Last lecture? Really?!!

We have a joke in my family about lectures.  I’m notorious for giving my children lectures.  Sometimes they listen and sometimes they don’t.  That is human nature.

If I was to give my last lecture based on what I have learned this semester in my entrepreneurship class, the first piece of advice I would offer would be, take this class.  I don’t think I learned anything earth shattering in this class, but I did learn to evaluate my life, my values, my dreams, myself in a systematic way which has caused me to understand myself better.  There have been moments of doubt whether I’m cut out to be an entrepreneur, but then I realized that our entire life is about being an entrepreneur – making something better out of our lives than what we started with.  One may not start a business to be an entrepreneur, but one can make an impact on the world.  The principles learned in this class will help each one of us make a positive impact on the world.

Another piece of advice I’d offer based on taking this class is carefully choose your partners in life.  This includes your eternal companion, your work companions, your play companions, your business partner.  One person in your life could possibly wear all those hats, but you may have a plethora of people to fulfill these roles in your life.  As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (or any Christian organization for that matter) we are taught to help others, not shun others, not put others down.  So how is this to be accomplished if we surround ourselves only with the best?  As in the instructions given on the airplane prior to take off, one is told to put one’s oxygen mask on first and then help others.  We each need to have our “oxygen mask” on first before we can go out and help others.  This means make sure our personal foundation is sure, we have a great support structure of companions and then we can go out to help others.  Just because we go into a place to help others, does not mean we need to take on their negative life choices.  Through our personal foundation and those we choose to surround ourselves with who reinforce our personal foundation, we can then go in with our oxygen mask and lift up the weary and downtrodden.

  

One last piece of advice I would give is ask questions.  This is not the same as questioning something.  I believe President Dieter F. Uchtdorf says it best, “Doubt your doubts, before you doubt your faith.”  I have faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ and those He has appointed to lead the Church.  I have faith in chosen mentors and principles.  I may not understand everything a mentor shares or a principle taught, but I know the foundation is sure.  I keep asking questions until I understand.  My journey of understanding may give me a different perspective to the truth than those who taught me.  Then I will have added to the conversation that makes each principle stand the test of time.

This will probably not be my last lecture, but it is my last lecture for this class at this time.  I’m sure as I review and use the principles I have learned I will have other conversations about them. 

Winding down and winding up

The semester is winding down.  I’m glad.  I don’t like going to school.  At the halfway mark, I was wondering what I was doing.  But I plowed on and have almost completed this semester.  I thoroughly enjoyed my classes.  I have learned so much.  I’m actually surprised that many of questions about being an entrepreneur have been answered.  This has never happened before in my life.  That is one reason I gave up on my education several decades ago.  My questions weren’t being answered.  I know I probably should regret not finishing my degree decades ago, but I don’t.  My education was to be completed at this time.  I was looking for the educational model that fit me and I have found it through BYU-Idaho online. 

What I have learned this semester will not fit in a single blogpost, but what I learned of value this week for me what that I can close an experience and not feel like I failed.  I have a product idea.  I have a product launch idea.  I have a vague business plan.  And now, I feel I can go forward.  I only ask that I get back the money I venture on the product and I’m pretty sure I can do that.  While I do this process to get a product launched, I now know I can learn a lot and use it to launch my next big idea.  But, the product and myself may surprise me and we will not only launch but may have longevity.  Then, I will have another set of challenges to overcome.  Either way, I’m excited to give it a try.  There are stones in the path and dragons to overcome and despair to face, but with my newfound knowledge, I feel I can become the hero I’m meant to be.

The future of business?

This week for my entrepreneurship class, I read an article written by Charles Handy, “What’s a Business For?” published in the December 2002 Harvard Business Review.  He suggests that virtue and integrity are vital to an economy.  Why?  According to an online dictionary virtue is defined as showing high morals standards and integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.  My husband has worked for over a quarter century in the medical device, biologics and pharmaceutical industry.  His industry is governed by standards and the FDA.  These standards are “self-imposed” by organizations that have met to create standards that the industry follows.  The FDA quite often recognizes these standards as valid principles for a company to follow.  We, as consumers, trust that these standards are followed.  Of course, there are instances where these standards are not followed and trust is lost.  And once that trust is lost, the companies lose their customer base. 

