In this segment I will look into the back half of the buying process of fitness supplements and accessories used to transport and use these supplements in order to "evaluate the content structure of opportunities to accurate determine their relative attractiveness" (Morris et al., 2012, p. 358). Please copy and paste the provided links for each interview into your browser to listen to the interviews conducted. Following are the questions I asked in the interviews:
Do you use pre-workout or fitness supplements?
Have you ever spilled supplement powder?
Have you ever had difficulty getting supplement powder into a container?
Have you ever used supplement capsules, specifically pre-workout capsules?
If not - why? Do you know someone who has used them? What was their experience?
If so, what was your experience? Do you prefer capsules or powder?
What are the pros of using supplement powder over capsules? Cons?
Would you say that the rate at which your body absorbs the supplement is an important factor in your purchase?
Would you be more likely to buy a pre-workout supplement that absorbed more quickly in your system?
In minutes, about how long on average do you think preparing, mixing, and consuming your pre-workout and post-workout supplements cumulatively takes? '
How do you transport your supplements?
When you mix your supplements in water, have you used any of the following:
a funnel
a scoop
a shaker bottle with an integrated compartment or funnel for supplements
Where do you usually purchase your supplements and supplement accessories (such as a funnel or compartmentalized shaker bottle)?
Do you usually purchase online or in store?
What factors are important when purchasing supplement accessories? Cost? quality? style?
What makes you try new products when it comes to quality?
Would you be more likely to buy a pre-workout supplement that didn't necessitate the use of a funnel, scoop, or extra products to transport it?
What helps determine if your purchase was a good idea? A bad idea? Could you provide an example?
Summary of the interviews:
Interview 1:
Mark specified that he has not taken other forms of pre-workout aside from powder, such as capsules, but did extrapolate on factors that he looked into when buying fitness supplements. Primarily, Mark is concerned with the quality of the product, and secondly cost. He is an in person shopper but will utilize online comparisons of products and vendors to validate his purchases. Mark identified that he spent about 15 minutes total preparing containers with supplements and consuming supplement solutions on days that he works out. The most important components of a supplement for Mark is how quickly he feels the effect of the pre workout he consumes, and admits that he would be more likely to buy or sample a supplement that took less time to produce an affect and reduced his preparation time for the gym. He has consistently enough spilled pre workout when preparing it, and has purchased accessories to reduce these errors, such as funnels. If he does not feel the affect from the pre workout that he desires, he does not feel like it was a worthwhile purchase. Also, the volume of product is a notable factor. He is more likely to purchase preworkout that comes in a larger volume rather than a smaller volume. In evaluating purchases, Mark is concerned with the functionality of his product: that it delivers what it promises to deliver or exceeds his expectations, which ultimately results in his devotion to that product as a consumer.
Interview 2:
Ken has not explored alternative pre workout supplement forms, such as capsules, and has stuck with the purchase of buying powder. Ken has also admitted to several occasions where he has spilled pre workout powder when preparing it. While he has had difficulty getting the preworkout into the container, he has not purchased additional accessories such as a funnel to solve his problem, and primarily uses the scoop and faith to ensure his preworkout transfers from the container to his shaker bottle for mixing. He is not aware of anyone that has used preworkout capsules. Ken finds that the rate at which the body absorbs the supplement is an important factor, and is disappointed in products that do not elicit a physical affect after consumption. He was very interested to pursue pre workout supplements that are absorbed more quickly in the system and reduce the time he spends preparing and consuming his supplement solutions, which is about 15 minutes. Ken does not transport his supplements and doesn’t have a need for additional containers to transport them to the gym since he works out at home. When he needs to make purchases for supplements he typically makes an in store purchase. Ken’s purchases are cost driven and he is more likely to buy something that’s going to give him a bigger bang for his buck. The motivation to try new products is found in conversation with friends and family members that have tried a product before and highly recommend it. Similarly to Mark, Ken finds success in a purchase when it performs at his expectations. If he does not see results from the product then he is disappointed in it and will not purchase it again. A bad idea to Ken is to continue to purchase something when you are not yielding results.
