Assignment 30A Final Reflection

I think that my most formative experience was when I decided that my dog was my most valuable resource. I had been thinking about a pet monitoring device for the past 3 years and knew my options were limited and only included using a surveillance camera that was stationary and would only show me the area in which it was set up or using a baby monitor which is pretty much the same setup. I'm proud that I came up with a Smart Collar idea that would be attached to my pet and allow me to monitor him wherever he was in the house not just in one room.

I think I have developed an entrepreneur mindset because there are an unlimited amount of needs that people have now that are not being met as to what they wish there was a better solution to. I think I could become an entrepreneur someday just by talking with people and asking questions about what their problems are and what are their options to solve those immediate problems.

If I had to make any recommendations for future students, I would recommend they don't give up on any idea they have. No idea is 100% wrong. I would also recommend that they ignore negative feedback and continue to believe in their idea. What I have learned is the most important thing to do to foster that mindset is to never give up. If you give up, there will always be someone who takes your idea and builds on it and eventually turns it into a success. If that happens your left thinking that was my idea first.

My picture for this post relates back to my most valuable resource which is Gator, my friend for life. He's always thinking about and analyzing his next move!

     

Assignment 28A Your Exit Strategy

My exit strategy would be fairly simple. If I did get this venture up and running, I would stick with it for no more than three years. Within three years I will be able to see if my Smart Collar is successful. If it is, then I would sell the rights to my product to a company that is able to advance the features of it. Also if this Smart Collar was successful, I'm sure that someone would be trying to copy it within three years. I would be better off selling the venture before any competition starts to happen. I'm sure there would be a large company out there that would be interested in it and could improve it and make it more successful rather than me holding onto it.

I have selected this exit strategy because I really don't have any family that would be interested in keeping the business going after I'm gone. Also, I'm not really concerned about the money I could make if I held onto it. This idea didn't start thinking about possible money. My Smart Collar idea grew out of concern for pet owners who are attached to their pet and consider them as part of the family. It was just an idea to give the owners a boost when they're away because seeing your pet always makes a person feel better.

My exit strategy has influenced how I identified an opportunity because it's all for the benefit of pet owners, and not just about me. I get a wonderful feeling when I see other pet owners bonding with their pet. Anyone who owns a pet knows just how special that bond is even though the pet can't speak. So for my idea to have the chance to grow and become better I need to turn it over to someone who can make it better than I can. The biggest way I would see myself as being successful with this idea is to see other pets wearing the Smart Collar and know that their owners are happy that they can see or say something to their pet when they're away from them.   

Assignment 27A Reading Reflection No. 3

Innovation and Entrepreneurship By Peter Drucker.

The general theme or argument of this book is what companies and new ventures need to learn, do, and know to keep up with today's everchanging and modern world. Peter focuses on how entrepreneurship is broken down into three aspects, and he mentions that aspects are not stages. The three main aspects are the practice of innovation, the practice of entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurial strategies. Peter explains that this is a practical book and not a how-to book. He also states how we have become an entrepreneurial economy in the past ten to fifteen years.

I would say this book connects with what we learned in ENT3003 by having us practice entrepreneurship and the strategies we can use to try and make the venture better. Strategies can be talking with people and getting input from them about our product or service. An idea needs to meet the needs of others, or it will just remain an idea. People must have a need for what we are offering them. Feedback from others is what will make the new venture a success.

If I had to design an exercise based on this book I would have students identify something they think is obsolete or becoming obsolete and then use creativity and imagination to redesign the product or service. This would be an innovation exercise, and crazy or stupid ideas would be welcome. There would be no wrong ideas, and whatever your redesign looks would be fine. There would be no chance of any ideas failing.

I think my biggest surprise when reading this book was that Peter states planning is actually incompatible with an entrepreneurial society and economy. I would have thought that planning would play a major role in our society and economy. I also thought this book was hard to follow and understand with all the statistics he threw out in the beginning, but I did like how he made mention of well know companies and how they overcame warning signs about what was going wrong and moved forward.   

Assignment 26A Celebrating Failure

The one thing I feel I failed at this semester is the fact that I never went to any of Dr. Pryor's lectures. I live in Gainesville, and it is very easy for me to get to UF anytime or any day. In the first couple of weeks of the class, I sent him an email telling him I would definitely show up one day to check it out since he usually doesn't have many people there on Monday or Wednesday when he gives the lectures. Well now it's almost the end of the semester, and I still haven't made it to one lecture. Every time I thought about going and planned to go; I ended up doing something else. The other things I ended up doing were really not important at all. A few times my friend called me just before I was going to leave my house and go and asked me to play golf. Well, I never turn down a chance to play golf and did that instead of taking in a lecture.

What I learned from this is that if I tell someone I'll show up I should follow through with what I said. I know Dr. Pryor doesn't hold this against me because this is an online class and you aren't required to attend any lectures. If I tell someone I'll be there in another scenario and don't show up there may be ramifications for not following through with what I said. So I basically learned not to say I'll do something and then find an excuse not to do it.

Failure is both embarrassing and hard. Failure can easily be turned around by someone thinking they had a reason for the failure which only justifies their excuse in their own mind. I handle failure emotionally by feeling bad about what happened after the fact. I don't get upset or behave differently because if you failed that situation is over and you can't change the outcome. There's really no reason to cry over something that's over with. I don't really think this class has changed my perspective on failure because I don't believe failure can be prevented 100% of the time in every situation during your entire life. I just don't think that's possible and have never met anyone yet that didn't experience failure once in their life. I think life is full of risks and you'll never avoid living life without taking risks. It's all about which risks your willing to take because some are better than others, so that's a personal choice you have to make on your own.

Assignment 25A What's Next?

Existing Market

I think what's next for the Smart Collar is to get a few different designs of the collar which could be done using a 3D printer. I also need to talk to someone who is familiar with building apps that can be used on any smartphone. I'm fairly certain I could find the right people to help me with this at UF. Having access to UF and what they offer might be a valuable resource I didn't consider in the past.

The first person I talked with was actually a fellow student who reached out to me after seeing my elevator pitch which I presented. He asked if the Smart Collar was real because his dog had got loose a few weeks back and he spent 8 hours looking for it before he finally located the dog. He explained to me that a collar a dog could wear would be very helpful for anyone whose dog might get loose and wander away. He was very interested in my idea and suggested that I might want to market this to veterinarians who could use the Smart Collar as an alternative to getting their pet implanted with a chip. He told me he thought I needed to create a physical replication of my idea so I could get better feedback from potential customers even though it might not be what the finished product looks like in the end.

The second person I spoke with suggested that I might want to market my Smart Collar by using the local TV cable provider as a way to advertise it. He also mentioned that customers might want the Smart Collar to be waterproof so it could be used on pets that are allowed to go outside for extended periods of time.