Mr. Handy, also states that the purpose of a business “…is not to make a profit…It is to make a profit so that the business can do something more or better.  That ‘something’ becomes the real justification for the business.”  But what is the better?  Just a better mousetrap?  The rest of his article suggests something even more than a better mousetrap, but a better world.  He speaks of democraticizing companies so all have a vote in the progress of the company, sustainability – environmental and social, and taking care of the consumer.  I’m trying to wrap my mind around some of the concepts he put forward.  This article was written over 13 years ago.  I’m not sure who primarily reads the Harvard Business Review (not me, though I have appreciated the few articles I’ve been given in my class), but I would assume it is those who are the movers and shakers in any industry.  I’m not seeing that many have taken into consideration his advice (or it’s slow moving).  But, as an aspiring entrepreneur is shouldn’t matter to me if I see others following his suggestions or not.  What am I going to do with the suggestions?

After reading this, I’ve considered how I would let others I “employ” have a vote in the progress of the company.  I don’t have an answer yet, but it has given me food for thought.  Would I purposely keep my business small to avoid to many votes?  I don’t know.  Sustainability, at least environmental sustainability, is visible in the business world – from “green” companies to those who do sincerely watch their “carbon footprint”.  I have also considered how I will maintain integrity in my earthly stewardship with my business ventures.  The social sustainability is a new concept to me, though I have considered what I would give my “employees” if I should employ any.  This will be a process to be reviewed.  Taking care of the consumer is also receiving headlines these days.  Some companies are exploring many different avenues to help take care of their consumers WITHOUT it being legislated.  That is noteworthy.  I haven’t yet decided how I’m going to take care of my consumers, though it is a consideration in my game plan. 

Mr. Hardy hints that some of this needs to be legislated though he notes that the laws often lag behind the actual need.  I hope they don’t need to be legislated because then it becomes a form of resentment rather than a true change of heart.  I would rather be educated and allow to make my own changes than be told what I have to do.

Another concept we were asked to consider in class was from a speech given by Elder Gay entitled, “Entrepreneurship and Consecration.”  Elder Gay states a similar reason for business that we are to help ourselves to serve others.  That is my hope that I will have a business that will help me and my family as well as help others have a better live whether through the product itself or through how I choose to run my business.

Balance and money

One question I have had the entire semester, is how to balance life while being an entrepreneur?  I was grateful for the video of Randy Komisar of Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers as he discussed balancing life and career successfully.  He stated that balance is more like a swinging pendulum than a static pendulum.  At one time, money, opportunity and power are more important than other aspects of your life.  As one journeys through life, one needs to determine what is more important – other aspects or the trappings of success.  What makes you happy?  Some people are happy making money but one can be happy making money to provide for a family.  Money is not the object, providing for your family is the object.  Happiness comes from attaining the object – so the journey is important.  If the object itself becomes more important than the purpose of the object then happiness is lost. 

What has helped me was understanding that the balance is like the swinging pendulum.  I think I can understand that the object may move the way we attain balance.

We were also asked to answer the following questions:

§  What is your attitude toward money?  I feel money is important to sustain life and to help others.  I like to have enough to do what I would like to do – such as visit my children whenever I want, go on vacations with my husband, provide for charitable organizations, and buy lots of books.

§  How can your view of money affect the way you live?  Sometimes, it has allowed me to work at job and just show up without contributing.  I’m just working to sustain life and as my church contributions are “automatically” part of my budget, I still help others.

§  What rules are recommended for prospering?  According to Stephen W. Gibson in is article, “Attitude on Money”, the rules of prospering are:

§    

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, isthe 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.

Importance and Becoming

This week, I learned about the book, Your Emotional Footprint.  I immediately purchased this book because I wanted to understand what motivates me and others.  I have received valuable insights so far in this class, but this book might be the clincher to my lack of motivation.  I hope so.  I want to move forward with my life and my goals, but there is still something holding me back.  I think I know what it is and I’m struggling with overcoming it.  As I read the first pages of this book (thank you, Amazon Prime!) and Woody Woodward wrote about importance, I’m more convinced this is what I’m looking for.  Not that I need to be important, but I do need to feel that my goal is important – that it will make a difference – that it will help someone other than myself.  I don’t need to the change the world kind of importance.  I just need to know that it is more than making money.  Perhaps, I just need to launch and the importance will follow. 

