Looking for Opportunity

 Econmic trend link 1: Public Relations Opportunity

a)      I found this article after reading the Forbes “Key economic trends for 2016” article. I searched up industry growth thus far in 2016 and shockingly is much more stagnate than projected.

b)      Although this article expresses how consumer spending is already much less than predicted, sometimes opportunity arises from negative economic trends. I believe this decline in consumer spending will force businesses to strategies ways to stimulate growth which I believe can be done through the public relations and marketing industry.

c)       For the year 2016 industry production is increasing but consumer spending is not due to inflation with gas prices and other necessities. I can see an opportunity for the PR industry as well as the marketing industry to take this as their opportunity to help local businesses stimulate consumer spending through creative marketing and company branding techniques.

d)      I think the opportunity will be hard to exploit just because if businesses are not making more money they are less likely to invest more money into departments such as marketing and PR sectors. However if these sectors can give businesses a promising proposal on how to increase revenue for the business their services will be demanded more now than ever.

e)      I believe the reason why this opportunity has not been exploited already is because everyone is focused on reasons as to why customers are not spending money and trying to change their existing products rather than thinking of ways on how to persuade them to spend money on the products that are already available.

Economic Trend link 2: Technology Industry Opportunities

a) I found this article off of google when I searched up trends for the technology industry since I can see a constant increase in demand for the newest and most advanced technology.

b) This article explains how there is a higher demand than ever for technology to continue advancing and how the industry needs to handle this demand. This is causing technology businesses all around the country to focus on new strategies to create new sources of revenue.

c) The customer for this opportunity will be computer engineer majors and computer science engineers. Being a student at the University of Florida I am familiar with the prestigious engineer program here and it is time for students to take advantage of this growing industry where it will be easy to find a growing and well-paying career.

d) This opportunity will be extremely easy to exploit for any student in these two majors. Although there is a lot of competition throughout the country this industry to growing faster than any other and businesses need new, fresh ideas from young, smart, bright college students.

e) The only reason I can think of as to why I am seeing this opportunity and others are not is because people have the assumption that the technology industry has already reached its highest peak of innovation when this could not be farther from the truth.

Regulatory Trend Link 1: More money More consumer Spending

a) I thought of finding on article on Google that had to deal with an increase in minimum wage because it has been such a hot political topic all across the United States for the entire year of 2015.

b) This article is describing the effects raising the minimum wage will have on businesses overall operating costs and employee benefits. Although it seems like businesses will lose a lot of money having to pay their workers more there is still a opportunity that can be seen in this trend.

c) Oddly enough I can see retail business's actually being the customer with the most opportunity. While employers will have to spend more money paying their workers this now gives the average consumer more spending power which will most likely be invested into retail industries which will help increase economic growth.

d) This will be a hard opportunity to exploit because it is hard for people to see that spending more money on wages is actually an investment into the retail industry and economic growth.

e) I think taking a macroeconomics course helps give me insight that allowing people to have increased consumer spending power helps stimulate the U.S. economy.

Regulatory Trend Link 2: Less Bank fraud = Lower interest rates

a) I found this article after being exposed to the new credit cards that have "chips" in them.

b) This article explains the shift of liability of credit card fraud going from banking institutions to retailers. The reason I see this creating a huge opportunity is that fact that banks can now lower interst rates on loans because they do not have to have as much money to put towards covering credit card fraud.

c) The customer opportunity to given out to all consumers in the U.S. because it will not be easier for them to take out loans for new houses, cars, and other things they cannot afford up front.

d) This opportunity will be easy to exploit because it is being made a federal law for retailers to switch over to this new credit card system and those who don't claim full liability for any credit card fruad,

e) I can see this opportunity because I took a course in Business Finance and learned that bank loans actually create more money in the economy. Although the retail industry may be taking a huge hit, now the housing industry, automobile industry and so much more have a chance to grow because people can invest in their products much more easily due to lower interest rates on loans being taken out by the average consumer.

Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

interview 1 interview 2 interview 3 interview 4 interview 5

Above are the links to five college students I recently interviewed who have admitted to the same unmet need me and dozens of my friends are facing currently. I tried to pick an interesting and relatable topic for you guys I hope you enjoy the interviews.

Opportunity Identified: A majority of the students participating in a social life find themselves already on a strict budget waking up the next morning not knowing how they spent so much money going out to dinner and clubs.

The Who: College students who go out weekly as part of the social aspect for the “college experience”

The What: They set a budget for the night and frequently spend double if not triple the amount they intended to.

The Why: The effects of alcohol, peer pressure, and lack of awareness leading to an outstandingly high credit card balance.

My Hypothesis: I am not saying the only way to have a social life in college is to go out, get drunk, and party the night away but I think we all can agree there is a large portion of students who do use this activity as a way to distract themselves from school and spend time with friends. If you don’t believe me walk through Mid-Town on a Friday or Saturday night and you will experience for yourself the large target market I am trying to help. The opportunity I am wanting to pursue is a way keep it convenient to spend money on a night out but also a way to prevent money being spent carelessly.   I believe having an easily accessible app that people could use to put a “limit” on the amount of money their card will allow them to use at specific bars, restaurants or services (uber,taxi,etc), as well as having notifications sent to their phone when they are nearing the limit would allow consumers to still have the convenience of a credit card while having the limitations of cash.

Testing the who: Although I am only currently interviewing college students due to the fact they are easily accessible on campus I am confident grown adults are also struggling with this problem. Alcohol and peer pressure affect us all the same and can easily lead to big financial mistakes.

Testing the what: I am focusing mainly on the night life aspect of this unmet need but I believe people are always over spending accidently on vacations, beach trips, or even just going out for a bite to eat. There are multiple different situations that can occur and they all end in the problem…. How do we keep track of all the spending when we are caught up in the moment?

Testing the why: This has been going on ever since our parents have been going to college and is probably currently happening when they are going on family vacations or a night out on the town with some old friends. My train of thought is that there are so many distractions happening every minute in our lives we sometimes lose track of how much money we are spending and how quickly we are draining out bank accounts. Maybe some of us are loose with cash, maybe we are under the influence or peer pressure or alcohol, or maybe, plain and simple just lack awareness of how much we are spending in certain situations.

Side Note: Even if you do not participate in going out I would like you to at least try and brainstorm a time you have gone on a trip and not realized the amount of money you spent until you checked your bank account and it was already too late.

Forming An Opportunity Belief

1.       I have lived in Gainesville for the past 20 years and being legal to go to mid-town for the past 3 years, as well as having older friends, I have noticed a reoccurring trend in this town. I have noticed that a constant problem of spending way too much money on one night out at mid-town or down town is burning a hole in locals’ and students’ wallets.

2.       The unmet need to this problem is the fact that no one has a solution to spending less money while they are intoxicated. Everyone goes into the night not thinking they will spend a lot of money but after a few drinks of “liquid courage” all plans go out the window. I believe this need is prominent within the college student community and young adults. This need came from not only personal experiences, but as well from experiences from close friends and relatives. Right now I believe the only counteraction to this problem is to leave the card at home or take cash out first… But what if the money is all spent on alcohol and now there is no money to Uber home or buy much needed water.

3.       Identify prototypical customer.

3a) Sean Allen- College Student

4a) Sean Allen Recording

5a) What I learned most about this interview is the fact that me, nor my friends am not the only men that has this constant struggle when planning a fun night out at midtown.

3b) Skylar Tyce - College Student

4a) Skylar Tyce Recording

5a) This interview has only furthered my assumption that most college males in this town are struggling with the same problem of trying to have a fun social life while sticking to a college budget. A night out never sticks to the financial plan!

