30A – Final Reflection

1. One of my lows of this class was having to record my elevator pitch a million times because I kept messing up. I kind of enjoyed doing the bug list because it showed me how many opportunities there are to create ideas to solve problems. I also thought creating a customer avatar was pretty fun because it brought my potential customer to life. I also missed a cupcake or two because I always left them for last, and then I'd forget to do them because my Mondays are so busy. I fixed that problem, though.

2. I think the most formative experience was coming up with a business idea in general. You can learn about entrepreneurship all you want, but until you apply the knowledge, it doesn't really stick. We were asked to dive so deep into all aspects of our business ideas and were asked questions we wouldn't have even thought about. I'm most proud of myself for completing all of the actual assignment posts for this course, because with how many there are I thought at the beginning that I might end up missing one or two.

3. I definitely think that now I have much more or an entrepreneurial mindset. I like the concepts of opportunity belief and exploiting those beliefs because it makes so much sense. You can't really start a business if you don't have the belief that there is an opportunity. As I mentioned before, we were asked to dive so deep into our ideas, and we thought about aspects of our businesses that we wouldn't have otherwise thought of before this class. We might have completely missed these details of our businesses had we not taken this class.

4. The main thing I recommend for this course is time management. Some assignments are easier than others, and it's better to look at the assignments ahead of time to be able to have enough time to finish them. I also think creativity is really important in this course. There are many assignments, if not all of them, that require a great deal of creativity to complete. I also think after taking this course that in general, entrepreneurs must have creative minds.

29A – Venture Concept No. 2

Business name: Easy Park App

Opportunity: I saw the opportunity where I live, in Gainesville. Parking is so horrible here, and my friends and I are always driving around for so long looking for a place to park. All of us have city parking decals, but they over-sell them so much that there aren't enough spaces for everyone that bought a decal. I also noticed this opportunity because when my parents come to visit me in Gainesville, they have trouble with finding parking, too. They end up having to pay so much money just to park on game day. People who have this need can include people who live in high-volume areas, people who attend big events such as sports games or concerts, and people who work in downtown areas with few areas to park. These people are forced to drive around for longer than they want to, they have to pay parking tickets, or they have to pay to be able to park. This opportunity is pretty big in my opinion because so many people have this need, especially where I live. I think this window of opportunity will be open for a long time, especially if no one else comes out with a similar idea.

Innovation: My idea to solve the problem of not being able to find places to park is to create an app that can assist with this. The app will have a map of all parking areas in the area, along with plenty of other information. Information attached to each area of parking will include the laws and restrictions on the parking spaces, such as whether you need a decal or a permit to park there. Another thing that will be included in each listing of parking spaces is whether or not the parking is free, and if it isn't, it will include the price. How the app will get updated is through its users. Users will be able to add to the listings and will be able to report any inaccurate information. They will also be able to comment on each listing with any additional information that might be beneficial for other users to know. Through this app, users will be able to find parking that they might not have thought of/known existed. They will also be able to find the cheapest areas to park, and they'll be able to figure out which spots they are not allowed to park in before they even get there. The app will sell for a small one-time fee of $3.99. There will also be ad banners in the app to generate more revenue. The $3.99 price tag is a small price to pay considering how much money the user could save by using the app.

Venture Concept: This app would help users find cheaper parking that is as close as possible to where they need to be. Users might discover new lots and spaces that they didn't know of or know existed. I think customers would use my app because it can save them money and time. I think my low price point is important because if it were too expensive people wouldn't be able to justify spending that much on an app. I think it's also important that my app is well-designed so that it is easy to use. I would hire an app developer because I wouldn't know how to make an app. I would also have a business partner to help with obtaining resources and money to start up the business. I recognize that this would mean splitting the profits, but I think that this is worth it because of how much I would get out of having a business parter. It would provide double the resources and new ideas necessary to starting the business. I might also employ someone to help me with the financial aspects of running this app because I don't know much about business finance.

Three minor elements:

- I think the most important resource would be a business partner. I think this is the most important because they're bringing several resources to the table that I otherwise wouldn't have. It would pretty much mean that my business would have double the resources contributed towards it. I would be splitting the profit, but I would be putting forth less of my own money towards the business. They would also contribute financially to help start up the business and help run the business. They could have connections that I might not have that could help grow our business. They could also provide ideas for the app that I might not have though of, and had experiences with the need that I might not have had.

- I think that what's next for the venture would be to partner with companies with unused parking spaces and offer premium subscriptions through my app to be able to park there. This would be a recurring fee, most likely a monthly fee. The companies offering up these spots would have a new source of income that they probably wouldn't have gotten without our customers. It's pretty much like renting out an unused spot. It would be easier for them to let our app do the work and have the subscription go through our app. They wouldn't have to go through the trouble of finding someone to rent it out to. It would be much easier for the renter and the subscriber to find each other through my app, and it would also include contracts so the business doesn't have to worry about anything but making money from it. My business would take a small percentage of the recurring fee.

- In five years, I would want my app to be used nation wide in bigger cities. I would want to be partnered with many businesses in offering subscriptions to my customers for premium parking spots. My first venture would help me achieve my vision because it would teach me so much about running a business and it would open doors to knew business ventures, like the premium subscription idea I discussed previously, to exploit even more opportunities.

2. Someone mentioned to remember that if I have a business partner, I have to remember that I'll be splitting the overall profit. It was also said a couple times that a business partner sounds like it would be very beneficial to my business. Someone also expressed some confusion about the premium subscription idea.

3. I provided more explanation on the business partner portion of this post. I added that having a business partner is worth splitting the profits, because in return my business will have more resources, financial support, and connections that it wouldn't otherwise have. I also mentioned that having a business partner would also relieve some of the financial strain off of me, because while I'd be making less money, I'd also be spending less money. I also added more detail to the premium subscription description to clear up confusion about profits and logistics. 

4. 

28A – Your Exit Strategy

1. I would probably sell my business eventually. I would try to build it up as much as possible so it's more valuable and then sell it.

2. I have selected this exit strategy because, honestly, it's the easiest one. It's easier to do than build up the business for the rest of my life, constantly having to put time, energy, and ideas into it. After selling it, I could put my money into another business I care more about or am passionate about, or just use the money to live off of for the rest of my life if I made enough from selling it.

3. I don't think my exit strategy has influenced my decision-making thus far, because I have never thought about my exit strategy before now. However, if this were a real business and I was making decisions in real time, I would be trying to make the business as attractive and valuable so it would be easier to sell when the time came. I might not make any decisions that force me to stay with the business long-term. I would want the business to grow as fast and as much as possible so I could sell it for as much money as possible.

26A – Celebrating Failure

1. This semester has gone pretty well for me because I have relatively easy classes. I don't have any huge failures, but it has felt like it at times. In one of my classes, I got a C- on one of my papers. This wasn't a huge deal, but I was pretty upset because this paper counted for a huge portion of my grade. It brought my grade down to a B, which I also know isn't a huge deal, but I am trying to revive my GPA after a horrible fall semester. I wanted to get all A's, especially since I have an easy course load. It was a pretty long paper; it ended up being around 12 pages of writing. The crazy and stupid part, though, the part that made me do poorly, is that I did it in one night. I planned on giving myself two nights to do it, but the night before it was due I went to a party, so I had to complete it the night before that. I have literally no idea how I did that.

2. I learned yet again that it is a horrible idea to wait until the last minute to do something big and important. Procrastination is never a good idea. It definitely changed my ways a little bit because of how stressed out it had me and how disappointed I was when I saw my grade. I was stressing about the paper weeks before it was due, yet I still decided to do it two nights before and I still decided to go to a party instead of giving myself more time to complete it. The party didn't even end up being worth it, so it was also more in my head to always put school before my social life.

