30A - Final Reflection

1.) After reading through all my posts from the past, I have seen how much I have grown my business idea, whether it is improving my actual product or what I should focus on when it comes to putting myself in the best position possible to succeed. I really enjoyed the reading list assignments and the more creative assignments where I had to imagine my target market and expanding my product. Those assignments allowed me to be original and utilize a more future-focused approach rather than being more realistic with the short-term. I did not enjoy however, some of the longer assignments that I felt had less value, such as the bug list assignment. This was just very time consuming and took way too much effort for something so personal. I felt as though I had to eventually make up some bugs because I couldn't think of any more.

2.) I really enjoyed participating in the extra credit project we had the option of doing. This allowed me to actually participate in creating a service and making a small profit. Not only this, but my service involved teaching people to workout, something I am extremely passionate about. I am proud that I was able to train 6 kids and make them more comfortable working out, something I find to be very valuable in life because it leads to healthier lifestyles.

3.) I definitely see myself as more of an entrepreneur than before. This class has provided me with different ways of thinking and formulating ideas that result in more value creation. Rather than simply brainstorming about the future, I was forced to go out and actually interview individuals and find out whether or not my product is actually valuable and useful.

4.) I would recommend staying ahead in the class and actually choosing a product you are passionate about. It is much easier to conduct interviews and do research on an industry you enjoy talking and learning about. This class does take up some time, so planning out when you are going to complete assignments is also very helpful. Lastly, just think like an entrepreneur. What I mean is to actually imagine yourself trying to solve a problem rather than trying to get through the class, it will lead to you actually gaining valuable things from this course.

28A - Your Exit Strategy

1.) I do plan on selling my business in the future, most likely in 10, not 5, years. Once this business takes off, it will become large enough to sell to a larger technology company in which I can profit and still have shares of the company. I want to become a sports agent down the road and owning this product may not be the best look one day.

2.) I have selected this strategy to protect my future profession and to create enough time for myself to succeed one day. Marketing my product and maintaining the website will be very time consuming and will get in the way of wanting to become an agent. Once I establish enough relationships with athletes and acquire them as clients, I will no longer need the website for increasing revenue as an agent.

3.) I think that recognizing that I will only own this product for a short time will make this product's goals much more short-term than it could be. This places an even heavier emphasis on marketing and advertising the product soon and getting companies on board. I also have been able to more clearly define my target market given the time period I have to operate.

27A - Reading Reflection No. 3

The book I read was How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big by Scott Adams

1.) This was an extremely interesting book that discussed Scott Adams' journey through life as he developed methods to obtain success. He provided multiple valuable lessons in this novel, including building your life around systems rather than individual goals generates further success, try jobs with some risk to find the one you love, and utilize time and space to maximize your energy.

2.) This book is very helpful considering what we are currently learning, specifically the last assignment I did about 20 minutes ago. This motivational book is very useful in understanding that you will fail many times in life, and as long as you learn how to adapt to make the most of those failures, it will help down the road.

3.) The exercise I would come up in class would be to set up ten future goals and then discuss how they will adjust to them if they don't turn out successfully. This will allow students to start thinking ahead to providing useful backup options for themselves to prepare for potential future failure.

4.) I was very surprised when Scott Adams mentioned to not focus on goals. This was shocking because all I did growing up was focus on the goals that I wanted to achieve. This is all that my parents, teachers, and friends taught me. However, after reading this book I understand that by creating a system, you are better preparing for success.

26A - Celebrating Failure

1.) I had a horrible experience with my first business law exam. I waited until the last 3 days to study for the exam and only read the smokin notes rather than watching lectures and taking notes. I even found a way to stall enough so I couldn't do any of the 300+ practice problems that come along with the professor's recommended study material. As a result, I didn't know what type of questions were going to be asked in a class that I couldn't afford to do poorly in. As a result, I received a very low grade on the test.

2.) This was definitely a learning lesson for me. Business law was a class I was confident going in to, however, it did not turn out so well. This ended up being the lowest grade I received on any exam in any class so far. I learned that even if I'm confident going to a class I need to work out, learn as much material as possible, and practice that material to enable future success. 

3.) Failure is undeniably a hard pill to swallow. It shows weakness and portrays a time when you attempted to do something and subsequently failed at that thing. It renders negative emotions and makes one feel awful about themselves. However, it is a great learning moment and can allow a person to reflect on themselves and dig deeper and try harder to accomplish their previous goal. This class hasn't necessarily changed my perspective on failure, but it has reassured me that many people fail and fail quite often. What matters is that you don't give up and you try to improve on your previous failures.

25A - What's Next?

Existing Market:
 1. I will continue to develop the actual website and once I do, I can start expanding to athletes and agents in South Florida.

2. Interview 1: The first people I spoke to emphasized perfecting my product before moving on and thinking about advertising to athletes and agents.

Interview 2: The next person spoke about how reaching out using my current network is the easiest way to access athletes and agents alike.

Interview 3: The final person gave me a long speech about working on the search aspect of the website because this is where I will sell my product to companies looking for athletes. If I can advance this area, it will seriously benefit myself in the future.

