W01 — The Startup of Me: Mighty Heart, Strong Mind

  W14 Final Entrepreneurial Journal – “My Final Lecture” This final week feels like the closing of a meaningful chapter—a moment to pause, breathe, and recognize how far this course has carried me. Looking back on the past fourteen weeks, I see more than assignments, quizzes, and case studies. I see a journey of transformation. I see a clearer sense of purpose. And above all, I see a new understanding of what it truly means to live—and lead—with intention. If I were asked to give one final lecture to a group of students about what I learned in this course, I would begin with this truth: Entrepreneurship is not merely a career path; it is a way of becoming. Throughout the semester, from Elder Holland’s courage to Taylor Richards’ reminder to never underestimate ourselves, and from Randy Haykin’s intentional preparation to Tom Monaghan’s course correction toward purpose and service, one message repeated again and again: Who you become matters more than what you build. Skills, ...

  W13 Entrepreneurial Journal – A Journey of Gratitude (Reflection) This week’s study on A Journey of Gratitude was one of the most meaningful segments of the course so far. The combination of President Thomas S. Monson’s message on gratitude, the Acton Hero videos, and the Stanford talks provided a powerful reminder of the kind of mindset an entrepreneur must develop — not only to succeed in business, but also to succeed in life. One of the biggest lessons I learned is that gratitude is not passive; it is an active discipline. President Monson’s talk reminded me that gratitude lifts us above discouragement, helps us recognize the good around us, and protects us from the “modern leprosies” of selfishness, greed, and entitlement. What touched me most was his example of the Sunday School teacher, Lucy Gertsch, who taught by love and by service. Her willingness to put others’ needs before her own showed me that real leadership begins with the heart, not with authority or status. T...

  W12 Entrepreneurial Journal – Reflection on “What’s a Business For?” This week’s study on “Becoming a Change-Maker,” especially the article “What’s a Business For?” , challenged me to rethink the deeper purpose of business in society. The first two pages of the article highlight a simple but powerful truth: virtue and integrity are the foundation of a functioning economy . Markets only work when people trust the system—trust financial reporting, trust leadership decisions, trust that value is being created in reality and not fabricated on paper. When virtue collapses, the entire system begins to rot from within. As the article explains, when trust disappears, economic activity slows, investment weakens, and society bears the cost of corporate misconduct. This helped me appreciate that integrity in business is not just a moral preference—it is an economic necessity. Charles Handy’s perspective strengthened this point. According to Handy, the real justification for a business is ...

  W11 Reflection: Attitude on Money This week’s study, particularly the article “Attitude on Money” , encouraged me to deeply reflect on my own beliefs and relationship with money. I realized that money itself is not inherently good or evil — it is a tool that reveals the intentions of the heart. As the article teaches, “the love of money” is the real danger, not money itself. When used wisely and with gratitude, money becomes a means to bless lives, serve others, and build the kingdom of God. My personal attitude toward money has evolved over time. Earlier in my career, I often saw money as the primary indicator of success and security. However, through both experience and spiritual growth, I have come to understand that wealth without purpose is empty. True prosperity comes from aligning financial stewardship with eternal principles — honesty, generosity, and self-discipline. I now see money as a sacred responsibility, not just a reward. The article also emphasizes that our vi...

W10 Entrepreneurial Journal: Dream Big Dreams This week’s study, Dream Big Dreams , has deeply inspired me to re-evaluate the size of my own vision as an entrepreneur. The combination of Elder Dallin H. Oaks’s message in “The Challenge to Become” , Taylor Richards’s story in “Think Big,” and Marissa Mayer’s idea of giving employees a “license to pursue dreams” reminded me that success is not just about reaching goals—it is about becoming the kind of person who can achieve them. Elder Oaks’s talk helped me understand that the gospel of Jesus Christ doesn’t simply teach us to know something—it challenges us to become something. That message applies perfectly to entrepreneurship: building a business is a spiritual and personal transformation. Every challenge, failure, or delay is part of the process that shapes our character and prepares us for greater stewardship. Taylor Richards’s story about aiming for the top 100 and reaching number 6 in North America reminded me to never limi...

  W09 Reflection: Entrepreneurial Journal This week’s study on Disciple Leadership deeply impacted how I view leadership and purpose. Elder David A. Bednar’s message, A Disciple Preparation Center , reminded me that leadership begins with discipleship—learning from and following the Savior. A disciple-leader does not seek power or recognition but strives to serve, lift, and bless others. I realized that true success in entrepreneurship should never be separated from faith and character. President Kim B. Clark’s talk Leadership with a Small “L” taught me that leadership means to lead by example, vision, and love. These three principles resonated deeply with me. Leading by example means living with integrity and consistency, even when no one is watching. Leading with vision means connecting daily tasks to a higher purpose. Leading with love means putting people first and seeing their divine potential. I’ve learned that these principles apply equally in my family, my career, and t...

  W08 Entrepreneurial Journal – Overcoming Challenges This week’s study on Overcoming Challenges deeply impacted me. It reminded me that the path of entrepreneurship is not meant to be smooth, but sacred—a journey of faith, endurance, and growth. The messages from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and President Thomas S. Monson especially resonated with me. Elder Holland’s story in “Good Things to Come” touched my heart as he described the struggling young father who kept walking despite discouragement. His words— “Don’t you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. Trust God.” —felt like personal advice for my own entrepreneurial path. President Monson’s message, “Looking Back and Moving Forward,” strengthened my belief that challenges refine our faith and shape our character. He reminded me that “mortality is a period of testing,” but that God never leaves us alone in our trials. I realized that in both business and life, our hardest days can become defining days if we respond with hu...

