Friday, December 1, 2017
Final Reflection
One of the most formative experiences was when we had to interview people to see if our ideas were legitimate and worth proceeding with. The experience that I will remember the most would be the elevator pitches because I was never really able to nail them. I always felt awkward doing them no matter how may times I tried. It made me feel happy when my classmates would comment encouraging things on my blog page. I liked the way some classmates made encouraging comments. I would definitely see myself having more of an entrepreneurial mindset after taking this class. I find myself always thinking of new ways to possibly improve things no matter where Ima at like a supermarket or agency. If I had to make one recommendation to students beginning the path of this class, I would say to not take a week off. I decided to not do some assignments and not doing well int he beginning of the class and found myself scrambling at the last minute to complete every module. There is no need for that type of stress so I believe that you should do every assignment every week. I would also foster the mindset to think of an idea evolved around your passion rather than something that is easily conformed to. Don't make something that everyone else has already though of.
Venture Concept 2
I believe there are several advantageous reasons to switch to my product and I think it will be very easy for consumers to switch to my product after they realize that how much time and money my product saves them. One of the reasons I think customers will switch to my product is that it saves them time and hassle. That is a staple characteristic of a great product. I assume my competitors will be other outdoor activity/sports companies. I believe that a majority of those companies are focused elsewhere in retail clothing and things similar to that. I believe packaging and price points play the biggest role in defining my business concept. I plan to package the product not in a box and have a test or fake rope in the device already so the customer can actually visualize how the product works and can be used. The price point is also crucial because sometimes that is the first thing a customer notices in a product so you must get past that barrier. I would operate one warehouse or factory but I would honestly outsource the manufacturing of the product to a foreign firm to save on production and operating costs in the initial years until I was able to afford a factory in the U.S. I think twenty to thirty employees would be an efficient amount to begin with. As we expand to different territories, the number of employees will increase as well.
Besides our innovation being our most important resource, we will have patents that will prevent any other firm from copying our design or success. For my product, we see an incredible opportunity in the market to expand my products use for commercial applications. We think we can use my product to replace all docking ropes used in the marine industry, commercial docks, marinas and residential docks. Simply attach rope to the cleat on the dock and adjust the length with the button and then lock in place when needed. Assuming the launch was successful, I hope to be a presence in all coastal states in the US and hopefully our commercial application plan for the product is in place. I would love to command operations in Florida because thats where I think we will achieve the most exposure and success. Since my passion is boating and being out on the water, I could not imagine a better venture to find success. I think being able to really capitalize at conforming the use of my product to suit commercial demand will revolutionize the marine industry entirely. Imagine a form of my product or technology on every structure or property neighboring a body of water. Instead of tying knots which sometimes can be tied incorrectly, you can use my product that simply hooks and attaches to the cleat on the properties dock or even other boat. No more tangled ropes, confusing knots, and time wasted with my product. Being able to enjoy a career that generated from my idea would be a dream come true but understand that it is very difficult. The market is constantly evolving so as a business you must keep with the trends.
Besides our innovation being our most important resource, we will have patents that will prevent any other firm from copying our design or success. For my product, we see an incredible opportunity in the market to expand my products use for commercial applications. We think we can use my product to replace all docking ropes used in the marine industry, commercial docks, marinas and residential docks. Simply attach rope to the cleat on the dock and adjust the length with the button and then lock in place when needed. Assuming the launch was successful, I hope to be a presence in all coastal states in the US and hopefully our commercial application plan for the product is in place. I would love to command operations in Florida because thats where I think we will achieve the most exposure and success. Since my passion is boating and being out on the water, I could not imagine a better venture to find success. I think being able to really capitalize at conforming the use of my product to suit commercial demand will revolutionize the marine industry entirely. Imagine a form of my product or technology on every structure or property neighboring a body of water. Instead of tying knots which sometimes can be tied incorrectly, you can use my product that simply hooks and attaches to the cleat on the properties dock or even other boat. No more tangled ropes, confusing knots, and time wasted with my product. Being able to enjoy a career that generated from my idea would be a dream come true but understand that it is very difficult. The market is constantly evolving so as a business you must keep with the trends.
I would change my venture for only one reason. I would change it to fit more commercial applications for it to reach a way larger target market. A larger potential market is which equals more sales. In order to make the most money, you must make as many sales as possible .
Thursday, November 30, 2017
reading reflection 3
The thing or fact that surprised me the most about the Wright Brothers was how many failed attempts they had before finally succeeding. It takes true resilience to pursue a goal as lofty as flying. Flying is something that has truly changed the way the world operates. Suddenly, everything and everyone is now accessible to places they never dreamed they would visit. I would say their grit and determination is what I admire most about the entrepreneurs. Without that, none of their success would have been accomplished. Something else I deeply admired was Wilbur's toughness when he was gruesomely hit in the face during the hockey game. One of the most notable competencies I noticed was their will to never give up. One of the parts of the readings that was a bit confusing to me was the process of how he began to make profit from the West Side News. I don't recall much detail in the process of what they wrote about but they eventually found success in that venture. The first question I would ask them would be, " where did the idea of flight pop into your head or what inspired that vision?" I would just love to know where he thought of that possibility what they thought it really entailed at time of development. It did not seem like they had much of an opinion of hard work because that is all they knew. Without hard work, none of their success would have occurred.
Your Exit Strategy
I think the best decision to make would be to sell the business in the next five years. Like in any other industry, competition always begins eventually and people create similar products for cheaper. My choice would be to sell for a large sum and then use that cash to fund several other ventures like real estate investments. Real estate investment is truly what I aspire to do eventually, you just need cash to begin. I have selected this strategy because there is a cap on the amount of people that will purchase this product and it is only a matter of time before another company surpasses our advancements and innovation. That is primary reason I have chosen this particular exit strategy. I believe the exit strategy has a drastic effect on the overall intentions of the company and its goals. Since our plan is to sell the company and liquidate our assets, we want to make sales increase in whiter way possible. If that means to lower prices on products or relocate manufacturing to be able to maintain the product for a cheaper amount, thats what we will do. Simply put, the goal is to make as much money as possible before selling out. The expansion into the commercial market is unlikely now that since that venture will probably take more than five years to accomplish. That is what I am most upset about as the CEO, is because we are not able to see how this product will perform in commercial markets. We will be paying close attention to the prices of industrial properties as we are looking to sell our property. We will try and optimize our profit by selling at a positive time during the market. This product will do well enough in the retail market to provide plenty of capital to venture into other opportunities.
Celebrating Failure
The past four to six months I had failed myself in a huge way. I failed myself in not thinking I had something in me when I clearly did. I simply did not have the self confidence to think I could succeed in doing that task or goal. For the past six months I have been studying to obtain my real estate sales associate license. I completed the the sixty three hour prerequisite course in a timely manner but procrastinated for a while in actually taking the exam. I always found myself questioning myself and feeling unsure of of my knowledge of the material. One of my best friends was studying to take it as well and we always discussed the topic. He signed up to take it first and failed it badly. He failed five more times until finally passing so this naturally intimidated me from taking the exam. Back to studying I went as I thought I needed to complete way more practice problems before attempting. I studied for about two more weeks aggressively then had a conversation with my little brother one day. He said, " bro, I think you're comparing yourself to Fern too much, you've been doing this stuff way more than him and know way more about it." When he told me this, I woke up. I signed it up for the exam at 8:00 a.m. the day of the game against Alabama Birmingham last Saturday. Upon finishing the exam, I felt very good about it. When I was done, the proctor handed me the sheet of paper that began, " congratulations ......" I was shocked I even asked the guy," I passed?" He said, "Yes, congrats!" One of those moments you feel so much pride because you know how hard you worked. We've all gotten those feelings when we study hard for a test and do well or work hard to accomplish any goal and do it.
