Mormon Life - Business tag

Stay-at-home mothers find challenge, reward in raising their children

Tue, 22 May 2012 09:55:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

When she turned in a job application, Nichole Whiting always knew what the job entailed. The exception is her current position: Stay-at-home mom, which many feel isn't work at all. It has been, she said, the most rewarding and challenging of positions.

The New York City woman has come to view being a mom as a profession. She looks at her day and its productivity and output, what she accomplished and what her goals are, both short-term and long-term. Like any job she's ever thrived in, it requires networking, sharpening all her skills, doing research. And her college degree and previous jobs all help her in her efforts to be the best mom she can and to help her children mature and thrive.

Mormon Media Observer: Are Mormons really more successful in business?

Tue, 22 May 2012 09:52:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

Mormon Life says: Do you think Mormons especially excel in business? Steve Martin isn’t a Latter-day Saint. Neither is Adam Sandler. Neither is Apple’s Tim Cook, nor Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg.

But many well-known people are.

It seems a common tactic in the news media to pick successful Latter-day Saints and hold them up as examples of how the LDS faith is succeeding in the world at some profession or other.

This seems especially true of business reporting.

If Harvard Business School were a religion, it could be Mormonism

Mon, 14 May 2012 10:16:00 -0600

source: washingtonpost.com

This piece is part of a joint On Faith - On Leadership series exploring the Mormon experiences that have helped shaped Mitt Romney’s leadership style, with pieces contributed by promiment Mormon writers and academics.

For the past year, as Mitt Romney has taken to the campaign trail, a number of news articles have explored why Mormons make good business leaders. An ethic of hard work, some say. A team mentality.

These may be true, yet there are other values that underpin Mormon leadership even more deeply — and they’re the same ones espoused by Harvard Business School.

Washington Post: How the Mormon church teaches priesthood holders to lead

Mon, 14 May 2012 10:04:00 -0600

source: washingtonpost.com

Mormon Life says: Do you think priesthood duties are responsible for so many successful Mormon businessmen? This piece is part of a joint On Faith - On Leadership series exploring the Mormon experiences that have helped shaped Mitt Romney’s leadership style, with pieces contributed by promiment Mormon writers and academics.

Every Sunday in chapels across the world, the Lord’s Supper is administered by teenage boys of the congregation, nervous or bored, in sometimes ill-fitting white shirts and poorly knotted ties in youthful imitation of their dark-suited fathers. They kneel before trays of bread and water, recite formal prayers and solemnly pass the communion to the congregation. Then they return to their families in the pews.

Who are these young men and what can we learn from the way that they are taught to lead?

DailyLDS.com launches the first Groupon-type website for LDS people

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:03:00 -0600

source: universe.byu.edu

DailyLDS.com launched last week the first website in the world that offers exclusive deals to LDS members.

DailyLDS.com is comparable to Groupon, but it is truly unique to LDS people. Every day, for a 24-hour period, one LDS product or service is featured for purchase at a discounted price – up to 90 percent. Members receive DailyLDS deals notifications via Facebook, email and Twitter.

The Mormon way of business

Thu, 03 May 2012 10:25:00 -0600

source: economist.com

Mormon Life says: A look at the large number of successful Mormons, and some thoughts on the reasons for it. Jokes about sacred underpants have reached epidemic proportions, thanks to Mitt Romney’s presidential bid and the musical masterpiece by Matt Stone and Trey Parker, “The Book of Mormon”. But the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, to give it its full name, is fighting back. A huge advertising campaign features ordinary people doing ordinary things—a white man sporting a beard, a black man sporting a moustache and a young skateboarder flying through the air—with the tag line: “I’m a Mormon.”

The snag is, not everyone will buy the idea that Mormons are just like the rest of us. They don’t get drunk. They have large families, stable marriages and a three-month supply of food in the larder in case of Armageddon. They are usually clean-cut and neatly dressed (the facial hair in the “I’m a Mormon” ads is thankfully atypical). And they have a passion for business.

