Week Six

This week I have been pondering the whys. Why do I want to start a business? Why do I want to possibly work as hard as I possibly can when I may or may not make a profit from it? Why I am willing to take such a risk? Why do I want to work when my husband wouldn't complain if I just stayed home with the kids?

I don't have a solid answer just yet but I do know that I love to work and interact with the world around me. If I don't do that, I get stir crazy and quite irritable. That's not good for anyone.

I also know that I don't ever want to sacrifice my family for my work. My family will be my number two priority. (Right after Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost) I want to raise successful, happy, and faithful kids, who become valuable and contributing members of society.

Something that struck me in this week's studies was when Wences Casares said we shouldn't create a business with a goal to sell it but a plan to stick with it 'till the end. I think I will be much happier if I think this way. I had originally planned to sell my first business, whatever it may be, in order to start our Engineering firm. Maybe I should rethink that idea, and plan on making it work to own two businesses. I know people do it. By the time we start the second business, the first will probably be established enough that it doesn't require as much effort, but I guess we'll see when we get to it.

Note from this weeks readings and videos:

Plato said: “The first and best victory is to conquer self; to be conquered by self is, of all things, the most shameful and vile.”

Narrow is a very meaningful word. Often people accuse us of being narrow-minded if we are following the straight and narrow path, which certainly does require self-restraint and self-denial. We must realize and be prepared to accept the fact that it confines us, restricts us, and limits us in certain areas. But let us fully realize that it does not fetter or shackle mankind. On the contrary, it is the way to emancipation, independence, and liberty. - N. Eldon Tanner



The heights by great men reached and kept
Were not attained by sudden flight,
But they, while their companions slept,
Were toiling upward in the night.
N. Eldon Tanner

Determine while young to be a great boy, and not wait to be a man to be a great man N. Eldon Tanner

I want to emphasize that if you never take the first you will never take the second. You will never become an alcoholic or an addict. N. Eldon Tanner

“industry knowledge,” “running a business” and “capital.” - Acton foundation

The difficulty is that without industry knowledge, a would-be entrepreneur has trouble differentiating between extraordinary opportunities and average ones. -Acton foundation

planning may limit you - Amar Bhide

Analysis is an exercise in what to do next more than what not to do. -Amar Bhide

Steve Blank's rules
1. Dinner at 7 PM (Sometimes went back to work after) (Sometimes kids were too hungry to wait and ate dinner twice)
2. Weekends with kids. (half the day on Saturday, went to work with me)
You have got to make rules or you will be maybe successful but quite lonely.

"The most valuable thing that we have is our time" - Wences Casares

Think about something knowing that you will be working in it for 20 -30 years
The way we create the most value is by doing the same thing over and over again for a long time.... It pays to be monogamous. - Wences Casares

Notes from Jan Newman video:
"Don't run a business at all cost" 
People who aren't really wise let things get Crunched that shouldn't get crunched.
Loyalty to the lord and loyalty to your family.
Don't ever be too busy to take a calling in the church. - loyalty to the lord. When you need his help, he'll know where your heart is.
"All of you in this room will make a lot of money in your careers, you probably think that's what the lord is wanting you to do. He put you in a situation to get a good education and make a lot of money to build the lord's kingdom. You're wrong. Do you know what the Lord needs you to do? He needs you to do your home teaching." the lord requires a willing heart and mind. Your biggest legacy will be your family. Always be a light to the world. Integrity, honesty.


Comments

Popular Posts