W02 Reflection: Entrepreneurial Journal

 This week we read a lot about being honest in your dealings as a potential business owner. I enjoyed reading the talk by Sheri L. Dew titled "True Blue, Through and Through." The shares the following story in the talk: "An incident in the life of President Joseph F. Smith bears out this point. In the fall of1857, the nineteen-year-old Joseph F. was returning from his mission in Hawaii, and in California he joined a wagon train. It was a volatile time for the Saints. Johnston’s Army was marching towards Utah, and many had bitter feelings towards the Church. One evening several hoodlums rode into camp, cursing and threatening to hurt every Mormon they could find. Most in the wagon train ran and hid in the brush. But Joseph F. thought to himself: “Shall I run from these fellows? Why should I fear them?” With that, he walked up to one of the intruders who, with pistol in hand, demanded, “Are you a Mormon?” Joseph F. Smith responded, “Yes siree; dyed in the wool; true blue, through and through.” At that, the hoodlum grasped his hand and said, “Well you are the [blankety-blank] pleasantest man I ever met! Shake hands, young fellow. I am glad to see a man that stands up for his convictions” (See Gospel Doctrine, 518). I loved reading this story because it teaches the lesson that if we stand up for what we believe in then people will respect us. I have never started a business but I believe this lesson would translate well. I have worked in sales for a few years and one of the most important parts of sales is that you have to believe in what you are selling. The same is for business, you have to believe in the product or service that you are offering. If you can do this while building your business then people will respect that and trust you and it will lead to many people demanding your product or service. However, this takes us back to the beginning of this post and that is honesty. As we build our business and believe in it, one simple act of lying or doing something to cause others to lose trust then the business will start going downhill. I look forward in future weeks to learn how to better allow myself to be trustworthy and a worthy business owner.

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