Assignment 30A: Final Reflection

2) What sticks out to you as the most formative experience? The experience that you'll remember years later? What was your most joyous experience? What experience are you most proud of yourself for accomplishing?

The most formative experience definitely was all the interviews. I am not an outgoing person in general, I don't thrive off conversations with new people. So...needless to say this experience definitely had a huge impression on me and my growth as a person. The interview part is also the experience I am most proud of myself for accomplishing. It is not something that comes easy to me so seeing myself grow throughout each interview was pretty awarding. The part I will remember in the years to come is just my product concept in general. Who gets the creative reigns of creating whatever they want and creates a toilet....I guess me. My most joyous experience was the assignment where I got to research and talk to entrepreneurs. It is really cool to see how people go from where they started to where they are now. It is also eye-opening to see all the possibilities of jobs/venture concepts out there.

3) At the beginning of the semester, I mentioned that I wanted each of you to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. Now, at the end, do you see yourself as an entrepreneur? Do you think you have moved closer to developing an entrepreneurial mindset?

Throughout all the classes I am taking this semester (Marketing and Information Systems and this class), there was definitely a common theme. By taking all those classes together, I think it really helped develop my entrepreneurial mindset more so than if I just took this class. Going into the semester, I knew my dream goal for after college was creating my own brand whether thats in beauty/fashion/health.  Even though my product wasn't necessarily my "dream goal", it still helped me tremendously with the aspect of creating a business. 

4) What is the one recommendation you would make to the students who are going to journey down this path in the future? What would you recommend they do to perform best in this course? What would you recommend they do to foster that mindset?

With this course, I really want to empathize, YOU ONLY GET OUT WHAT YOU PUT INTO IT. If you are gonna bs everything, then this course will drag on. You are enrolled in it, you have to do the work, so why not actually get something out of it. Grow from it. Learn from it. To perform best in this course, definitely have a planner where you put all the assignments/due dates from the start as it can get confusing in the beginning. Also, make it prevalent on the assignment where you come up with a business concept that it is what you will use throughout this whole course. For some reason, I was not aware of that.

Assignment 29A: Venture Concept No.2

• Opportunity:
• Until recent years, society has associated the words "health" and "healthy" to one simply just not having an illness or being sick. Health has taken a whole new meaning now as people associate health with not only being free from illness but connecting the mind and body and being the best self you can be. The global market for health/wellness has been growing rapidly in the past few years and, according to Euromonitor International, has reached $686 billion in the year 2016.
• The doctors office always take longer than you actually think they will. By the time it takes to get there, check-in, wait in the waiting room, have the nurse take your vitals, wait for the doctor, have the doctor examine you, check out, drive to the nearest pharmacy and wait 10-15 minutes at the pharmacy it feels like your whole day is gone. It is not actually the doctor visit itself but the whole process that takes so long. In fact, Medscape released a report that stated typical doctor-patient time is only 13 minutes long. 
• The need is for people to be able to know their levels of vitamins/nutrients in a timely manner and not need to make a lengthy/expensive visit to the doctor's office. Currently, customers simply do their research online and take what they think they need not what they actually need. This need has not been satisfied in a way of prevention. People often wait until they are at their absolute worst to go to their doctors and often it is something that could be preventable.
• Potential Customers: multigenerational households, university owned buildings, millennials willing to pay (in general, people who wish to maximize their health)
• 
  
• Innovation:
• For both individuals and colleges, I will sell toilets that will be advertised as personal performance identifiers and health monitors because that is what is unique to the toilet. This product will analyze your urine after you urinate and give you an electronical list on a screen of various things you are deficient in. This product is a fast and easy way for people to monitor their health and be more proactive about their body. The way I see my product is there being a sensor that will detect when you urinate. Once this sensor is triggered, the toilet will open a compartment or simply extract a sample to analyze. Once it is finished analyzing, the toilet will dispose of it down the pipe as a toilet normally would dispel of its contents. I am selling a toilet along with a scanner and screen for between $400-$500 depending on how advanced the technology is. In general, a good quality toilet is between $200-$300 so if I would have to estimate I would add a couple hundred on that for the screen and scanner.
• For families, I would also like to include a downloadable app that will notify parents of their children results. This way, parents can keep track of their child's health without being a super helicopter parent.
• Venture Concept:
• Customers will buy my innovation simply because it will save them time and money in the future. They will switch because this is a more efficient process due to the fact that they are doing something they do everyday, the bathroom. They don't have to change their routine, thus, making it easily adaptable to their lifestyle. Customers will also buy this products so they don't constantly waste money on vitamins/nutrients their body is not deficient in.
• The competitors include businesses where people have to send in their "sample" of saliva or  urine to get tests that can take weeks to come back.  In today's society, people seem to have an obsession with quickness. It is always "I want it now" or "I don't have time for that". My product will give you the results at that moment so there is no waiting or handling involved. 
• The price point must be perfectly balanced as it cannot be too expensive so young millennials will be able to buy them. It must be above $1000 but below $3500 so it would definitely be considered an investment. Although my main target segment is multigenerational households, millennials are the most willing to take initiative on healthy eating habits and wellness experiences (Nielsen). I believe that influencer marketing is one reason behind this. This online community has created a space where people can share recipes, wellness tips and healthy habits as well as products that fall within this category. This information can be quickly shared with millions of people. I think this is something I should take into consideration with the distribution of my product to millennials who use social media frequently.
• Unfair Advantage:
• Never underestimate the power of social media. After reading "The Art of Social Media" by Guy Kawasaki, I truly realize the importance of your brand's reputation/consistency on social media. My familiarity with social media and the knowledge that I gained from reading this book will definitely help me jump start my business. 
• What's Next:
• My goal for this product is not to ruin physician's careers but rather reduce the amount of visits that can be easily solved and prevented with my product. I could easily add a different product category of powders that change colors for the most common vitamin/nutrient deficiencies.
• For Me:
• I want to continue to promote healthy lifestyles and being proactive about the state of your wellbeing. If this product is scientifically feasible, I would look forward to creating a health brand out of this. One day, I would hope to take it beyond just the toilet in order to promote healthy habits globally. 

