Solving the Problem - Assignment 8

My product has to do with educating college students at UF about the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle while at the same time managing a demanding college schedule. I want to be able to have student become aware of the bad habits they have right now and the benefits they can receive by changing those habits. Since the root of the problem lies in unawareness, my product/service should revolve around that.

Since an inherent issue causing the problem is a lack of time for students to become aware, I will want my product from experiencing the same issue (i.e. students can not use it because they do not have the time).

My interim solution to this would be a service designed to provide students with on-demand tips, readings, and activities that engage students and educate them about healthy habits. This service can take a few forms:

A service where students can purchase varying packages that provide them access to tips, articles, and activities. This form allows me to cater to different students who might be very serious about health or only a bit interested. At a base, my service can be setup on social media, where people can follow my page for free workout, diet, and overall health advice. Other “tiers” of the service can include paid packages that provide subscribers with personalized advice. Essentially, the service is set up as an online consulting/e-commerce company that uses social media for free advertising.

I want to have a service that engages everyone for free, but also provides a more personalized experience for those seriously interested. In doing so, I will be able to educate everyone through a platform that almost everyone uses. Several social media accounts are set up this way, but none that cater uniquely to a single student population like the one at UF.

Should I eventually believe that people are not interested enough for the paid subscription, I could eventually turn the service solely into a social media platform and derive revenue from certain sponsorships. 

Testing the Hypothesis - Assignment 7

Opportunity: College students at the University of Florida live generally unhealthy lifestyles through their diet and daily routines, primarily due to their hectic schedules and responsibilities that leave them without the time required to care for one’s health.      

-          The who: College students at the University of Florida

-          The what: live unhealthy lifestyles through their diet and daily routines

-          The why: hectic schedules and responsibilities that leave them without the time required to care for one’s health

Testing the who: I think most Americans do not give their current health enough attention, not just college students. However, I chose to focus on college students since I am more confident that they have this need since I am one and observe others daily.

Testing the what: Unhealthy lifestyles can encompass a wide range of factors. I stick with diet primarily because I believe that is the most neglected aspect of our health. While daily routines may be just as important, I think college students do a better job of this; however, it is still a concern. Other aspects of a “healthy lifestyle” include weekend activities and outside influences such as family and friends.

Testing the why: If we stick primarily to college age students at UF, we can confidently pinpoint hectic schedules and large amounts of responsibility as the main cause. For others, it may be simply a matter of priorities and education of the matter; are they even aware of their negative decisions affecting their health?

Interview #1:

·         I interviewed a senior male who will be graduating this upcoming May. I wanted to interview a graduating senior to establish a baseline of someone who has spent a full four years at UF and had enough time to reflect on their health over those four years. He agreed that the problem is definitely more prevalent in college aged students compared to the average American working a 9-5 job. Moreover, he agreed that eating plays a big role, as he recently learned that trying to have an extended study session after a large meal drastically alters his mindset while studying. Lastly, he said he thinks the main “why” revolves around busy schedules.

Interview #2:

·         Next, I interviewed a health and wellness counselor from my hometown who does not necessarily deal with college students. When asked about a common demographic who complains the most about feeling lethargic and simply under the weather. She said it is hard to pinpoint a certain demographic because most of the time it is not about their age or occupation, but rather about the daily lifestyle choices they make. She mentioned that daily exercise and not living a sedentary lifestyle is a key contributor of overall feeling well.

Interview #3:

·         After interviewing the wellness counselor that does not interact solely with college aged students, I spoke the wellness counselor from UF. He mentioned that he thinks the largest contributor to “living a healthy lifestyle” is how students deal with stress. He said that some of the students that struggle the most with stress frequently find themselves disengaged from their once normal routine. He stated that that often times a student will be living a very balanced lifestyle, but once stressed out, will abandon some of the things they did that contributed to overall wellness. When he brought up the idea of incorporating their old routine, many students claimed that they did not have the time to do so. He thinks students underestimate the importance of making their bodies a priority.

Interview #4:

·        I wanted to interview a pre-med student to better understand what they may be learning in academia about lifestyle. She mentioned that one of her favorite classes was an elective where she learned about the body’s natural circadian rhythm and how it essentially controls our daily energy levels and functional effectiveness of our bodies. She was so intrigued about that topic that she went on to read a couple books all about managing our circadian rhythm. She said that taking that class had marginally changed her life, but laments that that was the only time she was taught such practical knowledge.

