16-Special Sauce

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

·        I am a caring person. I genuinely care about people’s feelings and try to help people in any way I can especially if I see they are struggling with something.

·        I love children. I will play with kids all day and not be annoyed or bored. I think kids are a huge source of happiness.

·        I give good advice. I tend to find it easy to put myself in any situation and give good honest advice to my friends about how I would personally go about solving problems and give alternative ideas to help them.

·        I am very driven and hardworking. I work for what I want, I know what I want and how to get it, so I always have my eye on the goal and strive to get it.

·       I am highly organized, sometimes it's annoying. I can not really procrastinate like some people, if I have something to do, I have to work on it ahead of time. I keep a planner and usually do things before they are needed.

2)    Interview the five people who know you the best. 

·        https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Em4-3dH2tZ5AeTnUFLh1YWk2fVuqLxH5/view?usp=sharing

This is one of my family members. They said I was an authentic and original person as well as being kind and good hearted. This is a way I like to view myself.

·        https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Sp_qBMAsIlwipOOADUQc1BsNcwUraWTe/view?usp=sharing

This is one of my family members. They talked about how im multi cultured and how this affects my personality to be more understanding and down to earth.

·        https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BhRvbAbRBo41RqdilpaG2sJJ4G39hi5M/view?usp=sharing

This is one of my best friends from UF. They talked about how head strong I am and independent, as well as how I am a helping hand in many situations.

·        https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X6cS-DQGYpb07kCg2cnKDsmelcXBJjFG/view?usp=sharing

This is one of my home town best friends. They talked about how I love to help others and how caring my personality is.

·        https://drive.google.com/file/d/1h8fenJjkN1RId14u_TQK2F3TeBQikndd/view?usp=sharing

This is one of my best friend's and my roommate. They pointed out my gentle personality as well as the need to help people that are close to me. 

3)    Reflect on the differences. 

What my friends and family said about me as well as what I think about myself, go hand in hand. I did hear really nice things from my friends about how I treat them and how my personality is. The goals I have in life are very defined when you meet me, so I am a very straightforward person. This leads me to believe that this is the main reason why my thoughts and what people said about me are very similar.

15- Buyer behavior

1) Find three people who would fit that segment and arrange to interview them. 

I interviewed a mother, a worker at a restaurant and a nurse.

2) Begin with alternative evaluation. 

The price definitely depends on the quality and the style that is purchased. The safeness of the masks is the primary segment as well as the comfort and different sizes that will be available for the customers to purchase. Colors and designs are another segment, but this is not as important as the safeness and reuse-ability of the masks. The comfort and style as well as safety measures that the mask is going along with are the main segments for the customers.

3) How/where do they buy? 

These masks should be sold in stores, pharmacy, and drug stores as well as convenience stores and online as a platform as well. These two platforms will allow for customers to be able to get their masks whenever necessary and see how the different sizes really are in person. As the masks are washable this will not be a problem to sell in stores.

4) Post-purchase evaluation. 

For customers, the design, and the comfort that they feel with this mask will be the deciders of the evaluation. These masks are made to stay safe but in a more stylish and comfortable way than the regular all size fit all masks. This will change and be more comfortable for customers, as well as the size that is chosen.

5) Report the findings. Simply summarize your interviews. 

Mother: The price of this product should be around 8 to 12 dollars based on the different type of style it is. It also needs to be of safe quality if children are using it because it needs to protect them from the virus just as well as other masks. I would say the item should be purchased and sold in stores as well as online.

Server: I think the style of this item should be professional as well as customizable and fun for others. Not only does it need to have style, but the structure needs to be built well so that it will be able to be washed. If I was purchasing this item, I would look for it online or in a store, I would also look in a drugstore or pharmacy.

Nurse: I think I would buy this for around $15. Price goes along with quality of the item and if it can be washed and changed with good designs it should be worth the money. I would definitely look online for a product like this due to the high need of it due to the pandemic, but it could also be sold in drug stores. There should be many other versions of this product made.

 6) Draw conclusions. 

This segment would be more focused on price and quality in terms of comfort for the mask. These masks will be providing more benefits that the one size fit all masks which will allow for a higher price range, but the quality of the products used to create it need to be sturdy and good quality. Due to the high need of these masks, they will be able to be bought online as well in stores for customers. The different sizes will allow for different evaluations of the masks as well as the designs and if they are liked by the consumers.