Feedback

• The three responses to my venture concept were all positive. They all were really assuring and made me feel as though my business concept mattered. It was a nice feeling to have as throughout this class I had doubts about my concept and wasn't really full on in it.
• Focus on multigenerational households/advertise in suburban areas
• Express that the computer aspect of the product will have updates on the analysis of different deficiencies/illnesses 
• Manufacture in the US, promotes my values, healthy labor 
• Maybe not participate in influencer marketing, not practical??
• So...probably should have done this before but I actually researched my product to see if there is anything like it out there
• I found one article about a Japanese company who has a toilet that can test your sugar level, blood pressure and body fat.
• It runs for a whopping $3500 so maybe need to reconsider the price for my toilet lol

How Venture Concept Changed

• I was not aware that there was a product like this out there and neither were my peers in this class and the people I interviewed.
• My goal would be to make it more common and inexpensive. Market it more. Spread the word.
• I haven't seen any product like this in the US so I could be the first company here to do it.
• I will definitely have to up the price of my original thought of $500, guess I was not educated enough to make that guess
• Want it to be below the $3500 of the other company 
• My product will aim to do more and is marketed more towards vitamin/nutrient deficiencies. 

This is what the "Smart Toilet" in Japan looks like. Mine will be very similar but I would have a more slick touch screen not necessarily all this buttons which can be intimidating.

Assignment 28A: Your Exit Strategy

1) Identify the exit strategy you plan to make.

• I hope to stay with DailyDiagnostic until I am able to take a risk somewhere else. This means I am financially stable and feel like I have got the experience I needed throughout my time at DailyDiagnostic. This would most likely be within 5 years. Hopefully, the buyer of my business will have the same passion for health as I do and continue to represent the company well. 

2) Why have you selected this particular exit strategy?

• I selected this strategy because, although it is something I am passionate about, it is definitely not something I would be wanting to do for the rest of my life. My ultimate goal would be to create my own brand in either fashion/beauty or open up my own boutique one day. However, I know that the butterfly effect is very prevelant and am open to any new opportunities. 

3) How do you think your exit strategy has influenced the other decisions you've made in your concept? For instance, has it influenced how you have identified an opportunity? Has it influenced your growth intentions or how you plan to acquire and use resources?

• I don't think it has influenced my past decisions but from here on out it will definitely influence my thinking and actions. I will be more open to opportunities and the people I come across. I want to be able to say I put in my all to DailyDiagnostic until I feel like it will be better in the hands of another company/person.

Assignment 27A: Reading Reflection

1) What was the general theme or argument of the book?

I am all about growth mindset and seeing how I can become the best self I can be. That is why I chose the book "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" by Carol Dweck. It is all about how you can learn to fulfill your potential. It shows how by simply changing your mindset it can change your life. Something that really stuck with me was the quote: "If you only go through life doing stuff that's easy, shame on you". This book shows how you always have a choice on how you perceive every experience you go through. You can either sit there and do nothing and feel bad or do something about it. The main statement that the book was trying to express is that a fixed mindset might be limiting you from your fullest potential, from opportunities, and from achievement.

2) How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003?

Building a business from the bottom up can be challenging. You will inevitably face obstacles and, essentially, what determines your success after these will be your mindset. Having a growth mindset allows you to constantly learn and improve. This connects to our learning in ENT 3003 because a new product/business will require changes to be made along the way. This book also shows how to foster a workplace that is a community full of growth mindsets. People in these collective growth mindset companies are more open to expressing their opinion and communicate more efficiently. 

3) If you had to design an exercise for this class, based on the book you read, what would that exercise involve?

I would just have the class answer a few questions to have them reflect on their mindset and experiences.

• In what areas of your life do you believe you have a fixed mindset on?
• How can you move this more towards a growth mindset? What do you want to remind yourself of?
• Think of a time that someone outdid you and you just assumed they were smarter or more talented
• Maybe they just used better strategies, planned more, practiced harder
• How will you challenge yourself today?

