My solution to the over stressed student is to
construct a "break room". I do not really have a formal name, but
break room sounds cool enough. I feel a student will enjoy a space where they
can release some tension and stress from studying. It does not have to be for
study endued stresses, but from everyday life troubles. This is a creative way
to just let it out and feel better. Holding in tempers and stress has a negative
effect on the body and mind.
Sunday, May 29, 2016
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Looking for Opportunity
Looking for Opportunity:
1) FSMA Final Rule for
Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration.
(Regulation)
B) What
leads you to believe that this information suggests an opportunity might exist?
The
new regulation to protect food against intentional adulteration will heighten
consumer confidence. This regulation will help and ensure our food is not
contaminated by terrorists and unhappy employees. The consumer can feel more at
ease knowing the food manufacturing industry has tighter regulations. These
regulations are to be enforced for both human and animal food.
C) Prototypical
Customer:
The everyday food shopper, animal care centers, and pet owners.
D) Is
the opportunity relatively easy or relatively difficult to exploit, and why do
you think so?
I
feel the opportunity is easy to exploit for those selling food that has gone
through the regulation and mitigation strategies. Not all food industries are
required to go through the same mitigation strategies so they may see a dip in
sales, because of the risk factor of possibly being adulterated.
E) Why
did you see the opportunity?
I know in recent years our food has been infected
and unhealthy to consume and the threat of terrorism is not something the
middle east and Europe need to think about anymore. Everyone is aware of the
threat and consumers can be skeptical with how they go about making their
purchases and to have these regulations puts the mind at ease for a bit. I
would expect sales to have an upward projection.
2)
FDA
approves first implantable drug for the treatment of opioid addiction. (Trend)
A)
Source: http://search.proquest.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/docview/1791545221/65D1C4AF39C44E53PQ/7?accountid=10920
B) What
leads you to believe that this information suggests an opportunity might exist?
I
believe as great of idea as this new implant is the use may be too expensive
and invasive. The idea is great, but there must be a better way to get the same
result and ease of use without an operation or a high cost.
C) Prototypical
Customer:
Recovering drug addicts, specifically from opioids.
D) Is
the opportunity relatively easy or relatively difficult to exploit, and why do
you think so? The opportunity is there and the heath society is aware of it,
because how else would the implantable drug have come to be. There is a need
and it is unfortunate, but we have to deal with this problem. Companies can use
their resources and technological advances to come up with a better solution. The
patients will be grateful for the advancement.
E) Why
did you see the opportunity?
From reading the article the feedback seemed
positive, but many are still skeptical of the implantable device. Since this is
the first device of this kind, there is plenty of room for improvement.
3)
Microsoft,
Facebook to lay massive undersea cable. (Trend)
B) What
leads you to believe that this information suggests an opportunity might exist?
Companies in Europe, especially southern Europe are in need of access to more
data. Companies are using services like the cloud and need bandwidth to support
the high speed customers crave. Now those customers can become more productive
and reach a larger audience.
C) Prototypical
Customer:
Directly the telecommunications companies, but the companies who use
the data from the cable will be the ones who benefit the most.
D) Is the opportunity relatively easy or
relatively difficult to exploit, and why do you think so? Not every company can
create and send a cable across the ocean so that part will be hard to exploit
outside of the tech companies and private networks. On the other hand, the
customers of the service will be able to take full advantage of the increase in
data capacity.
E) Why
did you see the opportunity?
The article said this is the first cable to be run
to Southern Europe and that alone signals growth. The companies in those areas
will be given a boost and will now have the ability to develop faster and
increase their audiences.
4)
A Toolkit for Employers and Workers.
(Regulation)
B)
What leads you to believe that this
information suggests an opportunity might exist?
The
article says that workers are suffering from illnesses and some end up dead,
because companies are dealing with hazardous materials. The OSHA has implemented
a check list for employers to use to minimize their use of hazardous materials.
Chemical engineers can come up with safer products for companies.
