Big Dreams

Through this semester I have found a lot of information about myself, business and where to find information then I originally knew existed. Some of the assignments I particularly enjoyed were the readings. I like to read, and I found all the books I read on the list very interesting and informative. I would be tempted to read all the books on the list and I’m keeping the list for my personal enjoyment as reading options. I did not particularly enjoy the interview experiences at first. Also, upon the start I found the elevator pitches difficult. Of course, by the end I learned with practice the elevator pitches came very naturally. I began using an elevator pitch with different Uber drivers that I present to start conversations. I think even though at first, I found the interviews difficult I really learned there is a surplus of information and people are more than willing to share their experiences with you. I am not comfortable with talking to strangers at work, fellow coworkers ...

My exit strategy is to run the business about five years and see it for a profit. I think I would like to develop it into a beneficial project that helps those in need during disasters and then sell out. My reasoning is the main people I would be helping would be in my community in Panama City Beach from the devastation of Hurricane Michael. I think after five years this would give those impacted significant time to bounce back and the business could focus on expanding to other areas that have been impacted by the hurricane. My main reasoning for selling out is my personal devotion to the business. I think in five years I would want different things in my life and would not want to be tied to a business. Another reason is I personally really enjoy the starting process and once I have learned all I feel I can in the business venture I often get bored and look for another adventure. I feel this would give me opportunity to get the business where I wanted it, sell out and consider differ...

This semester I experienced what I originally thought was the biggest failure for myself. I had decided after graduating this spring I would like to attend law school. A year ago, I took the LSAT, which is the entrance exam to law school. My score had come back significantly low. After months of studying I realized I was not yet prepared to retake the LSAT. So, I decided to go ahead and apply to law school. I thought that even with a low LSAT score, a high GPA and a strong application would carry me through to gain entrance into a lower level law school. So, I prepared my application and turned it in sure my application would be received with shining glory. After a few weeks I received a letter from the law school, denying my admission. My hopes and dreams of attending law school were shattered. At first, I was down on myself and not even enjoying my classes as I felt uncertainty of what I would do. My dream of getting admitted into law school had just been blown away. It was awful. Af...

The book I choose was “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success”. The main objective of this book was to train your brain how to create a growth mindset. The author goes into detail about how a fixed mindset can cause you to limit your potential while a growth mindset allows you to reach your potential. She discusses how to become self-aware of yourself and even how by observing others you become self-aware. The book really connected with the class in several ways. It was a great time to read it as I had just watched lectures about how using failure to improve creates a growth mindset. When you use the failures, you have experienced as learning tools instead of stopping points it really gives you a way to improve. I think this book further enhances how you can achieve success through mindset regardless of failure. Something that is reiterated in the class is how entrepreneurs often fail at many ventures before they do succeed. With the growth mindset it gives us an opportunity to keep l...

When I asked those in my existing market things I could do that I’m not already doing I got a few interesting suggestions. One person said that instead of just selling tickets to concerts and events I could have people volunteer their time for admission to the concerts. This is something I had not even considered. Another person suggested I investigate areas that do not already have events and try to promote them there. The last person I spoke with suggested I try more of a traveling venture to expand my audience. With this information it made me consider opening booths in festival grounds across the county and selling products to promote the business where the funds go to those suffering from disasters. It really showed me that instead of keeping my organization in one area that traveling to different areas may be a good way to promote to more people. I also liked the idea of people volunteering their time to attend the concerts. They could volunteer their time helping people reconst...

Delights for Disasters The need I found that I identified is the need to help victims that have suffered from a disaster. While several people need assistance specifically from the devastation that occurred due to hurricane Michael’s aftermath, there is a need to assist these people and that is where my customer base stems from. The people that have the need are those that are genuinely concerned with the well being of their community, those who have experienced lost or tragedy as a result of the storm and want to help others, those who are concerned with their reputation in the community those that wish to volunteer and donate because of the feel good factor that comes from helping others. This opportunity was created due to nature itself. The destruction that Hurricane Michael produced caused people to see the impact directly from the devastation left behind when a natural disaster strikes. The media heavily publicized the tragedy and many people in the community were directly i...

1. Strong networking capability – Valuable but not as rare, inimitable and non-substitutable. This resource is very valuable in finding donors, volunteers and people to help assist but other people could easily utilize a network that may provide similar benefits. 2. Creative products (Money Tree)- Valuable, rare, somewhat inimitable and somewhat substitutable. My idea to create fun and interesting products such as a “money tree” a flower design that people purchase for the purpose to give to those in need is a very original idea that is hard to copy and serves as a valuable tool. However, some products could be created that would give these products competition. 3. Events expertise- valuable somewhat rare, not inimitable and non-substitutable. My previous experience working events will help me provide a framework that others may not have. In the grand scheme of things several others may have worked events. 4. Band, concert, and venue connection- Valuable, rare, inimitable and non-su...

