Happiness

This week we learned about what it really takes to be an entrepreneur in terms of relationships, time/balance, and money. What struck me the most was what I read in, “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness: A Cautionary Tale” from the Acton Foundation.

It was interesting to read that the secret to happiness was that we are already quite happy. I didn’t realize studies had been done to determine the likelihood that our happiness level is largely determined by heredity and that,  “Despite sometimes desperate attempts to chase happiness, most of us will spend all our lives oscillating around our pre-set level of happiness.” It also made sense to me that there are decisions we can make to determine our overall happiness such as where we choose to work and to live. Also, there are things that are going to happen that will cause unhappiness in our lives that will be out of our control.

We learned in our other reading that balance is not always possible in the life of an entrepreneur and when it can be achieved it is a constant struggle. I think remembering that we are already quite happy can help through the times of struggle. I also think it is important to know that there are some things within our control, such as what we are doing for a living. If the life of an entrepreneur is not making us happy, we can change that.

Below are the answers to the questions that needed to be answered after reading the article, “Attitude on Money” by Stephen W. Gibson

• What is your attitude toward money?

I agree with Gibson in that money is a necessary part of life. I believe that we must do what we can to obtain what is necessary keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. I believe in inconspicuous consumerism, or the idea that we don’t need to flaunt the money that we have with the things that we buy. I believe that once we have obtained what is sufficient for our needs we need to help others.

• How can your view of money affect the way you live?

I think this quote from the article sums up how our view of money can affect the way that we live, “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.” If we see money as a source of power and status, we might make poor choices in order to obtain it and then how we choose to use it when we have it. If we see money as a way to sustain life and to help others, we can do a lot of good with it.

• What rules are recommended for prospering?

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.

Dream Big Dreams

This week we learned about thinking big and considering what our own big dreams are. I like what they said in the intro to the lesson plan this week, “We get locked into our own little worlds and forget what matters most to us.” It really is true. We tend to get stuck in the weeds of our own lives without thinking about what really matters.

We had our entrepreneurial interviews this week and mine was quite eye opening. In particular, I noticed that the entrepreneur I interviewed did not shy away from his big dreams. He pursued them, even at a young age. He focused on his dreams despite the financial situation he grew up in. He stayed the course even in the face of opposition and lack of support from his mother and extended family. Today he is a successful entrepreneur who continues to pursue what he feels are great opportunities, despite any negativity or push back going on around him. This week’s interview assignment really made me step back and reflect on my own pursuits. Am I dreaming big dreams? To one extent yes and to another no. Our reading this week combined with the things that the entrepreneur that I know taught me, I am motivated to dig deep inside myself, realize what my big dreams are and start pursuing them.

The Rarest Skill of All

This week our lesson material centered on leadership and execution. The reading that hit home for me was “A Message to Garcia” from the Acton Guide. In it they tell the story of a man named Rowan who was a “go to” person in a dire time of need. He was able to accomplish an important task without detailed instruction or a team of people. He simply just got it done. The following quote describes the type of person Rowan was and how rare someone like him is:

“People like Rowan—who accomplish missions quickly and efficiently, with minimum oversight—are as rare today as they were 100 years ago when publisher Elbert Hubbard wrote ‘A Message to Garcia’.”

When I was employed full time I was asked by one of our executives to put together a financial report that included our sales by category compared to those of our competitors. This task really wasn’t difficult; it was just a matter of building the report and then populating it as soon as all of our competitors reported their sales. I did just that and began to submit the report each month. The second time I completed this task I received an email thanking me for outstanding work and dependability in accomplishing this task. My boss was copied and I was again recognized simply for doing what I was asked to do. Since then my advice to family or friends who are out in the workforce is: “If you want to stand out, simply get the job done”. Now that I have read “A Letter to Garcia” I have learned more and can expound on execution. I will certainly be referencing this for years to come.

Stones in The Road

This week, above all of the reading and videos we watched, I particularly enjoyed the chapters in “A Field Guide For the Hero’s Journey” by Jeff Sandefer and Rev. Rovert Sirico. Chapter 5, “Stones in the Road” stood out to me the most. I particularly liked the following quote by Theodore Roosevelt:

“In this life we get nothing save by effort. Freedom from effort in the present merely means that there has been some stored up effort in the past. A mere life of ease is not in the end a very satisfactory life, and, above all, it is a life which ultimately unfits those who follow it for serious work in the world….Let us therefore boldly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods. Above all let us shrink from no strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true…greatness”.

This quote was so motivating to me! There is opposition in all things so there will always be some strife, some trial to face. If for some reason things seem easy for a time I know it is because “there has been some stored up effort in the past” as Roosevelt said above. We are meant to face stones in the road and as much as I wish they weren't there I know ultimately they are good for us. We learn from them, we become more resilient and it is amazing the satisfaction that comes when we conquer them.