3. Once I create the product, I will need to advertise to other companies in the local area. This involves using Linkedin, Facebook, and other social media outlets as well as meeting in person with companies to spread the word of my product. After this, I will continue to improve the website after hearing complaints and instructions for improvement from users of the platform.

After this, I will start expanding to other regions, such as New York, California, Texas and other areas with a high concentration of sports organizations, athletes and sports agency companies. This will heavily increase my revenue and allow this platform to grow even more.


New Market:
1. I have found a new market where I can definitely increase revenues and expand business interactions. This would be by expanding the platform internationally, and to other sports such as soccer, rugby and other smaller sports that aren't as prevalent in the United States.

2. The way to make this more successful would be to increase the business internationally by reaching out to international sports teams, players and industries. Soccer clubs have youth teams so it would be a lot easier overseas finding young, talented players.

3. Both people I interviewed saw the room for growth in the industry I am talking about and enjoy the product. Just as it was in the US, international sports athletes and agencies can use a better way of communicating with each other. The only difference is, of course, I will need to utilize more webcams and other technology to help make business.

4. This market surprised me because it relies more on trusting families and not just individual players. Many families are very supportive of their children overseas and have a lot of say in their futures. Unlike the United States, Europe displays a much more caring attitude and have kids training seriously from a very young age.

Instead of having to deal with 18-year-olds in the United States on their own, I will need to directly deal with their families which will make it more difficult. These individuals will make it a lot more difficult and I will need the practice of pitching companies here first to better prepare myself for this future endeavor. This market can definitely be as attractive as my original market, due to the money in soccer.

24A - Venture Concept No. 1

Opportunity:

The need for my product resides mainly with sports athletes and sports agents trying to increase their brand and business respectively. Athletes are trying to go pro and acquire fair representation and agents are trying to increase revenue by obtaining more business. The need is so crucial due to the expanding sports industry. As there are more and more viewers tuning in to watch athletes perform and the industry continues to increase in wealth, agents are vital to athletes so they can successfully be compensated for their performances. This market is defined by athletes between the ages of 18 and 22 and agents of all ages who are hungry for more business and challenges to take on. There are agents and athletes need all over the globe, but they are more prevalent in larger sports towns in America such as New York, California, Texas, and Florida. Customers are currently satisfying this need by communicating through social media rather than having a better way that helps streamline the industry. I don't think agents and athletes to loyal at all to the method they are currently using, it is just the best as of now. This is a million dollar industry, that if it hits, can truly change the way that agents and athletes interact in the future. This window of opportunity most likely won't stay open that long, as someone will figure out an even better way than social media and try to make that a successful product.

Innovation:

My product is a website that allows for constant communication between sports agents and athletes trying to become household names. It is a platform that streamlines the current industry by allowing agents and athletes to post contact information, stats and highlights on a website with a search platform. This makes communication and research much easier for both parties and allows for more specified research in comparison to the current method. I am going to profit from this product. in two different ways. First, agents will have to create membership accounts to be able to post information about their company and using the search center to collectivize information regarding the best players in the area. This will either be a monthly or annual account and will be priced based on the success of the company and the number of available athletes registered. Secondly, I will allow for advertisements from different sports sponsors and companies who will want to market their products. This can include companies such as Gatorade, Powerade, Nike, and Under Armour.

Venture Concept:

My innovation will help solve the problem that most agencies currently have. They are unable to successfully track down tons of athletes and recruit them. On the flip side, it will also solve the problem many athletes also have of finding agents to represent them. I think both parties would switch to this platform if they knew it is going to be successful and have plenty of agents and athletes. It will be incredibly difficult getting the first set of individuals and companies to switch over, but after that, it will be a chain reaction. The competitors are other websites and social media accounts that are trying to solve this same issue. Everybody is trying to find the best way to connect agents and athletes, but not a lot of people are currently thinking about centralizing the industry into one website. Customer experiences play the largest role out of pricing points, packaging, distributing and customer support because the experiences that agents and athletes have on the website will truly test whether or not this product will be successful in the long run. Due to it being an online platform, location won't play a role at all in this. I would organize a business to go along with this idea by creating my own agency. Due to this platform benefitting agents, I would easily be able to set up my own company and interact with athletes as if I didn't even create the website in the first place. I would need around 5-6 employees and I would be a partner and actual sports agent.

Most important resource: The most important resource would be the connections I have. This will help start up the product because I will utilize these connections to successfully market to agents and athletes and get them to register.

Next Opportunity: The next opportunity could be then creating my own agency and having them register on the website I have built. Having this product will seriously impact the validity of my agency.

What's next: I see myself constantly interacting with sports agencies and athletes to spread the word of the website, as well as consistently interacting with companies that want to advertise on the website. I want to own my own business in the next decade, and this product will provide myself with incredible experiences that will help reach this goal.

