Final Lecture

I have reached the end of my entrepreneurship course, and I want to begin by immediately saying how thankful I am for this wonderful course. It has taught me how to keep pushing forward when things get tough and to always remember my personal constitution as I try to fulfill my ultimate potential.

This is the last advice that I will give during this course, and I fell that it's only fair that I recap on some of the most important lessons that I have learned since the beginning of this course.

First, never lose track of your goals. Whether they be short-term or long-term, goals are there so that we can practice diligence and feel a sense of accomplishment once we fulfill them. They are not there to boss us around, but to help guide us to where we want to be. Always keep your goals in mind when observing your future, and make the best decisions based on those goals.

Second, stay diligent. It's easy to have peaks of progression then lose that sense of determination as time progresses. This is a path that may not be harmful, but it will lead to little progress. Even when your situation gets difficult don't forget to stop complaining and work harder. Nothing worth having comes easy, especially a fulfilling life. Work hard for what you deserve.

Third, success is not a solo project. I have always been an independent person, and I have had to go through many trials on my own without much support from friends. As I have been here at school I have learned to value the friendships and connections that I have made. There are going to be moments in your life where you will need the help/aid of others. When those moments come, don't be afraid to ask for help. Don't let your pride get in the way of you not progressing because you don't ask for the help of friends.

Fourth, remember your personal constitution. Read it often and keep the goals that you have set for yourself in your mind always. Change it as your situation changes, but always remember to set yourself at a high standard and don't regress. Always try to be better than you were the day before.

Fifth, you will most likely experience as many failures as you will successes. This doesn't mean you shouldn't try because there are many vital lessons to learn from both occurrences. Remember to embrace the lessons you learn from your failures and don't become prideful when you are successful. Be prepared for both.

Sixth, education is an ongoing experience and should be embraced even outside the classroom. This semester at school has taught me that knowledge is so powerful and you should never limit yourself to what you can learn. Learn all you can and become well-versed in what you desire to learn. Learning how to learn is a very important skill to have, and you should never take this skill for granted.

Seventh, always remember than you are more capable of overcoming difficult things that you realize. There will always be trials, but your attitude towards them will determine your happiness. Always keep a sense of optimism and overcome your trials with determination and strength. You can overcome anything if you put your mind to it. You've made it this far.

Not to self:
Remember these things, and also remember what you have been taught during this course. There will be times in your life where these words will have incredible value. Refer to them often and know that through God all things are possible.

Entrepreneurship Journal - Week 11: "Mini Lessons II"

Just like my last Mini Lesson post, I have learned a few principles that made a definite impact on me while studying this week's material. This week has been very difficult, and the lessons I learned during this week had a particular impact on me because of the stress of school.

1) Maintaining an attitude of gratitude

A very difficult and tedious task to accomplish when there isn't much to be happy about, but those are the times when we need good attitudes the most. I always try to remember that the reason I'm so stressed is because I'm only perceiving it that way. If I try to find the optimism of a situation, then my whole outlook changes and the situation is less severe than anticipated. 

2) Don't be afraid to do what you love

I really liked what Stan Cristiensen had today about jobs. He said that you should pick a job that you enjoy doing; a job that you love. He talked about how there is plenty of time to change throughout your life, and you don't necessarily need to stick with one job for your entire life. 

3) Difficult things happen for a reason

Trials will always be there, so one of the only things we can do is try to keep our attitudes in an optimistic light. Entrepreneurial hero Larry North mentions that life will constantly put roadblocks and pitfalls in your way. Trials are there some can learn lessons from them. It's difficult to admit that while you are in that situation, but once it is over it is easy to see why it was given to you in the first place. Don't halt your progress and give up when things get difficult. Push through it and learn to overcome it, you'll thank yourself later for it.