The third person I spoke with suggested that I test market the Smart Collar in select locations before investing a lot of money on producing a large quantity which might not sell as good as I thought it would. She also mentioned that with other options like a security camera or baby monitoring device I have to make sure to price it correctly so people will not always go for the cheapest way to get the same results for these other options.

Reflection:

The feedback I received was very helpful as far as expectations I thought I had. I was very surprised someone thought the Smart Collar was already on the market. Thus I know there is a need for this product. I also never thought about it having to be waterproof so that is something I must consider and make changes to accomplish that. The price also needs to reflect what additional benefits the Smart Collar provides without giving the customer a cheaper inferior option to choose from.

I also discovered that there are many other ways to market my product. The one that stuck out was targeting veterinarians. I never thought that pet owners may be leery about implanting a chip into their pet and by giving the veterinarians another option to offer to people who want to do this could be huge. Also, test marketing the Smart Collar in a selected location makes sense because I would actually see how much interest there is in it. Using cable TV advertisement is another thing I never thought of.

New Market 

A totally different market I could target would be pet owners who have a dog strictly for security. People who own junkyards or towing companies, for example, would have a dog used for security when the business is closed at night. People might also have a security dog at their house who stays outdoors all the time.

For people who own dogs strictly for security, the Smart Collar could be used to detect what goes on after hours. Are there people snooping around? Did someone manage to avoid the dog and break in? If so the Smart Collar would be able to show the owner that with the 2-way camera and microphone. Owners could receive an alert on their phone when something unusual happens, and the dog starts barking for an extended period of time.

The first person I spoke with is a pawnshop owner here in Gainesville. I explained my idea and was told that the entire property is under video surveillance 24/7. The dog he has is just used to warn off potential threats by being vocal. He did not seem to think I needed to improve the Smart Collar because his security needs are met with 24/7 video recording that is saved and backed up in case something did happen when the pawnshop was closed.

The second person I talked to is a dog owner in my neighborhood who has a dog which he keeps inside a fence surrounding his house. He was interested in my idea and stated that many times at night the dog might start barking, and he has to go out and check on whats going on. He does not have 24/7 video surveillance so he thinks that the Smart Collar could be useful to him if it had a way to send an alert to his phone if the dog did start barking so he could see whats going on without having to go outside. The Smart Collar would somehow have to be modified so it would be capable of sending an alert to the owner's phone and I have no idea how complicated that might be.

Reflection:

I thought this new market was a good idea. I even thought police dogs might have a use for the Smart Collar. What I learned about this new market is that people who own a dog for security at their business use the dog for vocal purposes only and rely on good quality 24/7 surveillance systems. So the dog is really for show more than actual security.

I can confidently say that this new market is not as attractive as my existing market. If I had chosen police dogs as my new market, I think it would have been a better idea than the security dog market. If police dogs were to use the Smart Collar, I wouldn't have to modify it to send alerts because if a police dog was sent into an area, the dog handler could see what the dog is encountering just by using a smartphone.

 

Assignment 23A Your Venture's Unfair Advantage

1) My support for Animal Shelters.
Valuable: I can use their help and reputation to promote my product.
Rare: There are many people who support and are involved in animal welfare projects.
Inimitable: This is hard to copy because either you like dogs and cats or you don't.
Non-Substitutable: There are numerous organizations people could support which don't involve animals.

2) Social Capital which includes interacting with pet owners on a daily basis.
Valuable: Yes because by talking with pet owners I can use word of mouth to promote my product.
Rare: Not really because people talk about things they like every day.
Inimitable: This is not hard to copy because people will always talk to each other.
Non-Substitutable: There is no substitute for peoples opinions and feedback.

3) My Father and him extending me a line of credit without having to use a bank.
Valuable: Yes because he is willing to help me and not expect something in return.
Rare: Probably not because there are people who just like to help others without any expectations.
Inimitable: Probably not because people generally have compassion for others.
Non-Substitutable: My dad is my dad, and there is no substitute for him.

4) My Dog.
Valuable: Yes very much so. He could be a walking billboard.
Rare: Probably not animals have been associated with different products in the past.
Inimitable: I would say no because every dog is different and has their own personality.
Non-Substitutable: There are numerous ways to promote my product.

5) Time.
Valuable: Yes because it is my investment in the venture, it shows my commitment.
Rare: Yes time is rare once it passes by you can't get that time back.
Inimitable: No because people use their time differently.
Non-Substitutable: I think you could use money to substitute time and get quicker results.

6) The Internet.
Valuable: Yes because I can use the internet for research without having to leave my house.
Rare: No because anyone can get access to the internet.
Inimitable: This is not hard to copy because anyone can find the same information using the internet.
Non-Substitutable: You could probably substitute a library for the internet, but it would not be as fast.

7) Crowdfunding.
Valuable: Yes because it could provide me money to get started with my venture.
Rare: No anyone can use crowdfunding, and it's free to use on some crowdfunding platforms.
Inimitable: Yes it can be easily copied by others who use crowdfunding.
Non-Substitutable: There are other substitutes for crowdfunding like peer to peer platforms.

8) My House
Valuable: Yes because I don't have to spend extra money to rent an office.
Rare: No people all live somewhere.
Inimitable: Yes because anyone can work out of their house and save money if they're self-employed.
Non-Substitutable: I could rent an office or building to do the same thing I can do in my home.

9) Low Competition.
Valuable: Yes because I don't have to compete with other similar products.
Rare: Very rare there is no other product like the Smart Collar.
Inimitable: Anyone could create a similar product in time that might be better than mine.
Non-Substitutable: You could use a security camera or a baby monitor to do some things my product does.

10) Knowledge about how people consider their pet part of the family.
Valuable: Yes because knowing how much people care about their pets will help sell my product.
Rare: Probably not because people who own a pet care about them.
Inimitable: This can be easily copied just by becoming a pet owner.
Non-Substitutable: There is no substitute for a pets love or loyalty if you own one.

After considering these resources available to me right now and doing the VRIN analysis it surprising that I can use any of them for little or no cost right now. There are two recourses I think that benefit me the most and they are time and my dog. If I had to pick one, I would have to say it's my dog because I think by showing what the Smart Collar does when I'm away from home would be very easy to do just by using my phone to connect to the collar which is on my dog. Anyone could then see exactly what my product does which I think is more valuable than just listening to me describe the product. I could approach anyone that is a pet owner, and by showing them what the Smart Collar does, I think they would be interested in it. 

Assignment 21A Reading Reflection No. 2

How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life
By Scott Adams

1. The general theme or argument of this book is that there is no one size fits all advice guide for success that will work for everyone. You're better off taking away bits and pieces of advice from others and discovering which pieces make sense and work for you.

