Friday, September 28, 2018
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Testing the Hypothesis Pt.2
In my previous posts, I have identified an opportunity for students in college who are needing to take out student loans. The opportunity lies in the fact that these students who are entering college without the money needed to pay for college, are blindly accepting the federal student loans that are offered to them without fully understanding the consequences of doing so and the effect that it will have on their lives for years to come. I previously conducted 5 interviews with students who fall under this opportunity category and would be a target market for my service. For this post, I found 5 more students who I originally thought might have this unmet need that I have identified, but turns out for some reason they do not.
Who: After these interviews, I learned that there are some people who have a lot in common with the students who have the unmet need that I identified, but do not fit the boundary. The overwhelming consensus that I found was that these students are very well aware of all the aspects of the student loans that they are taking out. Factors such as interest rates, subsidized vs. unsubsidized, and payback periods. These students that I talked to all were very well educated on the topic and consciously made the decision to accept the loans and attend the university.
What: For this particular need, it is important to understand and identify that not all students with student loan debt fit this need. Many students have made these decisions knowing full well the consequences so therefore do not need an advising service, rather need tuition assistance or loan forgiveness.
Why: I have already touched on it briefly, but through these interviews I found that the underlying cause for these "outsiders" needs is different. The cause for their need is that simply tuition is a lot of money, rather than they are uneducated about the entire process like those who fit the need for my service.
Inside the Boundary: Outside the Boundary:
WHO IS IN - Students of colleges and universities WHO IS NOT - Students who are
who are uneducated about the process/ very educated and aware of the
effects of student loans and their effect and process of student loans
alternatives WHAT THE NEED IS NOT -
WHAT THE NEED IS - Assistance and advising Tuition assistance and support
with the student loan process. ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATION
WHY THE NEED EXISTS - Lack of education and Perhaps some counties of high
advising in high schools schools do better in educating
and colleges about student about this topic than others
loans
Friday, September 21, 2018
Solving the Problem
The opportunity that I am choosing to explore deeper is the fact that college students all across America are graduating college with more student debt than ever before, and while this is partly due to the incremental increase in tuition each year, it is in large part due to the lack of education regarding the details and process of taking out student loans. Given this information, the service that I plan on providing is an advising service for parents, students, and education systems like high schools and prep schools of the student loan process, the various options when it comes to paying for college, and the overall affect it will have on each students' lives. This will be drastically different than financial aid services at colleges and universities, because one of my main goals will be to catch the students before they enter college so they have a solid foundation of what exactly they are getting themselves into, as well as this service will fully educate these parents and students of the details of the federal loans that I feel is not given through financial aid services. My target audience will obviously be students, their parents, and various high schools and colleges that could benefit from this advising.
Testing the Hypothesis
It has been very interesting to begin the process of identifying opportunities around me. I have learned a lot about myself as well as my environment by thinking of these problems and how they can potentially be solved. With that being said, there is one opportunity that strikes home with me and I believe with many people around me.
College students all across America, and specifically here in Gainesville, are graduating college with more student loan debt than ever before. Aside from the fact that college tuition is incrementally rising each year, this is happening because there is too little education taking place about the process of student loans and the various options that these students have entering higher education.
Who: College students and high school seniors getting ready to go to college.
What: More student loan debt upon graduation than ever before.
Why: There is not enough systematic education of the details and process of student loans including federal student loans, private student loans, as well as outside options for funding like grants and scholarships.
Testing the Who: At first, it is easy to think very broad about the audience that this opportunity is affecting. By diving deeper, I realize that my scope can be narrowed and focused more on more specific groups of college students. Maybe there are certain universities that have higher rates of student debt per capita. Also, there may be particular groups of students that come from particular high school districts that end up owing more money after graduation. I think there is a great opportunity here to do research to figure out exactly who to target in the beginning before widening the scope.
Testing the What: This is where I need to ask the question, "are all students who have large amounts of student debt after graduation uneducated about the topic?" In many cases, it may be true where students willingly and knowingly take on large sums of student debt because there cost-benefit-analysis of getting there degree was a conscious decision. I think this is what I may find in some of my interviews. Personally, I am willingly taking on student debt to get a degree from the University of Florida.
Testing the Why: This is similar to what I mentioned earlier, but do all of these students have a lack of education when it comes to student loans and finances? Does a certain portion of students have a little bit of knowledge regarding the subject? Are there certain services that have proven to be helpful for students? These are the questions that need to be answered through interviewing as well as research.
