My Idea's Custom Avatar

This is a young college student who's hair has lightened from all the sun he gets walking to class. He is a junior at the University of Florida and is majoring in electrical engineering. He likes to bike to class and takes his courses pretty seriously. He is in the marching band and plays the saxophone. He also loves going to the football games on Saturdays and recently started going to the basketball games. He drives a blue ford focus that his parents no longer use since they got a new car over the summer. He likes to watch comedies like The Office and Brooklyn nine-nine. He also likes dramas like Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones. He has no children and does not intend to have any anytime soon. He would be open to adopting, but again, no time soon. He likes to read fiction novels, usually mysteries. While he does not have a "favorite politician", he is typically left leaning but does not identify as one of the parties.  He is 20 years old and looks it.

For the most part, this description is very much myself. Since my idea was born from my own desire to have a sweat-proof shirt, I believe that people like me would be the ideal customer. I know that many people other than me would want this, but when I picture the idea being put in practice, I see myself as my first customer. So no, these similarities are definitely not a coincidence.

Elevator Pitch #2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPIkKPznNv8

I made sure to dress nicer than I had previously as this made my pitch much more professional. I also stayed away from talking too much and stuck to the time allotment Dr. Pryor discussed in class.  I took these points in to consideration when I did this second pitch.

Secret Sauce

1a. Unlike most people in business, I have a background in music. I have played the saxophone for the last 8 years and have been in many different performance situations. With this, I have worked together very closely with a group for the same purpose.

b. I am a pretty objective person. I take pride in my ability to see a problem form both sides and help come to a logical solution.

c. I often do not let my emotions get the best of me when I make a decision. I make sure to evaluate both options and seek information from those with experience to make the right choice. 

d. I have the ability to persuade others to see the way I do. I do this through showing why my idea benefits them and how they could simply adopt my idea instead of another option.

e. I am knowledgeable in the area of technology as I have personal interest in it. This helps me to use more advanced opportunities to handle problems that have not been available in the past.

2a. David said I was more likely to look deeply into problems. He also said I work well with everyone and can get people on track to solve a problem. While I seem reserved at first, I can get personal and get closer to people.

2b. Sara said I try to learn things to really understand it, not just for the heck of it. She said I was very persuasive and am easy to talk to. On an emotional level, I only show them when it matters and am thoughtful about when I do so.

2c. Andrew said I am know a lot about people and how to become friends with people I meet. He thought I was a leader in the sense that I can organize a group of people to get things done. He also thought I was able to lighten the mood and cheering someone up if they are feeling down.

2d. Hayden said I am able to perceive why people act the way that they do. He thought I am good at reading people and giving them feedback to reach a unique solution. Lastly, he said I have good people skills and getting people to like me.

2e. Leon said that I have a vast background to draw from in my knowledge. He also said that my background in band gives me an advantage that many other people in business do not have.
(link to the interviews below)
https://soundcloud.com/david-825045206/secret-sauce-interviews/s-EeyMS

3. I see myself in a different light than I do others. I think of others in a way of how they are motivated. I like to see how I can help them and how to help them through their problems. I think of myself as what I need to get done and how I can better myself through challenges. This is most likely due to my desire to fix problems. Since I know how to solve most of my own problems, I do not worry about them nearly as much. I think my interviewees did a good job describing me. We all seemed to have a pretty similar assessment in regards to how we did. I do not think there is anything I really need to change about my list. They are pretty similar in regards to the details.

Buyer Behavior 2

3a. Price had a roof, important to not exceed what is set. Quality was put second as it was more important to stay below a price. Style is generally unimportant but is still kept in the back of his mind. Durability is important with the things he buys as this is also stretching his dollar.
4a. He would be more likely likely to buy the sweat-proof shirt online. He would buy it outright since the shirt would most likely be around $20. He would probably just buy one shirt at first, but if he liked them he would buy more.
5a. His sureness that buying it was a good decision is based off: whether he uses the item, how often he uses, how good it fits the purpose for which he bought. If he never uses the item than he feels like it was a bad decision. Also, if the item breaks, he feels like it was a waste of money.