Interview #5:

·        Lastly, I interviewed a close family friend who works a classic 9-5 job. Since she is 55 years old, her lifestyle is drastically different than that of a college student. When I first asked about sleep patterns, she replied that about halfway through her career, she stopped requiring 7-8 hours of sleep to function well throughout the day. Having children and balancing a career naturally required lifestyle changes that might not be ideal. At first, she struggled a bit, but eventually she said her body started to adapt.

Write up on steps and What do you know about the opportunity that you didn't know before? 

·         

• To summarize part four, I found that individual’s needs are significantly different from one another. Since each interview provided a different perspective, I was unable to better understand the needs change in accordance with the lifestyle a person currently chooses. My fifth interview was especially helpful in coming to this realization.

·         

• My fourth interview taught me that it does not require a formal class setting to educate college students on lifestyle habits. If an individual was interested in introducing a new habit to their lifestyle, they will certainly do so on their own accord and not wait passively for their formal education to teach them.

• ·         Finally, my why was confirmed through my third interview as I learned that most students do in fact blame a busy schedule for their inability to pay attention to their daily lifestyle habits.

Identifying Opportunities in Economic & Regulatory Trends - Assignment 6A

1)    Regulatory changes: To require a background check for every gun sale.

a)    Source: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/hr8

b)     I think this opportunity exists because people have been concerned abut gun laws and safety in this country for the better part of two years now.

c)     The prototypical companies affected are the ones that are responsible for organizing background checks or help citizens organize themselves for a background check. The opposite can also be true for gun manufacturers, who may see slower sales due to less people being eligible to own a firearm.

d)     I think it is relatively easy to exploit because it seems inevitable that some type of regulation will be placed on acquiring firearms via background checks. If it is not through this regulatory law, it will be from another. Currently this law needs to pass the House, so it is a long ways from being passed, which provides potential benefactors to prepare for the opportunity.

I may view this as an opportunity while someone else may not primarily because I believe that advocates for gun control will speak louder than advocates for current gun laws. In addition, I think our current House and Senate is composed of individuals who are in favor of gun regulations. Someone else might have a different political view and choose not to see this as a possibility of occurring, and thus not a potential opportunity.

2)     Regulatory changes: Revising FTC standards for safeguarding consumer information

a)     Source: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/hr331/text

b)      I think this opportunity exists because cyber attacks and cyber security has become extremely prevalent in the last several years as big data is increasing. Events in the news like the Equifax scandal have shed light on consumer privacy issues.

c)     The companies that benefit are those engaged in internet security, cloud security, and help collect data on consumers.

d)    I think it may be difficult to exploit at this current stage since we do not know what the new standards will look like. When we receive more detail from the FTC, companies who provide security and collect data will be able to begin changing their systems to abide by the new laws. If they quickly and successfully implement the new systems, they will be able to obtain market share form non law abiding competitors.

I may view this as an opportunity while someone else may not primarily because I am very personally concerned for my security. I am very cautious of someone stealing my personal information via the internet, so I try to keep up with what type of websites have had data breaches as well as methods cyber attackers use to exploit customers and their data. Since this is important to me, I may view this more significantly than someone else who hasn’t thought much about the data large corporations collect on us via the internet.

3)     Economic changes: Consumers preference shows they are drinking less alcohol

a)     Source: https://www.wsj.com/articles/americans-are-drinking-less-alcohol-11547733600?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=4

b)     I think this opportunity exists because we have hard data on alcohol volumes as described in the article. I also think it exists because I think this is a trend that continues long term.

c)    The primary benefactors are non-alcoholic beverage companies who nw will see higher demand for their products, as well alcoholic beverage companies that can adapt to new consumer preference.

d)     I think it will be easy to exploit this opportunity as many large alcoholic beverage companies have significant capital to expand into new product lines. For example, Coors can either buy a non-alcoholic beverage company or potentially develop a new product and use their well-known brand name.

I may view this as an opportunity while someone else may not primarily because I am in the age group that is leading the change in consumer preference. Since millennials are primarily the one’s engaging in mindful drinking, we are aware of how legitimate this trend is, while other generations may view this as a temporary thing.

4)     Economic changes: Consumers preference shows they are drinking less alcohol

a)     Source: https://www.wsj.com/articles/consumers-say-brands-shouldnt-bring-their-political-stands-to-the-super-bowl-11547636401?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=2

b)      I think this opportunity exists because we have survey data that exists as well as well-known consumer sentiment opposing politically infused ads.

c)     The party with the greatest opportunity are strong brands with solid marketing tactics that keep a political view on the sideline during the Super Bowl. The companies that focus on their products and do not try to relate to viewers political views will succeed.

d)     I think it will be easy to exploit this opportunity as companies advertising during the Super Bowl simply do not have to include politics in their ad. If they want to be risky and include a political view, they may be faced with opposition. This should be a breath of fresh air for companies as they know exactly what consumers want to see: an ad focused on the business’s product.

