Friday, January 25, 2019

Assignment 6: Identifying Opportunities in Economic and Regulatory Trends

1. Regulatory. "5 Big Regulatory Changes That Could Affect Your Business" I found this source by putting "new regulatory changes" into the search engine, looked through the results and thought this article was a good fit for this assignment. This opportunity exists because these changes could seriously impact someone's business, large or small. This will impact entrepreneurs, employees and customers of those businesses. It would be relatively easy for the government to exploit because they are the ones that will collect if these companies do not comply with the regulations. I thought this would be an opportunity because this can change the way that businesses are allowed to run and sell their product/service.

2. Regulatory. "Medication of Hazardous Waste? EPA Creates Significant New Requirements for Managing Unused Pharmaceuticals" I found this article when I searched "regulatory changes" and I thought this article fit the requirements for this assignment. This opportunity exists because these regulation changes will impact the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries if they do not completely comply with the new rule. This will impact healthcare providers, pharmacists and anyone else in the healthcare system that handles prescription medication. It would be relatively easy to exploit if these industries do not comply with the disposal rule. I thought this would be an opportunity because this can change the way the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries run.

3. Economic. "6 Key Economic Trends for 2018" I found this article when I searched "new economic trends" and thought this would be a good fit for this assignment. This opportunity exists because these economic trends could prove to be very beneficial for a new company startup or for other pre-existing businesses to review and make amends to their own business in order to make more money in the future. This impacts the entrepreneur, investors, customers, employees and any other business owner out there. It would be easy to exploit because if you use these to predict future economic trends, you could make a lot of money off of it. I thought this would be an opportunity because this can give businesses insight into today's market to make a potential profit.

4. Economic. "5 Economic Trends Every Business Owner Should Watch in 2018" I found this article when I searched "economic trends" and thought this would be good for this assignment. This opportunity exists because these economic trends are what business owners were looking out for in the past year and could prove beneficial for predicting future trends. This impacts entrepreneurs, employees and consumers. It would be easy to exploit since businesses could use these trends to make assumptions about future and present trends to turn a profit. I thought this would be an opportunity because it can help businesses succeed in the present and future.


Assignment 5: Identifying Local Opportunities

1.

"Landowner's plight shows that Martin needs shelter"
   
https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AFSNC%21Stuart%2BNews-Port%2BSt.%2BLucie%2BNews%252FSt.%2BLucie%2BNews%2BTribune%252FJupiter%2BCourier%252FFort%2BPierce%2BNews%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0123%21January%2B23&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/171211FEEAD82B90
   
 Property value of a piece of land, owned by Billy Harper, is in the toilet because of a squalor village that is right behind it. He can't get the squatters to leave because there are so many and the Martin County police force is short staffed. There are few shelters open to women and children and no shelters open to men in all of Martin County so they don't have anywhere else to go even if he got them to leave. They're calling for a homeless shelter but officials are worried that they do not have the budget to open one. This problem effects property owners, taxpayers, officers and homeless people.

2.

"Local officials ask state to fund water projects"

https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AFSNC%21Stuart%2BNews-Port%2BSt.%2BLucie%2BNews%252FSt.%2BLucie%2BNews%2BTribune%252FJupiter%2BCourier%252FFort%2BPierce%2BNews%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0120%21January%2B20&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/1711146BEB702DA0

The water quality on the Treasure Coast needs improvement since there have been blue algae blooms in the water system. Officials are asking for more state funding to clear up this issue, St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, Martin and Indian River counties are asking for millions of dollars in order to solve this. This problem effects everyone on the Treasure Coast and, if they're approved for this money, will definitely have an impact on taxpayers.

3.

"Veterans like me face war in Iraq, suicide at home"

https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AFSNC%21Stuart%2BNews-Port%2BSt.%2BLucie%2BNews%252FSt.%2BLucie%2BNews%2BTribune%252FJupiter%2BCourier%252FFort%2BPierce%2BNews%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0120%21January%2B20&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/1711146C1FA84368

Our veteran mental healthcare system is seriously lacking. Soldiers come home from war with trauma that goes untreated and are unable to cope with civilian life so they resort to suicide. The VA hospitals are understaffed and will rush through procedure since there are so many patients and just not enough people to help. The author makes suggestions on how to help the current mental health system. This issue effects veterans and their families.

