Mike Video

Hello world, here is my video of why I believe the Lego building blocks are the best toys and hobby to have as either a child or an adult. In this video I inform you of my beliefs on Legos creating imagination, stimulating the brain, being educational and looking great as a model. In this video, I show you the Lego NASA Apollo Saturn V, my son’s drawbridge and a Lego airplane made by me. Because Legos have such a wide variety of themes you will not be forced to choose something you don’t want and there is are a million possibilities, the sky is the limit!

Week 14: My Last Lecture

In business there are five very, very important lessons you need to do.  There is no specific order to these points and they will change during the course of your entrepreneurship, but you need to memorize and internalize these lessons.

            One, follow your passion.  Know what you want to do and follow your passion. It doesn’t matter if you don’t make enough money or it is hard or it is abnormal or weird. Follow your passion and it will lead you to where you want to go. Your passion is your God given or basic animal desire that you were meant to be and do. It is you and if you ignore it you will ignore yourself and you will burn yourself out.

            Two, get help from the experts. You might have the passion and desire, but there are experts out there that know how to do Facebook, excel, data warehousing, piloting and insurance. Use them, no reason why you need to waste time, energy and resources on learning something that can be outsourced to an expert that is doing their passion.

            Three, work on your business and not in your business. What you dream now will not come true if you are working in the business. You need to remove yourself from your business and work on it, as if the business itself is the product. If you are opening the restaurant at 5am, making all the food, preparing for tomorrow, taking the payments, closing at 10pm and then cleaning the restaurant, when are you going to have time to fix the business processes? You need to make business processes that remove you from the business and allow others to work in the business. Once you have yourself removed you can perfect the business and make it a working product/machine that will give you what you want.

            Four, it is the small and simple things that accomplish great things. All experts and professionals started with nothing other than a desire to do and compounded over years became what they are now. Michael Jordon was not born playing basketball, Beethoven was not born composing songs, and Steve Jobs didn’t know anything about fonts until he was in college. Experts use compound interest to become. By doing the same things over and over and over again for years will eventually make you the best. Work and create your business a little at a time, every day and eventually you will be what you want to be and have what you want. If you work on your business 30 minutes or an hour a day; in no time you will have the knowledge and the capability to create your business. And when you finally have the business you want continue to work on it by small and simple things to make it perfect.

            Five, just do it. Just do it. Just do it. Just do it. Just do it. Just do it. Do not let fear, family members, friends, money or time get in the way of you doing it. Launch that website. Put a post on Facebook. Try the product. Let someone else try the product. Most dreams are stopped by fear. By just do it, you will remove that fear and will overcome the barriers that will suddenly appear to stop you. Just do it and things will work out for you. Just do your passion by small, simple tasks and ask for help from the experts when you need it.

Week 13: VW Beetle is like a Business

Yesterday I was looking out at my 1970 Volkswagen Beetle that I am fixing up, it is my first car that I bought in high school for 900 dollars. I caught it on fire by going up the Lewiston hill at 65 miles per hours which threw a piston rod through the engine case, releasing tons of gas, mixed that with the sparks from the spark plugs and you have a fire at the back of Volkswagen Beetle. Standing on the highway watching people go by watching me watch the fire, I realized that I was one of my life’s dreams to fix this car up and drive it until I die.

Yesterday I asked myself after 15 years of dreaming, is it worth fixing up my car? Was it worth a thousand or so dollars on carpet, engine parts, gears, mirrors, seats and ect to fix up a car that has sat in a back yard? The answer is “YES” because it is my dream. “YES” because it is part of who I am. Just like my business to build ultralight aircrafts, when I look at it and think about all the stuff I have to learn on how to build airplanes, all the materials that I have to buy and build and trial and error, I constantly ask myself, it is worth it do have my dream business or should I do something else?

The answer is “YES” it is worth all the trouble because it is my dream, it is who I am. And no matter how depressed I get or how much flax I get from friends and family or from myself, I can and will build a business that I am passionate about and dream about. Just like my Beetle, I can ask myself is it worth it and have doubt, the answer is still “YES.”

Week 12: Spirituality mixed with Business

This week’s lesson was very spiritual in comparison to other weeks that we have had. This week we learned on focusing on basically changing the world from where it is right now to where it could be if we as entrepreneur decided to use our skills for the better. Sarah Endline, creator of SweetRiot, focuses on how she wanted to create a culture, a team and not just another corporation trying to earn a profit. I believe this is very important when having a business that is going to involve employees because you want them to feel driven by something greater than their bi-weekly paycheck.

