Last Lecture

For the past 14 weeks I have been given the opportunity to really look inward. There are times in our lives were we are given a chance to learn more about ourselves and in a way do a self evaluation. This course has given me this opportunity. I have read and watched many talks, speeches and books that have made me truly stop and think. Reviewing back through my past blog entries the titles speak volumes how this semester has been for me. 
"Who are you meant to be?"
"Who do you want to be?"
"Failure" 
"Passion"
Just to name a few, however as I looked back on each post I can see where I am addressing things that in the past I have been afraid of. It is easier not to answer and deal with some of these topics because it can be difficult. Making decisions and facing fears are not my strong suit. However, I feel that I have truly have had a chance to what it would take to overcome and be successful despite these weaknesses. I have been given tools and been able to work through processes that will help me not only in a career but in life in general. 

Now is the time to break through those fears and insecurities to see what you could possibly be made of. In beginning a entrepreneur journey, I believe first you must understand where you have come from and where you are going. The goals and aspirations that you have and how you are going to overcome weaknesses to do so. Seek out those who have gone before you and learn all that you can. Study them and take way all that you can. 

Balance and sacrifice is key. There must be balance in work, family, religion and play. It can become easy lose sight of this and lose much more than you are gaining. Keep yourself in check that you are not neglecting one aspect of your life to satisfy another. Work hard and know your boundaries. Sacrifice is important but to what extent. 

It is all up to you and what you think is possible. Take the proper steps to prepare yourself for what will need to be done and how you are going to go about doing them. Have faith that with the Lords help you can accomplishing anything and remember at the end of the day who got you there. 

Failures - Week Thirteen

This week there was mention of failures. Which in the week of Journey of Gratitude, seems funny. No one wants to fail. It can be a tough pill to swallow. However, I know throughout my life I have been taught that failure can make greatness. So the mention of failure this week really is good. We must be grateful for our failures, so that we can become better from them. In both Haykin's case study reading and Larry North, neither of their experience with failure seemed to be very pleasant. However, they both learned from them and almost seemed accepting that it happened. Granted with time the sting from the failure I'm sure faded a bit, but both men talked openly and frank about them. Sign of a true learner. Accepting the outcome of an event and taking away what they could. Understanding where they messed up and the effect it had on them and those around them.

Failure is something that truly has always kept me from trying new things. Repeating a failure is even worse for me. I have a long way to go and need to build that self confidence to be able to accept those failures and prepare myself better for them. Because they are out there and will happen again.

A Hero's Field Guild - Week Twelve

This week as I was preparing my book report on "A Field Guide for the Hero's Journey", there were many themes and ideas shared that really hit close to home for me. Choosing companions, Rest, Coming Home, all had content that I could see how they would better my life and how they already have.
I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to be married to by husband, there are many ways we are the same but more that are very different and allows us to go. When you have that partner and their influence in your life, your have a great opportunity to see who you really are and what you would like to be. Now, like I said in my book report, rest has been in someways a point of contention in my relationship with my husband. However, over the years we have grown to have our thoughts and opinions, create a pretty great way of life.
Coming home, wow I truly loved this section. Our homes should be a place of refuge, peace and love. Surrounded by those who love us and we love them. I loved how they take about it being a place to enjoy our efforts in life, our accomplishments and to truly step back and see how blessed we are.

"What's a business for?"

• Based on what you read in the first two pages (pages 3 and 4), why are virtue and integrity so vital to an economy?

I believe the answer is very obvious.  When people and companies do not do business with virtue and integrity, we all suffer. There is no trust in how things are reported and basic everyday operations. Money and power become the highest priority for people and businesses. We loose sight of what if important when the day is done. 

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

We need to associate with a cause in order to give purpose to our lives. The pursuit of a cause does not have to be the prerogative of chari- ties and the not-for-profit sector. Nor does a mission to improve the world make business into a social agency.
By creating new products, spreading technology and raising productivity, enhancing quality and improving ser- vice, business has always been the active agent of progress. It helps make the good things of life available and afford- able to ever more people. This process is driven by competition and spurred on  by the need to provide adequate returns to those who risk their money and their careers, but it is, in itself, a noble cause

 

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

"By creating new products, spreading technology and raising productivity, enhancing quality and improving ser- vice, business has always been the active agent of progress. It helps make the good things of life available and afford- able to ever more people. :" 
I agree with this proposed solution, because he states ways that are going to create progress in the business world. Those being things I most defiantly would look for. 

"It seems only fair that dividends be paid to those who contribute their skills as well as to those who have contributed their money. "
I liked this thought. It give more opportunity for those hard working Americans that have to work their way from the bottom. 

