My Entrepreneur Journal

  In the reading "Recognizing and Shaping Opportunities," they shared a quote. "Our job is to figure out what they’re going to want before they do. I think Henry Ford once said, “If I’d asked customers what they wanted, they would have told me, ‘A faster horse!’’ People don’t know what they want until you show it to them" —Steve Jobs. I think that is interesting. I have always wanted to be a person who comes up with great ideas. That's as far as I have gotten. I do have some ideas but never do anything about them. I usually just say, "It would be cool if they had this..." I would think of something cool. Never do anything about it.  The reading for this week also talks about a restaurant owner following their passion but not selling what the public wants. That's the hard part. When something that really resonates with a person doesn't resonate or interest the masses. You will find people that will love what you give but you have to find the rig...

Virtue and integrity are so vital in an economy because if we have people who are not ethical then we have a break down of a perfectly run and moral society. It's sad that we don't have a society that puts morals as a lead in how they run the company or government. Like last week where money is put in place then the interest of the people. A quote from "What's a Business For" is "To  many, it seems that executives no longer  run their companies for the benefit of  consumers, or even of their shareholders and employees, but for their personal ambition and financial gain." Once people start turning towards how much money they can make and how can they become bigger and better as a company and as a person, we lose the focus. If people are running on a moral compass their "why" changes. They want to help others and focus on how to make it good for their customers or as a people vs the ambition to earn as much money as we can. Not all people and com...

When I was young I imagined being a princess or a rich person who owned and lived in a castle or a very large mansion. I would imagine walking through my castle and pretend what I would do. When it came to the mansion. My cousin and I would talk about having a secret passage and room. That was fun. When I got older the reality set in. I didn't need a huge place. I didn't want to clean it anyways. Well, there would be maids but I still felt like it would be too big to make it really feel like a home. By the time I was an adult I knew that I didn't need to be rich. I just wanted to be comfortable. That is how I view money. I don't aspire to be rich or even think about it in the sense of becoming rich. I do think about it when it comes to paying for my child's college or going on vacations together. I just want to be comfortable enough to not have to worry and to be able to help people when needed. The Lord answered the thoughts I was having. It wasn't really a pra...

There were a few quotes that really resonated with me this week. One that I have heard before and has stuck with me the past couple of years and it was a nice reminder again. Coincidentally, on my walk with a friend, she talked about this same one that she talked to her seminary kids about. Working towards my dreams can look differently than another person. Mine is more just getting past my insecurities and embracing the goals that I have. In "The Challenge to Become" By Elder Dallin H. Oaks he tells of a parable. A wealthy man talks to his son and says, “All that I have I desire to give you—not only my wealth, but also my position and standing among men. That which I have I can easily give you, but that which I am you must obtain for yourself." This stood out to me because I thought of my goals to get to the Celestial Kingdom with my Father in Heaven. I want to do everything I can to be worthy of that. Of course everyone falters and sins, in whatever form that is, but J...

This week's readings and videos were nice to learn from. I think that it is good to have morals and guidelines to follow resulting in great work ethics. Not just having good morals but to be a leader and teaching by example. It makes me think of King Benjamin and King Mosiah. They were a great example of leading by example. They didn't just sit in their "palace" and let the people do all the work. They worked right alongside the people. They were great leaders.  I am sharing a few things that stood out to me that will help me along with my own business someday and how to be a disciple leader.  In "Leadership and Capability" by Carly Fiorina talks about a business going further than competitors because they kept on changing and trying new things when the competitors stayed with the status quo. They didn't do new things and those she worked for passed them. She quotes  Charles Darwin at the end saying, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives,...

In the talk "However Long and Hard the Road " by Jeffrey R. and Patricia T. Holland, Sister Holland said "The only limitations you have are those you set on yourselves." I find that a lot of times that is the case. We put expectations for ourselves and bring ourselves down because we don't think we are good enough or can't do it. We need to get past that and believe that we can do it. Sometimes we have to work even harder than others to finish a goal. Sometimes they are easier. The thing we need to remember is that we need to believe in ourselves and focus on the positive and keep trying. Don't give up. If we have a positive outlook and keep trying we will find that we eventually get there and we can look back and be satisfied and happy that we believed in ourselves. It always helps when we recognize God in that process and His help too.  "Good Things to Come" by Elder Holland quotes at the end of his story. “Don't you quit! You keep walkin...