Week 15 Reading Reflection

This weeks' reading reflection has been very interesting being that the idea of microfinancing is something that I also recently discussed in my marketing class. SKS and what is is doing I think is great and I really think that they are stimulating the economy and giving people a chance to actually make money for themselves and be able to live comfortably. Something that I found interesting in the reading included the fact that SKS used some of the same business principles as a corporation such as McDonald's. To microfinance someone and give them the opportunity to use the money for the advancement of them and their family. I think the author did a great job explaining the concept and providing examples to show exactly how this process worked which made it easier to understand all together. I really enjoyed learning about this more in depth and being able to relate to it in another class.

Final Reflection

Throughout the semester this class has tested my ability to organize and not procrastinate as much when it comes to assignments. At one point f time during the class I was behind on assignments and had to miss a couple because of the workload from other classes also. It was one point of time I jut wanted to give up but I kept going organized myself more and prioritized better in order to better meet the demands of the class.My favorite assignment had to be the one that we had to identify things that bother us and figure out why these problems existed in the first place and how they could be fixed.This was one of the hardest assignments that I had because you do not think about all the things that bother you and why until they actually are happening to you. The elevator pitch exercise was also one that I think was very useful because you never have time to actually practice those. After this class I have been able to improve upon being an entrepreneur. This class really makes you take a step back and step out of your comfort zone and see what you skills are what you are good at and how far you can push yourself. It challenges you to go above and beyond what you usually expect. The main advice I would give to future students is to actually utilize the exercises you think you can and do not overwhelm yourself. There may be times where you may miss an assignment or two but always remember you can earn it back. The main thing is that you get out what you put into this class so make it your best.

Venture Concept No.2

Opportunity: The main people that this service is going to be catering to would be college students. In particular college students that are very busy during the day and the night. In college every student is busy trying to differentiate themselves by going above and beyond what is expected, plus dealing with the time constraint that University of Florida has does not allow many students enough time in the day. Many students are not able to get more than one meal a day so my service is going to cater to the typical busy college student. Snacks and light meals are becoming more and more common for college students but the problem is actually obtaining these snacks which can break concentration, study time and be a hassle for those who do not have a vehicle. The snacks that are easily available on campus do not have many options and students are usually forced to compromise. Snack machines and places like the HUB and the POD also do not stay open for extended periods of time. The market is concentrated around the University of Florida and appeals to males and females age 17-25 who are young professionals or full-time students. I think that this opportunity has a pretty big chance of succeeding but I think that the opportunity will not be open for long as delivery services are starting to become more and more diverse with their food options. Innovation is constantly happening and this opportunity can be an extension of an already existing business.

Innovation: Tap&Snack is the name of the app that I am going to develop for the snack delivery service. Tap&Snack will work essentially as an Uber for snacks while having students or employees that are not busy deliver snacks to and from locations in the surrounding area. Essentially a customer would choose a snack that they want from a local convenience store and pay for that snack plus a one dollar delivery fee. The snacks would be delivered at a certain time from a store clerk which would make the process easier and a lot more snacks would be able to be delivered at one time. The display of multiple students picking up snacks themselves would be a tool to get others to also wan to buy the snack.  The service would be open until 3am way past when most other stores are open. The best thing about this business is that the customer would not have to leave from the spot that they are currently at. The real revenue generator from this business would come from ad space form local business and or other companies that would want to advertise through the app. Tailoring to the needs and specific wants of the customers are something that I a lot of other service companies are not doing for such a small need.

Venture Concept: My service is going to be able to make the life of every college student easier for a very simple price. My service also offers customization and the ability to save time and add convenience to snacking and small meals.  I do not think that it will take that long for customers to switch to my business because as word spreads I think the business will grow and there is a big platform for that service to spread. Since this service is unique there are not many competitors but people that cold offer the same service would be services such as 2 Dollar Delivery and Doorstep Delivery.  Something that could cause this business to fail is the fact that this business is a service business so demand and revenue rely solely on the need for my service which could make things a lot harder when demand may not be as other times such as finals week when a lot of customers are stuck in the library all night. The packaging is not a big factor for my business since my service will be mostly business to business products. That being said, that is also an advantage because customers will already know what to expect when they’re product arrives. My business is going to be organized in a way that the flow of products from one location to another will be easy. Also, since delivery will be location based speed is something that is going to be emphasized because most people who want to snack want that snack within 5-10 minutes of the initial thought. Employees will be voluntary and to begin most of the initial deliveries will be made by people within the company but soon expand to those that are outside of the company.

Three Minor Elements

1. One thing that I think is really makes the business special and give me an advantage is the simple fact that I am a college student and one of the main ways this business is going to spread is word of mouth. It is nothing to have a good idea that no one is aware of so I am going to use the fact that I am a college student to help gain leverage within the college market. I also think that since many of the employees will also be college students it will also help in spreading awareness about the service.

2. The next opportunity that I am looking for is expanding beyond snacks and becoming the place to go for all college needs. For example, as I stated in the last exercise chargers, headphones and other things that college students just do not have enough time to go and get for themselves. The main goal of this service is to make college easier for everyone and I want to be able to offer anything that a college student may need away from home.

3. I want this service to be something that I can implement and have as a side business while pursuing my career. College students are a never ending market and as education becomes more intensive and time consuming the more people are going to need and appreciate this service. This service can also essentially run it’s self so not much will be needed on my part to make sure that 5 year later that this service is something that can still thrive.

