https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCGH-2SE3Jk
Recording:
Friday, October 26, 2018
Elevator Pitch 2.0
Youtube Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCGH-2SE3Jk
Recording:
After looking back at my first elevator pitch, I was disappointed in my lack of gestures. My expression and movement was very standard and didn't convey the message that I wanted. Not to mention, I wanted to add some personal connection to the issue in my elevator pitch. I only received one comment, but I found most of the advice on lengthening and going into more detail very helpful. I think I could still improve upon my elevator pitch by practicing it more and doing it in front of more people instead of my computer. After watching mine and several others, the delivery is what really is the most important part. Speaking with confidence and speaking clearly are very important to making a great elevator pitch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCGH-2SE3Jk
Recording:
Custom Avatar
Due to the fact that my business is solving a problem that falls on the government's responsibility, I believe my prototypical customer is a local politician. This could be a town mayor, member of the city council, or member of an environmental committee. Regardless of their position, they have some influence on the disbursement of funds towards projects like the one my company is offering.
In addition, these individuals have a strong appreciation for and understanding of the environment. Not to mention, they see the local environment, specifically the marine habitats, as an irreplaceable resource. This will be a driving decision in their buyer behavior as I determined in a previous assignment.
My prototypical customer understands the value of beachfront communities. Not only do they understand the economical value of beaches and tourism, but they appreciate them for their beauty and uniqueness. Beachfront communities are home to species that are heavily endangered like Leatherback Sea Turtles. My prototypical customer wants to preserve the beauty and biodiversity of coastal communities.
I also believe that my prototypical customer has a family and children. It is more likely for them to care about the future of the environment if they have children. By preserving and protecting coastal communities, their children will be able to enjoy them in the future.
My prototypical customer also enjoys outdoor activities. Their personal interactions with the environment make it a priority for them. Without a personal connection, I believe an individual will be unlikely to hire my business to prevent and limit Red Tide outbreaks.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN COMMON???
After creating my custom avatar, I realized that my prototypical customer has a lot in common with myself. I enjoy politics and stay up to date on local, state, and federal political debates. Not to mention, I lived in a coastal community most of my childhood and spent extensive time doing outdoor activities. My family is one of the most important aspects of my life. However, I don't think any of this is a coincidence. I think that human nature drives us to solve problems and help people that we can relate too and understand. For example, many entrepreneurs are very passionate about their problem solving service or product because they recognize the need themselves.
Friday, October 19, 2018
My Secret Sauce
My Secret Sauce:
A) I believe my ability to be open-minded is a unique quality. Growing up around several siblings and a strong set of parents, there isn't room to be close minded. Therefore, I believe I am very good at tackling problems with others and utilizing them to their full potential.
B) I have very strong morals and a strong knowledge of who I am. For this reason, I am not easily influenced to make poor decisions or act without thinking. I believe this is a strength because I am confident in the person I am, and people can sense that.
C) Another trait that I think is part of my secret sauce is my curiosity. Since I was a young child, I have always asked a lot of questions. The reason I do this is because I enjoy understanding how processes and concepts work. I would rather understand the reasoning behind something than simply memorize it.
D) I also believe that I am a compassionate person. Not only do I care for others, but I have an ability to connect with them on an emotional level. I think this makes me more trustworthy in the eyes of people around me.
E) Another trait that has been advantageous to me is my ability to function without sleep. I don't waste time sleeping 8-10 hours a day. When I sleep for this long I feel lethargic all day. Waking up several hours before anyone else is awake gives me an advantage.
Interview: Mom
My mother believe my greatest trait or characteristic is my compassion towards others. She believes that this quality makes me a person that people can relate and emotionally connect with. I am not surprised she thinks this is part of my secret sauce because my mother is a very compassionate person.
Interview: Dad
My dad believes that my curiosity is my greatest trait. He says that my willingness and passion for learning is what sets me apart from others. He said that I have always excelled because I wanted to understand rather than memorize.
Interview: My brother Brandon
My brother explained to me that my emotional and mental maturity is what sets me apart. He says that I have always connected with people older than me because of this. He says that it is a trait he wish he had because it helps establish relationships with influential people at a young age.