3b. Price can influence her decision but it depends on how much money she has and how much she wants to spend. Quality is very important, if it is a high quality item she is willing to spend more. If the item is more outward appearing, style is important. However, it is not the end all be all when it comes to what she buys.
4b. She would prefer to buy the shirt in person so that she could try it on to make sure it fits. She would buy the shirt with cash since it is not a large purchase. She would probably buy one shirt to see that she likes then she may buy more.
5b. If she used the item a lot she thinks it was a worthwhile purchase. If the item is rarely used or she gives it away then it was a bad buy.

3c. Price is pretty important to him since he does not like to spend money in the first place. Quality is important in the sense that he does not want to buy something that is useless or does not work for very long. Style is somewhat important but prefers efficiency over the look of the item.
4c. He would buy this shirt online because it is a special kind of shirt. He would purchase the shirt with cash (debit/credit since it's online).
5c. He feels good about his purchase if the item is still usable and does not break. He does not want to waste his money on something that has no use. If the item breaks or is unusable then he would not want it.

6. I have found out that the shirt needs to have the ability to last for a long time. If it can perform for a long time, people will like the shirts and be more likely to buy more in the future. Additionally, they would need to be available in person and online since this decision varies from person to person. Lastly, style is still most likely pretty important as a shirt will be seen by many people. If the shirt is stylish, it could further draw in people to buy it.

7. People will not fear the price but will want a quality shirt that looks good. The shirt should be online and in person. The shirts quality will need to last to increase repeat buyers.

Halfway Reflection

1. To handle this course there a few patterns that I have developed. I get the rest of my week done on Monday through Thursday. This allows me some of Thursday and all of Friday to watch the weeks lectures. Once I have watched the lectures, I use any hints Dr. Pryor to complete the weeks assignments. Generally this means assessing how to answer the two weekly assignments. These assignments require me to look deeply into this idea that I have required. To do this I have the ability to flesh out my thoughts and those around me. After these assignments I take the cupcake. I use the notes that I have taken on the lectures. Then I write my reflective comments on my groups posts for the week. Funnily enough, this last step has caused me the most trouble as I am often busy over the weekend and forget to do so.

2. I once felt I wanted to give up band in high school when I thought that my efforts were not getting anywhere. I also wanted to give up my in my AP Lit class. I had done poorly on many assignments but in reality deserved a better grade than was given. To push through both of these times I had to push past my thoughts of doubt and dedicate that energy to doing even better. Both situations worked out this was as I became section leader and got an A in the class. I am not sure if these two months specifically have shaped my tenacity, but I do think I am tenacious. My biggest points of growth these two months have been through my actions in getting into a combined degree program.

3. To gain tenacity I would recommend making a goal for yourself. If you can make a clear path for yourself to work through, it gives you the ability to dedicate your energy into fixing your problem. To do so I would try and harden yourself through small, daily challenges. They do not have to be anything fancy, but if you grow each day then you will always be a better you. Lastly, I would say a huge part of motivation and tenacity is the people that you hold close to you. It sounds sappy, but these people are the ones who will be there for you when you feel down. A hand to help can be the most effective way to get back on track.

Reading Reflection 1

1. I was most surprised that after Steve Jobs was kicked out, he still came back to Apple. I most admired the dedication that he put into creatively building each device. I least admired the attitude he carried towards the people around him. He constantly met obstacles, but he stubbornly fought through them and found a way to do what he wanted to do.

2. Steve Jobs had an incredible determination to be attached to everything the company produced. This surprised me as he never actually built these devices, he simply had influence over how he thought they should work.

3. I was confused about why he would go back to Apple. I saw his forced departure as something he would never forgive, Yet, he still came back and saved the company.

4. I would ask Steve Jobs if he was happy with where the company is now. I imagine he would not be, but I would want to know what exactly what about the current direction of the company upsets him. I would also want to ask him what creation he was most proud. Since he never made them himself, I would want to know which one he was most proud of with the results.

5. I imagine that those around him should always be working with everything they have and call that hard work. I do not agree with making those around overwork themselves is hard work.

