Thursday, January 30, 2020

Identifying Local Opportunities

1) Hardball: Rays threaten to block redevelopment of Tropicana Field
https://www.tampabay.com/news/st-petersburg/2020/01/30/hardball-rays-threaten-to-block-redevelopment-of-tropicana-field/
The city of St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay Rays have been at a standstill ever since the team owner suggested splitting the season between St. Pete and Montreal. Understandably so, this was to the dismay of city officials and thus they have begun plans to develop on the 86-acre property that now serves as home to the Rays. The organization has responded with threats to block any redevelopment opportunity and thus the presents a problem for both sides. The Rays are trying to find a way to make the team more profitable while the City hopes to better utilize one of it's most important pieces of land.
2) Florida school group possibly exposed to virus confined to home
https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida/2020/01/30/florida-school-group-possibly-exposed-to-virus-confined-to-home/
A group of students and teachers are being confined to their homes as they wait for word of whether or not they were exposed to the coronavirus while attending a conference at Yale University. When a student from China fell ill with a fever and cough, testing indicated it was the flu but the CDC advised further testing. The problem is clear if indeed the tests show the coronavirus for all parties who were involved with this event.
3) Rick Scott destroyed evidence after Irma, say two healthcare workers charged in deaths.
https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2020/01/30/rick-scott-destroyed-evidence-after-hurricane-deaths-lawsuit-says/
Two healthcare workers who were charged in deaths following Hurricane Irma are now claiming former Governor Rick Scott destroyed voicemails that would have helped their defense. The problem here is something that resulted in several deaths and the lives of two men are at stake as well as potentially if not more than the reputation of a former Governor.
4) For family of teen shot at Tampa cop's home, anger and unanswered questions
https://www.tampabay.com/news/hillsborough/2020/01/29/for-family-of-teen-shot-at-tampa-cops-home-anger-and-unanswered-questions/
After their son was shot and killed by a nearby resident, the parents refuse to believe it was a mere accident. The boy who was holding the weapon when it discharged has yet to speak on what happened and thus the parents are not ready to give up on the case. Whether it was an accident or not is obviously a large difference given the possibility their son was murdered.
5) He was walking down Central Avenue in St. Pete. Then a man randomly slashed his face.
https://www.tampabay.com/news/crime/2020/01/29/he-was-walking-down-central-avenue-in-st-pete-then-a-man-randomly-slashed-his-face/
A man was casually walking down one of the busier streets in St. Pete when he thought he was punched in the face. 19 stitches later he realized he had been stabbed in the face as a man stood over him demanding his wallet. It appears his attacker suffered from mental illness after police were able to track him down and arrest him while Lowrance must now deal with a new scar on his face.

Forming An Opportunity Belief

My belief is a rather simple one in which I saw discussed in prior exercises both by myself and my classmates and is that is the issue of traffic. Although a very simple topic on the surface, there are many facets that can be discussed within the problem of traffic. This is an age-old issue that can be applicable to really anybody who drives a car or even rides public transportation. Traffic and congestion is something that seemingly is always a topic of discussion amongst local politicians and leaders as one of the top problems they commit to solving. In terms of my certainty that this opportunity exists, I would put it very high at 95% due to my personal experiences and interactions.

When talking to prototypical "customers" I find my initial analysis is fairly accurate in that this is in fact an opportunity and thus a need. The majority of people notice this problem on a regular basis but it also varies with certain times of the year as well as specific times of day such as rush hour. This is a need that dates back many years from the information I have gathered and only appears to be getting worse. Depending on who you talk to, some individuals will make their problem heard by expressing their issue to those who could potentially address it, while others simply acknowledge the need. Nevertheless, it appears the vast majority are indeed unsatisfied with the current traffic condition.

I have noticed throughout this that my opinions regarding this opportunity are shared by a good portion of those around me and that is that traffic is an ever-growing problem. The one thing that stood out to me from my discussions is that this is not only a local problem but having talked to people from other places, it is as much an issue elsewhere if not more so in larger cities than here.