4.

"Pardons underscore need for reform"

https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AFSNC%21Stuart%2BNews-Port%2BSt.%2BLucie%2BNews%252FSt.%2BLucie%2BNews%2BTribune%252FJupiter%2BCourier%252FFort%2BPierce%2BNews%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0119%21January%2B19&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/1710C9C18AE49300

Recently there have been a few pardons for those wrongly imprisoned by the Justice System but there is much more work to be done, as the amount of racial disparities in the Florida legal system are insurmountable. The author calls for the state to continue addressing the racial disparity in the criminal justice system as it will set free those whom were wrongly imprisoned and even cut costs for taxpayers by reducing the population in our prisons. This effects those wrongly accused, taxpayers, and those in the future from being wrongly accused.

5.

"Farm asked how it'll keep nearby canals free of filth"

https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AFSNC%21Stuart%2BNews-Port%2BSt.%2BLucie%2BNews%252FSt.%2BLucie%2BNews%2BTribune%252FJupiter%2BCourier%252FFort%2BPierce%2BNews%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0115%21January%2B15&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/170F70120FAB1008

Sunbreak Farms had been dumping partially treated waste into the Indian River Lagoon and the South Florida Water Management District is asking what their plan is to dispose of the waste properly, instead of dumping it into the Lagoon. Sunbreak decided that they want to make a compost mix with the waste and use that to fertilize their crops. The issue with this is that it's sewage that they're trying to mix with some compost material to fertilize crops that they're eventually going to sell to the public. They get around the prohibition of Class B biosolids by mixing it enough to make it into a Class AA biosolid, which is not regulated, and continue to grow and sell their crops. This problem effects consumers of Sunbreak Farms' products.

Thursday, January 17, 2019

Assignment 4: Forming an Opportunity Belief: A Twist on Opportunity Identification

Belief: Not enough No Kill Animal Shelters

Description of Belief: There are so many animals in need and not enough shelters that will house them until they're adopted. The majority of animal shelters will euthanize the animal after a certain amount of days being there, unless someone chooses to adopt them before then. This problem has existed for a while, it isn't a new thing. People are trying to open No Kill Shelters, which try to transfer in animals from the Kill Shelters, but they usually fill up fast since there are so few of these types of shelters.  I am 100% sure that this opportunity exists. I have adopted animals from two Kill Shelters, here, in Florida and they are still euthanizing animals, that have been there too long, today.

Iteration 1: Female, currently has one dog
   Did you adopt your dog from a shelter? "Yes" What kind of shelter? "No Kill Shelter" Why? "It was the closest shelter to my house" If the opportunity arose, would you adopt from a Kill Shelter? "Of course. I feel terrible that those animals are just killed off if they don't find a family in time" Do you think there is a need for more No Kill Shelters? "Definitely." Most No Kill Shelters will try to foster animals out to approved families to make room for more animals in need and they even try to transfer in animals from the Kill Shelters. Do you think this is enough? "No because animals are still being euthanized in those shelters everyday and until there are no more Kill Shelters, then there is more work to do." What do you suggest we do to help these animals? "Open more No Kill Shelters or foster out more animals. We have to do something. I was thinking of adopting another dog soon, so maybe I can help at least one."

Iteration 2: Male, currently has two dogs and a cat
    Did you adopt your pets from a shelter? "Not the cat, I actually got her from a friend but the dogs are both from shelters." What kind of shelter, or shelters, did you adopt your dogs from? "I got Bud from a Kill Shelter down in Miami and Violet is from a No Kill Shelter here in Jupiter." Why did you adopt from the Kill Shelter? "I felt bad that he was in there. He was so cute on the website I just had to go get him." Why did you adopt from the No Kill Shelter? "Well, at the time, I had just moved here and was all settled with Bud. I worked long days and I felt like he got lonely so I started looking at the nearest shelter and I found Vi." Do you think there is a need for more No Kill Shelters? "Of course I do. If I hadn't gotten Bud out of there in time, he would be gone by now I got him the day before his time would have been up."  Most No Kill Shelters will try to foster animals out to approved families to make room for more animals in need and they even try to transfer in animals from the Kill Shelters. Do you think this is enough? "Not as long as they're still killing animals off just to make space for others coming in." What do you suggest we do to help these animals? "I don't really know, I mean, I guess they should start opening more No Kill Shelters or do the foster thing."

