Week 4 Reading Reflection

1) Incongruity seems like a surprising way to identify opportunity. I imagine it's very true though, that if you want to to find a new way of doing things look at the way everyone else is doing something and then find a difference. If you can clearly see the status quo, looking for a new way to tackle an issue will provide incredible leverage for you in any environment.
2) I'm confused as to some of the practical differences between an adaptor and innovator. On paper they appear to be two very different individuals, but in practice I imagine there is often one entrepreneur who does both of those depending on the situation. Is there one general stereotype that each tend to follow in reality or something?
3) How can I develop my creativity? How does developing general creativity tie into developing creative thinking? Do they go hand in hand? If I use the tools to develop my creativity, does my thinking change along with it?
4) I don't know if I necessarily believe that there is a brain boom coming about. I don't think that the push is to be mentally younger as much as it is to be physically younger. It's a bold statement to say that mentally, people will want to and work just as hard to stay young mentally as they will physically.

Interviewing Customers No. 1

The opportunity I found was late night food options in Gainesville. Anytime I am hungry at night, I always am disappointed by the options of food I have, and I wanted to see if my peers felt the same way. I think the need for late night food is mostly found in college aged students, so I tried to interview only college aged people.

I asked each potential customer the following questions:
1) What time do you think most food establishments in Gainesville close?
2) Tell me about your last late night eating experience.
3) Name between 1 and 3 food places close to campus that are open late?
4) Would you say you are satisfied, moderate, or dissatisfied with the amount of food establishments open late in Gainesville?

I think after talking to potential customers I saw that people wanted more options as well. I think there is definitely a need for late night food options closer to UF campus. I also had some people say that it wasn't that there wasn't food open, rather there wasn't any healthy options open.

I found it super uncomfortable to approach strangers and ask them to participate. My strategy was to talk to them for a little bit before actually beginning the filming so that we would both be more comfortable around each other. No one turned me down to be interviewed though, so I think people are less inconvenienced by being interviewed than I thought.

Top 5 World Problems

1) Access to clean water
2) Access to education
3) Terrorism 
4) Income inequality
5) Social Justice

1)  The biggest solution to the wage gap is to offer better improved education, social welfare programs, improved tax policy, and job opportunities.  
2) The solution to education in developing nations is mostly funding. We would also need to rise up teachers and school supplies. 
3)  One solution to the clean water problem is affordable water sanitation systems in third world countries. 

4)The solution to terrorism goes back to corrupt leaders, and we can aide in this by no longer supporting dictators who fund terrorism. 

5) The solution to our social justice problem is a bit more complicated because it takes a change of heart, but it also starts with the people in charge of hiring,  acceptance offices at our universities, etc.

I selected access to clean water as my top problem because water is such an essential part of life and according to the UN "783 million people do not have access to clean water and almost 2.5 billion do not have access to adequate sanitation." These numbers are unacceptable because people need water to live. 
It was hard for me to rank the rest because they all have a great impact on peoples lives, but I decided education is the second largest problem because it could be the solution to a lot of the other problems. 

I chose the wage gap as the most feasible problem to fix because there are smaller implementable steps countries can follow to work on it. I feel like it can be a more step by step solution, rather than just one big solution. I also think America is leading the way with our social welfare programs, and teaching other nations how to start working toward a smaller wage gap. 
It was difficult to decide which solutions I thought were feasible because all of them seem like huge obstacles, but with education and clean water I feel like the biggest thing is funding. 

Week 3 Reading Reflection

       1) I learned that there are several views on risk in the mind of the entrepreneur. I assumed the mentality was to always minimize risk and maximize profit. I’m understanding some will actually take on ventures that offer little profit but lots of risk, because the task is meaningful. Some will take on medium profit tasks with low risk, because they are risk averse. Every investor has a different approach to risk and profit motive. 

       2) I don’ t understand why running is related to all the positive results measured, but weightlifting is only related to two. I think the results would be the same across many exercise areas. It’s an interesting theory that it would be different for one exercise than another.

            3) I would ask the author how the overriding need for success mixes with entrepreneurs who are low risk and low profit oriented. What does that coexistence look like?

