All You Need is Love

I am not a huge Beatles fan. I mean, they were okay. But, I think by the end of their reign that some of them got a little bit too big for their britches. Although they had a song with a cool title that I borrowed to write my “last lecture” blog post, I think they totally missed the point of the subject of their own song.

Someone may be out there saying, “This is your final blog post, your ‘coup de grâce,’ and you’re talking about LOVE?! Where does that fit in entrepreneurship?”

Allow me to explain.

First, as an entrepreneur, you must love what you do. Most entrepreneurs I know work more for themselves than for any “job” they ever had. You will be spending a lot of time, effort, and probably money on your idea, so you’d better enjoy it. If you don’t, it will become a burden instead of a blessing.

For my second and third points, we need to turn love into an action word.

Although small (and large) business owner-operators do lots of work solo, they can seldom become truly successful without somehow involving other humans--they are your customers. No other species will do (thus, my second point). Sometimes you need help from a real person. Fruitful business ventures typically solve people problems. In learning to love others well, we learn how to treat them well. We develop good relationships. When we need something, we feel we can ask. Sometimes we don’t even have to do that. When we get to know others, we know what difficulties they face. Finding these solutions leads to win-win situations for both parties.

Lastly, we need to love God.

When we learn of our relationship to our Heavenly Father, we realize that we need Him in every aspect of our lives (I think this is where John Lennon messed up, may he rest in peace). We want Him to be involved. We need Him to be. He wants us to be successful. He cares about what we care about.  Through the Spirit, we can receive confirmation regarding our entrepreneurial endeavors. He can help us grow, progress, and learn so much faster than we can on our own. Loving Him encompasses getting to know Him through obedience, scripture study, fasting, and especially prayer. Loving Him involves serving His children. Loving Him means following His Son.   

And the really crazy thing about love? It isn’t just a secret weapon for the self-made individual. Practicing love works in every aspect of life. Go ahead and give it a try. 

We the People

I love musicals. One of my favorites is “Singing in the Rain.” There is a scene near the movie’s end that unmasks the true villain of the show. The studio owner, RF, tells his leading lady, hoity-toity actress, Lena Lamont, that what she’s demanding is extremely under-handed.

“People just don’t do things like that,” he says, to which she responds in her high-pitched, grating voice (which is the problem in the first place), “Peeeeple!? I AIN’T PEEEEPLE!!”

Of course, the truth is revealed, justice prevails, and Lena learns an important lesson—we are all people, and we all matter. This happens off screen, of course, and we are making some assumptions.

In business, and in every other aspect in life, it all comes down to people. Can you think of one where it doesn’t?!?. If we want to be successful entrepreneurs, we need people. We can be effective if we solve people’s problems, help people with a need, or make people’s lives easier. If we want our business to grow, we’re going to need help from… you guessed it… people. Making them feel valued and intelligent is a win-win situation for both parties.

While there are many different personalities in the big, wide world, “there’s only one race, and that’s mankind.” (Garth Brooks, “We Shall Be Free”). The Golden Rule still applies.   

What’s that Smell?

I am sure anyone that has ever purchased potatoes has had this experience: There is an awful smell in the kitchen, but the problem is elusive. Finally your nose directs you to where your potato bag lies, and one of them has spoiled. When that has happened to me, I toss out the whole bag.

In “The Harvard Business Review” What’s a Business For? Author Charles Handy makes a similar analogy using apples. He says that “the markets would eventually sort the good from the bad… the world would go on much as before.” This happens less all the time.

There’s something stinky in the business community.

Integrity and virtue have become rare commodities. “Markets rely on rules and laws, but those rules and laws in turn depend on truth and trust. Conceal truth or erode trust, and the game becomes so unreliable that no one will want to play.” Handy has a point. In order for our system of free enterprise to continue, virtue and integrity must be at the center of every transaction. This would allow businesses to fulfill their true callings—making a difference in the world.

Yes, earning a profit is important, but it’s not everything. Funny thing about business--when an entrepreneur sets out to help someone or solve a problem instead of looking to make it rich, the business becomes successful, and the owner can become wealthy. It kind of reminds me of the principle of service; in serving others, we forget about our own problems.

