So you want to be an entrepreneur? You think you have what it takes? Sure you may be a hard worker with great ideas, but are you willing to hang it all out on the line to take it too the next level? Being an entrepreneur is not an easy road. Each step you take in the beginning must be carefully calculated and yet taken on faith. It is your best guess and the guess of those you surround yourself with that will help you either succeed mightily or fail horribly. Don't worry about the failures, they will help you the next time you start out again. Failure isn't a bad thing, unless it breaks you, failure is a part of life and helps to build us into better, smarter entrepreneurs. Some of the best entrepreneurs started out as huge failures and went on to great things. Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Phil Knight, these men had set backs before their successes. Remember that the path to success and success itself may be just over the next hill. You might not see it while you are walking in the valley, but if you persevere and push through those tough times, you may achieve you goal.
Being an entrepreneur will provide you with the freedom you have longed for. That's one of the reasons you wanted to be an entrepreneur, right? You were stuck in job that you felt was going nowhere and stifling your growth in life. So you had this epiphany, this stroke of genius, this wonderful idea that burned within your heart and needed an outlet. You did your research and gathered some cash and a few good mentors around you and took the leap. Now comes the hard part, seeing that idea through to the end. What is that end you ask? Make sure you write this out or you will never be able to exit. The end may be selling your business and starting another, the end may be franchising your business, whatever that end is, put it on paper, visualize this make every end, make every goal you set and decision that's made follow the path to this end. That will help you run an effective business. Have a plan in place for contingencies. Make sure you are flexible and above all else, make sure that you bring your family along with you. If you don't have a family, work it into your plans or one day you will look up and it will all be over. So you want to be an entrepreneur? Get ready for the greatest roller-coaster ride yet to be developed and this one is entirely catered towards you. Good Luck and enjoy!
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Week 13
Yeah! Only one more week of school. Then a short break and back at it. Have you ever ruptured your eardrum with a Q-Tip? Don't try it, it will hurt really bad... Then your hearing will be janky for about 2 weeks. I can't recommend that at all.
This week is Conference week. I think the work load is a bit lighter so that we can attend our meetings guilt free (i.e.; not stressing about too much work due on Saturday night...)
The $100 Challenge this week consisted of compiling our totals into a power point and presenting to our class. My $100 Challenge went OK. I wish I could have done more, but I need sleep and don't have it in me to stay up all night working anymore. I will still keep making vanilla on the side for friends and family, but not much.
We wrote our report on "So you want to be an Entrepreneur" by Jon Gillespie-Brown. A good book about the path to becoming an entrepreneur. The book follows the path of Jane as she search within and without to discover if she has what it takes to become an entrepreneur.
I am thankful for these classes I have been taking. They have really been beneficial for me and increased my learning. I am anxious to begin the new term.
This week is Conference week. I think the work load is a bit lighter so that we can attend our meetings guilt free (i.e.; not stressing about too much work due on Saturday night...)
The $100 Challenge this week consisted of compiling our totals into a power point and presenting to our class. My $100 Challenge went OK. I wish I could have done more, but I need sleep and don't have it in me to stay up all night working anymore. I will still keep making vanilla on the side for friends and family, but not much.
We wrote our report on "So you want to be an Entrepreneur" by Jon Gillespie-Brown. A good book about the path to becoming an entrepreneur. The book follows the path of Jane as she search within and without to discover if she has what it takes to become an entrepreneur.
I am thankful for these classes I have been taking. They have really been beneficial for me and increased my learning. I am anxious to begin the new term.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Week 12
Ahh, the joys of spring break, where everyone has fun but the mom... Actually she loves spring break except when it rains (which usually happens here in Oregon) the kids get cooped up inside and drive her crazy.
I loved spring break as a kid, now I see why my mother was always sending us outside to play.
This week, for my $100 Challenge, I have been waiting for the graphics for my bottle. I hope it comes soon. One of my friends is a graphic designer and I am waiting on his good graces to finish the design and printing. Hopefully it will be done tonight... fingers crossed. The product is ready to go into the bottles. Just need a label so folks remember what it is their getting...
I read an amazing article entitled, "Micro-lending:Toward a Poverty-Free World" by Muhammad Yunus and watched a profound talk by Robert C. Gay entitiled, "Entrepreneurship and Concecration"
The article by Muhammad Yunus really opened my eyes towards the plight of poor people in third world countries. Mr. Yunus operates a micro-lending business that provides capital in poverty stricken areas of India (mostly to women). He states that, “People.. were poor not because they were stupid or lazy. They worked all day long, doing complex physical tasks. They were poor because the financial institution in the country did not help them widen their economic base.” This really caused me to think that even in prosperous America, we could stand to do a lot better for those who are less fortunate. We could run our businesses with a more socially conscious slant, making sure not to just benefit ourselves, but to really benefit the community around us.
Elder Gay's talk was one that needs to be listened to at least 2 or 3 times. I wish there was a transcript of it so that I could print it out and give it to people. His talk centered around finding what God's will is for us on this earth. Being an entrepreneur is great, but if your focus is on things of this world, in the end you will not be successful.
