30A – Final Reflection

 

1) Read through your posts from this semester. Recall all of the experiences you've had a long the way -- the highs, the lows -- the fun moments, and the moments of drudgery, and even the moments of dread.
 - Its been some stress this semester. From this class specifically finding a business opportunity that needed to be filled but didn't already exist was hard. Figuring out how that business would work was hard. Interviewing people and finishing people to interview was harddddddddddddddddddddd. Overcoming the stress of being on camera for the pitch was nerve wracking. And getting used to the deadlines and balancing my scheduling in the beginning was a mess. All in all Ive mainly been a mess this entire semester but ya girl going on to bigger places with this college education hopefully. The main fun part of this class was reading other people ideas and watching them grow and blossom.


2) What sticks out to you as the most formative experience? The experience that you'll remember years later? What was your most joyous experience? What experience are you most proud of yourself for accomplishing?
 - My most proud accomplishment that I will carry and remember is reading sticky notes with what I was supposed to say for my pitch for an hour. Then attaching them to by boyfriends shirt so I can read while he records in case I forgot anything then completely fumbling every word and thought when talking. Then Redoing the take and start dying laughing. Only to end up using the recording where the dog started eating in the background because that was my best recording.


3) At the beginning of the semester, I mentioned that I wanted each of you to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. Now, at the end, do you see yourself as an entrepreneur? Do you think you have moved closer to developing an entrepreneurial mindset?
 - After all the struggling to come up with idea, do interviews and do all our assignment towards creating our business I can easily imagine tackling on any real business now, at least that's how I feel. Being an entrepreneur is hard work and requires a lot of planning and imagination into how things should work to function.


4) What is the one recommendation you would make to the students who are going to journey down this path in the future? What would you recommend they do to perform best in this course? What would you recommend they do to foster that mindset?
 - I would recommend staying very organized and staying on top of everything. They need to check canvas and their emails, and make sure of the dates for assignments and read the syllabus and not get tripped up by the rules of submitting assignments or else they will lose points easily that under no circumstance can they make up. Which will result is a lower grade for almost no reason other then not reading and checking the dates. I would also recommend looking up things that interest you to help foster an idea for your business idea.

29A – Venture Concept No. 2

 

Opportunity:

• My business targets young adults ages 13-22 who have any sort of relation to Juul use and possible nicotine addiction. Potential customers are those who are looking for info on health effects, people who want to try or use it, and those already using it who want to quit.  People are looking to break their habits or help prevent others from starting in the first place by getting educated about the topic.

•  Juuls have a sleek narrow USB like design making in small, compact, and easy to take with you everywhere. The pods are easily interchangeable to switch when you run out of juice. One pod carry's the same amount of nicotine as in a cigarette box. Pods are also marketed in diverse flavors you can choose from for the taste when inhaling.

• Vape products and Juuls came to exist because of a desire and need for cigarette users who wanted nicotine but not the tar that covered their lungs which caused cancer and other issues.That began the the creation of a new form of alternative cigarette that are purposed as safer and better for you. With such a booming market that explosively grew out of no when there weren't very many limitations almost anyone could get their hands on it and use it. As such many younger users who weren't the target audience for the product picked it up and made a trend of it which has lead to many developing nicotine addictions unaware of how severe it was.

•  Those who developed addiction now live to satisfy it or have begun the path of breaking the habit, however many still lay shrouded in disbelief and ignorance unknown to the harmful effects the products in the Juice of pods can have on your lungs when inhaled. So many become victim to simple persuasion by others to try a product spoken as safe when really not, especially when containing nicotine.

• While new laws have been put in place to prevent under age individuals from harming their lungs nicotine use is still very big and integral part of trends today. Cigarettes faced massive overhaul in how they were viewed. Ensuring following generations would not use them however many still take up the habit today. An easy example of this is social influences who set trends for others like Hollywood stars and models can regularly be seen in photos and movies smoking cigarettes, enhancing an appealing image for cigarette use.

Innovation: 

•  My business is centered as a building that deals in nicotine addiction, education, prevention, and overall helps deal with young adults who may be involved with vapes or Juuls. The primary goal is education and prevention, this is implemented by sending packages out to various schools and youth groups about our program and whether they would like to hire us or pay to visit our facilities to help teach their students about why Juuls shouldn't be used and what and where to go if thy already seem that they have a habit towards using it.
•  I would say that it is similar to a planned parenthood but specifically for Nicotine related issues. Those that are older can also go to our facilities which will contain our own products of vapes specifically sold only to current addicts who wish to gradually decrease their nicotine intake until they can be independent from it. There will be specialized douses of nicotine that have less of a drastic nicotine difference so that transitioning is easier. Such as going from 50ml to 45ml vs 50ml to 20ml.

