30A - Final Reflection

• The most formative experience in this class for me, was creating an elevator pitch. An elevator pitch is something I did not have to do very often in my life. There was a time I had to do something like it for UF's IA Catalyst and me and my team had to come up with a whole product prototype and pitch it to real investors at UF. Not to say the least, it was pretty intimidating. But recording my elevator pitch for this class became slightly easier because of that past experience and the feedback I received then. I probably wont be able to forget that, just because I believe it will help me in the future should I bring my venture to life someday and need to pitch it to real investors.

• I think the experience that was both the most joyous and I'm most proud of for accomplishing is progressively creating my venture as the course went by and we added more and more aspects to our ideas. I really liked watching how my venture grew from just a mere idea at the start, not very sure how I would follow through with it, to having a full out plan of what it consists of and the plans for its future should I pass it on to others after it's become widely known and successful.

• I'd say I have always seen myself as an entrepreneur but I don't think I ever went as far with a venture as I did with this one. I also don't recall coming up with one that I was so passionate about until this one. I think in the future if I choose to move forward with my service/product and make it a reality, I think thanks to this class I would have some good tidbits to help me get to where I would like to be.

• One recommendation to the students going down this path, would be "don't give up and don't take no for an answer". Often times, we let the naysayers and the strongly opinionated get in our head about our ideas and kind of dim our lights and shut us down, making us think our ventures will never make it. But reading the books that I did in this class for the reading reflection, helped me realize that the successful entrepreneurs in those autobiographies once had a lot of people saying "No." in their faces, ripping their dreams apart. I agree that hard work is a big part of success but also taking the time to reassure yourself and have the confidence to stand behind your product/service regardless of what others may think of it.

• I would also like to add, that in order to do best in this course, future students should take all assignments seriously. The points may look small but they really do add up and completing all assignments was something I personally struggled with and hope the future students don't repeat. Manage your time, set up your own personal deadlines for each week however it works out with your life schedule, do all the work required, and you'll be just fine.

29A - Venture Concept No.2

Opportunity:

• Need: The need lies with families with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and related disabilities.
• The need itself is a downloadable application that links these families with resources and caregiving services specifically tailored to the needs of the ASD population.
• Geographically, this market is anywhere you are. The consumer's locations and local neighborhood will filter out the services available in that area that would be a match for them.
• Currently, this need is in a way being met by other services out there. There are caregiving and babysitting apps out there that include a special needs population option if you fall in this category but there is only a small number of sitters on these sites that actually have experience with this population and/or are willing to take on the job.

Innovation: 

• My app, Allies 4 Autism would be a concoction of services and resources, all freely found on a singular app easily downloadable on all phones and modern devices. Parents with kids with ASD and other related disabilities would be the primary users of this app and its resources. Access to available sitters and caregivers (all with previous experience caring for or providing clinical therapy to this population) in their area, support groups, ABA clinics, Autism awareness events and walks, etc.
• It would simply be a free app installation so there would be no cost for the app itself, but the caregivers and parents would be the ones setting up their rates and what they're willing to pay for services offered and that way, matches would be made.

Venture Concept:

• Other competitors do not currently have services tailored specifically to the ASD population nearly as extensive as Allies 4 Autism would be.
• Parents and families would be willing to make the switch because there is no existing competitor that would match and meet their child's exact needs.
• The rates and prices would be solely determined by the parents and caregiving providing the services. So the "employees" would be the sitters registered on the application but will self-manage their pay according to how much they decide to work.
• Considering the future, I would plan to pass the business down through my family (that has been briefed about how meaningful this venture is to me) or to an organization that is currently working towards creating more resources for the Autism community and needing families.

Feedback and Adjustments:

• Although I did not receive feedback for my first venture concept, there were some things I felt I could adjust in my venture that would help explain my concept better.
• I also looked at feedback other student's left on other parts of my venture in my blog, and some said that I should branch out to other existing organizations if I were to ever sell or pass the business down.

27A - Reading Reflection No.3

For my second reading reflection, I chose to read "Grinding it out", a book about how McDonald's became what he is today. I think reading this book taught me a lot about how to cope with failure and dealing with the challenges throughout, especially when creating a business. Ray Kroc didn't become successful and make millions overnight. He had a very good ability of working in the business field, knew how to deal with the challenges he faced and overcame them. I think like a lot of us, Kroc has to go through a lot of unpleasant jobs and work all different kinds of areas to get to where he got to, bringing a huge business as an entrepreneur and helping McDonald's get to where it is today.

One of the aspects I really liked about Kroc was his hard-working demeanor. He knew hard work was one the very important pathways to success and I tend to agree with him. If effort and dedication is put into your work, I think there is a lot that can be accomplished. However, hard work alone sometime just is not enough and I think that was one of the points i missed in this book. Sometimes a lot of outside factors can make or break your success. But I think his path can inspire so many others that wish to become entrepreneurs.

28A - Your Exit Strategy

1) My exit strategy I have planned is to keep the business in the family, retire myself after years of carrying it on and pass it down to my children in the future.

2) The reason I'm choosing this strategy is because I don't want this business to go to just anyone. I'd like it to go to someone who is passionate about the cause and the purpose of it and I would plan on educating my own children and other family members on its importance and hope they grow to know more about the special needs population this business would target and what their needs continue to be. If I were able to pass the business down to another organization that works with the ASD population or is focusing on furthering the resources in this area, I would not mind partnering up with other organizations and allowing them to take the business over. But intially, I would like to keep it in the family.

3) My exist strategy influenced other aspects of my concept because I knew this was a business I wanted to keep in the run for a long time because ASD needs will always exist. I came up with my venture as an app because technology is something that will always be around as well, and as newer generations come in and awareness about the special needs population grows, my venture would become more useful and more accessible to all kinds of individuals because of it's flexibility and ability to be adjusted to anyone's location and area.

26A - Celebrating Failure

Throughout this semester, I can't say there's only been one thing I've failed at. To be completely honest, I fail at a lot of things, a lot of the times and I often don't handle my failures very well and can be very harsh on myself for it.
One thing I'm still kind of putting on myself this semester, is not doing as well as I should be in this class and one other I'm currently taking.
Not that either class is terribly difficult, I feel that this class is one that can be very easily passed if you stay on top of things, and that was my problem, staying on top of things. I could say I am the best student and that I do all my work on time and study and get things done quickly and I totally can be that student, but often times, I am not.
Often times, I get caught up in my own things going on outside of school or put school work off until last minute and end up procrastinating the night before trying to get things down.
It's shameful, I know. But I'm letting it all out there, and admitting to it all.
I'm never proud of failing, whether it's failing a quiz, an exam, or a class, I always seem to not take it so well and I get pretty harsh with myself, because ultimately it is no one else's fault but mine. It could have been prevented.
I'm still working on learning how to handle failures in my life, be it small personal failures or big public ones but it is something I continually struggle with.
Ultimately, what I've learned from failing and what I continue to learn from failing is that there's always a new day, a new start to change your technique, change your habits and your point of view.
Failure is something we all face, whether we're successful in the end or not.
Learning how to cope with failure is something even harder, but definitely doable.
And I hope I keep learning to celebrate mine.