BYU, University of Utah business schools on News and World Report's 'most popular' list

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:22:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

Two business schools in Utah, Brigham Young University’s Marriott School of Business and the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business, have joined the ranks of Harvard and Stanford on U.S. News & World Report’s Most Popular Business Schools list.

The rankings were based on the schools’ yields, or the percentage of full-time applicants accepted to the schools that decide to enroll there.

{LDS How-to} Use LDS Employment Services

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:03:00 -0600

by Alexa Justesen
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Unemployment can be stressful and scary, but the Church has provided some great resources to find work quickly.

Whether you’ve just graduated from college and are looking for a job, or the economic downturn got the best of you, most of us will have to worry about unemployment at some point in time. Below is a quick guide for using LDS Employment Resource Services to help you get back on your feet by making a great impression in the job market.

The first step is to go to the LDS Employment Resource Services website at ldsjobs.org and create a free online account. This will allow you to upload a resume and find job listings based on your location. Employers will also be able to find your information.

Next, browse the website for job advice (which it is chock-full of), such as how to build a resume, dress for an interview, or network successfully. The website covers lots of information and is easy to use. You can even sign up to receive regular e-mails full of tips and success stories.

But what if you want some face-to-face counseling or resume-building help? Luckily, you can also set up a one-on-one advisement meeting at your local Employment Center with a career adviser. Employment Centers are located all over the world, generally in LDS meetinghouses. Full-time senior couple missionaries or part-time service missionaries are called specifically to help the unemployed find work. These meetings are especially successful because the career advisers can tailor the job search to you and your skills. They will also keep you updated on any career fairs, workshops, or meetings going on in your area.

With all of this information available, LDS Employment Resource Services maintains that there are a few things anyone can and should do when it comes to searching for a new job, whether you use their help or not:

• Build a network. Start with one person who knows and understands your career interests. Ask them to introduce you to others in your field of interest, and build a network from there. Success stories usually start from beginning a network.

• Create a power statement. In an interview, the employer wants to know why they should choose you over the other guy sitting in the lobby with his resume in hand. So tell them! A lot of people fear that they will sound like they are bragging if they talk about themselves too much in an interview, but that’s exactly what the prospective employer wants to hear. Create a strong statement about yourself, your accomplishments, and why you think you would be a great fit for the position. Don’t hold back during your interview.

• Find someone to look over your resume and cover letter. Make sure your materials are grammatically correct, and that you have included necessary information. Some employers base their judgments on resumes more than interviews, so you want yours to look as professional and informative as possible.

• Invest in an interview outfit. It’s called a “power suit” for a reason. If you saw two men or two women walking down the street, one dressed casually, the other in a sharp suit and shined shoes, who would get your positive attention first? We know we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but in the case of a job interview, that book cover is the first thing the employer sees. Wear your new duds with confidence.

• Take a career test. LDS Employment encourages everyone without a job, regardless of whether you quit, were let go, or are a recent graduate to take a career test before starting the application process. The test helps you scope out your talents and abilities,and might even help you discover that your interests have changed, prompting you to look for completely different employment. You can take a career test by meeting with an LDS Employment Specialist.

No matter where you are on the job hunt, utilizing resources that are available to you will only increase your chances of finding long-term employment. With a little patience, a lot of effort, and with the help of LDS Employment Resource Services, finding a job will be that much easier.

Dave Says: Mixing Friends and Business

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:03:00 -0600

by Dave Ramsey
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: I started a partnership with my friend. What can I do to make sure our friendship is saved even if our business doesn't end up working out?

Dear Dave,

I just began a business with a friend as an LLC partnership. I know he’s honest and a hard worker, but I’m still a little scared that everything will fall apart and we’ll walk away mad at each other. We used a CPA to get a tax ID number and help us set up the company. Do you think we should pay a lawyer to help us map out the partnership agreement in writing?