23A - Your Venture's Unfair Advantage

Resources in my venture:

• Potential investors (family members)
• Access to sports agents
• Access to athletes
• Partners who are willing to customize the website
• Advertising/marketing background
• Creativity to make the idea work
• Experience customizing database to contain agent/athlete information
• Relationship with CEO at the orange bowl
• Sports world continuing to expand
• Network to expand idea quickly

VRIN Analysis:

• Potential investors
• Value: very valuable because it will allow me to actually create the product
• Rare: not very rare, as lots of people have investors
• Inimitable: others can copy this method rather easily
• Non-substitutable: There are other resources, such as friends and random investors that can emulate the same value
• Access to sports agents
• Value: This is incredibly valuable when it comes to my business idea
• Rare: This is relatively rare, as most people haven't had detailed communication with agents
• Inimitable: This is inimitable as long as you have a good work ethic and are patient to get in contact with them
• Non-substitutable: There are no other resources/people that can substitute for agents
• Access to athletes
• Value: Very valuable, just as agents
• Rare: Having connections is somewhat rare, but less rare than relationships with agents
• Inimitable: Pretty easy to copy for other people 
• Non-substitutable: There are no other resources that can provide the same value
• Partners who are willing to customize the website
• Value: Invaluable, considering the individuality of the website
• Rare: Having friends willing to help out isn't necessarily rare, but in this case, the technological advancement is rather rare
• Inimitable: Others can copy this resource easily for other ideas
• Non-substitutable: I can hire other people to help with the website, I don't need the partners I currently have picked out
• Advertising/marketing background
• Value: Pretty useful in figuring out the best way to advertise my product and maximize revenue
• Rare: Reasonably rare given my age and detailed experiences 
• Inimitable: With education and practice others can easily copy this competitive advantage
• Non-substitutable: This invaluable knowledge is irreplaceable and will help out in the future
• Creativity to make the idea work
• Value: Very valuable in identifying the best way to turn this idea into a product
• Rare: Relatively rare, but others definitely share as much, if not more creativity
• Inimitable: With practice, it is a skill others can acquire as well
• Non-substitutable: This is a pretty invaluable resource that only takes with practice
• Experience customizing database to contain agent/athlete information
• Value: This is incredibly valuable, as it something I acquired working for a financial planning firm
• Rare: This is a very rare resource as most people don't have this background
• Inimitable: Others would need very specific experiences to understand how to run this
• Non-substitutable: Other resources can help this experience, however, it is hard to come by
• Relationship with CEO of the Orange Bowl
• Value: This tremendous relationship I have is incredibly useful for building future connections
• Rare: This is a one-of-a-kind relationship
• Inimitable: The vast majority of people would have a tough time imitating this relationship
• Non-substitutable: Not many resources can provide the same benefits as the CEO of the Orange Bowl
• Sports world continuing to expand
• Value: This is a huge asset to my future endeavors 
• Rare: This is an extremely rare thing that is uncontrollable by any one person
• Inimitable: Once again, due to it being uncontrollable this is tough to answer
• Non-substitutable: No other industries can provide the same benefits for myself as this one
• Network to expand idea quickly
• Value: The in-depth network that I have built is priceless
• Rare: It is extremely rare because no one person shares the same network that I currently have
• Inimitable: With time, others can imitate it to an extent, but not all the way
• Non-substitutable: Other people can definitely serve as even better resources, but it will take time and effort to attain those relationships

Top Resource: After conducting a VRIN analysis for each resource, I have concluded that my experience creating a database my top, most relevant resource. It can directly contribute to the success of my product and is the most real-world experience I have attained so far. 

22A - Elevator Pitch No. 3

The most important thing that I focused on was being fluent. I wanted what I was saying to sound logical and sound like I knew what I was talking about very well. This might have slightly compromised my enthusiasm, however, I think the substance improved.

As I said above, the biggest difference was in how comfortable I was doing it this time. I needed much less prep time and knew exactly what I was going to say going in. This made the pitch much less stressful and a lot easier to complete.

21A - Reading Reflection No. 2

1.) The book that I read was Innovation and Entrepreneurship by Peter F. Drucker and it discussed three main stages: The practice of innovation, the practice of entrepreneurship and the entrepreneurial strategies associated. In this first part, Peter F. Drucker describes innovation as to how entrepreneurs utilize new patterns and trends to create new business opportunities and services for customers. He explains that innovation takes many forms and that it is important to understand demographics, opinions and perceptions and industry structures when determining the best ways of creating this innovation for consumers. The second section discusses entrepreneurship on a more complete level, looking at entrepreneurial competence as a necessity for maintaining a successful business. This includes keeping current with economic and social trends and adjusting your businesses and products to meet these demands. The final section of the book focuses on certain strategies that are vital to businesses being successful in this current day and age. Strategies that he included are finding good leaders and motivating individuals to perform well, finding a new or existing market and establishing a stronghold on it, narrowing your company/product by finding the right niche and altering economic characteristics of the market and industry you are in.

2.) I found this book to be very useful considering the current information we are learning. Drucker did a good job of explaining the true meaning of entrepreneurship and the important aspects of it. It furthered my knowledge of strategies utilized by entrepreneurs to successfully market products and explained how changing trends can negatively impact a business. Having a book like this as a resource is very useful when learning about entrepreneurial ideas, strategies, and goals.

3.) The exercise I would design would involve conducting background information on economic and social trends in the market and how that could impact your business idea. It is necessary to fully understand the market you are in to be able to come up with the best possible product for consumers.

4.) The thing that surprised me the most was how important understanding changes in the market were. I figured that most markets were relatively stable and didn't change that much, however, that is not the case. Social and economic trends can completely alter a market and change the important tools needed to succeed within it.