24A - Venture Concept No.1

Opportunity:

• Need: The need lies with families of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and related disabilities.
• The need itself is an application that links these families with resources and caregiving services specifically tailored to the needs of the Autism population.
• Geographically, this market is anywhere you are. The consumer's location and local neighborhood will filter out the services available in that area that would be a match for them.
• Currently, this needs is kind of being solved but not by much. There are caregiving and babysitting apps out there that include a special needs population option if you fall in this category but there is only a small number of sitters on this site that actually have experience with this population and/or are willing to take on the job.
• This opportunity is big enough that it will always be around because it will always be needed, just like parents somewhere will always need a babysitter or caregiver at one point in their lives.

Innovation:

• My app, Allies 4 Autism would be a concoction of services and resources, all freely found on a singular app easily downloadable on all phones. Parents of kids with ASD and other related disabilities would be the primary users of this app and its resources. Access to available sitters and caregivers (all with previous experience caring for or providing clinical therapy to this population) in their area, support groups, ABA clinics, Autism awareness events, etc.
• It would simply be a free app installation so there would be no cost for the app itself but the caregivers and parents will be the ones setting up their rates and what they're willing to pay for the services offered.

Venture Concept:

• Other competitors do not currently have services tailored to the Autism population, nearly as extensive as Allies for Autism would be.
• Parents and families would be willing to make the switch simply because there is no competitor that meets their child's exact needs.
• The rates and prices would be solely determined by the parents and the caregivers giving the services. So the "employees" would be the sitters registered on the application. But will self- manage their pay according to how much they decide to work.

Final thoughts:

I would love to actually be able to make this app come true and be used by a lot of families in need of services like these.

23A - Your Venture's Unfair Advantage

Ten Resources in my venture

1. Experience working with kids on the spectrum as an RBT

• V- very valuable when looking for opportunities to interact with this population and in needed situations
• R- I think generally it is rare to find individuals that are passionate or interested in this field or in this population.
• I-it might be hard to copy by others because the app will be tailored to the individual's needs in the area they are in (starting off locally in Gainesville, FL)
• N- not substitutable because it is tailored to my personal experience as a behavior therapist.

2. Patience

• V-Patience is a very important virtue to possess when creating a venture. You must be patient with your consumers and listen to their wants and needs.
• R-Not alot of people are fit to handle other people in a professional manner. In other words, some people are just not people persons and may not know how to handle an uncomfortable situation or not have the patience to take care of their consumer's needs.
• I- I think patience is inimitable because not everybody possesses this quality.
• N- I dont think there are other resources that can substitute patience.

3. Compassionate persona

• V- I've been told by people close to me that I am compassionate and care alot about others. This is a valuable resource to have because in order to serve the people, you need to care enough about them to find out what problems they may be facing and what you can do to resolve those problems.
• R- This is not everyone's persona.
• I- I think compassion varies from person to person. How someone makes another feel heard and understood, i think that is not replaceable nor imitable.
• N- Compassion is needed behind every business where humans and/or animals are the consumers, therefore it is not replaceable.

4. Multi-lingualism

• V - Being able to understand and speak various languages I think benefits anyone in any area of work they are trying to succeed. Communication is very important in everything we do. And if we don't have access to that, if our consumers don't have access to that, it becomes a business that is lacking the ability to help its people.
• R- It is rare to find people that bilingual let along multi-lingual.
• I - Although, technically a language can be imitable, as it is something that can be learned with much dedication and practice but is not easy to replicate.
• N- Multilingualism will always be present and useful in any scenario regardless of work field.

5. Broad network 

• V- I have a broad network of resources and individuals around me that I can reach out to with questions about how to go about my venture or if I'm looking for a second opinion. A good network is a backbone to a successful business.
• R - A good network is rare to find especially if you do are not active in the community you are interested in.
• I - Every network will be different.
• N - A good network is irreplaceable and necessary to help start up a business.

6. Leadership skills

• V - My experience at my current job allows me to develop and showcase my leadership skills among my team. Teamwork as well as leadership is important in running any business and can determine the success of the business.
• R - Leadership skills can be difficult to develop especially if you are like me, someone who is more reserved and prefers to be a part of the crowd instead of standing out in one but over the years I've been able to overcome that and watched myself grow in my leading capabilities.
• I - Anyone can be a leader, but your personal qualities that make you, you can play a part in how you lead an organization or business.
• N - There are many different types of leaders. Does not mean that one is substitutable for another because there are different ways to lead that can be effective.

7. Organizational skills

• V - Coordinating is a valuable skill to have to make sure things are in place and your business is starting and running smoothly.
• R - Some people are not that good at organizing or planning.
• I - Not imitable.
• N - Not replaceable.

8. Ability to control finances

• V - I am able to responsibly handle money which would become more valuable in a business setting.
• R - It might be rare to find people in my age range (college aged) who are able to develop good money habits.
• I - Not imitable
• N - Not substitutable

9. Social capital

• V - I already know some families who would be really interested in this app if I were to actually go through with it. These kinds of prior connections end up being very valuable to the business and help you get off your feet.
• R - It is rare to have potential customers before even starting your venture.
• I - The personal relationships created in the process of putting the business cannot be imitated.
• N - These relationships cannot be substituted.

10. Come from generations of small business owners 

• V - I come from a family of small business owners (relatives that live in the Dominican Republic who run their own shops) which is valuable because I gain experience when I help them with the shop or gain insight from them.
• R - Not many business start ups have a model to follow or people to guide them through the process.
• I - This cannot be imitated.
• N - Personal experiences and insight from generational family owned business are non-substitutable.

21A - Reading Reflection No.2

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck

1) What was the general theme or argument of the book?

• The general theme of the book surrounded failure and how people cope with failure depending on the differing mindsets they may adopt.
• There's the fixed mindset and the growth mindset.
• Fixed mindset: Those in this mindset reacted to a 'failure' or setback by putting themselves, down, thinking they are worth less, and assuming this failure constitutes the end of their life.
• Growth mindset: Those in this mindset, saw a set back less as a failure and more of a challenge and actually took it as something to learn from and grow.

2) How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT3003?

• While reading this book, I thought alot about personal challenges in my life that I always thought as failures. I admit, I have been the 'fixed minded' person before in my life and sometimes I still am, and other times I try to look at my setbacks through a different lens. This book made me want to do that more and adopt the growth mindset more often in my life. 
• In this class, there have been times I was not sure or lacked confidence in my idea or an assignment. I am someone who tends to second guess myself very often in stressful moments and I feel like that takes a toll on both my emotional and physical health.
• Being that this is a business-related class, entrepreneurship is a great place to implement the new growth mindset, especially since we are dealing with coming up with new ventures and formulating a product/service that may need a lot of support, and sometimes, we need to be that support for ourselves. Adopting the growth mindset, I think is a great way to learn to face the challenges being an entrepreneur brings. 

