Directed Study - week 4

Directed Study

Luke 10-14

Matthew 19-20; Mark 10; Luke 15-18; John 11

Which skill did you use and how many times have you used it, including this lesson? (no more than 3 times without permission) (Study Skill: Substitutions, Setting, Principles and Doctrine, List, Clustering, Flag Phrases, Symbolism, Visualize, and Cause and Effect)	Skill: flag phrases	# of Times (1-3): 3
Show some examples of how you used the skill: (example: I, Candace, having been born of goodly parents)	Luke 10: 38 – now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. It came to pass means something is happening right now or in the past.
	John 11: 27 – She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. Yea means listen to me.
	Matthew 19: 8 – He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. Because means that something happened and because of that this is the result.
What did you learn from using this Study Skill? (“Learning” implies something you didn’t know before)	I learned that these flag phrases are meant to show us how important that scripture is to read.  These phrases are repeated within the scriptures many times showing us that we need to pay attention to it.
Why did you choose this skill for this lesson?	I chose this study skill because it is one of my favorites to use.

Teaching Principles - week 4

Teaching Principles

Step 1

Choose one of your submitted principles; expound on it in a new discussion board thread (Go to the next page to access the Week 04: Teaching Principles Discussion Board and  click "Start a New Thread" to begin your post). Use the first fifty characters to give your post a title - which should clearly refer to the principle. Then, start your comments on a new line. Write approximately 150-250 words helping others understand the importance of this principle. You might explain its context, discuss how it sheds light and understanding on the gospel, pose questions you have, or share a situation in which this principle has applied in your life. If there is already a thread discussion the principle you wish to talk about, make your post (again, your first post should be 150-250 words) as a response or consider starting a new thread about another principle you found.

The Saints are warned not to become jealous or feel unfairly treated. Matthew 20:10

The parable used here is of the labourers. A man hired labourers (faithful Saints who have been active in the church all their lives) and agreed to pay them a penny a day, and he went out the third hour and saw others idle (people who had not yet joined the church to become active) and he offered them a penny a day to work. The man went out at about the sixth and ninth hours and offered them to work for a penny a day. (others joined the church and remained faithful in the work) He went out at the eleventh hour (people who’ve joined the church nearly at the end of their lives but who remained faithful to the work to the end) In the evening (when life is over and judgement day arrives) the labourers receive their penny. (reward) Those who had worked the whole eleven hours (those who were active their whole lives) thought they should receive more and they did complain saying that these last men had only worked 1 hour for the same pay and they are equal to those of us who have worked all day. (members all their lives) Jesus explains, didn’t I hire you for a penny a day? (exaltation) And he basically tells them they will lose their exaltation if they continue to complain. (do not repent of this bad attitude).

This is a big reminder to all of us to be mindful of converts and to welcome them into our wards with open arms, hearts, and minds.  We do not know how long they have stood idle waiting to find the gospel and we need to welcome all our brothers and sisters to join us in exaltation.  

3 principles - week 4

Instructions:

Find three principles that are most powerful to you from this week's scripture reading, and submit them by Wednesday 9:00 PM (Mountain Time). Submit this assignment to the Week 04: Directed Study Assignment. You will be graded on your ability to identify significant principles in the reading.

10 points.

Luke 10-14

Matthew 19-20; Mark 10; Luke 15-18; John 11

Jesus tells the seventy that He was there when Lucifer was cast out as a result of his rebellion.  Luke 10: 18

Jesus wept, this is the shortest verse in the bible. It is a reminder of the great kindness and compassion the Master has for us. John 11: 35

The Saints are warned not to become jealous or feel unfairly treated. Matthew 20:10

Nurturing Marriage, Elder Russell M. Nelson Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles - talk

Nurturing Marriage

Elder Russell M. Nelson

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Marriages would be happier if nurtured more carefully.

My beloved brethren and sisters, thank you for your love of the Lord and His gospel. Wherever you live, your righteous lives provide good examples in these days of decaying morals and disintegrating marriages.

As we Brethren travel about the world, sometimes we see worrisome scenes. On a recent flight, I sat behind a husband and wife. She obviously loved her husband. As she stroked the back of his neck I could see her wedding ring. She would nestle close to him and rest her head upon his shoulder, seeking his companionship.

In contrast, he seemed totally oblivious to her presence. He was focused solely upon an electronic game player. During the entire flight, his attention was riveted upon that device. Not once did he look at her, speak to her, or acknowledge her yearning for affection.

His inattention made me feel like shouting: “Open your eyes, man! Can’t you see? Pay attention! Your wife loves you! She needs you!”

I don’t know more about them. I haven’t seen them since. Perhaps I was alarmed unduly. And very possibly, if this man knew of my concern for them, he might feel sorry for me in not knowing how to use such an exciting toy.

