Making It Real

Here is the link to my resume:

https://1drv.ms/w/s!AsY2LPc61M_ngz8WiNJeIAgZfg_o

My Exit Strategy

Although it is very hard to know where my company will be financially in 5, 10, or 20 years down the road, I would like to think that it is very successful. In that case, my exit strategy would be to keep the company and retire. I know that I would be very happy running my own company. This company would be a major part of my life. I am passionate about my business so I would like to stick with it and be able to retire. I feel that anyone who really loves what they do would consider their business their baby. I want to see my business grow and develop. If it is successful I see no reason to sell it. With my foot already in the business world, I can take my current product and add on. I can develop new ideas and product. I would go into this business with the exit strategy to retire from the successful company when I am ready.

Venture Concept No. 1

There is an opportunity for individuals everyone to have healthy snack options. Everyone who has to be at one location for a long period of time such as a hospital, work, or school are potential customers. The nature of this need is the lack of healthy options when stuck in one location. The main change in the environment that would cause this type of need is the excessive number of those who are obese. Unhealthy options are cheap quick and easy so more and more people are buying things that are not good for them. These junk food types items may be convenient but they are harmful to their health. The market for this opportunity is vast. Although I do believe this opportunity could be worldwide, I feel that the United States has the greatest need. Demographically, I believe that schools should really be focused on for this opportunity. If healthy options were provided or at least made available in school as early as elementary then maybe children would lead a little bit more of healthy lifestyles. Other than schools, I believe that workplaces should have healthier snack options. Currently it seems that this need is not being properly met. Children at school, employees at work, or even those sitting in hospitals are only satisfying their hunger with junk food. So really they are not satisfying their need. This is a big very important opportunity. Too many people are unhealthy and obese for this not be a big opportunity. I feel that this opportunity is something that should be addressed now. It will be an opportunity until there are healthy options available in all schools, workplaces, and hospitals everywhere.

My innovation for this opportunity is a healthy options vending machine. I call it the Better Options vending machine. This product will everything someone would need to get them through their day. Whether they forgot their lunch or they just need a snack to boost their energy, this vending machine will have it all. The Better Options vending machine will offer things such as protein shake and bars, granola bars and nuts, Gatorade and Vitamin water, carrots with ranch and celery with peanut butter. This vending machine would replace the current vending that are located almost everywhere and offer such healthy items. The profit would come from selling the machine itself along with the list of items available to be in the machine. The items in the machine would remain at an affordable price. For instance, a granola bar would be .75 cents or a Gatorade would run at $1.25. By buying these items in bulk I’d be saving money. Then I’d turn around and sell the items at a higher price so that there would be a profit. I want to keep the items affordable so that the customers are more likely to buy. I don’t want my customers to feel as though they are being ripped off.

This innovation will solve individuals need by being healthy, affordable, and convenient. This is a great product to be in schools, workplaces, hospitals, rest stops, really just everywhere. I think that a lot of people want to be healthy but there’s nothing currently out there that offers nutritional options that’s also cheap and convenient. I think that customers would switch to my product because they want to eat healthier. I don’t think it would be hard at all to get people to switch to this product. So many people out there already wish that healthy options were as cheap and convenient as junk food. The competitors that I would have to worry about are those who currently provide vending machines. Although they do not offer what I offer in the sense of food and snack options, they do already know the business and have connections. They could decide to make the transition to the healthier side. The currently vending machines are vulnerable to the fact that they are known for selling junk food. If they started selling health snacks, customers would be somewhat skeptical. I think that the biggest defining factor of my concept would be customer support. If the customer is not happy then the product will not be successful. The organization of this product would be a big project in itself. I would like this product to be available everywhere. For starters I would need the machines produced. The machines would require individuals to stock and refill them. I would need employees for maintenance, accounting, a call center, and delivery men. I would need to develop connections to get the items for the machines at a good price. This would be a big, very involved business.

The most important resource of this venture would be my determination to get healthier foods more accessible. So many people, including children, are extremely unhealthy because junk is always within arm’s length. If nutritional items were as available as junk food is I think that this would see a lot less obesity. To expand it even further, I would like my next venture to be similar to this but more for meal and less for snacks. I would like to have a machine that offered things such as sandwiches or small salads. I think this would change the demographic even more. I hope that in 5 years from now my product, The Better Options vending machine, is in all schools worldwide, offices worldwide, in hospital, malls, department stores…everywhere. Within a decade I believe that my concept would have really helped me learn what works and what does. It would’ve guided me to where I was meant to be. The first concept would have only been the beginning. 

