30A – Final Reflection

1. I believe that my most formative experience regarding the assignments in this course was "Growing Your Social Capital". This experience really influenced me because of the multiple networking skills that I feel that I gained upon the completion of this assignment. An experience that I will remember for years later would be any of the Elevator Pitch assignments. I will remember this because of the about I learned to present products as well as how many times it took me to make the perfect pitch. I believe my most joyous experience has to be the "Whats Your Secret Sauce" assignment. This was joyous because I got to learn about what the closest people to me really observe about me. I was happy to hear all the great things said about me. Again, I am most proud of accomplishing my first elevator pitch because it took me so long to get it right and when I did the feeling was great. 
2. I believe that this course assisted me with building an entrepreneurial mindset. I learned many skills that I require in the business world. This includes building on social confidence, which really assisted me throughout many assignments in this course. 
3. My advice to future students would be to dedicate time to these assignments and do not wait to do them last minute because some are actually very time consuming and require a certain level of effort. To perform best in this course a student should watch all the lectures because they provide a lot of useful information regarding how to master the assignments. To foster that mindset, students need to schedule a plan for doing an assigned task.  

28A – Your Exit Strategy

1. My plan for my exit strategy depends on the success of my product. If my product is as successful as I anticipated it to be, I would like to stay with my business for as long as I can until I retire. I want to build my business up until it matures. My goal is to make my business known all around the world. In the other hand, if my business was not functioning as well as i thought, I will seek potential buyers who can increase the value of my business through the use of their business. My ultimate goal is for my son or daughter to run the business after I retire. That means I would make the ultimate effort to keep my business. 
2. My exit strategy is when I hand my company to my child and I just sit and go to retirement. I will be sure that he/she will provide as much value and even more than I do. 
3. My exit strategy relates to the fact that online users will always need cyber protection for many years to come. This influenced how I identified an opportunity because it pertains to my customers always being in safe hands regarding actions they make online. My growth intentions also relate to this because my company needs to grow for it to prosper until I have retired and beyond.  

29A – Venture Concept No. 2

  Technology has been advancing at a very alarming rate which can really help small businesses grow through the use of e-commerce. However, a huge consequence of the use of online selling are the risks of cyber threats hacking transactions and stealing very important assets and information. This type of risk yields a need for protection and an effective plan to stop these things from happening. This is a need for both the small businesses themselves and the consumers that shop with those businesses. These include fairly new businesses who cannot afford the biggest security measures and are constantly threatened by cyber threats. The customers include everyone who shops at these small retailers and wants to keep their money and information safe. Cyber threats are able to monitor screens and actually view information and assets being transacted. This gives basically every online transaction a form of risk no matter how big or small it may be. Large businesses are usually able to afford huge firewalls that don’t allow malware. These can include Best-Buy, Walmart, and even Old Navy. The market that is really directed to is the businesses that are trying to grow but cannot due to poor security measures. Customers think they are currently satisfying the need by downloading protective software to detect threats. However, those software programs downloaded to a computer are only the tip of the iceberg. The threats are more advanced and tend to target the businesses before harming the customers themselves. This makes the opportunity much larger than most basic consumers believe. A lot of them do not care about the risk until they wake up one day and realized they were harmed. The window for this opportunity is actually growing with technology in that it is constantly increasing the threats.

     Addressing the problem really motivated me to create a solution to this opportunity and need. I have decided to innovate an application that will change the safety of online transactions for the better. This innovation will take form of an app that can be downloaded on any mobile device. The app will have two sides to it: 1. The business side 2. The customer side. With the help of an important engineering team, my product will link both businesses and consumers together to provide mutual protection. First, the app will be linked to the cyber security plans that the businesses have as well as to their accounts. Secondly, the consumer choses to link themselves to the accounts that they tend to use when making these transactions. After the accounts are linked, the app will unite both sides together whenever a transaction is made. The consumer can also choose to link to a business beforehand by searching that specific business up in the app. Once a transaction is made and the two sides are connected, the device really starts to work its beauty. The cyber security system that is implemented will detect any potential threats and notify both sides when it happens. In the consumers’ perspective, when someone makes a transaction they will receive a notification on their phones on how safe the transaction is. If something bad happens and the security is breached, the app will automatically notify the customer and he has a chance to take certain steps to prevent losing anything. The small businesses will invest for the protection plan and the customers will need to pay a small one-time fee for the app at around $3.99. If demand is high enough these charges will cover all costs and create profit for my firm.