It was also comforting to hear Mr. Ritchie say that even at his age, he is still learning and becoming better.  I didn’t list that as one of my fears, but I know I want to continue learning and becoming better.  As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I know that life doesn’t end at death and it didn’t begin at birth.  I know that we are always becoming.  I don’t think I’ll ever be bored if I’m always striving to BECOME.

Hedgehog concept

This week I was able to read a summary of Jim Collins, Good to Great.  In this book he outlines six concepts what it takes for a company to transform from good to great.  The concept that I found most interesting was the Hedgehog concept.  “Hedgehogs are relatively simple animals who know just one big thing and stick to it.  Good-to-great companies do something similar – they consistently stick to doing what they do best and avoid getting distracted into new fields of business that are away from their core competencies.”

This is a good concept in theory.  I actually believe it.  BUT, (and you knew this was coming) how does one put this in practice? How does a woman put it into practice?

THE PROBLEM:  I’m a mother.  I wear many different hats.  When I had younger children, I was chief cook, housekeeper, educator, bottlewasher, and taxi driver.  Now that my children are older, I’m primarily in the role of mentor – though occasionally I have to fulfill those earlier roles.  This does not allow for a hedgehog mentality.  Add onto that, I’m a wife (and not a very good one at that).  I also have been blessed with many talents – one in particular, but I’m still capable of many other wondrous capabilities.  For instance, my particular talent is sewing.  I’m truly blessed with this talent.  Yet, my current emphasis of study is Family History with a specific goal in mind.  In order to accomplish a vision, I have with my sewing, I need to put this goal on hold, so I can learn about business.  How can I be a hedgehog?  And let’s add – visiting teaching, keeping healthy, studying scriptures, fulfilling my church calling, maintaining relationships with my extended family and friends, going to the temple.  How can I be a hedgehog?  (And since most of my children are out of the home, I have reverted to chief cook and bottlewasher.)

I don’t resent being a woman or a mother or a wife.  In fact, I love being all three (most of the time), but I do feel the pull of being “I am Woman, watch me roar!”  I want to create this business vision I have.  But can I be a hedgehog?

This lead me to look for business books written by women.  The three books we read for class are all written by men (there is nothing wrong with that, I just need a woman’s perspective on being in business and being a woman – can I do it all?)  According, to George Leonard, I need to pick my instructor carefully.  I was talking about this hedgehog concept with a girlfriend and we couldn’t think of one business book written by a woman.  One of our favorite woman leader, Sheri L. Dew, is CEO of Deseret Books.  She writes wonderful books and gives wonderful addresses.  But, they are not about being a businesswoman.  I think she understands the circumstances of her life allow her to do what a goodly portion of women cannot do.  She can be a CEO because she doesn’t have the inherent responsibilities of home.  (Now, to a Mormon woman, not being married and having children is a difficult situation.  Sister Dew has taken her difficult situation and made wonderful lemonade out of it.  I so appreciate her example.  I would hope someday to be as gracious and thoughtful as she is.)

Back to the books, so I would have to carefully peruse these books. I found an article on Inc.com "60 Great Business and Leadership Books All Written by Women."  I don’t want to read a book on business by a woman who doesn’t believe in family and home.  They are my primary consideration.  I do follow a woman entrepreneur on social media and she has had phenomenal success, but I’m not sure at what cost.  She became a phenomenal success because her motivation was she HAD to put food on the table for her babies, she HAD to provide a roof for their shelter.  I’m not in that boat either. 

Is being a woman of business really as difficult as I’m making it?

Some of my favorite verses of scripture are found in Proverbs 31.  Many know these verses as a the verses that speak of a virtuous woman and her role in life.  I love these verses.  I want to become this woman.  I believe from these verses, it gives "permission" for a woman to have a business (see verses 13-14, 18-19, 24).  I look to women such as Martha Washington and Abigail Adams how they maintained their husbands' farms/plantations while their husbands were being leaders that brought forth this great nation of the United States of America.  I have raised my daughters to consider that they will probably have to help with the financial well being of their families once they are married and have children. 

How is it to be done?

leadership

This week in the entrepreneurship class we learned about leadership.  This is an important principle to understand.  I’ve learned throughout my life the importance of great leadership.