But these things I do know: I know “that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.” 1 I know that the earth was created and that the Lord’s Church was restored so that families could be sealed and exalted as eternal entities. 2 And I know that one of Satan’s cunning methods of undermining the work of the Lord is to attack the sacred institutions of marriage and the family.

Marriage brings greater possibilities for happiness than does any other human relationship. Yet some married couples fall short of their full potential. They let their romance become rusty, take each other for granted, allow other interests or clouds of neglect to obscure the vision of what their marriage really could be. Marriages would be happier if nurtured more carefully.

I realize that many mature members of the Church are not married. Through no failing of their own, they deal with the trials of life alone. Be we all reminded that in the Lord’s own way and time, no blessings will be withheld from His faithful Saints. 3 For those who are now or will be married, I suggest two steps you can take to have a more joyful marriage.

I. Doctrinal Foundation

The first step is to comprehend the doctrinal foundation for marriage. The Lord declared that marriage is the legal wedding of one man and one woman: “Marriage is ordained of God unto man.

“Wherefore, it is lawful that he should have one wife, and they twain shall be one flesh, and all this that the earth might answer the end of its creation.” 4

Worldly trends to define marriage in some other way would sadly serve to destroy the institution of marriage. Such schemes are contrary to the plan of God.

It was He who said: “For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh.” 5

Scripture further reaffirms that “the man [is not] without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.” 6

Marriage is the foundry for social order, the fountain of virtue, and the foundation for eternal exaltation. Marriage has been divinely designated as an eternal and everlasting covenant. 7 Marriage is sanctified when it is cherished and honored in holiness. That union is not merely between husband and wife; it embraces a partnership with God. 8 “Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other.” 9 Children born of that marital union are “an heritage of the Lord.” 10 Marriage is but the beginning bud of family life; parenthood is its flower. And that bouquet becomes even more beautiful when graced with grandchildren. Families may become as eternal as the kingdom of God itself. 11

Marriage is both a commandment and an exalting principle of the gospel. 12 Because it is ordained of God, the intimate physical expressions of married love are sacred. Yet all too commonly, these divine gifts are desecrated. If a couple allows lewd language or pornography to corrupt their intimacy, they offend their Creator while they degrade and diminish their own divine gifts. True happiness is predicated upon personal purity. 13 Scripture commands: “Be ye clean.” 14 Marriage should ever be a covenant to lift husbands and wives to exaltation in celestial glory.

Marriage was intended by the Lord to endure beyond physical death. His plan offers eternal perpetuation of the family in the kingdom of God. His plan provides temples and opportunities to officiate therein for the living and the dead. A marriage sealed there launches a husband and wife into that grand order of unity so necessary to the perfection of God’s work. 15

Doctrines related to marriage include individual agency and accountability. All of us are accountable for our choices. Couples blessed with children are accountable to God for the care they give to their children.

As I meet with priesthood leaders, I often ask about the priorities of their various responsibilities. Usually they mention their important Church duties to which they have been called. Too few remember their responsibilities at home. Yet priesthood offices, keys, callings, and quorums are meant to exalt families. 16 Priesthood authority has been restored so that families can be sealed eternally. So brethren, your foremost priesthood duty is to nurture your marriage—to care for, respect, honor, and love your wife. Be a blessing to her and your children.

II. Strengthening Marriage

With these doctrinal underpinnings in mind, let us consider the second step—specific actions that would strengthen a marriage. I will offer sample suggestions and invite each couple privately to ponder them and adapt them as needed to their own particular circumstances.

My suggestions use three action verbs: to appreciate, to communicate,and to contemplate.

To appreciate—to say “I love you” and “thank you”—is not difficult. But these expressions of love and appreciation do more than acknowledge a kind thought or deed. They are signs of sweet civility. As grateful partners look for the good in each other and sincerely pay compliments to one another, wives and husbands will strive to become the persons described in those compliments.

Suggestion number two—to communicate well with your spouse—is also important. Good communication includes taking time to plan together. Couples need private time to observe, to talk, and really listen to each other. They need to cooperate—helping each other as equal partners. They need to nurture their spiritual as well as physical intimacy. They should strive to elevate and motivate each other. Marital unity is sustained when goals are mutually understood. Good communication is also enhanced by prayer. To pray with specific mention of a spouse’s good deed (or need) nurtures a marriage.

My third suggestion is to contemplate. This word has deep meaning. It comes from Latin roots: con, meaning “with,” and templum, meaning “a space or place to meditate.” It is the root from which the word temple comes. If couples contemplate often—with each other in the temple—sacred covenants will be better remembered and kept. Frequent participation in temple service and regular family scripture study nourish a marriage and strengthen faith within a family. Contemplation allows one to anticipate and to resonate (or be in tune) with each other and with the Lord. Contemplation will nurture both a marriage and God’s kingdom. The Master said, “Seek not the things of this world but seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God, and to establish his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” 17

I invite each marital partner to consider these suggestions and then determine specific goals to nurture your own relationship. Begin with sincere desire. Identify those actions needed to bless your spiritual unity and purpose. Above all, do not be selfish! Generate a spirit of selflessness and generosity. Celebrate and commemorate each day together as a treasured gift from heaven.