I learned to always believe in yourself over others and only you are capable of knowing what you can accomplish. All it takes is hard work and patience. Waiting for the correct opportunity to capitalize on any task or goal is crucial to succeeding. With enough hard work and grinding, you can truly get anything but it won't happen over night. Failure is indeed hard. I felt so terrible about myself after the fact that I wasted that much time contemplating my skills. I always had that in me but never had the faith. Failure flattens your sails and deters you from reaching your goals. I failed myself during this process but then in the end became victorious. I handle failure emotionally I would say. I just get down on myself and don't even want to be involved in the topic of concern. I learned that failure is relative. Failure is about perspective. If you look at failure as a growth opportunity or step in the right direction, it doesn't spurs your progress. I am now open to taking risks because after that risk is taken, I am one step closer to success. We only have so much time on this earth and all moments of "failure" must be utilized for positive progression.
I learned to always believe in yourself over others and only you are capable of knowing what you can accomplish. All it takes is hard work and patience. Waiting for the correct opportunity to capitalize on any task or goal is crucial to succeeding. With enough hard work and grinding, you can truly get anything but it won't happen over night. Failure is indeed hard. I felt so terrible about myself after the fact that I wasted that much time contemplating my skills. I always had that in me but never had the faith. Failure flattens your sails and deters you from reaching your goals. I failed myself during this process but then in the end became victorious. I handle failure emotionally I would say. I just get down on myself and don't even want to be involved in the topic of concern. I learned that failure is relative. Failure is about perspective. If you look at failure as a growth opportunity or step in the right direction, it doesn't spurs your progress. I am now open to taking risks because after that risk is taken, I am one step closer to success. We only have so much time on this earth and all moments of "failure" must be utilized for positive progression.
Friday, November 17, 2017
What's Next?
Existing Market
The first thing that is to be done is to capture the initial target market which is basically boat owners and those who engage in water sport activities. After a successful execution in that market, it will be easier to evolve into possibly a commercial technology or patent. Our patent will be on the technology that secures, holds, deploys, and retrieves the rope. For the interviews I interviewed my friends fathers, Jim and Fernando, who are avid boaters that have owned boats for several years. I asked them both the simple question of what we should be doing that we aren't already doing? They both had similar responses surprisingly enough. They said that we should be focusing primarily on a specific sector of the target market which is the part that uses my product for water sport activities. Specifically for water skiing, wake boarding, and tubing. Mr. Milanes said that he thinks once I capture that specific market I can advance into other spaces. They both answered that they would like the rope to come attached with the device rather than having to provide their own. The last interview I had was one of my roommates, Anderson that has been boating and fishing all of his life. He first of all over my idea and believes that is has several applications. He thinks that I should go after the commercial market and try and tap into the real estate market on the water.
As a company we believe moving forward we should target a smaller range of the market based on the feedback we received from the interviews. For the future of my product, we want to start mainly with online sales through popular water sports outlet websites for the beginning phase of the products life. Once we capture that specific market, we will have the experience and expertise launch into other markets.
New Market
I could possibly target an affluent market and target just yacht owners to use for docking purposes. Since docking yachts require several ropes on each side to make sure the heavy yacht stays in place. Considering the size of the vessels, several lines and points of security are required in order to keep the wind gusts from causing potential damage. One of the features we may have to revamp would be the lock power and strength of the button. Possibly we will design a model that is designed to hold way heavier items. One person I spoke to on the phone was a yacht broker that worked where I interned this past summer named Barry. We have continued to keep in touch after I stopped working there. He owns a yacht and would consider him to be successful in the industry. I asked him what he thought about my idea and he was a bit confused at first. He eventually got to understand the concept is the device that operates the rope, not the rope itself. He was bit concerned about the strength of the lock setting and was worried that if they did not hold up a lot of damage would be caused. The next person I interviewed was my fathers good friend, Dr. Issa. He owns a 37 foot Boston Whaler. He believed that there would be too much liability involved if you were to rely on that technology to hold multi million dollar vessels. He was very intrigued for the idea for for tubing and water skiing because he said that my product would save him a lot of time and hassle while leaving the dock . One of the things that surprised me about the new market was that they didn't see the commercial possibilities immediately. I thought having a mature perspective examine my product they would see that possibility. I believe that this new market does indeed look attractive to us as a company because the more ropes a vessel needs the more EZ Tow's are needed.
The first thing that is to be done is to capture the initial target market which is basically boat owners and those who engage in water sport activities. After a successful execution in that market, it will be easier to evolve into possibly a commercial technology or patent. Our patent will be on the technology that secures, holds, deploys, and retrieves the rope. For the interviews I interviewed my friends fathers, Jim and Fernando, who are avid boaters that have owned boats for several years. I asked them both the simple question of what we should be doing that we aren't already doing? They both had similar responses surprisingly enough. They said that we should be focusing primarily on a specific sector of the target market which is the part that uses my product for water sport activities. Specifically for water skiing, wake boarding, and tubing. Mr. Milanes said that he thinks once I capture that specific market I can advance into other spaces. They both answered that they would like the rope to come attached with the device rather than having to provide their own. The last interview I had was one of my roommates, Anderson that has been boating and fishing all of his life. He first of all over my idea and believes that is has several applications. He thinks that I should go after the commercial market and try and tap into the real estate market on the water.
As a company we believe moving forward we should target a smaller range of the market based on the feedback we received from the interviews. For the future of my product, we want to start mainly with online sales through popular water sports outlet websites for the beginning phase of the products life. Once we capture that specific market, we will have the experience and expertise launch into other markets.
New Market
I could possibly target an affluent market and target just yacht owners to use for docking purposes. Since docking yachts require several ropes on each side to make sure the heavy yacht stays in place. Considering the size of the vessels, several lines and points of security are required in order to keep the wind gusts from causing potential damage. One of the features we may have to revamp would be the lock power and strength of the button. Possibly we will design a model that is designed to hold way heavier items. One person I spoke to on the phone was a yacht broker that worked where I interned this past summer named Barry. We have continued to keep in touch after I stopped working there. He owns a yacht and would consider him to be successful in the industry. I asked him what he thought about my idea and he was a bit confused at first. He eventually got to understand the concept is the device that operates the rope, not the rope itself. He was bit concerned about the strength of the lock setting and was worried that if they did not hold up a lot of damage would be caused. The next person I interviewed was my fathers good friend, Dr. Issa. He owns a 37 foot Boston Whaler. He believed that there would be too much liability involved if you were to rely on that technology to hold multi million dollar vessels. He was very intrigued for the idea for for tubing and water skiing because he said that my product would save him a lot of time and hassle while leaving the dock . One of the things that surprised me about the new market was that they didn't see the commercial possibilities immediately. I thought having a mature perspective examine my product they would see that possibility. I believe that this new market does indeed look attractive to us as a company because the more ropes a vessel needs the more EZ Tow's are needed.