This is not what I want to focus my post on this week though it might be tied in.  This morning I was considering history.  George Santayana is often quoted or rephrased “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”  This came to my mind because I was considering those who study history.  Part of my educational pursuit currently is studying history.  What do we learn from history?  We can see with supposedly 20/20 vision what mistakes were made by mankind that caused something catastrophic – perhaps a war, a downfall of a nation, a famine.  Yet, these catastrophes continue to happen.  Why?  We know why wars happen.  We know why nations fall.  We know why famines happen.  Our study of history (or agriculture) has given us “formulas” for why these events happen.  Perhaps, with the study of history we need to couple it with the study of solutions.  How could the war have been prevented?  How could the nation continue to have flourished?  How can we take care of our resources to prevent the famine? 

This is where leadership comes into play.  A leader leads through example, vision and love according to President Kim B. Clark.  A leader should understand the causes, the effects, and the solutions.  Many leaders today are not good examples of being good (or great) people.  They lack vision (and resolution).  And quite often love of others is not their motivator, but love of self. 

What can I do about this lack of leadership?  I truly do not want to be president of the United States.  I’m not particularly fond of the idea of one of my children aspiring to this role.  I can teach, though, in my home these principles of leadership.  That is the great role of motherhood.  I can learn and become educated and then use these tools to teach true leadership – discipleship – in my home.  Once my children leave this place of refuge then they can become leaders in their chosen field as well as in their homes.  This I have tried to do, not without faltering, but I feel I have helped my children along their path of leadership.

The journey

This week we were given the assignment to find an entrepreneur to interview.  I chose to ask two because I didn’t know if either one would answer.  Diane Kroe graciously answered my email request in less than 24 hours even though this is a very busy season for her.  (I looked at her schedule AFTER I made my request and she is VERY busy.)  I’m excited to read her replies.  I have admired her collection for almost 8 years now and even put her on my fictitious board of directors. 

We began reading A Field Guide for the Hero’s Journey by Jeff Sandefer and Rev. Robert Sirico this week.   We began in the middle of the book.  (I checked we’ll be reading earlier chapters next week.)  I read about the hero’s journey before related to literature but haven’t really ever applied it to my life.  The first chapter we read was about stones in the road.  I have a tendency to kick at the rocks and get frustrated.  From this chapter I learned that I can go around them, dig them up, and I think even ignore them.  But, when we dig them up and get them out of our way, we might find hidden treasures under those rocks.  I will keep that in mind as I continue on my life’s journey. 

I also realized that I don’t think I’ve ever taken the time to enjoy my life journey.  I’m too anxious to “get there”.  I’m going to blame this mindset on all those trips we took from Oregon to Utah and we didn’t stop along the way – we just wanted to get there and get back.  I remember wishing that we would stop along the way, but I also understood the press to get to our destination.  Now, I need to figure out how to enjoy the journey.  The one journey I did enjoy was home schooling my children.  Thankfully, that was a day by day journey, filled with adventures, hardships, and thrilling moments of discovery.  

7 Habits revisited

The question I began with this semester is “What do you do once you’ve reached your goal?”  I’m grateful that I have read The Mastery by George Leonard.  I now understand that goals are milestones along the journey of life.

This week we were given a summary of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey.  I had read this book almost 20 years ago during a debilitating illness.  It helped in my recovery.  It was a pleasant reunion to revisit the principles he wrote about in this book.  This is one book I recommend to all to read.  I do so because I believe in the habits he purports.  Though not always proactive, I do strive to be proactive in what I feel is important.  Beginning with the end in mind helps any goal become achievable.  When the end sight is lost in the miasma of life, the ability to accomplish the goal loses steam or is lost all together.  (Consider those who got lost in the mists of darkness as portrayed in Lehi’s Dream – 1 Nephi 8:21-23.)  I especially appreciate the habit, put first things first.  As discussed in our class earlier, what will really matter at the end of our lives?  What we have done?  Or who we have loved?  I think my favorite habit though is think win/win.  I’m extremely competitive to the point I don’t like myself when I’m involved with a competition.  Over the years, I’ve learned ways which work for me to overcome this shortcoming.  I have tried to instill in our children that when they help others win, they will win even more.  And I truly believe this principle.  Recently, I visited a competition in my home state.  I observed the blue ribbons and thought, “Hmm.  I can do better than this.”  At first, I was disappointed in my reaction, like I’m better than everyone else.  But, on further reflection, I realized that yes, I did have a bit of ego going on, I can turn that around and hopefully, through my efforts, I can help others become better.  The fifth habit listed is seek first to understand, then to be understood.  Let’s just say, through true confessions, I have a lot of work to do on this habit.  I also love the habit, synergize.  This was very evident in my home growing up.  My family always had a huge garden to feed us and others.  My mom teamed up with her best friend’s family and we would garden and harvest together.  Those harvest times are some of my fondest memories. That’s synergy, we accomplished a lot more working together than we would have done separately.   And the last habit, sharpen the saw goes along with the beginning of my post.  Keep making goals to help one move along the pathway of life.