•  From the brochure package given to schools, they can hire us to give speeches and talks at their premises or have them come to us all at set rates for how long and how in depth we can go. You don't want to give a horrifying presentation to kids who will be scarred by it so there are levels to how much info we go over and the way we do so. An average rate for our services for a group that visits a school would be $50 bucks an hour for a 4 person team giving presentations.

Venture Concept:

•  My business sets out to conquer the rising issue of nicotine addiction, its a simple goal that can take forever when you look a how hard it is to beat something that ingrains itself into you. But it will majorly impact the next generation by preventing more from following a trend that can harm their bodies and health. Customers will come to my business because they want better for themselves and others. I cant imagine any parent being too happy with the idea of their underage children smoking and blowing clouds every 30 minutes, spending 20 bucks a week on pod juice, while developing a cough and breathing issues. Its not a future many see them wanting for themselves and others so together we will rally to stop it at the source while the problem can be contained.

•  While other companies may be able to provide help and outreach, I think our unique system and specific target towards prevention in youth will set us apart. Building a close base with the local community where the business is set up is the most important part to the desired positive launch of getting off our feet and into a fully functional place that many will call upon and visit when in need.

The Three Minor Elements

My businesses secret sauce shall be the close connection to the community we will establish ourselves in, what good is helping people if they don't trust you to be able to help them, take them seriously or listen. Having a good reputation and connection with the groups you want to reach is very important and will be what makes us different from other places who don't provide that home feeling.

Whats next is expansion into neighboring city's and towns with branch shops that will grow to help more people wherever they are. And also branch out into developing our own line of products that will be geared towards nicotine prevention and decreased use to help those who struggle even with the current products on market helping them curb addiction.

For me in five years time I like to think Id be giving a speech at the first launched store thanking all my employees for their hand work in making a difference in the world and all the lives of the people we help out.


 Changes from previous Venture Concept
 I tried changing the wording around to make it easier to understand what I was trying to say through all the jumbled information of ideas and thoughts on how things would be run. I also fixed spelling errors that were scattered about that I missed. And I cut out information that I seemed to repeat alot that didn't make any sense.

28A – Your Exit Strategy

1) Identify the exit strategy you plan to make. Do you intend to sell your business in the next 5 years for a large return? Do you intend to stay with the business for several decades and retire? Do you intend to protect the venture as a family business, and pass it down to your children?
 - In the next 5 years Juuls and nicotine use with still be very prevalent and more will need help by then to overcome their addictions and get better. Perhaps if I grow to old to handle the business then I will hand it down to a trust worthy person who I know will take care of it and continue the mission that I started when building it. And from then on maybe even after I'm long gone it will continue to stand.


2) Why have you selected this particular exit strategy?
 I have chosen this exit strategy because I never liked the idea of parting with things close to me, Id rather have it handed down to people close to me who I know can make it flourish. And so that I can continue to see it in a form that doesn't make me sad. I cant imagine selling off a business I raised for money so easily. But I know I will grow old and be unable to watch over everything I own forever so preparations toward a successor would be necessary.


3) How do you think your exit strategy has influenced the other decisions you've made in your concept? For instance, has it influenced how you have identified an opportunity? Has it influenced your growth intentions or how you plan to acquire and use resources?
- My exit strategy doesn't affect much other then finding talented people who can be nurtured to become pillar for the future of the business once I would leave. Nothing in the business apart from who will run it in the future has changed. Perhaps preparing resources for the future may be in order if they wish to modernize more and find a different path for the business.

27A – Reading Reflection No. 3

You read about an entrepreneur: The Wright Brothers, David McCullough
 
What surprised you the most? -I remember learning about them in school but I didn't remember much other than they built the first planes, before the book I always thought the were from the UK not America.

What about the entrepreneur did you most admire?
-Its always inspiring hearing stories of true people who went out of their way to create great things from humble beginnings. Having no more than a public high school education, little money and no contacts in high places, never stopped them in their “mission” to take to the air. Working so hard to create something they wanted that they even risked death each time doing so.
 
What about the entrepreneur did you least admire?
- Even though your building something you really really want its hard to justify putting your life in such great risk still. But things were different back then and that was the norm of how things got done.
 