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?

Something from the book that really shocked me and something I have not really thought about before was the reasoning behind the gender gap in math and science. In society, it is  portrayed that men are better at more math and science things than women. What contributes to the gender gap is the fixed mindset, stereotyping and women's trust in other people's assessments of them. Females trust in other peoples opinions stems from when they were little. Little girls were often never scolded but rather praised as cute and well behaved. Since they believe those things, then they must believe even the criticizing is true as well. The vulnerability of females in believing these assessments can only be easily changed by switching a fixed mindset to a growth mindset.

Assignment 26A - Celebrating Failure

1) Tell us about a time this past semester that you failed.

The first thing that comes to my mind was something that happened pretty recently. I applied to an organization and was lucky enough to receive the opportunity of an interview. I made the mistake of thinking I had the position just solely because I got the interview. I knew in the back of my head that that wasn't the case but that was my thinking going into it. Due to that, I planned my schedule and the decision to apply to other things based on this one organization that I hadn't even gotten yet. You probably guessed it, but I received the "You are such a good candidate but sadly...." email. This was definitely not something I was expecting as I thought I presented myself the most authentically and best I could in the interview. 

2) Tell us what you learned from it.  

Don't ACTUALLY plan things around something that isn't even secure yet. Maybe think about planning around it but don't actually do it. Something that I have been focusing this semester is having a growth mindset. This experience has definitely allowed me to practice this mindset. Failure is nothing but a learning experience we can only grow from. 

3) Reflect

In the beginning of this school year, I for sure had a fixed mindset. With all my experiences and everything that I perceived as a failure I would shut down. I wouldn't reflect on the experience. I would literally shut down and not want to think about it every again. I realized this mindset wasn't helping me by about mid fall semester. That is when I decided to be more aware of my thinking/mindset. I think that the quality of your life depends on how you choose to see things. We can decide how we perceive these things whether big or small. Now, I see values and lessons in every situation. I just have to remind myself that everything we experience can either help us to become better or bitter. 

Assignment 25A: What's Next

Existing Market. 

What I Think Is Next:

I think the next product DailyDiagnostic could make is a powder that you sprinkle in the toliet after you urinate. Initially, there could be three main ones for the three most common vitamin deficiencies. The darker the color turns of each color, the more deficient you are of that vitamin. I think this would be easier for the people who don't want to install a whole new toilet and aren't as committed to maximizing their health. In previous assignments, I mentioned the use of an app for parents who want to keep an eye on their children's levels. This app could also include more in depth information, acting as a guide for healthy habits. 

Existing Market Interviews:

"What should we be doing that we aren't planning to do?"

"What is your idea of what customers might want next?"

1 - "I would suggest to start focusing on your advertising and marketing plans. Maybe figuring out if you will market by geographic location or any other factors. Since your target market is multigenerational families, going to huge suburban school districts due tot the families that live there might be a smart move. It is a place to reach the families who have children and possibly older generations living with them. Something customers might want next or what they might want added to the product is computer updates with the screen. New tests for certain illnesses/deficiencies might come out and I won't want to have to buy a whole new toilet. I think simply reprogramming with an update would be a selling point if it is feasible"

2 - " I didn't see anything in your venture concept about where you will be manufacturing so start there? Figuring out whether you want your product to be manufactured in the US or outside the country would be the first step. Recently, It has been sort of a selling point for products to be made in the US because a lot of people want jobs to sty in the US. Society has always been obsessed with looking younger but I also think it is important to feel younger and healthier. So maybe creating an anti-aging product not for looks but for feeling better on the inside and fixing things that age on the inside?

3 - "In your venture concept I saw that you briefly mentioned influencer marketing. Although that is great idea, think about a 16-25 year old talking about a toilet on social media. I think you should start taking into consideration how likely it will be that someone will accept that brad deal and for how much money. It is kinda odd to market and sponsor a toilet on social media so think about how you want to do that and reflect your brand as a personality."

Reflection:

    I had a difficult time trying to get ideas out of the people I interviewed. They would just look at my venture concept and think that it was all good and didn't need any feedback. However, once I probed them to talk more I got some really useful information out of these interviews. Two of the three talked about marketing/advertising my product and the other interviewee talked about manufacturing.

    I think a reoccurring theme I have seen throughout all my interviews in this class but specifically these three is the near obsession with living longer, looking younger and being healthier. My perspective on that is if you are healthier on the inside and treat your body well then you will look/feel healthier on the outside. I think it is also important that people don't just want to live longer but be frail and weak but rather live long and be active when they are older. The purpose of my product is to enhance people's lives. 

    Influencer marketing and sponsored posts have taken over social media. Originally I thought this would be a great idea to get the word out until I realized from this interview that it would be kinda weird. I mean who would want a sponsored post on their instagram about a toilet or a youtube video on their profile. That is something I definitely should reconsider and think about whether to completely scratch that idea or come up with a way to balance it out. 

