30A – Final Reflection

Its been fun reading through my posts and I actually laughed at some of the earlier concepts, not because they were necessarily bad but because I could see the growth in the business idea. Its evident that in the early stages my product really didn't have a base or any starting point, I honestly had no direction and I remember being really concerned with how this plan would turn out. I dreaded the posts where I had to interview a lot of people because it was difficult to find people who fit what I needed and were ok with being interviewed. A lot of the individuals I interviewed either were members of my gym or fellow classmates so in the end it worked out. For me, I'll remember the experience where I had to reach out to companies that were already a part of my market. This was not only the hardest assignment for me, it was also a complete failure on my part. I only had one business respond and give me really good advice. Another company responded but didn't really provide a lot of helpful insight, I was just happy to hear back I suppose. 

The "what's next" assignment was one of my favorites because it forced me to evaluate my goals and future plans for the business. It might sound silly but I really had no idea where I was going to take my business until I had to do this assignment and the napkin idea pt. 2. I'm really proud of myself for accomplishing all of the assignments but most of all I think I am proud of my second elevator pitch because it showed a lot of growth and development. I didn't need to record the pitch over and over and I felt really confident about the pitch. Aside from that assignment I'd have to say I really enjoyed creating the customer avatar, it was a really creative way to look at the customer base. I defiantly struggled to see myself as an entrepreneur in the beginning and sometimes I still do but for the most part I feel like It's possible for me to be an entrepreneur and I feel more connected with the idea now then I had before. Sometimes I doubt my abilities but that just forces me to focus more on the plan and determine what the source of my doubts. 

for this course Id have to say my biggest advice is to take the assignments seriously so that you can get the most out of each one. This course is exactly what you put into it and there is a lot of opportunities to network and really explore your different venture options. The best advice for performance would be to keep a calendar and get every done on a set schedule. If you know you have an assignment due Friday that requires 5 interviews, set up a calendar where you have each interview completed three days before the assignment is due. This provides some room for error and issues and it also gives you an opportunity to reflect on the interviews. These interviews were one of the most important parts of this class so take it seriously. 

29A – Venture Concept No. 2

           An opportunity currently exists for nutrition and exercise. A healthy diet Is something that has fallen away from our values as Americans. We have allowed fast food and high preservatives to control our diets out of need for convenience. With the shifts in diet there has been an increase in weight related health issues, ultimately making healthcare more expensive. Not to mention the rate of obesity has risen and children are now being exposed to diabetes and obesity earlier than in the past 20 years. As you can imagine, the health concerns are the most important aspect for opportunity because it’s the one aspect of peoples life that they want control over. 

Customers satisfy their need for a healthy lifestyle by making healthier food options like salads. Although this is a common trend, associating salads with healthy diets, it’s often times a false start. Salads are very fattening because of the content that if often times put on it, especially if ordered from a fast food place. I’ve also noticed customers have started making conscious decisions about what they consume as product information has become more available. There have been major shifts in what chemicals a company can use to preserve their products. As consumers move away from preservatives and start to search for healthy alternatives they face a need for education so that they understand what changes need to be made. 

         The market exists in every demographic and is very broad. I've interviewed mothers, students, business owners, and even disabled individuals who struggle to remain active because of their disabilities. I’ve had the opportunity to interview many individuals from all walks of life and the underlying need is always the same. Busier lifestyles as cost of living increases without an increase in wage. Consumers also face the challenge of convenance in their lives. Statements like “I hardly have time to eat breakfast let alone actually make it” really solidified my suspicion of the need. The need then became more of a mater of how do I introduce my products and appeal to the idea of convenience at an affordable price. Also, it is important to understand that health is two fold. With a healthy diet the body still needs exercise and with the growing amount of office jobs this creates an issue. With convenance being the underlying issue this makes it difficult for people to get the exercise that their heart and other organs need. So, both diet and exercise is a focus for the business. I truly believe that customers fo not have an effective means for satisfying their need which is why there is no loyalty to their routine.  Consumers are the ones making the distribution so they are obviously willing to change their habits. 

The opportunity is massive! There are so many opportunities and different markets for the product to survive in. My last set of interviews showed that market expansions are definitely an option for growth.

             Innovation is knowledge and knowledge is power. 

For my product, everything is informational and provides factual information about diets and exercises. What makes my company innovative is that it conforms to each individuals needs and is completely customizable.  So for each obstacle a consumer faces our company will work to implement these customizable plans. 

I have yet to find a company that sets consumers up for success rather than just providing band-aids for the issue. Customers have access to diet pills and fit teas that do not provide results and can be costly. Thats what the market consists of right now. 

           Customers will purchase our products because its empowering. Customers will learn how to make lifestyle changes that will stick with them for years to come opposed to paying for a product that promotes weight loss in 7 days. My company does not believe in band-aid fixes because they leave all of these underlying issues.  Once customers recognize the possibility they will be more inclined to jump on board. 

         Competitors right now are very very slim, not a lot of people have entered the market. I do know that there are fitness guru’s like Emily Syke and MariFitness. These companies offer diet and exercise plans and work with people to achieve their fitness goals. I love these companies and I can relate to their values. Thats another thing that id like to work to create; friendly competition. If fitness and health guru’s could work together to make the world healthier it would be amazing. 

