30A - Final Reflection

Final Reflection:

As I read through my posts, I see a journey of incremental steps. I wanted to do everything all in the beginning and didn’t respect the interviews that I needed to do. The most formative experience were those numerous interviews. Especially the ones with people who weren’t in my expected demographic. They opened my eyes to the fact that I dismissed their interest instead of finding an accommodation for them. What new business should be turning away or ignoring potential customers? I don’t like talking to people and would not have had this not been required. It was easier to blame the conversation on a school assignment. I consider myself capable of being an entrepreneur, but I don’t have the interest in it at this time. I don’t think my business idea is that great.

For future students, I would recommend spending more time on your business idea. I didn’t realize in the beginning that the rest of the class would be assignments focused on that one idea. I recommend future students look ahead and start early on the interviews.

29A Venture Concept No. 2

ENT 3003: Venture Concept

Brian Kalch

Adults-only camp

 Opportunity:

Adults wishing to participate in a different activity or vacation that is not readily available currently. They need to be offered an alternative to the vacation and activity destinations currently offered. Potential customers are adults who have disposable income, are employed with vacation time, are physically active with outgoing personalities. The market would be adults in the Southeast and it is unlikely this will be a national destination point for visitors. Potential customers are currently going to Las Vegas with friends, renting cabins for fishing excursions, and reuniting in ball rooms and conference rooms for reunions. This is a moderate sized opportunity but will be difficult to scale as the locations and amenities are crucial to the interest levels of participants. The window of opportunity is long term as there will be interest among new generations.

 Innovation:

This is a new style of vacation or camp. Typically, camps are focused on children, religious youth groups, and boy/girl scouts. This camp would be gender specific for each period of time. There should be less issues by not mixing genders. Summer camps are also an option. What is innovative about this business opportunity is that it is marketed to adults. It will include activities that children can do as well as provide alcoholic beverages and adult themed activities. This is rarely offered in the current camp atmosphere. There would be premium alcohol upgrade packages for those that want finer beverages and brands. The adult camp would provide short term weekend getaways as well as weeklong vacation style packages.  The adults would sign up to fill each cabin of approximately 10 people. Any cabins not completely filled would be completed with smaller groups to get to 10 people per cabin. Upon arrival the campers would be directed to their cabins. Once given time to unpack and meet their camp counselor, we would have a welcome party to explain the calendar of events and rules. We would provide sign up sheets for additional cost excursions and activities that are not part of the standard camp package. Campers would be fed three times a day and the campers would be responsible for part of the total camp cooking, cleaning, and serving on a rotational basis to cut labor costs. Each day there would be activities for the campers. There will be dinner themes and costume nights planned beforehand for better camp participation and experience. Towards the end of the camp experience there would be a cabin competition which would determine winners that will be presented awards at the final campfire night of the camp. The average cost per head per day would be approximately $125. Short term weekend campers would be $150 per day and long-term campers would be $100 per day. There would be one paid counselor per cabin on 10 people. The additional activities that are additional fees would be offered only if profitable to run. These activities will be comfort based for those campers not wishing to have a rugged and basic experience. Activities offered would include zip-lining, swimming, survival skill training, fishing, basketball, volleyball, flag football, kickball, diving, water skiing, hiking, archery, bb gun range, and many other activities.

 

 Venture Concept:

With all the negativity going on in the world this camp would be a getaway for adults to have fun with current friends and make new friends. Many folks went to camps as kids and have fond memories. Many wish they could have attended due to economic reasons and now want to have that experience. Other folks who may meet friend’s yearly are tired of going to the same place such as Las Vegas or their former hometown. This camp would offer a new experience for adults.  This would be something different than what they are used to. Word of Mouth and a good Social Media campaign would be crucial to the long-term success of this business. Seeing pictures and videos of friends, family, and acquaintances on social media attending an adult camp would catch their attention. Once the business was established, we would then move to a themed camp to try and attract repeat visitors by offering a different experience than what they had previously. There are camps around the Southeast that market to children. If the adult experience was not sufficient enough to make a profit, we could always fall back on to allowing children and be a traditional camp part of the year to supplement income. The roles that would need to be filled are Camp Director which I will fulfill at first, Camp safety coordinator, camp marketing/finance Director, Activities director, and one camp counselor per 10 attendees.  Due to alcohol consumption, the age of counselors would be 21 or older. The “secret sauce” of our camp would be adult only activities that customers could not get at a traditional camp.

 

Next steps would be acquiring the land and facility and getting activities ready to be performed. Acquiring insurance and legal certifications for employees would be next. During this time, we would set an opening week and start marketing to customers with stock file photos. These would be updated with employees once we were close to starting the camp. There would be introductory offers to influencers as the first campers and an agreement to post on their social media numerous times to get the discount. I would keep my current job until the opening of the camp and then take a leave of absence to focus on the business. I would partner with the American Camp association to try and get free press and contact opportunities.

Changes from first draft of Venture concept:

I changed the counselor ages to 21+ since alcohol was being served. I clarified that cabins would be gender specific. I added premium alcohol packages for more profit. I added the package for influencers to attend camp first to get the word out on social media afterwards. I added dinner themes and costume contests. My next steps didn't change much after conversations suing first venture concept.

27A - Reading Reflection No.3

  My third book for this semester was Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a fantastic Future, by Ashlee Vance. I’ve seen and heard quite a few opinions about Mr. Musk and saw a few interviews he’s done over the past couple of years. My initial interpretation of his personality was that he was very smart and had quirky social behavior. The book supported that view and went into more detail about his childhood, early business dealings, and his current situation.  What surprised me most was the schizophrenic nature of his upbringing. He was privileged with opportunity and experiences across the world by his father but also was stunted emotionally by him as well.

   I most admire his drive to explore, learn and create. His boldness at an early age was astounding. His inability to nurture long term relationships is least admirable. Like most groundbreaking CEO’s, Elon had some early struggles and made some wrong moved early in his business career. He continued to move forward and was already on to the next vision before the previous one blew up in his face. He has his own thoughts and doesn’t care what others think. He has a goal and vision and doesn’t let anything deter him from trying to accomplish them.

   I was confused on how little depth there was about Elon’s mother and father and how those relationships affected who he became as an adult. I would have liked to have had a few chapters on his childhood from his parents’ perspective. The book skims across the parental relationships in favor of much more detail about the business dealings.

Two questions I would like to ask Mr. Musk:

1.       Are you burdened by all the ideas you have that you won’t have enough time to pursue?

2.       If you had to re-live a year of your life, what year would you go through again and why?

Mr. Musk’s expectations of hard work are chronicled in the book. He expects his employees to work around the clock to get the job done. If they don’t want to, there are plenty of people who are waiting to take their place. I agree this is hard work, but too hard in my opinion. I think people burn out too soon with this kind of work ethic and you lose the benefits of longevity and experience.

