Entrepreneur Journal

Last Journal I think I got a lot more out of this course than I thought I would.   There are several things that I will take on from the past fourteen weeks.   I have always wanted to own my business; I don’t know that I ever will as my wife is more risk adverse than I am.   One of the things that I took out of from this course is that most people come up against a wall and have a problem that they need to sort out and go about finding out how to solve the problem.   The difference I learned is most entrepreneurs have the solution in mind and work back words to find out how to achieve something to get the result they need to.   I found that there is no age to entrepreneurs, sometimes I think of entrepreneurs as young in their 20’s and 30’s.   From the videos and the reading that is simply not the case.   There are several people who become entrepreneurs in their own right and are different ages with different levels of academia and or skill. An...

I saw an add this week on Facebook and instagram for selling online personal development products and it looks lucaritive and attractive.  It gives you the idea that you can travel and have time with your family while making a lot of money.  To me it ticks a lot of boxes of what we have learned this term, I showed my wife and she quickly dismissed my idea and told me to just get a job and work for a company and that will bring us security.  My wife has always been more risk adverse than I have been.  With saying that I sat back and thought of what she was talking about and I do think that I could be and would like to be an entrepreneur at some stage in my life to the true extent of owning a business and doing something on my own.  However I also know that I need to finish my education and even more than that maybe.  I think this class has been great in regards to learning about who I am and what an entrepreneur is and what it means to be an entrepreneur...

This week was very interesting as it spoke about different entrepreneurs looked at different ways that they could use their skill in finding solutions to give back and to make a contribution to the world at large.  I think it goes to show that there is always a need for something and there is someone out there to fill that gap and to find a solution for that need.  I think it is great that so many people use their wealth for good and believe that even if we don't have large amounts of wealth we can still give back. I enjoyed the videos and the perspective of those who shared their knowledge on the opportunists that they have had over the years. We also finished the book the Hero's Journey this week.  I found it very insightful with parables and pieces of advise that is laid out for anyone who is indeed embarking on their journey to find themselves and where they belong.  Someone like me I suppose. I think this course has been a great start to discovery for myself...

This week was life balance which is good and how we priorities our business life and our personal life.  This can be a very tricky situation for some people depending on the type of work they are in either self employed or if you work extra hours or shift work. These are all cases in each of our lives that we have to work more at times or work harder for a certain time.  I think that communication is key to anything.  My wife recently started working at K-Mart and we now sit down and speak about when she is working and what the family can do when she is gone or how we can accommodate each other.  Last year I started to travel once a month for a week, this was an adjustment for our family and we have done well managing this and working together.  My wife and I have talked about this for awhile because my brother in law works a lot and the only time his wife really sees him is on holiday together however because he works so hard they have a lot of material goo...

This was an interesting week as I interviewed my brother in law and thought this week about what I learned from the interview and what I wanted to write about what I learned.  I have never thought that I would have enough knowledge about any one topic to have a business of my own.  I admire those that have their own business, it takes a lot of courage to go out on your own and now know what the future holds.  I may play the safe spot because I work for a business and get paid every month knowing what I will get paid.  I have several friends here in Sydney who have their own trade that I would consider an entrepreneur however I am in business not a trade and could not see myself doing what they are doing.  I still don't know that I would have the courage that they do to be their own boss.  One friend was working Christmas day, and I don't know if i could do that.  Well I could it would just depend on what I was doing.  I hope to catch a little ...

This week was about the small L leadership and a message to Garcia.  I enjoyed the reading of a message to Garcia because I tried to relate that to myself and I currently have a manager that I really don't trust and have a hard time getting along with.  We have campaigns that we do that are like projects and have timelines with them with steps for each part of the campaign.  When we get his directions I tend to ask a lot of questions because there is a lot in my opinion that has not been though out.  I thought of this article and if I could be more like this man and just go out and do what was asked and just get it done.  I think in some aspects of my job I am like this because I work very autonomously and very rarely ask my manager for help or direction because for the most part I have the sales process down and can act on what I know. However I think there is plenty of things that I can do better on execution and following through to make things happen....

I have titled this week Victory week as this weeks reading was about pushing through and achieving victory. This week is very applicable to me because I moved to Australia after having finished my associated degree and was determined to finish my bachelors degree in a couple years time.  That was 12 years ago, I want to say life got in the way but I think I really figured it out.  Every time it was time to finish a class and register for the next ones I would make an excuse as to why I couldn't register for the next classes and I wouldn't do it.  Sometimes it was because of kids or moving houses or something silly like that but ultimately I was tired of doing my classes for the duration of that term and wanted a break.  The problem is you end up like me 12 years and not finished. This really helped me to have a reminder as to what it is I am trying to accomplish and I have found that I constantly need these reminders because if not I loose focus and don't give it ...

this week was the end of the book and a look into passion.  I have yet to find my passion in life and what I could do to for work that aligns with my passion.  The rest was the week was finishing the book and learning about mastery, that fit well with the article on habits.  Forming habits is a large part of mastery.  I have found that there are various habits that we form in our lives from personal and professional habits. Some church habits that we are encouraged to form are prayer and reading scriptures.  I go through phases of being really good at doing these things.  After reading the book Mastery it really gives you perspective on how to create your habits and maintain them. Learning different habits and skills of mastery add to the priciples that we have learned the past several weeks.