My product stands out because it again offers a level of convenience not offered yet. 

The concept is based completely online with social media being a driving point. The distribution will start off being ebooks and online media files downloadable through purchases. As the business grows we can start to pursue hard copies and books as an option. The issue is that each persons guid will be different so no print copy will have multiples. With everything being hosted online it brings convenience right to the customer. Since it starts online I wouldn’t need a lot of employees, maybe five employees to start that a responsible for 20-30 customers. As the business grows we can hire on more “lifestyle consultants”. 

       

        My most important resource is the online environment. I don’t have to worry about a centralized location or retail maps. This helps us respond to competition because it creates convenance for the customer. Its also very important because I don’t have to worry about costs associated with an office or retail space, or at least not upfront. What will create the unfair advantage is the personable experience offered to each customer. No one offers the option to create a meal plan that is customizable and listens to the customers concerns. We take cost into consideration, along with time and efficiency. 

        Whats next? I had some very insightful conversations that lead me to believe retail is next. Or a service that brings complete convenance to the customer by allowing them to pick up pre packaged meals or meals in a  higher quantity. Showing customers that a lot of foods can be versitile and can serve for different meals. Offering classes for meal prep would also be an option under the retail location. I am hesitant on this next step because it requires a lot of variables that are not ready yet. I do recognize that it will be a nice community center and could cause a disruption but wether or not we have the capital to make that decision will ultimately determine wether or not the company maintains a 100% online presence. I really liked what one of my interviewers said for what they believe is missing from the market. They wanted a “demon love child between Lululemon( high end workout gear), a sporting goods store, and a organics food market; all in a centralized location that is easy to access. How I’d create this to match my business is beyond me but I am sure that it will be something worth exploring in 5-10 years. 

I actually had no feedback on my previous Venture Concept so I did my best to just reconstruct some aspects of the concept with other feedback that I've received. I didn't make a lot of changes because I feel my first go at the assignment was pretty successful.
I did see some small issues in the opportunity and innovation part that really needed to be refocused. I have come to learn that business idea is really broad and doesn't fit into a specific demographic because almost everyone shares the need, that is really one of the only changes made the this assignment.

27A – Reading Reflection No. 3

27A – Reading Reflection No. 3

Coco Chanel, Lisa Chaney

Coco Chanel has always been an Icon of mine and I’ve always had a deep admiration for Chanel. I actually created a vision board for myself many years ago and on that board was a Chanel purse that I wanted to buy when I become successful. I always felt connected to this book because of the journey outlined and when I actually sat down to read the book I realized that I admired her for very valid reasons and I actually found more reasons. This book was undoubtedly one of the most fascinating books I’ve ever read and I would recommend it to everyone. 

For instance, in the book she is portrayed as an icon, which she undoubtably is. The book talks about Chanels unconventional rise to success. She didn’t come from a rich family and she didn’t have a lot of resources her entire life yet her list of accomplishments is very admirable. Chanel was born into a very small family of merchants in Cevennes and anded up being taken in by nuns at the age of 11 after the passing of her mother. She found work in Moulins where she lived under the care of the nuns, Moulines economically had one of the strongest military presence which enabled her to get started on her career early. Chanel was a seamstress for the military, altering uniforms and spending a lot of time with military lieutenants. 

This book took a lot of time to analyze the different constrictions women faced and how women had to often times use their bodies as a means of survival. The book even goes to suggest that Chanel worked in some form of prostitution to supplement her income while working as an entertainer and seamstress. This lifestyle obviously wears a person down quite a bit which is why Chanel eventually sought business ventures outside of what she had been doing. In 1911 Chanel opened her first boutique in Paris. I want to visit this boutique and buy my first purse from the boutique in Paris, #goals. 

Chanel was able to stand out and gain recognition cause of her “casual sophistication” style portrayed by her knits. For women it was a new beginning to see these styles in a business casual sheak look, especially nearing WW1. Chanel even contributed her successes to WW1 saying that she “woke up famous in 1919”. 

Chanel had inexpensive options never before offered in luxurious clothing. Chanel used “humble” material in her jackets and sweaters which fostered a social change mentioned above. These loose fitting clothes brought a whole new meaning to casual style and forced the social change working towards a new reality for women. 

28A – Your Exit Strategy

28A – Your Exit Strategy

1) 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?

If the business takes off like projected than I will decide to stay with it and allow it to be the face of my life. I would hire people to manage the day to day operations but I think it would be optimal that I stay on with the company. I have no interest in passing the company down to children because I don’t want to limit the skill set offered by outside talent around the world. I think having a diverse talent group will really help the business reach new levels and be competitive in the market. The business will stay in my name and if in the event that something happens to me, my husband and or business parted will gain control. If after my husband then yes, my children will gain control with specific restrictions and requirements. 

2) Why have you selected this particular exit strategy?

I want to make sure that my business can grow properly and be the voice of anyone who still needs it. I fear that if I leave my business to strictly family that will cause a lot of restrictions. I also want to stay a part of the business because I feel that I’d always be able to ensure the goals of the company don’t get misguided. That has always been my biggest frustration when dealing with companies. When companies are really great and offer amazing products and services but then they lose their way and forget their values that the company was built on.Companies become focused on the money snd less on the customer experience and that is what I want to avoid. 