28A - Exit Strategy

 I don’t think my adult camp will make me a millionaire. In fact, I think it may be difficult to consistently turn a profit. I foresee repairs and regulations pinching my bottom line. Unless the success was enormous, I think this business would be one that I would pass on to family at some point. A new generation may be able to spark life into it a decade from now. It would be nice to keep in the family. It could be run by managing partners.   

This exit strategy has probably diminished my passion for this project as I don’t see a guarantee it will make me and my family a lot of money or easily be continued for decades. This strategy would limit my sacrifice for this business and the amount of work I want to put in. It could all be for nothing in a few years and put a strain on my family finances.

26A - Celebrating Failure

   This past semester I fooled myself into thinking I could keep up with my UF classes while I took a vacation. My family and I were originally scheduled to go to Europe in June but with COVID happening, we of course had to cancel that. After many weeks of being cooped up at home my wife wanted to get out. We didn’t have many options that weren’t risky. We decided to vacation at a condo on the beach in the Gulf. We didn’t interact with many people and just relaxed. I intended to do my schoolwork and tests while on vacation. I thought it would be peaceful. Unfortunately, the WIFI was not as good as it appeared, and that week we had to interview a bunch of people for assignments in this class. I failed miserably keeping up with the assignments and scored poorly on a test in another class. I don’t know what I was thinking. I was not motivated to do anything, and I felt like school was infringing on my earned vacation. I should have known this was a mistake. I can’t let the emotions of getting something I want now to hurt something I want in the long run.

25A - What's Next?

Existing Market.

I believe my next step is to find a location for the adult camp and to inquire about business licenses and needed permits.

My three interviewees for the existing market agreed in general but had other ideas for next steps. One believed that I need to come up with a name and logo so I can start to “visualize” the business and potential customers will be able to do the same. Another interviewee thought I needed to create an online media campaign asking for interest levels and getting potential customers excited about the concept. Another interviewee said I should be putting together a business plan to see if this all makes sense at least on paper. They all said that customers want to see visuals of what the camp offers and will be like. The concept alone is not enough to get firm interest levels.

I like the idea of visualizing the business and having something in hand that starts the process. I’m going to come up with a name, logo, and mission statement. After that I’m going to inquire about how much liquor licensing cost, insurance would cost, and what permitting would be needed for an adult camp. Once I get all of that I’m going to put together a business plan and get a feel of how much I need to charge people to make a profit. If all of that checks out and makes sense, then I would start looking for a location for the camp and what amenities are available.

 

New Market.

A new market that I haven’t targeted yet would be elderly individuals. I don’t think they would like the adventurous concepts I have for the adult camp. I could adapt to their needs and have low impact water aerobics, more craft making, less alcohol influence, and 50’s style “sock hop” dances. We could have card game and board game competitions.

My first interviewee in this age group said she would be interested in seeing old movies with a group of people her age. She said, “they don’t show movies like they used to.” She referenced having dance classes and old swing music playing that they could listen to with friends. My other interviewee said he would like to teach people of today more life skills that they seem to not have. “Everyone is on the internet and nobody does anything themselves anymore.” He would like to show people how to change oil and do basic home repairs. He said he taught his sons and they are now equipped for what the world throws at you.

My basic assumptions about this group was correct. They aren’t interested in water skiing and ziplines. They don’t want to get drunk and party. They aren’t even thrilled about sleeping in a cabin bunk. However, I learned that I might be able to incorporate them into the camp for select weeks by having them teach skills and tell war stories. Even with that option, this segment of new market is not very interesting to make a profit with.

23A - Your Venture's Unfair Advantage

My Resources for Adult Camp

1.       My 20+ years of operations management experience: Uncommon but not rare. It would take a long time for others to copy this and get the experience and knowledge I’ve accumulated over that time. Knowledge of other industries may prove to have similar value.

2.       My ability to forecast and foresee issues and prevent/minimize them: This is a result of many experiences and overcoming issues with new company and location start-ups. This would take time and opportunity to replicate. Others with similar experience should have similar skills.

3.       My wife’s marketing abilities and contacts in the industry (Sr. Director of Customer Experience): This is a relatively new field in marketing and would be difficult to copy. The fact that she is “free labor and service” would be very, very difficult to duplicate.

4.       Alcohol being served – liquor license: Common for restaurants and many other companies but not typical for camps. This could be replicated though.

5.       Relationships with national vendors and sales reps: Many people have this but in combination with other skills this can save a lot of time and startup costs.

6.       Camp location and structures (land, cabins, etc.): Difficult to copy but can be replicated in a similar fashion.

7.       Camp Culture and ability to generate internship interest: This would be unique to my camp and would not be possible to duplicate. This feature could end up as the most important part of the camp in the long run.

8.       Zip Lines and Outdoor Equipment (Amenities): Easily repeatable.

9.       Boat, skis, fishing and nautical equipment: Easily repeatable.

10.   Investment Capital and great credit scores: Somewhat common but can be a crucial factor for start up funds and expansion needs.

 

I believe my top resource starting out would be my Operations experience and knowledge gained from opening company locations around the world. Once started and sustainable, I think the camp culture is crucial to the long-term health of the business.

24A - Venture Concept No. 1

ENT 3003: Venture Concept

Brian Kalch

Adults-only camp

 

Opportunity:

Adults wishing to participate in a different activity or vacation that is not readily available currently. They need to be offered an alternative to the vacation and activity destinations currently offered. Potential customers are adults who have disposable income, are employed with vacation time, are physically active with outgoing personalities. The market would be adults in the Southeast and it is unlikely this will be a national destination point for visitors. Potential customers are currently going to Las Vegas with friends, renting cabins for fishing excursions, and reuniting in ball rooms and conference rooms for reunions. This is a moderate sized opportunity but will be difficult to scale as the locations and amenities are crucial to the interest levels of participants. The window of opportunity is long term as there will be interest among new generations.

 

Innovation:

This is a new style of vacation or camp. Typically, camps are focused on children, religious youth groups, and boy/girl scouts. Summer camps are also an option. What is innovative about this business opportunity is that it is marketed to adults. It will include activities that children can do as well as provide alcoholic beverages and adult themed activities. This is rarely offered in the current camp atmosphere. The adult camp would provide short term weekend getaways as well as weeklong vacation style packages.  The adults would sign up to fill each cabin of approximately 10 people. Any cabins not completely filled would be completed with smaller groups to get to 10 people per cabin. Upon arrival the campers would be directed to their cabins. Once given time to unpack and meet their camp counselor, we would have a welcome party to explain the calendar of events and rules. We would provide sign up sheets for additional cost excursions and activities that are not part of the standard camp package. Campers would be fed three times a day and the campers would be responsible for part of the total camp cooking, cleaning, and serving on a rotational basis to cut labor costs. Each day there would be activities for the campers. Towards the end of the camp experience there would be a cabin competition which would determine winners that will be presented awards at the final campfire night of the camp. The average cost per head per day would be approximately $125. Short term weekend campers would be $150 per day and long-term campers would be $100 per day. There would be one paid counselor per cabin on 10 people. We would offer unpaid internships to people who want to gain community service hours for scholarships. The additional activities that are additional fees would be offered only if profitable to run. These activities will be comfort based for those campers not wishing to have a rugged and basic experience. Activities offered would include zip-lining, swimming, survival skill training, fishing, basketball, volleyball, flag football, kickball, diving, water skiing, hiking, archery, bb gun range, and many other activities.