New Market: In previous assignments, I never really stated that my target segments would be of an affluent part of the society. After thinking about this "new market", I realized that my product was positioned as that for someone who has enough money to maximize their health. I think a new market for my product would be targeting a more lower income part of society. Maybe I could create a toilet that just does minimal functions of the personal performance identifier or create a less expensive version by using the most basic toilet and just adding the scanner and screen. The powder product I mentioned earlier could also be positioned for this segment. 

New Market Interviews:

"How will this business help to meet the needs of customers like you"

"What kinds of adaptations to the product/service mix do you think we should make to be successful in this new market"

1 - "It will help meet our needs by providing a way to prevent any complications that could possibly cost us more money in the future. Such complications could be small such as being low in iron and dealing with the effects of that or something huge like hospital visits. When there is no room to mess around financially, you got to find ways to save every bit. Making the product more cost effective by using cheaper materials for the actual toilet and then including the screen and scanner or having it come as an attachment would be possible adaptations to make the product more successful."

2 - It helps fulfill the need of time. My family and I don't have much leisure time so this product would definitely help us have more of this type of time. If people really cannot afford the product, maybe installing them in Minute Clinics at CVS as a free service. On their way to work, people can stop in quickly."

Reflection:

    This new market definitely poses some difficult questions. How could we get the price down? How differently do we position this product to this new market? The needs that were satisfied were still the same as my original market: time and money. I was surprised about the CVS idea and I don't really know how much that would work.
    It reduces the attractiveness of the time savings my product provides since you do have to stop there. However, it still saves more time than a doctors office and saves money. I think CVS would be interested because after people use the toilet, they can purchase all the vitamin/nutrient supplements right there, increasing CVS's sales. 

Assignment 24A: Venture Concept No.1 (Daily Diagnostic)

• Opportunity:
• Until recent years, society has associated the words "health" and "healthy" to one simply just not having an illness or being sick. Health has taken a whole new meaning now as people associate health with not only being free from illness but connecting the mind and body and being the best self you can be. The global market for health/wellness has been growing rapidly in the past few years and, according to Euromonitor International, has reached $686 billion in the year 2016.
• The doctors office always take longer than you actually think they will. By the time it takes to get there, check-in, wait in the waiting room, have the nurse take your vitals, wait for the doctor, have the doctor examine you, check out, drive to the nearest pharmacy and wait 10-15 minutes at the pharmacy it feels like your whole day is gone. It is not actually the doctor visit itself but the whole process that takes so long. In fact, Medscape released a report that stated typical doctor-patient time is only 13 minutes long. 
• The need is for people to be able to know their levels of vitamins/nutrients in a timely manner and not need to make a lengthy/expensive visit to the doctor's office. Currently, customers simply do their research online and take what they think they need not what they actually need. This need has not been satisfied in a way of prevention. People often wait until they are at their absolute worst to go to their doctors and often it is something that could be preventable.
• Potential Customers: multigenerational households, university owned buildings, millennials willing to pay (in general, people who wish to maximize their health)
• 
  
• Innovation:
• For both individuals and colleges, I will sell toilets that will be advertised as personal performance identifiers and health monitors because that is what is unique to the toilet. This product will analyze your urine after you urinate and give you an electronical list on a screen of various things you are deficient in. This product is a fast and easy way for people to monitor their health and be more proactive about their body. The way I see my product is there being a sensor that will detect when you urinate. Once this sensor is triggered, the toilet will open a compartment or simply extract a sample to analyze. Once it is finished analyzing, the toilet will dispose of it down the pipe as a toilet normally would dispel of its contents. I am selling a toilet along with a scanner and screen for between $400-$500 depending on how advanced the technology is. In general, a good quality toilet is between $200-$300 so if I would have to estimate I would add a couple hundred on that for the screen and scanner.
• For families, I would also like to include a downloadable app that will notify parents of their children results. This way, parents can keep track of their child's health without being a super helicopter parent.
• Venture Concept:
• Customers will buy my innovation simply because it will save them time and money in the future. They will switch because this is a more efficient process due to the fact that they are doing something they do everyday, the bathroom. They don't have to change their routine, thus, making it easily adaptable to their lifestyle. Customers will also buy this products so they don't constantly waste money on vitamins/nutrients their body is not deficient in.
• The competitors include businesses where people have to send in their "sample" of saliva or  urine to get tests that can take weeks to come back.  In today's society, people seem to have an obsession with quickness. It is always "I want it now" or "I don't have time for that". My product will give you the results at that moment so there is no waiting or handling involved. 
• The price point must be perfectly balanced as it cannot be too expensive so young millennials will be able to buy them. Although my main target segment is multigenerational households, millennials are the most willing to take initiative on healthy eating habits and wellness experiences (Nielsen). I believe that influencer marketing is one reason behind this. This online community has created a space where people can share recipes, wellness tips and healthy habits as well as products that fall within this category. This information can be quickly shared with millions of people. I think this is something I should take into consideration with the distribution of my product to millennials who use social media frequently.
• Unfair Advantage:
• Never underestimate the power of social media. After reading "The Art of Social Media" by Guy Kawasaki, I truly realize the importance of your brand's reputation/consistency on social media. My familiarity with social media and the knowledge that I gained from reading this book will definitely help me jump start my business. 
• What's Next:
• My goal for this product is not to ruin physician's careers but rather reduce the amount of visits that can be easily solved and prevented with my product. I could easily add a different product category of powders that change colors for the most common vitamin/nutrient deficiencies.
• For Me:
• I want to continue to promote healthy lifestyles and being proactive about the state of your wellbeing. If this product is scientifically feasible, I would look forward to creating a health brand out of this. One day, I would hope to take it beyond just the toilet in order to promote healthy habits globally. 

