Saturday, October 5, 2013

Who do I think I am? Introspection...


This week has been very introspective.  I have been thinking a lot about what I want my future to hold, and how my career can be interwoven with my personal values.  I am grateful for the jobs that I have had, and how they have provided a foundation for me to pursue the dreams that I have.  I wouldn’t say that I have been extremely “entrepreneurial” minded, and frankly several years ago after going bust on a business that we were grossly unprepared to be self employed in, I swore off all desire to ever own my own business again!  My classes that I am taking at BYU-I have started to shape and mold my thinking, and I can see how I am better prepared to ask the right questions!  A lot goes into building a business, and to make it work you need to find the key components!  I am grateful for a fresh outlook on the possibilities. 

I read several great articles and watched some videos this week, but what stood out to me was the following…

1.     In a Visionary Business, Use the Rules of 3… it will take 3 times as long and 3 times as much money!
2.     What is God’s will?  Follow it and you will be guided to the right thing for YOU.
3.     Formula ES=(I+M^3)P…
a.     Entrepreneurial Success=Idea + (Market X Money X Management) X Passion
4.     Good Investment Opportunities include
a.     Market Factors
b.     Competitive Advantage
c.     Economics
d.     Management Capability
e.     Fatal Flaws
5.     Fostering Creativity
a.     Carry a Notebook
b.     Think Opportunistically
c.     Network
d.     Think in Opposites
e.     Reinvent the Wheel
f.      Challenge your ruts
6.     Ideas come from everywhere… make people feel like they can contribute.  The best ideas rise to the top.
7.     The Business Model Ontology

I was really intrigued by the Business Model Ontology, and I looked up his PDF for future reference.  I agree with his assertion that everyone is thinking of something different when they say “business model.”  It can sweep quite a wide range, including strategy, process, profit, product, technology, etc.  Because of this, when a team gathers together to talk about a business model, while one personal is explaining their thoughts – it sounds like “blah blah blah” to everyone else” and they are thinking “what is this person talking about?”    I look forward to reading his theses on business model ontology to see how I can form a more concrete business model.

For the $100 Challenge, I began brainstorming ideas this week, and out of my top five, I am strongly considering the homemade cookies and hot cocoa holiday combo for gift purchases.  It has a lot of potential, and these cookies have a lot of room for variety and specialization.  I can change out ingredients to match specific holidays, or customize them to meet the occasion – like blue or pink accents for a baby shower; matching wedding colors, etc.  These are cookies that can make a person feel special!  Everyone who receives them feels overwhelmingly excited when our family makes them.  There is a great story behind how these cookies became such an interesting part of our lives!  I will share that in a future post! J  Cliffhanger…

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