2. In my opinion, this book relates to the ENT 3003 idea napkin assignments. Scott Adams has failed at just about anything you can imagine. When coming up with your idea napkin, you get feedback from others about it. The negative feedback can be seen as a way of failing. Negative feedback can sometimes make people think they are a failure and they just give up on whatever it is they were attempting to do. Scott explains his technique on how to move on from one failure and use that experience to better yourself as you move forward in life.

3. If I had to design an exercise based on this book I would design something similar to the first assignment we had which was the Bug List. I would have the students create a list identifying 10 failures that they have experienced in their life. Maybe 10 is too many, but there are a lot of ways to experience failure. Next, I would ask them to identify why the failure happened. Was it because they just weren't good enough at something like sports or did they consider they failed because of feedback from others or might it have been a result of peer pressure? Then I would ask them how they dealt with the failures. Did they just give up or did they try a new strategy moving forward? The purpose of this exercise would be for the students to understand that life keeps going and just because you have experienced failure it doesn't mean it's the end of the world.

4. I think my biggest surprise was how Scott describes that goals are for losers and passion is BS. He claims systems are for winners. This differs from what I was always told about how to succeed in life. I don't know how many times I've been told that unless I set goals, I'll never get anywhere. I was also told passion is what drives you to succeed. According to Scott having a system will outdo goals and passion every time. I thought this was a good book and was very funny at times. It's hard to imagine that Scott being a great cartoonist as he is with Dilbert could have failed at all the things he's pretty much tried in the past.     

Assignment 20A Growing Your Social Capital

Domain Expert

1. Donna is a custom product specialist at Up Country in Providence RI.
2. She is a Domain Expert, and she fills this slot by having numerous years of experience designing custom pet collars.
3. I found this person by doing an online search for pet collar manufacturers in the US. I found this company called Up Country and on their website they had information on who to contact with inquiries about custom pet collars. I emailed her at the email address given on Up Country's website.
4. I did receive an email back asking for more detail about my custom product. I sent her a Napkin Idea description about the Smart Collar but haven't heard back yet about it.
5. If I do get any feedback from Donna on my idea, I believe she could be a great first contact for future information when it comes to producing a Smart Collar.

Market Expert 

1. For this expert, I first contacted customer support at Coastal Pet Products Inc.
2. This contact will fill the Market Expert Slot. This company is a supplier of pet collars not only in the US but in other parts of the world as well. This company is targeting a market similar to mine by offering pet collars that are safe, functional, and stylish.
3. I found this company by doing an online search for pet products. On their website, there is a contact form to fill out with your information and what you would like to know. I filled the form out and requested information about pet collars that would be similar to the Smart Collar.
4. I received an email back that same day in which an invention form was attached. The email said that if I had a patented or patent-pending product, I could submit it for consideration. Without a patent or pending-patent, they could not consider my product. That was as far as this conversation went because I don't have a patent or pending-patent for the Smart Collar.
5. This contact would be a great resource because they are very knowledgeable about the pet collar market.

Industry Supplier

1. QQPETS is an industry supplier of pet collars located in China.
2. This contact fills the industry supplier slot. They are located in China and have been supplying dog collars to retailers all over the world since 2005.
3. I found this company by doing a quick online search for dog collar suppliers. On the website, there is a form to fill out to contact them with your questions. I requested information on supplying collars to US-based retailers.
4. As of writing this post, I haven't received a reply other than the automated reply they sent stating they have received my request. They do have a phone number for contact but it's an overseas number, and I have no idea what the charge to call them might be or if they even speak English if I did call them.
5. This contact would be useful as far as price is concerned, but I'm not sure if they would actually help me knowing they are located in China and communication may be difficult.

Reflection

This is not an easy assignment at all. It is very different from just running into someone and asking them a few questions. It is hard to find the people who are experts in what kind of information you're looking for regarding your product idea. Another thing is when you reach out to someone you do find there is no guarantee they will get back to you. I had better success in getting a reply from a smaller company than I did from a large company in China. In future networking events, I would focus on communicating with smaller corporations or family-run businesses that are in the US.

Assignment 22A Elevator Pitch No. 3

A Watchful Eye

The Smart Collar

The feedback I received was basically the same. One comment about not knowing what the requirement for wearing business attire is. This I can remember Dr. Pryor mentioning in a lecture about how it's hot in Florida so he understands the dress code might not be so formal. I did receive an additional feedback comment about trying to be more expressive and use hand gestures. Which I thought was a good idea.

What I changed was I wore a different polo and tried to speak slowly again and not speed the pitch up. I also tried to use a better tone of voice to give more expression to the pitch.I'm not sure if it made much of a difference as I'm still uncomfortable speaking in front of a camera and I will continue to try and improve on that in the future. Overall I think the pitch describes my product very well.

Assignment 17A Elevator Pitch No. 2

Smart Collar

A Watchful Eye

Feedback:

     The only feedback I received was the suggestion to wear business attire such as a dress shirt but was also informed that the polo seemed to work just the same. Being in the golf industry for 20 years all my shirts are pretty much polos. I personally think a nice polo is accepted anywhere nowadays and it's definitely required to be worn at high-end private golf clubs where members pay $250,000 just to join the club, not including yearly fees they pay on top of that. I did appreciate the feedback though and in no way was I offended by it.

Change: 

     I really didn't change anything other than wearing a different color polo shirt. Next pitch I'll wear another different one which will also look nice. The overall length of the pitch seems to be within 5 seconds of what my first pitch was, so that didn't change. I don't usually have to speak in front of many people, so that's something I need to get used to.

Assignment 19A Idea Napkin No. 2

1)
My name is Victor, and I'm in my final year at UF majoring in Sports Management. I've been in the golf industry for over 20 years and have held just about every job in the industry in regards to private golf clubs from course maintenance to 1st assistant to the head pro. I have a passion for animals and sports. I hope after graduating from UF to become a sports agent or director of golf at an elite golf club. This business concept would play a major role in my life as I care deeply about animals and like to help animals in need as much as I possibly can
.
2)
The product I'm offering is called a Smart Collar, and its sole purpose is to give pet owners of a dog or cat the ability to stay in touch with their pet at any time or place when they are away from home. Many pet owners are attached to their pets, and this product will eliminate any worries they may have as to just what their pet does when they are away working or taking care of other commitments.

3)
All my customers would be an owner of a dog or cat. The pet that would use the Smart Collar could either be an indoor or outdoor pet. In both situations, the Smart Collar will provide the same benefits and results. I also would offer the Smart Collar to animal shelters at a reduced price which they could offer to people who adopt a dog or cat from that shelter.

4)
The customers that buy my Smart Collar will all be people who truly care and love their pet. They will have the ability to know that with a push of a button they can see or talk to their pet when they can't physically be there with them. The customers will feel better knowing they don't have to worry about their pet because at any time they can just check up on them and say hi or see where they are and what they're doing. The customers that buy the Smart Collar will all have a loving connection between them and their pet.