3) If you had to design an exercise for this class, based on the book you read, what would that exercise involve?

• For this class, I'd design an exercise implementing what I learned from the book but also tying it to entrepreneurship. I would have the class come up with an actual prototype of their product/service and record how they cope with any setbacks they may come across throughout the process, if their prototype is not what they expected it to be, if it was difficult to get it done or if something goes wrong. 
• Keeping record of how each person reacts to the challenges of this project would tell me the kind of mindset they most likely lean towards when dealing with difficult scenarios.
  

4) What was your biggest surprise or "aha" moment when reading the book? In other words, what did you learn that differed most from your expectations?

• I didn't think that I would feel very different after reading this book but I did, actually still do. I thought I knew about the different mindsets we have and differentiating the "risk takers" versus the guys taking the "safe side" but I realized so much more goes into it. 
• There was one quote in the book that really resonated with me and that was when the children faced with the challenging puzzle, did not react the way it was expected to failure. "Not only weren't they discouraged by failure, they didn't even think they were failing. They thought they were learning." And I think that is something we can all take and learn from.

20A - Growing Your Social Capital

My Network:

1. BCBA: Domain Expert
• This person is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst at a center that provides ABA services to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Has a background (Master's degree) in Special Education and a Doctorate in Applied Behavior Analysis
• I happen to work under a few behavior analysts at my job so it was relatively easy to catch a quick minute with them to talk about this.
• The favor they did for me was taking time out of their day to talk about this with me and there wasn't really a return expectation. As BCBA's and supervisors, they are very open and willing to discuss further career paths and answer any questions we may have regarding our services and growing in the field.
• Including this person in my network would enhance my ability to exploit an opportunity because of their expertise and information they can relay to me about the field.
2. Caregiving services: Market Expert
• Care.com or Bambino
• I emailed someone who worked for the website/app to get in contact with them about my idea napkin.
• This person took time out of their busy day to read and reply to an email sent by me when they didn't have to.
• Including this person in my network would give me insight to what already up and running applications like Care.com are like and get a business perspective on my idea to implement a similar product/service.
3. Software developers: Supplier
• I got in contact (over the phone) with a friend of mine who graduated a few years ago in Engineering and is currently working at a software development company.
• We talked about my idea napkin and how we were to implement different features into the app if I were to actually get it starting up.
• I think if I had him/his company as my supplier, they could be the ones to help me create the app and implement all its tricks.
• Including him/the company he works for into my network gives me an opportunity to learn about getting my app and services started if I were to try to make it and put it on the market.

Reflection: This experience shaped how I would go about reaching out to people in other networking events and if I needed or wanted to in the future to further my career or business idea. I think putting my foot in the door now really set me up for branching out and getting my idea out there and even if I don't follow through with the app/service in actuality, I would at least have the experience and network around me that would be a great asset to growing in my field. I think I went into this networking project a little more confident than other times I've tried in the past and I think that has to do with my current knowledge about the field I'm in and what I would want to do with this busines idea. I think also because this is something I'm passionate about, it makes it all the more easier to talk about and start conversations with others about it.

19A - Idea Napkin No.2

1) An intro to me

• Growing up, I was always fascinated and interested in the population of the world no one else seemed to understand. Being brought up with a sibling with disabilities, I was always wondering what I could do to understand him and always wanted to know more. As a 4th year in college, I can finally say, I've gotten closer to reaching a personal career goal in working with kids with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Currently working as a Registered Behavior Technician for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, I provide direct ABA therapy and engage with these kids on a daily basis and I've never loved doing something, more. I learn so much more from them, than I teach them. My aspiration with this business idea is making it a resource every needing parent of a child on the spectrum can rely on and can feel safe and secure and relaxed knowing they're not alone and there are people out there to understand them and advocate for their kids.

2) Here's what I'm offering: Allies 4 Autism

• After multiple conversations with parents of kids on the spectrum, almost always, they wish, there were more resources out there for their kids, whether it's finding a babysitter for the weekend that has knowledge on how to interact with kids with intellectual and developmental disabilities, or searching for an after-school program for their kids because they are single parents and work during the day and can't be there all the time, or simply, someone to offer them support and encouragement throughout the process and let them know, they're not in this alone.
• That's where Allies 4 Autism comes along.
• Allies 4 Autism would be a concoction of services and resources, all freely found on a singular app easily downloadable on all phones.
• Parents of kids with ASD and other related disabilities would be the primary users of this app and its resources.
• Access to available sitters and caregivers (all with previous experience caring for or providing clinical therapy to this population) in their area, support groups, ABA clinics, Autism awareness events, etc.

3) Who I'm offering to

• The target of these services would be more focused on families with members with ASD but more specifically, targeting often single-working parents who may not be able to be as present with their child who hence may need these kind of resources.

4) Why do they care? (Why wouldn't they?)

• Because I'm targeting parents, this specific population can be a little easier to persuade. Parents will always want the best for their children and will do whatever it takes to get that for them. Because I will be offering these resources to parents of children with ASD, they would be more willing to do something about it, because they are often feeling more pressure in their lives.
• The lack of resources out there NOW, make it all the more establishing to start something like this up and attract those who need it most.

5) Core Competencies

• What sets Allies 4 Autism apart from everyone else is that instead of it just being one particular service, the app itself would be built to connect the user to all resources available in the area from already existing therapy clinics and events but also connect them with registered therapists and experienced caregivers that might not have been available to them previously. For example, care.com, a caregiving service app, is an app where sitters find clients and parents find sitters. There is an special needs filter on the app however, Allies 4 Autism would be specifically tailored for this population and the caregivers would all have prior experience or knowledge of individuals on the spectrum. Interested students working in the behavior analysis field at the University of Florida for example, would be directed to this app to provide caregiving services through it to the families in the area. In addition, this app would have a self-supporting feature for caregivers looking to make this into a start up to their career or simply want to gain more experience and allocate some volunteer opportunities. (More details to this in the feedback section).

I think the elements of this venture fit together pretty well. I think the aspect that could be weaker is comparing it to others similar. To my knowledge there are no current apps out there or local that target this audience and do it in a manner that combine multiple resources to make a type of guiding interface but that doesn't mean that the individual resources don't exist. The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities for example is a center partnered with the University of Florida that offer support groups and hold events for the Autism community but it may not be available to every one or as known to all. 

