BUS 110-Ashley Alexander

The one thing that had the most meaning for me this week is from John chapter 13, when Jesus washed His disciples' feet. Even though He was the Son of God and could sense the end was coming, to be tortured and killed on the cross, He still wanted to help those who were surrounding Him. When He washed their feet, He was showing them what it means to be a humble servant, which is a part of true discipleship. After washing their feet, He told them, “A new commandment I give unto you: that you love each other, just as I have loved you” (John 13:34). Jesus didn’t simply tell them about loving, He demonstrated it. He served, He forgave, He taught, and He even gave His life for everyone. His perfect example of love is a reminder that love isn't only about saying it. Love is about showing you care for someone through service, kindness, patience, and sacrifice. This verse has given me a lot to think about regarding how I treat the people surrounding me, especially my family. Sometimes t...

One of the things I've been thinking about this past week was what Matthew 25:35-40 has taught me. In Matthew 25:35-40, Jesus states that "the least of these," which includes feeding the hungry and providing for those in need, are all ways that we serve him. These verses encourage me as I reflect on how significant kindness and service are within the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There are times where I feel like my service efforts are insignificant. It's easy to feel like unless we're accomplishing something monumental or changing lives, then nothing is being accomplished. However, these verses remind me that Christ sees everything we do-even if it's just the simplest, smallest efforts. A simple act such as offering a kind word, making someone a meal, taking time to listen to someone who is struggling, or simply helping someone see that they are not completely alone can have an incredible amount of influence than you would ever imagine. The way Jesus Christ ministe...

This week, I have learned about following the example of Jesus Christ by being involved in service, showing love for one another and sharing truths. One scripture that was particularly meaningful was Matthew 20:26-28. In this passage, Jesus teaches us that there is no greater glory than humbly serving others. While the world views status or success as the key to greatness, Jesus teaches us the opposite; He views true greatness as being humble, caring for others and helping them. My classmates' posts were beneficial to me as well because they helped me realize that even the smallest acts of kindness can have a positive impact on someone's life. I have also been reflecting upon Luke 10:25-28 about loving God and loving your neighbors. The simplicity of the gospel was pleasing to me because Christ so simply illustrated the most important things: We are to love God above all else and treat everyone around us with love and kindness. This has caused me to reflect on how charity is su...

The most important thing that I took away from this week's Scripture studies was regarding Christ's message on change, forgiveness, humility and discipleship. What struck me was that repentance is not simply making corrections; it is an ongoing process of changing our lives so that we reflect Christ more each day. As I studied Matthew 14-18, Mark 6-9, Luke 9 and John 6-10, I began to see that repentance is about being humbled enough to realize what changes are needed, then allowing the Savior to assist you in those changes. Matthew 18:3 states: "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." To me, this verse shows how little children are both humble and open to learning, and they quickly forgive others. In order to repent, one has to be humble enough to acknowledge areas needing improvement and allow Christ to assist you in making those improvements. Often times, however, pride gets in the way of doing so, wheth...

One of the key principles that resonated with me during this past week is found in Matthew 6:33- "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." When I was little in children's church, (that's what they called it, I grew up Pentecostal) I heard this for the first time at church, through music. And though it didn't make sense to me then, it has stuck with me throughout the years and now, as an adult, is very relevant to how I attempt to live my life each day. When I am busy with work, school, or family, it's simple to let other priorities take precedence over putting God first. However, this last week helped remind me of what the Savior teaches. By putting God first in our lives, the remainder of our priorities will seem easier to manage. Christ taught many lessons on the mount in addition to teaching us specific actions. He also taught us about becoming certain people. To have a heart that is meek, p...

One thing that kept running through my mind this past week was when Jesus was tempted in Matthew 4 and Luke 4. Jesus had fasted for 40 days and then he was tempted. What I kept thinking about was how Jesus not only taught us about how to deal with temptations, but more importantly, He actually dealt with them himself. To me, this is important, as life can be overwhelming at times. As a mom of four; a full-time employee; while I am completing school, I know I have days (or weeks) where I may feel overwhelmed. I recently experienced one of those days. On this day, everything seemed to come due at the same time. All of my children needed me at some point during the day. I had multiple work deadlines coming due and I truly felt like I was "losing" everywhere I looked. By the end of that long day, I was both very frustrated and quite physically exhausted. My first instinct, as many people do, was simply to go at it head on and hope for the best. But a few hours later, once things ...

I learned something really beautiful about who God is from Hosea 11:8–9 . The Lord talks about His people who have turned away from Him many times. But He doesn't get mad or give up. Instead, He says that His " heart is turned within " and His " repentings are kindled together ." That feels so personal to me. This proves that God's love stays with us even when we fail. When we do something wrong, his kindness doesn't go away. It stays, waits, and keeps trying to reach out to us. I got a better understanding of the Atonement after reading this. Christ doesn't just forget about us. He loves us even as we work to improve. Instead of waiting for us to be perfect, he works with us while we are still flawed. This helps me remember that I can always go back to God because He never leaves His children. His love gives me hope and makes me want to teach the truth with more kindness, just like He treats me with kindness.