President Harold B. Lee said “that the most important of the Lord’s work you and I will ever do will be within the walls of our own homes.” 18 And President David O. McKay declared, “No other success can compensate for failure in the home.” 19

When you as husband and wife recognize the divine design in your union—when you feel deeply that God has brought you to each other—your vision will be expanded and your understanding enhanced. Such feelings are expressed in words of a song that has long been a favorite of mine:

Because you come to me with naught save love,

And hold my hand and lift mine eyes above,

A wider world of hope and joy I see,

Because you come to me.

Because you speak to me in accents sweet,

I find the roses waking round my feet,

And I am led through tears and joy to thee,

Because you speak to me.

Because God made thee mine, I’ll cherish thee

Through light and darkness, through all time to be,

And pray His love may make our love divine,

Because God made thee mine. 20

That each marriage may be so nurtured is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

From <https://www.lds.org/ensign/2006/05/nurturing-marriage?lang=eng&_r=1> 

Discipleship President James E. Faust, Second Counselor in the First Presidency

Discipleship

President James E. Faust

Second Counselor in the First Presidency

One of the greatest blessings of life and eternity is to be counted as one of the devoted disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

A large crowd followed the Savior as He ministered by the shore of the Sea of Galilee. So that more could hear Him, He got into Peter’s fishing boat and asked to be taken a little way out from the shore. After He had finished speaking, He told Peter, who had fished all night without success, to go out in the lake and let down his nets in the deep water. Peter obeyed, and he caught so many fish that the nets broke. Peter called to his partners, James and John, to come and help. All were amazed at the number of fish that were caught. Jesus said to Peter, “Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.” Luke then tells us, “When they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.” 1 They became the Lord’s disciples.

The word for disciple and the word for discipline both come from the same Latin root—discipulus, which means pupil. It emphasizes practice or exercise. Self-discipline and self-control are consistent and permanent characteristics of the followers of Jesus, as exemplified by Peter, James, and John, who indeed “forsook all, and followed him.”

What is discipleship? It is primarily obedience to the Savior. Discipleship includes many things. It is chastity. It is tithing. It is familyhome evening. It is keeping all the commandments. It is forsaking anything that is not good for us. Everything in life has a price. Considering the Savior’s great promise for peace in this life and eternal life in the life to come, discipleship is a price worth paying. It is a price we cannot afford not to pay. By measure, the requirements of discipleship are much, much less than the promised blessings.

The disciples of Christ receive a call to not only forsake the pursuit of worldly things but to carry the cross daily. To carry the cross means to follow His commandments and to build up His Church on the earth. It also means self-mastery. 2 As Jesus of Nazareth instructed us, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” 3 “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” 4

The words of a beloved Primary song resonate with all who follow the Master:

I’m trying to be like Jesus;

I’m following in his ways.

I’m trying to love as he did, in all that I do and say. 5

Let us consider some of the things Jesus did that we can all emulate.

1. 1.
   Jesus “went about doing good.” 6 We can all do something good every day—for a family member, a friend, or even a stranger—if we will look for those opportunities.
2. 2.
   Jesus was the Good Shepherd who watched over His sheep and had concern for those that were lost. 7 We can seek out the lonely or those who are less active and befriend them.
3. 3.
   Jesus had compassion on many, including a poor leper. 8 We too can have compassion. We are reminded in the Book of Mormonthat we are “to mourn with those that mourn.” 9
4. 4.
   Jesus bore witness of His divine mission and of His Father’s great work. For our part, we can all “stand as witnesses of God at all times.” 10
5. 5.
   Jesus invited “the little children to come unto [Him].” 11 Our children need our attention and love as well as our care.

True followers of the Savior should be prepared to lay down their lives, and some have been privileged to do so. The Doctrine and Covenants counsels us:

“Let no man be afraid to lay down his life for my sake; for whoso layeth down his life for my sake shall find it again.

“And whoso is not willing to lay down his life for my sake is not my disciple.” 12

We read in the book of Acts the account of the disciple Stephen, who was “full of faith and power, [and] did great wonders and miracles among the people.” 13 Stephen encountered a hostile audience in Jerusalem who falsely accused him of blasphemy even though he was transfigured before them. Stephen testified of the divinity of the Savior, and when he called them to repentance, several in the crowd turned on him. “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.” 14 Even as he was stoned to death, the last words on Stephen’s lips were “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” 15

In the early days of the Church in Mexico, two faithful leaders who were disciples of Christ became martyrs because of their belief. The two whose lives were taken were Rafael Monroy and Vicente Morales.