My response to feedback: 

• I did not receive any comments or feedback on my first Idea Napkin which is a little disappointing. I wish I knew what I could improve on but looking at my previous napkin from a different perspective, I can pinpoint some things I would change or add for myself. I kind of wanted to add a self-supporting feature on this app. 
• By implementing a feature in which caregivers can set their own rates as well as parent users setting what they would be willing to pay a caregiver for their services, I think this would make the app be perceived as a self-supporting service for the caregivers as well. Similar to other babysitting apps, for example Bambino, Allies 4 Autism will allow parents and caregivers to add to their profiles what they would be willing to charge or pay for the services. This way, the need for the resource will be fulfilled but there would be a mutual understanding from both parties of what is expected. 
• This does not have to be the only way to acquire services however; caregivers like behavior technicians and college students in the field can also use this app as a volunteer opportunity and be able to gain that experience. What it would be for, would be up to the users themselves.

22A - Elevator Pitch No.3

Link to my pitch: https://youtu.be/tZ3yYJJLD1c

*Please excuse the wind noise and my occasional look of terror trying to swat away mosquitoes. I was outside and it just so happen to be really windy and mosquito infested in Florida (when is it not though...) when I recorded this.*


Elevator Pitch Transcription:

As a mother, can you think of a time you tried to schedule a babysitter for your night out or weekend trip away, but could not get any of the right contenders for your child?

This is a problem that a lot of parents experience, especially parents of children with Intellectual and Developmental Disorders like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). A lot of the times, babysitting sites don't have many options to find sitters/caregivers who have had prior experience with this special population and as a parent, just any baby sitter won't do.

They have to know how to react to your child when problem behavior occurs, how to respond to them behaving "oddly" when really they are just behaving differently than a typical child, and how to engage with your child in a way your child will enjoy something out it, which may not be by playing video games or kicking a soccer ball like other typical children.

Allies 4 Autism is a starter app, meant to bridge this gap between caregivers/sitters and families with special needs. The way it works, is that it networks all available sitters who have had experience with the Autism community before or currently work in or are studying in behavior analysis field, to families that register their needs in the app in their location.

This kills two birds with one stone, if I might say, because (example:) it can connect needing families with behavior therapists or students in the ABA track at the University of Florida in their area allowing families to leave their children with ASD-knowledgeable caregivers and feel relieved about it.

For just a free app installation, this app will connect your family with everything it needs and guide you through resources for your child available throughout the entire city, or area you set it to.

Leave all the worries behind by joining and become an Ally today!

A reflection:
Because this is the first full elevator pitch I've uploaded on my blog (i didn't post the others for personal reasons), I was not able to receive any feedback on how I present myself or delivered this pitch; however, watching myself on camera, I can already catch a few things other people would comment on as well. I know in this pitch, I had a difficult time looking directly at the camera, that was because I did not have my pitch fully memorized and might have needed a little help knowing what to say. Although it was not filmed in a "dorm room", it wasn't on any professional camera either and I know the angle might look a little weird. There's also that outdoorsy background noise. All in all, I still felt confident in the content in my pitch, I think I covered the aspects needed in the time I had to record it but I am always welcome to more feedback and the opportunity to improve myself and my pitch deliveries. Thanks for watching!

18A - Create a Customer Avatar

Meet Ydelis - 39 year old mother of 5

• Considers herself a woman of faith
• Close to her family
• Puerto-Rican family background
• Married
• Works from home as a home designer
• Loves to shop, but mostly looking for a bargain
• One of her children is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Two are adopted
• Another is diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder
• In her very infrequent "free time" Ydelis likes to take jogs around the neighborhood, read books and grocery shop (it's therapeutic for her).
• Loves to spend time with her kids and their dogs
• Owns two schnauzers named Kiko and Mino
• Is happy with her life but sometimes feels overwhelmed by the amount of things she has going on

While typing this out, I couldn't help but notice how much of myself I was putting into this avatar. Sure, she is a completely made up individual and I snatched that stock photo of a mother reading to her children from Google, but a lot of the hobbies and likes/dislikes I molded her into, came from my own persona and background. Ydelis and I share a lot of things in common. Although I am not 42 and not yet a mother, I do love spending time with children (and doggos), reading books, and grocery shopping. We both share Hispanic backgrounds and consider ourselves women of faith. I think, without putting a thought into it, often when we create a product/service and picture our customers, we often picture someone like ourselves with a similar need in that product/service. After all, the idea for the venture, began with ourselves, so it doesn't at all surprise me that one of the customers, might just be someone like us.

16A - What's Your Secret Sauce?

1) My human capital:

• I have a passion for working with a distinct population of individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities with experience as a behavior therapist.
• I'd like to think I am a very friendly person who is welcoming to others.
• Describe myself as soft-spoken and reserved.
• I'm a proud Latina (Dominican and Peruvian) so I can relate to being a minority but I am also a proud American.
• I fluently speak 2 languages (English and Spanish) and am intermediate in two others (Korean and American Sign Language).

2) Outside Opinions:

The people that I interviewed are the people closest to me in relationship but farthest to me in distance (we no longer live in the same city) so i was not able to get an actual interview recording done but some of them did send me voice notes and text messages of what they thought my human capital was. 

• Childhood friend 1: "You’re understanding,kind, smart, you always know what to say to make someone feel better, you know how to be truthful without being hurtful".
• Significant other: "You're very passionate about helping people and you're very knowledgeable on how to deal with people on the spectrum."
• Childhood friend 2: "You listen to people and I think this will help you in the long run dobyou want to start a business because you will know what the consumers want and how to satisfy their needs."
• Sister: "You always want to help people, regardless of who they are. And you know alot about the population you work with, you've always talked about wanting to work with kids with disabilities and now you're doing it."
• Childhood friend 3: "You care a lot about other people (sometimes too much), and you make sure people know you are there for them."

3) Reflecting on Differences

I think the opinions that the people close to me had, I kind of expected because they have told me this before. I dont think i would make any corrections on the list because those are what I truly think my human capital is. As I grow to know myself more over time, I think things would be added to that list.

15A - Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No.2

In these interviews I spoke with 3 families where a family member is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder or related disabilities. Their names will be kept anonymous and confidential.

Interview #1: Mother of 2 year old with ASD

• Alternatives:
• While speaking with this mother, she expressed to me that when she shops for something whether it be a product or a service, she focuses on quality and style above everything else.
•  Being a first time mother, quality is definitely a big factor, you want the best of the best for your child, but she also likes it to look nice or be somewhat stylish.
• Examples of items include baby diaper bags, meal and bottle sets, and clothes
• How/where do they buy?
• Because this mother does not live in a very central location, she tends to often buy online for it's convenience and variety of styles.
• More likely to use money available or sometimes finance the purchase if it is a big buy.
• Post purchase evaluation:
• She expressed that after she makes the purchase, durability is something that she pays a close eye to. If the product she purchase lasts a good while, she is satisfied with her buy. Similar to other interviewed customers.

