?!

Who are you, French public?
Identify yourself, if you will.

My bits of Advice

And here I am, at the very last entry of the course. It went by in a fast and smooth way. I learned very much and could already apply some of the B183's teachings to my own entrepreneurial life. 
I got into this course in what I believe to be a privileged position, as an entrepreneur. I have run by small business from home for the past 5 years, starting with only a computer and a printer. My only investment was a desk and some stationary. I have made my revenue grow as if I had a good employment and have built an office in my house. Still, my business is too small and I want to make it grow.
B183 got to my life in a difficult entrepreneurial moment. I am almost not able to handle all of my demand by myself but am still scared of incurring into the cost of an employee. This is a risk taking moment for me. A very busy one as well.
During the semester I was required to read many articles, books and watch many videos of other people that have walked this path and that shared with me their successful tips. I was able to conclude that this is the right path for me and that, even when I have a long way to go, I can make my tiny company grow and bless the lives of many.
If you want to begin the entrepreneur journey I have something to tell you: You can do it! But you have to be willing to pay the price this path requires. It will give you freedom and a sense of accomplishment as you see your ideas to become a reality. At the same time, it will require that you take RISK! and it is scary! My advice for you is to only incur in risk after you analyse every possible outcome and when you are sure you can live with the worst possible scenario of starting your company. If you can take it (leaving an employment and not finding other for some time, loosing some money, sacrificing your time) then go for it! and work hard with the help of the Holy Ghost
Oh, yes! Remember, "through the power of the Holy Ghost (you) may know the truth of all things", even business truths!

The most important think I learned in B183 and that I wish I will never forget was elder Robert Gay's talk, on an entrepreneurship symposium. 
He told us very boldly and full of truth (because we can recognize it as we hear his words) what the real objective of business is: It is not to make a lot of money. It is not to become rich. It is to provide for many families and mainly to bring people unto the Gospel. Unto Christ.
It is my hope that all of us, you and me, that we will grow together as entrepreneurs and run extraordinary companies that will provide for many, provide opportunities of service (by giving people the necessary resources to serve full time at some point of their lives), that will add good things into the world and, above all, that will guide God's children back into his heard.
Remember, you are not alone.

Insights from the Week!

This week was, as usually, pretty full. I have been more stressed than usually because of the amount of classes I have been teaching. I am grateful to see my business growing and I know it is time to hire someone, or else I won't have a personal life. In the other hand, this week the institute classes were canceled due to the general conference and I did not have to prepare my class, which usually takes me much time. Teaching institute has been my one of my  favorite callings so far, and one of the most time demanding, as well.
I loved reading "Recognizing and Shaping Opportunities" and learning from the experience from those entrepreneurs. (I even learned a little more about the history of this very platform, Blogger, from which I have been a user for about 12 years). It is very interesting to see how other entrepreneurs have suceded.
I also liked Lary North's video, and how much he learned from mentors. His positive attitude has had a great impact in his career, I hope to get such an attitude.
This is also one of my last journal assignments. I look forward to keep my journal to myself and to be able to write more personal insights. I don't really feel confortable sharing it with others I don't know on-line, and I am happy to know (according to the page's statistics) that only you (my instructor) and I have accessed it.
I have learned very much this semester and I can't wait to put everything into practice, and to take more risk making my business grow. I think it is time, and I am very excited!
I am also excited for the 2 weeks we will have before next semester, so I can take some time to apply what I have been learning to my company and actually make the changes.
I have just finished watching the second section from conference and I am very happy I can learn from apostles of the Lord. What a blessing!

A talk I never want to forget. Here so I can remember it as an entrepreneur later in life.

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/are-we-not-all-beggars?lang=eng

2 paths!

This week's has, as usually, very busy. I had to work long hours. I am happy I can see my business growing and I am happy I can apply all the knowledge I am receiving as a BYUI student in my own business. 

I am at a point were I need to hire people. I see 2 paths in front of me:

1) I don't hire anyone, take all of the teaching hours and fit it into my agenda, making my profits go up, but the opportunity cost would be that I wouldn't have planning time or just regular  "office hour" time. I also woudn't have as much time to study and to spend with my family. 

2)I hire someone to take some of my classes and I see my accounting profit to go down in the short term, as my ATV increase considerably and the amount of hours sold not so much. Still, I would increase my capacity and be able to sell more tutoring hours than what I am able to sell now. I see this as an investment: Hard at first as I incur in a profit loss, but with a good future as my capacity will be increased, my office time, personal time and study time would also increase. In the long run, it would generate an economic profit. 

I really want to take the second path, and I am trying to stop and ponder about all of this.