Did the entrepreneur encounter adversity and failure? If so, what did they do about it?
-They spent ten years of adjustments and crafting in their pursuit of flying. Because of an injury they had a bunch of time and started their journey to change the world. Starting from gliders and moving forward from there.
  
What competencies did you notice that the entrepreneur exhibited? 
 - They wanted to be loyal to the land they loved and lived in but when no one in the U.S wanted to show interest in them, they moved on to new ventures in France where they would be interested.

 Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you.
 -How all the mechanics and stuff worked for them.

If you were able to ask two questions to the entrepreneur, what would you ask? Why?
- I would ask If they were ever afraid of heights? and How far they thought flying machines would go.
 
For fun: what do you think the entrepreneur's opinion was of hard work? Do you share that opinion?
 -I do share their opinion on hard work but I think devoting myself so far as to constantly risk my life is a little out there for me.

26A – Celebrating Failure

1. I suck at parallel parking. Still to this day. Even though I practice it every once it a while and have my license. I'm a very nervous driver, I don't like driving at all. When I was practice driving to take my drivers license I would get very fidgety in the seat and my eyes would blur over and I would have to park constantly. I can drive perfectly fine now, sorta, but I just don't like to. However the main point is I still suck at parking, mainly parallel parking in general. My boyfriend has condemned my parking as a natural disaster. I hit poles and bumps all the time and have to park very far from other cars so that I can park. My boyfriend will take me to the back of a big lots by his house t help me practice getting better and I barely make it in the lines each time.

2. I have come to accept that I probably should get new glasses since the ones I wear don't really help me see all that well anymore and are 5 years old. And maybe take driving classes one day since every time people I know try to help me drive I always end up a mess and they don't help me very much.

3.Id like to think I handle failure in the same as the five stages of grief, denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. So I start thinking just one more time and it'll work, it cant be this difficult. Then I get upset that I cant do something that's most likely pretty simple for others, then I'm like okay we can do this were just having an unlucky day. Then I get sad and ball up in the corner and maybe take a nap. After the nap then I'm like yeah okay this isn't gonna happen for me were gonna get some food and move on. From the classes I've learned that failure is natural and a part of life, not everything is going to work the first way you try it. I'm more open to failure now after failing at a lot of stuff in school and other things.

25A – What’s Next?

What I think is next :
The future of the company is bright and is looking towards branching out into the nicotine market with its own products specifically tailored to help meet the needs of those struggling to quit. What better group to build and design products for those who want to stop then those who help them stop by providing info and guidance. Looking at types of nicotine gums, juices and products with a more varied range of nicotine going down to make decreasing use less of a hurdle if the amount is too different.

Existing Market Reflection:

Based on my discussions with my three individuals the route for where I wish to go has steered a little but is mainly on track with what I had wished for. There were many ideas thrown about and comments on how well everything will function but overall it was positive.

     My first interview said that selling nicotine help products and consultation to those who want info will be the main revenue for the business rather then the outreach programs geared towards schools. These products will be used and bought often providing steady money compared to the occasional business and school that what to hold informational sessions to youth groups.

    The second interview  touched on the topic of the school sessions as well, highlighting that perhaps making the school visits free and as an occasional volunteer event would help more with my connections to the community and as a way to get the businesses existence out there and provide to students and groups that cant afford to help educate others using outside groups that cost money.

    My third interview focused on the building of our line of nicotine products, how that would be funded and started. I figure collaborating with an already existent small vape juice company will be the start of working towards getting viable products to help those who need it.

New Market Target:
My new market targets not just youth groups schools and teens, it is now reaching consumers of all ages and backgrounds. Working towards helping those who have been struggling with  quitting for years reach their goals. Converting cigarette smokers to vape users to help prevent more tar build up in their lungs and get them on a manageable dose of nicotine and slowly taper it off with time. This market is different from the initial target, where the main goal was looking for ways to help prevent an entire generation of youth from developing popcorn lung because they didn't know any better from a trend that everyone promoted and was doing.

Reflection:
 My new market may not be s interested in my business and its products as I want them to be. From the discussions based on my two interviews, its clear that I wasn't noticing how old dogs don't normally learn new tricks. Its hard to convince people who have lived a life of smoking cigarettes for years to suddenly change their ways and expect them to happily dive into the idea. When you've been addicted to something for that long you don't just decided yeah ill quit now that they invented fancy electronic smoking devices. Addiction will make it hard to reach people in an older age group that are hardened in their ways of life and what to continue as they have been doing. The best approach discussed was simply to let them be aware our service exist and are open to them, and when they decide by choice or by a force of environment to see what they should do then our business will help provide the way for them.

