Week 15 Reading Reflection

What surprised me the most in the reading was how the customer base for the company has been tripling each year.  That is very impressive.

The connection between microfinance and poverty was confusing to me.  I do not see how microfinance is a solution to poverty.  I view it as a way to fund smaller companies.

I would ask the author what the next step for SKS is?  The company has grown so much.  I am curious to see what he will do next.  I would also ask the author if customer loyalty is crucial.  I wonder if there are other things that can make up for a lack of customer loyalty. 

I did not disagree with anything the author mentioned in this reading.

Final Reflection

My most formative experience was my interview with an entrepreneur.  I will definitely remember this interview for years to come, because I learned so much from it.  My most joyous experience was the Free Money assignment.  I had a lot of fun recording the footage for that assignment.  I shared a lot of laughs with strangers that day.  I am proud of myself for conducting all of the customer interviews.  I had never interviewed anyone before I took this class.
I do not see myself as an entrepreneur yet.  However, I have moved a lot closer to that entrepreneurial mindset.  I think that I will be fully there in a couple of years.
I recommend that future students take this class seriously.  They can benefit a lot from it.  I would also recommend that they focus on developing that entrepreneurial mindset from day one.

Elevator Pitch No. 4

I think my elevator pitches have gotten better each time.  Therefore, I think this was my best one yet.  I received a lot of comments saying how similar my idea was to Uber and Lyft.  In this video, I tried to explain why my idea is different.

Venture Concept No. 2

The opportunity I have chosen is the transportation of college students.  There is a very big need for transportation for college students.  This need increases when it is time for them to go home for the holidays.  They are my potential customers.  The reason that this opportunity exists is because many students do not bring their car up to college.  As of now, college students are satisfying their need of transportation by taking buses.  However, they are not that loyal to that system.  This is a big opportunity, and I believe that the window of opportunity will be open for quite a long time.

My idea is a phone application called Ride.  This app would be somewhat similar to Uber.  When college students need to go home for the holidays, they would be able to request a ride from another student that is also going to the same city.  This app can also be used for away games.  The students that are willing to offer the rides will be compensated.  It is different than Uber because Uber is only used for short trips.  My app would be used for trips that are at least an hour long.  Some trips could even be 10 hours long.  The payment will be through the app.  The drivers will receive compensation for gas plus a fixed fee.

Customers will switch to this new product because it will be easier and cheaper than other options.  My competitors would be the buses.  However, their weakness is that bus trips can take a long time.  This app would also take you closer to your destination.  Buses usually take you to an airport or a downtown station.  The only employees my venture would consist of are the people giving rides.

My most important resource would be the number of college students that want to make money by giving rides.  The thing that is next for my venture would be providing more and more rides for people around the country.  In the next decade, I want to be a successful entrepreneur that has created all kinds of innovations that can help people.

I received a lot of helpful feedback on my last post.  Many people thought my venture concept was a great idea.  They said that many people without cars would appreciate this app.  They also gave me some constructive criticism.  They told me to explain the pricing and how the drivers will be compensated.  I tried to be more specific about that in this post.

Week 14 Reading Reflection

What surprised me the most in the reading was how much environmental awareness goes into social enterprise planning.  I did not know that people were so eco-friendly.  It is nice to see people trying to sustain the planet.
The most confusing thing about this reading was the graph that was titled "Classifying decisions using a conceptual framework".  I understood what the graph was portraying, but it was a bit hard to read.
I would ask the author what are the best rewards/reinforcements to use.  This is important to know because rewards and reinforcements can influence employees to work efficiently and effectively.  I would also ask the author what he thinks about what 3M is doing.  I would like his opinion, because I know many people have mixed opinions about the matter.
I did not disagree with anything the author had to say in the reading.

Google Gold

I never really had a strategy for search engine optimization.  My goal for each post was to answer all of the questions fully.  I chose keywords that related to the topic I was writing about.  I used keywords such as "entrepreneurship" and "business venture".  I tried sticking with these keywords throughout the semester.  I did not share any of my blog posts on social media.  I did not want to bring too much attention to myself.  I also feel like many of my posts would have been ignored on social media.  My most viral post that received the most traffic was Customer Interviews No. 1.  This was my first time interviewing strangers.  I think people were curious to see how my interviews would turn out.  I never made it to the first made of google results.  However, I did make it to the second page a few times.

