Week 4 Reading Reflection

The biggest surprise for me in the reading was the table that identified the most common idea killers. It was really interesting to read about because it seems like such a simple concept but one I've never really concentrated on. I think it shows that even when people don't intentionally mean to shut down creative ideas, their negative comments usually stop unique ideas from developing further. 

One part of the reading that was confusing for me was the arenas of creativity. I have always viewed creativity in a very simple way. I think I will have to read over this section because it goes into great detail about different kinds of creativity that I have never been exposed to. 

I would love to be able to sit down with the author and ask him how he approaches creative problem-solving. In addition, I would like to ask him to tell me about a time someone killed an idea of his. It would be a great learning experience to see how he bounced back from a situation like that. 

After reading chapter five, I would have liked to have read more about the right and left brain. With that being said, I wish there was more information under the heading "Using Your Brains." 

Customer Interview No. 1

The opportunity that I found was UF parking. When I think about UF parking, the two words that come to mind are frustration and anger. UF parking was even on my bug list for this class. I don't think there is enough parking for all of the students that attend this university, and I don't think the rules regarding parking are fair. Parking on campus mainly affects college students, so I sought out college students to interview.

These are the questions I asked each customer:
1. Tell me about your last experience parking on the UF campus.
2. Is your overall view of parking more negative or more positive?
3. Do you think anything needs to be done about UF parking? If you answered yes, what would it be?

I learned a lot about my opportunity after I conducted my interviews. I learned that not all of the people I interviewed felt the same way about expansion that I did. To be honest, I thought every college student would want more parking. I was clearly wrong, but I am glad that I was because it was a great learning experience. I wanted to keep the questions as unbiased as possible to get the best results. The responses varied and opinions contrasted greatly.

I was really nervous about walking up to strangers, but it got a lot easier after each person. I realized that most people don't mind helping others out. I thought it was much easier when I talked to them for a little while before actually interviewing them. The interviews went smoothly with each customer, and I am happy that each person was willing to participate.

Top 5 World Problems

Top Five Problems ('Most Serious' to 'Least Serious')

1. Terrorism

2. Human Trafficking

3. Pollution

4. Poverty

5. Education

Top Five Solutions ('Most Possible to Implement' to 'Least Possible to Implement')

1. Human Trafficking: This shouldn't being an issue that we have to deal with. People need to be educated, and there should be more done to put an end to this problem. I think if the right people and procedures were put into action, this problem could be seriously controlled.

2. Pollution: Pollution is something that affects everyone around the world. We should take care of the world that we live in for ourselves and for future generations to come. It is our duty to find alternatives that our better for our environment. We have the tools in this day and age to make that happen.

3. Poverty: Around the world, we are making a tremendous amount of technological advances. If we can implement these changes to positively affect living conditions around the globe, we can make some serious changes. I know this won't solve poverty altogether, but it would be taking major steps in that direction. It is time we start spending our money to help others more.

4. Education: We live in a technological world. This world needs to keep moving forward, and without proper education this cannot take place. People around the world deserve equal opportunity to receive a good education growing up. These procedures can easily be put into place in most countries and societies, but people with power need to be more willing to do so. As this picture displays, education should have no borders. 

5. Terrorism: War and terrorism are such big problems, but I think it is a hard problem to fix. Fear can do some crazy things, and I think fear stops us from fixing these problems quickly. Fighting usually has no estimated timeline. Treaties can be negotiated, and issues can be resolved, but it is hard to tell how long either will last. 

I believe that my top five issues are the issues from my list that need to be heard the most. These issues seem to be important to almost anyone, and I think they affect all kinds of people. Terrorism is affecting so many people around the world today. Pollution can be detrimental to us all around the globe, and education is what keeps us moving forward. Human trafficking is something people shouldn't be doing to other people. It is serious because it is seriously wrong. We are all dealing with poverty in our specific nations. 

If people can 'do less' to 'save more' or give their time and/or money, I think it is a solution that can be implemented quickly. Education and war are two issues that aren't solved overnight. Their solutions take planning and experts. The effects that will come with implemented ideas are unknown and unpredictable.

