It's good to reevaluate goals the goals I put in my last journal entry, because I need to recommit to them both! I have been observing more, but I haven't been writing down ideas. I asked one of my friends about how I have changed since my mission, but I didn't ask about my strengths.. This week I am resetting the goals and writing them down so I don't forget to work on them. But I can't believe how much I'm learning. My mindset is beginning to change toward what a Entrepreneur really is. I used to think that you just have to out-smart the competition, but according to the intro and first chapter of "The Ministry of Business," that is not the case. A lot of it has to do with what opportunities present themselves and how we act on those opportunities. Business tied in with gospel principles is so powerful. My Mission President once said that while a lot of businessman rely on the arm of the flesh, a disciple relies on God's mercy and grace, and that's what "The Ministry of Business" explains: shifting the praise of success from yourself to God, explaining that God puts the circumstances in our paths to give us success. The trick is finding God's will, receiving revelation, and acting upon it. When I first started these readings they would pump me up to act. I wanted to start my own business on the spot just to experiment! But after analyzing my situation as a poor college freshman, I figured that unless a giant opportunity comes up, it would be best to focus on school so Heavenly Father can continue to teach me more about my calling through school. Sprinting mindlessly with no ideas nor time to commit to a business sounds like a formula for failure.

What am I getting myself into? 4/22/2015

Lessons Learned:

There are some things I learned as  an LDS missionary that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. One of them is that I am a lot weaker than I thought I was. But after reading all the required passages from "Branding yourself," one of the biggest things I have found is this concept: "Yes, I have weaknesses.... but so what?! Realizing weaknesses doesn't make it a permanent tattoo on my character, instead it brings out and buffets the strengths and gifts that I have been given. I just need to focus more on my strengths WHILE being aware of my weaknesses and staying humble.

I have also found how important observation is with trailing questions. One thing I have observed so far that sticks out at the moment is my dad and how he has run his landscaping business. After reading these articles, I have found many traits that my dad has acquired which he has used to run his business successfully DESPITE  his weaknesses. Some of his biggest tools are networking everywhere he goes, and quick recovery after failed attempts. He isn't afraid to get his hands dirty. He has failed countless times, but one thing I found, is I never found out about the failures until much later on. Why? Because he doesn't give the failure more than a day of thought! He gets up, dusts himself off, and is back at it the next day chowing down on new plans and resources. 

What I haven't figured out:

What the heck are my strengths?? Especially my strengths that will help me to create something, something to provide for my family? I know that I am a hard worker, that is a strength, I'm not afraid to get in the grit and the sweat and the blood... but then how can I apply that strength? Which brings me into my next thing I haven't figured out: Where are there needs? Where are there needs where I can fill, needs that I am currently suited to grapple with head on even in my poor college-student situation? Yes this will come with more experience and observance, but as it said in the article "living life as an entrepreneur hero," it's a heck of a lot better to learn hard life lessons early. I need to find a need and slowly but fearlessly attack it, baby-step by baby-step. Its time to set goals for observance and strength-finding.

New goals: 1) Note at least two things I observe each day appealing to business or my personal strengths, and also note a question to go along with one or both observations.

                   2) Ask some close friends and family about my strengths, write down their response and try to find in myself what they have observed in me.