Very Short Interview, Part 2

I have changed a lot since the beginning of the semester.  I have also changed a lot since my first interview with an entrepreneur.  I know a lot more about what it means to be an entrepreneur.  I have also learned what an entrepreneurship course will teach you.

I have interviewed Veronica again.  Unfortunately, she is traveling right now, so I had to conduct the interview over the phone.  These are some of the questions I asked:

Me:  What is a good way to expand your business?

Veronica:  A good way to expand your business would be to reach out to more potential customers.

Me:  How do I reach out to these potential customers?

Veronica:  Business cards, flyers, word of mouth, etc.

Me:  Have you thought about your exit strategy yet?

Veronica:  I have.  I plan on staying with the business until I retire.

I have come a long way thanks to this class.  I know what it means to be an entrepreneur, and I am comfortable talking about the topic.  This interview was a lot easier for me than the first one.  Veronica even told me that I have come a long way in response to my questions.

Week 13 Reading Reflection

The thing that surprised me the most in the chapter was the extra earning figure.  I had never heard about this before.  One can use it to estimate the value of items that we cannot physically grasp.

The pricing formula confused me.  There were so many steps to it.  It was hard to keep track of them all.

I would ask the author to better explain the pricing formula, so that I can have a better understanding of it.  I would also ask him what method he uses to analyze a business.  I would ask him this because I would like to use that same method.

I did not disagree with anything the author had to say.  Everything was explained thoroughly. 

Celebrating Failure

I have failed in this semester when I have forgotten to complete the assignments that were due.  This has happened to me a couple of times this semester.  These failures have helped me in the future.  I am now much better at remembering due dates.  I am a lot more organized now.
Failing is not easy.  However, it is a part of life.  We need it.  As humans, we learn from our mistakes.  I usually handle failure well because I know that I am getting stronger from it.  This class has taught me how to take risks.  I am definitely more likely to take risks now than I was four months ago.

My Exit Strategy

1.  My exit strategy would be to sell the business when I am offered an amount of money that I deem fit for it.
2.  I have chosen this particular exit strategy because I do not wish to stay with this venture for the rest of my life.  I rather create new ventures.
3.  I do not think my exit strategy influenced my other decisions for this concept.  I haven't thought about my exit strategy until today.  I still want to grow my business as much as possible and see it be successful.

What's Next

Existing Market:
What is next for my business?  That is a very good question.  In the future, I would like to continue providing the same service that I am currently providing.  However, I would like to expand it to reach a larger amount of customers.

Setting a path for the future is not easy.  It takes many hours of planning.  I would like to expand my venture and grow in my existing market.  To do this, I will have to reach out to more kinds of customers.  I can do this by marketing my business differently.  I will advertise a lot more so more people will be able to hear about the idea.  I will also make available to everyone.

New Market:
As of right now, my business venture is for college students only.  However, I can create a radically new market by making it for everyone.  This new idea will create value for others because they can use my idea to travel long distances by car for a reasonable price.

I have learned a lot about this new market by interviewing people about it.  It sounds like it could be a better idea than my original idea.  It surprised me that so many people were willing to try it out.  I got a lot of positive feedback on the idea.  I did not expect these kinds of reactions.  If I go through with this venture, I would like to try to pursue this new market rather than my original market.

Venture Concept No. 1

The opportunity I have chosen is the transportation of college students.  There is a very big need for transportation for college students.  This need increases when it is time for them to go home for the holidays.  They are my potential customers.  The reason that this opportunity exists is because many students do not bring their car up to college.  As of now, college students are satisfying their need of transportation by taking buses.  However, they are not that loyal to that system.  This is a big opportunity, and I believe that the window of opportunity will be open for quite a long time.

My idea is a phone application called Ride.  This app would be somewhat similar to Uber.  When college students need to go home for the holidays, they would be able to request a ride from another student that is also going to the same city.  The students that are willing to offer the rides will be compensated.  It is different than Uber because Uber is only used for short trips.  My app would be used for trips that are at least an hour long.  Some trips could even be 10 hours long.

