My Own Last Lecture

My Own Last Lecture:

At the end of the semester, some of the advice I would give myself is that I don't necessarily have to be an innovator or an entrepreneur to start my own business.  Those skills can be learned, and as long as I have a passion for what I am doing, and determination to figure out how to learn the things I do not know, and the persistence and patience required to start up a business, I can achieve success.  There are proven formulas I have learned about for having a successful startup, but there is so much more to learn about business, finance, and marketing.  It is important to keep learning all I can learn my entire life.  I have learned that I am a bit risk-adverse, and I need to be more open to taking risks, as long as I have done my homework thoroughly.

Some of the keys to developing successful business relationships are to have honesty and integrity in the way I do business; from how I interact with customers, to how I treat employees.  How you treat people matters.  If you treat them well, they will become loyal employees, customers, and friends.  It is also important to surround  myself with "A" players.  I want to work with people who share the same values and ethics, and with people who share my passion and vision for my business.

It's important if you want to have a successful business to find a way to really stand out from the crowd, whether that is in your product, your advertising, or your customer service.  Standing out in the crowd of competitors is key.  And once you achieve a measure of success, you need to be looking for the next strategy to stay ahead of the competition.  You cannot become complacent with your business or the competition will pass you by.

It is also important to have a meaningful purpose to your life and your business vision, so that you can use your business to fulfill your dreams.  There is more to life than making money.  Find a way to find meaning and happiness will follow.  Find a way to give back to your community as part of your business plan.

Lastly, I would just say to myself to find my purpose in life, then pursue the things that will lead me to fulfill that purpose.  Ask God what He wants me to do, where He wants me to be, and whom He wants me to serve.  When I include God in my plans, they will turn out far better than if I made the plans on my own.  Have faith and trust that God will lead to where I am supposed to be, where I can help others, and where I can make a difference.