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Jumping through the Storms of Doubt

9.19.18 Week 1 

 "Entrepreneurs become successful, one small investment at a time, in a never-ending process. Because entrepreneurial success isn’t a destination, it’s a journey. A journey taken one determined step at a time, in a way that builds lifelong treasures."
                                         ~Jeff Sandefer  
http://www.actonmba.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/are_successful_entrepreneurs_born_or_made.pdf


I don't think that I have ever been this excited about taking a class. This week I started a new journey by taking online classes at BYUI. Among those classes is my Introduction to Entrepreneurship. It is amazing to me that after just one week of coursework, I am already so excited about what my future could hold!

My entire adult life my mind has been actively swimming through great businesses ideas that I could be successful at building. I have been inspired, done my research, come up with my own version of a business plan and even in some cases set up some basic standard operating procedures for these "dream" businesses. I have poured hours of work and energy into ideas that I could truly get behind and implement and then....... find myself frozen in fear. It is a strange sensation watching a mental dream disperse into a gray storm of "what ifs", "you can'ts", and "better not's". I really feel now that I can learn to jump and have a rainbow of success, rather than letting an impending failure to fly storm stop me in my tracks.

This weeks coursework talked a lot about sacrifice and diligence, integrity in business, growth mindset, courage and living a life of intent. Of the many things that stood out to me, here are a few that left an impact on my thinking:

1.) Dream Big (but start with small steps)
Big leaps help us focus our attention outside and away from our fears, insecurities, and            slothfulness. We need to embrace failure as a friend - learn to fail quickly, cheaply, and often. Entrepreneurs long for the future, act in the present, and learn from the past.
(from Living the Life as an Entrepreneurial Hero -Jeff Sandefer)

2.) The "Permanent Beta" concept. I am a work in progress so I need to invest in myself everyday. Also, I learned that when deciding to take intelligent risks uncertainty and unknowns should not be considered as "risky". (insert mind blown emoji......if there is one.)
(from The Start-up of You  - Reed Hoffman/Ben Casnocha)

3.) A Laundry List of Books I need to read or want to reread inspired by Jim Richie
     a. Richest Man in Babylon - George Clason
     b. The Ten Ancient Scrolls for Success - Og Mandino
     c. Man's Search for Meaning - Viktor Frankl
     d. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Steve Covey
     e. Good to Great - Jim Collins
     f. The Ministry of Business - Steve Hicks

Overall, I feel very blessed with the opportunity this coursework presents. It leaves me feeling very optimistic about what I can discover about myself, and how I can build something that will bless my life and the lives of others. So excited to see what we learn in week two!

                                                          B. Seelinger

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