30A - Final Reflection

• The rich academic experience I had the privilege in being exposed to, placed me in a mindset of hope. I now can take action upon the visionary projects I have in mind. My dreams do not seem too out of reach now. With the assignments that were assigned, Dr. Pryor was able to bestow confidence and practicality to positively push my ideas to higher levels
• As I look back on all the assignments that were given for this course, the secret sauce assignment really made me appreciate my locus of control and the impact it has on my social environment. Its nice to see that holistic outlook on life where you can verify the impact of your accomplishments. I have always believed that there is value in setting an example for the younger generation to better our communities. 
• Another assignment that really gave me perspective to playing with the odds that one must face as an entrepreneur, is the celebrating failure assignment. I gained extensive awareness on how I was not alone as I fight the good fight in pursuing my dreams. It was interesting to relate to people that were discussing similar struggles as I was. Sometime the process can overwhelming with periods with no progression. Reading Elon Musks biography was a very insightful experience to where I was able to compare my process with a successful entrepreneur such as him.
• This course has directly induced a more refined entrepreneurial mindset in me to where expand my dormant ideas on a practical playing field. Being able to extrapolate my entrepreneurial proposal in such a short period of time proved to me the tangibility of success when work and persistence is place. 
• My recommendation for the future students who take this course to settle in for a strenuous but rewarding course that can take your ambitions to a level that can make them come true. Time organization is a key strategy to have to be successful in course.

29A - Venture Concept No. 2

• Opportunity:
• A growing trend within the millennial community is laziness and failure to be aware of instilling leadership qualities in the work force. This is growing worry for large organizations that depend on a fresh new batch on young interns that demanded to be ready to take the initiative for any task that is assigned to them. 
• My market's demographics would narrow down to all management position officers that practice any level of stewardship. These individuals are usually middle-aged and have been victimized by the lacking ability of the newer generation interns to express leadership qualities in the workforce.
• The need is for companies to feel security and trust when hiring new and young individuals to fill up entry-level and internship positions. Executives should be satisfied with my concept because of the results that the leadership course would be able to provide to the new interns.
• According to all the people I was able to interview about the issue it seems to me that millennial laziness is a real thing that is happen and taking root in the workplace. Executives are actually worried for their company's efficiency.
• The window of opportunity is definitely unclear to when it would close because the issue that my proposal addresses is more generational. 
• Innovation: 
• My proposed entrepreneurial idea will of an installation course that would be administered within the organization to bring forth competencies that would promote leadership in the workforce. This would be a requirement for interns and entry-level position officers to take during their recruitment process. I would provide the course lessons as via digitally downloadable content. The payment methods will be perpetually offered to the organizations and I would instill period rates. Proctored and instructed video live or recorded sessions would given to the interns. Tests will be given on a completed competency basis with feedback on their performance and awareness of what is being taught. I am not sure what price I would set for the courses I would have to conduct an analysis of my potential competitors that are in the business of providing education content.
•  Venture Concept: 
• I think my customers would appreciate the issue that my proposal is trying solve. This is an internal corporate dilemma that would strived to be corrected by my ventures key notions to put an end to millennial laziness. Customer satisfaction will be achieved by the successful results that would be measured by the course participants and also a post assessment by the employers to verify the validity of my proposal.
• As of now I cannot foresee any existing competitors that may sabotage the implementation of my entrepreneurial idea. However, predominant digital educational services may become aware of my idea and create their own version. This can be a forecasted threat to my venture. Companies like Pearson and McGraw Hill, with their power and experience level in administering digital educational supplements, can put the future of my proposal in jeopardy.
• For promotional purposes I will have 24/7 around the clock email and telephone customer support for any software program issues that they would encounter. We would reboot or give money back for the services is the program stops being functional. 
• My services would be available on a verified website with online step-by-step tech support. The course will be downloadable files that can be manipulated through all of the Microsoft workbook programs such as; excel, word, and powerpoint. For assessment of the coursework administered to the interns, a submission tab will be held on the website of each module to validate completion of the assignments. Each module or lesson will have video attached to it to explain the content of the assignments. I do not know how many employees I would have that is still unclear to me.
• Unfair advantage: My keen vision of the impactful potential this course has will guide my business decision for the course. I will try to address each major leadership characteristic that is necessary for successful leadership development that can better the internal operations of an organization.
• What's next: A smartphone app that incorporates all aspects that the website would provide. The phone will be easy to handle and have the fast software interaction with the students.
• For me: My aspirations for my entrepreneurial proposal is to incentivize academia to incorporate this course program initially as an elective then growing into possibly a requirement for all seniors in college. I hope to encourage the true theme of my leadership course as movement for future interns that are facing issue with presenting themselves with keen quality that would stand them out with their newly absorbed awareness of leadership in the workplace.
• Feedback:
• Interesting proposal
• Needs practical and clear objectives to supply to markets
• Response:
• I created clear and concise forecasted components that would benefit the legitimacy of the leadership course program.
• I recollected attributes from individuals I interviewed and consider them thoroughly.

