Friday, February 22, 2019
Halfway Reflection
This semester has been very rewarding in terms of self-analysis and changing my main core principles and beliefs. For this course, I've had to develop serious time management skills as well as improving my work ethic over all. Last week, I had 3 exams and two quizzes within a span of three days. Although I felt like my whole was crashing down on me and I wasn't going to do well, what pulled me through was my continuous determination and non-stop studying. I've definitely developed a tenacious attitude within the past two months, with my last example being the defining moment where I myself feel like I am a tenacious individual. Also, taking this class has opened my eyes as to what it takes to succeed in life, helping me think about my priorities as a student in UF. If I were speaking to a student taking this course next semester, I would tell them that the key to developing a tenacious mindset is all about understanding your priorities as a student and knowing what it takes to excel in school and personal matters. Also, giving yourself a schedule where you force yourself to be productive is another great way to be more determined. Finally, I would tell them to never put yourself down, because we are all capable of doing whatever we set our mind to.
Reading Reflection
The reading that I chose to analyze was Steve Job's biography by Walter Isaacson. Easily the most surprising thing about him was his change in personality and the many 'phases' he endured during late high school. For example, Jobs was known for his varying exotic diets and his thorough drug use as teenager. Although having many hindrances and harsh situations presented to him, he still came out on top through his incessant work ethic and admirable creativity - both being characteristics that I deeply admire about Steve Jobs. The darkest parts of his life resided in his personal affairs. What I find least admirable about Steve Jobs is his relationship between his wife and many girlfriends; Jobs vehemently denied that his girlfriend's child was his, despite having been with her for five years on and off. Perhaps his greatest moment of adversity was, sadly, the start of his end. Jobs first learned of his cancer (a rare cancer named islet cell neuroendocrine tumor) during a routine exam in 2003. The discovery of his cancer caused him to question his mortality, and proceeded to go to Stanford for a commencement speech: his speech is said to be one of the greatest commencements ever given. Steve had a huge technological competence in design and innovation. One part of the reading that I found confusing was his thinking process in naming the company Apple. It doesn't make sense how a business name of a fruit can be so successful. If I could ask him anything it would be what makes him the happiest and if he can do anything over again what would he do differently. I think that he felt hard work was necessary to succeed and I would say that yes I do share that same opinion.
Friday, February 15, 2019
Sketching out the Beginning of the Buyer Behavior Process
1) The market segment that I have chosen to pursue is college/university students and luxurious spenders.
2) The three people I have chosen for interviews are:
-One Marston studier
-One Turlington walker
-One housemate
3,4,5) For need awareness, the situations in which my interviewees felt that the need was the most salient are what I previously expected, being in lecture halls and libraries with no outlets available. The Turlington walker stated he needs this during his double block lectures while my housemate and the studier at Marston both said they need this most during study sessions when the libraries are busy.
As for the information search, when the interviewees searched for a portable laptop charger, the only ones available do not specify which types of computers they charge or the power output. While there are portable laptop chargers are out there, they are hard to come across and quite expensive while only charging one single device. When the interviewees became aware of their needs, two plugged in there computers to charge up for later.
6) After these interviews, I concluded that the need is real and live. People are aware of the need/opportunity as there are a very limited number of places to even buy regular chargers. While yes a portable laptop charger can be ordered for large quantities of money, they need to be functional to different kinds of laptops with the appropriate power output.
2) The three people I have chosen for interviews are:
-One Marston studier
-One Turlington walker
-One housemate
3,4,5) For need awareness, the situations in which my interviewees felt that the need was the most salient are what I previously expected, being in lecture halls and libraries with no outlets available. The Turlington walker stated he needs this during his double block lectures while my housemate and the studier at Marston both said they need this most during study sessions when the libraries are busy.
As for the information search, when the interviewees searched for a portable laptop charger, the only ones available do not specify which types of computers they charge or the power output. While there are portable laptop chargers are out there, they are hard to come across and quite expensive while only charging one single device. When the interviewees became aware of their needs, two plugged in there computers to charge up for later.
6) After these interviews, I concluded that the need is real and live. People are aware of the need/opportunity as there are a very limited number of places to even buy regular chargers. While yes a portable laptop charger can be ordered for large quantities of money, they need to be functional to different kinds of laptops with the appropriate power output.