  W07 Reflection: Passion, Purpose, and the 7 Habits The habit that resonates most with me right now is Habit 3: Put First Things First . I’m realizing that strategy without priority is just wishful thinking. “First Things First” forces me to translate values into a weekly plan—choosing the important over the merely urgent . Practically, it looks like blocking time for deep work on my highest-leverage tasks (customer interviews, product improvements, and family/spiritual commitments) before reactive items invade my schedule. It’s also a character habit: keeping promises to myself so I can be trusted by others. Together, the 7 Habits give me a complete system to live with passion and purpose while pursuing both private and public victories: Private Victory (Habits 1–3) : Be Proactive reminds me I’m the creative force—my choices matter more than my circumstances. Begin with the End in Mind anchors my work in a personal mission, aligning goals with who I want to becom...

 This week felt like a reset on what truly sustains an entrepreneurial career: self-mastery, method, and purpose. From So You Want to Be an Entrepreneur? I took the “three bags” of knowledge: (1) deep industry understanding plus a trusted network; (2) the skills to run day-to-day operations; and (3) the ability to raise capital. The most practical insight was the order of value : industry > operations > capital. Money is a commodity; real advantage comes from immersion and execution. Amar Bhidé strengthened my antidote to analysis paralysis: screen fast, analyze the essentials, and act in short cycles . Instead of waiting for a perfect plan, place small bets, meet real customers, and adapt. That “learn by doing” approach speaks directly to my perfectionism—it offers a disciplined way to move forward without being fooled by pretty spreadsheets. On character, President N. Eldon Tanner’s “Success Is Gauged by Self-Mastery” shifted my focus from “conquering things” to “conquer...

Here are my key takeaways from “A Hero’s Journey.” The talk reframed success from trophies to transformation. The three end-of-life questions— Did I contribute something meaningful? Was I a good person? Who did I love, and who loved me? —cut through the noise of titles and net worth. If those are the real scoreboards, then my calendar and budget need to mirror them now, not “after I make it.” Second, a calling sits at the intersection of God-given gifts, deep joy, and a real need in the world . I loved the practical experiments: ask five people what you do better than anyone else; notice where you lose track of time; then aim those strengths at a concrete problem that bothers you enough to act. That is more actionable than waiting for a lightning bolt. Third, ethical guardrails matter more than raw ambition. Writing out “I will never…” lines and a “message in a bottle” for moments of temptation is a powerful way to prevent small compromises that become big failures. I also took to ...

  W04 Reflection — Measuring a Life That Actually Matters This week’s materials reframed “success” from a scoreboard to a compass. Clayton Christensen’s question—how will you measure your life?—landed hardest on two ideas: resource allocation and the “marginal-cost” mistake. I recognized myself in his warning that high achievers unconsciously invest time where feedback is fast (work) and underinvest where payoffs are slow (family, character). I also felt called out by “just this once” thinking; compromise is rarely a one-time event—habits calcify around it. Tom Kelley’s retelling of Jim Collins’ three circles (what I’m good at, what I’m born to do, what people will pay for) added a practical lens. I’ve been competent in many things, but “born to do” shows up when I’m designing learning experiences, building with founders, and serving families. The fourth box— who I do it with—matters as much as the circles. I’d rather build slower with trustworthy people than sprint with misalig...

W03 Journal — Honesty, Business Ethics & Building “A-Level” Ventures This week reframed ethics from “nice to have” into an operating system for how I build. Elder Lynn G. Robbins’ “A–E grading” of motives hit hard: A-level work puts the love of God and fellowmen first, with income as a by-product. That clarifies success metrics for me: if my businesses don’t strengthen families, expand access, or uplift communities, they’re off-mission—even if they’re profitable. Sheri L. Dew’s call to be “ true blue, through and through ” converted integrity from a slogan into daily practices. Integrity isn’t only “don’t lie”; it’s keeping promises when no one is watching, refusing shortcuts, and making choices I’d be proud to explain to my spouse, children, and faith leaders (my “front-page test”). The founders’ perspectives grounded this in reality. Frank Levinson (“fanatically ethical”) reminded me that people instantly sense the moral temperature of a company—and great talent stays where t...

 Randy Pausch achieved so many of his childhood dreams because he combined joyful curiosity with disciplined persistence. He didn’t romanticize success—he engineered it. When Disney rejected him, he reframed the “brick wall” as a filter that keeps out people who don’t want it badly enough. He also invested in people: mentors, teams, and students. That mix—persistence, reframing setbacks, and building real relationships—created tailwinds that carried him toward zero-gravity flights, Imagineering projects, and transformative teaching. His line, “Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want,” captures it: he harvested learning from every miss and used it as fuel for the next attempt. Dreaming matters because it gives us a star to steer by. Without a clear “why,” the day-to-day becomes random. With a dream, we can choose steppingstones that compound—skills, relationships, and habits that point in one direction. Dreaming isn’t about fantasy; it’s about setting a faithful...

 This week I reframed the semester as the “startup of me.” Elder David A. Bednar ’s call to be both “faithful and competent” challenged my comfort zone[1]. He warns against the “academic path of least resistance,” ties scholarship to sacrifice and consecration , and interprets D&C 4:2 (“heart, might, mind, and strength”) as a mighty heart plus a strong mind for consecrated service[1]. Omni 1:26 — to “offer your whole souls” — set my bar for weekly effort[1]. From Jeff Sandefer , living as an entrepreneurial hero means dream big, start small , accept that life is hard, and engrave habits → character → destiny [2]. His counsel to fail early, cheaply, and often , and to choose fellow travelers well , fits my Angolan context where rapid prototypes and candid operator feedback drive impact. Guy Kawasaki reinforced purpose at the core of work: do what you love is not anti-profit; it is pro-meaning, so profit doesn’t feel empty[3]. President Gordon B. Hinckley added a mo...