3) 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?

Honestly, I think I’ve always had this one piece of the puzzle figured out. I knew that what ever I did decided to do, id stick with it and make sure it shares my values as a customer. Never forgetting the customers point of view is very important. I also love teaching and educating so I feel very connected with this business plan and that’s why I’d want to stay on for the longevity. It would be my dream job and there is so much opportunity to grow with the company and thats all I want. I want to grow myself and afford the opportunity for others to grow as well. If I could offer the service free I would but unfortunately in the business world that doesn’t work very well, haha. 

26A-Celebrating Failures

26A-Celebrating Failures

Failure is all too failure in my life, so much so that I even messed up this very sentence! Haha. I was trying to say failure is all too familiar in my life. When asked to describe my failures I smirked and said “oh dear, which one?” My biggest failure this past semester has actually been for my Law school personal statement. I write it and finish it but once I read it through and move it out of the draft phase I realize that it reads awfully. I have created so many copies both similar and vastly different and I just can’t seem to create one that works. This past version I handed to my husband and he glanced at it and handed it back almost immediately with a bunch of notes. I don’t know why but this paper might be the hardest paper I’ve ever had to write and I just can’t seem to get the right story.  So far I’ve learned a lot from this experience as I work towards a final product. Specifically, I’ve learned the importance of telling a story that is impactful and descriptive. With each revision I’ve worked really hard to incorporate items that really display my passion for politics and law. I’ve started working on specific instances in my life that show this passion and how I’ve come to develop myself. The most frustrating part about this journey is that I know how to write and I usually do really well at writing. I used my writing skills to get me into the University of California so I recognize my skill is there. However, I feel so unaccomplished when writing this paper because it just hasn’t gone well yet. 

I am really thankful for this class because it has taught me the importances of planning and evaluating. I started out with a very broad idea (my health and fitness business) and through out the semester I have scraped the idea and rebuilt it about 6 times, kind of like my paper for Law school. This class has taught me not to be afraid of failure because there is an opportunity that exists in every failure. With every failed plan I’ve kept some aspect of it and just worked to re develop the plan. As far as risk goes, I do not feel comfortable jumping into things with out a plan and a well constructed set of goals. As a business major I also do a lot of ROI weighing to ensure that my “risks” are on the safe side. 

24A – Venture Concept No. 1

24A – Venture Concept No. 1

           An opportunity currently exists for nutrition and exercise. A healthy diet Is something that has fallen away from our values as Americans. We have allowed fast food and high preservatives to control our diets out of need for convenience. With the shifts in diet there has been an  increase in weight related health issues which has made healthcare more expensive. Not to mention the rate of obesity has risen and children are now being exposed to diabetes and obesity earlier than in the past 20 years. As you can imagine, the health concerns are the most important aspect for opportunity because it’s the one aspect of peoples life that they want control over. 

Customers satisfy their need for a healthy lifestyle by making healthier food options like salads. Although this is a common trend, associating salads with healthy diets, it’s often times a false start. Salads are very fattening because of the content that if often times put on it, especially if ordered from a fast food place. I’ve also noticed customers have started making conscious decisions about what they consume as product information has become more available. There have been major shifts in what chemicals a company can use to preserve their products. As consumers move away from preservatives and start to search for healthy alternatives they face a need for education so that they understand what changes need to be made. 

         The market seems to cover almost all demographics but is most predominate in students, athletes, and busy family providers. I’ve had the opportunity to interview many individuals from all walks of life and the underlying need is always the same. Busier lifestyles as cost of living increases without an increase in wage. Consumers also face the challenge of convenance in their lives. Statements like “I hardly have time to eat breakfast let alone actually make it” really solidified my suspicion of the need. The need then became more of a mater of how do I introduce my products and appeal to the idea of convenience at an affordable price. Also, it is important to understand that health is a two fold. With a healthy diet the body still needs exercise and with the growing amount of office jobs this creates an issue. With convenance being the underlying issue this makes it difficult for people to get the exercise that their heart and other organs need. So, both diet and exercise is a focus for the business. I truly believe that customers fo not have an effective means for satisfying their need which is why there is no loyalty to their routine.  Consumers are the ones making the distribution so they are obviously willing to change their habits. 

The opportunity is massive! There are so many opportunities and different markets for the product to survive in. My last set of interviews showed that market expansions are definitely an option for growth.

             Innovation is knowledge and knowledge is power. 

For my product, everything is informational and provides factual information about diets and exercises. What makes my company innovative is that it conforms to each individuals needs and is completely customizable.  So for each obstacle a consumer faces our company will work to implement these customizable plans. 

I have yet to find a company that sets consumers up for success rather than just providing band-aids for the issue. Customers have access to diet pills and fit teas that do not provide results and can be costly. Thats what the market consists of right now. 

           Customers will purchase our products because its empowering. Customers will learn how to make lifestyle changes that will stick with them for years to come opposed to paying for a product that promotes weight loss in 7 days. My company does not believe in band-aid fixes because they leave all of these underlying issues.  Once customers recognize the possibility they will be more inclined to jump on board. 