I’m grateful for this class, B183, Entrepreneurship.  I knew it wouldn’t have me start a business as it states this in the class description, but I didn’t expect to learn so much either.  This class has answered questions about why I haven’t been able to do certain things, why I respond to things a certain way, and has given me hope as well as understanding about my future.  Even at half a century, one can learn to become better.

Mastery, how?

I appreciate the master keys of mastery as outlined by George Leonard in his book, Mastery.  I’m still trying to find all of them palatable and digestible.

 

The first key: Instruction, I get.  A master instructor is important in any successful endeavor.  The criteria Mr. Leonard sets forth to determine if the instructor is worthy of his/her title – how do the students interact with the instructor, 50/50 correction/praise – makes sense.  Yet, in our world, very few have the opportunity to choose their instructors.  (Warning: I’m getting on my soapbox.)  Many people are exposed to a system that chooses their instructors.  Quite a few of the instructors are not worthy of the title.  Many students spend a good portion of their younger (dare I say, formative) years instructed by instructors that may not be worthy of the title.  Or are caught in a system that doesn’t allow the instructors to be the best they can be.  (You judge.)  Where does that leave the individual?

The second key: Practice, I also get.  Practice makes perfect or so the saying goes.  According to George Leonard, mastery leads to more practice.  “If you stay on it long enough (path to mastery), you’ll find it to be a vivid place, with its ups and downs, its challenges and comforts, its surprises, disappointments, and unconditional joys.”  Accordingly, our current American society doesn’t promote practice.  It may applaud it when the results are seen, but it doesn’t promote it.  (Again, the soapbox.)  A child spends approximately 5 hours a week in a class taught by “an instructor” with instructions to go home to do another ½ hour to 2 hours of homework – we’ll average, 10 practice hours a week.  This child will spend 18 weeks to 36 weeks in the class.  If I did my math correctly, it means the child spent 180 hours to 360 hours to “master” a subject.  Even in my current education pursuit, the most hours I’ll have towards my chosen field will be 2,500 hours.  It’s often quoted that mastery takes 10,000 hours.  This is not effective practice towards mastery.

The third key: Surrender is the key I’m trying to find palatable.  I discussed this with my husband.  I don’t trust easily, especially educational pursuits.  I can probably count on my ten fingers the instructors I have trusted.  I really disliked Mr. Leonard’s use of the word “pratfall”.  I would not act the fool, willingly, for anyone.  Now, would I be willing to make mistakes to gain competence?  Yes.  And I have.  A master instructor would not require his student to be foolish.  That does not lead to mastery.  That leads to discouragement and distrust.  I would have to trust the instructor to follow instructions to allow myself to make mistakes, especially if I felt I would look foolish.  I do understand, according to Mr. Leonard, that before a student would place himself in the hands of a master instructor, he would vet the instructor.  But, vetting also takes experience and many students do not have the experience to do that (and neither do many parents).

The fourth key: Intentionality is something I’m learning.  I realized a couple of weeks ago that I was going through the steps of a crunch, but I wasn’t getting the benefits.  I realized I wasn’t committed to it or doing it intentionally.  Many students do not receive the benefits of an education because they are not committed to the education they are offered.  They are not willing to practice and definitely not surrender because they know instinctively that the effort is not something they want to pursue or they are not being taught by a master teacher. 

The fifth key: The Edge is dangerous.  I appreciated that Mr. Leonard gave caution to this key.  It’s a balance, one that is honed by the experience of the other four keys.  He gave the example of the heroic endeavor of Julie Moss to finish the triathlon.  I’m still not sure if I agree with Jim McKay the sportscaster or the doctor who stated it was stupid.  Was her endeavor really necessary?  Perhaps, to her it was.  If she had died from that endeavor, did she leave behind loved ones who would have questioned her dedication to something that probably didn’t forward or help humankind?  The Edge needs to be given careful consideration prior to walking it.

