Final Reflection

1. After reviewing all of the assignments from this semester, I think my most formative experience was the elevator pitch. I have always disliked giving speeches, especially in front of people. However, having the ability to record myself from the comfort of my home and redo the pitch as many times as needed made it a much more bearable experience. It was also an incredibly helpful experience because practice makes perfect! One of the most enjoyable experiences for me was the exercise on figuring out buyer behavior. I loved getting into the mind of the buyer. It provided very valuable knowledge and insight into my product and into any future ideas.
   
2. Now that I have reflection on my experiences this semester, I do believe I have developed an entrepreneurial mindset. I find it easier to identify problems that don't have solutions and to create a solution to said problem. I also see myself as more of an entrepreneur. I mostly think this is because I have essentially gone through the steps of creating a business. I have put a lot of work into a product and followed it step by step. This, more than anything, is what makes me see myself as a entrepreneur.
   
3. For future students joining ENT 3003, I would recommend that they plan. Planning is key to success in this course. It is important to keep track of your assignments and due dates. It is also incredibly important to look ahead. Some assignments require more forethought than others and doing the assignment the day of does not leave you with enough time. It can also be easy to lose track of assignments. I suggest keeping track of them on a calendar. However, I also recommend that they take the tie to really enjoy this class and foster a genuine business idea. 

Venture Concept No 2

1.  Opportunity
        The opportunity I decided to explore relates to the problem of
   telemarketers and robocallers. People constantly receive these useless calls and can easily get annoyed by them, especially if they tend to receive more than one a day. Currently, there is no program or no-call list that actually blocks these types of calls. My customers include both individuals and businesses. However, my prototypical customer will look like a forty year old male business owner or one who conducts a lot of business on the phone. My customer lives in the United States. At the moment, there is nothing that is satisfying my customers need so there is no loyalty for me to combat. This is a huge opportunity. The only limit on the time window is if another company is also trying to solve this problem.
   
   
2. Innovation
   
        My product is a program that uses an algorithm to block the fake numbers used by telemarketers and robocallers. It prevents these callers from continually calling individuals and using up their precious time. The original product will be launched in the form of an app that can be downloaded from any app store for a small one-time fee of $11.99. However, down the road, I also intend to develop the program so it can be used by businesses to block these unwanted calls. This program will most likely go through the business's service provider. It is perhaps even more essential for businesses because robocallers prevent businesses from answering the calls of their actual, paying, customers.
   
   
3.  Venture Concept
        My innovation offers a solution to the people who have to deal with telemarketers on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Since there is no product in the market that accomplished what mine does, there will be no 'switching' cost for my customers. I also have no competitors, except for the on-line 'no-call' lists. However, none of my competitors target my target audience. All of my business will be done online, so there are no packaging, distribution, or business location roles in my business. However, customer support and satisfaction do play a major role in my business. And, since this is an app, I most likely would not have many employees. I would most likely have an employee to manage the coding of the app and maybe one or two (and myself) who handle the customer support part of the business. However, if the business grows, then I will indeed add more employees.
   
   
   
4. Minor Elements

1. 'Secret Sauce'
        My most important resource is my network. While other companies can create their own networks, it would be incredibly difficult for them to copy mine. Their inability to imitate my network makes it rare and extremely valuable to me as a start-up business.
2. Next Venture
        My current venture focuses on individuals. The program is developed in the form of an app which makes it easy for individuals to access. However, the app makes it impossible for businesses to use the program. So, my next step would be to develop a program so that service providers can implement it. This way, businesses will have access to my robocall blocker program.
3. The Future
        As an entrepreneur, in five years I hope to be on to my next business. While my program is a great idea, I do not see it existing long term. Therefore, in five years, I hope to have another successful (long-term) business. In ten years, I also hope that my business is still thriving and I am able to live comfortably. Perhaps I will own more than one business? Only time will tell.
   
   
5. Feedback
        On my last venture concept, I received only one student comment. She suggested that I avoid actually mentioning my product in the 'opportunity' portion of my concept. She also suggested that i include a few visuals to make my concept is more clear for my audience.
   
   
6. Changes
        I found the feedback I received very helpful and followed her suggested changes. I removed any mentions of my product from the 'opportunity' section and added visuals to the concept. 

Reading Reflection No 3

Book: How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big, Scott Adams

1) The general theme of this book is essentially summed up in its title. In this book, Adams describes how to go from loss to loss, but still win big. He offers three main lessons: build your life around systems, not goals; find a job where you are most comfortable taking risks, and use space and time to manage your energy. Adams suggests systems are better because systems leave room for you to adjust your plans and make timing irrelevant. He also claims that the best job is one you are comfortable taking risks in. In his last lesson, he suggests to look at your energy levels through your activity, space and time. Overall, Adams concludes that failure does not mean you can't win.

2) This book definitely connects to what we have learned this semester in ENT 3003. This book discusses how failure is not the end of the world. Failure is just another step; it is a part of learning. This is a message that has been reflected in our lectures. It also relates to another of our blog posts this week. Everyone has to deal with failure at some point, especially in the business world.

3) If I had to design an exercise based on this book, I would have the class do an analysis of their lives based on these three lessons. 1) Design a system to establish in your day to day life. 2) Identify a couple of area that you are comfortable taking risks in. 3) Analyze your energy levels for activities, space and time. For example, what activities do you find exciting? Draining?

4) The most surprising moment for me was when Adams claimed systems are better than goals. I have always heard that it is important to set goals. However, Adams claims that goals have two problems: they are in the future and they are too specific. He prefers systems because they allow you to remain flexible.

