Week #11

This week we read and watched many items regarding balancing work and family life.  Rather just having a balanced life that is satisfying and makes you happy.  "Money doesn't buy happiness" is the phrase that constantly was either heard or came into my mind.  There will always be many different things begging for your time, the main thing is to know what order your priorities are in.  As we read over some case studies, I was able to ponder on my thoughts of having my own business and how it would interfere with my family time.  Would I have to miss out on some performances or some games?  Or would I make my family a priority over my business?  I came to realize that if I did start up a business, this would definitely have to be a discussion between myself and my husband.  A self owned business would definitely have to have many decisions decided between both of us so as not to create any contention in the family.  We are a family first and the business would come afterward. 
I realized that not everyone had the same views on this.  I hope and pray that I do not ever have to have any issues with this, but I know that if we pray for help that Heavenly Father will help us.  He is with us in our marriages, we have made covenants to Him as we have with each other.  He wants our families to succeed and we will report at the judgement seat to Him about our families.  We will not be asked how much money we made or how successful our businesses were.  I do feel like we will be asked how we made our families feel or how we raised our children.  Did we teach our families the gospel?  Did we teach them to pray and study the scriptures?  How can we teach these principles if we are absent and always at work?  

Week #10

This week we had to write up our paper about our interview on an entrepreneur.  I actually interviewed a few so I could get advice and help from many different people in different careers.  However, I wrote my paper on my interview of Dr. Jonathan Powell, DDS.  My bishop, longtime friend, neighbor, and of course my dentist.  He told me about when he attended BYU, he really enjoyed biological science courses and this helped him realize he wanted to go into dentistry.  His biggest advice was to make sure I fully understand the field I want to go into before trying to start a business.  There are so many hidden things that business owners do not speak about on a regular basis.  He has paid for coaching that has really helped him learn how to better run his business and be happy.
I think Dr. Powell is a great example of a successful entrepreneur.  Over the past 8 years, I have watched his clientele base grow constantly.  His office staff has grown over the years also.  He has started marketing more, or at least I have just noticed it more.  As the owner, he is responsible not only for the dentist procedures, but the growth of the business, the marketing, the finances, the insurance, the maintenance, and so much more.  Yet he says the benefits definitely outweigh the challenges.  He is able to see his talent and skill bring smiles and happiness to many who used to hide those smiles due to self-consciousness.  What a great thing to know that you are helping make a difference in someone else’s life.

Week #9

This week is titled "Disciple Leadership".  What hit me most this week was going through the readings made me think about my calling.  In the readings, I read about delegation and how much of the world nowadays is not full of "go-getters".  There are many who will ask a million questions if asked to complete a task, so we will want to do it ourselves instead of constantly asking and answering more questions in order to get a task completed.  It sure would be faster and simpler for us to complete it ourselves.  But does that allow for growth in the "employee" or the company?  As I compared this to my calling in Primary, I realize that my hardship with delegation and trying to do everything on my own does not allow anyone else to grow as leaders or within the ward and church.  I am possibly stunting the spiritual growth of the children and leaders, and possibly even myself.   In “Leadership with a Small “L”” by Pres. Clark, I recall reading this when I started Pathway last year.  I thought it was very interesting at that time and yet it still is wonderful today.  The principles he teaches are: Lead by example, Lead with vision, and lead with love.  I know if I follow these principles I can be a good leader in business and in other areas of my life. 

Week #8

This week we studied about entrepreneur overcoming challenges or hurdles in their way.  Many different stories.  One story about an engineer that stated behind every technical problem is a human problem, it just may be down the line a few steps.  A programming code error, why?  Because it was input wrong by the coder.  Why?  Because he is new and wasn't trained.  Why?  Because his manager doesn't believe in training.  And there is the real problem to confront. 
Another story about Elder Holland as a young father.  As moving across the country with his little family, their car breaks down.  He has to hike miles back to the nearest town for help.  After getting towed back to town and car being fine, they start the journey again.  Same spot and same problem with car again.  The young father again sets to walking back to the town for help.  The setback could cause many to decide to not make this trek, yet he still made it.  Just had to figure out a way to make it happen.  Without the old car. 
I know there will be many hiccups along the way of building a business.  It will not be easy and breezy.  Yet Heavenly Father is always there to help us be comforted and guided in righteousness through the difficult times.