26A - Celebrating Failure

Throughout this semester, I have been able to experience many failures. Yes, unfortunate I know, but not altogether negative. As said by the professor and of course the brilliant Edison, failure is not always a loss, it most often times is a rewarding push towards the right direction. A failure that I have most commonly run into over the past few months is my attempts at studying for my cognitive psychology class. Boring, most definitely, but still terribly frustrating. I had previously believed that I was somewhat decent at studying, I had no true method to my madness but in most cases the end results would reflect that I was doing alright. This year however I have come to realize that I had no idea how to truly study, being that the class is packed with so much to learn and apply. The tests themselves are not based upon memorization but rather the application of the concepts I had been taught. Going into my first exam I had totally mastered my quizlet and felt very confident, but after the exam was over I had come to find out that I was so very wrong. Next exam I decided I would work harder and do better, but I still was failing to meet the mark I was setting for myself. I did increase my score, however it was nowhere near where I needed it to be, and if I kept going at the rate I was my gpa would surely suffer. It wasn’t until the module within the class itself that examined our memories and study tactics that I realized it wasn't about my intelligence, I mean I got in UF I couldn’t be that dumb, it was about how I was studying the material. After finally taking what I had learned and applying it to my own study habits I was able to surprise even myself by nailing my last exam. Not only that but I have now discovered better ways to study that I can apply to all my other classes as well. 

After the failures I had learned that clearly what I was doing, was not going to cut it. I discovered that the way I had previously believed to study was in fact not very useful at all. After multiple failures I was finally driven to the correct way to study, not only allowing me to improve my grades within this single class, but I now also had the knowledge of how to study for my other classes efficiently. It may have took a lot of stress and tears but I now feel much more confident in my study habits and for my future here at school. Without this failure, in a class that although is important does not apply to my major, I might have experienced a far worse demise in other classes. 

In general I believe failure to be very rewarding. It obviously is indeed the most frustrating, annoying, terrible thing to happen in the moment, but can change your outlook on so many things in the future. It is an obstacle that challenges an individual uniquely, not one failure is ever the same, and the way a person handles a failure varies from the next. It is a learning experience and is a part of life that allows for balance. Although I do often times find myself blubbering like a child after some failures, as time progresses you are able to reflect and realize that it all happened for a reason. That failure has brought you to this exact point in time, and without it? Who knows where we’d be. Life is not unfair it is simply just, everything happens for a reason and even with the lowest of lows you can be sure to know that there will be equal if not greater highs coming in your future. This class has been something that I have enjoyed so much. It has allowed the students to express ourselves in a manner that is unique to each person. It has brought up failure, success, and so much more. It has left the duty of responsibility in our hands, making sure we know that it is up to us whether or not we get a good grade, and for that I am grateful.  

25A - What's Next

Existing Market:

Step 1: In terms of what’s next for my product I do believe that the most important step would be sponsorships and brand deals. Gaining as much publicity as possible will help to expand the market pool and gain revenue for my application. With that being said, the way to go about sponsorships would be to make sure they are with reps that are involved with maintaining good health and eating right. 

Step 2: After speaking to more potential customers I was able to discover that the best thing for my company would be to continue expanding. They explained to me how running and creating an application on my own would be very difficult. In order to expand my business I would need to recruit more people onto my team. If I were to do this I would be able to easily gain more momentum and have more brain power and creativity. 

Step 3: The best plan of action I can think of would be a two part plan, beginning first with the advice that I was able to gain from those that I had interviewed. The first step would be to add more people to my team. This idea makes the most sense because to first expand my team I would be able to better produce and market my application. They would be able to bring to the table ideas that I would have rather missed, and they would also be a support system that I would need if I were to create a large company. 

The next part for the future would be taking the company that I had now been able to produce and mass market it. Put this application everywhere, make it known to everyone I can, and have it do as well as it can. I would like to believe that if this were possible, I would not only be able to help myself and my team, but the lives of so many people. 

New Market:

Step 1: As of now I am marketing this product to those who are not as wealthy. This avenue would be to help those who do not have as much money to work on saving it in any way they can, while also still creating delicious meals. To change this I would be able to create an application that would have far more delicate and rare meals focused towards a higher end community. 