Your Exit Strategy

1) For my business, my exit strategy is to sell my business within a few years for a high return. More than likely, I won't stay with this business for more than five years. My plan is to develop my product, and then sell the rights to it once it has reached its peak. Considering the industry, I do not think my product has a long product cycle, because of this, I think my exit strategy is apt.

2) I chose this particular exit strategy because I do not see this as a long term plan for me. I see it more as a product that you develop and then sell. It is not something that I could see myself building upon because there is only so much that you can do with a product like mine. I do not think this product alone is something that could sustain me for years to come. 

3) I think my exit strategy has influenced how I see my business. I see my business as more of a 'temporary' establishment rather than a permanent one. It has also affected how I plan to sell my product to businesses. Since there is no way to have businesses purchase this program like individuals do, I had planned on selling it to service providers. This would most likely lead to my exit strategy.

Celebrating Failure

1) This past semester, I have had a heavy load as far as classes are concerned. I have handled the majority of my classes well except for Business Finance. On the second exam, I had a really difficult time. I studied for days but could not seem to quite understand the material. No matter how much I studied, I got most of the practice questions wrong. Suffice to say, when the test came around, I did not do my best.

2) Even though I did not do well on that test, I did better than I would have if I did not study. After this, I learned that perseverance is and key, but no one is perfect. Mistakes do happen and no one can understand everything all the time. We all have limits, no matter how much work we put it. However, this should not stop us from putting in work to improve ourselves.

3) I think I handle failure well. As I said, no one is perfect so everyone is bound to make a mistake at some point. I don't beat myself up for failing. I simply 'get back on the horse' and try again. I believe that it is important to not let failure stop you from chasing after your goals and dreams. If everyone stopped chasing their goals every time they failed, then nothing would ever be accomplished. However, after taking this class, I am more willing to take risks because failure is just one step on the road to success. 

What's Next?

1.  Existing Market
1.      The next step in my venture, after developing the app that individuals can use, is to get the program to businesses. The most likely way to accomplish that is to sell my program to service providers.
   
2. Customer 1:
        She likes my idea. She suggests that my next step be to sell to other businesses, such as ones who use phones that can't download apps.
   
   Customer 2:
        He thinks my idea has a lot of merit. He thinks my next step should be to customize my program. For example, instead of just blocking telemarketers and robocallers, the program could let people customize whom they block.
   
   Customer 3:
        Much like Customer 1, he thinks my next step should be to sell my program to businesses.
   
3.      The most logical next step for me is to sell my program to other businesses. To go from selling to individuals to businesses is a logical and progressive step. However, it would require me to change the product. Now, instead of an app, I would have to sell the actual program to service providers to that businesses could access it.
   
        To go from individuals to selling to service providers would significantly alter my customer profile and affect the price at which I sell it. There would be a lot of logistics that I would have to iron out. However, I do think that is the best 'next step'.
   
2.  New Market
1.      Now, I will be in a B2B market selling to phone service providers.
   
2.      This would create value for this market, because businesses would now be able to block the wasteful phone calls of telemarketers and robots. This saves them time and allows them to answer the phone calls of their actual paying customers.
   
3. Customer 1: 36 year old business owner
        She really likes my idea and would certainly purchase it if given the option. She thinks that going through the business's service provider is the best way to accomplish this. It would make it easier for everyone involved, especially for businesses since there isn't much they would have to do in order to get the program.
   
   Customer 2: 55 year old business owner
        He also likes my product idea and wishes that it was something that already existed because he would certainly use it. He agrees with my plan and thinks the best course of action is to sell to the service provider so businesses can then purchase the program.
   
4.      This new market is much larger and definitely more complex than my original market. However, I think it also offers more opportunity as well. My assumption that businesses would want this product does appear correct, because both interviewees would use it. After looking more deeply into this market, I do think that it is as attractive as my market. Although, I also think this market is probably less simple than my last market.  

Venture Concept No 1

1.  Opportunity
        The opportunity I decided to explore relates to the problem of telemarketers and robocallers. People constantly receive these useless calls and can easily get annoyed by them, especially if they tend to receive more than one a day. Since there is no program or no-call list that actually blocks these types of calls, I decided to create a program that will. My customers include both individuals and businesses. However, my prototypical customer will look like a forty year old male business owner or one who conducts a lot of business on the phone. My customer lives in the United States. Currently, there is nothing that is satisfying my customers need so there is no loyalty for me to combat. This is a huge opportunity. The only limit on the time window is if another company is also trying to solve this problem.
   
   
2.  Innovation
        My product is a program that uses an algorithm to block the fake numbers used by telemarketers and robocallers. It prevents these callers from continually calling individuals and using up their precious time. The original product will be launched in the form of an app that can be downloaded from any app store for a small one-time fee of $11.99. However, down the road, I also intend to develop the program so it can be used by businesses to block these unwanted calls. This program will most likely go through the business's service provider. It is perhaps even more essential for businesses because robocallers prevent businesses from answering the calls of their actual, paying, customers.
   
   
3.  Venture Concept
   
        My innovation offers a solution to the people who have to deal with telemarketers on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Since there is no product in the market that accomplished what mine does, there will be no 'switching' cost for my customers. I also have no competitors, except for the on-line 'no-call' lists. However, none of my competitors target my target audience. All of my business will be done online, so there are no packaging, distribution, or business location roles in my business. However, customer support and satisfaction do play a major role in my business. And, since this is an app, I most likely would not have many employees. I would most likely have an employee to manage the coding of the app and maybe one or two (and myself) who handle the customer support part of the business. However, if the business grows, then I will indeed add more employees.
   
   
   
4. Minor Elements
1. 'Secret Sauce'
        My most important resource is my network. While other companies can create their own networks, it would be incredibly difficult for them to copy mine. Their inability to imitate my network makes it rare and extremely valuable to me as a start-up business.
   