24A – Venture Concept No. 1

• Opportunity:

My business targets young adults ages 13-22 who have any sort of relation to Juul use and possible nicotine addiction. Potential customers are those who are looking for info on health effects Juuls can cause, people who want to try or use it, and those already using it who want to quite. People look towards my business as a way to figure out what to do about the rising issue of nicotine addiction that occurs from prolonged use of Juuls which carry the amount of nicotine in a cigarette bow in one Juul pod. People are looking to break their habits or help prevent others from starting in the first place by getting educated about the topic.

Since the rise of vape products that began including nicotine as a new form of alternative cigarette, more products have come about since then that are purposed as safer and better for you. That new market lead to the creation of Juuls. Juuls have a sleek narrow USB like design making in small compact and easy to take with you everywhere, with pods that are easily interchangeable to switch when you run out of juice. As well as diverse fun flavors to choose to use. With such a booming market that explosively grew out of no where there weren't very many limitation to its beginning meaning almost anyone could get their hands on it and use it. As such many younger users who weren't the target audience for the product picked it up and made a trend of it which has lead to many developing nicotine addictions unaware of how severe it was.

 Those who developed addiction now live to satisfy it or have begun the path of breaking the habit, however many still lay shrouded in disbelief and ignorance unknown to the harmful effects the products in the Juice of pods can have on your lungs when inhaled. So many become victim to simple persuasion by others to try a product spoken as safe when really not, especially when containing nicotine. 

While new laws put in place to prevent under age individuals from harming their lungs have been put in place my business will stay thriving for a long time as nicotine use is still very big and integral part of trends today. Even  cigarettes which faced massive overhaul in how they were viewed and pushed to prevent use of many still take up the habit today. And easy example of this is social influences who set trends for others like childhood stars Dylan and Cole sprouse can regularly be seen in photos smoking cigarettes.

• Innovation: 

 My business is centered as a building that deals in nicotine addiction, education, prevention, and overall helps deal with young adults who may be involved with vapes or Juuls. The primary goal is education and prevention, this is implemented by sending packages out to various schools and youth groups about our program and whether they would like to hire us or pay to visit our facilities to help teach their students about why Juuls shouldn't be used and what and where to go if thy already seem that they have a habit towards using it. I would say that it is similar to a planned parenthood but specifically for Nicotine related issues. Those that are older can also go to our facilities which will contain our own products of vapes decided and sold only to current addicts who wish to gradually decrease their nicotine intake until they can be independent from it.
 From the brochure package given to schools, they can hire us to give speeches and talks at their premises or have them come to us all at set rates for how long and how in depth we can go. You don't want to give a horrifying presentation to kids who will be scarred by it so there are levels to how much info we go over and the way we do so. An average rate for our services for a group that visits a school would be $50 bucks an hour for a 4 person team giving presentations.

• Venture Concept:

 My business sets out to conquer the rising issue of nicotine addiction, its a simple goal that can take forever when you look a how hard it is to beat something that ingrains itself into you. But it will majorly impact the next generation by preventing more from following a trend that can harm their bodies and health. Customers will come to my business because they want better for themselves and others. I cant imagine any parent being too happy with the idea of their underage children smoking and blowing clouds every 30 minutes non stop sending 20 bucks a week on pod juice, while developing a cough and breathing issues. Its not a future many see them wanting for themselves and others so together we will rally to stop it at the source while the problem can be contained.
 While other companies may be able to provide help and outreach, I think our unique system and specific target towards prevention in youth will set us apart. Building a close base with the local community where the business is set up is the most important part to the desired positive launch of getting off our feet and into a fully functional place that many will call upon and visit when in need.

The three minor elements

My businesses secret sauce shall be the close connection to the community we will establish ourselves in, what goood is helping people if they dont trust you to be able to help them, take them seriously or listen. Having a good reputation and connection with the groups you want to reach is very important and will be what makes us differnt from other places who dont provide that home feeling.

Whats next is expansion into neighboring city's and towns with branch shops that will grow to help more people wherever they are. And also branch out into developing our own line of products that will be geared towards nicotine prevention and decreased use to help those who struggle even with the current products on market helping them curb addiction.

For me in five years time I like to think Id be giving a speech at the first launched store thanking all my employees for thier hand work in making a differnce in the world and all the lives of the people we help out.