3c) Sarah- College Student

4c) Sarah Recording

5c) This interview had a HUGE impact on my entire hypothesis that men have been spending way too much money on a night out. This impact has been in a positive way though for the fact that Sarah has reinforced the fact that women play a huge factor in the way men spend their money during a night out at mid-town.

7) Through these few interviews I believe that my opportunity to fix a problem is still very much alive. Also after these interviews I believed these strangers reinforced my hypothesis that men are constantly struggling with finding a solution to wasting so much money on a night out. My solution to this problem would be to create an app that freezes your credit card after a certain amount of money is spent to particular bars or restaurants for 24 hours so that you cannot go over on your planned money cap for the night. 

Identifying Local Opportunities

Title: The ex-property appraiser would be a project subcontractor, raising some eyebrows.

Link: http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15CF35705216F758?p=AWNB

Summary: The local Hillsborough property appraiser by the name of Rob Turner and his company Assessment Services LLC have been chosen for a new subcontracting project for the city of Tampa. The City Council is now rethinking this decision after hearing Rob Turner will be the project manager for this operation. In 2012 Rob Turner was wrapped up in a huge “personal scandal” of sending various porn videos and sexual pictures to his old female human resources worker.  

Problem: The problem to me is actually very petty. There are two or three council members who believe due to his past record he should not be involved with anything that has to do with improving the city. Most are saying, “They were very taken back” when they saw Rob Turners name on the contract. While other council members are saying “The past is the past and he is most qualified for this job.” As well as “everyone deserves a fresh start, personal life should not mess with professional career”.

Who has the Problem: I believe the problem is lying within the City Council to see if they will continue with Rob Turner as the project manager for this operation or try to find someone who has equal expertise and qualifications.

Title: Jim Ross: When to name names

Link: http://www.ocala.com/article/20160514/COLUMNISTS/160519901/1459/news01?Title=Jim-Ross-When-to-name-names&tc=ar

Summary:  This article is about how local school board members are conflicted on disciplining two teachers who have been called out for helping students on upcoming tests.

Problem: The problem in this article is the fact that board members are conflicted with the fact if these two teachers should be punished. This was a local news story trying to show that the two teachers cared enough to help these particular students pass required tests yet they were punished when the article used their real name.  When is it okay to use names and when not to?

Who has the problem: Everyone in the community.

Title: Road, sidewalk concerns scuttle Blues Creek expansion plan

Link: http://www.gainesville.com/article/20160520/ARTICLES/160529990/1002/news01?Title=Road-sidewalk-concerns-scuttle-Blues-Creek-expansion-plan&tc=ar

Summary:  The Gainesville City Commission denied an application to further develop the residential area of Blues Creek.  There are multiple debates about sidewalk extensions, flooding problems, not enough space per home, etc.

Problem: People in the community of Blue Creek want more homes to be built but the City Commission sees flooding problem as well as safety problems with narrow roads and a lack of sidewalks.

Who has the problem: The residents of Blues Creek.

Title: Florida Book Store to close its doors after 83 years.

Link: http://www.gainesville.com/article/20160520/ARTICLES/160529975/1002/news01?Title=Florida-Book-Store-to-close-its-doors-after-83-years

Summary: This book store opened up in 1933 and has changed ownership about 5 or 6 times. This Wednesday coming up will be its last day of operation and will be offering clearance sales all week until then.

Problem: A local store that has been around since the 20^th century is now closing down for good, taking its culture and tradition with it.

Who has the problem:  Local students now have to go online or are forced to go to the Reitz Union to get their books which leaves them little wiggle room for competitive prices on books.

Title: Service dog? Therapy dog? There's a difference

Link: http://www.gainesville.com/article/20160521/WIRE/160529957/-1/news300?Title=Service-dog-Therapy-dog-There-s-a-difference

Summary: A local women has a service dog who is not always welcomed with warm interactions and smiles. People sometimes perceive the people that “need” these dogs as people who are taking advantage of the system to take their dogs wherever they want. Is there a difference between a dog wearing a service vest and a therapy dog?

