Friday, April 19, 2019
Final Reflection
The most formative experience for me was the assignment where we had to do the interviews. This forced me to talk to different people that I never would have spoken to in any other situation. The interviews pushed me to get out of my comfort zone which I appreciated. I am most proud of myself for the elevator pitches that we had to do. I always felt very uncomfortable in a video but I was able to overcome that and get the assignments done. I was shocked that I did not feel very nervous about posting the videos to Youtube and the assignments helped me feel a little more comfortable in front of a camera also. I do not see myself as an entrepreneur but I do think I moved more toward an entrepreneurial mindset. Due to the assignment where we had to find 20 opportunities, I am better at searching out areas that could use improvement, which could lead to a business idea. Although I do not think I will be an entrepreneur, I think I do have more of the entrepreneurial qualities. I would recommend that future students take the assignments seriously if they are serious about entrepreneurship because the assignments really do help. They should welcome the assignment with an open mind and do them to the best of their ability and with full effort. That way they can get the maximum value out of the course and actually learn something about entrepreneurship.
Thursday, April 18, 2019
Venture Concept No. 2
Opportunity
UF students who live off campus and do not have a car or scooter are the prototypical customers. The need is that they do not have a reliable free form of transportation to get to their off-campus housing late at night. The forces in this market are that some times there are exams late at night or students study late, leaving them vulnerable when they have to head home. Currently, students are either walking home, taking the Later Gator, getting an Uber or Lyft, or carpooling with their friends. None of these alternatives are reliable, however, and Uber and Lyft are not free. Also, Uber and Lyft are risky because you never know if the driver has other more dangerous intentions. Walking is not safe because students are left vulnerable, especially when walking home alone. The Later Gator is a free option but it is not always reliable and requires students t wait outside at a bus stop which can be dangerous at night as well. This opportunity is very big because a large portion of students live off campus and not everyone has a car to use. The window of opportunity will be open as long as UF is accepting students, and as long as students have to live off campus.
Innovation
My innovation is SNAPX. It is an extension of the current SNAP program but it would be specifically for off-campus students. It is a free driving service that would operate from 6:30 pm to 3:00 am. There would be a van set specifically for off-campus rides to make the journey as efficient and easy as possible. SNAPX would take students from the campus to their housing complexes 1 to 2 miles off campus. My program would be a free service so I would not be charging students meaning it would get its funding from Student Government. Students would request SNAPX through the app, TapRide. Directly underneath the SNAP option, there would be an option to choose SNAPX. They would put in where they want to get picked and then their off-campus destination. In the beginning, SNAPX would only pick students up at the major areas such as the Reitz or the Hub.
Venture Concept
Customers will switch to my product because it gives them a safe, reliable, and free option for traveling home at night. It will give them an extra sense of security knowing that they have a driving service accessible to them that is completely free of charge. It will not be hard at all getting customers to switch to SNAPX because it is the best option out of all of them. When doing the different interviews throughout the semester, mostly all of my interviewees said they would use SNAPX if it were actually implemented. The main competitors are Uber and Lyft. Their strengths are that they can pick students up anywhere they request it and students have the option of getting a ride completely alone. They would not have to wait for other students to get dropped off first. The weaknesses are that they both charge you for the ride and for Uber the price can increase depending on how busy they are. Customer experience is the only thing that plays a role in defining my business concept because the business is entirely service based. If there is a driver that is rude to the students or makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe in any way that may create negative word of mouth causing less student to use SNAPX. I would have 2 to 3 drivers per night covering different shifts so that whoever was driving would always be awake and alert. There would be a hiring manager and a SNAPX director who would make sure all the operations are running smoothly. There would also be a Student Government Liason who would communicate with Student Government about the different expenses and updates with SNAPX.
Three Elements
The most important resource I have is my connections with Uf Faculty. This is extremely important because they could introduce me to other employees who would actually help me get this program started. They could also help me with setting up a meeting with faculty that are hard to reach and act as a reference for me to show my commitment as well. What would be next for the venture would be to expand the stop route even further, about 3 to 4 miles off campus to reach complexes such as the Niche. To do this I would need to have about 2 more vans. I would operate the vans based on their destinations. Routes that go only 1 to 2 miles off campus would be for one van and routes that go 3 to 4 miles off campus would be for the other vans. In five years I would want to have my program grow so that there are about 10 vans operating for off-campus stops. As an entrpreneur, I would eventually want to start my own business for myself. This program would act as a build my confidence in the ability to start a venture so I would be more willing to take the risk and start m own business full time.
The feedback I received on my first venture concept was all positive. The comments were saying that they liked my idea and it would be useful to them right now. Since I did not receive any constructive criticism I reread my previous venture concept to see what I could improve on. This time, I went into more detail on the topi f what would be next for my venture in 5 years. I went into more depth about how it would work and what I would add.
This is what the SNAPX vans would look like. Similar to the SNAP vans, but the label would say "SNAPX"
UF students who live off campus and do not have a car or scooter are the prototypical customers. The need is that they do not have a reliable free form of transportation to get to their off-campus housing late at night. The forces in this market are that some times there are exams late at night or students study late, leaving them vulnerable when they have to head home. Currently, students are either walking home, taking the Later Gator, getting an Uber or Lyft, or carpooling with their friends. None of these alternatives are reliable, however, and Uber and Lyft are not free. Also, Uber and Lyft are risky because you never know if the driver has other more dangerous intentions. Walking is not safe because students are left vulnerable, especially when walking home alone. The Later Gator is a free option but it is not always reliable and requires students t wait outside at a bus stop which can be dangerous at night as well. This opportunity is very big because a large portion of students live off campus and not everyone has a car to use. The window of opportunity will be open as long as UF is accepting students, and as long as students have to live off campus.
Innovation
My innovation is SNAPX. It is an extension of the current SNAP program but it would be specifically for off-campus students. It is a free driving service that would operate from 6:30 pm to 3:00 am. There would be a van set specifically for off-campus rides to make the journey as efficient and easy as possible. SNAPX would take students from the campus to their housing complexes 1 to 2 miles off campus. My program would be a free service so I would not be charging students meaning it would get its funding from Student Government. Students would request SNAPX through the app, TapRide. Directly underneath the SNAP option, there would be an option to choose SNAPX. They would put in where they want to get picked and then their off-campus destination. In the beginning, SNAPX would only pick students up at the major areas such as the Reitz or the Hub.
Venture Concept
Customers will switch to my product because it gives them a safe, reliable, and free option for traveling home at night. It will give them an extra sense of security knowing that they have a driving service accessible to them that is completely free of charge. It will not be hard at all getting customers to switch to SNAPX because it is the best option out of all of them. When doing the different interviews throughout the semester, mostly all of my interviewees said they would use SNAPX if it were actually implemented. The main competitors are Uber and Lyft. Their strengths are that they can pick students up anywhere they request it and students have the option of getting a ride completely alone. They would not have to wait for other students to get dropped off first. The weaknesses are that they both charge you for the ride and for Uber the price can increase depending on how busy they are. Customer experience is the only thing that plays a role in defining my business concept because the business is entirely service based. If there is a driver that is rude to the students or makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe in any way that may create negative word of mouth causing less student to use SNAPX. I would have 2 to 3 drivers per night covering different shifts so that whoever was driving would always be awake and alert. There would be a hiring manager and a SNAPX director who would make sure all the operations are running smoothly. There would also be a Student Government Liason who would communicate with Student Government about the different expenses and updates with SNAPX.
Three Elements
The most important resource I have is my connections with Uf Faculty. This is extremely important because they could introduce me to other employees who would actually help me get this program started. They could also help me with setting up a meeting with faculty that are hard to reach and act as a reference for me to show my commitment as well. What would be next for the venture would be to expand the stop route even further, about 3 to 4 miles off campus to reach complexes such as the Niche. To do this I would need to have about 2 more vans. I would operate the vans based on their destinations. Routes that go only 1 to 2 miles off campus would be for one van and routes that go 3 to 4 miles off campus would be for the other vans. In five years I would want to have my program grow so that there are about 10 vans operating for off-campus stops. As an entrpreneur, I would eventually want to start my own business for myself. This program would act as a build my confidence in the ability to start a venture so I would be more willing to take the risk and start m own business full time.
The feedback I received on my first venture concept was all positive. The comments were saying that they liked my idea and it would be useful to them right now. Since I did not receive any constructive criticism I reread my previous venture concept to see what I could improve on. This time, I went into more detail on the topi f what would be next for my venture in 5 years. I went into more depth about how it would work and what I would add.
This is what the SNAPX vans would look like. Similar to the SNAP vans, but the label would say "SNAPX"
Friday, April 12, 2019
Your Exit Strategy
Since my product idea is not an average entrepreneurship idea, my exit strategy would look a little different from the norm. I would oversee SNAPX for about 5-6 to make sure everything is running smoothly. I would then either hand it off completely to UF or pass it down to the next person in command under me to oversee it. If I had the option to sell it to a private company then I would, but since it is a program specifically for UF students, it would make more sense to just hand it over to UF. I chose this exit strategy because it makes the most sense logically. I doubt any private companies would want to buy it because it would serve no purpose for them since SNAPX is a free service. Also, if I did sell it to a private company, they may start trying to charge UF students for rides, which is not the reason SNAPX was created.
I do not think the exit strategy has had any influence on any of my decisions. I mostly think that because the exit strategy is something to look forward to in the future. The way I decide to exit a venture should not affect anything about the ventures because exiting is something that shouldn't be worried about until the future. I think it is good to plan for your exit strategy so that you know all of your options, but I do not think that should affect your initial idea, because it may affect is in a negative way. People may downsize their initial idea in order to have an easier exit strategy. In my opinion, this is not the true depiction of risk-taking and entrepreneurship.
I do not think the exit strategy has had any influence on any of my decisions. I mostly think that because the exit strategy is something to look forward to in the future. The way I decide to exit a venture should not affect anything about the ventures because exiting is something that shouldn't be worried about until the future. I think it is good to plan for your exit strategy so that you know all of your options, but I do not think that should affect your initial idea, because it may affect is in a negative way. People may downsize their initial idea in order to have an easier exit strategy. In my opinion, this is not the true depiction of risk-taking and entrepreneurship.
