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Mormon Missions: Startup Accelerators?

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Re: Mormon Missions: Startup Accelerators?

#11

Post by thetrumanshow »

I once had a pastor who was a used-car salesman. It seemed like the worst kind of conflict-of-interest.

Young pastors, especially in the independent circuit (ie. not a seminary) are hustlers. They get told "NO!!!" a lot and it makes them very resilient. But, I don't think it necessarily makes them good salesmen which is what you need to be in a startup.

The kind of sales that missionaries (and pastors alike) are suited for is the pushy kind where you force fit your solution on top of any circumstance. The kind of sales a start-up needs to do (IMO) is the kind where you understand the businesses problems and provide a solution that meets the business requirement.

Re: Mormon Missions: Startup Accelerators?

#12

Post by ezl »

love this.

some of the discussion notes here seem to center on whether the requirements of serving mormon missions is a driver for entrepreneurship, but i think the obvious real story here is that 2 years of truly focused, single minded dedication to a cause is the sort of tenacity that most people in (American) society never really experience.

Tenacity and focus seem to be huge drivers in startup success.

I don't know about "mission == ultimate startup accelerator" but I'd back the claim that it's the sort of mental training ground that I don't think much else in American life stands up against.

Re: Mormon Missions: Startup Accelerators?

#13

Post by ezl »

ezl wrote: post #12

love this. some of the discussion notes here seem to center on whether the requirements of serving mormon missions is a driver for entrepreneurship, but i think the obvious real story here is that 2 years of truly focused, single minded dedication to a cause is the sort of tenacity that most people in (American) society never really experience. Tenacity and focus seem to be huge drivers in startup success. I don't kn…

I'd also love anything other than anecdotal evidence from Mormons that UT or Mormons produce a disproportionately large number of businesses or entrepreneurs -- I'll happily bet on CA, NY, and FL for state entrepreneurship rates.

Re: Mormon Missions: Startup Accelerators?

#14

Post by saosebastiao »

ezl wrote: post #13
ezl wrote: post #12

love this. some of the discussion notes here seem to center on whether the requirements of serving mormon missions is a driver for entrepreneurship, but i think the obvious real story here is that 2 years of truly focused, single minded dedication to a cause is the sort of tenacity that most people in (American) society never really experience. Tenacity and focus seem to be huge drivers in startup success. I don't kn…

I'd also love anything other than anecdotal evidence from Mormons that UT or Mormons produce a disproportionately large number of businesses or entrepreneurs -- I'll happily bet on CA, NY, and FL for state entrepreneurship rates.

And you would win that bet.

http://www.kauffman.org/research-and-policy/kiea-interactive...

Edit: I found it interesting that the state of Utah has one of the worst bankruptcy rates in the nation, while Vermont has one of the lowest...despite being the second highest in entrepreneurship activity, and being the least religious to boot.

Re: Mormon Missions: Startup Accelerators?

#15

Post by sofal »

Missions orient you much more towards multi-level marketing sales, where you're pushing a one-size-fits-all solution onto everyone you meet using any tactic that could possibly work. This is a big part of the reason why MLM companies flourish in Provo. While some of this "tenacity" may work for some types of startups, I rather think that in a startup you'd want to tailor your solution to fit people's problems rather than vice versa.

Re: Mormon Missions: Startup Accelerators?

#16

Post by _greim_ »

It saddens me that so much human effort and dedication would be wasted trying to convince more people to become Mormons. I'm glad it at least has a positive outcome of teaching people dedication. I know a few Evangelical missionaries, but it seems like a majority of their efforts are in improving peoples' lives, like building houses, teaching language, etc. I certainly hope Mormon missionaries do the same. Not saying they don't, it just seems like the emphasis is on conversion.

Re: Mormon Missions: Startup Accelerators?

#17

Post by jtsnow »

Here are some other tidbits from missionary life that haven't been mentioned:

- Mentorship and training offered by relatively successful individuals.

- Most will have some form of leadership responsibility. Typically can range from overseeing 4 to 30 individuals.

- Complete escape from media: no news, music, TV, etc.

- 2 hours of study daily

- 30 minutes exercise each morning. (Opportunity exists for longer recreation/exercise once per week.)

- Obviously being immersed in a different culture is a unique experience. Missionaries will talk to anyone willing to have a conversation and work with local church members. This leads to experiences one wouldn't have even if one were to move to the same place and get a job.

Re: Mormon Missions: Startup Accelerators?

#18

Post by gadders »

jtsnow wrote: post #17

Here are some other tidbits from missionary life that haven't been mentioned: - Mentorship and training offered by relatively successful individuals. - Most will have some form of leadership responsibility. Typically can range from overseeing 4 to 30 individuals. - Complete escape from media: no news, music, TV, etc. - 2 hours of study daily - 30 minutes exercise each morning. (Opportunity exists for longer recreatio…

Leaving the religion aside, I think sending any young person from Country A to Country B during their formative years can only be a good thing, I'd have thought.

Re: Mormon Missions: Startup Accelerators?

#19

Post by Osiris »

saosebastiao wrote: post #10

It certainly sounds like the typical MTC propaghanda..."work hard on your mission and you'll be blessed with financial success and a hot wife". My own anecdotal evidence is that I have had twice as much financial success, and an even more amazing marriage since I left the church. And some of the more faithful mission companions I've had are still waiting around for their blessings. There are plenty of person accelera…

It sounds like you're equating the 'blessings' of mission service to be 'financial success'. It's important to make the distinction between the spiritual and the temporal. The goals of religion, in generally, are spiritual in nature; for example, learning charity, compassion, forgiveness, kindness, and other non-tangible character attributes.

It's possible that in learning these character attributes (such as through protracted service) can lead to the ability to gain temporal rewards, but it's not a given, nor is it the goal.

If you recall, in the New Testament Jesus makes it clear that temporal gain is often a hindrance to improving one's spirituality and character and thus we should be careful to avoid the pitfalls associated with it, such as pride.

Yes, I served a mission, but the 'blessings' I received from the experience are personal and spiritual in nature, and not material or temporal.

Re: Mormon Missions: Startup Accelerators?

#20

Post by Osiris »

gadders wrote: post #18
jtsnow wrote: post #17

Here are some other tidbits from missionary life that haven't been mentioned: - Mentorship and training offered by relatively successful individuals. - Most will have some form of leadership responsibility. Typically can range from overseeing 4 to 30 individuals. - Complete escape from media: no news, music, TV, etc. - 2 hours of study daily - 30 minutes exercise each morning. (Opportunity exists for longer recreatio…

Leaving the religion aside, I think sending any young person from Country A to Country B during their formative years can only be a good thing, I'd have thought.

I believe that a big problem we have in the U.S. is that, given the size of the country, nearly no Americans, let alone teenagers, have any experience with another culture. In my opinion, this lack of exposure results in prejudice that is prevalent today, especially coming from the 'conservative' ideology.

Compare that to Europe where it's a train ride to another country, language, and culture.

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