Identifying Local Opportunities

Link Number 1

1. "15-year-old girl accused of bomb threats at Keys schools"

2. http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A9384073104FB8?p=AWNB

3. A ninth grade female was charged with three felonies and a misdemeanor. She was charged for being a part of bomb threats in December that took place in local high schools in the Keys where she resides. Sources say that a male that is currently not in custody is the one that made the threats, but the female played a huge role in making them happen.

4. The problem is that one of the suspects is not in custody which puts local students at risk of more bomb threats. This is a serious issue as bomb threats are nothing to joke about.

5. Local schools are dealing with this problem to keep students and faculty safe from harm.

Link Number 2

1. "Study links distracted parenting with child's brain development"

2. http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A8CDECAF2E2BB8?p=AWNB

3. A study on rats was conducted to see if there was a difference in development when baby rats were raised in impoverished conditions compared to normal conditions. In both conditions, the mothers' care was equal when measuring quantity and quality. The only difference was in the impoverished conditions, the mother's care was unpredictable and in segments. The rats raised in the impoverished conditions were not that interested in two activities that measured pleasure as adolescents. Symptoms like this usually cause depression in later years. This study was done to show how distracted parenting can cause children to develop symptoms that lead to mental health disorders.

4.  The problem is that children are not getting the attention and nurturing that they need because of unpredictable and distracted parents.

5. Parents and children are having to deal with this problem as it will leave a lasting effect on both parties.

Link Number 3

1. "Brain scans show long-term effects of heavy drinking"

2. http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A67D5C11644158?p=AWNB

3. Studies using brain scans have linked chronic heavy alcohol consumption to shrinking of the brain's frontal cortex. In addition, brain scans show reduced white matter which is what controls inhibitions. The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism declares that some effects are permanent while others can be fixed with sobriety.

4. The problem is that too much alcohol consumption by men and women is causing long-term negative effects to the brain.

5. Heavy drinkers are the ones who have to deal with this problem.

Link Number 4

1. "Too many Facebook friends can trigger teen stress"

2. http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A67D5A0ABC3EC8?p=AWNB

3. The University of Montreal conducted a study to observe cortisol levels in teenagers that had a Facebook profile that contained 300 or more Facebook friends. The results showed that these teenagers had cortisol levels that were consistently elevating. Chronic high levels of cortisol levels deal with heart woes, depression, and everything in between.

4. The problem is that too many friends on Facebook leads to high levels of stress.

5. Teenagers with 300 or more Facebook friends and their parents are the ones who have to deal with this problem.

Link Number 5

1. "Housekeeper took $300,000, jewelry, resident tells police"

2. http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A7DD0F43B68FC0?p=AWNB

3. A part-time Palm Beach resident loaned a suitcase to a former housekeeper because the housekeeper told him that she was planning to move back to Costa Rica. The part-time Palm Beach resident later realized that the suitcase had bonds, securities, and cash that totaled to $300,000. He asked for the suitcase back after he realized this, and the housekeeper said that she didn't have the suitcase anymore. A couple of days after this, she went to Costa Rica. The resident later realized that jewelry from his house was also missing. The resident claimed that he was deceived by this housekeeper and that is why he waited to report the issue. He felt that all he could do now was tell the police about the stolen items.

4. The problem is that the resident has allegedly had things stole from his property.

5. The resident is the one who has to deal with this problem. 

Week 3 Reading Reflection

The biggest surprise for me in the reading was the importance of grief when dealing with failure. In general when I think about entrepreneurs dealing with failure, I just picture people learning from their failures and moving on. Reading about how important the grief recovering process is was eye opening for me. There are ways to learn more from a failure by being strategic. 

One part of the reading that was confusing for me was the introduction of metacognitive perspective. I couldn't quite wrap my head around the metacognitive model and how it works. An example was given, but I believe I need to read a few more to really understand the concept. I know it has to do with one's way of thinking and adapting, but I would like to know all of its benefits fully. 

I would love to be able to sit down with the author and ask him to tell me about a failure he has had to overcome. I have a hard time dealing with failure, so I believe it is an answer that I would really benefit from. In addition, I would like to ask the author about how he deals with stress. There are so many things in life that can cause one to have anxiety, and I think it is important to be able to control your anxiety to be the best that you can be. 

