Week 5--Mastery: Skills, Character, or Luck

There was so much great information this week. I learned so much.
What does it take to be an entrepreneur? Building a great business isn't about skill alone.  According to the junk dealer, in the article, "From Grizzled Veterans of the Entrepreneurial Wars: Are successful entrepreneurs born or made?" he says, "Character trumps skill. Perseverance is far more important than skill or talent.  You have to have a mindset that never gives up, no matter how tough it gets.  A little talent and a lot of hard work are the foundation for learning any skill, and are far more important in the long run." There is work to be done before the skill can be learned. Skills like listening, communicating, and solving problems, are important, but if you don't have a good character, who will want to do business with you?

Another thing I liked this week is the thought, "Success is usually earned by persevering and not becoming discouraged when we encounter challenges. . . Perseverance is demonstrated by those who keep going when the going gets tough, who don't give up even when others say, " It can't be done." (James E. Faust, "Perseverance", General Conference, April 2005).  This thought is one that stuck a cord with me. Do I give up because things are too hard or because I am not interested in them anymore? Do I let even the thought of something hard keep me away from even trying? These are thoughts that have come to my head this week. I know I have turned away from certain things, just because I thought it was too hard and I didn't feel I could do it. I hope, though, that after reading this article I will see those hard opportunities as ways to grow and not shy away from them in the future.

One last thing I learned this week was from the "A Hero's Journey" video we watched. I am a little older than most students in college. I have had triumphs and regrets, lessons learned and not learned. I liked the questions that were posed to people over 60, those questions being:

1. Have I contributed something meaningful
2. Am I a good person
3. Who did I love and who loved me.

These questions allow for deep reflection. I want to be a good person, who loves others, and helps bring meaning into my life and the life of those around me. So what can I do now to achieve this? I can start by figuring out my special gifts that will help others, be a person of character, and make time for those that I love.