Measuring Life

 

I will be a hypocrite if I will say that money was not the first motivator I and my husband had when we started the business.  It was our prayer to have a business that will sustain us in our country a few years back.  However, as the company grows, I realized that it is not really all about money.  But Frederick Herzberg was right when he said that "the powerful motivator was the opportunity to learn, grow in responsibilities, contribute to others, and be recognized for achievements."

Matt Salzberg of Harvard Business School Class of 2010 also shared his motivations.  His motivations are his family and loved ones, fun, exciting and impactful activities or experiences, and business that will change the world!  I find that similar to my motivations.  

When I was young, I always hear adults saying, "do what you love and the money will follow."  As I grow up, I learned from those around me that not all people who do what they love, get rich.  Money did not follow them. As I study my modules in Entrepreneurship, I came across a speaker that says, "do what you love, follow your bliss - blisters"  There will be hardships in doing one's passion but as what Francis Ford Coppola told Tom Kelley, "do what you love because you'll be better at it."

In the video of Acton Hero, Sharon Mays shared some inspiring words.  She said that we should not really listen to the discouraging words of the world.  She also said that we should give time for ourselves to learn things we do not know yet.  Here's how she exactly said those words:

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said powerful words which can help people to persevere.  

Having faith in God will make us make the impossible, possible!  God loves us despite of our imperfections.  That is true love!

Elder Wirthlin said something else that I really need to follow.  He said:

We should really take care of our health.  An unhealthy lifestyle will shorten our lives and time and ability to serve in God's kingdom here on earth.  This is a wake-up call to me and everyone!  

I hope that I cannot forget the wonderful things I learned this week!  I am looking forward to learning more about my week 5 modules.  I am also looking forward to applying some of what I learned in real life.  I finished reading the book, "Launching Leaders."  I am now looking forward to reading the book, "Mastery."  

Mankind is my True Business

 

Now at Week 3!

It had been a busy week for me.  I had difficulty opening my BYU Pathway Portal because it was locked.  I was able to finally resolve the issue and I am glad that I can be able to submit my assignments on time!

I learned so much and I am so happy!  I felt so guided.

Here are some of the things I learned:

Sheri Dew shared a lot of insights in her talk, “True Blue, Through and Through!”  I love that INTEGRITY was emphasized. 

“The more the LORD trusts you, the MORE KNOWLEDGE and POWER HE will give you!” 

That promise alone will help me and others to walk with INTEGRITY.  This is a good trait an entrepreneur should have.  If customers know they could rely on you, they would want to buy from you! 

She also shared 7 things that will help us become men/women of integrity.

Knowing our purpose here on Earth will help us calibrate our goals!

In the book "Making a Living a Life," Lynn G. Robbins explains how to be a more responsible businessman.  He said,

“...Mankind is your TRUE BUSINESS!” 

As a result, a businessman should consider whether the product and price are beneficial or detrimental to humanity and the planet. 

I also like this part of his talk,

The most basic of all marketing principles is to give the customer what he or she wants and deserves.  It is a principle that was taught by the Savior which we know as the golden rule,

“Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets"  (3 Ne. 14:12).” 

When offering quality and price to customers, business owners need to think that HE is the customer and therefore offer him the BEST product and value.

 Jim Ritchie's formula of success is my favorite!  It's also in the book, "Launching Leaders."

I am still working out to master the formula of success in my life.  I need to wake up EARLIER.  I need to work HARDER ( and SMARTER).  I need to get more training to improve the OIL to make a MARK and to SERVE better!  And as I do all these steps with INTEGRITY, I know GOD will continuously guide me to make miracles in my life and the life of others!

There are a lot of things I am looking forward to learn and do.  For now, I need to finish the book, "Launching Leaders."  Not only for the book report but to learn.  I am really excited about the things I will yet learn from that book.  My heart is filled with the love of God.  His presence feels like a comfort to me when I am struggling. It will be a few days before I attend a trade fair, and I need some information on sea freight rates per container. The companies I contacted did not respond to my messages.  I've been worrying about this for a few days already, as this simple question is important to customers. I then received a message from an acquaintance who sent me a message from a logistics company that can help me.  I am now communicating with that company for the quotation I need.  I'm looking forward to experiencing God's presence in my life and business endeavors as well.

Learning to reach my STAR

 

Yes, Randy.  It's creating a life of meaning.  Life is short.  And Oh yes!  I was reaching for the STARS.  Miraculously, it seems like "it" was being handed to me.  I remember my previous Supervisor, Mr. Anwar's statement when I was being given a bigger responsibility I was unwilling to accept.  He said, "Louriza, I am disappointed.  Why do you reject this when it is already being given to you and when others want this?"  After a few more meetings, I accepted the position.  That position helped me learn the things I needed to help run the family business.  (including the stress)

Same thing with the family business.  We were not the ones who thought about having a furniture business.  The company was initially in another line of business.  As we are in the middle of CCTV installation at a company my husband saw palettes inside their premises.  He got curious about how to supply those.  After giving samples, we were qualified to supply wooden palettes for that company.  Then they asked us to make furniture from the palettes as a raffle for their Christmas Party.  We realized that we can make it so we improved the products and sold furniture.  During the pandemic, we received more orders online.  God helped us.  He led us to the furniture business.