I may view this as an opportunity while someone else may not primarily because I have a strong distaste for political based advertisement, especially when I am watching the Super Bowl. Seeing a blatantly obvious politically infused advertisement makes me angry when I should be enjoying watching football. I am more likely to boycott that business if they rub me the wrong way. Someone else might enjoy listening to a subliminal politcal argument during the Super Bowl, so they might not think companies should follow through on refraining from political based arguments.

Identifying Local Opportunities - Assignment 5A

Title: “Elementaries feel pinch of teacher shortage”

Link: https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3APBPB%21Palm%2BBeach%2BPost%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0120%21January%2B20&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/171126026EB8B180

Description of Story: An article that describes the current employment conditions of elementary school teachers in Palm Beach County.

Problem in Story: There is an elementary school teacher shortage and the main culprit is currently pinpointed on the decrease in college enrollment for specialization in elementary education. Baby boomers are also retiring, so more teachers are leaving the workforce. Since there is a shortage of teachers, class sizes are growing and some student needs are not being met.

Who has the problem? Anyone who is involved in the elementary school system in Palm Beach. School board superintendents and parents of elementary school children are the most affected/

Title: “Federal oversight of Everglades still needed, groups say - Water district board voted in November to seek end to order”

Link: https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3APBPB%21Palm%2BBeach%2BPost%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0120%21January%2B20&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/1711260273458CA0

Description of Story: Article that discusses the debate regarding terminating or keeping a federal court order from 1992 that requires oversight of water quality control in Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades

Problem in Story: The South Florida Water Management District wants to end the 1992 federal court order that requires and supervises efforts to clean polluted water before it reaches the Everglades. Environmental organizations clearly do not want this to happen, as the areas of the Everglades next to Lake Okeechobee are receiving unclean water.

Who has the problem? The two sides of the legal battle - the environmental agencies and the SFWMD. The neighborhoods that receive the unclean water from the lake.

Title: “Trio of Palm Beach County restaurants shut down temporarily”

Link: https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3APBPB%21Palm%2BBeach%2BPost%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0120%21January%2B20&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/17107C783069E008

Description of Story: Three local restaurants close down to failed health standards

Problem in Story: The three local restaurants are entrepreneurial businesses that have closed down permanently due to failed health standards. Some failed standards were small, like not having hot water to wash hands, while others were more serious like dead insects and poor food handling standards.

Who has the problem? The owner of the restaurants and the health inspectors who have to decide to close down a restaurant. The locals of the restaurants may also be affected, as they frequent the restaurants and are exposed to health issues.

Title: “Auto-shop owner facing fraud charge - Jupiter police allege that he scammed customers out of $280,000”

Link: https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3APBPB%21Palm%2BBeach%2BPost%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0120%21January%2B20&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/1711260286BD20D0

Description of Story: An auto shop owner was arrested for essentially stealing money from clients as he was irresponsible for work he was hired for.

Problem in Story: Several customers, including an aged widow, feel like they were robbed by the owner of a body shop for luxury vehicles. This was not an isolated case and the owner was previously arrested for tax evasion.

Who has the problem? The body shop owner who was arrested clearly has the biggest problem as he now faces legal issues. However, several customers now must go through the legal process to sue the owner for repayment of their stolen money, upwards of $20,000.

Title: “Boynton man gets three life sentences in murder of teenagers”

Link: https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3APBPB%21Palm%2BBeach%2BPost%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0119%21January%2B19&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/1710D0B22435BAC8

Description of Story: A man was sentenced to life in prison for murdering three defenseless teenagers in 2016.

Problem in Story: A young man murdered three young lives in a robbery attempt, and also was charged with shooting at a police officer.

Who has the problem? The murderer has the biggest problem, as he rightly will serve the rest of his life behind bars. However, the families of the three murdered teenagers also are experiencing an equally large problem, the loss of their children.

Opportunity Belief - Assignment 4A

1)      Belief: Educating college students about health benefits of a restricted and strict diet.

2)      Description of belief:

a.       Unmet need: An understanding that the foods you eat play a huge role in your dily energy levels and overall health.

b.       Who has the need: Almost all Americans, but especially college students who live a very busy life and do not place their health as a high priority.

c.       Always existed, but people have become more health conscious over recent years, especially millennials. 

d.       Buying less processed food and purchasing more organically grown foods. Food companies have also started to invest in research and development to put healthier foods on the shelf. Smaller companies that specialize in healthier foods have also been in the news lately as they are prime takeover targets by larger corporations.

e.      100% sure that college students do not understand the benefits of a strict diet on their daily health and energy. College students need to be made more aware before they would be willing to engage in a healthier lifestyle.

