Last Lecture

I have been pondering what to say or share as a last lecture. I reviewed my blog posts over the semester and would like to share some the things that stood out to me. I want to begin by stating, I really did not want to take this course, and I did not feel it would have value to me since I was not planning on becoming an entrepreneur. However, I quickly found there is great value in this course, it has caused me to ponder and reflect on my life and the legacy I want to leave. It has helped me define more of what I want to contribute to the world around me and how I want to define my career. The process has helped me set guardrails to prevent discord and missteps along the way.

Here are some excerpts from my blog posts over the semester that I want to share as advice to anyone who is thinking of becoming an entrepreneur. I found strength from the readings and exercises I did throughout the semester that were helpful.

1. Seek to understand.
2. Love the plateau.
3. Do not give up.
4. Love what you do.
5. Opportunities are limitless.
6. Believe in yourself.

Seek to Understand

I really enjoyed Covey’s 7 Habits. The one thing that I want to better incorporate in my life is Habit 5; seek first to understand, then to be understood. Covey stated, “The key to good judgment is understanding…When people have a problem and you really listen to understand them, you’ll be surprised how quickly and how fully they will open up to you… Seeking to understand requires consideration, seeking to be understood takes courage.” I will need to learn to be a better listener and focus on the individual, not on myself.

Love the plateau

Leonard from the book Mastery, helped me understand the need for plateaus and what we can gain from enjoying them. He stated, “The path of mastery, exists only in the present. You can see it, hear it, smell it, and feel it. 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. To love the plateau is to love what is most essential and enduring in your life.”

This I will remember and implement in my life. I want to live and enjoy the plateaus in my life.

Do not give up

I read an article by Jeffery R Holland, then President of BYU, he stated, “I am asking you this morning not to give up “for ye are laying the foundation of a great work.” That “great work” is you—your life, your future, the very fulfillment of your dreams. That “great work” is what, with effort and patience and God’s help, you can become. When days are difficult or problems seem unending, I plead with you to stay in the harness and keep pulling. You are entitled to “eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days,” but it will require your heart and a willing mind. It will require that you stay at your post and keep trying.” Again my heart is touched, I am lifted strengthen through these words.

As we continue to grow and learn over the next several weeks; I know there will be struggles as I learn new things. I am grateful for growth and learning, I will press forward with faith, determination and grit if necessary in my journey to “Become.”

Love what you do

Loving what you do is a theme among entrepreneurs. It will drive you to succeed and strive to improve the business.

I read Isaiah 32:17 “The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever.”

This struck a chord with me, what you do for a living should also align itself with who you are and the goals and desires you want to achieve. In doing so you will find peace and assurance.

Opportunities are limitless

Thomas S. Monson stated, “This is a wonderful time to be living here on earth. Our opportunities are limitless. While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right, such as teachers who teach, ministers who minister, marriages that make it, parents who sacrifice, and friends who help.

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.”

These words give me hope, we have opportunities to teach, minister, sacrifice and lift others. We can replace negative thoughts and doubts with hope and gratitude for the things we can do and opportunities that are limitless.

Believe in yourself

I learned from Larry North that you must believe in yourself and the things you are capable of doing. In finding our purpose in life we must trust in ourselves, believe in ourselves and strive to find what we can do to make the world a better place. It is possible to incorporate all these things and earn a living at the same time.

My advice be true to who you are and the person you want to become.

Finding Joy

Thomas S. Monson stated, “This is a wonderful time to be living here on earth. Our opportunities are limitless. While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right, such as teachers who teach, ministers who minister, marriages that make it, parents who sacrifice, and friends who help.

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.”

These words give me hope, we have opportunities to teach, minister, sacrifice and lift others. We can replace negative thoughts and doubts with hope and gratitude for the things we can do and opportunities that are limitless.