3. Failure is very hard, and I have always taken it badly. I hate to fail, and I think everyone else does, too. I always get so mad at myself for my failures and am very hard on myself. However, I do think failures have a silver lining. Failing makes you realize what you did wrong and helps you to succeed in future endeavors. Failing at something once makes you much less likely to fail at it the second time because you've learned what not to do. I think that this class has taught me that failures aren't always a bad thing because they almost always teach you something important. Getting a C- on my paper taught me not to procrastinate on writing a paper. In the case of procrastinating writing a huge paper, I don't think I'm very likely to take that risk again, because it taught me that it would only result in a C- (in other words, failure).

27A - Reading Reflection No. 3

(Following instructions from Reading Reflection No. 2)
Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

1. The general theme of the book was about the way people think. The author talks about two systems when it comes to making decisions. System one is quicker thinking; the kind of thinking we think we do without thinking, if that makes sense. Thinking that is almost automatic. System two is a more slow way of thinking; the kind of thinking we concentrate on and spend more time on. With these two systems in mind, we are constantly making decisions to avoid risk in any way we can. He also discusses the fact that the past is more unknown than most people think. We tend to think that we know everything about what's already happened: our past. According to Kahneman, the past is more unknown than most people think. Because of the assumption that we know everything about our past, we tend to think we know what will be in our future, but that's also not necessarily true. A lot of our memories that we think of when making decisions could be deceiving or just flat-out wrong.

2. I think that for what this classes is generally teaching about, entrepreneurship, it is important to understand the way we think. There is a lot of risk involved in entrepreneurial activities, and this relates to what Kahneman is talking about in the book. It makes sense as an entrepreneur to do anything and everything you can to avoid risk. I think that many entrepreneurs would use a system two way of thinking, because there is a lot of risks involved in decision-making when you have a business or a business idea, so you need to take more time to think about these decisions.

3. An exercise I would give a class based on this book is to create a list of 10 decisions that would require system one thinking and 10 decisions that would require system two thinking, and explain why each decision is categorized in its system.

4. I think the part that surprised me the most is when he was talking about what we know about our past. He discusses the fact that a lot of our memories can be wrong, which shocked me. The more I thought about it, though, the more I realized it was true. Remembering things incorrectly happens so often, yet we still trust our memory so much. It makes sense to me when he said that because we think we know so much about the past, we think we know so much about the future.
This really resonated with me because of how much I agree with it. We don't know anything about the future; we might have some good guesses, but nothing is promised. I think that the state the world is in today is a great example of that, because five months ago none of us were expecting a worldwide pandemic that would change our lives.

25A – What’s Next?

Existing market

Step 1: I think that whats next for my venture is to partner with companies with unused parking spaces and offer premium subscriptions through my app to be able to park there. This would be beneficial to all three parties involved: my customer, the company/business, and my business. The customer would have better parking spots, the companies would be receiving a portion of the monthly subscription fee that the customer is paying, and so would my business. I think this is a good idea because the company might have unused parking spaces that they might want to sell but might not know how to advertise it. I could sell these through my app to customers who already use the app.

Step 2: No interview

Step 3: I think people would agree with me that this next step with subscriptions is a good idea. I think this would help grow my business financially because it would be an extra source of revenue and people would be interested in it because it would mean better and private parking spots that they know will always be there for them to park. It would be very a very reliable way to park.

New market

Step 1: I think that I would be targeting people trying to save money with my original business idea. I think people would use my app to be able to find the cheapest parking in high-volume areas. I think that my new business venture would cater more to people who are willing to spend more because they'd be paying more for a subscription.

Step 2: My venture concept would create value for people in this market because I think that people who have more money might be willing to spend this extra money on a better parking spot that's closer to where they need to go, is more reliable, and will always be there.

Step 3: No interview

Step 4: I believe that this new venture would provide a great second source of revenue for my business. I also think that this venture would open my business up to a new market of people who are willing to spend more money to be able to save time when parking. Many people would be open to the concept of spending money each month to have a great parking spot near where they need to be and where they know it will always be so no one else can take it.
I don't think this new market is quite as attractive as my existing market. The reason for this is that my existing market had a much more urgent need. They are probably looking to save money and time, which my app would help them do. The new market is looking for a less-needed service. They could use my app regularly and they would still save money or time, but they probably don't need to buy a subscription for a better parking space.

24A – Venture Concept No. 1

Business name: Easy Park App

Opportunity: I saw an opportunity here where I live in Gainesville. Parking here is terrible, and I always find myself driving around for up to an hour looking for a parking spot. So many of my friends who live in the area have experienced this problem, too. Many of us have parking decals, but they over-sell them to the point where the spaces get over-crowded, so many people are not able to find a spot. My parents come to visit me during game day weekends and notice this problem too. They will often have to pay upwards of $20 for parking even though their parking spots are over a half a mile away from the stadium. People who have this need can include people who live in high-volume areas, people who attend big events such as sports games or concerts, and people who work in downtown areas with few areas to park. These people are forced to drive around for longer than they want to, they have to pay parking tickets, or they have to pay to be able to park. I think this opportunity is pretty big because many people have this need, especially where I live. I think this window of opportunity will be open for a long time, especially if no one else comes out with a similar idea.

Innovation: My idea to solve the problem of not being able to find places to park is to create an app that can assist with this. The app will have a map of all parking areas in the area, along with plenty of other information. Information attached to each area of parking will include the laws and restrictions on the parking spaces, such as whether you need a decal or a permit to park there. Another thing that will be included in each listing of parking spaces is whether or not the parking is free, and if it isn't, it will include the price. How the app will get updated is through its users. Users will be able to add to the listings and will be able to report any inaccurate information. They will also be able to comment on each listing with any additional information that might be beneficial for other users to know. Through this app, users will be able to find parking that they might not have thought of/known existed. They will also be able to find the cheapest areas to park, and they'll be able to figure out which spots they are not allowed to park in before they even get there. The app will sell for a small one-time fee of $3.99. There will also be ad banners in the app to generate more revenue. The $3.99 price tag is a small price to pay considering how much money the user could save by using the app.

Venture Concept: This app would help users find cheaper parking that is as close as possible to where they need to be. Users might discover new lots and spaces that they didn't know of or know existed. I think customers would use my app because it can save them money and time. I think my low price point is important because if it were too expensive people wouldn't be able to justify spending that much on an app. I think it's also important that my app is well-designed so that it is easy to use. I would hire an app developer because I wouldn't know how to make an app. I would also have a business partner to help with obtaining resources and money to start up the business. I might also employ someone to help me with the financial aspects of running this app because I don't know much about business finance.

Three minor elements:
- I think the most important resource would be a business partner. I think this is the most important because they're bringing several resources to the table that I otherwise wouldn't have. They would also contribute financially to help start up the business and help run the business. They could also provide ideas for the app that I might not have though of, and had experiences with the need that I might not have had.
- I think that what's next for the venture would be to partner with companies with unused parking spaces and offer premium subscriptions through my app to be able to park there. This would be a recurring fee, most likely a monthly fee. The companies offering up these spots would have a new source of income that they probably wouldn't have gotten without our customers. It would be easier for them to let our app do the work and have the subscription go through our app.
- In five years, I would want my app to be used nation wide in bigger cities. I would want to be partnered with many businesses in offering subscriptions to my customers for premium parking spots. My first venture would help me achieve my vision because it would teach me so much about running a business and it would open doors to knew business ventures, like the premium subscription idea I discussed previously, to exploit even more opportunities.

23A

1. Connection with a fellow business owner that owns a business similar to my idea

- It is valuable because he can teach me many things about starting a business.

- I think it's somewhat rare because not everyone has a connection with someone who has a business that is so similar to their idea.

