8A Solving the Problem

1. Students who study in groups of more than three people cannot find seats in Marston around midterm and final weeks.

2. The idea is to create an app or a website in which students can see which seats are available and when they are taken in the library, such as how students can see which washing machines and dryers are being used in dormitories.

• This could be done on an app, but preferably on the website where UF students can already see which study rooms are being used at Marston. This would make things much smoother and easy because students wouldn't have to go to a new website. The knowledge of where people are sitting and which seats are available can be taken by sensors or by buttons that people press when they are seated. It would just have to be a system where their seating can be known electronically and directly sent to the website so others can know the availability.

7A Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

Marston website to see available seating

• Opportunity: 
• Students at UF, usually around the time of midterms and finals, cannot find seats in Marston for study groups and waste their time looking because there is no way to know the availability of seating.
• The who: UF students who study in Marston
• The what: They are unable to see the seating availability in Marston
• The why: The wasted time and effort used because of the lack of availability
• Testing the who: Not only people at Marston have this problem, but also people at Library West. On an even bigger scale, this happens at college campuses across the United States and possibly even the globe. However, since I am a UF student I am looking to solve this problem for UF.
• Testing the what: This problem really only occurs during midterms and finals and it doesn't happen every day. Just when it does happen it's a huge annoyance and waste of time.
• Testing the why: I think that this opportunity is justified because it can stop the waste of time and effort because of the lack of a system to check the availability of seating.
• Interview #1: 
• In this interview I found that this person studies with a group of three other students and in fall 2018, she could not find space for four seats together in Marston and got super frustrated. I asked if they would like a form of knowing which seats were being used up at Marston at a certain time and she said thought it was a really good idea. She says it's not a huge problem but is definitely an annoyance.
• Interview #2:
• In this interview I found out that this person just rents a room at Marston to avoid the problem of not finding good seating arrangements. This person completely avoids the problem by finding a new solution and doesn't seek the opportunity of a system in which it can be known that people are sitting in specific seats.
• Interview #3:
• In this interview, I found out that this person chooses to study in his dorm study room during finals and midterms to avoid the chaos of Marston. Again, this person is using another way of avoiding the problem entirely and thus doesn't need to seek an opportunity of a system in which it can be known that people are sitting in specific seats.
• Interview #4: 
• In this interview, I interviewed a group of five people who have the similar problem of the girl I interviewed in the first one. They have huge trouble finding seats in Marston around midterm and final time. They also would like a system in which they could know the availability of the seating. They find it extremely frustrating walking through the library with their backpacks, ready to study, and can't even find a place to sit down and actually start studying.
• Interview #5:
• This interview was with someone who studies at Marston, but they study alone. This person can always find at least one seat at Marston and never finds the problem said in the problem statement. This just emphasizes the fact that the "who" in this opportunity is definitely groups of students, not just one person.
• Given your interviews, what do you know about your opportunity that you didn't know before?
• I know that some people can completely avoid their problems by either renting a room or just studying in one's own dorm study room. Also, I know that this opportunity has to only be targeted to groups, instead of solo studiers, because solo studiers will almost always find a seat to study, even in the most busy times of the semester. 

