Go into what you love: Week 1

 Going through the readings and videos at the beginning of week one for my Intro to Entrepreneurship class, I noticed an overall theme of studying what you love. Guy Kawasaki, in his talk called Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow, said that "if you take a curriculum or you start a company simply for the money, you’ll probably end up miserable." I have found that when I pursue projects that I am passionate about, they work out better and are more fulfilling. 

I also found through The Start-Up of YOU that "relationships matter to your career no matter the organization or your level of seniority because, ultimately, every job boils down to interacting with people." Without the people who contribute to the workplace, there wouldn't be new ideas that make the business better. The minds of people are great together, building off each other’s strengths and perspectives. Collaboration not only drives innovation but also fosters a culture of mutual support, where individuals thrive and organizations grow stronger as a result.

The idea of sacrifice that Elder David Bednar discussed in Your Whole Soul as an Offering Unto Him really interested me. Bednar said that sacrifice is "to offer or surrender something valuable or precious." When going into a new project, this could mean giving up time, comfort, or even other opportunities in order to fully commit. True progress often requires putting aside immediate wants for long-term goals. Sacrifice, in this sense, becomes a meaningful investment—one that not only deepens our dedication but also brings greater purpose and fulfillment to the work we do. My mom owns a business and has told me about how she has had to sacrifice large parts of her life to be able to bring her business to the stage that it is at now. 

These three principles—doing what you love, building meaningful relationships, and being willing to sacrifice—are not just helpful ideas; they are essential values for anyone pursuing entrepreneurship. As I continue through this course, I’m beginning to understand that success isn’t just about having the right idea or making money. It’s about staying true to your passions, surrounding yourself with people who support and challenge you, and being willing to put in the hard work even when it's inconvenient. Watching my mom live these values through her own business journey has shown me that entrepreneurship is both deeply personal and incredibly rewarding. I’m excited to apply what I’m learning and see how these principles shape my own path forward.