Week 4 Reading Reflection

Overall, I thought that this week’s chapter was very interesting. One topic that really stood out to me was about Africa, and how its economy is slowly growing. The company that was written about has invested in certain countries in Africa and received returns over three times its initial investments. Emerging Capital Partners, ECP, has been investing in Africa since 1999 and has seen returns on a mobile company, a banking group, and a rubber exporter. All of these businesses have been thriving in Africa and putting out large returns. One area that confused me slightly was the explanation of the creative process. In my mind, I don’t think things like creativity and innovation should be processes that are able to be explained and broken down into steps. The book lays the creative process out into four common steps or phases, and I think that creativity is too subjective of a process to be explained in that way. Personally, creativity is different and unique to each and every individual. If I could ask the author two questions, I would ask him if he was dominated by his left or right hemisphere, and whether he is an adaptor or an innovator. I think that asking him these questions would help explain why the text book is written the way that it is. Finally, I don’t necessarily disagree with anything that the author puts forth in this chapter. I think that the points made in this chapter are fairly objective. This chapter was very interesting because it thoroughly explained how different people can think and come up with new ideas. 

Customer Interviews No. 1

1) Anybody who lives in Gainesville can see how common the use of motor scooters is as a form of transportation for students. Sadly, there have been many accidents involving scooters where the driver was not wearing a helmet. Even though scooters are convenient and fun, they are just as dangerous as any other motor vehicle. The truth of the matter is that most college students don’t wear helmets when they are scooting. In order to solve this problem, I am proposing a company that allows students to design their own scooter helmet. Hopefully, this will make students more willing to wear a helmet every time they drive their scooters.

2) I believe that the main reason that most students do not wear helmets is because of how they look. If students were able to design their own helmet online, then they would be more likely to wear that helmet. My company would allow students to design their helmets online, and then the helmet would be manufactured and mailed to the students. This would be a convenient way for anyone living in the Gainesville area, student or non-student, to obtain a helmet.

3) My list of questions:

    How often do you think you use your scooter?

    How often do you wear a helmet when you’re scooting?

    Why do you think you don’t wear a helmet that often?

4) Interviews:

5) Overall, I think that the opportunity that my company would serve is still very viable. All of the interviewees mentioned that they seldom wore a helmet, and I believe my business would offer a great incentive to wear one. If people could design their own helmet, I believe that they would be happier to wear one.

6) I think that interviewing customers can be pretty intimidating. I learned that if they do not say the answer that you were hoping for, it can be pretty discouraging. Also, I think it is fun to get different people’s opinions on the same subject. It definitely helps me think more creatively about the options that I could offer to my customers. Interviews with people I don’t personally know are definitely uncomfortable, and I think people were nervous to answer the questions. I learned a lot about how people can feel differently when being interviewed and asked personal questions. 

Very Short Interview No. 1

            For my entrepreneurship interview, I interviewed Mason Roth. Mason, currently a graduate from Florida State University, is the co-founder of a business called Queralyze. He has worked on this business product for years, and it is becoming a successful school-related product. He thoroughly enjoys being an entrepreneur, and is currently looking into law school.

            When I asked Roth what it means to be an entrepreneur, he responded saying that he thinks that it means being the type of person who is able to see problems and come up with innovative solutions. Also, he believes that in the course, I should expect to learn new and different ways of looking at the everyday problems in our world. Roth believes that taking an entrepreneurship course should help me enhance certain skills such as creativity.

            I was surprised during this interview to learn that Roth constantly experiences ups and downs throughout his business endeavors. He explained that sometimes it can take years for a good business idea to launch and become successful. I am not sure that I have the motivation and patience to be able to handle that type of process. Hopefully, taking this course will help me figure that out about myself.