Starting & Growing My Business

Starting and Growing My Business

This self-reliance group will help you learn to make wise business decisions as you start or grow a business. The goal of this group is not only to help you with your business; it is also to help you act in greater obedience and faith in the Lord and receive His promised blessings of temporal and spiritual self-reliance. Members learn key business skills such as identifying customer needs, finding customers, and keeping good business records. This workbook includes the booklet My Foundation for Self-Reliance

CAN THIS GROUP HELP ME START OR GROW A BUSINESS?

It’s not easy to start or grow a business, but your self-reliance group will help you learn to make wise business decisions. In group meetings, you will commit to do specific actions. The group will give you new ideas and encourage you. The goal of this group is not only to help you with your business; it is also to help you act in greater obedience and faith in the Lord and receive His promised blessings of temporal and spiritual self-reliance.

WHAT DO GROUP MEMBERS DO?

WHAT IS A SELF-RELIANCE GROUP?

A self-reliance group is different from most Church classes, lessons, andworkshops. There are no teachers, leaders, or trainers. Members of thegroup learn together and support and encourage one another. We hold each other accountable for our commitments and we counsel together to solve problems.

At meetings, group members commit to act. We not only learn but alsodo the things that make us self-reliant. We make commitments, help each other keep the commitments, and report our progress. Because thegroup works as a council, it is important to attend meetings regularly and on time. Always bring this workbook and the booklets My Foundation:Principles, Skills, Habits and My Path to Self-Reliance. Each group meeting should take about two hours. Acting on our commitments will take one to two hours per day.

WHAT DO GROUP FACILITATORS DO?

Facilitators are not experts in business or teaching. They do not lead or teach the group. They simply help the group follow the materials exactly as they are written. A self-reliance specialist typically facilitates group meetings; however, group members may be assigned to facilitate after several weeks, if needed. To learn more, see the Leader Guide and videos atsrs.lds.org.

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION

Group members who attend meetings and keep commitments will qualify to receive two certificates from Ensign College: a certificate in business entrepreneurship (see pages 197–198 for requirements) and aself-reliance certificate (see page 29 in My Foundation ).