2. Next Venture
        My current venture focuses on individuals. The program is developed in the form of an app which makes it easy for individuals to access. However, the app makes it impossible for businesses to use the program. So, my next step would be to develop a program so that service providers can implement it. This way, businesses will have access to my robocall blocker program.
   
3. The Future
        As an entrepreneur, in five years I hope to be on to my next business. While my program is a great idea, I do not see it existing long term. Therefore, in five years, I hope to have another successful (long-term) business. In ten years, I also hope that my business is still thriving and I am able to live comfortably. Perhaps I will own more than one business? Only time will tell. 

Your Venture's Unfair Advantage

1.  Human Capital: Knowledge of business      
1.  Valuable: I already have experience with business, so it isn't something that I have to stop and learn before I can continue this start-up.
2.  Rare: This is not particularly rare since many people have business knowledge. 
3.  Inimitable: It can be duplicated. 
4.  Non-substitutable: However, there is not really a substitute for knowledge.
   
2.   Social Capital: Wide network of knowledgable people
1.  Valuable: Having a network is very valuable
2.  Rare: While it isn't rare to have a network, the combination of people that are in my network make it rare because there's a small chance of someone replicating my exact network of people.
3.  Inimitable: Even though other people can know the people I know, there is a small chance they will be able to 
4.  Non-substitutable: It is difficult to substitute a network.
   
3. Human Capital: A deep understanding of my own product and how it works
1. Valuable: It is incredibly important to understand your own product. Then, you are able to adapt to the market more easily. 
2. Rare: It isn't rare, but takes time to fully understand a product.
3. Inimitable: It can be imitated, but, again, that takes time.
4. Non-substitutable: There is no substitute for understanding your product.
   
4. Capability: Critical thinking
1. Valuable: Critical thinking is extremely valuable because it's important to be able to think on your feet and solve problems quickly. 
2. Rare: The skill itself is not rare, but this particular critical thinking process is unique to me. 
3. Inimitable: Plenty of people have critical thinking skills. However, not all critical thinking processes are equal. 
4. Non-substitutable: There is not really a substitute for critical thinking or problem solving. It is an important skill to have as a business owner.
   
5. Capability: Strong work ethic
1. Valuable: It is valuable to be willing to work hard to accomplish what you want because it sets you apart from those who won't work.
2. Rare: A strong work ethic is not rare because it is a capability that many people have. However, it is unique to every person.
3. Inimitable: Many people have a strong work ethic so any firm could have it.
4. Non-substitutable: A strong work ethic is not a necessary skill to succeed, although, it does help. There are substitutes for it. 
   
6.  Capability: Interpersonal skills
1.  Valuable: In a world where customer service is highly valued, it is very valuable to be able to work well with others. 
2.  Rare: Interpersonal skills are not rare, since may people work well with others. 
3.  Inimitable: Many people have this capability so it is indeed imitable. 
4.  Non-substitutable: There is not really a substitute for interpersonal skills. You either have it or don't.
   
7.  Capability: Communication
1. Valuable: It is very valuable to be an effective communicator. Otherwise, it is easy to create confusion and uncertainty.
2. Rare: It is not a rare skill.
3. Inimitable: It can easily replicated and learned.
4. Non-substitutable: There is no substitution for poor communication skills.
   
8.  Capability: Adaptability
1. Valuable: To be able to adapt quickly in a market that often changes is an important skill. 
2. Rare: Being able to adapt is not rare. 
3. Inimitable: Other companies can easily imitate this skill. 
4. Non-substitutable: There is no substitute for adaptability.
   
9.  Capability: Teamwork
1.  Valuable: Being able to work well with others is an important skill because it is close to impossible to try maintaining everything on your own.
2.  Rare: Working well in a team is not a rare skill.
3.  Inimitable: It is a skill that can be easily replicated and learned. 
4.  Non-substitutable: There isn't a substitute for being able to work well with others.
   
10.   Capability: Time Management
1.  Valuable: When running a business, time is limited and precious. It is important to be able to manage your time wisely. 
2.  Rare: Time management is not a rare skill. 
3.  Inimitable: Time management can easily be learned and imitated. 
4.  Non-substitutable: There is not substitute for this skill. 

     After conducting a VRIN analysis of all 10 of my resources, I have determined that my top resource is my network. A network that is specific to you is a rare resource and difficult for other companies to replicate. This makes it an incredibly valuable and important resource that needs to be cultivated. 

Elevator Pitch No 3

Pitch: https://youtu.be/xruQJdoaCHM

Reflection and Changes:
     For the most part, the feedback I received was positive on my last pitch. However, there was one suggestion to place the camera at eye level so I could into the camera more easily. As a result of this feedback, I did indeed lower my camera and tried to improve my eye contact with it. As far as the actual content of my pitch, I did not change much.

Reading Reflection No. 2

Book: Cognitive Surplus by Clay Shirky

1. What was the general theme or argument of the book?
        The general theme of Cognitive Surplus is that the development of new technology (i.e. the Internet and social media) has a huge effect on the lives of people. Through embracing these new developments, people are able to expand themselves, and therefore, their creativity. Shirky's book looks at how technology betters people by allowing them to share ideas and beliefs that would not be able to be shared without the Internet.
   
   
2. How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003?
        Both this book and ENT 3003 discuss the enrichment of people. ENT 3003 uses entrepreneurship to solve the problems of people. The book, discusses how technology helps people solve those problems (and learn more about said problems). Both discuss how to
   
   
3. If you had to design an exercise for this class, based on the book you read, what would that exercise involve?
        If I had to design an exercise for this class based on Cognitive Surplus it would be to find a couple of problems that were solved by new technology. This technology could include television, the computer, Internet, etc.
   