6A Identifying Opportunities in Economic & Regulatory Trends

• Regulatory Changes: Increasing the age to buy tobacco problems to 21
• Source: https://www.alligator.org/news/alachua-county-commission-raises-age-to-buy-tobacco-end-prisoner/article_2d479bf0-1ed7-11e9-ae13-7bc0f41a3835.html
• I believe that this means there is an opportunity that exists because now there are going to be groups of 18-20 year old people who previously could buy tobacco products and have developed an addiction who now cannot, but that addiction will still be there. They will just need to find a new way to get their products.
• The prototypical customer is 18-20 year old people who use tobacco products in Alachua county.
• This opportunity is easy to exploit because it's an addiction so consumers will want their product in any way they can get it.
• I saw this as an opportunity because I know how addiction can affect people and a law like this going into place is 100% going to affect 18-20 year old people who can no longer get their product. I see how it affects my friends, so seeing them react to this law helped me see an opportunity.
• Regulatory Changes: Government shutdown
• Source: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/shutdown-fallout-intensifies-as-officials-signal-stalemate-could-last-much-longer
• I believe that this means there is an opportunity that exists because thousands of people have been not able to work and are not receiving paychecks, needing a new place to receive money from to support themselves and their families.
• The prototypical customer would be government workers, most likely with children and family that they need to support and cannot do so with no paychecks coming in. 
• I think this is easy to exploit because the fact of the United States is that one needs money to live and without it, then it is hard to get by in life so people affected by this shutdown will most likely want to get money.
• I saw this as an opportunity because my mom has friends that are government workers that are being affected by this shutdown and I have seen the effects in her life. Also I can empathize with the desires of these workers to get money for themselves and their families.
• Economic Trend: Thinner Tax Refunds
• Source: https://www.thesimpledollar.com/four-economic-trends-that-will-impact-you-this-year/
• I believe that this means there is an opportunity that exists because tens of thousands of people will be affected by thinner tax refunds, especially people who depend on those refunds.
• The prototypical customer would be people of lower economic standing who really depend on the tax return to help them with their bills.
• I think this is easy to exploit because money is a necessity in life and families are at times dependent on the tax refunds, so if they are thinner they will want to find a new way to get money.
• I saw this opportunity because I can relate to it, as a college student I don't have much money so I can relate to wanting a big tax refund in my checking out and can relate to the dependence on it.
• Economic Trend: Interest Rate Increases 
• Source: https://www.thesimpledollar.com/four-economic-trends-that-will-impact-you-this-year/
• I believe this means that there is an opportunity because people are going to have to be paying more for things such as credit cards, home equity, and mortgages. This will be an extreme effect in some people's lives.
• The prototypical customer will be someone who cannot afford the increase in interest rates, such as home owners or people who have multiple credit cards.
• I think this is easy to exploit because it will affect thousands of people in a crucial way.
• I saw this opportunity because money is a really important issue and I can empathize with people having to pay extra for things out of their control when they really cannot afford it.

5A Identifying Local Opportunities

1. The next possible victims of the shutdown: Your food, flowers and toys

• https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AMIHB%21Miami%2BHerald%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0120%21January%2B20&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/171121A936B566D0
• This article discusses the issues stemming from the government shutdown. In particular this article speaks about how imports are being affected in the United States. There is a lack of workers who are inspecting the imports coming in, meaning that the inspections are taking much longer than usual. For example, a shipment of bell peppers took two weeks before it even got looked at when it usually only takes two days.
• The problem is that imports are taking too long, meaning products are going bad like produce and flowers. Also there is an expected shortage of products because of the shutdown.
• The people being affected are the companies whose imports are being shorted, also the people being affected by this problem are the consumers who cannot buy the products they usually do because of the shortage.

2. Fire rescue worker arrested on DUI charges after he hit 5 drivers with his truck, cops say

• https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AMIHB%21Miami%2BHerald%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0122%21January%2B22&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/1711FB74C309CD30
• This article discusses multiple accidents caused by a Florida man and his reckless driving. He is a licensed paramedic who in the past had no prior driving issues except a ticket for running a red light. The man was said to be slurring his words and stumbling over his feet but refused a blood test.
• The problem is the man hit and hurt many people, creating havoc and situations of danger in his town. 
• The people being affected by this problem is the man because of all the fines he will have to pay, loss of a job, and facing jail time for his actions. Also the people who were in the accidents are affected because they got hurt and have to pay for the hospital bills. Lastly. the Fire Rescue in which the man worked for will be affected because it gives them a bad reputation.

3. Woman in viral protest video fired as state explores charging boyfriend with hate crime

• https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AMIHB%21Miami%2BHerald%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0123%21January%2B23&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/17123378933A8410
• This article discusses a woman who was yelling at a group of black teenagers who were protesting with signs saying "Bikes Up Guns Down", where they biked across the town. The woman was caught on video of accusing the boys of running over her feet and cursing and yelling racial slurs at them. Video came out of the incident and the woman got fired because of her hate speech. The company expressed its discomfort with the speech used and how they are not going to tolerate it in their work space.
• The problem is the woman yelling racial slurs at the boys and getting caught, then getting fired.
• The people affected by this problem are the company that employed the woman because their reputation is being threatened by her hate speech. Also the woman is affected because she no longer has a job.

4. Recall expanded again for heart, blood pressure and kidney drug over possible carcinogen

• https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AMIHB%21Miami%2BHerald%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0123%21January%2B23&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/17121EC969E22718
• This article discusses a drug used for heart, blood pressure, and kidney problems being recalled again because of the possibility of a carcinogen existing in it. It contains NDEA which is classified as a possible human carcinogen. But, until patients' doctors come up with a new solution to whatever the medicine was treating, they are still advised to take it.
• The problem is the recall of the medicine.
• The people being affected are the patients that take this medicine because they have been putting harmful substances into their bodies. Also, the company who makes the medicine is affected because their reputation is threatened and they have to fix their huge mistake.