I learned from Larry North that you must believe in yourself and the things you are capable of doing. In finding our purpose in life we must trust in ourselves, believe in ourselves and strive to find what we can do to make the world a better place. It is possible to incorporate all these things and earn a living at the same time. There are a few things I want to improve upon over the next few months:

         Stop complaining

         See the positive

         Express gratitude

         Find balance

         Better understand my purpose

I believe as I work on these things I will come to better understand myself and my purpose in life. I am at a crossroads, my children are grown and no longer need my assistance on a daily basis. I serve in church and my community, however, something is lacking. I am ready to make a change and do more, the question is “What is more?” I had hoped to find the answer to this during this semester, I am still seeking and I will continue to apply the principles I learned. I know with time, reflection, prayer and work I will find the answer I am seeking. How can serve my fellow man, make a difference and earn a living? I love serving and lifting others, this is where I find joy.

Week 11 Journal Entry

Becoming

 I read the book “Hero’s Journey” there are nine steps to become a hero, step 7 made me ponder and reflect on how I am doing on my journey to become. While we are working to better understand ourselves and creating a life of purpose it is important to remember to keep balance in our lives. Rest when it is appropriate and needed. Sandefer and Sirico quoted a theologian Josef Pieper, “A sense of ongoing rest can allow you to hold things more lightly, to worry less, to be more open and flexible. This contemplative, relaxed attitude helps the hero remain calm even when he enters the storm.” There is value in having balance in our lives.

This week I read an article by Charles Handy, “What’s a Business for?” Harvard Review. I have read the article 3 times and I am slowly understanding what the article is about. I am supposed to answer three questions about the article, and I am not sure I can. I do not know if I am on overload from school or if my brain is on vacation. I will give this my best attempt, but, please do not judge me from my responses. I am tired, it is the end of the semester and I need to begin preparations for finals.

Why are virtue and integrity so vital to an economy?

At first glance this is an easy question to answer, however, there is more to it than honesty. Mr. Handy stated, “Markets rely on rules and laws, but those rules and laws in turn depend on truth and trust. Conceal truth or erode trust, and the game becomes so unreliable that no one will want to play. The markets will empty and share prices will collapse…” Integrity and virtue are hard to come by in today’s society, it is necessary in order for businesses to succeed and markets to grow.

What is the real justifications for the existence of business?

“The purpose of a business, in other words, is not to make a profit, full stop. It is to make a profit so that the business can do something more or better. That “something” becomes the real justification for the business.”

Two solutions proposed by Handy that you agree with? Why?

“Business needs to take the lead in areas such as environmental and social sustainability instead of forever letting itself be pushed onto the defensive.” I find this statement interesting, on one hand how can they take the lead when in most cases they are unaware of the issue and on the other hand most changes are forced upon them before they have an opportunity to create a solution to the issue.

“If the contemporary business, with its foundation of human assets, is to survive, it will have to find better ways to protect people from the demands of the jobs it gives them. Neglecting the environment may drive away customers, but neglecting people’s lives may drive away key members of the workforce. Here, again, it would help for companies to see themselves as communities whose members have individual needs as well as individual skills and talents. They are not anonymous human resources.

More corporate democracy and better corporate behavior will go a long way to improve the current business culture in the eyes of the public, but unless these changes are accompanied by a new vision of the purpose of business, they will be seen as mere palliatives. It is time to raise our sights above the purely pragmatic.”

I am not sure I agree with this, there has to be integrity on both sides. When did it become corporates responsibility to solve employee’s problems? An individual joins a company knowing what is expected of them, when they decide to change the situation, for example, by having a child, why should the corporation make all of the changes for the employee such as accommodating them for months of paid leave?

I realize I was supposed to find two things I agreed with Charles Handy, I found that a challenge to do. I am not sure I agree with his analysis. Is there greed in the corporate world? Yes! Is the corporate world the enemy? That is a good question, I do not believe it is, there are many that are unethical, however, there are more that create great things and do a lot good in the world.