Interviews Conclusion: I went on campus and asked a few different people to speak with me about this topic. It was not very difficult to find 5 people that were taking out student loans and were willing to share their knowledge on their particular situations. Some examples of the questions I asked were, "How long have you been in school/needing to take out student loans?" "Are you aware of certain factors such as interest rates and payback periods?" "How much do you expect your total student debt amount to be after graduation?" "What kind of assistance have you received regarding financial aid and student loans?" "Have you explored/heard of different student loan options?"
The results I got from these interviews were actually more varied than I was expecting, so it came as a surprise. In general, it seemed as if the students I talked to had a solid idea of what would happen to their total student debt as time went on. Not to my surprise, most of the students I talked to were not aware of other options that are different than borrowing money from the federal government. This is where I believe the opportunity exists the most. It was very interesting to hear from these students and I feel I was able to strengthen my view of this opportunity and how I can move forward with it.
College students all across America, and specifically here in Gainesville, are graduating college with more student loan debt than ever before. Aside from the fact that college tuition is incrementally rising each year, this is happening because there is too little education taking place about the process of student loans and the various options that these students have entering higher education.
Who: College students and high school seniors getting ready to go to college.
What: More student loan debt upon graduation than ever before.
Why: There is not enough systematic education of the details and process of student loans including federal student loans, private student loans, as well as outside options for funding like grants and scholarships.
Testing the Who: At first, it is easy to think very broad about the audience that this opportunity is affecting. By diving deeper, I realize that my scope can be narrowed and focused more on more specific groups of college students. Maybe there are certain universities that have higher rates of student debt per capita. Also, there may be particular groups of students that come from particular high school districts that end up owing more money after graduation. I think there is a great opportunity here to do research to figure out exactly who to target in the beginning before widening the scope.
Testing the What: This is where I need to ask the question, "are all students who have large amounts of student debt after graduation uneducated about the topic?" In many cases, it may be true where students willingly and knowingly take on large sums of student debt because there cost-benefit-analysis of getting there degree was a conscious decision. I think this is what I may find in some of my interviews. Personally, I am willingly taking on student debt to get a degree from the University of Florida.
Testing the Why: This is similar to what I mentioned earlier, but do all of these students have a lack of education when it comes to student loans and finances? Does a certain portion of students have a little bit of knowledge regarding the subject? Are there certain services that have proven to be helpful for students? These are the questions that need to be answered through interviewing as well as research.
Interviews Conclusion: I went on campus and asked a few different people to speak with me about this topic. It was not very difficult to find 5 people that were taking out student loans and were willing to share their knowledge on their particular situations. Some examples of the questions I asked were, "How long have you been in school/needing to take out student loans?" "Are you aware of certain factors such as interest rates and payback periods?" "How much do you expect your total student debt amount to be after graduation?" "What kind of assistance have you received regarding financial aid and student loans?" "Have you explored/heard of different student loan options?"
The results I got from these interviews were actually more varied than I was expecting, so it came as a surprise. In general, it seemed as if the students I talked to had a solid idea of what would happen to their total student debt as time went on. Not to my surprise, most of the students I talked to were not aware of other options that are different than borrowing money from the federal government. This is where I believe the opportunity exists the most. It was very interesting to hear from these students and I feel I was able to strengthen my view of this opportunity and how I can move forward with it.
Friday, September 14, 2018
Identifying Opportunities in Economic and Regulatory Trends
1. For this first opportunity, it comes from a story that is a positive story but is what I feel allows for opportunity within. I found this story on CNBC and the the title is "Homeowners are sitting on $6 trillion in available cash, but they're not tapping it." Basically, this story highlights the fact that homeowners equity is at an all-time high, but nobody is really doing anything with it. I believe there is an opportunity lying in this given information simply because there is $6 trillion that is not being used that can potentially be put to work. I also think it is clear who the potential customer for this opportunity is and it is the homeowners who are compiling records amount of equity overtime on their homes and properties. I think this opportunity will be relatively difficult to exploit because when you are dealing with people's money I think people can become very hesitant and protective. This is also different from typical consumer purchases as we are dealing with larger sums of money, and as the article states, larger sums than ever before. I personally see an opportunity in this particular situation perhaps because of my greed. I think many people will see that they now have more untapped money than ever and see it as a good thing and never think twice about it. I think this is a good change to multiply your money and take advantage of the prospering house market.