28A - Your Exit Strategy

• 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?
• For my proposal, my exit strategy will be estimated to happen as a competitor creates an updated version the leadership course. Educational entrepreneurial endeavors are tricky that way because new ideas, especially technological ones that appeal to the students, would overtake my edge. If I cannot come up with a contingency plan to compete the newly demanded I would be forced to exit and pass the baton to others.
• Why have you selected this particular exit strategy?
• Because I instinctually derived this exit strategy for the imminent threat of succumbing under a competitive giant that has incorporated my same concept but with application attached to its version. I hope to have a strategy to where I can bounce back and be able to compete with the new providers of the courses, but if it comes to being short my exit strategy would be the best alternative.
• 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?
• The exit strategy did not really influence my development to my entrepreneurial proposal. With my idea being original I know that I would have started this proposal with only the individuals, which are company executives or managers, in mind as I craft each component of the leadership course. 

27A - Reading Reflection No. 3

I read Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck

• What was the general theme or argument of the book?
• The general effort of Mindset was to express the dichotomy between the two proposed mindsets which are fixed mindset and growth mindset. Fixed mindset is structures by group of people feel self validation for attempt to recuperate from a failed event. People with fixed mindsets consequently think success is about proving you are smart or talented. The paranoia of being judged is also inherently attributed from people with fixed mindsets. However, people who demonstrate to have growth mindset focuses on how someone can improve themselves from within. The growth mindset is about stretching your mind to learn new things and becoming the best version of yourself.
• How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003?
• Absolutely, the notion of self realization and being true to you own instinctual outlook to your entrepreneurial footprint is address both in the class and in the book. I feel like the class really helped in discovering the voice from within that exposes all that we would want to test out as business concepts. This book actually made me appreciate the act of taking this class because it made realize the process Dr. Pryor is trying to set a basis for our creative embarkment in instilling our dream concepts.
• If you had to design an exercise for this class, based on the book you read, what would that exercise involve?
• I would make the student create a writing response about their perspective is about confronting failure. The assignment would consist of asking the students for their approach to preferring a particular mindset that must be honed to practically achieve the hard to reach goals in life. I would have the students depict which mindset would be predominantly used by successful people.
• What was your biggest surprise or 'aha' moment when reading the book? In other words, what did you learn that the differed most from your expectation.
• As I got to the part in describing the differentiation between a fixed mindset and growth mindset, the definition start to relate to some of my approaches to psychologically overcoming failure. I felt that I shared a lot of attributes to the fixed mindset because I do  subconsciously feel that it is important to live up to certain social standard. However, I did realize that I execute overcoming failure with the growth mindset because evolution is one my main life themes that help self development. 

26A - Celebrating Failure

• 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. 
• A common outlook that I have been able obtain throughout my life is that failure is promotes contingency alternatives to hardships. To me, failure induces psychological evolution among people. Failing at something is part of life, it should be praised not feared. With respect to the assignment I would narrow down with incidences that were experienced during my freshmen year of college. Freshmen year of college consists of an educational pivotal phase for many people. I was recruited by a Division II liberal arts college, Cornell College. There I had to manage between being a student athlete and a proclaimed career plan to go into medical school after graduating. I failed to juggle the two and forced me to give up my football scholarship to pursue my lifelong aspirations in becoming a physician.
• Tell us what you learned from it.
• The one valuable lesson I attained was that some aspirations demand a certain high degree of focus than others. I realized that sacrificing other secondary interests to focus on prioritizing one may be the only efficient strategy for my personal fulfillment. It was tough at first but understanding the circumstances settled in quick because my ambitions in becoming a physician superseded anything else.
• 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?
• Like how I elaborated on the first answer of this post, unfortunate life events naturally spur contingency. It is not wrong to take a step back from an irregular event and assess it to find out what went wrong. In relating to biological factors, we are a development species which are resulted directly from our environmental interactions. Therefore, failing and regrouping yourself is a form evolution because survival and competition drive the individuals ability to be resilient to any shortcomings.

22A - Elevator Pitch No.3

• URL:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPaTiPkLWjA
• Reflection from last Elevator Pitch:
• From the last elevator pitch I received feedback on my overwhelming use of hand movement. Also, to be less animated when it comes to addressing my pitch for the proposal. I was also advised to have someone else video tape me to promote more natural lighting. My idea was really praised and given many complements. 
• What I changed:
• I was consciously limiting my hand movement throughout this elevator pitch. I felt a lot more confident in providing the pitch. In regards to having someone record me, I did have anyone around me to satisfy the favor. I was not able to fulfill that suggestion.