Venture Concept
Thankfully, my potential target market is fairly vast and there are not many barriers of entry in order to use my product. I would identify the customers I am targeting as people who own boats, use boats, or engage in water sports activities. Currently in the market, there is a lack of progress in my specialized space that has to do with towing ropes. The need for advancement is there as it is incredibly annoying to have to untangle a rope for 5 minutes prior to actually engaging in fun. Also, it is unsafe to leave the helm of the vessel to adjust or switch a rope for someone. Thankfully, with my product you just adjust the length of the rope with just a push of a button. Some of the forces in the environment creating this opportunity would just be technological advancement in general. Across all sectors, technological developments are being made to drive efficiency and safety. Initially, my market was geographically described as being mainly in Florida but as this project has progressed, we have expanded to nearly every coastal state that operate boats. I believe this opportunity is huge because products that truly drive change and progress make peoples lives easier. My product does just that. The fact that there is not a product like mine on the market further ensures my confidence in this product. That is definitely the most interesting topic surrounding my product, how much longer will the window of opportunity be there? I don't think that there will be an opportunity like this again for quite some time. Revolutionizing a product and changing the industry only happens at specific times.
My product, EZ Tow, is a device that holds, organizes, releases, and retrieves towing rope when engaged in water sport activities like wake boarding, skiing, skurfing and tubing. The rope is held inside the device in a circular position for easy deployment and retrieving. All it takes is a push from one of three buttons to use my product. Either choose deploy, lock, or retrieve on the device and you are ready to use. My product takes the hassle out of untangling and keeping the rope organized. It also prevents distractive driving by the operator of the boat and my favorite feature is that is could potentially save you thousands of dollars in engine propeller repair. A common problem with average towing ropes is that they sink when the rope gains slack, therefore causing the rope to sink and get caught in the engine. My device ensures tension is always on the handle whether or not a skier is holding onto the rope. For the beginning part of our product execution, we plan on only offering the device so that people may choose to use their own rope with it. Later we will start offering rh the bundled product with our designed rope. The goal of this strategy is to not intimidate the customers with a high price so we think our price is now attractive enough to entice a purchase.
I believe there are several advantageous reasons to switch to my product and I think it will be very easy for consumers to switch to my product after they realize that how much time and money my product saves them. One of the reasons I think customers will switch to my product is that it saves them time and hassle. That is a staple characteristic of a great product. I assume my competitors will be other outdoor activity/sports companies. I believe that a majority of those companies are focused elsewhere in retail clothing and things similar to that. I believe packaging and price points play the biggest role in defining my business concept. I plan to package the product not in a box and have a test or fake rope in the device already so the customer can actually visualize how the product works and can be used. The price point is also crucial because sometimes that is the first thing a customer notices in a product so you must get past that barrier. I would operate one warehouse or factory but I would honestly outsource the manufacturing of the product to a foreign firm to save on production and operating costs in the initial years until I was able to afford a factory in the U.S. I think twenty to thirty employees would be an efficient amount to begin with. As we expand to different territories, the number of employees will increase as well.
Besides our innovation being our most important resource, we will have patents that will prevent any other firm from copying our design or success. For my product, we see an incredible opportunity in the market to expand my products use for commercial applications. We think we can use my product to replace all docking ropes used in the marine industry, commercial docks, marinas and residential docks. Simply attach rope to the cleat on the dock and adjust the length with the button and then lock in place when needed. Assuming the launch was successful, I hope to be a presence in all coastal states in the US and hopefully our commercial application plan for the product is in place. I would love to command operations in Florida because thats where I think we will achieve the most exposure and success. Since my passion is boating and being out on the water, I could not imagine a better venture to find success. I think being able to really capitalize at conforming the use of my product to suit commercial demand will revolutionize the marine industry entirely. Imagine a form of my product or technology on every structure or property neighboring a body of water. Instead of tying knots which sometimes can be tied incorrectly, you can use my product that simply hooks and attaches to the cleat on the properties dock or even other boat. No more tangled ropes, confusing knots, and time wasted with my product. Being able to enjoy a career that generated from my idea would be a dream come true but understand that it is very difficult. The market is constantly evolving so as a business you must keep with the trends.
My product, EZ Tow, is a device that holds, organizes, releases, and retrieves towing rope when engaged in water sport activities like wake boarding, skiing, skurfing and tubing. The rope is held inside the device in a circular position for easy deployment and retrieving. All it takes is a push from one of three buttons to use my product. Either choose deploy, lock, or retrieve on the device and you are ready to use. My product takes the hassle out of untangling and keeping the rope organized. It also prevents distractive driving by the operator of the boat and my favorite feature is that is could potentially save you thousands of dollars in engine propeller repair. A common problem with average towing ropes is that they sink when the rope gains slack, therefore causing the rope to sink and get caught in the engine. My device ensures tension is always on the handle whether or not a skier is holding onto the rope. For the beginning part of our product execution, we plan on only offering the device so that people may choose to use their own rope with it. Later we will start offering rh the bundled product with our designed rope. The goal of this strategy is to not intimidate the customers with a high price so we think our price is now attractive enough to entice a purchase.
I believe there are several advantageous reasons to switch to my product and I think it will be very easy for consumers to switch to my product after they realize that how much time and money my product saves them. One of the reasons I think customers will switch to my product is that it saves them time and hassle. That is a staple characteristic of a great product. I assume my competitors will be other outdoor activity/sports companies. I believe that a majority of those companies are focused elsewhere in retail clothing and things similar to that. I believe packaging and price points play the biggest role in defining my business concept. I plan to package the product not in a box and have a test or fake rope in the device already so the customer can actually visualize how the product works and can be used. The price point is also crucial because sometimes that is the first thing a customer notices in a product so you must get past that barrier. I would operate one warehouse or factory but I would honestly outsource the manufacturing of the product to a foreign firm to save on production and operating costs in the initial years until I was able to afford a factory in the U.S. I think twenty to thirty employees would be an efficient amount to begin with. As we expand to different territories, the number of employees will increase as well.
Besides our innovation being our most important resource, we will have patents that will prevent any other firm from copying our design or success. For my product, we see an incredible opportunity in the market to expand my products use for commercial applications. We think we can use my product to replace all docking ropes used in the marine industry, commercial docks, marinas and residential docks. Simply attach rope to the cleat on the dock and adjust the length with the button and then lock in place when needed. Assuming the launch was successful, I hope to be a presence in all coastal states in the US and hopefully our commercial application plan for the product is in place. I would love to command operations in Florida because thats where I think we will achieve the most exposure and success. Since my passion is boating and being out on the water, I could not imagine a better venture to find success. I think being able to really capitalize at conforming the use of my product to suit commercial demand will revolutionize the marine industry entirely. Imagine a form of my product or technology on every structure or property neighboring a body of water. Instead of tying knots which sometimes can be tied incorrectly, you can use my product that simply hooks and attaches to the cleat on the properties dock or even other boat. No more tangled ropes, confusing knots, and time wasted with my product. Being able to enjoy a career that generated from my idea would be a dream come true but understand that it is very difficult. The market is constantly evolving so as a business you must keep with the trends.