2. For this next opportunity, it comes from a more broad economic trend in 2018. Throughout many periods over the span of 2016-2018 the United States has seen the unemployment rate decrease to very promising rates. This is where I believe it pays to be cautious but also continue to exploit these positive trends. I think there is an opportunity to help people who are unemployed secure jobs as there are more jobs in the economy now. This information comes from various sources and general knowledge, as many reports have come out showcasing the lowering unemployment rate. I think an opportunity exists here simply because the economy is a topsy-turvy thing and the unemployment rate will never be 0 so there will always be opportunity there. The most likely customer would definitely be unemployed people in the U.S. I think this opportunity is relatively easy to exploit because people will always be looking for jobs.
3. This opportunity comes from a regulatory change as of earlier this summer, when it was ruled that e-businesses, those without a physical presence in a particular state, may be subject to sales tax. I found this as a part of an article on businessnewsdaily.com. I think this can lead to an opportunity because now there are an entire segment of businesses that are needing to deal with an aspect of business, and a very important aspect being taxes, that they have never had to deal with before in this capacity. The most likely customer is obviously e-businesses who are affected by this tax change. I think the circumstances makes this opportunity a relatively easy one to exploit, however I feel there are already many businesses and services that handle this aspect. I see the opportunity because I believe whenever there is an obstacle, there is always a way to get through that obstacle and come out better and more prosperous on the other side.
4. A very relevant topic and trend in the news today is the United States and their role in international trade. There have been many reports and conversations of varying trade talks, especially with China. As a result, there may be new trade regulations or policies that are put into place that will affect businesses both in the United States, and globally. I think this is where the opportunity exists, and I believe so because many companies rely on trade and the unpredictability of these particular rules and regulations. The most likely customer for this opportunity is definitely business that rely heavily on international trade. I think this opportunity will be difficult to exploit as there a lot of hoops to jump through when it comes to international trade and the current political climate that is coming with it.
2. For this next opportunity, it comes from a more broad economic trend in 2018. Throughout many periods over the span of 2016-2018 the United States has seen the unemployment rate decrease to very promising rates. This is where I believe it pays to be cautious but also continue to exploit these positive trends. I think there is an opportunity to help people who are unemployed secure jobs as there are more jobs in the economy now. This information comes from various sources and general knowledge, as many reports have come out showcasing the lowering unemployment rate. I think an opportunity exists here simply because the economy is a topsy-turvy thing and the unemployment rate will never be 0 so there will always be opportunity there. The most likely customer would definitely be unemployed people in the U.S. I think this opportunity is relatively easy to exploit because people will always be looking for jobs.
3. This opportunity comes from a regulatory change as of earlier this summer, when it was ruled that e-businesses, those without a physical presence in a particular state, may be subject to sales tax. I found this as a part of an article on businessnewsdaily.com. I think this can lead to an opportunity because now there are an entire segment of businesses that are needing to deal with an aspect of business, and a very important aspect being taxes, that they have never had to deal with before in this capacity. The most likely customer is obviously e-businesses who are affected by this tax change. I think the circumstances makes this opportunity a relatively easy one to exploit, however I feel there are already many businesses and services that handle this aspect. I see the opportunity because I believe whenever there is an obstacle, there is always a way to get through that obstacle and come out better and more prosperous on the other side.
4. A very relevant topic and trend in the news today is the United States and their role in international trade. There have been many reports and conversations of varying trade talks, especially with China. As a result, there may be new trade regulations or policies that are put into place that will affect businesses both in the United States, and globally. I think this is where the opportunity exists, and I believe so because many companies rely on trade and the unpredictability of these particular rules and regulations. The most likely customer for this opportunity is definitely business that rely heavily on international trade. I think this opportunity will be difficult to exploit as there a lot of hoops to jump through when it comes to international trade and the current political climate that is coming with it.
Identifying Local Opportunities
1. Title: "1 Dead, 4 from Duval in in Custody After 11-hour Manhunt in St. Johns."
Link: http://www.jacksonville.com/news/20180913/1-dead-4-from-duval-in-custody-after-11-hour-manhunt-in-st-johns
Description of Story: In the middle of the night and into the early morning on Thursday, there was a full force manhunt for suspects as a result of a shooting that left one man dead in St. John's county. The manhunt lasted until about 1pm that afternoon and it came to a conclusion thanks to a call received by a citizen who had an idea of where the suspect might be.
The Problem: The problem is very clear in this story. It is that there was someone with a gun who was willing to use that weapon to bring harm onto others.
Who Has the Problem?: The citizens of St. Johns county, the victim, the St. John's County Police Department.
2. Title: "Baltimore Commutes Again Among Nations Longest, Census Data Show"
Link: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-baltimore-commute-20180913-story.html
Description of Story: Data was just recently released from the 2017 American Community Survey and it ranks Baltimore in the Top 10 worst cities for commuting. This means the citizens of Baltimore are spending longer, on average, commuting than all but 7 United States major metropolitan cities.