Celebrating Failure

The first thing that comes to mind when talking about failure is when I failed to properly communicate at work recently. I was assigned to train someone on a procedure for certain tasks that need to be processed. I've been the only one working on these tasks for about a year now. I could do this process in my sleep so I assumed that it would be fairly easy to train someone on how to also work them. I was wrong. The person who I was training was not comprehending what I was telling them. They did not grasp the quick and easy steps that I was telling them to take. It was frustrating. I was failing to properly communicate to this person. I would repeat myself over and over again but that didn't seem to matter. I was failing to complete my task of training a new person.  

From this experience I learned that I am not a teacher. I do not have the patience for it. I also learned that sometimes just because we learn something one way does not mean that someone else will learn it the same way. Everyone learns in different ways. I'm a visual learner. I need to be shown an example. Others are okay with just reading or hearing it. Also, I learned that when one approach doesn't work you try another, and another, until finally you succeed. 

Failure is definitely hard. I don't like it. I've learned that when I fail at something I have to take a step back and regroup. When I fail, I get very frustrated and discouraged. I'll admit that I whine a little bit. I feel like giving up. I have to take a break and let it go for a while and then re-approach it. After that I am usually okay. Since taking this class I wouldn't say that I am more likely to take a risk. I would say that I am more used to being out of my comfort zone now than before this class. I've learned a lot about the risks that entrepreneurs have to take in attempt to be successful and stay that way.

 

Elevator Pitch No.3

The feedback that I received for my prior elevator pitches were very helpful and positive. I changed my pitch by updating my concept to include suggestions that I received from the feedback.

Here is the link to my 3rd pitch:
https://youtu.be/Uegdt6963cM

Amazon Whisperer

The revenue drivers for the better options vending machine would be all of the different snack options available. The different options would include snacks such as nuts, granola bars, carrots with ranch, celery and peanut butter, and drinks such as protein shakes and Gatorade. All of these options would drive the revenue.
The next thing that I think customers would want is a bigger selection of refrigerated type items and items that are more meal like. These things would include fruit cups, parfaits, sandwiches, and possibly small side salads.
This next thing will enhance the current better options vending machine with more options. This would enhance the customer experience because there will be more options to satisfy their hunger and their need for something nutritional. I think that this would keep the customers loyalty. The can't get fulfilling healthy snack and meal options for an affordable price as oppose to pay and ridiculous amount of money for a small meal.
On Amazon I found this Good for you! vending machine which is very similar to the product that I had in mind.
   
I love how the machine is broken into section. I also love that it can hold 245 snack/food items as well as 177 drinks. It's also refrigerated. I would obviously have to change up the design to make it mine but besides that I don't feel like I would change anything else about this product.
Unfortunately, there aren't any customer reviews for this product. I, however, feel that my customer would be very pleased with this product. The machine would not only offer healthier options but it is also big enough to offer a selection.
I think that this product wold be a great addition to my product. It would offer a greater selection and variety. I also takes the vending machine to the next level by offering more than just snack and drink items. It's refrigerated to help maintain self life. This would definitely be a great addition..

Reading Reflection No. 2

I read The Art of Social Media, Power Tips for Power Users by Guy Kawasaki and Peg Fitzpatrick.

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

The general theme of the book I read was tips on how to have a successful social media account. These tips go above and beyond the basics that everyone knows. It dives into details on what to do and not to do to have a successful and popular account whether it be for yourself or your business.

2) How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003?

Nowadays, entrepreneurs need to be linked to social media to help their business or concept become successful. This book provides very helpful tips on how to create and maintain a popular social media account. I think that this book provided good insight on the importance of social media for entrepreneurs and their business concept. 

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

The assignment that I would create for the class based on the book I read, would be for everyone to create a social media account for their venture concept. Then we would need to do promote the account to be successful following the tips provided in the book. 