Overall this week was a good week. I am tired and need to prepared for tomorrow.
I loved spring break as a kid, now I see why my mother was always sending us outside to play.
This week, for my $100 Challenge, I have been waiting for the graphics for my bottle. I hope it comes soon. One of my friends is a graphic designer and I am waiting on his good graces to finish the design and printing. Hopefully it will be done tonight... fingers crossed. The product is ready to go into the bottles. Just need a label so folks remember what it is their getting...
I read an amazing article entitled, "Micro-lending:Toward a Poverty-Free World" by Muhammad Yunus and watched a profound talk by Robert C. Gay entitiled, "Entrepreneurship and Concecration"
The article by Muhammad Yunus really opened my eyes towards the plight of poor people in third world countries. Mr. Yunus operates a micro-lending business that provides capital in poverty stricken areas of India (mostly to women). He states that, “People.. were poor not because they were stupid or lazy. They worked all day long, doing complex physical tasks. They were poor because the financial institution in the country did not help them widen their economic base.” This really caused me to think that even in prosperous America, we could stand to do a lot better for those who are less fortunate. We could run our businesses with a more socially conscious slant, making sure not to just benefit ourselves, but to really benefit the community around us.
Elder Gay's talk was one that needs to be listened to at least 2 or 3 times. I wish there was a transcript of it so that I could print it out and give it to people. His talk centered around finding what God's will is for us on this earth. Being an entrepreneur is great, but if your focus is on things of this world, in the end you will not be successful.
Overall this week was a good week. I am tired and need to prepared for tomorrow.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Week 11
This week seemed a little less hectic, but busy none the less. My middle son, the 12 year old, is healing nicely from his appendix operation and has gone outside to play several times since coming home. He seems to be back to his old, cantankerous ways. Now he has a lot of school work to catch up on over spring break...
Speaking of spring break, that is next week for my children. It's my wife's favorite week (sarcasm). She will re-live summer all over again and have a strong desire to run away to somewhere quiet.
This week in class we studied franchising, money and work/ life balance. Franchising doesn't excite me that much. While I might purchase one under the right circumstances, those circumstance would have to be perfect. Most franchises seem like you are buying a job.
Money is an important tool in life. When we use it wisely, it can benefit us, when used poorly the whole family is affected by it.
Early on in life I had trouble balancing my work life and my real life. As I have aged, I have found it easier to break those old habits and form new, more balanced habits. I really value my family time. Life is too fleeting to spend it all at work. While work does provide for the family, it shouldn't be your family and shouldn't define who you are.
This week for the $100 Challenge, I submitted my logo to a friend who is a graphic designer. He will make it pretty for me and then I can past it on my bottles and sell away. I am excited to get this project finished... Hopefully all costs will be covered and all bottles sold.
Watched Steve Jobs graduation commencement speech at Stanford in 2005. What a great speech. Here is the link. What a great speech. I had never viewed this before and in my opinion, it shows humility and remembrance of where he came from. Please watch it if you get a chance.
Well, have a great weekend and enjoy the coming week ahead. May spring bring you something new and exciting.
Speaking of spring break, that is next week for my children. It's my wife's favorite week (sarcasm). She will re-live summer all over again and have a strong desire to run away to somewhere quiet.
This week in class we studied franchising, money and work/ life balance. Franchising doesn't excite me that much. While I might purchase one under the right circumstances, those circumstance would have to be perfect. Most franchises seem like you are buying a job.
Money is an important tool in life. When we use it wisely, it can benefit us, when used poorly the whole family is affected by it.
Early on in life I had trouble balancing my work life and my real life. As I have aged, I have found it easier to break those old habits and form new, more balanced habits. I really value my family time. Life is too fleeting to spend it all at work. While work does provide for the family, it shouldn't be your family and shouldn't define who you are.
This week for the $100 Challenge, I submitted my logo to a friend who is a graphic designer. He will make it pretty for me and then I can past it on my bottles and sell away. I am excited to get this project finished... Hopefully all costs will be covered and all bottles sold.
Watched Steve Jobs graduation commencement speech at Stanford in 2005. What a great speech. Here is the link. What a great speech. I had never viewed this before and in my opinion, it shows humility and remembrance of where he came from. Please watch it if you get a chance.
Well, have a great weekend and enjoy the coming week ahead. May spring bring you something new and exciting.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Week 10
Well, last week was a doozy. My middle son who is 12, had appendicitis last week. It started on Wednesday with a slip-n-slid accident that hurt his stomach and somehow ended up with him getting his appendix removed. Strange happenings, but a slip-n-slid accident does not begat an appendix flare up. The young man is a trooper.
The Bishop and Young Men leaders came for a visit which I know cheered him up a lot.
He came home today after being away for almost a full week. At the end he was complaining of missing his family and wanting to go home.
I am thankful for the great hospital we were at and the wonderful help we received from friends in the ward.
