Dream Big Dreams

This week we interviewed an entrepreneur. The person I interviewed said that one of the most important things we need to do is have a clear picture of what we are working for. Many people refer to this as the “why” for building your business. “Why” do you want to do this? Your “why” needs to be so big that it will help you overcome and get past any challenge that may arise.

The Challenge to Become

We studied a talk given by Dallin H. Oaks, ‘The Challenge to Become’. He talks about being converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Oaks explains that being converted is different than having a testimony. “This process (conversion) requires far more than acquiring knowledge. It is not even enough for us to be convinced of the gospel; we must act and think so that we are converted by it. In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something.” (Oaks, “The Challenge to Become”, October 2000, lds.org.)

As we study and learn in school we acquire knowledge and skills to help us throughout life. Elder Oaks is telling us there is much more in learning the gospel than in acquiring knowledge and skills. As we learn the gospel and follow the teachings of Christ we will become better people. In the end, it will not just be the knowledge we have, a testimony, but how that                                                                                         knowledge has changed us, conversion.

Think Big

Taylor Richards in a speech given at BYU Rollins Center states, “Do not underestimate yourself.” He later tells us to involve the Lord in what we do, and we will be able to do great things. Bringing the Lord into all we do will help us achieve greatness in all areas of life.

The Heart of Entrepreneurship

In an article published in Harvard Business Review, we read, “A person’s most valuable assets are intelligence, energy, and experience – not money or other material things…”  (Stevenson & Gumpert, Harvard Business Review, March-April 1985.) In this article the authors compare entrepreneurs with managers. Managers can be entrepreneurs, but they must have a different focus than most administrators.
 Entrepreneurs see opportunities and ask, “how can I use this for gain?” They are creative and innovative, whereas most managers look at these same opportunities as problems to be solved, not chances for change. Change is an uncomfortable topic to most managers, they like things to stay the same. Entrepreneurs see change as times to make things better.

So, who do we want to become? Do we want to seize opportunities and make changes to grow and become better? Or do we want to stay in the ‘comfort zone’ and continue on the same old path.


  The choice is always ours to make.