Mike

Dear Mike,

Drawing up a written partnership agreement may be the only shot you’d have at walking away from this venture with your friendship still intact. But I don’t think you need to hand some lawyer a bunch of money to make it happen.

Chances are, your new business doesn’t need that level of detail. All you need is someone to help you draw up a template that answers all the “what if” questions. This template can be as simple as a list of all the things that could go wrong and the answers to those scenarios. These would be things like death, disability, moral failure, bankruptcy, etc., and what happens if any of these occur.

You know, there are hardly ever problems in a business venture when everyone’s happy and making piles of money. But it can get rough if you begin to disagree over the direction the company is taking. Or, what if personal issues make you decide you don’t want to be in business with the other person anymore?

It’s easy to go all pie-in-the-sky over these things, but you have to make plans for any and all of the worst outcomes, too.

—Dave

For more financial advice please visit daveramsey.com.

Cleanflix and what its story reveals about Mormon culture

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:17:00 -0600

source: mormonmatters.org

The documentary film Cleanflix tells the story of the dramatic rise and fall of businesses (based primarily in Utah) that rented and sold versions of Hollywood movies in which they had edited out bad language, nudity, sex scenes, gore, graphic violence, and anything else that they considered not a match for community standards. In telling the story from its origins to the court case that declared the practices as in violation of copyright agreements to the continuing saga of stores that refused to shut down even after the businesses were declared illegal, the film highlights deeply embedded attitudes in Mormon culture. What are the peculiar aspects of Mormonism that helped give rise to an industry that seemed fully intent on exploiting moral gray areas: letter versus spirit of gospel teachings, trying to eliminate guilt for wanting to be “part of” the world rather than fully “apart from” it, judging ones views of the value of certain art forms and messages as superior to that of the persons who created the art in the first place?

Deseret Management Corporation CEO Mark Willes to retire, Keith B. McMullin to replace

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:03:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

Deseret Management Corporation (DMC), a for-profit arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, today announced the retirement of Mark Willes and the appointment of Keith B. McMullin as incoming CEO.

Mark Willes took the reins of DMC in 2009 and oversaw the transformation of the organization, positioning DMC to become more competitive during the industry-wide shift to digital media consumption. The organization also implemented a vision, mission and values statement that included expanding the reach of DMC companies nationally and internationally.

Marriott to retire, reflects on 40 years leading hotel giant

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:12:00 -0600

source: boston.com

Bill Marriott has revolutionized the hotel business over the past four decades.

As CEO of the company that bears his family's name, Marriott led the industry in opening hotels next door to highway exits and suburban office parks. He was also a pioneer in catering to niche markets. In 1983, he launched Courtyard, a chain for cost-conscious business travelers. Today, Marriott has 18 brands, including Fairfield Inn for budget travelers and Ritz-Carlton for the luxury set.

Dave Says: Lost Job, Might Move

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:03:00 -0600

by Dave Ramsey
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: I have two job offers with varying pros and cons, including one with a move. What do you think? Dear Dave,

The job I have currently is about to be phased out, and I’m looking at two other offers. The pay for both is the same. One is short-term, nine months to a year, and it has a per diem so I wouldn’t have to move. The other job would last much longer, but I’d have to move and that would throw me about $3,500 further into debt. This company acts like it doesn’t want to help with the moving expenses, but I think I’d like the job better. What do you think I should do?

Michael

Dear Michael,

I’d move. And I’d also try to negotiate the heck out of this company and get them to foot some of the bill for the move.

If you’re valuable enough, and they like you enough to want you on their team, then I’d use that as a negotiating point before accepting the position. Tell them that you really want the job and you’re excited about it, but the only thing holding you back is $3,500 in moving costs.

You never know until you ask. And at that point they may see the wisdom of kicking in some cash to make it easier for you to decide!