Needless to say, getting homework done was difficult. This is my last assignment and some others were turned in late.
Without further ado, here is what happened in school for the week:
1 Portfolio turned in for B-100, it was the culmination of 9 weeks worth of work. Nice to have it finished.
1 Book report turned in - Seth Godin's "the dip" An excellent book about quitting, yes really about quitting. Mr. Godin brings up the value of quitting and the value of knowing when to push through.
$100 Challenge, almost there, have some labels to prints and emails to send. Soon the product rolls out to the market...
I really enjoyed the process improvement study from HMM we did. Improving processes is an excellent way to bring about great change within a business.
I also really enjoyed the case study about Roxanne Quimby and Burt's Bees. What a great rags to riches story and a testament to hard work and perseverance. Ms. Quimby really dove into learning how to run a business and grew Burt's Bees into a multimillion dollar corporation.
That's all for now. until next time.
The Bishop and Young Men leaders came for a visit which I know cheered him up a lot.
He came home today after being away for almost a full week. At the end he was complaining of missing his family and wanting to go home.
I am thankful for the great hospital we were at and the wonderful help we received from friends in the ward.
Needless to say, getting homework done was difficult. This is my last assignment and some others were turned in late.
Without further ado, here is what happened in school for the week:
1 Portfolio turned in for B-100, it was the culmination of 9 weeks worth of work. Nice to have it finished.
1 Book report turned in - Seth Godin's "the dip" An excellent book about quitting, yes really about quitting. Mr. Godin brings up the value of quitting and the value of knowing when to push through.
$100 Challenge, almost there, have some labels to prints and emails to send. Soon the product rolls out to the market...
I really enjoyed the process improvement study from HMM we did. Improving processes is an excellent way to bring about great change within a business.
I also really enjoyed the case study about Roxanne Quimby and Burt's Bees. What a great rags to riches story and a testament to hard work and perseverance. Ms. Quimby really dove into learning how to run a business and grew Burt's Bees into a multimillion dollar corporation.
That's all for now. until next time.
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Week 9
I didn't think it was possible to have a busier week than last week, but this week beat me up. I am glad it is almost over... Sleep has never been so welcome and no I loose an hour because somehow man thinks he has power over time and can move the clock back an hour. This practice needs to be stopped. Enough soap boxing, on to school work.
This week for my $100 Challenge, I lined out strategies to sell my product. I will put it on Facebook for my friends and sell it face to face around town. There will only be 36 bottles so it won't be that hard. Maybe I will put the vanilla in the hands of my children... They would be great sales people. They work for candy. Cheap labor.
I finished reading The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber. I really like this book. It has so much to offer the entrepreneur if only we will read and act.
Matt Stewart - Acton
Matt Stewart had some interesting things to say, he said, "Define your core competency and then stick to your core competency." This will help you become successful at what you do. When you seek to please everyone, you get away from your core and what you do best.
He also said that, "Profits come when people focus on anything but the profit." Yes, we should worry about profits, but they shouldn't be our immediate focus.
I had my resume reviewed this week. The person who reviewed my resume was very kind. I am really glad to have had it reviewed, there were some major inconsistencies in it that needed to be addressed. Once I address these, I can start sending it out again.
I love my children, they draw pictures all over my notes I take. Even though it can be hard to read the notes when there are pictures, it brings a smile to my face.
Well too tired to write anymore. Time for sleep...
This week for my $100 Challenge, I lined out strategies to sell my product. I will put it on Facebook for my friends and sell it face to face around town. There will only be 36 bottles so it won't be that hard. Maybe I will put the vanilla in the hands of my children... They would be great sales people. They work for candy. Cheap labor.
I finished reading The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber. I really like this book. It has so much to offer the entrepreneur if only we will read and act.
Matt Stewart - Acton
Matt Stewart had some interesting things to say, he said, "Define your core competency and then stick to your core competency." This will help you become successful at what you do. When you seek to please everyone, you get away from your core and what you do best.
He also said that, "Profits come when people focus on anything but the profit." Yes, we should worry about profits, but they shouldn't be our immediate focus.
I had my resume reviewed this week. The person who reviewed my resume was very kind. I am really glad to have had it reviewed, there were some major inconsistencies in it that needed to be addressed. Once I address these, I can start sending it out again.
I love my children, they draw pictures all over my notes I take. Even though it can be hard to read the notes when there are pictures, it brings a smile to my face.
Well too tired to write anymore. Time for sleep...
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Week 8
Another busy week in the life of Cale... I can't wait for a break, whenever that imaginary time will come?
I do know this, listening to Beethoven, while studying, will improve your ability to concentrate on the work and enable you to get the work done. Maybe it's the noise being blocked out, but I prefer to think that the wonderful music helps my head...
This week I had the opportunity to watch a few videos, read some cool words and write in this cool blog.
Here are my musings:
Eric Rics - Stanford video
Eric says that we should ask The Five Whys: the five whys help a business owner, leader or manager get to the real bottom of a problem. The problem is usually human error in one form or another.
