Mastery by George Leonard

This has been a great book to help me develop my own expectative, it makes think how to be successful, I learned that exist certain principles and processes behind success that if I follow it will help me to become more successful. Whenever someone is successful in a certain area of life, what that really means is they have mastered the laws of cause and effect in that particular area. Success is not a chance; success is mastery.

I learned that mastery is the process where what was difficult becomes both easier and more pleasurable, I must gain mental discipline to travel further on my journey, and I need to be diligent with the process of mastery.

After I had climb the top of the mountain, I must climb another, I must be patient while I am applying the long-term efforts, I must demonstrate courage, and maintain flexibility in my strategies and in my actions.

Exists types that are in opposition of mastery:

The Dabbler is one who starts many new things and makes good progress initially, if I’m not constantly and actively growing I press myself harder and faster. Eventually the Obsessive burns out and move on to something else.
The obsessive, lives for the growth spurt in a skill.

The Obsessive’s learning curve rises quickly, meets obstacles, which the Obsessive tackles by redoubling his effort, getting more books and tools and trying to figure out ways to get better results faster and cheaper, and then burns out in a short while when he finds that the curve is not a straight line upwards.

The Hacker, once the Hacker has passed over the first major growth spurt and is on the first plateau he just stays there. He does not actively spend time trying to learn and grow. He just tinkers with the bit of skill he has developed and remains satisfied at that level. The Hacker’s learning curve rises quickly, meets an obstacle or two and then plateaus out on a straight line. The Hacker does not consider the need for more instruction or rising above that level. He is content with level reached and plans to stay at that level.

Keys of Mastery:

The first key is instruction. Leonard recommends that to be on the road to mastery the pupil needs an instructor. The second key is practice. Any music student has heard this over and over again. Without practice, the instruction is wasted. The third key is surrender.

The concept of surrender refers to being willing to fail at attempts to become better. The fourth key is intentionality. This is “keeping your mind in the game” or “your eye on the prize”. The idea here is to maintain a clear vision of where you are trying to go (even if you never get there).

The final key to mastery is the “edge” or the constant urge to challenge and press the limits. This is what keeps the student from complacency and keeps the student moving forward on the path.Having a conscious awareness of the process of mastery has helped me in every area of life, especially on my personal development quest to become a successful entrepreneur, and in with my possibilities, I would help others to develop their potential. 

After all, success in any endeavor is really just about mastery. 

Loyalty to God and Family by Jan Newman

March 7, 2011
Rollins Center at BYU

I really like this video because it shows us that we have to be loyal to God and our Families even when we have our plate full.

Brother Newman mentioned us that when we are single, there is plenty of time for everything such as friends, callings, school, etc; but when we get married, we make a committed with God that our family will be first beyond everything else.

He said that we will always find time for everything. And We have to know to manage it. I really love when he said the scripture in D&C 1:12 " It's require a willing heart and  mind".

It doesnt matter how much money we can make in our company and business, what really important the most is the Legacy that we are going to leave: "Our Family" and how well we have serve in the Kingdome of God.

We as Member of the Church of Jesus Christ should always show others integrity, because people outside is always looking us and if we show integrity, they will want to work with us, be with us, and our family will have a good legacy.

Three Lessons About What It Means to Be an Entrepreneur by Wences Casares

After taking a three year sailing trip to reflect on his experiences, Wences Cesares, Founder of Lemon Bank and Wanako Games, shares his three most important insights. Cesares counsels that

1) Entrepreneurship is a calling that chooses us--it is inescapable
2) Time is our most valuable asset and
3) Entrepreneurs create the most value by doing the same thing for a very long time.

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW

Wences Casares 

mayo 01, 2007

Endeavor's Entrepreneurs' Summit

The Entrepreneur and the Family by Steven Blank

In this video, Steven Blank is trying to make us understand that Family is much more important than our career.

Someone from the audience asked him this question: "what advice do you have for balancing the demands of a family life with the boundaryless life of an entrepreneur?"

He joke with the audience telling that if they want to do startups,  they should stay single because startups can be all-consuming 24/7,  anc can suck us dry.

Steven also mentioned that for those who are married, they should set some rules in their families that are going to help them focus in what is really important.

Many times, we got dragged for the amount of work we have in our daily day and we put aside our loved ones. I have a question in my mind: is it really worth it? 

