Week 4 Reading Reflection

1) What was the biggest surprise for you in the reading? In other words, what did you read that stood out the most as different from your expectations? 

 The biggest surprised to me was understanding how many different drivers there are for each triple bottom line category. Initially, when I hear bottom line, I think of profit after expenses are paid. This offers a whole new way to approach environmental, social and economic performance.

2) Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you.

For me, the section pertaining to the subcategories within the global marketplace discussion was the hardest for me to absorb. At times, as a student, it seems like the author is more concerned with using intellectually correct terms instead of just having a conversation about the topic.

3) If you were able to ask two questions to the author, what would you ask? Why?

What are some strong practices that separate the EU from the practices in the U.S?

4) Was there anything you think the author was wrong about? Where do you disagree with what she or he said? How?

It's hard to disagree when most of the knowledge I have about this topic comes from the author. There was not anything in this chapter that I thought was 'wrong'.

Top 5 World Problems

'Most' important to 'least'

1. War and Terrorism 

2. Drastic Climate Changes 

3. Hunger 

4. Disease

5. Cost of Education 

All of the topics I've listed are of significant importance to not only our country but the world. I've place war and terrorism at the top. It seems now, more than ever, our national security is at risk. War and terrorism is one of the nation's biggest concerns, for obvious reasons,  and a primary focus in the new election. The drastic climate changes affect everyone. The other topics won't matter if states disappear from the evolving weather conditions. Hunger is next on my list. The reason I've placed it below is because I always feel that people have a certain level of control in feeding themselves. Now in third world countries, that's where my primary concern would sit. Disease is fourth on my list because I feel that we've made extraordinary advancements in prolonging man's life. In fact, maybe too long. It seems that we're getting closer to finding cures to major diseases such as cancer. Last is the cost of education. I place this here because there are ways to help alleviate some of the cost if you and your family plan correctly. 

Most to least Feasible 

1. Cost of Education 

2. Water

3. Hunger 

4. Education as a Priority in society 

5. Child Abuse 

Cost of Education is the problem I think is the most feasible. Not that schooling should be free but there are ways for the nation to make education more affordable for all. Wouldn't a smarter America benefit most? Water is my next. We can effectively manage the water we use and how we use it. We don't need someone else to rectify this problem for us. Fact is, we're conditioned to be careless as if it's endless but awareness and moderation would impact this problem quickly. Hunger is third because as I've stated, I always feel people have SOME control. Now, some countries simply do not have the resources to grow crop or feed the mass amounts of people they have. This topic could be resolved if the nations came together to pool resources and teach third world countries how to supply for their people. Education as a priority would be completely feasible if we made it a greater priority. We don't need to pay more. We don't need additional resources. We just need to raise our society to place education as THE top priority. East Asian countries raise their children to prioritize school not partying and reality television. The U.S is ranked 13th for education and while it isn't horrible, one of the strongest nations in the world should place higher. Child Abuse is the fifth due to the lower expense to manage but it's hard to effectively monitor. I would like to think there's a better way to monitor children at risk for abuse that's feasible. 

Identifying Local Opportunities

City Approves $272,000 vehicle purchase

The mayor is concerned that too much of the city's funds are being spent without justification. Code enforcement is granted an extended cab 4x4 Ford, costing the city more money than necessary. The mayor mentioned the extended cab vehicles being purchased for city positions, when previously, the city has always done well with models that are less and without these additions.  As of now, the mayor is looking to see a clear justification as to why these personnel would need such expensive vehicles.

County rejects proposed recovery center

It was proposed for Dynamic Life Recovery Center to build a 30,000 square foot medical treatments center off Midway. This facility would 80 beds for patients. Area residents and county staffers were concerned of the size of the facility. The county believes this is too much land to dedicate to a treatment facility so this request was denied. You could say that both sides, the facility and the county, have a problem. As of now, the county does not feel this project was thoroughly planned.

Resident launches new attack on common core

Florida state representative, Debbie Mayfield, has authored a new bill to challenge the common core curriculum in school systems. Many parents and teachers are concerned about the amount of standardized testing in the school system and are looking for reform. The parents and teachers have a problem with the way current school systems are required to extensively 'train' students for test that essentially won't prepare children with an adequate education.


City puts limitations on freestanding sandwich shop

The local Subway has requested to install a drive through service. The county has granted that request as long as Subway changes their building color to conform to the rest of the businesses it's located near. It's a requirement that all the businesses have the same color scheme and so far, Subway has not had to oblige. Subway is happy to comply with the request and will make the change to appease the county. The county had a problem with Subway not conforming to required business color scheme.