Reading Reflection No. 3
The book I chose for the third reading reflection was Thinking, Fast and Slow written by Daniel Kahneman. The main argument in the book was that the mind operates in two systems. The first system is for abrupt and automatic thinking or fats thinking. It is what makes the answer to 4x4 pop into your head so quickly. The second system is for more complex and deliberate thinking also called slow thinking. This is the thinking that requires you to put in extra effort to make the decision or complete the task.
The book connected with what I learned in ENT3003 because I realized throughout the course I have been using system two more than system one. Since this course essentially consisted of us coming up with a business idea from scratch, the assignments required a lot of mentally draining thinking. When I was doing the assignments, my idea generation required a lot of deliberate and intentional thinking. It was rare that I was coming up with ideas and solution automatically using system one of thinking.
If I had to design an assignment I would teach students about the two systems of thinking. I would then have them get a notebook and the next day have them be mindful of there thinking process. I would have them try to keep track of which system of thinking they were using through the day. they would write down the situation and then write whether it was system one or two. When we meet up for class agin, I would have the see which system o thinking they used most throughout the day and have a discusion about hwy they thinkthey used that system more often.
The biggest surprise for me was the entire concept of having two different systems of thinking. This idea seemed so foreign to me. When I thought of the thinking process I always pictured it as one system. However, after reading the book, the concept actually makes sense. It is interesting to think that our thought process has these two different systems that are complete opposites, yet work together to suport one another.
Celebrating Failure
At the beginning of the semester, I applied to become a Campus Diplomat. they are the official ambassadors to the Dean of Students Office. I had made it to the first round of interviews which were group interviews. After the group interviews were finished, I was positive that they would not call me back. However, I got an email saying I had made it t the final round of interviews which were one on one. Leaving the one on one interview I felt a little uneasy about how it went, but I remained optimistic. Sadly, I received an email from them saying that I was not chosen to be a Campus Diplomat. I felt as though I had failed because I had made an effort to step outside of my comfort zone and put myself out there. Despite my efforts, I still felt as though I was not good enough for them.
From this experience, I learned that everything happens for a reason. I realized that there was a reason that I was not chosen to be a diplomat because there is something better waiting for me. I also learned to pick myself up and move onto the next thing. Since I did not get chosen to become a diplomat, I have been pursuing different opportunities that will be just and if not more fulfilling for me. Lastly, I learned to become more brave and confident. Applying to become a diplomat was a big step for me and although I got rejected, the whole experience acted as practice for when I apply to more things and the reaction that I might get.
Failure is hard but it is also needed. Through failure, we can learn what mistakes were made and how to avoid them in the future. Failure is embarrassing but it also keeps us humble, and form my personal experience helps us to grow a thicker skin. This class has helped me to see failure as more of a learning aspect. I now know to not be so hard on myself if I fail because it happens to everyone.
From this experience, I learned that everything happens for a reason. I realized that there was a reason that I was not chosen to be a diplomat because there is something better waiting for me. I also learned to pick myself up and move onto the next thing. Since I did not get chosen to become a diplomat, I have been pursuing different opportunities that will be just and if not more fulfilling for me. Lastly, I learned to become more brave and confident. Applying to become a diplomat was a big step for me and although I got rejected, the whole experience acted as practice for when I apply to more things and the reaction that I might get.
Failure is hard but it is also needed. Through failure, we can learn what mistakes were made and how to avoid them in the future. Failure is embarrassing but it also keeps us humble, and form my personal experience helps us to grow a thicker skin. This class has helped me to see failure as more of a learning aspect. I now know to not be so hard on myself if I fail because it happens to everyone.
Friday, April 5, 2019
What's Next?
Existing Market:
In terms of my product, I would like to expand the off-campus route to 3-4 miles off campus to go to housing that is further away like the Niche. This way I can help even more off-campus students, so they are not forced to spend money on Uber and Lyft. Also, I would want to get more vans having about 3 in total only for SNAPX that way more off-campus students can use SNAPX and would not have to wait for just one van. It would also take the stress off the drivers.
The thing that makes the most sense to make my venture grow would be to differentiate myself from Uber and Lyft. Uber can Lyft can both pick you up from anywhere on campus and drop you off wherever you want to go. However, SNAPX is completely free, so that is one thing that will help it grow. Also, I will investigate making more stops to pick up students, so they do not have to walk to certain areas just to get a SNAP. One idea an interviewee gave me was to create a SNAPX app that would track students as they were going home if they were forced to use an uber. If a student happened to miss ours for SNAPX and was forced to Uber or Lyft, the app would track where they were going and notify them if the course wasn't following the GPS to get to their housing There could be a button they could press that would immediately connect them to the authorities if they ever felt like they were in an unsafe situation.
New Market: A completely new market would be the locals of Gainesville and the others in the Alachua County area. SNAPX would be able to create value for these people by adding in stops that go to areas in the surrounding Gainesville area. This would include another van set specifically for Gainesville stops. If people have a car that broke down while working late at night, they could request a SNAPX to take them home. This would be especially useful for UF faculty and staff because they would not have to worry about walking around campus at night if they worked late.
Through my interviews, I got some very good ideas. One idea I really liked was to include refreshments and snacks for the Gainesville local riders. Since they are not UF students, they would be charged per ride, but UF faculty and Staff would get a discount. Providing snacks and refreshments for longer rides would balance out the cost of having to pay for the actual ride by creating a more positive experience. SNAPX could also provide airport travel service to the people who must catch a late flight home during breaks. Since parking at the airport is expensive, SNAPX would be a cheaper and more convenient option for them.
Reflection:
In terms of my product, I would like to expand the off-campus route to 3-4 miles off campus to go to housing that is further away like the Niche. This way I can help even more off-campus students, so they are not forced to spend money on Uber and Lyft. Also, I would want to get more vans having about 3 in total only for SNAPX that way more off-campus students can use SNAPX and would not have to wait for just one van. It would also take the stress off the drivers.
The thing that makes the most sense to make my venture grow would be to differentiate myself from Uber and Lyft. Uber can Lyft can both pick you up from anywhere on campus and drop you off wherever you want to go. However, SNAPX is completely free, so that is one thing that will help it grow. Also, I will investigate making more stops to pick up students, so they do not have to walk to certain areas just to get a SNAP. One idea an interviewee gave me was to create a SNAPX app that would track students as they were going home if they were forced to use an uber. If a student happened to miss ours for SNAPX and was forced to Uber or Lyft, the app would track where they were going and notify them if the course wasn't following the GPS to get to their housing There could be a button they could press that would immediately connect them to the authorities if they ever felt like they were in an unsafe situation.
New Market: A completely new market would be the locals of Gainesville and the others in the Alachua County area. SNAPX would be able to create value for these people by adding in stops that go to areas in the surrounding Gainesville area. This would include another van set specifically for Gainesville stops. If people have a car that broke down while working late at night, they could request a SNAPX to take them home. This would be especially useful for UF faculty and staff because they would not have to worry about walking around campus at night if they worked late.
Through my interviews, I got some very good ideas. One idea I really liked was to include refreshments and snacks for the Gainesville local riders. Since they are not UF students, they would be charged per ride, but UF faculty and Staff would get a discount. Providing snacks and refreshments for longer rides would balance out the cost of having to pay for the actual ride by creating a more positive experience. SNAPX could also provide airport travel service to the people who must catch a late flight home during breaks. Since parking at the airport is expensive, SNAPX would be a cheaper and more convenient option for them.
Reflection:
This market does not seem as attractive as my existing market because it would be harder to reach. Also, SNAPX is a UF program so extending it to the people of Gainesville would be a major liability. I believe for this to work, SNAPX would have to become a privately-run program. What surprised me the most was that with the new market it would be more difficult to differentiate SNAPX from Uber and Lyft because it would not be free anymore. This newer market is harder to attract and create value.
Venture Concept No. 1
Opportunity
The opportunity for my product comes solely from the off-campus students at the University of Florida. Specifically, the ones that do not have a car or a scooter. Roughly 78% of students at UF live in off-campus housing. Many of those students most likely leave campus late at night after studying or a late exam. When they are ready to head home late at night, they either must catch a Later Gator bus, Uber, walk or carpool with a friend. Walking home is not very safe, especially at night, and the other three options are not very reliable and uber is not free. This creates a need for safe, reliable, and free transportation so UF off-campus students can get home without worry. I believe the forces creating this opportunity is that some parents either do not have the money to buy students a car or scooter or that they do not think students will need one. The area surrounding UF is walk-friendly, however, that does not mean it is safe at night. Demographically, the opportunity would come from undergraduate UF students who are mostly in their first and second years. This is because more upperclassmen already have cars compared to first-year students. Currently, customers will take Uber or carpool with a friend. Most of the boy customers will just walk home alone. Other customers will catch the Later Gator bus. I do not believe they are very loyal to this option. Of the people I interviewed, when I asked if they would use SNAP if they could they all answered yes. I think they use the method they are using now because they do not have any other choice. I think this opportunity is very big because there are so many off-campus students at UF that would love the opportunity for a free and safe mode of transportation that would be applicable to them as well. This window of opportunity will be open as long as UF keeps accepting students that must live off campus without providing a program like the idea I am proposing.
InnovationMy innovation is a new SNAP program called SNAPX. SNAP is a free driving service offered to students on campus to take them to their housing or another building during the late hours of the night. My idea, SNAPX would offer the same ride benefits, however, it would be used to take off-campus students to their apartment complexes or housing. SNAPX would provide a van used specifically for off-campus stops and would travel to apartments 1-2 miles off campus. It would run from 6:30 pm to 3:00 am and would be completely free to the students. It would only pick students up at the main areas on campus such as the Reitz Union and the Hub in order to be efficient with gas and time due to the extra mileage of traveling off campus. Students would request a ride through the TapRide app using the option to choose SNAPX.
Venture ConceptMy innovation will solve the opportunity because it will provide off-campus students with a safe option for traveling home at night. Off-campus students may feel left out because they do not have the same resource available to them. There seems to be a fair amount of crimes that happen around UF and as an off-campus student, sometimes I feel very scared walking home late at night. It will not be difficult for customers to switch to SNAPX at all because it is a program that would be in their best interest. It would be created specifically for them. The competitors against SNAPX would be the Later Gator bus, Uber, or Lyft. The Later Gator is a free option however it only goes to certain stops, not all. Also, it can be unreliable and run late, causing students to wait at the bus stop alone outside at night, leaving them vulnerable. Uber and Lyft are safer options, however, they not free. Depending on how far you must travel and the time you are requesting one the price can be expensive. Also, there is the risk of getting into an Uber of Lyft and the driver having more dangerous intentions that do not include dropping you off at your housing. I would have two to three drivers per night so that there would always be drivers that are refreshed and aware. There would be a hiring manager to hire new drivers and the main SNAPX director that would oversee to make sure everything is running smoothly. There would be Student Government liaison or representative that would communicate with Student Government and keep them up to date with how SNAPX is running.
