Success Isn't All About Money

This week I had the opportunity learn a lot about how to measure your success and how to help yourself be successful. One of the things I learned was measuring your success solely off of your career’s success would be wrong. You need to first make sure you understand what things are the most important in your life. The happiness of my family is very important to me and if I made millions of dollars, but they were unhappy my life would not be successful. I want to make sure that I do all I can to provide for not only their financial needs, but also make sure their other needs are met as well. As I thought about this I realized that if you are in a managers position you have the ability to make sure this could happen for people working under you. Many times people will have a bad a day at work and when they get home their family will suffer for it as well. If we make sure people feel their work is not only appreciated, by telling them good job and thank you, then they will be happier at work and at home. When people are happier they are more effective and will be more successful.

Another thing that I found interesting this week was something I heard in a video. It said, “Do what you love.” I have heard this before and I want to make sure I follow this advice, but then there was something added that really made me look at this idea from a different angle. Not only should we do what we love because we will enjoy it and be happier for it, but also we should do what we love because we will be better at it. When I am doing something I love I will go above and beyond to learn more about it, improve it, and share it with others. You, as well as others, will be able to see passion in your work. You will also be less likely to take a bad attitude home with you because you will be happier with the work you are doing. As we do what we love and understand what things are truly important will be able to look at our lives and know we are successful. It won’t matter how much money we are making or what our job title is, because we will have found purpose for ourselves. We will be in a situation to improve our lives and the lives of those around us.

An Entrepreneur's Bucket List

           This week has put a lot of things in perspective for me. I listened/read a lecture given by a man who had very little time left to live. He spoke about living your dreams and how important it was. He had accomplished many wonderful things in his life and I was able to take his inspiring words and make my very own bucket list. This list has 50 things on it and I feel each and every one of them is attainable.

            Some of the things on my list are selfish, but there is many that are selfless as well. Some of the items need to be worked on immediately and others can be completed later in life. Some people may see items on my list as crazy or unreachable, but in my eyes they are all possible. As I looked at my list I was able to laugh, feel excited, and feel proud. I was able to see which things I viewed as important and interesting. I could see my definition of a success and happiness. I also saw what I viewed as a life worth living.

            How does this relate to entrepreneurship? Well, I did have some career goals on the list, but those alone were not what I saw as helpful insights to being an effective entrepreneur. Both the personal and professional goals on my bucket list will help me maintain balance in my life. Also, one side cannot exist without the other.  If I cannot achieve all the things on the professional side of the list, then it will be nearly impossible to attain all the things on the personal side. The professional side inspires the personal side and vice versa.

            I hope everyone will take some time to write a bucket list. It will not only give them a quick little snap shot of what they want their life to be like, but will help pull out the entrepreneur inside of them. It will help them make decisions, and take more risks. It will push them to step out of their comfort zone and learn something they most likely wouldn’t have learned other wise. It will help them see life more like and entrepreneur would, and that is the way I think life what meant to be seen and lived.

Early Stages of Entrepreneurship

This week I have learned a lot about what is important in the early stages of being an entrepreneur. To my surprise it was not having a business plan, or an amazing website, or even a lot of money, but it is having the right mindset and always maintaining your integrity. Becoming and entrepreneur cannot only be rewarding and exciting, but it can also be intimidating and challenging. However if you can remain focused and honest you will give yourself a better chance at success.

In the early stages of a new venture your customers will be able to provide you with your most valuable information. This being said, it is important to make sure you have customers as you begin your business. You need to go above and beyond to make them happy and satisfied. The relationship you develop with these first customers can help shape what your company will become. It is important to listen to not only the happy customers, but also the ones that are unhappy ones. This is why a website is not one of the most important things when starting a business. In this technological world we live in today we may over look the importance of face-to-face interaction. Do not let computer replace the vital role of customer interaction, especially in a start-up.

Let’s say you have a wonderful business idea and would like to start your own business. This idea should open the floodgate for more ideas. You need to be able to have more than just your original idea. You need to be able to build upon it and always be seeking more opportunities. As you think of more ideas, and notice new opportunities, share them with others. An idea can only be improved if shared and tested.

Lastly, while going through this process of entrepreneurship never be dishonest in anyway! This is not only important, but it is vital to success and happiness. You need to do all you can to make sure ever ideas you have or decision you make is done with integrity. This one piece of advice will propel you further than anything else as you not only start, but run your business.

Diligently Seeking Opportunity

I am very exited for this class this semester. In my other business classes I have taken, I have always enjoyed the sections we covered about entrepreneurship. I hope I learn a lot about what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur, and that I can apply the skills I learn.

I had the opportunity to read a couple talks by Elder Bednar, which I have previously read before. However, these talks are so inspiring and powerful that I could re them over and over again. One of them is “Your Whole Souls as an Offering to Him.” In this talk one of the things that stands out to me was being diligent in my learning efforts. I want to receive good grades, but I feel it is much more important to understand the material being taught. I have told people close to me that when I graduate I don’t care if I am valedictorian as long as I know more than the valedictorian does.

I also watched some videos of Guy Kawasaki. I was able to take some important lessons from him. I know that money is not the most important thing in the world. I want to be successful, but my family’s happiness is more important to me. If I can find something that I enjoy doing I will be better able to be the father and husband I desire to be. Mr. Kawasaki has many videos and speeches. I have been lucky enough to watch a few of them where I have learn that it is important to understand what to spend your time on and what not to spend you time on.  One of the most important lessons I learned from his videos is the importance of giving back. I believe a big part of being successful is being able to help others for their benefit. This will always help you keep a healthy perspective on life and business. Even though I will always keep my eyes open for opportunities to make money, I will also keep my eyes open for opportunities to help others.