The advice I would give to someone who wants to start the journey to become an entrepreneur would be to make sure that person is aware of what it will take.  The person will first need an idea that he or she believes in, and is willing to do what it takes to make it work.  I would have that person do their homework.  Find out if this idea already exists.  Find out how much money it will take to produce this idea, how much overhead it will take, and if there is a market for it. 

I would give the advice I received over the course of this class.  This person will need to be willing to take risks.  These risks should be calculated and timed correctly for it to work properly. This person would need to set rules that they will live by.  Being an entrepreneur takes a lot of time, and if you are not careful you can lose track of other important things like family.  I would tell this person to keep their priorities straight.  I would have them find out what is most important to them, then I would tell them to never forget it.  The eternal perspective is most important.  Keep it at the front of their mind at all times.

                The last advice I would give is to never give up on your goals and dreams.  The road will be rocky and difficult, but don’t give up.  In a talk given by Thomas S. Monson entitled, “Finishers Wanted” he says, “From the very beginning to the present time, a fundamental question remains to be answered by each who runs the race of life. Shall I falter, or shall I finish? On the answer await the blessings of joy and happiness here in mortality and eternal life in the world to come.” I believe the biggest difference between a successful entrepreneur and anyone else is their ability to keep going.  They don’t take “no” for an answer.  They are willing to finish the race to success.   

I was reminded this week of the importance of gratitude.  In a talk given by Thomas S. Monson he says,

“This is a wonderful time to be living here on earth. Our opportunities are limitless. While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right, such as teachers who teach, ministers who minister, marriages that make it, parents who sacrifice, and friends who help.”

This quote caused me to wonder what my attitude is about the world we live in today.  If my attitude is not showing my gratitude for all my blessings, then I need an attitude adjustment.  Like the quote says, there are a lot of bad things going on in this world, but there are a lot of good things too.  I find myself getting caught up with all the things wrong so much at times that I don’t notice all the good.  When I take the time to show gratitude for all the blessings in my life, I feel the love of my Heavenly Father, and I am able to see many more blessings happening all around me that I may have otherwise missed.  Heavenly Father does care and wants the best for everyone.  This world is a great place to live.

I was reminded the reasons why I want to be an entrepreneur.  Being an entrepreneur is hard work, but it’s worth it just for the freedom you have not working for someone else.  I went back to work for a company recently for different reasons.  One reason was because I need more experience in the field that I chose in order to expand my opportunities as a business owner.  To go to the next step in my plan, I need this added experience.  I am quickly being reminded why I enjoyed working for myself.  I have spent the last three months not in control with my time or life.  The pay is decent, and the company treats me well, but I am not as happy as I was.  I never felt over worked and under appreciated when I worked for myself.  I was in control.  I could come and go as I pleased.  I didn't have to answer to anyone.  I am learning valuable skills and experience right now so I will stay the course as long I need to.  That is one of the biggest things I miss working for myself.  As soon as the opportunity comes again, I will go on my own once more.

Family and true friends should be the reason to accomplish anything in life.  Why do we work?  What motivates us?  It shouldn't be the money.  It shouldn't be the recognition.  It should be about being able to provide for our wives and children that we have been entrusted with.  This brings us pure joy and satisfaction.  It is a hard balance sometimes.  The way we do work has changed with technology.  There really is no 9 to 5 anymore.  Work can follow us home 24-7 especially for entrepreneurs.  A lot of them are one man shows who wear all the hats in the business.  It has become very difficult to separate personal time and professional time.  It is important to make rules and to live by them no matter what.  Family should always be just as important or most important in our lives.  If we lose focus and lose family then what do we have?  I understand that the work of an entrepreneur becomes very important.  It’s our baby.  We want it to become the best.  This is where we can get into trouble.  It’s that balance we need to keep.  This is why making rules and sticking with them is vital.  We need to keep our families along the ride to success.  

Life is moving fast.  The world is changing.  Business is changing right along with it.  The way we do business has changed and will continue to change.  Technology is the driving force of all the change.  We are able to accomplish so much more at a faster rate thanks to technology.  There is a constant need of adaptation to business policies. The business world has become an entrepreneurial playground.  Businesses need new ideas and procedures to keep up with the pace.  Whatever business is willing to change and to take calculated risks will be the businesses that will keep up and survive.  Who can think outside the box?  I’m not saying we need to reinvent the wheel, but we do need to think of ways to make the wheel faster, stronger, and maybe even cheaper than ever before.  We live in California and my 13 year old daughter and I were looking out over the ocean and I commented on how much water there is, and my daughter said, “Why can’t we use some to at least water the land because of the drought we are in?”  I told her to that she should figure out a way to do so.  Things like this can be done thanks to the entrepreneurial thinking and spirit.

It is true that good guys finish last and it is fantastic.  It is fantastic especially in the entrepreneurial game.  Coming in last usually means you have been out the longest.  Longevity is the name of the game.  Your credibility grows the longer you are in business. To be successful in business, you need to be honest and loyal in all your dealings.  You will receive the same treatment in return.  This is the only way to do business.  If you are not honest or loyal it will eventually catch up to you.  Just being a nice guy will get you farther than someone who isn't.  Who wants to be around someone who is only there for himself, and not to help make things better for everyone around?  Businesses function better with nice, honest, and loyal people.  There is stronger unity.  There is better team work.  There is a saying that says, “One bad apple can spoil the whole butch.”  It only takes one person to spoil a business deal.  The service may have been top notch, but that one guy or girl that had a bad attitude could be the only thing keeping you from being a return customer. 

I have learned that it is just as important to remember how you got to where you are as much as it is to keep pressing forward.  How did you become the person you are now?  What sacrifices where made to provide you with what you needed to accomplish what you have accomplished?  Remembering all the blessing you have enjoyed so far will help you stay focused on the future.  You will have a bigger desire to not let all of that hard work go to waste.  It is like when a teammate goes down before the end of the season. This teammate has been very influential to the team’s success so far.  The rest of the team will usually dedicate the rest of the season to that player.  They will use it as motivation to play their very best.  My ancestors came over on a boat from England, then made their way across the United States from Louisiana.  They helped settle Southern Utah.  I am sure there were many trials and hardships suffered.  I am grateful for their testimonies and determination to endure so that now my family and I can enjoy the blessing of being born under the covenant.  I plan to do the same for my kids, grand kids, and so on.