     With this innovation all planned out and ready to use, it really is ready to fulfill the opportunity that these small businesses and consumers have. I will first like to talk about the benefits to the consumer. This innovation will be beneficial for multiple reasons. Firstly, it will help consumers manage their transactions effectively and efficiently. Secondly, the layer of protection it provides can really help the consumers become more confident with their purchasing decisions. Finally, this application can save customers a lot of money in not dealing with potential losses. For small businesses there are also multiple benefits. Firstly, the app comes with a cyber security plan that is up to date and can create extra layers of protection. Therefore, the business is able to operate safely and can take some important “risks” as needed. Secondly, the business has another way to promote and find new customers through the app, bringing more business. Finally, the business will seem more safe to consumers, which can really help with growth. I believe that a good way for consumers to switch to this product would be a trial of the product itself. I will release the product early and offer trials for businesses and consumers before I launch this product. When the customers figure out how well it works they will be attracted to the product and will want to continue to have it. Competitors include the software programs that both businesses and consumers have to protect themselves from cyber threats. Their weaknesses are that they are not able to connect with each other just like my innovation does. The goal of this venture is to give safety to customers and businesses. That is why there will be a 24-hour customer service line that may be called which will be uses to assist customers and assure them that they will be helped in their best interest. In making this product, I will start with use a cross-functional team of about 25 employees and hoping that number will steadily increase over the years. I will have a marketing team, sales team, engineering team, finance team, and a customer service team that will all work together for this venture.

     This venture’s most important resource are the connections that I am able to maintain from family and friends. Building relationships brings in extra knowledge and experiences that can really assist in the development of a product. I want this venture to grow large enough that even large businesses around the world start using it as a means of cyber protection. In five years I want to be sitting in my office watching my business flourish and expanding into a global marketplace. I want to be known as the guy that developed the most successful cyber security measure in history.

Feedback: I did not receive any feedback regarding potential corrections in my venture concept. The feedback I received regards the perceived benefits that are created through the use of my application. The main think I changed was that I included an actual price for the app. I feel like this was beneficial because it gives my consumer a approximate amount to pay.

26A – Celebrating Failure

1. I have failed in this class during this semester one week with two assignments like this one. I failed because I did the assignment before the due time but I completely forgot to send the URL. The reason why I have done this is because I was in a rush to go somewhere and I decided to leave before I could send it in. I was really disappointed and I realized that there was no exceptions when dealing with this.
2. I have learned to be more organized with my assignments and to plan my due dates more precisely. I have also learned to take these assignments way more seriously after realizing that I lost points in one of the dumbest ways possible. Putting the assignments first really helped me excel in the second half of the course. 
3. I believe that my failure was embarrassing to myself because I dedicated a lot my time and effort on the bulk of it and then to realize that I failed them because I did not simply turn them in. Although being pissed about my results, I took this failure as motivation to do better. Therefore, I believe that this failure really helped my get organized and keep myself on track to do very well in this course afterwards. This class has taught me to take failure positively and use it to work harder. Failure is a learning experience and that can yield many benefits if one choses to correct their errors. 

27A – Reading Reflection No. 3

Inbound Marketing, Brian Halligan

1. The general theme of this book is to inform readers of how to market a product by connecting with customers online. The whole point is that the customers try to find you instead of wasting a lot of money and time looking for them. The book also shows a step-by-step way to turn visitors to a site into actual customers using the multiple programs and connectivity that the internet has to offer. 
2. This book connected with this class in terms of the sections of building relationships and increasing social capital. I believe that I enhanced my understanding about the multiple ways that I can effectively market a product online and gain attention of customers by reading this book. Since we have already built our venture and solidified the extent of our product, I believe that this book is the next step to actually attract customers and market the product. 
3. An exercise that I would create that relates to this book would be one which we create a Facebook page that shows our products and the benefits that it provides. By using the steps in the book, the student will create the page that will most likely create the largest form of success. This can generate real life feedback and really enhance that position of the product in consumers' minds. 
4. The biggest aha moment in this book is the way that it emphasized the cost savings of enduring inbound marketing rather than outbound. I believe that the book really provided an incentive to attract customers rather than pushing your message to them. 

25A – What’s Next?

Existing Market

1. The plan for my product here is to enhance my product to the benefit and liking of my customers. My goal is to keep my existing customers and attract new ones in their same market. 
2. Interviews:

-Customer #1: This customer says that a good idea is to extend the product and make it available on computers, televisions, and any other electronic platforms. If we do this then the customer can be alerted whenever he/she does not have their mobile phone or tablet with them at the time. 

-Customer #2: This customer believes that my venture should develop its own transaction system rather than just linking to the accounts. He believes that if the app has its own account system, businesses and their customers can use that very easily and safely. He also says that it can bring my venture a lot more revenue. 

