I read my first Dave Ramsey book almost 6 years ago - it was The Total Money Makeover. It is a fantastic book and is great for anybody who wants to know how to control their money instead of letting it control them. To many people don't have as much control as they would like to think that they do when it comes to money. I eventually started listening to him on the radio and really listening to the things he has to teach. I found him quite inspiring.
Recently Dave published a book on his experiences in building a business. That is Entreleadership. I have loved listening to Dave talk about his business and the things he did for his team. As the book was being released I subscribed to the podcast he was creating to talk about being an entreleader. An entreleader is a combination Entrepreneur and business leader. He talks about leading with the enthusiasm and desire you need to build your business and leading the people in your organization to want to build your business. Almost like building a business full of people with an entrepreneurial attitude. As someone who had a small business that failed, it inspired me and helped me look at things I was to do when I try again. As I read both of these books, I couldn't help but be inspired in one way or another. With this book I found myself listing ideas on that I want to implement when I open my guitar store. Things to make it unique, things to get it started. I even found myself listing brands of instruments I want to sell and how I want to market my store. 
While I have always had this desire to open my own music store, lately I have been forcing myself to really focus on what I want to do with my life. I love the idea of selling musical instruments and I find that I still want to do that, but as something on the side a little later on after I know that my family has some security while I am building it. Plus, I want my family to be involved in helping me build it. However, at the back of mind I have been seeking for what I really want to do with my life. It has been somewhat of a struggle. I felt spiritually guided to study music as my undergrad, and I am very thankful that I did, but I have never really figured out what to do with it. So I started by looking at what I really enjoy doing. Being in music taught me that I love being in front of people. I love performing and teaching. Teaching is something that comes naturally to me. I think I love it so much because I love being able to help people better their lives. I taught a personal finances for the Financial Aid Dept. at BYU-Idaho for a semester and i really felt that the things I was helping them understand was lighting a light bulb in their mind. Helping them see what their money could really do for them if they were smart was a fantastic feeling. I have taught multiple religion classes, private music lessons, and financial discussions and I have consistently been complimented on my ability. I know that its not so much because of how great I am as much as knowing the Lord has blessed me with this talent to help others. For a while I was starting to study Business for my MBA and go into business training. On the one hand, I loved the idea, but on the other hand I had doubts about if that is the right direction still.
I recently read a book titled Me in the Making by Dr. Walter Milton Jr. I had an opportunity to meet Dr. Milton and he gave me this book. I started reading it with my wife, but didn't keep up with her. I saw it on the shelf recently and decided I needed to get it out and try again. I finished it quite quickly and felt so inspired by his story. His ideas for working with kids and his desire to help them lift themselves up is how I see myself moving forward in this life and with my career. I recommend his book to anyone who wants to teach, or work in the education system, or who has kids that will be educated in a school. As I read his story of becoming an administrator he said that the best administrators love to teach and are leaders. As I read that I thought about how much I love to teach and that the things I have done with business and in my life have helped me develop a talent with leadership. Again, something I feel I have been blessed with. I decided that what I need to do now is get a Masters in Education and work towards becoming an administrator. 
The next book I read was More than Enough by Dave Ramsey. There were a lot of lessons in there that helped guide me with the things I am going through in life right now. It helped me realize that as much as I want to get a house, I need to be content with the apartment that I am living in. I received many lessons that I feel will help me on the path of having "more than enough," as he keeps stating in the book. But one very important thing that it helped me out with is bringing peace to my mind that education is the correct path for me. Part of that inspiration comes from that fact that it seemed like every book I read gave me another idea to consider as a career path, and I figured this book would do the same; but as I continued to read it, all I could see was how being an administrator would help me with that path. It has become a comfortable fit and even has begun to excite me as I think of the possibilities with that path.
I guess more than anything, what I want to say in this post is a thank you to Dave Ramsey, and even Dr. Milton, and their inspiring words that have helped be a guiding light to me. For inspiring me to lead in business and love to teach. I am grateful for the books I have read and the others that I will continue to read as I continue on this journey.