Interview 3:
I did not interview Paul with the same questions I had interviewed the others but we did talk extensively on his use of pre workout and I had unearthed some curious behavior. Paul owns several different brands of pre workouts, all of which affect him differently, one providing him with more energy than another. He admits that due to his work schedule at a food service warehouse, which is very physically demanding, he will typically mix several kinds of pre workouts in order to produce a desired affect based on the level he is expected to perform that night. For nights with heavy demand of orders to gather in the warehouse, Paul will mix a more potent pre workout powder with his usual pre workout powder in order to have more energy than usual. On other days, with the same volume and concentration, he will use a less potent pre workout powder to ensure his energy but without a strong affect. Paul makes a point to buy products of various degrees of energy deliverables so that he can customize the effect of the products. Paul did go on to say that he doesn’t know anyone that utilizes various products at once to produce the same affect, and that most other individuals that he knows that buy supplements will only invest in one brand, and it is in powdered form. He does use a funnel and specific container to transport these supplements to work sometimes, but tries to avoid using them due to the humidity in Florida that often causes the transported supplements to clump.
Conclusions:
On Alternative Evaluation:
In regards to alternatives, none of my candidates have ever used pre workout or other supplements in forms that were not powder. Off the record though, when I confided my idea to these individuals regarding a premeasured pod of pre workout that dissolved fully in water as a powder would, they were highly interested in trying that alternative to solve their issues of powder clean up and transportation. They were mostly concerned that the deliverable would produce the same affect in conjunction to reducing the time spent on preparing all of their pre and post workout materials for the gym.
On Purchase Decision:
Cost and quality were the selling factors for all of the individuals interviewed. All of my interviewees also purchased in store, rather than online. Furthermore, they were reliant on word of mouth and personal experience with the product when it came to trying something new. Mark specifically stated that he would not buy a product at full volume until he first tried a sample volume first.
On Post-Purchase Evaluation:
Seemingly, across the board, cost could be more easily compromised for quality so long as the product performed to the individual’s standards or better. Products that did not work for the consumer were not purchased again. Although, products that were disappointing did not typically go to waste, and were used until emptied, or combined with a more powerful pre workout to produce the desired effect. All individuals were interested in others’ post purchase evaluations in order to guide their decisions on their purchases. Ken specifically ensures to review online reviews from others and inquire about products that friends and family are using. Mark and Paul are sure to make side by side comparisons of products online before purchasing them in store. All base the success of the purchase off of functionality and the production of a desired effect from the supplement.
Sunday, June 19, 2016
RBAY
RBAY: Acronym for "right back at you" which also means "you too" or "you as well"
I created this acronym while responding to a group text message when I was on the run and too lazy/busy to respond in full. I began to implement it into day to day conversation, virtual and not virtual over the past two weeks. In person I used the pronunciation "are-bay" for the acronym. The responses I got in person and in texts were the same with one exception. Over text, people were at first confused but relatively receptive to the term. Once I relayed the definition - and only that, I did not mention that I created it - many responded as if they were simply not clued in on the new acronym or had not heard it YET, but accepted that it was a term that was already commonly in use. Whereas, in person, once I used the term and told them what it meant, people seemed to be more skeptical of its existence and how commonly it was used, and asked me questions regarding its origin and where I heard it. Only a couple of people have used the word in my presence since I've been saying it. No one had cast scorn, only curiosity and skepticism at first.
I created this acronym while responding to a group text message when I was on the run and too lazy/busy to respond in full. I began to implement it into day to day conversation, virtual and not virtual over the past two weeks. In person I used the pronunciation "are-bay" for the acronym. The responses I got in person and in texts were the same with one exception. Over text, people were at first confused but relatively receptive to the term. Once I relayed the definition - and only that, I did not mention that I created it - many responded as if they were simply not clued in on the new acronym or had not heard it YET, but accepted that it was a term that was already commonly in use. Whereas, in person, once I used the term and told them what it meant, people seemed to be more skeptical of its existence and how commonly it was used, and asked me questions regarding its origin and where I heard it. Only a couple of people have used the word in my presence since I've been saying it. No one had cast scorn, only curiosity and skepticism at first.
Monday, June 13, 2016
Halfway Reflection
Webster defines "tenacious" as "not easily stopped or pulled apart" or "very determined to do something."
1) Tenaciousness is a competency. What are the behaviors that you have used (or developed) to keep up with the requirements of this course?
In order to keep up with the requirements of the course I have had to make a habit of setting aside scheduled periods of time to do homework for this course. Additionally, I have been sure to thoroughly read all of the assignments at the beginning of the week so as to best organize my weekly homework schedule and ensure that I make the appropriate contacts, if necessary, with good time. At times where I fear I will not complete an assignment I have showed tenacity in different manners: I have pushed myself to complete the assignment through dedicated periods of work, and also when I have just simply not had the time or opportunity to complete an assignment, I graciously took the L and looked onward to the assignments ahead which I could still complete.
