30A – Final Reflection

Here is a picture of my foster and I. Fostering is one
of the reasons for my involvement in Project Canis

1.  Overall, this journey has been super fun for me. This class pushed me out of my comfort zone in many aspects. At the beginning of this class, I dreaded having to find people to interview. Reaching out and connecting with people that I did not know was difficult for me. However, the more I did it, the more confident I became in the ability to communicate effectively. Most individuals are receptive to meeting new people and having a conversation about ideas. The same idea with the elevator pitches, the idea of getting in front of a camera, was terrifying to me. While I still have some ways to go, I have already made great strides. My favorite aspects of this class were probably interacting with my group through peer reviews and reading their own posts. They always gave me constructive criticism, gave me new insights, and were overall encouraging. It was nice to see each other grow and become more confident with each post and assignment. 

2. My most formative experience in this course was my three elevator pitches. I got a lot of great information provided, but it also taught me to be confident within myself. I'll remember it because I went from trying to find ways to avoid these types of assignments to dealing with uncomfortable situations head-on. Sometimes even seeking unknown and new situations. My three pitches are what I am most proud of, while I have room to grow and be better, I am going into these situations much improved. 

3. I do not quite see myself as an entrepreneur yet. However, I have begun to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. I see the world a little differently. I am starting to see more opportunities in situations that I thought were a nuisance. I am starting to put myself in circumstances where there is potential for failure. I no longer avoid failure as much because I realize that it is part of growing and learning. 

4. My one recommendation is to have fun with these assignments. While this course is a grade, you will learn more when you have a blast and have an open mind when it comes to the tasks. Look at each post not as a grade but as an experience where you get to cultivate and grow yourself. When you don't look at this as just a course, you will push yourself and not cut corners. 

Thank you everyone who was along for this journey!

29A – Venture Concept No. 2

This a dog enjoying the Plushie at a volunteer event 

Opportunity:

Project Canis is a nonprofit organization and has a mission to help shelter animals by providing toys made of recycled materials. Project Canis provides instructions to other organizations or families. These other organizations or families can help by making their homemade toys from old material like t-shirts and plastic bottles. The toys are donated to Project Canis, and then our organization sends them to shelters in need across Florida. The market that requires animal toys is animal shelters. The shelters and rescues have new animals enter the shelter almost weekly. Their demand for toys is high. The animals, especially dogs, go through toys at an exceptional speed. Keeping up and buying new toys is extremely expensive, especially when most of their donation money goes to other things like vet care.

I mentioned in my other post kitten season has sparked this need, but I would argue that COVID has also brought further demand. Since the pandemic, many animals have are getting adopted. For example, on the Humane Society of North Central Florida Facebook page, they reported they had 700 adoptions since March. (Gilley, 2020) This is a significant number for the shelter as they have not been able to hold adoption events and only booked in-person appointments. Higher adoptions usually mean more space for other animals, indicating a higher turnover rate and a more prominent need for toys.

The market is most likely determined geographically. Normally, each county has at least one animal shelter and maybe a few rescues. For the state of Project Canis currently, we are only focusing on animal shelters in Florida. Shelter's fulfilled their need for toys by getting donations or, in extreme cases, buying their toys. Shelters will always receive donations from other businesses or people. However, the more contributions they get, the better. I think this opportunity is significant and continues to grow. This opportunity has longevity because there will always be shelters, and they will always need new toys.

Innovation:

The products that Project Canis is dealing with are dog toys made up of old materials such as old T-shirts and old water bottles. Currently, we have instructions for three types of toys can be made:

• The Braid
• The Crunch
• The Plushie

Instructions are on our website and Instagram. Project Canis is a nonprofit; if I am candid, we are not worried about making money. Like one of the comments said, we make toys out of recycled materials, so our cost is very minimal, and the toys are donated. We get the toys from organizations or families, and we would not charge the shelters for the toys because they will be donations from us. We are planning on using PayPal to get donations so we can jump-start the business. We need funds for paperwork and legal matters like registering Project Canis as a nonprofit. 

Venture Concept:

Since we are donating the toys to shelters, our consumers (shelters) will not have to switch to our product. However, I do think that people will want to help and volunteer. Especially now, during the pandemic, people can volunteer by making toys from the comfort of their homes. However, we still need organizations and other volunteers to become aware of the nonprofit. Making toys is an easy way to help organizations in need, and it minimizes everyone's carbon footprint, and that is why I think people will want to participate.

Since we are a nonprofit, any other organizations making donations to shelters would not be seen as competition. If anything, other organizations are our competitors' in terms of getting volunteers. Since the toys are made of recycled materials, the packaging does not matter. In terms of delivery, Project Canis has to make sure that the toys come when promised. Shelters depend on the toys for animal welfare. Volunteer experience is essential because we want them to continue making toys. We also need a good relationship with shelters because they can spread awareness of our cause.

Our organization has seven directors. The positions are executive director, finance director, operations director, outreach director, fundraising director, marketing director, and program director. Each director has a specific job that they have to do within the nonprofit. For example, my position is the outreach director. My responsibility is to reach out to volunteers and donors, build relationships with them, and get new people involved in the organization.

Three elements:

1. Our most valuable resource is the combination of all seven directors. No one can recreate our past relationships with other shelters and nonprofits and our experience dealing with nonprofits, marketing, fundraising, outreach, etc.

2. I think the next opportunity is to figure out more toy designs geared towards cats. While cats can use the toys made now, they are mostly marketed towards dogs.

3. In the next few years, I hope to have project Canis be established in Gainesville, have a steady stream of volunteers and donations being provided. My future hope is to spread Project Canis' mission outside of Gainesville and maybe in other college towns.

If you guys would like to find out more about Project Canis, go to our website or Instagram!

