Lesson 8 Entrepreneurial Journal

Lessons Learned:

There were so many good leadership lessons in this week's readings.  I like the 3 points President Kim B. Clark made about leading with a small "l".  Leading by example in a business would be showing my employees that I am willing to do the work I require them to do.  I am showing them the correct way and not just telling them the correct way to do a job.  Leading with vision is important in business so that my employees can understand why they are doing their job, and how their role in the company is critical to the overall success of the company.  It helps with motivation.  Leading with love in business lets employees know that you care more about them than just the job they are doing for your company.  When you have a boss who truly cares about you as a person, you are more inclined to do a good job for them.  I relate this to my boss (a pastor).  I have worked for him for 24 years, but he knows very little about me or my family, and until this past year he has never really cared about getting to know me at all, yet he trusts me completely to run his business.  It just find that a little odd and sad at the same time.  In the readings about sheepherders versus shepherds I could see the value in learning to lead people instead of push them to do a task.  A true leader inspires his people so they will want to do a great job for him and for the company.  Then they follow his lead.  This would create a much more caring and trusting environment in a work setting.  It was great to read through the leadership attributes of Christ and to apply that into the context of business.  I learned that I need to make some adjustments in the accountability and responsibility areas of how I lead.  One of my favorite quotes from the power point presentation was "When a true leader has done his job the people say 'we did it ourselves.'" (Author unknown)  It's not about the leader taking the credit for what the team has accomplished, it's about the team, including their leader, and what they have accomplished that matters.

$100 Challenge:
I was really excited last week when I got a typing job after I sent out my Documents Done Right Facebook page to my friends.  The one job I am going to do is typing a recipe book for a lady, but she has not gathered all the recipes yet for me to type, so I did not end up having any typing for this week, but I know it will be coming.  I want to be careful that I don't have too many projects all at once because of my work/school schedule, so I haven't advertised anywhere else yet, but plan on doing so once I get the recipe book going.  I can see that there is work to be had, but it will be a little more difficult than just putting the word out on Facebook.  I do plan on continuing this business though because I will need a little more income once I am out on my own supporting myself. Financials for the week are:  Total Revenue: $70; Expenses: $0; Net Profit $70.