Reading Reflection 3

The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users, Guy Kawasaki

1) What was the general theme or argument of the book?

The general theme of this book is how to build your social media platform for your business/influence. The book shows step by steps to help you get to the place you want to be. 

2) How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003?

I already have some background knowledge of how to do social media from a business standpoint, however, I enjoyed imagining how I could share my passionate non-profit through Instagram, facebook and different fundraising platforms. 

3) If you had to design an exercise for this class, based on the book you read, what would that exercise involve?

I would have the class create a facebook or instagram page for their business. There would need to be three posts talking about the mission or CSR (corporate social responsibility), goals and future plans, and how people can get involved. There would need to be hashtags and fake contact information. 

4) What was your biggest surprise or 'aha' moment when reading the book? In other words, what did you learn that differed most from your expectations?

My biggest AHA moment was learning about the different situations people can get themselves into because of their social media. Employers look at social media now and if they see something they don't like, they aren't hiring you. 

Your Exit Strategy

1) Identify the exit strategy you plan to make. Do you intend to sell your business in the next 5 years for a large return? Do you intend to stay with the business for several decades and retire? Do you intend to protect the venture as a family business, and pass it down to your children?

After I receive the funds for the playground built for children with autism, we would look into expansion. However, I think that eventually, I would find someone else to run the non-profit.  Whether it is a family member, organization or company. I would want someone to take it even further than I did. 

2) Why have you selected this particular exit strategy?

I selected this exit strategy because I think it is important to get a fresh perspective for any type of business and I would hope the best for my non-profit. 

3) How do you think your exit strategy has influenced the other decisions you've made in your concept? For instance, has it influenced how you have identified an opportunity? Has it influenced your growth intentions or how you plan to acquire and use resources?

I think that my exit strategy encourages me to make my non-profit the best it can be before I do pass it to another person. It influenced me to find the opportunity that someone could give a fresh perspective on the company. I would have to build the non-profit up enough to receive growth from another person. 

Celebrating Failure

1) Tell us about a time this past semester that you failed -- whether in this class or outside of this class. Don't spare any details! It'd be even better if there was something you tried several times this semester and failed each time. 

During Summer A, my team and I failed at Catalyst for the Innovation Academy. We developed our idea to be judged within six weeks. The theme was early childhood development, and we had to come up with solutions to problems within the field. My team and I believed wholeheartedly in our product and vision, none of us expected to not get an award. Personally, I failed at creating an appealing poster and had to scrap it. Some of my teammates failed at participating. Other teammates failed at losing themselves within the project because it wasn't a winning idea. We all failed at communication and teamwork, and possibly if we took emotions out of the project, we could have had a better shot at receiving an award. 

2) Tell us what you learned from it.  

I learned that I have to leave emotions out of projects and try to remain a neutral teammate. I definitely felt passionate about my efforts but in the end, it was not good for the overall project. I also learned, and this might sound bad, that freshman think they know everything. After a few years of college, I learned that to take constructive criticism wisely and sometimes that just takes maturity. Especially at UF, not freshman all have failed yet. I will from now on, learn about peoples weaknesses and strengths before getting into a project. 

3) Reflect, in general, on what you think about failure. Failure is hard, isn't it? It's embarrassing, sure, but it also means that we have to change something about ourselves. Talk about how you handle failure (emotionally, behaviorally). Finally, talk about how this class has changed your perspective on failure -- are you more likely to take a risk now than you were just a few months ago?

Looking at teammates strengths and weaknesses before you start a project is good to assess how each person can utilize themselves into a project. Also, learning to see things for the bigger picture, instead of through emotions is a good way to avoid conflict, too. We handled the failure to the best of our ability. We simply packed up the table with our belongings and never spoke to each other again. Personally, I don't mind it. None of us were friends beforehand and I think that by the end of it, we didn't care to become friends. This class confirmed for me that failures will lead you into the right direction. However, I have always been up for a challenge so I think I am just as willing to take a risk now, as I was a few months ago. 

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Your Venture's Unfair Advantage

1. CARD – CENTER FOR AUTISM & RELATED DISABILITIES

Rare because it is only Florida but also non-substitutable because there are seven: seven state-funded, university-based outreach and support centers in Florida dedicated to 

Valuable: optimizing the potential of people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), dual sensory impairment, sensory impairments with other disabling conditions, and related disabilities.

Inimitable because of:

• Individualized Client and Family Support
• Family and Professional Training
• Public Education and Awareness and Community Outreach
• Programmatic Consultation and Technical Assistance

2. DISABILITY RIGHTS FLORIDA

Valuable because it protects civil rights but non-substitutable because there are eight Disability Rights Florida is a not-for-profit corporation that has authority and responsibility under eight federal grants to protect your civil rights.

 Rare: Services are free and confidential. 

Inimitable: Any Floridian with a disability is eligible to receive Disability Rights Florida services.