 

Venture Concept:

With all the negativity going on in the world this camp would be a getaway for adults to have fun with current friends and make new friends. Many folks went to camps as kids and have fond memories. Many wish they could have attended due to economic reasons and now want to have that experience. Other folks who may meet friend’s yearly are tired of going to the same place such as Las Vegas or their former hometown. This camp would offer a new experience for adults.  This would be something different than what they are used to. Word of Mouth and a good Social Media campaign would be crucial to the long-term success of this business. Seeing pictures and videos of friends, family, and acquaintances on social media attending an adult camp would catch their attention. Once the business was established, we would then move to a themed camp to try and attract repeat visitors by offering a different experience than what they had previously. There are camps around the Southeast that market to children. If the adult experience was not sufficient enough to make a profit, we could always fall back on to allowing children and be a traditional camp part of the year to supplement income. The roles that would need to be filled are Camp Director which I will fulfill at first, Camp safety coordinator, camp marketing/finance Director, Activities director, and one camp counselor per 10 attendees. The “secret sauce” of our camp would be adult only activities that customers could not get at a traditional camp.

 

Next steps would be acquiring the land and facility and getting activities ready to be performed. Acquiring insurance and legal certifications for employees would be next. During this time, we would set an opening week and start marketing to customers with stock file photos. These would be updated with employees once we were close to starting the camp. There would be introductory offers to the first campers and an agreement to post on their social media numerous times to get the discount. I would keep my current job until the opening of the camp and then take a leave of absence to focus on the business. I would partner with the American Camp association to try and get free press and contact opportunities.

22A Elevator Pitch #3

https://youtu.be/XKYM2FS67kk

The feedback I got was to add more details. I added a lot of activities that would be provided at this adult camp. I also incorporated the frustration that many people feel now with all of the negative energy going on in the world. I wanted to tap into people having fond memories and get them excited to go have fun. Because of the nature of this business I have planned from the beginning to not be very formal and business-like in my approach. I wanted the pitches to be more conversation-like. This business will probably thrive on mainly word-of-mouth. 

As far as my personal pitch style, I realized I have nervous "ticks" that I do in front of the camera that I don't do anywhere else. I twitch my shoulder a lot and I look around quite a bit. I think it's because I'm not talking to an actual person. If I was speaking to someone face-to face then I would feel rude looking around so much while talking. It just feels weird to stare into the eyes of a phone!

20A - Growing Your Social Capital

#1

1) Who they are and what their background is. I found an entire organization that deals with camps. This contact is even better than a single person. It's the American Camp Association. They have free training videos and market research available. 

2) Which 'slot' you are filling with each person (i.e., domain expert, market expert, supplier), and how the person fills the spot. This would be domain expert.

3) A description of how you found the person and contacted the person. Google searches for camps led to this discovery.

4) The nature of the exchange you have with the person -- what favor did they do for you? What is the return expectation? I now have access to lots of training videos about camp subjects like safety, activities, first aid, animal experiences, certificates and certifications.  

5) How will including this person in your network enhance your ability to exploit an opportunity? You can advertise on their site and directly hire counselors. There is a forum to speak with camp directors across the country.

#2

1) Who they are and what their background is. ACA President and CEO Tom Rosenberg. He was in the Finance industry for a couple of years and then he started being a director at camps for the next 26 years. He's been the head of the American Camp Association for over three years.

2) Which 'slot' you are filling with each person (i.e., domain expert, market expert, supplier), and how the person fills the spot. Market expert.

3) A description of how you found the person and contacted the person. Through the ACA Facebook page. I saw a video he did on the today show and then looked him up on LinkedIn.

4) The nature of the exchange you have with the person -- what favor did they do for you? What is the return expectation? Nothing yet. I sent a LinkedIn request to connect. No response yet.

5) How will including this person in your network enhance your ability to exploit an opportunity? His many years of experience and contacts in the industry would be very helpful.

#3

1) Who they are and what their background is. Sales Rep Florida Region for S&S Worldwide Co. They sell camp game, craft, and supplies. 

2) Which 'slot' you are filling with each person (i.e., domain expert, market expert, supplier), and how the person fills the spot. Supplier

3) A description of how you found the person and contacted the person. I emailed S&S Worldwide through their website and they said a sales rep from Florida would be contacting me in the next 48 hours. 

4) The nature of the exchange you have with the person -- what favor did they do for you? What is the return expectation? I expect them to tell me what a typical camp would purchase and to find out how many other adult only camps he knows about in the Southeast.

5) How will including this person in your network enhance your ability to exploit an opportunity? I'm sure he/she has contacts in this region that would be helpful to ask questions.

This camping industry is something I know absolutely nothing about. I wasn't surprised to find niche publications and associations but the ones I found seemed large and well organized. Many people spend most of their lives in this industry. The large focus of the industry is kids which is not my focus.

21A - Reading Reflection No. 2

For the second book this semester I chose Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

1) What was the general theme or argument of the book? To oversimplify the very nuanced and deep philosophies of the book, my summation is it teaches that happiness and real prosperity comes from doing more of what you enjoy instead of running the rat race and trying to acquire expensive things. 

2) How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003? Much like the multiple interviews we did to ask others their opinions, I realized my version of what my business should be might be very different from what my customers want the business to be. We all have different perspectives and experiences that form our belief systems, desires and happiness triggers.

3) If you had to design an exercise for this class, based on the book you read, what would that exercise involve? I would build an assignment where students listed the twenty best things from their childhood. I would see how many listed nice expensive things like the car their parents had, expensive toys, or how big their house was. I would imagine the results would include more experiences and relationships. We would see if the things that were important to them as a child are the same things that are important to them as an adult.

4) What was your biggest surprise or 'aha' moment when reading the book? In other words, what did you learn that differed most from your expectations? I would classify myself as unemotional and a rational thinker. I'm the calm one during crisis situations. What I did not expect was how much emotions play a part in decision making. We may fool ourselves  into thinking the decision is based on solely facts but research proves that emotions play a bigger role than I thought.

17A- Elevator Pitch 2

https://youtu.be/Z3WAYTLoK2Y

I didn't receive any feedback on my first Elevator Pitch. Probably because the audio was so bad. However, I did change this time and added more details and activities and clarified that it had alcohol and had availability for men and women at different times.