-Customer #3: This customer says that my venture should offer deals to businesses that are struggling to find their way so that they get some help to develop properly. This can help because it can add to the mix of safe businesses. 

     All three customers provided me with some really good feedback. I really enjoyed the first concept of expanding the application. This makes a lot of sense because not everyone has their phones on and available all the time. I believe that a good idea may be also linking the app to an email and/or tv so that customers are able to receive the notification in the quickest way possible. 

     I also thought the second idea was really great bc it really helps my venture build up. If I include a transaction system, my app will actually will develop different uses which can attract more customers and businesses. I believe that something like this can really provide safe measures for transactions which can yield greater benefits to both small businesses and consumers.

New Market

1. I have always targeted small businesses that want to grow and are in need of a good cyber security measure. However, in the future I plan on expanding to larger businesses and becoming their main provider. 
2. I believe that my concept can create value to large businesses and their consumers because it can develop into the sole security measure that all businesses can be linked with. Therefore, the consumer would be able to view the safest businesses and make judgements upon that fact. 
3. Interviews:

-Customer #1: This customer believes that in order to be successful in this market, my venture should really show success it incurred regarding small businesses. He believes that this will attract attention to larger businesses who also feel uneasy about their security plans. 

-Customer #2: This customer says that one major adjustment that should be made to reach this new market is to gain good publicity. He says that having good public relations can really help with making the product more interesting. 

     Both customers had something in common with the feedback that they provided to me. They both concluded that the success in my current market really contributes in getting the recognition in a larger market.  I am surprised by the fact that publicity plays such a major role but it actually makes sense in getting the recognition I need.

     I believe that in order to switch to this market, I really have to take the feedback I received in the existing market to consideration. This is because becoming more successful in the existing market can create a path to extending into a larger market. 

24A – Venture Concept No. 1

     Technology has been advancing at a very alarming rate which can really help small businesses grow through the use of e-commerce. However, a huge consequence of the use of online selling are the risks of cyber threats hacking transactions and stealing very important assets and information. This type of risk yields a need for protection and an effective plan to stop these things from happening. This is a need for both the small businesses themselves and the consumers that shop with those businesses. These include fairly new businesses who cannot afford the biggest security measures and are constantly threatened by cyber threats. The customers include everyone who shops at these small retailers and wants to keep their money and information safe. Cyber threats are able to monitor screens and actually view information and assets being transacted. This gives basically every online transaction a form of risk no matter how big or small it may be. Large businesses are usually able to afford huge firewalls that don’t allow malware. These can include Best-Buy, Walmart, and even Old Navy. The market that is really directed to is the businesses that are trying to grow but cannot due to poor security measures. Customers think they are currently satisfying the need by downloading protective software to detect threats. However, those software programs downloaded to a computer are only the tip of the iceberg. The threats are more advanced and tend to target the businesses before harming the customers themselves. This makes the opportunity much larger than most basic consumers believe. A lot of them do not care about the risk until they wake up one day and realized they were harmed. The window for this opportunity is actually growing with technology in that it is constantly increasing the threats.

     Addressing the problem really motivated me to create a solution to this opportunity and need. I have decided to innovate an application that will change the safety of online transactions for the better. This innovation will take form of an app that can be downloaded on any mobile device. The app will have two sides to it: 1. The business side 2. The customer side. With the help of an important engineering team, my product will link both businesses and consumers together to provide mutual protection. First, the app will be linked to the cyber security plans that the businesses have as well as to their accounts. Secondly, the consumer choses to link themselves to the accounts that they tend to use when making these transactions. After the accounts are linked, the app will unite both sides together whenever a transaction is made. The consumer can also choose to link to a business beforehand by searching that specific business up in the app. Once a transaction is made and the two sides are connected, the device really starts to work its beauty. The cyber security system that is implemented will detect any potential threats and notify both sides when it happens. In the consumers’ perspective, when someone makes a transaction they will receive a notification on their phones on how safe the transaction is. If something bad happens and the security is breached, the app will automatically notify the customer and he has a chance to take certain steps to prevent losing anything. The small businesses will invest for the protection plan and the customers will need to pay a small one-time fee for the app. These charges will cover all costs and create profit.