20A - Growing Your Social Capital

Person 1:

Brian Grieper is a sports agent from South Florida. He has been an agent for over ten years. He is a domain expert when it comes to the sports representation market. He fills the spot by serving as a liaison between athletes and sports teams and scouts. I found the person online and reached out via email and scheduled a phone call. He enjoyed my hard work and dedication, including my persistence to get a phone call and find out what he did to become successful. Having him in my network will allow me to ask valuable questions about my future product and will give me a connection when trying to enter the industry later.

Person 2:

John Mas is a corporate sponsorship employee at the Orange Bowl and has been doing it for over 20 years. He has a lot of experience with young South Florida athletes by throwing many events for them throughout the year. He is a market expert and is able to understand the process of acquiring talent in the area. I have interned for them the past two summers and contacted him for this via email. He explained that the industry is very difficult and I need to be on top of my stuff. While working there, he loved my passion for sports. Having him in my network will provide me with a valuable resource for conducting business in the region.

Person 3:

The third person is Sammy Schulman, the CFO for the Miami Heat. He has been doing this for many years and understands the direct interactions between athletes and sports teams, including contract negotiations and sponsorships. He is a supplier because he helps supply athletes with acquiring contracts with his organization. I reached out to him via email because he is a family friend of mine. He answered some questions that I had regarding this business idea and understands I am trying to get involved in the industry. Having him as a contact in the future will result in more positive connections.

I will always be sure to stay in contact with these individuals and already have a letter of recommendation from one of them. Without sounding cocky, this is a great South Florida network that I have already and I will continue to work on it. This felt the same as experiences in the past because I have already reached out to these people.

19A - Idea Napkin No. 2

1.) My name is Andy Myers and I am a third-year Business Administration major with a specialization in Sports Management and a minor in Communication Studies. Ever since I've been a young kid, I've admired the passion individuals have when competing in sports. It is an industry that brings the best out of people and generates valuable experiences for many people. As I grew up, I developed great communication skills, a hardcore commitment and dedication to accomplishing my goals and very good planning skills. This has prepared me for school and for obtaining valuable experiences in the real world. I have volunteered for multiple sports organizations including the Orange Bowl Committee, Miami Heat, and the University Athletic Association. I really want to work in sports one day, more specifically by going to law school and representing athletes. I see this business idea directly impacting my future career because it is a website I can use myself to recruit athletes and to market myself.

2.) My idea is a platform that allows athletes and agents to connect with each other in a way that has not been previously done. Rather than having a free for all and letting the major agencies steal all the top talent, this website levels the playing field by focusing on registering as many agencies and athletes as possible, allowing them to connect and interact fully online.

3.) There are two different target markets, the first being young adults/middle-aged individuals who are sports agents. These people are typically impatient, direct and passionate, meaning the website needs to be easy to explain in a short amount of time and can allow them to reach out to athletes at a fast rate. The other market is athletes around the ages of 18-24 who are trying to go pro and need representation. These players aren't always the most knowledgable and generally have less money than agents, so getting their name out there is very important.

4.) Agents and athletes can truly utilize this website to impact their futures, whether that is agents acquiring more talent and athletes becoming more recognizable by scouts and professional teams. This platform can truly make each of these target markets more money.

5.) I am a very hard worker who is dedicated to his craft. I am able to set my mind to something and achieve it. This will allow me to be pleasantly persistent when pitching my sales idea to agents and also athletes. Based on my research, nobody else has come up with this product, meaning I have found a cutting edge technology/product that could geniunely make money.

As I said before, this is a product I have been thinking about for a while and something I take a lot of pride in. I am ready to start creating this product and to start selling it to companies. Based on the analysis I got from peers, I am ready to start generating the platform to sell. There was no negative feedback.

18A - Create a Customer Avatar

There are two prototypical avatars that I have for my business idea.

The first is a sports agent. I imagine him/her to be a 30-year-old who is a very hard worker. They have a young family, live in a nice house and make 6 figures a year. They have a business and law background and have experiences working in sports. They enjoy staying in shape, browsing social media, and spending time with their family. They love comedies and action films but are very critical of them due to their law background. They enjoy great political leaders who aren't afraid to speak their mind.

The second is a young athlete. This person is in their college years trying to make it to the pros. They are in love with their respective sport and are striving to make it one day. They are currently not making money but are studying sports management in case they don't make it to the league/ to prepare themselves for another profession once they retire. They love hanging out with friends, going out to eat and going to the beach in their spare time. When away from school, they still live with their parents.

(I was having trouble making a second avatar, it kept reverting back to the first one.)

I have a lot in common with the sports agent. It is what I want to do in life and it also seems to be a very likely destination for myself as well. I think because I happen to be designing a product in a field that I want to do, that it makes sense for this person to be like myself.

17A - Elevator Pitch No. 2

Unfortunately, I didn't get any feedback from the last elevator pitch, so I self-evaluated myself. Looking back, I should have worn a suit jacket and I should have sounded more dynamic. This time around, I decided to sound more energetic in the beginning to serve as a better hook. Then, I realized that I didn't explain in detail about how I can really benefit the customer, so I entertained that idea even more. This is what I ended up altering during this video.