Acton Hero: Heath Bradley -
Heath Bradley stated one important thing, "You don't have to know all the answers" Isn't that amazing... I don't have to know all the answers, but I can find someone that does know the answer and that will make all the difference.
My favorite words of the week came from a talk by Hugh W. Nibley titled "Leaders to Managers: The Fatal Shift" It is an excellent talk and my words aren't enough to do it justice, please read it and let me know what you think.
My $100 Challenge is going well. All of the products I ordered for bottling arrived, plus some extra vanilla beans and I have been able to start one more batch of vanilla which should be ready to sell just before the semester is over. The first two batches are looking and smelling great. I can't wait to get the labels printed, the bottles filled and the product sold.
I have a meeting to go over my resume on Monday. I hope it goes well... I know my resume needs some work, I hope good ideas are forth coming.
I took a leadership style survey this week. My leadership style is Participative (democratic). This is true to who I am. I am not one who leads from behind. I am usually out making a mess with everyone else...
Well time to go. Have a great week.
I do know this, listening to Beethoven, while studying, will improve your ability to concentrate on the work and enable you to get the work done. Maybe it's the noise being blocked out, but I prefer to think that the wonderful music helps my head...
This week I had the opportunity to watch a few videos, read some cool words and write in this cool blog.
Here are my musings:
Eric Rics - Stanford video
Eric says that we should ask The Five Whys: the five whys help a business owner, leader or manager get to the real bottom of a problem. The problem is usually human error in one form or another.
Acton Hero: Heath Bradley -
Heath Bradley stated one important thing, "You don't have to know all the answers" Isn't that amazing... I don't have to know all the answers, but I can find someone that does know the answer and that will make all the difference.
My favorite words of the week came from a talk by Hugh W. Nibley titled "Leaders to Managers: The Fatal Shift" It is an excellent talk and my words aren't enough to do it justice, please read it and let me know what you think.
My $100 Challenge is going well. All of the products I ordered for bottling arrived, plus some extra vanilla beans and I have been able to start one more batch of vanilla which should be ready to sell just before the semester is over. The first two batches are looking and smelling great. I can't wait to get the labels printed, the bottles filled and the product sold.
I have a meeting to go over my resume on Monday. I hope it goes well... I know my resume needs some work, I hope good ideas are forth coming.
I took a leadership style survey this week. My leadership style is Participative (democratic). This is true to who I am. I am not one who leads from behind. I am usually out making a mess with everyone else...
Well time to go. Have a great week.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Week 7
Halfway through the course. It has been a fun journey thus far. I have enjoyed the readings and activities. It is nice to use my brain once in awhile...
This week for my $100 Challenge, I ordered my bottles and more vanilla beans. I will get the labels next week and decide on a design for my name. Since this is a short run batch of vanilla, each bottle will be 2 oz and I will sell a total of 36 bottles. Price is yet to be determined.
This week I watched a few videos. Here are the highlights:
Tony Hsieh - Zappos
The 3 R's
Relations with your customers grow more profitable over time with customer loyalty and retention.
5 generic influence of customer satisfaction:
This week for my $100 Challenge, I ordered my bottles and more vanilla beans. I will get the labels next week and decide on a design for my name. Since this is a short run batch of vanilla, each bottle will be 2 oz and I will sell a total of 36 bottles. Price is yet to be determined.
This week I watched a few videos. Here are the highlights:
Tony Hsieh - Zappos
- Pays employees to quit in the first five weeks to protect company culture
- Says Culture is Priority number one
- Your brand is what customers say about you
- Your brand is a lagging indicator of the culture
- Ask the question, hear the answer
- Every-time a customer tells us something is wrong, we should view that as an opportunity
- It's not about being rich, it's about changing the world
The 3 R's
- Retention
- Related Sales
- Referrals
Relations with your customers grow more profitable over time with customer loyalty and retention.
5 generic influence of customer satisfaction:
- Dependability - will we do what we say
- Responsiveness - how quickly do we respond to problems
- Authority - can we act to fix a problem or make a change
- Empathy - do we listen to what our customer wants as opposed to giving the customer what we think they need. We need to discard our ego and listen
- Tangible Evidence - is there evidence of a service being complete
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Week 6
Another week down. This week I have been getting increasingly more ill as the week has progressed. I hope my thoughts are at least coherent to some extent...
This week for my $100 Challenge, I did my elevator pitch. I think it turned out well... It was interesting to listen to other classmates elevator pitches. They all have unique ideas, some of which could have viable, long term business application. I look forward to finishing my purchases for my $100 Challenge and selling the product around my town.
This week I finished reading Mastery by George Leonard. It is a great book about (and this is from the back cover) the process of mastery that will enable you to vault over the pitfalls of the quick fix to attain a higher level of excellence and a deeper sense of satisfaction. After reading this book, I found this assertion to be true.
On of my favorite quotes from the book, "Before Enlightenment chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment chop wood, carry water." Even the little things still need to be done once we are a master...
