Last Lecture

Well here we are, at the end of another semester of academic learning. While this certainly has not been my first semester in college it was my first semester at BYU-Idaho and my first semester completely online. Over the course of this semester I have gained a few personal guidelines for my life as they relate to taking on any entrepreneurial endeavor. I am not the person constantly thinking about what I could do to start a business, I have a good job that I enjoy and that provides the necessities for my family, my wife does not have to work, and I am being developed professionally for future opportunities. However as I have taken this course I have had my eyes opened to the many opportunities that are out there and how many people really are living the entrepreneurial life. What I have learned is how to set yourself apart and see success where many see failure.

The advice I would give to someone with a desire to become and entrepreneur would be, first, do your homework, second, determine what is more important to you than your business, and third, have fun.

Do your homework. I have had opportunities to talk with individuals who have started their own businesses, some have be very successful and some have failed. One conclusion I came to was the people that were successful were also prepared. They had planned, studied the market, studied how to be successful businessmen, and kept on learning. Those that failed had great ideas but never got beyond being the “technician.” They are now working for a large organization and make a good living, but they are missing out on their dream of being an entrepreneur because they did not do their homework. Another important reason to do your homework is that you may simply realize that this isn’t what you actually wanted, and that is okay.

Determine what is more important to you than your business. Over the course of this semester I have made one finite conclusion about the world of entrepreneurship. The greatest failure an entrepreneur can face is a failed marriage. This is a personal conclusion but it allows me to focus on things that matter most. As Latter-day Saints the other portion of this, which can apply to all entrepreneurs, is the standards you will keep in your business. Integrity is vital, don’t allow your business to participate in activities that will break commandments. Believe it or not but your business is not what matters most in your life, if you don’t believe this, you need to get your priorities straightened out.

Have fun. At work we had an employee lose his job because he simply could not stand the work we did and was not willing to put in the effort. His performance was abysmal and eventually the day came where his final check was handed to him and he left the building. He was not happy and was not having fun. I, on the other hand thoroughly enjoy my job in that same department. Our responsibilities were different, but I had previously done what he was then doing. The only thing I wished this man had done different was work hard until the end. He showed part of his character as he gave up, but I do not blame him at all for not liking the work and not enjoying his job. In a similar manner the life of an entrepreneur can be exhausting, stressful, and time consuming. If you are only in it for the money you are missing the bigger fulfillment in life.  

Lastly I would say, embrace the Kiva Project. I cannot say I embraced this as much as others, but as I worked on this with my wife we saw something neat happen. We utilized something my wife has already planned on doing to earn some money on the side, her photography. We learned a lot through the experience, but the neatest part was how it all ended, and it had nothing to do with photography. My wife had the opportunity to do something she has wanted to do for quite some time. Sell Maxi skirts for LuLaRoe. Because of the conversations and work we had put into the photography business we were prepared for this opportunity, we were already in the entrepreneurial mindset, always be looking for the opportunities around you and take the chance to learn for everything you are given.