5)
There is no other type of monitoring device out there that can stay attached to a pet and follow its every move. Other monitoring devices are stationary and don't have the ability to go where the pet goes. So if a pet owner feels like checking in with their pet when they are away, they will always know exactly what their pet is doing at that exact moment.

All these elements fit together perfectly. Cat owners may have the weakest need as cats are usually more laid back when compared to dogs. Either way pet owners that have a bond with their pet will benefit from using the Smart Collar. It will also give the pet the benefit of being able to hear their owners voice when they are left alone. This will help any pet who may experience separation anxiety.

Feedback Memo:
The feedback I have gotten from others has changed my target audience from indoor cats and dogs to now include outdoor cats and dogs. I hadn't thought about outdoor pets before because here in Florida it is extremely hot during the summer and I wouldn't think the owners of a dog or cat would leave them outside for an extended period of time. This idea of using the Smart Collar will definitely work in other locations where the temperature is milder and people actually can leave their pet outdoors. Another piece of feedback I received was that this might be a hard sell to people who aren't willing to keep an eye on their pet 24/7. This is not what the Smart Collar is made for. It's a temporary monitoring device intended to be used when the owner is away at work for the day. It gives the owner the capability of connecting with their pet whenever they want when they're away. There is no need to keep the Smart Collar on the pet when the owner is home and physically with the pet. I don't believe this feedback has much merit. An owner of the Smart Collar is not committing to keeping an eye on their pet 24/7 if they purchase it. This feedback has not made me have to change anything within the Smart Collar idea.
   

Assignment 18A Create a Customer Avatar

     My Smart Collar can be used by both male and female pet owners. I will focus on the female pet owner for this assignment because I think females would think about what their pet might be doing while they're gone more than men would.
     She could be living anywhere in the world but would definitely have to be an owner of a dog or cat. She is deeply connected with her pet and considers the pet to be a family member almost like a child to her. There is nothing she wouldn't do for her pet. She is also very protective of her pet and always wants the best for her pet safety wise.
     She would be a person of any age who has a full-time job or commitments that require her to be away from her house 8 hours a day Monday through Friday. She would be an active walker who enjoys walking her dog every day after she gets home. Her hobbies may include dog walking, gardening, and cooking all of which she enjoys doing with her pet. When she watches television, she enjoys having her pet on her lap or right by her side within her reach. At night when she goes to bed, she is most comfortable with her pet snuggled up right by her side.
     She might be married with a family but most likely would be single with her pet being her closest companion in her everyday routine. She is satisfied making a modest living and driving an average priced car and enjoys the lifestyle she has. Besides her job or commitments, her biggest concern is for her pet. She often wonders about her pet when she's away from home and looks forward to getting back home after she been gone to enjoy the companionship of her pet.

What do I have in common with the customer avatar?
I'm am the exact same person only difference is I'm a male. I care deeply about my pet and think about him everytime I'm away from him. We enjoy going on daily walks and being together. He is my best and closest companion, and there's nothing that I wouldn't do for him. My dog is a big part of my family, and there's nothing that makes me happier than having him in my life and enjoying his company. I don't think this is a coincidence. I think about my dog constantly when I'm gone, and the idea of being able to see what he's doing is the reason behind the creation of the Smart Collar. Just being able to see him would put me be in a happier mood when I can't physically be with him.

   

Assignment 15A Figuring Out Buyer Behavior 2

In my first interview, I learned that the rechargeable battery would be a very important issue. He suggested that maybe the Smart Collar should come with more than one battery so when one battery had a low charge it could be replaced with a fully charged one without waiting. He also said the price would be another issue. He mentioned he could buy a security camera and get it set up and running for less than 100 dollars. If the Smart Collar would be much more than that, then he would not just immediately buy it. Also, he would most likely like to see it in the store first so online buying wouldn't be something he would do. The post-purchase evaluation would be simple for him either it works or doesn't work.

In the second interview, I learned that choice of color would be important. She said she would like to have a lot of different colors to choose from. The battery life would also be important to her. She stated the battery needed to be easy to change without tools being needed to do that. The price would also be something she needs to consider because she is a student. She would want to buy it in a store so she can actually see it in person before she buys it. She would also ask the people who work in the store their opinion about it. Her post-purchase evaluation would again come down to how well it worked, and if it was able to do everything, it's advertised to do.

My third interview was the easiest. This male said all long as it worked he would buy it. He said the price wouldn't be an issue or the color an issue. He said as long as the battery would last a few days that was fine. He even suggested he would remove the collar when he was home and shut it off. I thought that was an excellent idea. He said he would buy it wherever it was available and didn't mind buying it online before seeing it in person. Once again his post-purchase evaluation would come down to how well the features in the collar worked. If everything worked well with no problems, he would suggest the collar to his friends who also own dogs.

Conclusions:
All three people place importance on the battery which is understandable. Only one person was concerned about color so to start by offering two colors might work. Two out of the three people would only buy it in the store, so this could be something to consider. The price would also need to be around 100 dollars or less. The post-purchase evaluation would all boil down to the features of the Smart Collar and how well they worked when used. This segment made me aware of the importance of different features which are needed. Overall I had already thought about what would matter the most and like I thought the battery would be something very important. 

Assignment 14A Halfway Reflection

1) Tenaciousness is a competency.
I have changed my strategy in this course from waiting until Friday when the assignments are due to complete them to doing one assignment per day and doing only the last one on Friday. Although the word count for the assignments is only 160 minimum very rarely does that happen. There is a lot of writing in the blog posts so only having to do one post a day is so much easier than waiting until Friday and ending up spending a large portion of the day completing all 3 assignments. 

2) Tenaciousness is also about attitude.
After the second week in this course, I did feel like giving up. The main reason for that attitude was there was a lot of writing involved in the blog posts. With the amount of writing being done you would think this would count as a writing requirement course, but it doesn't. I've taken writing requirement courses that required much less writing compared to this class. I feel that yes I have developed a tenacious attitude in the past 2 months because now I can see my point total growing every week and see success shortly in regards to a decent grade. If I hadn't changed my strategy and were still doing all 3 assignments on Fridays, I would have probably lost at least 9 points by now. But by doing one assignment per day, I fell as though I can easily keep up with the pace of this class. I have 2 other online classes, and every Sunday assignments are due for them. So, in the beginning, doing all 3 assignments for this course on Friday would pretty much wipe out any weekend plans I had. I now have some free time on the weekends due to completing 2 assignments for this class before Fridays.

3) Three tips:

• Plan ahead and don't wait until Friday to complete all 3 assignments for that week.
• Make sure to watch the videos as soon as their available. This is important because if you try and watch 2 days of lectures in 1 day, it will take more time than you thought.
• Don't worry if you think no one will buy into your idea. If you like the idea stand behind it and feel confident that there are people out there that have a need for what you are offering. Keep a positive attitude.     