Maybe there was some Greek businessman whom we could name an oath after (think Hippocrates). Businessmen would have to swear under threat of death (well, maybe not DEATH) to “first do no harm.” That might make one think twice before doing anything illegal or immoral. I like the idea of giving the “worker” more ownership in the business similar to what Germany has done. It would give the common laborer a little more pride and remind CEOs they don’t necessarily own the company.

There’s always the “drain the swamp” idea. Man, those stink, too. Hey, if it works for politics…

New Glasses

I just returned from a business trip with a friend of mine. We spent five days together somewhere warmer than where we live. We talked, laughed, whined a little, and then reminded each other how blessed we really are. We each returned home more relaxed, rejuvenated, with creative juices flowing and ready to make some positive changes in our business and personal lives. It was good to take a break and get lost for a while. We have come back with a new perspective.

In this week’s reading was a pamphlet entitled, “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness (A Cautionary Tale)”. The author listed methods of true happiness by getting “lost” in various activities, one of which was subtitled “Gratitude: Losing Yourself in Thanks and Generosity.” Some of the ways to do that include keeping a journal, volunteering, donating to a good cause, practicing gratitude, and having a positive attitude. I have had some personal success with consciously applying a good attitude to less than pleasant situations, and it has helped.

As an adult, I have had to get “new lenses” with which to view many things, including money. I recognize that the way I saw money in my childhood home has caused me to view it through an unhealthy filter as an adult. Incorrectly viewing one’s adult responsibilities can cause undue stress and strain on self and family. Skewed ideas about finances are no different. In fact, because money is so interwoven into every fabric of our lives, erroneous fiscal behaviors can be a leading cause of quick temporal, emotional, and spiritual decline.

In the Book of Mormon, Jacob teaches us the way to Lord’s way to prosper, “And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good.” Wealth itself is not evil. And, if we seek it in the Lord’s way and for his purposes, we can achieve it.

Who’s Your Buddy?

When my girls were young, I was a Girl Scout leader and took them to camp. I also spent time serving in Young Women and went to girls’ camp. Whenever one of the girls for which I was responsible wanted to leave the group for a short period of time for any reason, my direction was always the same.

Take a buddy with you.

It was never good to be off by oneself. It was always safer to travel in a pair. We humans like to do things with other humans. As it turns out, we should be kind of picky when choosing those other humans.

In his second letter to the people of Corinth, Paul tells them “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers,” meaning that the Saints of God should not marry those that are of another faith. Each individual needs to choose a spouse that has similar goals and values.

And, so it goes in business.

In “The Hero’s Journey,” Jeff Sandefer tells us to “choose your fellow travelers well” with what he calls three lessons:

1.     “Surround yourself with people of integrity”

2.     “Surround yourself with people who are optimistic”

3.     “Surround yourself with people who are passionate”

It’s been said that we become like those with whom we hang out with. It’s true. Guilt by association is a real thing. Think of the teenage boy who goes out behind the backstop with his friends during lunch break. The boy's friends light up a few cigarettes, but not the young man we're thinking about; he doesn't smoke. Yet, when the principal shows up, our young friend gets in trouble right along with those who are smoking just because he’s with them.

Author, public speaker, and entrepreneur Tim Ferris, who borrowed this concept from Jim Rohn, says, “You are the average of the five people you most associate with.”

If I’m going to be the average of five, I’d better pick a buddy or two with some pretty high stats.

Can I Say “Just Do It”?

President Spencer W. Kimball, frequently called a man of action, had a sign on his desk that read, “Do it.” Film producers shout the instruction, “Action!” and everybody on set is suddenly very busy. Even one of my favorite gym shoe and sports equipment companies, Nike, tells us… well, you get the picture.

It’s in the doing.

Take learning a language, say, Spanish. You can study and read about it all you want, but you will never be able to carry on a conversation with a native Spanish speaker if you don’t SPEAK it.  