Finding a Home for Treasure Coast's Most Vulnerable

The Treasure Coast has more than 150 children looking for a forever family and home. Nearly 1/3 of the more than 1,000 teens who leave foster care without a family will be homeless within 3 years. These teens receive no education, have no jobs, and no means to support themselves. Children's Home Society of Florida partners with Dept of Children and Families to help these children find a home. The article is encouraging residents to attend and event to bring awareness to the issue in our hometown. These teens and children have a problem with finding forever homes and families making it near impossible to do anything with their lives.








 

Week 3 Reading Reflection

1) What was the biggest surprise for you in the reading? In other words, what did you read that stood out the most as different from your expectations? 

I didn't know there was an entire philosophy/structure to not only fostering but implementing innovation within large organizations. I've worked for many big companies and only one has asked for employee 'idea' but never encouraged in the way described. It's nice to see the relationship, in some companies, between manager and employee develop to a creative partnership than a micro managed role.  

2) Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you.

 3.1 Figure Defining Corporate Entrepreneurship. The author breaks down corporate venturing and strategic entrepreneurship and goes into subcategories. I felt the terms utilized were unfriendly. I understand that intelligent terminology in encourages as most of the time it can translate to our everyday conversation but I think there would be better retention with terminology that communicated the point a little clearer.


 3) If you were able to ask two questions to the author, what would you ask? Why?

 Does the author believe implementing this environment and strategies has an overall positive impact on employee engagement and production? How do you effectively manage organizational boundaries?

4) Was there anything you think the author was wrong about? Where do you disagree with what she or he said? How?

 Reading the Rule for an Innovative Environment.
I don't know if I necessarily agree with encouraging employees to work on secret projects on company time. This can cut into productivity. How does the company monitor company projects vs. personal projects?

Very Short Interview No. 1

This week I decided to interview the president of ATL Information Systems, Tom Ownby. 

Mr. Ownby is owner in a partnership with two other individuals. Their company has been very successful and they have increased revenue ten times over in the last three years of business. ATL is a software/parts creator and distributor for companies like OCM.

1. "What does it mean to you to be an entrepreneur?"

"Freedom, Time and Flexibility. Entrepreneurship gives you something tangible. You've created this business. It also includes partnerships and being able to take advantage of different perspectives. It also gives you the opportunity to make more money." 

2. "What was the biggest lesson to you as an entrepreneur in all this?"

Patience and Perseverance. Just because you fail at some things doesn't mean your business has to fail. If your business does fail, you try again. You're going to fail at some point. Make sure you're able to adapt and that you have flexibility with what's happening in your business. In hind site, I also would've tried to start the business on my own. It can be difficult incorporating partners, ideas and opinions when everyone has a vision"

3. "What is the greatest part about being an entrepreneur?"

"Achievement. To know you've started something from nothing and not only made it successful but that it's had an impact is great. You may not be able to achieve that same level of success in the corporate world. We've increased our revenue 10 times over by managing for efficiency and quality control. Our business does not have a lot of over head, so it makes it easier for us to profit. Whatever you do, don't give up. It's worth it."

I truly enjoyed Mr. Ownby's perspective on being an entrepreneur. 

I think, overall, I'm surprised to hear how happy his in with his decisions and what being an entrepreneur has meant to him. 

While this path seems difficult, it also seems to have provided a great level of accomplishment and satisfaction. While money is definitely a goal, I think we all would love to know our work has impacted the world in a positive way. 

World's Biggest Problems

 

It can be easy to be so self involved, we forget about issues on a global scale. Here are my top 10 issues globally. 

1. Drastic climate changes. 

The earth continues to get warmer and warmer due to the use of fossil fuels. These fuels allow the sun to burn through our ozone which is why we feel the heat more as well as for longer periods of time. This issue impacts not only our day to day life but our future. 

Solution: We have to find a solutions to these day to day uses on the harmful fuels and gases. This is why we're seeing such an incentive for companies to go green as well as vehicles running on alternative 'fuels'.

2. Homeless people and families. 

I am consistently shocked that some people can have enough money to support 10 generations down but we still see children sleeping in the street. We have enough resources for everyone to have a roof over their head at night. Solution: Devise a plan to make sure we're preventing people from becoming homeless in the first place. If people need help with a month's rent, require the money is provided directly to a landlord. If employment is the issue, offer incentives to companies who help in getting these people back into the workforce. Build shelters where people are required to participate in a program. This program can teach the ways to get back into working society. It's not perfect but it's a thought!

3. Hunger. 

Food is something every person should be entitled to. It's said that over 800 million people are malnourished every day. Some countries have been successful is dramatically reducing this statistic.  Solution: Get back to basics. Educate people on a well balanced diet, how they can provide for themselves and give them the resources to provide for their communities. Designate parts of land to solely producing food for that area. Those areas must have plans in place to secure that land as food production only. 