2) Tenaciousness is also about attitude. Talk about a moment or two when you felt like "giving up." What pulled you through? Do you feel like you've developed a tenacious attitude during the past two months? What experience or experiences most contributed to this?
There was certainly a time or two when I felt like I was not going to be able to keep up with the demand of this course amidst my other 5 courses that I am currently enrolled in, aside from my involvement and employment. One specific moment was for the Information Awareness assignment. During the week which this was assigned, I was flooded with homework assignments, extra credit opportunities I was obliged to complete, several meetings for different organizations, and I simply didn't think I would be able to set aside the appropriate amount of time with enough individuals to conduct thorough interviews. I thought, "this is going to be another assignment I will just have to drop." When I told my friend, who had taken this course before, that I decided not to complete the assignment and I would no longer be interviewing her, she convinced me that it would be silly to drop such a simple assignment, and that she had two friends with her that were more than happy to also be interviewed over the next hour. Of course, with that opportunity I packed up all my belongings and ran from Target Copy to Marston Library to meet the group and complete the interviews and assignment. There have been a couple different occasions where individuals who have graduated from this course have encouraged me to "just do the work". My tenaciousness has since flourished, and has been completely inspired by others who have taken this course before me, serving as my mentors. They have ensured me that as long as I stay dedicated, confident, and tenacious, I can complete all of my assignments in good time and pacify my worries regarding my grade in this class.
3) Three tips. What are three tips you would offer next semester's student about (1) fostering the skills that support tenacity and (2) developing the 'tenacious mindset' ?
1. Make a schedule! In order to stay determined, you have to give yourself the opportunity to be. If you set deadlines for your goals and set aside time to complete them, you are more likely to stay determined and also make a habit out of being tenacious.
2. You're not alone, so don't act like it. Feel confident reaching out to others for help, to conduct interviews with, to seek guidance from, and to run your ideas by. Don't restrict your abilities by creating barriers between yourself and your success, this will suppress your determination and make you incapable of completing all of your goals and weekly assignments. Being tenacious doesn't mean you are too proud to ask for help! Utilizing your resources and network to the best of your ability is a major key to making progress!
3. When you reach the point of "giving up" change your perspective on the class, and the assignment. These are wonderful learning opportunities that push you out of your comfort zone and challenge you to complete tasks that widen your perspective on relevant topics. Instead of "giving up" on the task think about the skills you may miss out on developing if you don't attempt the assignment. Later on you may even want to reference or reflect on these blog posts and assignments!
1) Tenaciousness is a competency. What are the behaviors that you have used (or developed) to keep up with the requirements of this course?
In order to keep up with the requirements of the course I have had to make a habit of setting aside scheduled periods of time to do homework for this course. Additionally, I have been sure to thoroughly read all of the assignments at the beginning of the week so as to best organize my weekly homework schedule and ensure that I make the appropriate contacts, if necessary, with good time. At times where I fear I will not complete an assignment I have showed tenacity in different manners: I have pushed myself to complete the assignment through dedicated periods of work, and also when I have just simply not had the time or opportunity to complete an assignment, I graciously took the L and looked onward to the assignments ahead which I could still complete.
2) Tenaciousness is also about attitude. Talk about a moment or two when you felt like "giving up." What pulled you through? Do you feel like you've developed a tenacious attitude during the past two months? What experience or experiences most contributed to this?
There was certainly a time or two when I felt like I was not going to be able to keep up with the demand of this course amidst my other 5 courses that I am currently enrolled in, aside from my involvement and employment. One specific moment was for the Information Awareness assignment. During the week which this was assigned, I was flooded with homework assignments, extra credit opportunities I was obliged to complete, several meetings for different organizations, and I simply didn't think I would be able to set aside the appropriate amount of time with enough individuals to conduct thorough interviews. I thought, "this is going to be another assignment I will just have to drop." When I told my friend, who had taken this course before, that I decided not to complete the assignment and I would no longer be interviewing her, she convinced me that it would be silly to drop such a simple assignment, and that she had two friends with her that were more than happy to also be interviewed over the next hour. Of course, with that opportunity I packed up all my belongings and ran from Target Copy to Marston Library to meet the group and complete the interviews and assignment. There have been a couple different occasions where individuals who have graduated from this course have encouraged me to "just do the work". My tenaciousness has since flourished, and has been completely inspired by others who have taken this course before me, serving as my mentors. They have ensured me that as long as I stay dedicated, confident, and tenacious, I can complete all of my assignments in good time and pacify my worries regarding my grade in this class.