19A - Idea Napkin No.2

1) You. Who you are. What your talents are. What your skills and experiences are.  I am a 46 yr old Operations Professional with over 20 years of experience. I'm very good at breaking down problems, coming up with a plan, and implementing that plan efficiently. I've opened up multiple facilities across Jacksonville and China. I've dealt with contractors, hiring of employees, creation of protocols and procedures, creating and changing business cultures, and efficient P&L supervision and creation. I aspire to continue doing what I have been in Operations. I have hit a ceiling in my field without a degree. In fact I've gone farther than most without a degree that I've seen. Unfortunately, I don't see myself quitting my job to pursue this opportunity. I don't think it will make enough money. Any profits the first couple of years would need to be put back into the business to grow. I would pursue this opportunity on the side and only move into it full time when I had good data on income and interest levels.

2) What are you offering to customers? Adult camps that have similar amenities and vibe as children's summer camps. The opportunity to create new memories and experiences.

 

3) Who are you offering it to? Initially to adults but I may pivot to include children and church groups. Age ranges from 21-35 typically with steady income and ability to travel.

 

4) Why do they care? It will be a cheaper solution to typical vacations and be a nostalgic event for those who went to camps as children. It can be a nice getaway for groups of friends that have already done the typical trips like Vegas and Caribbean. There aren’t many of these types of places.

 

5) What are your core competencies? I have started up multiple facilities and hired new employees. I’m able to solve problems and think ahead to prevent them in the first place.

 

I believe my idea is not as much of a guarantee as some of the other ideas in my blog group. My camp would be fun, but I don't know if enough people would see the value and opportunity. The location is important and could be expensive, as well as the need for a liquor license could be the key to success. Insurance could be expensive. People who have limited expendable income usually spend it on a family vacation. This camp would cater to single guys and gals first.

 

"feedback memo"- Do this on the side of my regular job at first. I do have good experience and qualifications. Finding the right location with favorable demographics will be critical.

18A - Create a Customer Avatar

These guys, assuming they aren't models but real friends from High School or College, look like my prototypical customer for my adult camps. These guys like adventure, are outgoing, and are in their twenties or thirties. They are just as likely to drive a truck as a Honda Accord. They have jobs and keep in touch with each other as they move around the country for better jobs. They enjoy a craft beer and a cocktail among friends. They watch the Bachelor, ironically of course, and sports. They are probably democratic and in the early stages of finding a spouse or starting a family. They listen to audiobooks and podcasts. They have fond memories of their childhood and want to stay close with their friends. They work out at least a little bit, but know they are getting older now.

 

I don’t have much in common with these guys. I’m much older and have lost touch over the years with most of my old friends. I’m not nearly as active and would most likely get an injury of some sort at adult camp. Maybe the reason I was interested in this style of camp is because I’m probably too old to enjoy it!

15A - Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 2

Interview #1 (36 yr old female)

She chooses her vacations based on activities and price. Price is very important. She comes up with a budget first and then decides to start looking at locations and possible activities. Experiences are important to her. She wants memories. She books online and uses a credit card for points that could be used on future vacations. She prefers hotels over Airbnb style locations. She checks with her husband, but she ultimately makes the decisions. She says that if she didn’t think about work during the vacation and was “in the moment” most of the time, she considers the trip a success. If she is disappointed or feels cheated, she has resentment afterwards.

Interview #2 (39 yr old male)

He chooses his vacations around concerts or events that he wants to attend. Price is important and since he’s by himself, he says he saves money by getting cheap hotels or Airbnb and splurges on activities and meals. He said, “I don’t remember most people taking pictures of their hotel room unless it was super expensive”. Therefore, he goes 3 stars instead of 4 to save money for other stuff. He uses his debit card for booking and then uses cash because he thinks it always better to have cash if you get into a bad situation. He is the sole decision maker. If everything was as promised he says the trip was a success. He can’t stand hidden fees and after the fact communication on pricing, upgrades, and basic costs.

 

Interview #3 (23yr old female)

She doesn’t go on vacations unless with her parents still. She will go away for the weekend, but she doesn’t feel like that is a vacation. For her weekend trips she uses a credit card and books online. She doesn’t like cash because she says she will leave it somewhere or get robbed for it. She makes the decision with girlfriends when they decide they want to go somewhere. It’s usually for a party or concert. She is most concerned with safety while still being on a strict budget. She’ll pay a little more for convenience like location close to destination. If she has good memories or stories afterwards, she feels like it was a success. If the event was lame it could be remembered as a negative.

Conclusion:

My interviewees were cost conscious and wanted to know what they were getting into up front. My camp will not have any hidden fees or expected upcharges that you don’t know about ahead of time. Imagine if there was a charge for hot water in the showers and cold water is part of the basic attendance charge! I believe in upselling additional items, but I’ll have everything listed beforehand. I’ll post online and allow for credit card payments. I’d like to have a cash free establishment to minimize theft. Maybe I could have updates sent to spouses to show how their “camper” is doing? That would have to be agreed upon ahead of time. I’ll take lots of pictures and send them to attendees afterwards so maybe it can help their feeling of how positive it was. If nothing else, I’m providing the memories that seem to be important to people.

14A - Halfway Reflection

1) I’ve been able to keep up with this course by setting a stringent timeline for completion of tasks. The weekly repetition has helped me fall into a routine that works. After completing my blog responses and taking the weekly cupcake on Sunday’s, I look at what I need to complete by Friday at noon. If it involves reading a book or doing interviews, I figure out which nights after work are best for me to complete those tasks depending on my work schedule. I then repeat that schedule weekly. Saturday’s are set aside for doing something with my family and studying for my Business law class.

2) After 20 years of putting college aside and believing I could be successful without a degree, I came to the realization that it could actually help my advancement and would be a great role model to my son who is in elementary school. The financial payoff of the cost of college versus improved wages at my age is still up for debate but I made the decision to start anyway. That was 2016 and I had never taken a college course in my life. I had attended a college preparatory school for many years but dropped out and graduated from public school due to family issues and a revolving door of home addresses around town for a couple of years. I found out I did not retain much math knowledge over those 20+ years and my credit earning classes would be delayed while I took remedial math classes that wouldn’t count towards my degree. I considered giving up again and up until I took the first class in the remedial math class I was considering not getting started. Once I started that first class, I had gone farther than all the times I talked about starting previously. My son asked me how school went and then talked to me about his school that day. It was enough to get going. I haven’t looked back since. I’ll be done in 2021. I’ve completed large projects in my professional life and dealt with many people with MBA’s. I know a degree doesn’t mean someone is smart, has good ideas, or is a good employee. It only means they did what they needed to get the degree. I’m doing it and working at the same time with a family.