4. War and Terrorism

As we get smarter, our weapons evolve. The threat grows with every new advance. We could be one temper tantrum away from entire countries being erased. Seems a little insane that a group of people can hold so much power. Solution: The truth? I don't think there ever will be because the real answer will never come to fruition. Peace. 

5.Extinction of entire species.

We've seen entire species of animals wiped out due to hunting, building, etc. There's something beautiful about each species and we know less and less when we lose another. 

Solution: Protect more animal species. There are certain groups dedicated to protecting, procreating and relocating but more resources could be used to save these dying species. Plus, is it truly necessary to add ANOTHER strip mall there?

6.Education. 

Education should be a push in EVERY country. How can we make the world a better place when most of our generation has no idea what's happening outside of American Idol? Stop promoting this garbage TV and encourage a society who thrives on learning more. Let's make is the norm to watch documentaries, discuss world news and have an educated discussion about things that matter.

Solution: Improve our school systems. Get people thinking our of the box more often. Encourage educated debates in the school system. Teach one another to respect an opinion, even if it's not your own. Appreciate college when you do go. Go with the intent to become a smarter person, not to out chug your best friend at the next party you go to. 

7. Cost of Education. 

I will have to put myself in a lot of debt to obtain this degree. To me, it'll be worth it. However, I shouldn't have to make payments until I'm 45 to advance my future. Investing in people's education only benefits everyone. Going to school should be feasible for most, not some. Solution: Lower the rates on student loans and provide incentive to companies who pay for employees education. 

8. Child Abuse

40 million + child are abused every year. When the only person in charge of your care is the same person putting your care in danger, what do you do? The protection monitoring has failed children everywhere. Solution: Improve the system. a more thorough investigation into families with abuse allegations. When children are born, are they born into high risk families for abuse? Practice prevention instead of remediation.

9. Disease 

We've come too far in modern science to still not have a clear cure for diseases like cancer. In 2012 alone, it was estimated there were 14.1 million new cancer cases. This disease affects everyone involved. Solution: Find the cure for cancer. I find it incredibly difficult to believe that after all this time, advancements, money; we have no cure still. 

10.Water 

We use water so frivolously. In our future, it is said that water will become a luxury if we do not find a way to preserve. Solution: Let's start talking about this issue. Raise awareness and let's make changes in the way we live. 

Bug List

We've been tasked with the challenge of compiling a list of 'bugs'. These bugs will be events or occurrences that frustrate me in day to day life. This post will include my bug and the root or what I believe is to be the underlying cause.

1. During the busiest part of my workday, my computer sees fit to either: run extremely slow or stop working all together. This slow down will significantly decrease the amount of work I'm able to start, progress or complete.
This interference with the computer's performance could be a direct reflection of several things including available memory, updated software, installed viruses or just 'outdated'. 

2. When I call a friend or family member and they do not pick up but I see them active on social networking sites. 
 People no longer value voice conversation. They may find their time, at that moment, should be spent checking the latest posts, pictures and articles. 

3. At work, I am usually one of the top performers. The people who are disengaged and never seem to hit goal are left alone while I'm consistently pushed to achieve more.  
I have always been completely engaged in what I'm involved in. It's easier to hold coaching conversations with people who care about the end result than people who do not. Management would probably find the conversation with low performers to be much more difficult and cause some level of anxiety. 

 4. When I get to the point of having almost no gas and I pull up to a pump that is not currently accepting credit cards. I have to get back in my car and pull around to another pump. 
It is more than likely a big expense for the company to continually call out technicians to service the technology within the pump. 

 5. I take the highway to work everyday and drive about 9 over. Cars on the highway flash their lights behind me or aggressively cut me off in the middle of rush hour traffic. 
People think they will get to their destination faster if they drive in this manner. It could also be that the person had a bad day and it's demonstrated in the form of 'road rage'.

6. Friends that make plans with you on a weekend and sell you out for a new girlfriend or boyfriend.
I'm still searching for the TRUE answer to this but it could be the desire for love. Most people want to love and be loved so that can take top priority against everything else. 

7.  Going to a specific restaurant you've been craving but your order doesn't come out well and it's a let down. 
The restaurant could have hired a new cooking staff since you last dined. They could also have changed product, recipe or just have too many orders at one time. 

8. When I tell people I have a staffordshire and a blue nose pitbull but they insist on demonizing my dogs due to their breed. 
Many stories have depicted certain breeds as dangerous and vicious. People do not trust what they don't know. 