I believe my original opportunity is still very much present and if anything I have been reassured in completing this exercise. Moreover, I have garnered more information now than I previously had through hearing multiple perspectives on how this is a need for various individuals. In conclusion, I feel entrepreneurs should unquestionably adapt their opportunities to customer feedback as the entrepreneurship world is always fluid and their success is primarily dependent on satisfaction.

Entrepreneurship Story

Having grown up in a house where my dad is an attorney and my mom works for a law firm, I had never really been exposed to true entrepreneurship until recently. That was until I went over to one of my friend's houses whose dad's entrepreneurship fascinated me. His dad is actually a doctor and runs a walk-in clinic, but on top of that owns and operates several gas stations and recently purchased a CBD farm. Furthermore, their house was filled with miscellaneous collectables and antiques that he had gathered over years of attending auctions, trade-shows, etc. From the countless pictures with George Bush, to the stuffed bear that greets you at the front door, and the stories of how a doctor procures a CBD farm all enlightened me into the various meanings of entrepreneurship.

The reason for enrolling in this class was as I said before I have never really been exposed to the true meaning of entrepreneurship. I always had an idea in my head of someone who starts a business that becomes a billion dollar company but I'm realizing it is much more than that. Moreover, I somewhat see myself embodying an entrepreneurship spirit and I'm hoping this class will prove that to be true. 

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Friday, January 24, 2020

Bug List

1. As I sit in my room writing this blog, I notice it is too cold in my room.
The reason for this could be a couple things: firstly, we live in an old house that has poor insulation and secondly my roommates could have turned the heat off before they went to bed.
2. When I am eating with people, it bothers me when they chew with their mouth open/smack.
This could simply just be because this is how they have always eaten and were never taught otherwise.
3. One of my roommates has a habit of shaking his leg whenever he is sitting down and thus shaking the entire table or couch we're sitting at.
The reasoning for this could be some medical explanation or he simply has a bad habit of doing this.
4.When my roommates tell me to empty the dishwasher or take out the trash when I frequently do so.
The reasoning for this is they too probably feel as if they do these tasks regularly.
5. When someone finishes the last of something(toilet paper, paper towels, etc.) and does not replace it.
They are probably feeling lazy in the moment and figure it is someone else's problem or simply forget.
6. When someone does not clean up after themselves.
This one again could be they are simply lazy and would rather put it off or they will just let it sit.
 7. When people drive excessively too slow in the fast lane.
They are probably just trying to simply drive safely.
8. When a scooter or bike is driving in a lane or on a road they should not be on.
The reasoning here for bikers is likely the sidewalk is too slow and for scooters it may there only form of transportation.
9. When someone riding in your car tries to tell you how to drive.
They have the best interest in mind and just think the way they would drive is better.
10. Poor listeners who continuously talk over you in a conversation.
Their goal is to focus on what they are saying and make sure their point is heard.
11. Restaurants, like every one in Gainesville now, serving strictly paper straws.
Obviously the reasoning is good intentioned from an environmental prospective.
12. Not holding the door for the person behind you, especially a woman.
The person is probably either in a rush or just not paying any attention at all.
13. Someone being on their phone all the time while with someone.
They're likely too caught up with someone or something else to focus on the moment.
14. A person that talks throughout the entirety of a movie or laughs obnoxiously.
The person is probably just enjoying the movie and conveying their thoughts.
15. Being late.
This one is simple and there are thousands or reasons/excuses people come up with.
16. Talking about personal success to the point of bragging.
This individual is likely feeling proud and looking for compliments from peers.
17. Someone saying they will do something and then not following through.
Another instance where there could be many reasonings but a person perhaps committed to doing too much.
18. Babies crying in a contained environment(planes, church, etc.)
Babies are being babies but sometimes parents could avoid disturbing others with nurseries, etc.
19. Someone spoiling a movie, show or book.
They may not realize what they're doing at the time and just want to talk about it.
20. Waiting on people
Similar to being late there are a million reasons, poor time management being at the top.

Reflecting back on my list this was a lot more challenging than I first envisioned. I imagined being able to sit down and in one sitting knock out 20 "bugs" fairly quickly but that was not the case. I managed to get through the first ten simply off of memory rather easily and then struggled for the next five. Finally, the last five were things it took me getting away from my computer to realize bothered me in the real world and in the moment and those were the toughest for me.