Three Minor ElementsI think the most important resource I have is the connections that I have with UF faculty. Networking is a major part or starting a new business. These connections I have can help me with figuring out the administrative side with starting this idea. They can also introduce me directly to the administration that would help me get the program completely started. The next opportunity I would want to tackle with my innovation is to expand the route even further off campus. This way I could cater to even more off-campus students who live 3 or even 4 miles off campus. Also, I would want to get 1 or 2 more vans for off-campus stops. In five years, I would want to have even more program implemented for students on campus. I would want to be making progress with another idea I have for Transfer students at UF. Hopefully, I would have my own startup as my full-time job. This venture would be a confidence builder and help me gain experience with creating and implementing a new product It would give me a look into how entrepreneurship is so I would feel more comfortable with it in the future.
The opportunity for my product comes solely from the off-campus students at the University of Florida. Specifically, the ones that do not have a car or a scooter. Roughly 78% of students at UF live in off-campus housing. Many of those students most likely leave campus late at night after studying or a late exam. When they are ready to head home late at night, they either must catch a Later Gator bus, Uber, walk or carpool with a friend. Walking home is not very safe, especially at night, and the other three options are not very reliable and uber is not free. This creates a need for safe, reliable, and free transportation so UF off-campus students can get home without worry. I believe the forces creating this opportunity is that some parents either do not have the money to buy students a car or scooter or that they do not think students will need one. The area surrounding UF is walk-friendly, however, that does not mean it is safe at night. Demographically, the opportunity would come from undergraduate UF students who are mostly in their first and second years. This is because more upperclassmen already have cars compared to first-year students. Currently, customers will take Uber or carpool with a friend. Most of the boy customers will just walk home alone. Other customers will catch the Later Gator bus. I do not believe they are very loyal to this option. Of the people I interviewed, when I asked if they would use SNAP if they could they all answered yes. I think they use the method they are using now because they do not have any other choice. I think this opportunity is very big because there are so many off-campus students at UF that would love the opportunity for a free and safe mode of transportation that would be applicable to them as well. This window of opportunity will be open as long as UF keeps accepting students that must live off campus without providing a program like the idea I am proposing.
InnovationMy innovation is a new SNAP program called SNAPX. SNAP is a free driving service offered to students on campus to take them to their housing or another building during the late hours of the night. My idea, SNAPX would offer the same ride benefits, however, it would be used to take off-campus students to their apartment complexes or housing. SNAPX would provide a van used specifically for off-campus stops and would travel to apartments 1-2 miles off campus. It would run from 6:30 pm to 3:00 am and would be completely free to the students. It would only pick students up at the main areas on campus such as the Reitz Union and the Hub in order to be efficient with gas and time due to the extra mileage of traveling off campus. Students would request a ride through the TapRide app using the option to choose SNAPX.
Venture ConceptMy innovation will solve the opportunity because it will provide off-campus students with a safe option for traveling home at night. Off-campus students may feel left out because they do not have the same resource available to them. There seems to be a fair amount of crimes that happen around UF and as an off-campus student, sometimes I feel very scared walking home late at night. It will not be difficult for customers to switch to SNAPX at all because it is a program that would be in their best interest. It would be created specifically for them. The competitors against SNAPX would be the Later Gator bus, Uber, or Lyft. The Later Gator is a free option however it only goes to certain stops, not all. Also, it can be unreliable and run late, causing students to wait at the bus stop alone outside at night, leaving them vulnerable. Uber and Lyft are safer options, however, they not free. Depending on how far you must travel and the time you are requesting one the price can be expensive. Also, there is the risk of getting into an Uber of Lyft and the driver having more dangerous intentions that do not include dropping you off at your housing. I would have two to three drivers per night so that there would always be drivers that are refreshed and aware. There would be a hiring manager to hire new drivers and the main SNAPX director that would oversee to make sure everything is running smoothly. There would be Student Government liaison or representative that would communicate with Student Government and keep them up to date with how SNAPX is running.
Three Minor ElementsI think the most important resource I have is the connections that I have with UF faculty. Networking is a major part or starting a new business. These connections I have can help me with figuring out the administrative side with starting this idea. They can also introduce me directly to the administration that would help me get the program completely started. The next opportunity I would want to tackle with my innovation is to expand the route even further off campus. This way I could cater to even more off-campus students who live 3 or even 4 miles off campus. Also, I would want to get 1 or 2 more vans for off-campus stops. In five years, I would want to have even more program implemented for students on campus. I would want to be making progress with another idea I have for Transfer students at UF. Hopefully, I would have my own startup as my full-time job. This venture would be a confidence builder and help me gain experience with creating and implementing a new product It would give me a look into how entrepreneurship is so I would feel more comfortable with it in the future.
Your Venture's Unfair Advantage
1. Other off-campus students' experiences
V: Listening to other students experiences with off-campus transportation will help me create a product that meets as many needs as possible and takes into account different scenarios and exceptions.
R: These experiences are not very rare because there are a lot of off-campus students at UF and not all of them have cars. A majority of them would probably have the same experiences.
I: It is not very inimitable because not everyone's prototypical customer is an off-campus student without a car or scooter. This resource is very specific.
N: This resource is nonsubstitutable because these students have their own specific experiences and they cannot be substituted out.
2. Student Government
V: This resource is very valuable because this is what will be funding the program.
R: It is not very rare because any organization can go to student government and ask for funding of their program.
I: This resource is not very inimitable because there is only one Student Government at UF that funds programs and organizations.
N: It is nonsubstitutable because the only place to get funding for the program is from Student Government.
3. UF Faculty that have implemented programs at the school before
V: This is valuable because they can give me insight and advice on the best way to start a program and how everything works.
R: It is not rare because a lot of faulty have implemented different programs for the school.
I: It can be inimitable because not everyone has the authority to implement major programs in the school.
N: It is nonsubstitutable because only people who have implemented major programs will be able to give me the advice and guidance I would be seeking.
4. Connections with UF Faculty
V: This is valuable because the connections I have can help me meet with the actual people who would help me get this product started.
R: It is not rare because a lot of other UF students are connected with UF Faculty around the school.
I: It is inimitable because anyone can walk up to a faculty member and start networking with them.
N: It is nonsubstitutable because not many people other than UF Faculty can help me get a meeting with the administrator who would help me create this idea.
5. My determined mindset
V: This is valuable because determination shows that I will not give up on this idea easily.
R: This is not rare because a lot of people have determination.
I: My determination is not inimitable because it is a personal quality of mine.
N: My determination is nonsubstitutable because it is not an objective resource.
6. My personal experience
V: It is valuable because I use my personal experience as a guide for how to program should be created.
R: It is rare but it depends because sometimes people can have the exacts same experiences as me.
I: It is not inimitable because my experience with off-campus transportation is not a tangible object that people can copy.
N: It is nonsubstitutable because again, my personal experience is not tangible. It is a resource that is unique to me.
7. UF students looking for employment
V: This is valuable because they can be the possible drivers for SNAPX.
R: It is not rare because a lot of UF students may be looking for employment.
I: It is inimitable because other people can also be looking for employment as well.
N: It is not nonsubstitutable because anyone can become a SNAPX driver.
8. SNAPs current stop route
V: This is valuable because I can see where SNAP already goes and decided where it should make stops based off of that
R: This is not rare because anyone can access SNAPs current stop route.
I: It is inimitable because anyone can drive the route and make the stops
N: It is nonsubstitutable because SNAP is the only program that uses that route.
9. List of off-campus housing 1-2 miles off campus
V: This will show me which housing buildings I need to take into account when creating the new stop route.
R: This is not rare because anyone can look up the housing that is near UF.
I: It is inimitable because anyone can create the exact same list using public information.
N: This is nonsubstitutable because this list is very specific to my business idea.
10. Estimate of students who live off campus
V: This is valuable because it would give me a rough estimate of how many people the new program could help.
R: This is not rare because the number of students who live off campus can be found on the public school records.
I: This is inimitable becuase anyone can look up th enumber of off campus students.
N: This is nonsubstitutable because I am only using the number of student off-campus at UF.
I think the connection with UF faculty is the most important resource. Not only can they introduce me to other faculty who have implemented programs, but they can help me with the administrative detail as well. They can also act as a guide and give me advice for the best way to implement the program.
V: Listening to other students experiences with off-campus transportation will help me create a product that meets as many needs as possible and takes into account different scenarios and exceptions.
R: These experiences are not very rare because there are a lot of off-campus students at UF and not all of them have cars. A majority of them would probably have the same experiences.
I: It is not very inimitable because not everyone's prototypical customer is an off-campus student without a car or scooter. This resource is very specific.
N: This resource is nonsubstitutable because these students have their own specific experiences and they cannot be substituted out.
2. Student Government
V: This resource is very valuable because this is what will be funding the program.
R: It is not very rare because any organization can go to student government and ask for funding of their program.
I: This resource is not very inimitable because there is only one Student Government at UF that funds programs and organizations.
N: It is nonsubstitutable because the only place to get funding for the program is from Student Government.
3. UF Faculty that have implemented programs at the school before
V: This is valuable because they can give me insight and advice on the best way to start a program and how everything works.
R: It is not rare because a lot of faulty have implemented different programs for the school.
I: It can be inimitable because not everyone has the authority to implement major programs in the school.
N: It is nonsubstitutable because only people who have implemented major programs will be able to give me the advice and guidance I would be seeking.
4. Connections with UF Faculty
V: This is valuable because the connections I have can help me meet with the actual people who would help me get this product started.
R: It is not rare because a lot of other UF students are connected with UF Faculty around the school.
I: It is inimitable because anyone can walk up to a faculty member and start networking with them.
N: It is nonsubstitutable because not many people other than UF Faculty can help me get a meeting with the administrator who would help me create this idea.
5. My determined mindset
V: This is valuable because determination shows that I will not give up on this idea easily.
R: This is not rare because a lot of people have determination.
I: My determination is not inimitable because it is a personal quality of mine.