During the Mexican Revolution, Rafael Monroy was the president of the small San Marcos Mexico Branch, and Vicente Morales was his first counselor. On July 17, 1915, they were apprehended by the Zapatistas. They were told they would be spared if they would give up their weapons and renounce their strange religion. Brother Monroy told his captors that he did not have any weapons and simply drew from his pocket his Bible and Book of Mormon. He said, “Gentlemen, these are the only arms I ever carry; they are the arms of truth against error.”

When no arms were found, the brethren were cruelly tortured to make them divulge where arms were hidden. But there were no arms. They were then taken under guard to the outskirts of the little town, where their captors stood them up by a large ash tree in front of a firing squad. The officer in charge offered them freedom if they would forsake their religion and join the Zapatistas, but Brother Monroy replied, “My religion is dearer to me than my life, and I cannot forsake it.”

They were then told that they were to be shot and asked if they had any request to make. Brother Rafael requested that he be permitted to pray before he was executed. There, in the presence of his executioners, he kneeled down and, in a voice that all could hear, prayed that God would bless and protect his loved ones and care for the little struggling branch that would be left without a leader. As he finished his prayer, he used the words of the Savior when He hung upon the cross and prayed for his executioners: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” 16 With that the firing squad shot both Brother Monroy and Brother Morales. 17

Some years ago I went to Mexico to reorganize a stake presidency. As I conducted the interviews, I was privileged to become acquainted with one of the descendants of Rafael Monroy. I was very impressed with the depth of this man’s testimony and his commitment to the gospel. When I asked him what had happened to the rest of Brother Monroy’s descendants, he said that many of them have been on missions and continue faithful in the Church.

In the early days of the Church, other disciples in addition to Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith also laid down their lives for the gospel of Jesus Christ. The faithfulness of Edward Partridge, the first bishop of the Church, is noted in the Doctrine and Covenants. 18 On July 20, 1833, Edward was sitting at home with his frail wife, who had just given birth. Three mobsters burst in and dragged him into the bedlam of the street and then into the square, where they had already taken Charles Allen. A mob of about 300 demanded through their spokesman that Edward and Charles either renounce their faith in the Book of Mormon or leave the county. Edward Partridge responded: “If I must suffer for my religion, it is no more than others have done before me. I am not conscious of having injured anyone in the county and therefore will not consent to leave. I have done nothing to offend anyone. If you abuse me, you are injuring an innocent man.” The mob then daubed Edward and Charles from head to foot with hot tar containing pearl ash, a flesh-eating acid, and then they threw feathers that stuck to the burning tar. 19

The Prophet Joseph Smith characterized Edward’s death a few years later at age 46 in these words: “He lost his life in consequence of the Missouri persecutions, and he is one of that number whose blood will be required at their hands.” 20 Edward Partridge left a legacy that lives on in a large and righteous posterity.

For most of us, however, what is required is not to die for the Church but to live for it. For many, living a Christlike life every day may be even more difficult than laying down one’s life. I learned during a time of war that many men were capable of great acts of selflessness, heroism, and nobility without regard to life. But when the war was over and they came home, they could not bear up under the ordinary daily burdens of living and became enslaved by tobacco, alcohol, drugs, and debauchery, which in the end caused them to forfeit their lives.

Some may say: “I am a simple person. I have no stature or position. I am new in the Church. My talents and abilities are limited. My contribution is little.” Or they may say: “I am too old to change. I have already lived my life. Why should I try?” It is never too late to change. Discipleship does not come from positions of prominence, wealth, or advanced learning. The disciples of Jesus came from all walks of life. However, discipleship does require us to forsake evil transgression and enjoy what President Spencer W. Kimball has called “the miracle of forgiveness.” 21 This can come only through repentance, which means that we forsake sin and resolve each day to be followers of truth and righteousness. As Jesus taught, “What manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.” 22

Many think that the price of discipleship is too costly and too burdensome. For some, it involves giving up too much. But the cross is not as heavy as it appears to be. Through obedience we acquire much greater strength to carry it.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” 23

Our true claim as disciples comes when we can say with certainty that His ways have become our ways.

The blessings of discipleship are readily available to all who are willing to pay the price. Discipleship brings purpose to our lives so that rather than wandering aimlessly, we walk steadily on that strait and narrow way that leads us back to our Heavenly Father. Discipleship brings us comfort in times of sorrow, peace of conscience, and joy in service—all of which help us to be more like Jesus.

Through discipleship of the Savior, we come to know and believe in our hearts and minds the saving principles and ordinances of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Through our discipleship, we come to appreciate the profound mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith in restoring those saving principles in our time. We rejoice that the keys of the priesthood and its authority have been passed down through the Presidents of the Church, from the Prophet Joseph Smith to our present prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley.