16A - What's Your Secret Sauce

I truly believe that I am the hardest worker that I know. When given a task, I make sure to jump on top of it and get it done efficiently and effectively. I am a very good communicator and make sure that everybody is on the page at all times. The reason that I have such a good start to my future career in sports management/athlete representation is due to exactly this. I work very hard and always ask questions that allow me to understand the task at hand. This allows me to finish any work given above expectations directed towards myself.

Interviewer 1: My father says that my ability to make people smile separates myself from others. This can have an impact on many people and influence them to either work hard as well or have a good time doing so. Also, he mentioned that I have the passion and drive to succeed in everything you do.

Interviewer 2: My mother talked up my hard work and focus as well, but directed it towards the impact it has on my grades in particular. She acknowledged my ability to succeed in school and how that can impact my future. She said that by learning how to study now, I will then learn in time how to work hard when it comes to my future profession.

Interviewer 3: My older sister focused on the skills I had, such as being a fast typer, knowledge of the sports and business industries, and my ability to work with others and to lead them. This was quite a surprise to me, as I didn't expect such an advanced answer.

Interviewer 4: My younger sister said that I was very funny and this can be used to make people like me. In doing so, I will have better chances of receiving internships and jobs in the future.

Interviewer 5: My grandmother went on and on about my smile and composure and how this will help me become a better communicator over time. The confidence that she has seen in me can result in leaving a great first impression with whoever I meet.

I see myself as a very caring, hardworking individual focused on doing what I want to do one day. Others see me as someone who has charisma and charm and that always likes to have fun and make people laugh. I think the main difference in this is that my family doesn't how hard I work at times, because they only see the playful side of me. I don't study or do work around them, so this creates this difference. I believe that both parties are accurate, they are just different.

15A - Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 2

For this stage in the process, I interviewed two different athletes and one sports agent. All three individuals said that the most important factor that goes into deciding what agency or athlete to choose is their quality. The agent wanted a hard-working athlete who is easy to work with and will become a star one day. The athletes want an agency that genuinely cares for them and is truly looking in their best interest for opportunities in their respective sport. When it comes to the platform, all three interviewees were looking for an easily navigable website that makes it very easy to discover opportunities with athletes and agencies.

My segment can only be purchased online because it isn't a physical product. The platform will be a streamlined way to allow athletes to connect to athlete representation. Agencies will be able to purchase various levels of memberships that allow them certain perks on the site. When I proposed these details to the sports agent, he seemed interested in the idea but stated that he would need to look at the prices before. Agencies already have their own established strategies of discovering talent so they might not want to take part if the prices are too unrealistic. The athletes, however, loved the idea due to their registration being free. This purchase is directly from me to the agencies and saves money by not needing a middle man.

According to the interviewees, it is crucial for the customers to believe in the product even after purchasing it. They must believe it is morally acceptable and a valuable tool for themselves. If either of these isn't true, then the product will not succeed. One of the athletes went on to say that the product must make underrecruited athletes feel as though they are as equally important as other athletes.

Interview 1: The interview with the sports agent was incredibly useful and pointed out several flaws in my design. The agent questioned whether a lot of agencies and athletes need the website and also stated that there better be definitive evidence that agencies and athletes are benefitting from the product right off the bat. This interview allowed me to reconsider my product and patch up the flaws.

Interview 2: This interview was the least useful. The athlete agreed with my points and found the idea to be a good one. He said that the product sounds good and that I focus on marketing to athletes and not agencies. This may sound like a good idea, but I won't profit off of collegiate athletes.

Interview 3: The second athlete I interviewed thought outside the box more and asked how profitable this platform can truly be. We discussed how I need to start advertising the product right away and I need to get a few agencies hooked on the idea before athletes will really start to join. We then discussed how advertising can play a huge role in profiting down the line.

The segment of athlete representation involving young athletes and relatively young agents is very volatile. Things can change very quickly because the industry heavily relies on technology. This is one of the biggest reasons why I saw such an opportunity here. Having a streamlined way for these people to communicate would make a lot easier on both parties.

14A - Halfway Reflection

1.) The behaviors I have most utilized in this course consist of organizational skills as well as time efficiency. I must keep all my blog posts organized in the correct formatting as well as making sure to do every step of the assignment. This includes completing the assignment on blogger, copying and pasting the URL and then declaring that the assignment is done. It is also important to make sure that you leave enough time before Friday to complete each assignment and then to respond to two people for each assignment by Monday.

2.) There have been moments in this class where I have felt like giving up. During the bug list creation, I had no idea what to put after about 10 bugs. I recognized the need to complete the assignment and the need to get the grade that I wanted to get, so that motivated me to not give up. I have definitely developed a tenacious attitude to work hard and complete the tasks given to me. I would say knowing that I need to perform well in school to get a great job one day is one of my main motivational factors.

3.) Three tips I would offer to students for next semester would be to work ahead to make sure you complete everything that you need to do, ask any and all questions that you have to ensure that you are doing the assignments correctly, and to attend the workshop to ensure that you get an A in the course. All of these recommendations relate to having a tenacious attitude and being proactive to control your own destiny when it comes to grades.

