The local newspaper I chose for this assignment is the Florida Times-Union, based in Jacksonville, FL. Below are the five articles I found that could present local opportunity:
1. No more loans, Jacksonville tells parking garage firm owing millions
https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20200129/no-more-loans-jacksonville-tells-parking-garage-firm-owing-millions
This parking garage is connected to our Vystar Veteran's Memorial Arena, and has been there since the early 2000s. In recent years, more and more people are opting to not use a parking garage, and instead park elsewhere that may be cheaper or more convenient. Because of the decreasing sales, the owners of the parking garage have been securing loans through the city of Jacksonville in hopes that business will pick up- but it's not. The city is now refusing to give the company any more loans.
The problem is that this parking garage is not making enough money to stay open, so they keep getting loans from the city, but now the city is tired of giving them loans and refuses to give them anymore.
The person that has this problem is the owner of the parking garage. They now either have to come up with the money to pay off all of these loans and stay in business or risk having the garage torn down.
2. Full JEA board to leave by end of February
https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20200128/full-jea-board-to-leave-by-end-of-february
JEA, our electric company here in Jacksonville, is becoming privatized so all of their Board of Directors are leaving by the end of February. This was a decision by them to leave because they don't agree with the privatization, and there are unknowns going into the new way the company will be run. They mayor now has to appoint an entirely new Board.
The problem is that all of our Board of Directors are leaving in a month and now the mayor has to find replacements for all of them.
The person with the problem would be the mayor, because he now needs an entirely new Board within a month.
3. State workers are sounding the call to end poverty wages, stage protest in Jacksonville
https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20200128/state-workers-are-sounding-call-to-end-poverty-wages-stage-protest-in-jacksonville
Workers all over the state of Florida are protesting unfair and unequal wages. The minimum wage is just over $8/hour, which even working a full-time job is not enough to support a family and pay bills. These protests are aiming to make employers aware of just how little these workers are paid, and how they are not able to afford basic necessities because of these wages.
The problem is that the state minimum wage is not a livable wage. Working 40 hours a week at $8.50/hour would only amount to $1,360 a month before taxes. That's not even enough to pay one month's rent in some places.
The people with the problem are the workers that are un/under educated and have to work these minimum wage jobs.
Friday, January 31, 2020
Forming an Opportunity Belief: A Twist on Opportunity Identification
1. I work at a hospital in a very fast growing community. Our hospital is currently an adult hospital, so we aren't able to take any pediatric patients. The nearest pediatric hospital to where we are at is about 30 minutes away. The opportunity that exists here is building a pediatric unit to treat pediatric patients within our growing community.
2. The unmet need here is being able to provide care for pediatric patients so that they don't have to drive 30 minutes into town to receive care. The need is for the pediatric patients and their families. This need is new for this area. When the hospital was first built, the area it was built in was still being built up as well. But over the years the population has grown substantially so there is now a need for a pediatric care unit. I would say I'm 100% sure this is a need that exists.
3. The prototypical customer would be any family with a child under the age of 18 that needs medical attention in this area of town.
4. I talked with my brother who lives in that area who is hoping to start a family with his wife soon. He said that obviously they wouldn't have this need all the time, only some of the time when they have kids and if/when those kids get sick or need medical attention. My brother doesn't currently have this need, but when he starts his family he eventually will have this need. They are currently addressing their future need by trying to locate a closer children's hospital than the one that is 30 minutes away. They don't like that they will still have a ways to drive, because the hospital I work at is only a two mile drive for them, so it would be very convenient for them if that hospital had a children's unit.
I talked with a friend at work at the hospital who has kids and she agrees that we need a pediatric unit. She made the point that not only do the patients need that new unit, but it would provide more jobs for this area as well by adding the new unit. When her kids need medical attention, they have to go to the children's hospital 30 minutes away and she said it's a pain having to drive into town through traffic.
5. I learned that with this opportunity, it not only helps those in the community with kids, but it helps those who need jobs as well, so it's multi-beneficial.
7. I would say 100% of the original opportunity is still there. I think it is more accurate now, because I can now see that it would help more than just the kids and the families of the kids. It would also help other members of the community get a job with a great employer. I feel like you should always take the consumer's feedback into consideration, but still stick with what you know and want in the opportunity.
2. The unmet need here is being able to provide care for pediatric patients so that they don't have to drive 30 minutes into town to receive care. The need is for the pediatric patients and their families. This need is new for this area. When the hospital was first built, the area it was built in was still being built up as well. But over the years the population has grown substantially so there is now a need for a pediatric care unit. I would say I'm 100% sure this is a need that exists.
3. The prototypical customer would be any family with a child under the age of 18 that needs medical attention in this area of town.
4. I talked with my brother who lives in that area who is hoping to start a family with his wife soon. He said that obviously they wouldn't have this need all the time, only some of the time when they have kids and if/when those kids get sick or need medical attention. My brother doesn't currently have this need, but when he starts his family he eventually will have this need. They are currently addressing their future need by trying to locate a closer children's hospital than the one that is 30 minutes away. They don't like that they will still have a ways to drive, because the hospital I work at is only a two mile drive for them, so it would be very convenient for them if that hospital had a children's unit.