I strongly believe that it's not worth it. Not even the whole money from the world can buy a moment we lost  with our family when we dont sort appropiate the priorities in our life.

So a message from those entrepreneurs that are missing the vision: " Keep your family closer than your business, if you don't want to lose both".

TO WATCH THE ENTIRE VIDEO CLICK BELOW

Steve Blank

 Noviembre 11, 2009

  Entrepreneurial Thought Leader Lecture Series

HOW DO YOU FIND YOU PASSION AND HOW DO YOU PERSUE IT? by Randy Komisa

While thinking about this question, one question came up to my mind: how does somebody choose their passion? I know this is particular with students because I am one of them. Rather than thinking about the passion, free yourself up to think about a portfolio of passions and the task is to marry that portfolio of passions to the opportunities in front of you.

The question that will paralyze you, two questions will paralyze people. One is, what is the passion that will paralyze you? Because now you're going to optimize amongst 10 things that seem like they might be your passion or not. The other thing is, what's the ultimate question? What is the ultimate thing that you're going to do with your life? What is the ultimate mark you're going to make? What is the farthest horizon that you can articulate? Those two questions will drive you crazy and paralyze you.

I find it the last, the second question was theorized and needed to be simplified to north, south, east, or west. What are my values? What do I care about? And to think about a horizon rather than a point on the horizon. Because the horizon by definition is always outside of your grasp. But it can give you a direction. You can know that you're heading north not south. Then comes the issue of how do you make a decision today based upon, you know, the things you need to do or feel you want to do. Well that's a foreground/background issue. No! Forget the horizon. I'm facing north. What are my opportunities facing north? What's in front of me or what's proximate? What opportunity can I create facing that direction? Forget ultimately where I go. Look right in the foreground, what's there? How do they sync up with my passion? How do they sync up with the passions that I have today? And now if it comes an issue of just choosing between right answers.

Randy said in the video about  A discussion with a good friend he has who's an analyst with UBS and they were talking they said, you know the biggest issue is not choosing between a right answer and a wrong answer. That's easy. The hardest thing to do in life is choose amongst right answers. It's the issue of optimization. Optimization will drive you crazy.

And so the issue in my mind is to make a decision based upon a set of right answers as they marry up against what you really feel here about them. And then do them. And so you got this notion of, you know, you got 10 doors in front of you you're going to walk through one. You have that immediate sense of loss. Nine doors closed. Guess what? Ten doors just opened. And if you begin to see life that way, it becomes easier to make decisions and move forward. My career makes no sense at all in the windshield. It only makes sense in the rearview mirror. And that I think applies to lots and lots and lots of people in their lives and careers. So if I was going to write an epilogue, I think I would address those two issues and try to clarify them a little bit.

To Watch the video, just click below

PERSEVERANCE by Elder James E. Faust

"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.”

By Elder James E. Faust 

April, 2005

For me it was interesting to learn that, we need to develop skills in order to become intrepreneurial, it is not easy and many times we will fell down but, in order to achieve what we want we need to have the courage, keep trying and do what it is necessary. As the example of those talented men even when they were born with talent they need to walk the extra mile to develop the necessary skill and be better than others because mastering a skill requires dedication, so character has to come before talent. How much dedication do you think we will need to become better in something? How much time will you give personally for this?

I like the quote: “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.

As president Faust mention a similar phrase: 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.” This is not an easy task to accomplish but it is a MUST if we want to achieve something. Things won´t be easy and good at the first time, maybe we will need to try many times, but in the process we will learn and improve our skills. I also thing that it is important to have in mind the steps he mentioned:

Things you can learn that would bring opportunities and blessings to you:

1. How to organize and use time wisely
2. The importance of hard work—that you reap what you sow
3. Leadership skills.People skills. 
4. The value of gospel study. 
5. Respect for authority. 
6. The importance of prayer. 
7. Humility and dependence on the Lord 

Which of these steps do you think is the most important in your opinion? if you would re order which one would you put first?

I know that many of us are still in the beginning of the process, we still have a long way to go, but we need to keep going and keep trying until we learn what we need to leard and will be able to do what is necessary to marter our skills and goals.

MOST ENTREPRENEURS ARE NOT ROCK STARS

what do you think about this statement? Do you really believe that only rock stars can be entrepreneurs? well I will share this video with all of you and I'd love to hear what do you think and what do you learn about it.