         Competitors right now are very very slim, not a lot of people have entered the market. I do know that there are fitness guru’s like Emily Syke and MariFitness. These companies offer diet and exercise plans and work with people to achieve their fitness goals. I love these companies and I can relate to their values. Thats another thing that id like to work to create; friendly competition. If fitness and health guru’s could work together to make the world healthier it would be amazing. 

My product stands out because it again offers a level of convenience not offered yet. 

The concept is based completely online with social media being a driving point. The distribution will start off being ebooks and online media files downloadable through purchases. As the business grows we can start to pursue hard copies and books as an option. The issue is that each persons guid will be different so no print copy will have multiples. With everything being hosted online it brings convenience right to the customer. Since it starts online I wouldn’t need a lot of employees, maybe five employees to start that a responsible for 20-30 customers. As the business grows we can hire on more “lifestyle consultants”. 

       

        My most important resource is the online environment. I don’t have to worry about a centralized location or retail maps. This helps us respond to competition because it creates convenance for the customer. Its also very important because I don’t have to worry about costs associated with an office or retail space, or at least not upfront. What will create the unfair advantage is the personable experience offered to each customer. No one offers the option to create a meal plan that is customizable and listens to the customers concerns. We take cost into consideration, along with time and efficiency. 

        Whats next? I had some very insightful conversations that lead me to believe retail is next. Or a service that brings complete convenance to the customer by allowing them to pick up pre packaged meals or meals in a  higher quantity. Showing customers that a lot of foods can be versitile and can serve for different meals. Offering classes for meal prep would also be an option under the retail location. I am hesitant on this next step because it requires a lot of variables that are not ready yet. I do recognize that it will be a nice community center and could cause a disruption but wether or not we have the capital to make that decision will ultimately determine wether or not the company maintains a 100% online presence. I really liked what one of my interviewers said for what they believe is missing from the market. They wanted a “demon love child between Lululemon( high end workout gear), a sporting goods store, and a organics food market; all in a centralized location that is easy to access. How I’d create this to match my business is beyond me but I am sure that it will be something worth exploring in 5-10 years. 

25A – What’s Next?

25A – What’s Next?

Existing Market. 

Before interviewing the three people I didn’t actually have an idea as to what would be next for my product in terms of a new market. I think I was burnt out and needed a fresh set of eyes to look at the services. I feel like the interactions really paid off and I am happy with the ideas. 

The first individual I interviewed was a mother of four with no time. She currently exists in the market for meal plans and diet education. She Would love the opportunity to learn what she needs to be eating but faces an issue that can not be fixed just by reading meal plans. She thought that it might be beneficial to incorporate a way for consumers to have the food prepared for them and delivered. This reminds me of Blue Apron which offers meals delivered for individuals and families. I asked her if she has heard of the company and she said yes. However, she feels that the company is too expensive and only offers 3 meals per person meaning she will have to prepare meals for 4 days out of the week or just eat out. 

The second interviewee thought it would be a good idea to start a chain of healthy food prep kitchens where people could stop by at their convenance and pick up farm grown organic products that are already packaged for individual meals. I think this could bed a neat trend to start and it could even disrupt the market but I think it will be very hard to get recognized and compete against local grocery chains and meal services that already exist. You could make this product interring to consumers by offering meals that are customizable. For instance, one customer can opt to have three meals a week for a family of 2 or 8, while another customer might need 7 meals a week for a family of 3.  The meals would have to be respectfully proportional to the quantity with discount incentives. 

Third person wanted the demon love child on Lulu Lemon, dicks sporting goods, and a fresh food market. The fast one stop place where you can purchase everything health related, even foods.  Although this idea is neat, I don’t believe it will service in a market that has established online convenience. I suppose if the company started online and them moved to a heavy populated city, it would become trendy and popular. The more I think about the shops the more enjoyable of an idea it becomes. Imagine like a community center that promotes nothing but community engagement and health.  

Based on the feed back I received I have a feeling that my company can really grow and expand into many different markets. I see a lot of different strategies that can be implemented here and a lot of workable business plans. For me, I think expanding the market in the nature discussed by the interviewees will be very demanding and difficult. My biggest concerns are the disruption in the market. Will the company require a major adjustment to move from a social media platform to a physical market. Obviously there are a lot of variables to be weighed here and further research must be conducted before I can actually say “yes, these are viable options for the business.”

New Market.

Meals that are prepped and ready, sent to consumers or available for pick up. 

This might be difficult to enter the market, especially Because it’s a lot of upfront costs. I think it would be worth while to create partnerships with companies that already exist in the market and work with that company to offer discounts to consumers. I’m not interested in completely entering the market but I’d be interested in working with a company that already has some consumer presence.

Additionally, meal preparation is often times geared to a specific lifestyle type of person. Assuming that the average American spends $15 on a meal is great but what about consumers that face financial hardship and eat unhealthy foods because its cheaper. At Mcdonalds you can purchase an entire meal for less than $8 so why would you buy meals for $15? Different purchase levels would need to be established to allow customers to purchase meals that cost anywhere from $3-$25, meaning that the product would need to be prepared in bulk so that the company doesn’t lose money. This obviously yeilds a high waste rate because It’s never guaranteed that a consumer will purchase all of the food being sold. For instance, If you are selling meal kits to consumers and if you’re advertising $5 a meal, you’d have to purchase product in bulk so that it only cost you $3 a meal to make. Purchasing things in bulk can be a huge risk because it means that there is a specific shelf life. 