The Problem: It is taking people longer than the national average commuting from point A to point B. Traffic is a huge problem. Car accidents are a byproduct of bad traffic.
Who Has the Problem?: Citizens who have daily commutes from work, businesses who may be missing out on customers because of the longer commutes, drivers who's safety may be at a higher risk.
3. Title: "A Desperate Place Left Far Behind in Rick Scott's Economy"
Link: https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/09/14/a-desperate-place-left-far-behind-in-rick-scotts-economy/
Description of Story: This story highlights the long lines of people that are waiting in line at a local food pantry in Marianna county. The story emphasizes that this may be the result of a not-so-great economy that is contrary to what Governor Rick Scott boasts about.
The Problem: The problem highlighted in this story is that there are less jobs in certain areas of Florida than there were when Rick Scott first took office in 2011. One of Scott's promises was a better economy and more jobs, and this article states he may have failed on delivering that promise.
Who Has the Problem?: Citizens of Marianna county who are unemployed, businesses that are failing due to a lack of disposable income in their community, the food pantry that is running out of food due to an increase in traffic at their location.
4. Title: "City of Akron, Akron Community Foundation Announces Grants to Help Residents Improve Neighborhoods"
Link: https://www.cleveland.com/akron/index.ssf/2018/09/city_of_akron_akron_community_1.html#incart_river_index
Description of Story: This story highlights the $203,840 grant that was just awarded to the communities of Akron, Ohio in order to "beautification, placemaking, recreation, outreach and youth-based initiatives that aim to enhance residents' lives."
The Problem: While I believe this is a very positive story, I think there is an underlying problem here. In order for a grant to be given there needs to be a reason and the reason for the Akron communities is that there is some issues that need to be taken care of.
Who Has the Problem?: The citizens of Akron communities, the city of Akron, the Akron Community Foundation, the police department of Akron.
5. Title: "Costs Keep Apartment Development Slow Here as It Booms in Jacksonville"
Link: http://www.staugustine.com/news/20180911/costs-keep-apartment-development-slow-here-as-it-booms-in-jacksonville
Description of Story: This article highlights the recent struggle for people looking to rent apartments in St. Johns county, as the production of these apartments have been minuscule compared to the booming production in nearby Jacksonville, or Duval county.
The Problem: The problem in this story is that citizens who are looking to move to St. Johns county or stay in St. Johns but live in an apartment, are having to look elsewhere as the costs of building new apartment complexes and buildings are too high, whereas new buildings are popping up all over the place in downtown Jacksonville.
Who Has the Problem?: People looking for apartments to live in St. Johns county. Realtors in St. Johns county who have customers looking for apartments.
Link: http://www.jacksonville.com/news/20180913/1-dead-4-from-duval-in-custody-after-11-hour-manhunt-in-st-johns
Description of Story: In the middle of the night and into the early morning on Thursday, there was a full force manhunt for suspects as a result of a shooting that left one man dead in St. John's county. The manhunt lasted until about 1pm that afternoon and it came to a conclusion thanks to a call received by a citizen who had an idea of where the suspect might be.
The Problem: The problem is very clear in this story. It is that there was someone with a gun who was willing to use that weapon to bring harm onto others.
Who Has the Problem?: The citizens of St. Johns county, the victim, the St. John's County Police Department.
2. Title: "Baltimore Commutes Again Among Nations Longest, Census Data Show"
Link: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-baltimore-commute-20180913-story.html
Description of Story: Data was just recently released from the 2017 American Community Survey and it ranks Baltimore in the Top 10 worst cities for commuting. This means the citizens of Baltimore are spending longer, on average, commuting than all but 7 United States major metropolitan cities.
The Problem: It is taking people longer than the national average commuting from point A to point B. Traffic is a huge problem. Car accidents are a byproduct of bad traffic.
Who Has the Problem?: Citizens who have daily commutes from work, businesses who may be missing out on customers because of the longer commutes, drivers who's safety may be at a higher risk.
3. Title: "A Desperate Place Left Far Behind in Rick Scott's Economy"
Link: https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/09/14/a-desperate-place-left-far-behind-in-rick-scotts-economy/
Description of Story: This story highlights the long lines of people that are waiting in line at a local food pantry in Marianna county. The story emphasizes that this may be the result of a not-so-great economy that is contrary to what Governor Rick Scott boasts about.
The Problem: The problem highlighted in this story is that there are less jobs in certain areas of Florida than there were when Rick Scott first took office in 2011. One of Scott's promises was a better economy and more jobs, and this article states he may have failed on delivering that promise.