Also, we did not apply as an exhibitor in Germany, we were invited by one government staff who saw our products on my husband's Facebook to have a meeting with their director.  (I will tell you more about it later).  So the principle should be "do not tire of doing what is right. Good Karma is real!"

Here's to Week 2:

Questions I need to answer:

Why do you think Randy Pausch was able to achieve so many of his childhood dreams?

Randy was not only a goal-setter but an achiever.  He made impossible things possible because he was willing to do everything for what he wanted. He knew what his goal was and found ways to reach it, no matter how challenging it was.  From one person, he was led to the right person through networking.  It was his willingness to give up something he had (a job) to obtain another that would allow him to fulfill his dreams (being a local media journalist to join NASA students in zero gravity flights).  He knew his STARS and he knew the RIGHT ladder to climb to reach his STARS.

Do you feel that dreaming is important? Why or why not?

Let us hear it from the infamous, Cinderella:

A dream is a wish your heart makes
When you're fast asleep
In dreams, you will lose your heartaches
Whatever you wish for, you keep

Have faith in your dreams and someday
Your rainbow will come smiling through
No matter how your heart is grieving
If you keep on believing
The dream that you wish will come true

Dreaming gives you hope.  Of course, we dream of something we do not have...  something far from what we have now or who we are at present.  It is in dreaming that we have hopes that the current state can change.  It will be the reason for a strong determination to find and walk on the right ladder to reach that dream no matter how difficult it may seem. It is in those righteous dreams we learn about our passion that would help us create a VISION. We now make our DREAM into REALITY.  

The story of my FIRST STAR...

My parents were separated.  My mother left to begin her new life instead of staying with me and my siblings (I am the middle child).  My father was a seaman.  Although he also started a life of his own, he would send monthly allowance for us.  We were lucky that they had a house they have purchased before the separation where we lived.  I was in grade 5 when my mother left.  Only my Aunt lived with us who later on left for personal reasons too.  We literally lived and grew up alone.  So my dream was obvious...  I dream of having a complete and happy family someday.  That was my first STAR.  To be able to reach my star, I was in constant communication with my Best Mentor, GOD.  I opened my heart and really cried to Him because as I child I really do not know what to do.  I felt a hug that comforted me. I know everything will be alright.  I stayed on the path, climbing the ladder by being active both in church and school.  And here I am now with my family.  They are my star.  

Here's another STAR.

Staying in Qatar is comfortable but we want to take root in our home country. We decided to go home and start a business. My husband and children went home first. When I was to follow my family home, I jokingly said to my colleague, "I want to make products from the town where my family lived." Things I will be proud to say that it was locally made in the Philippines!  And you will see me on television as an inspiration to many Filipinos talking about my business!"  We laughed as I said that.  To them it was a joke, to me, it is a dream, another STAR! Now, slowly I can see the realization of that dream, that STAR.  I am not yet in the big TV but the company will be sponsored by the provincial governor to participate in Frankfurt, Germany's exhibit.  So slowly, I know I am getting there.  Being on television isn't really what it's about; it's about being successful so I can inspire and guide others to be successful, too. The process was tedious but it was something I willingly embraced.  (Pardon the "I."  This is my blog.  Please know that I give credit to the sacrifice of the family, especially my husband and the whole team).

a flashback...

 My husband was invited to the Provincial Cooperative and Enterprise Development Organization director's office. He said we were invited to join a trade fair. We thought it was only in the province. Then while talking with the director we found out it was for Germany. It was exciting, but we have a lot to do. Design Center of the Philippines (another government entity) soon contacted us for product development. I was now the assigned person to communicate with all the government agencies for product development and other things. The problem is not developing prototypes but the time constraint. And many more trials came along the way. I and my husband wanted to give up but every time we do, I can feel God's hands pushing us to persevere. We were able to make the prototypes on time.  Products we can be proud of.  But it is only the beginning of making more to finally make a product that sells.  Hoping that we will not reach 5,128 prototypes before hitting the jackpot like Jim Dyson.  Don't get me wrong, I admire his perseverance!

God was the one who really led us to go. I do not know what will happen in the exhibit. But what I know is that He wants me to be there. Honestly, I am nervous because I am going without my husband. But God is with me, I should not doubt. I am preparing myself in many ways possible in meeting possible clients or investors. To God nothing is impossible.  I am glad I have a mentor who's always there providing me with other mentors to guide me in this world too. I hope I can find one that meets my needs right now.  This STAR is still something I and my family is striving to reach with faith.  I registered for the ENTREPRENEURSHIP course to help me reach the STAR.  Like what E. Richard Evans said, "It is a wonderful thing to be faithful, but a greater thing to be both faithful and competent."