N: My determination is nonsubstitutable because it is not an objective resource.
6. My personal experience
V: It is valuable because I use my personal experience as a guide for how to program should be created.
R: It is rare but it depends because sometimes people can have the exacts same experiences as me.
I: It is not inimitable because my experience with off-campus transportation is not a tangible object that people can copy.
N: It is nonsubstitutable because again, my personal experience is not tangible. It is a resource that is unique to me.
7. UF students looking for employment
V: This is valuable because they can be the possible drivers for SNAPX.
R: It is not rare because a lot of UF students may be looking for employment.
I: It is inimitable because other people can also be looking for employment as well.
N: It is not nonsubstitutable because anyone can become a SNAPX driver.
8. SNAPs current stop route
V: This is valuable because I can see where SNAP already goes and decided where it should make stops based off of that
R: This is not rare because anyone can access SNAPs current stop route.
I: It is inimitable because anyone can drive the route and make the stops
N: It is nonsubstitutable because SNAP is the only program that uses that route.
9. List of off-campus housing 1-2 miles off campus
V: This will show me which housing buildings I need to take into account when creating the new stop route.
R: This is not rare because anyone can look up the housing that is near UF.
I: It is inimitable because anyone can create the exact same list using public information.
N: This is nonsubstitutable because this list is very specific to my business idea.
10. Estimate of students who live off campus
V: This is valuable because it would give me a rough estimate of how many people the new program could help.
R: This is not rare because the number of students who live off campus can be found on the public school records.
I: This is inimitable becuase anyone can look up th enumber of off campus students.
N: This is nonsubstitutable because I am only using the number of student off-campus at UF.
I think the connection with UF faculty is the most important resource. Not only can they introduce me to other faculty who have implemented programs, but they can help me with the administrative detail as well. They can also act as a guide and give me advice for the best way to implement the program.
Friday, March 29, 2019
Elevator Pitch No. 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDft6xAtNtI&feature=youtu.be
I did not receive any feedback on my second elevator pitch so again I just rewatched it and saw what I could improve on. This time around, I tried to stay more in the camera's frame and tried to make the pitch sound a bit smoother. I noticed I was able to say the pitch easier, but I still felt very unnatural and awkward in front of the camera like the first two times.
I did not receive any feedback on my second elevator pitch so again I just rewatched it and saw what I could improve on. This time around, I tried to stay more in the camera's frame and tried to make the pitch sound a bit smoother. I noticed I was able to say the pitch easier, but I still felt very unnatural and awkward in front of the camera like the first two times.
Reading Reflection No. 2
The book I chose was How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big written by Scott Adams. In my opinion, the main theme was to learn how to accept failure and use it as motivation to continue pushing forward until you reach success. In the book, dams had multiple lessons that he learned while navigating his career. Some of the lessons were to use systems instead of goals and to eat healthier. These lessons he learned taught him how to take care of himself so he could continue having failures and learning from them instead of feeling discouraged by them.
In ENT3003, I am always trying to think of ideas and ways to make my business idea better. I am also interviewing people in search of more ways to make the idea better. Sometimes my ideas do not always work out and that can be discouraging at times. Scott Adams book taught me lessons that would be helpful in navigating these failures and the failures I will face later on in life as well. One of the lessons that stuck with me was to follows systems instead of goals. He says that goals are specific objectives and systems are routines. People feel accomplished when they follow a system, however with a goal, once it is reached people simply look for another one.
One exercise I would design for the class would be to choose a lesson that Adams said he learned. I would then have them apply it to their everyday lives for 2 weeks. At the end of the 2 weeks, I would have them reflect on how their life and outlook has changed.
My biggest surprise was when Adams said that passion does not cause success, but success causes passion. This surprised me because I have always had a hard time finding a passion that I would like to turn into a career. Reading that Adams believes that success creates passion is very reassuring because I now feel I can find passion in whatever career choice I make. If one option is not successful I can move onto a choice that will be and find my passion there.
In ENT3003, I am always trying to think of ideas and ways to make my business idea better. I am also interviewing people in search of more ways to make the idea better. Sometimes my ideas do not always work out and that can be discouraging at times. Scott Adams book taught me lessons that would be helpful in navigating these failures and the failures I will face later on in life as well. One of the lessons that stuck with me was to follows systems instead of goals. He says that goals are specific objectives and systems are routines. People feel accomplished when they follow a system, however with a goal, once it is reached people simply look for another one.
One exercise I would design for the class would be to choose a lesson that Adams said he learned. I would then have them apply it to their everyday lives for 2 weeks. At the end of the 2 weeks, I would have them reflect on how their life and outlook has changed.
My biggest surprise was when Adams said that passion does not cause success, but success causes passion. This surprised me because I have always had a hard time finding a passion that I would like to turn into a career. Reading that Adams believes that success creates passion is very reassuring because I now feel I can find passion in whatever career choice I make. If one option is not successful I can move onto a choice that will be and find my passion there.
Friday, March 22, 2019
Growing Your Social Capital
Domain Expert: I spoke to someone who used to be an Uber driver. He is a domain expert because although he did not drive for SNAP, he did drive for uber so he has experience with driving people around to different routes. I met him through random talking and realized he was a driver. I asked him if I could tell him my idea for SNAPX. He would be useful because since he knows the Gainesville area he would be helpful in coming up with efficient routes that would be easy for the drivers to follow.
Market Expert: I spoke to a third-year transfer student. She is a market expert because she would be the prototypical customer for SNAPX. She does not have a car and lives off campus so she is the prime market expert. I went up to ask her if she lived off-campus and if she had a car. When she said yes I asked if I could talk to her. Including her in my network will be useful because since she is directly in the target market, she can help me make improvements to the business so it is in its best form.
Supplier: I spoke to one of the members of UF’s Student Government. They are a supplier because SNAP is funded by the UF Student Government, so SNAPX would be funded by Student Government also. I found them by going to the Student Government Office and asking to speak with one of the members. I asked if I could interview them and talk to them about an idea. Including this person in my network will be useful because it will help me figure out the proper funding to make sure SNAPX is actually feasible.
This experience was very interesting for me. I was surprised by how these different people were able to provide something different and to the creation of my idea. This was different than networking I had done before because, with this, I had to make sure the people I was speaking to fit the specific criteria of domain expert, market expert, and supplier. Usually, when I would network, I would just connect with anyone who was tied to the company.
Market Expert: I spoke to a third-year transfer student. She is a market expert because she would be the prototypical customer for SNAPX. She does not have a car and lives off campus so she is the prime market expert. I went up to ask her if she lived off-campus and if she had a car. When she said yes I asked if I could talk to her. Including her in my network will be useful because since she is directly in the target market, she can help me make improvements to the business so it is in its best form.
Supplier: I spoke to one of the members of UF’s Student Government. They are a supplier because SNAP is funded by the UF Student Government, so SNAPX would be funded by Student Government also. I found them by going to the Student Government Office and asking to speak with one of the members. I asked if I could interview them and talk to them about an idea. Including this person in my network will be useful because it will help me figure out the proper funding to make sure SNAPX is actually feasible.
This experience was very interesting for me. I was surprised by how these different people were able to provide something different and to the creation of my idea. This was different than networking I had done before because, with this, I had to make sure the people I was speaking to fit the specific criteria of domain expert, market expert, and supplier. Usually, when I would network, I would just connect with anyone who was tied to the company.
Idea Napkin No. 2
1. My name is Agatha Robinson. I am a third-year Information Systems major. Some of my skills are that I am very determined and hard working. Also, I would like to see a significant change on the campus that would make it more valuable for future students. This business would play a major role in my life because it would be something I would use every day since it was based on my own experiences.
2. I am offering an extension of the current SNAP program called SNAPX. SNAPX would take off-campus students to their housing accommodations during the night so they would not have to walk home at night or use an uber. SNAPX would run form 6:30 pm to 3:00 am. SNAPX would go to off-campus housing located 1-2 miles off campus and have a van meant solely for the off-campus routes.
3. I am offering it to off-campus students who end up leaving campus late at night. It is specifically meant for the students who leave late because it is unsafe for students to walk home at night, especially if they are alone. I believe that females will be the majority of customers because females tend to be targeted more at night than males, and many females are aware of this. Also, the students would not have a car or scooter with them on campus.
4. Consumers will care about my product because it will provide them a sense of reliable security when they are ready to head home at night. SNAPX would also be completely free, which is also important for college students.
5. What sets me apart is that my product is completely free for the students. It is not used to make money, rather it is just created to help make the students experience a little easier. Also, my product satisfies an unmet need that is clearly prevalent throughout the school. Many people can clearly see that there is a need for a SNAP extension for off-campus students, so my product would actually be valuable to the betterment of the school.
I do think these elements fit together well. There is a visible need for more resources for off-campus students, especially reliable free transportation. SNAPX would satisfy that unmet need and make living off campus easier for many students at UF. I did not have any constructive feedback on my first Idea Napkin, so I reread it and tried to think of what I could improve on it. When I did differently was to try to not be so repetitive and add more of my own strengths and skills in the first question.
2. I am offering an extension of the current SNAP program called SNAPX. SNAPX would take off-campus students to their housing accommodations during the night so they would not have to walk home at night or use an uber. SNAPX would run form 6:30 pm to 3:00 am. SNAPX would go to off-campus housing located 1-2 miles off campus and have a van meant solely for the off-campus routes.
3. I am offering it to off-campus students who end up leaving campus late at night. It is specifically meant for the students who leave late because it is unsafe for students to walk home at night, especially if they are alone. I believe that females will be the majority of customers because females tend to be targeted more at night than males, and many females are aware of this. Also, the students would not have a car or scooter with them on campus.
4. Consumers will care about my product because it will provide them a sense of reliable security when they are ready to head home at night. SNAPX would also be completely free, which is also important for college students.
5. What sets me apart is that my product is completely free for the students. It is not used to make money, rather it is just created to help make the students experience a little easier. Also, my product satisfies an unmet need that is clearly prevalent throughout the school. Many people can clearly see that there is a need for a SNAP extension for off-campus students, so my product would actually be valuable to the betterment of the school.
I do think these elements fit together well. There is a visible need for more resources for off-campus students, especially reliable free transportation. SNAPX would satisfy that unmet need and make living off campus easier for many students at UF. I did not have any constructive feedback on my first Idea Napkin, so I reread it and tried to think of what I could improve on it. When I did differently was to try to not be so repetitive and add more of my own strengths and skills in the first question.