Let me illustrate my soapbox for you.  When I was in junior high, I managed to get into a geometry class.  I’m not particularly bright when it comes to math, probably due to a lack of desire, but someone thought I could handle it.  I didn’t question the opportunity.  My parents didn’t question the opportunity.  (I’m not blaming my parents!).  Come September, I began the geometry class.  I didn’t have a clue what I was doing.  I did all sorts of contortions to remain in the class (because that indicated my social status).  My instructor didn’t know how to teach the material so I could learn (nor do I think he cared).   I did put in, at least, the 360 hours to gain my “mastery” of the class.  Years later, I realized two things: one, if someone had taken the time to explain that doing Euclidian geometry was similar to writing an essay (I do fairly well in the language arts), I would have had much more success, and second, my son (at the same junior high level I was at when I took geometry), who learned and understood geometry easily, took a few minutes to explain some geometric facts to me and I got it.  He was not a master teacher by definition.  He had enough mastery, I was willing to give him the time to practice, I surrendered to looking “a fool” in front of my much younger son, I knew what I wanted to learn and together we walked that edge to grasp the concepts of geometry.  That may not be mastery of geometry, but it was a lesson.

I think what I’m trying to say is that many get discouraged to obtain mastery because of the conditioning of our society.  I’m not saying we cannot rise above it, but it is difficult.  Hope is needed to overcome this conditioning.  I’m not blaming teachers.  I’m not blaming students.  I’m not blaming anyone.  I’m merely presenting a fact that mastery is a difficult proposition in the current environment.  

Hero's Journey

Because I didn't read the assignment as closely as I should have initially, you are blessed to have two blog posts from me in one week.

Three questions are asked at the completion of the hero’s journey:

1) Have I contributed something meaningful?

2) Am I a good person?

3) Who did I love and who loved me?

As I’m in my latter middle years, I have lived a good portion of my life.  My husband and I have almost raised all of our children to adulthood.  I believe through these children, which was my primary responsibility for the last quarter century, I have contributed something meaningful.  They are good people.  They are striving to be better.  They, according to our religion, have contributed something and will continue to contribute to their families, their community and their church.  Due to the worldly environment I was raised in, for the longest time, I did not think I had accomplished much of meaning.  I hadn’t discovered the cure for cancer.  I hadn’t written a great novel.  I hadn’t created the most wondrous painting.  Now I know that our children are my greatest accomplishment.  And this has eternal meaning.

Am I good person?  I believe I am at the core.  And it’s because of my continued effort to live the gospel of Jesus Christ, that I am that person at the core.  I’m not perfect.  I’m not even the best.  I can see though I am making progress, and I know I can continue to make progress as long as I continue on this path with Jesus Christ.  It is a continual struggle.  I fall down.  I’m mean to others.  I don’t do my best.  I do realize my shortcomings, repent, and do better.  And the cycle begins again.  I am spiraling upwards though.  Spiraling up towards becoming more like my Savior.

Who do I love and who loved me?  I love my family – my immediate family, my extended family and now through family history research, I’m learning to love my ancestors.  I love my future family – those grandbabies.  I love my friends.  And I’m learning to love all of God’s children.  I have conflicts with a good number of them, but I’m trying to see them through His eyes rather than through my natural eyes.  And who loves me?  We joke in our family about “couch sessions”.  This is the opportunity for our children to come and just complain to mom about how awful she really is.  By the end of most of these sessions, each child comes to realize that “awful” mom is really just trying to help him or her become better.  And they always end with “I love you, Mom.  Thank you.”  One time one of my daughters tried this on grandma and grandma was appalled at how awful my daughter spoke about me.  Again, at the end of the “session” my daughter reaffirmed that she loved me and was grateful that I was “mean”. 

But, my life isn’t over.  I have more to accomplish.  That is one reason why I’m sticking with this entrepreneurship class.  I want to discover what else I need and can do that has meaning.  I want to continue to be a good person.  And I want to love more.  

Possibilities and using Mastery

As I listened to David Friedberg’s address “Most Entrepreneurs are Not Rock Stars” and he mentioned using the resources of another company to get your idea produced,  this idea struck me.  I had not considered that possibility.  And when I heard it, an explosion of possibilities came to mind.  Granted, I’m not sure how to use the explosion of possibilities and they will have to be explored, then determined viable, and then acted upon – but it was nice to have a new avenue open up to me that I had not before seen.  It will be interesting to see if this avenue is viable.  And I know whether it’s viable or not, I will have learned some things of importance that will help me on this journey of entrepreneurship.