Some of the things I learned from this week’s readings and videos?

This is true charity...

"How does this measure up to the world’s teaching that you have to take care of number one, climb the corporate ladder, get ahead? One of the great gospel ironies is that when we lose ourselves, we find ourselves. 

Work is much the same. I testify that:

when you focus your work first and foremost on blessing others, you will become extraordinary at what you do and will find fulfillment and success much more reliably than if you spend your time at work trying to get ahead or get rich. 

My brothers and sisters, work to serve! Remember the words that greet you at the gateway of the university: Enter to learn; go forth to serve.”

This is funny.  But a mind opener for people to be more industrious...

Lee Hardy, a scholar of Luther’s teachings, noted:

 “As we pray each morning for our daily bread, people are already busy at work in the bakeries” 

This made me laugh but it's true...

..."My dear brothers and sisters, follow your bliss, follow your blisters, and go forth to serve. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

- Jeffrey A. Thompson was a BYU associate professor at the Romney Institute of Public Management when this devotional address was given on 1 June 2010.

This is encouraging!
James Dyson, if you read his book, Jim Dyson says he had 5,128 failures, 5,128 prototypes before he had something he could sell. - in the video "Treat Life as an Experiment."

What are you looking forward to learning and experiencing?

There are a lot of goliaths out in the world.  Brick walls in every goal.  I want to overcome it all at the right pace trusting in God's timing.  I am looking forward to learning it through the modules and the books provided for me to read.  I am already learning from the book: "Launching Leaders" by Steven Hitz.  I was born one to three years early to be one of the Millenials which he expects to read the book.  Still, I read the book as if he was talking to me.  I am now in chapter 4 and looking forward to learning more.

Journey to Entrepreneurship

 Fresh mind...

Anyone can do business, but not anyone is willing to learn to be better in that field.  Many just think of money when they hear the word "business."  But the journey to do a successful continuous business is important.  To smoothen the road I have chosen, I decided to take Entrepreneurship through BYU Pathway Worldwide-BYU Idaho.  The first subject will help me set the right entrepreneur mindset.  This is really important.  I surely know that this will help me become a better businesswoman.  I will definitely learn a lot which I am excited to practice and share with others.

I feel the will to succeed and help others to live with dignity by providing them with decent jobs.  As I read the assigned texts and watch the videos given, I felt a confirmation of my calling.  

Here's to Week 1

Lessons Learned:

Studying is like a feast.  There's a lot that I have learned but let me share some of my favorites...

1.  Be Faithful and Competent!

You know, it is a wonderful thing to be faithful, but a much greater thing to be both faithful and competent.  There is no particular virtue in being uninformed, certainly no virtue in ignorance.  When young people can acquire the skills, the techniques, and the knowledge of these times, and along with it have a spiritual commitment and a solid faith and cleanliness of life, there is nothing that you can’t achieve; nothing in righteousness or in reason.  (Elder Richard L. Evans, From an address given to the young people at the Northwest Inland Division Gathered for Zion’s Camp, October 15, 1971)

2.  Be Self-Reliant!  To quote the saying, "You cannot lift another person unless you are standing on higher ground!"

Can we see how critical self-reliance becomes when looked upon as the prerequisite to service, when we also know service is what Godhood is all about?  Without self-reliance one cannot exercise these innate desires to serve. How can we give if there is nothing there?  Food for the hungry cannot come from empty shelves.  Money to assist the needy cannot come from an empty purse.  Support and understanding cannot come from the emotionally starved.  Teaching cannot come from the unlearned.  And most important of all, spiritual guidance cannot come from the spiritually weak.  (President Marion G. Romney, Conference Report, October 1982, pg. 135) 

3.  Surround yourself with the best people "NETWORK"

"Extraordinary things happen when you surround yourself with smart, talented, driven, good
people who share your mission. Here’s a simple rule of thumb: an extraordinarily talented and
dedicated person gets ten times more done than the merely good person, and the good person ten
times more than the average performer. When it comes to employees, if you set the incentives
correctly, you can’t overpay the best." - Jeff Sandefer

I have written a lot of things in my learning journal and I cannot write everything here.  Right now, I am overwhelmed with the treasures of knowledge from many different successful people.  I am blessed that there are a lot of people willing to share their knowledge to help others succeed.  I need to always be a glass never full, like the "permanent beta" of Reid Hoffman.  He said, "You can always do better, you can always learn more..." he also said that I can do that by understanding how important is the network around me.  

Plans for the Future:

I am now excited to read the 3 books:

1. Hero's Journey

2. Launching Leaders

3. Mastery

Books are friends, like what was mentioned in the video, Introduction-Launching leaders "Great friends have great ideas!"  I am hoping to read and learn more from great minds.  More importantly, apply the principles I am learning one step at a time!  "DREAM BIG but start with SMALL STEPS!"-Jeff Sandefer