My Entrepreneur Journey

 I really enjoyed reading the Launching Leaders book this week for the book report. (I didn't read it sooner because I didn't order it from Amazon right away, and I am a crazy fast reader.) As I was reading the chapter on Core Values, I thought to myself what a useful exercise it looked to be, and I was surprised that it hadn't been an assignment yet. I vowed that I would come back and do it after the semester is over when I have no other competing assignments and could delve more deeply into it. The very next day, as I was working through the class modules I was amused and pleased to find that very assignment listed!  This week had a heavier workload, and I worked feverishly to accomplish all of my assignments for both classes by Friday at noon, due to my 50th birthday celebration on Friday night, and a dear long-time friend expected to travel in town for the weekend. It was rough! Several nights of burning the candle at both ends - literally up until 11pm and then waking

 Week 03 thoughts I've always had this mindset that entrepreneurs are business people who are innovative, savvy, and visionary - something that was not me! People are my interest; I have no knowledge or experience with business! I took this Intro to Entrepreneurship class because I felt a prompting to do so. In the process, I am being led to examine my beliefs about myself, what I can and cannot do, and the self-imposed limits that I have because "I can't -..." (not enough money, time, I'm too old, don't know how to) Again,  at the start of the week with the lessons, I felt a little negative and overwhelmed. By the end of the week, I have faith and trust in the Lord's plan for me. Even if I don't open a business, it's ok. If I do that's ok too. There is something to be said about going through this process because the Lord has asked me to, and trusting the growth that will come because I am willing and going through the process.  As I think of

 Week two thoughts: Taking this class at 50 years old, I feel a bit like a fish out of water. I still have most of my kids at home, but in only 6 more years we will have an empty nest. I've passed the halfway point of my career life. I'm concerned about my ability to start a new business or career successfully at 50. I might be able to open a business that is successful, but not likely with my husband as I had talked about in the assignment earlier in the week. In talking to him, I see that he is too afraid to take a risk and feels most comfortable playing it safe by working at his job with guaranteed income and health insurance. He does not have an entrepreneurial mindset. It is ok. That's just where we are at this point. So, I have to be realistic about what I'm working with. I feel good about the life that I have lived by choosing motherhood as my career. I realize that I am living more along these lines from the "Introduction to Entrepreneurship";       &q

 1/7/23 (Lessons Learned)  Observation: The very first day I was doing the reading and assignments, watching the video of President Hinckley talking to the young people, and reading about creating a life plan, I felt plagued by self-doubts and wondered what I was doing taking this class. I'm too old for the "startup" to be me! I don't have a lot of time to fail quickly and start again! I'm 50! I'm not a young person anymore! I've done many things in my life plan, specifically, having children and raising my family. But to create a plan for the rest of my life that includes some sort of career or business, felt totally overwhelming. The negative voices in my head were working overtime -" You're too old for this class!" "What are you doing, this is a complete waste of time!", "You're too old to learn to do new things.", "It's too late to start anything new!" My logical brain answered that I have learned new