13A Reading Reflection 1

I read Shoe Dog by Phil Knight.

1)

• What surprised you the most? What surprised me the most was that his wife was a student of his. I would have thought that student-teacher relationships were frowned upon. Maybe back then it was different than the way it is now, although I can't say for sure what the policies on student-teacher relationships stipulate. I was also surprised liquor stores sold airline tickets. Phil bought an airline ticket to Hawaii at a liquor store in California.
• What about the entrepreneur did you most admire? I liked how even though he kept telling himself almost every day that Blue Ribbon might not exist tomorrow he kept going with his idea. He never gave up hope even when the banks denied him credit and threw him out.
• What about the entrepreneur did you least admire? I thought he depended on the Chinese shoe factories too much in the beginning. I thought he would have looked to US factories when first getting started. This may have made sense though because back then the options were probably very limited and that could have been his only option.
• Did the entrepreneur encounter adversity and failure? If so, what did they do about it? Phil encountered adversity all the time in the beginning especially when it came to having a big enough line of credit. In my opinion, Phil did not encounter failure. He faced many difficult hurdles but always found a way to get past them.

  2)

• What competencies did you notice that the entrepreneur exhibited? Phil was loyal to his team and showed great trust in them and their abilities whether they had experience or not. He was also committed and all in with his Blue Ribbon company. He also had great leadership abilities and took full responsibility for any outcomes that came from decisions he made.

3)

• Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you. I was confused about why the FBI was investigating him and his Blue Ribbon company and how quickly they stopped the investigation. Usually, when the FBI gets involved in something, it can be a long drawn out affair. 

4)

• If you were able to ask two questions to the entrepreneur, what would you ask? Why? First I would ask Phil why was it so hard to make a decision and why it took until the last second to change the company name from Blue Ribbon to Nike. I would ask this because I wonder if he had any worries that the shoes were already being made and it might have been too late which would have caused a huge problem. Second I would ask him how his lifestyle changed once he knew Nike was a success. I would like to know this because I wonder if he immediately went out and bought lavish things or did he just continue living in moderation.

5)

• For fun: what do you think the entrepreneur's opinion was of hard work? Do you share that opinion? I think Phil's opinion of hard work was finding the people with money to back him in the beginning. The sales of Blue Ribbon doubled each and every year, so the product was selling itself. The hardest work Phil faced was convincing the money people it wasn't always about having an account balance above zero, he always was paying the credit back, so that wasn't an issue. I agree with that opinion because if I had the choice of seeing my company grow that fast and the demand was out there, it would make sense to put everything into the business rather than pad my bank account and watch the demand pass by. In the end, the company would still be there with those kinds of sales.   

Assignment 12A Figuring Out Buyer Behavior 1

Segment and Interviewee Information

I segment I picked was strictly dog owners. The three people I interviewed were all dog owners with only one dog and with no other pets in their home. The first person was a 21-year-old male who works at BestBuy who hates to leave his dog alone. The second person was a 23-year-old male student at UF studying Business who often has concerns as to how long he can leave his dog alone without the dog looking to get into some sort of trouble. The third person was a 45-year-old female who works in the bakery department at Publix. She said she wonders about her dog constantly while she's at work and has some sort of security camera set up in her living room to keep an eye on her dog, but it doesn't always do what she needs it to do.

Summary of what I learned

I learned from these three people that there is a need and demand for my product. The need awareness for all three of these people seems to be the same. They all have need awareness when they have to leave the house and can't take their dog with them. They also have need awareness when they just all of a sudden start thinking about their dog. When these people are home their need awareness doesn't exist because they can physically see, feel, and talk to their dog.

The first thing all three of these people did to try and solve the problem was to talk with their friends who also owned a dog. The third person I interviewed told me that's how she found out that a security camera would work. When searching Google, the terms used by these three people included: pet monitoring devices, security cameras, baby monitoring, and two-way cameras. All three people stated they had tried using the term security camera in a previous Google search.

Conclusion 

I believe that this segment that focuses on dog owners shows they all have need awareness for a pet monitoring device. The reason for the need is because they all are concerned about their dog when they're away from them. The information search terms used is narrow because some sort of camera must be used to monitor the dog. It seems that all three of these people were thinking the same way about need awareness and information search. 

 

Assignment 11A Idea Napkin 1

1) My name is Victor, and I'm majoring in Sports Management. This upcoming fall will be my last semester before my internship, so I'm excited about that. I enjoy all sports and have been in the golf industry for 20 plus years. I also have a passion for animals. I have an Irish Setter whose name is Gator, and there's nothing I wouldn't do for him. My aspirations are to one day become a sports agent and somehow help animals in need. This business concept if started would play a big role in my life. I love to see how people get attached to their pets and wish they could spend more time with them.

2) I am offering pet owners of a dog or cat a Smart Collar which will solve their unmet need of being able to see at any time or from any place exactly where their pet is and what it is doing. This will help pet owners with any concerns they might have when they have to leave home and can't take their pet with them.

3) I am offering the Smart Collar to individuals who either own a dog or cat. I also would be offering it to shelters which they could give as a bonus item to people who adopt a dog or cat from their local animal shelter. All my customers would be owners of a dog or cat. People who don't own a dog or cat wouldn't have the need for this product.

4) I believe that dog or cat owners will buy this product because they would like to know exactly what their pet is doing at any time when their away from the pet. People get emotionally attached to their pets and often think about what they do when they're gone. This will help eliminate any anxiety issues pet owners might have when they can't physically be with their pet. 

5) What sets me apart from everyone else is no one makes a pet monitoring device that is attached to the pet. There are other options to use to monitor your pet, but they are all stationary devices that only allow the owner the ability to see or hear their pet if the pet is in a specific location where the monitoring device is set up. This Smart Collar goes wherever the pet goes, so the owners don't have to wonder where their pet is.

I believe all these elements work together especially in regards to dog owners. Cat owners might have a weaker need only because cats tend to be less likely to get into major trouble when left alone. Although, there are many cat owners, who are curious about what exactly their cat does when left alone. Overall I believe this concept will be a success and greatly benefit owners of either a dog or cat. 

Assignment 10A Elevator Pitch 1

A Watchful Eye

The new SMART COLLAR

Assignment 9A Testing the Hypothesis, Part 2

1) Female 34
This person is a cat owner who doesn't think her cat needs to be monitored while she's away. The Smart Collar would be useful, but she is not worried enough to want to have one.

2) Male 45
This person is a dog owner who likes the idea of a Smart Collar but does not need to monitor his dog because his wife is a stay at home mom who can monitor the dog while he's gone.

3) Male 50
This person is a dog owner who should have the unmet need to monitor his dog while he's away but doesn't. He is satisfied by leaving his dog in a crate when he's gone.

4) Male 36
This person is a dog owner who stated he thinks about his dog a lot when he's gone but he also has a crate for his dog that he uses while he's away. He did say although the crate works for him he would be interested in trying a Smart Collar.

