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. 

15A – Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 2

Interviews:



Individual 1.

-A classmate of mine, Sally, often times brings a small leather designer bag to classes and events. Her and I often times get caught up in short conversation.
Sally and I ran into each other yesterday and I asked if she could be one of my interviewee's, and if I could have approximately 10 minutes of her time.  I noticed she had her designer bag and a pair of designer sneakers and I decided to ask the questions geared to her life style displayed in front of me.

Question 1: I wanted to know her decision process when it came to picking out a specific pair of shoes. I asked her to pick between Coach, Louis Vuitton, and Dolce Gabbana sneakers and why.
Answer: "My first choice is Louis Vuitton, the quality has always been top notch, their products are spacious, and they depict a desirable lifestyles.
I wanted to gain more information on how they depicted this "Desirable lifestyle" so I took the question for an alternative spin.
Question 2 (1A):What about the lifestyle is desirable?
Answer: "Well, you always catch the glimpse of a comfortable lifestyle that displays success and wealth. Additionally, in most of their advertising ploys you see a relaxing kind of lifestyle.
Reflection: This was also very interesting lifestyle. To me I understood this as " I see an appealing lifestyle that I wish to someday have and I purchase the product to get me closer to that lifestyle even if they don't share a direct connection, causation vs correlation.
Question 3:Which platform do you use to purchase your purses like Luise Vuitton and what are three contributing factors for your decision?
Answer: "It honestly depends. I've found some excellent purses at boutiques but I often times walk away empty handed if they over priced. I search for deals and that usually takes me to my purchase decision. If I know a designer is customer focused and offers an acceptable return policy then I might buy the item online just to avoid the hassle of having to shop for it. Third, where are the deals at? I think the best deal can definitely sway a crowd to purchase, if the designer is reputable."
Question 4: What can turn a purchase sour, do you ever cross a brand completely off of your list?
Answer: "The absolute worst thing in any purchase is awful customer service. Aside from customer awareness, I'd also side with its lifespan and durability. I have stopped purchasing purses from a specific designer because their bags had a habit of always changing colors or fraying.



Sally gave a lot of insight as to how customers shop and ultimately make a purchase decision. In this instance I observed the various thoughts that lead to the purchase of a designer purse that has a lot of use. Sally seemed to be concerned about price and quality above all else. This makes total sense when you look at It from a customers perspective. These designer bags cost upwards of three grand, id hope they have a long life in my closet. Also, my purse serves me every day and carries my most important  items. I'd double think purchasing additional purses from that designer if it showed a pattered of short life, or if the company has terrible customer service. This can relate to my product because I can start to draw correlations between price and life span. How long should I update my product? How long should a specific product last? What is the market for this product and how can I make mine commutative?


Individual 2.

This week I sat down with the manager at my gym. I see him 5x a week and we always get into conversations about cars. I drove to the gym one day in my husbands car  (Porsche) and Eddie happened to really love the car. We were able to always spark up a quick conversation when I would check in before my workout. This time when we started to talk about cars I had the idea to investigate his purchase decisions and see if I could draw comparisons to my market. Obviously cars are completely different from health and workout equipment so they won't compare much, patterns may overlap and that is what I am looking for. In an earlier chat, Eddie has shared the fact that he drives a Volkswagen GTI Sport and his family was big into racing. His father actually owned a European auto mall and had a lot of high end racing cars like Porsche.

