Week 4 Reading Reflection

For me it was surprising to see that the book took such a structured, rigid approach to developing creativity. In my opinion creativity is much more fluid and organic and for that reason I think it’s difficult to use such a structured method to bring out creativity. I was also confused by the definition of creativity that was given by the book. I’m not sure if creativity means something entirely different in entrepreneurship and business, but I think creativity is much more than just making something more efficient or effective. I would like to ask the author if the nature of creativity in business is different from the nature of creativity in art and other fields. I would also ask the author why taking off your watch while you are not working develops right-hemisphere skills. If the nature of creativity is the same in all fields, I think the definition that of creativity that the book gave us is way off. I know I keep mentioning this matter but as an artist I value and respect creativity a great deal. And I believe that creativity is more about looking and thinking about things in a completely different way than other people. And although creativity can be developed and improved in different ways, I believe that for the most part true creativity is a gift people are born with as part of their nature.

Top 5 World Problems

Top Problems

1.       Income Inequality

2.       Urbanization and Overpopulation

3.       Racism

4.       War on Drugs

5.       Climate Change

Implementable

1.       War on drugs

2.       Income Inequality

3.       Climate Change

4.       Urbanization and Overpopulation

5.       Racism

I chose income inequality as the top problem because I think it affects and creates a lot of other issues like malnutrition and living conditions. I think the vast income inequality all around the world is the main cause of health issues and the creation of slums, which create many other problems on their own. Urbanization and overpopulation comes in second because I believe is also creates a multitude of problems like pollution and the destruction of natural resources. However I think income inequality creates more social issues. Racism is a major issue on its own but I think it takes a back seat to the major health issues created by the other problems.  The war on drugs also creates its own family of problems but I think other issues like racism should ideally be solved first. Climate change is an issue that most people know about and a serious issue but I think there are other major concerns that should be dealt with first, however the health of our planet definitely deserves to be a top 5 priority.

I put the war on drugs as the most implementable because although there will always be issues with drug use, the ineffective fight against the use and trafficking of drugs can end with changes in government policies. Income inequality is a bit harder to implement but there can be a lot of improvement made by improving wages and creating or improving government programs and policies.  The problem of climate change can improve with restrictions on emissions and with implementation or newer and cleaner technology, however the fight against the oil companies and switching all of a sudden to new technology can be very difficult. Urbanization and overpopulation is even harder to implement because it would be hard to limit or organize masses of people because ultimately in a free country people will naturally gravitate to cities. Racism is an even harder issue to tackle because you have to change people’s mentality and perspective, which is never an easy thing.

Identifying Local Opportunities

COUNCIL MEMBER SAYS HOSPITAL DAMAGES HISPANIC NEIGHBORHOOD

http://bi.galegroup.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/essentials/article/GALE%7CA440866815/64f158efce2f2faead6cabcf7aa19276?u=gain40375

The story talks about a local council member in Tampa that argues that the hospital next to his home is hurting his neighborhood. He describes how the hospital has been focused almost exclusively on the bottom line and how the land it has been developing for parking is having negative effects on the neighborhood. Charlie Miranda, who has been a long time city council member is just one of the few residents of the neighborhood that claim to have this problem with the hospital.

FIRE DESTROYS TAMPA CONDO UNITS; Investigators think a washing machine malfunctioned, displacing 14

http://bi.galegroup.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/essentials/article/GALE%7CA440866776/b3336dc7d42f56b0cd4916f578b08102?u=gain40375

A fire destroyed several condos late at night in Tampa. Multiple families had to evacuate and watch nearly all their possessions burn away. What was not burned to ash by the fire was damaged by the flooding created in fighting the fire. Investigators believe the fire started because of a washing machine malfunction. Jose Vasquez was among the residents of the condo complex that were affected in the fire. Vasquez lost everything inside the recently remodeled condo. Luckily, no one was killed in the fire.

TAMPA TO PAY $300,000 OVER ARREST; The City Council approves the settlement in a case where a Tampa lawyer accused police of using excessive force

http://bi.galegroup.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/essentials/article/GALE%7CA440866777/6c88e95403a5b53f846d4a4e32ea6119?u=gain40375

The city of Tampa has to pay a $300,000 settlement to a man who was wrongfully arrested as a bystander. Brent Yessin, who practices law, arrived at a scene of a crime where he offered to represent a friend of his during the police investigation. The officers arrested him claiming that Yessin was interfering with their investigation. After the case was taken to court and the judges decided there was no basis for the arrest, the city council approved the $300,000 settlement payment to Yessin. Since 2010, the city has paid well over $500,000 in settlements.