Assignment 23A: Your Venture's Unfair Advantage

1. Time Management:

• Valuable: This is valuable as it will allow me to focus more on my product and get things done in a more efficient manner.
• Rare: I don't think this is rare at all but it does take a lot of patience and time management skills to open up and run a company.
• Inimitable: It is individualistic in nature and changes from person to person but yes it can be imitated.
• Non-Substitutable: I could probably find someone who has these skills as well and hire them but that would just be extra money spent.

2. Top 10 Public University:

• Valuable: I do think this is valuable as investors will look at me differently from coming from a top 10 public university. Also gives me many great networking opportunities and helps me gain respect.
• Rare: Since it is top ten, there is only a certain percentile of individuals that attend these universities.
• Inimitable: The other competitors in top 10 can easily compete and imitate the qualities but outside competitors cannot.
• Non-Substitutable: Attending a top university is not substitutable.

3. Social Media Presence/Awareness:

• Valuable: Having a interactive/reputable online presence is very valuable to companies as the online world is growing.
• Rare: Most companies have individuals who are smart about connecting through social media
• Inimitable: A lot of people my age would have experience of social media since it is the world we grew up in. 
• Non-Substitutable: I don't think this can be substituted to anything else effectively since it is so huge to have an online presence.

4. Passion for Health:

• Valuable: I think the most important thing behind a product is your attitude so showing you have passion and enthusiasm for it is a must.
• Rare: With all these big businesses, it is hard to find people who do it because they love it and not solely for monetary or social gains
• Inimitable: It is hard to imitate being genuine and excited about something.
• Non-Substitutable: Since this is not my field of degree, then hiring someone who is could bring more passion?? depends on person 

5. Prototypical customer interviews:

• Valuable: Taking this class just brings me one step ahead from all the other hopeful entrepreneurs 
• Rare: I think this experience is rare, a typical class is not formatted like this, even at other schools
• Inimitable: It is hard to imitate these raw interviews and reflect on them as we do in this class
• Non-Substitutable: Could hire people to look at research data from other companies but this is the most raw and genuine way to receive feedback

6. Access to scientists/pharmacists:

• Valuable: Networking is HUGE with trying to create your own business
• Rare: Information is not rare but knowing someone can take you a huge step forward
• Inimitable: Information can be copied but the connection/relationship you have with someone cannot
• Non-Substitutable: Would cost money to get information elsewhere

7. Alumnae from my sorority:

• Valuable: Again making those connections and networking, you never know who knows who and where it can take you
• Rare: A lot of people in college have this connection, or connections through parents 
• Inimitable: No one can replicate my exact sisterhood but it is not a unique thing within greek life.
• Non-Substitutable: Could bu substitutable with a longer and harder route of getting to where you want to be

8. Customer service experience:

• Valuable: Helps me with my communication skills and handling conflict management
• Rare: No, a lot of people have held customer service positions
• Inimitable: Have to be in a stressful situation to really know how to handle it
• Non-Substitutable: Could be substitutable by people who have worked longer in this position or a higher one but would cost money to hire

9. Achiever Attitude:

• Valuable: My drive is very valuable as it brings me the energy to work long hours.
• Rare: I think it is pretty rare to find someone who has the mindset that they have to achieve something everyday no matter how small the achievement.
• Inimitable: This cannot be faked or copied as people just give up or have no drive anymore
• Non-Substitutable: This could definitely be substituted with a different attitude that will allow you to accomplish your goals as well.

10. Knowledge of Dr.Mercola:

• Valuable: My mom being the highest subscription/member of this website is valuable because he shows the latest health trends/products.
• Rare: While he is well-known, not a lot of people are aware of his website and all the things he does.
• Inimitable: Don't think there is another platform like this out there
• Non-Substitutable: Could be substituted by another general health/product website but nothing like the community that is built on his.

• After conducting the VRIN analysis, determine what your top resource is. Explain why it's more important to your venture than all of the other resources.

Honestly, after a lot of thought I think my top resource is having a social media presence. It is very important to creating a brand and opening up a business as you have to get the word out and connect with people. These connections will allow the sharing of your content hence spreading the word of your product.