FEEDBACK
The main thing that I received from my feedback is that my idea was a great idea for students and that it would be something that many could see as being successful in the future. Something that I did revise based on the feedback that I did receive is the method of which the snacks would be delivered. Since this is a B2B business many consumers would not wan to pay above retail price for a snack if they could buy it a regular price this meaning there would not be a large amount of profit and not funds to give drivers. Instead I would initially start the business with store clerks doing snack drops every 30 minutes at certain locations on campus. Once the app expands and gains revenue from ads and other sources of income then that is when actual employees can be hired. With that feedback I changed the original concept to match one that is more fitting.

Week 14 Reading Reflections

This week's reading reflection was very informative about creating a company culture that can correlate to evolving social trends. The main thing that interested me is the concept of social entrepreneurship which involves going beyond your own personal value. The type of leadership style called Ecovision is the best type for a social based entrepreneurs based on the text. The author did a good job explaining how a company must set a standard of company values or morals. This helps guide the company and future endeavors. The two questions I would ask the author is how do u tailor specific social trends to your company and how do you asses differing views between employees about values?

Going for Google Gold

Looking back on my SEO efforts I can say that I did not do as much as I could throughout the posts because of the amount of posts that I have. Some of the things that I did do to make it easier to find my blog would include making sure that all the posts had a keyword in the them that relates to the post and the blog. Since this was a class blog the use of social media was not as prevalent as I would have used on other blogs. The main focus was to attract my fellow peers to my blog to be able to leave feedback and advice. I think that social media can highly influence the amount of people that visit a blog and that it is a useful tool to utilize. The most viral post that I had was my Elevator Pitch number 2. This one had the second highest amount of page views but had more comments than the post  with more page views which was my first pitch . I think this post had the most traffic because it is something that a lot of people are interested in especially seeing someone talk about their company. I did not show up sadly on any of the initial Google Pages.

Very Short Interview, Part 2

Reflecting on the initial interview I realized that most of the questions asked were just focused on the broad scope of entrepreneurship. There was a lot of good advice about steps taken to become an entrepreneur and what that entails from the perspective of the person I chose to interview. I think that the first interview was good but I also wanted to get more in depth about entrepreneurship on a personal level. Once again the person that I chose to interview is Sean "Millz" Grant. Sean known as Millz to most of the public is the owner of Rain and Simons Nightclub in downtown Gainesville

1. If you could go back and change one thing in your journey what would it be?

•  " Even if I had the choice to change anything I wouldn't because I appreciate the struggle that I went through to be where I am today. When things are easier you don't appreciate them as much  and I respect the grind more than anyone else" He continued to talk about how everyone wants to take the easy way out now and does not want to actually go out and work for what they want. " Take life one step at a time and respect the process."

2. How do you deal with failure?

• " I make sure that I don't let it stop me. There are going to be days where a party or event does not turn out to be the best thing or not a lot of people show up but you shrug it off. Ask yourself man where did I mess up at. Failure is a part of the game everything isn't going to go the way you want but you don't stop until it does" 

3. Has there ever been a time you felt like giving up?

• "A couple of time yeah. There have been times when I said is this really worth it. It's not easy being a club owner and never having time for yourself or your family I think wanting to give a better life to my people is what motivates me to not stop and to keep pushing"

This interview I was a lot more comfortable asking the questions and a lot more interested because these were questions that I was able to formulate myself . I think that made me a lot more interested in the interview and also influenced me to get a lot more in depth information this time. Millz also seemed more interested because they were not generic questions that most people usually get. I think this interview went better than the last one.

Week 13 Reading Reflection

This week's reading took a lot at the steps and the process involved when wanting to buy or sell a specific business. Th main thing that stood out to me during this reading is the amount of questions and the details that go into buying an existing business. For example, due diligence questions are asked in order to help create a valuation of how much the business is worth. Valuation in itself is very dependent on many factors from the buyer and seller and change based on certain criteria. One of the main things that I learned is the benefits of acquisition rather than going through the start-up process themselves. I would ask the author how not being with the business from the start may cause managerial problems in the future, and what problems could occur from trying to transform visions across different owners. I think this week's reading really helped in understanding how much people can value a business across a spectrum and some key elements of that valuation.

Celebrating Failure

A time this past semester where I have failed horribly would have to be the time that I tried to run for President of my organization I had been dreaming about this position ever since I joined the club and it's been a crazy roller coaster of events. In part I believed that I had done everything in order to make sure that I was qualified for the position so I ended up running and lost by a vote. I was so hurt and saddened but eventually I realized that everything is not meant to be. Something important that I gained from the multiple failures that I have experienced in college is to continue forward. There are a million different things on campus and everyone does not need to be in everything in order to be successful. I also learned that a title is just a title and the person behind the title is what really matters. This class has taught me to not look at things as impossible but to find a way to make a solution and if not make a solution from what's stopping you in the first place. Taking this class also inspired me to think about the world in a different manner of innovation. I think taking risks and going for it is really something that can be beneficial and it has so far to me.

My Exit Strategy

1. My exit strategy consists of growing my app to the highest degree to the pint that I would soon be able to sell it. This is a service business that think I could dedicate a lot of time to while now in college but after graduation maybe not. The best thing is to try to establish a good foundation, create a market share, pass the business down to a fellow peer after graduation and then eventually sell the app.

2. I selected this particular venture because I want to be able to focus on other new innovations and also my career in the future. I think that Tap&Snack would be just a stepping stone into my entrepreneurial ventures. I also think that it would be better to continue having the business ran under the control of someone that is still I college until sell to help identify what is going on campus.

3. I think that my plan to sell the business affected the initial resources and how much funding that I would allocate to this service. Knowing that this business is something that I do not plan on having past 5 years I though of the most simple but innovative way to provide a service to students in college.
  