SPREADING HAPPINESS Case by Erica Mills

This case was really interesting because it shows us the point of view of this entrepreneur Erica Mills and it shows us how she dealed to run her business.
This helped me have an idea about starting a business and about the challenges I would have to face in the market, with our clients, raising money, making decisions.

These are some questions that will help us put ourselves in the position Erica was by separating his familiar life with the business life because she was wanting to start a family with her husband.

1. How did Erica Mills’s business benefit by her willingness to listen to advice from others?

The fact that she was able to see and to listen what her friends needed and think about cards and what their necessities and opinions were, helped her a lot to have an idea in what to work with. After she knew what the people necessities were it was better for her to focus in specific things and further on develop different ideas on her own business. Since she worked before hand with ideas in a portfolio, she knew what to start with.

2. If you were in Mills’s position, would you pursue a path of slower growth or faster growth? Why?

I think that the path that Mills took was the best for her and for her business. Because of my personality maybe a slow growth is not for me, but I am sure that it all depends in what you are working on. There are some businesses that need faster growth because of the demand and other that are fine with slower growth.
I think that is important to follow a path that you feel comfortable with and that you can manage. This will of course depend on how you plan everything and are able to manage the situation and opportunity.

3. Given that you had sought faster growth, which of the four areas of possible investment would you target first? Why?

I think that increasing sales and marketing efforts is the first area I will invest in. My opinion is that if we are able to get more clients and work in marketing all the other areas will develop and be covert by effect. When a product is show with good publicity to the target market it will bring good effect at least to start than all depends on what the product will bring. There are many ways of marketing as we can see: F2F, direct publicity, Advertisement, and in this case Mills uses the effect that people spread the world.

This case is really interesting because will open up your mind as entrepreneurs. 

To download or get this case you can go to Harvard Business Review

SO YOU WANT TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR? By Jon Gillespie - Brown MENTOR SESION 1

While reading this part of the Book called Mentor Session 1, it made me discover many things about the journey of being an entrepreneur. It's not easy but we are going to be able to learn step by step.
I could realize that I need to improve in some areas and also I have discovered what my really interests are.
These are some of the questions that really helped me look inside of me and explore my ideas and dreams.

Top ten ways to answer the ultimate question – Do I want to become an entrepreneur?
1. What characteristics do you share with successful entrepreneurs?

I think that I am a very well organize person, I love to work in a group and know how to manage it very well for experiences I had had before and also as an individual because I know I have discipline to do what I need to do and do it well. I really like to share what I know with people around me in order for them to know more and to give all their potential. I also know how to manage my money and how important is to have a backup in case of necessity and emergency. Been punctual is another good characteristic I possessed. I believe this is a very important characteristic especially for business and of course, another one is to be honest and serious in what you say and what you do; both of them are connected and are important. do what you promise you will do is very important for other who are working around you and also you related with.

2. What are your reasons for wanting to become an entrepreneur?

I like the idea to be independent and to have the opportunity to do something for those around me. I understand that it is not easy because there are many things that it need to be done first, but at the end the most important factor is to give a person the opportunity to grow and to help maybe young single men and women to have money to become self dependent, maybe to be able to save money for their mission or to get marry. If there is not an opportunity to become an independent entrepreneur and have to work for someone else I would love to give as much support as I can to those who work with me, to show them that they can do their best and that they are an important part in the business. I understand that what it matters most is to recognize that those who work with us are like us and that they need special care and attention as well. I have some ideas in my mind to run different kind of businesses. I like the idea to not limit ourselves with just one thing to do but to be multi-tasks.

3. How would your family and friends react to you becoming an entrepreneur?

I think that my family will support me and will do as much as they can to help me with things to start. I have a pretty well organize family. They love to serve and I think we all do as much as we can. I know that they will be there for me with ideas and support if I ask them. About my friends, I think they will also give me ideas and they will contribute with their own ideas about opinions about what they think my idea or if it is a good one or not. Talking about money I am sure the family will help as much as they can, and friends will do if they could but, I think it is better to work with the bank when talking about money because that is the best way to keep a good relationship with family members and friends. I believe that if I want something I need to work for it, it doesn´t matter how hard it will be I need to do it.

4. What do you think your life would be like on a day-to-day basis?

Well I think it would be a little busy some days, with more responsibilities, meetings to attend, decisions to make, calls to do and people to talk with. I also thing that sometimes would be easy for me to plan my day if there is something important going on in the family. I know that all depends on what we are going to do and how we are going to do it. At first, I know that we have to be there 24/7 to supervise how things go and for any emergency that will occur but I also know that we can delegate responsibilities in order to do not overcharge the others and myself.