C)
Prototypical Customer:
Employers of
companies who deal with hazardous materials to ensure the well-being of their
employees. I would say the chemical engineers of a chemical product company will
have the task of creating these safer products.
D)
Is the opportunity relatively easy or
relatively difficult to exploit, and why do you think so? I think the
opportunity is easy to exploit. Only the chemical product companies will be
developing cleaner and less harmful products for companies to use. But the
companies who are using the toolkit will be looking to use the safest products
available. The employees will feel safer using safer products.
E)
I saw this opportunity, because the toolkit forces the chemical companies to stop producing hazardous materials for companies. There is a responsibility for these companies to protect their employees. Because of the toolkit companies can provide a higher level of safety by using safer products.
Testing the Opportunity Hypothesis, Part 1
Testing the Opportunity
Hypothesis, Part 1
Opportunity: I believe students are over stressed and
need a unique way to alleviate their stress. Aside from exercise and going to
the pool. I feel a "break room" would be another viable option for
people to relieve stress.
The Who: The residents of Gainesville and
especially the student population are stressed and are looking for ways to
decompress. Many students and residents go out to bars and have a couple drinks
to relax, they take part in physical activities, etc. At the right price
students will be willing to throw a plate against a wall and release pent up
aggression.
The What: There are no "break rooms" in
the Gainesville area. This is a relatively new concept and can be a healthier
way to relieve stress from everyday life.
The Why: People are always looking for new
and interesting ways to spend their time.
Interviews:
This student seemed to think my
idea would be fun and eventful. He also seemed to think it may only cater to
those who enjoy breaking stuff. There may be a boundary there to overcome. This
student brought up a liability issue, because safety is most important and
there would need to be a way to protect the University from facing a
lawsuit.
This student is a psychology student
who is studying ways to help people and to overcome bouts of stress. He brought
up a great point that even though this idea would be a great way to temporarily
relieve stress there should be a standard of social responsibility. After the
throwing of the plate I should provide the student information on how to
relieve stress for the long-term.
This student is a doctorate graduate
and he had a different take on my idea. He personally did not care for my idea,
but he believed some students would be interested in a "break room".
He brought up people’s different nature and how people deal with stress
differently and may not be open to certain ideas. He seemed to believe my idea
could work even outside of the campus.
This student does not
find herself to be stressed often and brings a different point of view.
One thing I liked was to implement social media to promote my idea.
If students hear about it and it creates a buzz they will come out just
from curiosity alone. She thinks this idea should be directed towards
students first and then take it off campus.
This student liked my idea and if it existed he would take
part in the smashing of a plate. One point I took away from this interview is
that people would not relieve their stress like every time. A "break
room" may be great for certain times. For example, during finals week or
mid semester when people are taking midterm exams. He only seemed interested in
paying one dollar so there may be a boundary there as well.
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Forming an Opportunity Belief
Forming an Opportunity Belief:
1) Beginning Point:
The belief I have is the Gainesville community likes to go out, but they find lines and lack of choices to be unsatisfactory. Because of the lines I feel there is opportunity for the development of more establishments.
2) The unmet need:
The lack of establishments to meet the needs of the patron population. The students of the University of Florida have a greater need to satisfy, but the alumni and local residents like to go out around town as well. Since the closing of Gator City and other establishments the people who are going out find themselves waiting in longer lines. People want to go out and usually at the same times so the crowds have always been there. People are staying at home longer to pre party or going out to eat earlier. I am 100% sure my opportunity exists.
3) The prototypical customer:
The prototypical customers are the students here in Gainesville, but also the families and the alumni who come to visit.
4) Interviews:
5) I found the alumni perspective interesting because even after only graduating a few years ago much can change. And at the same time, things can stay the same. This alumnus was a commuter student so the nightlife did not fit into her schedule, but she enjoyed going out to eat and felt overcrowding was not a terrible issue back then.
5) This student is not much of a partier, but like the alumnus I spoke to he enjoyed going out to eat. I learned going out to eat at 8 o'clock also means you run the risk of being a part of the party. Now, restaurant-goers find themselves mingling with the bar hoppers. I got the feel that depending on the time one may decided to order to-go and delivery instead of going to sit down and eat.