   
   
4. What was your biggest surprise or 'aha' moment when reading the book? In other words, what did you learn that differed most from your expectations?
        The biggest surprise I had when reading this book was actually at the very beginning of it. I wasn't expecting a small history lesson in an entrepreneurship book. I also had no idea about the gin craze in London in the 1720s. While I do enjoy history, I had never heard how popular gin became at that time. It was actually very interesting.
   
   
   

Growing Your Social Capital

1. I first contacted Josh L. He is the Senior Mobile App Developer at Core Mobile Apps. Core Mobile Apps is a company, located in many regions in Florida, that specializes in mobile app development, search engine optimization, and web design. Josh fulfills the slot of 'domain expert'. I found him through a basic Google search of app developers in Florida and contacted him through the company's website. Ideally, my exchange with him will give me more knowledge and background information on what I will need in order to develop the app required for my product. Including Josh in my network could be incredibly helpful, especially down the road if I do plan to take this a step further.
   
2. I next contacted Brad Rose at Rose Research. Rose Research is a market research company that conducts global market research as well as B2B market research. Brad Rose has conducted both quantitative and qualitative research at Rose Research for the past 20 years and fulfills the 'market expert' slot. I found him through a Google search that recommended Rose Research and contacted him through the website. Brad Rose could provide very insightful and helpful information regarding the uses and perhaps even the popularity of the product I am offering. Having Brad in my network would certainly provide me with quality information and the ability to further understand my market.
   
3. Finally, I contacted Olivier at Goverlan Reach. Goverlan Reach is a B2B company that offers remote IT support, systems management, IT management, and manage service providers. Goverlan Reach helps businesses by saving them time and working efficiently. Olivier fulfills the 'supplier' slot. I also found him through a Google search and contacted him though the website. Olivier could provide insight on selling a product from one business to another. Having him in my network could be very beneficial and allow me to understand the nuances of selling B2B. 

Reflect: This exercise has helped me develop 'networking' skills. Networking can be incredibly challenging, but with experience it can become a much less daunting task. This exercise was a good first step towards building my network. This experience was different from my past networking experiences because those were all face to face and not online.

Idea Napkin No. 2

1. You
   My name is Veronica Rosenbaum, and I am a business major at the University of Florida. My parents are entrepreneurs and have owned several businesses throughout the years. Because of this, I have grown up working with my family and learning a lot about the elements of business and customer service. As a result of my experience, I am adept at solving problems quickly and efficiently.
2. What are you offering to customers?
   I am offering customers a program that blocks unwanted and bothersome calls from telemarketers and robocallers. My program gives my customers the ability to stop relentless robocalls that use up precious time, especially for businesses or people who use their phones to conduct business. 
3. Who are you offering it to?
   I am offering this program to individuals and businesses. Anyone who uses a phone that receives robocalls or telemarketer calls is a potential customer. If an individual uses this program, they can download it in the form of an app onto their smartphone. However, if a business uses this program, they can use it through their service provider.
4. Why do they care?
   My potential customers care because, depending on how many of these calls they receive, the calls can quickly become irksome and inconvenient. This particularly occurs when it is a business who receives these calls. If they receive too many, it can begin to impede their ability to answer the calls of their customers.
5. What are your core competencies?
   One of my core competencies is my ability to problem solve. After watching my parents over the years solve problems on the fly, I have learned how to do the same. I am also flexible and can adapt easily to any situation. 

I do think these elements fit together nicely. It is important to be able to problem-solve and be flexible and adaptable when starting a business.

Feedback: I did not receive any critical feedback on my first idea napkin. The feedback I had received was all positive, but still very much appreciated. However, I did alter my idea napkin to be a specific as possible. 

Elevator Pitch No. 2

1) Pitch
https://youtu.be/j83hW9JBwcY

2) Reflection
I really appreciated the feedback I received on my pitch from last time. The positive criticism allowed me to expand upon my good points and to try to remain thorough in my explanation of my product and problem.

3) Changes
I did not change a lot of my pitch besides some information at the end. I did, however, try to slow down the delivery of my speech because I have a tendency to talk fast.

Create A Customer Avatar

My customer avatar would be a forty year old male business owner or one who conducts a lot of business on the phone. He most likely owns a nice vehicle, perhaps a truck or expensive car. He spends most of his time working and talking on the phone.  He is typically always busy so he doesn't do much in his spare time besides relax and watch some television. He most likely tends to watch the sports channel. He also has a Facebook account and is always scrolling through it, He goes out with old friends as much as he can so they stay in touch. He also has children who are most likely in middle school. Because he is always working, his body feels older than 40, but his mind does not think that he is 40. He does not read much unless it is something required for work.

I do have a little bit in common with my avatar: I am also constantly busy. I am either doing school work or working so I do not have time for much else. However, my avatar has the most in common with my dad since it is loosely based on him. He is also a business owner who works through his phone a lot and is constantly busy. I do not think this is a coincidence because we always draw from our knowledge and experiences. We cannot create something out of thin air, because the idea has to originate from somewhere.

Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No.2

Interview 1: 22 year old female

• She would certainly use my program because she receives many robocalls. 
• When choosing from a set of alternatives, her main concern is price. After she determines which price range she prefers, she then considers quality. 
• She prefers shopping online because it is much easier, especially through online retailers like Amazon who ship items quickly. She typically pays with her bank card because she rarely carries cash. 
• When she evaluates her purchase, she thinks about whether or not the product accomplished what she needed or wanted. If it did so, it was a good purchase. 