Balance and Sacrifice - Week Eleven

Balance and sacrifice is essential to many parts of our lives. Work and family is a big one. The case studies were a great assignment and I was happy with my response to both of them. I fell that it was an opportunity to look at my current situation (stay at home mom) with a Husband that works hard to provide for us. I was happy that as his spouse and mother of his children that I have a realistic idea of keeping balance and also how to sacrifice. I know that with this knowledge it will help with me in my own personal entrepreneurial journey. 

I enjoyed the video Surviving the entrepreneurial Life: work and family. Meg shared so many wonderful points as a spouse of a entrepreneur. How the time spent away from the family effected the children and how distractions effected her. Her suggestions to avoid these we amazing. One that she talked about was including children and your spouse the best you can in the business. She talked about holding regular meetings as a family. This is perfect for one of the topics I wrote about in my case studies and discussion board posts. We are counseled by our leaders in the Church to hold family council and discuss what is going on within a family. This would be a wonderful time to talk about balance and sacrifice a family must show to make it all work. 

Attitude on Money - 

• What is your attitude toward money?
• How can your view of money affect the way you live?
• What rules are recommended for prospering?

My attitude toward money has not and is not where it should be. I am unfortianalty like his sister and "don't want to talk about money". Money stresses me out (but who does it not) and have pushed as much as I can for my husband to handle. I keep myself just enough in the know, yet out so that I don't get overwhelmed and freaked out about it. Which is absolutely the wrong attitude to have and honestly know that if I would allow myself to be more involved and deal with it on a daily basis those fears wold probably fade away. 

The way you view money can have a huge effect on the way you live. I fully agree with "However, Money usually does not make bad men good and good men better.

Money can make good men better, but on the other hand it usually makes bad men worse. "
We all must be careful with money and understand how to not only make our situation better but then how can we help others situations better. I believe that the Lord blesses some with more finacial freedom and I think it is our obligation is to then not just help ourselves but to bless those around us who are less fortunate. 

The rules that are recommend for prospering are: 

Rule 1. Seek the Lord and have hope in him
Rule 2. Keep the commandments, that includes the temporal ones, tithing and fast offerings.
Rule 3. Think about money and plan how you can become self-reliant.
Rule 4. Take advantage of chances for learning so you will not be ignorant of these matters. Education, as President Hinckley has taught us, is the Key to Opportunity.
Rule 5. Learn the laws upon which the blessings of wealth are predicated.
Rule 6. Do not send away the naked, the hungry, the thirsty or the sick or those who are held captive. 

Who are we meant to be? - Week Ten

This question came to me a couple different times while reading and watching this weeks material. I would be very interested in reading the book about your emotional fingerprint. It is always interesting to me to truly look at myself and find what drives me, motivates me, discourages me and so on. There is always time to want to improve ourselves and taking that time is important. We need to try new and different things to help us realize who we are meant to be and how we can become better. 

I enjoyed the talk by Dallin H. Oaks. There was so much in there that made me think. 

"It is not even enough for us to be convinced of the gospel; we must act and think so that we are converted by it. In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something."

This to me is an ever going quest. We are always need to be converted in one way or another, I believe. And if we do as he has said, "become something" we can be able to always be looking for who we are meant to be. 

Who do you want to be? - Week Nine

After reading and watching the video this week the question that comes to mind is, "Who do you want to be?". There were many different suggestions and ideas of why people are great, how to make people great and how this will effect the world.

Guy Kawasaki talks about being someone to trust. That seems so simple and basic but when I really think about it, it really is a rare and special thing that happens. We live in a world where people I think live a lot in the gray area. We become jaded in what being honest and trustworthy means, we justify and reason with ourselves to the point where we loose sight of the truth sometimes. In every aspect of our lives we must learn to always be honest in our dealings not matter what.

Carly Fiorina makes many great points and one that stuck out to me was about asking questions and then listening to the answer. That criticism is an opportunity. How great would the world and our own personal lives be if we looked at life more like that, asked the right questions and listened to the answer. Then take it one more step and not become offered and make the situation better. Learn from what you are being told and do better.

All that is possible - Week Eight

This weeks reading and videos were refreshing in sometimes I lack self confidence. There is no way I can accomplish great and marvelous things because I am just me. The answer from Marilyn Funt when asked is she "was anybody",

"I used to think being somebody meant public recognition of one’s efforts. Wrong. I now know that the feeling of being somebody comes from hard work and self-growth. Being in control of my life makes me answer that question with a strong “Yes!” 

We are all capable of amazing things in our own regard. If comes from self control, self worth and like she said hard work and self growth. The feeling of accomplishment and personal fulfillment is how we can become more and truly help those around us. We must have this confidence and understanding our ourselves so that we may be able to help serve those around us. 

The little video clip that we listened to by Taylor Richard is another reminder of how we can become the best we can be is to have faith in the Lord and the help that he may provide us. The doors that the Lord can and will open for us when we are doing as we are asked will help us in our effort. There is no limit to what we can become and with the Lords help it truly is amazing. 