The greatest spiritual influence came from a talk by Elder Gay entitled “Entrepreneurship and Consecration.” In Elder Gay’s talk he discusses the standards that the world gives us for businesses compared to God’s standard of successful business. The world’s standard is to maximize shareholder earnings but with God’s standard is found everywhere in the scriptures stating that we should have “charity ….. and labor for Zion.” As we go forth with our businesses we must realize that we are to use our skills to build up the Kingdom of God and to bless others in any way possible. Elder Gay gave a personal story of a man that had a revelation to search out the LDS church with a promise that he would be able to build a school. Elder Gay helped him receive his school because the man became a member of the true church. God blesses those who put him first.

Week 11: Attitude towards money

What is my attitude towards money? That is a hard question to answer because my attitude and my actions are two completely different things. I have a road block in my life mind that prevents me from doing certain financial things. My attitude towards money is that money is a tool, like a shovel. I can use the shovel to help plant and cultivate plants or I can use a shovel to bury a body, really extreme example there of good uses versus bad uses. I think what we do with money is really the issue.

How can you view of money affect the way you live? My friend had a very poor family and so now he hoards all his money. He hoards it so bad that he won’t buy the necessities of life or for his business until it becomes an emergency, then he will buy, which usually causes him to spend more money that if he would have studied out the prices and followed the trends.

What rules are recommended for prospering? I believe by following almost any lesson or teaching from a multimillionaire we can prosper in our financial endeavors. I believe that the lessons from Ministry of Business will help us achieve the level of commitment, discipleship, self-control and enjoyment that we desire.

Week 10: Two Lesson

This week was a very quick week in learning but I feel like I learned very two important lessons. The first lesson is that I need to allow others in my company to explore their dreams and desires. In the video License to Pursue Dreams by Marissa Mayer, she talks about how Google allows its employees to spend 20% of company time on their own projects and ambitions. People ask her if Google isn’t losing out profitability and losing company time. Marissa charted all the projects in the last half of 2005 and found out that 50% of those projects actually became products for Google. Enabling people to use my tools for their benefits can increase profits, morale and a company over all.

            The second lesson I learned this week is not to under estimate myself. Just like Taylor’s Boat were the number six in the country for boating companies, I too can become the best entrepreneur and have the best business or company based upon the team that comes together. Mr. Taylor does quote Good to Great by James Collins. It is amazing how many people use this book and takes its principles and actually become the best. If I assemble a team that is the best, we can make the business the best.

Week 9: Good to Great and Action

            When I read the book Good to Great by Jim Collins a year ago for another entrepreneur business class I had no idea how much it would be quoted and a personal impact upon my life. Ever since I read that book I have quoted from it multiple times a year in class, I have had in depth conversation about the six principle’s from the book and have used the book to be a bench mark of how I must live my life in regards to talents, I don’t want to be a fox!

            I have personally seen in my father’s business how not following the principles and teachings from Good to Great your hard worked business will fail or at least drain your life away. I am sadden that he has had multiple people come into his business to not only do their job, but steal from him and then quit or be fired. I know that if I was to have employees in my business I would ensure that I followed the principles in Good to Great, even when it would be hard to.

            Action, probably one of the most important aspect of being and entrepreneur. I feel that I have action but maybe not enough action in my life. I do a little bit of business each day, but I don’t feel that I am doing enough. I must increase my input/output of my “action” for my business to succeed; Doing only 30 minutes a day of research isn’t enough to get my airplane of the ground. What if the Wright Brothers only did 30 minutes a day? We probably wouldn’t be flying right now in the mass quantity we do.

Week 8: Never give up

This week’s lesson in school was basically “never give up*.” *Unless when appropriate* As an entrepreneur there are going to be many times when we want to give up. We want to give up because of walls, families, friends, difficulties, the length of time, ect. Last week I felt this way about my ultralight aircraft business. I haven’t figured out how to work the propellers and I have changed how I am going to use engines. Last week I was trying to figure out what gears were the best and it just wasn’t coming together. I took Thursday through Sunday off and then today I came back to the problem and solved it! If I had given up it my dream would have been done with, just because of a little trouble figuring things out.