3. FLORIDA DIAGNOSTIC & LEARNING RESOURCES SYSTEM

Rare: FDLRS provides diagnostic, instructional, and technology support services to district exceptional education programs and families of students with
disabilities. 

Inimitable and Valuable: Service centers include 19 centers that directly serve school districts in the areas of Child Find, Parent Services, Human Resource Development (HRD), and Technology.

Non-substitutable: In addition, the FDLRS Network also includes 6 Multi-disciplinary Centers who focus on in-depth evaluations and several statewide projects offering specialized services.

4. Disney World offers a Disability Access Service Pass 

Rare: This is offered to autism children

Inimitable: This happens at Disney Only

Non-substitutable - Other theme parks offer specials to Autism children

Value: Disney is a big name and are more likely to draw any type of customer, so this is especially appealing 

5. Legoland rolls out the red carpet for their autistic guests

Rare: makes autism children feel like a movie star

Inimitable: Only happens at Legoland

Non-substitutable: other theme parks offer specials to autism children

Value: brings the extra special touch

6. Grants.gov is a good resource to expand the financial capital of the non-profit. 

Rare: helps non-profits search for grants

Inimitable: you can search for a specific grant

non-substitutable: you can search for any grant

Value: you can get free money

7. Autism Speaks - an educational resource for parents who have kids with autism
Rare- can be a great starter tool for parents
NOT Inimitable but is non-substitutable: it actually has a lot of similar websites
value: a trusted source

8.  https://www.autismspeaks.org/provider/sensory-park-and-playground
This is a playground that is similar to what I want to create.
Rare: is the only autism park in Pennsylvania
inimitable: can be done with the same concept but make it unique
non-substitutable: many parks globally like this
value: can be helpful for the community  

8. 

Elevator Pitch 3

https://youtu.be/2_ltmKuyZag

A reflection on the feedback you received from your last pitch. 

After reading my feedback, I decided to add a few more sentences of a reflection to my pitch. Other than that, I got good feedback from my classmates. 

What did you change, based on the feedback?

I added a little bit more research because I noticed that people said they were curious about the subject of my product. 

Growing your social captial

1) Who they are and what their background is.

Angelica Suarez Trujillo - created a non-profit organization at the age of 19 and it is still running today (did not ask her current age but assume the mid to late 30s).

Robert Decicco- has an autistic son, late 20's.

Linda Ann- works in the tourism government in Sarasota County - corresponds with parks and recreation, she is in the early '60s.


2) Which 'slot' you are filling with each person (i.e., domain expert, market expert, supplier), and how the person fills the spot.

I would fill Angelica with the domain expert because she knows the ins and outs of how to run a non-profit and will help us raise money for the creation of the park.

I would fill Robert into the market expert because he has an autistic son and can understand the needs of the customer.

I would fill in Linda as the supplier because she works closely in her local government with the creation of parks.

3) A description of how you found the person and contacted the person.

I met Angelica through Santa Fe College when I was a Student Ambassador and contacted her when I found the product I wanted to create for this class.

Robert was my babysitter growing up and I messaged him on Instagram.

Linda is one of my mom's friends and I contacted her through my mom.

4) The nature of the exchange you have with the person -- what favor did they do for you? What is the return expectation?

For all people that I interviewed, I merely asked them questions about what they think would be best for my product. There was no expectation of returning the favor. They asked me to let them know how this class goes. Hope it goes well!

5) How will including this person in your network enhance your ability to exploit an opportunity?

Referencing back to the book I just completed reading, Innovation and Entrepreneurship by Peter Drucker, I realized that I needed to get advice from different people and also put myself into the customer's shoes. I believe that the people that I have interviewed will give me that perspective I am looking for.

I have networked a few times before but with people that I didn't know. This time, I networked with people who knew me growing up or at least a few years ago. It was nice talking to them about their passions and connect on issues that are important to them.

Reading reflection 2.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Peter Drucker

1) What was the general theme or argument of the book?

The general theme of the book is to exercise innovation and entrepreneurship in the most effective way possible for the customer. You need to stay on top of new trends to keep yourself in line with what your customer wants, but also innovate new ideas with different market trends, demographic trends and emotional driven trends to interest your customer and stay ahead of your competitors. 

2) How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003?

In ENT3003, we learn about connecting with our customer and putting ourselves in their shoes so we, as entrepreneurs, can relate and make a product that fits their niche needs to the best of our ability. In the book,

Innovation and Entrepreneurship by Peter Drucker, he talks about knowing the customer's needs but enhances it to change with the customer. Being an innovative entrepreneur means you can adapt to your ever-changing environment and helping your customer change as well. This lesson can also be taken into consideration when dealing with evolving market structures.  When you are mixing innovation with entrepreneurship, you must be able to take an idea and reinvent the product to better the customer. This is finding the incongruities, or the diamond in the rough, despite the source. I especially enjoy how the book went into detail of different human emotional desires to stay ahead of trends by being innovative. 