Mastery - Week 7

During this past three weeks of reading Mastery there were many great things in that book. I really enjoyed a couple things in specific. First I loved the description of the dabbler, the obsessive and the hacker. I could see some of these things in myself and was able to see these in people that are close around me. It was fun to think of that process and realize how they effect me and the process in which I do things and lose interest. It truly made a lot of sense when I think of hobbies, schooling and other things I have done if my life and not been successful at. The plateaus are where I need to learn to make myself better and always take advantage of them.

There was another section of the book when he is talking about homeostasis. The points that he talked about to hold us back were investing and it was also interesting how others are effected by homoeostasis when it comes to changes we make. The story he shared of the alcoholic father and the family was very investing to read. For the family to have to have the chaos in their home every 6-8 weeks because they were so use to it was a great example of my family growing up. I can see how my mother has created this pattern in her life and how this situation played out while I was home and after I was married. I have had to make a effort not to allow myself to fall into the same pattern. This really put it all into perspective for me. 

Discipline - Week 6

Discipline is extremely important when it comes to all things our our lives. I think that each article I read this week and video I watched had a little to do with discipline. We must have discipline to be successful in this life. Regardless of what it is. Religion, family, work ethic, career, raising children and the list goes on and on. Elder Tanners talk was wonderful to read and hear his thoughts on the Priesthood and those whom hold it. I am so thankful for all those disciplined Priesthood holders (especially my husband). The Priesthood is very sacred and a gift for us. To be able to continue to have that gift on this earth we have been lucky to have men who understand their responsibility and live in a manner that is in coordinate with the Lords ways. This doesn't come with great ease as we all know.

The other video that was regarding family and boundaries. When it comes to the family I believe we all need to have boundaries. We can become consumed with certain things that can take so much from our family life. A career is defiantly a conflict in a family. Family it so important and needs to be a high priority therefore we must create ways and make rules that keep the family as one unit and a healthy unit.

Mastery - Week Five

Another great week of reading and video assignments. The book Mastery is very interesting and made me really look internally. There have been many instances in my life where I could completely relate with what he was talking about. From the person learning Tennis and wanting to just be the best to times where I have been a dabbler, obsessive and hacker. When reading about the dabbler, obsessive and hacker I could pick out times that I have and are one of these three. I can think of people who defiantly show these traits in their careers, relationships and hobbies. It was interesting to think through my own and then look at people around me. It kind of gave me a bit of a chuckle.

A Heros Journey, was absolutely my favorite this week. I instantly sent it to my husband after I finished it. It was inspiring and in a weird way comforting to listen to. The council that Brian Carter gave and suggestions of things to try was great! There were a few things that I put in my phone to try. First was to ask five people what you do better than anyone else on earth. Make sure they are specific. This almost makes me a little scared, because deep down I don't know what they might say and for some reason that concerns me. The second thing that truly resonated with me was, to write a one page letter to a mentor/person who has helped you become better. Then go read it aloud to that person. When he talked about this, I knew exactly who I would want to write my letter too. It was a basketball and running coach that I had. He worked with from the age of 13 and really took me in. He cared about me and taught me so much. Coach Kirkham also was my running coach in cross country and track. I learned a lot about myself from Kirkham and to this day still remember the lessons he taught me. I have not spoken to him since my junior year of hight school. I decided that I no longer wanted to run cross-country and track and from that day on he was upset with me and truly ignored my existence. It has truly bothered me all these years because he was someone that I greatly looked up to and learned so much from. I would like to thank him.

Unseen Difference - Week Four

This week was a very busy, it was hard to stay on top of everything. It however is always nice to read and watch the assigned material each week. It is inspiring and helps me feel hopeful that one day, I could create a business that I love, and that is okay. Not just start a business because I think it will be successful. 

In this weeks chapters of The Ministry of Business, I loved the section in chapter 9, Be the Unseen Difference. We truly never know when we are going to be able to have an positive effect on an individuals life and when we actually but just a little bit of effort, we can hopefully help many. For him to enjoy a book and know that one day down the road it could help another, is just that little bit of effort to help many many different people. There have been times in my life where I can remember being inspired or touched by someones little bit of effort of kindness. It is the simple, little things that can have the biggest impact on us. 

1  If you pursue your calling with discipline, intentionality, and the help of fellow travelers, what are the chances that your worst case scenario will really happen? 


If I were to pursue mu calling with discipline, intentionality, and help of others, I believe that the chances of my worst case scenario really happening is the same. Nothing is going to be a for sure deal. With the help of others, I would always be grateful and appreciate them and know that their contributions will keep me one more step away from the worst case scenario. With strict discipline and intentionality I know that the chances are better and will help me reach goals, however it is never a for sure deal. 