- I don't think it's hard to copy because you can simply contact the owner of a business similar to your idea.

- I don't think any other resources could provide the same benefits.


2. Connection with an app developer

- It is valuable because he could help design and develop my app if I actually decided to create it.

- It's not rare because you can find them very easily.

- It's not hard to copy because you can do a quick google search to find them.

- I could make a connection with a different app developer and this could provide the same benefits.


3. Experience with the problem I am trying to solve by creating this business

- It's valuable because it can help me develop my business to be as helpful as possible. Because I have experienced this need, I can cater to it better.

- It might be somewhat rare because not everyone has experienced the need that they are trying to satisfy.

- It would be hard to copy because it's not an experience that you can recreate on purpose.

- I don't think anything else could provide the same benefits. Maybe knowing someone who has experienced this might help, but it still wouldn't be the same.


4. This class is a resource because it is teaching me things that could help in beginning this business.

- It's valuable because it's teaching me things that I could apply in starting a business.

- It's not very rare because many people take this class.

- It's not hard to copy because many people are able to take this class.

- I think similar classes could provide similar knowledge/benefits.


5. Contact with someone who works for the City of Gainesville and deals with parking

- It's valuable because they can recommend to people who buy decals to also download my app.

- It might be rare because not many people have the connection with someone who can refer your product or service to their customers.

- It's not hard to copy because anyone could call and speak with this person.

- I don't think many other connections could provide this same benefit.


6. I know several people who struggle with parking who would download and recommend my app to other people

- It's valuable because they would become my customers and also refer my service to their friends to get it circulating more.

- It's probably not rare because most business-owners have friends who experience the need they're trying to solve.

- It's not hard to copy because many people have this resource anyway, but it would be hard to get if you didn't already have it. You'd have to get connected with people who experience the need you are trying to satisfy.

- This is similar to #5 because they can both provide more customers by referring people to my business.


7. I have money saved up

- It's valuable because it can help pay for the things necessary to start my business.

- It's not rare because most people starting a business have saved up for it.

- It's not hard to copy because many people can save money, it just takes time.

- No other resources can provide this same benefit other than getting investors and loans. The only alternative would be to get things for free, which wouldn't happen.


8. In an area where my business idea would work very well

- It's valuable because parking in Gainesville is difficult, and my app would help with that. Because parking it so bad here, more people would be likely to download my app.

- It's not rare because many people live in an area where the need is very prevalent.

- It might be hard to copy because if you don't live in an area where your need is prevalent, you'd have to move in order to change this.

- No other resources could provide this benefit other than visiting the area.


9. Family to invest in my business

- It's valuable because it would provide money to pay for things I need to start my business.

- It's probably not rare because many other people have this resource too.

- It's not hard to copy because if they are willing, all you would have to do is ask.

- Money in savings could provide this same benefit.


10. Connections with people who could help me with my business/be my business partners.

- It's valuable because they can contribute their own resources and money to the business.

- It's might be rare because many people might not have friends willing to take the risk of starting a business with someone.

- It's not hard to copy because you can ask many people in your life if they are willing to join you.

- The only other things that could provide the same financial benefits are my savings, loans, and investors.



I think my top resource is number 10. Having someone be a parter in my business would be the most beneficial. They bring their own multiple resources to the table. They wouldn't just help my business in one area, they would help in many. They would be contributing money to help fund the business. They would be contributing ideas to help better the business. They could have connections with people that could help get our business out there. We could also both contribute our time to it, so it doesn't have to be one person doing all the work.

22A – Elevator Pitch No. 3

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzpjI_xo2vA&t=4s

2. The feedback I got on my last post is that I did a much better job with hand gestures and being dynamic. Both of these things are important in getting the audiences attention. I also think both of these things make you seem less like you're just trying to get people's money, and more like you're trying to make a connection with them.

3. I tried including being dynamic with hand gestures again because it is clearly an important part of getting the audience's attention and seeming more natural while talking, so that I don't just look like I'm reciting or reading something. I also tried memorizing my pitch a little bit more, again so that I won't sound like I am just reading off a piece of paper. I think the more natural the pitch sounds, the more likely potential customers will find it more personable and want to try your product or service.

21A – Reading Reflection No. 2

I chose to read Chris Anderson's Makers: The New Industrial Revolution

1. Anderson talks about how there have been three revolutions. The first one was the industrial revolution, the second one was the digital revolution, and now it's digital manufacturing. Nowadays you can have robots produce products instead of having people do it.

2. I think that this book connected with what we're learning in this class because it talks about innovation. The revolution Anderson says we're in currently is pretty much all about making things more efficient. Inventors are seeing a need and an opportunity, and inventing things that satisfy the need. People who invent robots to help speed up and standardize production saw that production was less efficient, and thought of an idea to help make it more efficient.

3. If I had to design an exercise based on this book, it would be to research a recent inventor of their choosing that has contributed to the digital manufacturing revolution. Next students would answer questions about this inventor and relate them back to the book and the class. For example: How do you think this person has helped contribute to the digital manufacturing revolution? What opportunity did this person see, and how did they decide to take advantage of it?

4. I never really realized that revolutions like the industrial revolutions have happened and are happening since the Industrial Revolution. We always think of the Industrial Revolution as a huge boom and how it was a huge deal, which it was. But now, we have come such a long way with technology just in the past 25 years. Cell phones made just 15 years ago are almost unrecognizable compared to today's cell phones. It's amazing how far we've come with technology in such a short amount of time, and I'm sure people years from now will look back on this time as a revolution, just as we look back on the Industrial Revolution.

20A – Growing Your Social Capital

1. The first person I interviewed was the creator of an app that lets people sell parking. 

2. Domain expert.

3. I knew of the person through mutual friends; they are around my age. Because I knew them through mutual friends, I contacted them via Instagram direct message.

4. I talked to him about how he began his business and how he came up with the idea. The way he came up with the idea was the same as how I came up with mine: he saw a need, and tried to come up with a solution. He began his business by finding an investor that was able to help financially for him to be able to start his business. 

5. This connection would help me because he would be able to tell me how to go about starting my own app and how to market it to customers.

1. Next I interviewed someone who works for the City of Gainesville which sells neighborhood/city parking decals for street parking.

2. Market expert.

3. I found the person by calling the number I called last semester to purchase a decal. We communicated via phone call.

4. He told me that there are often complaints of people who purchased decals saying that they still can't find parking. He told me that an app like my idea would probably be beneficial to these people.

5. In the future, this person could possibly refer my app to people who have this complaint, which would grow my hypothetical business.

1. The last person I interviewed is an app developer.

2. Supplier.

3. I found this person by doing a google search for app developers and communicated with him via email.

4. He gave me a quote for how much he would charge for an app like mine because the actual application would be pretty simple. He also gave me a rundown of how the process would go if I were to have him create my app.

5. This is a valuable connection because if I wanted to actually create this app, now I know someone to help me with this process. I could hire him to create the actual app itself and help maintain the app.

I think that this experience was a very valuable one. Through this I learned how to contact people who I might need to contact for future business endeavors. I wasn't able to meet with all of them due to the pandemic, but I did ask each to call me/be called to be interviewed. The domain expert's preferred method of contact was Instagram direct message and the supplier's preferred method was email. I know now that it really is important to make connections with people in each of these three different groups. At first I thought that the market expert might not be helpful, but then I realized our businesses could potentially go hand and hand and benefit each other, so this connection would probably be one of the most helpful. I also wasn't sure how helpful the domain expert would be until I spoke to him and realized how knowledgable he is on this kind of thing and would be able to help me if I were to create this business. Before I spoke with him, I didn't even think to interview an app developer as my supplier, but he mentioned this was a key component in the process of creating his own app, and that finding a good one is essential. Each of these three people I interviewed could help my business out immensely, which I did not expect. 