Customers will switch to this new product because it will be easier and cheaper than other options.  My competitors would be the buses.  However, their weakness is that bus trips can take a long time.  The only employees my venture would consist of are the people giving rides.

My most important resource would be the number of college students that want to make money by giving rides.  The thing that is next for my venture would be providing more and more rides for people around the country.  In the next decade, I want to be a successful entrepreneur that has created all kinds of innovations that can help people.

My Unfair Advantage

1.  I have connections.  It is very valuable and almost necessary to have connections.  It is not that rare, because many people have them.  It is also very imitable.  There are not really other resources that provide the same benefits as connections.
2.  My education is another resource.  It is very valuable.  It not rare, because most people go to school.  It is very imitable.  However, there are not other resources that would provide me the same benefits.
3.  The amount of money I have is another one of my resources.  Money is very valuable, rare, non-imitable, and non-substitutable.
4.  My patience is another resource.  Patience is very valuable.  Sometimes it can be rare and non-imitable.  It could be substituted by other personality traits.
5.  My computer skills are a resource.  They are valuable because of the increasing innovations in technology.  These skills are not that rare because today's generation is always using the computer.  It is imitable, but cannot be substituted.
6.  My public speaking skills are another resource.  These are valuable if one must make speeches.  I think that they are extremely valuable and non-imitable.  They can probably be substituted if one does not have to make many speeches.
7.  My confidence is another resource.  This is not as valuable as my other resources.  It is also not rare.  It is imitable and substitutable.
8.  I am also very responsible.  This is extremely valuable.  However, I would not say that it is rare.  It is imitable and substitutable.
9.  I would say that my perseverance is valuable, rare, imitable, and non-substitutable.
10.  Finally, my honesty is a valuable resource.  It may be rare.  It is also imitable and substitutable.

My most important resource is my education.  Even though it is not that rare, I still think that it is extremely valuable.  I will be able to learn so much through school.

Week 10 Reading Reflection

The biggest surprise to me in this reading was the John Wheatman expense and operating budgeting example.  It surprised me that repairs are labeled as relatively stable and a fixed expense.

It confused me when the author said that the cash flow statement is also know as "the statement of cashflows".  They basically sound like the same exact thing.

I would ask the author what is the best way to discontinue a relationship with an unprofitable customer.  I would ask him this because in business, there are many time when you must cut loose ends.  I would also ask the author for some more tactics to use for good cash flows in a declining economy.  I would ask him this because it would be helpful to know when the economy starts to decline.

I did not disagree with anything the author had to say in this reading.

Growing My Social Capital

I contacted a domain expert in my industry by email.  The favor that they did for me was giving me a lot of helpful advice for the future.  Including this person in my network will enhance my ability to exploit an opportunity because they have a lot of experience in this field.

I also contacted an expert in my market.  This person filled this spot because they know a lot about conducting customer research in my area.  I also contacted this person through email.  They helped shed a lot of light on the mechanics of the industry.

Finally, I talked to an important supplier in my industry.  Once again, I contacted this person through email.  They filled this spot because he sells products and services to other organizations is my industry.  The favor he did for me was tell me about his job, so I could have a better understanding of the industry.

As I reflect on this assignment, I believe that this was one of the more difficult assignments we have had this semester.  However, I think that this assignment was very beneficial.  This experience will shape how I participate in future networking events.  This experience also differed from networking experiences I've had in the past because I have never taken it as seriously as this.

Elevator Pitch No. 3

I think my elevator pitches have gotten better each time.  Therefore, I think this was my best one yet.  I received a lot of comments saying how similar my idea was to Uber and Lyft.  In this video, I tried to explain why my idea is different.  I also received a comment saying that I should try to dress more professional.  In this video, I am wearing a polo, whereas in the last one, I was wearing a t-shirt.

My Secret Sauce

Five things that make me unique:
1. My patience
2. My understanding
3. My willingness to learn
4. My ability to pick things up quickly
5. My organization skills

I interviewed five people that know me the best.  They had a lot of nice things to say about me.  They said I was very considerate for everybody else.  They also said I was very organized and perceptive.

There were a lot of similarities between what my friends said about me and what I said about my self.  I think this is because I know myself very well.  I think my interviewees were correct about me.  I would not make any corrections to the list I made.  However, I would add some things that I forgot.