Friday, March 15, 2019
Elevator Pitch No. 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1-s9ISKok4
The feedback that stood out to me was to show more emotion in my voice when I spoke. This time around, I decided to stand up and try to move around to incite more emotion in my voice. I also tried to sound more excited.
The feedback that stood out to me was to show more emotion in my voice when I spoke. This time around, I decided to stand up and try to move around to incite more emotion in my voice. I also tried to sound more excited.
Create a Customer Avatar
My prototypical customer is a UF undergraduate female who is a sophomore. She is from Hoboken, New Jersey and is studying Computer Science minoring in Graphic Design. She likes to spend time with friends and family, listen to music and shop. She loves watching Netflix and Hulu. she especially loves Marvel movies. Since she is an engineering major, she spends a lot of time at the library studying alone or in groups and doing homework. She is also involved in extracurriculars. She is a member of the annual fashion show, Fashion Xclusive. She is a model and on the executive board. She does not have a car because her parents do not think she needs one while she's at college. She loves reading comedy-drama books and young adult romance novels. She just turned 20 years old, however, she feels like she is 30. This is because since she stays up so late studying, she does not get enough sleep at night.
She lives at University House off campus and loves her apartment complex. Because she is a female she realizes that there are some dangers of walking home alone at night, so she takes as many precautions as she can. She walks with her keys in her hand in case someone tries to attack her and her facetime her mother as she is walking. She also makes sure to continuously look around her to make sure she is not being followed. She ends up walking home at night basically every day, however with the longer days, she feels she has more time to walk home since the sun sets later.
I do have a lot in common with the prototypical customer. We share the same interest and hobbies, however, I am a junior and am a business student. We both do not have cars and end up leaving home late due to studying and homework. We both also live off campus and have to walk home alone at night. I do not think it is a coincidence that we have things in common because my business idea came from my personal experience and how to fix that. Therefore, the prototypical customers and I would share similarities because if I was not the creator of the idea, I would also be a prototypical customer.
She lives at University House off campus and loves her apartment complex. Because she is a female she realizes that there are some dangers of walking home alone at night, so she takes as many precautions as she can. She walks with her keys in her hand in case someone tries to attack her and her facetime her mother as she is walking. She also makes sure to continuously look around her to make sure she is not being followed. She ends up walking home at night basically every day, however with the longer days, she feels she has more time to walk home since the sun sets later.
I do have a lot in common with the prototypical customer. We share the same interest and hobbies, however, I am a junior and am a business student. We both do not have cars and end up leaving home late due to studying and homework. We both also live off campus and have to walk home alone at night. I do not think it is a coincidence that we have things in common because my business idea came from my personal experience and how to fix that. Therefore, the prototypical customers and I would share similarities because if I was not the creator of the idea, I would also be a prototypical customer.
Friday, March 1, 2019
What's Your Secret Sauce
- I am very determined. Once I set a goal, I try everything I can to reach it.
- I like to be goofy and make others laugh.
- I am very self-aware and emotionally intelligent.
- I am respectful and polite.
- I tend to have a very active imagination which can be good and bad at times.
#1 - Kaitlyn - roommate
Kaitlyn said one of the things that makes me unique is my nonjudging attitude and the ability to respect others secrets. She also said it was refreshing to be around someone who knows the value of hard work.
#2 - Dean Robinson - father
He said the first thing that makes me unique is my courage and ability to jump into things without hesitation. He also said I am self-less and will do a lot for others. Lastly, he said I am intelligent and that he thinks I will do well in life.
#3 - Dena Robinson - sister
Dena said that my ability to choose authentic people to surround myself with is unique. She also said I am wise beyond my years and I am good about weighing different viewpoints and information before coming to a decision or opinion of my own.
#4 - Rhoenna Robinson - mother
My mother overall said I am special. She said I am courageous, happy, funny, and have a pure nature. She also says I am brave and sweet, and reminds people of "everyone and no one".
#5 - Sarah - roommate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZcRDueazRk
Sarah said that the thing most unique about me was my positivity. She said I am able to be happy and make others around me happy in the process.
I was very shocked about everything everyone had to say about me. I did not know they saw me in that manner. Also, the qualities I had come up with in the beginning were very different from the qualities the interviewers came up with. I had some difficulty figuring out what makes me unique, but the interviewers were able to think of an answer so quickly. I was not aware that I had affected all of these people in a way, that made them think so positively of me. I would not make any corrections to my list because some of the qualities I put down were different from what the interviewers said. Most of the unique qualities that I put are not noticable to anyone but me so I would keep all of them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZcRDueazRk
Sarah said that the thing most unique about me was my positivity. She said I am able to be happy and make others around me happy in the process.
I was very shocked about everything everyone had to say about me. I did not know they saw me in that manner. Also, the qualities I had come up with in the beginning were very different from the qualities the interviewers came up with. I had some difficulty figuring out what makes me unique, but the interviewers were able to think of an answer so quickly. I was not aware that I had affected all of these people in a way, that made them think so positively of me. I would not make any corrections to my list because some of the qualities I put down were different from what the interviewers said. Most of the unique qualities that I put are not noticable to anyone but me so I would keep all of them.
Figuring out Buyer Behavior No. 2
My first interviewer said when she evaluates different products, price is the most important factor she considers. The second most important is quality. For her, the price is the most important because she does not have a lot of money to spend carelessly, so she tries to buy cheap things to save money. After she finds the cheapest products she will choose the one with the best quality to try and get the best deal possible. She said she likes shopping both online and in stores. In stores, she can try out the products to make sure they work like they are supposed to. However, sometimes items are cheaper online. Also, some products are only sold online, like the merchandise of a celebrity or items from an online store. She says she also has more options online. Whether she is buying online or in-store she will use her debit card. She says she feels most satisfied with her purchase if she knows she saved a good amount of money. She says even if the quality is not as good as another product she feels good because she was able to save money on the purchase.
My second interviewer says she weighs price and quality somewhat equally with quality being a little more important. However, if a product is of better quality, she does not mind spending more money on it. She says quality is of more importance because products that are better quality last longer, so the extra money you are paying is worth it. She prefers to buy things in-store because she often has difficulty with online shopping. She says the items take a long time and sometimes what she bought is not what she received. However, she does not mind shopping with Amazon because most times they are reliable. When she purchases she only uses a debit card because she does not want to "fall into the trap of credit card debt". She feels good about her purchase if it works like it should and is what she thinks is the best quality.
My third interviewer said the weight of different factors depends on the product. If it is a simple, everyday product like toothpaste or a notebook then price is more important. However, if it is an important purchase like a new computer then quality will be weighed heavily, with the price coming in as a close second. He almost always makes purchases in store, mostly because he can see exactly what he is buying. He most times tries to use his debit card, but he does have a credit card that he will put some purchases on if he does not have enough cash in is checking account. He decides if he's satisfied with a purchase by testing it out to see if he likes how it performs. He will also show it to his friends and see what they think of the purchase.
Overall, this segment seems to weigh price and quality equally in a lot of decisions. However, with certain purchases, one may be more important than the other. They also prefer in-store purchases because you are able to see exactly what you are buying and can test it in person to see if it fits your needs. They decide a purchase is the right choice mostly based off of how well it satisfies their need and how much it cost.
My second interviewer says she weighs price and quality somewhat equally with quality being a little more important. However, if a product is of better quality, she does not mind spending more money on it. She says quality is of more importance because products that are better quality last longer, so the extra money you are paying is worth it. She prefers to buy things in-store because she often has difficulty with online shopping. She says the items take a long time and sometimes what she bought is not what she received. However, she does not mind shopping with Amazon because most times they are reliable. When she purchases she only uses a debit card because she does not want to "fall into the trap of credit card debt". She feels good about her purchase if it works like it should and is what she thinks is the best quality.
My third interviewer said the weight of different factors depends on the product. If it is a simple, everyday product like toothpaste or a notebook then price is more important. However, if it is an important purchase like a new computer then quality will be weighed heavily, with the price coming in as a close second. He almost always makes purchases in store, mostly because he can see exactly what he is buying. He most times tries to use his debit card, but he does have a credit card that he will put some purchases on if he does not have enough cash in is checking account. He decides if he's satisfied with a purchase by testing it out to see if he likes how it performs. He will also show it to his friends and see what they think of the purchase.
Overall, this segment seems to weigh price and quality equally in a lot of decisions. However, with certain purchases, one may be more important than the other. They also prefer in-store purchases because you are able to see exactly what you are buying and can test it in person to see if it fits your needs. They decide a purchase is the right choice mostly based off of how well it satisfies their need and how much it cost.
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Reading Reflection No. 1
The book I chose was Shoe Dog, about Phil Knight, the man who built Nike. What surprised me the most was his persevering attitude. When he first had the idea of selling Tiger shoes in America, no one stood behind him. His friends, teachers, and father did not think much of his idea. Despite the lack of support from people around him, he still took the chance to fly to Japan and pitch his idea to Onitsuka's CEO. His determination is what I most admire. He is very driven, which is a quality I hope to develop and strengthen over time. I also admire how he made it a point to maintain NIKE's ethics and integrity throughout the years. He treats every athlete that is sponsored with NIKE as a friend. When NIKE was developing, he made to include his team in major decisions and hold team building activities. I admire that he wanted to build a good company based on its morals and values. I least admired the fact that he was not a very good sales person and he seemed shy. When he made his pitch to Onitsuka's CEO, he was able to persuade them to allow him to sell their shoes, so I was shocked to find out he was not a good salesperson. Knight encountered different adversities. One of them was Onitsuka suing Knight's previous company Blue Ribbon. They were suing for costs that were accrued through a break in the contract. During this time, Blue Ribbon had decided to start officially producing its own shoes, NIKE. Instead of being bullied by Onitsuka, Blue Ribbon decided to sue back. They had information that even though Blue Ribbon was the distributor of Onitsuka's Track and Field shoe line through a contract, Onitsuka was still looking for another distributor. Knight was able to win the lawsuit because the judge saw he was the more honest party.
Some competencies I noticed was his ability to not give up and his ability to fight injustice against him. Throughout the beginning process of building his company, the only thing keeping him going was his belief in himself. By believing in himself despite other people's lack of support, he was able to keep a positive outlook on the future and what his company would become. He also does not settle when he thinks he is being wronged. In addition to the Onitsuka lawsuit that he fought back against, NIKE was involved in another lawsuit with the U.S. government. He was being sued for $25 million, for allegedly violating a customs law. Keds and Converse worked together to report NIKE to the government. However, NIKE fought against that as well and was able to settle for $9 million.