Week 12 Reading Reflection

This week's reading was something that really made me look at the process from going to an entrepreneurial based business to a manger based business. The different things that you have to keep in consideration like control and responsibility throughout the company can hugely affect the success of a business. Something that I also found really interesting is how crucial the transition stage is for an entrepreneur. You are no longer able to make decisions based on what you want for the company but you have to make sure that you are taking everyone's wants and needs and vision for the company into consideration also. The author did a good job explaining how a business is supposed to create an atmosphere of constant innovation. I would ask the author how do you sustain a sense of innovation if your business is not financially stable to do so and what are the hardest parts about making innovation possible?

Venture Concept No. 1

Opportunity: The main people that this service is going to be catering to would be college students. In particular college students that are very busy during the day and the night. In college every student is busy trying to differentiate themselves by going above and beyond what is expected, plus dealing with the time constraint that University of Florida has does not allow many students enough time in the day. Many students are not able to get more than one meal a day so my service is going to cater to the typical busy college student. Snacks and light meals are becoming more and more common for college students but the problem is actually obtaining these snacks which can break concentration, study time and be a hassle for those who do not have a vehicle. The snacks that are easily available on campus do not have many options and students are usually forced to compromise. Snack machines and places like the HUB and the POD also do not stay open for extended periods of time. The market is concentrated around the University of Florida and appeals to males and females age 17-25 who are young professionals or full-time students. I think that this opportunity has a pretty big chance of succeeding but I think that the opportunity will not be open for long as delivery services are starting to become more and more diverse with their food options. Innovation is constantly happening and this opportunity can be an extension of an already existing business.

Innovation: Tap&Snack is the name of the app that I am going to develop for the snack delivery service. Tap&Snack will work essentially as an Uber for snacks while having students or employees that are not busy deliver snacks to and from locations in the surrounding area. Essentially a customer would choose a snack that they want from a local convenience store and pay for that snack plus a one dollar delivery fee. The driver would receive a cut of the money and essentially that is how the business would work. The service would be open until 3am way past when most other stores are open. The best thing about this business is that the customer would not have to leave from the spot that they are currently at. The real revenue generator from this business would come from ad space form local business and or other companies that would want to advertise through the app. Tailoring to the needs and specific wants of the customers are something that I a lot of other service companies are not doing for such a small need.

Venture Concept: My service is going to be able to make the life of every college student easier for a very simple price. My service also offers customization and the ability to save time and add convenience to snacking and small meals.  I do not think that it will take that long for customers to switch to my business because as word spreads I think the business will grow and there is a big platform for that service to spread. Since this service is unique there are not many competitors but people that cold offer the same service would be services such as 2 Dollar Delivery and Doorstep Delivery.  Something that could cause this business to fail is the fact that this business is a service business so demand and revenue rely solely on the need for my service which could make things a lot harder when demand may not be as other times such as finals week when a lot of customers are stuck in the library all night. The packaging is not a big factor for my business since my service will be mostly business to business products. That being said, that is also an advantage because customers will already know what to expect when they’re product arrives. My business is going to be organized in a way that the flow of products from one location to another will be easy. Also, since delivery will be location based speed is something that is going to be emphasized because most people who want to snack want that snack within 5-10 minutes of the initial thought. Employees will be voluntary and to begin most of the initial deliveries will be made by people within the company but soon expand to those that are outside of the company.

Three Minor Elements

1. One thing that I think is really makes the business special and give me an advantage is the simple fact that I am a college student and one of the main ways this business is going to spread is word of mouth. It is nothing to have a good idea that no one is aware of so I am going to use the fact that I am a college student to help gain leverage within the college market. I also think that since many of the employees will also be college students it will also help in spreading awareness about the service.

2. The next opportunity that I am looking for is expanding beyond snacks and becoming the place to go for all college needs. For example, as I stated in the last exercise chargers, headphones and other things that college students just do not have enough time to go and get for themselves. The main goal of this service is to make college easier for everyone and I want to be able to offer anything that a college student may need away from home.

3. I want this service to be something that I can implement and have as a side business while pursuing my career. College students are a never ending market and as education becomes more intensive and time consuming the more people are going to need and appreciate this service. This service can also essentially run it’s self so not much will be needed on my part to make sure that 5 year later that this service is something that can still thrive.

Week 11 Reading Reflection

This week's reading connected innovation and strategy together in business explorations. The main thing that interested me the most during this week's reading is how innovation strategies are driven by the business competition. Something else that I thought was interesting is the fact that many business innovations fail because of a lack to execute strategy. Many companies have great ideas but they do not put enough effort to make other aware of their newest idea. The author did a really good job explaining how much innovation and execution go hand in hand and also providing good examples from corporations made it easier to understand. I would ask the author who and what determines a successful innovation strategy? I thin that this week's reading made it clear that you can have great idea but if there is no one there who knows about it then it is useless.

Amazon Whisperer

• The revenue drivers that will be apart of my business would come from the delivery free and also a discounted price for bulk purchases while selling at normal price. Sooner I plan to add ads to the app to generate revenue from local business around Gainesville. These are the main sources of revenue for my business.
• Since this service is specifically for snack delivery I think that the next product that could be offered to my customers would be school accessories such as headphones, chargers or a cube. Essentially an iPhone kit that can be rented for an extra dollar or bought for an extra five dollars.
• The goal of my service is to be the go to place for the busy college student that does not have enough time in the day. When things are going wrong or they don't have enough time to leave and eat or do not have a charger our service is there. It adds value to the service by allowing customers to feel a sense of support from this business. 
• The product that I will offer next is below and even though my service is mostly from other convenience stores around the area it would make a good addition.

Some of the customer reviews from the product said that the item was not delivered in the quality that was explained. Some of the cords and earphones were dirty so in order to adjust that we would make sure that all the things that we offer in the product are up to the standards of the customer.