13A - Reading Reflection No. 1

1.) The Wright Brothers, David McCullough
The thing that surprised me the most about the Wright Brothers was their lack of resources. Neither brother went to college, meaning their highest level of education was public high school. Also, they were reasonably poor, meaning it was more difficult for them to acquire the tools needed to experiment with flying. I most admired their dedication and work ethic. There were many trials involved in building the perfect aerial machine, including plenty of failures. This did not discourage Wilbur or Orville from trying over and over again. One thing that disappointed me was their lack of appreciation for their sister. Most people who have heard of the Wright brothers think that it was just them who accomplished flying for the first time when in reality their sister was a huge asset in their journey to discover flight as well. Both entrepreneurs encountered adversity and failure throughout their trials. Each time they left the ground they were risking their own lives. Even though this was the case, the Wright brothers insisted on continuously trying every day to fly.

2.) The perseverance displayed by the Wright brothers was their biggest competency. They were able to keep going even though everybody was telling them that they weren't going to achieve their goals. Being the first people to fly was obviously a huge accomplishment and one that was never expected to be done by poor high school graduates.

3.) One thing that confused me was how the author portrayed the Wright brother's emotions. As stated in many readings, the Wright brothers had very limited reactions and emotions throughout the process of them building an aircraft. They were calm individuals who were goal-oriented. However, McCullough brought them to life in a way to suggested that they may have had more emotions than I previously thought.

4.) The two questions I would ask would be "How did you guys avoid giving up after all the trials and adversity you experienced?" and "If you guys were to do it over again, would you have gone about it differently?"

5.) I think both entrepreneurs believe that hard work is necessary is most everything that one does. It is vital for completing difficult tasks and to make sure the easy ones are still done efficiently and effectively. I absolutely share their opinion and believe it is an important part of society.

12A - Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 1

The segment that I chose was collegiate athletes. My product is based around athletes getting recognized by agents as they try to make professional sports leagues, so this is the perfect market to interview. Specifically, at UF, there are many competitive sports teams with high performing athletes ready to make the leap to the pros.

After interviewing three different college athletes here at UF, I have concluded that many of these players would find this resource useful. They would be able to market themselves on a platform viewed by many successful agencies. This would allow them to stress less about reaching out via social media and hoping to get a reply from agencies and instead will instantly give them access to every company registered on the website. All three agreed that they have been thinking about going pro since they were young children, and have just recently started to seriously ponder the idea of reaching out to agencies to try and test the market. My questions focused on asking them when they were going to look for an agent and how they were going to do so. After gathering this information, I then pitched them the idea of the platform and asked for their thoughts. They all liked the idea but needed more information to really get a feel for how it would run.

They all said that when they recognized the need for representation, they didn't know exactly where to start. Many asked their families and friends to see if they knew anybody, and if not they reached out to successful players on their own sports teams to see if they began the process. Most didn't really know how to acquire an agent, because there is really no consistent way to do so.

These interviews made me even more confident in my product. I now know that it is vital to be able to convince athletes at a young age to get on the platform so that they can successfully market themselves. This will hopefully give agents more time to be able to research these players and reach out to them in a timely manner.

11A - Idea Napkin No. 1

1.) My name is Andy Myers and I am a third-year Business Administration major specializing in Sports Management and minoring in Communication Studies. I have been a huge sports fan my whole life, and aspire to either work in sports management or represent athletes as an agent one day. I have volunteered for the University of Florida Athletic Association and worked for the Orange Bowl Committee the past two summers. These experiences have provided me with realistic expectations as to how difficult it is to get involved in the sports industry. I have become a very hard worker and a great communicator, having to work overtime and with many different team members. Based on analyzing the sports market during these experiences and while keeping up with the world of sports in my spare time, I have seen a major gap in the communication between agents and athletes. This has led me to my idea of a platform to connect all future collegiate and professional athletes with representatives.

2.) I am offering a website that enables players to register and promote themselves with stats, video clips, highlights and other information about themselves where agents can do research and communicate with them online. As of now, there is no universal place for agents and athletes to connect, it is merely survival of the fittest with the top tier athletes getting agents and the rest of the athletes getting left in the dust. The problem with this is that many athletes that make the pros aren't necessarily recruited highly, so they get ignored.

3.) My customers consist of any athletes or agents in the U.S. that want to become more recognized by the opposite party. This allows for a huge target market and because it is an online server, can contain as many individuals or companies that want to sign up as possible. More specifically, I am targeting males and females from ages 16-25. This is when these players need the most help; when they are starting their careers and need advice as to how to successfully market themselves and spend their money.

4.) Sports agencies will pay to access this website to be able to more easily recruit and research athletes. This will enable them to have more athletes to represent and market towards professional sports teams and even colleges. Also, sponsors will pay to advertise on the website to promote their products, due to the sheer size of people on the platform. Companies such as Nike and Under Armour can easily advertise sports products to these athletes and agents alike.

5.) What sets me apart is my hard work, dedication, and connections. I can work hard to create a platform that runs smoothly and I have the accessibility to market my product to athletes. Once some athletes register on the website for free, agencies can register to start recruiting these athletes, bringing in revenue. Once this occurs, companies will want to advertise on the website as well.