I’ve began to realize that this market can be unpredictable and can yield high productivity costs. The induction into this new market can be very costly and destructive for a company if they’re not ready. 

I had a hard time identifying three people in this market because I couldn’t connect with anyone who uses meal delivery services. So unfortunately I must do additional research before I can locate the people on this market. The person I interviewed in the first round for existing market said that she was interested in the market but she had not explored it. 

23A – Your Venture’s Unfair Advantage

This assignment was very difficult for me because I don’t have a lot of resources at the moment, or at least not that I could think of. My business has been “hypothetical” in terms of getting everything set up but I don’t actually have a product to represent the brand. I think I fell short of the 10 resources requested.

The list:

1. Online presence
1. Online presence is growing of course but I started tracking my journey to health about six months ago. In this time I’ve gained hundreds of followers that enjoy learning about my journey and they seek out guidance. This resource is exremely valuable because it has an unlimited reach. With social media, people are interacting with you from all over the world so you don’t have the challenge of demographics. The “retail” aspect of my business would be promoted online as well, allowing me to reach a larger audience. Right now this is considered to be rare because other companies are trying to promote health and weightless through supplements and not support or knowledge. Companies show results that are unattainable with just diet pills, its false advertisement at its finest. It’s also rare to have a strong online presence that promotes health for no other reason than to help others. It’s not hard to copy at all but its hard to understand. Most people don’t understand the value in education and support thus, there is not an online presence for trainers who support education and support. There might be similar products on the market but not many. I’ve started to see a disturbance in the market as consumers seek healthy alternatives. Consumers are no longer ok with what their being sold and are pressing for a change. Companies face heat from consumers that want natural products with no preservatives. Although I am not panning on selling food or nutrition, at the moment, I do predict that all people need is knowledge and then they will have the power to make their own changes.
2. Personal results and story
1. I’ve gained followers by sharing my journey with the world. People actively seek guidance from people who have felt the same struggles. I’ve noticed an increased trend in peoples desire to understand and develop their lifestyle and they seek fitness health and wellness trainers like myself. Although I’ve only lost 25 pounds, the results speak for themselves and thats what intrigues people. This is rare and important because its not something offered by most companies. You can not go to a business and see the growth from day one to success. Its influential from consumers and It also creates a sense of trust. I’d never advertise something to a customer unless I’m willing to do it or have the ability to do it. 
3. Access to educational material
1. As a university student I have access to a lot of research articles published around the world. These research articles play a huge roll in the development of my products. This is important because it allows me to back up my products with scientific research. Companies don’t spend a lot of time providing actual data to consumers and I believe thats exactly why this aspect is most important. If I am to make a purchase I want to make sure I know the inside and out of the product and what it can do for me. I am not a person to blindly purchase something that can not be backed up by research. I am currently disappointed with the availability of food guides. Companies are promoting “Keto” plans for long term goals which is actually incredibly unhealthy for the body and can create serious health concerns, but companies don’t advertise that because they know the results are legit and people can easily drop 10-30 lbs on a keno diet. A keto diet is not a long term solution so with the weight loss you will be subject to weight gain if you switch back to a normal diet. Additionally, there are companies out there that promote wight loss through cutting calories, which is known to be affective. It is not healthy to cut calories down to a level that is not sustainable for muscle growth and weight loss. My products are long term and do not offer a “band-aid” approach. Setting consumers up with the materials to lead a healthy and productive life is not hard but the market has become over inflated with money driven companies that do not have a humanistic approach. 
4. Personal fitness guides
1. This is where you start to “tread in someone elses water” for lack of better terms. The market is in my opinion over populated by applications and co plans that sell diet plans and fitness guides. This of course allows me to create a disturbance by offering a humanistic approach to the market. Promoting knowledge will bring power and thats what sets my company apart. Additionally, no one else offers a support system in conjunction with their products. With UDiety you get access to a blog where you can share your stories and support others in their journey, and vise versa. 
5. Meal guides
1. Companies like Blue Apron offer the actual meals for consumers and it’s really expensive. I don’t plan on offering meal kits because I believe consumers have more savings power from just having knowledge and then making the conscious decision to prepare meals of their choice. With my diet plans, I introduce foods that are healthy and nutritious and help promote specific benefits. Consumers who know what to buy will have an easier time finding the products at a discounted price or in bulk. 
6. Open availability 
1. The best part of my service is that advisors are readily available to help make customers dreams a reality. I have four other individuals that work under me to provide the same support that I’d offer to customers. Right now a team of five can manage 16-20 people and dedicate a 30 minute time slot for each person. This means that my business can essentially grow to over 100 people before I have to expand and recruit new people. 
7. Starting capital
1. Starting capital is important. My starting capital is knowledge and skill. I have the ability to use resources from school to supply the knowledge and I have a talent for art and creativity to create the actual meal guides. Since the products are digital they will not cost anything to make, just man hours. So to start this journey all I need is to focus on the why and incorporate that into guides. Working with consumers directly to identify weak points in their lifestyle also comes at a low cost.

