Derrick Young

Derrick Young was an interesting guest speaker in that his side projects and experiments became some of his most successful businesses. This helps prove that many ideas that may seem like poor business ideas can often be some of the best businesses. I was impressed with the flexibility of Derrick's business Seasonal View. A company that can provide the necessary communications between different departments for businesses. I also thought that the idea of Suite 133 was a really good business. People often need places to operate their businesses so providing a space for them to use when they need it for how long they need it is a really good idea. I also thought it was very interesting that Derrick has a very high risk tolerance, and that he starts businesses and lets them go when they start to fade. I also find it very interesting that Derrick has been able to make money off of a blog about Tacoma. Not that Tacoma isn't an interesting city, but that people actually read it. Although the article seem to be very in depth and about a range of subjects that include food, politics, and other social highlights. I also wasn't aware that colleges had fire drills I thought that ended back in high school but at least it was good to know that everyone reacted in a calm manner.
Questions:
I haven't asked any questions, partly because I find it difficult to interject when so many of the other questions eat up the time. However even though I haven't asked any questions that does not mean that I am not paying attention I just haven't found a good opening to ask.

Dear Professor Fry,
I will be absent from class today because I am still experiencing symptoms and elevated blood sugars (I'm a type one diabetic) and need to remain home to monitor them.
Thank You for your understanding,
Sarah S.

Dear Professor Fry,
I will be unable to attend class today because I have contracted a virus and am currently throwing up. As this would be a possiable health risk to other students I will be remaining at home until the symptoms of the virus have gone.
Thank You for your understanding,
Sarah S.

Jon Goodman

The discussion with Jon Goodman was a very enlightening and interesting conversation. Which is one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much was that it was very much a conversation and discussion not a lecture where I prop my head up with my arm and hope I don't start getting that lead-lined eyelids look. I also appreciated the emphasis on not being afraid to share your ideas with the world, well maybe not the whole world, but the encompassing business world at least. A fault that is one of my greatest is an inability to share my ideas or speak up when I should, much like what I discussed in the earlier post I worry about stepping out of my boundaries or treading on someone else's ideas. There is also that worry about sharing an idea with someone who will take it and sell it as their own. There is always that risk that someone might take your ideas, but there are some actions you can take to protect your ideas. the inability to present or speak up is something that I will have to work on. I also thought her constant reiteration of the issue with seeking money simply to become wealthy. That being an entrepreneur is not to make you rich it's something you should do to enrich your life. (Sorry if I'm being to philosophical) But Ms. Goodman's grandmother was right that money doesn't care who owns it nor does it happen to those who seek it solely. Money is simply a by product and a means of keeping score in the business world as well as the rest of the world. And that failure is never a total failure unless you fail to learn from your mistakes. When a business fails it is the wonderful opportunity to learn and expand from so that in the future you can avoid and solve issues before they devourer your company. Ms. Goodman was an excellent speaker and it was a pleasure to have been given such a wonderful opportunity to hear from someone with such expertise in the field of entrepreneurship.

Strength and Weaknesses

Well nobody likes to list their weaknesses and sometimes listing your strengths is no easier. However being able to do so can really help anyone looking for employment. Any good potential employer should be interested in what you will be bringing to the team and what you might detract from the team. Here is a list as to what I could bring to a team and what I might counteract in a team setting. Let's start on a happy note with my strengths; (these capabilities and characteristics are more suited for a broad array of jobs) Cooking something of which has always been a passion of mine, and I'm good at it. (Not to brag) But cooking is something that I do with every bit of focus and concentration, which for me is not always easy, cooking is definitely my top strength. Creating bowls and pots on the wheel would be my second, something that I may not focus on with every fiber of my being, but none the less since while on the wheel it helps with the creativity when your wondering mind helps mold and shape the lump of clay. It then occurred to me while writing this list in class that these weren't really focused towards creating a business however it just so happens that what is involved with cooking and turning clay into art have their underlying characteristics that are very important when contributing to a team. Cooking, you have to follow directions and follow them well, or then you can wind up with something that isn't so appetizing. Also you have to know and understand the ingredients and the tools. Not knowing how to prepare certain foods can result in more than just an unappetizing bite to eat. Nobody wants food poisoning! So being really good at cooking when looking at it a little more closely can prove that I'm good at following directions, being knowledgeable about my surroundings and project components as well as how to use them to create a finished product. Now when you create something like a pot that can show that I am creative as well as comfortable with doing very hands on projects. Now for the list that nobody likes to write the weaknesses; first and for most would be that I suffer from a mild case of obsessive compulsive disorder, which means that little things can bug me and distract from my thought process as well from team efforts, another weakness that I unfortunately posses is an inability to always speak up when I have an idea or when I notice something, much of this comes from fretting too much over whether or not I will be over stepping my boundaries or stepping on some one's toes. Not fun to do but figuring out what talents and characteristics you posses and how they could interact with others as well as potential team mates is an essential part of being a positive business person.