We are grateful that in our discipleship of the Savior we come to enjoy His promise of “peace in this world,” 24 with contentment, happiness, and fulfillment. Through our discipleship, we are able to receive the spiritual strength that we need to deal with the challenges of life.

One of the greatest blessings of life and eternity is to be counted as one of the devoted disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. I have a profound testimony of this truth, to which I bear witness, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

From <https://www.lds.org/ensign/2006/11/discipleship?lang=eng&_r=1> 

Reflection Journal week 4

Reflection Journal

Write at least two short paragraphs describing anything new that you have learned including how you learned it; mention how your life is changing or will change as a result of what you have studied this week, and include any other questions for the instructor or insights you would like to share.

I learned a little about discipleship and how it goes hand in hand with obedience which has helped me this week because obedience is what I’m working on for my becoming project.  I’m finding it easier this week to work on my becoming project now that I know that being a disciple of Christ is being obedient to Christ. Chastity, tithing, and family home evening are all important parts of being obedient.

I learned through this talk Discipleship: President James E. Faust, Second Counselor in the First Presidency. This talk was one of the first ones a read this week and I can’t keep it out of my mind so I keep reading it. I love this quote: “One of the greatest blessings of life and eternity is to be counted as one of the devoted disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.” It reminds me that I am a daughter of God and by my discipleship and obedience I will have the greatest blessing of life and eternity.

ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNAL - WEEK 11

ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNAL - WEEK 11

I’m learning very quickly that becoming an entrepreneur is going to be hard and that I will just have to keep trying even when I feel like all is lost.  I’m looking forward to learning more about the finance of things. I’m interested in the cash flow piece of entrepreneurship. 

My attitude towards money is that we all need it to survive.  I want to honestly earn it to help support my family. I’m in between Gibson and his sister on my money desire.  I do not want to only think about money and how it can be used but I’m not going to not think about it either.  I make sure that we spend within our means always.  We had a couple of credit cards at one time but because it is so easy to use we used them and then could not afford to pay them off every month so for me and my family it works better to not have them at all.  My view on money affects the way I live because now I must know what we have earned before I spend it or I will fall back into the habit of using a credit card because I don’t have to worry about the bill right away. The rules to follow are these:

Rule 1. Seek the Lord and have hope in him

Rule 2. Keep the commandments, that includes the temporal ones, tithing, and fast offerings.

Rule 3. Think about money and plan how you can become self-reliant.

Rule 4. Take advantage of chances for learning so you will not be ignorant of these matters. Education, as President Hinckley has taught us, is the Key to Opportunity.

Rule 5. Learn the laws upon which the blessings of wealth are predicated.

Rule 6. Do not send away the naked, the hungry, the thirsty or the sick or those who are held captive.

I know that if we follow these rules we will be able to live on this earth happy. 

Launching Leaders Lesson 6: "financial Fitness" - private video notes

Launching Leaders Lesson 6: "financial Fitness" - private video notes

Jim Ritchie - launching Leaders Co- Founder

You will surely remember a few weeks ago when I was boasting about how I retired at the age of 35 with 26 different businesses or partnership interest. It was true even though some of those businesses entities were less than Microsoft  quality. They did exist, and they were still selling widgets at the time I retired. Most of my friends and even a few of my foes asked how I accomplished this. How in 11 short years starting from scratch I found enough opportunities to create the future that I now have. My answer is usually 3-fold

1. The 6-step success formula
2. A terrific marriage partner
3. Principles from "The Richest  Man in Babylon"

I'm hoping that by now you've seen the vision of this formula. It outlines the opportunities that all of us have to begin with and end with a life of service where all real happiness thrives. I don't have time to share much about my marriage but it has played an enormous part in our family in business history.  My wife Carolyn had very little to do with our business pursuits but she had everything to do with creating a home with a family life that allowed me time to pursue our financial independence at such an early age. Clayson's short but powerful book "The Richest Man in Babylon" sets the stage for the formula of success. Without applying Clayson's dividable principles all of the hard work in getting up early would have never allowed us to retire financially independent at the ripe old age of 35. Thankfully, we were introduced to Arcad of ancient Babylon and by being quick to observe we set some exciting goals, practiced religiously the principles he taught and reaped the harvest early in life from living by those principles. I will share only 2 of his now famous ideas and then show you a financial plan that will dramatically impact your financial future.

Two key principles from "the Richest Man in Babylon"

1. Pay yourself first

• Invest a part of every paycheck into an investment account (adjust the percentage amount every year or every time your industry is impacted.