Idea Napkin No. 1
1) My name is Joseph Bergida, a second year construction management major at UF. I have some experience in sales from working at Reflective Glass Showers & Mirrors. I aspire to design and sell homes one day, and the construction industry heavily relies on computers for the design aspect which also brings me to the idea of needing a portable computer charger.
2) What I am offering to customers is a portable laptop charger. This will resemble the portable chargers made for phones but will have the appropriate cords available as well as a battery strong enough to power a laptop. This will solve customers' unmet needs of a dying computer when there is no outlets in sight.
3) I am offering this product to all the college students that use laptops. This includes almost everyone at the University except for those that use desktop computers.
4) Customers care in this case because it is a rarity that a lecture hall has power outlets all throughout it and there is a number of good spots at all of the libraries that do not go to use because there is no power outlets near.
5) What sets this idea apart from everyone else is the fact that there is no good portable laptop charger available in stores when there is an obvious need for one.
I believe that these five elements fit together well in this scenario. If this business plan was to go into action I feel as if there would be an extreme number of sales specifically among the college aged population. In my opinion, the need for this product is as clear as it could be.
2) What I am offering to customers is a portable laptop charger. This will resemble the portable chargers made for phones but will have the appropriate cords available as well as a battery strong enough to power a laptop. This will solve customers' unmet needs of a dying computer when there is no outlets in sight.
3) I am offering this product to all the college students that use laptops. This includes almost everyone at the University except for those that use desktop computers.
4) Customers care in this case because it is a rarity that a lecture hall has power outlets all throughout it and there is a number of good spots at all of the libraries that do not go to use because there is no power outlets near.
5) What sets this idea apart from everyone else is the fact that there is no good portable laptop charger available in stores when there is an obvious need for one.
I believe that these five elements fit together well in this scenario. If this business plan was to go into action I feel as if there would be an extreme number of sales specifically among the college aged population. In my opinion, the need for this product is as clear as it could be.
Friday, February 8, 2019
Testing the Hypothesis, Part 2
Who: While the opportunity for a portable laptop charger is huge for students, there are indeed certain people and businesses that do fall outside of the boundary. There are a number of people that love the idea of portable chargers for their electronics as well as a number of small businesses that need as many additional power outlets as they can get to be as productive as possible in their daily operations. On the other hand, there are people that fear the idea of using general chargers on their expensive devices, causing them to fall outside of the boundary.
What: This need differs from the needs of typical wall chargers in the matter that this device could be used almost as a spare computer battery. This would allow students to take their studies to a number of new places for much more extensive periods of time, including the outdoors.
Why: In these interviews, I have come to the realization that this idea could become huge if it was to be partnered with some of the big computer names. This would allow customers to use the chargers care-free if the brand of the charger matches the brand of the computer.
Inside the Boundary
Who is in: College students that go to the libraries, live lectures, or like to study in strange locations.
What the need is: To be able to charge your laptop when no power outlets are available.
Why the need exists: The need exists because there are so many people that go to universities with nearly every one using a laptop. The computers are already portable but the chargers are not.
Outside the Boundary
Who is not: Those not enrolled in college and people who have all the power outlets they need to succeed.
What the need is not: For those who have desktop computers or fear the idea of using generic chargers.
Alternative explanations: There have without a doubt been instances of batteries being damaged by using off-brand chargers. This kind of thing often happens with iPhone batteries as if you charge them with non-Apple chargers, they slowly deteriorate over time. People think that this would have a similar effect but it could be avoided if it was to be picked up by a major computer brand.
What: This need differs from the needs of typical wall chargers in the matter that this device could be used almost as a spare computer battery. This would allow students to take their studies to a number of new places for much more extensive periods of time, including the outdoors.
Why: In these interviews, I have come to the realization that this idea could become huge if it was to be partnered with some of the big computer names. This would allow customers to use the chargers care-free if the brand of the charger matches the brand of the computer.
Inside the Boundary
Who is in: College students that go to the libraries, live lectures, or like to study in strange locations.
What the need is: To be able to charge your laptop when no power outlets are available.
Why the need exists: The need exists because there are so many people that go to universities with nearly every one using a laptop. The computers are already portable but the chargers are not.
