20A

Domain expert

1) I spoke with the manager of a local smoke shop named Nicole. She has a lot of knowledge about this industry and had been working in it for 20 years.

2) This meeting was in person.

3) Nicole will be a good mentor for me. She is kind and very easy to get along with. She can help me learn more and is a nice person to know, because as manager she orders the products they sell.

Supplier

1) I spoke with a man named Steven, who has his own vape product.

2) I went to a local farmers market and found someone who sells organic vapes and CBD cartridges. I spoke to him in person, because a friend had recently mentioned his booth to me. Although he doesn’t sell to many retailers, he has gotten his product in a few stores in Ocala.

3) By having Steven in my network, I can learn more about the market. He can help me establish myself and give me important tips.

Market Expert
1) I visited Omar, the owner of a local smoke shop

2) It is a very popular smoke shop, so I just stopped by and asked to speak with the owner, who orders all of the vape products he sells

3) I can exploit this opportunity because now that I know him and that he likes my product. This gives me a potential outlet to start selling at.

For each person I asked if they would meet with me to discuss my idea further, and in return I would take them to lunch. This was a valuable way to do things because lunch is a casual setting, and I was able to learn from each of the people I chose. They got a nice meal in return for their advice/guidance on my idea and my pitch.

I think networking is such an important part of starting a business. We all know its not what you know, its who you know. This activity forced me to get out of my comfort zone and allowed me to make connections within the industry. Now I will have the confidence to attend other networking events and will know how to hold myself In a professional environment. I have never networked before, so this was a foreign experience for me.

19 A

1)I am personable and have a desire to help others. Everyone around me vapes, and it hurts me knowing they have an addiction that could cause serious complications. I am passionate about this issue which makes me driven to solve it.  I know that I could cause a serious impact in these people’s lives. I want to help change the world and help others. This business would become my life and I would allocate all of my time and resources into making it work. After a while it would run on its own and I think I could start a family that will continue the business.

2)  A vape device that does not contain nicotine. When the legal age is changed to 21, many young people will be left high and dry in their addictions. A vitamin vapor pen will allow them to feel like they are still hitting their actual nicotine device, because they are still inhaling vapor into their lungs. It also has a “coolness” factor and provides vitamins to the user.

3) Nicotine addicts under the age of 21. People who care about social pressures and want to be seen vaping. Likely high school and college students, but older demographics may enjoy my product as an alternate way to receive their vitamins.

4) It provides them a legal way to be seen as cool. They may not care about the vitamins, but it allows them to continue to vape. It will also make them appear older if the only people who are vaping are 21+.  It can help them quit their addiction in a comfortable way.

5) Helping people fight their addiction with the ability to continue their habit and providing a vapor-based way to receive vitamins. I have passion which makes me determined to make my product work.

I think that all of my core competencies fit together and work off of each other. It is very cohesive and creates a solid big picture.  My desire to help others will drive my businesses success, and the change in legislation makes my product desired.

I only received one comment, which was pretty much all praise. I decided to just add to my previous napkin and add more information. I was told my idea was great and that they really thought it would be needed/wanted. Although this comment did not help much with making this napkin, their interest in my product pushed me to add more information. 

17A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym3S7AhjJBU&t=27s

I am a firm believer that all feedback is good feedback. People who watched my video liked my professional dress, that I included my target audience, and explained the difficulties of quitting. Although all of the feedback I received was positive, there were some things I personally wanted to change. For this video I tried to do a better job with my presentation, and I focused on being more interactive.

18A

My customers are boys in fraternities who vape but want to quit. They enjoy long boarding, playing poker, and drinking with their friends. They are typically 18-20 years old but act younger than they are. They drive older cars that their parents bought for them. They are too young to have children and are starting their first years at a university for undergrad. They don’t read but they enjoy watching shows like Brooklyn 99, the Office, and Big Mouth on Netflix.

I don’t have anything in common with this customer, other than the fact that the avatar is like people I am friends with. It not a coincidence because I want to help my friends to quit smoking and to start Vitavapor as a healthy alternative.

15A

My segment is UF students, typically in their freshman or sophomore year, that are below the age of 21 and are addicted to nicotine.

Price and flavor were most important for all three of my interviews. Off brand products were still purchased and are viewed as the same, meaning quality is not as important. Same with style, the shape and color of the vape do not matter as long as it is cheap.

Two of the three people I interviewed purchase their vapes at a smoke shop, and the other does so at a gas station. One of the ones who purchases at the smoke shop does so with cash so his mom will not see the charge on his card. In his case his mom is technically involved in his purchase decision. The other two pay with card because it is more convenient for them. There are no cheap vapes online, so they all buy in stores.

What makes them look back and be happy about the decision is if they got a special discount on the nicotine device. If the device leaks, then they are unhappy with the experience.

A cheap price and good flavors are imperative in order to succeed. This is what the customer looks for most and is something that makes them feel good about buying it.

16A

1)

               - I would say that the best aspect of my human capital is my emotional intelligence. I deal well with other people’s feelings and am good at identifying them. This is an important part of day to day life for many reasons and is a good skill to have in business.