For me my most important resource is actually tied between educational resources and online presence because I feel they go hand in hand. I wouldn’t be able to create the product for consumers if I didn’t have the educational resources to back me up, it would just be opinionated meal guides that won’t provide results. On the other side of this, You also have online presence. I wouldn’t have a client base if I didn’t have the 600-800. Followers that I do have. That number is also expected to grow and my products produce results for people. The results can be shared through social media which will further my online presence. Both of these are very important because it plays into what sets my company apart from the rest. 

22A – Elevator Pitch No. 3

22A – Elevator Pitch No. 3

UDiety Lifestyle Health and Wellness Co.

This pitch was a lot easier this time around because of the feedback I had received. The one thing I struggle with is memorizing the entire script that I've created however I've tried to create work arounds as suggested. I also took the advice given and focused more on what the product can do for the customer instead of just talking about the product. I tried to keep it brief and still require some customer focus by asking questions that inflict emotion in the consumer.
Personally, I like the elevator pitch that I did last time but I used feedback to create this one so hopefully it does better. I restructured my entire elevator pitch to include questions relevant to the product instead of an analogy or comparison which I tried last time. I got feedback that the opening was a bit confusing to follow so I decided to create easy to follow questions.

21A- reading reflection No. 2

My favorite business book by far is Cognitive Surplus by Clay Shrinky. 

For me, this book has been very influential In the way we look at our world. His books works like an owners manual for humanity, opening up opportunity to build a better world.  

The book opens with an explanation about proportional times set aside for employees during the industrial revolution. Which was not that long ago in terms of our country. The eight hours allotted for work, sleep, and personal development or free time, is something that that had been overlooked. Yet, with the added time that we’ve secured an interesting phenomenon is beginning to appear. 

With the shifts in generations you have less people watching television now then ever before, according to Shirky. The younger generation is focusing on interactive media that has been created by the increases in technology. Shirky is very optimistic in his stance on the power of social media and influence.  He looks at the power of social influence and evaluates how it can positively impact our work in future technological landscapes. 

Shrinky also takes the opportunity to show the shift in how we as a population  handle time management in conjunction with the work force and technology. With the growth of technology and social media people are being paid to work towards an idea or something non tangible vs needing to physically make a product to sell. This shift has been happening world wide for many years and it has been fascinating to watch. With these shifts and new adaptations to the work force, there has also been a rise in acceptance for lower quality standards.  

I found humor in his explanation of wikipedia, Shirky stated that a majority of our attention has shifted to the online platform where we, as consumers, are currently experiencing the most important shift in social change. Consumers are working with interactive media to not only consume media but also produce and share it, much like wikipedia. Shirky believes that with this level of involvement from consumers, we now are apart of a globally interconnected group(s). 

My exercise for this class would be to try and live in a world for three days without any significant connection to technology. I'd like to gage the evolution of our dependency on social media. Can you get all the information you need about what is going on in today's society just by simply watching television? Can you identify any factors that might have lead to the shift that Shrinky pointed out? 

For me, my biggest "aha" moment was when Shrinky talked about the decreasing television audience across the younger age group. It makes sense and its easy to see why but I grew up in a time where TV was super important and it was always playing in my house, regardless of the material on. It's just very impactful to witness these shifts happen right before my eyes and take a moment to reflect. 

20A – Growing Your Social Capital

It's Who You Know, Not What You Know

1) One person must be a domain expert in your industry.

There is a reputable company called Women's Best that supplies diet supplements, protein shakes, amino acids, workout gear, and diet plans. Woman's best has dominated the industry over the past 4 years and is now known world wide. This company is not exactly like mine because I have interest in natural products which they do not advertise. 

I sent an email out to the company just as I did the other companies but I did not hear back. I will update this portion if the company responds. Unfortunately I didn't have any luck getting any one else to respond for this portion either. 

2) One person must be an expert on your market.

Roxy, owner of voxanddaubs and supplier of herbal life nutrition, was the first person that I reached out to. Roxy has been working in the industry for 7 years and is considered to be an expert int the nutrition market and has just entered the fitness market 3 years ago. I contacted Roxy via Instagram because I had followed her fitness journey for quite sometime. Roxy is looking for parents to help her business grow and help spread nutritious products. I had a phone call with Roxy and we talked for a while about goals and what I envision in my business idea. Roxy spoke about her journey and how she found herbal life and ultimately how she started her own business. I am going to start working with Roxy to further improve the market. I hope to learn important hands on business management and strategies. I also hope to gain a better understanding of the market so that I can develop my products accordingly.  

3) One person must be an important supplier to your industry

Emily Skye is a well known name in the personal trainer and fitness industry. Emily built her fitness business almost a decade ago and has become a top supplier of fitness guides and advice. I contacted Emily via her website and she responded in three business days. I just wanted to ask her what important changes she's had to endure since her start as a lifestyle coach. I also wanted to know what advice she had to someone that is entering the market and also prioritizing education. Emily was very kind in her response and provided a lot of helpful insight. One specific piece of advice given by Emily has stuck with me; "With a company based on social media you have the advantage of billions of customers world wide, however, this can also be overwhelming. Stick to the objective and update your goals regularly. Reflect on the customers response to your product and keep their interest in mind."