Who Has the Problem?: Citizens of Marianna county who are unemployed, businesses that are failing due to a lack of disposable income in their community, the food pantry that is running out of food due to an increase in traffic at their location.
4. Title: "City of Akron, Akron Community Foundation Announces Grants to Help Residents Improve Neighborhoods"
Link: https://www.cleveland.com/akron/index.ssf/2018/09/city_of_akron_akron_community_1.html#incart_river_index
Description of Story: This story highlights the $203,840 grant that was just awarded to the communities of Akron, Ohio in order to "beautification, placemaking, recreation, outreach and youth-based initiatives that aim to enhance residents' lives."
The Problem: While I believe this is a very positive story, I think there is an underlying problem here. In order for a grant to be given there needs to be a reason and the reason for the Akron communities is that there is some issues that need to be taken care of.
Who Has the Problem?: The citizens of Akron communities, the city of Akron, the Akron Community Foundation, the police department of Akron.
5. Title: "Costs Keep Apartment Development Slow Here as It Booms in Jacksonville"
Link: http://www.staugustine.com/news/20180911/costs-keep-apartment-development-slow-here-as-it-booms-in-jacksonville
Description of Story: This article highlights the recent struggle for people looking to rent apartments in St. Johns county, as the production of these apartments have been minuscule compared to the booming production in nearby Jacksonville, or Duval county.
The Problem: The problem in this story is that citizens who are looking to move to St. Johns county or stay in St. Johns but live in an apartment, are having to look elsewhere as the costs of building new apartment complexes and buildings are too high, whereas new buildings are popping up all over the place in downtown Jacksonville.
Who Has the Problem?: People looking for apartments to live in St. Johns county. Realtors in St. Johns county who have customers looking for apartments.
Friday, September 7, 2018
Forming An Opportunity Belief
As I was going through and working on my "Bug List" as well as just thinking of everyday opportunities around me, it was kind of challenging to come up with something that I really thought would be a worthwhile opportunity to take on. This made me re-evaluate and think a little harder about what I am trying to accomplish here. That is when I wanted to think about my own experiences some more and think about some areas where I really felt like more could be done. I tried to think outside of the box a little, and in the end, I have a very strong belief that there is not enough being done in the Student Loans and Finances area of high school and college campuses. Being in college for two full years now, and not having any financial assistance other than my own and what the federal government is offering me, I feel like I have a pretty good idea of the hardships and confusion that students like myself experience in the student loan department of their college career. With this being said, I believe there is an opportunity to go on various high school and college campuses to consult and educated students about their upcoming decisions as it relates to student loans. Now I do understand colleges have their Financial Aid offices, but my experience with these professionals is that they do not provide the big picture for you. They give you the facts straight up and you decide what to make of your situation. This is a great thing to have, but I believe it can go deeper. I believe there is an opportunity to look at students personal, and unique situations, look at their goals financially and for the future, and really dive into what they hope to accomplish in college and beyond and how their financial situations relate to this. To break it down, I will answer some of the few crucial questions.
What is the unmet need? Simply put, I believe this unmet need is students who are entering college with little to no financial assistance from their parents who are blindly accepting federal student loans when there are potentially better options out there. I believe these students, like myself, NEED someone to look at their personal situation, break down into simpler terms what they are accepting or denying, and clearly lay out how it will affect them.
Who has the need? Current and incoming college students who are taking out loans to pay for their education.
Where did this need come from? I believe this need has always been present as college for a long time now has been expensive, but I believe it is becoming even more relevant as the social stigma is shifting to where college is almost a necessity for a successful career, and the student debt is at a higher total than ever before.
What are people doing to meet this need now? As I mentioned before, there are people like Financial Aid offices that do offer some assistance as it relates to this opportunity. There are also services that will provide information relating to student loans. In these cases I have found that these services will also try and offer you their particular student loans and propose it as a better option. While it might be a better option I still believe students and families are not getting the proper education.
How sure am I that this opportunity exists? I am about 90% confident that this opportunity exists in some fashion. Speaking on personal experience I believe there is more that can be done in this department.
Who is the prototypical customer? The prototypical customer is anyone who is taking student loans out for their education! This means there is an abundance of these people, including myself. I went and talked to a few students who I thought might be the prototypical customer and asked them a few questions. Each student is taking out student loans and each student feels like they could be more educated on the subject.
What is the unmet need? Simply put, I believe this unmet need is students who are entering college with little to no financial assistance from their parents who are blindly accepting federal student loans when there are potentially better options out there. I believe these students, like myself, NEED someone to look at their personal situation, break down into simpler terms what they are accepting or denying, and clearly lay out how it will affect them.
