Last Lecture

          Starting your own business can be the most rewarding thing that you will ever do, but it will require everything that you have to give.  You will be able to choose your own schedule, but you will need to work much longer than your typical eight to five if you are to be competitive, at least for the first few years.  There will be no boss to tell you what to do, but you will need to become that boss for yourself.  Have the self-discipline to make reasonable goals and to stretch yourself. 

Remember that you are only as effective as those you surround yourself with.  Find a good team, and work with them to reach your goals.  You can be a genius in your field but not do as well as an average person surrounded by above than average team.  Having a good team helps with problem solving, brain storming, building an effective personal and business network and maintaining order in your company. 

Before you start your own business, remember that you must choose something that you are passionate about.  If you choose to do something just for the money or for any other reason, when the going gets tough, you will lack to motivation to go forward.  Your passion to bring something to the world or change the world for the better will help you give 110%, and make critical decisions for the success of your company. 

Remember when challenges come, they are not obstacles in your path, but your springboard towards it.  Many people will try and go around the springboard or under it without seeing it’s potential for their own lives.  Challenges are places in your path so that you can solve them and learn from them.  This is the path to enlightenment and a personal education that lasts a lifetime.

            Just as important, gratitude in the business world is your source of happiness.  Most business people believe that to achieve satisfaction in the world of business you must make it to Silicon Valley or be the head of a fortune 500 company.  This is not true.  On my mission in the Dominican Republic, some of the happiest business owners I met were Haitian street vendors.  They always had a smile on, even though they were in the streets with their fruits in the hot sun.  When they were at home, they were happy with the family.  They had next to nothing.  They had a small house, little food, and no commodities, but they were grateful for what the Lord has blessed them with.  If you want to start your business, found it on principles of gratitude, perseverance, passion, networking, and sacrifice.  If you do this, you will not only be happy, but you are more likely to be successful in your endeavors in the end.