END OF THE LINE FOR PICCADILLY; The company's last cafeteria closes in Tampa Bay. Many memories go with it

http://bi.galegroup.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/essentials/article/GALE%7CA440866821/190a0f213afa18d05b3dfccfb7c66a5f?u=gain40375

The last Piccadilly Cafeteria in Tampa Bay has closed its doors for good. The restaurant has been forced to close due to lack of customers in recent years. For decades the restaurant had served many locals and tourists, all lured in by the buffet of food and low price. However, shifting trends has led to the growth of popularity for restaurants like PDQ’s and to the demise of many cafeteria style restaurants. In 15 years Piccadilly has gone from having 55 locations in Florida to just 3 today. The high cost of running a buffet/cafeteria style restaurant is no longer supported by the trickle of people that come in nowadays.

MARKETS HOBBLE BROKER'S EARNINGS; Raymond James' net income falls, but its CEO sees better times ahead

http://bi.galegroup.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/essentials/article/GALE%7CA440728401/c3588264e88cc1a76529493cfa5f6af4?u=gain40375

Regional Investment firm Raymond James suffered a tough quarter due to the rough condition of the investment market in the past several months. Although it remains the largest company in Tampa bay as far as value, its stocks and quarter figures are falling short of expectations and of last year’s numbers. These issues have been created or made worse by the fact that there has been a negative trend in equity investment banking in recent months.

Week 3 Reading Reflection

I didn’t expect the author and the book to take such a scientific approach to analyzing the way entrepreneurs think and develop ideas. It is also very confusing to me when the author claims that entrepreneurs are all different and that they each use different models and techniques, and continues to outline a long lists of characteristics that entrepreneurs are supposed to have, and personality traits they are all supposed to share. I would ask the author what they think the biggest difference is between the entrepreneurial way of thinking and the way the average person thinks. I would also ask the author what they think is the most valuable entrepreneurship trait. And although I think many of the traits the author describes are found in most entrepreneurs, I think there are many personality traits that the author includes that I think contradicts his statements that entrepreneurs are all different and there is no entrepreneur “type”.

Very Short Interview No.1

Savni Bakrac is the CEO and founder at Ponce de Leon Hotel in downtown St. Petersburg.  He has been an entrepreneur for over 20 years and has made a career of starting up and developing hotels, lodges and property. I asked him a few questions regarding his history and his thoughts on entrepreneurship.

What does it mean to be an entrepreneur?

Savni: "To me, being an entrepreneur is about seeing potential where (other) people don't see potential. It's about knowing what you can do and how you are going to do it. Everything won't always go the way you want it to but as an entrepreneur you have to know how to react to problems that come up."

What do you think I should learn in an entrepreneurship course?

Savni: "There are a lot of things that can't be taught in a classroom. And those (things) you just have to experience to learn and grow as a businessman and as an entrepreneur. But things like networking, professional development, and communication skills can be taught in a class."

What is the best part of being an entrepreneur?

Savni: "Personally, I enjoy the freedom of being able to travel back home(to Croatia) whenever I need to. I can depend on my employees to do their best and to handle any problem that can come up."

After talking to Mr. Bakrac I saw him differently than I did when I worked for him last summer. As he was talking and answering some of the questions he would go into long anecdotes about his experiences and his challenges growing up. It was surprising to hear about all the challenges he faced early on and to see how successful he is now despite all the roadblocks.

World's Biggest Problems

1.       Income inequality.-There is growing income inequality between the very rich and the very poor. Especially in countries like India where a lot of the working class has a very low average wage and the wealthy become wealthier. The wages in many countries are kept low even when production, manufacturing and the overall economic conditions of a country increase.

a.       A possible solution is to raise the minimum wage and have the wage be a reflection of the country’s economic condition and production level.

2.       Urbanization and overpopulation- There are many cities around the world that are growing too rapidly. As a result of the rapid growth and urbanization, there is an increase in pollution and a decrease in health conditions.

a.       A possible solution is to monitor or limit a city’s growth more closely and spread out the population density so that environmental and health conditions do not suffer.

3.       Gender Inequality- There is a lot of gender inequality in many countries and in many fields. Many women are denied employment or fair treatment due to their gender. In many cases, even when they are employed they are kept from progressing and developing professionally.

a.       A possible solution is establishing gender education programs in schools and workplaces to promote gender equality and a better understanding.

4.       Climate Change- There is a trend of increasing global temperature that can have dramatic effects on climate and the environment. The climate changes can influence sea levels and encourage extreme weather patterns.

a.       A possible solution is to implement modern technology into private and public transportation and use electrical engines instead of gas. There could also be more regulations on pollution from manufacturing.