—Dave

For more financial advice please visit daveramsey.com.

{Single Saints} Is Success the Kiss of Death for a Single Woman?

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:04:00 -0700

by Vera Taylor
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: I've been confronted with some surprising reactions from others to my professional success, and it has me wondering if the career I didn't choose overshadows the life I would choose in a heartbeat.

I have a good job and recently got a promotion at work. Shortly after the promotion was public I ran into an old friend--a guy who I was in a singles ward with several years ago. He is around my age (mid-30’s), single, educated, has a decent job, and is an overall nice and quality guy. We caught up on each other’s lives and I mentioned my promotion. Instead of saying “congratulations” or “that’s awesome” the first words out if his mouth were: “Be careful.”

What?!!?

He followed that up with “Don’t get too successful; we want you married sooner rather than later.” (Yeah, I don’t know who “we” is either.)

I wish I had a super smart comeback to say to him but instead I froze up and then laughed it off. However, his comment nagged at me all night, and I have thought about it many times since.

Let me be clear: I know he was well meaning, and I don’t want to unfairly criticize and single him out since I have heard similar comments from other sources. I do, however, want to comment on the inference that being a successful woman in the workplace diminishes opportunities to get married.

I have heard the statistics that the more educated a woman is the less likely she is to marry. I have heard the same sentiment expressed about successful working women. What I don’t really know is . . . is it true?

I'm guessing these statistics/assumptions stem from women who have pushed off marriage and children in order to climb the corporate ladder. And I know there are women who consciously choose career over family. But honestly, I don’t know too many single Mormon women that fall into those categories. I do know plenty of single women that are working, doing well in their careers, getting promoted, and enjoying what they do, but most are still actively hoping for and seeking a relationship that will end in marriage and motherhood. And before that future is realized (if it is ever realized), what are we supposed to do?

I realize my friend’s problem isn’t with me having a job. So, is it that I’m doing well at it? I would think a guy would be thrilled to date a woman who is doing well in her career. Right? I mean, think of the 401K she has started! The down-payment their combined incomes could procure!

Is it an ego thing? I know some men worry they can’t provide a woman what her dad provided for her family, so is worrying that he can’t provide the same way she can an extension of that insecurity?

Is it because a man needs to feel needed, so he is more attracted to the kind of women who, well, need him more? It is true that I don’t “need” a man to financially provide for me. But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t love to have one to rely on. And to take my car in to be serviced. And do anything that requires advanced power tools. (See, I’m needy!)

It is easy for me to excuse his comments as ridiculous and to exclaim that any guy who has a problem with or is intimidated by my success isn’t the right guy––but perhaps that oversimplifies the issue. Is it possible for the career you didn’t choose to prevent you from having the life you’d choose in an instant, if the right opportunity presented itself?

Deep down I just don’t believe this to be true. I can’t believe it. I do suspect, however, that all the presumptions and prejudices we develop around jobs, circumstances, appearance, etc., just make it that much harder to find the right person. To be fair, I am not innocent of making unfair judgments about, for example, never married guys in their late 30′s/early 40′s. I automatically assume they are either commitment-phobic or socially challenged. Not fair; true sometimes––but not fair.

I suspect no matter what our circumstance, it would behoove us to be a little more careful with our judgments and assumptions. I’ll try if you do.

{How-to} Start a Successful Home-Based Business + FREE E-BOOK

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 10:27:00 -0700

by Richie Norton
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Home businesses can be a lot of fun - if you start small and know what you're doing. These are seven critical elements to help you.

For a limited time only, download Richie Norton’s new E-book, Resumes are Dead, by clicking here and entering your email address to receive the download.

Everyone has different reasons for wanting to start a business at home. My wife, Natalie, and I opted to start a home-based business because we wanted 100% access to our children, and we wanted our children to have 100% access to us.