Week 9 Reading Reflection

The biggest surprise to me in the reading was that companies can be so afraid to use certain techniques or tactics to help their overall business.  I understand that sometimes it is hard to venture out and try new things.  However, sometimes we have to take risks to make progress.

The affiliate and advertising models were a bit confusing to me.  They seem very similar.  I feel some companies can fit both models.

I would ask the author how companies like Facebook and Twitter make so much money.  I know that Facebook generates revenue from ads on the website.  However, I know this is only a small portion of the money that they make.  I would also ask him what is the best method of sales forecasting.  I would like to know what the most efficient method is, so I can use it in the future.

Once again, I did not disagree with anything the author had to say.  I have not disagreed with anything the author had to say since Week 1.

Idea Napkin No. 2

I am an entrepreneur.  My skills include talking to customers and coming up with new ideas.  I think that my business can play a huge role in my life.  If it is a success, I could potentially make a whole career out of it.

I am offering my customers a mode of transportation when they need to get a ride home from their college town.

I am offering this to college students around the ages of 18-24.  I will market the idea mainly to those who do not own a car.  However, I will also market the idea to those with a car, because they will be the people giving the rides.

People will pay for this idea because all college students go home for the holidays.  Many of them do not have cars.  This means that they either have to take a bus or try to find a ride with a friend.  This can be very troublesome for some people.  With this system, they will always have a reliable ride for the holidays, and it will be cheaper than a bus ticket.

This idea is very unique.  I do not believe that there is anything like this on the market right now.  I am set apart from my competitors because I will provide cheaper prices.  This is different than Uber, because people do not use Uber for long distance trips because it would be too expensive.  My app would be exclusively for long distances.

I believe that all of these elements fit together.  My skills as an entrepreneur can translate to this business idea that I have.  This idea can make students' lives a lot easier.

All of my comments were about how similar my idea sounded to companies such as Uber and Lyft.  I tried to differentiate my idea from these companies when I described my core competencies.  I explained how my app would only be used for long distance trips.

Week 8 Reading Reflection

The thing that surprised me the most in this chapter was that a company can finance an investment while it is in debt.
The section that confused me was when the author talked about accredited purchasers.  It was hard for me to understand what they were.
I would ask the author if he could better explain accredited purchasers because I would like to understand them better.  I would also ask him how to know what the best method of determining the right avenue of financing to take.  This could help someone in their career.
I agreed with everything the author had to say.  He made a lot of interesting points.

The Twenty Percent

For this assignment, I talked to the owner of a local ice cream parlor.  Unfortunately, he and the customers I interviewed did not feel comfortable having their interviews recorded.
This entrepreneur believed that people have a sweet tooth are their target customers.  Their unmet need is the delicious taste of ice cream.  He said that they do not find their customers, the customers find them.  He also said that he targets all demographics.  The three customers said relatively the same thing as the owner.  This means that this entrepreneur genuinely understands his customers.

Half-way Reflection

I have learned a lot from this class so far.  To keep up with this class, I have made sure to check Canvas everyday, so I do not miss any assignments.  Sometimes I have felt like giving up when assignments started piling up.  However, I stuck with it because I knew this course would be beneficial to me.  I feel like I have developed a tenacious attitude during the past two months.  The experiences that have most contributed to this were the customer interviews.
Three tips I would offer next semesters students are:
1.  Be organized
2.  Stay focused
3. Don't give up

Week 7 Reading Reflection

What surprised me the most in the reading was how one's beliefs are ingrained into even the smallest decision making choices.  I did not know our beliefs could affect us buying bread in the grocery store.
The concept of market segmentation was a bit confusing to me.  The author gave an example of ice cream, but it did not help me understand it that much.
I would ask the author to give me more examples of market segmentation because I would like to understand the concept better.  I would also ask him if it was possible to combine market philosophies.  I think it should be possible because some people would like to use two different philosophies in their lives.
I agreed with everything the author had to say.  Although some things in the chapter confused me, everything that was comprehensible aligned with my beliefs.

Free Money

For this assignment, I will go out in public and approach 5 random strangers that appear to be busy.  I will start the conversation by simply asking them if they would like a dollar.  If they tell me that they are busy, I will not bother them anymore.

