Learn

Maximum Time: 105 Minutes

1. Continuing My Self-Reliance Group

Read:

After completing the Starting and Growing My Business for Self-Reliance course, some groups choose to continue meeting together but less frequently. They find value in consistently learning together, supporting each other in growing their businesses, and working to overcome challenges.

If you choose to continue meeting, select a group leader and establish a meeting schedule. The current facilitator does not need to be the group leader. The leader communicates with the group and works to ensure that the meetings are well organized and helpful to each member. The leader should plan topics and create an agenda for each meeting based on input from the group. The agenda may include such activities as listening to a guest speaker, discussing a business-related book that group members have read in advance, or working together to develop business skills.

Some groups also organize group texts so they can communicate regularly. They offer encouragement; share articles, videos, and other content; and recommend business contacts and resources. To facilitate additional networking experiences, you may want to coordinate with your stake self-reliance specialist to arrange a meeting for members of your group and others in the stake who have completed the course.

Discuss:

Would you like to continue meeting as a group? If so, discuss how you would like to stay in contact to support each other in growing your businesses.

2. My Path to Self-Reliance

Read:

During the past 12 weeks you have established new habits and become more self-reliant. The Lord wants you to continue building on these abilities and developing new ones. As you pray and listen, the Holy Ghost can help you know what things in your life you need to improve.

Discuss:

What changes have you seen in your life during the past 12 weeks as you’ve attended group meetings, kept commitments, and worked to become more self-reliant?

Read:

There are many ways you can continue to work to become more self-reliant. You could:

• Study and continue to live the 12 “My Foundation” principles and habits of self-reliance.

• Continue helping members of your group.

• Share what you’ve learned and your testimony of self-reliance with others at church and in your community.

• Be a facilitator for a new self-reliance group.

• Build on your abilities by participating in one of the other self-reliance groups.

• Study the doctrinal principles of self-reliance below.

Doctrinal Principles of Self-Reliance
Self-Reliance Is a Commandment	The Lord’s Purpose Is to Provide for His Saints, and He Has All Power to Do So	The Temporal and the Spiritual Are One
Doctrine and Covenants 78:13–14; Moses 2:27–28	Doctrine and Covenants 104:15; John 10:10; Matthew 28:18; Colossians 2:6–10	Doctrine and Covenants 29:34; Alma 34:20–25

Discuss:

• What can you do to continue progressing on your own path to self-reliance?

• What can you do to champion self-reliance within your stake and community?

Activity (5 minutes)

Individually write your answer to the following question: What actions can I take in the coming weeks to help myself and my family become more self-reliant?

Read:

As you continue your path to self-reliance, remember the following counsel from Elder Marvin J. Ashton: “The Lord cares enough about us to give us direction for serving and the opportunity for developing self-reliance. His principles are consistent and never changing” (“Give with Wisdom That They May Receive with Dignity,” Ensign, Nov. 1981, 91).

The prophet Nephi counseled: “And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this … path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save. … Ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ” (2 Nephi 31:19–20).

3. Presenting My Business

Note to the facilitator: If you have not done so already, introduce the guests who will provide feedback during the presentations.

Read:

One of our key business skills is selling. Successful business owners talk with potential customers every day—both formally and informally—to share their business message, to gain feedback, and ultimately to generate sales. Today we will deliver business presentations to our group members and to guests who have joined us.

The purpose of your business presentation is to clearly communicate the value that your business offers. The facilitator, guests, and group members should not assess your presentation skills, but instead should provide ideas on developing or improving various elements of your business. Going forward, you will likely have additional opportunities to promote your business as you sell, build relationships, recruit partners or investors, or seek financing.

Your presentation should include information about:

• The customer need your business will address.

• The service or product you will offer.

• Your competitive advantage.

• Your target customers.

• Your plan to acquire your target customers.

• The resources you will need for your business.

• Evidence that your business can be profitable.

• The next steps you will take to move your business forward.

Activity (60–90 minutes depending on the number of presentations)

Presentations should be given according to the following guidelines.

Before the Presentations Assign a timekeeper.

During Each Presentation The presentation should be five minutes or less. The facilitator and guests fill out a presentation feedback form (see the “Commit” section in chapter 12).

After Each Presentation The facilitator and guests take five minutes to ask questions and provide feedback. If there’s time, group members can also participate. The facilitator and guests hand the feedback forms to the presenter.