Friday, November 10, 2017
Tuesday, November 7, 2017
Your Venture's Unfair Advantage
One of the most valuable resources or characteristics of my product would be the innovation factor is possesses. How is it something so simple can be so advanced in performance? In my opinion, this would be the most important resource we obtain. The next resource would be our human capital. This far into the business plan, I would be unsure of how to measure our human capital considering we don't have any employees at the moment. Our human capital would be based upon trust among everyone in the business. Another resource we would utilize to the best of our ability would be our social capital. One of the things that will separate us from the competition would be the contacts we have among the marine industry. From yacht salesman to owners of smaller bait shops, several locations in the Florida will initially be introduced to the product. Hopefully, expansions to the north and west part of the country will begin at that point. Some of our capabilities that I would consider resources would be safety and efficiency. There are many more capabilities of my product than those two but those I would consider to be the most important. My product removes hassle and speeds up an annoying process. That is why I consider it efficient. My product organizes, keeps, deploys and retrieves the towing rope used in water sport activities. For the safety aspect of my product, there is constant tension on the rope to ensure there is no slack or tangle that causes the rope to go under water and get caught in the engine propeller. I believe this aspect of the product is the most convincing or attractive when consumers are contemplating shopping decisions. I would say that majority of my resources would fall under the category of capabilities because not a lot of factors of my business are ready for deployment. The organizational structure of our company would be constantly evolving as we grow and expand. To begin, our culture would consist of several different kinds of employees. I won't really discuss the manufacturing aspect of the product but at the beginning stages of the business that will most likely need to be outsourced by other manufacturing firms. After that we will have designated sales people in charger of different cities and areas. One of the last parts of the team would be the executive portion.
I consider all of my resources valuable and certain ones are unable to function without the presence of other ones. The innovation factor of my product is valuable because the industry has yet to witness a product like this that has its capabilities. That is the reason it is unique and hopefully the reason why it will change the marine industry forever. To make sure the product is protected but more specifically the technology, I would need to get a patent to make sure it cannot be copied. As of now, there is no substitute really other than the regular ropes that this product will beat advancement of. After conducting the VRIN analysis, I was able to determine that the most important or top resource is safety. The safety dynamic of this product surpasses all other resources because of all attributes that come along with it. It saves your boat possible damages, protects who you are responsible for behind your boat, and takes the stress out of which is usually an annoying process.
Friday, November 3, 2017
Reading Reflection No. 2
In my opinion, the general theme of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success was how and what contributes to the development of a person. The main theme is based around two types of mindsets, fixed and growth. The fixed mindset could be described as some who is complacent to summarize it most effectively. It is usually someone who gives up easy during hardships or challenges and sometimes insecure about themselves. Someone with a growth mindset is basically the complete opposite. Someone with that mindset is always striving to achieve more goals and set him or herself up for greater success. They are usually more of a genuine person and can adjust their perspectives in certain situations. This book and class connected in several ways. One of the first ways I realized was that someone with a growth mindset embodies all the characteristics and habits of most entrepreneurs we know about. They are innovators always striving for more. Some of the same philosophy from the book relates to this class when it comes to advancement in life and how connecting with people is crucial. It relates a lot to human development which I think is a hidden tactic in these assignments. I think developing your own products and contacting other professional only can benefit as you transition into real world professions. I would develop an exercise based around giving the student an opportunity to choose which mindset they think they possess. I would then ask a series of questions pertaining to why they think that and questions of that nature. I was unaware that confidence is such a huge asset to have, Confidence is the trait that can set someone back from making an important life decision or short term decision. When someone hold themselves with confidence, it it usually very apparent.
Thursday, November 2, 2017
It's Who You Know, Not What You Know
The first person who I contacted that is an expert in the industry is the general manager of Bradford Marine, Carlos Navarro, located in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Bradford is yacht brokerage and full service shipyard/ marina located in the heart of the intercostal for the past 50 years. Carlos was actually my boss this past summer where I interned in the yacht brokerage office. He is PADI master diver and USCG master license captain. He is the most knowledge person I know in the industry because he has worked in marine product sales, yacht sales and now manages a business that does both. I believe his expertise in the field and in the industry will cause me to look to him first if I was seeking guidance or advice. We have had a relationship over the years from my father and had kept in contact since I always interested in his line of work. Having him and keeping him in my close network will be beneficial in my career ahead because he has several high value contacts at his disposal if I were to ever need a recommendation.
The person I contacted that I would consider an expert in this market is Hunter Hanson, a sales representative located in Tampa for Liquid Force, which is a wake boarding/ water sports brand. They sell an array of products from wakeboard ropes, wake boards and even life jackets. I sent him an email asking about the legitimacy of my product and what his thoughts and opinions were but unfortunately I received no answer. Hopefully I will receive one soon but not as I am writing this. If I receive no answer of this email I sent then I will attempt to contact him by phone.
For the person who is considered a supplier to the industry and someone who is actively selling in the market place is Steve Weber, a sales consultant for Marine Max. Marine Max is one of the counties premier boat dealers and marine suppliers. I tried to call and email him but I have yet to receive a call back. I really hope to get one back in the near future because Marine Max is a company I would be interested in hanging my license if I decide to become yacht broker. My uncle actually recommend working at Marine Max over the brokerage he works at. He would be an amazing contacts for the future if I found myself wanting to explore that option and work there. This networking experience has been slightly different for me in a few ways. The first is that for two of the people I contacted I had no prior communication or connection with. Usually when I am going into situation like that I have an established connection with them from friends, family, or colleagues which tends to make things run a bit smoother. I would that was the biggest difference between past networking events and the networking required for this assignment.
Thursday, October 26, 2017
Create a Customer Avatar
Some characteristics and descriptions I would use to begin describing the customer avatar for my product would be a person who's grown up or lived near or around a body of water. More specifically, my customer will most likely be a boat owner. Since I would consider my product more of a specialty item, I believe people who own or are knowledgeable about boats will understand and appreciate the applications my product offers. My customer 's hobbies are being outdoors, fishing, waterspouts, or just family activities. This customer could be like my father and only really go on the boat if its with my brothers or I. Mainly just to spend time with rather than an actual passion for being out the there. Then you have the customer avatar that is a hardcore fisherman or outdoorsman. These customers are the ones who want nothing more than to be out on the water whenever they can. Their hobbies may include fishing, hunting, water skiing, wake boarding, jet skiing, sports, sporting events, concerts and many more. The car may vary on the customer but if you were to need to trailer a boat from your home or elsewhere, you would need a truck or larger SUV depending on the size of the boat. Some of the TV shows they might watch are ESPN, CNN, Fox, Outdoor Channel, MSNBC and a few others. For the most part, I would say that majority of my potential customers will have children. I would describe that they are at a later and more mature stage in their lives. They are more concerned with their children's future or they could be in the early stages of parenthood. These customers are buying my product for the convenience factor that allows them to stress less and spend more genuine time with their family.
I feel I actually have a lot in common with the customer avatar I have created. In a way, the customer avatar seems to concerned with similar things my father is. He's concerned for the well being of his family over anything else then the priorities fall into place. The customer avatar is someone who understands the quality and integrity of the product and hopefully will see the true value. At the end of he day, you must provide or offer some kind of value to customers. This product does that. I do not think it is a coincidence that the customer avatar could be relatable to my father because he would fall within the target market and would definitely purchase the product.
I feel I actually have a lot in common with the customer avatar I have created. In a way, the customer avatar seems to concerned with similar things my father is. He's concerned for the well being of his family over anything else then the priorities fall into place. The customer avatar is someone who understands the quality and integrity of the product and hopefully will see the true value. At the end of he day, you must provide or offer some kind of value to customers. This product does that. I do not think it is a coincidence that the customer avatar could be relatable to my father because he would fall within the target market and would definitely purchase the product.
Idea Napkin #2
I'm the type of person who excels when under pressure. Im the type of person who works well with others and knows how to manage a group a people towards a common goal. I would say that is one of my most positive qualities. My ability to work with others and lead if they needed. I feel this product has endless possibilities if put in right hands. All it takes is one person or moment for anything to make off or blow up. If this business becomes successful like I know it is capable of, it consume an extremely large part of my life. Since I's so young and don't have a family to support yet, this is what I want. Upon graduation, that is the time you grind and let work consume your life. These years after graduation are the most crucial and set you up for the rest if your career.