19A – Idea Napkin No. 2

**3/19 With permission from the professor I have changed my opportunity belief/idea:
My new opportunity is that finding free/lifted parking is difficult.
The solution would be an app that users could update themselves to display places that you can park on a map and how expensive it would be to park there.

1. I'm a student at the University of Florida studying music. I am able to pick up and learn music and other things quickly. I think that I am able to adapt to situations well and I'm a very responsible person. I am striving to do well in school and eventually work in some part of the music industry, even though I'm not 100% sure exactly what I want to do yet. I think that my business would play a role in my life because I live in Gainesville and parking is very difficult here. I would probably use the app multiple times a week because I can never find a parking spot whenever I get home from work.

2. My business idea is an app that would focus on parking. Users would download the app and be able to see where there is parking available and how expensive it is. Users would pay a small one-time fee to purchase the app, and then they would save so much money on parking. They could also update it themselves for other users to see so that the app can have the most accurate information possible.

3. I am offering my service to pretty much anyone who has problems with finding inexpensive parking. I think that students, people who attend big sports games/concerts, and people who live in larger cities are some of the groups of people that would be able to benefit from using this app. People who would benefit from using my app are probably also trying to save money and not spend a lot on parking, and this is the main thing all of my customers would have in common.

4. My customers would pay money to use my service because they want to save money. With using the app, they will save far more money than they spent on purchasing the app. My app will also make it easier for them so they won't have to drive around for a long time just to find a parking spot that is expensive. My app will save customers time, stress, and money.

5. I think that what sets me apart from everyone else is my ability to learn quickly. I am able to pick up music, for example, way more quickly than some. I also always take responsibility for my words and actions, and am always honest with myself and others. I think that I am always striving for perfection, which is something not everyone else does.


I think that all of these elements do fit together. My customers have a need: they need to be able to park quickly and inexpensively. My solution is an app that can help them do exactly that. What all of my customers have in common is that they are trying to save money, which my app can do for them. I do believe that customers would buy my app because there is value in it for them because they have the needs listed above that my app can solve.

The main thing I did differently in this post is change my business idea. Other than that, however, I did not change the way I approached this assignment and I did it in a similar way to how I had done it before.

17A – Elevator Pitch No. 2

1.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIr0AcxkijY&t=1s

2.) One of the things that a person said when giving me feedback on my last elevator pitch was that it was good that I related the issue back to my personal experience. Another thing that they said is I should try to be more dynamic with my hand movements and should include moving around the space a little bit more. Another point I was given is that it was good that I was speaking clearly to get my point across.

3.) I still related the issue back to my personal experience and tried to make it even more personal by connecting and relating the audience to me and my family. In this pitch, I tried to be more dynamic with my hand movements and tried harder to move around the space a bit more. I continued to speak slowly enough and clearly enough that my message could be understood.

18A – Create a Customer Avatar

**With permission from professor I have changed my opportunity belief/idea:
My new opportunity is that finding free/lifted parking is difficult.
The solution would be an app that users could update themselves to display places that you can park on a map and how expensive it would be to park there.

My prototypical customer is a father in his 40s who enjoys college football. He likes to travel to Gainesville with his family (wife and two sons) in his white Chevy truck on the weekends, an hour or two away from his house, to watch Gator football. When he's not working at his office job, he loves to watch sports, any sports, on TV and yell at the players through the television. He wants his sons (aged 10 and 13) to have this passion, too, and they do. They love to watch sports with their dad. Even the father's wife has gotten into sports. No one loves them as much as him, though. When he travels to Gainesville on gameday, he'll need to find a place to park before the game. Parking on gameday in Gainesville is absolutely chaotic, so my app would help him find cheaper/free parking, so he doesn't have to waste his money on overpriced parking.

One of the only things I have in common with this football-loving dad is that I enjoy watching Gator football, too. I would probably use my app for the same reasons he would. I don't necessarily think this is a coincidence because there are a lot of people around here that enjoy it. My app isn't just for sports lovers, it's for many different types of people. 

15A – Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 2

Interviews:

My friend who is a junior in high school:
3. He says that when he is faced with the issue of not having good enough teachers or feeling he is not getting the best education he could possibly get, he asks his teachers for help. This has worked the best for him in the past. He doesn't want to have to pay to hire a tutor to teach him what his teachers can't, so money is an important factor for him.

4. Because my idea is a program for schools and not really as much a product, the school district and the county will be the one paying for the program. This is where either funding would need to be cut from other areas of the school to be able to pay for the program, or more money would have to be given to the school. He says that this alteration in funding would be worth it for a program like this.

5. He says that what would make him know that the school implementing this program is a good idea is seeing actual change within his school. If there was no change in the teachers and the incentives aren't worth it to them to actually do better, this program wouldn't be worth it. He agrees, though, that it would be worth it to give the program a shot.

A sophomore in high school:
3. She says that when she is faced with the issue of not being taught enough or in a way she can understand, her mother hires a tutor. This is because the quality of her education is the most important thing to her and money isn't as important in this decision. Using a tutor has worked well for her in the past.

4. Again the school district will be paying for the program. She agrees that funding would have to be either moved from one area, or that more funding would have to come to the school. She says that this might be worth it for a program like this if it worked.

5. Because she already uses a tutor, she doesn't know if this program would be worth it to her. She does say, however, that it might help with other students if the program worked. She says that even if this program was implemented and it worked, she would still probably use a tutor just because she knows she has successful results with one.

A senior in high school:
3. She says that when she is faced with the issue of not having good enough teachers or feeling he is not getting the best education possible, she likes to research and learn the material on her own. She knows that she could ask the teacher for help, but she much more prefers a more independent way of learning. Style is the most important thing to her in this situation, because this has worked for her in the past.

4. She also agrees that funding would have to be either moved from one area, or that more funding would have to come to the school. She also brought up the idea that students could do fundraisers.

5. She says that she thinks this program would do good things in schools, so she thinks that it would be worth it. However, she does think there is a possibility that it might not work for some, and in that case it would be a waste of money when the money could be spent somewhere else. She says, though, it would definitely be worth it to try it out.

-

6. In my interviews, each person had different priorities when it comes to solving this issue. The first interviewee said that his priority was money, the second said that her priority was quality, and the third said her priority was style. They all also had different methods of dealing with this issue. Overall, they all agreed that if the program worked, it would be worth it, but if it didn't, it would be a waste. The first and last interviewees both said it would be worth it to give the program a try.

7. I would say that many people in this segment have different priorities when it comes to this issue. However, I think all of the priorities mentioned above would be addressed through the program. Everyone agreed on how the program would be paid for, and they all said it would be worth these changes. Based on all of this, I think this program would be beneficial to all of the people I interviewed, and I think that they would all like to see this program be implemented.

16A –What’s Your Secret Sauce?

1. Describe five ways in which you think you have human capital that is truly unique.

- I think that as a person I stand up for myself so much. This can be a good thing and a bad thing. I don't let people walk all over me, but I also probably confront situations that could've been left alone. I am still proud of this trait because I will never accept someone talking down to me or putting me down.

- Another thing that I think is unique about me is that I take responsibility for my actions and words. When I realize I'm wrong, I admit it right away. When I make a mistake, I do whatever I can to fix it. I feel like I am always the first to admit my faults.

- I think that I am also a very understanding person. I am very accepting of people of all kinds, and I would never look down on or turn away someone just because they're different. I think that I can also put myself in peoples' shoes and try to understand where they were coming from in all kinds of situations.

- I am also someone who is brutally honest, which again, can be a good thing and a bad thing. Sometimes I tell people the things they want to hear, but I don't think I ever go too far. I'm always honest with how I'm feeling in friendships and relationship and I always make my feelings known.