I am excited most by the opportunity provided by Roxy, this is going to be the best way to network as I learn the market for each element of my business. I think my business plan needs to be a three part process that starts off offering simple basic plans and dominating one area before moving on to the next. This became clear from Roxy and Emily as they described their journey. 

19A – Idea Napkin No. 2

Second Shot at Idea Napkin No. 2

1) You. 

I am a passionate an driven business woman with many ideas. I enjoy teaching and helping others which is why I've worked tirelessly my entire life to incorporate both values into my business pursuits. I've always been really good at developing solutions and goals, I hope to one day find a crossroad between law, solutions, and education. UDiety plays a important role in health by providing people with specific dietary plans and educational material. One day, further into my legal career, I hope to work on bills that relate to health, education, and wellness. 

2) What are you offering to customers?

When life gets busy it can be difficult to maintain interest in heath and fitness. Interest is they key word here because adjustments can be made to allow ability to continue to exist. 

UDiety works to help people gain interest by educating, supporting, and developing lifestyle goals/plans. 

Ive illustrated it on a napkin:

3) Who are you offering it to?

This product is honestly for almost any demographic, the age could range from young athletes, students, business men and women, Families, anyone with a busy lifestyle or poor  diet habits. Although each customer has their individual reasons, they usually fall under; weight, stress, anxiety, health concerns, depression, money, ext....

4) Why do they care?

Customers care because its important and factually supported. The harmful foods that we consume on an every day basis lack vital nutriance that your body needs to sustain a productive healthy life. Customers will pay for "green" products and high quality as long as they fall under a affordable price. Also, customers are starting to become aware of false companies that sell products life Fit tea, diet pills, waste trainers, ext... Hopefully we disrupt the market as its fragile and offer factual informative information.

5) What are your core competencies?

I have experience and passion on this idea which is very important for innovation and success. I am really good at approaching problems and finding opportunities within. 

I do believe these elements fit together and strengthen each other. I think drawing out the plan and evaluating each element separately really helped to further develop the products and strengthening the elements. The weakest part is where to start honestly. You have to grow a customer clientele at the right speed without sacrificing important features like environmentally friendly. I also struggle with the support aspect because its not a product that is necessarily purchasable. The blog/ advise sections are there to feel motivated and not alone, It will hopefully create customers for life. The Support section would require an account on our website and can sign up for emails regarding product sales and coupons on products in part one and two. 

Feedback on my last napkin idea was to be more descriptive and draw out each aspect which is what I tried to do here. I think this time around went much better and I actually feel really good about the structure of the plan. My plan defiantly feels stronger and organized now and I can see the different steps and connections. 

17A- Elevator Pitch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc7E6T5bXjw&t=21s



The last pitch I did lacked guidance and direction. I had no idea what to put in my pitch and I was so worried about time that I couldn't focus on the items at hand. I felt rushed and very over pressed in the sense that I was rushing through the pitch. With this elevator pitch I tried to appeal, align, and educate the customer all at once. I feel like this pitch was marginally better then the last and might actually be a seller If I redo it for the purpose of my business in the future. I changed the structure of the pitch, first starting with a topic that is well known and inspiring, individuals who are facing obstacles that are viewable to the audience. This gives motivation, something along the lines of "If someone with no legs can win a running marathon in the olympics than I can make simple changes to my life" obviously it goes beyond just doing it but that is the first step in anything: the Motivation to begin.

18A- Creating a Customer Avatar

For purposes of this assignment I've went ahead and created a customer profile. Information about customer is listed below:
Name: Maggie Lowe
Age: 23
profession: Mother, student, bartender
HomeTown: Las Angeles, California
Current location: Boulder, Colorado

Bio: Maggie, was born and raised in California with five siblings and a farm of animals which is rare to find in Las Angeles. Maggie moved to Colorado with her family when she was 12 and struggled to adjust to the new life. Maggie suffered from location anxiety and depression after the move. With the anxiety came other issues with her health like high blood pressure and weight fluctuation. Now, she developed psychological issues with her self identity which amplified her depression. Maggie graduated high school early and went on to college at the University of Colorado but dropped out after one semester. Maggie became a new mother at 18 and felt like she couldn't focus on school and life, she was overwhelmed and still suffering from anxiety. After stepping back from school, Maggie started bartending late nights trying to pay the bills for her and her new born.