     With this innovation all planned out and ready to use, it really is ready to fulfill the opportunity that these small businesses and consumers have. I will first like to talk about the benefits to the consumer. This innovation will be beneficial for multiple reasons. Firstly, it will help consumers manage their transactions effectively and efficiently. Secondly, the layer of protection it provides can really help the consumers become more confident with their purchasing decisions. Finally, this application can save customers a lot of money in not dealing with potential losses. For small businesses there are also multiple benefits. Firstly, the app comes with a cyber security plan that is up to date and can create extra layers of protection. Therefore, the business is able to operate safely and can take some important “risks” as needed. Secondly, the business has another way to promote and find new customers through the app, bringing more business. Finally, the business will seem more safe to consumers, which can really help with growth. I believe that a good way for consumers to switch to this product would be a trial of the product itself. I will release the product early and offer trials for businesses and consumers before I launch this product. When the customers figure out how well it works they will be attracted to the product and will want to continue to have it. Competitors include the software programs that both businesses and consumers have to protect themselves from cyber threats. Their weaknesses are that they are not able to connect with each other just like my innovation does. The goal of this venture is to give safety to customers and businesses. That is why there will be a 24-hour customer service line that may be called which will be uses to assist customers and assure them that they will be helped in their best interest. In making this product, I will start with use a cross-functional team of about 25 employees and hoping that number will steadily increase over the years. I will have a marketing team, sales team, engineering team, finance team, and a customer service team that will all work together for this venture.

     This venture’s most important resource are the connections that I am able to maintain from family and friends. Building relationships brings in extra knowledge and experiences that can really assist in the development of a product. I want this venture to grow large enough that even large businesses around the world start using it as a means of cyber protection. In five years I want to be sitting in my office watching my business flourish and expanding into a global marketplace. I want to be known as the guy that developed the most successful cyber security measure in history.

23A-Your Venture's Unfair Advantage

1. Global Experiences: V- This is valuable because I can make important connections and understand global marketplaces. R- This is rare because I am the only person who possesses these exact experiences. I- Extremely hard to copy because nobody has walked in my shoes. N- Only building close relationships with important people around the world can substitute for the experiences. 
2. Relationships with people in my church: V- This is valuable because I can learn a lot by this group of people and find connections. R- This is rare because not everyone has a place where they can feel free and gain help from other people. I- This is hard to copy by others because not everyone shares the same religion and in this case denomination. N- The only substitutes are joining associations and build good relationships with people that you can trust.
3. Cousin: V- This is valuable because he is part of my social capital and is willing help me out whenever I need it. R- Only I have that exact family member. I- This is hard to copy because only my cousin has his set of skills and experiences. N- There are no substitutes for my cousin. 
4. Communication skills: V- This is valuable because I can use this to build relationships and promote my product. R- This is rare because many people lack sufficient communication skills which could really harm their product placement. I- This is hard to copy because it is built by experiences and learning. N- Nothing can completely replace good relationship skills.
5. Being a Finance Major: V- Valuable because I can use my knowledge in this field to help out with my venture's finances. R- Not everyone is a finance major. I- Hard to copy because it requires to take multiple difficult classes and do well in them. N- Reading and learning about finance can be a reasonable alternative. 
6. Work Ethic: V- This is valuable because having a strong work ethic is one of the most important traits regarding doing pretty much anything effectively and efficiently. R- This is rare because some people lack strong work ethic which derails them from achieving their full potential. I- This is almost impossible to copy because it is something that a someone is born with or really worked on mentally. N- There cannot be a straight substitute for a hard work ethic but some other attributes can yield similar benefits like knowledge on the concept.
7. Empathy: V- This is very important when dealing with customers, business partners, suppliers, and employees. R- This is somewhat rare because some people do not have the ability to always be empathetic and they allow minor speed bumps bother them. I- This can be copied by trying to put your relationships before yourself. N- A substitute that yields similar benefits can be by providing exceptional service.  
8. Financial Stability: V- This is valuable because being financially stable can make way for risk taking which is an important measure when developing a new product. R- There are people out there that struggle to build upon ideas due to the fact that they simply cannot afford to. I- Qualifying to take out a bank loan. N- Having important relationships that can invest in your ideas. 
9. Social Media: V- Being present on social media is valuable to make connections and promote product. R- This is not very rare but some people do not know how to use social media properly. I- This can be copied by learning how important companies use social media for communication and product placement. N- A substitute can be using the telephone, tv, or newspaper to market. 
10. Good With Technology: V- This is valuable to have because technology is growing at an alarming rate. R- This is rare because many people have modern technology but do not know how to use it to its full capacity. I- It is hard to copy by others because it requires learning about the certain devices and how to use them. N- A substitute that can yield similar benefits is hiring IT personnel. 

I think the most important resource is having a strong work ethic. I believe that having a strong work ethic is the backbone of doing anything. 

22A-Elevator Pitch No. 3

I received positive feedback on the way I improved on my second pitch. This was regarding my tone, posture, and attire. I believe that I greatly improved on my second pitch and therefore made some small tweaks and adjustments on this pitch to make it seem more professional. I also changed my location because on the second pitch there was a few outside noises that could be distracting to some. The pitch is posted down below, so enjoy again!!