3) If you had to design an exercise for this class, based on the book you read, what would that exercise involve?

I would exercise taking a popular product and then reinventing it to make it ahead of its competitors and keeping the customer interests in mind. For instance, if I would take iPhones and creating a new feature to the phone to interest and help customers. 

4) What was your biggest surprise or 'aha' moment when reading the book? In other words, what did you learn that differed most from your expectations?

My biggest aha moment was realizing that simplicity will win you your golden ticket. If your cleverness takes over your product and its too complex for different audiences to understand, then it will hurt your product. I found this to be eye-opening because to be innovative, you must be different, but you have to also make it understanding to your customer. Its almost like when people have to explain jokes; it ruins the joke. 

Elevator Pitch 2.

Here is my speech in the elevator pitch:

I am creating a playground that allows autistic children to interact and play in a safe environment. I found in my studies, that kids are afraid of what is different from them, so through my playground, I will raise awareness of children who have autism. The playground will consist of many single player and multi-player games with lots of repetition, color and textures. I hope to also incorporate technology for the 21st-century playground, keeping them active and engaged at once. I will market my playground to organizations who have the same passion as I and the local legislature. I hope that you can be a part of my journey.

I can not answer the next two questions because I did not complete the previous elevator pitch.

Here is the link to the elevator pitch:

https://youtu.be/Tbihti-yugU

Idea Napkin No.2

Unfortunately, I did not receive any feedback from my classmates. But, I have revised my product as time went on and will be evaluating myself. 

1) You. Who you are. What your talents are. What your skills and experiences are. Also: what are your aspirations? Specifically regarding your business concept, how do you see this business (if you were to start it) playing a role in your life?

I am a junior public relations student. I excel in marketing, public speaking, social media and graphic design.

I wrote the previous sentence in my Idea Napkin No. 1, but I would like to add that I have made connections throughout the community with people who share this passion. I also would like to say that I understand how to create funding for the playground through different methods of marketing to legislature and potential donors. 

2) What are you offering to customers? Describe the product or service (in other words, how you'll solve customers' unmet needs). 

I am offering an inclusive playground that raises awareness of mental health and education through games. 

I have now changed this to be more inclusive throughout the autistic community. I found that I can still incorporate educational games for the playground and I could raise awareness to different parents about symptoms and triggers of autism. 

3) Who are you offering it to? Describe, in as much detail as possible, the demographic and psychographic characteristics of your customers. Think especially of this question: what do your customers all have in common?

All types of kids. Kids with autism, kids with adhd, low-income families, everyone with a child.  

I have now just revised it to kids with autism. I found that this is a more receptive approach to the playground and there is more of a demand for it. However, I still believe mental awareness among all children is necessary. 

4) Why do they care? Your solution is only valuable insofar as customers believe it's valuable to them. Here, explain why customers will actually pay you money to use your product or service. 

My customers should care because the importance of mental health and education cannot be overlooked. My investors should care because it is shaping the future of America. 

I still agree with this statement. However, I would like to add how children with autism are different and singled out for being different. This playground will be a good environment for the children to thrive in. 

5) What are your core competencies? What sets you apart from everyone else? Also: what do you have that nobody else has? 

My invention is set apart from someone else because playgrounds don't think about the psychology and education behind the active play. 

I still stand with this statement, but more geared towards autism. I would like to add that it brings inclusivity to the autistic community. 

Throughout this assignment, I changed a few elements of the playground. I did this because I wanted my business to thrive as successfully as possible while helping children in need. I decided to narrow it down because my concept was too broad. My product cannot change the entire world but it can help some.  

Since I gave my own evaluation because there was none from classmates, I will refer to the rest of the assignments as my multiple points. 

Customer Avatar

First, I have to go into an explanation of my product. I had a general idea before, but now I have a more in-depth innovation. 

I am creating a playground for kids with autism. Autistic children need a space where they feel comfortable, with no judgment. They need a space to have fun and get out all their energy. I also want to make this an inclusive space so that other kids with autism can meet each other, as well as their parents. 

Kids with autism need to stay occupied and distracted. They need to have a structured schedule. I would create lots of games with repetition. Although my purpose of this playground is to unite the autistic community, I would create a lot of games that the children can play on their own because they enjoy it more. Autistic kids enjoy colors and textures more than the average child does. I would also try to incorporate technology, such as lights. To market and create funding for this project, I would take this as a bi-partisan issue and speak to organizations with the same passion as myself. 

After you have created this customer avatar, I'd like you to answer this final set of questions: What do you have in common with the customer avatar? If you have anything in common with the avatar, do you think that is a coincidence? Why?

Personally, I don't have anything in common with this customer avatar but I think it's a great cause to fight for.