5) This student enjoys going out and agrees with my belief and Gainesville has potential and the long lines filling out of the same place every night proves my belief. I was surprised to hear going out early to beat the lines is not a desired strategy. Maybe a new system should be put in place where waiting in one lines gains the customer entry to two locations.
7) Summarize:
After conducting my interviews, I feel ninety-five percent of my opportunity still exists. I still believe Gainesville needs to develop more, but I think a solution could be to implement a new crowding system for patrons. Entrepreneurs have to take customer feedback into serious consideration. The customer is always right and an entrepreneur is looking for ways to better their lives. For someone to stand firm to me means that they are choosing not to listen to their target audience. I do not see an idea being successful if the customer’s feedback is not taken into account.
Friday, May 20, 2016
Identifying Local Opportunities
Five Local Opportunities:
1) Floridians support the Clean Power Plan
The article, "Floridians support the Clean Power Plan" is about the EPA wanting to pass legislation to limit the amount of carbon pollution from power plants and some city and state leaders like Pam Bondi want to sue the EPA over the plan. Pam Bondi, Florida's Attorney General, insists the people do not want the plan to be enacted in Florida. The article goes to prove Pam Bondi wrong because over half of the people of Florida do want the plan to succeed.
The problem in this story is not about Pam Bondi or the people of Florida, but the level of emissions coming from power plants. The people of Florida want cleaner air and to preserve the different ecosystems. With power plants not having a limit on their emission levels Floridians and its inhabitants are suffering.
I would say the power plants are the key players, because if the plan passes they will need to make some changes. Upon the enactment of the plan, the directors of these power plants will need to engineer a new system to lower carbon emissions. New technology and power may need to be brought into these power plants to lower their emission levels.
2) New blueprints for bathrooms - Freestanding tubs and bigger showers are changing bathroom design - Homeowners are trying to make their bathrooms suitable for when they're older - Jet tubs like Jacuzzis are no longer so much in favor
The article for new blueprints for bathrooms is about, well, new designs for tubs and showers. One of the largest populations in the US are the baby boomers and guess what, they are aging. They are finding a traditional bathroom blueprint will not serve them and want to make a change. The article talks a free standing bath and larger showers with better water drainage to accommodate a wheelchair and to have less flooding and risk of injury. Another point was the change in materials being used. It seems like people are leaning more towards easier to clean and maintainable materials.
The problem is most bathrooms were designed and constructed before the idea of aging or even just the change of taste and the longevity of a trend. So now many people find themselves with a bathroom that has become a burden. Now the interior designers should take initiative and look to model their designs with the future in mind and the ascending trend of easy, big, and smart.
From the article it seems the homeowners have the problem of a bathroom that has lost function ability or have a change in taste. Either way it is up to contractors and the Home Depots to follow the trend and look toward using different materials. The easier the better when it comes to designs. No more over the top designs and hard to maintain finishes and materials.
3) Influence marketing: the new cost of entry
The article from the Miami Herald talked about how brands are using a different type of marketing strategy. Some brands saw the opportunity to gain more business or promote specials using popular and influential bloggers. The popular and influential bloggers or a certain brand will be rewarded with perks such as discovering new menu items at restaurants or VIP experiences. This is the new wave of marketing and brands are starting to pick it up.
The problem was people were not venturing out to the mall to see Santa or going out to eat at the rate these companies desire them to. Companies spend a great deal of time and money setting up events so they want to get people out to experience them.
The opportunity here is for both the brands and the people. Bloggers can get a return from their time rating and relying feedback to others on certain topics and experiences. In this article the addition of social media to the marketing mix means everyone has to potential to win.
4) Key West cracking down on vacation rentals
The article discusses different cases of people illegally renting their space and apartments to tourists and residents in Key West. It is illegal to rent out your home for less than 30-days. Some of the defendants discussed in this article are repeat offenders and have to pay hefty fines to the city. One other point mentioned was that the residential areas of these vacation rentals were being disrupted, by the tourists.
