Top 5 World Problems

PROBLEMS:
(Most serious to Least serious)

1. Greed
2. Gender Equality
3. Access to Clean Water
4. Access to Medical Care
5. World-Wide Basic Education

SOLUTIONS:

(Most possible to Least possible)

1. World-Wide Basic Education: Education is the one thing that we can pass on to countries that those countries themselves can build upon and pass down to their own younger generations. If we could tax the wealthiest top percent of most developed nations and funnel that fund into the construction of schools to teach these countries simple, yet effective skills (like building efficient wells and pipes lines). Providing teaches that can teach and shape the next generation of these nation's youth, so that eventually their own citizens could become the teachers. There are so many underlying factors I'm avoiding, but this is the general idea I could see working.
2. Gender Equality: Too many nations (ours included) place an emphasis on what the difference between men and women are. In more a developed nation's culture women are over sexualized in the media, and in a lower developed nation's culture women are just lucky to have basic human rights. With the proper education (why I listed it first) the next generation of the youth in developed nations should be taught to treat women not like walking condoms, but rather as human beings, as the left hand to your right; not as a being that needs help, but one you ask for help if you so need it. These are the same things that need to be taught to the next generation in lesser developed nations as well, but with the emphasis that they're not just creatures to be old off to a husband, but that they're individuals that deserve every right and privilege offered to men.
3. Access to Clean Water: Water is the most basic need a human can have. When it comes to developed countries like the U.S. even our homeless can find clean water without too much difficulty, but for other less developed countries. There are many organizations around the world trying to get these nations the access they need to have clean water, but there's almost too many people with too little technology or knowledge to keep up with. I think the more we (as developed countries) educate and support these nations, the more they'll grow and eventually be able to stand on their own feet. Another reason I think education is the most possible problem to change.
4. Access to Medical Care: This goes along with access to water and gender inequality in my opinion, it all starts with education. When discussing less developed nations and the needs they have, medicine is usually near the top if the list. Building more medical stations throughout nations and cultures that require them would significantly raise their standard of living and provide them the opportunity to focus less on survival and more on growth as a whole.
5. Greed/Radical Idealism: This, in my opinion, is probably impossible to change. It is because of greed that influential figures cause their nation to fall, and their people along with it. This is a problem of culture and up bringing, one that begins with changing how a people view their world. If corrupt, socialist bureaucrats and radical, war-ridden extremist could one day see eye-to-eye, lay down their "weapons", and realize the detrement that they each are bringing upon their own people...maybe there rest of the problems I list will succeed.

Notice that the top of each list, and the bottom of each list, is reversed. This has one very important meaning: the hardest problem to solve is the one that's the most serious in our world (and vice versa). In my solutions list, education was listed first because I think the more educated the people around the world are, the more that the following problems can be solved. Unfortunately, the one problem that I'm not positive education can solve is greed and radical idealism. Greed spreads like a virus, infecting those that see it as means to an end; an easy way out. Greed isn't always a bad thing, in small, controlled doses, but when it rules over a nation or commands an army...it's hardly a gnat the world can ignore. I placed it as the hardest problem to solve because I'm not sure the rest of the problems on my list can fully be realized while it exists in such extreme forms around the world.    

Week 3 Reading Reflection

One of the most interesting things I found about this week's readings were the different categories of the Entrepreneurial Mind-Set. While the text does list a number of the categories out, it seemed the the standard nature of an entrepreneur stayed quite similar: one that was passionate about their future, had a variety of skills, and one that wasn't afraid to take a risk to succeed.

While I understand where the authors were coming from, I did question why risks were such a huge problem for entrepreneurs. After fully reading the Dark Side of Entrepreneurship I came to see that the first BIG risk that an aspiring entrepreneur is much more difficult that it seemed. That first risk could completely make or brake their continuing ventures as an entrepreneur. 

First Question: What is the most important aspect an entrepreneur should focus on? I''ve learned there's usually a basic, fundamental set of skills (in this case skill) people need to succeed, but which is the most important? 

Second Question: How should be expect to face with a risk that is completely life changing, one that could not only affect us, but loved ones as well?  

I agreed strongly with the Dark side of Entrepreneurship. There are plenty of points that need to be considered before an entrepreneur should trust themselves with the risks they think they're prepared for.

Identifying Local Opportunities

I obtained all my articles from the Florida Times-Union of Jacksonville. 
Opportunity 1:
Title: 
"Hendricks Ave. resurfacing project sparks debate over bike lanes"

Link: 
http://jacksonville.com/current/town/2016-01-15/story/florida-13-resurfacing-project-sparks-debate-over-bike-lanes

Summary:
The article summarizes a potential road resurfacing project that's going to take place in an urban Jacksonville business sector.

Problem:
The conflict in this article is between local business owners (who currently park on the side of the street) and the city of Jacksonville (and arguably bikers everywhere) who have proposed to eliminate the street parking and instead create larger bike lanes. The city believes the 2-3 miles of currently missing bike lanes in the area are a safety hazard, but the local business owners believe the parking spots are vital to their business.

Solution:
I believe as an entrepreneur focused in the construction industry, I believe the best solution is to create a small parking garage (possibly as a the second/third stories of existing structures. This will provide the bike lanes for the city and provide close, efficient parking to the local  businesses.



Opportunity 2:
Title:
"Sunshine Bus Monthly Pass cost to increase"

Link:
http://jacksonville.com/current/mandarin-st-johns/2015-12-30/story/sunshine-bus-monthly-pass-cost-increase

Summary:
The article describes the increase in a local bus route that's somewhat out of the way for the bus company. There are many locals that rely on this bus route daily for work and personal shopping. The main clients that use this bus route are elderly or those with disabilities.

