Final Reflection (Week 15)

1) This semester was certainly a roller-coaster of staying organized and learning to balance. I can't say that this was my favorite class I have ever taken, but it definitely taught me a lot about perseverance. Sometimes you just have to buckle down and get the job done. 

2) I will definitely remember the "Free Money" assignment for years to come because it was so far out of my comfort zone. That was probably my most formative experience because it showed me that I was capable of doing things that were outside of my comfort zone. I am proud of myself for developing a venture and planning out the steps for bringing it to life; this was also my most joyous experience because it gave me the opportunity to identify a practical way that I could make a difference in the world.

3) In a way, I guess I have become more open to an entrepreneurial mindset by redefining the way I think of entrepreneurship. I have expanded my definition of entrepreneurship to essentially include any venture that allows people to turn their passion into a business that supports their lifestyle.

4) In order to be successful in this course, I would recommend that students figure out a system of organization and make sure they stay on top of their assignments. It is easy to do well in this class if you schedule everything ahead of time. In order to develop and foster an entrepreneurial mindset, my recommendation is not to think of your venture as a business, but rather as a way to turn your interests/passions into a livelihood, that way you will be committed to the success of your venture because it supports your chosen way of life.

Google Gold (Week 14)

1) I didn't really have a SEO strategy, but I'm glad that my blog can still be found by searching keywords on google!

2) I would say the most commonly used keyword on my blog was "entrepreneurship." I couldn't even count the number of times I've used that word this semester. Other keywords included: volunteer, giving back, make a difference, etc. As I started further developing my venture, however, a new primary keyword emerged: "Giving with Purpose" (the name of my venture).

3) The only form of social media I used to enhance my blog efforts was YouTube. I used YouTube to share the videos of interviews and other assignments we were asked to record. I did notice that the posts that included videos had a much higher traffic rate than posts that were just text. 

4) My "Free Money" post from week 7 got the most page views (34 total). This is probably because students were more curious to view other students' videos of this assignment, since it was so awkward and strange.

5) I searched "giving with purpose entrepreneurship by isa" on google and links to my blog and posts showed up on the first page of google results. However, I had a difficult time finding my blog when I searched anything less specific. 

Venture Concept No. 2 (Week 15)

Opportunity There is so much need in this world. Issues such as hunger, suffering, illness, maltreatment, homelessness, injustice and so many more more are prevalent across a variety of demographics both within our local communities and in faraway countries. However, it can be easy for the average person to become overwhelmed when faced with the amount of true need in the world; even if they really want to make a difference, they are often unsure of how and where to start, or are doubtful of their ability to make a significant impact on their own. Those who do get involved tend to identify one or two causes that hit close to home for them, and offer their support by volunteering their time, money or other resources. Due to the flaws of human nature and the unequal distribution of resources and opportunities in the world, there has always been and will always be a need for people to step up and help those less fortunate. This presents a huge opportunity for every single person to strive to make our world a better place.

Innovation Giving with Purpose will essentially be an online database/ networking forum that allows users to connect with local individuals, as well as national and international organizations, who are interested and/or involved in the same causes that they are passionate about supporting. This resource will provide people with opportunities to get involved by giving of their time, talent and treasure to whatever extent they feel comfortable. Through this database, people would be able to browse and actively search for ways to get involved by location, causes/organizations, time frames, etc. People would also be able to match with organizations and/or causes who could put their personal and specific skill set to good use. It would also act as a forum which would also allow organizations to post information about involvement opportunities and actively seek volunteers, and make it possible for individuals to connect, coordinate and plan. This venture is not about making money; it’s about making a difference. Therefore, it would be run as a not-for-profit resource by myself and a team of volunteers with the singular goal of empowering people to improve the quality of life for those less fortunate and make the world a better place to live. The cost of running this project would be extremely low; the money we would make from allowing advertisements on our Web site would most likely cover any costs we would have to pay. However, it might be exciting to host different events in partnership with various organizations. Attendants could make a small suggested donation to go to the event;, and these proceeds could go towards funding the resource.

Venture Concept I believe people will utilize this resource because it is a unique resource that enhances and builds on the capabilities of existing organizations and individuals. Because nothing as efficient or comprehensive as this resource exists, it should not be difficult to attract users. This resource is unique, so there are no definitive competitors, but it is possible that time and awareness may prevent people from utilizing this resource, just as time and awareness prevent so many from helping make a difference in the world. However, time and awareness are no match for the passion and determination that so many people have for making this world a better place. Anyone who is actively looking for ways to get involved would surely be quick to try Giving with Purpose, and as a result word would quickly spread about this resource and the opportunities it provides. Thanks to the widespread reach of the World Wide Web, this resource can be managed and utilized from anywhere with a network connection. Price points and distribution will play a miniscule role in this venture. The most packaging that will be done is really the presentation of the material on the Web site. Customer support and experience will be a key factor in the development and maintenance of the Web site because it will be crucial to understand how the resource is being used and to make sure it is effectively and efficiently serving its purpose of improving lives. In many ways, this venture is self-sustaining, because it simply connects existing organizations with each other and provides individuals with a way to network and coordinate.