After reading chapter two, I believe that the author should have written more about the family and social risk that comes with being an entrepreneur. Yes, I agree that risk comes with the job, but I also believe that some people avoid that risk with excellent time management skills. Not all entrepreneurs give up that aspect of their life. 

Very Short Interview No. 1

My interview was with my former boss, Renee Ratliff. She owns her own boutique, which I worked at over the summer. She is a personable leader with a lot of business savvy. She also works as a guidance counselor at a local middle school in my hometown. I am very impressed with how well she balances everything.

Question: What does it mean to be an entrepreneur?

Answer: An entrepreneur to me is someone that takes an idea or a product that others need or want and turns it into not only benefitting others but also themselves. An entrepreneur is not afraid to experiment, works long hard hours, and is not afraid of failure.

Question: What do you think I should learn in an entrepreneurship course?

Answer: I would hope that you would learn how to be a successful entrepreneur! How to meet your goal with enough monetary compensation to not only support yourself but to expand and build on your goal. 

Question: What do you wish you had been taught in school before setting out on your own path as an entrepreneur?

Answer: I wish that I had been told about all of the hidden responsibilities of owning your own business! All of the little things that you don't think about! All of the state guidelines and permits and hurdles that you have to jump through. Accounting! How to set up a payroll system!

I really enjoyed interviewing my former boss because I really respect and admire her. One thing I really learned from this interview is that there is a lot of depth to being an entrepreneur. When I usually think about an entrepreneur, my first thought goes directly to the major successes or the terrible failures. I don't generally thinking about all of the stuff in the middle. There is so much behind the scenes work that takes commitment, skills, and experience. When Mrs. Renee was telling me about the state guidelines and permits and all of the hurdles she had to jump through, it really got me thinking about all of the work that the average person isn't even exposed to. I admire her even more for all she does for her business and all she has done for me as a mentor. 

World's Biggest Problems

1. Water: Water is becoming a scarce resource at a rapid pace. The world population is increasing and access to clean water is decreasing. Pollution is having a negative effect on availability of clean water, and underground aquifers are depleting. A solution to this problem is cooperation and compassion among nations and simple sanitation systems.

2. Poverty: Nearly half of the global population lives on just $2.50 per day. Poverty is caused by a country's economy, lack of education, epidemic diseases, and environmental problems to name a few. Solutions for this problem include financial services and an increase in the supply of basic needs. 

3. Hunger: Over 925 million people in the world are affected by chronic hunger. Hunger can affect generations of people in communities and places around the world. Chronic hunger has devastating effects like malnourished children, slow economic growth, and increased risk of sickness. Solutions happen for this devastating problem when people can find the root cause of the issue. Better education, food donations, and government intervention could all help in different ways. Educating the rest of the world about hunger that is taking place in other geographic regions will raise awareness and increase the chances of getting help from these places.

4. Religious Freedom: Religious freedom is under attack around the globe. People are so afraid of being persecuted because of there faith that they are being forced to leave their nations to find refuge elsewhere. I take for granted that here in America I am allowed to practice the religion of my choice safely. Facts show that 5.3 billion people live in countries with a high or very high level of restrictions on religion. A solution to this problem is a change in government. People that can make change happen need to stand up for this certain type of freedom. 

5. Terrorism: 130,000 fatalities have happened worldwide between 2006 and 2013 because of terrorism. Today, people around the world are worried about their safety because of ISIS. Terrorism involves uncertainty, danger, and fear of what comes next. To deal with this problem, we have to address its causes and work together as people and as nations. 

6. Overpopulation: The current world population is growing at a rate of 1.14% per year. In 1967, only 3 billion people inhabited the planet. Currently, over 7 billion people inhabit the planet. This issue is causing a shortage of natural resources. Population growth can also lead to social and environmental problems. Proper knowledge and education are two solutions that would positively effect this issue.

7. Human Trafficking: Trafficking mainly involves exploitation. Estimations show that around 19% of trafficking involves labor exploitation and around 80% involves sexual exploitation. Solutions to this horrible problem are educational outreach, social media promotions to raise awareness, and direct help to victims. We should also work with other nations to end this problem.