20A-Growing Your Social Capital

1. I decided to contact my cousin who is a software engineer. He's from Chicago and he studied at Northwestern University. He is considered a domain expert in my industry since he has knowledge of building apps and he has built a couple himself. Since my application requires an app he is the right person to contact. I asked my father for his phone number and I texted him links to my elevator pitch so he can watch. He thought my idea was really interesting and if I would need any help he would help offer it to me. He also gave me a couple of important tips regarding starting an app up and how to get it well known. Including him into my network would be very beneficial in exploiting my opportunity because of his knowledge and experience in the field of software engineering. He is willing to help me by offering me some ideas of how to pursue this application. 
2. My friend's brother works for ADT Security, which is a system that ensures safety for homes and businesses regarding break-ins. I decided to talk to him because he sells to people who are in need of an advanced safety measure. Since he also does B2B transactions, he gave me some tips to reach potential buyers. Therefore, he is considered to be a market expert in my industry. I talked to him when I decided to hang out with him and my friend. He showed me how he organized his customers and how he branched out to reach more people in the market. He also went through his personal selling processes in which he showed me multiple important steps in securing a sale with a buyer. Having this person in my network will really help me exploit my opportunity because he has experience and a given insight of potential markets. He says that he also provides services to small businesses which are part of my target segment. Having connection to him will help ensure that I can reach the right people effectively and efficiently.
3. I decided to contact a person who supplies safety software for mac computers. He sells software programs that detect and clean viruses and other malware. I would consider this person to be supplier category because he supplies and sells programs to businesses and basic consumers. I found this person by simply calling the phone number of my mac cleaning program and asking a couple questions. The man was nice and had time to talk and give me a couple of tips of how to sell applications like this. He says that the most important part of selling is too make good relationships with your customers and plan out an affective way to gain buyer attention. He says that a good personal selling approach is the reason that he is able to sell to many customers. By giving me this advice he provided me with some important tips regarding how to supply my product. If I can contact this person again, I believe he would be able to help me and give me a couple of more tips. 

This experience helped me because I learned how to build connections and relationships with people who can potentially assist me in launching my product. In the future, I feel that I am better equipped to meet up with people and communicate my product idea. This experience differed from others because I was looking and talking to people that have specific knowledge in the three different domains in my industry. Learning more about these domains from a first hand view can greatly benefit me and my business. 

21A-Reading Reflection No.2

The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users, Guy Kawasaki

1. The general theme of this book is to help build a marketing presence through connectivity and the use of social media. It goes through multiple social media platforms and explains how to successfully market a product through each of those. This book also made the argument that social media is one of the most important metrics for reaching potential customers. It is a great book for people who need to build social capital in their business.
2. This book really did enhance what I was learning in this class because I got an insight of how to connect with potential consumers, other businesses, and current customers. I chose this book because it really relates to the product I am offering and the market segment for which I am offering to. Since my segment involves young adults, social media is a perfect way to connect, learn, and market. It really helps me get my product out there so people will gain awareness.
3. I believe a cool assignment relating to the book I read would involve making a social media account on a site and and try to market a product in mind. For example, on Facebook a student can create a page that pertains to their business idea and product. This can involve pictures, information about the product, and other links.
4. The aha moment of the book relates to the part where Kawasaki talks about how to reach more people and gain more followers. I learned that I need to be bolder and engage with integrity more often on social media to gain more followers. I also need to share valuable content frequently and up to date regarding my promotions or my product to keep my followers updated.