Question 1: I wanted to know his decision process when it came to picking out a specific pair car.  I wanted to know if there was a model preference over Make, or if any model under a specific company will be acceptable.
What is your first purchase choice if you could one of those cars that your father sold? Would you possibly pick a cheaper model if they specs are comparable?
Answer: "My first choice is a Porsche 3GTS Turbo. If I were purchasing this car and I had the funds readily available I most likely would have made up my mind before hand. If I go to the dealership and I see a different model with comparable specs I'd entertain the thought and maybe compare returns. What kind of return on investment can I afford to get from this purchase and will it beneft me in any way?"
Reflection:This was an interesting thought. A large purchase is usually made months in advance, in the customers mind. Does this apply for situations where the product cost is low and easily disregarded?
Question 2:Okay, so what led you to purchase your current car?
Answer: "I was in the market for a Mustang, I thought it was a fast car and I was behind the muscle. When I was shopping and looking at cars I also tested some cars that were on the lot. I had read some articles on reddit about the power behind the Volkswagen GTI the day before so I wanted to test drive it and see what all of the desirability was about. When I drove the car I absolutely fell in love with the comfort and feel of the drive. It was easy to effortless to control and put me in complete control of the experience. I bought the car!"
Reflection: This was very crucial for me! What this told me was that the customer can have a pretty good idea of what they want and still be swayed to a different choice. So who's mind is completely made up about anything?
Question 3:Would you trade your car in for a different one within the same price range, what went wrong?
Answer: No. I made a great choice that was backed up with passion. I would definitely interested in testing other cars and maybe owning other cars but right now I am ok with the choice I made. It's a likable color, its roomie, it has a disguised power.

Individual 3.


Marri is a new fitness family member of mine, I refer to my gym buddies as family. Marri has been rocking new gym clothes this past month and she's been talking none stop about them, even so much so that I purchased some too, haha! Today, during our jog, I asked if I could interview her about her purchase and experiences so far. I am invested in this because its very close to what my business idea is. These questions will help me understand her purchasing decision process.

Question 1: I wanted to know what brands she preferred for fitness and exercise and how she made her purchases.
Answer: " I have used various brands over the past few years and I have learned what to look for in the specific item. For instance, I need stretchy durable pants that allow me to move with freedom. I need the material to stick on so that it doesn't interrupt my workout or cause injury. Although something might look supper fashionable it might not be the best choice because it will lack a necessity like support. I do most of my shopping in boutiques because I have to try the clothes on do basic workout movements to see if there is any interruption to the feel or flow. I usually am disappointed by purchases made online if they're size specific."
Reflection: I aligned with this and it helped me kind of re focus my thinking a bit. before, I had been trying to focus my advertisements online with social media without thinking about a retail focus. In reality there are shoppers, including myself, that prefer going in store vs buying a clothing item online. This brought up an addition question.
Question 2: For the price that you paid would you trade the clothes out for a different brand, even if it meant getting fewer items?
Answer: Ultimately yes, I would get a different pair of leggings just because I don't feel like the sizes are accurate for my size. This can really hurt a brand if the stretch isn't there or if it exist in all of the wrong places.

From this I feel like I identified a lot of weak spots to work on for my business idea. I also feel like I gained a lot as well and I can now spot advantage points. Each segment helped to identify a completely different perspective as if we could connect with the customer. I think each and every answer given was perfect and couldn't of had gone better. This by far has been the biggest eye opening assignment yet!

14A – Halfway Reflection

1) Tenaciousness is a competency. 

What are the behaviors that you have used (or developed) to keep up with the requirements of this course? 

-This course requires a lot of time management and planning. Each module requires a significant amount of research and dedication to complete all of the requirements. Most modules also require three or more interviews with individuals who might help further develop your perspective business. With this course I’ve found its best to stick to a very strict schedule. Aside from the schedule, I’d also suggest keeping a notebook or journal with you at all times. This can apply for everyday life situations outside of this course. A notebook has helped me with idea retention and devising value from random ideas. Specifically in this course I have utilized my notebook for capturing conversations with people whom I interview.

I’d review the course syllabus from day one so that you can dedicate the amount of time that is necessary. Keep in mind that you have assignments due every week and quizzes as well. Along side the quizzes and assignments, there are also three biographies that you must read and report on. 