            4)  I don’t think that unrealistic optimism is a bad trait. I think that unrealistic optimism can be a good trait, because often it inspires people to reach a big vision and that will move people to hit other goals, even if they are smaller. So I would say unrealistic optimism isn’t a bad thing.

Very Short Interview No. 1

Morgan Mills is an entrepreneur because after working for a roofing company and hating the way it was run, he stepped out and created his own roofing company.

What should my expectations be in this course?
-You should expect to challenge your mind to begin thinking like an entrepreneur, so that you can begin to see the things you want to change. You should also expect to modify the way you have viewed the field of entrepreneurship. 

What does it mean to be an entrepreneur?
"Being an entrepreneur simply means you run the business yourself and you put a whole lot of money into doing that. To me it means getting to operate my business exactly the way I want it to."  

What do you think I should learn in an entrepreneurship course?
"I think you should learn the in's and outs of being an entrepreneur, the financial side of it, how to market your services, how to be an effective manager, but mostly that you just need to dive in- you will learn the most from the experience itself."

What do you wish you had been taught in school before setting out on your own path as an entrepreneur? 
"You don't always have to be the most innovate in your field, you just have to be the best at what you are good at. You also need to be willing to ask for help because you will need it." 

Through my interview with Morgan I realized that the best way to become an entrepreneur is to find the holes in the field you are in. Morgan saw holes in the company he was working for and created a better roofing company. I think he just reinforced what we have been learning through our "Bug List" assignment, that we need to learn to see the problems and find solutions to them. I also found it really honest that he said, "you will learn the most from the experience itself." Since I am a very hands on learner, I think that I will absolutely learn the most when I am thrown into the work force. 

The World's Biggest Problems

1) Access to clean water is one of the worlds largest problems because many people around the world have no access to clean water due to scarcity, pollution, etc. This problem is either caused by finance or resource restraints but regardless this problem is unacceptable. People around the globe have to walk days to get clean water, boil the water before they can use it, or die from water borne diseases. One solution to this problem could be affordable water sanitation systems in third world countries. 

2) Income inequality is one of the world's largest problems in developed and developing countries alike.      The world's poorest often have no way out of poverty due to lack of opportunity, support, and aide. The biggest solution is to offer better improved education, social welfare programs, improved tax policy, and job opportunities. 

3) Health care is a major world problem because many developing countries do not have the resources and the people do not have the finances to have adequate health care. Third world countries are constantly battling infectious diseases and don't have the resources to contain the problem. Typically the  better the economy the better the healthcare, but in a world where about half the world lives in poverty this trend is unacceptable. The solution to this problem is far beyond the scope of most peoples control. It begins with poverty issues. Health care problems are often aided by medical missions and hospitals being built in developing nations, but the problem is still there with funding and availability to all people. 

4) Access to Education is a huge problem people in America often overlook. After going to Haiti and seeing how many children do not have the opportunity to go to school, I realized how stuck there society is because of their lack of education. Less than half of Haitian kids have the opportunity to go to school, and of those only 30% of Haitian kids will make it past the 3rd grade. We often forget how important education is because every single child is required to go to school in the United States. Kids who don't go to school are stuck in the life they live. Solutions to education in developing nations is mostly funding. Kids in Haiti dream of going to school they just don't have access to education, so we need to rise up teachers and school supplies. 

5) Religious freedom restrictions are among one of the world's biggest problems because around 5.3 billion people suffer harsh treatment for their religion of choice. In America we often take for granted that we can worship God, multiple gods, or no god at all. I can't imagine living in a place where I cannot worship my God freely, better yet be punished for it. The fact is 76% of people live in places with high restrictions on religion. The solution to this problem starts with better people in leadership. 

6) Terrorism is probably the world's biggest problem people associate most with right now. People are currently living in fear of ISIS. Wether they are canceling study abroad plans, avoiding airplanes, or just acting a fool, people are terrified to live their lives. The solution to this problem goes back to corrupt leaders, and we can aide in this by no longer supporting dictators who fund terrorism. 

7) The widespread use and manufacturing of bombs has become a major issue because they have become a much more normal weapon used in war and terrorist attacks. Bombs are a weapon of mass destruction and have the ability to kill so many people at once. The solution to this problem starts with great leaders, and could possibly entail a ban of the production of anything used in lethal weapons. 