Assignment 22A: Elevator Pitch No. 3

Here is my 3rd elevator pitch:  https://youtu.be/DFQOqW4GmOI




2) A reflection on the feedback you received from your last pitch.

The feedback of three comments that I got were all positive. They were all impressed by how I took the time to reflect on my last elevator pitch and said they could really see the changes in the latest one. Specifically, they all could tell that my voice definitely was stronger and more confident which is something I wanted to change.

3) What did you change, based on the feedback?

It is becoming way more comfortable to speak in front of the camera and not feel awkward. The comfortability of being in front of a camera is definitely affecting the way I speak and present myself. After watching all three in a row, I can really tell a change in my confidence and my demeanor. I did not really change anything in specific as I didn't have an critiques in my feedback; however, I am practicing in becoming a better public speaker. I am using this as an opportunity to improve my storytelling skills to really connect with my audience. I changed my hook just a little bit. I wanted to see what else I could come up with.

Assignment 21A: Reading Reflection No.2

1) What was the general theme or argument of the book?

This book was all about how you could "rock" social media whether that be your personal account or your business/organization's account. It gave you tips and tricks on how to gain people's attention and the right ways to do it. 

2) How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003?

In ENT3003, we are learning the stepping stones for creating our own business. This book talks about how businesses can make their brand more consistent among all the different types of social media and how to put out content that will be re-shared by anyone with an account. I believe this is important because when you first start out with a small business you want to get your idea out there and what better way to do that than the constant sharing and connecting of social media. I found some very useful examples from the book that I would like to share:

• "Your picture is your social media logo." Keep your profile picture consistent among all your social media accounts so you can be easily recognizable 
• Think "Will people reshare this post"
• "Seize the (Holi)Day" Time your posts with holidays or include in your initial phrase/title the holiday
• Pick a short hashtag and add share buttons 

3) If you had to design an exercise for this class, based on the book you read, what would that exercise involve?

The exercise would be to create your own social media account whether that be Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram based on the product/business you are creating for the class. This would include all the key points from the book and would help you practice how to run a business social media. This assignment would have you post or reshare 3 different things in the nature that the book talks about. The resharing must be something similar to your product but also something that would catch your followers (or just anyones) attention.

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?

I wouldn't call this an 'aha' moment but it was definitely something I was surprised about since I didn't know it existed. There are services that can automatically distribute your posts at certain times of the day whenever you want it to so you don't have to manually go in and do it yourself. This is perfect for people who love planning and have busy days where they don't have time for real-time posting. Some services that can do this for you are Buffer, Do Share, Friends + Me, Hootsuite, Post Planner, and Sprout Social. All these services optimize your time and sharing. 

Assignment 20A: Growing Your Social Capital

Domain Expert: Julia Haber with Wayv

Who they are, what their background is:
I decided to choose an entrepreneur that is around the same age as me and would most likely have a similar mindset and style. Her name is Julia Haber and she runs a company called Wayv.

How this person is a “domain expert”:
I wouldn't say she is a domain expert because her company doesn't relate to mine. I would consider her someone I could relate to more (since she just graduated college) and that is why I wanted to talk to her.

How I found and contacted this person:
I direct messaged her on Instagram. She did not answer in time but luckily she posted a youtube video answering questions that were very similar to what I would ask about her. entrepreneurship process.

Nature of Exchange: What they did for me, what is the return expectation:
Since she did not respond, I could not really get advice specifically on my product. However, I did get amazing advice from the video which explained how she started up with being so young and finding the resources to do so.


How will including them enhance my ability to exploit an opportunity:
In the video, she gave advice on what to do now in college and then the transition phase from college to the real world. It was very comforting to see someone so young be able. to get the resources and do something she loves.

Market Expert: Nick's Dad with DNAforME

Who they are, what their background is:
Manfred Althammer is actually my roommates boyfriends dad. He owns a company that's called DNAforME that's currently only in Europe.

How this person is a “market expert”:
This business has people send in a swab of saliva to the company so they can run tests and give you a customized booklet that shows what vitamins/nutrients you are deficient in. There is an option to do a subscription service that gives you the certain vitamins you need monthly.

How I found and contacted this person:
I had my roommates boyfriend put me in contact with him. I had to use WhatsApp since he lives in Austria.

Nature of Exchange: What they did for me, what is the return expectation:
I explained my product idea and asked questions on whether he believes it is feasible or not since he is more aware of the science side of things. He does not speak English very well so there was a little bit of a language barrier where I couldn't really directly communicate what I wanted to.

How will including them enhance my ability to exploit an opportunity:
By having someone who is already in the business of personalized nutritional supplements, personalized skincare products and personalized weight-loss programs it really gives me great insight into the industry I am diving into. He gave me the link to their website and I enjoyed the aesthetically pleasing nature of the website and how it is all about promoting health.

Industry Supplier: Lowe's

Who they are, what their background is:
I couldn't think of anyone in specific besides a brand who supplies toilets so I chose
Lowe's. I asked to speak to someone who specializes in the appliance department. I did
not get his name.