I know that a home-based business isn't for everyone; however, I believe everyone should have the know-how required to start their own business in case the “secure” job suddenly becomes unsecure.

Here are seven critical elements required to start/manage a successful home based business without going insane.

1) KNOW YOUR WHY
You simply must take the time to understand your personal “why” for starting your home based business. This why will be your guiding star as you inevitably find yourself in the thick of things.

To help you get to your why, ask yourself this question:

    •    What do I want my day-to-day life to look like?

Your day-to-day life is your life. You may want to start a home-based business to help make ends meet, pay off debt, or live a dream. However, if your day-to-day life becomes a living nightmare, you’ll quit and won’t reach your goals.

To avoid failure in your day-to-day lifestyle when starting a home-based business, try this:
    •    Narrow the specifics of your ideal day-to-day lifestyle in bullet-point form and email it to yourself as it relates to the various aspects of your life (personal, family, social, spiritual, etc). Get detailed.
    •    Print the email off and put it up on your bathroom mirror or kitchen refrigerator as a reminder so you keep your priorities straight.

With specific effort and a vision of what you're trying to accomplish, you'll be able to continually realign the way you run your home-based business based on that vision to keep you on course.

2) IDENTIFY WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO SELL
A trick online marketers use to find out what’s selling is to look for the "key words" that people are searching for online and create products and services for those people. Here's how you can do some of that research yourself to identify popular products/services and markets:

    •    Go to Google Trends and Google Insights to test out key words related to your product/service. Look for ideas of things you could sell, what people want and how others are selling them successfully.

    •    Look at top-selling items on Pinterest, Etsy, Amazon, Ebay, etc. to get ideas for products that you could sell.

    •    Go to Alltop to see what's "hot" in your industry or your subject of interest.

By studying what's out there and how other people are selling it, you'll be able to use your creative juices and identify what you want to sell and/or learn how others are successfully selling similar products/services.

3) HANG OUT WHERE YOUR MARKET HANGS OUT
Once you have your idea and you've identified the market, you want to hang out where your market hangs out. In other words, if someone is looking for your product/service, they should be able to find you easily (both online and offline).

Likewise, if you’re looking for people to buy your product/service, you should be able to find them easily. Check out this video in which I interview Chris Bennett, a professional online marketer about how to market your business on the Internet.

4) SELL SOMETHING IN EXCHANGE FOR MONEY!
Yup, to make money, you're going to have to bill people for something of value that you sell. Building an audience by giving things away for free is a good idea, however, at some point, if your objective is to make money, you're going to have to make people pay up. I say this because charging people for your work can be challenging at first, but it’s a necessity. Do you remember that one nice old lady who taught you how to play piano when you were a kid? She charged your mom.

5) START SMALL
When you're first starting your business, consider it a project. Projects can help you overcome the learning curve. Don't spend your life savings or go into debt to start an idea you haven't tested in the market. Start with a small, specific project that has a beginning and ending date. For example, let's say you want to sell a craft you’ve made. Instead of starting a full-blown business, see if you can sell one in 30 days! Then see if you can sell ten, then 100, then 1000, etc. If you can't sell a few, you can't sell a million.

6) HAVE STRUCTURED TIME
If you're working from home, you need structured time. Structured time is uninterrupted alone time to get stuff done. Structured time to do the work you need to do will help you avoid being mentally disconnected. You don't want to be thinking about work when you're with your spouse and kids, and you don’t want to be thinking about your spouse and kids while you’re trying to get work done.

So how do you find "structured time?" Everyone's situation is different. It may be getting up earlier, staying up later, getting off the Internet, turning off the TV, or working around your kid's nap time or school schedule. Be creative. Be committed. You can make it work, no matter your circumstances.

