#b 183

[batbaffle]

how do i even respond to that. you cant be saying shit like this, dick

[batbaffle]

what the fuck did he just say

[batbaffle]

STOP CALLING HIM BIG DADDY

[apb183]

Week 14

Last Lecture

What are you waiting for? Get going! Build a business! There is no time like the present! You likely don’t have all of the necessary tools at your fingertips in this moment, but that’s no reason not to start building your business. Start writing down your ideas, your dreams, the obstacles you’ll need to overcome. List what resources you’ll need. Study your industry. (How did other individuals and businesses get where they are? What setbacks or failures have they experienced?) Read a book. Set goals. Take a useful class. Seek mentors. Research answers to every question you have about any aspect of business.

There is no “Right Time” to start a business. It will never be convenient and it’s not going to be comfortable. While it may be unwise to abruptly quit your day job, take out a large loan, and start hiring employees right now, there are always things you can do to start the process so that when it’s time to take those bigger steps you’re more prepared. There will be challenges and setbacks, but don’t fear them; look forward to learning from them. The sooner you take any steps in your business, the further ahead you’ll be. Consider what kinds of calculated risks your desired success will require (as well as what your definition of success looks like!) and under what circumstances you will feel ready and willing to take those risks. Then start taking the steps necessary to put yourself in those circumstances.

If you haven’t already, write your personal mission statement. (Please don’t confuse this with the mission statement of your business.) What is the mission of your individual life? Why are you here, doing what you’re doing? And why are you doing it the way you are? What matters most to you in life? What are you looking to accomplish? What legacy do you want to leave behind when you leave this world?

Now, consider how your business relates to this mission. Does it align? Make sure your business and career goals are serving your greatest purposes.

Remember that as an entrepreneur, you are building a business, but just as importantly you are building yourself. You must keep learning and growing if you want to lead effectively. And that’s all the more reason to start working right now. So get to work. If you’re committed to seeing your vision through, you can do it.

[apb183]

Week 13

This week I’ve been seeking and learning new professional skills. I’ve been feeling restless in my job on and off for a while now. I’ve been wondering if it’s time to move to another company, or perhaps another department as I really do love my company; I believe in our products and services. I’ve accepted a new role in my department which will widely broaden my skills. It’s intimidating because it’s outside of my normal skill/comfort zone and it’s not a position I ever would have applied for with another company, but I know it will be great experience. And next week I have interviews for three jobs in two other departments. I may be in the right company, but the wrong job. I don’t want to spend years of my career in the sunken cost fallacy with this position. I’ve had the feeling for a long time that I shouldn’t leave my job because it’s a great opportunity to work for the biggest company in my field, but names aren’t everything and successful individuals often take very non traditional paths in their careers.

Thomas S. Monson said "Of this be sure: You do not find the happy life....You make it." I’m trying to apply this to my career.

My entrepreneurial affairs are on hold until the end of finals. It’s a tough decision, but I think it’s the only one I can make right now. I’ll be excited to have a new project once the stress of the end of the semester and of job hunting settles down.

[apb183]

Week 12

Based on what you read in the first two pages (pages 3 and 4), why are virtue and integrity so vital to an economy?

When businesses are run by executives who only look out for themselves the companies and their employees suffer. People lose trust in companies they may patronize as well as their employers. As executives pay proportionally lower wages to their employees while increasing their own salaries, the middle class shrinks. People have less money to spend and the economy suffers. Likewise, the very businesses themselves are being put in jeopardy if their leaders are “mortgaging their futures” in exchange for higher stock prices now.

According to Charles Handy, what is the “real justification” for the existence of businesses? The real reason for business is not making a profit for the sake of profit, but to make a profit so that the company can do something more meaningful.

What are two solutions proposed by Handy that you agree with? Why? I agree that employees should be treated as assets, to be cherished and developed, rather than as costs to be minimized. As employees are given the incentives and tools they need to succeed, the company will benefit. This can breed more effective employees who have more loyalty to their company than what is typical of millennials. When employees are just a number with a small paycheck, they don’t have any reason to go above and beyond for their employers. Investing in employees benefits the individual and the business in the short term and the long term. Even if/when these growing workers leave a job, they will be more empowered to contribute to an industry or society as a whole.

I also agree that it would benefit companies to do no harm and to actively do good for the environment and for their employees. This would improve the world and our society. It would provide employees incentive and resources to succeed professionally and personally.

Much of above are things I’ve been considering in my own professional life recently. I go through periods of frustration with my employer where I feel like I’m not progressing and I’m not being given the tools I need to grow, such as feedback on how I can improve, despite getting negative feedback on my performance. On Tuesday I drove home writing my resignation letter in my head. But this week I’ve had two interviews for positions in another department with more room for grown and new skills to develop. Then on Thursday, I walked in and was offered a new position in my current department. I had applied a couple of months ago and didn’t get the job, but now they’re expanding that team. I really don’t know where I stand right now. I’m looking forward to running my own business full time one day so that I don’t have to deal with office politics and I’m pondering how I can sue these experiences to make my own business better. I don’t plan to have any employees, but I’m considering the best ways to collect and apply feedback from my customers and how to measure the growth and development of my skills, rather than just measuring my growth in terms of sales and profits.