Step 2: I believe that it may be easy to create a venture for this market because they are always wanting more. This higher end, will have better quality and far more delectable meals. It can incorporate ingredients that are at a higher expensive and will be far more delicious. 

Step 3: For this I interviewed one of my friends that comes from an extremely wealthy family. Within this interview she explained to me that it might not be as applicable to everyone but rather a select few. Simply because she feels there are a lot of wealthy families that have personal chefs or simply eat out a lot.

Step 4: Within this new market I was able to discover that my application might not be able to work as well as it would with the target market I have right now. This was not too much of a surprise for me but I was taken a bit aback simply because I am apart of the target market right now. Not that that is a negative in anyway it just simply is a factor that comes into play. 

24A - Venture Concept No. 1

Opportunity: 

The concept of growing up, becoming an adult, is ingrained into our minds from the moment we are able to understand it. We are brought up under the notion that we are one day going to have to fend for ourselves, create a live for ourselves, and in the end be the only one we are able to depend on. It is a daunting idea that we like to push to the background and hope will ever so slowly fade away with time. In reality, as time begins to pass, this particular ideas presence becomes even more evident, until the day finally comes when we are adults. We allow ourselves to grow and become the young men and women that we are today without any previous knowledge as to how or why. We are set up to learn for ourselves what the world is all about, from the largest of tasks to the smallest. One very important characteristic that us young adults must quickly come to learn is that, to fuel our ever growing minds and bodies, we must learn how to cook! Growing up we are fed and clothed, housed and schooled, but through it all we are never truly taught how to cook. The select few that do know how started at a young age or have been self taught. When the time comes where there is no one left to cook for us, and our funds are running dangerously low, we must realize that it is solely on us to grow up and learn what's cooking! My application provides multiple different services in one, teaching the consumer how to cook, teaching them what to cook, teaching them where to buy the ingredients, and so much more. People can often be very limited in their means, therefore within this application it is available where to purchase the most cost efficient ingredients as well as low budget meals and snacks. Within each category (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snack) there are many, many different recipes. Varying in health needs, whether that be gluten free, vegetarian, vegan and so much more. All of these recipes include step by step instructions as well as lists containing everything you need to get the job done, and where to purchase the ingredients. The market for this opportunity is mainly within the young adult area, but can be applicable to anyone wanting to learn how to cook or needing some assistance as to what to cook. This sort of opportunity can be found everywhere leading it to be very large, as well as never truly lacking in that area of supply. There will always be new generations who have a desire to learn how to cook. 

Innovation:

There can be many components to an application that allow it to be innovative or new. The concepts that I am bringing to the table that allow for it to be most innovative for this particular market is the idea that there are ingredients lists with where to purchase the most cost effective products. This allows for those who are up and coming to not only learn how to shop and cook, but how to do so without overspending or choosing the wrong things. My application alone is not enough to set it apart from other sorts of apps that have recipes, but the fact of the matter is the amount of detail that would be involved with this app. There is always something else to be discovered within my app, whether it be health tips, certain types of dishes, or where to purchase the selected items. 

Venture Concept: 

My venture concept in itself is unique but the area to which I am marketing is not. However do to, again, the uniqueness of the qualities within my application I find it very easy to believe that it would not have a hard time persuading customers to become involved. There would be some competition in the field but the idea of keeping this relatively low budget will help to entice my market pool. Along with that this particular application would be easy to download and use. It can be found on any smart device or phone and will allow the user the ability to be flexible with what they create. Some possible weaknesses is that this is an up and coming idea, it is always a risk bringing a new idea into an already established market. Some people are simply set in their ways and don’t enjoy the idea of something new, but I still have faith that this would be able to be a big success. 

Three Minor Elements:

“Secret Sauce” - I believe that, again, my secret sauce will be my applications ability to help consumers save money. One thing that everyone loves, besides of course food, is saving money. With that being said something that will set my app apart from others will be that very thing. 

Next - My next venture for this application would be sponsorships. By having big names and or fitness advocates talk on behalf of my application, gaining revenue and of course consumer market. 