Watched a great video about Phil Ramano, founder of Ramano's Macaroni Grill. He said two things I liked; "Servicing the need is what really prompts a good business, don't think about the profit" and "Don't do it for the money, money is the applause." We can look at both statements and be sarcastic by saying isn't that what a business does is service the need and only rich people say money is the applause but that wouldn't be true. When we work, we really need to be doing it for something other than money or else we run the risk of loosing our drive. No job, which is done purely for the money, will be completed to the best of our abilities. We need to be in the mind set of performing a service to our customers.
Regarding marketing which we touched on this week. There was a great quote by Jack Welch of GE fame. He said, "Marketing isn't someones responsibility, it's everyone's responsibility." So true. We are all marketers of the respective businesses we work in.
Well, off to go rest my sick body. I will be better next week.
This week for my $100 Challenge, I did my elevator pitch. I think it turned out well... It was interesting to listen to other classmates elevator pitches. They all have unique ideas, some of which could have viable, long term business application. I look forward to finishing my purchases for my $100 Challenge and selling the product around my town.
This week I finished reading Mastery by George Leonard. It is a great book about (and this is from the back cover) the process of mastery that will enable you to vault over the pitfalls of the quick fix to attain a higher level of excellence and a deeper sense of satisfaction. After reading this book, I found this assertion to be true.
On of my favorite quotes from the book, "Before Enlightenment chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment chop wood, carry water." Even the little things still need to be done once we are a master...
Watched a great video about Phil Ramano, founder of Ramano's Macaroni Grill. He said two things I liked; "Servicing the need is what really prompts a good business, don't think about the profit" and "Don't do it for the money, money is the applause." We can look at both statements and be sarcastic by saying isn't that what a business does is service the need and only rich people say money is the applause but that wouldn't be true. When we work, we really need to be doing it for something other than money or else we run the risk of loosing our drive. No job, which is done purely for the money, will be completed to the best of our abilities. We need to be in the mind set of performing a service to our customers.
Regarding marketing which we touched on this week. There was a great quote by Jack Welch of GE fame. He said, "Marketing isn't someones responsibility, it's everyone's responsibility." So true. We are all marketers of the respective businesses we work in.
Well, off to go rest my sick body. I will be better next week.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Week 5
Yeah! A snow week. We were gifted with snow this week. When snow hits Portland, everything seems to come to a standstill. It takes awhile for everyone to remember how to drive in the snow. I love it.
Here are the highlights form this week in class:
Randy Komisar-
His quote of, "The hardest issue in life is not choosing between right and wrong, but choosing between two right answers." This is so true. Many times in life we have many good choices in front of us. Each of them presents many good aspects. For some, it could be which career to choose, for others which school to choose.
To help in answering these questions, Mr. Komisar asks two questions; first, What is your passion? you can simplify your passion by picking a direction you would like to go and sticking to it. The second question is, What is the ultimate thing you are going to do with your life?
How you makes these decisions occurs by focusing on what is directly in front of you and not necessarily what is in the future and does that decision sync up with your passion??? Seems easy, huh? Well if we could all do it, we would be doing something different...
David Friedberg-
He says, "The reason for having a start-up should not be for the financial rewards, but for the value."
Mr. Friedberg also spoke about misalignment. Misalignment occurs when our personal ambitions are not in line with the company you are working for. A great question to ask yourself when you are looking for new employment or at your current job.
For my $100 Challenge I was tasked with getting funding or an investment in my business. My lovely wife offered to give me the start-up money. I don't know what I will have to repay her with, but I'm sure the tax will be high.
It will be interesting to write out my elevator pitch for next week. How to sell the product in 45 seconds or less...
Something I learned this week that I will do. Jeff Sandefer suggested that we write a letter of gratitude to someone we haven't thanked and then read that letter out loud to them at the next chance.
I hope I will be able to read it without any emotions... Who am I kidding. Tears will come before I ever speak the first words.
Have a great week. Until next time.
Here are the highlights form this week in class:
Randy Komisar-
His quote of, "The hardest issue in life is not choosing between right and wrong, but choosing between two right answers." This is so true. Many times in life we have many good choices in front of us. Each of them presents many good aspects. For some, it could be which career to choose, for others which school to choose.
To help in answering these questions, Mr. Komisar asks two questions; first, What is your passion? you can simplify your passion by picking a direction you would like to go and sticking to it. The second question is, What is the ultimate thing you are going to do with your life?
How you makes these decisions occurs by focusing on what is directly in front of you and not necessarily what is in the future and does that decision sync up with your passion??? Seems easy, huh? Well if we could all do it, we would be doing something different...
David Friedberg-
He says, "The reason for having a start-up should not be for the financial rewards, but for the value."
Mr. Friedberg also spoke about misalignment. Misalignment occurs when our personal ambitions are not in line with the company you are working for. A great question to ask yourself when you are looking for new employment or at your current job.
For my $100 Challenge I was tasked with getting funding or an investment in my business. My lovely wife offered to give me the start-up money. I don't know what I will have to repay her with, but I'm sure the tax will be high.