Out of the five strangers, 2 took the dollar.  In the first clip, the man did not take the dollar because he was talking on the phone.  The man in the second clip did not ask any questions and simply took the dollar.  Giving away a dollar was harder than I thought it would be.  I think that many people think that $1 is not that much money, or that they just do not want any handouts.

Elevator Pitch No. 2

The feedback I got on my last elevator pitch was very helpful and encouraging.  I got a lot of positive comments on my pitch, so I did not want to change it too much.  However, someone did tell me that I should have made more eye contact with the camera, so that is what I was focusing on in this video.

Week 6 Reading Reflection

The profitability chart really surprised me in this chapter.  There are many industries that are more profitable than I thought they were.  For example, security brokers are considered a more profitable industry than the soft drink company.
It confused me when the author talked about the five forces.  I do not think that they were explained very well.
I would ask the author if he could go into more depth about the five forces because I would like to know more about them.  I would also ask the author why security brokers and dealers are so profitable.  I would like to know this because it could be a career that I would like to pursue.
I did not disagree with anything the author had to say.  The author has a lot of knowledge about this subject, and I believed what he was saying.

Customer Interviews No. 3

My interviewing strategy was to write my business idea on an index card and hand it to five random strangers.  I will then ask them for their opinions on the business and if they think it is a good idea.  I learned a lot from this last round of interviews.  I learned more about how to interact with strangers.  I was surprised that these strangers had so much confidence in my business idea.  I was expecting some of them to say that it was not a good idea.  However, they all encouraged me to pursue this opportunity.  My confidence is a lot higher as a result of these interviews.

Idea Napkin No. 1

I am an entrepreneur.  My skills include talking to customers and coming up with new ideas.  I think that my business can play a huge role in my life.  If it is a success, I could potentially make a whole career out of it.

I am offering my customers a mode of transportation when they need to get a ride home from their college town.

I am offering this to college students around the ages of 18-24.  I will market the idea mainly to those who do not own a car.  However, I will also market the idea to those with a car, because they will be the people giving the rides.

People will pay for this idea because all college students go home for the holidays.  Many of them do not have cars.  This means that they either have to take a bus or try to find a ride with a friend.  This can be very troublesome for some people.  With this system, they will always have a reliable ride for the holidays, and it will be cheaper than a bus ticket.

This idea is very unique.  I do not believe that there is anything like this on the market right now.  I am set apart from my competitors because I will provide cheaper prices.

I believe that all of these elements fit together.  My skills as an entrepreneur can translate to this business idea that I have.  This idea can make students' lives a lot easier.

Week 5 Reading Reflection

What surprised me the most in the reading was how difficult it is to get a patent.  The average time it takes to get a patent is about three years.  I thought that it was a simple process that could be completed within one year.

A part of the reading that was confusing to me was when the author explained the difference between trademarks, copyrights, and patents.  Although they are similar, they are also unique in their own ways.

I would like to ask the author how to know when a partnership should be considered.  I would like to know this because sometimes partnerships can be disadvantageous.  I would also ask the author why there is no cost or risk involved in protecting material that is generated by copyright.  I would ask him this because it seems logical to me that there would be some kind of cost or risk.

I did not disagree with anything the author had to say.  All of the information was clear and comprehensive.  The author really helped me better understand the legal process in our country.

Interviewing Customers No. 2

After my first round of interviews, I decided to stick with the same opportunity.  The opportunity is to help college students find a reliable mode of transportation when they are commuting home.  I tried to talk to people that did not have cars this time.  If an interviewee did own a car, I had to tweak my questions for them.  I would ask the car owners if they would be willing to drive others home in their vehicle.
I learned a lot more about the opportunity this time around.  I am still confident that it can be successful, if it is implemented correctly.  I also now consider myself an expert at interviewing strangers.  These exercises have boosted my confidence tremendously.  I would like to give these three tips to future students doing interviews:
1. Do not be nervous.  Most people are friendly and are more than happy to answers your questions.
2. Step out of your comfort zone by asking questions that you may not usually ask.
3. Have fun with it!  I believe that it is alright to laugh and joke around a bit during the interview.