Iteration 3: Female, currently has a fish
   Have you ever had an animal that you adopted from a shelter? "No, but my friends have." Are you aware that there are Kill Shelters and No Kill Shelters? "No, I wasn't. I thought they were all No Kill Shelters. That's terrible. They just kill off animals?" After a certain amount of time, yes. If you were to adopt an animal from a shelter, which type of shelter would it be from? "I would try to adopt from a Kill Shelter but it really would depend on which type of shelter was closest to me." Now that you're aware of the two types of shelters, do you think there is a need for more No Kill versus Kill Shelters? "Well, I'm not a monster, of course I think we need more No Kill shelters." Most No Kill Shelters will try to foster animals out to approved families to make room for more animals in need and they even try to transfer in animals from the Kill Shelters. Do you think this is enough? "If they're still killing off animals, then we're not doing enough to help." What do you suggest we do to help these animals? "We need more of those No Kill Shelters and more loving families willing to adopt. I would adopt a dog or cat but I'm allergic to both but I know some people that really want a pet, I'll see if they know about these Kill Shelters."

Reflection: I noticed during these three interviews that people tend to adopt a pet from shelters nearest to them, instead of what type of shelter it is. What surprised me a little was that the third person didn't know there were two different types of shelters. Maybe most people don't really think about this problem unless they're trying to adopt a pet and then after they've adopted one, they don't think much about it after.

Summary: The original opportunity is about 80% there now, since I realized how little this problem is really thought about by others. I do believe that my opportunity is more accurate now than when I started since I now know that I would have to really advertise and fund raise to even begin solving this problem. Entrepreneurs should definitely take customer feedback into account and, while keeping the same basic opportunity, mold their approach to the opportunity to customer feedback.

Assignment 3: My Entrepreneurship Story

I, myself, am not an entrepreneur but my mother is. When I was small, about three years old, my mother worked and sent me to a daycare center for the day and one day, I was apparently being difficult with one of the teachers and refused to put my coat on so she decided to try to force it on me but she pulled my arm too hard and my arm popped out of the socket. This is what sent my mom into her entrepreneurship journey. She decided she would quit her job and open her own daycare in our house, and she was very good at her job, she had her own employees and a waiting list because everyone in our area wanted to send their kid to my mom's daycare. She did this for a decade and then we moved to Florida in 2013. Now when we got here, she worked in different childcare centers and for DCF this past year but now she and a few colleagues have decided to open their own charter school for kindergarten through twelfth grade, here in Palm Beach. They are still working on the application for the county, at the moment but she already has endorsements from different companies and schools set up, the $10 million loan, the building being set up and they're looking at opening the school in 2020. The closest thing I have done to entrepreneurship is, last summer, in my Innovation Academy class we had to split into groups to come up with a product concerning biodiversity in Florida to compete in Catalyst at the end of the semester. My group went with biodegradable fishing hook and lines. We had to come up with a name, make a poster advertisement, make a prototype and at Catalyst we had to explain everything about the product.
I am in this class because it is required for the Innovation Academy and I hope to learn some things about how different entrepreneurs handled failure to get where they are now.