5) Female 29
This person is a cat owner. She does wonder what her cat does while she's away, but a Smart Collar is not something she would be interested in. She did say that if she did have a dog, she would consider needing a Smart Collar.

The Who:
All these people interviewed have the same thing in common, and that's being a pet owner. Although they are pet owners, they all fall outside the boundary because they all use something different to monitor their pet or don't think its necessary to monitor their pet.

The What:
Only one person said he would be interested in trying a Smart Collar as an alternative to using a crate. The other people don't have the problem of monitoring their pet while they are away.

The Why:
The people who are outside the boundary don't have the same need as those inside the boundary because they either use a crate to keep their pet in while they're gone or have someone in the house which means the pet is never left alone. It also appears that cat owners may not have this need as much as dog owners do. Not sure yet why that is, but it could be that cats are less prone to get into trouble.

                                      Inside the Boundary                             Outside the Boundary

Who:                        Pet owners especially dog owners                 Pet owners who use a crate
                                 who don't currently have a way to                 to put their pets in while they

                                 monitor their pet but would like to                are gone. Also, pet owners that                                 have the option of doing so.                          don't think they need to monitor
                                                                                                        their pet.


What:                       Pet owners that want to have the                   Pet owners who aren't concerned
                                 ability to monitor and see their                     or worried about their pet when
                                 pet while they're away.                                  they're away.

Why:                        Some pet owners what to know                     Pet owners use alternate ways to
                                 what their pet does all day when                    to make sure their pet stays out
                                 they can't physically be home to                    of trouble and is in a safe
                                 watch them.                                                    environment. Some options are
                                                                                                         using a crate, having someone
                                                                                                         stay home, or the use of a baby
                                                                                                         monitor or surveillance device.

      

Assignment 8A Solving The Problem

The problem I will be trying to solve is related to dog and cat owners. These owners want to be able to monitor their pet or keep an eye on their pet when they can't physically be home to see them. The best option they have available to them now is using a baby monitor or some type of video surveillance camera. The biggest problem or challenge with using one of these devices is that they are set up in one location or room in the house. If the pet is not in the same room as the device, you can't see or hear the pet.

My solution or way to fix this problem is with the use of a Smart Collar. The Smart Collar will have a small video chip or camera eye in it along with a mini two-way microphone and GPS chip. It will be able to be activated with an app used by any smartphone. The Smart Collar will be available for both dogs and cats and will be no bulkier or heavier than a collar they already wear. The biggest advantage for the pet owners is that they will have the ability to see exactly where the pet is at all times. Wherever the dog or cat goes the collar also goes. The owner will be able to monitor the pet in any location or room in the house thus avoiding the one room only situation.   

Assignment 7A Testing the Hypothesis

Monitoring your pet with a Smart Collar

Opportunity:
Pet owners often think or worry about what their pet does every time they have to leave them alone.

• The who: Pet owners of a dog or cat.
• The what: They are unable to know what the pet is doing or does when left alone.
• The why: Pet owners can't see what their pet is doing when they're not physically with them.

Testing the who: Everyone in my 'who' has this need, also people who are considering getting a pet would be included.

Testing the what: Not knowing what a pet is might be doing while the owner is away is a concern for all pet owners. It's a challenge for pet owners not to worry about their pet when they're away from them.

Testing the why: People who own a pet consider the pet as part of the family. They are emotionally attached to their pet and care deeply about them. There is a need for pet owners to have the ability to check up on their pet when they're away which would lessen any anxiety the owners may feel when leaving the pet alone. This 'why' will hold for all current and future pet owners.

Interviews

1) Male in mid-twenties.
This person is a dog owner who expressed to me that many times he has felt uneasy about leaving his dog alone. He stated that he has even come home early at times because he was worried about what the dog may be doing. He also told me that he considers his dog as part of the family and wished he didn't have to leave his dog alone at times. He cares deeply about his dog, and if a Smart Collar were available, he would not hesitate to purchase one. 

2) Male in early twenties.
This person was also walking his dog when I ran into him. He stated that he feels confident and has no doubts about leaving his dog alone. He told me the reason why is because he puts his dog in a dog crate every time he needs to leave the dog alone. He also expressed that he feels that by putting his dog in the crate its safer for the dog than just letting the dog have the run of the house. He made it clear to me that his dog is his pride and joy and I could see they were attached to each other. The idea of a Smart Collar sounded interesting but would not change his mind of putting his dog in the crate when he is away.

3) Female in early twenties.
This person was jogging on the same path that I was walking my dog on and stopped to say hello to my dog. She stated she was not a dog owner but did have a cat. She has no worries about leaving the cat alone when she has things to do. She told me she has thought about getting a dog but doesn't know how her cat would react with the dog. She did say she would not feel comfortable about leaving the pets alone if she did get a dog because she would have no way to see what they were doing while she was gone. A Smart Collar sounded like something she may be interested in for her cat, but she wouldn't need one unless the cat started to get into trouble in the house which hasn't happened yet.

4) Female in mid-fifties.
I met this person outside of PetSmart. She is an owner of two dogs. She stated that she often experiences anxiety when she leaves the two dogs alone. On the weekends she rarely leaves the house because she feels that leaving the dogs alone during the week causes her enough concern and she doesn't need the additional stress. She doesn't use a crate for either dog and stated she now uses a baby monitoring device to help her keep an eye on the dogs when she's away. She did state that there is a disadvantage to using the baby monitoring device because if the dogs aren't in the same room as the monitor, she can't see or hear the dogs. The idea of a Smart Collar is something she would use and have a need for if it was available.

5) Female in mid-thirties.
I met this person while walking my dog in the neighborhood. She stated she wants a dog but doesn't think it's fair to the dog to have to always be in a crate when she's away. She also said she would be worried about leaving the dog inside the house alone because of all the pictures she's seen which show a dog tearing up the couch. The reason she doesn't have a pet is that she wouldn't know what to expect when coming home after leaving a pet alone. The idea of a Smart Collar is definitely something she would need before she would take the plunge and become a pet owner.