This isn't a product I made up for this class. This is something I have truly believed in for months now and will continue to do so for quite some time. I haven't found any serious flaws with my potential website yet, except the fact that there may be a similar product that already exists. I believe that all the numbered points above connect well and are fairly accurate based on my evaluations. To add, this is also a very good time to create a website such as this based on the technology at our fingertips nowadays and the opportunities presented to young athletes.

10A - Elevator Pitch No. 1

9A - Testing the Hypothesis, Part 2

Who: After conducting five more interviews, I realized that this idea is for a niche market. There are plenty of athletes and sports companies that exist in the U.S, but only so many players that will become successful in professional sports and agents that will be able to perform the services they want to for athletes in those sports. This would result in them lying outside of the boundary that I am researching, and therefore, I must somewhat rethink my strategy to ensure that the correct athletes and agents get hooked onto this platform and utilize it to the best of their ability. This concept focuses on connecting serious athletes intending on signing in college and making the pros, so the platform must also serve as a wakeup call for athletes with no real chance of making it.

What: The need is pretty much the same for anybody in the market, regardless of who they are. All athletes are trying to become popular and all agents are attempting to spread the word of their company. The need changes when you start to have parents and others on the website viewing their family's videos to watch them perform. Because this platform is primarily serving as a way to connect people on a business level, this need drastically differs from that when it comes to family.

Why: The difference in needs is a result of people using the site for non-business purposes. The biggest, as I stated previously, that is caused by this is the support of family in an athlete's endeavors. This will cause them to access the platform for a completely different purpose than athletes trying to connect with representatives.


Inside the boundary:      vs. Outside the boundary:                                                                      

Inside - Who is in - Successful athletes and agents trying to acquire more business                                                                                                                                                                                  
Outside - Who is not - Athletes not serious about going pro and family members supporting their loved ones on the platform

Inside - What the Need is - To successfully serve as a liaison between these athletes and agents  

Outside - What the Need is Not - To serve as a way to get famous from cool/funny highlights or as a way for a family to catch up on an athlete's success

Inside - Why the Need Exists -  There is always a need for athletes to receive proper representation to ensure they are receiving the most fair contract possible                          

Outside - Alternative Explanations - To become popular as a high school or college athlete with no intention of going pro

8A - Solving the Problem

Based on the interviewing and researching I have been conducting on the sports agency market the past several weeks, I have come up with an in-depth solution to connect athletes with representation to benefit both parties. The opportunity presented is a lack of consistent communication between agents and athletes, as there is no current formal way to contact an agency or an athlete. Most players or companies reach out via social media or by referring by a friend. This platform would allow companies to register and put their contact information on the website, along with any other details about their company that they want. This will cost a fee but will give them access to many different features on the website. Athletes can also register their information, but it will be free to them. They can upload stats, pictures and videos and highlights to better market and advertise themselves to the agencies registered on the website. After both parties are registered, they can communicate on the website by reaching out to the opposite party. There will also be a pretty significant opportunity for outside sponsors to market on the platform, either by paying a fee to advertise their product/service or by teaming up with a company and sponsoring their page on the platform. Regardless there will be plenty of opportunities to profit from this website and this can be an incredibly helpful resource for athletes and agents attempting to improve their value and business.

7A - Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

1.) The opportunity that exists is a need for a transparent platform for communication among athletes and sports agents, managers and representatives. This website will serve as a liaison between these individuals and will allow for athletes and agents to better market themselves.

2.) The who: Sports agents and athletes
      The what: There is no universal platform for the sports agent industry, where athletes and representatives can interact.
      The why: This will make the process a lot easier when it comes to recruiting athletes to agencies and athletes trying to get their name out there in the sports world.

3.) Testing the who: It seems as though only athletes in "major sports" (football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, etc.) are receiving agents. What about sports such as horseback riding? There are certain sports where individuals aren't represented by agents at all. This could be an area to improve on, and by having this platform these smaller sports may be able to start pitching to agents why they deserve to be represented.
     Testing the what: Why does this idea matter to athletes and agents? How will this positively promote athletes to enable them to more easily acquire agents to represent them? Should agents really care about competing on a universally used platform instead of using their local resources as a competitive advantage?
     Testing the why: How will this impact the athlete representation market? Would this actually benefit athletes being underrepresented and are having trouble reaching out to agencies? Do these agencies need this platform to recruit athletes, or it is useless for them?

