Week 15 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? 

The biggest surprise for me in the reading was definitely the talk about international business and the corporate world within it. I am surprised that the author has talked about it this early and find it to stand out from anything else. I find it also very interesting to learn about this topic.

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

One part of the reading that was confusing to me were the paragraphs about business owners and how they set their meetings and other social situations up. I didn't understand most of it, but found some of it to be interesting.

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

If I were able to ask two questions to the author I would ask, "If you were to own a business and had to travel internationally, where would you set up your business meetings? Along with "Why would you set up these business meetings specifically in that place, for business or for personal reasons?"

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

There was nothing specifically I thought the author was wrong about, and did not disagree with anything he said. I found his comments and statements to be interesting. 

Final Reflection

1) Read through your blog from this semester. Recall all of the experiences you've had a long the way -- the highs, the lows -- the fun moments, and the moments of drudgery, and even the moments of dread.

- Looking through my blog this semester, I was impressed at how many posts had added up and really intrigued me that i wrote so many. I got so much more done this semester than I would've ever expected.

2) What sticks out to you as the most formative experience? The experience that you'll remember years later? What was your most joyous experience? What experience are you most proud of yourself for accomplishing?

- What sticks out the most and what I will remember most is interviewing entrepreneurs and really finding out what it is like to be one. I also got so much joy and pleasure when interviewing my customers because hearing feedback on the product I was selling was a very cool experience. The experience I am most proud about would be creating a business called SurfsUp. 

3) At the beginning of the semester, I mentioned that I wanted each of you to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. And we repeated the mantra -- I am an entrepreneur. Now, at the end, do you see yourself as an entrepreneur? Do you think you have moved closer to developing an entrepreneurial mindset?

- Yes, I definitely see myself as an entrepreneur more now than ever. I developed this mindset by creating my own business and interviewing customers, while making different strategies on how I will set myself up to become the best entrepreneur out there while also being succeeding. 

4) What is the one recommendation you would make to the students who are going to journey down this path in the future? What would you recommend they do to perform best in this course? What would you recommend they do to foster that mindset?

- One recommendation I would make to students who are going to journey down this path in the future would be to complete every post, because every post helps you one step further on becoming an entrepreneur. I would also say that make time for you to complete your assignments so you could perform best in this class. I would recommend they turn their mindset into one that is well organized and completes all things within this class.

Venture Contract No. 2

My concept for the class include customer retention, customer acquisition, product innovations, new merchandising strategies, pricing and promotional strategies, new sales channels and distribution strategies, changing consumer/customer dynamics, technological advancements, entering into new markets, and lastly, mergers and acquisitions. These are the different ways this company makes its money. 

The kind of product offering I believe should be next will be a surf bard with an installed waterproof radio. This is the next biggest thing that I know my customers want because they are always asking about waterproof headphones and cell phone cases so that they can listen to music while they surf. 

After going on Amazon I found a product called a SoundBot and it is a waterproof speaker that lasted over 6 hours and connects via Bluetooth to any device! It also is equipped with radio and other cool things like audiobooks.

This was my first venture contract description, the feedback I received included that although my idea was wonderful, it had already been used. I really don't think that this product has officially been used by all and is set. By that I mean that every product somebody has like this either breaks within a week or just doesn't have all the things it says it does.

Based on what I learned from feedback, I may need to get just a tad more creative so that my audience believes this product differs from others.

Elevator Pitch No. 4

In this video I have changed many things according to the customers needs and necessities! I decided to change it up by not only adding new stores, but really focusing on what can be done in order to succeed! Based on the feedback I decided to change locations once again.