Jeremy's Entrepreneurial Journal

  This week in our Intro To Entrepreneurship class, our topic of study was moving forward with a driving passion.   As a part of the readings this week we were assigned a summary of the book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey.   I was reminded of how important this book and its principles are, it’s been a long time since I have read it.   The principle/habit of “Think Win/Win” stood out to me this week as perhaps the most meaningful.   Cooperation in a true spirit of win/win seems to have been lost in our society.   Political ideologies, cultural conflicts, religious differences are no longer discussed with respect of each other.   Quite the opposite is true, and automatic intolerance of other’s beliefs now seem to rule the day.    The world needs individuals committed to win/win thinking and action.   Men and women who stand by their principles, but do it in a way that is respectful and in a peaceful way.   C...

  The heights by great men reached and kept Were not attained by sudden flight, But they, while their companions slept, Were toiling upward in the night. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “The Ladder of St. Augustine”   This week our studies in class were titled “So You Want to Be an Entrepreneur?”.   The readings this week were excellent.   Life tends to be a stern taskmaster, and especially if you aspire to create something of excellence.   The assigned articles were a good reminder that it takes more than an idea or talent to start and run a business.   Significant self mastery, industry knowledge, operational knowledge, planning, market analysis, marketing and salesmanship will all be required and likely more.   The ability to manage all of it and move forward isn’t an easy thing to do.   Time management and discipline in keeping an ideal schedule each week are going to be critical to keep everything working.   It doesn’t take lon...

This week in our Intro to Entrepreneurship class we reviewed a talk entitled The Hero’s Journey.  My interpretation of the premise of the talk is that at the end of life, most people will ask themselves three questions: 1.        Have I contributed something meaningful? 2.       Am I a good person? 3.       And who did I love, and who loved me? What is really interesting to me about these questions is that they could be applied across all spectrums of life.  Those that achieve extraordinary fame or fortunes (or both) and those that led quiet, obscure lives  have I contributed something meaningful? Am I a good person? And who did I love, and who loved me? must face them equally.  It also occurred to me that seeking to contribute something meaningful could be a dangerous quest.  How many on their journey have abandoned the second two questions to obtain some glory that feels...

  This week in my entrepreneurial journey we studied “How Will You Measure Your Life”.   As I study the material associated with this course, I find myself a little surprised each week with the quality and relevance of all of it.   Further I find myself identifying ideas that open my mind to new ways of thinking, and I am absolutely loving it!   I feel this class was put together just for me.   This week, I finished a book called Launching Leaders by Steven A Hitz.   It contains principles and formulas for success in life and in a way that is perfectly aligned with my values.   I have ready many good business books in the past, but rarely do they align to what I am trying to achieve personally.   And to be honest, most of the books I have read in the past have simply stirred a desire to improve behavior with the end goal to make more money.    Over the last year, I have struggled through a prompting to stay with the company I work fo...

  This week in our study of Honesty and Business Ethics, I was really inspired to shift in my thinking about my professional life and entrepreneurial focus.   Elder Lynn G. Robbins gave a wonderful speech about the intent and focus of our professional and business efforts titled “Making a living and a Life” given in a devotional at BYU Idaho in October of 2010.   In this speech he reminds us that our first an primary purpose is build the Kingdom of God, including strong and valiant families and that how we behave is more important than our financial success.   I have long believed that the primary purpose of a career or starting a business is to make a living and provide for my family and then others.   That in the role of breadwinner focusing on financial success was most important.   I didn’t believe that it was ok to bend or break commandments or take advantage of others.   However, with Elder Robbins’ letter grade matrix, he clearly identifies ...