Ayla Adams | Entrepreneurship | University of Florida

In his book How To Fail At Almost Everything And Still Win Big , Scott Adams, illustrates the ways he has changed his outlook on life in order to achieve a healthier way of achieving goals. Adams reinforces the idea that Entrepreneurship isn't something to be learned overnight. He discusses that entrepreneurship and success are learned throughout one's lifetime. Many people are too hard on themselves and are quick to get disappointed in what they have yet to achieve. I would advise that a good exercise for ENT3003 would be going through the motions of one's “goals” but using “ systems instead. Adams leaves room for alteration with his “systems”, which can allow one to alter their goal as time goes on and their goals alter and form. My biggest “aha” moment in the book was when Adams discusses how too many young people are kicking themselves because they haven't “made it” yet. This is so true and so apparent to me so this really struck a chord with me.

My exit strategy would definitely be to sell my business in the next five years for a sizeable return. Although I love my business idea and the good it could do for people I will want to begin another venture which was still geared towards sustainability and conscious consuming. I have selected this strategy because I don’t want to be in control of an application. If I could start over, I would choose a viable product as my business venture. I believe my exit strategy has influenced the decisions I’ve made towards my concept in a positive way. I believe I now have a better grasp on the type of problem identifying I need to do in order to devise a viable concept which could eventually turn into a flourishing business. I’ve come to the conclusion that the application market is just too oversaturated for my liking. The next product I’d like to make will work to relieve environmental stressors, while also solving a problem for many consumers.

I failed a few times in this class this semester. My failure stemmed from disorganization and stress. There was a week at the beginning of the semester where I declared my links and assumed I was good to go for the week. On Saturday I realized that I had forgotten to submit my links for the assignments and therefore, I did not get the points for those assignments. I was really upset by this failure because I had done the work and assumed I submitted the links. I never made this mistake again because from making that mistake, I learned to always submit the links and triple check that they work. Considering this is my first semester at UF, I was aiming to do the best I could, especially because I know the courses I chose to take were less rigorous than the courses I’ll have to take in the upcoming semesters. I strive to do well in school because I’d eventually like to go to graduate school to continue my education, therefore I strive for a high GPA. I don’t handle failure well (extreme a...

What I Think Is Next: The next step in terms of products for my venture is the creation of an online place where conscious consumers can have proper discussions regarding toxic ingredients and ethical companies because I feel it is important for consumers to have a place where these discussions can be had. Existing Market Interviews: 1. The first interviewee stated that they believed this would be a good idea because they are unaware of a site that is dedicated to open discussions about conscious consuming. 2. The second interviewee stated that they already use a Reddit for these types of forums and discussions. Although, they stated they don't know too many people that actually still use Reddit like them. 3. The third interviewee stated that they thought my idea was good but that there could be a marketplace component which allows people to see “green options” in place of other common items which are not considered to be green. Reflection: I believe the online marketplace...

Opportunity: In an increasingly over-saturated market with millions of products and food items, it can be difficult for consumers to navigate the many items on the shelves of a grocery store. Daily people go to the grocery store and narrow down which items to purchase by looking at ingredient lists. This is extremely time-consuming as in many instances there are dozens of ingredients in an item. Many consumers are beginning to become aware of the companies they support, ingredients used, and the ethics of the company which is why there is a pressing need for something to help consumers navigate through these decisions effectively. Many conscious consumers, myself included, have been in need of an app that simplifies the process of conscious shopping. People who are committed to leading a life with minimal waste, ethical standards, sustainable materials, and protecting the environment commit to this lifestyle because it is apart of their morals and identity. I believe people would ...