I can get on a soap box and tell everyone how wonderful it is to eat right and exercise, but until someone takes my advice and ACTS on it, they’re never going to really know how beneficial that kind of lifestyle can be.

It’s the same way with the gospel. Kim B. Clark, former BYU Idaho President, affirms this. “You teach your children to obey the commandments of God by keeping the commandments of God… it is in the doing that there is real power to shape their lives.”

And, it’s the same way in business.

Elbert Hubbard demonstrates this in his essay “A Message to Garcia.” He said, “Replace the voices in your head with positive action. Turn away from the temptation to dwell on negative thoughts. Dwelling on fears only gives them more power. The best way to rid yourself of a fear is to take positive action. Courage isn’t the absence of fear but rather the ability to act in the face of it.”

Everybody has fears at some time or another. To overcome those fears, we must “Just Do It,” whatever “it” is.

There was no way I was NOT going to use that slogan; it’s just too good. 

Where's My Sword?

I’m tired. Maybe I’ve got spring fever, even though winter just showed up last week. Maybe I’m tired because it’s half-way through the semester and I’ve got a Sophomore form of Senioritis.  Maybe it’s because it’s almost March; I have personal experiences that make me agree with Shakespeare about March. Maybe it’s because I stayed up too late last night watching the Olympics, got up early this morning, went to the gym, did a half hour on the treadmill, completed 3 sets of 9 different weight-lifting exercises, and came home to 27 minutes of yoga. Maybe it’s because I’m “getting up there,” and I’m frustrated because I don’t learn as quickly as I once did.

Regardless, I need to do something. A nap sounds good. But, that is only a temporary fix. Maybe I need a new attitude. Anyone know where I can get one?

Elder Holland (I L.O.V.E. him!) knows how we feel; he’s been there before, too. He gave some great counsel to BYU students clear back in 1983 that still applies to us today. He says, “If your eyes are always on your shoelaces, if all you can see is this class or that test, …this disappointment or that dilemma, then it really is quite easy to throw in the towel and stop the fight. But what if it is the fight … for your eternal life? What if beyond … this disappointment or that dilemma, you really can see and can hope for all …that God has to offer? Oh, it may be blurred a bit…faintly, dimly, and ever so far away you can see the object of it all. And you say it is worth it, you do want it, you will fight on. Like Coriantumr, you will lean upon your sword to rest a while, then rise to fight again (see Ether 15:24–30) …As long and laborious as the effort may seem, please … take advantage of every opportunity to learn and grow… work, [and]… wait patiently when you have no other choice. Lean on your sword and rest a while, but get up and fight again…however long and hard the road.” 

Elder Holland also reminded us during Conference recently that we get credit for trying. Thank heavens.

Okay. I can do this, just let me take a little break, rejuvenate, and get an outlook makeover. Now… who moved my sword?

Just Breathe

A few years ago, a counselor recommended a book for me to read. It was on the practice of mindfulness. In a nutshell, it involves a little bit of meditation to focus on what’s going on in the present moment. Ronald D. Siegel, PsyD, author of “The Mindfulness Solution” says that it is an “awareness of personal experience with acceptance.” Ultimately, it’s all about the attitude of one’s experiences, regardless of whether they are considered good or bad.

Using deep breathing techniques, a mindfulness practitioner tries to clear her mind and just focus on being, right now. If negative thoughts intrude, she is encouraged to acknowledge them and let them pass. This kind of “therapy” has been practiced by many different cultures and peoples throughout centuries. And, the practice of deep, mindful breathing has powerful effects on the brain, the body, and the psyche.

George Leonard, author of “Mastery,” shares his own ideas of this concept. He encourages us to “acknowledge the negative and accentuate the positive.” When we couple this with regular physical exercise, we direct our energies into positive channels. Regular exercise and meditation coincides with Habit #1 in Steven Covey’s “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” be proactive.

By taking action in this one area, we can effect change within ourselves that can be a first step to a successful journey.

The Cure

I totally found myself while reading “Mastery” by George Leonard, and not in a good way.