3)      Identify prototypical customer: The prototypical customer can be almost any student here at the University of Florida. Most students are busy all day and do not have time to prioritize their health. However, I believe that this change in diet can actually save time and make students more productive and overall successful.

4.1)      Customer 1: 3rd year pre-med student

Q: What is the exact nature of the need?

A: A culture wide unawareness of the role diet plays in our daily lives. The interviewee said she never understood the role nutrition that plays in our lives until she started taking biology classes in college. 

Q: When do they become aware of the need? 

A: Only after they experience some serious health complication.

How long have they had the need?

A: Probably their whole life, but especially during college years when they started getting bogged down in her studies.

Q: When did they first become aware of their need? Why?

A: After drinking several cups of coffee a day and still feeling drained

Q: How are they currently addressing their need?

A: Limiting caffeine consumption to just two cups of coffee per day

Q: How satisfied are they with this solution? 

A: Still a work in progress, but happy they have stuck to their plan so far.

4.2)      Customer 2: 4^th year business student 

Q: What is the exact nature of the need?

A: Going through life thinking that is it normal to feel tired and stressed out almost daily. "Everything is okay" mentality. 

Q: When do they become aware of the need? 

A: After someone tells them, they otherwise would not think much of it

How long have they had the need?

A: After inquiring about their lifestyle on both high school and college, it appears they have had the need since teenage years

Q: When did they first become aware of their need? Why

A: They never became aware of their need until this interview

Q: How are they currently addressing their need?

A: Currently not addressing need, but will be conscious of eating certain foods in excess

Q: How satisfied are they with this solution? 

A: Satisfied since they do not really have an interest in the need / do not think it exists

4.3)      Customer 3: 3^rd year mechanical engineering exchange student from China

Q: What is the exact nature of the need?

A: Most people do not place an important on what they put into their bodies. This customer noted specific different cultural eating habits between Americans and Chinese.

Q: When do they become aware of the need?

A: After they see others around them fixing the problem and seeing positive results

Q: How long have they had the need?

A: Usually their whole lives since they are never educated growing up about nutritional benefits. When my interviewee came to America in 5^th grade, he was shocked at the quality of the school lunches provided by the government.

Q: When did they first become aware of their need? Why?

A: When he started eating a different diet his freshman year at UF when he would eat in the dining halls everyday. He naturally maintained a healthier diet throughout his whole life. When he was feeling lethargic most of the time, he pinned it on his newfound diet.

Q: How are they currently addressing their need?

A: By being conscious of what he is putting into his body at all times. Only eating sugary foods on occasion.

Q: How satisfied are they with this solution? 

A: Very satisfied as he is now able to be much more productive during the day and complete long study sessions while still having energy to go to the gym.

5)  Reflect (all three iterations): I learned that while I personally believe the opportunity to be a result of a population wide need, the opportunity can only manifest if people want to correct their problems. The most surprising thing to me was that each person I interviewed had a different perspective on things. Customers ranged from interested but not experienced to not interested and not experienced. I learned that while people are beginning to become more health conscious, we are still a long way away before busy people begin to prioritize it in their schedule.

6)      Summarize:

a.       How much of opportunity is still there? I think my original opportunity still exists to a large degree. I still firmly believe that the majority of college students understand the profound effects of dieting on their daily energy levels.

b.       Do you believe that your new opportunity is more accurate than when you started? I do not think my opportunity is still as accurate due simply to the fact that some students just are not interested in addressing the need. While I believe the need to still be present, it does not create a new opportunity if those students have a limited desire to take action.

c.       How much do you think entrepreneurs should 'adapt' their opportunities based on customer feedback? I think entrepreneurs should be extremely flexible in the early stages of their idea/business. In the preliminary stages, there may still be uncertainty whether their need is accurate and has been tested for legitimacy. However, if an entrepreneurs’ business is in the latter stage and the need has proven to be true to some degree, I think it is better to stay firm in their original thesis following customer feedback.

My Entrepreneurship Story - Assignment 3A

I have never really had an entrepreneurial spirit throughout my life. Like most people, I definitely enjoy making money and understand its value to creating a better life for oneself. Of course, the concept of entrepreneurship has always crossed my mind, and I have always viewed it as an admirable endeavor.