My Unfair Advantage

1. Large network of diverse people known

• Will allow word to spread faster because of the different outlets of support available. An advantage that proves successful for any good business. 

2. Entertainment company to help sponsor business

• Can gain financial support from entertainment business.

3. Marketing educated

• Will help when it comes to ideas for raising awareness about the service.

4. Multiple college students with scooters

• Large employee basis can help the business strive in the future. 

5. Prime location for a similar target market

• The location of the business is surrounded by the target market for the service.

6. The service being offered itself

• There is no other service like this so once entered into the market it will be different and unique from others. A service that no one has seen before will really help distinguish it from others. 

7. Convenience

• The amount of convenience that this service will offer will prove to be one of the most beneficial aspects of the company itself. 

8. Perseverance

• The ability to keep growing and keep pursuing the best for the business no matter what obstacles may be thrown my way. 

9. Customer tailored

• The service is all about the customer and what the customer wants so there are endless decisions that makes the service more appealing than others. Also, this is the first time where you are not given a set inventory of snacks that you have to choose from.

10. Inexpensive

• The service price will be very cost- efficient which is one thing that will really attract the target market because of the quality of the service and what is being asked in return for compensation. 

I think that the most important resource that I have is the fact that the service will be customer-tailored. The ability for the customer to use a service that gives them options that they wold not be able to receive anywhere else will cause the most traffic generation. I think that this will in the beginning stage cause the most traffic generation to the service

Elevator Pitch No. 3

Some of the advice that I took from the last elevator pitch is to focus more on the service and what it has to offer. The main thing is I changed my focus in this pitch more on why you need the service and discussed that more than the steps you have to take to use the service. The main thing is getting people to my app and that is the focus because once the app is downloaded on the phone all else will be self-explanatory. Tap&Snack is filling a need that many people do not think about on a day to day basis and that is the amount of time out of their day they use to obtain food and snacks. I think that by the end of the semester my service my pith will be fully developed.  

Week 9 Reading Reflection

This weeks's reading was very interesting to me because I am currently a marketing student and many if the things that were talked about were also discussed in my marketing class. What really surprised me the most throughout the reading is how hand in hand that entrepreneurship and marketing go when it comes to starting a business. Marketing plays a key role in whether or not a business will fail or not. Some of the things in the text such as the Internet and potential market were things that influence the prosperity of a business. Since most of the things I read about I already knew previously nothing was really confusing. If I could ask the author two question I would ask what is the best point of emphasis in the beginning stage of a business, marketing or entrepreneurship and I would also ask what separates a CMO from a CEO?

Idea Napkin No.2

1.Something that I love is learning about people and what makes them do what they do. I think that is one reason why I went into marketing because in addition to that I like to know what certain things that people see that cause them to take actions. I'm experienced with marketing. promotion and lastly just being personable. I strive to satisfy the needs of others that rely on me or certain things. I see this business plan being something that I can manage while still pursuing my career I want to be able to give back to the University of Florida.(Previous response)

2. The customer is going to be able to get a wide array of snacks and any choice of snack from their local gas station that they are not usually offered on campus. The customer will be able to use an app where they can choose their favorite snack and someone in the surrounding area will deliver that snack. You can almost refer to it as an uber for your favorite snacks. Delivery drivers and vehicles will differ depending on location in particular requests made near campus would be delivered via scooter most often because of the frequent scooter driver and proximity of local gas stations compared to areas outside of campus in which most drivers would own a vehicle.

3. This product is being primarily offered to the University of Florida student body and others living in close proximity to the university. Customers will usually be college students that are usually very busy during the day and who tend to not have enough time on their hands. Whether it be studying or clubs, time is limited throughout the day that you really cant afford to take a snack trip but really want to. These customers appreciate the element of convenience and diversity within snacks. This will also most likely be students who do not own vehicles and or do not simply want to take the trip. 

4.My customers care because time is money in the college world. With 24 hours not being enough time in the day for most college students this will help them save an average of 30 mins and also keeps them from having to physically drive and break the activity that they were currently doing.(Previous response)

5.Something that sets this apart is that this is an idea that is catered to the busy college student with not enough hours in the day. This will also offer a large variety which many others do not. Another thing that sets this apart is the fact that there is no contemplation on whether the snack is worth buying or not because they are snacks that the customer has already had. Working as a 3rd party in the business makes it easier for the business to effectively deliver what the customer expects(Previous Response)

I think that all these elements fit well together because they appeal specifically to a market that can be catered to with this business. I think that all these aspects make it a more likely for someone to consume the product. Being able to efficiently market the benefits of using the service will also aid in consumer spending because we will be able to appeal to a certain need.

The advice that I was given influenced my number 2 and number 3 response so I tailored it based on the feedback I was given. One of my classmates wanted to know more about the process and how the business was going to work so I expanded on that more in my response. I also gave a better description and detail about the type of customer that my business would appeal to. Making it more clear and showing how the elements flow well together.

Week 8 Reading Reflection

This chapter was really informative about a lot of the things that we do not learn about before and sometimes even after attending college. Everything in this chapter was pretty interesting to me since I do not know much about the financial side of starting a business. Some of the things the author talked about was debit vs equity financing and also he discussed some of the five steps involved when trying to take out a loan from the bank. How you receive capital from a business is really an issue you have to think a lot about because it could make or break your business. In the text the author also discussed how some financing requires you to give up part of your ownership as well over a company. There are a lot of logistics involved when it comes to financing a business and the author was really clear about the differences and options that business owners have.

