"My Last Lecture"

The challenge for this week's post (which will be my last, as the class is not ending), was to consider what we might tell those who are embarking on their own entrepreneurial journey, if it was the last time we would ever get to speak. In many ways, this post will contain advice for myself, as I am one of those students contemplating trying to make it on my own.

 Okay, here it goes...

First off--don't be stupid.

That might sound a bit abrasive, but I recall the words of a wise and humble man, recorded in The Book of Mormon, which he spoke to his own people. He told them to "be wise", and then asked what he could say more. When it comes to being an entrepreneur, my ultimate advice is to not attempt becoming one unless you are clear about the risks (both acceptable and unacceptable), and are willing and able to abide the consequences of them.

As I have learned from reading about the experience of others, and drawing on the personal experiences of my own father in his struggle to run his family's business, I feel that I recognize more than ever that being an entrepreneur is not the easy road. Some may be tempted by the ethereal promise of "freedom" that running your own business or being self-employed offers, but like the Genie from Aladdin, "phenomenal cosmic power" (or "freedom"), comes with an "itty bitty living space". Even when you are self-employed, you are not your own boss. Yes, you have much more deciding power in how you want to run things, but if you plan on running your dream business any longer than a week, you need to understand that the client will end up being your boss in a lot of ways.

The point is, don't be deceived by the illusion of "freedom" in your work. You still have to operate within the world, whether you like it or not.

Another thing to consider is the fact that, whether you work solo or in a team, if it's your idea, you have to be excited about it, and be able to get others excited about it. No one will pay you to do something that you yourself find to be bad or uninteresting work. If you can find a project that you feel is worth your time and care, then that will end up being much easier to sell and do well at, than if you hate what you are doing.

This is necessary, not only for your own sanity, but in being able to lead those around you to support that idea. If you are on a team, then those are the people you need to convince. If you work solo, then it is your client whom you need to convince. Either way, leadership skills can and are a necessity in order to succeed.

Lastly, put your trust in God. and believe that everything will turn out alright, so long as you follow His counsel. God has a plan for each of us, whether it be as an entrepreneur or not. Consider His words to you through the scriptures, as well as the realities facing you at whatever time of your life that you are in. Be mindful also that the things in life that have true value are often the ones you have to work the hardest for.

It Really Will Be Okay

The focus of this week's lesson was on gratitude. This may or may not seem to be an odd subject when it comes to business, but I feel--especially after this week--that it is a crucial one.

Part of the goal of becoming successful is to be able to help those around you. This is something we established early on in the class. It shows gratitude to those who helped you on your journey, and gratitude to God for all He does in your life. And really, gratitude is a wonderful feeling, especially when acted upon.

The words of a hymn came to mind as I contemplated this subject:

"So, amid the conflict whether great or small,

Do not be discouraged, God is over all;

Count your many blessings, angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end."

Now, I realize this is really just going back to the idea of positive thinking, but as I considered all the things I had to be grateful for, all the many troubles that are facing our nation, and our world, I realized that everything would be okay. God really is "over all". 

Almost as a side note, another interesting bit of advice from this week came from Stan Christensen, an instructor from Stanford, about avoiding the "wrong" jobs. This doesn't mean the jobs that don't tend to make a lot of money, or some such thing. The "wrong" jobs in this case, are the jobs that you think that people want you to do. His advice is that you will never be able to keep ahead of people's expectations, and that you are better off doing something that you are passionate about. That was certainly encouraging to me, though in the end, one does have to work hard for those passions.

This has certainly been an amazing class. I hope I can continue to remember the lessons I have been taught here as I continue my life's journey.