Week 8 Reading Reflection

1) What was the biggest surprise for you in the reading? In other words, what did you read that stood out the most as different from your expectations?

I was surprised about how many ways there are to raise money to start a company. There are really so many different ways to raise capital.

2) Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you.

I was a little bit confused about the different types of private placements that the reading talked about. 

3) If you were able to ask two questions to the author, what would you ask? Why?

"What's the easiest way to get into venture capital?"
"Do many entrepreneurs end up being venture capitalists?"

4) Was there anything you think the author was wrong about? Where do you disagree with what she or he said? How?

I don't think the author was wrong about anything!

Half-Way Reflection

What are the behaviors that you have used (or developed) to keep up with the requirements of this course?

The most useful thing that has helped me keep up with this course and get all of my assignments in on time is a calendar. I use a very scheduled calendar app on my phone called "Tiny Calendar", and it has every assignment for every class, and everything that's important that I need to do everyday. Without it, I would definitely fall behind.

Talk about a moment or two when you felt like "giving up." What pulled you through? Do you feel like you've developed a tenacious attitude during the past two months? What experience or experiences most contributed to this?

A lot of times the assignments in this class are due on Sundays at 9pm, which is a time when absolutely nobody wants to sit down and do homework. There have been times when I've considered just not doing it, but I always push through and finish the assignment. I am motivated by having a good grade in this class. I think I've had a tenacious attitude in this class, and that's because I'm a generally self-motivated person.

What are three tips you would offer next semester's student about (1) fostering the skills that support tenacity and (2) developing the 'tenacious mindset' ?

1) Have a very neat calendar with everything in it 2) check Canvas regularly to make sure you didn't forget anything 3) have fun with the assignments, it'll make you more motivated to keep doing them

Free Money

Today I went to a random apartment complex’s pool near my apartment to find random people to give a dollar to. It was really awkward. I predicted that I wouldn’t have a hard time giving away free money, and my prediction was correct. My tactic was to go up to them and just be very blunt and straight forward, and so that’s what I did. I approached them and asked if they wanted a dollar because I was “feeling generous today”. Yes, I got weird looks, but they took the dollar. All of the people I approached were busy reading, studying, or listening to music. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2RUKFhMKOY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RMLeiyY_Jc

Week 7 Reading Reflection

Biggest surprise: What stands most to me in this chapter is the great variation of company types, and how those decisions affect your company in the future. Although I suppose you can change your company type later on in the life of the company.

Confusing: Nothing in this reading was confusing to me, except perhaps the gravity of decision spectrum.

Two questions: I would ask the author what he thinks is the easiest type of company to run, and whether it is more effective to give the consumer as much information about a product as possible, or to appeal to their emotions.

Disagree: I don’t disagree with the author about anything in this chapter.

Elevator Pitch No. 2

https://youtu.be/YW_vohkVYig

From my third round of interviews, I learned a lot. I learned that no matter what, there is going to be a group of college-aged students who will not eat out at restaurants, no matter how appealing. They are on a tight budget and they realize that cooking at home is more cost effective. I also learned that serving alcohol would be incredibly beneficial to my restaurant's income, and would attract a lot more customers. The concept of mimosas and bloody marys seem to be very popular and get students excited about the restaurant.

Interviewing Customers No.3

This week, I had my interviewees read this paragraph about my restaurant and then give me a genuine reaction to the idea and any feedback they deemed critical:

My name is Laura Siciliano and I plan on opening a breakfast/brunch/lunch restaurant in midtown Gainesville. It will serve classic breakfast dishes such as french toast, pancakes, crepes, and waffles, along with breakfast sandwiches and lunch sandwiches. The food will be delicious, the employees will be friendly and helpful, and the atmosphere will be quaint.

I learned from this experience that there is a large unmet need for bottomless mimosas and they present a huge market opportunity for my restaurant. I think that I will serve $13 bottomless mimosas on the weekends.

https://youtu.be/1QA5d78jIKc
https://youtu.be/HGY3ymiOiTs
https://youtu.be/1157hOZiUEY
https://youtu.be/Vg5wgtIuHsE
https://youtu.be/vYt9PjrkVO0

Week 6 Reading Reflection

1. The part I found most surprising was the emphasis on family as being essential to helping you and your business grow. I find this to be accurate because nothing can compare to support from the people you care about the most.
2. I didn't find any of this reading to be confusing. I thought it was very simple to understand.
3. If I could ask the author two questions I would ask, "Which of the five forces do you think is the most important?" and "Do you think it is beneficial for an incumbent to respond vigorously to newcomers?".
4. I agreed with everything the author said in this chapter.