My Entrepreneur's Journal

This week I read a summary of the book titled The 7 Habits of Effective People by Stephen R. Covey.  The book lists 7 habits to develop to become more effective in the workforce and an all around better leader to your peers.  It breaks down the steps into dependency, independence, and interdependence.  The habit that I found most interesting is Habit 7 Sharpen the saw. So what does sharpen the saw mean?  It means don't forget to take care of yourself while you are working with others.  Covey lists several ways to practice self care.  Physical exercise daily, spiritual renewal, mental dimension, and a social/emotional dimension.  As I type this post I am in school trying to finish my bachelors degree that was started 22 years ago.  I have always felt that I wold go back someday, and what I realized after reading this summary i that we are born as learners, soaking in everything.  When we don't progress mentally we are not fulfilled in all asp...

If you have not read or listened to A Hero’s Journey a talk given at BYUI, I highly recommend reading it.    Traditionally the hero’s journey goes something like this.   Phase 1 The Departure.   You leave the comfort of the life you have always known to go into the unknown.   Phase 2 The Initiation.   The hero faces some trials and tribulations and is tested. At this phase you meet allies, enemies, and mentors with supernatural powers to help you on your journey.   Phase 3 The Return.   Having endured the hardships and trials, having overcome obstacles, the hero returns a changed person.   Sometimes the change is physical, but usually the change is internal, and you cannot see it visually.   So, when the speaker in this talk states that, "You have a very special mission on this earth, a mission that will succeed beyond your wildest dreams, only if you have the faith and courage to pursue your entrepreneurial calling.” I immediate am cu...

This weeks reading asked us how we want to be remembered? I have done some internal reflection and have thought about this question for a few days.  I don't think it is a coincidence that before this class I decided to do some work on myself and journal the journey.  I want to be know as a person of integrity first and foremost.  I want to be kind, charitable, loving, and resourceful.  I want to be a leader and hope that people will look to me as a mentor.  I want to be close to the Lord and focus on his will in my life each and every day.  If I remember my core values I will be true to my goals and move forward in knowledge and light.   

This week I read the last lecture from Randy Pausch given at Carnegie Mellon in September 2007.  The title of the lecture was  Really Achieving your Childhood Dreams.   I had never heard of Randy Pausch before I read the lecture, but I was so impressed with his determination to follow thru on his childhood dreams.  The way he spoke about achieving many of his childhood dreams was inspiring.  It got me thinking about how different Randy is from most people.  I think most of us decide that our childhood dreams are just that...a dream to wake up from.  We end up not pursuing them and forgetting about them completely.  I had to spend a lot of time trying to remember what my dreams were as a child.  Randy on the other hand kept his dreams foremost in his mind and when the opportunity came up, he jumped at the chance to achieve it.  Most of his achievements involved asking the right people for help.  I think most people want to hel...