8. Education: As students of this class, we are getting to learn every day. I take that for granted way too much. Not everyone has access to education. There are 757 million adults that lack writing and reading skills. There are many reasons that people everywhere do not receive an education. Some children must go straight to work or are recruited as soldiers at a young age. In addition, some parents cannot afford it, and others face the danger of violence as they try to pursue their education. A solution to this problem is fighting the different barriers among nations that prevents people from getting an education. In addition, volunteering for the cause and monetary donations to the cause can help as well. 

9. Global Governance: This problem is connected to so many others. We need to work together as nations to contain the issues we are facing together as one (like terrorism). How are we supposed to deal with global risks and problems when there are weak global institutions and competitive international political interests. If we could work together a little more, it could lead to less violence and more growth worldwide. 

10. Pollution: Pollution is a global issue. It affects our exposure to diseases, and it is a factor of global warming. Pollution is exceptionally bad in the developing world. There are many ways to reduce pollution. Conserving energy, recycling, and using energy efficient devices are just a few of the solutions to this problem. It is important to stay educated to know what you can do as an individual to help. 

Bug List

1. When I am at Walmart between classes and there are not enough lines open for people to check out efficiently

I think this shows poor management. If there is a huge line of people waiting to check out on only two registers, someone in charge should assess that problem.

2. When I am at the Starbucks drive thru on Archer Road and the line is so long I get stuck in the middle of the road

I think they should have constructed the drive thru better. There are two entries. If you enter through option one, you block the parked cars trying to get out. If you enter through option two, you block traffic in the middle of the road.

3. When UFPD sends out alerts but nobody ever seems to get caught

I think there is a lack of communication. I want to feel safe, but I never do when I am only given half of the information.

4. When Fabletics made me cancel my higher level of membership over the phone

I think they made this rule so it would be harder for me to cancel my membership. I don't like the rule. I would much rather be able to cancel it with the click of a button.

5. When I can't find any parking on campus at night right before my exam

I can't think of any other reason why there is limited parking for students besides making more money. I think it shows a lack of consideration for students as it causes unnecessary stress.

6. When I can't go to to Southwest Rec until after parking is lifted for the day because I live off campus

I think they make this rule because there is limited parking in the first place. I think as a student I should be able to drive my car to the gym at anytime of the day.

7. When you order something to go and the restaurant gets your order completely wrong

Yes, I should've checked my order before I drove away. I think this issue exist because restaurants are more worried about getting your order to you fast than getting your order right.

8. When a package gets stolen from your doorstep

I think there should be a better security system in place by delivery companies and online companies. It is not fair to the customer if they are gone the day the package arrives, and someone steals the package from their doorstep. There should be a way to get refunded for the package or to receive another package.

9. When you are the first one on the list for an appointment at the doctor's office in the morning but you still have to wait 30 minutes in the waiting room

I think this happens for the simple fact that it can. As a patient who is sick, you will wait if that means you can figure out what to do to get better.

10. When you get 100 spam emails and you have to sort through them to find the important emails that you have to read that day

I think spam emails happen so people can gain access to your computer. They are such an annoying part of having to communicate with others by email.

11. When people park in disabled parking spots when they are not disabled

People do this to be closer to their final destination, but it is not fair to the people that cannot find a spot to park because of this when they need it.

12. When you are waiting to catch a flight and you have to deal with a bunch of layovers

This could be because of the weather or because of a specific airline problem. Either way, nothing is worse than when you have to cancel your personal plans or call your boss to tell him/her the bad news because of time constraints.

13. When you order something online because it looked so nice in the ad but then looks nothing like the picture when you receive it

I think this is just false advertising because the company wants to sell as much of the product as they can. This is so frustrating as the customer because you feel like you paid for something that you didn't receive.

14. When salespeople ask you if you would like a product and you say no and they keep asking follow up questions

I believe salespeople are encouraged to do this by their employers and to gain customer feedback. To me, it comes off as pushy, and I begin to feel uncomfortable in the situation.