I’m actually considering marrying my idea of a product with my soon to be acquired skills in social media marketing.  As I learn more about social media marketing, I believe I will be able to determine if I can launch my product on my own or if it will be better to launch with someone else.

A couple of weeks ago, I posed the question about “What do you do when you’ve reached your goal?”  As I’ve been reading Mastery by George Leonard, I think I may have found my answer though I’m not sure.  Is completing a goal a beginning of a plateau?  That is the new question.  I will explore this question as I work towards my goals and accomplish them.

This week I decided to take my mastery and use it.  I’m an accomplished seamstress, but I don’t use my mastery often – it has definitely plateaued.  I often get bogged down in the details or day-to-day life.  This week I decided I was going to DO something rather than just dream or write about it.  Recently, I have been perusing some design books on T-shirt reconstructions.  I decided I was going to reconstruct a T-shirt.  I found an old T-shirt, looked at the design, found the other necessary supplies – scissors, thread, needle and got to work.  I cut the T-shirt but modified the book design to make it modest.  Then I added my own twist to the handsewing.  I’m old school.  You don’t leave hems and seams unfinished.  I’m finding ways to keep the “new” idea and marry it to the “old school” of finish.  Once finished, I think I’ll be happy with it.  The T-shirt isn’t quite complete or I’d post a picture.  So far though, I’m almost happy with the results.  One portion didn’t turn out to my satisfaction and this reconstruction there isn’t anything I can do about it in keeping with the repurposing of a T-shirt.  In the future, I know that if I want this particular design detail to be more pronounced, the gathering, then I need to use a larger T-shirt and will have to do some fitting.

Mastery needs not only to be accomplished but used is what I took from my learning and experience this week.

Confronting fear

This week in the Entrepreneurship class we had an activity that caused us to write about our fears.  Apparently, this is a practice that has been around for centuries, from the Roman orator Seneca.  It was interesting to me that I as reflected on my fears, I didn’t have as many as I thought I did and two of the three that I wrote about I hadn’t realize how deep they had been buried in my psyche.  How this exercise is done is: 1) write down the fear, 2) write strategies how to mitigate the fear, and 3) how would one get back to the status quo if this fear actually happened.

The first fear I wrote about is starting a business and then having it fail. The other “buried” fears were about personal relationships and health.  I found it interesting as I worked through this exercise that I all ready had strategies in place to mitigate the risks of my fears.  I’m fairly confident the strategies I have in place will insure success and the fears will be unrealized.  As I wrote about how to get back to the status quo, I realized it wasn’t so bad.  It wouldn’t be pleasant during the journey back, but it wouldn’t kill me either.

So what are your fears?  Can you write them down and do this exercise?  I do promise that it will help give you some peace of mind.  

Good habits

I walk most mornings around my neighborbood.  This morning because of a good habit, I did  and composed a wonderful blog post in my head.  I should have come home and immediately typed it up.

Ah now I remember the composition:

This past week I’ve had time “off” from watching my “babies”.  I generally care for two little girls throughout the week but due to a school break and other events, I wasn’t scheduled to watch them.  Monday morning, I realized I didn’t need to get up at my normal time and begin my day because I didn’t have my normal responsibilities.  I did have responsibilities to complete but nothing to get me out of bed at my normal time.  Then I considered some of my goals – and was grateful for habits, good habits. 

I don’t like to exercise but because I have a goal to be healthy, I got up and did my exercise routine. 

I don’t like to do school but because I have a goal to learn, I got up and did my schoolwork.

I don’t like to do dishes but because I have a goal to make my home a more pleasant place to reside, I got up and did dishes. 

I wouldn’t have been able to do these responsibilities if they hadn’t have become habits – good habits.

These good habits helped me accomplish my steps towards my goals.  Bad habits can pull us in the opposite direction – keep us from accomplishing our goals.  I work hard to overcome my bad habit to not exercise.  I can find all sorts of excuses to not exercise but because I have worked hard to establish the good habit to exercise, I was able to overcome my natural tendencies to NOT exercise.  And every time I work on the good habit it strengthens something within me to keep going.

Yeah for good habits!

2nd week and considering

This week we were given two assignments - one to write a 50 item bucket list and the other was to create a Stars and Steppingstones Chart.  Well, according to the reading, I'm kinda too old to be doing a Stars and Steppingstones Chart.  The first level of stepping stones as one works backwards is 70-50.  I fall into that age category.  So it seems  that I have no stars left to chart...