Outside the Boundary
Who is not: Those not enrolled in college and people who have all the power outlets they need to succeed.
What the need is not: For those who have desktop computers or fear the idea of using generic chargers.
Alternative explanations: There have without a doubt been instances of batteries being damaged by using off-brand chargers. This kind of thing often happens with iPhone batteries as if you charge them with non-Apple chargers, they slowly deteriorate over time. People think that this would have a similar effect but it could be avoided if it was to be picked up by a major computer brand.
Friday, February 1, 2019
Solving The Problem
The selected opportunity for exploiting is the need for a portable laptop charger that is affordable for college students. There are no outlets at most middle desks in classrooms and many times college students find themselves with a dead computer in the middle of a library or a lecture. The product to be invented is some sort of a rechargeable battery such as the ones that are used for phones, but one that has several different plugins for different types of laptops. For example, I believe that it should be a box that plugs into a power outlet that charges and retains its battery life, and it should begin with three or so of the most basic chargers, such as one for a Mac, one for an HP, and one for a Dell.
Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1
1) An opportunity that I would like to pursue is the fact that there is no portable laptop charger. Many college classrooms require students to have a computer at their desks but oftentimes the only available power outlets are those against the walls. This leaves those in the middle with no power in the case that their laptops die.
2) The who: College students that use laptops.
The what: They are not able to charge their laptops when in classrooms
The why: There is no portable laptop charger available
3) Testing the who: While yes there are others that would have a need like this, the primary market would be to college students either in classrooms or in libraries. Libraries and classrooms are where there are an abundance of people all using laptops with a limited number of power outlets.
Testing the what: There are tons of different types of laptops but there are only so many different types of charging cables. The market is split pretty evenly between Macs and PCs so this opportunity could be explored through one, the other, or both.
Testing the why: The "why" that I identified holds true for the college students of interest. I have never seen a portable charger made specifically for laptops marketed and there is a clear need in these classrooms and libraries as my computer dies quite frequently.
4) In these interviews, most of the students that were questioned had very similar responses. Some of the variations and additions that they had are as followed:
Whos: This opportunity does extend beyond college campuses. In office buildings where they use cubicles there are people who like to use their own software on their laptops, but many times the power outlets are being used for the desktops
Whats: Laptop chargers are expensive first off. If there could be a universal one that would charge several devices with a rechargeable battery for extended periods of time either outside, in classrooms, or libraries, life would be easier.
Whys: Regular laptop chargers are already so bulky and take up so much room in backpacks and oftentimes get damaged by books and other things in your bag. There needs to be one that small and compact.
5) I had no idea people wanted this as bad as they do. I was the impression that my laptop either had a bad battery or that I was just bad at keeping it plugged in but everyone that I spoke with has the same issue as me in classrooms and libraries.
2) The who: College students that use laptops.
The what: They are not able to charge their laptops when in classrooms
The why: There is no portable laptop charger available
3) Testing the who: While yes there are others that would have a need like this, the primary market would be to college students either in classrooms or in libraries. Libraries and classrooms are where there are an abundance of people all using laptops with a limited number of power outlets.
Testing the what: There are tons of different types of laptops but there are only so many different types of charging cables. The market is split pretty evenly between Macs and PCs so this opportunity could be explored through one, the other, or both.
Testing the why: The "why" that I identified holds true for the college students of interest. I have never seen a portable charger made specifically for laptops marketed and there is a clear need in these classrooms and libraries as my computer dies quite frequently.
4) In these interviews, most of the students that were questioned had very similar responses. Some of the variations and additions that they had are as followed:
Whos: This opportunity does extend beyond college campuses. In office buildings where they use cubicles there are people who like to use their own software on their laptops, but many times the power outlets are being used for the desktops
Whats: Laptop chargers are expensive first off. If there could be a universal one that would charge several devices with a rechargeable battery for extended periods of time either outside, in classrooms, or libraries, life would be easier.
Whys: Regular laptop chargers are already so bulky and take up so much room in backpacks and oftentimes get damaged by books and other things in your bag. There needs to be one that small and compact.
5) I had no idea people wanted this as bad as they do. I was the impression that my laptop either had a bad battery or that I was just bad at keeping it plugged in but everyone that I spoke with has the same issue as me in classrooms and libraries.
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