Website: https://projectcanis.weebly.com/

Instagram: @theprojectcanis

Feedback:

All the feedback I received was positive. But I wanted to make clear that the reason for Project Canis' being is not to make money but to give toys to animals and shelters in Florida. Plus, the money received will be used to jumpstart the business. So I made sure to state that in my document explicitly. On my "What's Next post," the comments mentioned that they liked having toys created for cats, so I wrote that in my three elements instead of looking for durable toys. That way, when people volunteer, they can make toys based on which animal they prefer. I think this a better next step. 

Reference:

Sarah Gilley. (2020, July 31) Just surpassed 700 ADOPTIONS since the beginning of quarantine!!! Adoptions have been foster fails or one-on-one appointments, no large events or visiting hours, which makes this number even more amazing! [Facebook Update] Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3776356852381212&set=a.383229108360687&type=3&theater

27A – Reading Reflection No. 3

COCO CHANEL

An Intimate Life

By Lisa Chaney

Before reading this book, I did not know much about where the brand Coco Chanel came from. I was astonished to learn that Gabrielle Chanel, the creator, had such a troubling childhood. At a young age, she and her siblings were abandoned. Their mother died while they were still relatively young, their father never returning or keeping in contact with his children. The rest of her family not really taking responsibility for the children after her mother's death. Soon Gabrielle and her sisters were brought to an orphanage to grow up. Even when her mother was alive, Gabrielle was neglected and seen as the bad "egg."  Her mother is too busy running after Gabrielle's father and too sick to adequately take care of her children. Her childhood had a lot of effect on her work in the future and how she carried herself. I just did not expect such a tragedy for the youth behind such a successful and influential brand. 

What did I most admire?

Her unconventional come up. First off, as I mentioned before, she came from an awful background. Not much family or wealth. It is hard to move through social classes, especially in her time and as a woman. Secondly, everything she did was deemed as unconventional. Her living with men as a mistress unmarried, working, how she dressed, never getting married, and so on. She paved her own path and followed it, no matter the hurt it brought her. I admire this because sometimes we are taught not to question the status quo and do as told. Gabrielle is an example that without new ideas and walking an original path, lives stay stagnant. 

What did I least admire?

It felt though at times that Gabrielle didn't let herself get into deep relationships with many people and as if she kept most of them at arm's length. She sometimes came off as cold and distant, like she did not enjoy being around very many people. While throughout the book, Gabrielle had many relationships, most of them, to me, felt surface level with a few exceptions. 

Adversity? 

Gabrielle met adversity early on in her life. She had no real upbringing and love from her parents, she was abandoned at a young age. How she was brought up had a direct effect on a lot of her insecurities, her actions, and relationships. The way she dealt with it was by working hard on her artwork, having affairs, and always trying to become more renowned. 

What were the competencies?

One of her competencies was just her view of the world. The way she looked at the world was just different from those around her. She saw opportunities in areas that others saw nothing. She was always looking forward and looking for new modern ideas without trying to attack the culture she was in. 

What part confused me?

The part of the book that confused me the most was just all the different people in the book. The book often switched back and forth between the story of Gabrielle Chanel and the people she would become acquainted with. It was sometimes hard to keep up with who did what and why they were essential in the story of Coco Chanel. 

What two questions would you ask?

1. Do you think that your childhood had a large impact on your craft and how built relationships? It would be interesting to hear her opinion as many artists say that their work comes from their experiences. It makes me wonder if that extends to fashion. 

2. If there is anything related to how you ran your business that you would do differently? There are many aspects to how her brand was started, sometimes we have regrets or thoughts on how we can do better next time. 

The entrepreneur's opinion of hard work:

 I would argue that Gabrielle Chanel believes that hard work is essential but can be fun when you do what you love. Throughout the book, Chanel only seemed to pick up speed and increase her load work. She was always on the go, to me, she seemed to get a rush out of hard work. After all, hard work (with some help) is what changed her life forever. She was no longer just the poor orphaned girl but a force to be reckoned with. Hard-work gave her freedom in a world where women didn't have that very often. Working hard also seemed to be an outlet for her during times of great peril in her personal life. 

28A – Your Exit Strategy

The organization that I am a part of is a non-profit, so selling it does not seem feasible. I think everyone in the organization, and I would likely stay with the business until we feel like we have done everything possible with the non-profit and that it is time for a new vision or direction for the organization that we can foresee.

I selected this strategy because I think it fits with what the organization stands for. The non-profit, to me, is there to help shelter animals and the environment by making pet toys out of old materials such as T-shirts. When I can no longer further the mission or grow the company, someone who has the same passion for animal welfare can push the non-profit to the next chapter.

Most of the decisions that I made we mostly based on what the organization stands for and what it tries to accomplish. The exit strategy was not really something that heavily influenced the decision I made throughout this course. As for growth intentions, the organization needs to be successful and established enough with its mission for someone to want to take over and continue providing animals with homemade toys.

26A – Celebrating Failure

At the beginning of this semester, I applied to a leadership position in an organization. I worked on my resume, answered questions, and interviewed over zoom. A couple of days, I received the email that they appreciated me wanting to be more involved in the organization but that they could not give me the position. I was honestly devastated because I wanted to be more involved than I already was.

So from the failure, I realized that I could be more prepared when it comes to interviewing and make my resume more visually appealing. Before this experience, I have never really interviewed much before, so how to be carrying yourself and answering questions was pretty new to me. Now, I look up and become familiar with the organization that I am applying too before each interview. I write down potential questions that the interviewers may ask and write how I would like to respond. This ensures that I can think on my feet, and I say what I mean. Lastly, I always write down at least three questions that I want to ask. Doing all this preparation makes me feel more confident going into an interview.

 On an individual level, I can be tough on myself, so I did not have a good relationship with failure. When I didn’t get the position I wanted or the grade I wanted, I always thought that maybe I was just not good enough. I want to avoid failure at all costs and succeed, but those expectations are unrealistic. For example, during my first semester as a college Freshman, I failed the first exam I ever took. I saw that grade and thought to myself that I was not college material.  What this class and college, in general, have taught me is that it is okay to fail; it is excellent to fail at something. Failure in itself isn’t the end. It is a moment for growth and learning. Failure can be motivational and push you to try even harder than before. When I failed the exam, I completely changed my study habits and went to the professors for advice. I ended the class with an A. A life without failure means that we stay stagnant and don’t grow, which in the end is boring.

