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.