8) The lack of social justice is a problem we see often in America and in other places around the world as well. Although many would like to think racism is a thing of the past, it is something we still see in the work force, in police interactions, and politics. The solution to this problem is a bit more complicated because it takes a change of heart, but it also starts with the people in charge of hiring,  acceptance offices at our universities, etc. 

9) Corrupt government employees around the world is a huge problem. Change typically starts with the government because they have the funding, the leadership, and the resources to make things happen. We are so lucky to live in a place where our government is working to make our lives better because in so many other countries the government is the main cause of their oppression. The solution to this is the emergence of democracies world wide. 

10) Decline in international adoption rates is a big problem because children in other countries often do not get placed into a foster care system like we have in the US. People have jumped on the "adopt only from America" train, but don't realize that orphanages in third world countries are funded purely by donations most of the time and don't have the space or resources to properly care for all the babies there. Having first hand seen what an Orphanage in a developing nation looks like, I was able to understand desperate need of good homes for these babies. They are properly nourished, bathed, and cared for at the orphanage because they don't have enough adults, resources, etc. The only solution is to encourage adoption in general, to go overseas to educate women about birth control, and to help implement better care for orphans in developing nations. 

My Week 2 Reading Relfections

The thing that surprised me the most was how many of the myths about entrepreneurship I believed to be true. I think I to some extent believed every single myth they addressed. I think the myth I was most stunned by is that entrepreneurs aren't always inventors, in fact a lot of them just have innovative ideas. I think this myth is what makes people separate themselves from the field of entrepreneurship the most because we often associate inventors with geniuses and prodigies. We often believe the lie that you cannot learn to be an entrepreneur, but are born an inventor, genius, prodigy, etc.

Another thing that took me by surprise was that the risk associated with entrepreneurship is actually pretty moderate. The texts described the research and excessive planning that went into new ventures and how much that minimizes the risk for entrepreneurs.

The concept of fair trade as opposed to free trade confused me because the text did not really address the movement towards fair trade. The text mostly described the problems people see with free trade, but did not give much insight in to how fair trade would resolve these problems, or even really what fair trade was. I would love to read more about fair trade because global issues really interest me.

I would love to ask the author more about social entrepreneurship. How it works? what kind of profit is there in that sector of entrepreneurship? How much of the entrepreneurship field is made up of social entrepreneurs? I would love to learn everything there is to know about social entrepreneurship because it is a trend in the twenty first century and because helping people is my passion. I want to hear stories of social entrepreneurs experiences, so that I may learn and be inspired by their ventures.

I don't think I disagreed with the author but rather a statement in the text that in no way reflected the authors thoughts. I disagreed with us moving toward a different trade system because small factories in America were shutting down due to work  being outsourced to neighboring countries. As American's we tend to think nationally, not globally, and that affects the way we care for other people. We have the opportunity to provide jobs to people in other countries who often need it more than us, yet we jump at the opportunity to take that away and help ourselves.