Half-way Reflection

This course has been very influential on my thoughts and theories about entrepreneurship and has changed the ways I look at this practice. In order to keep up with this course I had to develop organizational skills and time management. In order to be successful you have to be able to develop the mindset of an entrepreneur which involves being able to handle multiple things at one time and being able to get things done in tough situations. This course had a lot of assignments and at one point I missed three assignments in a row and I was falling behind and was about to give up on the course all together. I realized that I couldn't give up and that I needed to keep going and to complete this course or I was not going to be satisfied with myself. I would advise student who take this class to one, do the assignments early. Assignments that do not require a lot of time like the comments and certain blog posts you should go ahead and get out the way early. The assignments can start to build up if you do not keep up with them so it is a good thing to stay ahead and be on time. Also, you have to know that you have to get things done no matter what you have to be able to persevere no matter how much the assignment asks. Stay up to date with your assignments and do the extra credit and the class will go smoothly. The mos important thing to remember is to not stress out when things get tough be calm and do what you can and if you miss an assignment or too make up for it when you can.

Free Money

The place that I am going to go and give out the money will be the Walmart on Archer with a purpose of trying to give out money to those who are currently grocery shopping. My goal is to find people that are paying close attention or browsing for a specific item at the time. I think that out of the five attempts I should be able to give away all my dollars especially because of the place that I chose being a bargain store. What I am going to say to get the conversation started will be, " Hello, my name is Markemia and I am giving out random dollars on behalf of the Make-A-Smile Foundation." From there I expect all of the customers to take the dollar but we will have to see. My reaction was very interesting I gave out 4 of the 5 dollars in which one person was not willing to take the the money. Giving away money would be something that I think that would be easy but it was very awkward or people just didn't really trust it at first. I think maybe if consumers had more information about a product then they would be more willing to accept the product,

Week 7 Reading Reflection

This week's reading about market segmentation was a reading that I could really understand and relate to because it is currently what we are also discussing in my marketing class. I think that market segmentation is very beneficial to some companies in helping them to understand their target customer and exactly what they are looking for in a product. Being able to understand the lifestyle and values of your potential market can really help when you are trying to reach them directly. I also agree with the author though that all these things are essential in market segmentation but they are not always successful and they are not the only thing that you should focus on. I feel like this is where the 80/20 rule will come in and that is focusing on the consumer that are continually consuming your product and research their values and lifestyles. If I could ask the author two questions I would ask "How is it that corporations successfully sell a product made for one specific market and reach multiple segments and also what is the most effective way to learn your market?

Elevator Pitch No. 2

The feedback that I received was very helpful when it came to constructing my second elevator pitch. The feedback that I received helped me identify the strengths and the weaknesses of my first elevator pitch and I was able to try to modify what I said in the second one to cater to the weaknesses. I included how the business was going to wok specifically mentioning how the snack would be delivered in my second elevator pitch to clear up confusion. I thought all the feedback I received was very helpful and insightful and made me think deeper about my business.

Week 6 Reading Reflection

I thought that this week's reading was very interesting in a sense that it gave me a chance to look at entrepreneurship in a different form and fashion. In this week's article it focused on competition and the importance it plays in starting a business. One of the most surprising and interesting things that I learned when reading this article is about all the barriers to entry and what they entail. One barrier in particular that I did not know about was economies of scale which is a barrier based on the industry that you decide to enter. If I could ask the author two question I would ask him how he feels about collaboration with the competition and what is the best way to position your business ahead of the competition because these are questions that a person entering an industry might also have. I think that this article really helped show he importance that competitors make when entering into an industry that is weak versus one that is strong and competition as stated in the article ultimately affects profitability. I think that the author made very good points and was very detailed about the subject in general.

Idea Napkin No. 1

1. Something that I love is learning about people and what makes them do what they do. I think that is one reason why I went into marketing because in addition to that I like to know what certain things that people see that cause them to take actions. I'm experienced with marketing. promotion and lastly just being personable. I strive to satisfy the needs of others that rely on me or certain things. I see this business plan being something that I can manage while still pursuing my career I want to be able to give back to the University of Florida.

2. What I am offering to the customers is a way to solve the problem of low diversity with snacks and other snacking items that are not offered on campus by bringing the good to them . When you ask many if the students what their favorite snack is most of the time that item is not available on campus or if it is the item is not within reach. I am offering the customer time, form and possession utility.

3. The main people that this service is being offered to is college students. But just not any type of college students students that are up during snacking hours studying, students that study at home or at the library most around campus. College students that also do no town vehicles and or do not like driving and whom are far away from convenience stores. Lastly, diverse snackers whom product is not commonly available in snack machines.

4.My customers care because time is money in the college world. With 24 hours not being enough time in the day for most college students this will help them save an average of 30 mins and also keeps them from having to physically drive and break the activity that they were currently doing.

5. Something that sets this apart is that this is an idea that is catered to the busy college student with not enough hours in the day. This will also offer a large variety which many others do not. Another thing that sets this apart is the fact that there is no contemplation on whether the snack is worth buying or not because they are snacks that the customer has already had. Working as a 3rd party in the business makes it easier for the business to effectively deliver what the customer expects.

Week 5 Reading Reflection

1. Something that surprised me during the reading is the different external and internal problems that are experienced by entrepreneurs when they are trying to pursue a new venture. The main two external problems that are experienced are market knowledge and customer contact, while the main two for internal problems are cash flow and adequate capital. Realizing that these are some the main problems experienced gave me a different outlook on the whole process.

2.  A part of the reading that was a little confusing to me was the area in the text that talked about the financial roles that inhibit a business from succeeding. The different terms that they use when it comes to initial start up and the logistics.

3.If I could ask the author two questions I would ask the author what the personal factors also inhibit  venture from succeeding and also another question I would ask the author are the best steps to take from failure. I would ask these questions because I think if companies implement and use some of these strategies it could help with future problems.