Interview: My girlfriend Brooke
My girlfriend told me that my work ethic is a trait that sets me apart. She sees me as someone that puts in a lot of effort into several projects that I take on. For example, she doesn't understand how I spend countless hours studying and doing homework while balancing other things.
Interview: My friend Evan
Evan told me that my organization is what sets me apart. He says that I have an ability to keep many responsibilities balanced without becoming over extended .
In totality, I think that people see many of the traits that I see in myself. Specifically, everyone I talked to said that they recognized my curiosity and fascination with learning. This is something I pride myself in because I don't think anyone has nothing left to learn. I was surprised to see Evan say that I was a very organized person. I do not view myself as someone who is extremely organized, but I do have my own unique ways of staying on top of my responsibilities. Not to mention, people described me as hard-working. I don't like to talk about myself like this because I don't see it as a job. I enjoy almost everything that I am heavily involved with, therefore, I don't see myself as someone who is a very hard worker.
A) I believe my ability to be open-minded is a unique quality. Growing up around several siblings and a strong set of parents, there isn't room to be close minded. Therefore, I believe I am very good at tackling problems with others and utilizing them to their full potential.
B) I have very strong morals and a strong knowledge of who I am. For this reason, I am not easily influenced to make poor decisions or act without thinking. I believe this is a strength because I am confident in the person I am, and people can sense that.
C) Another trait that I think is part of my secret sauce is my curiosity. Since I was a young child, I have always asked a lot of questions. The reason I do this is because I enjoy understanding how processes and concepts work. I would rather understand the reasoning behind something than simply memorize it.
D) I also believe that I am a compassionate person. Not only do I care for others, but I have an ability to connect with them on an emotional level. I think this makes me more trustworthy in the eyes of people around me.
E) Another trait that has been advantageous to me is my ability to function without sleep. I don't waste time sleeping 8-10 hours a day. When I sleep for this long I feel lethargic all day. Waking up several hours before anyone else is awake gives me an advantage.
Interview: Mom
My mother believe my greatest trait or characteristic is my compassion towards others. She believes that this quality makes me a person that people can relate and emotionally connect with. I am not surprised she thinks this is part of my secret sauce because my mother is a very compassionate person.
Interview: Dad
My dad believes that my curiosity is my greatest trait. He says that my willingness and passion for learning is what sets me apart from others. He said that I have always excelled because I wanted to understand rather than memorize.
Interview: My brother Brandon
My brother explained to me that my emotional and mental maturity is what sets me apart. He says that I have always connected with people older than me because of this. He says that it is a trait he wish he had because it helps establish relationships with influential people at a young age.
Interview: My girlfriend Brooke
My girlfriend told me that my work ethic is a trait that sets me apart. She sees me as someone that puts in a lot of effort into several projects that I take on. For example, she doesn't understand how I spend countless hours studying and doing homework while balancing other things.
Interview: My friend Evan
Evan told me that my organization is what sets me apart. He says that I have an ability to keep many responsibilities balanced without becoming over extended .
In totality, I think that people see many of the traits that I see in myself. Specifically, everyone I talked to said that they recognized my curiosity and fascination with learning. This is something I pride myself in because I don't think anyone has nothing left to learn. I was surprised to see Evan say that I was a very organized person. I do not view myself as someone who is extremely organized, but I do have my own unique ways of staying on top of my responsibilities. Not to mention, people described me as hard-working. I don't like to talk about myself like this because I don't see it as a job. I enjoy almost everything that I am heavily involved with, therefore, I don't see myself as someone who is a very hard worker.
Buyer Behavior 2
To take a closer look at my solution to Red Tide Outbreaks, I wanted to get a better understanding of my consumers. Therefore, I set out to interview three different local politicians that manage the funding that would pay for my proposed solution. Unfortunately, I was only able to get statements from these individuals on their current efforts to combat Red Tide and there proposed future solutions. I hope that I can remain in contact with them to get more detailed information regarding their preferences and behaviors.
As I interviewed these individuals, I discovered that their major concerns were the impacts on the local environments more than cost. All of them had examined a plethora of options to combat Red Tide, and the common theme was their concern for preserving the environment. Although I expected them to care about the environment, their willingness to spend the money to fix the problem and reverse the increasing number of blooms was surprising. After thinking about it, I realized that this approach was related to a long term goal of preserving the environment that generates tourism and satisfaction among residents.
