My journey this semester has been exceptional. I registered for this class with mixed
feelings. Part of me just wanted to get
it over with, part of me wanted to prove that I could do it and the rest of me
wanted to run away and just consider alternate courses that would count towards
my degree. I had no idea what the $100
challenge was, but I knew it had something to do with starting a business.
Anxiety built as the weeks passed that led to the beginning of the
fall semester. I dove into the
curriculum with trepidation. As the
course progressed, one step at a time I was tackling all the challenges before
me, even the $100 small business challenge.
There is now a sense of relief that this particular project is
completed, but more elation in realizing how much I have learned this semester.
At the close of the semester, there are several trends that stand
out from this semester. I find that they
are things that apply in so many aspects of life.
- The only business worth starting is a business that can thrive.
- Research and planning are required, not optional.
- Build a strong network of individuals that can challenge you, support you, mentor you, work with you and dream with you.
- Meet challenges head-on and learn to recognize quickly which challenges are worth surmounting and which challenges are queues to move on.
- Do what you know and love what you do.
- Find a greater cause to work for than an inflated paycheck.
Somehow, these high-points only seem to scratch the surface of
lessons I learned this semester, but they pinpoint the principles that have
given me a fresh outlook.