[apb183]

Week 11

What is your attitude toward money? Money is a necessary part of life. Working to earn a sustainable income is necessary so that we can support ourselves and our families. I seek to earn as much money as reasonably possible (at the moment this is only about $30K/year, not much greed there) so that I can pay down my debts, build savings, invest in the future, and give back where I can.  How can your view of money affect the way you live? Love of money is the root of all evil. (1 Timothy 6:10) One should not seek to obtain money for the sake of money itself or for the status or excessive luxury that comes with wealth. This is greed ans it can lead to a host of other sins. If you view money as a tool to do good (for oneself, one’s family, community, etc.) you can obtain wealth and use it to make a better life for yourself and for those around you. As the reading stated, money can make good men better but it can also make bad men worse.  What rules are recommended for prospering? As suggested in the reading: “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.”

Personal Progress

This week I wrote the following affirming statements in response to some of my fears about starting my business: I’ve been unemployed before. I spent three months playing Animal Crossing and things turned out fine. (If I decided to quit my job and didn’t make much money for a while, the world would not end. I could get another day job if needed.)  My husband just got a raise of 20-33% of my total income.  I am a student! Full time! There is no shame in taking time off of work or working part time. I set an exit date for my day job: 28 October 2018. If things at my full-time job aren’t better by then, I’ll put in my two weeks notice. If things aren’t better in the early fall, and I still feel the need for other employment, I can start aggressively job hunting in September or October. At this point, I could decide to work through the holidays, until January 1, when there is huge opportunity for overtime to bring home a couple of large paychecks at the end of this job. If I handed in my resignation in 28 October, my first day of unemployment would be my two-year wedding anniversary. It would also be during open enrollment season, so my husband and I could seamlessly transition our health insurance from the coverage we have through my employer to the coverage offered by his. I would have three years at the world’s leading company in my field on my resume by this time and I wouldn’t have to work through the hectic holiday season if I didn’t want to, AND we could go home for the holidays because my husband’s office closes for a week around Christmas. We have a plan in place to pay off a considerable amount of debt this summer, putting us in a better financial position by fall with a lower cost of living. I may not quit my day job this year, but I feel great about having this exit strategy in place.October 28 is my deadline for decision. Professional accomplishments so far this week in no particular order:I registered my business with the state of Utah and applied for my business license. I set up project management software. I chose a color palette and hired a graphic designer to create a logo.I set up an internship.I applied for two other roles with my current employer.I ordered and received my startup equipment (camera/microphone, lighting, backdrop, and external hard drive.)I purchased and set up accounting software. I took a new head shot.I wrote more social media posts.I decided on a videoconferencing platform.

[apb183]

Week 10

Entrepreneur Interview Last week I had the incredible blessing of interviewing an entrepreneur I have admired since I was only about sixteen years old. Chelsea Bloxsom (of Love and a Sandwich) graciously answered my many questions about her business journey, processes, and more. She is so down-to-earth and she’s living my dream, supporting herself from home by doing what she loves. Of course if something was all fun and games it wouldn’t pay, but some jobs will always be preferable to others. I have written at a bit of length in my paper on her interview, but I will hang on to her complete answers to my questions for ages to come and I will refer to them when I feel stuck. What a treasure! I was also contacted on Shapr (a networking app) this week by another coaching entrepreneur. She noted that she had never met another coach with my particular niche. She agrees that I have something unique and valuable to offer.  This week has been so affirming! I am loving the entrepreneurship community I’m finding which is deepening my commitment to this business and motivating me to work hard and smart. I’m enjoying A Field Guide for the Hero's Journey. I love the short vignette format. It provides small bits of inspiration or brief thoughts to ponder, which makes it a great book to read on my breaks at work. This is excellent for someone working full time, going to school full time, and trying to build a business.

Personal Progress This week I fell down the rabbit hole of business podcasts! I am loving Being Boss, and Femtrepreneur. I’m also dabbling in The Get Paid Podca$t, Home Work, The Work-At-Home Heroes Podcast, and Ten Minute Traffic and Funnels. Much of many episodes will be helpful to review once I’m farther into running a business, but I’m learning so much right now! I’ve started a page in my business journal for podcast notes.  I started writing social media posts so that I can seed my social accounts before launch. Nobody wants to visit a business page with no content and it wouldn’t be useful if they did. I’ve created a list of key hashtags by brainstorming and studying other social media accounts for businesses and individuals in my field. I’ve also started putting together a social post calendar to plan out my social media content in advance.  Overall, I’m tying to do as many little things for my business as I can before launch since there are some bigger things I won’t be able to do until it gets closer. It may look like I’m getting ahead of myself in some areas, but I want to be as prepared as possible wherever I can. But one thing I’ve decided to do is move up my web design/setup/launch. I want to setup my Squarespace page next month so that I can take my time, get comfortable, and start building my email list before my official launch, which will hopefully take place in may. I set a goal to get hired by ten clients this summer!

I’m currently contemplating my pricing (reevaluating) and opt-in freebies to get more people on my email list.