14-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? 

I have tried to keep up and get ahead of my assignments instead of waiting till the last minute to do them. I have also been checking these discussions ahead of time so that I know what is required and am ready to do them with time.

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 remember when I got my acceptance letters from universities and I was not accepted to some of my dream schools. When I saw that, I focused on the schools that did accept me and was incredibly happy about UF. Throughout the college experience I have grown and learned from failures and mistakes, this helps me become a bigger and better person mentally.

3) Three tips. What are three tips you would offer next semester's student about (1) fostering the skills that support tenacity and (2) developing the 'tenacious mindset’?

I would say:

Always work ahead, strive for your goals and don’t let some setbacks kill all the work and desire you have to get to the finish line with your goals in life and in school.

12 – Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 1

I interviewed three people:

1. My next door neighbor: A mother of three who initially showed a big response to the customizable masks. She was interested in the different patterns and sizes for her children. She told me she has looked on google, amazon and even in stores for smaller masks but that they are scarce. She was very intrigued with the colors and how this way she will know which is for each of her children.

2. My peer who works 10 hour shifts: He was very intrigued with the  customizable masks because he said that the all size fit one, are not comfortable. He was asking questions about how these masks would be made and if there are colors that are professional for his work. He told me that he had looked for bigger more comfortable masks but that they are overly expensive.

3.My aunt who works in an office with other: She was very interested as she goes home and knows she can possibly infect her husband and daughter. She really wanted a mas that had a filter but was also comfortable and stylish(as she works for a fashion company). She is very interested in this product because I explained the safety measures and the different colors and patterns she could incorporate.

In summary: Most people are trying to online shop for these masks, so I could also start a website to sell them. This way they will be more accessible to customers and also be competitive when compared to other masks and their prices.

13-Reading Reflection

Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the quest for a fantastic future / Ashlee Vance

1)

·       At first, I thought this was going to be a book about the inside life of Elon Musk, where he had a say on what was said about him. I later noticed that this book was written with help of people who worked for him and their opinions on how it was. At the end, he did cooperate with the book a lot.

·       As soon as he got out of college, he was already a millionaire. That is something I think anyone would look up to. He sold his business, Zip2 for 307 million dollars, and did not stop there. His drive for creating and moving forward in different industries is phenomenal and hard to even fathom. He took many risks and most turned out well for him.

·       I did not admire his reluctance to be a part of this book and his negativity toward it at first. As a person who people look up to, you would expect them to be able and want to share their experiences and thoughts on how they manage their lives and businesses.

·       He did encounter a fall, when zip2 was fairly new, he became broke after purchasing an office for it. The company then soon strived and got him out of this monetary situation.

2) He has many competencies, including thinking big and having goals that he believed in. He was a risk taker and it got him extremely far in life. He created a video game as a young boy (aged 12), which made him $500, this just shows how early he started.  

3) I was honestly confused at first because the dinner scene with Musk was very descriptive, and I did not quite understand why. I later learned that this was done intentionally for the reader to feel as if they were there with him.

4)  Questions I would ask:

·       What would you suggest doing to start my own business?

·       What is the smartest way to think of a product that will be needed and sold?

I would ask these questions to see his point of view. He knows about business and would give good advice based on his experiences.

5) Honestly, I think he is naturally smart, but his definition of hard work has helped him become the person he is today. The different ways he invested in companies and thought out each product, as well as the way he treats his employees shows the level of hard work he expects.

11-Napkin Idea

1) Im a very crafty person and I like to put things together, so I think I would really enjoy being able to make different designs  and masks for people. I love kids so it would go hand in hand with that as well, as the sizes would be able to fit small children as well as older adults. 

2) Im offering a more comfortable and real solution as opposed to the one size fit all face masks. This will be more attractive to customers because they will be able to customize their mask and even pick a size that will be more comfortable to wear all day. This also will help families to be able to differentiate between their masks.

3) This is going to be offered to everyone who is being affected by the pandemic. This will apply to people who have to work, who have to be in public places and interact with with many people. Due to the virus not having a vaccine yet, the face masks are required because they help you and other stay safe from potential germs. The customers all have a similar thought of wanting to stay healthy and not get a possibly deadly virus. 