Who has the need? Current and incoming college students who are taking out loans to pay for their education.
Where did this need come from? I believe this need has always been present as college for a long time now has been expensive, but I believe it is becoming even more relevant as the social stigma is shifting to where college is almost a necessity for a successful career, and the student debt is at a higher total than ever before.
What are people doing to meet this need now? As I mentioned before, there are people like Financial Aid offices that do offer some assistance as it relates to this opportunity. There are also services that will provide information relating to student loans. In these cases I have found that these services will also try and offer you their particular student loans and propose it as a better option. While it might be a better option I still believe students and families are not getting the proper education.
How sure am I that this opportunity exists? I am about 90% confident that this opportunity exists in some fashion. Speaking on personal experience I believe there is more that can be done in this department.
Who is the prototypical customer? The prototypical customer is anyone who is taking student loans out for their education! This means there is an abundance of these people, including myself. I went and talked to a few students who I thought might be the prototypical customer and asked them a few questions. Each student is taking out student loans and each student feels like they could be more educated on the subject.
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
Bug List
1. It bugs me when drivers are in the right lane of a two lane road and they stay in the right lane when approaching a red light. This always happens when I am wanting to turn right on the red light but have to wait for the light to turn green for the person in front of me to go straight. This bug exists because people do not have much knowledge and acknowledgement of their surroundings.
2. It bugs me when people do not use their turn signals when changing lanes or making a simple turn. This bug exists because people are lazy and are only thinking of themselves when driving.
3. It bugs me that Apple phone chargers break so easily. The life span of a charger for me has to be somewhere around 4 months, and that is if I am lucky. This bug exists because it is another source of revenue for apple and other companies producing phone chargers. Why fix it if people are still buying?
4. It bugs me that no matter where I put my headphones and just how neatly I place them, the next time I want to use them they will be tangled up like nothing I have ever seen before. I think this bug exists because I have yet to jump on board with the wireless headphones.
5. It bugs me that a cup of coffee will be too hot to drink for the first 15 minutes, but then I only have a 2 minute window to drink the entire cup before it is too cold to drink. This bug probably exists because I can not find the right cup to drink my coffee out of to keep it at the right temperature.
6. It bugs me that the condensation from any water bottle, iced coffee cup, or any cup that is holding a cold liquid is impossible to avoid, creating a pool of water enough to fit in an entire other water bottle itself. This bug exists because of basic scientific principles.
7. It bugs me that I cannot find a stylish, good looking clothing brand that creates clothes for those who sweat a lot and therefore the material does not show the sweat. This bug exists because I struggle with perspiration and can't wear specific clothes because of how self-conscious I am about the sweat. And it is hot in this state!
8. It bugs me that it is nearly impossible to shop for shoes that are size 14. Unfortunately, this is the size of my foot and it is very challenging to find a shoe that I like in my size. This bug exists because shoe brands and manufacturers will not waste their resources on making size 14 and up shoes when that is a minority of shoe shoppers.
9. It bugs me when the toothpaste tube gets blocked with excess toothpaste that has hardened over time and created a shield for the remaining toothpaste. This exists, probably because I am simply too lazy to clean the tube after each use.
10. It bugs me that people listen to their music so loud through their headphones that I can hear it very clearly as a bystander. This bug exists because people like to listen to their music loudly and nobody has created headphone technology that keeps the noise from projecting outward.
11. It bugs me that no matter how often I clean the lenses of my glasses, they will get dusty and dirty in a matter of minutes stepping outside. This most likely exists because I wear my glasses often so I notice it more and because glasses lenses technology has not allowed for a protecting outer layer that keeps dust and dirt off.
12. It bugs me at the gym when people do not put their weights away after they are done using them. Many times I will want to use equipment but I will see it on the ground next to someone and assume they are using it when in reality they have been done with it for a while. This exists because people are lazy and often unaware of their surroundings.
13. It bugs me when it is raining and I am using an umbrella, while I am trying to get into my car without getting wet, it is very challenging to close the umbrella and wrap it up securely without getting soaking wet in the process. I almost would be better off not even using the umbrella. This bug exists because there is nowhere else for the rain water to go off the umbrella after I wrap it up. There needs to be a way to get all the water off without getting wet from the rain in the process.
14. It bugs me when I cut my face shaving and I end up bleeding forever. Then I have to wear a band-aid that is clearly visible and awkward. This bug exists because I feel like there isn't a razor that exists that won't cut me, and there isn't a band-aid out there that is actually inconspicuous enough to go unnoticed.