Elevator Pitch No. 1

The holidays can be a stressful time of the year!  Finding a way home from college can be very frustrating, especially if you do not have a car.  My solution would be to create an app that functions like Uber.  This new app would be called College Mover.  You would be able to get a ride with another student that is going home for a reasonable price.

Customer Interviews No. 1

The opportunity I chose was a transportation method for college students going home for the holidays.  Trying to find a ride home from college can be stressful and expensive.  I asked 5 strangers if they thought that a service that provides reasonably priced rides would interest them at all.
The questions I asked were:
"What mode of transportation do you use when you are going home from Gainesville?"
"Would you be interested in a service that can provide you a ride with a stranger for a reasonable price?"

 After talking to them, I am now unsure if the opportunity would be viable.

I learned a lot about interviewing customers from this exercise.  At first, I was very nervous to talk to 5 strangers.  However, by the fifth interview, I was very comfortable asking a stranger questions.  I also learned what kind of questions to ask someone during an interview.

Week 4 Reading Reflection

The biggest surprise for me in the reading was when the author stated that researchers believed entrepreneurship and bureaucracies were mutually exclusive and incompatible with one another.  This surprised me because I think that the two could actually be compatible with one another.  Entrepreneurs could help bureaucracies by giving them new ideas.

I was confused by one of the Corporate Innovator's Commandments.  One of them said that a worker can ignore their job description entirely if that is necessary for the innovation of their work.  I don't think it is a smart idea to tell workers that they do not have to do their job.  Innovation is important, but is it worth the cost of ignoring one's duties.

I would ask the author, "Do you think it's worth it for a worker to ignore their job description for innovation?"  I would ask him this because this was what confused me the most.  I would also ask "What are some examples of bureaucracies that contain entrepreneurs?"  I would like to more examples of these types of companies.

I did not really disagree with anything the author had to say in this chapter.  This information was new to me, so I felt that the author actually taught me a lot.

Top 5 World Problems

Top 5 Problems:
1. Terrorism is a huge problem the world is facing right now.  ISIS has been terrorizing the world and killing innocent people.
2.  War is a huge problem in the world today.  Countries go to war which leads to many innocent people dying.
3. Nuclear weapons are a problem in the world.  These weapons of mass destruction have the potential to destroy entire cities.
4. Hunger is a huge problem in places like Africa.  There are starving people with nothing to eat.
5.  Racism is a huge problem in the world today.  There are still many people that are prejudice against minorities.

Top 5 Solutions:
1. A solution to terrorism would be to destroy ISIS.
2. A solution to hunger would be to keep donating to charities that provide food for these poor people.
3. A solution to racism would be to keep educating our children about human equality.
4. A solution to nuclear weapons would be to stop the manufacturing of these weapons.

5. A solution to war would be to try to resolve conflicts without violence.

I listed terrorism as the number one problem because terrorist deaths have increased by 80% over the past year.  This problem is growing and needs to be stopped.  Even though racism is huge problem, I still put it at number five.  We are getting more tolerant and accepting as a society of different races.  The solution to terrorism is also the most feasible.  The whole world is against ISIS.  I believe if we all come together, we can definitely defeat them.  War is much harder to solve.  War has been around since the dawn of time.  Unfortunately, that problem may never go away.

Week 3 Reading Reflection

The part that surprised me the most in the reading was when the author talked about the psychological risks of being an entrepreneur.  Being an entrepreneur is very mentally demanding.  I did not realize that it could cause severe psychological problems to people.  I now understand that this is a stressful career path, and it is not a joke.

The part that confused me the most were the different types of personalities.  I think the author could have done a better job at explaining the difference between the two and giving more examples of them.

I would like to ask the author about more ways that entrepreneurs can relieve stress.  Entrepreneurs have stressful lives, and I would like to know how they live their lives happily.  I would also ask the author how he would classify type B personalities in terms of successful, efficient leaders.  Once again, I would like to learn more about the types of personalities because that is what confused me.

I actually did not disagree with anything the author had to say.  He made a lot of good points, and many of them were new to me.  This chapter definitely taught me a lot of the lives of entrepreneurs.