Future - The next big thing for me would simply be growing and learning as a person. I will be able to gain more wisdom through such a task and be able to learn and grow as a person, leading me to become better and do big things.

23A - Your Venture's Unfair Advantage

Top 10 Resources:

1. My dedication for the product I am producing
1. Valuable: Because without dedication or the drive to create this application it would not exist or would not meet the standards buyers are looking for.
2. Rare: Because not every application is backed by someone who is driven and passionate about what they are doing, leads to a better app.
3. Inimitable: No one person can recreate the drive that I have, it revolves around me and me alone. 
4. Non-Suitable: This is my own and is unique to me.
2. My connections through greek life on campus
1. Valuable: This is valuable because I have been able to create strong connections and ties with my fellow college students as well as create a strong backing in leadership. 
2. Rare: Rare because I am focusing on marketing mainly to college students I will already have a large following. 
3. Inimitable: My campuses greek life is unique to us and is also quite large, each student involved is unique to his or her self, and is also connected to me through our involvement of this organization. 
4. Non-Suitable: There is a much larger population on campus besides greek life that I have yet to fully gain attention from. 
3. My understanding of mental and physical health
1. Valuable: This is valuable because it represents the truth behind the application and why people should pay attention and take better care of themselves. 
2. Rare: This is rare because these facts are not very well known, I would be able to share this wealth of knowledge in a way that would push the market towards my application. 
3. Inimitable: Although this information can be found with research, I would be able to take my own knowledge and create a market unique to me and no one else. 
4. Non-Suitable: This is in fact information that can be learned if the time is put into it. 
4. My background in computer programming
1. Valuable: This is valuable because it enables me to begin the basics and the framework of truly producing this application, cutting costs and making me more involved throughout the whole process. 
2. Rare: This is rare because this sort of education is not found within the majority of the population, it also allows me to understand what is going on from the very beginning. 
3. Inimitable: My background is unique to me and also parallels my education in marketing and leadership thus allowing all of these to be intertwined and used to create something of my own. 
4. Non-Suitable: There are people who have a much better understanding of these concepts than me and could possibly take advantage of that or use it in manipulating my app. 
5. My background in marketing a product
1. Valuable: This is valuable because the only way to be sure that you are able to sell your product is if you are able to properly market it. With that being said, having knowledge in this aspect of the process I will be able to make sure that this goes well. 
2. Rare: This is rare because I am able to understand almost all aspects of creating, marketing, and selling my product to my customers, thus allowing me to know what's best. 
3. Inimitable: This is my own knowledge and is unique to me and my product marketing. 
4. Non-Suitable: There are others who have a more vast understanding of marketing and the pool I am interested in. 
6. My background in business and leadership
1. Valuable: This is valuable and allows me to be very involved in the creation of my app. It also helps to earn respect from others when I would most likely be in charge. 
2. Rare: This is rare because it allows me to already have knowledge and prepare myself for what is to come. 
3. Inimitable: This is unique to me and my own business. 
4. Non-Suitable: There may be people who are far more advanced and able to do this. 
7. My time management skills
1. Valuable: It allows me to be on time, earn respect from others, and to be positive that everything is running as it should. 
2. Rare: Not everyone has this skill and it allows me another way to be set apart from others. 
3. Inimitable: You are able to get better at this if you try to do so. 
4. Non-Suitable: This is unique and can be learned but is inherent to me already. 
8. My financial stability 
1. Valuable: This is valuable because in order to start a business an investment must first be made. 
2. Rare: Not everyone is in a position where they are able to start their own company. 
3. Inimitable: One could easily attain the money through loans or other possible forms. 
4. Non-Suitable: There are such things as loans and possibly family that would be willing to put up the money if one did not have it.  
9. The fact that I am apart of the possible pool to which I intend to market my product
1. Valuable: This is valuable because it gives me a keen eye as to what the market is feeling, when it would be best to do so, and much more. 
2. Rare: This is rare because most products are marketed to a different consumer base, but for me I am much closer. 
3. Inimitable: Someone may also be within the target market and also have the idea. 
4. Non-Suitable:  I would be able to incorporate some of the people that I know and also gain an understanding for how they feel, adding them into my venture. 
10. The ease that my app creates 
1. Valuable: This is valuable because a customer does not want an application that is difficult to use. It allows for more people to look into it, and have a better word of mouth. 
2. Rare: This is rare because it is often difficult to accomplish these sort of tasks or even know where to begin so my app gets rid of all of that stress. 
3. Inimitable: apps can be easy to use, but the type of resources that mine would use along with the actual use of my app is different from others. 
4. Non-Suitable:  others apps can be used for certain businesses but mine is unique to this sort of problem. 