It will be interesting to write out my elevator pitch for next week. How to sell the product in 45 seconds or less...
Something I learned this week that I will do. Jeff Sandefer suggested that we write a letter of gratitude to someone we haven't thanked and then read that letter out loud to them at the next chance.
I hope I will be able to read it without any emotions... Who am I kidding. Tears will come before I ever speak the first words.
Have a great week. Until next time.
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Week 4
This week in the life of school wasn't too bad. It still brought about it's fair share of work and new understanding of principles.
Thoughts for the week:
Watched a few videos one about Jeff Hawkins. Jeff Hawkins talked about right choices. He stated that, "Any company in the world could be the largest company in the world, if they made one decision per day better that their competitor. Better decisions."
So in essence, we can make great changes in our own lives if we make just one decision per day better than the day before...
Another video featured Tom Kelley speaking. He quoted Francis Ford Coppola who said, "Do what you love. You'll be better at it." After thinking about this statement, it does make sense, but is not always realistic. What if doing what I love is not something I could be paid for? Will settling make me happy? Just a thought... Do we have to be happy in what we do, or is the work, which falls under service to our family by providing for them, enough to carry you through.
Tom Kelley also posed some questions he viewed at a talk by Jim Collins, author of Good to Great. Jim Collins asks, "What are you good at?", What are you born to do? and "What will people pay you to do?"
Another factor is, "Who is on the bus with you?"
The key question here is, "What are you born to do?" Answering this will be the cause of much self searching. Once you can figure this out, a job or industry can be better researched to fill that need...
I worked on my business plan for the $100 Challenge this week. Since the project will only last the semester, the business plan had to be adjusted to fit the parameter. My vanilla is currently in extracting phase, I am starting another batch next week (in case demand is high) I hope to price the 4 oz. bottles at between $10 to $15 or according to demand.
I also wrote a bare bones business plan for my "Big Idea" company. Maybe one day this could be a reality. The plan needs a lot more work, but is doable.
Books I'm reading:
E-Myth
Mastery by George Leonard
Return by Robert D. Hales
Thoughts for the week:
Watched a few videos one about Jeff Hawkins. Jeff Hawkins talked about right choices. He stated that, "Any company in the world could be the largest company in the world, if they made one decision per day better that their competitor. Better decisions."
So in essence, we can make great changes in our own lives if we make just one decision per day better than the day before...
Another video featured Tom Kelley speaking. He quoted Francis Ford Coppola who said, "Do what you love. You'll be better at it." After thinking about this statement, it does make sense, but is not always realistic. What if doing what I love is not something I could be paid for? Will settling make me happy? Just a thought... Do we have to be happy in what we do, or is the work, which falls under service to our family by providing for them, enough to carry you through.
Tom Kelley also posed some questions he viewed at a talk by Jim Collins, author of Good to Great. Jim Collins asks, "What are you good at?", What are you born to do? and "What will people pay you to do?"
Another factor is, "Who is on the bus with you?"
The key question here is, "What are you born to do?" Answering this will be the cause of much self searching. Once you can figure this out, a job or industry can be better researched to fill that need...
I worked on my business plan for the $100 Challenge this week. Since the project will only last the semester, the business plan had to be adjusted to fit the parameter. My vanilla is currently in extracting phase, I am starting another batch next week (in case demand is high) I hope to price the 4 oz. bottles at between $10 to $15 or according to demand.
I also wrote a bare bones business plan for my "Big Idea" company. Maybe one day this could be a reality. The plan needs a lot more work, but is doable.
Books I'm reading:
E-Myth
Mastery by George Leonard
Return by Robert D. Hales
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Week 3
Another challenging week of managing my ever limited time. I am finding that plowing through all of this home work can be a daunting task. I am happy to say that I couldn't do this without the help of my Heavenly Father.
This week I watched a short video about Thomas Monaghan, the founder of Dominoes Pizza. What an inspirational story. He desire to give back what he has earned, to the point of taking a vow of poverty and living in a dorm room shows his amazing convictions. It seems he has found a way to make his gifts count here on earth.
In my B-283 class, I have been brewing my organic vanilla to sell for my $100 challenge. I have some early buyers already lined up. I just hope I have enough product to match the demand. If it sells too quickly, I may have to raise the price. I also have almost finalized my "big idea". I need to talk with a few people to research the feasibility of being able to make it a reality.
Magdalena Yesil was very interesting to read about. Her value of learning and being able to adapt to each company she either developed or worked at was amazing. Ms. Yesil seems to embody the spirit of entrepreneurship to a tee. She sounds like an exciting person to be around and to work with.