My only recollection of a personal experience with entrepreneurship is the car washing business I tried to start when I was in 2^nd grade. This was the time when I began to get excited when I was able to earn money, and my weekly allowance of $5 began to not satisfy me. I began my new business by creating a flyer advertising my new services to my community. I planned on distributing hundreds of flyers to my small community. My plan was to have my customers bring their car to my house, and I would spend an hour cleaning their car in return for $5. I remember handing out my flyers to my neighbors who happened to be outside as I walked around the neighborhood. Hopeful, I went back home and awaited calls from customers to set up an appointment. As time went by and I received no calls from prospective customers, I quickly gave up on my business and asked for a raise in my allowance instead.

I enrolled in entrepreneurship primarily because I needed to fulfill my elective credits for my undergraduate degree. While I could have chosen any 3000/4000 level course, I chose to take this class as it is a much different class style than any of my previous classes. I think engaging with this course will be a nice change of scenery as I wrap up my final two semesters as an undergrad at UF.

Bug List - Assignment 2

Bug List:

1)    When I only have time to go to the UF gym a couple times a week, but every time I go it is crowded.

Why: Usually the time I can go is the same time everyone else can go

2)    Having to ride my scooter in the cold weather, I need to wear multiple jackets and a windbreaker

Why: I am driving 30 miles per hour in 40 degree weather without a windshield

3)    When I go downstairs to cook my food, but I forget an ingredient upstairs (kitchen is downstairs and storing my stuff is upstairs) so I have to go back and forth multiple times

Why: I was not careful enough and too much in a rush to make sure I remembered everything

4)    When I go to the grocery store and they are out of stock for something I need.

Why: Other people are thinking just like me and want the same item.

5)    Traffic on museum road from 4-6pm that takes 10 minutes to go 1 miles.

Why: I go to a large university and chose to go down the most crowded road

6)    Going to the library during finals week and not being able to find an outlet

Why: Everyone has finals at the same time and most students study hard, so they are at the library and also using their devices.

7)    Waiting an hour in line at a bar in midtown just because all my friends want to go there

Why: It is a popular bar, and the Why it is fun is because everyone wants to go there

8)    Healthy food is always more expensive than unhealthy food.

Why: Preservatives allow food to have a longer shelf life, and most healthy foods have a short shelf life

9)    I have to pay a lot of money on tuition, but then I also need to spend $120 on an access code for a class just to do the homework because it is outsourced to a learning company rather than making the entire class on Canvas

Why: UF has partnerships with external learning companies

10) The chipotle line is almost out the door during every dinner and lunch time

Why: I go to chipotle for lunch and dinner at traditional times, so does everybody else

11) I apply for a credit card but get denied because I don’t have established credit, but I need a credit card to build credit

Why: Banks think I will not pay back charges I put on my credit card

12) Apple can make ridiculously priced phones, but you need to upgrade every few years or else your device becomes outdated

Why: Technology is advancing, so a device from 2016 does not have the same capabilities as current technology in 2019.

13) When I turn off all the lights in my room to go to sleep and I get into bed, but then forget I had to do something

Why: I was too excited to hop in bed that I did not make sure I completed all the things I needed to do

14) The weather will be below 40 degrees in the morning right before my first class, but by the time I am ready to walk home, it is already 70 degrees and I get too hot in my outfit

Why: Florida has rapidly changing weather and always will

15) In the summertime, I really want it to be cold outside. In the wintertime, I miss the sunshine and tanning

Why: Human nature to want what we don’t have

16) My computer gets a crack in the screen, but repairing it will cost almost half the cost of a new computer

Why: Labor costs are more expensive than the actual hardware, making repairs a hefty cost relative to the value of the item

17) New Scooters 4 Less is extremely expensive and a rip off when you need repairs done on your scooter

Why: NS4L and Solano Cycle have an oligopoly in the Gainesville market

18) When I am late to class or a meeting, but it is cold outside and my scooter takes a couple minutes to turn on

Why: When it is cold outside, scooters get extremely cold and need to be warmed up

19) When I plan my schedule for the semester, but two different classes I want to take have similar class times, so I can not take both

Why: There are hundreds (maybe thousands) of classes taught at UF and only so many class periods in a day

20) I am from South Florida and there are a ton of older people who are not good drivers anymore, but there is not a law that requires people to retake a driving test at a certain age.

Why: South Florida is a retirement area, which explains the larger older population. People think it is ageism to make someone retake a driving examination

Reflection: I found this assignment challenging mainly because I live a very routine centered life, so I have gotten used to most of the bugs described above. Reflecting on the daily things that aggravate took some time to think about since I am so used to them. For some bugs, I felt bad even labeling them a bug since they seem so inconsequential. I actually found this exercise helpful to put into perspective that the things that bother me are so small and should not derail my positive mood.

Test Blog

This blog post is written as a configuration test.