4. There is really not anything in the text that I disagree with.

Elevator Pitch No. 1

The name of my product is the Snack &Tap app. This app is basically solving the problems of students wanting to snack and have a more diverse range of snacks with the simple touch of a finger. The app is going to be geared towards young college student and professionals that like to snack but don't have many options to get those snacks and do not like the choices available in machines.

Week 4 Reading Reflection

1. Something that really stood out to me the most while reading the text would be the whole section dedicated to creativity. What really made me look at creativity in a different way in the process of innovation is the fact that they break down creativity into two parts, Process and People. The book also mention the two approaches to creative problem solving which is either being an adaptor or innovator. So out of everything the creativity portion of the text is what stood out to me the most and interest me the most.

2. Everything in the the text was pretty clear this time .The only thing that I questioned at the beginning was appositional relationship but I rasped and go a better understanding as I read more into the text.

3. I I could ask the the author two questions my first question would be, " How can one actively exercise the use of creativity in a school system that doesn't promote it?" and I would also ask " What are some of the biggest obstacles when it comes to making others believe in your new innovation?" I would ask these questions one because creativity is very important yet it's not something that is stressed in the school system now. Also, one of the many things people don't talk about is inspiring a shared vision with an organization or a company.

4.There was not really anything in the text that I disagreed with the author about everything that was stated was information that can be subjective based on the person,

Identifying Local Opportunities

1.  Mandating recess isn't the right play

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A8D0EEE01FD0E0?p=AWNB

• This story talks about the a problem that many may not thin of but is the importance of recess. The journal discusses how recess is not something that is common in most elementary schools now and touches on the topic of how recess is needed for young children these days. The problem is deciding if recess is something that should be mandatory or is it something that should be left up to the will of the teachers. This problem affects all the students, teachers and parent involved in the state of Florida.

2. State jobless rate dips to 5%

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A8D0EF05900E98?p=AWNB

• This article talks about an issue that is happening in our own backyard. The unemployment rate is steadily dropping in the state of Florida and recently dropped from 5.1 to 5% . The unemployment rate for Florida now matches the national unemployment rate which it has been since December. The article directly affects all Floridians and they mention how many believe that they are optimistic about their own financial situations but not so optimistic about the national economy. 

3.

Jacksonville: City promotes crime-free multi-housing and rental property program

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A7F7E5C0A469D8?p=AWNB

• This article talks about a program that is going to be implemented in order to reduce crime in rental properties and other housing neighborhoods. Criminal activity that happens on these property affect a wide array of people mainly the property owner who can have a decline in rentals and who's property can get a bad reputation also from the criminal acts taking place. This program is implemented all around he U.S in order to make neighborhoods more safe for the community, neighbors and the property manager. 

4. Volusia Council demands Daytona open Manatee Island, debates homeless issues

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A924E10A3F90D0?p=AWNB

• The main issue in this article is that the city is waiting for the use of Manatee Island to be available again yet there is a homeless problem that is preventing this. The amount of homeless people that surround the area has caused business owners and a lot of their customers to no want to visit the area.The problem is something that the city council and other officials have been discussing for awhile now and is affecting everyone in the surrounding area with the decision to build a new shelter or not affecting the homeless population the most.

5.Politicians say Miami ‘slums' prove need for new laws

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A8E3CD20CD1840?p=AWNB

• This story discusses a problem that is very big in a lot of areas across the state of Florida and that is the issue with residential buildings and houses not being properly taken care of. The condition of many of the buildings that are in the city of Miami are very low and many buildings that the resident stay in are run down and old looking. The article states "The receiver has done what she can do and the courts have done what they can do. But that's not going to be enough to sustain long-term changes," said Alana Greer, a Community Justice Project attorney representing low-income tenants at the 6040 building, where tenants in two units say their ceilings once buckled above their sleeping children.

Very Short Interview No. 1

The person that I chose to interview is Sean "Millz" Grant. Sean known as Millz to most of the public is the owner of Rain and Simons Nightclub in downtown Gainesville. He is a mature yet  young professional and has been the owner for almost a decade. I currently work with him and we collaborate on my entertainment group on campus. These are the questions that I asked him:

1. What is one of the hardest part about being an entrepreneur?

• "The hardest part about being an entrepreneur is that it gets really hectic and nerve wrecking at times in the beginning stages. A lot of the time in the beginning you are always wondering whether certain projects are going to work out or if someone in your crew decides to drop out." He also talked about how sometimes business and your personal life can sometime conflict and that it can cause a lot of relationships to end in the long run.  

2. What made you want to become an entrepreneur?

• Millz went on to talk about how he felt like there should be a change in the way people lookeed at entertainment. There was a crowd that needed to be catered to and he felt like he was the best person to do the job. He also mentioned how his experience starting as a promoter at a previous nightclub helped him when he decided to go to the next level.

3. What do you think is the most important thing for young entrepreneurs to know?

• "I think that the most important thing that they need to know is to never give up. No matter what may happen, what obstacles you may face or how many times people doubt you that you need to do you. It's always going to be someone in your face telling you that you not going to make it but you have to just put in work and prove them wrong"

After my interview with Millz it made me appreciate what he does a lot more. Being able to see how he started from the bottom as a simple promoter to owning his own nightclubs shows where perseverance can get you in life. You never know what someone went through from the outside all you see is the achievements and the success, but in actuality it took a long process to get there.