Identifying Local Opportunities

1.a. What bugs are lurking in your home?
b. http://www.alligator.org/news/local/article_35d9df74-bf37-11e5-899f-1b7855d8fca6.html
c. The article is saying that a study found up to 10, 000 species of insects throughout 50 North Carolina homes.
d. Most of these bugs are harmless.  However, these bugs could pose a threat to people who are allergic to the protein that arthropods carry.
e. Homeowners have this problem because they do not know what kind of organisms are living in their houses.

2.a. Research shows hookah may not be the safe alternative to cigarettes after all
b. http://www.alligator.org/news/local/article_37317cb6-be69-11e5-9b6c-1f1681e728f3.html
c. According to a recent study, hookah may create 25 times more tar than a cigarette.
d.   People think that smoking hookah is a safe alternative to cigarettes because it is evaporated through water.  However, this is not the case.  Smoking hookah can definitely lead to serious health problems.
e. The people that have this problem are those that are unaware of the dangers of smoking hookah.  It is not a safe alternative.

3.a. Police say unnamed man flashed genitals on Sorority Row
b. http://www.alligator.org/news/crime/article_b0e6afbc-c0c7-11e5-a026-5f1c1c6e1789.html
c. A man flashed his genitals to women in a parking garage.
d. The problem is that this is sexual harassment.  The women were minding their own business, and when he committed this act.
e. Everyone in the city of Gainesville is affected by this problem because this man is still on the loose.

4.a. A look at sexual misconduct in local law enforcement
b.http://www.alligator.org/news/local/article_438e5f9a-9e36-11e5-bd98-6b7bdc37f12c.html
c. An 18 year old woman reported that she was sexually assault by an officer after being arrested for shoplifting.
d. The problem is that there is a lot of corruption in our local law enforcement.  Police officers are abusing their power.
e. The city of Gainesville has this problem because this happened at our local Target.  The city needs to do a better job when they are hiring these officers.

5.a. University investigating death of UF freshmen, no foul play suspected
b. http://www.alligator.org/news/crime/article_3a9e3f9c-ba86-11e5-b406-b7171b8c1b11.html
c. A UF freshmen was found dead in his car Wednesday morning.  Police do not suspect that he was murdered.
d.  The problem is that he may have been depressed, and no one knew about it.
e. Students suffering with depression are affected by this problem.  Help and support needs to be provided for them.

Very Short Interview No. 1

Veronica Vidal is a yoga instructor in Key Biscayne, Florida.  She has been teach yoga for 22 years now.  She started her own business called Vero Yoga.  I sat down with her and asked her a few questions about entrepreneurship.

Tyler:  What does it mean to be an entrepreneur?
Veronica:  Being an entrepreneur means having the motivation and enthusiasm to start something from scratch and take risks while doing it.
Tyler:  What do you think I should learn in an entrepreneurship course?
Veronica:  You should learn all aspects of forming a business and running it on a daily basis, so that it is successful.
Tyler:  What do you wish you had been taught in school before setting out on your own path as an entrepreneur?
Veronica:  I wish I had learned more about finances, marketing, and accounting.

I learned a lot during this interview.  Veronica taught me that you can be very successful with a business of your own.  I also learned that even if you are successful, there is still always more you can learn.

World's Biggest Problems

1.  War is a huge problem in the world today.  Countries go to war which leads to many innocent people dying.  A solution to this problem would be to try to resolve conflicts without violence.
2.  Hunger is a huge problem in places like Africa.  There are starving people with nothing to eat.  A solution to this problem would be to keep donating to charities that provide food for these poor people.
3.  Illegal immigration in America is a huge problem.  People are pouring through the border undocumented.  A solution would be to build a huge wall at the southern border.
4.  Unemployment is another huge problem.  Many people are looking for work, but there are no jobs available.  A solution would be to create more jobs.
5.  Terrorism is a huge problem the world is facing right now.  ISIS has been terrorizing the world and killing innocent people.  A solution to this problem would be to destroy ISIS.
6.  Racism is a huge problem in the world today.  There are still many people that are prejudice against minorities.  A solution to racism would be to keep educating our children about human equality.
7.  The spread of infectious disease is a huge problem in the world today.  Some diseases are being spread that are fatal.  We need to do a better job at controlling these diseases and trying to find a way to possibly cure them.
8.  Global warming is a problem that the world is facing today.  Humans are polluting the air, which is destroying the ozone layer.  A solution would be for humans to start taking better care of the environment and stop polluting it.
9.  Gender inequality is a big problem that the world is facing.  Women are still seen as subordinates to men.  The average man tends to get paid more than the average women.  The solution to this problem is to start viewing men and women as equals.  A woman should not be paid less than a man for the same job.
10.  Nuclear weapons are a problem in the world.  These weapons of mass destruction have the potential to destroy entire cities.  A solution to this problem would be to stop the manufacturing of these weapons.

