Kristi Gustafson

As I finish out this course, I have been asked to consider if I had one final lecture to share with a group of students on what I have learned from this course, what would I share.    This is a funny question to me because I have been compiling all of my favorite talks and lessons so that I can share this information with the girls in my stake. I am currently serving in the stake young women’s presidency and am in charge of organizing camp this year. As I met with the Youth Camp Leaders (girls 16-17 years old) a couple of months ago to start brainstorming on what the girls in our stake need, they all shared the desire to know Heavenly Father’s will for them by understanding their gifts and talents and being motivated and brave enough to pursue their life’s journey. What a tender mercy that I have been tutored this semester in this very subject. I think one of the main things I will help them see is that they should dream big but start with small steps. I do not want them to g...

The article in our reading that I learned most from is titled, "Identifying and exploiting the right entrepreneurial opportunity..for you." This really got me thinking about my dreams and how to turn them into real, attainable goals. The first goal is to identify an idea that addresses some social need. I can see the value in this concept, because if the idea does not connect with or elevate with someone, than you will not gain any traction in your idea. I am a hand letterer that can do calligraphy, chalk lettering, sign lettering, and digital lettering. I opened an Etsy shop with products that followed all of the current trends and I thought I would do so well. But I didn't because I was in a sea of the exact same fish. Nothing set me apart. My product did not elevate anyone or meet a social need. This is where I need to dig deep and ask what can I offer to the world, and what does the world need from me. There are two other parts of the equation w...

Virtue and integrity are vital to an economy because the laws that the markets are governed by depend on these virtues. If they do not stay intact, then the entire structure of the market will become so unreliable that no one will trust the system. If this happens the markets will empty. We are getting dangerously close to this scenario. The main reason for our increasing distrust is because business leaders are putting enormous amounts of priority into the shareholder value. Playing the game with these new rules motivates companies to make decisions that center around a company's share price. These decisions could increase profits like cutting expenditures, but at what price!? We are seeing that businesses are putting more value in taking care of itself before caring for others. Now is where virtue and integrity need to insert themselves onto the scene if we want to prevent a deteriorating market. We are seeing a surge in this somewhat within the last ...

What is your attitude toward money? It is interesting that this question comes up this week because after visiting Utah for Thanksgiving, I realized how much my attitude toward money was influenced by my family. My family consisted of seven children and a stay at home mom and my dad whose income fluctuated quite a bit. We had enough, but not a lot. Money was seen with spite and prejudice in my home. I guess not having money is an easier pill to swallow if it is seen as evil. Even now, my siblings and parents all have good incomes but conversations I heard this week made it obvious that their attitude toward money has not changed much. I truly have a fear of money, but have been able to change a little thanks to a husband who has a healthier relationship with money. How can your view of money affect the way you live? With a healthy attitude toward money, you are more knowledgable about how it can not only benefit you but also those around you. If you are scared of it ...