The problem is that people are illegally renting out their vacant rooms or houses/apartments to tourists. The accused are renting their spaces through popular websites like Airbnb and Homeaway.
The city and neighbors of these rented spaces have the problem. They want the law to be strictly enforced. Airbnb and Homeaway should check if the people renting out their spaces are doing it legally. The websites should have the ability to warn cities of such attempts to break the law or just not allow people to put up an ad for those areas.
5) Doral Council talks downtown, development and mosquitoes
This article discussed the passing of different ordinances in the city of Doral. One of the ordinances is in regards to the development of Doral. There seems to be a want for reorganization of Doral. A second ordinance enforces any zoning changes to go through two phases. The first phase allows the community to communicate with developers. The second phase give the city council the power to approve any changes. The third ordinance makes residents and property owners responsible for dealing with any standing water within 48 hours. Mosquitos are known to carry diseases such as the Zika virus, malaria, and the West Nile virus. The city of Doral wants to keep their people safe and educated on how to stay safe. Violation of the ordinance will result in a fine. The third ordinance is about a controversial development project. Originally a space was to be used to build twelve houses, but now is to be used for a 248-unit apartment complex with retail space. A portion of the apartment complex will be used for workforce housing.
The problem is that there are development issues in Doral. There needs to be structure and organization with the planning new structures. The other problem is the infestation of mosquitos in residential areas and dealing with the cause. Mosquitos can be potentially dangerous and are annoying. These over populations must be dealt with and maintained. The third problem is overcrowding and congestion on the roads due to the increase in population.
The city and developers have the development problem, because they must now follow the ordinance. The residents are dealing with the second problem of mosquito infestation. Finally, the local residents of the apartment complex will be affected by the addition of 248 families.
Saturday, May 14, 2016
My Entrepreneurship Story
My Entrepreneurship Story
My grandfather was an entrepreneur. He was from Cuba and fought in the Cuban Revolution, but when he realized Castro was no better than Batista he resigned from his military. Castro did not like that and had my grandfather sent to twenty years in prison. When my grandfather was released twenty years later we left to Costa Rica and eventually to Miami, Florida. In Miami he set up a radio station that broadcasted to Cuba and gave the Cuban people a voice that American people and other Cuban Americans can hear. It was risky, but my grandfather believed it had to be done. Every day he and a group of close friends would run the radio station. He spent his entire life dedicated to a free and democratic Cuba. Nothing new was invented, but using technology to satisfy a need of the people of Cuba.
I enrolled in ENT 3003, because I am always thinking of what does society need or wants. I have not thought of an answer, but hopefully this class will give me insight in how to go about doing so. I am hoping for a change in mindset and overall thinking. Entrepreneurs are amazing people and I cannot wait to start reading the books on your reading list. We are not done creating. So much more can be developed and invented to make life better, easier, or safer.
My grandfather was an entrepreneur. He was from Cuba and fought in the Cuban Revolution, but when he realized Castro was no better than Batista he resigned from his military. Castro did not like that and had my grandfather sent to twenty years in prison. When my grandfather was released twenty years later we left to Costa Rica and eventually to Miami, Florida. In Miami he set up a radio station that broadcasted to Cuba and gave the Cuban people a voice that American people and other Cuban Americans can hear. It was risky, but my grandfather believed it had to be done. Every day he and a group of close friends would run the radio station. He spent his entire life dedicated to a free and democratic Cuba. Nothing new was invented, but using technology to satisfy a need of the people of Cuba.
I enrolled in ENT 3003, because I am always thinking of what does society need or wants. I have not thought of an answer, but hopefully this class will give me insight in how to go about doing so. I am hoping for a change in mindset and overall thinking. Entrepreneurs are amazing people and I cannot wait to start reading the books on your reading list. We are not done creating. So much more can be developed and invented to make life better, easier, or safer.
Bug List
1.An open gas tank door while driving down I-75.
This is likely to happen, because of the driver being in a rush or just not paying attention.