The product I am offering to customers is called EasyTow. The name is not final yet but that is what we have decided so far. The product simplifies the process and exterminates the need for normal wakeboard/ waterski rope that is very prone to accidents and mishaps. For the longest time throughout my childhood, I can recall countless times that I've been on a boat and the rope has gotten tangled or caught in the propeller. My product holds the rope in an organized manner and is capable of deploying and retracting the rope depending on the activity of the preference of the skier. The type of person I am offering this to would be described as a boat owner or someone who is interested in boating. I would say the average or typical customer is somewhere in his 30 or 40's and has a family. There are several reason why they care about the product. The product saves them time, stress, and in the end, money. My product keeps the rope from tangling while adjusting is as simply as ever. Lastly, it protects your motor and propeller from potentially thousands dollars worth of damage. I would say a few things set us apart from others but there is not another company that I know of that are doing what we are doing. One of the current advantages we have is no other companies breathing down our neck trying to copy our product. We have an innovative product that has a lot of possibilities for success.
The product I am offering to customers is called EasyTow. The name is not final yet but that is what we have decided so far. The product simplifies the process and exterminates the need for normal wakeboard/ waterski rope that is very prone to accidents and mishaps. For the longest time throughout my childhood, I can recall countless times that I've been on a boat and the rope has gotten tangled or caught in the propeller. My product holds the rope in an organized manner and is capable of deploying and retracting the rope depending on the activity of the preference of the skier. The type of person I am offering this to would be described as a boat owner or someone who is interested in boating. I would say the average or typical customer is somewhere in his 30 or 40's and has a family. There are several reason why they care about the product. The product saves them time, stress, and in the end, money. My product keeps the rope from tangling while adjusting is as simply as ever. Lastly, it protects your motor and propeller from potentially thousands dollars worth of damage. I would say a few things set us apart from others but there is not another company that I know of that are doing what we are doing. One of the current advantages we have is no other companies breathing down our neck trying to copy our product. We have an innovative product that has a lot of possibilities for success.
Friday, October 20, 2017
What's Your Secret Sauce?
I believe there are definitely a few ways that aid in my human capital being truly unique. I thinking of why best traits is my ability to get along and connect with people on a human level. I always try and be genuine in moments where my character is tested. It might sounds cliche but doing the right thing is always the right thing and being loving and caring towards people always comes back ten fold. That is one of the lessons I have learned from my mentors over there years which people remember the small and gracious acts of a person. Another way I think my human capital is unique is how I am able to handle certain situations. I am a person that is calm and collected and it takes a lot for me to lash out and express my opinions. I think that is one of my favorite attributes because while everyone around me is panicking or worried about a situation, I sit back and analyze it before I make any rash decisions. I believe this skill will come in very handy later in life when business deals and contracts are on line. I will be able to decide and determine whether it is the right move or not. Another way my human capital is unique how well rounded I feel I am. Usually, my friends and I talk about random subject and do a lot of random activities but I always felt like I had a natural act for several things. Whether is was a sport, game, or contest, I always felt competitive in whatever we were doing. One of the last things that help make my human capital unique is my level of humility. I believe being humble is one the most attractive qualities a person can have. Being humble about my past accomplishments and future endeavors has allowed me stay focused and determined on the goals I am currently focused on. It allows me to be as productive as possible during the most crucial times.
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Figuring Out Buyer Behavior #2
In a setting where customers have a set of alternatives, that increases the level of difficulty when trying to sell to a targeted consumer. Customers look for many characteristics when evaluating products but one of the the most important things consumers look for is the quality and design of the product. When purchasing an expensive product, the consumer wants to buy something that can be trusted and will last a life time. That seemed to be the most important things consumers look for based off my interviews but they're are definitely more than one factor that is important to your customer segment. I would say the next aspect of the product they are concerned with is the price of the product, the price of the product has the capability to be the deal breaker on many transaction opportunities.
For a product like mine, if a consumer has not seen it in person, they wanted to visit the store and examine the product for themselves. However, if the consumer saw it being used or came into contact with it somewhere, they would have no problem ordering it online. Considering my product is in the one hundred to two hundred price range, the potential consumers said they would have no problem paying for with cash or debit card. If this product reached commercial application like I think it is capable of, the people involved with the purchasing decision would be the business owners or managers and the sales representatives of our company.
To summarize, the potential consumers I interviewed has similar thoughts for most of the topics being discussed. They seemed to care about the quality of the product the most and wouldn't mine ordering it online as long as they had seen it in person prior. As far as paying for the product, the consumers had no issue with paying with cash or debit card at the time of the transaction.
This segment is interesting because though out the duration of developing this product, I have not considered some of the questions being asked in the assignment. This alternative evaluation segment opened my eyes to possibilities beyond just the development aspect.
For a product like mine, if a consumer has not seen it in person, they wanted to visit the store and examine the product for themselves. However, if the consumer saw it being used or came into contact with it somewhere, they would have no problem ordering it online. Considering my product is in the one hundred to two hundred price range, the potential consumers said they would have no problem paying for with cash or debit card. If this product reached commercial application like I think it is capable of, the people involved with the purchasing decision would be the business owners or managers and the sales representatives of our company.
To summarize, the potential consumers I interviewed has similar thoughts for most of the topics being discussed. They seemed to care about the quality of the product the most and wouldn't mine ordering it online as long as they had seen it in person prior. As far as paying for the product, the consumers had no issue with paying with cash or debit card at the time of the transaction.
This segment is interesting because though out the duration of developing this product, I have not considered some of the questions being asked in the assignment. This alternative evaluation segment opened my eyes to possibilities beyond just the development aspect.
Halfway Reflection
Tenaciousness is definitely a required competency for this course however there are several more that must be utilized in order to be successful in this class. One for the behaviors that I have removed from my arsenal is procrastination. If you wait till the last day to try and complete an assignment, you will realize that it is a lot more work than you thought. In order to ensure success on all the assignments, I would recommend starting them earlier in the week.
Though out the semester I have definitely had a few moments where I did give up on a few assignments. Looking back it now, I feel ashamed for doing that and very lazy. I know I am capable of competing all these assignments in a professional manner. I've changed my mindset towards this class to more of a job mentality and treat it professionally.
If I could offer three tips to students for the next semester. One, I would say to find a friend who is also taking the course so you can discuss problems each of you are having. Secondly, I would say to start the assignments on Monday or Tuesday of the week so it the people in your group ample time to peer review your work. The last tip I would give would be to not let the amount of work overwhelm you. It may seem a lot at first but just stay tenacious and you will have no problem succeeding in class.
Though out the semester I have definitely had a few moments where I did give up on a few assignments. Looking back it now, I feel ashamed for doing that and very lazy. I know I am capable of competing all these assignments in a professional manner. I've changed my mindset towards this class to more of a job mentality and treat it professionally.
If I could offer three tips to students for the next semester. One, I would say to find a friend who is also taking the course so you can discuss problems each of you are having. Secondly, I would say to start the assignments on Monday or Tuesday of the week so it the people in your group ample time to peer review your work. The last tip I would give would be to not let the amount of work overwhelm you. It may seem a lot at first but just stay tenacious and you will have no problem succeeding in class.
