BUS 110-Ashley Alexander

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...