25A – What’s Next?

Existing Market:

I think what is next in terms of products for my venture is maybe focus on making homemade cat toys. While the toy design we have now may interest cats, they are mostly geared toward dogs. So the next step is to research and design a toy that will be geared towards cats.

All three of the customers that I asked all mentioned having more toy designs further on. However, they still need to be relatively easy to make if we want organizations and families to make homemade toys. They also suggested making direction videos of how to make the toys so people could read the directions and follow along in a video. I asked them about moving into more cat-related toys to donate, and they liked that idea. But they specifically wanted more dog toys because of those last a shorter amount of time than cat toys.

I think, for now, we will launch with only a couple of designs, but as we hopefully gain more traction, we can expand the homemade toy line. I think, for now, the non-profit will focus on donating toys in the surrounding shelters in Alachua county and focus on getting volunteers directly from Gainesville. First, build up a relationship with the shelters and people here before moving on.

Once we have built some success in the local area, we can donate more to other shelters around Florida. In addition to giving more toys, hopefully, we can spread our message outside of Gainesville and have people make homemade toys all around Florida. Once we are more established then we will begin to implement new toy designs. 

New Market:

Since the market I am targeting is animal shelters and making toys specifically for animals, it is hard to come up with a radically new market. Maybe instead of targeting animal shelters, the non-profit could focus on donating the toys to lower-income families with animals. Those families that perhaps cannot always afford to continue to purchase new toys for their pets but want too.

Our toys will provide value to them because it will help with taking care of their animals. Most people regard their cat, dog, or other pets as their family, so not providing them with the necessary stimulation can be heartbreaking.

The two people that I interviewed liked the idea of the non-profit but suggested that animal shelters would be the better market to target. While they would appreciate the donations, both felt as though they took the responsibility of providing for their pet, and therefore they should purchase the toys. Also, most of their animals still have old toys that they play with.

Reflection:

I wasn’t surprised by their answers. To me, it was a longshot anyway. While these people may need toys, they want to be able to provide it on their own. The beauty of shelters is that there will always be animals incoming and a shortage of toys. With families, those toys may not go as quickly, depending on the pet they may have.

Because of that reason, I do not believe that this market is attractive. They do not have the same urgency and constant need that shelter has. Plus, shelters depend mainly on donations and typically don’t have a lot of extra income to spend. Lastly, since the toys are homemade and constructed using old material, they could make the toys if they wanted too, while shelter volunteers and workers do not have the time.

24A – Venture Concept No. 1

Project Canis 

This is one example of homemade toys: the plushie. 

Opportunity:

Project Canis is a non-profit organization. ​Project Canis' mission is to help shelter animals by giving them toys made out of recycled materials. We provide the instructions and other organizations or families help by making homemade toys from old material like t-shirts and plastic bottles. The toys are donated to Project Canis, and then our organization sends them to shelters in need across Florida. The people who have the need are animal shelters. The specific nature of the urgency stems from the constant replenishing of toys and new animals coming in. Toys are costly to keep up with and typically don't last long. Most of the donations received go directly into vet care, food, water, and shelter. However, toys are essential for animals' wellbeing, especially in shelters.

I would say the forces of the environment right now that make the need more profound than usual is kitten season. Every year around this time, shelter's intake of kittens' skyrocket. More kittens mean that more resources must be spent on critical things like vet care, especially for stray kittens. However, once the season is over, shelters will continue to need toys for their animals. This market is defined geographically. Each county has at least one animals shelter typically.

Shelter's specifically are fulfilling their need by purchasing toys themselves or are waiting for toy donations. They will always stay loyal to getting toys, but there is no brand of toys that they prefer or only stick too. I think this opportunity is significant and ever-growing. I believe this opportunity will last; shelters will always need extra toys, which are easy to make and reuse.

Innovation:

The products are dog toys made up of old materials that most people have to lie around their houses. Three types of toys can be made:

• The Braid
• The Crunch
• The Plushie

Organizations or families can find the instructions of the toys and make them on the Project Canis website or Instagram. Typically, a person can use old t-shirts or blankets that they are no longer using to make the toys.

We are a non-profit; the way we make money is purely based on donations. We get the toys from organizations or families, and we would not charge the shelters for the toys because they will be donations from us. We are planning on using PayPal to get donations.

Venture Concept:

We solve the issue of not having enough toys for animal shelters by providing homemade toys that can easily be reused and disposed of once they are damaged. We would donate the toys, so the shelters would not pay for it. However, we still need to motivate organizations and other volunteers to make these toys so we can donate them to the shelters. I think people will be willing to make the toys because they want to help animal shelters; however, due to COVID-19 shelters and other rescues have been minimizing their number of volunteers. Making toys is an easy and cheap way to help organizations in need, and that is why I think people will want to participate.

 

Animal shelters would not have to switch to anything since they always take donations whenever they can get it. Since we are a non-profit, any other organizations making donations to shelters would not be seen as competition. If I were to make an assumption, other non-profits in our area are technically our competitors. We are competing for donations and volunteers.  I do not know what their possible weaknesses are. Since the toys are homemade, the packaging does not matter. However, we need to ensure that delivery is timely and comes when it is promised. Customer experience is essential. We want our volunteers to have a stress free and fun time so that they continue donating. We also need a good relationship with shelters because they can spread awareness of our cause. The business location does not matter at the moment.

Our organization right now is set up through seven directors. The positions are executive director, finance director, operations director, outreach director, fundraising director, marketing director, and program director.  Each director has a specific job that they have to do within the company.