Interview #2: Mother of 14 year old with Down Syndrome

• Alternatives:
• In this interview, because I knew this mother well, our conversation flowed more easily and felt less like a questionnaire and more like a discussion.
• She expressed to me that because her daughter is older and can have a little more say in some aspects of her life like how she dresses or things of that matter, when it comes to shopping for a product, this mother prioritizes price over quality and style.
• Although, her opinion shifted when it came to services like the service I would be providing (Allies 4 Autism).
• Similar to other interviewees, this mother said QUALITY of services like child care or sitting services matter most to her when it comes to her child, in comparison to price or style.
• How/where do they buy?
• This interviewee claims to be "old-fashioned" and prefers to buy in stores and make purchases in person rather than online.
  
• She also says it's partially because she enjoys shopping, it's therapeutic for her.
• Post-purchase evaluation:
• She typically evaluates her purchases (products/services) based on quality and durability after purchase.

Lastly,
Interview #3: Grandmother of toddler with ASD

• Alternatives:
• This particular buyer does not break much of a trend. Her selections in purchases are similar to the last interviewee's.
• This grandmother preferred quality over both price and style. She does not care all that much about the price of a product as long as it is good and durable for her grandchild.
  
• How/where do they buy?
• She is also "old-fashioned" and prefers to go directly to stores to buy things.
• She also claims she is not very tech-savvy and does not know how to "do that online shopping stuff".
• This buyer also pays cash over card payments when making purchases.
  
• Post-purchase evaluation:
• After making a purchase, she focuses on the durability of the product (if it is something that requires being washed, does it stay together or fall apart in the washing machine?) and if it is flexible for the child to use for a long time.

Conclusion:

What I noticed after conducting these interviews is that most parents and parental figures want the best of the best for their child in quality, sometimes not paying much mind to price. This is something I could understand (I am not a mother but, when you love someone, you only want the best for them).

When talking about their buying habits and behaviors, most of the interviewees focused on physical purchases of products more often than services. I think it's only natural to immediately think of a product when using the word "buy". Although differing in some aspects, all my interviews seemed to have a lot in common in how the questions were answered with the focus being on quality of product and less on price or style.

14A - Halfway Reflection

1) Some behaviors I have developed over the years, or learned to develop, are time management and keeping a schedule of things to do and when to do them whether it's written down or on my phone or somewhere to keep me on top of things. This was something I struggled with (still sometimes struggle with), throughout my time here at UF. People would say procrastination really is your worst enemy and I can attest that it truly became mine when I became one of the last-minute studiers and doers for some of the classes I've taken before and yet, always regretted it and admitted I could have handled and managed my time a lot better. Keeping a schedule and keeping myself accountable on that schedule, definitely helps with time management and helps get all the assignments done in time and studying done and not have to worry about it the night before.

2) Particularly with online classes, I think management gets a little trickier, personally. In an online class, you don't have to worry about getting up a specific time and printing out your 12 page paper to turn in in class by Monday morning, instead you have your due dates but you are free to make that time schedule yourself and work things around so that you are able to do whatever else you do during your day, while still getting your work done online. There is not as much pressure in online classes as in physical on campus classes, or so that's what they say. I find it to be quite the opposite. I think with a physical class, I rely on the schedule made for me and feel more responsible getting up in the morning and attending a class but taking it online creates a whole other level of lazy and that is something I'm admitting to have experienced after having taken a few online classes before and not been as consistent as I should have been in the class.

3) Tips I'd offer to next semester's student is to (1) create your own schedule and (2) stick to it. I think step number two is the hardest part of taking online classes like this one. It takes more than just writing down a schedule on your planner or reminders on your phone, but you have to keep yourself accountable. The third tip (3) I'd offer helps foster the tenacious mindset and that is to develop a system that will make it more likely that you finish your assignments. If you do end up having a lot of work to do accumulated, whether it's this entrepreneurship class or your Chem 2 class, I'd say doing your work and studying with small breaks in between can be very rewarding and ultimately make your more productive. One thing I've learned to do and found pretty effective is, if I have a long paper due or readings or what not, is to separate the work in chunks and add timed breaks in between. Something I like to do is do 30 minutes of work with 10 minute breaks in between to get a snack or listen to music or whatever tickles your fancy. It's effective if you stay consistent and don't give yourself more break time at once (you'll be likely to accidentally take an hour long break and never get back to work). Some people have a difficult time remaining concentrated and need spurts of breaks in between their work like this to keep them going, while others can work long hours on end without stop and that's fine too. Everyone learns and studies differently and at different paces, it's up to you to figure out what works for you and what doesn't. But don't stress, you'll do great.

12A - Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No.1

Interview #1: DS

• (initials) DS: I interviewed a mother of a 9 year old child with Autism Spectrum Disorder
• In the interview she expressed that her need is most salient when neither her nor her husband are able to be home in the evening hours and they need someone to watch their child.
• When: Weekday evenings
• How: No one available to stay with child while she teaches class in the evenings
• Where: Home
• I found out that the first thing she looked for when she encountered her unmet need is online babysitting services like Care.com and sittercity.r
• Her search terms are someone who has prior experience caring for individuals with ASD

Interview #2: RG

• In this interview, the parent I spoke with had a similar unmet need of caregiving services for her child on the spectrum but had a different issue in searching for it as well.
• Her issue lied in the area she lived in. She claimed she knew of resources that were out there but did not know how to get them because of how far she was from the central area.
• Her search terms were someone with reliable transportation, willing to make the effort to get to where she was and care for her toddler child while she worked during the day.

Interview #3: BS

• In my last interview, this parent was one of the families that was also looking for caregiving services but also tutoring services for her 11 year old with ASD. 
• Her search terms for this was a bit more strict as she looks for not only a caregiver but someone with background in education and that may have skills in teaching the kind of population.

11A - Idea Napkin No.1

(Update: For those of you who have read my previous posts, I have changed my business venture from dealing with disabilities in the workplace to creating caregiving resources for the ASD population; please read ahead) :)

1) Who am I? A brief intro to me

• Growing up, I was always fascinated and interested in the population of the world no one else seemed to understand. Being brought up with a sibling with disabilities, I was always wondering what I could do to understand him and always wanted to know more. As a 4th year in college, I can finally say, I've gotten closer to reaching a personal career goal in working with kids with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Currently working as a Registered Behavior Technician for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, I provide direct ABA therapy and engage with these kids on a daily basis and I've never loved doing something, more. I learn so much more from them, than I teach them. My aspiration with this business idea is making it a resource every needing parent of a child on the spectrum can rely on and can feel safe and secure and relaxed knowing they're not alone and there are people out there to understand them and advocate for their kids.

