Being successful is gauged on self-discipline.  This is why we are here on this earth.  We are here to master ourselves against temptation and selfishness.  Being a successful entrepreneur takes a lot of self-discipline.  No one is going to do the work for us.  We have to be the one who takes charge.  We have to be the one to manage our time effectively, and to do what needs to be done.  It takes a lot of time to be an entrepreneur.  This is why it is very important to prioritize our lives.  We need to remember what is most important to us.  We need to make rules to live by to make sure we leave enough time for those important things.  Having self-discipline will help us keep those rules.  Family is important to me.  They are the reason I do anything anymore.  They are my motivation.  If work gets in the way of my time with the family, then it is not worth it to me.  There is a way to do both.  It is something that doesn’t just happen.  It is a balance that is found through planning, hard work, and discipline.  I believe that I am happiest when my life is balanced.   

You can have everything you need to succeed, but you never will succeed without action.  You can have the degrees and diplomas.  You can have the skills, talents, and support.  None of these things will do you any good without action.  It is the drive, determination, and perseverance that will get you places.  I have seen it over and over again in my life.  People who have the education, the talents, and the support from family and friends still haven’t gotten any further than someone without all those things.  Drive, determination, and perseverance are all shared characteristics or personality traits of successful entrepreneurs.  It is when you are doing and working you learn the right and wrong way to do things.  Your talents and strengths become stronger and more polished.  You develop connections and relationships that help and support you and your business.  As you are moving forward, other opportunities present themselves.  You find out what you are good at, and you become good at other things.  It is the “street smarts” that are most valuable.   It is how you deal with people that will determine how people will deal with you.  Dealing honestly with people is the only way to go if you want to succeed.  

Even though we are members of the church who know, more than most, what our purpose in life should be.  We know where we want to be, or where we want to end up.  The hard part is finding out what we are going to do in the meantime that will help us reach our goal.  Each individual is uniquely blessed with certain talents, interests, and advantages in life.  The decisions we make, and how we use our strengths will determine our success or happiness in life.  One of my best decisions I have ever made was to marry my wife, and to have children.  My family brings me joy beyond words.  Having a family brings responsibility.  There is an immediate need to support the family.  I have a pretty good paying job.  Is it what I was born to do? I don’t think so, but I’m good at it.  I am providing for my family, and that makes me happy right now.  The work itself doesn't bring the most joy, but what it provides does.  I don’t believe you need to only do what you love or what you were born to do to be happy.  That stuff is great, and maybe down the road I’ll have time to figure that out, but for now, my calling is to be a father and husband.  This is what brings me joy.  This is what gets me out of bed every morning.  This is what drives me to do my best at whatever I’m doing.

I was reminded of the importance of ethics in the business world.  Being members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we made a covenant to take on the name of Jesus Christ.  This means we agree to live a higher law, and we agree to take on more responsibilities.  I believe the most important responsibility we take on is to be honest in all that we do.  We not only represent ourselves.  We represent Jesus Christ.  The great thing about taking on this responsibility is that we get so much more back than what we put in.  It is like an investment.  The Lord blesses us as we live our lives according to his teachings.  By being honest, we become trust worthy.  Who doesn't want to do business with a trustworthy honest business?

Contractors unfortunately have bad reputations for not being honest in their dealings with people.  Being in this line of work, I have seen how easy it would be take advantage of someone to earn an extra dollar or two. There are a lot of contractors that think that this is how to make money fast and easy, but they couldn't be more wrong.  I have chosen to go the other way, and to be honest.  I am now a contractor that people can trust and look to first for help.  In turn, I have become more successful than those other guys.