Resources/VRIN Analysis: 1. Customer Service Expert: Having worked in the customer service industry for over three years, I believe I have ample knowledge in the customer service industry. This first-hand understanding of the needs of expectations of customers is extremely beneficial for someone starting a business. This is not rare because many jobs are in the customer service field so many people carry this skill. 2. Extensive Social Media Knowledge: Through the use of social media since the seventh grade, I believe I am very familiar with the inner workings of online ads and a superior social media presence. Many people in my generation have these skills because we attained them very young. While many younger people have these skills, there are many older people who are still not completely comfortable with using various forms of social media. 3. Business Major: Through being a business major I believe I take a relevant course load to begin a business. This is not rare as there are ...

The feedback I received on my last elevator pitch was extremely positive. I had edited and revised my second speech from the first speech and thus, my peer agreed that it had improved significantly. I was able to effectively illustrate my app and its uses. I would say that this speech was almost fully memorized and that I was much more confident and fluid in this third try. Without even trying, I had already remembered the key points I’d made in previous speeches, and learned the key points I wanted to reiterate within the speech. I stood in a space that gets a lot of light in my apartment because I felt that the lighting was a bit dimmer in my previous pitch. This time I tried reiterating my points just a couple more times than in my previous pitches. I feel this reiteration really clarifies the use of my app and the number of people it could prove useful too. I hope this final pitch I was able to get the uses of my app out effectively and professionally.

1) What was the general theme or argument of the book? I chose to read The Art of Social Media by Guy Kawasaki. The general theme of this book was to give tips and tricks for one to grow their business through the use of social media. I chose this book because I am extremely interested in the many affects social media has on society. I believe social media is our greatest influencer and many modern marketing techniques are used through various social media apps such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. 2) How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003? This book helped me to clarify just how important knowing your targeted audience is. When one is well aware and knows their targeted audience well, it is easy to market to them through social media. I am now able to recognize that many of the brands I follow on social media have a cult following because of how they listen and know their customers. 3) If you had to design an exercise for ...

I’ve contacted a family friend who has worked on developing apps. I would consider them to be a domain expert as they have created multiple apps before. My brother gave me their phone number and I called them. They told me that they could get me into contact with their colleagues to ask questions about app development and the various components of coding apps. Although initially, I was under the assumption that app development was a rather simple thing, the programmer I spoke with described to me the true intricacies of making an app. In order to effectively develop a working app, a team is usually required in order to make sure all design and functionality aspects of the app are good to go. The second person I came into contact with is a small grocery store owner in Montreal, Quebec. The mission of their store is to provide ecologically conscious and organic products to consumers, boycotting large corporate food markets that are not as strict with ingredient standards. The owner descr...

1) You. Who you are. What your talents are. What your skills and experiences are. Also: what are your aspirations? Specifically regarding your business concept, how do you see this business (if you were to start it) playing a role in your life? My name is Ayla Adams. I am a junior transfer student who has just begun my first semester as a Business Administration major at the University of Florida. I have an undeniable passion for sustainability and eco-friendly alternatives in our increasingly wasteful world. I would describe my key skills to be my logical pattern of thinking and my desire for continuous learning. If I were to start this business, I would fully commit my time and attention to it. I believe it is imperative that people strive to reduce and reuse in order to save the planet for generations to come. This idea means a lot to me because many families are unaware of how harmful everyday products can be. If starting this business means more families can live happier and healt...

My first elevator pitch received two comments from my peers. The most useful piece of constructive criticism received was that my tone changed when speaking about my personal idea, and the statistics stated behind them. This change in tone was reflected because I was trying to remember the correct statistics I’d researched prior to the pitch. The positive feedback I received was about my body language and how I spoke with my hands. This is lucky for me because I tend to use my hands when I am nervous. Another positive comment was about how I stress important points to play up their significance. This time around I’d like to correct the tonal issue my peers had mentioned that I had in my prior speech. Based on the feedback given, I’ve kept a professional and confident tone the entire way through this elevator pitch. I’ve also added a few key points to show how versatile and useful my app can be for everyone who enjoys shopping in-store. I also recorded in a brighter space to ensure I...