19A-Idea Napkin No.2

1. Hello future customers, my name is Theodore Pappas and I am fully capable of launching a product that will dramatically change people's lives. Using a set of unique abilities that stem from learning experiences, I am able to really interest a wide array of markets. I have exceptional communication skills which will allow me to really show my product off. I also think outside of the box and put myself in the place of the consumers. I first ask myself, "How will this product benefit my life".  I am also very cultured and also keen to making relationships with potential buyers from anywhere in the world. I see this business changing my life because I know that I will provide many cost savings and benefits to many people who are at risk with cyber threats. Seeing my product change people's lives for the better is my ultimate goal that I seek to accomplish. 
2. I will be offering a product in the form of an app that is a platform for detecting and neutralizing potential cyber threats.  This app will connect small businesses and consumers like never before. This app has two sides to it, the buyer and the seller side. The seller side is where small businesses set up accounts to like to any consumers. Therefore, if a consumer is making a transaction, the app will directly link to a threat sensing device. The buyer side, is where consumers are given the option to link their transaction accounts to the app and get matched with a database of all small businesses that they have gotten service from. The app will detect threats and notify both sides if potential threats are lurking. If they are notified right away, both sides will take specific measures to ensure the safety of the transaction. Thus, my goal is to prevent fraud, stolen data, assets, and other information. 
3. My product will be offered to a large market but directed toward young adults who are still learning how to manage their assets and/or businesses. These young adults also love to make online transactions rather than buying/selling from brick and mortar stores themselves. Limiting the risk will also yield greater rewards for small businesses.
4. This product is extremely valuable because risk of losing important assets is greatly diminished. People will invest into an app like this because the benefits are extreme. Some benefits include: more small business revenue, greater safety in transactions, assists in account/transaction management for young adults, and HUGE cost savings for both sides. 
5. I believe that I have a unique way that I can locate and relate with my target segment. Since I am placed in the same shoes, I can really see into the minds of my consumers. This can really help me because I am willing to crowdsource ideas that can help with my plan. Since the consumer base should be my best friend it is important to build relationships and take feedback. 

-I believe that all these elements fit together better than before because they have been assisted and tweaked by feedback. The flow of the whole napkin is also significantly better and so is the features and benefits of the product itself. Therefore, with continues feedback and practice, I believe that this idea can reach miraculous measures in the technological world we live in today. 

Part 2:

1. One point was to try and narrow my target segment because the segment I listed before was way too broad. Therefore, I worked to find a segment that would need to use my product more than anyone. That is how I came up with young adults who shop/sell in small business platforms. 
2. Another point was about the competition that I would face and if there are other similar products like this. I have discovered that no product will link consumers and businesses together through one non costly app that both spectrums can get. Therefore, in my napkin I got more specific on the product use and how unique it is. 

16A –What’s Your Secret Sauce?

5 ways my human capital is unique:

1. I believe that I am an exceptional leader and by that I mean that I lead for the benefit of the whole team.
2. I am very cultured and that helps me communicate and build relationships with everyone around the world. 
3. I am detailed oriented and thrive to get objectives done in a timely fashion with the most quality of work. 
4. I have strong values regarding faith that helps me survive in an oscillating environment and not get too stressed out about it. 
5. I have very strong will power and I'm willing to take risks to benefit the greater good. 

The key take away from this video is that my good friend says that I have the ability to be above average in everything. Meaning I have will power to achieve great things. 

The key take away from this video is that my good friend says I have exceptional leadership skills. Meaning that he is aware that I am a great leader and look for success for the team.

My sister gives an array of characteristics that I have and are unique. Including the ability to connect and relate to different people.

My mother says I have a unique problem solving ability that is very impressive. This means that I tend to think outside the box when dealing with situations.

My father claims that my interest in cultures and my travel experience is very unique. This can help me relate with people all around the world. 

REFLECTION: I see myself in a very similar way as others see me. This is because I tend to show my strengths around people and they get to witness what I can provide. I do not see many differences in how I assess myself compared to what people think about me. I believe this is a good thing because I have capitalized in portraying how unique I am. I believe my list above is just fine and it does not need any further corrections due to the fact that all those statements are what people also see in me. 

17A – Elevator Pitch No. 2

I believe I received proper constructive feedback regarding my last pitch. Upon reviewing my last pitch I really did discover areas in which I needed to improve on. Not only did I change my attire but I changed the location where I was video taped. I feel as if I needed some more light in my pitch which greatly assists in conveying my message. This time I left behind some of the shenanigans I did on my first clip and tried to make this one more about the customers and the product that I will be pitching to them. I also decided to have somebody video tape me so I can be looking at a person while doing the pitch. I believe that this pitch was a step forward in my journey to having a great pitch. So enjoy!!!!!!

18A – Create a Customer Avatar

"Young man interested in online shopping"










My prototypical customer is a young adult who makes frequent online payments supporting small businesses. My customer likes to go to watch a band play at a local bar, has a couple of tattoos, and likes to dress well everywhere he goes. He drives a new silver Honda Civic. His favorite TV show is Game of Thrones, which him and his girlfriend watch together on Sundays. He does not have any children but would be willing to have one in the future with his girlfriend. He likes to go bowling with his friends on the weekends and likes to drink light pilsner beers. He used to work out at the gym but then he realized he didn't have much time to do it anymore. He's traveled a lot and visited many countries. My customer is around 26 and they feel as if they were around 26. He is also really invested in the latest technological trends and would occasionally play a role-playing video game on his PS4.