4) Customers will care because of their safety, as well as needing these masks to be able to be let in to many public places now. This not only a prevention for them to not be possibly hurt by the virus, but a requirement in most stores and businesses now. For people who have to keep these masks on for a longer period of time, the customizable sizes will come in handy. 

5) I am very driven to get what I want. If this opportunity prospers I will be sure to keep up with it while coming up with more innovative ideas to create more profit while helping the community. I hope to be able to help people as well as sell something that they will be interested in buying. 

I personally think that all these factors fit together. I do want to start my business, while still helping the community stay safe. The pricing would also be fair, because these face masks sometimes are overpriced when out of stock. In these cases, I hope to help and get the name of the business out there as well. This is a double win, as people will be more comfortable and safe at the same time. As new things emerge in the world, we all have to learn how to adapt and I hope these masks will help as a step forward. 

10- Elevator pitch

Customizable face masks, different sizes and designs!

9-Testing the hypothesis

I interviewed a peer who said he would not utilize this mask to its full extent due to not being able to use it at the gym, where he spends most of his time in (public place). He said that it hard to breathe and uncomfortable in a gym setting when you are sweating and need to have the air readily available for deep breaths.

I interviewed a 25-year-old graduate student, who saw how these masks would not be the best for restaurant settings or bars. As they would not be able to be worn and correctly used due to the need to eat or drink in these setting.

I interviewed my little cousin and asked if he would like his white normal mask or a mask with colors, to see if this target market would be interested. He said he would make his mask red because that’s his favorite color. After looking at his normal mas on him, it is also big and does not cover up all the air spaces.

I interviewed a business manager about how he feels on these customizable masks. He said that it would depend on the colors and different designs in a workplace. They would have to be respectful and professional for people to also be able to wear them in a business setting.

I interviewed my aunt as well and she said that customizable face masks are not a necessity but more of a luxury for people who go out a lot and want a mask that represents them more. She said I should be careful how I market them and see if the target market will really be interested in these masks more than the normal ones.

Who: People who attend gyms, or when going out to eat (restaurants or bars) will not be able to utilize face masks. At the gym, people working out are probably not going to be able to breathe as well as they could without a mask, and in this situation, being able to breathe easily is a priority. In restaurants or bars, when people are eating or drinking, the use of face masks is not possible. So, in these types of settings the face masks cannot really be used.

What: These face masks will be different from normal face masks because they will be suitable to different sizes and customizable. They offer both the need of staying safe from the pandemic and looking and feeling good while doing this. The need to feel comfortable and sell different sizes will be beneficial to younger customers and will target this audience. This will be good for younger children’s health, while helping them be happy while wearing it.

Why: The outsiders and insiders essential needs are the same: staying safe in public places to not possibly be infected with the virus. The opportunity that I have seen just enhances the idea that is already out there. By having customizable masks that can make buyers feel more comfortable and have a better fit. This will be beneficial to the population that likes to express themselves and even for small children who might not want to wear a “boring” mask.

 

 

Inside the boundary	Outside the boundary
Who is In: Anyone who wants to stay safe while having a customized face mask and a size that truly fits them while being able to have a fun design.	Who is Not: People who do not see the need to customize their face masks, and are fine with normal sized and white masks.
What the Need Is: Having a mask this is a good fit to your specific face structure/size. While staying safe from the virus and feeling comfortable	What the Need Is Not: A mask that is only going to be used minimally where the wearer does not care how it looks. People who do not wear masks.
Why the Need Exists: Due to the pandemic, many people who have respiratory problems or kids, want to stay safe from this virus and needs this protection in public spaces.	Alternative Explanations: Some people may decide not to wear masks, but the majority of the population. Is aware that the mask does potentially stop the virus from affecting you in public places when around many people.

8-Solving the problem

Opportunity: Making different sized/customizable face masks for the prevention of COVID19

Solution: Making these face customizable face masks with the filter between the other layers. These would be masks that can have these filters replaced. This can also be washed at a very high temperature which allows for re-use of the same filter, depending on what the customer prefers. I think the best way to make profit while still helping the community would be to have these masks at a reasonable price. The colors would include a limited range, as well as different designs that could be incorporated as well. Sizes would also vary and could possibly be exact for each person. This would help for it to be comfortable and more attractive to customers than the average same sized masks for everyone. 

This opportunity is attainable due to the wide need of face masks. This way people will feel more comfortable when forced to wear them as well as being safe.