 3) My three tips are to set and accomplish small short-term goals as well as long term goals. There need to be checkpoints along the way so you can appreciate what you have accomplished and check timelines for your long-term goals. Don’t set a specific time to compete schoolwork. Set a range of hours as possible times to do it. Let yourself choose the portion of that time you want to do the work. You may feel like getting it over with one day and may need some extra free time before starting the next. Both are ok because you are still on track within the time window you gave yourself. The first time you want to push everything to the last day and the last minute, tell yourself you’re not going to suddenly feel like doing it tomorrow and just start now.

13A - Reading reflection No. 1

1) You read about an entrepreneur: Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

What surprised you the most? I had no idea he was such a bad father. I have heard many stories about his vision and demanding nature. I had never heard anything about his family. Now I understand why. It was not pleasant and appeared to take a back seat to his work. It’s one thing to be devoted to work more than your family but to basically be non-existent for the first ten years of your daughter’s life is much different.

What about the entrepreneur did you most admire? His ability to push farther and demand things that most felt were not possible. If the task was thought possible, the timeline for completion was thought to be impossible. However, he got more out of people by demanding it and striking fear in employees and colleagues. The consumer benefited from great products that were innovative.

What about the entrepreneur did you least admire? His inability to enjoy the ride and the process. His keen focus was what made him great but also what made him least admirable to me.

Did the entrepreneur encounter adversity and failure? If so, what did they do about it? He was fired from Apple and had to start over. He proceeded to eventually buy Pixar from Lucas Entertainment and then was brought back to Apple to save it. The second round at Apple is what produced the products that made the company what it is today.

2) What competencies did you notice that the entrepreneur exhibited? Laser focus, work ethic, big picture vision, opposed to status quo, and belief in his instincts and ideas.

3) Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you. I do not understand why he did not focus more on software like Bill Gates. Especially when they had interaction and Gates built operating systems for Macs. I feel like he could have focused more on that part of the business.

4) If you were able to ask two questions to the entrepreneur, what would you ask? Why? Did wearing the same thing everyday make a real difference in your daily routine. Deciding what to wear is one of the first decisions you make every day. I am intrigued by the fact he wore the same thing every day. Did it really save any time or mental energy? What do you wish you would have thought of first and why? I would like to know who he was jealous of and why.

5) For fun: what do you think the entrepreneur's opinion was of hard work? Do you share that opinion? I think he thought going daily until exhaustion was a solid day’s work. I do not agree because I think that the shelf life for behaving like that is short and limited. Could someone who was fresh from eight hours of sleep make the same mistakes? Or would they make more mistakes because they were not laser focused and driven?

12A-Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 1

1) Pick a segment. I've identified my 5 segments to be age 20-35, outgoing, employed, from Southeast USA, and single. For this assignment I'm focusing on adults age 20-35 because most will have jobs and a reasonable amount are probably outgoing.   

2) Find three people who would fit that segment and arrange to interview them. Done. I eliminated one person who didn't feel they had the need for my idea. 

3) Begin with need awareness. Done. 

4) Move to information search. All three search in Google first for vacation and getaway ideas. They in trip planning sites like Travelocity, Kayak, AIRBNB, Booking.com, Orbitz, and priceline. They look at recommended vacation packages and destinations. They all talk to friends and family at some point during the year about their vacations and plans but not necessarily at the moment they want to plan or book something.

5) Report the findings of your research. I learned that social media may plant a seed that a potential customer might remember, but most likely when it comes time to decide something they go to websites and are influenced there. Two mentioned that they saw people they knew on social media posting things from a resort or a cruise that they wanted to go on as well.

6) Draw conclusions. I need to get my camps on the travel websites and advertising there to my demographic would probably be beneficial. Also on sites like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok it would be important to see my camp tagged with adults having fun and ensuring there is a learn more option when it's tagged. Sometimes some well placed pictures of real people having fun is better than a brochure. Hopefully it would be shared with friends and they could join together to attend at the same time. 

11A-Idea Napkin No. 1

1) You. I am a 46 yr old Operations Professional with over 20 years of experience. I'm very good at breaking down problems, coming up with a plan, and implementing that plan efficiently. I've opened up multiple facilities across Jacksonville and China. I've dealt with contractors, hiring of employees, creation of protocols and procedures, creating and changing business cultures, and efficient P&L supervision and creation. I aspire to continue doing what I have been in Operations. I have hit a ceiling in my field without a degree. In fact I've gone farther than most without a degree that I've seen. Unfortunately, I don't see myself quitting my job to pursue this opportunity. I don't think it will make enough money. Any profits the first couple of years would need to be put back into the business to grow.

2) What are you offering to customers? Adult camps that have similar amenities and vibe as children's summer camps. 

3) Who are you offering it to? Initially to adults but I may pivot to include children and church groups

4) Why do they care? It will be a cheaper solution to typical vacations and be a nostalgic event for those who went to camps as children. 

5) What are your core competencies? I have started up multiple facilities and hired new employees.

I believe my idea is not as much of a guarantee as some of the other ideas in my blog group. My camp would be fun but I don't know if enough people would see the value and opportunity. The location is important and could be expensive, as well as the need for a liquor license could be the key to success. Insurance could be expensive. 

10-A Elevator Pitch

https://youtu.be/O3b86hcFpnw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3b86hcFpnw&feature=youtu.be

9A - Testing the Hypothesis, Part 2

I'm starting to run low on people to interview at this point. However, it worked out nicely because previously I chose people who I thought would be interested. For this assignment I talked to people I didn't expect much excitement from. See below how it went.

Interview #1 Summary(65 yr old married male)

He agreed that the typical age for a customer at my camp was from 25-45 but he said he and his friends in their sixties would be great customers because they wouldn't tear the place up and have fond memories of camp from when they were kids. His age group is less likely to want to go to Las Vegas or party somewhere. He is very religious and said I could book church groups every summer with no problem. He thought there is a need for more church camps that get kids away from home and teach about the Bible.

Interview #2 Summary (26 yr old married male)

He said he wouldn't be that interested if there wasn't alcohol and some opportunity for extreme sports. He had no interest in getting in a canoe and singing a campfire song. He thought it might be cool for someone older but felt it would be lame for he and his friends. He said it would have to be cheap because he couldn't justify spending a lot of money for something like this. If you can get away with doing a guys trip, you would be competing with the Caribbean, Las Vegas, back to College alma-mater football game, or cruise.

Interview #3 Summary (16 yr old single female)

She thought it could be interesting because she says she has never been to a sleep-away camp because her mom wouldn't let her. She's too worried about pervert camp counselors and her safety away from home. She said if her school went it might be alright if some of the parents could chaperone. She said that Summer camps around here suck and this would be fun.

Interview #4 Summary (30-something single female)

She initially said she might be interested in some wine with ladies and maybe some crafts. She didn't like the fact that there wouldn't be wine in the woods. She felt it was necessary to have some wine if you're sleeping on a bunk bed or on the ground in a tent. She said she would never go to something like that by herself. She would need at least two other people she knew with her. She felt like there were plenty of entertainment options out there.