Assignment 2: Bug List

1. After two nights, the far corner of the fitted sheet on my bed comes off and, since the bed is pushed into the corner where two walls meet, I have to climb over the bed to fix it
Why?
Maybe since it's so hard to get the fitted part fully under the corner, it comes off faster than the other corners do or I want to avoid moving the bed out of the corner and do it properly
2. iPhone charger cords break very easily
Why?
Maybe Apple doesn't want to spend the money investing in a bit more coating on the cord to make it stronger or don't care to do so if they can make more money having people come in for a new one
3. No parking in my apartment complex
Why?
Poor design or there is too much emphasis on the overall aesthetic of the complex rather than on parking spaces
4. The counters with the sinks, in public bathrooms, are constantly covered in water
Why?
People don't have time to wipe up the water after themselves, the bathroom has air dryers instead of paper towels so there is nothing to wipe up the counter with, or people just don't care to dry the counter
5. Dirty menus at restaurants
Why?
The staff don't think to wipe down the menus unless they're very noticeably dirty, don't have time to, or don't have to so they don't go out of their way to do so
6. When shopping carts aren't put away properly in the parking lot (either inside or in a cart corral)
Why?
People are in a rush so they don't have time to walk around to find the nearest cart corral thing or don't care to find one at all since it's easier to just leave the cart somewhere
7. Going to a public place and their wifi isn't free
Why?
The facility wants to make some extra money or to advertise their specific business by making the customer go through their site for wifi
8.  Trying on clothes at a store and you can clearly tell that the clothes have been worn before (deodorant marks, makeup stains, etc.)
Why?
The staff can't wash the clothes so they do what they can with a disinfectant spray and dryer sheets or they're just so busy they don't have time to go through and do that
9. If an iPhone is dropped and lands just right on its face, the whole screen will crack (with a good case and sometimes even despite having a screen protector)
Why?
Apple won't spend the extra money making a phone screen "indestructible" since, once it cracks, people usually will pay them to fix the screen or get an entirely new phone from them or it would cost more for them to make a screen like that when they could spend that money on something else
10. In some parking lots, it's hard to see around corners when they're decorated with large, dense plants
Why?
The people who own the parking lots may be thinking more in terms of aesthetic than they are in terms of safety or just a bad design
11. When driving on the interstate, people will pull into your lane without signalling
Why?
They feel like if they signal, the other person will speed up and not let them ahead or they need to get off at the upcoming exit and there isn't time for them to signal they just need to get there before they miss the ramp
12. When you're at a restaurant for breakfast and order their silver dollar pancakes but they come out with normal sized pancakes
Why?
Instead of making 8-12 silver dollar pancakes they make 2-3 normal sized ones to maybe save on batter or cooking time. Maybe the cook doesn't really know how big they are supposed to be or how many to make so they assume the normal sized ones are fine
13. When people smoke at the beach and leave their cigarette butts in the sand
Why?
Maybe they're too lazy to find an ash tray or dispose of them properly. Maybe they don't think about others on the beach that could step on it, ingest it (small kids/animals)
14. The gas cap on my car gets dirt/grime around it and makes the check engine light go on so I go to the mechanic thinking it's some big issue when I could have just cleaned it myself and not spent money having them tell me it's basically nothing
Why?
Maybe the check engine light goes off because if the dirt makes its way into the gas tank it could cause some issues with how the fuel burns or something to that effect. Maybe I should just keep up on the cap and check it every time I get gas so I can eliminate that from my list of possible problems when the check engine light comes on
15. When I'm in line to pick up my sisters from school at the end of the day, the line takes ages to move and it's so long it seems like I'm stuck there for eternity waiting for them to get in the car and go home
Why?
People don't pay attention to when the line is actually moving so they take a bit to notice it's their turn to move up, kids coming out of the school take a while to meander out and find their car, people are driving at a snails pace since kids will just walk out into the car line without even looking so you have to really pay attention to the sides so you don't run anyone over, or the whole system is just a bad organization on the school's part
16. When someone's walking their dog and it misses the grass and poops on the sidewalk but instead of picking up after their dog, they leave it there
Why?
They don't have one of those poop bag things, to pick up after their dog, with them so they just walk away or they think it's too disgusting to pick it up, even with the bag thing.
17.  When you go to the doctor and they need you to get some blood work done so they send you to another facility
Why?
They don't have a phlebotomist there or they don't have the space in their practice to have a lab
18. Overwhelming waiting room music in doctors offices on top of the noise from the TV that's playing
Why?
Maybe they want to calm the patient with music before going in but meet the needs of other patients that like to be informed on different health things from the TV or maybe they don't realize that the music with the TV noise is sensory overload
19. Dirty public transportation
Why?
Don't see the necessity of deep cleaning the seats when they're just going to be used again the next day or they don't have the money to spend on countless cleaning supply for the seats
20. During the day, free parking on campus is very limited for students who live off campus
Why?
Bad design; they think that students off campus will just take the bus; need more room for disability parking, teacher/staff parking and the living on campus student parking
Reflection: I found coming up with this list a little difficult. I don't usually focus on the small things that bug me so I would set out everyday with the intention to find what bothered me and to write it down immediately but the problem with this, is that I would forget that I was supposed to write it down. So for most of the days I spent working on this list, I had to keep reminding myself to make the list. Once I had all twenty, I had to come up with the "why" part for each bug and that was harder than I thought it would be since I kept getting stuck in why it bugged me, personally, and not why it existed in general.