A Colombian Entrepreneurial Thought

Execute, what an interesting word! It means to put a plan, order, or course of action into effect. It is absolutely an easy word to look for using the Google search box, but according to the reading "A message to Garcia", the ability to execute the rarest Skill of All. This was the first time that I read that description. When I read this text I felt inspired to try this with the team I manage at my work. Results were immediately evident, "how do you want me exactly to do it?", "What is the best time to do this?", "Once I am done with that, what do you want me to do?". Believe it or not, those were some of the "questions" I got after delegating a specific task. I just laughed internally. That is a natural behavior in most of us. Talking about leadership let me share what the article says about making a difference, a characteristic of a natural leader, it says, "Woody Allen said that 90% of life is “just showing up.” If so, the ...

This week has been very challenging at my work. We have been receiving constant visits from our clients and in the efforts to make sure everything goes perfect for them, we have missed certain details that we did not perceive at the right moment. These issues have been the reason for having different meetings in order to identify the root cause of the problem. I am an internal and certified quality auditor and one of the things you learn in this path is precisely how to find the root cause of a problem. There are different strategies to analyze a problem and get to its root cause. I have personally used one that is called the Ishikawa or Fishbone Diagram, this method, based on Wikipedia's definition, "helps to identify potential factors causing an overall effect. Each cause or reason for imperfection is a source of variation. Causes are usually grouped into major categories to identify and classify these sources of variation." I have seen results by using it but a much ...

This week I was able to learn different things for my path to success. While reading some of the chapters from George Leonard's book, "Mastery", I was able to realize about the several stages where you can be during you mastery path. The book describes in a very interesting way what Mastery is and why we sometimes choose the easiest way instead of the long path that brings happiness and better results in our lives. It also describes the opposition to the concept itself and how to overcome those philosophies. One of the concepts that I realized was part of my life and that I never heard before was "Homeostasis". The way George Leonard defines the word homeostasis opens our understanding and especially because, if we want to master something, we need to move from our comfort zone to a more challenging and higher level of life. Leonard says "This condition of equilibrium, this resistance to change, is called homeostasis...[it] works to keep things as the...

This week I want to focus my writing on spiritual things I had to analyze. When I heard Jan Newman's talk "Loyalty to God and Family" it really made me ponder on how centered is my heart in God and my family. I am right now in the long process of developing a huge business (with 2 partners in different countries) which not only requires money and business knowledge but it also demands time of quality to concentrate and focus on certain aspects of the project. I also have a calling as the ward's secretary and I need to go throughout the week to the chapel and meet with the bishopric, however, I have personally experienced how easily a voice comes to me saying "Don't go this week, concentrate on your business. You can still go next week and it will be fine!" That is a constant voice I hear whenever it comes to attend to Church assignments. The reason why I am bringing these experiences is that it makes me remember a promise received from my Mission Presid...

This week's teachings have been very uplifting. Reading about perseverance and if successful Entrepreneurs are born or made has made me ponder in certain thoughts I had. Elder Faust said, "Success is usually earned by persevering and not becoming discouraged when we encounter challenges." But then I also read that a successful entrepreneur is a combination of skills, character, and luck. So there is a set of things that help an entrepreneur to become successful. Now, I don't like the work luck but rather I call it "divine intervention". I want to believe that God is in every detail of my life and that nothing occurs just because the universe wants it. Definitely, successful entrepreneurs have a combination of skills, character, divine intervention and Christlike attributes. All of our progress and happiness are also subjected to what we have become by the end of our path. A Hero's journey is not measured by the amount of money one has, nor the type o...

This week has been outstanding! I was able to close an important deal between my partners for the new project we are planning to start! Some of the things that I have been taking into account while working on this project, is that trials are always present when running a business. As a matter of fact, trials help you to shape and shine your business. As we were taught in the General Conference "trials become our greatest teacher." So when we exercise faith, we are patient during the time of trials and when we follow the promptings of the Spirit is when we see a clearer path. Pondering about the question suggested on the video Do What You Love which states "What are you born to do?", has made me think on "my calling" and what are the things I am doing to find that answer. Launching Leaders provides the great recipe not only for this answer but for our success. Identifying our stars (what we want to be in the future) and defining our steppingstones h...

This week has not been different from other weeks in terms of experiences and knowledge acquired. One of the most valuable things that I have learned throughout this week are related to how I am making and living a life. When reading Elder's Robins talk “ Making a Living and a Life” I felt encouraged to do the following: Overcome situations when the enemy wants to put pride in my heart for one or another reason. Continue putting God as my primary motivation. Increase my love to my Heavenly Father and fellowmen by developing more faith in them. Establish an "A" level for every single aspect and goal of my life (professional and spiritual). Teach others that living and making a life as under the "A level" makes life much happier and valuable. Remain firm on my personal Code of Conduct and Guardrails along my professional career and entire life. Another lesson that really penetrated my mind is that is important to find people that has skin in ...