Interview 2: 35 year old male

• He also would use this program. 
• His main criteria for selecting a product is quality. After considering the quality, he then considers the price. 
• He often does not do much shopping, his wife does most of it, but when he does, he prefers online. If goes to stores in person, he pays with cash. 
• To evaluate his purchases, he thinks about whether the product actually worked. If it worked and did what it claimed it would do, then he considers it a good purchase. 

Interview 3: 52 year old female

• She receives many robocalls and would purchase this product. 
• Her only criteria for purchasing products is the quality of the product. She rarely considers price unless the product is very expensive. 
• She does as much shopping as she can online because she prefers that to going to crowded stores. Although, when she does go to physical stores, she typically pays with cash. 
• She evaluates her purchases on how well she believes a product did what she thought it was supposed to do. If the product succeeded in its purpose, then it was a successful purchase. However, if the product did not do what it was supposed to, then the purchase was not a good one. 

Conclusion: Overall, Buyers in this segment prefer shopping online. Two out of three of my interviews used quality as their main criteria, however price is also considered. The buyers in this segment typically evaluate their purchase based on how well the product fulfills its expected purpose.  

Reading Reflection No. 1

1. I read Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance
1. I was most surprised by the shyness and awkwardness Elon Musk seemed to present when meeting people for the first time. Sometimes, when we only see rich entrepreneurs in the headlines, we forget that they are just people. There is nothing supernatural about them. It was nice to be reminded of that fact. 
2. I most admire Musk's dream. While I do think his dream is fantastical and perhaps not entirely realistic, I admire that he continues to pursue it despite the naysayers.
3. I least admire his inability to focus on his personal life (i.e. family and loved ones). Admittedly, Musk is a busy man and he does try to carve out time for them, however, family has always been incredibly important to me and would be my top priority and that does not seem to be the case with Musk. 
4. Musk has definitely dealt with adversity and failure throughout his career. In fact, he currently faces both with Tesla and SpaceX. Many people believe he will not succeed, and currently, both of his projects are not very prosperous or successful. 
   
2. As an entrepreneur, Musk is very persistent and tenacious. He is constantly striving to improve and challenge himself, his company, and his employees. Musk puts a lot of work in company with the belief that he will not only succeed, but thrive. Despite the challenges he faces in these industries, Musk has yet to give up. 
   
3.  I am slightly confused on how exactly Elon Musk managed to make it from South Africa to America. It is hard to tell from the book whether or not Musk grew up wealthy. If he did, then it makes sense how he got to America. However, if he did not grow up wealthy, then how was he able to make it here?
   
4. I would ask Musk how he was able to educate himself in an industry in which he had no experience in. I would also ask him how he overcomes all the people who don't believe in his dream and his ideas.
   
5. After reading this novel, I would assume that Musk believes in hard work. He would most believe that without hard work, nothing would get done, and I completely agree with that. 

Halfway Reflection

1. In order to keep up in this course, I have had to focus on and develop my organizational skills. When keeping up with the various assignments and cupcakes, it is important to ensure that each part of the assignment is submitted, otherwise you can easily lose precious points. I have also had to work on my problem-solving and critical thinking skills through the various assignments that require such skills. Communication is also very important in this class. It is important to be able to communicate your ideas both written and oral.
   
2. A few weeks ago, I had 3 exams within the span of a few days. I toggled between studying for those exams and completing assignments for my classes. At that point, I became incredibly stressed, unsure which of my classes to focus on. I also fell behind on a couple of my lectures which made it difficult to complete my assignments. It was a very trying week, but instead of giving up, I just worked twice as hard to study and finish my assignments. I do think I have developed a more tenacious attitude in the past couple months.
   
3. The first suggestion I would make to a student for next semester is to stay organized. I recommend using a calendar to keep track of assignments and due dates as well as lectures. For me, organization has been key to keeping up in this course. My second suggestion is to look at the assignments ahead of time because many of them require forethought. For example, the assignments that require interview, reading, or video pitches. Oftentimes, you can not wait till the last minute to complete an assignment. My third and final suggestion is to just keep working no matter how stressed you become, because in the long run, you will be better for it.
   

Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 1

Segment: Business Owners 30-50

Interview 1: 45 year old female business owner
She is very aware of this need in both her personal life and in her business. On her personal phone, she receives 1 to 2 robocalls a day. Her business receives around 5 robocalls a day. She does not receive these calls early in the morning or late at night. However, other than that, the calls are spread throughout the day with no discernible pattern. Because she receives these calls on her cell phone, they occur no matter where she is. When she became aware of this need, she looked for solutions online. She searched "ways to keep robocallers from calling you" and "do no-call lists work". She just wanted to find any way to prevent these calls. She also talked to family and friends to see what they did.

Interview 2: 50 year old male business owner
He is aware of this need in his life. He receives multiple robocalls everyday. He estimates that it occurs between 4 to 6 times a day. He receives these calls throughout the day. The calls do not occur at any certain time. When he became aware of this problem, he initially asked friends and family how they handled it. When their solution did not work, he searched online. He searched "how to stop robocalls", "government no-call lists", and "can you block robocallers".

Interview 3: 37 year old male business owner
He is also aware of this need, especially since he uses his phone for business related work. He has received an upwards of 9 calls a day, but it typically averages out to around 5 to 6 calls a day. He similarly receives robocalls throughout the day. Once he reached his limit of robocallers, he researched online about how to stop their calls. He researched no-call lists and blocking telemarketers. He did not ask any family or friends about it.

Conclusion: After conducting these interviews, I have determined that this segment has a very high need awareness. For the most part, the information search is done online with the occasional conversation with family and friends about the need.

Idea Napkin No. 1

1. You
   My name is Veronica Rosenbaum, and I am a business major at the University of Florida. My parents are entrepreneurs and have owned several businesses throughout the years. Because of this, I have grown up working with my family and learning a lot about the elements of business and customer service. As a result of my experience, I am adept at solving problems quickly and efficiently.
     
