Week 14 Reading Reflection

1. I thought Ecopreneurship was an interesting concept. Obviously we all want to limit as much of out carbon footprint as possible, but I wouldn't have thought of any of it falling under "entrepreneurship" until I read that section.

2. I almost don't see the need for the term "diaspora". I think I get what it is and means. However, it seems the advantages of them are primarily non-physical sub-sectors of common (if not obvious) business practices.

3. Which corporation would the author consider more sustainable: an Benefit corporation or a B corporation? Which international threat do you consider the more dangerous?

4. I don't think he was really "wrong" about anything, but I'd like him to go into more detail (maybe use a case study) that defined the difference between strategic entrepreneurship and corporate venturing.

Google Gold

1. If I'm being entirely honest, I didn't put much effort at all into this form of advertising; it just didn't occur to me that it was such an important aspect to business... However if I was seriously approaching my venture, I'd have added a beginning my service's name at the front of each blog post (i.e. E4U: Google Gold). This strategy would've significantly reduced the number of searches Google would find, maybe further customize my blog by ending each post with a tag line.

2. As I mentioned, Including E4U in the subject of each post would've been the keyword. Also, including "app-based service" within each post (maybe a sub-filter or sorts) would've helped secure more SEO. First, I chose E4U because that's the name of the service/venture; the main search my customers would be making. Second, including "app-based service" (or something roughly similar to that) would help narrow the search to the industry my client is trying to find me on.

3. I didn't think to use social media for my blog, but it is a fundamental to my venture overall! Since the product I'm providing is an event scheduling/finding app, having cross-app advertising on social media is only natural. Being able to download my app, say from Facebook, could only quicken the app's growth and popularity.

4. Surprisingly, my first and second elevator pitches had the most (and same) number of views. I think this has less to do with the content, and more to do with the assignment itself. Everyone is looking for the best was to portray they're idea/service/product, so it's only natural that when having to make a video of YOURSELF selling the service, you;d check to see how others did it first. Based on the comments and number of hits I got on mine, I'd assume I did a reasonably good job.

5. Unfortunately, I didn't make it to Google's first page. In fact, I didn't even make it into the fist 10 pages... Like I mentioned before, I didn't even think to consider my posts' SEO (aka Googl-ability). I'd this is a lesson for my future venture to consider the accessibility of my service/product to help customers easily find it on the web.

Very Short Interview, Part 2

1. As I stated in the first Very Short Interview post, my interview was with Marla H., a professor of mine who started her own consulting business after a few years of real-world experience. Looking back at my post/questions from the initial interview makes me that the Tyson of only 3 months ago was very uninformed about all the complexities of starting and running a business. I asked a lot of questions that pertained to "why" and "how" she started her business, but none that touched on how she's been successful on maintaining it; how she's been able to expand it to keep up-to-date against competition. The impression I get of myself is of someone who doesn't really know what they're getting themselves into, the questions I asked almost seem to "test the waters" of entrepreneurship.


2. I wasn't able to record this interview because Marla was very stressed for time due to it being so close to the end of the semester:

How has your business changed since you've started?

It was a slow start, but it's grown from the clients I've picked up. The more clients you work with the more your name and reputation spreads in the industry, so naturally as did more work load. I've had to pick up a part-time partner to help with all the estimating projects on our plate right now, but I'd rather be struggling to manage all the business than struggling to find it.


What's your end game? What's all of this work you've put in leading to?

Well right now while teaching your class, running this business, and taking my own classes pursuing a Doctorate degree. The "end game" I would say is to open an even larger firm, one that involves more than just a cost analysis focus. I might partner up with a friend I've graduated with and started a Design Build firm in south Florida; I doubt I'll stay in education for much longer, but that's also a possibility.

What would you ask your clients?

Why me? *chuckles* There are plenty of other estimating firms out there, ones much more reputable than mine. I think it's because they know I'm small and that I'll need more business, thus I can't afford screw their project up...

3. I feel much more confident approaching people about their ventures now than I did at the beginning of the semester. I don't know if Marla would have noticed this change, she didn't comment on it if she had, but I'd say from the questions I asked this time around it's clear I've given the entire process of managing a business/starting a venture a great deal of thought.