juxtaposition to the "outside world" when it comes to music. It was no longer easy to up and join a choir, at least one with a high quality vocal performing experience I hope for, without searching for, and paying high dollar amounts to a vocal coach for lessons or being a super organized, time managed, high energy-d, go-getter-leader who took it upon herself to organize practices, book venues, and advertise for concerts. 

I guess when overlooking the life since "the musical glory days of back when", I've done the best I could do with the circumstances and knowledge I had.  I've enjoyed practicing the piano and held church pianist callings, I sang a solo once for a ward Christmas musical sacrament meeting, and did join a community choir a couple different times, in a couple different states.  I also constantly sing to and with my children, and the world outside.  To the dog, cat, chickens, guineas, and wildlife. I think the Cow's in the fields around our house enjoy a little music.  Inside, I sing to the baskets of laundry, the sink full of dishes, and the stinky garbage can. I still enjoy concerts, performances, and other's talents in the arts.

...What were we talking about again?  Oh yes, the variety show, haha!  I have so many excuses as to why I don't think it could happen.  My siblings have families of their own to spend their time on now or are off adventuring in other ways.  There are excuses of things I lack; energy, prioritization skills, money, time management skills, guts to make it happen.  Sometimes the seed dream of belief awakens in my soul and I think of all the beautiful musical talent waiting to erupt into the world and I get so EXCITED!  My family is so big and so varied, and now with in-laws, we have a culmination of skills that more than makes up for the skills I lack!  We could do this thing! What am I waiting for?     

Week 1: Beginning of my Entrepreneur Blog First Post!

My First Post 9-29-2019

As I read about this assignment for my Bus 110 Entrepreneur class I could feel the all too familiar feelings of anxiety starting to boil up:

"I've committed to things before, what will make this different?"

"Will I be able to treat this as a game changer in my life and not just another assignment taking up time?"

"How can I remember all the steps about making this entrepreneur journal/blog?"
 
"How do I add this the the swarming list of things I'm responsible for and need to do even if it will influence my life for good, (like all those articles, classes, and trainings I've saved in my "for later" files). How do I keep track of and prioritize it all?!  This is overwhelming!"

Sigh...

I know the power of my thoughts, and even thought of erasing all of this and focusing on positive thinking but wanted my first post to be of really what's going on in my head.

During the readings, I took hold of a small sentence that talked about the importance of not freezing or worrying about writing perfectly or having things perfectly organized, just to begin writing.

Now that, I can do.

Through the readings this week I felt hope that though I am in yet another down in the financial cycle that I thought I had broken, there is hope.  Each step I take can be a learning and growing experience.  If I can really understand and analyze this, maybe I can prevent making the same mistakes in the future.   

I really enjoyed the video about books being friends.  They are!  Books support, help open the mind to new ideas, and uplift and encourage like any good friend.  I am looking forward to expanding my vision of who I am, what I can do, and what I am meant to do in this life; something that will bring me purpose and Joy.

I look forward to getting to know my potential that is waiting to be recognized and brought out into the light.

Not yet learned...STOP getting into debt! plan and prepare for future and live within means.

Lesson Learned: Don't beat myself up, I can find learning and purpose in every circumstance.  Breathe and take the next step. (still working on dealing with the anxiety about the whole picture WHILE taking the next step.)

Cynthia