5.       War on drugs- There is a tremendous amount of money and effort put into the war on drugs that is very ineffective and inefficient. All the money and effort spend on the war on drugs has still not deterred the use of drugs in the U.S and worldwide.

a.       A possible solution is to treat people who are in the grip of addicting drugs as patients instead of criminals. By decriminalizing drugs and implementing education and treatment centers, you could potentially be more effective at lowering drug use and the demand for drugs.

6.       Racism- There is plenty of racial tension in the U.S and throughout the world. Because of ignorance and intolerance many people are mistreated due to their race.

a.       A possible solution is to increase education and tolerance through programs at schools and in workplaces. This would hopefully increase the tolerance and appreciation for other people and other races.

7.       Nutrition- There are many people around the world who are malnourished in different ways. Families in many third world countries simply do not have enough money or food to eat enough and consume enough nutrients. While many families in the U.S and other developed countries are malnourished because the food they consume come in massive quantities but lack nutrients.

a.       A possible solution is to increase the yearly wage of working families in third world countries and to educate people in developed countries to buy and consume food that will actually provide nutrition. It would also help if the government subsidized fresh foods and stopped subsidizing crops that makes processed food cheaper.

8.       Work Conditions- The working conditions in counties like India and Bangladesh create health hazards and puts people’s life at risk. Many buildings that manufacture fast fashion clothing are not up to date with condition regulations and there has already been instances where building have collapsed on workers.

a.       A possible solution is make the big corporations responsible for the conditions of where they source their products.

9.       Cultural Intolerance- There is a lot of cultural intolerance worldwide, especially with refugees coming from other countries as well as immigrants coming from nearby counties.

a.       A possible solution is for the government to have a bigger role in educating the citizens and promoting tolerance of other people and other cultures.

10.   Deforestation- There many forests worldwide that are being destroyed and cleared for resources and for land. This deforestation is creating habitat loss for many animals and decreasing the local and global oxygen supply.

a.       A possible solution is to protect more forests around the world and increase regulations as far as how much can be cleared for resources.

Bug List

Bug List

1.       It bugs me when water does not boiling not fast enough when I am cooking.

a.       This happens because it takes a long time for water to reach boiling point from room temperature.

b.      This bugs me because it takes longer to cook.

2.       It bugs me when I have to go get groceries in bad weather.

a.       This happens when I need groceries really bad but it is raining.

b.      This bugs me because you and your groceries get wet.

3.       It bugs me when I breathe in icy wind when I run in the cold and it gives me a runny nose and a cold chest.

a.       This happens because the air outside is cold and I have to take in deep breathes when I run.

b.      This bugs me because the runny nose is a constant distraction.

4.       It bugs me when my phone loses charge too quickly.

a.       This happens because your phone is being used constantly and it is running a lot of processes.

b.      This bugs me because my phone dies in half a day.

5.       It bugs me when headphone cords tangle after storage.

a.       This happens because headphone cords move around a lot in a backpack or pocket.

6.       It bugs me when dish sponges wear away too quickly

a.       This happens because the scrub pads are too thin.

b.      This bugs me because I have to constantly throw away old sponges and buy new ones.

7.       It bugs me when my phone heats up with use.

a.       This happens because the screen and your hand heats up the phone.

b.      This bugs me because the phone stays hot in my pocket.

8.       It bugs me when I have to open and close bathroom doors with my hands, after washing them.

a.       This happens when bathroom doors have a handle I have to turn or pull

b.      This bugs me because I want to keep my hands sanitized for as long as I can after I wash them.

9.       It bugs me that I can’t track my phone when its off.

a.       This happens because the app that tracks it doesn’t work when the phone is off.

b.      This bugs me because I need to track my phone when it is off.

10.   It bugs me when I make bad choices about what to eat.

a.       This happens because I have urges to eat the wrong things.

b.      This bugs me because I want to eat the right things.

11.   It bugs me when I realize it is too cold for the clothes I wore.

a.       This happens because I underestimate how cold it will get later on.

b.      This bugs me because I feel unprepared.

12.   It bugs me when I need to wash a pan after I used it is too hot.

a.       This happens because the pan doesn’t cool down quick enough.

b.      This bugs me because I have to wait until it cools down

13.   It bugs me when I can’t tell how much deodorant I have left.

a.       This happens because there is no way of knowing how much there is left without taking all of the deodorant out.

b.      This bugs me because I can run out without warning.