2. What are you offering to customers?
   I am offering customers the chance to block unwanted and bothersome calls from telemarketers and robocallers. My program gives my customers the ability to stop relentless callers that use up precious time, especially for businesses. 
3. Who are you offering it to?
   I am offering this program to individuals and businesses. Anyone who uses a phone that receives robocalls or telemarketer calls is a potential customer. If an individual uses this program, they can download it in the form of an app onto their smartphone. However, if a business uses this program, they can use it through their service provider.
4. Why do they care?
   My potential customers care because, depending on how many of these calls they receive, the calls can quickly become irksome and inconvenient. This particularly occurs when it is a business who receives these calls. If they receive too many, it can begin to impede their ability to answer the calls of their customers.
5. What are your core competencies?
   One of my core competencies is my ability to problem solve. After watching my parents over the years solve problems on the fly, I have learned how to do the same. I am also flexible and can adapt easily to any situation. 

I do think these elements fit together nicely. It is important to be able to problem-solve and be flexible and adaptable when creating a business.

Elevator Pitch 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWsKP9JiZVw&feature=youtu.be

I appreciate any and all feedback.

Testing the Hypothesis Part 2

Interviews:

1. 20 year old female Undergraduate student
   -She very rarely receives robocalls or calls from telemarketers.
   -She has received only one or two of these calls.
   -She is not on her phone often and rarely uses her phone number on subscriptions.
   -She does not have a problem with robocalls, so she would not need this product.
   
2. 45 year old male business owner
   -He is on his phone very often to conduct business calls.
   -He only only receives a call from a telemarketer once every few months.
   -These calls do not bother him because he receives very few.
   -He doesn't have a need for this product because he isn't overly bothered by the calls.
   
3. 30 year old mother of two
   - She uses her phone daily, but doesn't spend a lot of time on it.
   -She has received only a hand-full of robocalls.
   -She doesn't use her number to sign up for any newsletters or subscriptions.
   -While getting these calls do irritate her, she doesn't receive enough calls to warrant getting this product.
   
4. 24 year old male Graduate student
   -He is on his phone a lot for both school and work.
   -He only receives robocalls once every 4 to 5 months.
   -He is not irritated by these calls because they do not occur very often.
   -He most likely would not use this product.
   
5. 50 year old female business owner
   -She uses her phone very often for both business and personal use.
   -She receives a call from a telemarketer once every couple of months.
   -She gets mildly irritated by these calls.
   -She most likely wouldn't use this product unless she started getting more robocalls.

Inside the Boundary	Outside the Boundary
People who receive calls from telemarketers and robocalls.	By looking solely at my interviews, people outside of the boundary seem to mostly be made up of people who do not use their phone number on subscriptions.
They have a need for a program that blocks calls from telemarketers.	They do not have a need for this program because they don't receive many robocalls.
This need exists because of the constant bombardment of telemarketers.	This need does not exist because these people rarely receive calls from telemarketers.

Solving the Problem

     My opportunity is blocking calls received from telemarketers and robots. These calls are a nuisance, and when someone receives too many, can also use up precious time. In regards to businesses, it can hinder a business's ability to answer their customers in a timely manner because they are too busy dealing with telemarketers.

     The solution I am offering is to create a program that blocks calls from fake numbers. For smartphones, this could be in the form of an app that uses an algorithm to block these calls. For business phone lines, it could be provided through the service carrier. They could have a program in their system that blocks your phone number from being called. Another option is to have both personal smartphones and business lines use the program through their carrier. This would make it much simpler for the customer to use/have the product because there is no work on their part.

Testing the Hypothesis Part 1

Thesis:
People who own a cell phone can be bombarded by phone calls from telemarketers and robots day and night because there is not a program to block these calls,

Testing the who:
My who is anyone who owns a cell phone. Although, it isn't limited to just individuals. Businesses can also receive these calls. However, not everyone in this who may share this need for a blocking program. There may be some people who don't receive these calls, or receive too few for it to matter to them.

Testing the what:
Each phone call received is useless and uses time out of one's day. The more phone calls someone receives from a telemarketer, the more time they have wasted.

Testing the why:
Is it because they run a business and phone calls from telemarketers keep them from answering the phone for a client? Is it because they receive a ridiculous amount of calls in one day?

Interview Summary:
After interviewing 5 different people, I came to the conclusion that they all shared this need for a program to block calls from telemarketers. They each had their own cell phone and one had a business phone. However, the why varied between each of them. Two had businesses that received call from telemarketers. They were each frustrated by the number of calls they receiver, but it sometimes stops them from answering an actual customer's call. The other three each received multiple calls a week and were frustrated with being bothered by the calls. These interviews did not bring forward anything new that I did not already know.

Identifying Opportunities in Economic & Regulatory Trends

1. According to The Balance, one economic trend is that health care occupations account for 18 of the 30 fastest growing occupations. One reason for this is because of America's aging population. This information suggests that there is an opportunity in the health care field, whether its developing new medical treatments or even developing new/better medical insurance policies. The prototypical customer for this opportunity is anyone who needs health care services, however, that is primarily made up of older people. This opportunity could be both difficult and simple to take advantage of. First, it means there is a higher demand for medical personnel and it isn't overly difficult to become an RN. However, if one were to take advantage of this opportunity by developing a new medical treatment, it would be far more difficult and require extensive medical knowledge. 
   