One part of the reading that confused me was how unreal the beginning of his story was. He had graduated from his business school and had an idea that Japanese shoes would sell well in the United States. He then decided to take his idea and fly to Japan to pitch it, and his offer was accepted. This confuses me because it does not seem like taking such a risky opportunity would be so successful that easily. I also do not think it portrays the reality of a lot of risks that are taken.
One question I would ask is, "What gave you the motivation to pitch your idea to Onitsuka?" I would want to know that because it seems like such a big risk and opportunity. I would want to know what made him think that his idea would be that valuable. Another question I would have is, "Was there ever a point where you felt like quitting altogether?". Being an entrepreneur is very stressful and unpredictable. Knight also faced various obstacles that wanted to ruin his company. I am curious if these obstacles ever got the best of him and made him lose hope.
I think Knight's opinion of hard work is never giving up. Throughout his journey, Knight is very persistent with building his company and making it better. He also includes people in his team who share the same dedication and drive. By never giving up he is taking advantage of any and all opportunites that cross his path, which in itself is hard work. I share this opinion because I believe that someone can work on accomplishing a goal, but if they give up right when something goes wrong, they have wasted their time. Never giving up means you push past any boundaries and obstacles and that is the main component of hard work.
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Halfway Reflection
To keep up with the course I have been trying to do the assignments during the first half of the week to save myself enough time to work on them. This is especially important with assignments that require interviews to be done. For the quizzes, I will usually watch the videos on Thursdays and Fridays because there are a lot of them. I will make sure to take notes on the lecture and powerpoints also. Since declaring the assignment is the only way to get the points, I will do it immediately after I submit the assignment. I will also double check to make sure that the assignment pulls up the proper post after I submit it.
A moment when I felt like giving up was when we had our first elevator pitch assignment due. I had a very busy week and I also had an application due that night along with the elevator pitch. Because my week was so busy I ended up doing most of my tasks on Friday and came extremely close to the deadlines. I almost wanted to give up and not bother submitting the elevator pitch because I was feeling so overwhelmed with all of the work I had to do. What pulled me through was my determination to get an A in this class. I also did not want to use my busy week as an excuse to not get my work done, because I was not the only one who had busy weeks in college. I also do not like the idea of having work that is not completed, especially when I know I can power through and complete it. I think I have developed a tenacious attitude over the past two months. I am taking 4 classes which means I have assignments due basically every day. Although it can be daunting when I look at an upcoming week, I do not let that stop me, and get all of my work done and turned in on time.
The first tip I have is to write out all of the due dates for the semester in your planner. This will keep you organized and you will always know what is due for the next week so you can start working on it. My second tip would be to not save your assignments for the last minute. This can leave you feeling overwhelmed and stressed, making you want to give up. If you save yourself enough time to do your work you can get your assignments turned in early so you do not have to worry about them and start working on future assignments. My third tip would be to not let a bad grade keep you from doing good in your classes. Although it is disappointing to get a bad grade on an exam or quiz, you still have other opportunities to raise your average so you have to move on. Thinking this way will help you build a tenacious mindset because you are not letting one grade hold you back. Instead, you are pushing through so you can do better on the next assignment.
A moment when I felt like giving up was when we had our first elevator pitch assignment due. I had a very busy week and I also had an application due that night along with the elevator pitch. Because my week was so busy I ended up doing most of my tasks on Friday and came extremely close to the deadlines. I almost wanted to give up and not bother submitting the elevator pitch because I was feeling so overwhelmed with all of the work I had to do. What pulled me through was my determination to get an A in this class. I also did not want to use my busy week as an excuse to not get my work done, because I was not the only one who had busy weeks in college. I also do not like the idea of having work that is not completed, especially when I know I can power through and complete it. I think I have developed a tenacious attitude over the past two months. I am taking 4 classes which means I have assignments due basically every day. Although it can be daunting when I look at an upcoming week, I do not let that stop me, and get all of my work done and turned in on time.
The first tip I have is to write out all of the due dates for the semester in your planner. This will keep you organized and you will always know what is due for the next week so you can start working on it. My second tip would be to not save your assignments for the last minute. This can leave you feeling overwhelmed and stressed, making you want to give up. If you save yourself enough time to do your work you can get your assignments turned in early so you do not have to worry about them and start working on future assignments. My third tip would be to not let a bad grade keep you from doing good in your classes. Although it is disappointing to get a bad grade on an exam or quiz, you still have other opportunities to raise your average so you have to move on. Thinking this way will help you build a tenacious mindset because you are not letting one grade hold you back. Instead, you are pushing through so you can do better on the next assignment.
Friday, February 15, 2019
Figuring out Buyer Behavior No. 1
The segment I am focusing on targeting is University of Florida students who live off campus. I am also choosing to focus on those who do not have a car or scooter because they are forced to find alternate modes of transportation to get around. Although people who have cars and scooters do not use them all the time, they most likely use them to travel around at night, so they do not fit into the segment I am targeting.
Interviews:
1. The first person I interviewed was an off-campus male who did not have a car or scooter. His unmet need for transportation is most evident when he has club meetings or stays at the library studying until late. Most times he leaves between 12:00 to 1:00 am, so he ends up walking home at night. He is aware that it is not safe to walk home at night however, he does not feel scared because he does not think he will be targeted since he is a male. When he realizes it is time to go home if he doesn't want to walk home, he will take an uber or try to get a ride from one of his friends on campus. He lives about half a mile off-campus so he does not mind the walk home except for when it is cold and windy at night.
2. The second person I interviewed was a girl who also lived about half of a mile off campus. She mostly has the unmet needs when she is studying late in the library fo ran exam. Some days she ends up staying in the library until 1:00 or 2:00 am. Since she does not have a car she usually walks with a friend or takes an Uber home. She does not feel safe walking home at night because she is aware that females can be attacked at night. When she realizes the need to go home without having a car, she will usually look for friends who are also walking home, or she will pay for an Uber.
3. The third person I interviewed lives a little over half a mile away from the school, saying it is about a 12-minute walk to get home. She says she does not have the need very often because she tries not to leave campus too late. She does this because she knows she does not feel comfortable walking home alone at night. She says the robberies that happen also make her more scared of walking alone at night. When she does have to walk home, she will either uber if it is after 11:00pm or if it is before she will talk on the phone with someone while she is walking because it makes her feel safer.
Through my research, I had learned that the unmet need for night transportation is a need that is aware throughout off-campus students. However, as I had stated in previous posts, I do not think a lot of males would be affected by this idea because they do not feel as unsafe at night as females. I also learned that students walking home at night are more conscious of the danger they could be facing than I thought they were. They are actually trying their best to avoid being in the situation of walking home alone at night, and when they do, they try to take as many precautions as possible.
Interviews:
1. The first person I interviewed was an off-campus male who did not have a car or scooter. His unmet need for transportation is most evident when he has club meetings or stays at the library studying until late. Most times he leaves between 12:00 to 1:00 am, so he ends up walking home at night. He is aware that it is not safe to walk home at night however, he does not feel scared because he does not think he will be targeted since he is a male. When he realizes it is time to go home if he doesn't want to walk home, he will take an uber or try to get a ride from one of his friends on campus. He lives about half a mile off-campus so he does not mind the walk home except for when it is cold and windy at night.
2. The second person I interviewed was a girl who also lived about half of a mile off campus. She mostly has the unmet needs when she is studying late in the library fo ran exam. Some days she ends up staying in the library until 1:00 or 2:00 am. Since she does not have a car she usually walks with a friend or takes an Uber home. She does not feel safe walking home at night because she is aware that females can be attacked at night. When she realizes the need to go home without having a car, she will usually look for friends who are also walking home, or she will pay for an Uber.
3. The third person I interviewed lives a little over half a mile away from the school, saying it is about a 12-minute walk to get home. She says she does not have the need very often because she tries not to leave campus too late. She does this because she knows she does not feel comfortable walking home alone at night. She says the robberies that happen also make her more scared of walking alone at night. When she does have to walk home, she will either uber if it is after 11:00pm or if it is before she will talk on the phone with someone while she is walking because it makes her feel safer.
Through my research, I had learned that the unmet need for night transportation is a need that is aware throughout off-campus students. However, as I had stated in previous posts, I do not think a lot of males would be affected by this idea because they do not feel as unsafe at night as females. I also learned that students walking home at night are more conscious of the danger they could be facing than I thought they were. They are actually trying their best to avoid being in the situation of walking home alone at night, and when they do, they try to take as many precautions as possible.
Idea Napkin No. 1
1.
My name is Agatha Robinson. I transferred to UF in the fall 2018 semester. I am majoring in Information Systems and Operations Management. since transferring to UF, I have had the drive and need to get more involved in the campus and help it improve. By the time I graduate, which is next year, I would like to see some of the change that I think would be beneficial to the university be considered by the faculty. This business would play a major role in my life because I thought of it based off of my own experiences. This business idea would be beneficial to me every day.
2.
The business idea is a new SNAP program made simply for off-campus students called SNAPX. SNAPX would run during regular SNAP hours from 6:30pm to 3:00 am, however it would take students to their off-campus apartments that are within 1-2 miles from UF. SNAPX would include a van set specifically for the off-campus route to make the ride as short and convenient as possible for off-campus students. It is meant to ensure that off-campus students have a safe and free mode of transportation late at night. SNAPX would only take students from campus to the apartments, not vice versa. SNAPX would be accessed through the same app used for SNAP. Drivers would notify students when they arrive to pick them up.
3.
I am offering it to University of Florida students who live 1-2 miles off campus and feel uncomfortable walking home. It is made specifically for students who end up leaving campus to go home late at night. Also, it is targeted towards students who do not have a car or a scooter to get around campus. Males and females can use SNAPX, however mostly females would use it because females tend to be targeted at night more than males.
4.
Customers will care because it will offer a safe, free, and convenient mode of transportation late at night. They will no longer have to walk or uber home which costs money. They also do not have to wait at a bus stop alone outside which can be dangerous. Also, during the winter months, off-campus students will not have to walk home in the cold.
5.
