Ordinary People vs. Geniuses

This week the most memorable thing for me was a devotional that I had seen before.  It was a devotional address given by President Hinckley at the dedication of a building on the BYUI campus that bears his name in 2002.  President Hinckley BYUI building dedication 2002  He gives a nice talk, and then decides to say a few things extemporaneously.  He starts off by telling the "kids" how much he loves them.  It gets me every time.  I can't watch this clip without crying.  I love it for the sincerity of the moment, and beautiful feelings President Hinckley shares.  In the speech he encourages the students to be their best. To live as they should and not let sin stop them from reaching their full potential.  One of my favorite things he says is roughly10 minutes into the clip.  He says, "Your not geniuses, I know that, your just kids. But the work of the world isn't done by geniuses it's done by ordinary people who have learned to work in an extraordinary way."  President Hinckley had a huge impact on my life.  I loved the way he was always so gracious, and always seemed to say the right things in a kind and loving and sometimes funny way.  He had such a wonderful way with words, and this quote perfectly exemplifies who he was to me.  I know I am no genius, and I gratefully hear in his words, that even though that isn't the case for me, I am still needed.  There is still work for me to do.  This sweet quote reminds me that when I live my life with purpose and integrity, that God can make more of me than I can make of myself.  He reminds me that God loves me and that with His help, I can do whatever is possible and necessary.

I have wanted to own my own business since I was a little girl.  The more I learn about entrepreneurship, the more I understand that I am unsure of what I really want to do.  The case study we read this week, about Andy Wilson and the Boston Duck Tours was so amazing. I ask myself, would I be willing to keep jumping through all of those hoops for approvals and permits?  Do I believe in something so much that I would spend the effort and time needed to make it a success? Am I the kind of person who can risk the debt, and do I have the experience necessary?  Right now the answer is no.  I don't have the resources, I don't have the experience, I don't have the knowledge, YET.  I don't even have the idea, but each new class helps me to learn things I didn't know before.  Each entrepreneurship interview, gives me the opportunity to ask a living person, in real time, what their experience was like, and what kind of advice they have for me.  I have interviewed a retail shop owner, a bookkeeping firm that works with small businesses, a lady who didn't ever intend on owning a business- who is now a successful entrepreneur.  Each of these interviews has helped me refine my ideas, each class has helped me discover a little better who I am and what I want.  I know that even though I am ordinary now, I can learn to work in an extraordinary way, and that as long as I put the Lord first and seek to do His will, I will be on the right path, no matter what opportunity it leads me through.

I have narrowed down my $100 Challenge idea to teaching sewing classes.  I am excited to start brainstorming ideas on how to make this first little adventure into the business world work.  I will keep you updated on how it goes.