Reading Reflection #1
Several things about Steve Jobs surprised me but one of the things that stood out the most to me was how resilient the man was. Going from bankrupt to a billionaire sounds like quite the climb to success and after reading this, it sure was. The fact that so many people were trying to demote, refuse, or compete against him and still came out victories speaks volumes about his character. The thing that I admired most about Steve Jobs was his carelessness for others opinions and thoughts. Not in an ignorant way but more in a way that he didn't pay attention to the distracting noise of others that tried to derail him from his goals. One of the things I least admired about him was his disbelief in the education system. I think of you have the opportunity to gain a college education, you should do so by all means. There are so many people in this world who have no form of education and there are many people who will never get the chance to go to college. He could have gained some more solid insight or help from a professor at college that could have fast forwarded his success. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak faced plenty of adversity and failure throughout their quest to develop the first personal computer. One of the most profound setbacks was when Jobs was let go from his own company and over powered by the board executives at Apple.
Steve Jobs exhibited many competencies but some of the ones I noticed was resilience, determination, creativity, and ability to think beyond the scope of everyone around him. That is the main one that set him apart from every person around him, his ability to expand or improve any idea and make it something. He was a creator. In the book, it noted that early on in Job's life, he knew he was special or chosen. He had entrepreneurial behavior since a very young age.
If I had the blessing to be able to speak to Steve Jobs I would ask him more personal questions to try and gain insight on how he thinks of perceives the world around him. The first question I would ask is how were you able to think beyond the simple picture and put life into an opportunistic perspective? I want to know how he interacted with others and how he thought human interactions affect the world. The last question I would ask would be did you know from the moment of the idea of Apple, it was going to be one of the most innovative products ever?
Honestly, I think Steve Jobs was type of person who believed in working smarter rather than harder. I am in no way saying that Steve Jobs was not hard worker. I just believe that his opinion of hard work was to be doing something purposeful the entire time. Basically structured and a reason must be present in order for it to be productive.
Friday, October 6, 2017
Figuring Out Buyer Behavior
The segment I would pick is the water sports segment and not choose the more marine/ industrial route with this product. I believe that focusing on one segment will allow you to increase your chances of success in these very volatile markets.
Thankfully, my family is coming up for the LSU game so I will be able to interview my father, my uncle and my little brother who are boat owners and very experienced on boats.
The need awareness for this product was not prevalent at the beginning of the interview but towards the end it became clear to my family this product was revolutionary. They realized the importance of this product when they heard about how it can prevent so many accidents from happening.
They usually go online shopping for water sport ropes or online forums. There are often reviews on websites where people can post about their experiences with similar products. Surprisingly enough, people would rather ask someone close to them or someone they trust for this kind of information.
During the interviews I leaned a few knowledgeable things. The first thing is that people are unaware of these possibilities with technology in the industry. The next insight I gained was that people would use this device simply to protect their boat's engine propeller. One of the last great things that I learned was the things that boat owners look for a in a product is that it is trusted and works. Thats one the challenges we face as a company, to ensure this product works effectively all the time.
Thankfully, my family is coming up for the LSU game so I will be able to interview my father, my uncle and my little brother who are boat owners and very experienced on boats.
The need awareness for this product was not prevalent at the beginning of the interview but towards the end it became clear to my family this product was revolutionary. They realized the importance of this product when they heard about how it can prevent so many accidents from happening.
They usually go online shopping for water sport ropes or online forums. There are often reviews on websites where people can post about their experiences with similar products. Surprisingly enough, people would rather ask someone close to them or someone they trust for this kind of information.
During the interviews I leaned a few knowledgeable things. The first thing is that people are unaware of these possibilities with technology in the industry. The next insight I gained was that people would use this device simply to protect their boat's engine propeller. One of the last great things that I learned was the things that boat owners look for a in a product is that it is trusted and works. Thats one the challenges we face as a company, to ensure this product works effectively all the time.
Idea Napkin No. 1
I would describe myself as someone who excels at collaborating with others and being able to bring out people's strengths. I am someone who passionately enjoys being outdoors and out on any body of water. There is no where I would rather be than on a boat in the ocean surrounded by people you care about. There are endless possibilities of what can be done when out in the ocean. Throughout my whole life I have been involved in sports since kindergarten so I believe that this is one of the reasons why I am able to lead a group a people to a common goal. In any business, that skill is crucial. For this business concept, I have extremely high aspirations simply because of its innovation and convience factors. Considering my product is designed for marine use, I expect to be on the water involved with the development as we test it throughout different environments. I hope to also be involved in the yacht brokerage business to aid me into gaining traction in different commercial channels.
The product has yet to be named but we are currently testing the market with possible names. The product I am developing is self deploying and self retrieving rope device designed for all types of marine use. The product replaces the need for a traditional " water ski rope" or "bow/ stern rope". The product removes all the hassle involved dealing with ropes, knots, and anchoring when you are actually out on the water. One of my favorite and hopefully the most popular feature is that it will protect your engine propeller from a rope getting caught and causing thousands of dollars worth of damage. There will be three buttons on the top for deploy, retrieve, and lock. In order to ensure your time on the water is as enjoyable as possible, you don't want to be dealing with annoying knots, tangles, and literally retying everything just for one person to switch turns. With my product, all the stress is relieved. Simply bush a button to deploy the line, to bring in the line, and adjust the length to the skiers preference. I also see this technology expanding to commercial outlets but for now I will just focus on the water sports aspect of the product.
The typical customers I will be targeting are boat owners and water sport enthusiasts. This product has a wide reach so it can be offered at wide range of stores like West Marine, Bass Pro Shops, Sports Authority, Dicks Sporting Goods and potentially Walmart. The typical customer of mine has grown up around a boat and understands the the true value of this product, which is it saves your time, stress and money.
There are a few ways that customers will notice my product's value. The first way is innovation. This product is the first if its kind and has the possibility to start a product category of its own. It was on a matter of tim until someone thought of this product and realized its capabilities. The next way is connivence and efficiency. This product simply saves you time and stress, which are characteristics of any successful product. One of the last ways that consumers will my products value is it increases safety and prevents accidents from happening.
As far as my research extends, I have yet to find a company like us. Simply what sets us apart is our innovation. We are one of the first to see this opportunity in the marketplace which can either be a blessing or damaging to a company.
The product has yet to be named but we are currently testing the market with possible names. The product I am developing is self deploying and self retrieving rope device designed for all types of marine use. The product replaces the need for a traditional " water ski rope" or "bow/ stern rope". The product removes all the hassle involved dealing with ropes, knots, and anchoring when you are actually out on the water. One of my favorite and hopefully the most popular feature is that it will protect your engine propeller from a rope getting caught and causing thousands of dollars worth of damage. There will be three buttons on the top for deploy, retrieve, and lock. In order to ensure your time on the water is as enjoyable as possible, you don't want to be dealing with annoying knots, tangles, and literally retying everything just for one person to switch turns. With my product, all the stress is relieved. Simply bush a button to deploy the line, to bring in the line, and adjust the length to the skiers preference. I also see this technology expanding to commercial outlets but for now I will just focus on the water sports aspect of the product.
The typical customers I will be targeting are boat owners and water sport enthusiasts. This product has a wide reach so it can be offered at wide range of stores like West Marine, Bass Pro Shops, Sports Authority, Dicks Sporting Goods and potentially Walmart. The typical customer of mine has grown up around a boat and understands the the true value of this product, which is it saves your time, stress and money.
There are a few ways that customers will notice my product's value. The first way is innovation. This product is the first if its kind and has the possibility to start a product category of its own. It was on a matter of tim until someone thought of this product and realized its capabilities. The next way is connivence and efficiency. This product simply saves you time and stress, which are characteristics of any successful product. One of the last ways that consumers will my products value is it increases safety and prevents accidents from happening.