Problem:  How can we make the local Gainesville community warm up to the idea of having animals in retail stores such as Publix and Home Depot.

Who has the problem: Local shoppers in Gainesville.

Bug List

1)      Searching my House EVERYWHERE for my keys 10 minutes before work starts.

i.                     Why? I always leave my keys in different places.

ii.                   Make a designated key rack by the door and get in the routine of using it.

2)      Having to iron my clothes every day before work.

i.                     Why? My clothes are wrinkled.

ii.                   Hang work clothes back up after every shift so they don’t get wrinkled, rather than throwing them on the floor.

3)      My computer dying on my halfway through an essay for class and losing all my work.

i.                     Why? My computer does not warn me before it dies.

ii.                   Charge my computer over night while I’m asleep so it will be fully charged the next day.

iii.                  Save my progress on an essay after every paragraph typed up.

4)      Getting sent home from work to shave my face even though there is barely any stubble.

i.                     Why? Publix is super strict about facial hair.

ii.                   Although I can’t see I need to shave, hang a sticky note on the mirror to remind me to shave in the mornings, soon enough it will become a daily routine.

5)      Lowering the life of my car by not getting the oil changed frequently enough.

i.                     Why? No light pops up saying I need an oil change.

ii.                   When I get an oil change I can put a reminder in my phone for every 4 weeks to check my mileage and next oil change date.

6)      I sleep with my phone on my bed and sometimes the alarm will go off but I roll onto it and either snoozes the alarm or blocks the sound of the alarm.

i.                     Why? I am afraid I won’t hear my alarm if I am not right next to it.

ii.                   Turn the alarm sound higher and just keep it on my nightstand.

7)      I get off of work at 11, by the time I get changed and get to the gym it almost always closes before I am done with my workout.

i.                     Why? I go to school 9-2 and typically work 3-11.

ii.                   Wake up 3 hours before classes start, go to the gym, then take classes, work, then just go right to bed to have the energy to be up that early the next day.

8)      Phone dying while in the middle of a conversation.

i.                     Why? I start my day with 30% on my phone life.

ii.                   Have a phone charger long enough to reach from the outlet to my bed so I don’t forget to have it charging overnight.

9)      Having to constantly trade shifts with people from work because it conflicts with exams and school events.

i.                     Why? When something is 2 months away, I believe I have plenty of time to take off work.

ii.                   Gather all class syllabus’ and event dates and designate a day to go through my calendar and request every date off, even if it is 2 months away, that way when the time comes I’m available.

10)   Going to check out at a store and leaving my wallet in my car.

i.                     Why? I am focused on my cell phone and what groceries I am going to buy.

ii.                   Have my screensaver on my phone set to a funny picture that has the words “Got Wallet”, due to the fact I check my phone a lot more often than checking my pockets for my wallet.

11)   Ice watering down my soda before I have time to finish it while at work.

i.                     Why? I drink soda throughout my shift when I get thirsty. Not chug all at once.

ii.                   Get two cups, one with ice to pour coke into that I want at the moment, the other cup can be put in the fridge with no ice, next time I want soda, it will be cold and not watered down in the slightest.

12)   Internet going out during an exam at my house.

i.                     Why? I hate driving all the way to the library and finding parking just to take an exam I can take at home on my couch.

ii.                   I and my roommates split the cost of a new router 3 ways so it will be more affordable.

13)   Toothpaste getting stuck to the bottom of the sink.

i.                     I use way too much toothpaste and overflows into the sink and globs up.

ii.                   Use a little less toothpaste on my brush so large clumps aren’t just falling off into the sink.

14)   My dog scratching at the door by 7am every morning to go outside.

i.                     Why? She needs to use the restroom and eat when she wakes up.

ii.                   Keep the dog awake until I go to bed so she will get on my sleep schedule and sleep in until I wake up.

