Be The Change

Wow this week just awakened something in me. I am so grateful to be a part of a business school that is encouraging me to look beyond myself to the world and how to make it a better place.

In "What's a Business For" by Charles Handy he quoted something from Dave Packard. I feel like it sums up the intent of his article. Packard said, "I think many people assumes wrongly that a company exists simply to make money. While this is an important result of a company's existence, we have to go deeper and find the real reasons for our being. As we investigate this, we inevitably come to the conclusion that a group of people get together and exist as an institution that we call a company so that they are able to accomplish something collectively that they could not accomplish separately - they make a contribution to a society, a phrase which sounds trite but is fundamental."

When we learned about micro lending from Muhammed Yunus I appreciated his willingness to get into the field to seek to find real tangible solutions to real world problems. In this case he was a true innovator and problem solver. I was moved by what he said about credit being a right that everyone has access too. He also said that, "Social-conscious -driven enterprises can be a formidable competitors to greed -based enterprises." Businesses that help others can be just as successful as other profit based companies. Novel concept, and one that has been proved by this man.

The Acton Hero this week Sarah Endline said that entrepreneurial  business is like a marathon. She reminded me of the importance of managing my energy, health, happiness, and relationships. That I need to keep up the pace and take care of myself along the way.

Sheryl Sandberg said in Make it Personal and Make it Work, that we need to have a personal, compelling vision for our business that scales over time, place, and the products. Our "why" for the business should compel others.

Entrepreneurship and Consecration
Then for the cherry on the top of this weeks lessons. I felt compelled to tears throughout the talk by Elder Gray. The title of it was, "Entrepreneurship & Consecration."  This man of much accomplishment and title communicated in a way that spoke of his humble nature and desire to do good as a worthy priesthood holder.  His financial advise was this:" Beyond making ends meet whether you have little or much of this worlds goods will never be a fundamental  determining factor of personal peace and happiness. But rather it is your attitude towards wealth that will be critical."

This talk was all about a greater call as entrepreneurs and he reminded us that we have made covenants as members of the gospel of Jesus Christ, that we will seek the kingdom of God before we seek the riches of the world.  He encouraged those in attendance to become pioneers. He then  quoted Erik Weihenmayer the first blind man to climb Mt. Everest. He said, "A pioneer is one who is motivated by the sense of the possible and then reaches out beyond routine and convention into uncertainty and then uses adversity as a pathway to accomplishment."

He spoke about the pitfalls of modern business, and encouraged us to not rely on the business world of today to determine our destiny and carve our paths. We need to choose for ourselves how to innovatively solve the worlds problems. We must factor in the power and mind of heaven as we establish business plans. We should forever be INWARD FOCUSED AND OUTWARD DRIVEN.

Gray stated that the purpose of business was two fold. First fold is to provide for our basic needs. Second fold is to rescue others as directed by the Lord. We need to constantly ask ourselves how our business venture will help build the Lord's kingdom on earth. I also found his thoughts about Joseph Smith receiving the plates intriguing. "When it comes to receiving the Lords assistance in business the lessons held by Joseph Smith also hold true to us. Before we can receive the full hand of his assistance in our labors the Lord would prove us to see that we are not only willing but able servants. To see if we will remember the purpose for which we have received his resources. Ultimately, we will be required to be in harmony with his will." I found myself asking, Have I shown that I am both willing and able to do his will with a glad heart and eye single to building his kingdom on earth? How do I do that better? I need those blessings in my life!
 He ended with the ideal that we can all "change the fabric of mankind" if we are able to rise to our true endowed purpose and do so humbly with an eye single to his glory.

As a student that previously was studying Social Work, I have always been drawn to lifting people. I feel like this lesson was so inspiring. I will have more impact on change for those less fortunate through consecrating my purpose to follow the Lords will for me in my life. I have been endowed with a special job on this earth, and I intend to find it and rescue those within my reach.