All of them had examined bringing in companies from other states or other countries, but they were discouraged for many reasons. They wanted a company to work locally and be held accountable to the community. Not to mention, they wanted a program where local officials could oversee the program and work cooperatively to ensure the needs were being fulfilled. This is very encouraging because my original plan was to establish offices in the communities heavily affected by Red Tide.
In terms of post-purchase evaluation, their main focus was the overall health of the environment. Red Tide is known for causing dangerously low levels of oxygen gas that has devastating impacts on marine environments. Although the main focus was decreasing the severity and frequency of these blooms, they wanted to see a healthy environment. Not only is it essential to the happiness of the community, but tourism is driven by the environment. Their overall goal is to get a return on the investment by preserving the tourism industry associated with beaches and the ocean.
Overall, this segment of city officials had very similar buyer behaviors. Unlike many other segments, cost was not the most important factor, but preserving the long term sustainability of the environment was their top priority. They wanted to work with a local company that could utilize the resources of local and state agencies. This was not surprising because older generations appreciate face-to-face contact more than younger generations. Lastly, their number one post-purchase evaluation was the overall health of the environment. They were willing to invest a substantial amount of money as long as their were positive results on the environment.
As I interviewed these individuals, I discovered that their major concerns were the impacts on the local environments more than cost. All of them had examined a plethora of options to combat Red Tide, and the common theme was their concern for preserving the environment. Although I expected them to care about the environment, their willingness to spend the money to fix the problem and reverse the increasing number of blooms was surprising. After thinking about it, I realized that this approach was related to a long term goal of preserving the environment that generates tourism and satisfaction among residents.
All of them had examined bringing in companies from other states or other countries, but they were discouraged for many reasons. They wanted a company to work locally and be held accountable to the community. Not to mention, they wanted a program where local officials could oversee the program and work cooperatively to ensure the needs were being fulfilled. This is very encouraging because my original plan was to establish offices in the communities heavily affected by Red Tide.
In terms of post-purchase evaluation, their main focus was the overall health of the environment. Red Tide is known for causing dangerously low levels of oxygen gas that has devastating impacts on marine environments. Although the main focus was decreasing the severity and frequency of these blooms, they wanted to see a healthy environment. Not only is it essential to the happiness of the community, but tourism is driven by the environment. Their overall goal is to get a return on the investment by preserving the tourism industry associated with beaches and the ocean.
Overall, this segment of city officials had very similar buyer behaviors. Unlike many other segments, cost was not the most important factor, but preserving the long term sustainability of the environment was their top priority. They wanted to work with a local company that could utilize the resources of local and state agencies. This was not surprising because older generations appreciate face-to-face contact more than younger generations. Lastly, their number one post-purchase evaluation was the overall health of the environment. They were willing to invest a substantial amount of money as long as their were positive results on the environment.
Friday, October 12, 2018
Halfway Reflection
1. I believe that consistency is the most crucial skill that a student needs for this class. Luckily, many of the other rigorous business and science classes prepared me for this. By utilizing free time throughout weekdays to watch lectures and work on assignments, the workload decreases significantly. Not to mention, it is important to work ahead on a class of this format. Having this habit will reduce the possibility of falling behind or being stressed out.
2. While being a double major, it can become extremely difficult to stay on top of the workload. Specifically, this class has not made me want to give up because I find it fascinating. However, the workload on top of studying for other classes has made me want to give up. About two weeks ago, I had three tests in a four day period, and I became very overwhelmed. I felt like giving up, but I realized that was not an option and pushed through the tough week. I think this class has helped me continue a strong work ethic and motivated me to work harder. Reading books about entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs and watching guest lecturers has peaked my interest.
3.
TIP 1: Watch the lectures on the day that they happen. This will allow you to do well on the quizzes and keep up with the material.
TIP 2: Don't start your assignments last minute. It is very easy to tell when a student has not put in the effort. I believe that you get out of this class what you are willing to put in. The more effort you give the more you will learn.
TIP 3: Stay Positive!! As a college student, it is very easy to get discouraged and down on yourself. However, we all go through rough stretches! Having a good attitude is essential to doing well.