15)   Social Media being a huge procrastinator during homework and studying.

i.                     Why? I hear a “ding” noise and see a really funny video someone tagged me in, 20 minutes later I still haven’t done anything.

ii.                   Turn off push notifications for all apps, that way I check them when I have time, not because “amber just poked me on Facebook”.

16)   Having to wait in the sub line at Publix on my break, making my break way less enjoyable and wasting time I should be sitting down eating.

i.                     Why? When I go on break I am competing with other employees that are on break for food as well as our customers.

ii.                   Check my meal time when I check what time I work for the day and order my sub online for that time.

17)   I have a small lawn business and sometimes during the fall months grass does not need to be cut every week and leaves me having a weird schedule, never knowing when peoples grass needs to be cut.

i.                     Why? I have to drive around town checking peoples yard to see if it needs to be cut, Wasting time and gas on yards that do not need to be taken care of that week.

ii.                   Have automatic emails that are sent out every week to my customers saying if they need their grass cut this week, wait a few days, or wait until next week.

18)   I have to drive past an elementary school every Friday for work right when the kids are released from school, making traffic at a standstill for almost 20 minutes.

i.                     Why? There is only one way to get to my job.

ii.                   Rather than driving a car to work I can ride my bike. Work is only about 15 minutes away by bike which is much quicker than my car and skip frustrating traffic.

19)   Getting food sta

ins on my clothes in between meetings for organizations.

i.                     I am normally on campus all day long and don’t have time to eat at home so I need to find time in my day to go eat out.

ii.                   Find places closer to my meetings so I can sit down and eat… most of the time I spill things on me because I am halfway running with a pita in my hand to the next meeting.

20)   Burning my fingers with one of those tiny lighters trying to light candles to make the house smell good.

i.                     Why? My fingers are too stubby and the lighters are so small but release a big flame.

ii.                   Get a pack of gill lighters and keep them near my candles so I don’t lose them and stop burning my fingertips.

Reflection: The “bug list” activity was very eye opening for multiple reasons. The first thing I realized was how many daily “bugs” I put up with and never do anything about. I saw that most of my bugs were routine errors and lack of time management throughout my day. Another aspect to this activity was that the problems were so hard to find because they are constantly happening in your daily life. As for the solutions those were much easier to come up with because it’s very difficult to compile a solution to a problem you never knew existed. Once the problem was seen, a solution was easy to create.

                     

                                                                                                                              

My Entrepreneurship Story

One of the most memorable entrepreneurship experiences I have had so far in life was in my junior year of high school. Throughout my four years in high school I was highly involved in an entrepreneurship program my school offered. During my third year an organization called “Junior Achievement” worked with my class and another to help us learn to think like an entrepreneur and raise money for our program. I was elected on the executive board for this task and together we brainstormed innovative ways to raise money. The idea we came up with was to call restaurants that do not have the typical table topper (see image below) and ask them if we can put one that was full of business cards on their table for about 6 weeks. Once we got approved by particular restaurants to carry out this plan we then began to contact local businesses that would like some cheap advertising around town! Once a business would say yes we would ask for a business card and charge them $80 for the entire 6 weeks. We gave each business 6 tables and each table topper held 6 business cards that were enlarged and laminated. The whole process taught us how to network within the local community, as well as learn about the process of entrepreneurship and advertising. Needless to say our "out of the box" idea was far more effective than the other class that just made  tie dye hoodies with their company name on them, (“fye dye”).

The main reason I chose this course is due to my past experiences in high school with entrepreneurship. Every time I would take on a new project or come up with new ideas I would always get an enormous sensation of anxiety but also excitement, which I loved. Although I feel like my entrepreneurial skills have been well developed throughout my four years in high school I believe there is always room improve and expand my skills in this field. I want to learn more about the process of entrepreneurship as well as network with other young and motivated entrepreneurs in my gator community.

test blog

this is only a test... I REPEAT THIS IS ONLY A TEST