3) Three tips. What are three tips you would offer next semester's student about (1) fostering the skills that support tenacity and (2) developing the 'tenacious mindset' ?
1. Make a schedule! In order to stay determined, you have to give yourself the opportunity to be. If you set deadlines for your goals and set aside time to complete them, you are more likely to stay determined and also make a habit out of being tenacious.
2. You're not alone, so don't act like it. Feel confident reaching out to others for help, to conduct interviews with, to seek guidance from, and to run your ideas by. Don't restrict your abilities by creating barriers between yourself and your success, this will suppress your determination and make you incapable of completing all of your goals and weekly assignments. Being tenacious doesn't mean you are too proud to ask for help! Utilizing your resources and network to the best of your ability is a major key to making progress!
3. When you reach the point of "giving up" change your perspective on the class, and the assignment. These are wonderful learning opportunities that push you out of your comfort zone and challenge you to complete tasks that widen your perspective on relevant topics. Instead of "giving up" on the task think about the skills you may miss out on developing if you don't attempt the assignment. Later on you may even want to reference or reflect on these blog posts and assignments!
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Need Awareness and Information Search
I interviewed individuals regarding the unmet need of a sufficient and efficient platform for finding leases of various terms and specific criteria. I asked the following questions:
Do you live off campus?
yes lux Do you have a need to locate subleases or leases with specific criteria?
How did you find your current lease?
What criteria or amenities do you look for in a lease?
Do you have trouble finding leases that meet all of these criteria?
When you became aware of your need for a lease, how did you begin your search?
When you search in Google, what are your search terms?
Do you talk to friends and family to help find a lease?
Have you ever had to sublease your apartment for a short term, if so how did you market your lease?
Have you ever sought out a sublease? If so, what were the main struggles you faced in your search?
Are you aware of others that have a need to sublease their apartment or find a sublease? Is this a major issue?
Do you think that majority of attempts to have a sublease fulfilled succeed or fail? Why?
Do you feel as if there's a sufficient platform or amount of resources to locate leases and subleases or search engines are limited?
Following are my interviews and reflections. Please copy and paste the provided link into your browser to listen to the interview audio files.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9XCvjV9Hw-EZld4Sm5ZVFRETU0/view?usp=sharing
From the first candidate I learned that stability is a concern for individuals looking for leases. People are more likely to sign a full lease and attempt to sublease for the terms they plan on living out of town rather than locating a sublease that fits their needs. It seems to be that it is difficult for people to find subleases that fit their criteria, and there is some psychological factor that plays into one's decision to pursue a lease or sublease. Individuals prefer to have a secured place to live and risk paying rent when they are not residing in their residence, rather than taking the "risk" of pursuing a short term lease associated with another individual's lease, or spending ample time locating a sublease that fits their criteria. The issue is not so much finding leases that have all of the amenities someone is looking for, but rather balancing out the ratio of subleases to subleasers by ensuring security in leasing options.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9XCvjV9Hw-EcldkR3VhaG5rYkE/view?usp=sharing
From the second candidate I learned that students depend on word of mouth and social media to locate leases and subleases, despite any extensive research done on the internet via Google. This candidate relayed that students are heavily reliant on their networks and their friends networks. Students are likely to base their leasing decision off of a conversation or a post on social media with/from within their network rather than information obtained on an online search engine. Also, another major concern for individuals seeking subleases are the amount of new room mates they will have to learn to live with. Ideally, the fewer roommates there are to adjust to the more likely an individual is to sublease an apartment. I had not realized this concern prior to interviewing this candidate.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9XCvjV9Hw-EcUlwcHhIWk40ZG8/view?usp=sharing
From the final candidate, the reliance of individuals on their immediate network who have experience in apartment complexes was further confirmed. It was noted that successful subleases (meaning someone successfully found another individual to sublease but also someone seeking a sublease was able to land one and sign off on a short term lease) are resultant of and proportional to diligence. This individual relayed that if one is willing to do extensive research and put in the work ethic to either find someone to sublease for them by continuously posting on social media and promoting it verbally or to continuously ask about sublease opportunities and search online, then they will likely succeed in their endeavor. The point: in order to find a sublease or someone to sublease for you you have to put in a great deal of effort with the current resources at hand. Furthermore, when I asked how long the lease-hunting process took for this individual she admitted that it took roughly two to three months of investigation in finding a lease that fit her needs.