The Three minor elements:

1. I think what will make it hard for competitors to copy our success are the directors. Combined, I believe we have extreme social capital and knowledge about animal welfare that would be hard to copy from us. Some have years' worth of relationships with other humane societies and organizations willing to help.
2. The next step would be to figure out another toy that is a little more chew resistant than the three we have now. That way, the toys can last the shelters extra-long as opposed to a couple of weeks.
3. In the next five years, I would love for the non-profit to be a little more established in Gainesville and other shelters around Florida. Hopefully, we don't have any trouble finding people to volunteer for us so we can continue to provide toys to animals in need.

23A – Your Venture’s Unfair Advantage

1. Human capital: My experience working with shelters

• V: Yes, knowing how shelters work is essential when donating toys. Specifically, home-made toys. We have to ensure they are safe to use.
• R: No, a lot of people volunteer at shelters
• I: Yes, it easy to hire someone with that kind of volunteer experience or go yourself. 
• N:  it is non-substitutional; there is nothing like seeing firsthand how these shelter animals live. It is extremely motivating

2. Social capital: Current relationship with the humane society

• V: Yes, having direct contact with one humane society could lead to good word-of-mouth to other humane societies and shelters
• R: No, anyone who fosters, or volunteers can have a relationship with the humane society
• I: Yes, going to talk or volunteer even donating can spark a positive relationship
• N: it is non-substitutional; having a stable relationship built prior is essential. They already know me and my values. There is nothing else that can take that place. 

3. Human capital: Experience in fundraising and outreach

• V: yes, as an outreach director for a new non-profit, I must know how to reach out, not potential donors or people that are interested in volunteering.
• R: No, again you can hire someone with the same experience as me
• I: Yes, there are many people with experience in fundraising
• N: It is non-substitutional. Experience in outreach is relevant because it has a big learning curve. Knowing how to reach out to people and be personable is hard to effectively. There is no other way to fundraise. 

4. Human capital: GEB3213, taught me how to write, useful emails related to outreach

• V: Yes, sometimes, when reaching out, it is done through email. Cohesive and persuasive writing is a must.
• R: No, most UF people can take the same course or take a seminar on business writing
• I: Yes, hire someone who writes efficiently
• N: it is substitutional, I think writing is outstanding but there are templates regarding how to draft emails

5. Social capital: connections to Greek Life

• V: Yes, Greek life prides themselves on their philanthropy. Project Canis deals with volunteers, which ties into philanthropy.
• R: No, Greek life is prominent at UF.
• I: Yes, join or hire someone in Greek life
• N: substitutional, there are other significant organizations on-campus that could be interesting volunteering. 

6. Financial capital: I have the saving account that I can use

• V: Yes
• R: Yes, at my age, at least. I was lucky enough that my parents started a saving account since I was a baby
• I: Yes
• N: it is substitutional, we are a non-profit for the most part we will depend on donations

7. Social capital: I have a connection to Donors through Relay for Life

• V: yes, I have a relationship with some willing donors
• R: No
• I: yes, any club that raises money has connections to large donors
• N: it is not substitutional, large donors are important and there is nothing quite like it 

8. Human capital: good at design and layout for letters and flyers

• V: yes, knowing home to make eye-catching flyers and letters are important
• R: no, most people can edit photos and design
• I: yes
• N:  it is substitutional, there are other ways you can do outreach. Like through email or face-to-face conversations. 

9. Human capital: experience planning volunteer events

• V: yes
• R: No, a lot of people have experience planning events through work or clubs
• I: yes
• N: it is not substitutional; event planning is essential. You want everyone to have a good time, therefore, spreading positive information about the organization.   

10. Social capital: my grandpa used to work for UF and still has connections to some individuals

• V: yes, having links to UF people can help make our organization more of a staple at UF
• R: I would say yes, my grandfather has some close relationships with some influential people at UF that not everyone has.
• I: No, it is hard to have the same personal relationships that my grandfather has. It is years of friendship
• N: it is not substitutional, no one relationship is the same especially of this caliber.

I think that number 10 is the most important. All the other numbers I wrote about are not rare and mostly inimitable. Having those deep connections and relationships is hard to come by and also hard to copy. If Project Canis wants to do well at UF, we have to ensure that people know about it. Therefore my grandpa being able to mention to his friends is essential. 

21A – Reading Reflection No. 2

"How to Fail at Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of my Life" by Scott Adams

1. The general theme of the book was that everyone should embrace failure and screwing things up. In the book, the author discusses the idea that we, as people, should focus on systems rather than having goals. Goals look at the end product, and if we don’t get that end product fast enough, we get discouraged. We should look at the world in terms of systems. A system is something that a person regularly does that will lead to a better you. Adams believes that people who use their systems will almost always succeed. This ties into failure in a way that failure makes our system more refined. There are many things we can do to make our system more likely for success. In this book, Adams discussed other things we can do to have more success like practicing public speaking, overcoming shyness, using affirmations, exercising, etc.  

2. This book ties into the idea of opportunities. While Adams failed at a lot of things through life, each failure gave him knowledge into his own capabilities. Learning about skills and failure often leads to opportunities that otherwise would not have occurred. Opportunities came in several forms maybe a job or another business idea. These opportunities sometimes caused failure again or were successful, but each time he learned more and sought other opportunities.  

3. If I had to design an exercise based on the book, it would involve looking at our past failures and what we learned. The author spends pages 17 to 27 discussing all the things he tried and failed at. Each time he failed, he looked at what caused this endeavor not to go as he wanted. Sometimes it was just based on the fact that he did not make the right decisions or didn’t know much about the topic. Overall, he was proud of his failures because it made him who he is today. The exercise that I would develop is that students have to look at their past shortcomings and pick four notable ones. It could be not doing well in class or not getting an internship and so forth. In the assignment, they discuss the failure: what it was, why they think it occurred, and what they learned. Failure can be uncomfortable for many to admit and can be embarrassing. But this book shows that everyone should embrace failure and not be ashamed of it. Failure can be the best teacher and provides the necessary experiences.