2. Part of what you earn is yours to keep

• Never touch the principle, do not take it from your investment portfolio

Before you check out and turn me off give me a few minutes, and I think you will see the magic behind such an interesting requirement. If you follow the logic outlined in the Ministry of Business you will see how nearly anyone can become financially independent. Not necessarily rich, but will have sufficient income for the needs for the rest of their lives. The reason why nearly everyone fails to make this happen is that they cheat. And if you're prone to cheat than you'll need to check out of this class and realize that you'll probably living mediocre for the rest of your mortal life. But if you're willing to pay the price for a few years and set meaningful goals for what you want you will discover the secret for accomplishing the worldly ambition of financial independence at any age. This chart is detailed in the "Ministry of Business"

1. Independence account  - you need to put a predetermined amount from your income into a separate savings account .
2. Budget account - this account allows you to manage your well designed and meager budget with frugality. The more you frugal you are with this account the larger amount that can be sent to your independence account or wish list.

• Tithes and offerings
• Domestic Expenses
• Living expenses
• Family expenses
• Normal cost of living

• Note - never use a credit card - Pay off monthly or do not use

3. A non-budget savings account - this account is budgeted for Christmas, birthdays, medical emergencies, vacations, vehicles exedra.

By budgeting for these items over time it allows us to pay in cash for certain emergencies without robbing our budget account, going into credit card debt, or heaven forbid barrowing from your independence account. 

4. Wish list savings account - most of us, if you're like me, like to dream about a bucket list of things we'd like to do or acquire when our ship comes in.  Usually our ship doesn't come in unless we build a ship one yen at a time.

• Boat
• Trailer
• Cruise

Are all possible but only if we have saved for such expenses

5. (probably the most important) Gold account

Our gold account is the repository of all our investments, appreciating assets, Business entities, and even our gambling adventures.

Here's how it works:

• The money we pay ourselves first goes into our independence account until we have sufficient funds to invest into something. -stocks - land title - bond - this is anything that will become appreciating asset capable of generating profits, dividends, interest, or appreciation. When they do appreciate or generate a cash reward that profit or dividend goes into our independence account, which then starts accumulating cash at a faster rate allowing you to buy stock, bond, or land title. And ensuring the cycle at a quicker rate. This cycle continues until the dividends, profits, interest, or capital gain kicks off sufficient cash that if it was put into the budget account and the 2 savings accounts it would sustain your life style. You will note that you still do not ever touch the principle in the gold account. It remains the corptus to generate more cash flow. Profits, and dividend to sustain your families need. Once you've reached a predetermined goal and your needs are met on a perpetual basis without further investments you are by definition financial independent. A quest that is desired by nearly all but achieved by only a handful of people. I promise it works. I did it. Retired in 1978 and spend nearly the rest of my life in full time shirts and community service. Not only me, but everyone who has made the decision to follow both the formula of success and The Richest Man in Babylon has also been able to retire young and spend the rest of their lives doing service. Remember my friends the formula begins tomorrow morning at 5:30 and there ain't no free lunch. In fact, I would even add that I believe in our responsibility to learn these lessons so that we might provide better for our family and our future. Happy Trails.

Surviving the Entrepreneurial Life: Work and Family - video notes

Surviving the Entrepreneurial Life: Work and Family - video notes

Every Entrepreneur is going to face the challenge of how to balance the work-life equation. Because business requires the entrepreneur to be "all in." And "all in" they will be, unless they devise strategies for balancing the competing demands of work and family.

Work/life balance with kids

In terms of children it's, of course, important to attend their recitals and their soccer games. But unstructured hand out time is also really important so that the kids don't feel like they are just a repeating item on your Google calendar.

Kids Have Different needs

Also bear in mind that your children may each have different needs.  That was certainly true in our case. For my book I interviewed each of our children about how they felt about their father's prolonged absences and distractions as a result of being in business. And they gave very different answers. It turned out that my daughter needed a little bit more from her dad than my sons did. So, I think it's important, if your kids are old enough, to really ask them what it is that they need. And on that topic, a lot of entrepreneurs I've interviewed actually hold structured family meetings once a week or once a month. And everyone discusses how they can better help the family, better participate, help each other and make life generally better within the family itself. As a business owner, you have the latitude to be able to bring your child to work one day a year or one day every six months. And entrepreneurs I know several that do that actually. And it helps the kids to really see what you deal with every day, the kinds of people reporting to you.  It helps them to see you in a leadership role. It helps them understand and respect better what it is that you do. And understand that other people are reliant on your work. On the other hand, there may be issues. Particularly financial issues that you do want to shield your children from. But by all means, do discuss the business with your children. Though you may have to limit what it is that you talk about, but certainly you can talk to them about new products, about marketing campaigns,  about interesting business travel that you're going to be taking or buyers who you're meeting with. It will be an amazing education for your kids.