This week was more on mastery and loyalty to the Lord and your family.  I can see how important this is, in my career I have always been in sales and a job that for the most part is done when I get home and I don't usually need to log on at home and do more.  Once in awhile I do but for the most part when I am home I am home.  That includes evenings, and weekends.  However I have a few friends and brother in law who own their own business which is usually a trade, one is a carpenter, a roofer, and one does the interior of cars and boats.  They leave home around 5 or 6am and most of the time are not home until around 7pm.  One friend worked on Christmas morning after the presents were opened.  My sister in law loves going on holiday's because that is the only time she and her kids have her husband to themselves.  I will say that most of them balance church and the Lord in to their lives really well, however we tease my brother in law that the c...

Mastery is an interesting concept, as we can gain discipline in various aspects of life while others lack.  I remember as a young man going to priesthood sessions of conference and one of my favorite speakers was President James E. Faust, he spoke of self discipline and mastery  quiet often if I recall correctly.  His talks were always inspiring and motivating and after listening I left wanting to do better and accomplish more each day. Sadly as each day passes the feelings we get from listening to other slowly fade and we need to rely on ourselves.  This is something I constantly struggle with but I will always try. The other aspect is do what you love and the rest will follow.  I have always struggled with that because I don't know what I love to do.  When I was in year 8 or 9 in school we took one of those tests that told us what career we would be suited for, mine was one of two that came up as undecided.  Here is what I know, I love helping pe...

I think the exercise of deconstructing our fears and the videos were insightful.  I have always wanted to do what I love however sometimes I am not sure yet I know what I love, so not knowing what I love could very well stop me from doing what I love.  I have found somethings I am good and things I want to do however they are still a way off the track for me.  The deconstructing your fears helps me as I am not trying to start a business right now however we are thinking of making a major decision in our family and I think the same questions can apply and that is what I have used in my assignment.  I plan on sharing this with my wife as we are very close to making the jump.  At first it was hard for her to want to go, now she does but wants me to have a job first, we are now at the point of almost moving with out a job as it is very difficult to get a job living so far away from where I want to work.  I also like listening to Jim Ritchie and him talkin...

I don't think we realize how important honesty and ethics are.  The videos this past week were a good reminder that even the slightest hint of dishonesty is still dishonesty.  I have had to give my self a little wake up call on a few things that I have done lately or am doing that are not the best.  I need to work a little harder and do a few things differently.  The videos are motivational and help with the content.  I really enjoy the videos and the application that they provide for the class.  Having an online class you may think that you won't get to hear much from industry leaders or people of value that can contribute to what we are learning.  I think it is great that we can have these resources available to us. I am enjoying the application of this class and the different things it teaches about failure and getting back up to it and never giving up.  I think I have often forgotten about my own dreams and this has given me a little coura...

This week was interesting from the star mapping to the bucket list.  I found it very difficult to find 50 things to put on my bucket list.  I looked at the career goals and thought of what mine was and at this stage in my life I think some of my career goals could still be accomplished.  Although none of the careers I wanted to do as a kids or youth would be in reach any more.  I think I used to be a lot more willing to dream big and think that I could accomplish those dreams, I don't think like that anymore as time goes by maybe so have my dreams.  They have passed through the walls of each home we have rented while trying to save for the home we still don't own.  I do however believe that the careers I put in the stepping stars could be achievable and I would like to try and achieve them now that I am on this path.  I know what my skills are I think at times I just don't know how to take them from where I am now to the the next step. Why do you...

I apologize to those who are used to the date starting with the month not the day, having lived in Australia now for 12 years I am now used to it this way. The first week is to be about what we have thought so far and what we want to get out of the rest of the course.    I think I will enjoy this course because it challenges the way we think and to step outside of our normal thought.  I have always liked hearing from people and how they achieved their success, the steps that they took and the things that they put in place.  I have found that most of them have a common theme, yes they did have some big break at  some point however they had goals, they knew how to treat people, and they surround themselves around people that are like minded. I have found that in my life as well.  There was a long time when I didn't have a desire to finish my Bachelors degree, and at the time I was working with people where that wasn't there interest either.  I join...