- The last thing I'll mention is that I'm very passionate about my interests. I'm a musician and I'm studying music here at UF and I am able to put my all into it because of how much I love it. My passion for it drives me and motivates me to do the best I can in it and become as successful as I can.

2. Interviews

- My mom:
https://soundcloud.com/user-483072295/mom/s-njRSE

My mom says that I take responsibility for my actions. She also says that I'm strong and don't dwell on things.

- My best friend and roommate:
https://soundcloud.com/user-483072295/kate/s-jEiBQ

My friend Kate thinks that I am good at balancing things in my life. She says that I have a good work ethic and don't let anything interfere with my responsibilities.

- My friend and roommate:
https://soundcloud.com/user-483072295/shannon/s-ufo15

Shannon says that she sees my passion in what I do. She also says that I adapt well to situations.

- My close friend from high school:
https://soundcloud.com/user-483072295/cheyanne/s-bJuQP

Cheyanne says that I always try to make myself better and that I don't accept anything less than the best. She says that I stand up for what I believe in.

- Another close friend from high school:
https://soundcloud.com/user-483072295/trinity/s-pGTkl

Trinity says that I'm hardworking and determined. She says that I always find a way to make things work.


3. I think that I see myself in a similar way to how others see me. A lot of the things I said before I conducted the interviews were the same things that the people in my interviews said about me. I honestly don't think there are really any differences in how I assessed myself compared to how others assessed me. A lot of them brought up traits about myself that I wouldn't have thought of off the top of my head, like when Shannon said I adapt well. I think that what caused the fact that people brought up things I wouldn't have thought of is that other see things that I never really noticed. I didn't notice that I adapted well, but I guess because Shannon is different from me and would've handled the situation I was in differently, she takes extra notice in how I handled it. I do think that the people I interviewed are correct about me, because like I said, we said a lot of the same things. Going back to my list from part 1, I don't think I'd change it. I don't think I'd change it because the people I interviewed confirmed basically everything I said about myself.

14A - Halfway Reflection

1. I have personally kept up with this course by looking ahead at my assignments. At first, I would start looking at them and even starting them a day before they were due, but now I know that that is not always enough. It's also good to know at least a week in advance if a larger assignment is due, like the reading reflection due this Friday. If I hadn't known that I would need to read an entire book until the night before it was due, I'd be pretty stressed. Because I already looked at this assignment last week, I was able to begin reading the book I chose. In this class I have also developed my way of thinking as a result of some of the assignments. Some of the guidelines are so specific that they require you to think differently than you might normally think to complete them.

2. This past fall semester I took the hardest class I've probably ever taken in my life, and I ended up not doing too well in it despite the relentless effort I had put into it. This made me so upset and I almost gave up the minor I was taking the class for. I think what pulled me through is my motivation to succeed. I couldn't just accept the fact that I didn't receive credit for the class towards my minor, and so I decided to retake the class during a later semester and try to do better in it. I'm not sure how much of a tenacious attitude I have developed during these past two months, as I feel like I have always had a tenacious attitude. I have always been very motivated by my goals to complete tasks.

3. Tip #1: Find motivation for doing your work. I think "This assignment is contributing to my grade, which is contributing to the completion of my class, which is contributing to my degree, etc." This is the number one thing in my opinion to develop a tenacious attitude, because if you are motivated you won't want to give up.
Tip #2: Plan out you study/homework time. I have personally found that if I plan out time to do my homework, I get more of it done than if I hadn't planned time for it.
Tip #3: Set clear goals, so that you can work to achieve them. I find that when I set smaller goals that will work to achieve bigger goals, I can achieve them more easily.

13A - Reading Reflection No. 1

Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald’s, Ray Kroc

1.
- What surprised me the most about Ray Kroc was his unbelievable work ethic. From the time he was young he was always working. In the book he talks about how most people say "Work hard, play hard," but for him work was play. He sought out work in many different areas: real estate, music, sales, and eventually franchising. He always wanted to live comfortably and have more than enough money to live with him and his family.

- The thing I most admire about Ray Kroc was his tenacity. There are several stories he shares in his book in which the average person would've wanted to give up, but he didn't. I also admired how he was always taking leaps of faith. In one story he shared about his life, he talked about how he had heard business was great in Florida. He moved down for an entire winter in search of something different in Miami, because his paper cup sales dwindled in the winter. Although the move was relatively unsuccessful, at least he had still tried it, which is something most would not have done.

- There are a couple things I did not admire about Ray Kroc. He didn't seem very interested in the things he was selling or offering his customers, and he didn't seem too passionate about his products. He seemed more interested in the business and selling aspects of his businesses. When he talked about his many jobs as a pianist, there weren't any times that made me feel like he even enjoyed playing the piano that much. Even when he first saw the McDonald's restaurant, he wasn't intrigued by the products themselves, he was intrigued by the sales of them. I guess he seems to me sort of money-hungry. Another thing I was not the most fond of was the fact that he fought over control so much with the McDonald's brothers, even though they were the ones that founded the first restaurant.

- In his book, Ray Kroc did share his encounters with adversity and failure. When he was in the business of selling paper cups, his sales would go down in winter because people didn't want to buy as many in winter. One winter, he went to Miami in search of work. He failed as a real estate agent, but then moved on to play the piano in a band. He ended up making a decent amount of money, but moved back to Chicago shortly before winter was over after being arrested along with everyone in the band because some violated the prohibition law.

2. Ray Kroc had many competencies as an entrepreneur, one being the fact that he was even able to see the huge potential of that first McDonald's restaurant. The McDonald's brothers, who were the first owners of the company, didn't really want to add to the business because they didn't really care much to have more and more responsibility. Ray Kroc took this opportunity and it turned him into a millionaire. Another competency he had was that he took risks. He took a risk by franchising these restaurants, and it ended up being a huge win for himself. In my opinion, Ray Kroc had just about every quality that a great entrepreneur would have.

3. What was confusing to me in this book is his passion of selling. Many people become salesmen because they want to make a lot of money, and they want to find new ways to make more sales in order to make even more money. However, it seemed that Ray Kroc wasn't just in it for the money, he actually found business fun. You can tell by the way he talks in his book that he was passionate about selling. When he was in the paper cup business, he wanted to come up with more ideas about how to sell paper cups because he enjoyed it, not necessarily because he wanted to make more money. Not many people have this passion for business like he did. Although somewhat confusing, this passion for selling is what made him into such a great entrepreneur.

4. If I was able to ask Ray Kroc questions, the first would be: What motivation did you have to take all of those risks that you took? I would ask this because I want to know if it was the money that was the motivation, or the thrill of success, or possibly something else. Another question I would ask would be: What made you want to seek out even more opportunities even when you were in a comfortable financial and business situation? I would want to ask this because it seems that there are many times in his book in which he was living comfortably and didn't necessarily need to look for other work or business opportunities. I'm curious to know what exactly he what need he wanted to satisfy by doing this.

5. I think that Ray Kroc would have a very similar opinion about hard work to mine. I think that he would say that hard work is all about putting in all of your effort into your work. Time and time again in his book, it seemed that his work was so interesting to him and that he put in so much effort, not just the bare minimum. Ray Kroc didn't just want to get the job done, he wanted to get the job done well. Another thing I think he would say about hard work is that you have to innovate in order to make your work more efficient. He was always working on more ideas about how to sell his products, whatever they were at the time. In fact, in his paper cup business, he made so many sales that the business had to hire a new secretary. Even after this he probably could have kept selling the same about he had been selling, but he still wanted to boost his sales and think of new ideas to sell more. I think that Ray Kroc would say that hard work is important for success. He would say that you can't get far without it. I would agree with this, because hard work is more often rewarded.

