EA's Journey - One Class at a Time

Week 7  "Moving Forward With a Driving Passion "       The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People  by Stephen Covey- summary  Picking a Habit that means the most to me is a little tricky because of the way they build on each other and the excitement I felt as I read each habit. As I pondered this question I thought back to when I felt the most excited and had the Biggest aha moment (because there were many of them) and I chose Habit 1 - Being Proactive. It is not in my nature to be proactive. It is in my nature to blame, justify and react. Though, at my age, I have made improvements, as I read I could see how much further I could still go and it was exciting. I want to be a confident 55-year-old woman and I don't want to waste too many more years working on it. I want it now. Well, I can choose that now and then choose to make my actions in line with a confident 55-year-old woman. I can act and be responsible for my actions not react.  I...

Week Six   So Why Do You Want to Be an Entrepreneur?      Wences Casares a technology entrepreneur and CEO of Bitcoin, as well as other endeavors, said this about being an entrepreneur, we don't choose to be entrepreneurs we just are. He said this while speaking to a group of business owners, so I am not sure if he means everyone who thinks they are an entrepreneur is an entrepreneur or just everyone in that room is. I am going with everyone who thinks they desire to own their own business or start a start-up or people who want to work for themselves.       I don't know that I necessarily want to work for myself but for many years business ideas come to me and I research them for a couple of days and decide what the necessary steps to proceed might be but then fear sets in and I talk myself right out of it. Once, I went so far as to make a prototype, contact my entrepreneurial friend for some help, get professional pictures taken of t...

Week Five The Power to Become A Hero's Journey The statement was a little confusing, "It's all about you, but it's not all about you."  Hmm, I have pondered that and listened to that statement and Corey Bell's explanation a couple of times to figure out what he meant. I believe "it's all about you" is referring to there is only you and it is up to you to become something. You have the power to become whatever you want. Whatever you can grow into. And the second part, it's not about you is referring to don't let what you become be all about you. Be someone who gives back, be someone who cares about others.  Later in the talk Corey shares these questions to help us: Have I contributed something meaningful?  Was I a good person? Some other tips he gave to help keep us on the right track: Live EVERY moment like it matters Learn how to learn, listen and ask questions Learn how to make money Learn how to make a ...

Week Four How Will You Measure Your Life? Clayton Christiansen from the Harvard Business School asks three good questions for one to consider as they live their life or find their career and happiness. They are: "First, how can I be sure that I’ll be happy in my career? Second, how can I be sure that my relationships with my spouse and my family becomes an enduring source of happiness? Third, how can I be sure I’ll stay out of jail?" As he mentions, the third question seems kind of strange but as I thought for a minute I could think of examples I know of where that exact thing did happen. Just deciding to make a wrong choice one time can put you on a destructive path. While studying this semester I have come to know how IMPORTANT CHOICES are. I don't think I realized just how many choices we make each day. Some things I wouldn't really have classified as a "choice" but more something that had to be done in there, there is a choice.  I lo...

Week Three Honesty and Business Ethics The readings and videos this week, some were better than others. Elder Lynn Robbins -  "Making a Living and a Life"  Grade levels A-F Elder Robbins had some good things to consider, really if I am going, to be honest, it was my least favorite article/talk we have read thus far. Kind of basic ideas, it just didn't resonate with me. On the other hand, Sheri L Dew - True Blue Through and Through I thought was amazing. She is so passionate and had some wonderful and meaningful stories about integrity and of its great importance: "Job set an example of integrity for the ages. Even after losing his wealth, his health, and his family, he declared,  “Till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go”  (Job 27:4-6)." "Integrity needs to be at the heart of our character." If we live our lives by this quote we can have a clear conscience at all times. ...

Week Two Reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change and learning about paradigm shifts. We perceive things the way we do because of the beliefs we have and the things we have been taught. Others do the same. So when we think differently it doesn't mean someone is uninformed or an idiot, it means that is what their life has taught them and that is how they see a situation.  (Last two paragraphs of page 41). There are natural laws-principles that cannot be altered. If our paradigm or map is off the principle still exists. Personality Ethic vs. Character Ethic Personality Ethic is made up of (PMA) positive mental attitude and personality, public image, behavior, skills, and techniques. Character Ethic says there are basic principles that we need to integrate into our lives for enduring happiness. Traits like "...integrity, humility, fidelity, temperance, courage, justice, patience, industry, modesty and the Golden rule....

Intro to Entrepreneurship Week Two What an amazing life Randy Pausch had. Some of the reasons he was able to reach so many of his childhood dreams could be that he had a passion for life. He was very driven. Lots of energy. He wanted those things to happen so he made them happen. He also had some good mentors along the way, a couple of coaches, that he learned some great life lessons from. One life lesson was how important fundamentals were in your life. It's nice to have the "ball" but how often do you have it? Life is more about fundamentals-relationships, hard work, attitude, and life long learning, etc. The other lesson a coach taught him was to have enthusiasm and I would say Randy had it in in spaids. One of his more famous quotes: " Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted"   really hits home for me. Looking at a situation that didn't turn out how you hoped whether it be a business or a job or a relationship as experien...