How this person is a “industry supplier”:
He works and specifically helps people in the appliance department of Lowe's. He deals and knows most brands of toilets.

How I found and contacted this person:
I just called the store on 13th street and spoke over the phone. 

Nature of Exchange: What they did for me, what is the return expectation:
I explained how I was a college student at UF in an entrepenuership class and needed some information/advice on my product. He was very nice and happily explained what his position is at Lowe's.

How will including them enhance my ability to exploit an opportunity:
Up until this point, I have not been informed or researched all the new toilets that are out there. He told me the basics of buying a toilet and what you should look for. They are: whether it is one or two pieces, the toilet bowl shapes, and available space. I never realized how intensive the buying process can be and all the different models that are out there.


Finally: Reflect. This experience requires you to do a little 'targeted networking.' How will this experience shape how you participate in any future networking events? Did this experience differ from your networking experiences in the past? How?
In future networking, I will definitely do more active listening. These interviews can be a bit intimidating (at least for me) and as all the nerves are boiling up you realize you are not really digesting the information they are saying. I never thought toilets would be something I would be discussing so often. Before this class, I never really thought about how some people's jobs are actually dealing with the production/sales/marketing of toilets.

Assignment 19A: Idea Napkin No. 2

1) You. 

My name is Grace Turner. After reflecting on my past assignments, I have found common themes within my life. In specific, the secret sauce assignment where five of the closest people in my life has made me more self-aware. I am someone who needs structure and order to be productive in my work. I am someone who wholeheartedly will put their time and energy into relationships and work. I am already someone who puts their health as a number one priority so having this business in my life would definitely help keep that up there. Health and a good wellbeing is something I am passionate about and would love to promote with my product.

2) What are you offering to customers? 

Nothing has really changed in regards to what I am offering. It is a personal health monitor that will allow individuals to see in real time what they lack and what issues they can prevent. This can be done by having a toilet which will give diagnostics on a screen of what vitamins/nutrients you should take.

3) Who are you offering it to? 

Through feedback, many people agreed that this product is for someone who wants to maximize their health not just "be healthy". The main target market would be multigenerational households as multiple people can get use out of the product. I had multiple people comment that younger generations may also benefit from this product as more young people are becoming aware of their health. By talking to some older adults, I can definitely say that younger generations have become way more conscious about their health with it almost being "cool" and "trendy" to want to be healthy.

4) Why do they care? 

This answer has also not really changed. People will spend their money on this product as it is only saving them time, energy and money in the future. Not having to go to the doctors as often and wasting money on vitamins/nutrient supplements that you are not deficient in are benefits this product can give. People are so "go go go" in their lives that they don't have time to do the research or go to the doctors for something as simple as vitamin deficiency. Even though this may be simple thing, vitamin/nutrient deficieny can be a serious health risk depending on what it is. 

5) What are your core competencies? 

In the time spent between this assignment and the last, I actually became aware of a new product that may be similar to mine. Care/Of gives personalized daily vitamin packs after you take a quiz to determine your lifestyle and what your body "needs". However, these surveys are not necessarily scientific and accurate as you don't really know what your body needs unless you do testing. This brand does not do this, it is solely what you want to get out of it. Our bodies are also constantly changing and with these vitamin packs you only take the survey/quiz once. My product has real time testing and lets you know exactly what  you need and don't.

In addition to these five elements, please spend a paragraph evaluating whether you believe these elements fit together or whether there are aspects of your business concept that are weaker / out-of-joint with the others. 

I believe that these elements do fit well together. I think the majority of us in this class are intimated by the fact of actually starting a business. It is terrifying once you realize all the connections/resources you must acquire before starting on this massive project. However, with the right attitude and mindset I believe anyone can make anything work. One specific thing though that is definitely weaker in these elements is the scientific side behind my product. I am not someone who is very "science smart" so I would definitely need to do some feasibility testing with educated people on the subject.

For the "feedback memo" -- please summarize at least two main points that you took away from the feedback you received. Also, please describe how you incorporated the feedback into this idea napkin. 

1. Although I did not include this in my idea napkin, I believe it is important to my product. Someone gave me feedback that the delivery idea is something that should be the primary way of receiving the toilet. With that, there should be included installation with the delivery. This goes with the idea of ease and quickness, which is something my product represents.

2. With multigenerational households being my target market, it is more than likely that older more financially stable people will be purchasing my product. With that idea in mine, quality would definitely be one of the more important factors even if it costs a little bit more.

Assignment 17A: Elevator Pitch #2

Elevator Pitch #2:

https://youtu.be/mIr-CFqi5w8

For my first elevator pitch, I was surprised by all the positive feedback I got. Of the three comments I received, all of them loved my introduction with a hook as it really got them to pay attention to the rest. Because of that, I will be keeping my introduction! One of the comments gave me constructive criticism on my speaking, which I do agree with. I really need to learn to speak up more confidently and enunciate better. So with that, I tried my best! The comments also enjoyed the way I talked with my hands as it made me look more enthusiastic about my product. The only thing I changed in my elevator pitch was my enunciation and "direct eye contact". 