Interview #5 Summary (9 yr old single male)

This guy said it all sounded awesome and loved the fact that he could do it without his parents. Although he didn't think he would be able to go if it wasn't here in his hometown. He went to a computer coding camp last year and recommended that my camp do the same thing or be focused on Minecraft or E-gaming.

          Inside the Boundary                           Outside the Boundary

Church groups, kids, Senior Citizens, Adults with disposable income	Low-Income adults, people more  than 250 miles from campsite
Entertainment destination options	Instructional learning at campsite
People are bored with the same options offered for years	There aren't any adult camps because  not enough people are interested

8A-Solving the Problem

Problem: Lack of adults-only camps for entertainment purposes

Solution: Create an adult campground facility that caters to gender specific themes throughout the year. The campsite could be converted from an existing children's campsite or created from scratch. We would provide all the fun memories like you experienced at camp as a kid. Activities would be catered to appeal to either men or women depending on the campsite's planned theme. There would be physical activities, some instructional learning, and arts. For insurance purposes we would not offer alcoholic beverages but could expect those items to be brought against camp policy. Lodging for the week or weekend would be provided and would be a mixture of campsites and bunk rooms. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner would be provided for all guests. To reduce costs, there would be some light chores for campers like helping make a meal or clean-up afterwards. The end of the camp we would have a talent show and every bunk house or campsite would be required to present something at the talent show. Imagine the types of social media tags this camp would receive. Weddings, reunions, birthdays, retirements, and business team building could also utilize the camp's offerings.

7A - Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

Opportunity: “Guys Getaway Camp” and “Girls Getaway Camp”

My opportunity is to have guys-only, and girls-only getaway camps held on weekends and sometimes all week depending on the season.

The who: Adults

The what: New vacation and entertainment choice

The why: Limited and redundant vacation and entertainment choices

 

Interview #1

The who: “This wouldn’t be a need. It is definitely a want. Nobody is forced to go on a vacation or adventure. However, I think we all could use a getaway occasionally. You should call this camp a work retreat so people can leave their families and say they are going to a work retreat. Even better, call it an industry conference.”

The what: “I’d say the boundaries would be how many activities you could do in a weekend or how strenuous are the activities? Not everyone can do extreme sports.”

The why: “Personally I think there are lots of choices for what to do on vacation. Sure, you may do similar things, but in different locations around the country and world.”

 

Interview #2

The who: “I’d say adults aged 20-45 years old that can afford to go.”

The what: “The camp’s boundaries would be your footprint of location. What kind of place will this be at? You might be limited if there is no water activities and things like that.”

The why: “I think why would be because maybe they want to hang out with friends instead of with their wife or family like usual.”

 

Interview #3

The who: “You’re talking about people who probably don’t have kids and have money to spend on this idea.”

The what: “The boundary would be based on if you are serving alcohol or not. That would limit the age group and probably cost a lot more in insurance. People can get hurt when alcohol is involved. One lawsuit and you’re done.”

The why: “I guess the why would be because why not? For people who are interested this might be pretty cool to try. I’m sure if it were nice then word-of-mouth would help sell this idea going forward.”

 

Interview #4

The who: “Probably women aged 18-35 and men aged 18-45. I don’t see women over 35 being into this unless it’s based on wine tasting or something like that”

The what: “If the need is more options for entertainment like you said, the boundary would be how many other forms of entertainment are you providing?”

The why: “I’d say because people need a release. Half of marriages end up in divorce I think so maybe you could have divorced husband or wife weekend. You might as well go ahead and do matchmaker weekends so people can hook up!”

 

Interview #5

The who: “I don’t know. I guess that would depend on the type of activities or how much this would cost to determine who would be the audience.”

The what: “Most people take vacations with a significant other or their family. Your trying to do a vacation with just one person from the family. A boundary would be people not willing to go without their spouse or child.”

The why: “Maybe because they want to get away from their family?

 

Summary of learning:

My interviewees were hung up on the fact that someone who is married might have a tough time going to a camp like this alone. My vision is more positive, and the attendees would go with same sex friends. I am also seeing how I am limiting myself by suggested same-sex events when there are numerous variations of attendees that could be booked for the camps. Some suggestions for themed events at the camp were alcoholics anonymous, wedding counseling, renewal of vows, class reunions, different hobby enthusiasts, church camps, boy and girl scout meetings, rehab, and team building. I think I am too focused on visualizing what I personally would like to attend instead of what would bring in the most people and make good business sense. Going forward I am going to focus the opportunity on creating a campsite that has a large array of possible activities and can accept any group for any reason.

6A - Identifying Opportunities in Economic & Regulatory Trends

Opportunity #1

Fast food chains should sell and market their used cooking oil for types of 3D printer material

After googling economic trends and then diverting into the fast food franchise wormhole of info about their tight margins, I later found information on cnn.com about the use of used fryer oil and it clicked. I believe this could be a major boost to fast food chains around the world and the sale of more 3D printers. Scientific research facilities and education teams can use this cheap material instead of much more expensive plastic elements. What was once a waste and an operating cost to dispose of can now become an asset. This is not an opportunity for the average consumer. This is an opportunity for large fast food chains and indirectly for 3D printer manufacturers. I don’t think it takes a genius to see that the invention of a new technique to re-purpose a previous waste item is good for all of us and a new opportunity for income.

https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/fast-food-restaurants-industry/

https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/19/business/mcdonalds-oil-3d-printing/index.html

 

Opportunity #2

Use vertical indoor farming to take out the variable of bad weather, fires, and flooding and reduce food costs.

Surprisingly sticking with the food industry, food prices for all consumers are increasing in part due to climate change. There are more fires, flooding, pests, and inclement weather that effects the crops and farmers income. Thus, our food costs increase. I found an article about Elon Musk’s brother and his indoor vertical farming using ultraviolet lamps. This technique takes out many of the unpredictable elements and is more consistent. It also is more environmentally friendly and eliminates harsh pesticides. Vertical farming is not an opportunity for the average person. It requires start-up capital and knowledge of this type of farming. This could be marketed to consumers who want to choose a better option. I just happened to see these articles during the same research period and put this together. I’m sure anyone else who did the same thing would consider the same opportunity.  

 

https://www.thebalance.com/why-are-food-prices-rising-causes-of-food-price-inflation-3306099

 

Opportunity #3

App makers may be able to profit more or a 3^rd party App provider could replace Apple’s App store

Last year the Supreme Court ruled that Consumers could sue Apple for their monopolistic pricing strategy for 3^rd party App developers selling in the Apple App store. Apple’s strategy was that only the developers could sue them since they set the prices for apps. However, Apple takes a 30% commission and requires that all app costs end in $.99. Developers claim that the price of Apps is too high with Apple taking a large chunk of the profits. They don’t have a choice because iPhone users must go through the Apple App store only. I found this opportunity while researching for my Business Law class. It seemed perfect to research further for this assignment. This is a direct opportunity for developers to take more of the profit while still being able to offer Apps at lower priced to the consumer. If a 3^rd party App provider is allowed on iPhones in the future, we could all benefit from an open market. You only need to be an App user to benefit from this.