Work/life balance with your spouse

When one spouse owns a business it's very easy for the other spouse to feel left behind because the business us so all-consuming. Sure, date night is very important. But I would urge you to also take advantage of small moments together. Make sure not to neglect them. Set the bar low, but set it somewhere. There were times in our startup years when all Gary and I would have time for would be just a walk down the block every day, 15 minutes. But that was really all it took to kind of keep us connected during those years even when it was difficult to take a vacation or go away for a weekend. But the key thing is to be sure to leave the smart phone behind. In my own experience, I really wrestled with my husband's smart phone addiction for many years until we established some parameters around its use. So for example, he doesn't glance at it while we're having a conversation. He doesn't bring it to the dinner table. He keeps it silent when we're at the beach or having vacation time together. He may have it with him, but he puts it away and it doesn't buzz and bleep and distract us. And I think this is important not just because it actually helps to promote family time and personal time together without those constant interruptions, but it also is a way for the entrepreneur to send kind of a meta message to his or her spouse and family which is that you matter most. Yes, my business is critical, but you matter more.

Engaging your spouse in the business

One way to engage the spouse in the business itself is to have them come along on a business trip when it's appropriate, or to work the booth at a convention, or even to come and sit in on a board meeting. These are the kinds of things that can help keep the spouse engaged with the business and with the entrepreneur and to better understand what their entrepreneur spouse has to deal with. And remember that just because you're not in business together doesn't mean that you can't do things together. Obviously shared hobbies are desirable. But even if you don't have them you can certainly bang nails for Habitat for Humanity, or hold a fundraiser, or launch a nonprofit, or do something together that will use both of your skills and ideally even engage the business in helping out in the community.  the following is the link to the video.

Surviving the Entrepreneurial Life: Work and Family

Acton Hero: Corey Bell - video transcrpts

Acton Hero: Corey Bell 

TRANSFORMING SYSTEM NETWORKS AND PEOPLES LIVES IN THE PROCESS.

The grandson of a brick mason and the oldest of 13 children, Corey Bell has been building things his whole life. He began helping his granddad stack bricks at the age of 8. But on a hot day under the North Carolina sun, a 15-year-old Bell informed his Grandfather that this life was "for the birds."

Graduating from Clemson, Bell went on to law school, and later, to business school. At the age of 29, after loosing both his parents, he took the responsibility of raising his 9 younger siblings while working for a variety of companies (Nabisco, Chrysler, Dell Computers). One day he came home from work and scribbled down his 15-year plan. It included the usual stuff - a chance to give back something to the community, a nice home, a private jet - stuff he knew he'd never see if he stayed on the same trajectory. That night, he and his wife had a talk.

TriFusion was the result.

Bell explains TriFusion with this analogy: "Let's say you're buying a car. You go to the Chrysler lot and pick out your car. But you want to add custom rims, window tinting; you know, you want it all tricked out. That's what we do in the IT world. We pimp-out your ride."

But TriFusion does much more than customize IT systems. It transforms lives. Bell says he walks into the office every morning and looks around at all the lives his entrepreneurial start-up has impacted. "Seeing all the people whose lives are changed, wow. I've seen babies born, houses built, cars bought. I've seen people take vacations, trips. Marriages. It's just been a phenomenal thing to see: lives touched from some idea hatched around the dinner table."

And the people Bell has added to his company are busy touching lives, as well. Recently, TriFusion employees got together and rented an RV full of provisions to help out families affected by Hurricane Ike. "One of our core values is do the right thing," Bell explains.

There have been plenty of challenges along the way, but Bell takes them in his stride. "All of them are just building blocks." This grandson of a brick layer knows that even the hardest bricks are for building, not breaking. And that's exactly what he does.

Today, five years after its inception, TriFusion is looking at three fully-staffed U.S. offices, a global expansion and a $12-13 million per year income.

When asked what advice he has for young entrepreneurs, Bell is succinct. "That's easy. Entrepreneurship is about eliminating the word 'can't' from your vocabulary."

It is clear that Corey Bell has never let that slow him down.

Corey Bell is the Chairman and co-founder of TriFusion, a company that develops tailor-made hardware IT services for a variety of FORTUNE 500 companies and governmental agencies.

From <http://www.actonhero.org/celebrating-heroes/stories-of-heroes/index.php?hero=corey-bell> 

Stanford eCorner Balancing Your Life and Your Career Successfully Randy Komisar, Kleiner Perkins Caufield &Byers April 28, 2004 - video transcript

Stanford eCorner Balancing Your Life and Your Career Successfully Randy Komisar, Kleiner Perkins Caufield &Byers April 28, 2004 - video transcript

Video URL: http://ecorner.stanford.edu/videos/998/Balancing-Your-Life-and-Your-Career-Successfully

Komisar explains that there is no balanced life in being a CEO. It is a 24/7 job and is al lconsuming. After being a CEO, Komisar decided to cut back and bring his life back into balance so he could have time for all the things he enjoyed. It is essential to stay ethical and never put yourself in a situation where you can't say no and cut back. Maintaining a balanced life is a dynamic quest and changes as your priorities change. People who know and respect you can be a powerful resource in helping you find this balance.