12A – Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 1

1. I chose to interview people who currently attend a public high school.

2. Interviews
Interview #1: I first interviewed my cousin, who is currently a junior in high school. When I discussed my belief that the need for better quality teachers existed, he agreed right away.
- He says he experiences this need almost daily because he feels as if his teachers couldn't care less about his education. He told me a story about a time where one of his teachers was literally so fed up with a class she said the words, "I don't get paid enough to do this job." He constantly wishes his teachers did better at teaching.
- When asked what he does to solve this need, he drew a blank. He said he honestly just deals with it and just tries his hardest in the class anyway, but this method doesn't always work.

Interview #2: I interviewed one of my friends who is still a high school senior, and she goes to the same high school I went to.
- She says that she experiences this need on a daily basis because of "how bad the teachers are" at the school she goes to. She says she has had several classes in which almost no one passed a test or assignment because the information was either not covered or was not portrayed in a way that the majority of the students could comprehend.
- When asked what she does to solve this need, she gave a very similar response to my cousin's. She said that she just ends up having to learn the material by herself through other resources, even though this method does not always end up working and providing a quality education for her.

Interview #3: My last interview was with my friend's sister who is a freshman in high school.
- She says that she experiences this need all the time. Because she had just gotten done with being in middle school the year before, she had such high expectations for high school education and high school teachers. She ended up being disappointed because her expectations were not met at all. She says that the quality of education and teachers should be high, because high school is preparation for college.
- When asked what she does to solve this need, she said she likes to ask questions. She says that when she doesn't understand something, she will work with her teachers to understand it better. She says that the reason this doesn't always work is because no matter how many times she asks questions about the material, a lot of teachers only provide one way of explaining the topic, not catering to her way of learning. She also said it's impossible to ask a detailed question about something you don't even know existed because it had never been even introduced in class.

I learned a lot from my interviews. The story my cousin told in my first interview really shocked me. The fact that a teacher felt that unmotivated and cared so little about her students' education is sad. These interviews only prove to me more that this need is a really important need, because so many people have it. Also, the solutions that the people I interviewed came up with by themselves are not sustainable and most don't work a majority of the time.

The need for a solution to this problem is high because so many people have this need. So many people experience bad teachers, and many agree with me that something needs to be done to improve this. People who are a part of this segment experience this need on a daily basis according to my interviews, which tells me that this problem is in need of an urgent solution. I think that many people who value education would agree that something needs to be done about this.

11A Idea Napkin No. 1

1. I'm studying music, and I'd love to teach music one day. Even though I'm studying something some might consider "non-academic," I truly value my education and think that others should, too. I was always the friend in high school checking up on my friends to make sure that they were staying on top of their grades, so I try to influence others to value their education. My strong belief that education is so important is what motivates my business idea, because the quality of education is also very important. Quality of education begins with teachers. I think that my business concept could have impacted my life greatly back when I was in high school. I might have had a better educational experience overall if this idea had been in place in my school.

2. My business idea is a program that could be implemented into schools. This program could be managed online. The program would include effective training for new teachers before classes begin. It would also include a probationary period for however long the school chooses. This means that there would be a supervisor overseeing all of the new hire's work for their probationary period. The program would also include supervisors checking over all regular employees' work. The program would include wage bonuses and penalties. Basically, the teachers' salary depends in part on their performance. Employees would be able to check their performance online and receive feedback on how to improve in order to reduce a penalty or increase a bonus. They would also do better work because they would be watched a bit more closely and be provided feedback on how to improve their work.

3. My customers would be school districts and possibly private schools that feel they need more help with strengthening the quality of the education at the schools.

4. I think that people would use my service because education is important to so many people in our country. I feel that there are always new ideas implemented into curriculum to help students receive better education, but I also feel that the best way to do this is to begin with having better teachers.

5. Like I mentioned above, there is a constant inflow of new curriculum to help students achieve more success at school, but they never seem to work all that well. This is because they are focusing on the material rather than the actual person communicating this material. My idea is set apart from this because it would be focusing in on the teachers.

I think that all of these elements fit together very well. I value education and I want others to, as well. The best way to do this in my opinion is to make sure that the quality of education is up to par. One part of my business idea that may be weaker is that it would be difficult to transition it into schools, because people won't be used to it. Also it may require many changes to be made to be implemented, because my program is so specific. It needs to be approved and accepted into schools, which may require having to go through many people to get it approved to be implemented into schools.

10A – Elevator Pitch No. 1

https://youtu.be/ZqtntR0NZJs

9A – Testing the Hypothesis, Part 2

Need/opportunity: There is a lack of quality in public schools' education partially because of improper funding and lack of incentives to do better as employees.

Interviews:

Interview #1: Hallie, my friend who went to private school
Hallie says that she hasn't really experienced this need because she went to private school all her life, but she can see why many people would have this need. She thinks that a huge reason that her education might have been a bit better is because her teachers had incentives to do better at their jobs and provide a quality learning experience for their students.

Interview #2: Dani, my friend whose mother worked as a teacher at a private school
Dani says that she understands this need by putting herself in the shoes of a student who goes to a public school, but because she's only ever been to a private school, she hasn't really experienced this need firsthand. Her mother is a teacher at her old private high school and she says that her mother got bonuses and plenty of incentives, which made her want to do a better job. She also says that her supervisors paid a lot more close attention to her work than supervisors at a public school might have.

Interview #3: Juan, my friend who attended public school
My friend Juan says that while he agrees that this need exists, he has little experience with having this need. He says that his public high school was relatively great. He says that it was the best school in his school district. He wasn't aware of whether or not teachers at his school were being given incentives to do a better job, but he does know that the supervisors kept a close eye on teachers at the school. He thinks this is why he received a quality education at his school. He does admit that he did have a bad teacher here and there, but for the most part he had a good experience.

Interview #4: Alexi, a friend who was homeschooled 6th-12th grade
Alexi says that she hasn't experienced this need because she was homeschooled. She says that she definitely agrees the need exists, and this need is part of the reason she switched to home schooling after 5th grade. Her mother didn't want to put her into any of the middle schools in their area because of how poorly they were rated educationally and how bad of a reputation they had. She says that maybe if there had been a reform of the quality of public education, she might have gone to a public school.

Interview #5: Kiran, a friend whose uncle is a private school principal
Kiran says that he didn't attend private school, he attended public school, so he did experience this need. However, his uncle who lived a couple hours away is a private school principal. He knows that his uncle provides many opportunities for teachers and provides many incentives for them to do better, and because of this, the school is ranked among the best in the state. He keeps a close eye on his employees and is not afraid to penalize them for bad performance.

Inside the Boundary	Outside the Boundary
Who: Students who are not receiving quality educations because of teachers who are not doing their jobs well enough. Teachers need incentives and supervisions to be better.	Who: People who go to private schools and schools that provide more incentive and supervision than most public schools do.
What: Teachers need more incentives to do better jobs and need more supervision to make sure that they are on track.	What: They don't need much more incentive and supervision because they already have it.
Why: Teachers don't have much incentive to do a good job so they perform poorly, resulting in poor educational experiences for students.	Why: These teachers have enough incentive and supervision to be able to want to do a good job, which results in a better education for the students.

Summary:
I have found through these interviews that not all teachers and students have this need. Mostly teachers and students at private schools do not have this need. I think that this is because they have better supervision and more incentive. I think that my interviews still support my opportunity belief.

8A – Solving The Problem

My opportunity:

Many schools have low quality employees due to lack of incentives and lack of proper training and supervision. While this can stem from not having enough funding, it can also stem from simply putting funds in the wrong places, or places that might not need it as much. 