1)      What was the general theme or argument of the book? The General theme of the book is based on the author’s life and how you can fight through struggles and still be successful. The name of the book “How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big” gives first hand advice of how his life and how his own failures lead him to experiences that helped him get to where he his today. He goes into detail of his failures from everything from failed resteraunt business, failed investments, even failed interviews that put him in circumstances to make mistakes and learn from his mistakes. He goes into great detail about how important it is to focus on strategies instead of just goals 2)      How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003? I think this book relates to the class because it shows how to really become good at something you need to go out and try. It was through all his experie...

https://youtu.be/V7lNK0j-elg The feedback I received in the last pitch was to add a little detail. In the first pitch I was told to cut the time and on contrast on the second one I was told to add a little time to allow for detail. Even with the two different feedbacks I think I was able to find a happy medium in the length of time. I was also told to dress up a little more and add some enthusiasm. I think this piece of advice was absolutely imperative to improving my pitch. In the newest pitch I took a little extra time to dress up and present myself in a professional manner. I also tried to pause and add details when necessary. I found these pieces of advice incorporated well into my pitch. I found that the pitch was more memorized making for a smoother transition. I think this pitch could be utilized in real life everyday scenarios.

1) Katie- Fundraiser Organizer 2) domain expert 3) She is a mutual friend of mine from High School who created a fundraiser after the hurricane to help a family. I emailed her and asked if I could talk to her about her experience. 4) They gave me advice on how to open and operate a fundraiser from personal experience. We talked awhile about how they created the fundraiser and how I could easily start one. Many of the donors I found were personal friends or friends of friends that knew each other. In return for her information she asked me for some real estate advice from my previous experience. In this way it was an exchange of information. 5) I think the information I received is beneficial to creating a fundraising experience. I also think since she has follows that donated to her fundraiser she could let those donors know of mine and they would potentially help assist. Finally: Reflect. Since it was a  mutual friend I think this networking experience...

1) You. I am a member of the Panama City Beach community and I was impacted by Hurricane Michael. I was able to use the resources I could to help with my own recovery of the storm. I think I could use the ability to gain resources to help other people recover from their own disasters. I have been a manager for three years and I think this ability to manage would help me in creating a successful business. I also established the “I can Team” at my previous college so I have experience in creating an organization that helps others. I have also worked marketing for a real estate company so I have experience marketing. 2) What are you offering to customers? I am offering donors the chance to help others in their community and feel good about their decisions. I am helping those that are still recovering from the hurricane and I would like to expand this to all of those that have suffered from a disaster. I am offering a chance to help one another. I would like to add special incent...

https://youtu.be/jvuEOvp7cNc Most the feedback I received in my previous elevator pitch was positive. I did notice that someone commented that I could eliminate the excess that I talked about the people who are experiencing the devastation left behind as a result of the Hurricane. It was suggested I could shorten my video since they were starting to get bored with the details. I took this into account and tried to shorten the length of my video and not dredge out the details as much. I found this helpful. Also, from my own analysis I noticed I could use more eye contact and speak slower so my audience could follow along easy. I tried to incorporate this in my second elevator pitch. I think this pitch is more to the point with a clear description of what the goal is.

In this assignment I found my customer avatar to be representative of my typical customer. When having a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting those who have suffered disaster typically the donors are the customer. In this case I choose a female in their mid thirties, someone who is involved in the community and charitable work. Their goal is to make a difference in society. I would say that have moderated income and possibly work in a profession that helps others, possibly as a teacher. They may be involved in the chruch, with children of their own and drive a modest car or van. I think they would be family oriented and enjoys cooking. I think they take a lot of pride in their appearance, reputation and contirbution to society. Since they are local to the Panama City area they enjoy the beach. I think I hold a lot in common with my customer base. Since I experienced much of the damages from the hurricane I can relate to why someone would want to donate to their commun...

Describe five ways in which you think you have human capital that is truly unique 1. Ambition- I tend to strive and not give up on what I want. I constantly striving to do better or more.  2. Optimistic- This gives me the sticking power that things can and will improve and I truly believe in a positive end result.  3. Influential- People are inspired by me. I can motivate people and make them want to do well.  4. Leadership skills- I enjoy taking control. I know how to delegate and create a well trained team that knows how to complete a job correctly.  5. Adaptable- Previous experiences have caused me to easily adapt to my environment, mesh with different types of people and easily make changes when things do not go according to plans.  Interview the five people who know you the best. Mike https://soundcloud.com/tori-bradley-830766033/mike/s-uQrXr Mike referred to the qualities empathy towards other people and being able to get ...