Resources The multi-functional nature of this venture is its own most important resource, because it is what sets it apart from anything else like it. While this venture may share similarities with other resources, no existing resource acts as a one-stop shop that offers such comprehensive services.

Next Steps: The Venture The wonderful thing about this venture is that there will always be a need for it, and therefore, it will never be done growing and expanding. There will always be a need for those who are able to help those less fortunate than themselves to do so. New problems will arise and old issues will resurface. As these opportunities to provide aid come about, Giving with Purpose will be able to adapt along the way to ensure that it is still serving those who are most in need. It could easily be expanded to offer more comprehensive and in-depth tools and resources to users, whether they want to be more proactive about seeking volunteers or provide more information about involvement opportunities. 

Next Steps: My Goals I truly hope that this resource could be utilized around the world in order to make this world a better place to live. Within the next five years, I would like for this venture to be fully implemented and to have users on every continent on the globe. I would also like to have established a trusted and reliable core team of volunteers who believe in the project as much as I do and will help me maintain this resource. My primary goal as an entrepreneur- and as a human- will always be to use my skills and strengths to improve the lives of the people around me and make this world a better place to live. This venture has given me the opportunity to empower others to strive towards the same goal in their own way. The greatest reward I could have as an entrepreneur would be to create and sustain a venture that allows me to make this desire to do good a part of my everyday life, and I believe this venture could be a great way to achieve this.

Summary of Feedback The feedback I received in comments on my first Venture Concept was overwhelmingly positive. Thanks so much to everyone for the support! It is so encouraging to know that there are so many people out there who would utilize this resource. The only question I got was how I would fund the cost of running and maintaining the resource, so I tried to address that in this post by adding some more information to the "Innovation" section.

Very Short Interview Part 2 (Week 14)

For this assignment, I got back in touch with Lisa Rubinstein, who has served at her public relations and communications company for nearly 12 years. Looking back on our first interview, I think her definition of entrepreneurship as "being clever and aware of how best to use your skills to create a business that can support your lifestyle" still rings true. 

I contacted Ms. Rubinstein last week in anticipation of this assignment, and I asked her the following questions: Has the way you think about entrepreneurship changed over time, and if so, how? Please describe the first time you knowingly practiced entrepreneurship or utilized an entrepreneurial skill/technique? How can entrepreneurship be applied to not-for-profit organizations? Unfortunately, I was unable to record the interview, but I so appreciated her willingness to help. 

In our first interview, Ms. Rubinstein said, "Don't hesitate to ask for help or call on people who have offered to help. They mean it." Therefore, I felt very comfortable arranging this follow-up interview. It may be that I felt comfortable communicating with her because I already knew her before reaching out to her for this class, or it could could be a result of my growth as a student and an entrepreneur this semester. 

Celebrating Failure (Week 13)

1) This semester, I took on a part-time volunteer job with a local non-profit organization. I was tasked with coordinating publicity efforts for the organization's latest campaign. One of my primary responsibilities was to arrange opportunities for the organization to be featured on local radio stations. At first, I was so excited to be a part of this project; it seemed like a valuable learning experience and a great way to add to my resume. However, as the semester got underway, I quickly began to realize that I had over-committed and put way too much on my plate. I started to feel like I was drowning in work. I was so nervous to tell the organization that I couldn't keep up with all the work they were giving me, but I knew I just didn't have enough time to do everything that was being asked of me, and I needed to re-prioritize. They were so nice when I told them; they completely understood my situation and were grateful for the work that I had already done, and even helped me re-arrange some things on my plate so that I could still be involved in their organization.

2) Through this experience, I learned that I have a tendency to spread myself too thin. As much as I want to be involved in everything that sounds fun or interesting, I learned that I need to focus on the few things that are most important to me. I learned that balance is key, and that it's okay to say no sometimes.

3) It seems like my perspective on failure is constantly changing, and this semester has proved no different. Historically speaking, I don't handle failure well; and really, who does? It's frustrating and embarrassing and discouraging. However, I am realizing more and more that as cheesy as it sounds, it's only failure if you quit, but if you regroup and keep going, then it becomes a small bump in a long road. It's okay to take a break, or change direction, but don't give up entirely.

Elevator Pitch No. 4 (Week 15)

1. Below is the video of my fourth elevator pitch:

2. The majority of the comments I received were fairly positive. Most of the comments suggested that I go into a bit more detail about my entrepreneurial venture.

3. As was requested in the comments on my third pitch, I tried to be more in-depth about the specifics of my venture in my fourth attempt.

Your Exit Strategy (Week 13)

1. I intend to continue working on this project for as long as I am capable before handing the reins over to my most trusted volunteer. As it is a volunteer-run non-profit organization, I would not be able to sell it for a large return. It wouldn't necessarily be a family "business," but I hope that my family will see the value in its purpose and want to continue serving the world in this way. 

2. I have chosen this particular exit strategy because this is a very unique sort of venture. I believe it can only be properly and successfully run by someone with the same passion for service. Therefore, I would want to personally know and trust the person who would take over the management of this project. 

3. I believe my exit strategy is a natural extension of the way that I would run this project. While it wouldn't necessarily influence the way I made decisions and distributed resources, I think my exit strategy is consistent with the way I would do business.