The Last Lecture

If I were to give anyone starting out their entrepreneurial journey some advice, I will first tell them that they can do hard things. If they haven't had any significant challenges in their life and overcame them, then they are lacking valuable experience to help them on their journey. When they face challenges, face them head on. It is easy to say now, but when we first experience a trial, our first instinct may be to avoid it at all costs. We have to train ourselves to welcome the challenge. That is the only way we can truly gain valuable experience that we can use and build on.

I will also suggest that they do not set their sights on money, fame, or power. It may seem common sense when we are at the bottom of the ladder, but as we climb, they become even more alluring. Set worthy goals early on, and figure out what is important right now. It is important to set priorities now, and hold to them. Schedule other, less important items around your priorities, so you can keep a good balance. You don't want to look back on your life and regret not learning a new skill or spending more time with family.

Money is not evil, it just depends on how it is used. Money can provide a good living, fight hunger, help give service, donated to a good cause, etc. Or it has the power to ruin nations, tear families apart, fund evil practices, etc. I heard a saying that money can turn a great man greater, a good man bad, or a bad man worse. Consider what you might do with the wealth you may attain, and prepare yourself to be able to handle it responsibly.

Also consider the impact you can have on the world, to improve conditions, to change people’s lives for the better. What is your true motivation? Will you stick to your morals when the time comes that they are tested? There is much success to be had at the end of the journey, but it requires effort. Persistent effort. If you can attain one trait, it should be persistence. That is what will drive you to keep trying even when others would have normally given up. There is no better reward than to succeed after you have tried over and over again only to fail.

Keep your head up, and remember that there are those around you that will be there to support you along the way. I believe in you. I know you can do it. It is up to you to take the first step.

Attitude of Gratitude

Sometimes we devote ourselves to searching for the next big thrill, for more money, a promotion, the next big thing. We have to take a step back and take a look at what we have and not take it for granted, because then all of our work doesn't mean much. It is also important to be grateful for the right things like family, a home, friends, etc. When we become consumed in worldly things and are grateful that we have more things than others is where we will have gone the wrong way.
I hope to be down to earth and constantly be evaluating where my life is and rebalance it if need be. When I am grateful for what I have, it helps me to see that I really have what I need. I also realize that any material possessions I have, are borrowed in this life. The only things I can really take with me beyond this life are my memories and knowledge. It is important to create good memories, which include time with family. I don't want to die with any regrets of not spending time with family and being thankful for what I had. 

Changing the World

Having the ability to change the world is not limited to the few. Anyone has the potential to make the world a better place. I don't believe the world can become a perfect place, at least in this life. I do hope that we can all live in harmony and become close to a perfect place. The one struggle I see is that perfect is relative, so many people have different perspectives of what perfect is. But changing the world for the better, is a worthy goal. Even if someone has a different perspective on it.
I would hope that an entrepreneur's primary goal is to make the world a better place. Even if it only means the world around them. I hope to be able to change the world by how I treat others and serving others. That is what is under my power at the moment. Hopefully in the future, it will mean being able to give more of my time and money to those who really need it. In order to make a better world, it will require selfless acts.

Balancing Life

Creating a life of balance is a struggle because it is so easy to get caught up in one thing whether it is work, a new hobby, etc. When it comes to balancing life, it is really about setting priorities. We only have so many hours in a day. We have to decide what we do with each of those hours and minutes. At the top of my priorities is family, church, work, school, and fitness. If I balance my life, I should schedule these priorities first, and then fill in the spaces with other less priority items. Having a balanced life works together, because my relationships can affect how well I work or focus. It is important to remember that balancing my life will lead to more satisfaction.

Satisfaction also comes from overcoming challenges and trials. These are opportunities to learn and grow, and when they are over and we come out victorious, it brings an immense amount of satisfaction. I have learned to look forward to the next challenge, because it is an opportunity to grow. I may hesitate at first, because I know it will be hard, but I also know that I will be improved at the end. I think it can be said that good entrepreneurs have a well-balanced life and are capable of working through challenges.

Dream Big

Thinking about my dreams, what I want to accomplish in life, gives me energy and excitement that drives me towards accomplishment. Having an end goal in sight keeps us going, even when it gets hard sometimes. Dreams should not be vague, specific dreams keep it real and exciting. Saying that I want to be successful and have a family, is good and all, but doesn't get me through the hard times. Focusing on the right goals that are clear, and acting on it, will get me there.
Isn't it strange how the first steps are the hardest? But after you take them, it is easier to keep going after that? Getting up out of bed, going running, getting up out of a chair, etc. For me, getting that initial start gets me rolling, but it takes some convincing at first. I always feel like I accomplished something and feel good afterwards. The key is deciding upon something and then DOING it!

Loyalty and Leadership

Above all, I believe being an entrepreneur to me means being true to myself and being true to what I believe. Loyalty is, of course, a great character trait to have. What we are loyal to may also tell us what we really see as important in our lives. If I am loyal to God, people will know it, because I will live the way he wants me to live. I will be devoted to honoring him, pleasing him, and sacrifice things for him. The same can be said for our families, spouses, friends, and even our jobs. When we become loyal to the wrong things is where we can get in trouble. Petty things like TV, material things, etc. are examples of where my loyalty should NOT lie.
In order to be a leader, I need to convince people to be loyal to me, but not that they would be devoted to me. They would be devoting their time and energy towards the company, and I hope towards good values. Leadership is an important role, because people will be looking up to me as an example. Not that I want the attention, but I do want to be a good example and show people there is a better way to do things.

Overcoming Challenges

Challenges are... well, a challenge! If challenges were easy, then how would anyone ever learn. Challenges are opportunities for growth throughout life. At the beginning of life, there are many challenges we face, and they are placed right in front of us. We have to overcome them to progress, like learning to communicate (talk), learning to walk before running, and so on. Later in life, we seek after challenges like learning and competing in a sport, furthering our education, starting our own business, and so on. One reason I want to become an Entrepreneur is because I know it will be a challenge. It will be a challenge that I will be excited about, and I hope to learn as much as I can.
Challenges take effort to overcome, and sometimes I am tempted to not put forth the required effort, or to give up on a challenge. I liked Jeffrey R. Holland's advice to keep going, that good things will come. Life should be about embracing challenges instead of trying to avoid them. I hope when the time comes, that I will have the strength of character to embrace and endure those challenges that will help me grow and rise to the next level.