*I also enjoyed your business 12 rules. I share many of them and I am interested in reading the book mentioned about money. By the way, when I read the Ministry of Business, the idea of organizing our finances having the gold account stuck to my mind and I researched some more about it. It wasn't until last week's Entrepreneur's hero video that I finally was able to understand HOW to put it into practice with the different accounts. I am happy to report that I made my first (and modest) financial investment this last week at the bank. I feel very happy I was able to apply this into my life. I look forward to apply that system with the different accounts into my life. It was the best idea I have seen so far... but now I am intrigued by this other book ;)

About the article, What's a business for:

As I read the material of the week, I enjoyed the HBR article.

• Based on what you read in the first two pages (pages 3 and 4), why are virtue and integrity so vital to an economy?
  
  With so many companies lying about their statements, it is hard to see the real position of economy. Int he article, we read that "John May, a stock analyst for a U.S. investor service, pointed out that the pro forma earnings announcements by the top 100 NASDAQ companies in the first nine months of 2001 overstated actual audited profits by $100 billion. Even the audited accounts, it now seems, often made things appear better than they really were." (emphases added)

• According to Charles Handy, what is the “real justification” for the existence of businesses?
  
  "The purpose of a business, in other words, is not to make a profit, full stop. It is to make a profit so that the business can do something more or better. That “something”becomes the real justification for the business.
  
  
• What are two solutions proposed by Handy that you agree with? Why?
  
   I agree with many of the suggestions, but I also disagree with some others. I see hiring someone as a business deal: I am buying that person's talents used in that set and agreed amount of time. I think the entrepreneur has to be in control of the company he loves, and created. but I am in complete agreement with the fact that we need to help employees grow, be able to express their opinions and be partakers of the company's growth (maybe with bonuses, not necessarily dividends) because they would be able to feel the result of their job, be happier and more productive. I also agree that the power of shareholders should be limited since they are focusing on earning money and not in the beliefs of the company.

My thoughts on $!

This week has been very full of work. I worked very hard and I notices everything was smother after I took the time to clean my office.
This week was the first institute class of the semester. Preparing institute classes (as a teacher) takes a lot of time and it was very nice to meet my new students and see how well prepared they are.
Institute teaching is an important part of my schedule as it takes up time I would otherwise be using to study or work.
I could see the tender mercies of the Lord as some of my students canceled classes and I could finish preparing my institute class.
I was also humbled: I am an on-line tutor, and this was my first on-line institute teaching experience... It is very different to teach to a whole group instead of just to a single student, as I do on a daily basis.
I also believe that learning how to manage my agenda as I have many activities to accomplish will help me to be a better entrepreneur.
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About the article:

• What is your attitude toward money?
  I never spend more than what I have. This was a decision my husband and I took before we got married and we have happily lived by this rule. If we want something we save the money first and purchase it later.
  I have savings. I am starting to make my money work for me as I start doing little investments with the bank. 
• How can your view of money affect the way you live?
  It can bring me peace of mind for the present and for the future! I know I can leave a few months without an income. As an entrepreneur I am have plans, but a change in the economy might change my income drastically, having savings -and a good food storage- helps me to have peace.
• What rules are recommended for prospering?
  According to the article "Attitude on Money", the recommendations are:
  Rule 1. Seek the Lord and have hope in him 
• Rule 2. Keep the commandments, that includes the temporal ones, tithing and fast offerings. 
• Rule 3. Think about money and plan how you can become self-reliant. 
• Rule 4. Take advantage of chances for learning so you will not be ignorant of these matters. Education, as President Hinckley has taught us, is the Key to Opportunity. 
• Rule 5. Learn the laws upon which the blessings of wealth are predicated. 
• Rule 6. Do not send away the naked, the hungry, the thirsty or the sick or those who are held captive

One Step at the Time

This is my entrepreneur journal and here I have set the goal to record items I don't want to forget, that will be of help in the future to me in my entrepreneur journey.
This week I would like to register about studying. Many may say it is not related to entrepreneurship but I highly disagree: an entrepreneur is someone who is constantly learning and progressing personally.
I have found out that dedicating several hours to studying is not a lost time that is taking me away from my business and my family, but rather it is making me to become someone better, someone who can make better choices.
In this journey at BYUI I have used audiobooks, mp3s and Text To Speech apps as much as I can, but this week I couldn't really understand the math of my economy class until I sat down and read the book. So, to be effective and to really learn I have to combine my audio techniques with time reading, mainly when it involves math. I know I will do better this way.
I am happy and eternally grateful for the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I believe in the enabling power of the atonement and I know I can become whomever I wish to become because of it. What a great blessing it is to know that through repentance and through Christ we can be the kind of person we want to be.