Summary

After interviewing these people, I have come to the conclusion that to avoid having to worry about leaving a pet alone putting the pet in a crate is one option. A baby monitoring device or even a security camera is another option, but this option has limitations. I have found that the idea of a Smart Collar is something a large percentage of pet owners would have the need for and use. This Smart Collar would include a microphone, video chip, and GPS all accessible from a mobile app. This would have an advantage over a fixed video monitor because it would be around the neck of the pet and wherever the pet goes the collar goes. Keeping an eye on the pet would be as easy as pushing a button. The Smart Collar is something every pet owner could use in different situations. I have included some interesting facts that I found that show over half of all Americans have a dog or cat in their home. After reading this, it reaffirms my belief that this opportunity exists.
https://www.petsecure.com.au/pet-care/a-guide-to-worldwide-pet-ownership/
        

Assignment 6A Opportunities in Economic and Regulatory Trends

Economic Trends

1) Strengthening Global Demand
 https://commercial.jpmorganchase.com/pages/commercial-banking/executive-connect/six-key-economic-trends

This article states that Global Demand is gaining momentum and GPD is forecast to rise by 4 percent this year across Europe and Japan. If this forecast is true, then there would be a good opportunity for companies in the U.S. who export items overseas. The prototypical customer would be anyone who lives in Europe or Japan and wants to buy exports from the U.S. I would think this opportunity would be fairly easy to exploit because of the demand for U.S. made products in other countries. I saw this opportunity because if Global Demand is increasing it is inevitable that people will want to buy more of what they want.

2) Rebounding from Natural Disasters
  https://commercial.jpmorganchase.com/pages/commercial-banking/executive-connect/six-key-economic-trends

This article is about rebuilding after natural disasters like the hurricanes that tore up Texas and Florida last year. If this year's hurricane season is anything like last year, there will be a great opportunity for construction and building in areas affected by a hurricane or other type of natural disaster, flooding for instance. The prototypical customer is going to be anyone who sustained damage to their home, business, or commercial property due to any natural disaster where rebuilding is needed. This opportunity will be easy to exploit due to the regular occurrences of some type of natural disaster that happen every year in the U.S. I saw this opportunity because natural disasters happen every year in some form. People will always rebuild and not just walk away from the problem.

Regulatory Changes

1) Tax Policy Changes
 https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/7671-regulatory-issues-changes.html

This article is directed towards the small business owner who may benefit from the new tax policy reform. It's believed that this new tax reform will provide many opportunities for the small business owners. It should be easier for small businesses to start up and survive in the long run because of the tax reform and it will also provide more incentives to owners who want to start a new business. The prototypical customer will be anyone who has the resources available and the desire to be a small business owner. Entrepreneurs should benefit greatly from the new tax reform policy. I think it should be easy to exploit this opportunity as long as the necessary resources are available to the person interested in a new venture. I saw this opportunity because a large number of people dream of owning a business and being independent. With this tax reform, it should be easier for many to achieve that dream or goal.

2) Portable Benefits Rules
https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/7671-regulatory-issues-changes.html

This article addresses the gig workers who move around from job to job. These people are freelance workers, independent contractors, or temporary workers. Over one-third of Americans fall into this worker category. These workers are not eligible for company-paid health insurance or 401k programs. The opportunity for portable benefits is being addressed more now than before because if benefits aren't made available to these workers, it will pull down productivity and impact the health of the workers. The prototypical customer is anyone working as a gig worker or considering becoming a gig worker. According to the article, the need for the workers to have these benefits can't be ignored and widespread action to have benefits available will happen soon. It should be easy to exploit this opportunity knowing that these workers make up one-third of the workforce. I saw this opportunity because there are many workers who would like to be an independent contractor but can't because no benefits are available to them, so they have no choice but to work for someone who provides them with benefits or pay out of their own pocket for benefits. 
   

 

Assignment 5A Identifying Local Opportunities

1) L.A.'s only school for deaf hits crisis point; Parents demand a principal fluent in American Sign Language
https://search-proquest-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/docview/2046421851/fulltext/DFED3668BB945F1PQ/22?accountid=10920

This article is about L.A.'s only public school for deaf children. The parents of the deaf children are upset with the principal not being able to understand the students.

The problem is that the principal of this school doesn't know American Sign Language.

I think that a majority of all principals have this problem. The qualifications to become a principal don't mandate they know sign language.

2) Now Encino folks decry drivers' Waze
https://search-proquest-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/docview/2046420020/fulltext/EC14C17EF6124A42PQ/23?accountid=10920

This article is about a once quiet neighboorhood street now having too much traffic because of apps telling drivers they can save seconds off their commute to work.

The problem is drivers using navigation apps. The navigation apps are intended to provide the quickest route possible. The apps don't know if a certain street is in a quiet neighborhood or not.

The navigation apps have the problem because they can't tell the difference between busy and quiet neighborhood streets.

3) From PR crisis to teachable moment; Starbucks is among a growing list of firms using bias training.
https://search-proquest-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/docview/2046424078/fulltext/EC14C17EF6124A42PQ/30?accountid=10920

This article is about why Starbucks closed all its 8,000 U.S. company-owned stores Tuesday, May 29th. Starbucks was training its employees to prevent using unconscious bias towards customers. Most employees never get this training when hired at any job.

The problem started when a Starbucks employee called the police on 2 black men who were waiting for a friend to join them in Philadelphia. The employee who called the police did not know the facts before the police were called.

All employees in the world potentially have this problem because of lack of proper training.

4) Barr is called out; After comedian causes uproar with an 'abhorrent' racist tweet, ABC promptly cancels 'Roseanne'
https://search-proquest-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/docview/2046424686/fulltext/726F395E9DC24653PQ/1?accountid=10920   

Roseanne Barr made a racist tweet about a former Obama aide. ABC thought she had gone too far and canceled her show.

The problem is Roseanne drew too much attention to herself and ABC when using social media.

All social media has this problem because there are no consequences for people who go too far and post inappropriate thoughts.

5) Criminal probe into USC doctor intensifies; LAPD investigates 52 misconduct claims by former patients of the gynecologist, urges others to step forward.
https://search-proquest-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/docview/2046424726/726F395E9DC24653PQ/2?accountid=10920

The L.A. police department is investigating 52 complaints against a Doctor was employed by USC for 30 years.

The problem is that this Doctor who worked for USC for 30 years has 52 complaints against him for sexual misconduct when he gave patients exams.

All Doctors could have this problem if they aren't being monitored by someone. If the Doctors aren't held accountable for their actions this problem could go undetected for years before people decide to stand up and say something about the abuse.

Assignment 4A Opportunity Belief

     I believe there is an unmet need that people have when thinking about adopting a pet. In my opinion, there are thousands of people who would love to adopt a new pet and have a companion but are hesitant because of their daily routine or schedule. I believe this need to have a pet companion has been a need for years by both single people who live alone and established families who have children. Right now their need is mostly not met due to their concern about leaving the pet at home while they are away. As a result of their concern, millions of pets sit homeless in animal shelters across the world. I'm 75% confident that this opportunity exists. 
     The prototypical customer would be anyone who loves animals who would adopt a new companion if they could feel more comfortable knowing there are ways to monitor the pet when they can't be at home.

     Prototypical customer 1. The next door neighbor single male in late 20's.

• Do you need a non-human companion to keep you company?

Answer: "Yes, but I work during the week and don't know if leaving the pet alone is safe." 

• How long have you thought of the need for a pet?

Answer: "I honestly think about it every day. Especially when I see people like yourself with a pet."