My solution:

My idea for a solution to the problem I mentioned above is a program that could be implemented into schools. This could be managed online. The program would include effective training for new teachers before classes begin. It would also include a probationary period for however long the school chooses. This means that there would be a supervisor overseeing all of the new hire's work for their probationary period. The program would also include supervisors checking over all regular employees' work a bit more briefly. The program would include wage bonuses and penalties. Basically, the teachers' salary depends in part on their performance. Employees would be able to check their performance online and receive feedback on how to improve in order to reduce a penalty or increase a bonus. I think that if schools redistributed their funding in order to pay for a program like this, teachers would have more of an incentive to do better work. They would also do better work because they would be watched a bit more closely and be provided feedback on how to improve their work. 

7A - Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

Opportunity:
Many school districts in America are unable to properly fund salaries for their employees and provide proper conditions for learning due to lack of government funding.

The who: School districts, their employees, and students.
The what: Teachers are not paid well enough and students don't have proper learning conditions.
The why: School districts can't fund well enough because of lack of government funding.

Testing the who: More than just the students, teachers, and school district has this need. Students being improperly educated affects their futures, which in turn affects everyone involved in their future. Teachers being improperly paid can affect their families that they have to provide for.

Testing the what: Not all schools and school districts have this problem. In fact, some schools are overfunded in my opinion. The extra effort and funds could be applied to schools that actually need it.

Testing the why: I do think that the why exists for everyone affected. The only reason it might not is if people think that the why isn't that there isn't enough funding, there just isn't funding in the right places. However, I still think more funding would solve this why too.

Interview #1: My friend Kate
When interviewing Kate, I explained my opportunity and beliefs to her that I mentioned above. She agreed with me that teachers in many areas are underpaid. She shared some of her high school experiences with this with me. She said that once when she was a sophomore in high school, a teacher in her grade walked out in the middle of class on a school day and just never came back. She apparently told the school she walked out so abruptly because the job of being a high school teacher was way too much for such little pay. Kate said she thinks that if that teacher had been paid more, she might have not only stayed in her position as a high school teacher, but she might have performed better at this job. Kate also agreed with me about there being improper learning conditions. She says she has experience with overcrowded classrooms.

Interview #2: My grandma, a retired teacher
My grandma agreed with my beliefs about schools and their improper funding. She really experienced this firsthand, as she was a teacher for most of her life. She says that the work she and her coworkers did deserved way more than the pay they received. She says that she often worked more than 40 hours a week with all the work she would have to do outside of the workplace like grade papers and answer emails. She also says that dealing with teenagers is hard, no matter what the situation is. She thinks that teaching high schoolers is the hardest level to teach. She was disrespected many many times throughout her career and said that the pay was not worth the behavior of some of her students. She also agreed with me about improper learning conditions. She said that the facilities were often trashed and not cleaned regularly enough. She often had overcrowded classes, too. She also mentioned that she doesn't necessarily think it's the lack of funding that's totally the issue, but the lack of funding in the places that need it the most. She thinks that at the school she taught at, they put way too much funding into sports teams and not enough into actual education.

Interview #3: My friend Carson
Carson went to school in south Florida, and I was interested to get his perspective because I don't really know what schools are like there. There are many stereotypes about rich schools in south Florida. Carson agreed with me that the opportunity exists. However, he definitely had not experienced the need like the other people I had interviewed had. He says that he never really had experience with overcrowded or dirty facilities like I had. He does think that teachers need to be paid more, because maybe then more qualified people would be incentivized to pursue a position in teaching, resulting in better quality education.

Interview #4: My friend Francine, who attended a private school
Francine attended a private high school, but a public middle school. She said the difference between her high school and middle school experiences are like night and day. She said that the teachers at her middle school, were not nearly as good at their job as her high school teachers were. Her neighbor was a teacher at her private school, and her mom was friends with her. Her mom told her that her pay was probably way more than what a public school teacher would receive. Her high school teachers seemed actually interested in the success of their students, partially because their pay depended on it. Her middle school teachers seemed to show little interest in their students' success because they had very little pay and did not have very many supervisors who cared to oversee them anyway. She also mentioned the differences in facilities. Her high school was always very clean and had small classes, but her middle school wasn't as well-kept and had larger classes.

Interview #5: Hailey
Hailey also agreed with my beliefs about school and their improper funding. She said she, like Francine, also noticed that many of her teachers always seemed to show little interest in her and her classmates' educations. She mentioned that the bathrooms and classroom were always "disgusting" and that things like desks and chairs were always broken. She said that it was not an uncommon experience to walk into high school classes on the first day and not have a seat because there were too many students in the class and not enough desks. She said that she thinks it's unacceptable considering she and her classmates were legally required to be there. She thinks that if education is going to be enforced with laws, it should at least be desirable to show up to school every day and expect clean facilities and nice and helpful teachers.

Summary:
I did not expect all of the people I interviewed to agree with me, especially my grandma. Usually she is always on the school district's side in these types of debates. It was interesting to get her perspective, as I have only ever experienced a student's perspective because I have never been a teacher. I didn't realize quite how many of my friends had similar experiences to me, and how many of them saw the problems that I saw. It's also amazing to me just how much can change when something is funded more, like Francine's private school. I know that a teacher's performance in their job depends on more than just their pay, but it's shocking to me how much I now think that factors into it. I believe now way more that this opportunity exists than when I first started. I also realize now that it's not necessarily the lack of funding, but it's the lack of funding in the places that need it most. It's this realization that is causing me to change my opportunity belief a bit: Many schools have low quality employees due to lack of incentives and lack of proper training and supervision.

6A - Identifying Opportunities in Economic & Regulatory Trends

Economic trends:

1. The coronavirus is affecting the global economy negatively.
A) https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/03/business/economy/SARS-coronavirus-economic-impact-china.html
B) Several companies have mostly shut down in China because of the coronavirus and to prevent it spreading. Major retail and food companies have closed temporarily and their factories have halted production. International airlines have also canceled flights to China.
C) The customers and business owners are affected by this. The customers can no longer consume products being produced by these companies that are closed down, and the business owners cannot profit during this time.
D) I think that this opportunity creates a need for consumers to be able to consume, and for business owners to be able to make more money. Consumers are always looking to consume, and business owners are always looking to profit, so I think this opportunity is easy to use to good advantage.

I saw this opportunity because I realize that this outbreak leaves many people's needs in many different situations unmet. The consumers are not able to consume in the way they were once able to, and the business owners are not able to profit like they once had.

2. Unemployment is still an issue.
A) https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/02/04/trump-touts-his-economy-best-ever-data-is-more-mixed/
B) Even if Trump has improved unemployment rates, it is still a problem. People are still left without jobs and without a way to provide for themselves and their families.
C) People who are unemployed are the ones affected by this need for jobs. They need a job to provie for themselves and their families.
D) I think that this opportunity is very real, but while the need is easily found, it is not as easily solved. Because this problem is so widespread, if there was an easy fix, it would be solved already.

I saw this opportunity because so many people experience unemployment and it affects their lives in such a negative way. They need to be able to provide for themselves and their families, so they need jobs. Unemployment has always been an issue, and while it may not be an issue that can ever be completely resolved, I believe that it can be minimized.

Regulatory changes:

3. Legal age to buy nicotine products raises to 21.
A) https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2020/02/nicotine-21-ban-0206
B) People aged 18-20 no longer have a way to purchase nicotine products. If they are addicted to nicotine, they will need to have something to ease the cravings. Nicotine business will also need a way to replace the profits that were once made by selling products to people aged 18-20.
C) The prototypical customers are people aged 18-20 and nicotine businesses.
D) The opportunity should be easy to exploit; people aged 18-20 no longer have a way to obtain nicotine, so there is a need there that many of them go to extreme lengths to meet. Nicotine business have probably lost a huge portion of their profits as well, so they are probably desperate to replace those profits.