This week, as I studied the Old Testament, the reminders in Jeremiah and Lamentations to turn to the Lord when things get too much helped me. The people in these chapters had made decisions that caused real pain and had real effects on their lives. The Lord still told them to come back to Him, and He promised that His kindness would be there for them. Lamentations 3:22–23 really remained with me because it says that the Lord's blessings "are new every morning." It made me think of a song from my childhood as soon as I read it. As a child, I remember singing a song in church called "New Every Morning." The words always made me feel better. Reading this verse in the Scriptures made me feel hopeful again, as if the Lord were gently telling me that every day is a new chance to start over. The Lord is telling us to come back. "I can fix this." When I turn to Him, I have felt that peace many times in my own life. I'm thankful that I can start ov...

The Lord says in Isaiah 55:1–3, "Come, all ye that thirst, come ye to the waters." I feel like the Savior is calling me personally every time I read these verses. It reminds me that God's compassion and kindness are not only for a few people; they are for everyone. He only wants us to come as we are. We don't have to be flawless before we can talk to Him. We don't have to "earn" His love or check off a list of things we've done before we may be worthy of His presence. The phrase "without money and without price" reminds me that the blessings of the gospel are free gifts of grace that come from His never-ending love. When I'm emotionally drained or spiritually stretched thin, this verse means even more to me. The Savior really is the "living water." His peace restores our souls when life gets too much, He knows what my heart needs even when I can't say it. This verse reminds me to slow down and make time for Him in my life ...

This week I really focused on Isaiah Chapter 6:8. For me, this verse means that God has given power to anyone he wants to use for his work. In Isaiah 6:8, Isaiah quickly says, "Send me" in response to God's call. I think this verse means that if God asks you to do something, He will give you the strength to do it. The fact that Isaiah replied, "Here I am," shows that he was ready and trusted God's plan. This is how I felt when I first joined the church. At first, I didn't believe I was strong enough to do what God asked me to do. But this verse gave me hope because it told me that if I listen to God's call with an open heart, He will give me the help, faith, and direction I need to do what He has asked me to do. I’ve experienced this in my life when I was asked to help others, or take on roles at the church. The Lord always took care of me and led me, even when I didn't know where to start. These past few days, I've been thinking about...

This week while studying Job I was reminded that even the most devoted people have to go through trials. Job lost nearly everything he had, his health, his family and his comforts. But he still trusted in the teachings of God. He said, "He knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." (Job 23:10).That verse means something to me as I too have felt more positive after going through trials. I have not always known why the trials would come while I was going through my losses and uncertainties, but I kept my trust that the Lord was still mindful of me. Now I can see how the trials I had helped to strengthen my testimony and my love for Him. The story of Job also reminds me that if we let the trials bring us toward the Savior, they may turn into blessings in the end. He is the One that makes us "Come forth as gold." I know that He is making me more humble, more kind, and more trustworthy though it may take hard trial...

Do you ever feel like you are about to run empty? Maybe it's your energy levels, your finances, or even your hope or faith that feels almost depleted. That was me this week. Between my full-time job, being a full-time student, being a wife and mother, going to all the sports things, and decorating the homecoming float, I feel completely drained. When I read this week, I told myself, "I bet this is how the widow in 1 Kings 17 was feeling. Empty." She had only a small amount of flour and oil to make one more meal for herself and her son before they would starve. Elijah then shows up. A stranger. A prophet. And he asked her to make him a cake first. To be honest, I could see myself thinking, “Really, Lord? And, I have nothing left, and you want me to share this?” But the widow decided to trust. She gave from her tiny supply, and God kept his promise. The flour and oil never ran out until the famine ended. I love when God hits me straight in the face with something. That is w...

I feel like I've grown a lot this term, not just technically but also emotionally and spiritually. This class has changed the way I think about business as a way of life, not just a job. It takes faith, vision, grit, and planning. This is the last thing I would say to a group of students: being an entrepreneur means fixing real problems for real people. It's not just about making money or putting out a product. Entrepreneurs who see needs that aren't being met, work hard to solve them, and turn their ideas into real, useful chances are the most influential. The books for this class, especially Recognizing and Shaping Opportunities, taught me that ideas need to be turned into well-thought-out business plans that take strategy, resources, and shareholder value into account. I also learned how important it is to be a "finisher," which is something I remember from President Monson's talk. While starting is important, ending with hope and purpose is even more so....

