30A – Final Reflection

Although this is the end of our journey together in ENT 3003, you now have a set of experiences that you can use to better navigate the future. My hope is that each of you have, to one extent or another, developed an entrepreneurial mindset. That you keep a sharp eye out for problems, and you're willing to offer a solution. 

For this final reflection, I'd like you to do a few things:

1) Read through your posts from this semester. Recall all of the experiences you've had a long the way -- the highs, the lows -- the fun moments, and the moments of drudgery, and even the moments of dread.

Drudgery: Definitely finding new opportunities and niche markets. I need to keep practicing and developing these opportunities with the possible ventures I can create with the existing elements I have and my competitive advantage using my secret sauce. 

Fun Moments: The moment when I had the most fun in this class was when I spoke privately with Dr. Prior and he just blasted me with ideas rearding my Bohemian Artisans idea. He helped me a lot and even opened my mind to see blind spots I never saw. I can notice that he is an expert and I truly had fun. 

Dread: I feard the venture concept because it was the longest paper and I honestly was partying too hard. I should have put more effort into it. But the brief business plan concept helped me establish my ideas on a piece of paper, instead of having them all over the place. 

2) What sticks out to you as the most formative experience? The experience that you'll remember years later? What was your most joyous experience? What experience are you most proud of yourself for accomplishing?

The experience that is going to be stuck in my head for the rest of my business experiences concerns of two statements:

1) You WILL FAIL because no-one likes your ugly baby.

2) You need to give a product that people are already looking for. Not what YOU think is perfect.

I am proud of actually doing the business, I failed because I have not yet met so many sales, and I think that I should keep pushing until I solve the equation... but at least I took the time to take pictures, advertise my products, create a business concept and apply them into the real world. We need to be Pro-active, not Re-active.

3) At the beginning of the semester, I mentioned that I wanted each of you to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. Now, at the end, do you see yourself as an entrepreneur? Do you think you have moved closer to developing an entrepreneurial mindset?

Obviously, my entrepreneurial mindset has grown and expanded a lot more than what I started. I had previous experience, but this course helped me expand my mindset and view blind spots. I need to work on it, and that is why I will acquire a Minor in this field. Its amazing the hidden potential we have; we just need to put it into practice, fail and keep trying. 

4) What is the one recommendation you would make to the students who are going to journey down this path in the future? What would you recommend they do to perform best in this course? What would you recommend they do to foster that mindset?

To succeed in this course, you need to like it. If you don't like it and it is just an elective; convince yourself that you like it and put your mind into it. If you are just going to be vague and do the minimum; you are going to be BORED. Try, think and have fun! Dr. Prior makes this class fun; he is a great professor and mentor. Talk to him after class, schedule a meeting, talk to him! 

Here goes my UGLY BABY: