Week1

This past week I was able to learn valuable lessons from my readings and class lecture. I think it started with my perspective and anticipation of what I was going to learn from this entrepreneur class that enabled me to learn what I learned and to feel what I felt. Let me explain. Before starting the class I first thought, "I'll learn the ways of starting a business and how to earn a lot of money in the most efficient way possible." I was quickly turned around as I read the assigned readings and as I learned from Brother Nygren. Yes, we will learn those things, but that isn't the mind-set one should have.
Brother Nygren gave us the assignment to listen to President Hinkley's talk he gave to BYU students. In this talk, President Hinkley expressed his love for the students and gave them words of vision, perspective, and warning. He told them that he believed they were the greatest generation because of who they are today. He told them they were a people of honesty and virtue. He told them to never forget that because the world will strive to pull them down. He stated, "The disparity of the world and this church will grow. We will become more of a peculiar people." This, to me makes sense because I see it every day. I almost expect the world and its values to let me down each day. It is our responsibility as disciples of Christ to stand up for what is right in the eyes of God. President Hinkley wanted us to know that because it is our responsibility to develop the kingdom of God here up the earth. We must never "do anything less than that which we are capable of accomplishing." Then he ends with comforting words, or at least they are comforting to me. He said, "You're just simple kids. You're not geniuses, I know that. But the work of the world isn't done by geniuses. It's done by ordinary people who've learned to work in an extraordinary way." That is so simple and yet so profound to me. It is important to understand that who we become in this life and in the next is a reflection of our daily decisions.
To relate that with entrepreneurship, I believe that is the fundamental motivation to start our own business; to establish and develop the Kingdom of God here upon the earth. We are so fortunate and blessed to have the opportunity to establish our own practice with the things in which we love. Not many people have that chance.
On a personal note, I want to make sure that whatever I end up doing in life, it is for the benefit of my family, the people around me, and those who I am able to help throughout the world. I want to reach out to those who are less fortunate than I. I am thankful for the start-off of this class with Brother Nygren. I feel that I will learn so much of entrepreneurship because of first learning the importance of having a foundation of integrity and virtue.