2) Here's what I'm offering: Allies 4 Autism

• After multiple conversations with parents of kids on the spectrum, almost always, they wish, there were more resources out there for their kids, whether it's finding a babysitter for the weekend that has knowledge on how to interact with kids with intellectual and developmental disabilities, or searching for an after-school program for their kids because they are single parents and work during the day and can't be there all the time, or simply, someone to offer them support and encouragement throughout the process and let them know, they're not in this alone.
• That's where Allies 4 Autism comes along.
• Allies 4 Autism would be a concoction of services and resources, all freely found on a singular app easily downloadable on all phones.
• Parents of kids with ASD and other related disabilities would be the primary users of this app and its resources.
• Access to available sitters and caregivers (all with previous experience caring for or providing clinical therapy to this population) in their area, support groups, ABA clinics, Autism awareness events, etc.

3) Who I'm offering to

• The target of these services would be more focused on families with members with ASD but more specifically, targeting often single-working parents who may not be able to be as present with their child who hence may need these kind of resources.

4) Why do they care? (Why wouldn't they?)

• Because I'm targeting parents, this specific population can be a little easier to persuade. Parents will always want the best for their children and will do whatever it takes to get that for them. Because I will be offering these resources to parents of children with ASD, they would be more willing to do something about it, because they are often feeling more pressure in their lives.
• The lack of resources out there NOW, make it all the more establishing to start something like this up and attract those who need it most.

5) Core Competencies

• What sets Allies 4 Autism apart from everyone else is that instead of it just being one particular service, the app itself would be built to connect the user to all resources available in the area from already existing therapy clinics and events but also connect them with registered therapists and experienced caregivers that might not have been available to them previously. For example, care.com, a caregiving service app, is an app where sitters find clients and parents find sitters. There is an special needs filter on the app however, Allies 4 Autism would be specifically tailored for this population and the caregivers would all have prior experience or knowledge of individuals on the spectrum. Interested students working in the behavior analysis field at the University of Florida for example, would be directed to this app to provide caregiving services through it to the families in the area.

I think the elements of this venture fit together pretty well. I think the aspect that could be weaker is comparing it to others similar. To my knowledge there are no current apps out there or local that target this audience and do it in a manner that combine multiple resources to make a type of guiding interface but that doesn't mean that the individual resources don't exist. The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities for example is a center partnered with the University of Florida that offer support groups and hold events for the Autism community but it may not be available to every one or as known to all. 

8A - Solving the Problem

The Solution?

On the opportunity that I chose, disabilities in the workplace, the solution I came up with is a service.

A service in which all employers, regardless of status or company achievement, partake in a type of training or course that educates them and trains them to deal with different types of people that could be employed there, including different ranges of individuals with disabilities.

This service would be mandatory in all workplaces and geared towards the employers, or all the individuals on the leadership level like department managers, hiring, and big bosses. 

What this training would entail is the different scenarios and cases that employers, and employees can come across with different individuals of different abilities. For example, training on how to interact with potential employees with Autism, education on what it means to be on the spectrum, and education to know that they have many individual capabilities and can actually bring a lot to the table at the work place. 

There is more to expand on this bus initially, this is how I plan to solve this gap between diverse populations and their employment in the workplace and how to teach acceptance and adjustability across all environments, as it should be in the work field. 

6A - Identifying Opportunities in Economic and Regulatory Trends

Economic Trends

Opportunity #1: Increased automation - factories, cars, offices, homes

• (a) I found this opportunity on the website Global Change 
• https://www.globalchange.com/10-trends-that-will-dominate-our-future-all-predictable-changing-slowly-with-huge-impact.htm

• (b) I think this opportunity exists because less people, specifically in America, are seeking manual labor jobs, like construction or many hands-on/getting down and dirty jobs that don't necessarily need a bunch of degrees for and this creates an opportunity for automation to excel and have more introduced.

• (c) The prototypical customer here, or at least the people that would be "gaining" with this opportunity are corporations or "the big man" with the companies that create these automatic machines to be incorporated in the work field. I think, because a lot of Americans are now seeking to earn college and post-graduate degrees in desired career fields, this opens up the chance for automation to grow, but at the same time, these labor-type jobs are still necessary to employ the people that are actively looking for work and may not be qualified or have the degree to get higher-paying and more sturdy employment.

• (d) I think this opportunity is relatively easy to exploit because we already are living in an automated world, we rely on these machines to wake us up in the morning (alarms) because we don't trust ourselves, we rely on these same machines to remind us of birthdays and our kid's soccer practice times because we no longer write things down or rely on our own memory. Because automation surrounds us today, I think it would not be hard for big companies to eventually replace factories, cars and homes as we know it, because we might not see it even if it's before our eyes.

•  Why? I think I saw this opportunity in this way because of the influence and experience I've had in my own life. Last semester, I was enrolled in a Minorities in American Society class that really opened my eyes to what's been going on in our country that we might think isn't on a daily basis and automation was one of those trends.

Opportunity #2: Huge growth in life expectancy in most nations

• (a) This was found on the same site was the first one.
• https://www.globalchange.com/10-trends-that-will-dominate-our-future-all-predictable-changing-slowly-with-huge-impact.htm

• (b) This exists because of the medical advances and technology that we're developing constantly. Life expectancy is said to be increasing by a year in every four years, according to the trends cited on the website.

• (c) The customer in this opportunity is all of us, but really millennials and the generation that follow after, as they would be the ones who live to older ages.

• (d) I think because of the advancements we are making medically and health wise, this might be easier to exploit.

• Why? I think most people would see this opportunity in a similar as me, but although medical advancements are for the most part seen in a positive light, there may be a counter-argument out there that suggests a lot of these technological advancements are becoming un-natural and could potentially have risks and side effects to them.

Regulatory Trends

Opportunity #3: Workplace Diversity and Inclusion in the years to come

• (a) I found this on a 2019 forecast of disability related trends
• https://riskandinsurance.com/2019-forecasts-for-absence-and-disability/

• (b) I think this exists because of the current lack of inclusivity in the workplace among people with different skill sets and abilities; many people with disabilities (of any kind) have a difficult time getting hired for jobs or keeping jobs because of their limited skill sets and it is hoped to be improved in the near future. 

• (c) The customers who would benefit from this opportunity would be the currently employed or potential employees with disabilities (whatever they may be), who would be able to apply their own individual knowledge and diverse skill set and bring it to the table at that work place. 

• (d) I think this opportunity would be relatively difficult to exploit because many company owners and employers although would like to expand their companies and include a more diverse community, on the surface level, there are biases, assumptions and discriminations made by these employers that can't always be blamed because they may be ignorant on how to handle or interact with individuals with disabilities but also, should open up their mindset into learning more about this population and what they may need from their employers as well as the unique and individualized skills they can provide to the company.

• Why? I feel that this opportunity hits close to home for me. As someone who has experience and works with individuals with disabilities daily as a career as a behavior therapist for individuals with autism, it's easy for me to confront this opportunity and apply the perspective on the disabilities side of it. Others who may not have as much knowledge or experience with this population may not understand why this opportunity is one, or why it should be, but may offer a different perspective that I may not have.