Some similarities I have to this customer is that my favorite show is Game of Thrones, I love to travel, and I used to go bowling a lot with friends. I think the fact that I have some things in common with this customer is a coincidence because I am developing a product that I hope will also benefit myself and that I too can use.

15A – Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 2

Interviews:

1. My uncle is a small business owner and I decided to interview him. He has an unmet need that involves him incurring financial risk due to cyber threats lurking around. I asked him, what methods of cyber security does he have and he says he has a system that is pretty costly and he would prefer one that is cheaper. He also states that he'd prefer one that has high quality of risk protection. He believes that the bundle of those two would provide him a perfect system. He claims that he tends to buy stuff online rather than in a store and he also has a website in which he sells his products. He knows that it is more risky to do that, but it gives him more business. Therefore he tends to finance his purchases rather than using cash up front. He tends to buy from other businesses to support his own and these are goods like raw materials and safety measures. He believes that for a purchase to be considered good, the quality of its utility must be greater than its cost.  
2. Family friend from church. This person is a frequent online buyer and supports small businesses. She claims that as a customer she prefers businesses that have the safest security measures. Therefore, safety is the top priority over price. She claims searching online can have many risks especially if money is transacted on an unsafe sight, even though the site may seem safe enough. I gave her my business idea and she said that it would most definitely help her in her decisions as a customer as well as giving small businesses more business. Since she usually pays on an account, it is slightly threatened with every purchase even with the fact that those accounts have secure measures themselves. When being asked what would make the purchase a good decision, she responded, "The benefits must outweigh the costs". 
3. My barber. My barber works for a small barber shop business and he claims that many people have started to purchase through credit cards since many people do not carry cash that much. This had led him to purchase a small system to scan cards. He also says that due to the fact that all these people are doing transactions through accounts, he has to be accountable for the risk it can have. As a likely investor in a new transaction base, he says he looks online for the cheapest alternatives. He says that since he cannot afford many measures, his top priority is the price of the system. To him a purchase would be considered good if it didn't cost to much to do a basic function, even though risk is more present in that scenario. 

Conclusion: 

Upon interviewing three people that are in my business segment, I have gained some very interesting information regarding their purchase behavior. I believe that my product can assist all three of the interviewees in their perspective buyer behaviors. What I found similar between all three interviews was that they all purchase online through account most of the time. This buyer behavior is useful in my scenario because my product is made for transactions like that. 

14A – Halfway Reflection

1.  In order to keep up with this course and its requirements, I made sure to set time apart throughout the week to watch the lectures and do the assignments. It is important to watch the videos because you will not be able to pass the "Cupcakes" which are quizzes that are based directly out of the lectures. I you are able put some time into this course you would do exceptionally well. I also was determined to challenge and learn more about myself and my ability in this course thus far. 
2. There was a point that really struck me and that was when I forgot to send the URLs of an assignment after I did it. I realized that I lost credit for that week's assignment the day after. However, after all that, I told myself that I would become an top of all the future assignments and quizzes and that I would try to get the maximum points out of all of them. I have developed a tenacious attitude after that happened and I have not lost points on anything since. 

Some Tips:

• Be able to see this class as one that helps shape your thoughts and abilities.
• Have a mindset of which you view the assignments as one of your top priorities in this and do not do them on the last day they are due.
• Watch the lectures because they have valuable information that can be used to assist you on the assignments and quizzes. 
  

13A- Reading Reflection No.1

I have decided to read Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance because I have always admired him for the effort he put in order to succeed and how he makes this world a better place.

1. What surprised me the most about Elon Musk was the fact that he was able to make both Tesla and SpaceX work out even though he clearly did not have the funds to run both projects due to the fact that he was tight on cash after he used up a lot of his money after he sold Pay-Pal. Something that I admire the most about Elon Musk was his determination and work ethic. I believe that if people worked as hard as him, they will be able to accomplish anything that they desire. Elon Musk encountered many failures in his life but they all helped him learn and adapt and work harder. For example, when he launched his first three rockets in the SpaceX program, they had all failed. However, that did not stop him from trying again until he succeeded. 
2. One of Elon Musk's most important competencies was his exceptional emotional intelligence which lead him to become one of the most powerful leaders in the world. He strived to be aware of his emotions and he was able to spectacularly handle important relationships which really assisted in becoming the successful man he is today. This also includes the way that he got the most out of his employees.  
3. Some of the most confusing parts of the reading is when he talked about how the rockets where constructed and the vocabulary used that relates to that. This all stems from the fact that I do not know much about engineering and the components of it. 
4. One question I would ask is "What is your viewpoint on extraterrestrial life and if you believe there is an entity above everything for which provides meaning in life?". Thats just a curious question that I would ask a person as intelligent as Elon Musk. My second question is "How were you able to take on all those failures and still have such an optimistic mindset?". This question interests me because the answer could really help me out with the things I want to do in life. 
5. I think everyone know's Elon's answer to the question of hard work. It's as clear and simple that hard work pays off and I completely agree with that. I just wish I had his work ethic!