5. You must now be 21 to buy tobacco in this Florida college town, joining a national trend

• https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AMIHB%21Miami%2BHerald%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0124%21January%2B24&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/171287D83083D490
• Alachua County has raised the age from 18 to 21 to legally buy tobacco products from places such as gas stations and smoke shops. Also there is a rule coming into effect that a store cannot sell tobacco products within 1,000 feet from a school. This article also discusses some states who have made this change too or are becoming ready to. As well, this article addresses the problem of underage kids vaping and possibly raising the age to buy e-cigarette products to 21.
• The problem is the raising of the age of buying tobacco from 18 to 21.
• The people being affected by this are those that are 18 or over but under 21 and can no longer buy tobacco products such as gars. Also, the people being affected are the people selling these products because there will probably be a big loss of consumers.

4A Forming An Opportunity Belief

There is an unmet need in UF Campus of going to the library, Marston or Lib West, and not being able to find any seats. The last time I went to Marston was during finals in the fall and I went to study with a friend and we left because we couldn't find a seat together. I feel like the opportunity exists to make a website or an app which tells which seats are occupied in the library, on each floor and table. The people that have this need would be graduate and undergraduate students at UF who want to study in a quiet library, also tutors and teachers. This need has been around for a while, and especially arises during midterms and finals weeks. To meet this need now, people are just showing up to the library in hopes that there will be seats, or not going to the library at all in order to avoid this problem entirely. I'm 40% that this opportunity exists. The prototypical customer would be the students, teachers, tutors etc. that want to use the library.

#1: Freshman who studies with a group of about 5 at Marston

• Have you ever not gotten a seat at the library?
• Yes, my study group has been split up before because there were not 5 seats together, it was during a finals week.
• Would you say this happens often?
• Not really, it only happens during finals and midterms, usually we can find seats.
• When did you first become aware of this problem?
• I guess the first time we all couldn't find a seat together.
• What do you currently do to prevent this problem from happening? Are you happy with this?
• We don't really have a solution, we will rent a room next time though, around midterms and finals. It's kind of a pain to rent a room because sometimes I forget to.
• Do you think an app telling you which seats were occupied at the library would help?
• Yes, actually I think that'd help a lot, they have a similar thing for washers being used in my dorm and I use it all the time.

#2: Sophomore who tutors at Marston and rents a room

• Do you have a problem with seating in the library?
• No, because I rent a room.
• Have you ever not rented a room and had a problem?
• Yes, that's why I started renting the room because I just wanted to avoid the problem.
• Are you happy with this solution?
• Yes, I'm really happy because it gives me a quiet room and I don't have to deal with the problem of seating because it's guaranteed.
• Do you think an app telling you which seats were occupied at the library is a good idea?
• Yes, I kind of don't have the problem anymore since I always rent a room, but if that app existed then I wouldn't have to rent a room anymore.

#3: Freshman who studies alone at Marston

• Do you have a problem with seating at the library?
• Not really, sometimes I have to sit in a floor I didn't want to because all the seats were taken, but I always find a seat.
• Have you ever not found a seat?
• Only once, it was during finals last semester so the library was really busy. But, I've found a seat almost every time, it's easy to find a lone seat. 
• Do you think it's a problem?
• I've only had an issue once so it's not really a big problem to me but I can see how it would be a problem to people who come in groups of a few friends to study.
• How are you currently avoiding the problem of seating?
• Well, I just go in and find a seat, but I'm kind of scared for finals again and midterms because I might not be able to find a seat.
• What would you do if you couldn't find a seat?
• I'd have to go somewhere else to study, but I really like studying in the library, I can't get work done in my dorm. I'd probably go to Newell.
• Do you think an app to tell you which seats were occupied in the library would help?
• I definitely think that would be a good solution to the problem.

Reflection: I learned that my opportunity's prototypical customers are definitely people who study in groups and the time it would be most useful is during midterms and finals because that's when the library gets the most busy. I learned that some people are already avoiding the problem by renting rooms which is a smart way to get rid of the problem entirely. 

Summary: I think the opportunity is still there, it just needs to be geared towards groups more because those are the people that are having this problem the most. People who study alone and rent rooms don't really encounter this problem like groups do. I think it's definitely more accurate now because in the interviews I was able to pinpoint the problem and who experiences it better than before. I think entrepreneurs should definitely adapt their opportunities based on consumers' feedback. In the end of the day, the consumers are the ones that are going to be buying the product so it makes sense to make the product cater to what they want exactly rather than staying firm on something they don't like. 

