Entrepreneur Journal

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...