Jacob's Entrepreneurship Blog

1) What was the general theme or argument of the book? Scott Abrams emphasizes the point that it is most important to focus on oneself before you focus on winning big. You can't win big if you are lacking in physical fitness, have poor eating habits, and lack quality social interactions. Security is also important to focus on, such as your job, investments, house, etc.  2) How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003? To me, the part I feel connected the most with the class is when he talked about passion. You can be really passionate about something, but at the end of the day, it might not be that profitable. Sometimes it's better to go for what works. If you start a business and it becomes successful, you'll find a way to be passionate about it.  3) If you had to design an exercise for this class, based on the book you read, what would that exercise involve? I would create an exercise where the individual wo...

Industry Expert Who they are and what their background is: Derek Tippins. He is the founder of Nyoobe, an app that helps businesses increase their sales by paying users to spread the word of that business. Description of how you found the person and contacted the person: Derek has been a family friend for many years and calls me to consult on his ideas every once in a while. Nature of the exchange you have with the person -- what favor did they do for you? What is the return expectation: I chatted with Derek about my idea for roughly 15 minutes over the phone and asked for his advice on how to successfully launch an app. Derek and I have a back and forth conversation that continuously goes on, and I expect him to ask me for my help later in the future. How will including this person in your network enhance your ability to exploit an opportunity: It can be helpful to have someone you can ask for help when they have done something similar already. Launching an app is not an easy...

Who you are. What your talents are. What your skills and experiences are. Also: what are your aspirations? Specifically regarding your business concept, how do you see this business (if you were to start it) playing a role in your life? My name is Jacob, and I am a third year information systems major. I am a great communicator, team player, and problem solver. When I was in high school, I created a social media business that generated me thousands of dollars. I am experienced with WordPress with web development. I have also taken several object oriented programming classes, giving me a foundation of programming knowledge and an interest in app development. When I am on a normal schedule, I go to the gym regularly and have a fair sense of how a workout routine typically goes. If I were to create the app, I could easily see myself being obsessed with it and devoting most of my time to its improvement. I tend to dive deep into projects I am very passionate about. What are you offerin...

Even though my prototypical customer can be of any background, I will assume that it is a "he" for the sake of the assignment. He loves to go for a play sports as a hobby. He drives an Honda Civic, an average, ordinary car. He likes to watch South Park, Parks and Recreation, and The Office. He does not have children. Hi favorite book is 1984 (he is a conspiracy theorist). His favorite politician is Rand Paul. He is 21 years old. He feels confident but needs motivation. He feels like an average college student. He wants to get in shape and stay motivated to be healthy through the use of lifestyle apps and general habits. I have a lot in common with this avatar. I am of similar age and interests. I based most (not all) of the details on my own life. I think the avatar is so similar to me because I am the prototypical customer for my product.

Report findings and Draw Conclusions: Throughout my interviews, I learned a few key compliments could help me improve my product. My first interview was helpful in the fact that it made me realize that Southwest Recreation Center does already have a live camera of how crowded the gym is, but most people do not like to use it due to its poor quality and that it is difficult to access. My second interview was insightful in regards to the business aspect of the app. I realized that the app could also be monetized by promoting gym related products such as protein shakes, diet guides, etc. I could get a percentage off of each sale based on if they purchased the product by being redirected from my application. My third interview helped me understand the costs behind building an app. While a simple app can go viral on its own, a user friendly app with a marketing team behind it has a higher chance of being successful. With this, however, comes the cost of hiring an effective programmer a...