In terms of need awareness, students are aware that subleasing is a taxing and risky endeavor. The general consensus is that it is more unlikely than not that a sublease endeavor will fail. Students are aware that it is difficult to find someone to sublease for you and also difficult to find a sublease that meets their needs. In regards to information search, ultimately, no one single online resource or search engine proves to meet the need of students who need to sublease. Students are forced to conduct multiple searches through various websites and forums in order to locate a sublease that meets their ideal criteria or find an individual who is willing to commit to all of the amenities and the living environment of one's current lease for a short term.
Do you live off campus?
yes lux Do you have a need to locate subleases or leases with specific criteria?
How did you find your current lease?
What criteria or amenities do you look for in a lease?
Do you have trouble finding leases that meet all of these criteria?
When you became aware of your need for a lease, how did you begin your search?
When you search in Google, what are your search terms?
Do you talk to friends and family to help find a lease?
Have you ever had to sublease your apartment for a short term, if so how did you market your lease?
Have you ever sought out a sublease? If so, what were the main struggles you faced in your search?
Are you aware of others that have a need to sublease their apartment or find a sublease? Is this a major issue?
Do you think that majority of attempts to have a sublease fulfilled succeed or fail? Why?
Do you feel as if there's a sufficient platform or amount of resources to locate leases and subleases or search engines are limited?
Following are my interviews and reflections. Please copy and paste the provided link into your browser to listen to the interview audio files.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9XCvjV9Hw-EZld4Sm5ZVFRETU0/view?usp=sharing
From the first candidate I learned that stability is a concern for individuals looking for leases. People are more likely to sign a full lease and attempt to sublease for the terms they plan on living out of town rather than locating a sublease that fits their needs. It seems to be that it is difficult for people to find subleases that fit their criteria, and there is some psychological factor that plays into one's decision to pursue a lease or sublease. Individuals prefer to have a secured place to live and risk paying rent when they are not residing in their residence, rather than taking the "risk" of pursuing a short term lease associated with another individual's lease, or spending ample time locating a sublease that fits their criteria. The issue is not so much finding leases that have all of the amenities someone is looking for, but rather balancing out the ratio of subleases to subleasers by ensuring security in leasing options.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9XCvjV9Hw-EcldkR3VhaG5rYkE/view?usp=sharing
From the second candidate I learned that students depend on word of mouth and social media to locate leases and subleases, despite any extensive research done on the internet via Google. This candidate relayed that students are heavily reliant on their networks and their friends networks. Students are likely to base their leasing decision off of a conversation or a post on social media with/from within their network rather than information obtained on an online search engine. Also, another major concern for individuals seeking subleases are the amount of new room mates they will have to learn to live with. Ideally, the fewer roommates there are to adjust to the more likely an individual is to sublease an apartment. I had not realized this concern prior to interviewing this candidate.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9XCvjV9Hw-EcUlwcHhIWk40ZG8/view?usp=sharing
From the final candidate, the reliance of individuals on their immediate network who have experience in apartment complexes was further confirmed. It was noted that successful subleases (meaning someone successfully found another individual to sublease but also someone seeking a sublease was able to land one and sign off on a short term lease) are resultant of and proportional to diligence. This individual relayed that if one is willing to do extensive research and put in the work ethic to either find someone to sublease for them by continuously posting on social media and promoting it verbally or to continuously ask about sublease opportunities and search online, then they will likely succeed in their endeavor. The point: in order to find a sublease or someone to sublease for you you have to put in a great deal of effort with the current resources at hand. Furthermore, when I asked how long the lease-hunting process took for this individual she admitted that it took roughly two to three months of investigation in finding a lease that fit her needs.
In terms of need awareness, students are aware that subleasing is a taxing and risky endeavor. The general consensus is that it is more unlikely than not that a sublease endeavor will fail. Students are aware that it is difficult to find someone to sublease for you and also difficult to find a sublease that meets their needs. In regards to information search, ultimately, no one single online resource or search engine proves to meet the need of students who need to sublease. Students are forced to conduct multiple searches through various websites and forums in order to locate a sublease that meets their ideal criteria or find an individual who is willing to commit to all of the amenities and the living environment of one's current lease for a short term.
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Reading Reflection No. 1
What surprised you the most?