4. My ‘aha’ moment occurred on page 96. This section was titled “The Success Formula: Every Skill you Acquire Doubles your Odds of Success.” The formula discussed in this passage was: 

good + good > excellent. Adams argues that you raise your marker share more by being just good at a lot of things rather than being excellent at minimal things. Sometimes it is better to be good at complementary skills. If you become good at every skill you acquire, not excellent, then you double your odds at success. 

22A – Elevator Pitch No. 3

Reflection:

Everyone really liked that I added statistics to my last pitch. Since I shifted to a different organization late into the semester, I tried to tie the comments that I received from my previous two pitches into the new one. I made sure to add statistics into this pitch as well, as one of the commenters stated it makes my pitch seem more informed and be more reliable. One commenter also stated that my second pitch had a great deal of ethos, I tried to recreate that in my third pitch. I tried to connect my experiences working in animal shelters back into my pitch. 

What changed:

I rewrote and presented an entirely new pitch that I thought would be more beneficial for me outside of this class. This is the biggest factor that I changed. 

Since I have a whole new pitch, I haven’t been able to memorize it like the other two presentations; however, I can attest that I am more comfortable in front of the camera and no longer get anxious thinking about this assignment or doing something similar to this. I think my pitches have improved, and I have a better idea of what is essential to add and what isn’t.  

All statistics come from the Humane Society of The United States and were found from the following link

https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/pets-numbers

20A – Growing Your Social Capital

I am switching gears a little for this assignment. One of my friends started a non-profit, Project Canis, and I am the outreach director. I am going to look at this assignment from that business standpoint as it will benefit me more. To give some background, Project Canis' mission is to help animals in shelters by giving them toys made out of recycled materials. Organizations can help by making their homemade pet toys with the instructions provided by us. Organizations send the toys to us, and we will make sure they go to animal shelters across Florida.

Part 1:

For part one, I talked to the Humane Society volunteer coordinator that I used to work for. As a volunteer coordinator, she has to recruit and work with all the single or group volunteers. She has to train new volunteers on the expectations and procedures that the humane society wants to uphold. The humane society has different areas where people can volunteer: adoption events and at the shelter itself. She has to ensure that volunteers at adoption events show up on time and know-how to crate, walk, and sell them to potential adopters. At the shelters, volunteers are expected to care and entertain the cats and dogs. She is the domain expert since she is well versed in non-profits concerning animal welfare.

I found the person when I was volunteering at the shelter when I was in high school. I used to go there quite often and help with taking care of the animals. I still follow their page on Facebook, so I looked at the Facebook page, contacted her, and reminded her of where she knew me.

I went to the organization when I was back home and talked to her about the non-profit that I was a part of. My friend had made a business plan regarding the non-profit, so I showed the project to her and discussed what some of our future ideas were. The nature of the exchange was friendly and comfortable. I think it helped that she already knew a little about me from high school. She did me a favor by just listening to the plan. As the outreach director, it is my responsibility to get people to donate their homemade toys. She gave me advice and tips on how to reach out to other organizations. I think the return expectation was to continue working for animal welfare, whether for her organization or others. 

Knowing the volunteer coordinator at a humane society might help me connect with other shelters in the state. Since Project Canis sends toys to shelters, they must trust us. Having the volunteer coordinator vouch for us could be a huge help.

Part 2:

For part 2, I contacted an officer in a club that I was a part of my Sophomore year of college. As a club officer, she had to influence other college students to participate in the meetings. Get students involved with volunteer projects that occurred off-campus and fundraising events. She also has to reach out to students, other organizations, and businesses to persuade them to donate money for Relay for Life. She would be the market expert since she knows what it takes to get college students involved in an organization.

I found this person last semester as I am part of Relay for Life. I recently just applied to be part of the club's sponsorship team, and that is how I got to know her a little more. I am in a group chat with her and other members of the sponsorship team.

The exchange was awkward at first but became comfortable relatively quickly. She gave me advice on how to reach out to organizations and convince students to be involved with what Project Canis is trying to do. She mentioned that they have an email template that they send out. I didn't feel like she was expecting anything from me at that moment. It is beneficial knowing how this organization reaches out and gets people involved.

Part 3:

Project Canis makes toys from recycled materials, that is old clothes. The person I contacted for this was one of my mom's friends who owns a consignment store. People donate old clothes to her, and she sells them for a discounted price. She would be fulfilling the supplier domain. 

I found this person through my mom. My mom works with the owner of the consignment store. My mom told her about my organization and the class I was taking. This is how I came into contact with her.

The exchange was easy-going, I met her before when I was visiting my mom at work, and I have even been to her consignment store a couple of times. She knew a lot about me, mostly because of my mom, so the initial awkwardness of knowing someone was over quickly. She was kind and funny, so the conversation was easy. If I were to guess, the expectation was to give positive feedback about her and her business to others, tell them how helpful she was. Knowing her means that my organization can get used clothes for the toys if no one donates it themselves, maybe at an even more discounted rate.

Reflection:

I think this experience showed me that sometimes just talking to people without any expectations for something initially is essential. Building up the rapport, letting them get to know your abilities, knowledge, and values. Build a relationship and get to know them. When you ask for a favor, they are likely to comply since they value you. I felt this networking experience was less pressure when you are networking with a recruiter. It is sometimes challenging to let loose.

19A – Idea Napkin No. 2

You: As mentioned in the first assignment, I am a general business major with a specialization in international business. On the personal side, assignment 16A gave me some more insight into what I am good at. Because I moved around a lot, I am incredibly adaptable. I am not afraid of change and doing things differently if the first solution doesn’t work. I also learned from my friends and family that I go out of my way to make people comfortable and build relationships with people. I also work to be a good listener. One of my friends mentioned that I remember small details of what people have said to me, I believe this ties back into being an active listener. My skills and experiences come from volunteering and fostering. These experiences taught me to work in teams and customer service. As for aspirations, I aspire to get my masters and hopefully go to law school. If I were to start my business concept, I would focus most of my available time working and implementing my ideas.