As far as my research extends, I have yet to find a company like us. Simply what sets us apart is our innovation. We are one of the first to see this opportunity in the marketplace which can either be a blessing or damaging to a company.
Friday, September 29, 2017
Testing the Hypothesis, Part 2
Testing the Hypothesis, Part 2
Who: Without actually launching the product, I do not think we will ever be able to determine the certain commercial applications that are possible from this technology for marinas, resorts, and all areas with boat dockage. So the certain people and business would include hotels, resorts, marinas, restaurants, yacht brokerages and residents that have a dock on their property.
What: The need I have described seems to be unique and I cannot really determine a need that is similar to it. The solution I have come up with provides efficiency, connivence, and most importantly, safety.
Why: I would say yes, that the underlying cause of outsiders' need could differ from those inside the boundary because outsiders could be using the product in a way it was not designed to. People inside the boundary recognize the product for its utility because it transforms an experience that they are used to and enjoy.
Inside the Boundary Outside the Boundary
Who is in/is not boat owners and people familiar with people uninterested in
boats and water sports
water sport activities
What Need is/ not save time spent with friends and family while on If you don't mind messing
with tangled rope
the water
Why Need Exists/ Need exists because today's method is outdated
and comes with many possible problems
Alternative Ex.
Who: Without actually launching the product, I do not think we will ever be able to determine the certain commercial applications that are possible from this technology for marinas, resorts, and all areas with boat dockage. So the certain people and business would include hotels, resorts, marinas, restaurants, yacht brokerages and residents that have a dock on their property.
What: The need I have described seems to be unique and I cannot really determine a need that is similar to it. The solution I have come up with provides efficiency, connivence, and most importantly, safety.
Why: I would say yes, that the underlying cause of outsiders' need could differ from those inside the boundary because outsiders could be using the product in a way it was not designed to. People inside the boundary recognize the product for its utility because it transforms an experience that they are used to and enjoy.
Inside the Boundary Outside the Boundary
Who is in/is not boat owners and people familiar with people uninterested in
boats and water sports
water sport activities
What Need is/ not save time spent with friends and family while on If you don't mind messing
with tangled rope
the water
Why Need Exists/ Need exists because today's method is outdated
and comes with many possible problems
Alternative Ex.
Solving the Problem
8A. Solving the Problem
I have come up with a product that solves the problem many water sports enthusiasts often run into while out on the water. When beginning to water ski, wake board, wake surf, or tube behind a boat, the first step is taking out the rope, untangling it, and adjusting it to which activity you are going to do. Not only is it a hassle to untangle when beginning to ride, it is also dangerous when it tangles while in the water. When the rope becomes tangled while in the water, it sinks. This is very dangerous because it could easily get caught in your boats engine propeller and cause a lot of expensive damage. The product I have come up is a self deploying and self receiving device that hold the wakeboard rope in a compact circular structure to assure no tangles or knots occur. Simply press a button to release and retrieve the rope to adjust the length. Easily pull the rope in when the skier/ rider/ boarder is finished by the push of a button to ensure the rope does not get caught in propeller. You never have to worry about tying knots onto a cleat ever again because one side of the device universally fits every cleat so it is easily removable. To summarize, the product organizes, releases, and retrieves the rope used to tow water sports enthusiasts and aims to keep the vessel and everyone involved is safe.
I have come up with a product that solves the problem many water sports enthusiasts often run into while out on the water. When beginning to water ski, wake board, wake surf, or tube behind a boat, the first step is taking out the rope, untangling it, and adjusting it to which activity you are going to do. Not only is it a hassle to untangle when beginning to ride, it is also dangerous when it tangles while in the water. When the rope becomes tangled while in the water, it sinks. This is very dangerous because it could easily get caught in your boats engine propeller and cause a lot of expensive damage. The product I have come up is a self deploying and self receiving device that hold the wakeboard rope in a compact circular structure to assure no tangles or knots occur. Simply press a button to release and retrieve the rope to adjust the length. Easily pull the rope in when the skier/ rider/ boarder is finished by the push of a button to ensure the rope does not get caught in propeller. You never have to worry about tying knots onto a cleat ever again because one side of the device universally fits every cleat so it is easily removable. To summarize, the product organizes, releases, and retrieves the rope used to tow water sports enthusiasts and aims to keep the vessel and everyone involved is safe.
Testing the Hypothesis Part 1
1. The opportunity that I see is located in the outdoor activities/ water sports section of the market. The opportunity I see optimizes your time on the water, removes hassle and frustration, prevents damage to your engine propeller, and protects those engaged in the water sport.
2. Water sport enthusiasts around the world are unable to efficiently set up, adjust, and retrieve the ropes used to tow water-skiers, wake-boarders, and wake- surfers because the ropes are easily susceptible to tangling, sinking, and possibly damaging your engine propeller.
2. Water sport enthusiasts around the world are unable to efficiently set up, adjust, and retrieve the ropes used to tow water-skiers, wake-boarders, and wake- surfers because the ropes are easily susceptible to tangling, sinking, and possibly damaging your engine propeller.
- The who: boat owners and water sport enthusiasts
- The what: unable to easily set up, adjust, and retrieve the towing rope
- The why: to prevent hassle and frustration, eases responsibility of vessel's operator, and protects the vessel's engine and propeller.
3. Hypothesis
- Testing the who: I believe the opportunity could expand to have commercial application if proven to work effectively.
- Testing the what:
- Testing the why
4. Interviews - To gain insight on this product from a few different perspectives, I interviewed my roommates that are familiar with boating activities and I interviewed some of my roommates that are not experienced on the water at all. I figured this strategy would help me get some drastically opposite answers that I had not thought of yet.
5. Given your interviews, what do you know about the opportunity that you didn't know before?
After conducting the interviews, I predicted almost correctly which certain roommates were going to say. Anderson and Chris, who have grown up on the water understood the purpose and opportunity almost immediately but Avery and Grant understood the technology and product. Avery and Grant were unable to grasp the possible commercial application this product could have. Although being around hectic docks from restaurants and marinas, Anderson and Chris were able to see where this device could make arriving and departing from docks very easy.
After conducting the interviews, I predicted almost correctly which certain roommates were going to say. Anderson and Chris, who have grown up on the water understood the purpose and opportunity almost immediately but Avery and Grant understood the technology and product. Avery and Grant were unable to grasp the possible commercial application this product could have. Although being around hectic docks from restaurants and marinas, Anderson and Chris were able to see where this device could make arriving and departing from docks very easy.
Friday, September 1, 2017
Entrepreneurship Story
I can think of several school projects throughout my educational career that have related to entrepreneurship in some way but I am going to share more of a real and relevant story. Throughout my late years of high school and early years of college, I instructed and taught middle schoolers how to play lacrosse. I would take one player at a time or I would do group lessons. Each would have their own price per hour. I would sometimes go to the players house with my portable net or just meet them at the local park across the street. This was my first sense of entrepreneurism and I really enjoyed helping kids learn the great game that I love.
I enrolled in ENT3003 for many reasons but I honestly just wanted to learn more about the concept, considering it is so broad. I would like to know more about running your own company and what it takes. Im hoping to learn things of that nature in this class. I would also like to learn about the success rates of businesses and some of the key comments necessary to become profitable.
I enrolled in ENT3003 for many reasons but I honestly just wanted to learn more about the concept, considering it is so broad. I would like to know more about running your own company and what it takes. Im hoping to learn things of that nature in this class. I would also like to learn about the success rates of businesses and some of the key comments necessary to become profitable.