I saw this opportunity because I am 20 years old, so I see this need in people around me every day. Several of my friends have been affected by this age raise, and they can no longer purchase nicotine products. A lot of them still find ways to obtain them, but they definitely have a need that can be satisfied with other things.

4. States' marijuana dispensaries are being differently regulated.
A) https://www.wwlp.com/news/state-politics/state-reps-vote-on-regulatory-changes-to-states-marijuana-industry/
B) I think that an opportunity exists because this affects many people. If marijuana is harder to sell it will be harder for consumers and businesses.
C) The prototypical customers are consumers of marijuana, businesses that sell marijuana, and people that are incarcerated for illegal distribution of marijuana.
D) The opportunity should be easy to exploit because consumers need to purchase marijuana, businesses need to sell marijuana, and people who are selling marijuana in an unregulated fashion need to be regulated.

I saw this opportunity because many people are becoming incarcerated for illegal distribution of marijuana, but if it was easier to sell legally, the incarceration rates would go down. Also many people need marijuana for medical reasons, so they will need a way to obtain it relatively easily.

Identifying Local Opportunities

1. Title: Coronavirus outbreak being monitored by UF Health officials
Link: https://www.alligator.org/news/coronavirus-outbreak-being-monitored-by-uf-health-officials/article_326453ba-40d4-11ea-afec-2f079d021025.html
This story describes the need to protect students at UF against the coronavirus. It details the need to inform students of preventative methods.

UF Health officials have the problem of needing to protect UF students against the coronavirus.

2. Title: Gainesville Regional Airport reaches new heights with passenger record
Link: https://www.alligator.org/news/gainesville-regional-airport-reaches-new-heights-with-passenger-record/article_32097908-413e-11ea-8d1e-63fe0a934142.html
This story talks about the fact that Gainesville Regional Airport has been experiencing a lot more traffic lately than it has in past years.

The Gainesville Regional Airport has the need to upgrade and update its facilities to accommodate the larger amount of passengers coming through the airport.

3. Title: County commission may install cameras on I-75 to prevent speeding
Link: https://www.alligator.org/news/county-commission-may-install-cameras-on-i--to-prevent/article_60ca8a1c-3940-11ea-9518-f75f01e96b1d.html
This story discusses introducing cameras to I-75 to send drivers' speeds to their insurance companies in hopes of preventing speeding.

The Alachua County Sheriff's Office has the need to prevent speeding as much as possible.

4. Title: Local vape shops lose profits due to recent tobacco law
Link: https://www.alligator.org/news/local-vape-shops-lose-profits-due-to-recent-tobacco-law/article_6033000a-42d4-11ea-bd9f-4f3ed2b963e4.html
This story talks about how the recent law, which raises the age eligible to purchase tobacco products to 21 instead of 18, impacts local vape shops' businesses negatively.

Local vape shops have the need to increase sales to make up for the fact that they are losing profits due to the new law.

5. Title: Ranking schools doesn’t close achievement gap in Alachua County, experts say
Link: https://www.alligator.org/news/ranking-schools-doesn-t-close-achievement-gap-in-alachua-county/article_b3e65070-3e7f-11ea-85b4-9b1663b4adc5.html
This story discusses the struggles of Alachua County Schools being ranked higher. It talks about the racial and financial barriers the schools have from evolving into better schools.

The Alachua County Education Association has the need to improve the quality of schools in our county.

Forming an Opportunity Belief

1. The application/hiring process is difficult and takes a long time.

2. The need for employers is to hire employees in a fast and efficient manner. The need for employees is to get hired quickly to be able to begin making money. This need has always existed. Technology definitely moves this process along, but the process can still take weeks to months, even. I am 90% sure that this opportunity exists.

3a. My friend Kate, who has a job now.

4a. Kate agrees that this need is mostly unmet, as the hiring process can take so long. She recently received an opportunity to work in a restaurant, but it took over three months from the time she applied to the time she was officially employed. She experienced this need last semester when searching for a job because she needed an income to be able to pay her bills. She says that she doesn't experience this need often, but when it is experienced it is relatively urgent. Kate first became aware of this need when she was searching for her first job in her hometown. It took her about a month from the time she applied to the time she got hired, which she said she wishes it would've been a faster process. She says she tried addressing this need by calling the managers of companies she was applying for to make sure they know she's interested, hopefully urging them to get the hiring process started. She says that she isn't satisfied with this solution, as it often doesn't produce any results and can get tiring.

3b. My manager John, who hired me.

4b. John also agrees with me that the application and hiring process could be easier and faster. He says that he sees a lack of employees and posts job listings wherever he can, in hopes of getting as many applications in as possible. He says, though, that looking through and keeping track of these applications and deciding on who the best fit is for the position can be difficult, which results in the process taking longer. He has so many other duties as a manager that taking the time to sift through applications and deciding who the best fit is is not always a priority. John says that it takes a toll on the business because this makes the need for more employees go unmet for an even longer period of time. He does what he can and has help from other managers to hire employees, but he says he doesn't really have a great solution to his problem. He says that he has this need almost constantly.

3c. My roommate Sophia, who is currently searching for a job.

4c. Sophia also agrees that this need exists. She is currently experiencing this need, as she needs an income for her rent, but it is taking a long time for her to get hired anywhere, even though she has a lot of work experience. As of right now, Sophia says she experiences this need constantly because of how bad she needs a job. She's had the need for about a month now, which is how long she has been job-searching. She says that many companies have scheduled interviews, but they will schedule them sometimes a week in advance and then it takes even longer to receive a call informing her whether or not she is being offered the job. She is addressing this need the same way Kate did, by calling the companies to ask if they were interested in her and to make sure they have checked out her application. She's not satisfied with this solution either, because she still doesn't have a job.

5. I think that I learned the most from my interview with John, as I have never been on that side of this problem. I have been a potential employee needing to be hired, but I have never been an employer needing to hire employees. I didn't realize how hard the process is for him and how much it affects the business. I learned that almost everyone has probably experienced this need whether they need a job or need to find someone to fill a position at a business.

7. I believe that my opportunity is very much still there; I learned that all three of the people I interviewed have experienced this need. I think that the potential for meeting this need more is there, as well. I also believe that my opportunity is more accurate than when I started, because now I know why exactly this need exists in the first place. Entrepreneurs should adapt their opportunities based on their customers' feedback. After all, we are solving their problems and providing them with a solution, so we should include them in adapting the opportunity.

My Entrepreneurship Story

My Entrepreneurship Story

When I was a freshman in high school, I chose a Journalism class to be on my schedule. I didn’t know that meant I was going to be on my school’s newspaper staff, but that’s what it was. It was the first year that the newspaper at my school had been printed in a decade, so they were starting very fresh. To my surprise, I was chosen to be the Editor-in-Chief. This meant I had to oversee all of the columns, edit every story, figure out the logistics with printing the physical paper, and find sponsors to buy ads to go in our paper. It was difficult considering I was 14 and this is not what I had asked for, but somehow I really enjoyed it. I would make sure that everyone was assigned a story and that the ideas for them were appropriate and that they were actually good ideas. I would spend hours editing every story for grammar and removing irrelevant bits, turning it into a news-style story. I would work with my teacher on the printing website, figuring out the layout of our paper. I would call up companies and ask around to see if anyone knew any business owners so that I could meet the quota for ads for our newspaper, so that we could actually fund it. I really enjoyed my time on the newspaper staff, and it definitely inspired me to do more projects in the future that I wouldn’t normally do. The photo I attached is from when our local newspaper wrote a story on our school newspaper.

I enrolled in ENT3003 because I am working towards a minor in entrepreneurship. I think that entrepreneurial skills are important for pretty much anyone to know. I am a music performance major, which I’m basically going to be self-employed at some point, so I decided on this minor. Overall, I hope to gain important skills in this class that will help me in my future.