14.   It bugs me how long it takes me to get out of bed.

a.       This happens because I’m slow to start my day.

b.      This bugs me because I waste time in the morning staying in bed.

15.   It bugs me when I am not being able to go to sleep because my mind keeps wandering.

a.       This happens because I am unable to clear my mind from random issues.

b.      This bugs me because I lose precious sleep.

16.   It bugs me when it is hard to take thing in and out of my jean pockets.

a.       This happens when the pockets are too small

b.      This bugs me because it is a hassle to put things in the pockets

17.   It bugs me when I have to hang sweaty clothes up to dry before putting them in the hamper.

a.       This happens when I work out and my clothes get sweaty.

b.      This bugs me because it can make my bathroom smell bad.

18.   It bugs me when dish sponges don’t enough soap.

a.       This happens because the soap rinses out when you are washing dishes.

b.      This bugs me because I have to keep applying soap.

19.   It bugs me when the draw strings from my hoodie goes inside my hoodie when I wash and dry it.

a.       This happens when I put my hoodie in the dryer

b.      This bugs me because I have to struggle to take the draw string out.

20.   It bugs me when I’m exploring a new city and I can’t retrace my steps to find a a place you have been to.

a.       This happens when I walk around and I can’t find a place where I was earlier.

b.      This bugs me because sometimes I like to go back to the same place I was earlier to take more pictures.

It was hard coming up with the list because there are a lot of issues that you don’t think about because you become accustomed to them. Sometimes unless you and consciously looking for issues you can be blind to all the things that bug you daily.

Week 2 Reading Reflection

Reading the first chapter opened my eye to several new ideas. One of the most surprising was the fact that there is no concrete definition to entrepreneurship and different people have a different understanding of what entrepreneurship is. Although the general idea is that an entrepreneur is “an agent of change” and someone who takes risks in order to receive rewards, entrepreneurship is a general idea that can adapt several definitions. There was some confusion when the author was talking about myth number two when the author “debunks” the myth that entrepreneurs are born not made. The confusion comes from the fact that the author talks about the fact that entrepreneurship can be studied like other disciplines through models and case studies and mentions that entrepreneurs have a certain profile. When the author talks about profiles I think a lot about personality profiles which to some extent does depend on a person’s nature. I would like to ask the author to what extent they think a person’s profile is determined by their nature. I would also ask the author how much they believe that social environment plays a role in the development of an entrepreneur. I would ask them that since I believe they are wrong when they say that the environment plays a factor in the desire for someone to become an entrepreneur. I think different social environments and different social circles at the two ends of the socioeconomic spectrum can motivate someone and drive them to be an entrepreneur in different ways, but it ultimately comes down to who you are as a person. I think your personal perspective and how optimistic you are is the driving factor and is the reason why your environment can promote entrepreneurship. 

My Entrepreneurship Story

Last summer vacation I took a trip to the Florida Keys to visit a friend of mine in Key Largo. During my stay in the Keys I met several new people including a young photographer who was born and raised in Key Largo. We both shared an interest and a background in art so we spent a long time talking about our growth and experiences as artists. I was really surprised when he told me he had taken a break from school to spend several months in Nicaragua taking pictures or the people and the land. Not only is that an unusual experience to have at such a young age, but it is also a very bold move for a college student to take. Taking a break from school to experience a different place can potentially jeopardize scholarships other financial aid incoming college students receive. Not to mention the fact that many students that take a long break between high school and college end up not going to college at all. But in order to grow as an artist and expand his artistic perspective he invested time and money on himself and his craft. And although I would never take that risk myself, I admired the fact that this aspiring photographer had enough confidence and belief in himself to invest in his art.  This sort of mentality and willingness to take risks is a big part of being a successful entrepreneur. Even in other situations, an entrepreneur has to have the confidence and belief to be able to take risks and invest in themselves or someone else.

 

 

I enrolled in ENT3003 because I have always admired the entrepreneurship mentality. I think that it takes someone special to take on something head on and make something out of nothing. I don’t think that everyone can be an entrepreneur but I think there are many people that have the potential to develop into entrepreneurs. I hope this class will help me develop an entrepreneur mentality and discover whether I have what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur in the future.

Introduction

My name is Juan Munoz. I was born in Colombia but I moved to the United States when I was 6 years old. From a very young age my two primary interest have been sports and visual arts. I play tennis and soccer among other sports, and I attended art magnet programs for middle school as well as high school. I am currently a third year economics major and this semester I am studying abroad in Madrid. It is my first time in Europe and I am trying to take in all the new things around me. This course seems like its going to be very different, and I am excited to start.

Entrepreneur's Mantra

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