Beginning the Entrepreneurial Journey

 I have to admit that I am a bit apprehensive to begin taking the Introduction to Entrepreneurship class.  This is a direction of study that is well outside of my comfort zone and is unlike anything that I have ever studied in my life. I'm a history gal, a mom, a service oriented leader, but an entrepreneur?  That's a difficult label to apply to myself.  However, as I conclude my studies for Family History Research, my goal is to, first, work as an independent researching genealogist, then add credentials in lecturing, before finally opening my own genealogical retreat center where people can come learn genealogical skills or get help with a genealogical problem in a setting that is also recreational, relaxing, and  transformative as I create an experience that is custom built according to the needs of the client. To accomplish any of these three goals would make me an entrepreneur; so here I am!  

During our assignments this first week, I really resonated with many of our required readings.  This journey of formal education is actually my second time doing so.  I received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Albertson College of Idaho (now known as The College of Idaho) in 2005 as a young adult.  Going back to school has felt a little like a do-over for me.  I am learning practical skills this time around that compliment my previous education.  It feels like I'm filling in the gaps on an education that I already started.  Reading the article "Your Whole Souls as an Offering Unto Him" by Elder Bednar and watching the video of President Hinckley contributed to that do-over feeling.  I would have been a young adult college student at the time that these addresses were given and would have heard them first hand had I chose to attend Ricks/BYU-I.  I was the only child in my family who did not attend either Ricks or BYU-Idaho and have often wondered if I missed out.  Hearing those addresses that would have been directed at me and my peers was like a wonderful gift of Heavenly Father giving me that do-over to fill in the gaps I may have missed. I also resonated with the reading that detailed stars and steppingstones, particularly steppingstone jobs. The goals that I have for myself in pursuing a career as a genealogist follow that pattern of stepping stone jobs that lead me to my big dream, the retreat center. I also felt a lot of empowerment in believing that the retreat center could become a reality one day and wasn't just a pie-in-the-sky type idea. While this class may seem to be out of my comfort zone, I think it will be a transformative class for me to figure out my direction, and my own personal calling and then have the mindset to put my plans into fruition as I learn and grow. I am looking forward to seeing how I will personally grow in this entrepreneurial journey. 

Location: Indiana, PA 15701, USA

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