My Bug List

1) When my Snap chat glitches and wont let me open the application. I usually have to delete the whole application and re-download it to fix the problem.
2) When there is no parking at Starbucks on 13th street because the other stores that have no customers reserve too many spots. This bothers me because I have to park way behind and walk when there is 20 spots right in front of Starbucks that are never used by the other companies customers.
3) Plastic water bottles bug me because they are so inefficient and wasteful. Everyone could just carry their own reusable water bottle around and refill it.
4) Most of the stores at midtown bother me because they are unaccessible by car or scooter during the day because there is no parking lots for them and street parking is not lifted.
5) Products that are created to filter water but are unaccessible to the people who really need it. Water filters are such a dire need in third world countries yet so unaffordable to them.
6) A product that bugged me was my Shark Clip Watch that claimed to be able to go 200ft under water but is broken due to water damage. Their false claim really bugged me.
7) Nike Free Run shoes bother me because the name makes you believe they are great running shoes, when in reality they are unsupportive and more for style.
8) It bothers me when my Lu Lu Lemon leggings peel or the seams come undone because they are supposed to be so "well made" and I feel like I overpaid for the quality. Although they do have great customer service and usually trade in anything that is a product malfunction, the poor quality in the first place really bugs me.
9) Shatter proof glass screen covers that don't actually work are the worst. I have had two phones with the screen covers that claim only the glass on the screen cover will break, but when removed my phone was also shattered.
10) I'm often frustrated by doctors who don't have the latest technology- I feel as if I am receiving worse medical care than others.
11) Bathrooms with automatic sinks that are only triggered when your hand is right in front of the sensor. How are you supposed to wash your hands while keeping one in front on the faucet at all times? It makes no sense at all.
12) Restrooms that have automatic soap but not automatic sinks bother me because it defeats the whole purpose of having automatic soap. If you are going to pick one wouldn't you pick the sink? Another bizarre concept to me.
13) Paper towel dispensers in public restrooms that you have to manually operate. There is nothing worse than having clean hands and then touching something a million strangers have used.
14) Expensive children clothing bothers me because you are investing money into products that are only going to be used for a couple months to maybe a year before it becomes too small.
15) Animal conservationist who spend so much money saving the animals bother me because we have so many people who need food, shelter, clothing, etc. It sometimes seems as if we overlook problems in our own species and move onto others.
16) It bothers me when sustainable products such as reusable diapers are super expensive because it makes them almost inaccessible to orphanages who need them. Throw away diapers are much cheaper in the short run but super unsustainable in the long run. Orphanages need more washable diapers because it is more affordable once they have them.
17) Cheaper off brand alternatives to products that are doing huge things for people aggravate me. For example, people jumped at the opportunity to buy cheaper "Tom's" called "Bob's." Bob's took the exact shoe and business tactics as Tom's but with a more cynical approach. Bob's shoes are not driven by an experience like Tom's, but rather by money and the proven success of philanthropic products.
18) It bugs me how people who do so much for people get paid nothing. Social workers, youth leaders, non-profits employees could have some of the hardest jobs yet are getting no fiscal benefits. It makes me feel as if we put little emphasis on what really matters, people. Our society is so money driven that we don't even do what we love anymore in fear of being poor or not socially respected.
19) When people compare the needs of the poor people in America to the needs of people in third world countries. They are not the same. People try to keep our attention within our own country when in reality the poorest of the poor are usually way better off in America then society as a whole in a third world country.
20) The lack of stimulation of third world countries economies. Why are we so against helping people? Why is it so bad to outsource some of our work to people who need work more than us? Why are we so selfish?

It was really difficult to come up with "bugs" that were about products or tangible things. I found it interesting that most of the things that bug me have more to do with humanity and less with tangible things like the "McDonald's drive thru." I could of easily written you a list of things that are wrong with people, you know, the stuff we can't really fix.

My Entrepreneurship Story

The only real experience I have had with entrepreneurship is through one of my family friends who started his own bottled alkaline water company. Kolton and his partner actually thought up the idea while in an entrepreneurial class at Baylor. They were both student athletes and wanted to create a health drink and donate some of the profits to a local charity, A Glimmer of Hope. It was so cool to hear about a friend of mine who created something out of his two passions, sports and service. I think Kolton's success with Whol-E Water taught me that if I want to be successful as an entrepreneur, I have to create something out of my passions rather than just something that will make me money!

I took ENT because I have always been interested in the idea of creating something of my own, but I never really knew how in the world I would go about it. Like Kolton, I have always had a passion for serving people and my dream is to create a water filter or sanitation system that would be affordable and accessible for people in third world countries. I hope to learn about realistic ways to approach my huge dreams throughout this course.

Katie's Introduction

Hi class! My name is Katie Austin and I'm from Austin, TX (yes, I own the city lol). I enjoy traveling, being with people, laughing, and YoungLife. My family is really awesome. My little brother, Hudson, is my best friend in the whole entire world. He is the coolest, cutest, most athletic and handsome 8 year old you will ever meet. I am a marketing major but I don't quite know if i'll ever pursue a career in that field. My dream job is to be a youth minister but there are a lot of hurdles to jump over before I can do that. I have travelled to a lot of different countries in my life, but my favorite place to travel is Haiti. I actually lead a short term mission trip there every May through YoungLife. Haiti has truly stolen my heart. I love the people, their faith, the culture, and building international relationships.

Katie Austin - Week 2- Entrepreneur's Mantra

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