World's Biggest Problems

1. The food and health options that are available for low-income undeserved families help foster obesity. 

• There is a trend in eating habits relating to the economic standards of a certain family that ultimately make it hard for low income families to eat healthy. Many of the food providers that surround low income families are not the best choices. For example, Save-A-Lots are put up in locations where they know many low income families are that sell products with a lot of artificial meat and preservatives. Also, restaurants surrounding low income families are typically ones that serve unhealthy food such as McDonald's, Wendy's, Taco Bell and Burger King. This does not leave many healthy options for them to choose from based on low- income and some may say that they should drive to healthier places but for a lot of these families transportation is limited to none. Something that I think could be done to fix these problems is local community gardens that provide fresh fruit and vegetables for a low cost. Also, for areas that may not be able to grow food local shuttles that can take parents to healthier food options, and ultimately providing healthier options by providing a surrounding location. 

2. The high cost of tuition that limits students from attending college. 

• College is something that is continually getting tougher and tougher to attend. Not only are the requirements for college increasing but the cost of actually attending a four year institution is making it hard for many students to attend college. Those that can attend are also left wit thousands of dollars in college debt afterwards making college seem like a less likely option for those who may want to attend. Some things that can be done is providing more work study to those that want to attend college. Also, making the distribution of money that goes to scholarships and grants more instead of some frivolous things that money may be spent on. 

3. The amount of kids in third world countries that are not educated

• There are a substantial amount of kids in third world countries that are not able to attain an education because of lack of schools. One of the main reasons kids want to go to school but cannot is because they have no school to go to. There are also a lack of people that are able to educate them so this is another reason why many kids in third world countries are not educated.One way that I think this problem can be solved is through more funding and support from America to build these schools, instead of other attractions that aren't necessary. Also, implementing programs that help provide he resources necessary to run these schools. 

4. The amount of violence around the world is constantly rising.

• The amount of violence that has happened in the past three years has been indescribable. From the violence here in the United States involving police brutality to the terrorists attacks that France suffered violence is continually happening on a more than normal basis. Even the problem with ISIS now that is currently happening the world is always in a spiral of violence. I really can not think of a logical way to solve this problem but instead just think that the ideas of the countries have to change. There are always going to be differences but just different approaches to such problems. 

5. The amount of homeless people is at a steady rise across the world.

• With continual economic changes and with the amount of wealth inequality steady rising the amount of homeless people are also. Many people are born into this low economic status and many others are soon forced to be at that level. The amount of homeless people that you see on and off the streets is bigger than many people may realize.  One way to solve this problem is to help establish programs to assist homeless people to get back on their feet. Have mini rehabs within homeless shelters to help those that are drug addicts also. 

6. The amount of Racism and racist acts occurring in America.

• In the past 5 years there have been so many incidents of racial incidents and acts with the first one being the infamous case of Trayvon Martin. Ever since that incident racial tensions in America have been rising with Tamir Rice, Eric Garner and Sandra Bland. Also the big racial incident that happened at Mizzou which sparked national attention. The only way to defeat this is to defeat racist attitudes which will probably take decades. Racist attitudes have decreased since the early 1900's with the modern age but we have long way to go.

7.The amount of world wide pollution that is occurring.

• The world is constantly becoming a more and more polluted planet as the years pass by. The global use of fossil fuels polluting the atmosphere and the dumping of waste worldwide into oceans and lakes. The earth is constantly being polluted from different sources across the world and its making global warming even more apparent. Ways in which this could be solved include stricter bans on dumping and pollution, creating alternatives for fossil fuels used and making more carbon friendly cars.

8.The use of child labor in factories and the mistreatment of workers.

• All across the world the use of child labor and the mistreatment of many workers is happening. Many clothing companies and other fashion companies use child labor. Also, the mistreatment of workers some asked to work long hours for very low pay and also asked to work in horrible conditions too. Restrictions have been put in place to try to regulate this but somehow companies always end up in the news with scandals of mistreatment.The only way to stop this is to put government official monitors in each factory.

9. The continuous deforestation that is happening around the world.

• The world is growing towards urbanization which means the development of more cities and buildings which is leading to the removal of trees at an increasing rate. The amount of land that is available for animals is decreasing and we are becoming closer to their habitat. Ways that we can help this problem is to be more careful of where construction takes place. Also limit the amount of space that we use for certain establishments. 

10. The misuse of water across the world.

• The amount of water that is used worldwide is very large with the U.S being one of the top users for domestic uses only. The rest of the world also uses large amounts for agriculture such as China, Russia and Saudi Arabia. The huge use unsustainable use of water has lead to the disappearance and destruction of many rivers and lakes worldwide from Africa to the U.S. To solve this problem there needs to be more self conscious programs and limits on water use. There needs to be something done to also make users more self-conscious and resourceful when it comes to water use. 
  

Week 2 Reading Reflection

1. The biggest surprise to me throughout the reading is how much these entrepreneurial ventures are fueling the economy. I would never have thought about the correlation between entrepreneurs and the economy in as much depth as the book went into. The big impact that gazelles are having on the economy clearly shows how important the act of entrepreneurship is to creating jobs and many more opportunities to the economy. In particular, Gazelles produced 5 million jobs and brought net employment to 4.2 million jobs.

2. One part of the reading that was confusing to me was the dynamic states approach. In general, I just need to get a better understanding of how everything is correlated and what it is really trying to portray.

3. If I was able to ask the author two questions I would ask, " What are some key elements that can be defined that help the survival of small business past 5-7 years?" I would ask this in order to see what has fueled the success of these big corporations that started as small businesses. I would also ask ,"What are the 3 most common difficulties faced in the expansion stage?" I would want to ask this to figure out how a positive thing could have negative impact on a business. Basically, how growth and increased customer demand could also be a problem for a small business.

