After reading the articles and watching the videos provided for this week of the course the reading that had the most impact on me was "Living Life as an Entrepreneurial Hero". It was during this reading that I had one of my most prominent epiphanies of the week. This is the thought that I wrote down in my notebook while I was reading the article:
"I feel fortunate because I believe I can be categorized into that group of a select few that have a dream or goal in mind from an early age. I've always wanted to open up a shop. I have been blesses to have this dream from such a young age. Don't waste that dream's potential by standing still and not risking failure or disappointment. Act on your dream now, while it's fresh."
Watching the videos and reading the articles had reinvigorated my want to succeed. There have been times in my life where I feel that I am stuck and can't progress unless and change my situation, outlook or attitude. After I made those few changes necessary I realized that I was often uncomfortable or unfamiliar with my new situation and the future that would follow it. I also realized that when I had adapted to those changes I was challenging myself to learn something new; to reach past my personal boundaries; to progress.
It wasn't until a few months ago that I realized the importance of adapting to a new situation in order to progress. I worked part-time at a fast food restaurant before I started this year of college, and I disliked nearly every moment of it. It wasn't the fact that it was a minimum-wage job, but the fact that I worked at a place I disliked very much because of the taxing work that offered little in reward other than a paycheck. That gave me anxiety to such lengths that I had never experienced before. After careful reevaluation of my situation, I realized that my attitude was getting in the way of my progression. My goal at the time was to earn enough money for school. Working part-time and moping about it was definitely not an option I wanted to endure.
I then decided to ask my manager for full-time work once I had realized that I would not earn enough money for school at my current pace. However, as the weeks went on I was getting less and less hours every week, and eventually after waiting patiently for a full time week I got a week with only one shift of only five hours.
I was frustrated and humiliated. I had changed my attitude and owned up to working for what I deserved, yet ironically it was that same job that started holding me back. I realized right away that if there was any chance of me progressing further it was to seek elsewhere for employment. I quit that five hour week and didn't think twice about it.
I did so with such haste because I realized that my goal of college needed to be overlooked temporarily so that I could focus on finding new employment that will benefit not only my college fund but my well-being as well. My first goal: College was set aside to fulfill a more immediate goal: find a job with the hours you need.
Despite this entire situation and the misfortune of it all, I consider myself to be very fortunate. Why? Because in the next week I found three separate part-time jobs that would help me get all of the hours I needed, and the best part of it all was that I enjoyed each job. Every new job I acquired provided me with a benefit other than money, whether that be personal wellness, friendships, or a feeling of accomplishment. After arranging my jobs without overlaps I wan making 45-50 hours a week and did't miss a single shift.
A major awakening of determination was occurring inside me. I never though that I was capable of such a difficult feat as three part-time jobs. Yes, many have to deal with many more hours than I had, but the fact that I was willing to work harder than I ever had before gave me hope for my future. Life will always throw curveballs relentlessly at you. Learning how to adapt and change your situation for something better is a large step towards success, and that is what this week's readings made me realize.
Being an entrepreneur means taking risks and adapting to a world that is changing ever so quickly. As an optimistic future Entrepreneur I hope that the determination I received a few months ago will stick with me as I complete the remainder of this course, as well as the rest of my continuing education. This week's material has motivated me to want to try to reach beyond myself to accomplish something I never thought I was capable of accomplishing: becoming an entrepreneur and following my dreams in the process. I see a bright hope in my future, but there are still many lessons a young adult like me needs to learn in order to be successful and, with luck, keep progressing.
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