12A- Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No.1

I chose to venture upon a psychographic segment of people who life a lifestyle that involves them associating with small businesses frequently. Therefore, I have chosen to interview three people who I placed in that segment for which I am willing to learn more about the unmet need in hand.

1. First Interview: This is a man who works at a local small business in North Miami Beach, FL. He states that the fact that technology is increasing at such a rapid rate worries him because people are out there committing cyber crimes. He feels that as an employee, his job is put at risk if something happens that ends up harming the business. This need awareness takes place at anytime and anywhere due to the fact that technology never really sleeps. He believes that there are people out there that have the ability to bypass any system and they pose a potential threat. His solution is trying to help his employer (small business owner) implement plans that can reduce risk and he says that he would do this by searching up reliable methods on the web. 
2. Second Interview: This is an older woman who tends to give a good amount of business to small businesses. Since she is older, she was never really able to adjust away from the basic cash payments. She has an unmet need because she is unable to fully understand how her transactions work herself. She says that she does not manage her accounts and that her son does all that business. After explaining to her about all the threats out there and how advanced technology has been getting, she realized the extent of her problem. She says that she will soon talk to her son to help herself get more aware of the transactions that are taking place.
3. Third Interview: This is a man who frequently makes online purchases from small business retailers. He claims that he is able to get unique items and giving small businesses his business is something that he really loves to do. However, he claims that ever since learning about all these cyber threats and reading about how many businesses are getting screwed by that, he has started to limit his online shopping to bigger firms. He says that he actually researches every organization that he ever thinks of buying from so in return he learns about how secure they are at taking his credit card information. He also says that there are many parties on the internet that can actually get hold of his information if the organization's site is not secure enough.

I believe that due to these interviews I have gained much intel in the minds of people in my sector. These people have lifestyles that are at risk due to the fact that cyber threats are present. Everyone in this sector wishes for the least risk possible in dealing with small businesses and try to seek forms of safety of themselves and their money. 

10-Elevator Pitch #1

ELEVATOR PITCH: https://youtu.be/2VH6DBk0agc

11A-Idea Napkin #1

IDEA NAPKIN

1. My name is Theodore Pappas, I am fully Greek and fully ready to satisfy many peoples unmet needs with my proposition. I have a unique set of skills that stem from the many interesting experiences I have been through (sorry Dos Equis guy). I have a tendency to be able to relate to people all over the world due to the fact that I am a cultured person. Traveling and getting an insight to all these cultures helped me learn about different consumer aspirations and multiple small businesses. I feel like I am ready to take the next step by helping people around the world safely maintain their transactions and their assets for a lower cost than other methods. 

2. What I am offering is a plan that connects small businesses and consumers like never before. Since large businesses can afford huge metrics of Cyber-Security and protection, I will exclude them from my plan. I seek to develop a threat sensing device that links to an app on consumers' and business owners' phones that detect potential cyber threats. The plan is to integrate a plan in the whole network of the business creating a cyber wall that would be very tough to breach. Once it is breached it will send a message directly to consumers via an app on their mobile phones. Thus, my goal is to prevent fraud and stolen data, assets, and other information. 

3. My product aims to target consumers and small businesses who are linked in business transactions electronically. In the United States there are over 28 million small businesses and 70% of the US population uses account transactions in consuming goods. I will target that whole segment of people and businesses. Everyone I am targeting has something major in common and that is the threat and risk that they have to deal with in a world that technology is rapidly growing. 

4. This solution is valuable to the consumers and businesses that I am targeting because they all have an unmet need of protection from all the cyber threats lurking around these days. People will pay for this because it will help them not lose information, money, and other important data. The potential benefits outweigh the costs heavily and the app would not cost much at all for consumers. 

5. My secret sauce is the fact that I can interact with basic consumers and small businesses like nobody else. I have a unique set of abilities that assists me in getting into the mind of people and their buying habits. I am able to understand the threats that are provided by technology due to experiences that I only had in my life. Nobody ever shares the same experiences and I believe mine are rare. 

I believe that my proposition has actually strengthened due to the fact that all these elements fit together like pieces of a puzzle. I am starting to develop a larger picture with these pieces and it is actually starting to look amazing. However, I aim to develop this idea more and make some more tweaks to it. In the future, I would like to see this help people save trillions of dollars around the world.