The car can alert the driver in case they forgot to close it. Or the car can close it itself.
2.Slow clothes dryer before I have to get ready for work.
I was practicing poor time management, but a dryer shouldn't take more than 15 minutes.
Developing a speed dryer for everyday use at home.
3.Hot car seat while going to work.
This is likely to happen, because the driver does not have a sun visor the windshield.
Having seat coolers or push start to run the AC before leaving will help.
4.Long lines to speak to an advisor.
UF is a big school and everyone is trying to get their situations sorted out. And usually at the beginning and end of a semester.
Being ahead of the curve and figuring things out in the middle of the semester.
5.A person’s negative attitude.
This is in general, but people have bad days and sometimes do not know how to deal with their emotions.
Practicing meditation and being taught to see the positive in situations.
6.Poor work ethic.
One may have poor work ethic if they think they are above their job or are not motivated and take the job seriously.
Managers can lift the moral of the employees and hopefully the employee will buy into the vision.
7.Dead (low) phone battery.
Phones are capable of doing many things, but the battery and storage capacity is not able to keep up with the excessive use.
One can buy a portable charger or give enough time for the phone to charge or not use the phone as much.
8.Technical glitches on phones and computers.
Technical glitches occur when one is either downloading infected software and services or by being impatient and over clicking.
Practicing deep breathing techniques so one is not feeling frustrated and only use trusted sources.
9.Over-sensative buttons on phones and key pads.
Buttons are made to be sensitive to make life easier on people, but if you're holding the phone and drag your finger across the bottom you could close a webpage and lose your place.
One can change the sensitivity or to not touch the screen when viewing.
10.Ear buds that fall out during exercise.
Ear buds fall out, because of the sweat dripping from your head and into your ears.
Have earbuds that are sticky and will not fall out due to sweat or wear a bandana to catch the sweat.
11.Accidently making a mess when I need to leave.
I make messes when I am not paying attention to the task.
Give myself more time to complete my tasks so I do not rush. Or have a self-cleaning floor or device.
12.Pen running out of ink when taking down important information.
This happens, because the ink is not refillable and the last user did not discard the empty pen.
Always have extra pens or ink.
13.Bugs inside the house.
Bugs get into the house, because of doors and windows being left open or food being left out in the open.
Have the doors and windows alert you that they have been open for a while.
14.Phone calls/Notifications when listening to music.
I don't leave my phone on silent or turn off my notification alerts, but I don't want my music to stop mid song for a text or Facebook message.
One can turn off notifications and mute their sounds or allow certain people to override your music apps.
15.Getting stains on nice clothes.
Sometimes stains just appear on clothes, but I would say stains occur, because of a lack of focus and messing with greasy objects.
Anti-stain clothing will help and using proper cleaning techniques.
16.A packed gym at any time of the day.
A big portion of the population wants to be healthy and usually run on the same time cycle.
One can go late at night or early in the morning or set up a home gym.
17.Microphone feedback during speeches.
The speaker may be too close to the microphone or the line is messed up.
A self-adjusting microphone would help or a quick cut out on the line.
18.Waiting a long time for food to be delivered.
The restaurant or delivery service could be slammed or the staff is not motivated to work at a high pace.
Plan ahead and order early or make speedy delivery apart of the company culture.
19.People who do not pass (Sports Activities).
In my case I call these people puck hogs and they feel like they are all-star hockey players. And that they can do it all by themselves.
People can stop giving him the puck so he has less time with it and shorten his shifts.
20.When people think they know you after only a couple of weeks knowing someone.
When meeting new people, they may see a pattern or a characteristic about you and use it to form a standard profile of you.
One can change their patterns and behaviors and do not make it easy for people to "place" you.
After a couple of days of thinking and living I was finally able to come up with twenty things or situations that bug me. At first I did not think the assignment would be very challenging, but little did I know, it was. I really had to think and get out in the world to complete my list. I enjoyed the bug list assignment. I feel my mentality shifting and becoming more observant of the world around me.
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
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