               - I know how to use 3-D printing software. 3-D printing is up incoming in a big way and would be a great asset to any future employer.  

               - I have a good sense of what is aesthetically pleasing or of what goes together, which is an important aspect of advertising.

               - I am proficient in basic computer skills. This may not be very unique for our generation, but it is when looking at America as a whole.

               -I am skilled at taking care of children. I work really well with them and they really like me. This is important because its important to be able to get along with all types of people.

2) In each of my interviews I asked the simple question “what makes me different, with a focus on knowledge, skills, abilities, emotions” and below I have typed out a summary of their answers.

I was told my positive attitude, ability to complete tasks, communication skills, empathy, and ability to always say the right things makes me unique from others. Of the people I interviewed I spoke with my mom, dad, sister, boyfriend and roommate because they know me best. They all said different variations of the same thing, but the general theme was the same.

3) Overall people focused on what makes me different emotionally. I would agree that this is what sets me apart most and my EQ is my best attribute. I think everyone I interviewed was right about me because they know me so well. If i were to rewrite the first list, I would take out the skill related ones and focus on what makes me emotionally unique.

14A

1) Tenaciousness is a competency. What are the behaviors that you have used (or developed) to keep up with the requirements of this course?

Time management is an important behavior to develop. This helped me become more tenacious and work harder in this class.

2) Tenaciousness is also about attitude. 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?

I really wanted to give up when I had forgot an assignment due within the hour, and I had not finished it yet. My poor time management skills caused me unnecessary stress. My desire to succeed and work hard made me not give up. This class forces you to work hard on one topic, and because of this I have developed a tenacious attitude. Each assignment forces you to fight for and further develop your idea.

3) Three tips. 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' ?

               - Work hard

               - Use your planner

               - Look to the world around you for inspiration

13A

1) You read about an entrepreneur: STEVE JOBS

What surprised you the most?

That he was kicked out of his own company, and just continued to build his next empire. I can only imagine how frustrating it would be to have to start over.

What about the entrepreneur did you most admire?

That he never gave up. No matter what was thrown at him he tried and tried again until he succeeded.

What about the entrepreneur did you least admire?

He was so absorbed in each of his projects that he could not see past what he is doing in the moment. If he could anticipate what would happen next maybe he wouldn’t have been kicked out of his first company.

Did the entrepreneur encounter adversity and failure? If so, what did they do about it?

He moved on to his next project. Even if he failed, he would get up again and try his next venture. He finds any way possible to succeed.

2) What competencies did you notice that the entrepreneur exhibited?

Steve Jobs is deeply intelligent and eager to learn. These two characteristics are what lead him to become such a phenomenal entrepreneur.

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

That Steve Jobs was so smart that school was difficult for him. You would think that his intelligence would help in his schooling, but instead it made him above it all.

4) If you were able to ask two questions to the entrepreneur, what would you ask? Why?

I would ask him “If he could start all over what would he do?” and “What is the most important skill he thinks any entrepreneur should have”.

5) For fun: what do you think the entrepreneur's opinion was of hard work? Do you share that opinion?

That hard work is necessary if you want to succeed. I agree with this mindset. It does not matter how smart you are, as long as you are wiling to work as hard as possible to get what you want, you will get it.

12A

I chose to limit my segment to UF students, typically in their freshman or sophomore year, that are below the age of 21, and addicted to nicotine. They fit my niche because they will need an alternative way to inhale vapor once laws are changed. They will not have access to nicotine products and will seek different devices.

Interview summary- Many of my interviewees told me that they would seek illegally purchasing nicotine before trying my product. However, those who want to quit said they like my solution.  They have struggled to quit for a while now and alternate methods have not helped them. Many enjoyed how they still get to act out the habit of vaping, even if it does not contain nicotine. This is when they have felt the need most hen they have attempted to quit. Nicotine gum and patches do not let them continue a habit that they are fond of. It is important to understand that a black market for these devices will arise, and people can still purchase them at lenient places, by using a fake ID, or by asking an of age person to buy it for them. It is easier in college towns for people to bend the rules.

Conclusion- The interviews made me realize that I should alter my target audience to a group of people who cannot illegally get nicotine with ease. Or perhaps it should be geared to health fanatics or people who have a desire to quit.

11A

1) Everyone around me vapes, and it hurts me knowing they have an addiction that could cause serious complications. I am passionate about this issue which makes me driven to solve it. I want to help change the world and help others. This business would become my life and I would allocate all of my time and resources into making it work.

2) A vape device that does not contain nicotine. When the legal age is changed to 21, many young people will be left high and dry in their addictions. A vitamin vapor pen will allow them to feel like they are still hitting their actual nicotine device, because they are still inhaling stuff into their lungs. It also has a “coolness” factor and provides vitamins to the user.

3) Nicotine addicts under the age of 21. People who care about social pressures and want to be seen vaping.

4) It provides them a legal way to be seen as cool. They may not care about the vitamins, but it allows them to continue to vape. It will also make them appear older if the only people who are vaping are 21+.  

5) Helping people fight their addiction with the ability to continue their habit and providing a vapor-based way to receive vitamins.

I think that all of my core competencies fit together and work off of each other. It is very cohesive and creates a solid big picture.