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 often times lose sight of my goals or start to feel like I am in over my head. This is usually as a result of exhaustion or just overall seniorities, either way, I always feel like reaching my goals are impossible. These past few months I’ve had to buckle down and stick to a strict schedule so that I complete all requirements. It was important that I properly schedule relaxation in between work and study, an overwhelmed Tara is not productive at all. This can be tricky to keep the right attitude but it’s important to keep going. Stick to the grind and make adjustments and cuts where it is necessary. I think it is really important to constantly evaluate your priorities to gain a better understanding on your development. 

3) Three tips. 

1. In order to develop a tenacious mindset you have to know your priorities. I advise that you write your goals down and compare them to your priorities. 
2. Dedicate time to creating a planner or calendar for the course. Time management is a very important skill to have especially when it comes to fostering other skills related to a tenacious mindset. I don’t think it’s s possible to stay on top if things if you are not cautious about time management.
3. Go to the lectures any chance you get! Feeling involved or apart of something “larger” is a great feeling and can often times help to realign your passion for the material. If you’re unable to attend the live lectures at least watch them online when they post. Watching the videos will also help you keep up and stay current in the course. 

13A – Reading Reflection No. 1 Submit Assignment

Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson

I work for Apple and absolutely love the company so this book was my absolute first choice. Steve Jobs is an amazing and unique brilliant mind, who can teach the world a thing or two about entrepreneurship. Although I will be analyzing the book and his impact as an entrepreneur, I also will go into a bit of detail about his intellect and human tendencies.

There are a few ways that you could be surprised by Steve In this book. The most obvious is how transparently human he becomes in the book. There are multiple sets of photos in the book that speak to his relationship with Lourine Powell Jobs and his kids, it gives you the impression of a very “human” person. This is a vastly different view of Steve as compared to the media stories. In the media and in his presentations, Steve was portrayed as a very manipulative and cold, even when his stories were meet with infatuated applauses. The book talks about him growing up around drugs and various other social issues, these make him all the more human. 

The most admirable thing about Steve is his perseverance in the face of adversity, his ability to recognize his own failures and being realistic about why the failures existed. Two examples come to mind for this, one was his ousting from Apple in the early-mid 90’s. He had a few options at that time but what he did was sell all but one share of the company so that he could remain invested in the company. The one share that he kept enabled him to sit in on shareholder meetings and also contribute his thoughts on the business ideas. The second example which is kinda anecdotal; during on of the Mac World expos, as Apple was on the brink of bankruptcy  they partnered with Microsoft for a cash infusion and licensing deals but Steve had Bill’s image on a big projector screen, as a result it made Steve look like a very small person as Bill’s image was cowering over. This was displayed with the 1984 commercial which made it almost sort of comical, because Apple had pushed out the commercial 15 years ago about Apple being revolutionary and standing above and how they were going to beat down “big brother”. In this critical presentation, Bill gates is towering  over the crowd in a “big-brother-esk” fashion. Steve recounts this as one of the worst stage presentations ever. He is able to recognize the impact of this on him personally and the message that it sent to his consumers.

His relationship with his oldest daughter Lisa Brennen Jobs, He fought tooth and nail about not being her father. When paternity test inevitably came back he still pushed back quite a bit, still very stand offish and also missing various child support payments. Overall, Steve was not a very good father to Lisa durning the early years of her life, they were able to rectify this and have a pretty nice relationship. His lack of awareness and the value of relationships with his family.

I might of already touched on his encounters with Adversity and failure, however I’d like to further address this. Another clear cut example of this is again his ousting from Apple. Steve was ousted from apple and was facing adversity in his own board, and his board of directors no longer aligned with him, forcing him out of his own company that he built. The second thing, after he left  apple and started NEXT computing, the company promised to be this revolutionary computing system for educational systems, in reality they didn’t have anything to actually go on. Steve actually spent thousands of dollars on the logo for the company without having an actual product to back it up. Steve was so focused on developing the pitch and the sale, he didn’t care about wether or not he had a product. Steve knew that he could manipulate the media and those around him to give the perception that he had this revolutionary product. 