 

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/18pdf/17-204_bq7d.pdf

 

Opportunity #4

Selling recreational marijuana in Florida

The Florida Supreme Court is hearing arguments this month that would allow a proposal to Florida voters in 2022 to legalize marijuana. I found this information while searching for Florida Supreme Court decisions. With the growing momentum for states to legalize recreational marijuana use, there is an opportunity in my opinion for marijuana growers and sellers. There is also an opportunity for marijuana friendly restaurants, bars, bakeries, etc. to benefit from this law change without as much investment as growing and selling marijuana directly. The typical customer for this is broad ranging from the legal age to the elderly. Albeit for probably different reasons. I see this as an opportunity when others might see it as a burden with strict legal enforcement and oversight.

 

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/marijuana/article242538621.html

 

5-A Identifying Local Opportunities

I.

'I'm desperate': Living out of his car, self-employed business owner has not seen a dollar in unemployment benefits after months

 https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/local/im-desperate-living-out-of-his-car-self-employed-business-owner-has-not-seen-a-dollar-in-unemployment-benefits-after-months/77-e0a54f12-52ef-49f5-b518-659ac37ef12c

 This article is about a man having to live out of his car because the pandemic has made him lose money and he hasn’t received any unemployment benefits in months. His detailing business was sufficient for seven years but now he is in need. He says he has filed everything he can but that the system is not providing a link that he needs to continue.

 The problem presented in the story is one man’s inability to complete transactions needed to get assistance.

 The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance portal and the Reemployment Assistance portal have the issues. Greg Mackin is feeling the effects from those issues.

  

II.

Marion County man arrested, accused of exposing himself to juvenile, brandishing gun

 https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/crime/marion-county-man-arrested-accused-exposing-himself-to-juvenile-brandishing-gun-battery/77-2bea94ea-bdf9-4972-be12-536d800e6572

 This article is about a man who exposed himself, spit on others, and brandished a gun while he was in a natural springs area. He also threatened to shoot people. Once cops arrived, he eventually gave up and threw the gun aside and was arrested. He was found to have a small amount of marijuana in his possession as well.

 The problem presented in this story is a man threatening harm to others.

 The arrested man is the one with the issue. The origins of his problems could be poor upbringing, drugs, or mental health.

 

 III.

Driver killed in crash on I-10, Chaffee Road South

 https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/traffic/at-least-1-person-killed-in-crash-on-i-10-chaffee-road-south/77-ff6c7d75-f8e3-4a56-8684-5f787456ef95

This article is about a crash that happened after a man fled from the police. It started when the driver drove recklessly through a parking lot and almost hit a pedestrian. The police tried to pull him over and he fled. After a high-speed chase, the driver lost control, crashed, and later died.

 The problem presented in this story is a man dying from a car crash.

 The deceased driver is the party with the issue. His decision to run from police put him in a position to crash and die.

 

 IV.

'Have fun and see you later' | Employer quarantines worker without pay after he parties at Lake of the Ozarks

 https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/employer-quarantines-worker-lake-ozarks-party/63-b40bb453-856c-419e-8253-bcce40d799c1

 This article is about a man who is being forced to self-quarantine by his employer for two weeks without pay. He claims he told the employer about the planned trip and took precautions to cover his face while attending the trip. This scenario will be interesting how it plays out because the employee may be entitled to pay for those two weeks if his doctor agrees he should quarantine. The Family First Coronavirus Response Act allows for people to get compensation should they need to quarantine to protect their family.

 The problem presented in this story is the employee who is not receiving pay during his forced quarantine.

 The issue is with the employer not feeling that the employee is taking other co-workers safety in mind during personal time.

 

 V.

'More than pre-pandemic': People bring pollution back to First Coast beaches

 https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/local/more-than-pre-pandemic-people-bring-pollution-back-to-first-coast-beaches/77-1389a4ec-3fe2-45fd-a645-9942c4560bda

 This article is about the amount of litter that is being left on beached recently. The volunteers claim that the amounts of trash left behind are more than before the pandemic started. The trash hurts local wildlife and degrades the beauty of the natural resource. They encourage people to stop littering and are recruiting volunteers to help pick up trash in the evenings to help with the issue.

 The problem presented in this story is trash left on the beach that hurts wildlife.

 The issue is with the animals who ingest the trash.

 

4A-Forming An Opportunity Belief

4A-Forming An Opportunity Belief

I believe there is an opportunity for adult summer camp style programs. This belief is a result of previous conversations with friends over the years. My belief is that there is a market for grown-ups to go to a day-long or week-long camp. The version of this idea that I believe would be the first to try out is a “Man Camp”. The curriculum would be things that many guys believe they should know or wish they knew more about like minor electrical work, basic carpentry, self-defense techniques, cooking basics, hygiene basics, survival techniques, and basic car repair. Experts could be brought in to give hands-on training for the day or week.

This camp would be for guys who did not get enough training on these topics from family and friends up to this point in life. Currently these guys are looking at YouTube videos or paying professionals to come in and do the work for a fee. Adult friendships could be made as a result and confidence in these basic skills could make them more prepared for life. I am 100% sure that there is a need for more knowledge on these subjects but I’m only confident that about 25% of men care about getting these skills and don’t already have that knowledge. My prototypical customer would be a male age 20-45 with moderate disposable income.

Typical Customer Discussion #1: (37 yr. old married male)

After giving a summary of my Man Camp opportunity I gained the following knowledge: he had done a camp with his son last year near Tampa and made some great memories. He didn’t think this style of camp would generate those kinds of positive memories and experiences that would encourage others to want to attend. He inquired about the location of the camp. I told him it was intended to be a lakefront type of environment in theory. He said if it was in a hotel ball room or community rec room, he would have zero interest in attending. He said he would be willing to pay $75 per day for this camp. I told him this would probably cost much more since we would be providing meals and would need to pay experts. In summary, I don’t think he was that interested.

Typical Customer Discussion #2: (42 yr. old single male)

After giving a summary of my Man Camp opportunity I gained the following knowledge: he lives in an apartment and most of the skills my camp would be teaching didn’t apply to him at this time. He said maybe in the future when he owned a house. His Father taught him some outdoor skills, so he didn’t need those. The only skills he was interested in was basic car repair. However, many cars have fewer items that can be repaired with basic tools and the absence of computer systems designed to test the car. He didn’t give a price that he would pay because I don’t believe he saw the value in attending this style of camp.

Typical Customer Discussion #3: (24 yr. old single male)

After giving a summary of my Man Camp opportunity I gained the following knowledge: he lives with his mother and was really interested in a lot of the topics I told him the camp would offer. He was very interested in the after-hours environment of this camp. I told him I hadn’t focused on the partying aspect of the camp and it was more about life skills. He seemed disappointed. He said he would pay $500 for the week but had concerns about taking a week off work to spend at a camp with nobody he knew. In Summary, he had some interest in the concept but probably wouldn’t have spent a week’s vacation going to it.