Assignment 18A: Create a Customer Avatar

Prototypical Customer Avatar Description

My prototypical customer is a mom who not only has the responsibilities of taking care of her two children but her parents who live with her. She cares about all of their health as well as hers. Her hobbies includes researching and being up to date on the newest health trends. She loves watching shows such as This is Us and Kelly and Ryan. My prototypical customer most likely drives a mini van or crossover of some sort. She is most likely in her late 30s but wishes she felt younger which is why she is so health conscious. She worries about every sickness her children have and worry about whether her parents are doing their best to be healthy.

She probably lives in a nice suburban house and her kids go to an A rated school. Although she is very health consciousness, she feels as though there is not enough time in the day (taking her daughter to her soccer game, taking her son to his baseball practice, making dinner, going to her eye doctor, picking up her mom from the ear doctor...). This is something she struggles with but stills tries her best to be healthy and fit. 

What do you have in common with the customer avatar? If you have anything in common with the avatar, do you think that is a coincidence? Why?

The only thing I would have in common with the customer avatar is we both share a very health consciousness mind while also dealing with very busy days. College students, including me, can have multiple classes a day while also having meetings for organizations, interviews, sorority obligations and other things that may come up. Sometimes your health can bite you in the butt when you aren't realizing it as you feel like you are constantly going from place to place with no time to rest. 

16A: What's Your Secret Sauce

1) Describe five ways in which you think you have human capital that is truly unique. What is it about you, exactly, that makes you different? Write this up in a detailed list. 

1. Empathy: I think actively listening and processing what the other person is saying can make you a more empathic person. While the other person is talking, I think about what they are saying and how they are feeling instead of thinking to myself what I am going to say next. This skill has made me into someone people come to talk too.

2. Organizational Skills: I LOVE planning. I set up routines, write in my planner and am very goal oriented which helps me get all my tasks done on time.

3. Disciplined: I feel as though I know exactly what it takes to get tasks done and how much time it will take me. I know when to say "no" and how much work I can handle at once.

4. Harmony: I tend to steer groups of people away from confrontation. New ideas are very integral to anything but I do like to find the common ground between people. I prefer to be more practical rather than arguing and debating.

5. Loyal: When I am committed to something/someone, I am committed. I finish everything to the best of my ability. I treat my friends with respect and am always by their side for when they need me.

https://youtu.be/cCRa1u_jkL4

Rachel's Interview: Rachel is in my sorority and she is rooming with me next year. She describes me as someone who she can always count on and someone who puts time and energy into everything.

Rob's Interview: Rob, my dad, has known me my whole life and coached my softball team for 3 years. He knows how I am most productive when I have structure and routine. I am such a planner/organizer so when he says I understand I must achieve levels of repetition and preparation to get the outcome I desire, that is more than true.

Hannah's Interview: Hannah is my current roommate and we are also rooming together next year. She describes me as someone who is intentional and passionate about everything I do.

Sydney's Interview: Sydney is in my sorority and is rooming with me next year. She describes me as someone who is very proactive with getting work done ahead of time and doing the extra work that goes unnoticed.

Kaylee's Interview: Kaylee is my big in my sorority and one of my best friends. She knows how I value quality in my work/friendships and how I have an intense work ethic.

Reflection: I believe my view of myself and others view of me is pretty similar. I know I am such a structured and planned out person. A common theme was how reliable and intentional I was which really made me feel good about myself as I strive to have those two qualities. I would not make any corrections to my list. 

15A - Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No.2

Report Findings

• In each interview, I learned more about the technical side of my product. All these people I interviewed were double my age, which is probably why they are more knowledgeable about household items and big purchases.
•  Trisha, my first interviewee, believes that price matters but that isn't the most important thing. She emphasized how she doesn't want to buy the most expensive toilet; however, she doesn't want to buy the least expensive toilet because it might break. She mentioned that as long as the quality is there, she would be willing to spend around $1500 on my product. 
• Max, my second interviewee, would definitely be interested in my product but does not want to be the first person to use it. He would wait for it to be a few years on the market in order to look at feedback from online reviews. When I initially brought up style, he said he would not care as a toilet is behind closed doors and is not a focal point of the house; however, he would not want it to be a monstrosity of a toilet and mentioned that the computer part should be discreet (thinking about guest use).
• Denise, my third interviewee, gave me more insight on the actual purchasing of the product. She would be more inclined to buy it online as she believes there is no reason for lifting and carrying a heavy box in/out of the car. She also gave me the idea of doing monthly payments (like furniture stores do), as the big ticket price my intimidate people.

Draw Conclusions

Through my interviews, I definitely learned more about the nitty-gritty of my product: what works for people and what doesn't, what is practical and what is not. They all seemed to agree that if the quality is there and it saves them money in the long run, they would seriously think about buying this product. What makes them realize whether it was a good purchase or not, is if it helps them save money, time and/or energy.