15. When you are constantly being transferred to different people when you call customer service

I believe this happens when someone doesn't know the answer to your question and/or when there isn't an automatic option at the beginning to direct your call to the correct person.

16. When you are at Chick-fil-A and an employee is not happy to serve you and doesn't say my pleasure

I believe this shows a problem in hiring. If you want your franchise to have a specific atmosphere, all employees must coincide with the values and characteristics you want your company to portray.

17. When you arrive in New York City and you are leaving the airport and people start taking your bags without your permission and then start asking for tips

This happens so they can make money, but it is very rude. The situation becomes very uncomfortable very fast because you have to ask for your bags back when you didn't ask for them to be taken in the first place.

18. When I am at a clothing store and there are no mirrors inside the fitting room

I understand why stores do this. They do it so you have to come outside to see how the clothes look on you. When you do this, employees will tell you how nice you look and try to sell you the product. It is so annoying because sometimes I don't feel comfortable enough to walk outside and show everybody what I am wearing.

19. When you don't have enough change to park your car

This is done to obviously make money, but it is super frustrating. It is not fun when you find out the place you are going only has parking you have to pay for. If you are not prepared with change, this can turn into a super stressful situation in the blink of an eye.

20. When you are traveling in the car and you go through unexpected tolls

This happens unexpectedly because your GPS did not warn you, or you didn't analyze the route you were taking well enough. It is not fun when you end up spending more money than you had planned.

This exercise was very difficult for me. I found it challenging to come up with the "why." I also had trouble coming up with twenty things that annoy me because I kept wanting to say traits about people. After I was finished, I did enjoy this exercise because it made me analyze my thoughts and think outside of the box.

Week 2 Reading Reflection

The biggest surprise for me in the reading was the myths of entrepreneurship. These myths were very enlightening. To be honest, I have believed some of these myths before, so it was fascinating to read about the explanations that dispelled each one of them.

One part of the reading that was confusing for me was the introduction of gazelles. I believe this concept was harder for me to grasp because it was so new to me. As I continue to re-read, I believe I will be more familiar with the concept. The mythology associated with gazelles did clear up some confusion for me.

I would love to be able to sit down with the author and have a one on one conversation with him. For me, those are the best conversations. I would love to ask him what his entrepreneurship story is. I know I could read a biography on him, but there is something so authentic about hearing the story straight from the source. I would also like to ask him about what he is passionate about in life. When getting to the root of knowing why people do what they do, it is easier to understand why they are successful or not successful in all aspects of life.

After reading chapter one, there isn’t something specific that I think the author was wrong about. There are many more chapters, so I believe once I am more comfortable with the basis of entrepreneurship I will have more contrasting opinions.

My Entrepreneurship Story

The entrepreneur that I want to talk about is my Uncle Larry. When he was about 19 years old, he worked for someone else repairing equipment. His dream was to own his own company selling and repairing HVAC systems (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning). He had to learn a lot along the way, but he was willing to take the risk to own his own business. He started with nothing, but he believed that his hard work would pay off in the long run. Larry Tronu became the owner of Climate Control Contractors Inc. in 1977, and he owned the company for 35 years. Today, his son is now running the company. He knew from a young age he was good with hands on work. He believed in himself, his people skills, and his ability to generate results. He wanted his company to be committed to quality construction in a safe environment. He always said that he believed in faith first, family second, and HVAC third. He is an inspiration to me. I admire his work ethic and his ability to believe in himself.

I enrolled in ENT 3003 because it seemed like a great learning environment. I want to push myself to develop the mindset of an entrepreneur. I want to believe in my own ideas and the ideas of others. I hope to experience growth as a student and an entrepreneur. 

Introduction

Hi y'all! My name is Rachel Carter, and I am from Gulf Breeze, Florida. I have lived there my whole life. The picture that I included is The Pensacola Bay, which is about 15 minutes from my house. My values and my family members are very important to me, and they have shaped me into the person that I am today. I have two sisters, one brother, and the two most adorable nieces in the whole world. I love to volunteer and participate in community service. I want to travel more which is why I plan to study abroad this summer.

My Entrepreneur's Mantra

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