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

intellectual hoursepower is most certainly one of his largest competencies, his insane ability to learn on demand and keep learning. I’d also say another competency is his ability to deal with ambiguity as aforementioned. His customer focus and managerial courage are also really good examples of his competencies. 

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

I’d say the most confusing or challenging part of this was the presence of Ronald Wayne, the third founder of Apple. Suddenly finding out (I already knew, this is just the overall perspective from a new reader because nothing really confused me.) that this large company that is loved and held at a high, has a third founder that is never spoken about. Whaat also contributes to this is the fact that Ronald Wayne is actually quoted to be one of the most “unluckiest” people alive, giving up his stock in the company that is now valued at over $90 Billion dollars. 

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

If I had two questions to ask it would be these:

1. What was your greatest influence or inspiration personally and professionally?

2. (If he is forced to be completely honest) Do you believe that you had this reality distortion field, or the ability to manipulate people? And if you believe that you have this ability, how did you develop it over time? Furthermore, do you think you might have been as successful as an entrepreneur without it?

Why? Well, it helps cultivate the competency and skill to be able to manage expectations the way that he did, its almost an invaluable skill that would benefit any entrepreneur. 

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

Steves Belief was that you worked, and worked, and worked because it’s your responsibility on earth to make a dent in the world, if you’re not doing this then your life is not worth anything.

11A – Idea Napkin No. 1

My name is Tara Belzung and I am in my fourth year here at the University of Florida. I am pretty good at art, I paint and draw but I’ve never explored art as a career. I’m very good at strategic planning, especially when trying to come up with solutions for problems. 

For instance, I helped create a solution plan for the bar I was working at, because we were worst in the district. I’d say that is my best talent, solutions and strategic planning. My aspirations are to help others. My entire life I’ve tried to give assistance and guidance to others when ever possible. I’m very confident in my business idea because it encourages solutions and it also enables me to help others. As a lifestyle expert I can engineer diet, exercise, and lifestyle plans for each individual person. 

2. What are you offering to customers?  I am offering a three part service as a part of UDiety co. First is the health portion, followed by the fitness, and then the support. Customers can bundle the plans or just purchase one, it is completely customizable. As a part of the fitness portion customers can customize their fitness plan and also shop for fitness equipment and clothing. The health service offers diet plans along with diet supplements (amino acids). All of the products will be healthy all natural products. The third part, support, is offered to any customer who purchased product from area one and two. 
3. Who are you offering it to? I am offering the product to anyone who is looking to change their lifestyle. Specifically students, busy mothers, and people who suffer from health/weight issues. Each person suffers from lack of guidance and knowledge, sending them into many unknown directions and often times making it difficult to start their journey. 
4. Why do they care? Each person has their different reasons for this pursuit. It mostly starts with the desire to better oneself or lifestyle. Some people do it for health reasons, others do it for appearance, some people do it for the mental health. I think each individual has their own reason for pursuing a healthier lifestyle and that makes it difficult to identify an exact audience. These people will have to come to you and seek the services of our ycompany. 
5. What are your core competencies? The issues this company will face will be entrance to the market. So far, fitness and health has become a heated topic. Consumers are starting to require that food companies be open and honest about their products. More consumers are pushing for healthier, all natural food options. With the market changes there are different barriers that we will have to overcome. Another issue is with trying to advertise. A majority of the people trying to enter this lifestyle might not know where to start and might be overwhelmed by the options currently available on the market. For instance, there are health pills on the market and “fit tea” that promotes weight loss. There are personal trainers that will tell you anything to try and get you to sign a contract. Often times this will scare customers back into hiding and they will give up on their attempts to get healthy. The challenge will be trying to correct these mistakes made by these companies. 

After writing these five points I have noticed a clear path of connection. It’s obvious to me now where my difficulties lie. All of these aspects have the potential to make the business or break it. I think after identifying the biggest issues, an action plan can be implemented to reach the people that might otherwise steer clear of our services and products. If we educate and leave it to the customers to choose their products.