I know what I am doing is not as great as the pioneers moving across the plains or being the first LDS person in my family, but it just proves that all dreams have their difficulties. Being an entrepreneur is doing the mundane, hitting a wall, trying to figure out how to get past that wall and then doing it over and over again. “Never give up.”

Week 7: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

It is always good to get reminders of what we have learned in the past. I had a high school math teacher tell us that we only retain about one fourth of all the information we are given that is why she would tell us the same thing four times. I read Stephen Covey’s book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People about eight years ago. I remember a lot from it and actually have use the same teachings today not knowing where I learned them from. But it is always good to go over the seven steps again (remember one fourth the information):

1. Be proactive

2. Begin with the end in mind

3. First thing first

4. Think “win-win”

5. First seek to understand, then to be understood

6. Create Synergy

7. Sharpen the saw

I love synergy and love its principle; but what I have learned more and emphasize to my wife and my business thoughts is step four, think “win-win.” We should go into business to benefit others and then we will receive what we want because we gave to others. I want to have an ultralight aircraft business because I want people who can’t afford a pilot license or personal airplane to still be able to fly with an ultralight. When we give others what they want we will in turn receive what we want. This is a “win-win” situation. The “win-win” can also be applied to how we come to agreements. We want both parties to win and be happy, anything other will not be the best outcome.

Week 6: Spiritual Aspects of being an Entrepreneur

     This week’s lesson from school was really short but also very good. I love hearing and learning from those that teach at BYUI and also from LDS church leaders because I feel that they have a greater understanding of what the Lord wants from un entrepreneurs. I also believe that they know and teach that being a successful entrepreneur with millions of dollars in the most important thing in life. Jan Newman on March 7, 2011 said in his talk that he had a calculus teacher that said “You believe that the Lord had put you in these situations to make lots of money to build up the kingdom of God, but you’re wrong. You know what the Lord needs from you? He needs you to do your Home Teaching!” This is a perfect example how one keeps the true perspective in life, having God, then family the most important and those that you are required to take care of. This morning I became discourage because while working on my ultralight business, then I listened to this talk and realized that I need to be on the Lord’s side and if I show the Lord that I am his then I know he will help me out. So right after these videos I emailed both my home teaching families to set up an appointment this month. I also told my wife a long time ago that I didn’t want to have a “job” because I wanted to go to the temple each week. Well last week I decided that I was going to the temple each Tuesday morning but today came and I didn’t go. I believe that probably was the reason why this morning business session didn’t go so well. So do I go each week or not? Now is the time to decided how dedicated I am to God.

Week 5: Why I want to be an entrepreneur

It is interesting that in “A Hero’s Journey” talk, he says that people over the age of 60 will only ask three questions: have I contributed something meaningful, am I a good person and who did I live and who loved me? If those are the most important questions, then why do I feel a drive to be an entrepreneur, make tons of money and build things for the benefits of others? As we continue to listen to “A Hero’s Journey” we find out that being an entrepreneur is not about us but about us, the entrepreneur paradox. Being an entrepreneur is the ability to give to others, give them the time and resources we have and have obtained to help them on their lives, while at the same time having to do our work, we are the ones that continue each day, step by step to accomplish our dreams.

            Another impactful statement was “a calling must serve others.” Yes I do want lots of money from my entrepreneurial accomplishments, but I want lots of money so I can serve others. I dream of one day where I can donate each year over $50,000 to families that are infertile and having infertile issues, because we are going through the same thing. I want more time and to get more time is to become an entrepreneur, more freedom equals more giving.

Week 4: My Fear

“Heav'n has no rage like love to hatred turn'd / Nor Hell a fury, like a woman scorn'd."

- The Mourning Bride by William Congreve.   

It is true that I am afraid of my wife scorn and this week I learned that it is because of the fear of that scorn that I am afraid to jump off the cliff and pursue my entrepreneurial dreams. I am afraid that by starting a business, selling our house for income, or anything that my wife doesn’t want, it will cause greater marriage difficulties. It funny that I literally don’t care about what anyone else thinks, my father, my mother, my brother, my friends, ect… but she, I do care and am afraid.        My current wife is amazing and I love her, so I wonder if this wrath that I portray upon her is from my first wife because in that relationship it was verbally and emotional abusive.