7) GO BACK TO YOUR WHY
If you're already going crazy trying to maintain your home-based business, simply go back to your why. If your home-based business is succeeding at the expense of your family, it’s time to modify the process or quit. The ultimate goal of any business endeavor should be to enhance your lifestyle and your family, be it emotionally, monetarily, or otherwise. That said, look at your personal goals (they should be hanging up on your fridge or on your bathroom mirror, remember). Look for ways to "cut out the fat" and do only the things that are essential to make your business work.

SUMMING IT UP
Home-based businesses can be a lot of fun. They have the potential to be more lucrative than your "real job," but they can also be a complete disaster. Don't jump the gun and quit your day job to start a home-based business. Start small. Test the market. Be smart and intentional in order to ensure that your business grows in a sustainable way that lends itself to the overarching lifestyle you intended when you first began. When you've met success, and the income is meeting your family's needs, you can carefully determine whether or not you’re ready to transition into having your home based business become your full time job.

By identifying why you're doing what you do, performing adequate market testing, and organizing your time in a way that meets your lifestyle goals, you'll be on a wonderful path that can provide the amazing combination of money, meaningful work and freedom of time.

Have fun!

For a limited time only, download Richie Norton’s new E-book, Resumes are Dead, by clicking here and entering your email address to receive the download.

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Richie was named one of Hawaii’s Top Forty Under 40 “best and brightest young businesspersons” by Pacific Business News at age 29. He is the CEO of Global Consulting Circle and the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Starting Something Stupid (Shadow Mountain Publishing). You can follow his blog at richienorton.com/blog.

Reader Voices: Unemployment and the Atonement

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 09:22:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

His eyes were near tears. His voice wavered. He had been unemployed for some time. And, as the ward employment specialist, I was there to help him.

Today was a down day. He looked at me. "You got to give me hope." he plead.

I sighed and told him, "I can't give you hope. That's beyond my power."

Event counting on LDS Church message about scams

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:19:00 -0700

source: sltrib.com

Organizers of an event on Wednesday aimed at educating Utahns about avoiding financial scams hope that an LDS Church representative will deliver a strong message to help stem the tide of scams that have rolled over Utah in recent years.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is sending Michael Otterson, its managing director of public affairs, to the Fraud College at the University of Utah, where he is scheduled to speak at 11 a.m.

2011 positive Mormon media highlights

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 09:32:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

Mormon Life says: Hooray for winning Time magazine's Religion of the Year! For its 2011 annual retrospective, Time magazine named Mormonism the Religion of the Year, accompanied with an obligatory photo from the Book of Mormon Musical. The distinction isn't offered every year, but in light of the musical, two presidential candidates and the rise of Glenn Beck — funny no one ever mentions Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in these lists — the editors made an exception.

The Time write-up itself was notably upbeat.

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has always been the religion of the future — demographically, organizationally, fervently. Well, the future is now," the blurb began. After running through the highlights, it concluded, "Mormon visibility has helped dispel some stunning bits of ignorance. … By being part of the social and political conversation, this original, innately American religion has become even more a part of the mainstream American fabric."

On Their Way: DI associates find confidence, employment through training program

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:21:00 -0700

source: news.lds.org

Whenever an employment organization can improve its placement ratio it’s a good thing. But when it’s placing people who have previously faced significant barriers to employment—and doing it in a tough economy—it’s all the more remarkable.

That’s exactly what Deseret Industries (DI) has done in 2011. Over the past year, job placements have increased 10 percent.

Mormon church’s plans for land upset Harlem

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:36:00 -0700

source: nytimes.com

Mormon Life says: The land being sold has been used by church members and the community as a local gathering place and they don't want to lose it. The wider world does not often glimpse the internal disputes of the Mormon Church. Formally known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the fast-growing religion is expanding in places as far-flung as Africa and Latin America, but most big decisions are still made centrally by a church hierarchy in Salt Lake City.

Recently, though, a debate over a ramshackle church property in Harlem has spilled into public view. And perhaps it is no surprise what subject could raise passions strong enough to override Mormons’ aversion to airing differences outside the church: Manhattan real estate.