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

What surprised me the most from the book was the authors theory, "if you're not pissing people off on social media, you're not using it right." I've never really thought about it before but that is surprisingly a very true statement. If you piss someone off on social media, you're way more likely to get attention and be talked about it. That pissed off person is going to tell other people about you and how you piss them off. It'll just keep going.

Idea Napkin No.2

My name is Lisa Register and I wouldn't say that I have many talents. I enjoy attempting to be crafty but I am not very talented at creating things. Most of experience is in customer service. I've worked in retail, I've been a waitress, and I've worked in a call center. I know the importance of good customer service. That is why my aspiration for The Better Choices vending machine is to take over and replace the current vending machines. I want The Better Choices vending machines to be everywhere, schools, hospitals, amusement parks, workplaces, etc.. I think that if I were to start this business it would be a huge part of my life. I would work hard to make sure my vending machines replaced the unhealthy vending machine we currently have everywhere.

The Better Choices vending machine is offering people who are in everyday life healthy fulfilling snacks. Whether you are at work, school, the hospital you are more than likely going to need some sort of sustenance to get you through the day. The Better Choice vending machine isn't going to offer energy drinks and candy bars so that you can crash and be lethargic. It is going to offer nuts, granola bars, protein packs, Gatorade, and so much more. This is real food that will provide natural energy, not a sugar high. The Better Choices vending machine meet customers need of having access to nutritional snacks instead of junk food.

My machine is for the working, studying, everyday person who might need a power boost to help them get through their day until they are able to get a full meal. I think that my customers all have in common the need to be able to access healthy options regardless of where they are. My customer is a college student who is stuck on campus for hours at a time studying and going to classes. My customer is someone who is at work all day staring at a computer. My customer is some one who has been waiting in the emergency room four hours. My customer is anyone and everyone, maybe not everyone all the time but everyone at some point.

My customers all in common the desire to be healthy and they don't want to feel like they are wasting their money. With the vending machines currently offering, chips, coke, and candy bars, it's a waste of money. People who eat those things will just get a sugar high then crash and be more tired than they were before. The options are unhealthy and they really are a waste of money. My customers are just everyday people who need a snack that will get them through their day while between meals. They are at work or school or just on the go. They are all trying to be mindful of what they are eating and spending their money on. 

The customers care because they, like so many others, want to be healthy and wise. People care because they want to get something that will be good for them and won't leave them hungry again in no time. My customers also care because they want to spend their money on something good for them not junk. Individuals are at work and school all day long.  Whether it elementary, middle, high school or college students need fuel for their brains to help them focus. People at work need a boost just to help them get through the day.

What sets me apart from so many others is the fact that I have this need just like everyone else. I am not starting this just to make money. I am starting this because I want healthier options, I want this change. This change is for the greater good. So many people are already so unhealthy, why have junk be the only option available. It's hard to say what I have that nobody else has. I deal with this problem almost everyday. I need something good to eat if I forgot snacks at home and there is just nothing in the vending machines. I feel that obesity is a serious problem in our country. Obesity is starting to affect people younger and younger. I want schools to offer protein, healthy sugars that are in fruit, water, just all around things that will teach children healthier habits. I guess what sets me apart is that I care about others and their health. 

I believe that all five points are intertwined. Who we are helps us figure out what we want or what we are passionate about. Our customers are important to us as they are vital in making our idea successful. What being offered is extremely important. If we are offering something no one wants then it really doesn't matter and will not be successful. We want our customer to care. We want them to invest in our idea, Being different from competition will help the idea be successful. What sets you apart will help bring the product to life. So these are all a connected part of innovating a new idea or product.

I received very positive feedback. One point that I took away from the feedback is that everyone agrees that this is something that needed. Also this is something that is needed in school. Junk food needs to be taken out of schools and replaced with healthier options. Refrigeration being included within the machine might be something to be considered. This would help provide sandwiches or help extend the life of food. Obesity is a problem in this country which is why this a good idea to have in organizations. Healthier living is becoming a way of life for people. I incorporated these points into my idea by making it a point for the vending machines to be in all schools. If we can help teach the importance of healthy living at an early age maybe we can help reduce obesity. It would also help create healthy mentality and boost brain functionality. 

Elevator Pitch No.2

 I think that I have received very positive feedback. The biggest concern I received about my idea was the life span of certain food items.

Here is the link for my elevator pitch no.2.

https://youtu.be/I-oS46sLo_s