Opportunity #4: Regulatory Trends in Privacy and Cybersecurity 2019

• (a) Found this here:
• https://blog.procircular.com/regulatory-trends-in-privacy-and-cybersecurity-2019

• (b)  I think this exists because the ironically increasing lack of privacy on the individual level of citizens in the United States. An excerpt from this article struck out to me, where it compared the privacy regulations of the United States and Europe. The U.S enforces privacy regulations and security of it's own federal government and businesses but when it comes to the citizen's privacy, the U.S lacks to secure it as much as Europe manages to secure the privacy and rights of their citizens. Simply put, the U.S prioritizes it's government and Foreign Intelligence Surveillance privacy over their own people.

• (c) Every individual with a right to privacy and possessing personal information.

• (d) There are groups out there working to protect the privacy rights of the individuals and citizens of this country so that a, as it was phrased in the blog, "Privacy Apocalypse" doesn't occur and we can only be optimistic that it will improve.

• Why? Often times, this issue is not put out there and many people believe that our privacy is just that, OURS. But it is hard for me to be convinced that our personal information is not out there being exploited when cases of breach of privacy are constantly occurring, not to mention lawsuits coming out with companies like Facebook and others that initially claim (to their consumers) to be with-holding consumer personal information for no one to see but can actually be reached.

5A - Identifying Local Opportunities

Opportunity #1:
UF Resident Assistant Charged with Battery Released as 'High-Achieving' Student Leader

• https://www.alligator.org/news/uf-resident-assistant-charged-with-battery-released-as-high-achieving/article_22218abc-d2bc-11e9-b6c8-576af09c51cc.html
•  A 'high-achieving' male student gets away with repeatedly bothering a female student, requesting sexual favors and following her to her dorm room, despite the many refusals he is getting from her. Because he is in an honor society, is teacher's assistant and claims to have "a lot of student work to do", Milaski's charges of battery and sexual assault were dropped.
• The problem in this story has to do with the lack of listening skills in some people as well as the problem we have in court today. The assault took place. The victim was affected. And the perpetrator was released and dropped of his charges all because of his status. This is not the way things should be handled in court, this just spirals and leads to even bigger problems. Would it be okay for a person of power and in high social and economic status to have committed assault and battery only because of the position he is in and the things he has previously accomplished? 
• I think the court system and the way things are decided in today's age (and for some time) is the problem. I think the system fails to recognize the real issues in these cases and overlook the victim's story because the perpetrator "has done so well" in his life prior to the incident. Anyone can be high-achieving and still have ill-intentions, and commit crimes. That is where our focus needs to be, not brushing off incidents like these and prevent change from happening.

Opportunity #2:

UF Student Reported She was Raped in Jennings Hall

• https://www.alligator.org/news/uf-student-reported-she-was-raped-in-jennings-hall-upd/article_03622c12-d41f-11e9-9b96-9fab926c54c5.html
• A female student reported she was raped in Jennings Hall and did not want to disclose any more information because the perpetrator was someone she was in a personal relationship with.
• I think the problem in this story has to do with lack of detailed reporting. The more information the UFPD has of the incident and of the perpetrator, the easier the process would be. Not knowing what happened in this incident, I do know a lot of cases like these usually happen among people who know each other and do habe relations with one another, but because of that, it is easy to not know how to handle the situation, the victim may be making excuses for the perpetrator because they knew each other well or may be afraid of what may come of it.
• The first problem lies within preventing these things from actually happening. The UFPD advises students to not walk alone at night or remain in lit and public places where others are around, but even then, this occurred in a dormitory, where supervision is not always in place and difficult to keep. The other problem is how the incident is handled.

Opportunity #3:

Students and Activists Make Posters Ahead of Blue Light Protest on Fraternity Row

• https://www.alligator.org/news/students-and-activists-make-posters-ahead-of-blue-light-protest/article_6c882e9c-d4e9-11e9-a8c9-83afa3c1f69c.html
• This protest is led due to the lack of blue light emergency lights on Fraternity Row. Students and activists make posters to use in a protest to move these blue lights to Fraternity Row.
• The problem seems to be the lack of blue emergency lights on Fraternity Row. These lights were created for emergency purposes and are scattered all around campus but seem to be missing here. The absence of these lights leave students that live or hang around fraternity row often, feel unsafe, especially considering the number of reported assaults on campus lately and the saddened culture of fraternities. Although I think blue lights are important in making us feel safe and like we can be helped in case of anything, I think the real problem lies with the actual incidents and the fact that we should be afraid and constantly on edge that something might happen to us, in the first place.
• Fraternity Row has the problem however, UF and the city have to deal with this problem.

Opportunity #4:

City Commission Repeals Plastic Ban, Raises GRU Rates

• https://www.alligator.org/news/city-commission-repeals-plastic-ban-raises-gru-rates/article_cbb76770-d5e3-11e9-9a5e-2fe54a48b3cd.html
• The city commission is overturning its efforts on banning Styrofoam and single use plastic bags while GRU bills go up. In this story, a woman explains how even having her AC off for a month, her GRU bill still reached $250 living in a studio apartment.
• The problem lies within the city commission and its efforts to repeal the plastic ban but also the insane GRU rates. 
• The residents of Gainesville are the ones who feel the burdens of this problem because GRU rates are so high, it becomes difficult to make ends meet to pay them.

Opportunity #5:

No More Mango: Trump Administration to Propose Ban on E-Cigarette Flavors

• https://www.alligator.org/news/no-more-mango-trump-administration-to-propose-ban-of-e/article_0a061ac4-d4dd-11e9-bcd5-87d4340fabf1.html
• Underage vaping is the reason for this ban. After a sixth person died in the U.S Wednesday from vaping, Trump proposes to ban popular vaping flavors like mango, strawberry and mint.
• The problem lies within the vaping community, which has lost six people to vape-related issues. Although there is controversy on whether this ban will be doing the people more harm than good. 
• The vapers have the problem. An employee of a Vape company stated that this ban would only drive the users to smoke cigarettes again which would be just as harmful.

3A- My Entrepreneurship Story

My Entrepreneurship Story:

Growing up from an immigrant family originally from the Dominican Republic, I was raised around a mother who practically was a member of a family of entrepreneurs in her household back on the island. Before she moved to the states, my mom was helping her sisters run a convenience store as well as a party and event rentals store they owned right off their house in their neighborhood, it seemed to be a family lineage of entrepreneurs. My mom would get called to work at the stores, sell street food, help arrange party favors, tailor a bridesmaid dress, do hair and makeup, or sell homemade ice cream popsicles all at a very young age.

Even though my mom moved here and created a different life for herself and for us as her children, she still brought us up with the little tips and tricks she learned back home. As a child growing up here in Florida, my mom and I used to really get into the baking scene, following tutorials, taking decorating classes at the local bakery and getting our hands dirty by making and baking whatever interesting goods we wanted to and share them with our family and friends in town. I'd bring homemade cake pops to school for my friends and sometimes sell them to others when they realized how good they were and slowly, creating, became a thing in our house. We made goodies all the way from Halloween biscuit witch fingers to Easter bunny candy pops. It was not only a start of a small business-like experience but a great bonding experience with my mom as well. We enjoyed the art of creating, even if it was making the simplest of things.