23 A - Your Venture's Unfair Advantage

1. Leadership Experience: I was awarded Outstanding Volunteer of the Year at Nicklaus Children's Hospital for two departments.
• Valuable: this proves I hone the knowledge to exemplify leadership.
• Rare: There were more than 400+ volunteers in my that were eligible for the award and I was the one to receive it.
• Inimitable: This can definitely be imitable but must be decided by the individual to be expressed in practiced
• Non-substitutable: This would not be substitutable because these awards are rewarded to the individuals that participate solely as volunteers that seeking careers as healthcare providers.
2. Volunteerism: this generates the attribute of selflessness to workplace. It is not always about focusing on the return, it can also be about giving back to the community.
• Valuable: Empathy is one of the key qualities to have when working with people. 
• Rare: Not too many take part in this
• Inimitable: This can certainly be imitable through choice, it is just more less attractive because there is financial reward that compensates the labor experience.
• Non-substitutable: The notion of volunteerism is can be substitutable with other selfless endeavors such as philanthropy.
3. Connections/networked with executives: This provides me thorough insight on the landscape of the problem I want to satisfy.
• Valuable: This can give me exact flaws committed from individuals I can directly capitalize on with my proposed leadership course.
• Rare: This resource can be somewhat rare, only at the part where you have to seek the networking entities.
• Inimitable: Imitability of this resource can be accomplished by creating the initiative to go out and win the bond between influential individuals.
• Non-Substitutable: Not really because this is probably one of the main components that can push my proposal forward.
4. Acquiring empathy: having a deep connection with the individuals you are conversing with.
• Valuable: This initiates the bond because you know what person is in need off just by decoding the wait of his or hers needs.
• Rare: Yes this is very rare because currently with the social media era many individuals are set with abiding by their self interests and refrain from listening to people's demands.
• Inimitable: This is more of personal characteristic but I do speculate that empathy can be taught.
• Non-substitutable: No this resource is a must to keep a business proposal stable.
5. Shadowing Experience: The ability to be easily and accessibly mentored by an expert in their fields.
• Valuable: This creates the level of sophistication that is needed to get to a position of confidence.
• Rare: This is not very rare, shadowing, in my opinion, is very simple. Shadowing mainly consists of mimicking the individual of authority or at senior positioned individual in your career.
• Inimitable: This is definitely imitable when you want to fit in some sort of main behavior that can extend that critical attribute that can maximize comparative advantage.
• Non-substitutable: Substituting looking up a role model for personal advancement is not interchangeable because of how natural it is for this process to take place.
6. Prior work experiences: The physical labor or the hand craft working environment only experienced by actually positioning yourself in these positions.
• Valuable: This is where a leader-like individual will viscerally understand the natural everyday work environment.
• Rare: It is not rare to to find people to have this experience. What is rare to find, are the people that never attained awareness of the dynamic of physical labor.
• Inimitable: This is highly imitable for individuals that are usually trying to find an early work experience which can inspire leadership ideals.
• Non-substitutable: No this attribute cannot be interchangeable because understanding this is so important in comprehending the complexity of managing of the workforce.
7. Self accounting/bookkeeping: Keeping record of all financial exchanges between seller and buyer.
• Valuable: Effective memorabilia advantage of all financial activity is a tremendous plus for any organization
• Rare: Not much of a rare component is found but extremely important for an organization perspective.
• Inimitable: Accounting can be imitable by scholastic teaching or mentoring 
• Non-substitutable: This is very necessary to exist in any organization or entrepreneurial proposals to succeed.
8. Business owner experience: Having to be able to actually lead a proposed vision and courageously uphold an expanding company.
• Valuable: This helps people understand what it takes to run a start up organization
• Rare: The older people are the less likely this attribute is rare.
• Inimitable: This can be a lot harder to imitate but it is possible.
• Non-substitutable: This aspect is the core of all entrepreneurial quest.
9. Bilingual Spanish/English: Knowing to communicate in two languages that can build bridges.
• Valuable: The ability to connect cultures and ethnicities by appropriately communicating other people's mannerisms. 
• Rare: Depends where you are geographically.
• Inimitable: This also depends on age and the amount of exposure somebody has within a different culture.
• Non-substitutable: No, this characteristic is very essential for conversing with another ethnic business group.
10. Intimate respect: When I meet people face-to-face they usually develop respect for the bundle of leadership qualities I attain.
• Valuable: The initial presence or the first impression is so important to establishing a trustworthy network.
• Rare: Yes this is rare because it is hard to gain respect from elder officials from an organization.
• Inimitable: Very hard to imitate. I gained this aspect through my exposure with my rigorous upbringing that provided by my parents.
• Non-substitutable: It probably would not be wise to substitute this characteristic because it resembles strength and establishment of confidence.