Forming An Opportunity Belief

Forming An Opportunity


It is my belief that there are major opportunities that currently exist within the health field. A majority of the population in America is considered to be obese and yet no real action is being taken. Society has made it a habit to criticize individuals who are not athletic and fit. However, there has been no real effort made on to ensure that Americans have an option. I know it seems like self control is the only thing that stands between someone who is healthy and fit and someone who is "obese". This is very inaccurate, it is like 10 % self control, the rest has to do with the plethora of fast food advertisements, the cost of unhealthy food in perspective to the cost of healthy food, support systems, horrible retail advertisements with an unrealistic image of the human body.
There are millions of people out there that are currently stuck in a routine and want to be healthy but they don't have the resources available to make the change. It is cheaper to purchase a bottle of soda then it is to purchase a bottle of water. What does this tell consumers? I think this need has seemed from the abundance of fast food chains and unhealthy snacks being advertised on every commercial, billboard, and adds. I recently decided to search for coupons so that I could potentially save money at the grocery store. Did you know that there are little to no coupons that exist for fresh fruits or vegetables? I was able to cut 35 coupons for miscellaneous items like snack cakes and chips. This is a major contributing factor to Americans being so unhealthy. After all, would you rather spend $150 on healthy fruits and vegetables (yes, thats what I spend a week on just the basic items), or would you rather spend next to nothing on junk food and frozen dinners, because you have coupons that will cover a majority of your purchase?  The need for a healthier life style also comes from health and diseases. More Americans are being diagnosed with diseases at a younger age then any other generation. It is said that our life expectancy is higher but most individuals will have to rely on medication for the majority of their lives. Since we can't close our eyes and wish everything away, there are other opportunities that exist to help the average consumer make healthier choices. There are opportunities to educate people about physical fitness and there are opportunities to inspire and motivate people. I am 100% sure that this need exists. Moreover, this need is beginning to come into light with the evolution of social media.

Customer 1:

Allison is 26 years old and is currently working as an interning RN while she is finishing up her medical degree at the University of South Florida. Allison lost her husband to cancer two years ago. Allison and her husband had always lived an active lifestyle and after he passed she picked up extra night shifts at her hospital and started to bartend as well to compensate for the lack of income. Over the past year Allison has encountered depression and  stopped eating all together. When she did eat, her meals were always unbalanced which did not help her depression at all. Most nights she would eat fast food out of convenience and cost efficiency. Allison forgot about herself and dedicated herself to her work.  I met Allison at the gym 6 weeks ago and we've been working out together ever since. When conducting the interview I wanted to gain an understanding as to the progress of her journey. Is anything keeping her from achieving her goals? How long has she been working on her goals and what prompted her to start? Has she tried before, if so, what caused her to stop? According to Allison, she was lacking a support system and was not educated about nutrition and fitness. She first noticed an issue when she appeared in a family photo and her cousins asked why she wasn't in it, they didn't recognize her. I offered to educate her about what I've learned during my journey, I provided tips and tricks, and I helped her create a flexible schedule. I was curious to know if she would purchase this if it were a product being sold. Allison agreed that the support system would set the company apart, as most companies only sell for a profit, they don't actively try to stay engaged with the customer. After gaining this insight I went ahead and connected Allison with a few people who currently exist in the Health and Nutrition field. Upon connecting with these people she was able to purchase gym guides and nutrition guides. She found healthy recipes which cost very little to make and she was able to incorporate the meals into her busy lifestyle. So, far Allison is satisfied with the support system we've created together. According to her, the support system alone made all the difference in the world because she was being held accountable.


Customer 2:

Zachary Bonner, my husband, is the second person I interviewed. Zach started a non profit at the age of six years old and has spent his entire life helping others. He spent seven months walking across America and has been in relatively good shape because of his active lifestyle. In recent years, my husband has began to feel exhausted with the day to day activities and has lost the motivation to do things he otherwise enjoyed before, like cooking. Zach works 50+ hours a week along with school and foundation responsibilities. Over the past three years he has gained as much weight as I have; 80 lbs, and he has encountered health issues like high blood pressure, trouble breathing, and depression. He has had a hard time focusing at work and came to me for ideas. This was the start of our interview and my very first question was Why? His reason was different from mine. Zach wants to be able to focus on projects again and feel smart. Apparently his "brain power" has been lower. I recently offered to train him at the gym for three months to see if he mentally feels any different. Money hasn't been an issue for us in a long time but he is frugal so he struggles to spend a lot of money at one time at the grocery store. During my interview I specifically wanted to know if he had been following my recipes and if he has noticed any changes. Is the need being addressed at all and does he recognize progress? Zach hasn't eaten out at all this past week and as a result has saved money. His time at the gym was short lived because he has anxiety when it comes to being surrounded by people. I asked him if he would use at home gym guides if I sold them at a bundled price with nutrition guides and created a system that is unique to his lifestyle. According to Zach, this could be what sets U-Diety apart from other individuals who are entering this market. To have a personalized guide that also included a strong support system. So far, Zach has been swimming every day and going for a two mile jog four times a week as a part of his personal guides I created.





Customer 3:

I actually walked up to a person I've seen at the gym a few times, her name is Natalie and she has been going to the gym for 6 months. I approached her with a few questions about her lifestyle and the journey she has gone on so far. According to Nat, she started trying to make changes three years ago and has tried every type of weight loss supplement out there. It's taken her three years to get to where she is now because she couldn't find the right information and was not educated about how to body responds to specific foods and stress. Instead of looking at what she was consuming, she tried to instead cover it up by taking "fat burning" pills. I asked her what approach has been most successful in her journey. Here is what she had to say: "Honestly, I fell and got back up a ton of times. I couldn't get a hang of everything, it was way to confusing and time consuming. People were talking about meal prepping and working out 6 times a week. I knew I wouldn't be able to do any of that, I am just not that type of person. When ever I'd search for weight loss help I'd see nothing about others journeys. Instead, I'd see advertisements for "FIT-TEA" and no, it doesn't make you fit." I asked her what materials she currently uses and how she discovered them. According to Natalie, She spent a ton of money on nutrition books. She signed up for gym membership and also signed up for a personal trainer. This helped her remain accountable and also helped her to keep on track. It took longer for her to get onto the right path because three years ago society didn't really speak about healthy lifestyle choices. Now, you can follow the industry and watch it grow on social media.


Honestly, this opportunity was an eye opener and I now want to pursue this route even more than before. I learned that often times people are willing to do anything If they have a support system  and the materials necessary. Natalie spent thousands of dollars trying to make a life style change. This is an indication that the market is fresh and there are opportunities to offer cheaper alternatives. All three interviews hit on the specific need for a support system, even if it is one person, they feel more accountable if they have a support system. This means that no matter what, the support system should always be present in any scenario. Allison proved that anything is possible if you have help and are equip with the resources necessary. She took an already busy schedule and modified it to include very specific life style changes like running and strength training.


I think my original opportunity still exist and right now the market is hot. People are starting to hold society accountable and are requesting more of manufactures. I think that consumer feedback is the most important part of any opportunity. If you're not listening to the consumers then do you really have a market? It's impossible to stay firm in a world that is constantly changing and adapting. If you're not willing to adapt for the consumers need then you've just created an easy entrance in the market for someone else.