Leonard describes three paths that most people attempt to avoid the only true path to mastery. This only true path is lengthy, arduous, and has no instant gratification, which is probably why many of us try to circumvent it. Leonard has even named these paths, and you can guess the traits of each one from the titles alone: The Dabbler, The Obsessive, and The Hacker.

I am a Dabbler. If you’d read my very first blog post, you might have already deduced this fact based on the impressively long (insert sarcasm here) list of job titles I’ve held over the last 30 years. The Dabbler fits me to a T.

While studying our material this week, I do believe that I came across the remedy for my disorder! Wences Cesares eluded to it in his video (from a cruise ship, no less!) about entrepreneurship. I'm calling it serial entrepreneurial monogamy. I need to be continuously engaged in one, and only one, business venture, and I need to do it long enough to do it well.

Not to brag or anything, but I did come to that on my own about the same time that I returned to school. I have finally nailed myself down to something, and my partner is awesome. I know that the rewards will come, eventually. No more dabbling for me. I am ALL IN!

The Dreaded Four-Letter Word

I would venture to say that most people that I know have never heard me utter a curse word (that is not an admission, nor a denial, of guilt). I do, however, use four-letter words ALL THE TIME. I used seven four-letter words in the first sentence of today’s post alone. Okay, maybe that wasn’t very funny.

But, there are lots of four-letter words in the English language, and we cannot get along without them: time, rest, food, pray, sing, walk, talk. Talk is big for me. I once had someone ask me if I’d die if I wasn’t talking. But, “talk” is not the four-letter word that was impressed upon me as I went through this week’s study materials. The four-letter word of the hour is W-O-R-K.

Work, also defined as perseverance, stamina, faith, courage, trial, error, struggle, “staying the course,” and whatever other words or phrases I choose, for the purposes of this blog, is the number one key to success in entrepreneurship.

In his essay “Are Successful Entrepreneurs Born or Made?”, Jeff Sandefer quotes a self-made businessman who said, “Perseverance is far more important than skill or talent. You have to have a mindset that never gives up, no matter how tough it gets. A little talent and a lot of hard work are the foundation for learning any skill, and are far more important in the long run.”

So, we know that work is important, but this week’s video, "A Hero's Journey," reminds us that it isn’t the only thing that we should focus on. We need balance. When we reach the end of our mortal existence, we won’t be asking ourselves, “Was I a big enough workaholic?” People matter, and so do the four-letter words love, kind, and good.

For the most part, the world could use a little more work. So, go ahead and use this particular four-letter word. I won’t tell anyone. 

Brain Food

There is an old Native American proverb that came to my mind during my studies this week. In short, it goes like this:

A grandfather tells his grandson, “There are two wolves inside of him. One is good, kind, and generous, and the other is bad, mean, and greedy. They are constantly fighting inside me.” Very concerned, the grandson asks his grandfather, “Which one will win?” to which he replies, “The one I feed.”

I have had the pleasure of listening to Earl Nightingale’s The Strangest Secret when he told us that, “You become what you think about.” I have viewed the documentary, The Secret, based on the book of the same title by Rhonda Byrne where she explains that one can change one’s life based on ones’ thoughts. I have heard multiple times the famous quote by Zig Ziglar, “You are what you are and you are where you are because of what has gone into your mind. You change what you are and you change where you are by changing what goes into your mind.” And, I believe every one of them to be true.

Our minds are powerful tools for good or for ill. And, like a powerful engine, it will function efficiently and appropriately if we feed it with good, wholesome nutrition. Over time, it will exceed our expectations. Conversely, if we put junk in, we will get junk out, and after a while, it will become pretty weak, feeble, and eventually utterly useless.

Watch uplifting shows and movies (in limited quanitites). Read books to improve yourself (no limit here!). Study the scriptures and follow is Christ’s footsteps (always). Feed our brains only the best. Believe we can do all things. With our Heavenly Father’s help, we certainly can. 

Why NOT Me?