What always amazes me is the difference between the beginning and end of one's journey. Before Mary Kay Ash founded Mary Kay cosmetics, she was a door to door sales woman way back in the 1930s and had various other jobs, three marriages, and a daughter and two sons before she undertook her project.
What about the entrepreneur did you most admire?
Mary Kay cosmetics was kickstarted with only $5,000 and 9 employees. It wasn't a paradigm business model that drove Mary Kay's business into a cosmetic empire, but her faith in her employees and positive philanthropy. Mary Kay firmly believed that the returns you yield are proportional to the work and faith you put into the project. Mary Kay expanded her brand and products to 32 countries by investing in her employees as she wished to have them invest in her and the brand, continually recognizing her employee's accomplishments and "praising people to success".
What about the entrepreneur did you least admire?
There is a quote in the book that did rub me the wrong way. "I believe that the only difference between successful and unsuccessful people is extraordinary determination." There was once a time I was so righteous about this claim that I could not be convinced otherwise. I thought, surely where there is failure there is a lack of will, and accomplishments are not achieved without determination and pursuit. When I read this quote, after a few years of service with various groups of those in need, I had a pang of guilt rise within me. Mary Kay rose from very little and has trail-blazed magnificent paths for women in a man's world, but I wish she would have examined this quote more in regards to those who are truly unfortunate before making her claim.
Did the entrepreneur encounter adversity and failure? If so, what did they do about it?
During this time, it was a man's world and the workforce did not provide gender equality. While Mary Kay worked herself to the top of her company, Stanley Home Products at the time, she was being bypassed for promotions and watched men who hadn't work nearly as hard as she transcend her in the company. When she wasn't satisfied with the way she was being treated, she moved on to a new company and was the driving force to World Gift's international success. After ten years of devoted work, she left the company with haste once a man she personally trained was rewarded double her salary and promoted to her supervisor. Working under extreme gender inequality is what propelled Mary Kay Ash to begin her own company.
What competencies did you notice that the entrepreneur exhibited?
Furthermore, she knew how to set priorities and identify the needs of her business, others, and herself. Mary Kay always kept her goals in mind, exhibiting diligence, and always working her way to the top despite her challenges.
Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you.?
I have been fortunate to not lose a member of my immediate family or friends. Mary Kay's husband passed one month prior to the opening of her company of natural causes. Due to the traumatic incident, she was surrounded by advice from others including her lawyers and accountant to halt the momentum of the company and bring her entrepreneurial plans to a halt. With all of this going on, aside from her own mental workings and emotion, Mary Kay refused to stop the clock and pushed on with the process, opening up her company regardless of the death of her recent husband. Mary Kay does not extrapolate so much on her obstacles or challenges but more so on overcoming them. I was confused as to how she was able to remove her emotional environment from her business endeavors and decisions, as I don't quite know if I would be able to do the same with the loss of someone so dear to me.
If you were able to ask two questions to the entrepreneur, what would you ask? Why?
Mostly due to my confusion from the question above, I would ask Mary Kay how she was able to cope emotionally with the loss of her husband during the turning point of her company and why she pursued the endeavor when she had no idea how the company would turn out. Furthermore, I would like to ask her about her insane incentives and what HER incentive was by providing such extravagant rewards like diamond jewelry and pink cars! Many successful companies apply incentives such as bonuses, certificates, gift cards, but I'm genuinely wondering where on earth she decided that giving away diamonds and cars were going to catalyze her sales, and what the numbers that justify these incentives look like.
For fun: what do you think the entrepreneur's opinion was of hard work? Do you share that opinion?
Certainly, her opinion of hard work was determination with every course of action taken: have the confidence that you will excel beyond others. She stresses, "“Don't limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe remember you can achieve,” and instilled in me that for every obstacle that I will come across, I can find an alternative route and still succeed with my goals. I firmly believe in her opinion of hard work. Coming from an impoverished and homeless family and suffering from abuse and neglect, I employed many of Mary Kay's mantras and ideas of hard work and diligence in order to pave a path for myself to higher education. I am an unaccompanied youth that transcended her rough environment through hard work, and am currently a student at the University of Florida on a full ride. Working hard means having faith in yourself and keeping your goals in sight, no matter what.
What always amazes me is the difference between the beginning and end of one's journey. Before Mary Kay Ash founded Mary Kay cosmetics, she was a door to door sales woman way back in the 1930s and had various other jobs, three marriages, and a daughter and two sons before she undertook her project.
What about the entrepreneur did you most admire?