15. It bugs me when my favorite pen runs out of ink in the middle of an assignment or notes, so then I have to use a new pen and then the ink on the page doesn't match. This exists simply because pens have a limited amount of ink and I can never prepare for when my pen is about to go dry.
16. It bugs me when I am watching TV on DirecTV and it is storming and the signal goes in and out. This always seems to happen in the middle of something that I really want to watch. This bus exists because DirecTV operates with satellite dishes (maybe?) and they don't do well with signal in storms.
17. It bugs me when my WiFi at home is so inconsistent. The service will always disconnect in the most important times when I am doing an assignment or quiz. This bug exists most likely because the WiFi service I have just isn't the highest quality, and maybe also because there are many devices on the network.
18. It bugs me when I put my clothes in the laundry machine and when the are all done some clothes mysteriously have this weird stain on them that wasn't there when I first put them in. Maybe this is because I do not know how to do laundry correctly, but I really feel like this happens often and I do it correctly.
19. It bugs me when I look at the weather forecast for the day and the radar suggests no rain at all, so I make plans revolving around the notion that it will not rain, but sure enough, it rains. I think this exists because Florida specifically is extremely random and unpredictable when it comes to weather but also because weathermen don't really know how to predict the weather and they are just taking a somewhat educated stab at it. No offense to weathermen I love weathermen and women.
20. It bugs me that today's society encourages going to college so much, but does not educate the families and more specifically the students about student loan process and just the kind of effect it will have on their lives. The federal government offers students these federal loans and in many cases the students have no choice but to accept the money without fully understanding all of the details. I think this exists simply because there isn't enough educating and advising that goes on in these situations.
Reflecting on this assignment, it was difficult for me to look at the world surrounding me in this way. I usually like to look at things in a positive light, and not saying I didn't for this assignment but I really had to dig deep in myself and understand what really bugs me. I am happy with the results however, as I feel I found some real opportunity hidden in my bugs.
2. It bugs me when people do not use their turn signals when changing lanes or making a simple turn. This bug exists because people are lazy and are only thinking of themselves when driving.
3. It bugs me that Apple phone chargers break so easily. The life span of a charger for me has to be somewhere around 4 months, and that is if I am lucky. This bug exists because it is another source of revenue for apple and other companies producing phone chargers. Why fix it if people are still buying?
4. It bugs me that no matter where I put my headphones and just how neatly I place them, the next time I want to use them they will be tangled up like nothing I have ever seen before. I think this bug exists because I have yet to jump on board with the wireless headphones.
5. It bugs me that a cup of coffee will be too hot to drink for the first 15 minutes, but then I only have a 2 minute window to drink the entire cup before it is too cold to drink. This bug probably exists because I can not find the right cup to drink my coffee out of to keep it at the right temperature.
6. It bugs me that the condensation from any water bottle, iced coffee cup, or any cup that is holding a cold liquid is impossible to avoid, creating a pool of water enough to fit in an entire other water bottle itself. This bug exists because of basic scientific principles.
7. It bugs me that I cannot find a stylish, good looking clothing brand that creates clothes for those who sweat a lot and therefore the material does not show the sweat. This bug exists because I struggle with perspiration and can't wear specific clothes because of how self-conscious I am about the sweat. And it is hot in this state!
8. It bugs me that it is nearly impossible to shop for shoes that are size 14. Unfortunately, this is the size of my foot and it is very challenging to find a shoe that I like in my size. This bug exists because shoe brands and manufacturers will not waste their resources on making size 14 and up shoes when that is a minority of shoe shoppers.
9. It bugs me when the toothpaste tube gets blocked with excess toothpaste that has hardened over time and created a shield for the remaining toothpaste. This exists, probably because I am simply too lazy to clean the tube after each use.
10. It bugs me that people listen to their music so loud through their headphones that I can hear it very clearly as a bystander. This bug exists because people like to listen to their music loudly and nobody has created headphone technology that keeps the noise from projecting outward.
11. It bugs me that no matter how often I clean the lenses of my glasses, they will get dusty and dirty in a matter of minutes stepping outside. This most likely exists because I wear my glasses often so I notice it more and because glasses lenses technology has not allowed for a protecting outer layer that keeps dust and dirt off.
12. It bugs me at the gym when people do not put their weights away after they are done using them. Many times I will want to use equipment but I will see it on the ground next to someone and assume they are using it when in reality they have been done with it for a while. This exists because people are lazy and often unaware of their surroundings.