5. What do you think the downsides are, and how would you cope with them?

I am not sure about it but I think that there are many downsides, especially related with money. Money will be always one of the problems, if you have it or if you need it. To learn how to manage it the right way, it will take to different experiences such as good ones and bad ones. Those experiences will take us to the knowledge of how to do it right next time. I think we all need to have a beforehand plan while we learn and so record everything as much as we can like Nephi did with the plates so we can use it for a future. Maybe at one point, we are going to need those records for any problem or challenge that may appears in our company. That plan will help us overcome any difficulty and will allow us to resolve the problems with a better perspective.

6. What is your ultimate vision or goal?

I have this vision and goal to run a business related with music either a Studio where to record music or to have Instrument stores. I want to inspire people that music can be a good way to develop our skills to serve others. That is what I want to do. Make music and play in order to transmit others the feelings they need. I would love to have my own studio in order to help those people that want to make music as well but does not have the possibility to pay for it. In addition, an instrument store will be nice because I will be able to help them get a good instrument of a good quality and give free advices to independent musicians. I know that if I have my own company, I will have to hire people and what a better way to help young men and women to achieve their goals. The principal goal in my company is going to be to help those young men and women who are saving money to serve a mission or RMs looking for temporary jobs and students. In addition, I want that they know that their contribution in the company and business would be priceless and that without them, I would not be able to succeed. When you give them confidence in what they are doing they will give you better result in what they are doing for sure.  The most important thing is to understand that they are a big responsibility for you and that you both are the same doesn´t matter the position, you both are son and daughter of a Heavenly father and deserve to be treated the best way.


7. What are your core personality traits?

I love to work as a team and always love to help the new ones in the group. I perhaps may say that I am good with people and that I love to teach. I always try not to be a boss but to be a leader. A leader teaches, help, and motivate the ones in a group. The boss only give orders for others to follow. I am an easygoing person; I love to talk with people and to create a trusting bound with them. What I like the most is to listen to people and give them advices if they ask; I love to see beyond the limit and to see the whole view before I say something. I am always willing to do things even if I don´t know how to do it. I love to learn and to share what I´ve learned with others. I think this is how my personality is in a general perspective.

8. What life stage are you at, and how do you think this will affect your chances?

I already have a job that I like a lot, but I am willing to look for more opportunities for me in the market. This is my second major, which is nice because I enjoy learning every single day even when I have an 8 hours job that pretty much consume my life. I am working hard to finish what I have started. I think a change wouldn´t be bad, in fact I think this is the time to start something new. I am mature enough to take the risk and to face anything than could happen. I am learning a lot and I am being able to see things in a different way. I think I am more productive in my job than before thanks to what I am learning and also I am sure that I can be a better person knowing that I can share what I learn with those that don´t have the same opportunities as I do.

9. What resources do you have available to you?

Well, I have not a lot of money but I have some savings that can help to start something small. I know that if that is the case I need to have a very well structured plan to start and make the business grow as fast as I can. I also have the alternative to have a partner in the business, which will help a lot if money is the reason that stops me to start something. A partner will help also with ideas and different points of view that are always necessary because it will enrich our perspective and will help me see things in a different way. I think that a good market research would be a good idea to get to know the target market. I would like to invest in something that I love but also knowing that people would like.

10. What can you see yourself doing for the rest of your life?

I think I see two possibilities for me, I see myself working in the company related to International relationship because that’ what I love. Interact with people around the globe. I am sure that I can give my best working in the Commercial/Public Relations area where I can get to know people and be able to understand their needs and to be able to assist them in any requirement. I love the idea that people should have a nice and good environment to work in and they should be well treated in order for them to feel comfortable and give the best when it is need. My second option is to have my own business related with music as I already mentioned above.
Other notes: I am not sure if my answers are what it is expected but I also know that I am learning and that I can improve a lote in the future.

Notes on what you have learned:
After the reading and working on answering the questions and the fact that I had to think on what I was going to answer, those help me a lot to think in where I am and where do I want to go. I know that there are many things to learn yet but I am willing to do it and to apply everything I learn.

If you are interested in this book, you can get it in your favorite book store.

DO WHAT YOU LOVE!