Week 2 Reading Reflection

What surprised me the most in Chapter 1 was the point the author made when he said there was a difference between entrepreneurs and small-business owners.  I always thought that they were the same thing.  Although they have some similarities, they also have some key differences.  For example, small business owners are not necessarily focused on growth.  They may prefer a more stable approach to running their business.  Entrepreneurs strive for growth and profit.

A part of the reading that confused was when the author said that gazelles do not survive.  Gazelles are business establishments with at least 20 percent sales growth every year for at least five years, starting from a base of $100,000.  From that definition, they sound like they would be successful.

I would ask the author why gazelles do not survive, because I do not understand how a business that grows for its first five years fails.  I would also ask the author how one could learn about entrepreneurship if they do not go to college.  I am curious about this because many people in America cannot afford to go to college.  I would like to know if these people still have the ability to become successful entrepreneurs.

I did disagree with one of the myths of entrepreneurship that the author brought up.  The myth was that all entrepreneurs need is luck.  I do not think that this is a myth.  Being in the right place at the right time is huge in entrepreneurship.  I have seen many worthy businesses fail, while inferior businesses succeed.  Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good.

Bug List

1. It bugs me when I have to do laundry.  This bug exists because clothes get dirty when you wear them.
2. It bugs me when I order California Chicken Grill, and the delivery driver forgets to bring my rice.  This bug exists because the employee might be new to the job.
3. It bugs me when people do not use their turn signal when they are driving.  This bug exists because a lot of people think that it is necessary.
4. It bugs me when my apartment has fire drills in the morning.  This bug exists because the fire alarm is very loud.  However, fire drills are very important for safety.
5. It bugs me when the temperature outside is below 60 degrees.  This bug exists because Gainesville tends to get cold in the winter.
6. It bugs me when my phone runs out of battery.  This bug exists because I forget to charge my phone.
7. It bugs me when teachers assign a lot homework on the weekends.  This bug exists because homework is an essential part of school.
8. It bugs me when the water from the water fountain does not taste good.  This bug exists because there could be something wrong with the filtration process.
9. It bugs me when there is a lot of traffic at around 5 o’clock.  This bug exists because 5 o’clock is when a lot of people get out of work.
10. It bugs me when there is a crying baby on an airplane.  This bug exists because sometimes parents need to travel with their child, and the baby could be scared of the noise of the plane.
11. It bugs me when my favorite T.V. show has commercial breaks.  This bug exists because companies need to advertise their product, and TV networks make money from it.
12. It bugs me when DirecTV loses signal when it rains.  This bug exists because DirecTV because bad weather affects the satellite.
13. It bugs me when the power goes out during a storm.  This bug exists because I use electricity all the time.
14. It bugs me when my laptop freezes.  This bug exists because I am used to my computer being fast and efficient.
15. It bugs me when people cut me off when I am driving.  This bug exists because some people are in a hurry when they are driving.
16. It bugs me when my headphones break.  This bug exists because I listen to music a lot, and they get old after a while.
17. It bugs me when the gym is crowded.  This bug exists because there are a lot of people that enjoy working out.
18. It bugs me when I have to complete an assignment in a short amount of time.  This bug exists because I tend to procrastinate.
19. It bugs me when I have been using a bar of soap in the shower for a while, and it keeps getting smaller until it is impossible to use.  I must then throw away the little piece.  This bug exists because I hate wasting things.
20. It bugs me when I am traveling, and my flight gets delayed.  This bug exists because sometimes weather conditions can affect the departure and arrivals of planes.

I found it difficult to think of 20 things that bug me.  I am a pretty easy going guy, so there are not a lot of things that annoy me.