Entrepreneurial Journal #1

Entering my final semester of college has proved to be an interesting time. After getting the 3 classes that I needed to in order to graduate with my bachelors degree, I had 3 more credits that I needed in order to be a full-time student this semester. I decided to go after one of my interests and signed up for Introduction to Entrepreneurship.

If you've talked to me for any amount of time over the past few years, I've probably mentioned my fascination with starting my own business, being my own boss, or other such lofty ideals. It's been a topic that has been working on me for quite some time and now I have the opportunity to really invest some time and energy exploring the topic and my fit within it.

Throughout the course, we've been given the assignment to contribute to a blog about out thoughts, ideas, and impressions to contribute to our learning. What a wonderful way to really emphasize the whole reason I began Mining for Passion.

Our first week in the course gave us an introduction into some course materials. What I find so fascinating about entrepreneurship is it is seldom strictly about business. You can acquire all the business acumen and skills you can, but without developing yourself as a person, you'll likely be unsuccessful or successful and miserable. Development of character seems to be just as important as understanding the skills of business.

Guy Kawasaki (pictured left) encapsulated many of the things that I want out of my working life - loving what I do. In a short 3 minute video, he reiterated in my mind and heart that just going after something, whether its a career or a business, "just because it's 'hot'," is one way to end up miserable. While work is an inevitable part of our lives, we are able to make the decisions that we need to in order to contribute to the world in a way that is unique to our skills and personality. 

I look forward to the self introspection and personal development in this course. But more than that, I look forward to taking those things that I discover about myself and apply them in a way that will contribute to our society and make the world a better place.