Many times we have wondered what do I want to do for the rest of my life? How I see myself in 5 years, 10, 20? Those are really good questions that will help us sort our priorities in order to choose something we really like.

Many times I've heard that if we do what we like and love, we are not going to feel like we are working or following a routine every day, but rather we are going to have fun in this adventure.

Tom Kelley, IDEO's General Manager in a talk given in november,2008 he shared questions every entrepreneur should have clear. Also, something that caught my attention was what Francis Ford Coppola said: "Look, this is really simple. Do what you love not because you just want to be self interested. Do it because you'll be better at it.". I started to think and I asked myself, Am I doing what I really love?... Many things came to my mind, some bad moments at work, some great and happy moments and after all those ideas, I got to the conclusion that even when sometimes days may seems really difficult and stressing, I really do what I love and thanks to that, I've been able to improve myself as a business woman.

I also like when Tom Kelley mentioned Jimmy Collins talk about the circles and which of these circles are named.

1.- First circle is what are you good at?: 

Jimmy Collins says to watch out for this circle because in this circle lives the curse of competence. He also gave an example that just because we're good at something doesn't mean we should do it. We should try to discover as much skills as we can so we are going to know ourselves better.

2.- Second circle "What are you born to do?" When are you the happiest?

This is the most important circle we should look at. We should find out in what are we excellent at not only what are we good at. We should see what things make us happy, what gives us peace and comfort and what we can do forever.

3.- Third circle "What will people pay you to do?" 

This is something we shouldn't emphasize but  it's important to think about it at one point. "People say do what you love and the money will follow." The money shouldn't be a motivation of the decision we make for our life, but it is important to know what the market needs and how we can help them get the things they need.

I also like this good idea Collins says about have a little notebook or journal and write down crazy ideas that can come to our minds. Few days ago, I was talking with a good friend of mine about a crazy idea I have to run a new business in a near future and I was sharing with her my plans to accomplish that goal. After she listened to me, she got amazed for all the details I've been thinking about this new business and she told me: Glenda, that's a crazy idea!.

Of course I started laughing and I answered: Well, I heard that those craziest ideas are the most successful in the market! haha. We shouldn't allow anyone to dismiss our ideas. We have to remember that all humans are entrepreneurs. Some of us have taken longer than usual to figure it out but it's there in our DNA.

In case you all got bored about my explanation of this Topic, you can watch the video down here & if you want to watch similar videos just click here Stanford's University Entrepreneurship Corner

HOW WILL YOU MEASURE YOUR LIFE? by Clayton M. Christensen

I really liked this article from Clayton M. Christensen and especially the question caught my attention. At first I didn’t know that the Author of this article was a Member of The Church who found real happiness and success at applying those good principles and values he got in his life, in his academic and career.

I am amazed of how all what we learned before such us strategies, theories, facts, researches, etc, that are applied in business and companies, can also being applied in our daily life. I really would love to apply them throughout my life because it will help me to manage and face the different situations in a better way.

I really liked as well the part of the question: How to be sure we find happiness in our careers? This was something that I needed to ponder about. Every aspect in my career life point out that   our goal as business man and woman are to get a lot of money and to have recognition in the company we are working on. But according  to the theory of Frederick Herzberg and applying it in my life, I realized that I need to remember that I am in this career because I want the opportunity to learn, grow in responsibilities, develop my skills and abilities and the most important contribute and serve others. Those must be my motivators in this career more than how much money I can make in a month or year.

I know that if I don’t lose the track of where I want to go with my career and my purpose of life, I will be successful in both aspects and I will really get to know what really happiness is. I read how Brother Christensen has seen more and more of his HBS classmates coming to reunions unhappy, divorced and alienated from their children because they are not balancing those important aspects in his life. This is not different from the realities that I see around me. We should understand that “no other success can compensate for failure in the home.” (David O. McKay) .We all want to be successful in life and in our careers but we need to source our priorities.

I like how the author states it:

“If you study the root cause of business disasters, over and over you´ll find this predisposition toward endeavors that offer immediate gratification. If you look at personal lives through that lens, you´ll see the same stunning and sobering pattern: people allocating fewer and fewer resources to the things they would have once said mattered the most”

We should learn how to allocate our resources such our talents, skills, time and don’t seek for recognition neither gratification. We should focus in what really is important to be successful without losing our purpose in life.

 To read more about this article click here Harvard Business Review

Create a life with purpose