When I began this assignment, I wanted to focus on the segment of people that would be providing the contributions to a nonprofit. At first, I thought this may be hard to find three people that would be willing to share their donating experience. I was surprised to see that I ended up with sixteen people instead of just three that actively donate and were glad to share their experience. This gave me a great idea of why people would want to donate and really showed me there are lots of people out there that would be willing to contribute to a nonprofit under the proper conditions. The first thing I noticed during my interviews is everyone was wanting to donate for the feel-good factor. People really enjoy the satisfaction it brings them from helping someone else. Many people were apt to donate to charities that were close to their heart. For instance, people who had children were more likely to donate to children’s hospitals. One girl who had a disabled son would choose to donate to hel...

I read “Grinding It Out” by Ray Kroc. I think what surprised me the most was that he made his fortune not necessarily on fifteen cent hamburgers but by monopolizing on real estate. I was also surprised that the business idea really wasn’t his originally. The fact the business had already been established and he just franchised what was already made was surprising. I admired his drive. He was constantly working to succeed. I also admired that he was brash and wasn’t afraid to go out and ask for what he wanted. I really admired that even when faced with difficulties he did not back down and continued to strive. The thing I admired the least was his view of marriage. It seemed as he saw his thirty-year marriage as disposable when he started to make money and saw a pretty face. The fact he wanted to marry a married woman while he was married I found a little unnerving. He encountered a lot of failure through the process before and during establishing the McDonalds empire. Instead of giving...

Staying organized is a main key as well as time management. If you know when all your deadlines are it is easy to stay on track. I track all the assignment due dates in my calendar so each week I know exactly what to expect. Also, working ahead really helps. That way you can take a little time to brain storm ahead of time and also gives time for adjustments to be made when things come up. The more you prioritize your time the more beneficial easier it is to keep up with the requirements of the course. There is a quote about taking the first step even though you cannot see the entire staircase the resonates in this course. It is easy to give up when you don’t immediately see the results in the beginning. At times things can become overwhelming and you may want to give up. However, if you break things down in small steps its easier to see each goal as a significant goal in the right direction. I think being optimistic has helped me tremendously in this course and several others. Somet...

I decided to focus on the segment of lower income individuals that specifically suffered damaged to their home that they are unable to afford to repair and is causing day to day issues. The first person I spoke with told me they needed electrical work because of the hurricane. They realized their real need for this when the weather changed and got colder. Heat became a more immediate essential item on their list of repairs. This need is now constant due to the colder weather. They anticipate that the air condition unit will become another repair if they do not get the electrical fixed by the time the weather begins to warm. The next person I spoke with had a problem with funds due to the hurricane. Since they were forced to have to move because of the damage they were trying to come up with enough funds for a new place and deposits for bills. This was becoming an even bigger increase on their day to day life having limited funds for basic needs such as food while making the...

1) You. I am one of the locals that experienced Hurricane Michael. I survived the Hurricane and I experienced damage to my property as well. I was able to utilize resources to assist with the recovery process. I think my experience cultivating resources to help other’s in the community that experienced loss or devastation could be very useful. I have managed business, so I think I could use these skills to manage my own business that would help other’s in the community. I think the business concept would play a huge roll in my life since I would be helping assist others in my community and could relate to each of their issues. I helped establish “The I Can Team” at my community college as vice president I was successful in creating a team that brought about assistance for those with disabilities. 2) What are you offering to customers? I would like to create a nonprofit business that can help bring resources to those who experienced loss during Hurricane Michael. I would l...

https://youtu.be/1lb0WR1XzQo

Testing the Hypothesis, Part 2 The first person I spoke with stayed during the hurricane. While their family did suffer some problems, they did not personally experience much property damage or loss. In fact, the girl I spoke with was living at her parent’s house at the time the storm occurred. She was able to get a few friends together as roommates shortly after the storm, so she was not negatively impacted by the damage from the hurricane. She grew up in Panama City Beach so had a strong network of friends that were able to assist her. Her place of work was not severely damaged, so she was able to continue her job without an issue. She was not impacted in such a way that she has a need for resources or additional help. The second person I spoke with said he had damages to part of the home he lived in during the storm. While this was a problem since he rented his house, the landlord was able to make the repairs in a timely manner. While this was an inconvenience it was not a continu...

Solving the Problem After speaking with several people in the Panama City Beach area I learned that devastation from Hurricane Michael is a very real problem. People are continuing to suffer from the damages incurred during the hurricane. This means many people are finding themselves in situations were they truly do not know what to do about the situation. Some need repairs, some want to sale their home and move on but cannot afford to and some need basic everyday items. I think a nonprofit service that helps assist victims of the hurricane could be a good service to provide. I think help could come anywhere from guidance of what to do or where to obtain resources. I think it would be beneficial to have charitable donations for those who need assistance. I think involving volunteers to help with repairs that could be made would be beneficial. Also, having investors on hand that would like to purchase the damaged properties would be an option that could be added to assist those that ...

Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1 Home owners in the Panama City Beach area are having difficulty repairing their homes after the devastation of Hurricane Michael. · The who: Homeowners in the Panama City Beach Area · The what: They are unable to repair their homes due to lack of funding. · The why: The Hurricane damaged their property beyond affordable repair. · Testing the who: I think the homeowners in Panama City are the ones who had extensive property damage and limited funds. · Testing the what: I think those who didn’t have insurance, insurance didn’t cover, people with lack of funds are the reason the repairs still need to be done. · Testing the why: I think the repairs become essential for those that are impacted in daily life due to the devastation. The first family I interviewed was completely unsure how to get the repairs done to their house and afford these repairs. They are currently living with roof damage, water damage, electric...

Identifying Opportunities in Economic & Regulatory Trends Opportunity #1 Economic: Investors and the Government Shut Down https://money.usnews.com/investing/stock-market-news/articles/2019-01-18/3-tips-for-investors-in-a-government-shutdown With the government shut down we see some investors are hesitant to invest. While people are not getting paid they are not making purchases. I think there is an opportunity for some investors since other investors are scared to invest and potentially selling off. This could make for a relatively easy potential for some investors to go ahead and invest in the market while prices are low, and inventory is high. The article states, “try to use a shutdown to your advantage. If a sector or company is likely to be affected, the market often anticipates it, building in the volatility of a shutdown before it could occur, McGuire says. Investors could use any temporary volatility or sell-offs as an opportunity to pick up quality stocks at a value p...

Identifying Local Opportunities GALLERY: 12 Panama City Hurricane Damaged Properties for Sale https://www.newsherald.com/photogallery/DA/20190122/NEWS/122009992/PH/1 Due to the damage from Hurricane Michael people are selling their damaged home as is. The property values are selling low since many had such severe damage they must sell. These properties are putting the value into the land in hopes that rebuilding can be accomplished. The problem is the damaged property, decreased property values, the fact that these are cash sells since due to the damage traditional financing is no longer an option. The problem exists for several people. The problem exists for the property owners who experienced severe damage. It could exist for individuals who would like to purchase a property but cannot get financing for the property. It could exist a problem for people in the surrounding areas as their property values will decline with the surrounding properties selling for so cheap. Rebuild...

Forming An Opportunity Belief · Your beginning point. I believe there is a need for housing in Panama City after the devastation of the hurricane. · Describe your belief. The unmet need is the housing crisis since Hurricane Michael. The people with this need are the people that suffered severe damage from the Hurricane. This need came from a natural disaster. People are currently living in damaged homes, tents and Fema trailers without the resources to either fix their property or move. I am very sure this need exists. · Identify the prototypical customer. The customer could be the person that experienced property damage due to Hurricane Michael in the Panama City area. · Iteration No. 1: I spoke with three prototypical customers that had experienced damage on the property they were living in due to Hurricane Michael that gave me feedback on their current situation. The first person I spoke with had property damage to the property they own. They did no...

Your Entrepreneurship Story I have had several different encounters with entrepreneurship in my life. Somewhere focused on meeting entrepreneurs themselves, becoming involved in entrepreneurship, helping others launch a business and taking an entrepreneurship class in the past. I think each one brought me a deeper understanding of how the entrepreneurship process and experience is and it is different for everyone. I assisted my mom build a real estate business and I was responsible for much of the marketing that helped build up clientele. I helped establish the “I Can Group” at Gulf Coast State College, as Vice President of the group we established the group from the ground up. I have meet an owner of an Doctors Office and interviewed them about their personal experience building and growing a business. I have taken this class partially in the past and learned some things about entrepreneurship that I was completely unaware of. I took this class to expand my knowledge of the entr...

The Bug List 1. The uncertainty of not knowing what career path or graduate school I will attend after graduation. Reason: I have only applied to one school and did not get accepted so now I am unsure what to do next. I haven’t enacted a backup plan or an idea of what my next step is. 2. Taking a break from course work and realizing I do not have lunch. Reason: Because I did not do a meal prep plan or go grocery shopping. 3. My boyfriend having a female roommate. Reason: He had a female roommate before we met. 4. After managing a seasonal job previous coworker still have questions that don’t involve me anymore. Reason: Because my coworkers depended on me as a leader and still see me in that role after the job is complete. 5. Getting a new piece of technology and not knowing how to use it. Reason: I did not research how to utilize the equipment since I was impatient to start using it. 6. Having to keep up with a jacket in the winter time w...

You are invited to join this journey with me in "Big Dreams".