The study on gratitude this week was perfect for me. Things have been quite hectic and stressful for me lately but reading President Monson's speech "An Attitude of Gratitude" helped me take a break and get my mind back on track. "We can lift ourselves and others when we refuse to stay in the realm of negative thought and cultivate an attitude of gratitude in our hearts." This statement really stood out to me. It made me remember that thankfulness is more than simply a nice feeling; it's a spiritual force that may change how we perceive the world and elevate us up. I thought about my own life and how simple it is to focus on what's hard or missing, especially when we're busy with a lot of things. But when I stop to appreciate the wonderful things, like my kids' laughing, a friend's kind words, or the fortitude to get through a hard day, I start to feel calm instead of stressed. That's how strong thankfulness is. The section of President M...

What is a business for? This week's study really made me think about that. The question "What's a Business For??" by Charles Handy made me understand that the answer is not just "to make money." On the first two pages, Handy talks about how honesty and ethics are important for the system to work. It makes sense now that you think about it. Things start to go wrong when people don't trust companies or the people who run them. Something that Handy said about trust was that once it's broken, it can't be fixed. Also, Handy said the real reason for a business is to make money so that you can do more or better things. Making money isn't the point of a business; it's just a way to help people, fix problems, and make a difference. That really changed how I saw things. I want to be the kind of business owner who keeps that in mind. I really agreed with two of Handy's ideas. For starters, the thought that workers should be seen as part of a gr...

  What is your attitude toward money?   While I was reading "Attitude on Money" by Stephen W. Gibson, I thought about how I really feel about money. There have been a lot of ups and downs for me as a mother raising four kids, but I've learned that money is neither good nor bad. It's just a tool. But how I use that tool shows a lot about my faith, my priorities, my values, and how I care for my family. How can your view of money affect the way you live? The way I view money directly impacts how I run my home and plan for the future. I don't do what I do every day just to make money; I do it because I believe in myself and want to be self-reliant and take care of my family. Families can have a lot of stress when they have money problems. But when we plan ahead and don't spend more than we can afford, we can find peace. I'm more aware of how much I spend, how to set goals, and how to plan ahead because of ups and downs I have faced in the past with money. Wh...

I’ve always been a dreamer, but sometimes life, responsibilities, and fear of failure make those dreams feel far away or unrealistic. Watching the videos and reading the stories of real entrepreneurs reminded me that dreaming big doesn’t mean you have to have it all figured out, it just means you’re willing to start. One thing that stood out to me was the idea that success begins with a clear vision of the life you want, not just a business you want to build. That’s something I’ve been thinking a lot about. What kind of life am I building for myself and my family? Am I chasing what truly matters, or just trying to survive the next busy week? Interviewing my friend Michaela for this week’s assignment really brought it full circle. She’s a single mom of two, and she started her skincare business from the ground up. She didn’t have investors or a business degree, just passion, grit, and a willingness to keep going. This year, she was even able to expand and hire someone to do lash extensi...

One of the most important things I learned this week was from Jim Ritchie's class on Good to Great, which was based on the book by Jim Collins. It didn't feel like a business rule; it felt like a rule for life. It was great that someone said, "good is the enemy of great." Life makes us settle down a lot of the time, not because we're lazy, but because we get used to things. We believe it's safe to be "good enough," but when we do that, we miss the greater happiness and meaning that come with striving to be the best. I also liked the Venn picture of greatness. It proved that to be great, you need a great product or service, the idea that you can be the best, and a lot of passion. When you find that "sweet spot," you start to be brilliant. It made me think about what's important to me. What do I do really well? What's the best way for me to help other people? These lessons go along with my desire to talk to Michaela, a pro...

This week, I wanted to focus on David Carrington's story. I learned a lot from his story as the founder of racingusa.com, which is now the most popular privately owned NASCAR store. What I liked most about his business advice was how it was based on honesty, creativity, and toughness. Carrington made a strong point about coming up with ideas. He told us that our first thought is often the "low-hanging fruit," or the simplest and most clear answer. He said that real innovation usually comes with the third thought, after we've tried the easy ones and moved on to the creative ones.  What he said made me think a lot about how I solve my own problems. Am I just going with the first idea that seems to work? Am I really looking into all the options? What he did after Dale Earnhardt's sad death had the same effect. Some people raised prices to take advantage of the situation, but Carrington didn't do that. He didn't change the prices because he cared about the fam...

The habit that meant the most to me this week was habit #2: Begin with the end in mind. I've always liked having a plan, but this habit made me realize how important it is to have one in every part of my life, not just work. It's not just about making plans it's about knowing what kind of person I want to be and making choices every day that help me get there is important to me. I think real success comes from the inside out. That's why the 7 Habits are split into two groups: private and public victories. Private ones, like taking charge and putting things first, make you a better person. Public ones, like trying to understand and think of ways to help everyone, build trust and connections. But none of that helps if I can't see where I want to go. That's why Habit 2 is so important. Every other habit is based on it. Our sense of purpose grows when we connect our work and life to something bigger. That's what Habit 2 helps me do. I start with the end in mi...