My Top Resource: 

I believe that my top resource would have to be my dedication towards the product that I would be producing. To be so passionate as to want to create something not only to better myself but the lives of those around me makes my goal that much more achievable. Along with that I make sure that this is something that so many people would want including myself, I would never allow a product to be anything less than perfect for myself and my customers.

Elevator Pitch No. 3

https://youtu.be/ZZXk5GBL8nU

Reflection:

When taking a look at all of my previous comments, I was able to decipher one key fact, that people believed my application would not only be useful to college students but that it could also be implemented to so many more. I decided this time that I would not focus solely on marketing this product to college students but rather anyone that needed help learning how to cook and supporting their mental and physical health. It was important for me to make sure that I had captured what this application meant as a whole and put more effort into it. Other than that my application has been pretty strong and has received very positive feedback. Thus allowing me to maintain my overall idea very successfully.

21 - Reading Reflection No. 2

How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big, Scott Adams

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

Within this memoir, Adams goes on to explain his life story, the ups and the downs. He explained exactly how life worked, it was unfair, he was constantly faced with obstacle after obstacle. He was challenged in ways he could have never prepared himself for, but through it all he was able to gain important life lessons. Then one day, after persevering through it all, he finally made it big. He includes his failures and the lessons he learned, sharing those lessons and creating tips and tricks that he was able to share with the reader, enabling them to be better prepared for the future. 

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

I was able to connect and enhance my learning from this book due to its reality. After reading through it all it is important to note that this is not simply just a book, it is a life. Adams life, and he was able to experience this all, learn from it, and share it to all of us in hopes of changing the path of even just one persons life. I was able to take a step back and recognize that there is always a bigger picture at play, that sometimes (most often in fact) life does not go your way, and there is only one of two things you can do: let it destroy you, or let it motivate you. 

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

If I were to design and exercise for this class I would simply create an activity designed for failure. I would create a task similar to one most everyone is familiar with, supporting a weight with only a set amount of objects. This weight would be heavy, far too heavy to be supported by anything they have been provided. I would wait and watch, see how they handle the pressure and the failure, knowing that in the end none of them should succeed. Then I would see how they handled that stress, that uncertainty, and in the end the acceptance of defeat. I would explain to them that although they did everything in their power to support its weight, in the end it was not in their control. Life is unfair and often times we are stuck in situations that are doomed for failure, but it is about how you can bounce back from this. I would then allow them to take some time to devise a plan that would support the weight if they were given the opportunity again. 

4) What was your biggest surprise or 'aha' moment when reading the book? In other words, what did you learn that differed most from your expectations?

One of the biggest ‘aha’ moments for me was that everyone starts from somewhere. Everyone who has made it big, has seen struggles, has felt the despair of uncertainty and unknowing, but were still able to push through. In other words I have come to realize that when I am feeling at my lowest, or I have lost faith in myself, that this is normal. People have to face the reality of their lowest lows to recognize that past that, it only gets better. 

17A - Elevator Pitch No. 2

https://youtu.be/SLYBzAOGe4s

Reflection: When taking a look back on my feedback for my last elevator pitch I was proud to see that there was only positive notes. Everyone was so kind and the response was better than I had expected, but I knew that there still had to be some changes made. I decided to look through the rest of the comments on my previous posts and had come up with one major change, that I should allow my application to be implemented to all users rather than just college students. Within my pitch I strayed from focusing on one group of people and rather expressed that my app can help everyone. Besides that the majority of the comments on my posts were all very kind and supportive leaving me to believe that people genuinely like my idea and have no other criticisms!