3A My Entrepreneurship Story

My friend's dad is a serial entrepreneur and has invested in and grown companies, thus growing his assets and creating a good life for himself. He told me about how it's a lot of trying and work, without immediate reward but it eventually ideas will take off and grow, often better than expectations. He's grown a lot and been able to provide for his family because of his perseverance and not giving up on his ideas. He helped me realize that not everything is going to have an instant take off and work right away, but with time and work things can work out for the best. He lives in a beautiful mansion, with two kids and has built a life for himself which stems from hard work and dedication.

I enrolled in ENT3003 because it is a business elective and it was recommended to me by an adviser but after watching the first couple of videos I realized I'm glad that I took this class because I think I'm going to get a lot from it. I think I am going to learn how to be more hardworking and dedicated and possibly strategies to be so. I hope to come out of this class stronger as a general business major.

2A Bug List

1. The garbage truck that comes to my dorm, Rawlings Hall, every day at 8:45 and wakes me up.
 
 Why? There is a schedule for these workers to maintain and my dorm is one of the stops in the morning shift.

2. When I go to Student Rec Gym and at 1:50 after my statistics class and the only lockers open are the top ones that I can barely reach.

Why? Everyone else wants a locker that are at a comfortable spot for them to reach and use.

3. Having to buy a $140 Spanish textbook that is not even bound so I have to spend additional money on a binder to hold it together.

Why? It costs the publishers extra to bind the books and they know students obviously need them and will go out and buy the binders themselves.

4. When I'm using my laptop at school and the UF wifi goes out.

Why? A lot of students are using the wifi at once, so it's bound to have problems and glitches.

5. People in my dorm, Rawlings, who don't clean the kitchen or bathrooms after themselves even though there are 100 of us sharing the same space.

Why? Some people don't think about the cleanliness of a shared place as much as other people do.

6. My water bottle can't fill up in a regular water fountain because it tilts too much in order to be low enough to get to the mouth of the fountain.

Why? The fountain is low to drink comfortably and the shape of my water bottle is so that the water stays in securely without spilling.

7. When I'm leeching off my ex friend's Spotify account that she pays for and she logs in so I have to stop listening to music.

Why? She is paying for it so she deserves to listen to music, not me.

8. When I'm leeching off a random girl's Netflix that at least 15 people in my hometown all use and I can't find the show I was most recently watching because there's so many people on one account.

Why? Everyone loves watching Netflix, especially for free.

9. When I'm writing and it smudges all over the side of my hand.

Why? I'm writing too fast and not waiting for the ink to dry.

10. When Canvas logs me out because of inactivity and I try to go back and have to log in again.

Why? Canvas obviously follows security precautions so that our accounts cannot be accessed by anyone other than ourselves.

11. When I microwave my food and some parts get hot and others stay cold.

Why? The plate needs to be evenly portioned and given enough time in the microwave.

12. When people leave their clothes in the dorm washing machines even though they are finished with the cycle and I need to use the machine.

Why? Some people are busy when their clothes are ready and cannot come get them, or they didn't set timers.

13. When I go to the gas station to buy something that is for 18+ and I get ID'd and told I look like a twelve year old.

Why? Gas station workers need to do their job and ID everyone to make sure they aren't selling to minors.

14. When my roommate has early classes and wakes me up while she's getting ready.

Why? My roommate has to get ready too and go to class.

15. When I text my friend asking which outfit I should wear and she texts back late and I already chose the outfit she said not to wear.

Why? My friend is obviously busy and cannot text me back exactly when I text her.

16. Stepping in water in my socks because someone spilled something in the hallway and didn't clean it up.

Why? People are messy.

17. Buying a $12 backpack on Amazon and expecting it to last for a whole semester when in reality it broke in a month.

Why? It was cheap because it was cheaply made, not meant to last for a long time.

18. When you lend a hair tie to a friend and she doesn't give it back.

Why? She has hair too that needs to be held and doesn't think that it's a big deal to keep.

19. When a hair tie snaps as you're putting your hair in a ponytail.

Why? Hair ties are cheaply made small pieces of elastic which are bound to break over time with use.

20. When the bathrooms of my dorm don't get cleaned over the weekend, which is the time when people get the most sloppy, and the bathrooms are filthy.

Why? The maintenance people get weekends off, deservedly, and shouldn't work 7 days a week.

Reflection: I found this assignment hard because I couldn't think of 20 things off the top of my head that bugged me. I had to wait for them to actually happen and then realized how much I was actually bothered by them. Most of these things I don't really think about until they are actually occurring, which in a way shows how unimportant they actually are but are more just minor things that make me annoyed for a moment and I get over them pretty quickly. I would just do the assignment at the end of day for a couple days and reflect on what annoyed me that day.

First Post

im just testing to see how to post lmao