4.  Something that I do not agree with is the statements that the author had about small business owners not being innovative and not being dominant. I do not believe that is true because at many times small business owners can be people that came up with innovative practices that just have not been recognized yet. Innovation is key to owning any business and I also believe that small business owners at a point can be earning above standard profit. Small business owners to me posses the skills that an entrepreneur also has,

Bug List

1, The 38 bus is very crowded during 3-5 pm that frequently you are unable to ride the bus

• There are not enough 38 routes for the large amount of students that take that route

2. The section for student entrance to the football games is very crowded 15-20 min before the game that you are unable to move most of the time

• There is only one commonly used main entrance for student sections at the football games

3. Chipotle line is so long on University ave that you are usually in line for 30 minutes

• It is the only Chipotle that is located close to campus

4.The apartment complexes are very slow at answering maintenance demands it usually takes months

• There is not enough staff available to answer all demands 

5. There is not enough free parking located surrounding the campus that it forces people to take the bus

• Too many college students to accommodate the use of free parking

6. Unclean bathrooms at the Circle K gas stations that you aren't able to use them

• They fail to clean them as frequently as they could

7. Slow drivers on the interstate around the Gainesville area that traffic is ridiculous

• Not enough exits and main roads to take so they drive slow

8. Teachers that do not respond to your emails at a timely manner

• Teachers are usually busy after school hours and or just do not have time.

9. House parties are always getting shut down in Gainesville by the police, leaving options limited

• Police do not think that college students are safe throwing parties 

10. The McDonald's ice cream machine is never working on 13th street that we always resort to Burger King :(

• Too many people want McDonald's ice cream that the machine always breaks 

11. Having to wait in long lines at gas stations when you just want to pay in cash to get gas.

• There is not a slot for cash when paying at the pump so you have to go inside to pay

12. There is not enough outlets on the third floor of the Marston library that you have to sit in awkward spots to study

• The have not upgraded the third floor like they have the other floors yet  

13. It is always scorching hot in Norman during the end of spring and beginning of fall semesters

• They forget to tun the AC on and or the huge amount of students in the class causes heat

14. When you go to Wendy's and they never have honey mustard sauce for your food.

• Wendy's just fails to restock on honey mustard sauce or there is a quota

15. The RTS bus temperatures are never normal its either too hot or too cold making bus ride uncomfortable

• Bus temperatures have to be controlled by computers or can't be adjusted.

16. There is not enough space for tabling in Turlington for everyone so tabling is crowded.

• There
•  is not enough tables and or many student just do not register to table.

17, When you go to a public restroom and realize there is no tissue in the stall,

• People use all the tissue and the staff fails to check to see if it is stocked

18. When you rent a DVD from Redbox and the DVD does not work when you try to use it.

• There is no way for a machine to check to see if the DVD works so you get stuck with a DVD you can not use. 

19. When they mess up your order at a restaurant and put things on your meal that you did not ask for.

• They fail to double check the order and and make sure that it was done correctly.

20. Sharing a dorm bathroom on the weekends is very disgusting usually with trash and hair everywhere.

• There is no cleaning staff on the weekends so the bathrooms tend to accumulate dirt quickly.

The thing about this assignment that made it a little difficult is that you do not think about the things that bug you until these things are actually happening. Having to recall what bugs you without the actually thing happening at the time was the only struggle. Also, once thinking about the things that bug you something that you realize is that most of these things are out of your control and can not really be changed. Writing this list also made me realize that there are some things that can be changed and could make life a lot easier for some students. 

My Entrepreneurship Story

        My senior year of high school I decided to create a program called "Cans For a Cause" in which the purpose was to help feed low income families for the Thanksgiving holiday. The way that this would be accomplished was a school-wide competition in which the Englsh class period from each grade level that collected the most canned goods and non perishable goods would win a pizza party. The competition started at the beginning of November and took a lot of planning and constant communication with administrators and teachers. Some of the things I would have to do is appear on the morning announcements everyday to remind students and promote the competition. Also, I had to deliver boxes and containers to each classroom for collection of the goods plus collect the canned goods once the competition was over. The program ultimately turned out a success at the end by reaching m goal of 329 pounds of food and being able to feed 50 families for the Thanksgiving holiday. I hope to obtain the skills and knowledge to help better my entrepreneurial endeavors and I think that this class can really help me reach my goals of being able to own my own business one day.

Introduction

      My name is Markemia Shanell Peterson a Florida gator born and raised in Seminole nation also known as Tallahassee, Florida. I was born on November 22, 1995 at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and have spent most of my life in Tallahassee. In addition to living in Tallahassee I have also lived in Baltimore, Tampa, Kentucky, and lastly Georgia. I was raised by my mom and my grandma for most of my life and you can say that I am a country girl living in the Apalachicola national forest while in Tallahassee. Why the forest many people may ask, well my great grandparents owned 3 streets in the forest and my family decided to put a bunch of houses on the land which are mostly occupied by my family members. Being raised in the country naturally fishing, dirt biking and cooking became hobbies of mine. Along with those hobbies I have an older brother that is 28 who's married with my handsome nephew and a younger sister that is 18. My family is not like others you can say that there is always a show when you walk into my house or come to any family gatherings. They are a family that you will not be able to forget. Education is something my mom stressed a lot in my household and I grew up loving school and everything about it. I am currently a sophomore marketing major and I plan on owning my own business in the future but I aspire to be a CMO which is a Chief Marketing Officer of a company that deals with entertainment, athletics or social networks. At this very moment I am just enjoying my college experience and doing everything I can to make the most out of myself. I currently run my own campus-based entertainment group so I consider myself to be lucky that I have two families and that's more than anyone can ask for. My entertainment group is called The New Trendsetters or TNT. We plan and throw parties for others including our own. We strive on promoting campus events and just providing entertainment for students.

can ask for.

Entrepreneur's Mantra

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