Figuring out Buyer Behavior

1. The segment of the market my product falls under is the apparel industry.

2a. The need is felt when he walks to class in the middle of the day. The sun is at it's highest and makes him sweat the most then. The need is felt by the amount of sweat on his shirt. The more sweat, the more uncomfortable he feels, even when he is no longer outside in the heat. The need is felt most outside in the heat, especially if he walks by a asphalt street.
The first attempt at a solution is to walk in the shade, out of the sun. He looks for pathways that keep him out of the sun will leave early to stay out of the sun if the heat is that bad. They have not searched online for a solution but do look up the weather for the day to know what steps need to be taken.

2b. He feels the most sweaty ten minutes into a walk in the noon time. This is the most important factor to him since the amount of sunlight is what causes him to sweat. He feels the problem when even his shorts start to be sweaty. Where is not as much of an issue for him since the amount of sun he receives is not very different between the different locations he travels.
The first thing he does to solve the problem, walk though a building as opposed to around it since this allows him to escape the sun. He has looked into the path to his classes that keep him out of the sun so that he does not suffer from the problem. He has looked up ways to keep himself from getting so sweaty during the day.

2c. He feels the middle of the day is the time he is most likely to sweat. Beyond this, he sweats most when he has to walk to campus because he is required to dress up for a class. He feels the sweat most when his hair starts to drip sweat, which does not happen that often. He feels it most on thirteenth street when all the cars exhaust is spewing out next to him.
The first solution he has to the problem is to bike to class as this keeps him out of the heat compared to walking. He has looked for stops along his way to class that have water fountains so he can refresh himself before he gets there. He had asked his sister for tips on how deal with wearing a suit jacket during such a hot time of year.

Summary
I have learned that there is no real implemented solution to the problem. Everyone seems to out on a little band aid to such a huge problem, but none that are substantial. I also learned little research is put into a solution by the common man as the problem is simply accepted as a part of life in these southern climates.

Conclusion
I would say this segment is recognized by a large majority of people, but no substantial effort to solve the problem has been made. It will be very difficult to solve such a huge problem, but if I can there would be huge benefits. If someone could commercialize the use of such a material, then that person would be rewarded by the world. They could do more than sell a brand, they could sell their license for the technology.

Idea Napkin

1. I am a 2nd year finance student here at UF. I am good at talking to others and getting to the point of a problem. These are useful for this situation as you need to be able to assess a person's needs as someone selling their idea. I have the experience of selling shirts through band in high school where I sold shirts to friends and family. My aspirations for this idea, if it ever happens, would be to do this after I have retired from my career. I intend to work in capital markets which will take up almost all of my time in the first place. Therefor, if this concept were to come about, it would be after I have already retired.

2. I am offering a hydrophobic shirt to customers. This means that the shirt will look as stylish as other brands but will not absorb sweat like other shirts do. Instead, the sweat would slide down the shirt and no longer stick to your person. This frees a customer from the uncomfortably that the average shirt has.

3. The target audience is young adult/teenage men and women who have the ability to purchase their own clothes and live in hotter/humid temperatures. To narrow it even further, college students in Florida. Their motivation comes from their want to avoid having sweat in their clothes and choosing to buy my shirt to accomplish this goal.

4. This group will want my clothing because people will spend money to be more comfortable. On the higher scale, luxury cars are an entire type of car because people will spend money to be comfortable. On the attire level, people will buy shoes that have memory foam shoes over those that do not because memory foam is more comfortable. These examples show that customers would pick my shirt over the average shirt because people will spend more to be comfortable.

5. I am different from other shirts because these shirts do not absorb sweat. I am also different form "breathable" shirts because these shirts do not handle the sweat that accumulates on your back. Additionally, if there is no wind then breathable shirts fail. My shirt does not need anything beyond the material within it.

I think the two through five definitely flow together. All of these are good points to sell on as each on is strong. The problem comes with my desire to fulfill this idea. I do not see this coming any time soon. Additionally, while it is not discussed above, creation of said material is outside of my talents. Due to this problem, even if I had a passion for my idea, I would need someone else to make the technology.