SNAPX would provide a free transportation service that it safe for off-campus students. Uber does have a discounted price for late at night, however, it is only for certain regions so it does not apply to some off-campus students. There is a late night bus, however, it may be dangerous to ride the bus at that time of night. Also, it may be running late so off-campus students would have to wait outside at the bus stop which is not safe either. SNAPX is free, would carry only UF students, and notifies the students when they arrive so students do not have to wait outside.
I do think these elements fit together. SNAPX satisfies an unmet need for safe transportation among the UF off-campus community. Weaknesses would be that I do not have the resources to get such a program implemented. Also, if I were to get it started, getting another van for off-campus students were be costly. One last weakness is that since SNAP is a program offered by UF, leaving UF grounds could be seen as a liability if something goes wrong.
My name is Agatha Robinson. I transferred to UF in the fall 2018 semester. I am majoring in Information Systems and Operations Management. since transferring to UF, I have had the drive and need to get more involved in the campus and help it improve. By the time I graduate, which is next year, I would like to see some of the change that I think would be beneficial to the university be considered by the faculty. This business would play a major role in my life because I thought of it based off of my own experiences. This business idea would be beneficial to me every day.
2.
The business idea is a new SNAP program made simply for off-campus students called SNAPX. SNAPX would run during regular SNAP hours from 6:30pm to 3:00 am, however it would take students to their off-campus apartments that are within 1-2 miles from UF. SNAPX would include a van set specifically for the off-campus route to make the ride as short and convenient as possible for off-campus students. It is meant to ensure that off-campus students have a safe and free mode of transportation late at night. SNAPX would only take students from campus to the apartments, not vice versa. SNAPX would be accessed through the same app used for SNAP. Drivers would notify students when they arrive to pick them up.
3.
I am offering it to University of Florida students who live 1-2 miles off campus and feel uncomfortable walking home. It is made specifically for students who end up leaving campus to go home late at night. Also, it is targeted towards students who do not have a car or a scooter to get around campus. Males and females can use SNAPX, however mostly females would use it because females tend to be targeted at night more than males.
4.
Customers will care because it will offer a safe, free, and convenient mode of transportation late at night. They will no longer have to walk or uber home which costs money. They also do not have to wait at a bus stop alone outside which can be dangerous. Also, during the winter months, off-campus students will not have to walk home in the cold.
5.
SNAPX would provide a free transportation service that it safe for off-campus students. Uber does have a discounted price for late at night, however, it is only for certain regions so it does not apply to some off-campus students. There is a late night bus, however, it may be dangerous to ride the bus at that time of night. Also, it may be running late so off-campus students would have to wait outside at the bus stop which is not safe either. SNAPX is free, would carry only UF students, and notifies the students when they arrive so students do not have to wait outside.
I do think these elements fit together. SNAPX satisfies an unmet need for safe transportation among the UF off-campus community. Weaknesses would be that I do not have the resources to get such a program implemented. Also, if I were to get it started, getting another van for off-campus students were be costly. One last weakness is that since SNAP is a program offered by UF, leaving UF grounds could be seen as a liability if something goes wrong.
Friday, February 8, 2019
Testing the Hypothesis, Part 2
Who: One male I interviewed does live off campus however he has a car and scooter that he uses. Even though he does end up leaving campus late, he uses the scooter to get home so SNAP does not affect him at all. Another male I Interviewed lives about a mile said that a SNAP expansion would be a useful idea and he knows to would be safer for him to use it. However, he most likely would not use it because it would be very crowded and a long ride. Two females I interviewed both lived off campus and both had cars, even though they didn't use them often. However, one of them said the would not use SNAP even if it was expanded because they have friends who they could walk home with. Also, if they end up going to school late, they would just drive there. The last person I interviewed said they would not be able to use SNAP even if the route was expanded because she lives too far away. Her apartment complex is about 4 miles away and the SNAP would only be able to expand its route by about 1-2 miles in order to save time and money.
What: My need differs from the need of owning a personal mode of transportation such as a car or scooter. My opportunity offers a free solution to getting around campus without making a large investment. The need for off-campus transportation coincides with the unmet need of feeling safe off campus.
Why: The underlying cause of the need is the same for people inside and outside of the boundary because they all live off campus. Whether or not they fall within the boundary is a matter of the resources they have available to them such as friends or if they want to take advantage of any resources at all.
What: To provide off-campus To take UF students all around Gainesville
What: My need differs from the need of owning a personal mode of transportation such as a car or scooter. My opportunity offers a free solution to getting around campus without making a large investment. The need for off-campus transportation coincides with the unmet need of feeling safe off campus.
Why: The underlying cause of the need is the same for people inside and outside of the boundary because they all live off campus. Whether or not they fall within the boundary is a matter of the resources they have available to them such as friends or if they want to take advantage of any resources at all.
Inside the Boundary Outside the Boundary
Who: Off-campus students who do Off-campus students who leave late at night, not have their own form of but have cars, scooters, or friends who can
transportation and leave late drop them off. Also, off-campus students who
at night. who live too far off campus.
students with a free and safe and be a personal cab service.
mode of transportation to their
apartments during the night.
Why: A lot of off-campus students During the colder months, since at night it
Why: A lot of off-campus students During the colder months, since at night it
end up walking home alone gets very cold, it is difficult to walk to off-
at night, which is not safe. campus housing.
Friday, February 1, 2019
Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1
Opportunity: Although SNAP is great for on-campus students to use at night, off-campus students cannot use it because SNAP does not take them to their destination. Off-campus students are then forced to uber, walk, or take a late night bus home at night.
- The Who: Students who live off campus and Student who use SNAP.
- The What: Off-campus students are not able to use SNAP to go home late at night leaving them vulnerable.
- The Why: SNAP does not do off campus stops, only on campus stops or areas just outside of campus.
Testing the What: Some off-campus students do not feel unsafe when walking alone at night so they do not need. Also, there is a late night bus that runs through Gainesville, however, students would have to wait at the bus stop at night and possibly alone which is not very safe.
Testing the Why: SNAP may only stop at on-campus stops because it is a University of Florida program, not a Gainesville program. Going too far off campus may be a liability for the school. Also going to off-campus stops may be more expensive for the school because of the extra mileage and gas being used.
Interview 1: My first interviewee was a freshman girl who uses SNAP often. She feels its unfair and unsafe that off-campus students cannot use SNAP. She understands that a lot of organizations require students to leave campus late and it may be difficult for off-campus students to find their bus to go home. She says if we had a wider route, then we would have more people driving which would be an opportunity for work-study jobs or other employment.
Interview 2: My second interviewee also uses SNAP often. She feels that is SNAP went to of campus stop, the rides would take even longer than it already does. However, she thinks that if SNAP expanded its route it would help off-campus students feel more included in campus social life. This student's reply tests my hypothesis because she reveals the reality that on-campus students might feel burdened if off-campus stops were added.
Interview 3: The third interviewee said putting herself in an off-campus student's shoes, it is an inconvenience that they cannot use SNAP. However, she feels that a new SNAP program would be a waste of time though because off-campus areas are so far and the trips would be longer. It would be inefficient and time-consuming. If SNAP expanded its route the interviewee thinks student who live on campus would be impacted more than off campus students, due to the fact that off campus students usually have cars or take the bus. It would probably be more time consuming for the students who live on campus.
Interview 4: My fourth interviewee is very upset that off campus student cannot use SNAP. She used to take SNAP when she was living on campus however, as she moved off campus, it doesn't apply to her. For her, there are things that she wants to do on campus ut she doesn't because if she left late she would have to take an uber or catch the bus, which is sometimes running late. This student understands the inconvenience of SNAP not being accessible to off campus student because she has experienced from both perspectives. She has experience SNAP as an on campus student, and now as an off campus one.
Interview 5: I chose a male as my fifth interviewee so I could get a different perspective. He said he does not use SNAP often however he does think it would be useful to off campus student if they could use it. It seems that even though males live off campus, they may not mind walking home at night. ALthough some males do use SNAP, I do not think the new SNAP program would affect them very much.
Based on the interviews I learned that some on campus students who use SNAP may find an expansion of the route to be an inconvenience for them. It seems that some SNAP rides already take a long time to reach their destinations so adding off campus stops might make the ride longer. I would have to make adjustments to the solution to fit this new discovery. Also, some males might not be the ideal customer for SNAP. It seems as though males do not use SNAP as much as females and their feeling behind walking at night differ. This shows me that the ideal customer would be off campus females.
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Solving the Problem
My opportunity deals with off-campus students not being able to use SNAP to get home at night because SNAP’s route does not include off-campus stops. The new route would only travel about 2-3 miles off campus. Even if it did not reach every student's address, being dropped off halfway would be a lot of help. One solution would be for SNAP to expand their current route to include off-campus stops. The SNAP driver would have to learn a new route altogether and may be forced to work new hours. In regards to current stops, the off-campus stops could be the last stops that are done. All of the on-campus students could get dropped off first and then the off-campus students get dropped off last. UF would also have to increase its budget for SNAP because of the increase in miles driven and gas used.
Another solution would be to have a separate car designated for just off campus stops. That way the current drivers would not have to learn a new route. New drivers would have to be hired and trained. Also, the school would have to get another car for the rides. This would cost more money then the first solution of simply expanded the existing route, however, I believe it would be the more convenient option for both on campus and off-campus students. It also would open up more job opportunities, or give current drivers the option to work more if they wanted to.
Friday, January 25, 2019
Identifying Opportunities in Economic and Regulatory Trends
Economic: “Apple Shares Stumble, but Company Keeps Trillion-Dollar Valuation”
Source: https://www.wsj.com/articles/apples-stock-drop-threatens-trillion-dollar-valuation-1541165564
I believe an opportunity exists here because Apple is a major corporation. By their stock price dropping 6.6% to $207.48, they almost lost their trillion dollar stock valuation. They also removed about 100 points from the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Since Apple is such a big corporation, their stock decrease has contributed to the decline in the market. The Prototypical customer is the CEO and other employees of Apple, and everyone who buys and owns stock with Apple. I do not think this will be easy to exploit because Apple the companies valuation could still change when it updates the share count. Also, the only people who can solve this are Apple's top management. I saw this opportunity because Apple plays such a large role in the market. I became even more interested when I found out that if Apple's stock price falling would have an impact on the overall market.