In B-183 we watched a Stanford video regarding ethics. I posted this, " My fist lesson on business ethics/integrity was as a fourteen year old working for a painter over the summer. I lived in Kansas at the time and summer in Kansas equals hot. The painter asked me to scrape one side of the house while he went and checked on a bid he had placed. He gave me the parameters with which to work and said he would be back in a few hours. Well he left, I scraped paint on the side of the house for awhile (a really fun job if you have done it before) and then laid down in the shade. I woke up to his car turning into the driveway and hurriedly went back to work. He came and assessed my progress. He asked what if I had been working the whole time, I lied and said yes. He then called my bluff and said that if I ever lied to him again, I would be fired (and rightfully so). In any event, that lesson has been seared into my soul, don't lie, always tell the truth and do your best. I vowed to give my best effort, even for the most menial task. When we are beyond reproach in the way we work for others, or in a business we create, it raises the bar for those around us. As Frank Levinson said, "With good ethics you can attract the best people." <==== I really like that quote...
While we are learning a lot in these classes, I can't help but be a little sad about the pump and dump nature of school. We fly through these weeks so quickly I feel like I barely retain any real valuable knowledge until the next week rolls around. I know that is the nature of school, but it is frustrating non the less.
This week I watched a short video about Thomas Monaghan, the founder of Dominoes Pizza. What an inspirational story. He desire to give back what he has earned, to the point of taking a vow of poverty and living in a dorm room shows his amazing convictions. It seems he has found a way to make his gifts count here on earth.
In my B-283 class, I have been brewing my organic vanilla to sell for my $100 challenge. I have some early buyers already lined up. I just hope I have enough product to match the demand. If it sells too quickly, I may have to raise the price. I also have almost finalized my "big idea". I need to talk with a few people to research the feasibility of being able to make it a reality.
Magdalena Yesil was very interesting to read about. Her value of learning and being able to adapt to each company she either developed or worked at was amazing. Ms. Yesil seems to embody the spirit of entrepreneurship to a tee. She sounds like an exciting person to be around and to work with.
In B-183 we watched a Stanford video regarding ethics. I posted this, " My fist lesson on business ethics/integrity was as a fourteen year old working for a painter over the summer. I lived in Kansas at the time and summer in Kansas equals hot. The painter asked me to scrape one side of the house while he went and checked on a bid he had placed. He gave me the parameters with which to work and said he would be back in a few hours. Well he left, I scraped paint on the side of the house for awhile (a really fun job if you have done it before) and then laid down in the shade. I woke up to his car turning into the driveway and hurriedly went back to work. He came and assessed my progress. He asked what if I had been working the whole time, I lied and said yes. He then called my bluff and said that if I ever lied to him again, I would be fired (and rightfully so). In any event, that lesson has been seared into my soul, don't lie, always tell the truth and do your best. I vowed to give my best effort, even for the most menial task. When we are beyond reproach in the way we work for others, or in a business we create, it raises the bar for those around us. As Frank Levinson said, "With good ethics you can attract the best people." <==== I really like that quote...
While we are learning a lot in these classes, I can't help but be a little sad about the pump and dump nature of school. We fly through these weeks so quickly I feel like I barely retain any real valuable knowledge until the next week rolls around. I know that is the nature of school, but it is frustrating non the less.
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Week 2
This week was very interesting. My weekend (plus Monday) was filled with
travel to my first grandchild's blessing. Portland
to Rexburg with 3 kids in the car equals a controlled, chaotic, environment.
Around 27 hours of driving and only 2 hours of fighting. I call that a
successful car trip. It really cut into my study time, but my spouse (also in
school) drove to Rexburg so I could read ahead and get a jump start on planning
the next week.
I have not always liked to read blogs because I feel that only scratch the surface of an issue or problem. Rarely, if at all, does a blogger delve deep into solving a problem posed in a blog, they just post and wait. It can be frustrating to read blogs at times because.
For my B-283 class we have been given the assignment called the "$100 Challenge". I think this will be an exciting project. I have my idea already creating and in process. I only hope it will be ready to sell before the end date. My product is making organic vanilla extract. I have been dabbling in making vanilla extract for about 2 years. It requires a little bit of prep time to make the vanilla, but once complete, homemade vanilla extract is so much more flavorful than store bought, bulk manufactured vanilla extract. I purchased a web site when I first got the idea and have been working out price points by researching other sites that make boutique vanilla extract. I have also been researching the rules and regulations regarding the production of vanilla extract and formatting a system with how to comply with these rules.
I am really excited to see this through. I pray that this venture is successful so that I can donate to my Kiva person and help them out as much as possible.
In my B-183 class we had the opportunity to write out our list of 50 things to do before we die or a bucket list. It was great to go over some of the items I have finished on my bucket list and to start a completely new list. Many things have changed since I first wrote my list when I was 20. I look forward to completing this list with my wife.
I really enjoying reading "What Is Your Calling in Life?" by Jeffery A. Thompson. I found this article compelled me to take an introspective look at my life and discover or rediscover what my calling in life is. I really enjoyed this statement regarding discovering your calling, Thompson states, "Our strongest gifts tend to appear early in life, so it might help if you think back on your childhood and about how and what you played. Were you the kid that always got the neighborhood baseball game going? Maybe you have a spiritual gift for organizing others into collective action. Were you a natural storyteller? Maybe you have a spiritual gift for presenting ideas in a compelling and dramatic way. Were you the person who other kids always sought out for sympathy and acceptance? Maybe you have a spiritual gift for listening and discerning others’ emotions. Other types of gifts that you may notice in yourself include the ability to praise others effectively, to identify and encourage others’ talents, to organize information in a concise manner, and to see a problem from multiple angles.
