Life-changing opportunity--Junto 2005

They say 8 of 10 high school students aspire to owning their own companies. Interesting statistic considering I challenge whether 80% of people rightly graduate from high school, let alone receive a college education.

In my opinion, however, there is no greater or nobler career than that of the entrepreneur. Upon his back rests the weight of the economy. More people in the U.S. are employed by small businesses than large. An entrepreneur faces risk, discouragement, loneliness and negativism all around. He must persist, persuade, invent, adapt, and mold resources (that he often does not possess) to create jobs and build a viable, lasting company. The entrepreneur has to recruit and inspire qualified people. He has to build a corporate culture of integrity, honesty, hard work and cooperation. An entrepreneur is outlived by his vision, which takes root in the hearts of his successors.

The founding fathers were entrepreneurs, as were the many religious leaders in every dispensation of time. Pioneers, explorers, inventors, composers, artisans, authors--all of these people confronted innumerable obstacles to realize their visions.

Entrepreneurs--you know who you are. You can feel it inside. There is a sense of calling from within. Deep inside you, the weight of this responsibility makes an urgent call to action. Unsure of how or when you will begin this quest, you are optimistic that your chance is just around the corner--ready when you are.

For me, that opportunity came early 2004, when I received an invitation to compete for a spot in Junto, where I would be educated, mentored and given funds to begin my lifelong pursuit as an entrepreneur. If you have what it takes, that opportunity is now extended to you. Check out the link below for details. Good luck!
Junto 2005 Press Release

charitydates.org

Follow the link to CharityDates.org. This is just some little idea I had of how we might be able to help people around the world. I believe in the responsibility each of us has to make the most of his talents in doing good. By small and simple means, great things come to pass. Check out what we've begun and contribute in any way you can. Let's make a difference!

CharityDates.org

Life Plan

This week I was lucky enough to attend a very insightful summit on private equity. It was the University Private Equity Summit hosted by the University of Utah. Among the guest panelists and speakers were world-class entrepreneurs, Angel Investors, and Venture Capitalists (controlling a combined sum of over $95 billion worldwide).

Speakers that impressed me include: Overstock's Patrick Byrne, RC Willey's Bill Child, Mike Murray of Unitus, and Joel Peterson. Joel, founder of Peterson Capital, Lead Director at Franklin Covey, and professor at Stanford University, spoke on building a Life Plan (see link through this post's title). This is much like a Business Plan, but maps out and operationalizes the core goals of our lives. I was inspired to follow this counsel and began the next day. It is getting lengthy, but I thought I'd post the 10 most important goals from my Life Plan. Now the world will hold me accountable.

10. Travel the World
9. Own a Major League Baseball Franchise
8. Continue a lifelong formal and informal education
7. Provide meaningful service to my country
6. Make a lasting impact on world poverty
5. Master self-discipline by cultivating my talents
4. Serve to the best of my ability in church callings
3. Raise passionate children
2. Become a worthy, honorable husband
1. Live in a way so I can meet Christ without shame or regret

costa rica

Just thought I'd post some pictures from my holiday trip to Costa Rica. One of the coolest places I've been. Great surfing, amazing rainforests--tons of wildlife and vegetation. The water is clean, food is cheap, people are friendly. What more could you ask for.

High above the valley

Smiling upside down

750 meter zipline

Lemonade Diet

After graduating last summer from BYU, I, Clint Carlos, have become one of the many victims to deskitis. This disease is impacting the lives of millions of Americans and its effects have become universally recognizable. Symptoms include: excessive inflammation around the hips; severe expansion below the frontal ribs; increased occasion of heavy breathing and profuse sweating. In other words, lovehandles, fatty gut, and being out of shape. I may not have been hit that hard, but there's no hiding the detriment to my physique.

Being fed up with the downward trend I had been observing in the mirror, I decided to join with my business partners and do something about it. We heard about a treatment called "The Master Cleanse" aka "The Lemonade Diet" (http://thelemonadediet.com/). Rumor had it people typically lose 2 lbs per diem on it. They come off it sleeping better, digesting better, feeling calmer, healthier in general, and facing fewer addictions than when they started. The catch is how much you give up to experience those results. For 10 or more days, eating of any sort is not allowed. The diet calls for drinking about 10 glasses of a specially mixed drink (including lemons, maple syrup and cayenne pepper) per day--only.

Well to make a long story short, I'm over 4 days into the diet. I haven't been as hungry as I had imagined. As I begun the diet I was coming down with a sinus infection. The diet purged it over a couple dreadful days as the toxins were released. I feel better now, but today the real dilemma took place.

I was at costco with nothing but the good intentions of buying lemons and maple syrup at a reduced price. Lo and behold, those sneaky old ladies were there offering samples galore. It was hell. I passed on the pizza pockets, the chicken nuggets, the cinnamon rolls, the diet cola, the popcorn, the pretzels and the rotisserie chicken...and then there it was. Progresso vegetable soup. It looked warm and tasty and--best of all--wouldn't do much harm to my now sensitive stomach. I cracked under pressure and took the sample. Within a few seconds it was over. I had compromised my values; I had given in. I had justified it completely. Afterall, it was only liquid, I was behind on my daily allotted quantity and I had already suffered through a sinus infection--I deserved it!

The question I pose to you all is, "Am I justified in this exception or have I fully compromised this diet by today's slip?" FOr consistency's sake, let's suppose I stay true the remaining 6 days. What do you think?