I talked with a friend at work at the hospital who has kids and she agrees that we need a pediatric unit. She made the point that not only do the patients need that new unit, but it would provide more jobs for this area as well by adding the new unit. When her kids need medical attention, they have to go to the children's hospital 30 minutes away and she said it's a pain having to drive into town through traffic.
5. I learned that with this opportunity, it not only helps those in the community with kids, but it helps those who need jobs as well, so it's multi-beneficial.
7. I would say 100% of the original opportunity is still there. I think it is more accurate now, because I can now see that it would help more than just the kids and the families of the kids. It would also help other members of the community get a job with a great employer. I feel like you should always take the consumer's feedback into consideration, but still stick with what you know and want in the opportunity.
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
My Entrepreneurship Story
I currently work as a marketing director for one of Beachbody's cast members. For those that don't know what Beachbody is, it's a subscription based program that offers lots of different workouts in video format. It's also a multi-level marketing program where people can become their own "coach" and get people on their team etc. My boss started with Beachbody when it was first starting out as one of the original cast members for the videos. She then started to build a team of people under her that she coaches and motivates. She now has one of the biggest Beachbody teams and she makes over $3 million a year from this. When she first started as a cast member, she was also working as a server straight out of college. In just 3 years, she hit the $1 million club. While multi-level marketing companies aren't really my thing, it is amazing to see how she went from being a struggling server to a millionaire entrepreneur.
As far as why I enrolled in ENT3003, it was required for my graduation, but I also have that entrepreneurial spirit. I know that whatever I do as I get older, I want to be my own boss and work for myself. I hope to learn more about how to be a successful entrepreneur in today's society.
As far as why I enrolled in ENT3003, it was required for my graduation, but I also have that entrepreneurial spirit. I know that whatever I do as I get older, I want to be my own boss and work for myself. I hope to learn more about how to be a successful entrepreneur in today's society.
Thursday, January 23, 2020
ENT Bug List
Bug List Assignment:
1. My Apple TV remote is so small that I constantly lose it.
This bug exists because a smaller remote is cheaper to make and has a sleeker look to it.
2. Every time I buy a new shampoo and conditioner, the conditioner always runs out before the shampoo.
This bug exists because shampoos and conditioners are usually put into the same size container but people with long hair, like myself, use more conditioner than shampoo when we wash our hair.
3. There's always so much traffic going over the Buckman Bridge in the morning on the way to work.
This bug exists because there are so many people living in Jacksonville, and the roads aren't wide enough to accommodate everyone without traffic building up.
4. I work at a hospital and there's always a line to get into the employee garage in the morning.
This bug exists because most people start work around the same time at the hospital and you have to scan your ID badge to get into the garage so it holds people up.
5. When I make my coffee in the morning, it's always cold by the time I get to work.
This bug exists because I don't drink my coffee fast enough in the mornings.
6. I can't charge my phone and use it at the same time because the charging cord is too short.
This bug exists because manufacturers make the cords short so you can't use the phone while it's charging because it's bad for the phone.
7. Most online stores will offer free shipping when you spend so much money, but some stores don't offer free shipping at all.
This bug exists because some stores want to make as much profit as possible and not have to pay for their customer's shipping.
8. Items on Etsy are SO cute but SO much more expensive than items you buy at a store.
This bug exists because Etsy sellers actually make their products so they charge more.
9. Anytime I wear a jacket or hoodie, the pockets always get hung up on door handles when I walk by them.
This bug exists because I guess I walk too close to doors when I walk through them.
1. My Apple TV remote is so small that I constantly lose it.
This bug exists because a smaller remote is cheaper to make and has a sleeker look to it.
2. Every time I buy a new shampoo and conditioner, the conditioner always runs out before the shampoo.
This bug exists because shampoos and conditioners are usually put into the same size container but people with long hair, like myself, use more conditioner than shampoo when we wash our hair.
3. There's always so much traffic going over the Buckman Bridge in the morning on the way to work.
This bug exists because there are so many people living in Jacksonville, and the roads aren't wide enough to accommodate everyone without traffic building up.
4. I work at a hospital and there's always a line to get into the employee garage in the morning.
This bug exists because most people start work around the same time at the hospital and you have to scan your ID badge to get into the garage so it holds people up.
5. When I make my coffee in the morning, it's always cold by the time I get to work.
This bug exists because I don't drink my coffee fast enough in the mornings.
6. I can't charge my phone and use it at the same time because the charging cord is too short.
This bug exists because manufacturers make the cords short so you can't use the phone while it's charging because it's bad for the phone.
7. Most online stores will offer free shipping when you spend so much money, but some stores don't offer free shipping at all.
This bug exists because some stores want to make as much profit as possible and not have to pay for their customer's shipping.
8. Items on Etsy are SO cute but SO much more expensive than items you buy at a store.
This bug exists because Etsy sellers actually make their products so they charge more.
9. Anytime I wear a jacket or hoodie, the pockets always get hung up on door handles when I walk by them.
This bug exists because I guess I walk too close to doors when I walk through them.
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
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