13. It bugs me when it is raining and I am using an umbrella, while I am trying to get into my car without getting wet, it is very challenging to close the umbrella and wrap it up securely without getting soaking wet in the process. I almost would be better off not even using the umbrella. This bug exists because there is nowhere else for the rain water to go off the umbrella after I wrap it up. There needs to be a way to get all the water off without getting wet from the rain in the process.
14. It bugs me when I cut my face shaving and I end up bleeding forever. Then I have to wear a band-aid that is clearly visible and awkward. This bug exists because I feel like there isn't a razor that exists that won't cut me, and there isn't a band-aid out there that is actually inconspicuous enough to go unnoticed.
15. It bugs me when my favorite pen runs out of ink in the middle of an assignment or notes, so then I have to use a new pen and then the ink on the page doesn't match. This exists simply because pens have a limited amount of ink and I can never prepare for when my pen is about to go dry.
16. It bugs me when I am watching TV on DirecTV and it is storming and the signal goes in and out. This always seems to happen in the middle of something that I really want to watch. This bus exists because DirecTV operates with satellite dishes (maybe?) and they don't do well with signal in storms.
17. It bugs me when my WiFi at home is so inconsistent. The service will always disconnect in the most important times when I am doing an assignment or quiz. This bug exists most likely because the WiFi service I have just isn't the highest quality, and maybe also because there are many devices on the network.
18. It bugs me when I put my clothes in the laundry machine and when the are all done some clothes mysteriously have this weird stain on them that wasn't there when I first put them in. Maybe this is because I do not know how to do laundry correctly, but I really feel like this happens often and I do it correctly.
19. It bugs me when I look at the weather forecast for the day and the radar suggests no rain at all, so I make plans revolving around the notion that it will not rain, but sure enough, it rains. I think this exists because Florida specifically is extremely random and unpredictable when it comes to weather but also because weathermen don't really know how to predict the weather and they are just taking a somewhat educated stab at it. No offense to weathermen I love weathermen and women.
20. It bugs me that today's society encourages going to college so much, but does not educate the families and more specifically the students about student loan process and just the kind of effect it will have on their lives. The federal government offers students these federal loans and in many cases the students have no choice but to accept the money without fully understanding all of the details. I think this exists simply because there isn't enough educating and advising that goes on in these situations.
Reflecting on this assignment, it was difficult for me to look at the world surrounding me in this way. I usually like to look at things in a positive light, and not saying I didn't for this assignment but I really had to dig deep in myself and understand what really bugs me. I am happy with the results however, as I feel I found some real opportunity hidden in my bugs.
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
My Entrepreneurship Story
It is interesting to look at my life in an entrepreneurial mindset, as it is a mindset that I have seldom had before. In my life, with the advancement of technology and consumer information, everything I have done has been in the consuming mindset. What I never realized is that everywhere around me, and in everyday situations of my life there are entrepreneurs, and opportunities to make myself an entrepreneur. As this course has kicked off, I have found it difficult to think of opportunities and situations where I can be an entrepreneur. For brainstorming purposes, I felt it would be best for me to begin by thinking of and observing people around me that are entrepreneurs. I immediately thought of an acquaintance of mine who I went to high school with, his name is Spencer, and I would consider him to be an entrepreneur. Spencer began his own lawn care service as a side job for a source of income back before I knew him in high school. From what I gathered, Spencer just really liked to work outdoors and looked for a way to make money doing something that he loved. He capitalized on this as he worked with more and more "clients" who were the families around our community who needed their lawns maintained. Now this was not a foreign concept by any means. Driving down the streets I see an array of lawn care businesses throughout the neighborhoods. What I didn't realize is just how wide of a market a lawn care business can reach, and just how successful it could be. Spencer grew his service into a company, with logos, and trucks, and trailers, and advanced equipment, and he even began hiring fellow classmates as he had too many clients to handle just by himself. Spencer has turned this lawn care business into a career and he is expanding his services to things like irrigation and is servicing places like golf courses instead of just community homes. It has been interesting to observe the ways Spencer birthed an idea, put it into motion, and adapted with his market and his acquired skills and knowledge. A lawn care business is not unique by any stretch, but what is unique is Spencer, and his ability to grow it into something that not many others could have.
This is why I enrolled in this course. By no means do I think this course is going to automatically make me a successful entrepreneur, but the main thing I hope to get out of this class is the mindset that I referenced earlier. I hope to have the mindset of an entrepreneur, where I can see a problem, and just as easily see a potential solution. It's not even that I want to start my own business or I have a great idea I want to run with, but having this mindset I feel is a crucial skill to have to take with me in my professional and even personal life.
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| Pictured is Spencer with his truck and trailer. |
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