4.) After conducting 5 different interviews with varying people in the sports industry, I stand behind my idea of a universal platform to connect athletes with agents. Based on the feedback I received, there is a clear need for this product, due to the inconsistencies in the market. The individuals interviewed agreed that there is also are completely untapped markets, such as esports and horse racing, that can use representatives to run athlete's and rider's campaigns and to help increase sponsorship interest. Even though the big money is being made in sports such as football and basketball, there is still plenty of profit to be made in different sports industries that attract hundreds of thousands of viewers. Based on the "who" aspect of the interview, it was revealed to me that I should be targeting teenagers who plan to go to college for athletics. These kids are the future of American sports and are the most capable of utilizing this technologically advanced platform. All 5 interviewers agreed that the most important and useful aspect of this potential website would be to help underrepresented athletes trying to play college sports and eventually get drafted by their respective professional league. One of the interviewers that I communicated with, a well-respected sports agent in the South Florida area, told me that he wasn't sure if the larger agencies would be on board with this. The larger agencies controlling the majority of the bigger name athletes and subsequently, most of the profits in the industry most likely don't need this platform to recruit their players. They already have advanced social media accounts, scouts in different areas across the country and the world, and have vast amounts of players reaching out to try and catch their attention. Unfortunately, I did not consider this factor at the time and this is a setback in the process, but means that the website would need to first need to recruit smaller name athletes and small agencies needing to get their name out there. Based on the "what" aspect of the interview, I learned that this platform will take lots of time to advance and attract large agencies and big-name athletes coming out of high school and college. Once the website and platform are established, however, it should still have a sizable impact on underrepresented athletes. This will give them an opportunity to upload stats, videos and any highlights that they feel are important to show to potentially interested agencies. It will give players from less talented areas a chance to prove why they stand out and can play at the next level. Based on the interviews I gave, it seems as though this platform would be more beneficial for the players and not the agents, but some smaller agencies will still be able to get started due to this platform. Based on the "why" factor, it is clear that athletes are in more need of this concept and would benefit more from it as a result.

5.) Based on the interviews and research conducted on this topic, I had recognized certain flaws in the platform and see the avenues to attack to successfully market to athletes and agencies. Large agencies and athletes won't need the website to promote themselves, but by reaching out to "middle of the pack" agencies and athletes, I can hopefully convince them that this platform can be incredibly helpful to their careers. I can also try and advertise this platform to other sports in an attempt to increase sponsorships in their sports.

6A - Identifying Opportunities in Economic and Regulatory Trends

Opportunity 1:
a.) https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/24/us-will-legalize-cannabis-in-2019-acreage-holdings-ceo-kevin-murphy.html
b.) Based on the increasing market for marijuana, it is prevalent that there is a clear opportunity to enter the marijuana industry and make significant money for yourself, and for the government. If marijuana is legalized, the government can tax the industry and make significant profits for the country as a result.
c.) The average customer will be any individual that wants marijuana in the United States. If marijuana is legalized (both nationally and in each state), there will begin to be farms and stores opening up countrywide to sell to those in need.
d.) The opportunity is extremely easy to exploit once it is legalized because there will be a huge market for the product once it is allowed. There are millions of people already consuming marijuana, and this number will exponentially increase once it is legalized.

I saw this opportunity at first when I went to Colorado to visit my uncle, who happens to have his own farm. He started explaining the mass need for marijuana around the country and how beneficial it could be as its own industry. This opened my eyes to the endless possibilities presented by this product.


Opportunity 2:
a.)https://sportshandle.com/2019-sports-betting-legalization-wave/
b.) Much like the first opportunity I discussed, the sports gambling industry is another market that will benefit consumers around the country as well as the US government. Sports gambling has existed for generations and has always been done illegally, so imagine how much bigger it would get once people are allowed to start doing it in the open. This will generate money for the government because the industry is taxable once legalized.
c.) Any sports fan who has interest in taking a rooting interest in the game will have access to gambling. This is a huge market and a great opportunity that will exist soon.
d.) Once legalized, this opportunity will be incredibly easy to exploit for both consumers and individuals looking to get involved in the industry.

Similarly to the last opportunity, when I traveled to the Bahamas and went to Atlantis and saw the amount of sports gambling, I was in shock. There was a sports bar full of people screaming at 15 different TVs, rooting for teams to win by certain amounts of points. It was clear that if gambling was legal in every state, millions of people in each state would get involved.

Opportunity 3:
a.)https://www.industryweek.com/talent/cincinnati-manufacturing-building-shared-economic-opportunity
b.) Based on the article, the program called coMADE exists to create job opportunities locally for residents living in those cities. This will help eliminate transportation costs for them and will create thousands of jobs for individuals.
c.) This economic opportunity has been created for people in the areas of coMADE. This program specifically targets people living in the area to help avoid transportation fees when they go to work and to help boost the local economy.
d.) This opportunity seems to be relatively easy if you live in the area, however, it will be much more difficult to try and expand the program and have it in various cities around the country.

After reading this article I was very interested in the coMADE program. I instantly saw how this will change the way that people can get to work and how it will impact the local economy of certain cities.

Opportunity 4:
a.)http://fortune.com/2019/01/08/allstate-ceo-cars-america/
b.) The information in this article clearly states that personal transportation is the future. Companies such as uber, lyft and other transportation firms will continue to grow in size and popularity. 
c.) Any person working for these companies or other personal transportation companies will benefit from the increasing market. Individuals who need single rides, either from uber or lyft, are continuing to grow in number.
d.) The opportunity is easy to exploit as someone trying to work for these companies because it is very easy to do so. All it takes is registering yourself and having a license, so the market is going to be competitive and large.

Based on just the number of college students that utilize uber and lyft in Gainesville, it is clear that this article is spot on. This industry is going to keep growing at a rapid rate due to the number of people who need a single ride. Whether they live in a city that is hard to own a vehicle, are coming back drunk from the bars or are on vacation, there is plenty of use for these companies in the future.