Mary Kay cosmetics was kickstarted with only $5,000 and 9 employees. It wasn't a paradigm business model that drove Mary Kay's business into a cosmetic empire, but her faith in her employees and positive philanthropy. Mary Kay firmly believed that the returns you yield are proportional to the work and faith you put into the project. Mary Kay expanded her brand and products to 32 countries by investing in her employees as she wished to have them invest in her and the brand, continually recognizing her employee's accomplishments and "praising people to success".
What about the entrepreneur did you least admire?
There is a quote in the book that did rub me the wrong way. "I believe that the only difference between successful and unsuccessful people is extraordinary determination." There was once a time I was so righteous about this claim that I could not be convinced otherwise. I thought, surely where there is failure there is a lack of will, and accomplishments are not achieved without determination and pursuit. When I read this quote, after a few years of service with various groups of those in need, I had a pang of guilt rise within me. Mary Kay rose from very little and has trail-blazed magnificent paths for women in a man's world, but I wish she would have examined this quote more in regards to those who are truly unfortunate before making her claim.
Did the entrepreneur encounter adversity and failure? If so, what did they do about it?
During this time, it was a man's world and the workforce did not provide gender equality. While Mary Kay worked herself to the top of her company, Stanley Home Products at the time, she was being bypassed for promotions and watched men who hadn't work nearly as hard as she transcend her in the company. When she wasn't satisfied with the way she was being treated, she moved on to a new company and was the driving force to World Gift's international success. After ten years of devoted work, she left the company with haste once a man she personally trained was rewarded double her salary and promoted to her supervisor. Working under extreme gender inequality is what propelled Mary Kay Ash to begin her own company.
What competencies did you notice that the entrepreneur exhibited?
Furthermore, she knew how to set priorities and identify the needs of her business, others, and herself. Mary Kay always kept her goals in mind, exhibiting diligence, and always working her way to the top despite her challenges.
Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you.?
I have been fortunate to not lose a member of my immediate family or friends. Mary Kay's husband passed one month prior to the opening of her company of natural causes. Due to the traumatic incident, she was surrounded by advice from others including her lawyers and accountant to halt the momentum of the company and bring her entrepreneurial plans to a halt. With all of this going on, aside from her own mental workings and emotion, Mary Kay refused to stop the clock and pushed on with the process, opening up her company regardless of the death of her recent husband. Mary Kay does not extrapolate so much on her obstacles or challenges but more so on overcoming them. I was confused as to how she was able to remove her emotional environment from her business endeavors and decisions, as I don't quite know if I would be able to do the same with the loss of someone so dear to me.
If you were able to ask two questions to the entrepreneur, what would you ask? Why?
Mostly due to my confusion from the question above, I would ask Mary Kay how she was able to cope emotionally with the loss of her husband during the turning point of her company and why she pursued the endeavor when she had no idea how the company would turn out. Furthermore, I would like to ask her about her insane incentives and what HER incentive was by providing such extravagant rewards like diamond jewelry and pink cars! Many successful companies apply incentives such as bonuses, certificates, gift cards, but I'm genuinely wondering where on earth she decided that giving away diamonds and cars were going to catalyze her sales, and what the numbers that justify these incentives look like.
For fun: what do you think the entrepreneur's opinion was of hard work? Do you share that opinion?
Certainly, her opinion of hard work was determination with every course of action taken: have the confidence that you will excel beyond others. She stresses, "“Don't limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe remember you can achieve,” and instilled in me that for every obstacle that I will come across, I can find an alternative route and still succeed with my goals. I firmly believe in her opinion of hard work. Coming from an impoverished and homeless family and suffering from abuse and neglect, I employed many of Mary Kay's mantras and ideas of hard work and diligence in order to pave a path for myself to higher education. I am an unaccompanied youth that transcended her rough environment through hard work, and am currently a student at the University of Florida on a full ride. Working hard means having faith in yourself and keeping your goals in sight, no matter what.