Maggie and I are a bit similar, the bartender part is a piece out of my life, however, I never dropped out of college. I added this because its a reality that is all too common in young women who suffer from depression and anxiety. I thankfully had a support system that gave me strength right when I thought about quitting, actually, right before I even started. I have moved a lot in my life but never across country. I put this detail in because I could feel this happening to someone, especially during the housing crisis in California. I've actually never met anyone named Maggie, the name just came to mind out of the blue. The opportunity for this customer would be to start by adding small lifestyle changes where they might fit. Each change will promote a healthier mind and life balance, helping to relax the mind. Anxiety in this case is a disease that can be helped by starting with the stomach, "YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT". After the diet is under control we can move on to phase two, exercise. with exercise we can create a plan where Maggie can work out with her child near. At home workout guides can be best for new mommies or mommies with toddlers because it allows for bonding and promotes health in the child too. (Obviously kids won't be able to use weights or do crazy exercises but they can follow mom or dads movements and work out on their own little mat with matching outfits.  This is just one example of how the plan can be completely adjustable per lifestyle. After the support system is introduced the customer will start to feel powerful, after all knowledge is power. Thats all Udeity co is about, we sell items that promote knowledge and we give customers the support to turn that knowledge into power with our nutrition and fitness plan. The idea here is to create a family that will allow you to be the best version of yourself, with support that is inexpensive. We will inspire customers to reach further and do more, they will feel like a deity.

16A –What’s Your Secret Sauce?

1) Describe five ways in which you think you have human capital that is truly unique.

1. I am really good at problem solving and identifying various solutions. I usually take a step back and further investigate the situation surrounding the issue being addressed. I am essentially looking at the bigger picture. 

2. I have great attention to detail. I have a photographic memory and I associate a lot of memories and thoughts with an image. I can recall that memory/image and identify any details that might be weak. 

3. I can be very empathetic if I enter into a situation. I am able to understand the perspective of each party involved because I usually stay removed. I know when and what to compartmentalize. 

4. I can be artsy and imaginative which can bring new ideas and solutions to the table. I am always reading and learning which keeps my mind busy. I bring those thoughts together sometimes when I am working on a project. 

5. I have great situational awareness. I am dynamic in my roles which allows for a high degree of flexibility. 


Interview with my mother :)

I'd say that my mother is the person who knows me best. I decided to start with her because I new her answers were going to be sweet and comforting. 

My mother said that I am kind and caring, I extend myself to anyone who needs my help. I have a big heart of gold and I want to share my good fortunes with the world. We shared a bit of a laugh when she said "yeah, but that disappeared when you turned 5 and learned how to argue and win." She was referring to my attention to detail because I could accurately recall previous situations and use them as an advantage. I actually see this in 100% of my daily life and its fascinating to kinda hear it from my own mother.

Interview with my husband-

My husband and I usually communicate with a grain of salt. We are comfortable with each other and we respect truth above all else, so I knew he would tell me his direct observations and thoughts.
In this interview my husband said that I over extend myself because  I want to help everyone and also leave my mark on the world.  He also spoke about my impressive ability to keep going and accomplish everything but I have to learn what a break Is. I am different  because I bring that sense of accomplishment with me and I empower others to be accomplished. 
My husband also hit home on my memory and said that I have a "almost disgusting, and borderline superhuman, I need to call Charles Xevier on you right now, memory capacity which stores everything." Although this probably doesn't make sense to anyone else, I know this as a complement with a marvel reference which is how we talk. I heard "It's scary how well you remember everything even from 15 years ago. I think you might be a superhero, I love you."

Interview with my little brother


My little brother grew up getting agonized by me so this might be a little biased, haha! My brother is two years older then me and I totally expected to get a "you were an awful child" but instead I got met with complements. My brother said that I act like everyone is family and that I will help anyone who needs it. I always protected him and also forced him to man up and face truths. My brother said that he expected me to sign up to be a CSI or something because I am great at finding things and drawing conclusions. I'd often times find evidence that he was lying and I'd brake down his argument. This is what changed his mind to make him believe lawyer was the right career path for me. I actually remember this memory because It is the reason I started studying law, I wanted so bad to catch him in a lie and prove that he was wrong... I was like 7 haha. Sorry little Bro!

My cousin Shayla 

I grew up with Shayla and her twin sister Shantel. We shared the same bed room for the first 14 years of our lives and we did everything together. Our mothers were single parents that also happened to be sisters so they naturally trusted and depended on each other. living with people your whole life will teach you a lot about them. Shayla said that I was very messy but managed to somehow keep track of everything. I get this, It's because of my photographic memory. She also spoke to the fact that I always lead everything and how she watched me develop that skill when I went to high school. I joined leadership organizations and honors organizations and I also helped lead the cheer squad so I totally understand the leadership trait. 





My cousin Shantel 

I grew up with Shantel and her twin sister Shayla. We all spent a lot of time together but Shayla and I were always closer. Reaching out to Shantel wasn't an issue, I was just worried that we wouldn't have a lot of memories to share. What she was able to speak to was my ability to help. I always offered to help her and I even tried to involve her in group activities. This kind of ties back to what my mother said about me trying to spread my successes to other people. I will help people set goals and develop plans to achieve that goal no matter how large or small. Shantel always felt like she was left out but in reality she was just shy and quiet. I remember working with her to help boost confidence and get her involved with the group. 




I think all of these interviews displayed legit traits of mine that I might have not known about. It's interesting to see how each and every interaction played a role in the development of these traits. Now things like attention detail help me further my legal aspirations. I do think these interviews were spot on and I am amused by the outcomes. I have spent a lot of time writing and reflecting. This is how I came up with my traits listed 1-5. I don't think I would change any other answers I gave, I actually stand with them more now after the conversations I had.