During this week's assignments, I read from The Ministry of Business by Steven Hitz and James Ritchie. Both authors, with their wives as their partners, have built very successful businesses, and they have mentored others to do likewise. In chapter four of the book, Mr. Ritchie mentions "The Formula" that he created that would lead him to find the success he sought. He is then quoted as saying, "If God would allow these principles of success to work on a polio stricken, stuttering, chicken farmer from Heber, Utah (speaking of himself), then why wouldn't He do the same for you?"

Mr. Ritchie's statement seemed to really speak to me this week. I scoured LDS.com, searching for a Conference talk (that I just KNOW I heard recently) that had that very same theme. Unfortunately, I was not able to find the talk that I thought I was looking for. I then had another thought.

This time, I didn't need to hear words of counsel from our Church leaders; I needed to receive this revelation on my own. I am a child of my Heavenly Father, my Lord and King. It struck me that I have been blessed with many talents and abilities that will help me succeed. In fact, God loves me, He wants me to prosper, and He will help me. Knowing who I am, who I am NOT to be successful? Why NOT me?

Intentionality

The first time I heard the word “intentionality,” I thought Dave Ramsey had made it up. But, my Miriam-Webster smart phone app has it, and since they decide what words are real and don’t list those that aren’t, “intentionality” must be legit. The powers that be in the English language define it as “done in a way that is planned or intended.”

Dave taught me something else, “A goal that isn’t written down is just a wish.” Intentionality. Randy Pausch must have learned this early in his lifetime. When he was a kid, he listed a bunch of things he wanted to do. And, before he passed away, he DID them! I suppose he wrote them down. Intentionality.

The exercises that we completed this week in our Introduction to Entrepreneurship class are all about setting goals and writing them down. We cannot forget the “writing down” part! We acknowledge who we are now, we look at where we want to be, and, keeping in mind our values, map out a way to get there. Intentionality.

Another class exercise had us create a list of 50 things we want to do before we “check out” of this life. Doing that caused me to dream a little. I then thought of Dave again.

Dave suggests that we use dreaming as a reason to set (and write down) goals (they gotta be written down!). Dreaming gives us a reason to do what it takes to achieve those goals. We will not reach any goals (even if they are written down) if we do not act. Dreaming is a HUGE part of goal-setting.

I had a dream when I was younger. This dream wasn’t from childhood; it was more from my young adulthood, but it was a dream, just the same. I wanted to play volleyball in college and maybe in the Olympics. I was really good, but I didn't realize it then. I know that now, but it is too late. I will not achieve that goal because, quite frankly, I am too old. But, I am okay with that. I have moved on to other goals that I can achieve, even at my age.

So, in my homework this week, I have let myself dream about some things I want to do before I “cross the River Jordan.” I have written down some goals. I am moving forward with intentionality.

Do What You Gotta Do

By the time you turn 50, you should know what you want. You should’ve found your "calling" in life, and do what you love. I am staring down the barrel at 50, and I still have no idea what I want to do. I have DONE lots. I guess you can say, "I did what I had to do," but it’s never really been who I am. 

I have worked for an county elections office and a county auditor’s office. I have been a 911 dispatcher, a crossing guard, a secretary, a day-care provider, a multi-level marketer, a shipping clerk, an insurance agent, a part-time housekeeper, and a part-time transcriptionist. I have been a lunch lady, an entrepreneur/online marketer, and I have been unemployed. And, I have always tried to grow some sort of home based business on the side in addition to being a mom and wife. In every employment aspect, I’ve felt that I’ve done what I had to do at the time.

Most of my education has been through the school of hard knocks. I had very few college credits to my name for a long time. About two years ago, I felt impressed to return to school. So, I added “student” to the list of job titles I've held.  BYU-Idaho had the program that I needed. It may have been designed just for me.

I have chosen a career field that I am not yet sure is my passion, but it’s one in which I do have an interest. I have faith that I can learn what I need to in order to be successful. And, the knowledge I gain will be beneficial in my desire to continue my entrepreneurship.

Today I am starting my entrepreneurship BLOG. I can see the value in this, but at this moment in time, I am doing what I gotta do.