Yet, I had to do a 50 item bucket list.  What was I going to put on that bucket list?  We watched video clips from the movie, The Bucket List and listened to the theme (?) song.  I know I don't want to go skydiving, or drive a car at high speeds (though that was one of my bucket list items in my twenties, never did it and now I don't want to).  But what do I want to do with the rest of my life?  As I pondered this, I considered what I would have put on my bucket list at 20 and I have achieved most of those items.  I wanted to be married in the temple, I wanted children, I wanted to raise children, I wanted an education.  I got things I didn't want on my list like a mortgage and living in Utah for 20 years.

But to partially answer my question from last week, where do I go from here?  I go forward.  I do still have stars that I want to reach even though I'm over 50.  I particularly like what Brother Jeffrey A. Thompson said during his June 1, 2010 BYU devotional address about talents and abilities as he delineated Martin Luther's understanding of work, "If you grew up in a cobbler shop, your calling was to devote yourself to making shoes.  And doing so, you participated in the work of God by covering the feet of His children.  Luther believed that virtually any type of work could be a calling, so long as it rendered service to mankind."  Brother Thompson further discussed John Calvin's take on Martin Luther's insights with "...[H]e argued that God endows each of us with particular talents and gifts, and that it is our calling to discover those gifts and to seek out ways to use them in service our fellowmen."

So in this dusk of my life, I can now use my accumulated talents to help others draw nearer to God.  What a wonderful gift this will be.

For the class assignment, we were asked to consider the following questions from Randy Pausch's Last Lecture:

Why do you think Randy Pausch was able to achieve so many of his childhood dreams?  I think he was able to achieve so many of his dreams because he had a clear focus as well as parents, friends, and mentors who were willing to help him along with his dreams.  He also understood that there would be roadblocks for some of his dreams.  He chose to find ways around, through or over those roadblocks to get where he wanted to go.  He was also willing to take the advice and/or criticism of those who helped him to become better.

Do you feel that dreaming is important? Why or why not?  I do believe dreaming is important.  It is sometimes the only aspect of our lives that keeps us going on the dreariest of days.  I especially appreciated how Randy Pausch described his NFL dream.  He didn't make it, but he still worked at it and he chose to learn and use the lessons he learned from the work he put into that dream.  Granted there are some dreams that are unattainable - like playing in the NFL for most - and we choose not to learn from the following of the dream or become discouraged for not being able to obtain it, then it will hurt us.

Discuss at least one of your childhood dreams.  Explain why you believe you can or cannot achieve this dream.  One of my childhood dreams was to create beautiful clothing.  I don't think I wanted to be a fashion designer on NY's 5th Avenue but maybe I did.  I learned to sew because my grandmother was trying to teach me a lesson.  I learned to sew despite opposition.  And I have created beautiful clothing - though I've never had a "collection".  I have made wedding dresses.  I have made costumes. I have made dresses for my daughters.  Some of the clothing wasn't necessarily beautiful, but it was functional and had purpose.  And this dream still gives me purpose and helps me get up some mornings.

The journey begins - what do you do upon goal completion

I have begun classes through BYU-I online.  I have chosen to do Family History as my minor, but will probably pursue Entrepreneurship and/or Social Media/Communications as certificates.

This week through the Entrepreneurship readings, I'm a little excited and a little apprehensive about this course.  I think it will help me define my future focus in my life and give me tools to move forward.  I also think this course will help me mentor my children as they move forward in their lives as well.

The question that came to my mind this week, as I was pondering what I was learning and from some of my own personal experiences, is what do you do after you have accomplished your goal?  I'm really hoping this question will be answered in this course.  There are some goals that are ongoing or perhaps we know what we will do after the goal is accomplished, such as having the goal to return to live with Heavenly Father.  The Plan of Salvation teaches us what will be ongoing.  But in the case of accomplishing my weight goal, what do I do after that?  I know (and hope) to maintain that goal, but maintenance seems anti-climatic after that.  Another aspect I've seen at the completion of a goal is starting a business.  In the research I've done for my passion of convertible clothing, I've noted a lot of businesses get in and then get out (or they fall out).  I've talked a little bit about this with my brother, Joe, and he told me that you need to have your business ready to sell.  I was a little reluctant to accept his statement, but then as I've "wondered" through these small business, I begin to see what he means.