What are you offering to Customers? I am offering an app that students can use to find parking on campus. When students open the app, all they have to do is place their intended destination, and the app will tell them of any available spots and let them know what the traffic is like at that time. Students can opt-in to get notifications of any new places opening in the area.

Who are you offering it to? The app targets college students with cars. The market falls into three categories:

• On-campus: The students are between the ages of 18 to 22. They are unmarried and have no children. Their salary comes either from their family, their jobs, scholarships, or student loans. The students can rely on more than one source of income. They are moderately involved on and off-campus in addition to being a good student. They are somewhat involved because having freshmen in the market, they are new to the campus and are still trying to find their way around. They value time-management and free-time when they can get it. On-campus students that have a car likely use to shop, hang out with friends (off-campus), work, or go home.
• Off-campus: These students are around 20 to 24; this includes both undergraduates and graduates. Their salary likely comes from parents, student loans, and their part-time job/internship. They are highly involved on campus and have interned or are currently interning. They are likely not to be married or have children, although it is a possibility. Off-campus students use their car to get to campus, their jobs, shopping, to hang out with friends, and to go home.
• Similarities: Their similarities are that both want to find the easiest and quickest to any problem that they have. During college, everything seems to move at a rapid pace that needs to include any app that they use.

Why do they care?  College students value time. They are focusing on so many things, whether its relationships, work, school, extracurriculars, and athletics; college students look for other things in their lives that could be simplified. If an app for parking gives them the chance to sleep in even a couple of minutes, they will take it.

Core Competencies: Firstly, I know the pain these students are going through because I am in the same position. Alternatives like the bus are unreliable, or decals are costly and ineffective. Also, I am around the people I am targeting, I have heard their complaints firsthand; this ensures that I know what my target market needs are.

Evaluation:

Almost everything fits together. I know that there is a need on campus on an effective strategy for finding parking. The app is easy and quick enough to adapt, and it is on their smartphone, which almost every student has. There may be a slight learning curve on how to utilize the app but not big enough to turn people off. One of my problems was figuring out how I would generate revenue from the app since I will not be charging for usage. Many in my group suggested selling ad space for the time being in their feedback. They also indicated that if that app is successful enough, that university may back it up and expand to include off-campus places like bars and clubs. The last problem I had was figuring out how to gain intel needed to inform students of available parking. The feedback the students gave was hiring or recruiting someone who knows how to develop an app, and that code it in a way that the app will work.

Feedback memo:

1. The first point I took away was that there are several ways that someone can generate income. Selling Ad space allows me to keep the app free but still have money to update and better the app. And if successful enough and the university sees potential in utilizing the app, that could become a new source of income.
2. The second point that I took away from the feedback was that there is no shame in not knowing everything. I have absolutely no background in programming or in developing an app; it is okay to ask for help and advice for areas that you are unsure of.

I incorporated these ideas into my evaluation to show how my concept was fitting together and making sense.  

18A – Create a Customer Avatar

https://twitter.com/NewUFGators/status/1243651246751469574/photo/1 

My customer avatar would consist of college (specifically at the University of Florida)  students between the ages of 18-24.

Free Time:

I imagine that my customers spend a lot of time supporting the Florida Gators through attending sports events like football in the fall, basketball, baseball, etc. Since they are college students, I imagine that they love to go tailgating during football season and to go to the bars at night with their friends. If they are not studying, their free time is spent going to the gym, coffee shops, or hanging out in their dorms/apartments.  They spend a lot of time on social media apps like Twitter and Instagram (maybe even TikTok). They don't watch a lot of cable TV. They most likely watch shows on Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, and even YouTube.  They will consume this media either from their phone or on a laptop. I think a lot of college students watch traditional shows like "The Office" and "Game of Thrones" or they like reality TV like "The Bachelor."

School:

My customers are most likely heavily involved around campus. They are probably involved in Dance Marathon or March of Dimes is some fashion. Since Greek life is a pretty big part of this campus, the customer may be part of a fraternity or sorority. They have interned or are planning on interning in the future. On average, the student attends their classes regularly and do their homework. According to Megan G. Oprea, a senior contributor to The Federalist, students spend "only 2.76 hours a day on education-related activities. This includes both class time and studying, for an average of 19.3 hours every week." (Oprea, 2016) The article indicates that students are spending less time focusing on their courses than their credit hours demand. (Oprea, 2016) However, I expect that the time spent studying for classes is a little higher at the University of Florida because of the school's pride in being a top 7 public university.

Homelife:

I expect my avatar to either live on-campus or in an apartment. They get their income from four sources: parents, scholarships, loans, or a part-time job. Most of the students have a car; their model depends on their parents' wealth and whether they bought the vehicle themselves. They are not married. It is unlikely that they have children. However, if they do have children, they will only have one young kid.

Final questions:

I have a lot in common with my avatar since I am a college student at the University of Florida, so it is definitely not a coincidence. Many of the things that my avatars do and how they consume media are similar to what I do. Their study habits and their involvement is related to my experiences on campus.

Citation:

Oprea, M. (2016, September 12). Study: College Students Spend Far More Time Playing Than Studying. Retrieved July 1, 2020, from https://thefederalist.com/2016/09/11/study-college-students-spend-far-time-playing-studying/#:~:text=This includes both class time,(24.9 hours per week).

 

17A – Elevator Pitch No. 2

Reflection:

There were two pieces of feedback that I thought was really valuable was adding statistics and telling the audience how the app would make money. Statistics can really make a pitch, adding numbers to the presentation grabs the audiences the attention. It brings the pitch to the real world and adds credibility to what I am trying to say. The feedback was to add a statistic to prove that there is a problem or an opportunity with parking on campus. The second piece of feedback that I got was adding how the app is going to make money. It is important to show how my idea is going to pay for itself. This was something that completely slipped my mind.