Monday, June 6, 2016
Idea Napkin No. 1
1) Innovative, resourceful and flexible. Able to flourish in a collaborative environment or independent setting while maintaining a positive attitude and strong work ethic. Furthermore, I am detail oriented with effective communication skills and an enthusiasm for leadership, creativity, and technology. My identified strengths (via Tom Rath's StrengthsFinder 2.0) are achieving, relating, learning, focusing, and analyzing. With my proficiency in a variety of computer applications including the Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, Windows Visual Studio, Google Drive, and NGP Van, I have undertaken several different internship endeavors. My experiences include researching and publishing for the American Society of Civil Engineering and Transportation Research Board under the Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Civil and Coastal Engineering Department here at the University of Florida as well as a Teaching Assistant for the College of Engineering and an Office Manager for Americans for Gabriel Rothblatt. My short term goals are to coordinate a competitive conference through the Innovation Academy Ambassador program and to develop my project engineering skills during my internship with DPR construction this fall. I hope to apply my knowledge and experience with these projects to best construct the project cost, schedule, team, resources, and outline for my business concept. If I were to start my business (particularly the opportunity for constructing a mobile application for a student housing/sublease platform) I believe that it would tie me very closely to the Gainesville community and enable me to advise and inspire other students to pursue their business ideas.
2) What I am offering is a unified conglomeration of student housing options at the click of one mobile application. I want students to be able to create a profile, describe their housing needs to a search engine, and gain access to hundreds of listings from a variety of platforms which meet their needs within the local area, and also directly to the owners of these residences for ease of communication.
3) While my targeted demographic is college enrolled students who seek short term subleases and long term leases, I would ensure that my app can also be of use to the general community. Any individual seeking a lease of any term or residence type will be able to utilize my mobile application.
4) Unfortunately, there are a variety of search engines, housing agencies, student forums and Facebook pages in each city (specifically college towns) which subject users to a large volume of unorganized listings that aren't specific to their needs. Often, the individual seeking a lease wastes time scrolling through forums to locate specific needs which the listing may not fully serve, or utilizing multiple search engines and contacting a variety of real estate agencies without procuring any success in their searches.
5) My core competencies are detail oriented organization and experience. With my background in project management, experience with local start ups, having applied knowledge of marketing and mobile app creation, and being a student who has the network to promote this application to my target audience, I believe I have an edge that can propel this application to success in college towns throughout the nation.
While I am a very goal-driven individual with the motivation and tools to bring my vision to life, I do believe that it will take more than myself to get this mobile application off the ground. My business concept requires extensive research, knowledge, and information gathering of real estate companies and current housing forums, as well as models similar to mine which have failed and succeeded. In addition to the development of a large database of information, it is necessary to recruit those with the technical proficiency to code and those with the marketing ability to promote the application.
2) What I am offering is a unified conglomeration of student housing options at the click of one mobile application. I want students to be able to create a profile, describe their housing needs to a search engine, and gain access to hundreds of listings from a variety of platforms which meet their needs within the local area, and also directly to the owners of these residences for ease of communication.
3) While my targeted demographic is college enrolled students who seek short term subleases and long term leases, I would ensure that my app can also be of use to the general community. Any individual seeking a lease of any term or residence type will be able to utilize my mobile application.
4) Unfortunately, there are a variety of search engines, housing agencies, student forums and Facebook pages in each city (specifically college towns) which subject users to a large volume of unorganized listings that aren't specific to their needs. Often, the individual seeking a lease wastes time scrolling through forums to locate specific needs which the listing may not fully serve, or utilizing multiple search engines and contacting a variety of real estate agencies without procuring any success in their searches.
5) My core competencies are detail oriented organization and experience. With my background in project management, experience with local start ups, having applied knowledge of marketing and mobile app creation, and being a student who has the network to promote this application to my target audience, I believe I have an edge that can propel this application to success in college towns throughout the nation.
While I am a very goal-driven individual with the motivation and tools to bring my vision to life, I do believe that it will take more than myself to get this mobile application off the ground. My business concept requires extensive research, knowledge, and information gathering of real estate companies and current housing forums, as well as models similar to mine which have failed and succeeded. In addition to the development of a large database of information, it is necessary to recruit those with the technical proficiency to code and those with the marketing ability to promote the application.
Friday, June 3, 2016
Tweaking the Innovation
For troubles viewing my product service map and tweaks, copy and paste this URL into your search bar:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9XCvjV9Hw-EaGsxeWJtTWVtYlU/view?usp=sharing
Elevator Pitch No. 1
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9XCvjV9Hw-ESV9GTU4yMzhUZVE/view?usp=sharing
Quick Flick Wipers, the all powerful visibility enhancing mechanism for windshields nation wide. Traditional windshield wipers obscure your vision of the road, subjecting you to fatal car crashes. By doubling the wiper action across your windshield, Quick Flick Wipers terminate the issue of visibility in torrential downpours, while ultimately maximizing your safety and travel experience.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9XCvjV9Hw-ESV9GTU4yMzhUZVE/view?usp=sharing
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