Ent-Rupp-preneur Journal

When I look at this week's lesson I am reminded of spiritual gifts. I know the scriptures don't specifically outline "to one is given the ability to create and develop functional, long term business relationships" but there are personalities that inherently lend themselves to just this. But just as the parable of the talents, they must be developed and fostered. Not only does this take effort, but more importantly I think is the awareness to know what you are capable of and incapable of. Finding those to work with you that fill your voids, that complement your weaknesses, and that help push you in the right direction, is key to maintaining and fostering these relationships. I don't think it's a coincedence that we all have to depend on at least someone in this life. We need to have good people on our side, in our corner, offering advice, providing support in ways only they can, in order for our external efforts in business, networking, and finding and creatin...

Workplace culture insights: This "journey" of going back to school to finish my undergrad has both helped me put concepts and ideas from my mind into words, as well as inspired me and given me a good deal of direction in how I see business in all its facets. This week's lesson had a number of thoughts that confirmed my beliefs and that also inspired me to see things through new, improved lenses.  I think the lesson that most inspired me was that all human beings are endowed with unlimited potential. This concept made me peel back the layers of self doubt and nay-sayers I have had to overcome, as well as the circumstances surrounding my upbringing that crafted, for better or for worse, my view of myself and my potential (or lack thereof). My inner ear, the ear that dictates how I view myself, and the standard to which I hold myself, has been 43 years in the making. Never, ever, have I thought that all my life circumstances, experiences, and choices have led to how...

I recently recieved a surprise phone call from one of the most influential mentors I had during my teenage years. His name is John Peek and he was a member of my home ward in Wrightwood California. He was also the head of the Spanish Department at my high school and someone who cared deeply for the youth of the ward and his students. In our phone conversation that Sunday afternoon we talked about my current employment and some potential options I will have available in the next few months. He paused for a second and then told me that if he could go back and change anything in his life as a parent, it would be to have a better work/life balance where he spent more time with his family. He became a High School principal after I left for my mission and his passion for helping under-priveleged and troubled children, although supremely honorable, had left a void in the lives of some of his kids that he can never go back and fix. That advice resonated with me and caused me to do some think...

In a previous class in the BYU-I business program I was introduced to the concept of emotional intelligence. It was one of those readings (that I saved) that felt like eggs hatching in my head. I shared the article with a few co-workers and they didn't find it nearly as fascinating as I did. Watching this week's video that discussed the "Emotional Fingerprint" was great! It spurred my curiosity and I bought the book "Your Emotional Fingerprint". There was one page turned down to mark it. I opened to that page first and it was the ok Cherokee legend of the wolf, and in referencing the outcome of our ability to internalize our emotions it lists the same qualities listed in the video. The idea that the more aware we are of our emotional footprint the more adept we will be at making decisions resonates with me. I feel I have a lot of work to do in this area. In Dallin H Oaks' talk "The Challenge to Become" he teaches that the Gospel is a plan t...

So much of the material we studied this week resonated with me on a professional level. I read "Good to Great" for a class a few semesters ago and the review this week was wonderful. The reading and videos this week cause me to look at my current occupation, coworkers, and the work environment from a few different angles. Examples: Do we have NICE people working in the office? Are there any egos that could potentially destroy the flow and synergy we have? Are we Bakers? Eaters? Some of both? Is this getting us where we want to go? Do we genuinely want to lift others? Help other businesses grow? Do we look for ways to adapt? Embrace new ideas? Are we looking to take risks (even though the company is run by a bunch of operations guys and accountants) One of the statements that really made sense to me was that the goal of business is to weld customers to you. What a great analogy. If we aren't skilled welders, if we don't have the right materials, skills, attentio...

I find self-mastery to be such an interesting topic. There's never and to the pursuit of self-mastery but there is a direction we should set our compass toward. The metaphor using our moral standards to set our course is wonderful, but in our everchanging world, morals are no longer as evident nor as easy to define. Our need to look to the Savior as our source of guidance, moral direction, and perfect example of a follower and leader, has never been greater. This does require sacrifice, and adherence to what the world would call restictive and limiting commandments. Elder Tanner teaches us, however, that our obedience "guarantees victory and achievement of our goal" if we "follow an undeviating course". I love that following this course will naturally put us on a path toward ever increasing ethics that will aide in our business and life decisions. Also from the reading is what I consider to be one of the more challenging dilemmas in business and especially...