Economic: "The government shutdown could cause a disaster for the US economy if Trump follows through on his threat to continue the fight for 'months'"
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/government-shutdown-gdp-consumer-spending-us-economic-impact-2019-1
I believe there is an opportunity because according to the article if the government shutdown lasts for months, it could have major repercussions on the US economy causing it to shrink. This could cause many problems for Americans such as a decline in business and consumer sentiment or US equity markets. Federal employees and people who rely on government programs are also negatively affected if the shutdown continues. The prototypical customers are all federal employees, everyone who relies on government programs, working Americans, and Americans who are business owners.
I think this opportunity would be easy to exploit because the solution is very simple. Government officials simply need to reopen the government. I found this opportunity interesting because it is an issue that is affecting so many Americans and can have a major impact on the future of the economy if not resolved quickly enough.
Regulatory: "Nuclear Power Regulators Scale Back Draft Safety Rule"
I believe there is an opportunity because some government officials believe that nuclear power plants should have tougher safety rules to plan for natural disasters. However, the final vote ended up removing the language of more safety precautions. However, if a natural disaster was to occur and the plant could not handle it, it could cause a nuclear disaster. The prototypical customers would be anyone working for the plant, all of the top management and investor in the plant, and people who live in the areas surrounding the plant. I do not think this is easy to exploit because this sort of regulation requires a lot of deliberation and planning. It also requires a lot of funding for the 98 nuclear plants in the US. I found this opportunity because it would have a major impact on the nuclear plants in the US since there are so many. Officials voted for what they thought was the best decision however if a major natural disaster happens they may need to deal with major consequences.
Regulatory: "House Passes Three-Week Spending Bill to Reopen Government"
I believe there is an opportunity because the President still has an unmet need of funding for the wall and there is always the chance that it could get shut down again after the 3 weeks are over, or the president would use emergency declaration funding. The prototypical customers are the President, people who work in Congress and Senate, and all other federal employees such as TSA and post office workers. This opportunity is not easy to exploit because only the President has the ability to shut down and reopen the government. Also in terms of negotiations and bills, only select people have that right and authority. I found this opportunity because, based on the events happening today, this could decide whether the government's further actions will be productive or damaging.
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Identifying Local Opportunities
“The Fight to Win Republican Support for LGBTQ rights in Florida Divides Activists” by David Smiley from The Miami Herald
https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AMIHB%21Miami%2BHerald%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0123%21January%2B23&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/171227B19E47E848
Senator Joe Gruters who is also the chairman for the Republican Party of Florida, has sponsored a bill filed in the Senate, that will keep employers from discriminating from the LGBTQ community. The non profit organization SAVE is supporting this however, other activism group are not. The opposing groups are saying that the new bill is a downsized version of the Florida Competitive Workforce Act, which also keeps private business and landlord from discriminating against the LGBTQ community. SAVE thinks that splitting up the anti-discrimination problems into different bill would be the more effective way to get more conservatives on board. Other activist believe SAVE is leaving out the rights of trans people to appeal to the conservatives.
The Problem: LGBTQ activists are dividing and fighting each other because of a bill supported by a Republican man does that does not cover all the rights they want protected. They feel that their rights are being compromised for this conservative Senator.
The People: Anyone who identifies as part of the LGBTQ community. SAVE employees and Senators and other government officials.
“Recall Expanded Again for Heart, Blood Pressure and Kidney Drug Over Possible Carcinogen” by David J. Neal from The Miami Herald
https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AMIHB%21Miami%2BHerald%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0123%21January%2B23&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/17121EC969E22718
Torrent Pharmaceuticals has expanded its recall on the drug Losartan for the second time this month. An amount of N-nitrosodiethylamine was found in the active ingredient. NDEA was classified as a possible carcinogen and amounts exceeding the acceptable intake were found in Losartan, causing a recall.
The Problem: Amounts of a possible carcinogen were found in the active ingredient in the drug Losartan causing recall of the drug.
The People: Anyone who has to take Losartan, the pharmacies that carry and distribute it, and the scientists who create it.
“Delray Beach Decides it Wants Trees, Not Bike Lanes on Swinton Ave.” by Lulu Ramadan from The Palm Beach Post
https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20190122/just-in-delray-beach-decides-it-wants-trees-not-bike-lanes-on-swinton-ave
Delray beach halted a $2.6 million plan to add bike lane to Swinton Avenue. During a town hall meeting people voiced their concerns because adding the bike lane would result in the removal of 100 trees along the avenue which would alter the historic landscaping. As a result, they decided to use the money to repave the avenue to add more sidewalks, which would not cause the removal of any trees.
The Problem: 100 trees were almost removed from Swinton Avenue to make way for new bicycle lanes.
The People: People who ride bicycles, people who walk on Swinton Avenue, and conservationists.
“County Votes to Stop Using Prison Labor” by Sarah Nelson from The Gainesville Sunhttps://www.gainesville.com/news/20190122/county-votes-to-stop-using-prison-labor
Commissioners voted to end the use of prison labor for county work. The states’ Department of Corrections gets paid $500,000 for the county work, while prisoners and paid nothing in return for doing hard labor. Commissioner Mike Byerly was against this change and even questioned its ability to make a step towards prison reform. The inmate’s position will be filed with full time employment opportunities
The Problem: Prison inmates were performing hard labor on county work projects without getting any sort of compensation except for 10 days off their sentences.
The People: Prison inmates, people looking for employment, State Department of Corrections employees, the correctional officers who oversee the inmates, and the workers who train the inmates on how to perform the tasks.
“County Raises Tobacco Buying Age to 21” by Sarah Nelson from The Gainesville Sunhttps://www.gainesville.com/news/20190122/county-raises-tobacco-buying-age-to-21
Alachua County is the first county to increase the legal age for buying tobacco to 21 years old. The new rule is made to stop youth from buying tobacco products, however they will not be penalized if they do so under the age of 21. Tobacco vendors must buy a sales license that costs $230 each year and they cannot sell their products within 1,000 feet of a school. Officials hope this will positively affect the youth.
The Problem: Vapes, e-cigarettes, and other tobacco products are being bought and used by young children at an alarming rate.
The People: Student who buy tobacco products, and vendors who sell these products, such as smoke shops.
Thursday, January 17, 2019
Forming an Opportunity Belief
There is an opportunity to create a new UF driving system or even expand the route of SNAP to cater to students who are living in off-campus housing. This satisfies the unmet need of a student who does not own a car or scooter who live off campus. This would be beneficial for students who have to leave campus late at night and do not feel comfortable walking alone at night or even if the weather is too cold to walk back. This need has always existed but I noticed it when I was walking home from campus at night. It was cold, dark, and windy and the bus that I would have taken to get home does not run at that time of night. I am aware that the UF SNAP program does go to a few apartment complexes such as Tanglewood Apartments but looking at the map of stops they make, that is the only off-campus housing they travel to. There is also a late night bus service called the Later Gator bus service.
1ST YEAR FEMALE
1ST YEAR FEMALE
Do
you live off campus and if so how many miles out?
No, I do not.
Do
you have a car or a scooter?
No.
How
often do you end up heading home at night?
Every night.
Do
you ever feel nervous when you're alone at night outside and if yes, why?
Yes, because I know that college
campuses are known for having all types of people that I can’t trust. I know
college campuses are known for having some rime and suspicious activity.
Do
you use SNAP and how often?
Yes, I do. Every single day.
Do
you think SNAP would be beneficial to off-campus students as it is currently being
running now?
I think that if there were more off-campus
stops it would be much more convenient.
Do
you think it would be a burden to on-campus students if SNAP added more off-campus
stops?
Yes, it would be inconvenient if the
off-campus stop was before my stop on campus but there could be a separate
system for that.
REFLECTION:
The
need for an expansion on the SNAP stop route seems to be affected by whether
the student lives off campus. If the student lives on campus, SNAP will most
likely drop them off wherever they need to be, so they do not have an unmet
need that must be satisfied. Also, students on campus may have to their travel
time lengthened because of off campus stops.
FEMALE 3RD YEAR
Do
you live off campus and if so how many miles out?
I live off campus I live off cabana beach,
its 4.1 miles away.
Do
you have a car or a scooter?
No.
How
often do you end up heading home at night?
Pretty often cause I’m always out and
about.
Do
you ever feel nervous when you're alone at night outside and if yes, why?
Yes, I feel nervous because I hear the
statistics and numbers of students getting assaulted at night.
Do
you use SNAP and if yes, how often?
No, it doesn’t apply to me unfortunately.
Do
you think SNAP would be beneficial to off-campus students as it is currently
being running now?
Yes, I just wish they would expand more.
Do
you think it would be a burden to on-campus students if SNAP added more
off-campus stops?
Not necessarily I’m not too familiar with
all the resources they have for students on campus, but I don’t feel like it
would be a burden cause off campus students are students here too and I feel
almost as if there aren’t enough resources because we are off campus.
REFLECTION: This off campus
student said she does not use SNAP because it does not apply to her. However,
she said that she does feel nervous when she is alone at night. She has a
strong need for the SNAP route expansion, so she can feel safer on and off
campus, especially living so far away. She currently uses the later gator bus
system to get home.
MALE
2ND YEAR
Do
you live off campus and if so how many miles out?
Yes about 2-3 miles
Do
you have a car or a scooter?
Car. I have both, but I use my car a lot
How
often do you end up heading home at night?
A lot cause I’m on the football team
Do
you ever feel nervous when you're alone at night outside and if yes, why?
My freshman year I did but now I really
don’t care
Do
you use SNAP and if yes, how often?
I’ve used SNAP like twice since I’ve been
at UF
Do
you think SNAP would be beneficial to off-campus students as it is currently
being running now?
Yes, it would
Do
you think it would be a burden to on-campus students if SNAP added more
off-campus stops?
A little but not that much. It would
probably take a little longer but that means the school would just have to have
more drivers to accommodate for the extra mile being driven.
REFLECTION:
Males
would not be affected much by the expansion. The male student interviewed live
off campus however he had a car. Although males may feel nervous at night
alone, they most likely do not feel as nervous as females.
SUMMARY: A majority of my
original belief is still prevalent. I would have to make a few modifications
such as proposing dropping off campus students off last or using cars
specifically assigned to off campus routes. I do believe that it is accurate
after speaking with a few people wo use SNAP and based on my own personal
experiences. I think entrepreneurs often adapt their opportunities based on
customer feedback because entrepreneurship is about solving unmet needs. There
may be different variations and exceptions to these needs so the entrepreneur
need to create a solution that best fits the need no matter how many exceptions
it may have.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)