These sorts of gifts may not suggest a particular career path to you, and that may seem like a disadvantage. I challenge you to try thinking differently. The gifts I have just listed have market value. They are also highly portable. You might express those gifts in many professions or organizations. Consequently, finding your calling in life may not be a matter of finding the one right job. Instead, it may be that your calling is to bring your unique spiritual gifts to whatever position the Lord blesses you with."
What a profound statement. I had never thought about searching my childhood to find out what I might be good at, but as I thought about this statement, I could see many of the things I am good at now visible when I was a child. I have just developed and strengthened those talents. I am thankful to be learning again. Even though these classes will stretch me with everything else going on, I will give it my best.
I have not always liked to read blogs because I feel that only scratch the surface of an issue or problem. Rarely, if at all, does a blogger delve deep into solving a problem posed in a blog, they just post and wait. It can be frustrating to read blogs at times because.
For my B-283 class we have been given the assignment called the "$100 Challenge". I think this will be an exciting project. I have my idea already creating and in process. I only hope it will be ready to sell before the end date. My product is making organic vanilla extract. I have been dabbling in making vanilla extract for about 2 years. It requires a little bit of prep time to make the vanilla, but once complete, homemade vanilla extract is so much more flavorful than store bought, bulk manufactured vanilla extract. I purchased a web site when I first got the idea and have been working out price points by researching other sites that make boutique vanilla extract. I have also been researching the rules and regulations regarding the production of vanilla extract and formatting a system with how to comply with these rules.
I am really excited to see this through. I pray that this venture is successful so that I can donate to my Kiva person and help them out as much as possible.
In my B-183 class we had the opportunity to write out our list of 50 things to do before we die or a bucket list. It was great to go over some of the items I have finished on my bucket list and to start a completely new list. Many things have changed since I first wrote my list when I was 20. I look forward to completing this list with my wife.
I really enjoying reading "What Is Your Calling in Life?" by Jeffery A. Thompson. I found this article compelled me to take an introspective look at my life and discover or rediscover what my calling in life is. I really enjoyed this statement regarding discovering your calling, Thompson states, "Our strongest gifts tend to appear early in life, so it might help if you think back on your childhood and about how and what you played. Were you the kid that always got the neighborhood baseball game going? Maybe you have a spiritual gift for organizing others into collective action. Were you a natural storyteller? Maybe you have a spiritual gift for presenting ideas in a compelling and dramatic way. Were you the person who other kids always sought out for sympathy and acceptance? Maybe you have a spiritual gift for listening and discerning others’ emotions. Other types of gifts that you may notice in yourself include the ability to praise others effectively, to identify and encourage others’ talents, to organize information in a concise manner, and to see a problem from multiple angles.
These sorts of gifts may not suggest a particular career path to you, and that may seem like a disadvantage. I challenge you to try thinking differently. The gifts I have just listed have market value. They are also highly portable. You might express those gifts in many professions or organizations. Consequently, finding your calling in life may not be a matter of finding the one right job. Instead, it may be that your calling is to bring your unique spiritual gifts to whatever position the Lord blesses you with."
What a profound statement. I had never thought about searching my childhood to find out what I might be good at, but as I thought about this statement, I could see many of the things I am good at now visible when I was a child. I have just developed and strengthened those talents. I am thankful to be learning again. Even though these classes will stretch me with everything else going on, I will give it my best.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Week 1
My first post for my b183 class. This should be an interesting journey. I hope that I am able to concentrate and figure out what I will need to do to break away from the world of employee to being an entrepreneur... I do understand the purpose of this type of record keeping. It will help me understand the journey I am on and see the ups and downs i encounter along the way. It's like hiking, which I love so much.
Pres. Hinckley's address was cause to reflect. I really appreciated his statement of, "the work of the world is not done by geniuses, but by ordinary people who have learned to work in an extraordinary way."
Guy Kawasaki presents a great point. If you do what you love, even if the money doesn't follow, you will be doing what you love so it may not matter... Interesting in that so many of us settle and do a job we hate just to provide when in fact we could have more satisfaction in doing what we love...
This week we are getting introduced to the format of our various classes. What is due when, what the workload will be like, can I endure to the end...
Pres. Hinckley's address was cause to reflect. I really appreciated his statement of, "the work of the world is not done by geniuses, but by ordinary people who have learned to work in an extraordinary way."
Guy Kawasaki presents a great point. If you do what you love, even if the money doesn't follow, you will be doing what you love so it may not matter... Interesting in that so many of us settle and do a job we hate just to provide when in fact we could have more satisfaction in doing what we love...
This week we are getting introduced to the format of our various classes. What is due when, what the workload will be like, can I endure to the end...
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