            Because of the exercise this week called “Deconstructing your fears” I have come to realize why I don’t move, why I don’t climb over the brick walls and why I haven’t succeeded sooner at my entrepreneurial dreams and why I keep making businesses that aren’t my life’s calling or life dream.

            It is time that I learn how to overcome this root fear and what my wife and I can do to come together and do both of our dreams together.

Week 3: the Ministry of Business

This week I started reading “The Ministry of Business” by Steven A. Hitz. It is a book about combing spirituality with business. It is a good book and helped realize that in my business pursuits that I have not talked to the Lord about my endeavors. Although I am only chapter 8, I have learned that once again trust is the biggest attribute that will help me in my business life.

Chapter 7 was also a really good chapter about defining who you are currently, who you want to become and then what steps you need to do to obtain who you want to be. Once you have these steps you will be able to meet the long term goals you have. I will be reviewing this chapter and doing it over again once I have finished the book.

Chapter 6 also had a good description on what we should do for our finances. I also like T Harv Eker’s financial plan. I will be comparing these against each other and find out which one works best for my life. I know that I want to become a better steward of my money and need to start working on that right away.

This week I also created my 2017 resolutions and have added James Ritchie’s The Formula of 1. Get Up Early 2. Work Hard 3. Get Your Education 4. Find Oil 5. Make Your Mark & 6. Prepare to Serve/Give Back. I am tired of working for someone else and not having my dreams fulfilled. This year will be different and I plan on making it different by implementing this formula into my life.

Week 2: What I have learned

It is amazing that this course is in my life right now. I know that every semester I ask why did I take this specific course but then by the end of the semester I know why the Lord guided me to take the course then. This course is no different now. Being fired last week from my job has left me with no income or insurance after this month and I feel like I am at a cross roads in my life. One I can find another job and do the same thing I have been doing the last 10 years of my life or I can pursue my dreams, become an entrepreneur that makes money, lives life and is happy. I have literally been unhappy the last three years of my life. This course each thing I read, watch and study pain my heart because I know this stuff, I have been reading entrepreneurial books since 2004 yet I still don’t do it. I keep coming to the “brick wall” as Randy Pausch says, I climb a little and then stop and eventually get back on the ground. Why?

I am looking forward from this course to help me achieve my dreams of being an entrepreneur and making money that will allow me to live and be happy. I am looking forward to gaining just a little more knowledge that will help my scale the “brick wall.”

I believe Randy Pausch was able to achieve his childhood dreams because he didn’t have to learn how to be creative because it was fostered in his home (spent less time of adulthood figuring that part of success out.) I also believe that he is a man that tenacity of not letting go, keep pushing and never stop. He saw that “brick wall” and probably thought it was fun to climb.

I do feel that dreams are important. My wife has no dreams, and she doesn’t feel like she knows how she is or where she is going in life. Dreams allow us to become free from the mundane and monotonous life. Dreams allow us to want to become better and allow us to become more in tuned with Heavenly Father. I believe that Heavenly Father has given each person a dream, whether or not we remember that dream and pursue it is another story.

One of my childhood dreams is to fly. This dream has slowly incorporated another aspect of my life I didn’t realize until I took a BYUI class, and that is that I like to build; building things are part of my life. Now my childhood dream is to build ultralight aircraft airplanes and sell them on the internet. I believe I can accomplish this dream, I just need to realize that there will be a lot of “brick walls” and I need to have an amazing support group to help me accomplish this dream.

Week 1: Looking forward

     I feel that coming to the course of Introduction into Entrepreneuring as a junior, almost senior, in College is like being the old person in a freshman course.  The amazing part about it is that this year I will be buying into a local small business that is dying in the Treasure Valley of Idaho and I feel that Heavenly Father has put this course into my life at this time because it is the best time to take it. Although I feel that I know a lot about businesses, processes, systems, philosophies and more, entrepreneuring is always about going back to the basics of what you love and doing what you love.  I am looking forward to taking this course because it will bring me back to my roots of being an entrepreneur and help me to take the small business that I am buying into off the ground and help it become successful.

     I like all the videos and reading that my class requires me to participate in because it shows that Heavenly Father is there and willing to help everyone in both spiritual and worldly matters, such as owning a business or operating in a business. I look forward to adding more talks and lesson to my vault of knowledge of how to become the best son of God and business owner.