 

Assignment Summary

I was disappointed that my typical customers weren’t as interested in the Man Camp concept as I was. They never saw any glossy brochures or fun marketing videos making the camp seems awesome to attend. The level of enthusiasm was very low, and these people were my friends and acquaintances. I would imagine complete strangers would be harsher and less enthusiastic than they were. I was surprised that hanging with other guys and learning useful things wouldn’t be more of a draw.  I’m not passionate enough about the idea to ignore my small sampling of negative responses and push through the negativity. There would be too much up front capital spent on the idea to have a good chance to get my money back and make consistent profit. Maybe I’m one of the few that would pay more and take vacation to do a Man Camp. I must be in the minority. With great risk is the opportunity for great reward. I believe sometimes people who are crazy enough to take a chance on things that don’t make sense at the time are sometimes just ahead of their time. I’m not that person at this time with this concept unfortunately.

 

3A - Your Entrepreneurship Story

My entrepreneurship story:

When I was in high-school I started selling blow pops to other students. My mother had recently joined Sam’s Club and I talked her into buying me my first bulk box of candy. I sold them for 25 cents each at first. The box sold out in the first week. I wasn’t a big fan of the candy so I didn’t eat too many of them and hurt my profits. As I got to know my customers over time, I learned that watermelon and sour apple flavors were in high demand and could be sold at a premium for $0.50 each. After tapping in to the market consistently with the same product, the demand for the regular cherry flavor decreased. About a month later, I upgraded my offerings to include a few candy bars that I sold for $1.00 each. The profit on the candy bars was much greater and inventory moved faster. However, during the hot summer months, my stock of candy bars could be at risk of melting. I started to bring a small cooler to keep the candy bars cool. The coldness increased the demand. My mother was making a trip to Sam’s for me every week. Other kids saw the money I was making and started to compete with me and sold candy of their own. The supply flooded the market and business started to drop. The large quantity of sales between multiple students was noticed and since selling candy was prohibited at school, my business was terminated.

 

The reason I enrolled in ENT3003 was because it is a requirement for UF Online Business students. However, I find the subject interesting and probably would have taken the class if not required to anyway.

 

2A-BUG LIST Assignment

1.    Bug: When I’m pulling out of my neighborhood and there is only one oncoming car, more than half of the time they don’t use a blinker to tell me they are pulling in which would allow me to go. I sit there and wait for them and then see they are turning right before me and I could have gone had they shown the courtesy.

Why: I assume people are focused on where to turn in and don’t want to miss it.

2.       Bug: Are box springs really needed for mattresses? We have a bed that has thick pillow tops and is over a foot thick. I doubt that the hard box spring underneath does anything.

Why: This probably was needed at one point because beds had springs in them that would get worn out. The box spring probably extended life and comfort.

3.      Bug: There is so much redundancy when you are applying for a job online. You upload your resume, then have to sign up for a portal with the employer, then type in manually all the same information that’s on your resume you uploaded.

Why: I hear that there are keywords and minimum standards that are easy to filter when people type in their info again. Therefore, they can skip looking at a resume if it doesn’t have some keywords or certifications.

4.       Bug: Employees tend to call in around income tax check time and after stimulus checks get sent out.

Why: They are focused on short-term needs and ignore the fact that they are actually losing money by not coming in.

5.       Bug: My wife and I share an Amazon prime account. When I order a gift for her, she can see the notifications, look up the order, and see what I searched. This ruins the surprise.

Why: I’ve heard there is a way to hide some of this but not completely if she wants to look for it. The company wants to provide as much info as possible to their consumers.

6.       Bug: When I get into my car and immediately start the engine and start driving, the Bluetooth connectivity takes about five minutes after I start driving to connect to my phone. The connectivity only takes two minutes if I stall before putting the car into drive.

Why: The fact that bluetooth exist is amazing, but the system is working hard to search for signals.

7.       Bug: In order to get help from a landscape company for weeds, you must sign up for a recurring account and spend money every month. I’d like to spend money for only a couple of months in the spring to knock out weeds before the growth begins.

Why: The financial model is much more profitable for the companies to do a recurring contract plus it may take more than a couple of months to get all the weeds out.

8.       Bug: Many perishable products have a “best use before” date that makes us cautiously use things after that date or throw them away.

Why: This is a great trick to get consumers to throw out perfectly good stuff and buy more.

9.       Bug: People who make the snort sound inside their head with their sinuses and sound like they are about to spit a “loogy”.

Why: Some may be just do to a nervous tick and unaware of what they are doing. Some probably have sinus issues that need repair.

10.   Bug: Putting a wet paper towel inside the kitchen sink. This occurs when guests are over at our house. Afterwards I usually find a wet paper towel inside the sink basin.

Why: I’m assuming because that’s what they did growing up but it was probably something you could reuse instead of a paper towel.

11.   Bug: People who chew with an open mouth and try to talk at the same time.

Why: Poor manners or habits and nobody has confronted them about it.

12.   Bug: People who click or tap a pen or some other object in their hands during a meeting.

Why: Probably nervous energy and unaware of what they are doing.

13.   Bug: People who wear large Bluetooth earpieces around all day. This is usually an older gentleman.

Why: For convenience and probably because nobody has told them how annoying it is.

14.   Bug: People who talk on their cell phone in speaker mode while out in public.

Why: Maybe hard of hearing or don’t like the phone up to their ear.

15.   Bug: People who talk loudly on their cell phone in public places.

Why: For convenience and probably because nobody has told them how annoying it is.

16.   Bug: When my wife insists on bring restaurant leftovers home when we both know she won’t eat it and I’ll end up throwing away a few days later in frustration.

Why: Guilt of wasting food. Having the possibility of more options for lunch the next day.

17.   Bug: People who show up at your door unannounced. This is usually a nosy neighbor or a friend dropping something off since they were in the neighborhood.

Why: Convenience for them and they don’t care what you need to do before opening the door for them.

18.   Bug: People who bite their nails. Especially in public.

Why: Because they must not know how many germs are under their fingernails and how bad the act of biting them is for their nails. Also, nervous habit as well.

19.   Bug: People in busy public places that stop in a group in the middle of the walkways. This happens at amusement parks the most.

Why: Fear of getting the group split up. Inconsiderate of others or unaware of what they are doing.

20.   Bug: People who say the word “literally” when they don’t mean literally.

Why: Poor vocabulary habits or a family member did it frequently when growing up.

Recap:

The first seven bugs were very easy because those were the ones that I have mentioned to friends and family more than once. Then I hit a creative wall. After a quick google search, the floodgates opened and I had more than 20 if I needed it. Most of these are pretty common it turns out.