 9. Trying to have a conversation with someone but they monopolize and talk over everyone to prove how much they know. 
This personality trait could be a compensation for an insecurity. 

10. My car is driving differently or acting up while I drive it above a certain speed, but once I bring it in, it's fine. 
This happens because my car likes to make me the laughing stock of the car shop. 
Also, it could be that there was nothing truly wrong or that the conditions in which the car was 'tested' were not equivalent to the ones in which I was driving.   

11. My dogs misbehave a jump on the bed while my husband is in the other room and once he comes in they stop and act like they've been behaving the entire time. 
Clearly, my dogs are more intimidated by my husband and directly affiliate him being around to consequences for bad behavior. 

12. I got to a specific place that I enjoy to dine and the waitress is rude to me during my visit. 
The waiter/waitress could be having an 'off' day. Something could be directly impacting his/her behavior to affect your dining experience. 

13. When Walmart knows that every midday Saturday they're extremely busy, but only keep 3 registers open. 
The longer we spend in line waiting to cash out, the longer we have to stroll additional aisles. We tend to buy more products that we may have not purchased had we not been waiting an additional 30 minutes.      

14. I find a new dress online and when I receive it, it looks nothing like the picture posted on the company's website. 
Some companies may do this so they do not accurately depict the poor clothing they are pushing to clients. It's far more difficult and frustrating for you to return your clothing and ask for a refund than to just keep the item. 

15. Watching the presidential debates to see if any candidates are going to bring up any topics that you're concerned about, yet they continue to spend time bashing each others spouses and personal appearance.   
These attacks could be avoid discussing much more complex issues at hand and to appeal to a specific group of people's emotions for additional votes.  

 16. I open a new bottle of water and it's filled to the top so the water spills on me once it's opened. 
The manufacturer puts as much water as possible which leaves no room for additional pressure to be applied while opening. 

17. At work my coworkers turn the air conditioner down to 71 degrees and freeze me out for their personal preference. 
This could be due to us each having different internal body temperatures which allows for us to feel the current temperature differently. 

18. Telemarketers calling your cell phone at all hours of the day and interfering with your normal phone calls. 
This is in hopes they'll obtain a sale from you. Thank goodness for call blocking on my phone. 

19. Being around people who complain all day and barely have anything positive to say, ever, at any time. 
People look in the wrong places for happiness and never truly obtain any form of it and we have to pay for it by enduring their pessimistic attitude. 

 20. The expense of college textbooks. 
The college and textbook company makes money off furthering your education by charging astronomical prices for books you will never use again.    

Reflection

It was a lot more difficult than I though because you're consistently thinking about things you dislike which can affect your mood. Sometimes, it can also be difficult to truly understand why something happens the way it does.  It also made me think that there are much bugger things that should 'bug' me more. These things were just a lot easier to think of.    

Entrepreneur's Mantra

Entrepreneur's Mantra

My Entrepreneurship Story

 Morning, fellow entrepreneurs! 

I would imagine all of us have have had direct or indirect experience with entrepreneurs at some point. My father was a manager of a car shop for many years here in south Florida. After that, he went out on his own and started his own shop. This meant getting his hands dirty again, but building something for his family was worth it. My dad stayed in business for a couple years before he decided to close shop. Statistically, only 66% of small business' survive their first two years. That means about 1/3 will fail in just the first two years. 

I personally believe a majority of this failure was his location and demographic. The people he was servicing nickle and dimed him for everything including an oil change. It's imperative that your expertise and pricing match the area you are servicing. 

I'm sure my dad is still grateful for the opportunity he had as he learned what to, and not to do, in his future endeavors. 

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” - Thomas A. Edison

To add another perspective, my husband is an amazingly talented jeweler. What can I say? I'm his biggest fan. He currently works for his uncle as a jeweler in his fine jewelry store. It's truly a gorgeous store and has built a well known reputation in our area. Since I'm going to school to obtain my business degree and he loves creating custom job, we've considered opening our own fine jewelry store. 

If you saw some of the custom work he's created, you would be fascinated. 

Just a little backstory to this. A friend of ours had someone she cared for being deployed to Kuwait. She had an idea to create a charm that would connect Florida to Kuwait and be split into two parts. They would take each other's part to signify their commitment long distance. The final picture is the two charms before the were split. You can see the split of it there. My husband helped someone's idea come to life. This process never ceases to amaze. 

We're still unsure if this will be our future endeavor but it's absolutely a contender. 

Truly, I've enrolled in ENT3003 because it's a requirement of my degree. However, this class has been incredibly interesting and it's only been a week. I'm very much looking forward to how this course will improve my perspective and knowledge around being an entrepreneur.