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.