Bug List
1. The number one thing that bugs me to no end is the complaining of others. I cannot take it when people complain about their situation without taking any action to improve out for themselves. If you're not trying to better yourself, thats your own fault.
- I believe this bug exists because in today's society, many feel they are entitled to success or something of value. This stems from the parenting the person had and if they were ever taught to work for or earn something.
2. During lunch or dinner while all my roommates and I are eating, I've come to notice that only half of us know how to chew with our mouth closed and not smack our lips. This is something that is not only rude, but also something that bugs many people, including me.
- This behavior has a lot to do with the manners their parents taught them at a young age. This bug exists simply because they were never taught proper manners.
3. This may seem like a random bug but it is something that does bother me. During a thunder storm or rain shower in Florida, there are always several people that feel the need to put on their emergency flashers. Not only is this dangerous to other drivers, it is illegal.
- This bug exists because some people are not aware of the laws and rules you must follow while operating a motorized vehicle.
4. At 9:20 as everyone rushes to their class on Museum Rd, the traffic is almost unbearable.
- This bug exists because their is only a single road that runs east and west directly through campus, therefore you have an overflow of traffic.
5. Every other morning having to wash the pan if I want to be able to cook breakfast because one of my roommates is too lazy to clean it.
- This bug exists because some people are inconsiderate and don't clean up after themselves.
6. When the Chipotle line goes out the door so you can never get lunch at actual lunch time.
- This bug exists because Chipotle is a sought after destination in Gainesville and I am also very impatient.
7. The heavy traffic near my house during the summer because tourists come to visit and shop at the Sawgrass Mills Mall.
- This bug exists because Ft Lauderdale has one of the largest ports in the world and can accompany many cruise ships full of eager customers.
8. A product that I have had that has not seemed to work properly is ignition on my scooter.
- This bug exists because the scooter has ben used a lot and is beginning to show wear and tear.
9. While home for the summer, my brother never replaced the toilet paper roll after it was finished and I would get very aggravated from that for some reason.
- This bug exists simply because my brother is very lazy.
10. My roommate and I have used Uber eats a couple times the past two weeks and there has been a problem with every order we've placed.
- I'm not too sure why this bug exists or who is at fault for the mistakes. We were unsure if it is the Uber's fault or the restaurants fault.
11. A service that bugs me is the kiosk employees at the mall try and sell you their product when it no is it not even intended for you. I do not want to purchase moisturizing cream for women.
- This bug exists simply because that is what their boss needs them to do. Their job is to push a product to as many people as possible.
12. While grocery shopping looking at items that say no sugar added then looking at the nutrition fact and it says it has many grams of sugar.
- I guess there are different forms of sugar that legally allow companies to advertise their product in that manner.
13. During summer while at a beach resort with my grandparents there are more people int eh pool than on the beach.
- I think it could be that most people up North don't have pools so they look at it as more of a luxury rather than the sand and salt water.
14. Trips to the DMV always seem to be dredged because it usually it not a great experience .
- I believe this is because those employees usually are very secure with their jobs.
15. After a flight when every passenger feels the urge to stand up cause a jam in the middle of the plane while still having to wait 20 minutes to get off the plane. It would be much smoother if you stood up as your isle left the plane.
- People are concerned about themselves before others most of the time.
16. Getting random calls all the time about fake or phony products.
- People will always scheme and try and trick you.
17. While in line at restaurants or other public places, some people tend to be rude to employees.
- Again, some people believe that their life is more important than yours.
18. At the golf course, when people don't fix their divots after hitting a shot from the tee box or fairway.
- It could affect other peoples shot and it is proper etiquette to care for the course.
19. When roommate leaves sweaty and stinky shoes in hallway for everyone else to smell.
- People think that their own body odors tend to not smell.
20. Last thing that bothers me is cocky or overly confident people. Humility is my favorite trait in anyone.
- I believe it all has to with how they were raised.
- I believe this bug exists because in today's society, many feel they are entitled to success or something of value. This stems from the parenting the person had and if they were ever taught to work for or earn something.
2. During lunch or dinner while all my roommates and I are eating, I've come to notice that only half of us know how to chew with our mouth closed and not smack our lips. This is something that is not only rude, but also something that bugs many people, including me.
- This behavior has a lot to do with the manners their parents taught them at a young age. This bug exists simply because they were never taught proper manners.
3. This may seem like a random bug but it is something that does bother me. During a thunder storm or rain shower in Florida, there are always several people that feel the need to put on their emergency flashers. Not only is this dangerous to other drivers, it is illegal.
- This bug exists because some people are not aware of the laws and rules you must follow while operating a motorized vehicle.
4. At 9:20 as everyone rushes to their class on Museum Rd, the traffic is almost unbearable.
- This bug exists because their is only a single road that runs east and west directly through campus, therefore you have an overflow of traffic.
5. Every other morning having to wash the pan if I want to be able to cook breakfast because one of my roommates is too lazy to clean it.
- This bug exists because some people are inconsiderate and don't clean up after themselves.
6. When the Chipotle line goes out the door so you can never get lunch at actual lunch time.
- This bug exists because Chipotle is a sought after destination in Gainesville and I am also very impatient.
7. The heavy traffic near my house during the summer because tourists come to visit and shop at the Sawgrass Mills Mall.
- This bug exists because Ft Lauderdale has one of the largest ports in the world and can accompany many cruise ships full of eager customers.
8. A product that I have had that has not seemed to work properly is ignition on my scooter.
- This bug exists because the scooter has ben used a lot and is beginning to show wear and tear.
9. While home for the summer, my brother never replaced the toilet paper roll after it was finished and I would get very aggravated from that for some reason.
- This bug exists simply because my brother is very lazy.
10. My roommate and I have used Uber eats a couple times the past two weeks and there has been a problem with every order we've placed.
- I'm not too sure why this bug exists or who is at fault for the mistakes. We were unsure if it is the Uber's fault or the restaurants fault.
11. A service that bugs me is the kiosk employees at the mall try and sell you their product when it no is it not even intended for you. I do not want to purchase moisturizing cream for women.
- This bug exists simply because that is what their boss needs them to do. Their job is to push a product to as many people as possible.
12. While grocery shopping looking at items that say no sugar added then looking at the nutrition fact and it says it has many grams of sugar.
- I guess there are different forms of sugar that legally allow companies to advertise their product in that manner.
13. During summer while at a beach resort with my grandparents there are more people int eh pool than on the beach.
- I think it could be that most people up North don't have pools so they look at it as more of a luxury rather than the sand and salt water.
14. Trips to the DMV always seem to be dredged because it usually it not a great experience .
- I believe this is because those employees usually are very secure with their jobs.
15. After a flight when every passenger feels the urge to stand up cause a jam in the middle of the plane while still having to wait 20 minutes to get off the plane. It would be much smoother if you stood up as your isle left the plane.
- People are concerned about themselves before others most of the time.
16. Getting random calls all the time about fake or phony products.
- People will always scheme and try and trick you.
17. While in line at restaurants or other public places, some people tend to be rude to employees.
- Again, some people believe that their life is more important than yours.
18. At the golf course, when people don't fix their divots after hitting a shot from the tee box or fairway.
- It could affect other peoples shot and it is proper etiquette to care for the course.
19. When roommate leaves sweaty and stinky shoes in hallway for everyone else to smell.
- People think that their own body odors tend to not smell.
20. Last thing that bothers me is cocky or overly confident people. Humility is my favorite trait in anyone.
- I believe it all has to with how they were raised.
Friday, August 25, 2017
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