My Last Lecture

Changes

Each one of us have the power to change. Firstly, change the surroundings and principally, power to change ourselves. The power to change ourselves is the most important characteristic that a entrepreneur has and need have. This changes not need to be extraordinary, some are big and others are small.

During our entrepreneur journey we will find moments where choices need to take, and the choices of changes are critical for our success. Nobody can change our life, except ourselves.

Moments of failures or difficulties will happens in our journey as entrepreneurs but, not are this moments that  should determine our choices.

One choice of change made early help us to control our focus and our way.

"I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination."
Jimmy Dean
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_change.html

When I chose to be a entrepreneur, I knew that some changes are necessaries and other I will need to take in future. I believe that the changes are hard because require to leave old habits and the comforts that these give us.

Remember:

"Change is the end result of all true learning."
Leo Buscaglia
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_change.html

Learning From Failure

Exist a music on Brazil that said:

    A man of morals
    Do not lie on the floor.
    (…)
    Acknowledges the fall
    And do not be discouraged.
    Get up, shake the dust
    Turn around
    (Artist: Beth Carvalho; Album: Beth Carvalho Canta o Samba de São Paulo)

During the journey like a entrepreneur we are subject to failure. The failure is something that bring fear and pain, but we should learn with this.

Amy C. Edmondson, is the novartis Professor of leadership and Management and co-head of the technology and operations Management unit at Harvard business school. In the his work “Strategies For Learning From Failure”, wrote:

We are programmed at an early age to think that failure is bad. That belief prevents organizations 
from effectively learning from their missteps.

We are not created to fail! We are the offspring of God. (Acts 17:29).

Many of us knows Thomas Edison, and he is a great example of how should we deal with failures. Failures, he wouldn't use that word. At one point in his life he said, "I haven't failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that do not work.”

So, if in a day we failure, remember "Get up, shake the dust; Turn around.”

About the $100 Challenge
This week I had a big surprise, talking with a entrepreneur about my business I did not get a request but a new job!

Family Business

Major portion of new businesses launched in the USA, make up 80%, are family business. This kind of business, starting with brother, spouse, parents, siblings, children or other family member like a partnership.
The attraction to start a family business came the feelings of confidence, loyalty and hope of hard work, but this expectative is not real and what that was a perfect dream and plan become in a true problem. To avoid problems during the beginning some things will help to start a successful family business.

12 Keys to Family Business Success
(https://startupnation.com/grow-your-business/12-keys-to-family-business-success/)

1. Set some boundaries.
2. Establish clear and regular methods of communication.
3. Divide roles and responsibilities.
4. Treat it like a business.
5. Recognize the advantages of family ownership.
6. Treat family members fairly.
7. Put business relationships in writing.
8. Don’t provide “sympathy” jobs for family members.
9. Draw clear management lines.
10. Seek outside advice.
11. Develop a succession plan.
12. Require outside experience first.

In this part, the eleven step is very important, because only 30% of first-generation businesses survive into the second generation.

I work in a family business and we are in the transition of first generation to second generation, and  because the correct planning some problem came but it are being resolved, follow the suggestion shown above.

The family business has all tools to become a success - the same vision (protect the family), and objective (provide financial support), and principally people that love each other and belong to same family.


Update about of $100 Challenge
Many contact for email and phone but, none deal closed.

Preparation to Success

The propose of a journal is help those who read, this person could be the writer or not. Some time we would feel discouraged with the many problems to solve and the innumerable responsibilities that we have and, at this moment a journal is a great balm for the soul.
Everyone has challenges, on job, or school, or community, or family, or country. Everyone has challenges! Every entrepreneur had a challenge before building them business, or during the growth of business. In my country we are in a special moment, special not because is good but, because we never had the same problem like this. Normally, the people work 40 - 44 hours per week, but because crisis, some employees and entrepreneurs need to work almost 55 hours per  week, and this working time is very hard for the employee and the entrepreneur because the family’s time. Recently, I had the opportunity to talk with a young man that left of his service because he felt that not achieve your own expectations, not expectation of service but expectations of oneself.
We need establish a goal, an expectation about our life or work or business, but this expectations need to be achievable. Some things not depend exclusively of us, but we need of others person to achieve our goals, in this cases we need understand that some things can happen differently than we expected, and for reduce the “crisis" we need are prepared if it happen.
This life is a time of preparation for our return to true home.

Update about the $100 challenge
The challenge this week was find time to work on challenge. In company where I work this week I stayed alone during all work day, and the tasks of others, were transferred for me, doing that my work day finished after my normal time, so, this week was very bad in my challenge.

Preparation is one the first step for achieve the goals and success.