• How are you addressing your need for a companion pet?

Answer: "Right now I'm just dealing with it, I feel lonely at times and wish I had a pet."

• Are you satisfied with your solution of not having a pet because of concerns about leaving it alone?

Answer: "Do I have a choice?"

• What if I told you there are ways to monitor your pet while you're away and feel at ease?

Answer: "If I could find a way to do that I would go adopt a pet within a few weeks."

     Prototypical customer 2. A family I ran into at PETSMART in Butler Plaza in Gainesville.

• Do you need a non-human companion to keep you company?

Answer: "We would love to have a pet, but we both work and don't feel right about leaving it alone."

• How long have you thought of the need for a pet?

Answer: "We have been coming here and looking for the past few months but just don't know if having a pet would fit our schedules."

• How are you addressing your need for a companion pet?

Answer: "For the time being we just come here on Saturdays and dream about it."

• Are you satisfied with your solution of not having a pet because of concerns about leaving it alone?

Answer: "Definitely not. We just hope someday we be able to feel comfortable getting a pet." 

• What if I told you there are ways to monitor your pet while you're away and feel at ease?

Answer: "How is it possible and is it costly?"

     Prototypical customer 3. A random female I ran into while walking my dog in the neighborhood.

• Do you need a non-human companion to keep you company?

Answer: "I would love a pet, but I'm a full-time student and wouldn't feel right leaving it alone."

• How long have you thought of the need for a pet?

Answer: "I've wanted a pet forever."

• How are you addressing your need for a companion pet?

Answer: "A lot of times I get bored by myself and wish I had a friend to talk to who was there every day, and I think about getting a pet to fill a void in my life."

• Are you satisfied with your solution of not having a pet because of concerns about leaving it alone?

Answer: "No because I still feel lonely thinking about not having one."

• What if I told you there are ways to monitor your pet while you're away and feel at ease?

Answer: "I'm not sure that's possible, but I would be willing to look into it if you know how to do that."

Reflection

     I do believe that just by talking to these people in three different situations that my original assumption about why people are hesitant to adopt a pet is true. The most surprising thing is that in all three situations the people didn't know there was a way around their biggest fear which was leaving the pet alone and to be able to feel comfortable doing it. If people knew there are ways to monitor a pet while they're away chances are greater that these people would satisfy their need and adopt a pet.

Summary

     I believe that all of my original opportunity still exists. It's possible though that the opportunity could drop to around 55% just because people are hesitant to do something from only hearing things without actually seeing something first hand. This would lead to my new opportunity to be less accurate than when I started. I think entrepreneurs must always adapt their opportunities based on customer feedback because if there is no need by the customer, the opportunity can't move forward.  

 

 

Assignment 3A Entrepreneurship Story

     Even though my Dad was a Pharmacist by trade the majority of his relatives were in the farming industry in central Illinois. Over the years the family acquired a large amount of land, in excess of 100,000 acres. The land was passed down over the years to the younger generation as the elder family members passed away. About 15 years ago my cousins who are my age took control of the land. These family members are college educated and farming is not high on their list of what they wanted to do with their life. My cousins decided they wanted to explore other ways to use the land they inherited and the first thing they did was take some of the land and turn it into an 18 hole Championship Golf Course. A golf course takes years to fully develop into what it is first envisioned  to be. Now 10 years later it has become one of the finest golf courses in the area. After they found success with this venture they have now purchased and built 3 more golf courses in the area. The small amount of land used to build these golf courses compared to farming the same area makes more money than what farming the whole 100,000 acres ever brought in. I'm very fortunate to have close family members who built their fortune from the ground up.
     To be honest I picked this class because it seemed interesting and I think it might be useful to me in the future considering what my family situation is. I, like my cousins, didn't follow and do what our parents did. When I graduated high school my Dads goal was for me to be a Pharmacist like him but I just didn't like the idea of being cooped up indoors working all day. That's my story and here are two of my favorite pictures with my best friend. 

     

Assignment 2A Bug List

1) Waiting for the water in my shower to get hot in the morning.
Why it exists: The hot water in the pipe gets cold if not being used.

2) The shopping carts at Walmart in Butler Plaza that have wobbly or stuck front wheels.
Why it exists: Not enough regular maintenance being done on the carts.

3) In and out reception watching DIRECTV during thunderstorms.
Why it exists: The cloud coverage prevents the signal transmission to the outside dish.

4) People who blast music in their cars in Gainesville off campus.
Why it exists: The people turn the volume up too much.

5) Senior people in line at Publix in Williston Plaza taking forever to pay when checking out.
Why it exists: The age of the senior people has caused them to slow down over time.

6) People that get on the bus at Reitz Union and don't have their pass or money out when boarding.
Why it exists: The people aren't prepared for boarding the bus.

7) Missing a one-foot putt at Gainesville Country Club.
Why it exists: I didn't take my time while putting and just assumed I would make it.

8) Sunglasses that fog up when going from the A/C in my house to the heat outdoors.
Why it exists: The sunglasses change temperature too quickly.

9) People who all of a sudden budge in front of me when driving on Archer Rd. near Butler Plaza.
Why it exists: The people aren't in the correct lane when they approach their turn.

10) Pine Sap that gets on my outdoor Weber grill.
Why it exists: The pine tree in my backyard drips sap in the hot weather, and I don't cover the grill.

11) Bitesquad in Gainesville not accepting cash payments for food orders.
Why it exists: Bitesquad corporation has made the decision to only accept credit card payments.

12) My dog putting kibble in his mouth and then dropping it on the floor without eating it.
Why it exists: My dog is in too much of a hurry to finish the food in his bowl.

13) Garbage trucks in my neighborhood being loud at 6 am.
Why it exists: The garbage truck drivers go too fast over the speed bumps.

14) UF students talking or texting while driving instead of paying attention to the road.
Why it exists: The students are addicted to their phones no matter what the situation is.

15) The fan in my bedroom wakes me up during the night.
Why it exists: The fan is old and the bearings inside it cause it to get noisy at times.

16) People who drive in Gainesville and go around a bus when it stops at a bus stop.
Why it exists: The people who go around the bus are ignoring the law.

17) People who honk their horn in my neighborhood when picking people up.
Why it exists: It's easier for the driver to honk instead of knocking on the door or calling.

18) Calling my Dad and getting a mailbox is full message when trying to leave a voicemail.
Why it exists: He doesn't delete his voicemails often enough.

19) People in my neighborhood who don't pick up after their dog after it goes potty.
Why it exists: They do it because they think nobody's around to see them.

20) Too many emails in my inbox from people I don't know.
Why it exists: My email address is being shared among companies I communicate with. 

Reflection
I found this assignment interesting and when looking at things around me found many more than just 20 bugs in my daily life. I didn't find it as hard as I first thought it might be because I don't like to stress over things I can't control.   

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