2. While being a double major, it can become extremely difficult to stay on top of the workload. Specifically, this class has not made me want to give up because I find it fascinating. However, the workload on top of studying for other classes has made me want to give up. About two weeks ago, I had three tests in a four day period, and I became very overwhelmed. I felt like giving up, but I realized that was not an option and pushed through the tough week. I think this class has helped me continue a strong work ethic and motivated me to work harder. Reading books about entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs and watching guest lecturers has peaked my interest.
3.
TIP 1: Watch the lectures on the day that they happen. This will allow you to do well on the quizzes and keep up with the material.
TIP 2: Don't start your assignments last minute. It is very easy to tell when a student has not put in the effort. I believe that you get out of this class what you are willing to put in. The more effort you give the more you will learn.
TIP 3: Stay Positive!! As a college student, it is very easy to get discouraged and down on yourself. However, we all go through rough stretches! Having a good attitude is essential to doing well.
Reading Reflection 1
1. Steve Jobs
- What surprised you the most?
I think the most surprising aspect of the book to me was the explanation for the naming of Apple. Throughout my life, I have owned countless Apple products, but I have never asked myself how they came up with the company name. As it turns out, Jobs had experimented with fruit-based diets and he had a fondness for Apples. After visiting an apple farm on the same day that the paperwork was submitted to form Apple, Steve decided the name was "fun spirited and not intimidating."
- What about the entrepreneur did you most admire?
I think that Steve Jobs was possessed an incredible ability to inspire and push people beyond their comfort zones. Although he had a very harsh way about him, he knew how to get a lot out of very little resources. I remember when Woz and Jobs were discussing starting a company. Wozniak was very hesitant until Steve helped him envision the possibilities of them owning their own company.
- What about the entrepreneur did you least admire?
Although Jobs was a great motivator, he often got his way by manipulating people. In the book they describe his personality, "He could be charismatic, even mesmerizing, but also cold and brutal. I understand that business is business, but reading this book made me see Jobs in a different way. He was brilliant and innovative, but his treatment of others was very saddening and something I couldn't understand.
- Did the entrepreneur encounter adversity and failure? If so, what did they do about it?
Jobs actually dropped out of school at Reed College. He became bored with the required coursework, and decided that it wasn't worth spending his parents money on an education he didn't want. However, he became close with the Dean of Students and they allowed him to stay on campus with friends and drop in on certain classes that interested him after he stopped paying tuition. Not to mention, the hiring of Sculley later caused Jobs to get in a power struggle that he eventually lost. The company that he had founded with Woz was basically ripped out from under him, but he responded by creating Pixar which is what eventually made him a billionaire.
2. What competencies did you notice that the entrepreneur exhibited
Steve Jobs had an incredible ability to adapt to changing markets and consumer behaviors. His ability to recognize opportunity and stay ahead of the curve was incredible. Not to mention, Jobs possessed an unmatched work ethic and drive to succeed. As stated previously, after losing his power in Apple and basically being thrown to the side, he went on to create a division of Lucasfilms that became Pixar. Jobs was destined to do something that would change the world based upon his personality and work ethic.
3. Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing.
The confusing part about the reading was the very detailed accounts of Job's drug use. I understand that it was part of his rise to the top and marijuana and LSD were a huge part of his 20s. However, I think the detailed accounts of drug use and hallucinations took away from the true purpose of the book.
4. If you were able to ask two questions to the entrepreneur, what would you ask? Why?
I would want to ask Steve Jobs what his proudest accomplishment in life was. I am curious if he truly valued work and success more than family and friends. Based upon the novel, it was clear that Jobs was a workaholic who was obsessed with success and strove to always be the best.
I would also ask Jobs if he thinks dropping out of college was a turning point in his life. After dropping out of college, Jobs began to realize that he didn't need a traditional education to be successful. I want to understand his thought process and how much he considered staying in school.
5. What do you think the entrepreneur's opinion was of hard work?
Jobs believed that it took dedication, long hours, and sleepless nights to run a successful company. He held his employees to obscenely high standards and would get mad if they didn't live up to them. I think his definition of hard work is a little different than mine. I believe it requires dedication and passion, but there has to be a balance. Working countless hours without balance or a goal in mind will not lead you to success in my opinion.
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