Exploring other DIY crafts to make, we looked into soap making and different kinds of nutrients and natural essences we can put into soap that could help those around us with skin issues, really just starting with ourselves (I thought I had terrible acne in middle school and wanted to find ways to solve this myself instead of spending hundreds on a product prescribed by a dermatologist made of chemicals no one's ever even heard of).

So we bought soap making books, invested in the making materials, essences, colors, natural ingredients and started making some soap. My mom did really well with this one oatmeal based soap in particular, shared it with some family and friends and it did wonders on our skin, she got great reviews from her peers. Although we mainly did what we did out of curiosity and for fun, if we really built it upwards, we probably could have made a real small business out of it. We tried packaging and gifting some of what we made but we never made labels or applied for a sales permit or made a name for our 'company'. It was just a couple of amateur crafters having fun and bonding over creating something pretty cool and useful. But, I guess, that's all you really need to start yourself up as an entrepreneur, isn't it?

I enrolled in ENT3003 because of my Innovation minor and I have previously taken this class before, but, I would like to say this class is definitely one I find a lot of interests in because I enjoy looking for new ways to solve problems around me and hope to be able to do more of that as I progress forward in this class and my career as a hopeful future entrepreneur.

2A - Bug List

Julissa Robles

ENT3003

My Bug List:

• 1) Airport indoor traffic/waiting lines (ridiculous)
• Why? This bug exists because often times domestic airports have too many flights at one time, causing traffic jam inside the airport walkways.

• 2) Airport prices of food (insanely high!)
• Why? This bug exists because big companies target travelers for easy money because most travelers are likely to endure long layovers and have no choice but to eat at the airport.

• 3) Not enough hangers in public bathrooms to hang your bags/luggage ESPECIALLY in airports. You would think because they are airports, that they would consider the fact you carry a lot of luggage with you but lack of consideration, smh.
• Why? This bug likely exists to limit travelers of how much luggage they carry in the future or for inconsideration of bulky travelers.

• 4) Lack of working ice cream machine at McDonald's.
• Why? This bug exists because the machine is so often used, it gets broken on the regular.

• 5) How cramped airplane seats are/ having to put a hold on your bladder when you're in the window or middle seat because you don't want to bug the other 2 people next to you to get out.
• Why? This bug likely exists because space on aircraft is limited in the first place and people are packed into flights instead of spreading them out.

• 6) Lack of seatbelts in big buses or even regular city buses
• Why? This bug probably exists because of the city's lack of consideration for bus travelers and to save themselves some money. Because the vehicle is so large, there is a lower chance of injury and fatality (assumed) compared to a more compact vehicle where seatbelts are provided and required.

• 7) The lack of an uber option where you can select whether you want your driver to talk to you or not (important for our introverts out here who only want a ride and not a spiel on the driver's life).
• Why? This bug could exist because we live in a society that praises and reinforces outgoing and outspokenness, and any one unlike that may be perceived rude or stuck up when in reality, some people just don't like to talk to others and that is fine.

• 8) How unreliable the uber GPS is, for example; when you should be making a left at the light, it tells the driver to turn right, make a U-turn and THEN turn left, making it so much more work than it needs to be. 
• Why? This bug probably exists because of malfunction in the navigation system that does not get fixed and is so trusted by users.

• 9) No baby changing tables in the men's room for single dads.
• Why? This bug most likely exists because of the societal title we've placed on women to be the caretakers and child bearers and fail to attach that title to fathers, when in reality, single fathers exist and also struggle to take care or simply change their baby's diaper because of this bug.

• 10) Being too short to reach the handlebars on a bus and have to position yourself in a stance to brace yourself before knocking into other people while standing because all the seats are taken.
• Why? Standards when these handlebars were installed into the buses were set to one height, not taking into consideration the ranges of human height and its needs.

• 11) The abundance of homeless veterans out there that served their country and were once promised to be cared for by their country and are left in the streets after their service.
• Why? They are no longer seen as individuals but were used for war and are no longer "needed" to the government.

• 12) Lack of term limits for people in office
• Why? The same people remain in office for 40+ years, preventing much change in decision making.

• 13) Lack of essential life skills being taught in secondary school like how to do your taxes, how to find a job, buy property, change a tire, etc.
• Why? At high school age, we are thought to not need to know these skills but in actuality, once we graduate these are skills that are more essential to our survival than an algebra equation.

• 14) Lack of nutrition based education in elementary and secondary schools that teach us what to eat and how to be using our energy properly.
• Why? It is easier and cheaper to food marketers to provide minimal information on nutrition. We focus on food for pleasure rather than nourishing our bodies. The information could be out there but most are not easily accessed by the general population (working middle class).

• 15) Biases in media when events occur and are portrayed on the news
• Why? Biases in media exist to skew the truth and exaggerate what will get the attention of the people/bring more ratings as well as lure the people in one direction. This has worked for centuries.

• 16) Paying more money for a phone than the money it took to be made.
• Why? This bug exists for phone companies to make more profit off of individuals that fall for this and are always getting the latest phone.

• 17) Lack of wipes in public bathrooms.
• Why? This bug must exist out of lack of consideration or knowledge about how to properly care for our sensitive areas in the bathroom.

• 18) Lack of sidewalks for pedestrians to walk on in many central areas, being left with no other choice but to walk on the side of the street.
• Why? This bug likely exists because sidewalks costs money to build.

• 19) Bicycle theft in Gainesville
• Why? This bug exists because some unlocked bikes and bike seats are easily removable and become targets for thieves.

• 20) Paying for both parts of a bikini (women-targeted)
• Why? This bug exists because big brands find they rob people of their money more easily when each piece of clothing is sold separately instead of as one whole sale.

My Reflection:

I had a difficult time coming up with a lot of these bugs because I felt like I was thinking too small scale with some of the issues and felt the need to mention some large scale bugs that are common issues today. On my ordinary days, I often come across things that bother me and I always think to myself, "wow, I wish I could find a solution to this", or "If only I could invent this, then this would be helped" but even having those thoughts on a daily basis, it was so hard trying to retrieve them all into one list on the go for this assignment because I did'nt have them listed in my brain already. Writing the "why's" were also a bit of a challenge because it is hard to think of why a problem may exist, most of the time we try to answer with the reasons it bugs us and what solutions could be made but that wasn't what was asked of this assignment. 

Overall, it was pretty refreshing, thinking about daily bugs and listing them, it made me realize there are alot of things to be bothered about! (haha) And hopefully a lot of things to be improved!

Testing..1..2..3..

Just a test post to start this blog off. Hi everyone!