2. Another economic trend, according to The Balance, is that Baby Boomers are not retiring. This means, Baby Boomers are not leaving the job market so Millennials are forced use technology to create new jobs or working several part-time jobs. This results in the opportunity to develop a service that helps the younger generation develop skills to make them more attraction in the job market. The prototypical customer would most likely be people in or recently out of college. It could also include anyone looking to build their skills for a new career. This opportunity seems simple on the surface but would require quite a bit of work.
   
3.  One recent regulatory change includes the recent trade deal with China, in which China agreed to increase their purchases from American farmers. In the deal, Trump also agree to cut tariffs on products imported from China. This creates an opportunity for farmers to bounce back and sell their goods.
   
4. Another regulatory change is the ban on plastic straws. Bans on these straws are becoming more widespread, as we see here in Gainesville. However, this results in the use of paper straws which are often disliked. This creates an opportunity for people to create and sell reusable straws. 

I saw these opportunities because I always try to stay up to date on news and be aware of what is going on around me.

Identifying Local Opportunities

1). Leaked report shows United Nations suffered hack

• Multiple servers at the United Nation's offices in both Vienna and Geneva were hacked. According to a U.N. official, the hack was very sophisticated and perhaps state-sponsored. One of the U.N. offices that was breached was the human rights office; however, nothing confidential was obtained. A report showed that 22 servers were compromised. This hack comes amidst rising concerns about phone and computer vulnerabilities. 
• The problem presented in this article is the vulnerabilities in technology. Everything is susceptible to being hacked. This means your personal information is at risk. 
• Everyone has this problem. Governments, corporations, small businesses, and individuals are all susceptible to being hacked. 
• https://www.gainesville.com/zz/news/20200129/leaked-report-shows-united-nations-suffered-hack/1

2). Airlines suspend China flights, cut services on virus fears

• Multiple airlines, including British Airways, Seoul Air, and Lion Air are halting flights to and from China in fear of the new coronavirus. Many other airlines are significantly reducing the number flights to and from China, even canceling flights for February. China itself has cut off access to its central city, Wuhan, which is the epicenter of the outbreak. China has also closed off 16 other cities, not allowing anyone to enter or leave.
• The problem presented in this article is the spreading epidemic of the coronavirus and its resulting effect on airlines. 
• Airline companies and passengers who had flights booked to and from China are experiencing this problem. 
• https://www.jacksonville.com/ZZ/news/20200129/airlines-suspend-china-flights-cut-services-on-virus-fears

3). Gaming arcades have 30-day deadline to vacate Nassau County after commission vote

• The Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to shut down gaming arcades in Nassau County after a the number of gaming parlors have doubled in recent months and crime has increased. According to Sheriff Bill Leeper, violent crimes at simulated gambling establishments has significantly increased, especially as the number of parlors has increased. The new ordinance prohibits these simulated gambling places defining them as a "public nuisance and noxious us."  These arcades will have to leave within 30 days. 
• The problem presented in this article is the rise of crime as a result of the increase in adult gaming arcades.
• The police, adult gambling arcade owners and customers, and citizens of Nassau County are all effected by this decision. 
• https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20200128/gaming-arcades-have-30-day-deadline-to-vacate-nassau-county-after-commission-vote

4). Dumpsters at Arlington condo complex not emptied for weeks

•  Trash along Arlington Expressway and at Les Chateau Condominiums continues to pile up despite the numerous complaints filed by residents at the condominium. Trash hasn't been picked up in six weeks. According to the trash service, their trucks are broken, however, no other comment was offered. 
• The problem is the lack of trash service here and the resulting pile up of trash at various homes. 
• The tenants of the condominiums and anyone else not receiving trash service all have to deal with this problem.
• https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2020/01/29/dumpsters-at-arlington-condo-complex-not-emptied-for-weeks/

5). Tracking Coronavirus: John Hopkins maps outbreak

• John Hopkins has created an online dashboard that tracks the worldwide spread of the coronavirus outbreak that is continually being updated. The map displays statistics about deaths and confirmed cases of coronavirus. Data is being collected from the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with a couple other establishments in China. 
• The problem addressed in the article is the need for easily accessed real-time information on the coronavirus outbreak.
• Currently, the people in China are the main people affected by this problem. However, the coronavirus is a problem faced by the whole world as other countries are discovering cases of coronavirus in their own backyard. 
• https://www.news4jax.com/features/2020/01/29/tracking-coronavirus-johns-hopkins-maps-outbreak/

Forming an Opportunity Belief

1). I have a belief that there is an opportunity to create a phone program that blocks telemarketers from using phony numbers to bombard you with phone calls.

2). Currently, there are no completely effective programs that stop robocalls or calls from telemarketers. The unmet need is the need for privacy and to avoid the pestering of telemarketers. Everyone that has a phone that receives calls from telemarketers and robocalls has this need. This need is not new and has existed for some time. Currently, there are several different but unsuccessful no-call lists. However, there is nothing that successfully prevents these phone calls. I am very certain this opportunity exists.

3). The prototypical customer includes everyone who has a phone.

4). Customer Number 1
He was not very aware of the need. He only receives robocalls around once a month so he has not been bombarded by telemarketers. He began receiving robocalls shortly after he got a new phone number.  He isn't currently addressing his robocall problem because it didn't occur often enough for him to be bothered by it. Now that he has considered robocalls, he would use the program, but it isn't something he would go out of his way to use.

5). Customer Number 2
He was very aware of the need. He receives calls from telemarketers and robocalls multiple times a day. He uses his phone for work so the robocalls are a major nuisance in his life. He has gotten robocalls for the past few years occurring at an increasing volume. He has tried several different no-call lists which seems to result in more calls from telemarketers. He would absolutely love a program that stops calls from telemarketers.