2  As you look at your list of fears, what themes emerge? What is at the core of what you really fear? Financial ruin? The judgment or disapproval of others? Physical harm? Endangering the ones you love? Embarrassment? 


I think all of those, financial ruin, judgment and disapproval, embarrassment and a little bit endangering love ones. The financial lose would be hard to swallow and hard to maybe even not feel guilty on a daily basis. Judgment and disapproval really shouldn't have anything to do with it, however it really is a fear of mine and worry how I would deal with this. Embarrassment it tough for me and I hate to have to "eat crow", unfortunately I can be prideful. 
The only reason I would say endangering loved ones would not necessary mean them physical harm but perhaps emotional. 



What is the risk of taking no action – not following your calling? How do you plan to deal with fear when it pops up on your entrepreneurial journey? 


The risk of taking no action is feeling the way I have felt the past 14 year since I graduated high school. That I am not living up to my full potential. 


Dealing with fear is interesting, because it can either crush you or motivate you. I hope that I will be able to use the fear as a motivator, not a disabler. 

Personal Code of Conduct - Week Three

I will never….

Take advantage of another person for my own personal gain (financially or positional)

Sacrifice my faith in any regard

Put my career or money before the well being of my family

  

I will always….

Tell the truth

Treat people as my Savior would

Look for opportunities to serve those around me

These are the Personal Code of Conduct that I turned in this week. I have though a lot about this since completing the assignment. In the instructions for this assignment it states, 

"Have you ever been tempted to rationalize, to pretend to yourself that you aren't shifting ground? Is any Human free of this temptation?"

I know for myself these questions really made me think. Have I ever rationalized? Do I shift ground? Am I every going to be above this? Unfortunately, I answered, Yes, Yes and No. How could rationalizing and shifting in my stance have effected those around me? I certainly am not showing that I am "true blue, through and through" as Sheri L. Dew states. How can I avoid doing this in the future, so that I don't give someone doubt of who I am and what I stand for. How do I always stand as a good example of what is right when it is not easy? 

I think looking at my "I will always..." statements is a beginning. To be able to live in a way that I am truly following Christ, serving my fellow man and always being truthful to myself and others will lead to being a human not free, but strong enough to overcome that temptation. I know that will my Saviors help I can repent for my past failures and always look forward for opportunities to be better. 

Dreaming... - Week Two

"What is your calling in life?" by Jefferey A. Thompson was my favorite article this week. I loved how he talked about his journey and how he got there. That it was not something that he always knew he wanted and that it took time and experience to figure it out. As I got into the talk I enjoyed reading the heresys he mentioned of the way the world works. When we begin thinking along those lines, we will find ourselves essentially on the wrong path. 

The first three chapters of "The Ministry of Business" kept me captivated. The story of his wife and his experience with his career reminded me much of the experience my husband and I had a year ago. We were presented with an offer to switch companies, however we were very happy and loved where we were. It took much prayer and trips to the temple for us to finally come to a decision. We decided to make the leap of faith and do exactly what we had felt was the right thing to do. To switch companies. Looking back now, we truly had been being prepared for this move and can see it now. I am sure 20 years from now we will see many more reasons as to why we needed  to make this move. The next two chapters spoke to me in many ways and felt that I could truly relate and use the information he was speaking about. 

Now on to Randy Pausch's last lecture. It is a bit of a heartbreaking story, yet inspirational when you think of his attitude. 

• Why do you think Randy Pausch was able to achieve so many of his childhood dreams?
• Do you feel that dreaming is important? Why or why not?
• Discuss at least one of your childhood dreams. Explain why you believe you can or cannot achieve this dream.

   After watching the video of his last lecture and reading it, for me I believe he could achieve many of his childhood dreams because he learned from his failures. Which truly were not failures. He never played in the NFL, however the lessons he learned while participating in football were lessons that he may have never learn anywhere else and helped him in his other dreams. 

 Dreaming is fun. What would life be like if we didn't dream? I believe that dreaming can be what motivates and inspires us to do more and be more. Life would be pretty boring if everyone had just done what was expected and had to be done. Dreaming allows us seek our individually and make the world a better place. 

I had many childhood dreams. Being a country singer, astronaut, archeologist. None of these dreams panned out, which is okay. Another childhood dream that I had was to restore my own 1966-67ish Ford Mustang for myself. My father restored them and it was something I was around a lot and help. The older I became the more I loved and appreciated them. I never had an opportunity to restore one with my father when I was younger, however it is still something that I would like to do. My husband and I have since bought a 1967 GTA that my father had acquired and I enjoy driving it when I can (when I don't have my four daughters with me). However, I still have that desire to restore one myself. I believe that as my children become older and if I have more time that I could restore one. I have mine here now that I could use as a reference and of course I have my dad, brother and husband who could help me along the way.