"The Perfect Leader"

Jesus set a perfect example in every aspect of our lives. If we have doubts in what to do, we can search for examples of his life or even better ask for an answer. Through prayer we can communicate with our Heavenly Father and ask for guidance in our lives. There are many things we have to do each day. We are making decisions on constant basis. We are responsible of our actions. We will be hold accountable for our decisions and choices on this earth. As children of God we can ask for his help any time we are in need. Our Heavenly Father sent his son to guide us and teach us how to return to him. Jesus was a great leader. He was not like the modern leaders instead he was humble and he was always willing to serve. He showed love for the people he taught. He didn’t impose his will. He taught the truth and gave his disciples the opportunity to choose. The world needs leaders that are willing to follow his perfect example. And do as he did. The world can be better if we decide to make it better. Every change has to start in us.  I have known great leaders that try their best to follow the example of our savior. They are still humans and make mistakes but they are trying every day to become better and better. We can be one of those leaders. We just have to decide to follow the example of the greatest teacher of all.

Each week I have to report my progress in my $100.00 challenge.  I have already almost $80.00 it has been hard to gather the money. I have offered banana bread to everyone I know. They are really supportive with my project. They also love my banana bread. It is really good. But I feel like these last $20.00 are going to be a challenge. I am learning a lot about perseverance and hard work. This challenge is teaching me a lot about small business. It has been so far a great learning experience.

The face of a company

I want to compare a house with a company. We usually like the thinks that we can see or perceive. When we see a beautiful garden with pretty flowers and green foliage we imagine that the house is as pretty as the garden. The same happens in a company when we are treated respectfully as customers and our needs are fulfilled we assume that the company is reliable. The companies need to invest in their employees. When an employee is happy and satisfied with his or her job they feel like part of it and they give their best. When an employee doesn’t feel part of the company he or she does not adopt the company culture and that is reflected with the clients. Companies can lose a lot of money if they treat their employees as slaves that have to obey because they are being paid, someone happy works better than an unhappy person.  Companies that invest in their employees have more benefits that the ones that don’t.

Customers are the blood of a company. If a company wants to have an income and be profitable it needs customers. It is easier to keep a customer than to find a new one. We live in a world of constant competition if we don’t provide the quality of service or product that the customer need they will find a new and better place that will provide what they want or need. So if we want to succeed we need to listen what the customers want and provide a good and happy environment to our employees.

I am learning through my $100.00 challenge that keeping a customer is easier than find new ones. I am selling my banana bread. And my customers love the home made taste. It is just different that the one they can buy at local stores or bakeries. Sometimes I feel like I am persecuting my clients. They love the product but I need to find better strategies to offer them the product without being pushy. WhatsApp it is helping me a lot to find new customers and to retain the ones I already have. Instant messages are a blessing for me!

Keep the customers!!

This week I realized that it is much easier to keep a customer than to find new ones. A happy customer will return to you again and again. I am working hard on my $100.00 challenge. I am selling homemade banana bread, it is delicious, but I have found out that, it is not a primary need for the people. Each week I try to look for new customers. I have to sell over 500 units to fulfill my $100.00 challenge. It is not easy, but I realized that my happy customers are buying banana bread each week, and it has been harder to find new customers. So I want to keep them happy until I finish my project. As I mentioned before, one dollar for me means eight times more work. One Quetzal which is my currency is only worth an eighth of the dollar. I also learned that my product needs to be a purple cow. I don't have too many competitors. It is not that easy to find banana bread in the bakeries but I have to make my product especial and different from others. I will try to find the purple in my product.

I also learned something very special this week. We have to appreciate our life and take the best of each day. I understand that sometimes we just feel like sleeping all day, but we all have a great potential. We didn't come to this earth to rest. It is our time to work hard and succeed. The opportunities are out there we just have to find them. We have to learn how to believe in ourselves. Sometimes we are the ones that stop us from achieving our best. Our fears need to become our motivation not our stop. When we are not healthy, we wish for health to be able to do whatever we want, but when we are good we just accommodate ourselves and forget to keep going. I have wondered what does it mean to succeed? For each one of us will be different, but we need to set a goal and know where we are doing. Every day we can have little successes. Just even trying can be a success. But we will never succeed if we don't try!

Tithing

Many people experience money troubles at least once in their life. God has given us the opportunity to learn to trust him. It doesn’t matter if we are rich or poor. Tithing is the same for everyone and it is a principle of faith (action). When I had a regular salary I always paid my tithing first and it was amazing how then I had more than enough for all my needs. God doesn’t need our money, instead we need his help. God is always there for us. Sometimes we move away from Him. We trust more in men than in His hand. God gives us our health and intelligence to have a job so everything belongs to him and He only ask a small portion and it is not for Him. It is to help us have even more than He has already given us. We do have a loving Father.

This week I have learned more about how to raise money. It is not easy to convince people to trust in you and your ideas. We need to learn how to sell ourselves. I am lucky to start my initial capital for my $100.00 challenge with my own money. I trust myself and I know that hard work will give good fruits. I know that God will help me. And I also know that by paying my tithing He will provide even more to help the people we will donate the money from the challenge. I feel extremely motivated because I am not working for my benefit. I feel good to help people that need more the money than me. New entrepreneurs that are asking for help to keep working. I am grateful with God because I’m recovering well from my surgery and I will be able to achieve my goals!