Problem:
Whether or not the bus company should charge more to pick up those that rely on the bus as their main source of transportation. As far as "fairness" goes, these individuals didn't "choose" to need the bus. That being said, the bus company

Solution:
I think an easy solution to this (as the disabled persons/ elderly) is to hire either a private busing service (if that's the system not already being used) that can be run through the city and focuses only specifically to their needs. Another solution (as an entrepreneur) is to create my own transportation company that can focus to this niche of individuals specifically.



Opportunity 3:
Title:
"San Marco Chamber Music Society to play concert series in England"
Link:
http://jacksonville.com/current/town/2016-01-08/story/san-marco-chamber-music-society-play-concert-series-england

Summary:
A local music society in Jacksonville is playing 4 shows around England. The society is trying to fund raise for the trip; the musicians see this as an opportunity to expand Britain's idea of the Floridan music scene.

Problem:
The group is trying to fund raise for their trip, but their methods of fun raising in the article are a minimal effort in my opinion.

Solution:
I think the people leaving for the trip could better utilize modern fundraising techniques. This includes, but is not limited to a GoFundMe account, a Facebook Event/Group page, and even a Twitter account to give their supporters updates on their goals.



Opportunity 4:
Title: 
"Concerns grow for Mayport's new mascot"
Link: 
http://jacksonville.com/current/mandarin-st-johns/2016-01-14/story/concerns-grow-mayports-new-mascot


Summary:
The article highlights the difficulty of removing a wild buck roaming the swamp/forest. Locals know the area the buck is inhabiting isn't safe, both because of poachers and because of local alligators.

Problem:
Whether or not the city should remove the buck from the area, or protect it from the dangers in and around its environment.

Solution:
I would hop on this opportunity to protect the buck by creating a small state park that could in the future be turned into local tourist attraction.



Opportunity 5:
Title:
"First Person: Holiday Brought Wave Beaches Nostalgia"

Link:
http://jacksonville.com/current/mandarin-st-johns/2015-12-30/story/first-person-holidays-brought-wave-beaches-nostalgia

Summary:
This article has hidden potential, one that shows opportunities only to those looking for it. It follows a local Jacksonville Beach Resident that reminiscences about his childhood and why he grew up loving the city he's lived in his entire life.

Problem:
There's no "need" in my opinion, but while a "need" might not be obviously present, that doesn't mean an opportunity isn't there.

Solution:
I think learning from this man's life experiences offers an insight of how to let others might enjoy Jacksonville as well. Of course a lot land he mentions is developed now, the city or an individual (if one is venturous enough) may start not necessarily a "sight seeing" tour, but a historic/information tour of this city.

Very Short Interview No. 1

My interview was with Marla H., a business owner and founder a small construction estimating firm. Marla is one of my professors, but offers real world experiences from her time in the construction industry. She's been in the estimating business for around 26 years, but started her own company after working for a large general contractor for about 5 years (Marla didn't mention the name of her business, that was my error for forgetting to ask).

Here were the questions I asked with Marla's replies:


What was an unexpected challenge you met starting your own business?

It was near the end of my first year owning the firm, things were running fairly smoothly, that I realized I'd completely forgotten to include self-employment taxes in all of my costs to my clients... I ended up making about 2/3 the revenue than I'd originally estimated. Had I done more research in small businesses 

What is one thing you would tell people who are wishing to start their  own business?

Besides the tax mishap, I think I was mostly successful because I decided to work for a larger, well-established company before starting my own business. Knowing the mistakes I might make before they unexpectedly happen played a huge role. I was able to plan ahead and even stay one step in front of some of my competition, especially when the housing market tanked not to long ago. Also, stay as technologically literate as possible in your field. This will create value for you as an employee, but more importantly keep you just as competitive as a larger firm.

Why did you decide to start your own business?

Well, why does anyone? I loved my work, but didn't really like my hours all that much. I wanted more flexibility and never seemed to be able to take a day off; that being said, what could be better than making my own hours? I'd say I spend about 6-8 hours working, and that's if I only have one project. 


After interviewing Marla, I'm more determined than ever to pursue my own business after college. I'll be starting in the construction industry as well, but whether it's in consulting, contracting, or some law, I'm not entirely sure. I loved what she said about starting out with a larger company before making the jump to start her own; getting to know the business before having to deal with it on your own is a valuable lesson to take away from this interview.

My Not-So-Long-Winded Introduction

Hello Classmates! My name is James "Tyson" Sutton.

I'm gonna avoid sounding like a robot as much as possible by just speeding through the basics:
 
I'm 22 years old, in my 5th year at UF and I'm majoring in Construction Management. I was born and raised Jacksonville Beach, Florida and come from a small nuclear family, but one with tons of cousins.

A few of my favorite things include golf, Asian food, and playful sarcasm. Deep down I'm a guy that just likes to make others laugh and feel welcome... That being said, on the outside I'm known for creating awkward conversations with an inappropriate joke here and there.

I'm taking this class to discover what it really means to be an entrepreneur. To figure out the mindset and attitude I'll need to one day start my own business.

HERE'S TO A GREAT SEMESTER, I wish you all the best of luck!

Um. Uh. Um. Test....post? Hi.

This is not a drill.
This is just a test post.
Repeat, this is NOT a drill.
Test post commencing.