What I changed:

I kept most of my pitch the same and added some more information based on the feedback that I received. I kept the storytelling aspect the same in the beginning because I got positive feedback on it. I added two stats into my pitch to back story to show that parking is an actual problem that students feel. I also added a sentence on how the app would make money, that way they don’t have any questions about revenue.

16A –What’s Your Secret Sauce?

Five ways in which I have different human capital:

1. I am incredibly hardworking. When I have a goal or idea in mind, I won't stop until that idea is finalized or my goal is reached. There are times when all I do is work on my goals and nothing else.

2. I adapt well to new situations. Growing up, I moved around a lot, so I had to adjust to new conditions. Being able to adapt quickly has helped me deal with projects that don't go as planned.

3. I work well in teams. I have worked in a lot of teams in high school and even now. I have learned how to interact with individuals with different perspectives and goals in addition to dealing with conflict when it does arise.

4. I believe that I am incredibly dependable. If I promise I am going to do it, I will always do it and do it well. I want people to know that I will always do what is asked of me on time and exceptionally well. There is nothing worse than having to redo a section because someone didn't place any effort into it.

5. I try to be a good listener. I realize that to be a communicator, you must be a good listener first. It is the foundation of an excellent communicator. So I try to listen to understand what an individual is saying instead of looking to talk.   

Five interviews and key takeaways:

Katelyn:  

https://soundcloud.com/taylor-carlson-680117206/katelyn

Katelyn and I had several classes fall semester and have remained close friends since. The critical thing she mentioned was that I can make people feel comfortable and that I try to get along with everyone. She stated that I am organized and hardworking, explicitly stating that I go out of my way to work ahead.

Daphne:

https://soundcloud.com/taylor-carlson-680117206/daphne

Daphne was my Freshman year roommate and has become one of my closest friends at UF. Daphne mentioned in the interview that I am always working towards and for what I am passionate about. She stated that I am extremely hardworking, and on top of things that I try to come up with creative solutions for problems. 

 

Hannah:

https://soundcloud.com/taylor-carlson-680117206/hannah

Hannah was another one of Freshman roommates and one of my best friends. Hannah's critical things mentioned in the interview were extremely detail-oriented in my work tasks and day-to-day tasks. She stated that I remember small details that people say to me, which makes me a good friend. Lastly, she mentioned I have a strong sense of what is right and wrong.

Dad:

https://soundcloud.com/taylor-carlson-680117206/dad

The key takeaway from this interview was that my growing up and being educated in another country has allowed me to have a diverse view of cultures. This experience has allowed me to have an open mind when it comes to situations and people.

Aéja:

https://soundcloud.com/taylor-carlson-680117206/aeja

Aéja is a member of the same sorority as I am. My main takeaway from this interview was that I am passionate about the things I love, like my significant and animal welfare. I am extremely focused on the things I love, as well.

Reflection:

One common theme from how I perceive myself and what the people closest to me said was that I am hardworking. Almost all of them mentioned that I am always working to ensure that my tasks get done on time and doing them well. Some of the comments like still working ahead and being on top of my workload ties back into me being dependable. My dad's comment on me growing up in Europe goes back to the idea that I am adaptable. Hannah mentioned the fact that I remember small details of what people say, which ties into me actively working to be a good listener. One thing that surprised me was the comments about me going out of my way to make people comfortable. I never realized that was something that stuck out about me. If I were to go back to my initial list, I would add that I am friendly and easy-going. I think overall, my friends' and families' opinions of me aligned with how I perceive myself. 

15A – Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 2

Opportunity: app for finding parking on campus

Alternative Evaluation:

The three individuals I interviewed were college students at the University of Florida. From the previous behavior assignment, there were three alternatives to solve their problem: buy a parking decal, ride the bus, or the app. All three of the people interviewed valued ease of travel, which was the most natural thing they could do. Two out of the three also valued something trustworthy and dependable. One individual mentioned the bus app as an example; the Rider app sometimes is inaccurate when detailing the arrival time, and sometimes the app even indicates that there are no buses available even when there are. When looking for a parking solution, they didn't want to pay much money if they didn't have too. Two out of the three interviewed mentioned that they always go with the cheapest or free alternative first. All three expressly indicated that an app has to be is easy to use and navigate.  If they find it too complicated, they will delete it and look for another option.

How/where do they buy:

For both the apps and the decal, if they were willing to spend money, they would go online for the transaction. The sticker would go to the UF Transportation and Parking Services and use their or their parents' credit/debit card. As for the app, if they had to pay to use the app, they would also use a credit/debit card. All three mentioned, they would not focus on in-person transactions. 

Post-purchase behavior:

All three mentioned that they evaluate all alternatives based on the amount of stress caused and ease of traveling. If they were using one of the other options, and they were late, or they were pressed on time, they would likely look at another solution. They would ask the question: did this particular app solve the problems? As for the decal, they would see if they found parking more frequently and compare it with the price paid for the sticker.

Conclusion:

 I knew to go into these interviews that these individuals would be extremely priced sensitive. They would be unlikely to pay a lot of money to fix this solution. They care more about time management and being relatively stress-free. If a product gives that to them, they are likely to utilize it. The segment is looking for a quick, easy, and cheap alternative pretty much. 

14A – Halfway Reflection

Photo by Ivan Bertolazzi

Tenaciousness is a competency. One of the behaviors I have used for this course is time management. We have three assignments that are due at the end of the week and videos to watch. I had to ensure that I gave myself enough time to finish these tasks well. Another behavior that I used during this class was communication skills; having to interview and post peer reviews requires me to connect with individuals genuinely. The behavior that I developed was out of the box thinking. When I made the bugs lists, initially, it was hard because I never looked at the world in search of opportunities. However, after many assignments, I’ve begun to look at my surroundings differently.