6). Customer Number 3
She was also aware of the need. She receives three to four robocalls a week. She has received calls from telemarketers for the last few years, similar to Customer Number 2. She has also tried a no-call list or two, but neither of them worked. She says she would definitely use this program. While she doesn't receive too many calls, she receives enough to be annoyed by them.

7). I learned that my opportunity does exist. However, I was surprised that it is not as prominent as I thought it would be.

8). My opportunity still exists. However, I am now aware that all people are not plagued by the same amount of telemarketer calls. Some people receive very few calls, while others are bombarded by calls. The amount of calls they receive will determine how willing they are to use the blocker program. I definitely think entrepreneurs should be able to adapt their plans. I think it's important to be able to adapt to a changing market. 

My Entrepreneurship Story

     I have been surrounded by entrepreneurship ever since I can remember. My dad is what you could call a 'serial entrepreneur'. Over the years, he has owned several different businesses from running a tow truck company in south Florida to owning a gas station to owning a land clearing business to owning a pawn shop and most recently, owning a used car lot. My dad has always had a knack for starting a business right when the need for a service reaches a peak. When I was younger, I wanted to be just like my dad. I used to start my own little 'businesses'. For example, I sold candies in elementary school. I used kits to make and (try to) sell perfumes, as well as, other arts and crafts. Although none of my ventures were very successful, my dad would pat me on the back anyway.

      I enrolled in this course because I was curious about what an entrepreneurship course would entail. I wanted to learn as much as I could about entrepreneurship. I have always known that I want to own/run my own business. A 9-to-5 job is something that has never appealed to me, no matter how much more work owning a business requires. Perhaps it's the independence that comes with having your own business that I desire. I would simply like to learn more about every aspect of creating and running a business. From marketing to the details in entrepreneurship to handling finances, I want to absorb as much as I can about business.

My Bug List

1. In the afternoon, my internet connection becomes incredibly slow and results in buffering videos.
        Why? This most likely occurs because my provider has a limited bandwidth, and during the afternoon, there is a larger number of people accessing the internet.
2. Large extension cords that create bumps under rugs and make it difficult to run from outside to inside because it will not fit between the door and the doorframe.
       Why? The extension cord is most likely designed this way because it might be difficult to contain enough power in a flatter cord.
3. The packaging on scissors that requires scissors in order to open it.
        Why? The tough outer packaging on scissors is most likely for safety reasons, however, there are other ways to package something safely without making it too difficult to open.
4. Amazon packages that contain a small product in a large shipping box filled with stuffing.
        Why? This most likely occurs because of inefficiency at Amazon warehouses. Shipping small items in large boxes is very wasteful on Amazon's part.
5. Public toilets that automatically flush before you are finished with your business. These toilets, while much cleaner than toilets with handles, still waste a lot of water.
       Why? This occurs because the sensors on these toilets are very sensitive and are supposed to pick up any movement.
6. Prices stickers that leave glue residue on products, especially on dishes and other products that you handle often.
       Why? These stickers are more common than the stickers that peel off easily. Sellers probably choose the 'stickier' stickers so the prices won't fall off.
7. USB and charging ports that collect dirt and grime because there isn't an easy way to clean the ports.
       Why? It's difficult to clean the ports because it's small and contain sensitive components.
8. The lack of pockets, or fake pockets, on women's jeans.
       Why? I am absolutely uncertain why this occurs. It might be for stylistic reasons.
9. Long check-out lines at the Walmart in Lake City because of the very few cashier lines open.
       Why? Walmart typically only has a few cashiers because they want customers to use the self-checkout lines. However, if you purchase an item in a security box, then self-checkout becomes more difficult.
10. No parking at the Publix on 13th Street and University Ave.
        Why? Because of its location, the parking is very limited and fills up quickly.
11. Lint roller that doesn't collect all of the lint.
        Why? The lint roller probably doesn't have enough 'glue' to collect some of the tougher lint pieces.
12. All of the various products that claim to cure acne, but don't actually work.
        Why? Products like Proactive that claim to clear up acne, but it only helps a limited number of people because acne is far more complicated than these products claim.
13. The button in the elevator to close the doors that never actually works.
        Why? It's possible this button is simply a placebo button because it never seems to actually close the elevator doors.
14. Various cleaning products that claim to 'eliminate pet odors', but only eliminate a fraction of the odor.
        Why? While some of these products do a better job, most don't offer much in the way of actually cleaning pet messes. Perhaps their formula isn't strong enough.
15. Paint brushes that drip paint everywhere, or the brush itself becomes more of a mess when you set it on the paint can.
       Why? Messiness is simply a factor of painting. No matter what you do when painting, the paint will always get everywhere.
16. Fast food bags that don't keep the heat so your food is cold by the time you are home.
        Why? Fast food bags are not made to keep in the heat. It is simply an inconvenience.
17. Pet towels that claim to dry your pets faster and better than regular towels, but actually don't.
       Why?  Pet towels do not dry pets any faster or better than regular towels.
18. The bit of toothpaste left in the tube that is impossible to get out.
       Why?  Because of the design of the tube, getting the last of the toothpaste is difficult to accomplish.
19. DVD players that buffer if there is even the tiniest scratch on the DVD.
       Why?  DVD players are very sensitive and most likely react to even the smallest blemishes.
20. TV remotes with so many buttons that don't seem to actually do anything, and in order to work, it has to be pointed just right at the TV.
       Why?  The buttons most likely have a use, however, not an important use since they seem to hardly ever be used.  And sometimes the remote has to be pointed just right, so it can actually connect to the TV. 

Reflection: Coming up with 20 items for this bug list was surprisingly difficult. I had originally assumed it would be simple, but I quickly began to run out of ideas. I really had to think about many of these beyond the few that came to mind right away.. 

Test Post

This is just my test post!