First Guest Speaker

Wednesday's guest speaker, Ron Cornfeld, (hopefully spelled correctly) was a great insight into the basic fundamentals that are needed to make up a business plan, and why business plans are so crucial to running an efficient and cohesive business. He was a great choice considering he built a business around helping businesses in early development stages with their business plans. Mr. Cormfeld did an excellent job in answering questions and providing alternatives, both scenarios and answers. Since no two businesses are exactly alike that was a great help in focusing in on the differing business ideas that each classmate has.

I found the concept that any brilliant business plan could be tweeted (presented in under 140 characters or less) to be very intriguing. People as a whole seem to be very much a sell me in as little time as possible. That way we can get on with business or life depending on what kind of business is being sold. Take the now obsolete vaccum salesperson who went door to door trying to sell thier product. He or she had a short window of opportunity, if one at all to sell to the more often than not, busy homeowner. So the salesperson swears by his or her product dumps a pile of dirt on the floor and then commences sucking it up with their "amazing suck'omatic" vaccum cleaner. Well the window of opportunity is only gained through that brief "tweet" of what the product is, does, and how it is superior to all other models, we'll mention price later. So the case is not much different when presenting a business plan to investors, possible employees, partners, just about anyone with a possible or current stake in the outcome of the business. No the hard part is figuring out how to make your idea 140 characters or less.

Five Business Ideas

Here are a few of my business ideas: Although I knew we weren't supposed to create a restaurant business plan I couldn't help but take a stab at creating a bakery and confectionery. The overall difference and what would set this business plan apart from others is incorporating a recent food trend resurgence. The coin operated diner, of course it would be a coin operated bakery with choices ranging from full cakes, pies and all sorts of confectionery items, as well as single servings as well, these could also be wrapped with ribbons and bows.

The second idea is a still in the naming-process part, but would consist of a mp3, phone, camera, electronic reader, TV, 3G, email, does everything that we have gadgets for just all in one. I got the idea for this after talking with my father just recently after Amazon announced its release of the highly anticipated Kindle. My father stated he just wanted a tablet that does everything. No more carrying around five gadgets when you could have one convenient device with them all!

A third idea was selling pottery that I personally create. This idea came to me during the rocking chair story. During high school I took a pottery class and fell in love with throwing pots on the wheel. I gave one as a gift to a fairly prominent business friend of my mother. He told me that if I could produce one hundred of my bowls a week Pottery Barn would likely buy and sell my pottery. At the ripe old age of 15 this sounded like the job for me but my mother had other ideas. This business project could help develop this plan should I ever decide to go back to pottery.

My fourth idea was a animal boarding facility, I own three cats and two dogs, and have been around other animals my whole life, so working with animals would be something I would thoroughly enjoy.

The fifth idea came to me from my love of travel. I have only been outside the country twice however both times left wonderful experiences that I would love to relive, so this brought about two ideas one being a travel agency, but since I don't fancy sitting behind a desk while others go and experience what I would much rather be doing, I thought more about giving tours myself.

I tried to draw business ideas from the activities and hobbies that I love since that's what being an entrepreneur is all about doing what you love.