Tenaciousness is also about attitude. A moment that I felt like giving up was when we had to film our elevator pitch. It’s something that I initially was uncomfortable doing, to the point I debated even doing the assignment. One of my reasons for taking this class was to push myself and learn a new set of skills, that ideology is what pulled me through. It would be a waste of an opportunity if I didn’t even attempt it. I believe that I developed a tenacious attitude. The feedback that I received from my peers was a contributing factor; they always encouraged my ideas and helped me flesh out my thoughts. Their feedback helped be determined about my design.

Three tips.

1. When interviewing individuals, don’t be afraid to ask people that you think may not be interested in your product or service. The individuals can give you great insight into better your idea, or they might surprise you and be responsive. Either way, interviewing these hard to reach people might give you great information.

2. Don’t take criticism as an insult. Just because someone might not see or share your vision does not mean you should dismiss their advice. There is a chance that their ideas can also elevate your initial thought. That said, you should have confidence in your plan and stand by it.

3. Have fun with it. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box and be innovative. Sometimes a simple opportunity requires a creative solution. So if your first idea doesn’t fit the occasion, don’t be afraid to continue brainstorming an innovative solution.     

13A – Reading Reflection No. 1

"Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald's" by Ray Kroc with Robert Anderson

What surprised me the most:

What surprised me the most about how McDonald's came to be was how Ray Kroc came up in the world. I was surprised to read that he never received his high school diploma, Kroc dropped out his Sophomore year. (Kroc & Anderson, p. 13) You always hear the phrase that school isn't for everyone, and getting a proper education isn't always an indicator of success. Ray Kroc is the perfect example of that. School was boring to him, and he felt like he wasn't advancing while being there. (Kroc & Anderson, p. 13) He was more interested in being on the frontline where he could be part of the action. "Books bored" him. (Kroc & Anderson, p. 11) It surprised me to read that the person behind McDonald's widespread success wasn't someone with a business degree but someone with years of sales under their belt with a deep understanding of customers. 

What I admired the most:

Ray Kroc always made sure to think about his customers. It was a recurring theme throughout the biography from his time as a successful salesman to the founder of McDonald's. As a salesman, he would focus on the customer's needs and alter his pitch based on them. As Kroc stated, "No self-respecting pitcher throws the same way to every batter, and no self-respecting salesman makes the same pitch to every client." (Kroc & Anderson, p. 15) Kroc never forced sales on individuals when he knew that they were in financial trouble or they didn't require his products. Kroc held an appealing ideology. If Kroc couldn't sell a customer on his product by ensuring an increase in sales, he felt that he wasn't doing his job well. (Kroc & Anderson, p. 25) I admired this because salespeople get the reputation that they are willing to say anything to make a deal. It is refreshing to hear that Kroc didn't deceive or force his products on unwilling customers, even at his expense. 

What I admired least:

There were times when I was reading that I thought Kroc's ego got in the way. Kroc knew that he was skilled in many areas and successful, sometimes that knowledge led him to be extremely boastful. For example, during the Great Depression, Kroc worked for a paper cup company known as Lily-Tulip Cup Company. Kroc was the best salesman, he brought in many large accounts for the company, but due to depression, everyone in the company was taking a salary cut. He refused to make the cut and quit. He didn't tell his wife and continued to lie to her about having a job. He felt insulted at the fact that his company treats their best salesmen in such an "arbitrary fashion." (Kroc & Anderson, p. 39) While I understand that he brought in much money for the company and was a precious asset, we cannot ignore the problematic economic position many people were in. Kroc had a job with an income, and the pay cut was temporary. Lying to his wife and his child about his career also rubbed me the wrong way.

Adversity and failure:

When he was just married and starting up in the world, Kroc took several jobs to provide for his family. He worked at the paper cup company and a radio station. Kroc would get up at seven in the morning and would typically work until two in the morning with small breaks in between. (Kroc & Anderson, p. 21) He had to sacrifice time with his family to be successful and for them to live comfortably. The way he dealt with this was by always keeping a lookout for more promising opportunities.

Competencies:

Kroc was an excellent salesman. He had a way of knowing exactly what to say and do to make a sale. Even with people that were tough to crack, Kroc was persistent if he knew that he could help them with his products. He had a unique ability to sense opportunities and successes like that of McDonald's. Lastly, Kroc had a sixth sense when it came to hiring the right people for the job. He always seemed to know what people were right for what positions. Some examples include June Martino and Harry Sonneborn. These two worked tirelessly besides Kroc to ensure McDonald's success. (Kroc & Anderson, p. 77) 

The confusing section:

Kroc was extremely critical of the McDonald's brothers. He seemed to judge them quite harshly when they did not seem to share the same vision as he did. The McDonald's brothers were extremely comfortable with their restaurant's success and were not interested in scaling it as Kroc did. They were extremely reluctant to go along with Kroc's vision. (Kroc & Anderson, p. 7-8) Since they were on different pages from the very beginning, they caused problems for Kroc later on. They refused to help Kroc on several occasions. This caused Kroc to become bitter. I was confused at Kroc's reaction; he knew from the very beginning that they were not interested in the same vision as him. What did he expect from them? He knew that they were not on the same "wavelength." (Kroc & Anderson, p. 108)   

Questions:

1. If you could do the deal with the McDonald's brothers again, would you do it differently? 
• As mentioned previously, Kroc struggled with the brothers throughout his career. It would be interesting to hear if he would change anything knowing the struggle it brought later.
2. How were you so motivated to continue, even when others didn't believe in your vision? 
• There were times were even Kroc's first wife didn't believe in his ideas and methods, yet he persevered through the criticism. I wonder how he continued through it all without wavering.

Hard work:    

Kroc believed that hard work was the foundation behind the success of McDonald's. Kroc never seemed to slow down, he worked and sacrificed a lot. Even after he decided to step down from a leadership position, he continued to help McDonald's. I don't think there was a day where he wasn't working in some way.  

Citation:

Kroc, Ray, and Robert Anderson. Grinding It out: the Making of McDonald's. St. Martins Griffin, 2016.