Overcoming Challenges (June 7th - 12th)

 This week's topic of study was all about overcoming challenges. As an entrepreneur, we would always encounter challenges. I believe it should become second nature for every entrepreneur to encounter challenges and also become second nature to learn to overcome them. Business success has never come easy, and will never come easy. It takes a lot of effort, a lot of commitment, a lot of guts to make it in business. Just like life. Entrepreneurship is life. Business success comes with a lot of opposition. Facing the opposition, not shying away from it brings out the best in us. Our best is plateaued. It solves problems at different levels while we move forward. I am particularly impressed by President Monson's talk entitled "Looking backward, moving forward." He said: "Mortality is a period of testing, a time to prove ourselves worthy to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father. In order to be tested, we must sometimes face challenges and difficulties." So, challenges and difficulty are part of the equation of mortal test. So we must expect it, not shy away from it.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said, "When days are difficult or problems seem unending, I plead with you to stay in the harness and keep pulling. You are entitled to “eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days,” but it will require your heart and a willing mind. It will require that you stay at your post and keep trying." The counsel is, "don't quit! hang in there."

The lesson this week also mentions the only three ways to grow a business. They are:

1. Increase the number of customers

2. Increase the frequency of purchase

3. Increase the average order

These three things will keep a business alive.

 In his book The Politics of Experience, R.D Laing said, "what we think is less than what we know: What we know is less than what we love: What we love is so much less than what there is, and to this.....extent, we are much less than what we are." It is a truism that we are much more than what we profess and show we are. Our challenges are not greater than us. We are far far greater than what confronts us. We would overcome if only we endure, be patient more, persevere, and stay around long enough to see the results. We don't have to face our challenges alone. Heavenly Father is there willing to help every one of us and make our burden lighter. We can turn to him for help if we feel overwhelmed. In the new testament, the savior said, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give your rest."