Transcript

Well, this is the life's practice. I can tell you that for most of my career, my life was certainly much less than balanced. What I've noticed personally in my career as it developed was--and it comes out in the--I'll plug my book--it comes out in "The Monk and the Riddle", which is this arc in my own development where there was a time in Providence, Rhode Island when I had first graduated from Brown and was hungry for life, hungry for experience, where I go away to rock concerts and taught at Johnson &Wales College in the evening program in Economics and helped run a community development program and actually helped people get a community newspaper started, where I was just hungry for everything, where there was a sense of great fulfillment, and I had no money. I had no money. None of these things paid any money. And none of them hoped to pay any money. But there was a sense of incredible satisfaction from the diversity of the experience and from learning at light speed. I then went through--I started to get in a more linear career. I went to law school, and even though I was not a... I was an unusual lawyer in a sense of the way in which my career progressed.

It was relatively linear. And even when I went into business at first at Apple and later at Claris, it was relatively linear, and even when I went on to become a CEO. I never intended to be a CEO. I never cared to be a CEO, though Campbell sort of put the line in the sand for me and said, "You need to be a CEO in order to give yourself. You've got this opportunity. Take it. You may not want to be a CEO your whole life, but take it. Learn what it means to run and operate one of these things and lead it. And then you can do what you want with your life." And I took the bait. But it was still linear.

Being a CEO is a 7-by-24 job. There is no balanced life being a CEO. It doesn't happen. It can't happen. It can't happen. You've got to love what you're doing. It's got to be your life. That being said, I then cut back dramatically after that to take more control of my life because I began to realize what was missing. Now I had money. I was a lot less happy than I had been in Providence.

And I knew that. I was conscious of that. And I asked myself why. How can that be? I had money and opportunity. I had money and opportunity and power--in a small pond, but still, I had the three things that everybody thinks that they are looking for in a career. What was wrong? I was limited. I couldn't look at the whole horizon. I could only look at one slice of it. I couldn't indulge those things in my life that didn't make money, that I loved so much, whether it was film and cooking or traveling or cycling or whatever it was. I was missing these things.

And so I created a life that gave me a lot more control, and by the way, a lot less money. That's tradeoff. That's tradeoff. You know, I am very comfortable as a virtual CEO. It's not the way to maximize your return. So you have to begin to, first of all, make a prognosis in your life and decide what it is that you're willing to shift around. In my case, it was money, and power, to some extent. I mean, I gave up both of them when I gave up operating roles to create a different sense of satisfaction for me in the way in which I work with these organizations. I think, in life, balance is a dynamic question, not a static question. I think people, when they talk about a balanced life, they expect that the pendulum just stops right in the middle and everything is great.

I have found in my life that that's not the way it works. The pendulum is here, then it's here, then it's here, then it's here. And what makes it balanced is having a holistic view, both across time and across the field of operations that you're indulged in, that lets you understand that, OK, I'm here now but I'm going to be here then, and giving yourself some level of control to do that. I'm going to talk about ethics, I think we've got next, with Tom Byers at the National Venture Capital Association. And one of the things we're going to talk about is, how do you stay ethical in an industry or in an institution that may be stretched around performance and begin to push you towards the edge of what you think is ethical? And one of the things that comes up is, never put yourself in a situation where you can't say no. I think that applies to a balanced life. Never put yourself in a situation where you can't say no. Where you can't come back. What that means is, there's two sides to the equation. One is money and quality of life that comes in.

And the other side is, what are you spending? What are you doing with your time? What happens with that? A lot of people think you just increase the revenue side of that equation infinitely, and that buys you peace and satisfaction at the other end. Au contraire. Because as you build that infinitely, you incur a lot of obligations in the process that mean that the other side of that equation doesn't foot out the way you thought it would. And so it's keeping both ends in mind at the same time and understanding the tradeoffs. Because at some point in your life, your kids are going to be the most important thing to you. And at some point in your life, your education is going to be the most important thing to you. And at some point in your life, potentially making money is going to be the most important thing to you, because maybe you've got to get the house that you really wanted to take care of the family. And that's a dynamic balance. And I think the way to keep as close as you can a balanced life is to pay attention to what's important, to ask yourself hard questions so that you can be careful with your priorities, and to make sure that both ends of the equation foot out. I tend to think the best way to do that is to have a group of people around you who know who you are, who you respect, and who share your values.

It doesn't matter what they did with their lives. It doesn't matter if they're firemen or CEOs. It matters that they know you and that they have values you respect and that they're your touchstones. I have a friend in my life who I've had since I was three years old, four years old. Still in my life. He actually lives--we've just by coincidence ended up living in the same places and he lives right here in Palo Alto. I'm very close with him. He is a scientist, works with the Veterans Administration doing research in psychology. He's never ever given me the satisfaction of respecting what I do. Never.

Never. I don't think he could tell you what I do, and he doesn't give me any regard for it. That's been one of the best things in my life.