My prototypical customer is someone who is conscious of the products they use and its effects on the planet. More stereotypically, someone who may be considered a “tree hugger” or environmentalist. They would most likely drive a Prius or Subaru with roof rack, and a wealthier customer would probably drive a Tesla. They would probably vote for someone who has acknowledged climate change as an urgent crisis such as Bernie Sanders. Normally their political stances align with that of progressives because their main concerns are social justice and environmental issues. They’re the type of person who shops at sustainable yet fashionable stores like Patagonia and Reformation. If parents, they have their children in progressive schools like Montessori's. They’re fond of the outdoors and exploring farm to table restaurants. They’re in their mid-twenties to late thirties. My customer is a health conscious person who strives to shop locally and support small businesses. They understand th...

1. I believe I have a strong sense of ambition . I believe that I can achieve whatever I set my mind to. I have a strong sense of self-worth and set extremely high standards for myself in every area of my life. I can confidently say that I believe ambition is my number one quality. 2. Integrity is something I try to instill in every decision I make. I believe in applying core values to my words and actions. I hold myself to extremely high standards because I apply my values and core morals all decisions in my life. 3. I am an extremely responsible person. Not only in my academic life but also in my work and personal life. I believe in always being reliable and keeping commitments made in every area of my life. 4. I like to think that I’m a genuine and authentic person. I try to make decisions independent of anyone else's and to always remain true to myself and those who are close to me. I believe in being truthful and transparent as to how I feel with all people in my life. 5. I ...

For this segment, I decided to interview people with special or restrictive diets who could potentially find my app useful. My first interviewee is a cashier at my local health food store who describes her diet as strictly vegan. The second interviewee is a regular at The Fresh Market who has been on a Keto diet since the first of the year. The third interviewee is my next door neighbor who adheres to a strict Gluten-free diet. The first interviewee sticks to a strict budget when grocery shopping, she states that when shopping for food she tries to cut as many corners as she can to ensure she doesn't stretch her budget. Yet her diet is extremely strict so she has to be very careful when choosing food and products at the grocery store. The second interviewee is practicing a Keto diet which calls for one to cut out a multitude of sugars from all food items. She states it is extremely hard to strictly adhere to this diet because of how much many hidden sugars there is in food at the ...

In order to keep up with the requirements of this course I have utilized time management to ensure I’ve got enough time to thoroughly complete the assignment and submit parts A/B/C on time. During the second week of class I forgot to declare the assignments and ended up receiving a zero on those assignments. Although I was pretty upset about making such a mindless mistake at the time, I am now super on top of all the upcoming assignments to ensure I don't lose any more points in this class. I would suggest for students to start early and try to get ahead in this class to ensure they don't miss any deadlines. I would also suggest for students taking this class to keep a planner. Keeping a planner helps me to succeed in every class. During high school I would almost always make straight B’s because there would be a few pesky assignments during the semester that would completely slip my mind. In keeping a planner I always fill it out with every due date the moment I get a syllabi ...

The fact that the man who really made Mcdonalds one of the biggest success stories of all time as a franchise was the man who sold the Mcdonald's brothers a milkshake blender. The perseverance and resilience of Ray Kroc is what I admire most about the entrepreneur who made Mcdonald's one of the most successful franchises of all time. I least admire how ruthless Kroc was in making the Mcdonald’s brothers' franchise when that was the opposite of their initial intentions. Ray Kroc encountered a tremendous amount of adversity. He was a struggling salesman who was waiting for his big break up until the moment he encountered the potential within Mcdonalds. Ray Kroc was an extremely talented salesman, and I believe his talent in sales catapulted Mcdonalds as fast and far forward as it did. One thing I was confused about from within the text were some of the historical references. If I were able to ask Ray Kroc two questions, I would ask 1. If you could go back and do it all over a...

Choosing a segment: For this particular assignment, I chose a segment of young mothers. All three of my interviewees are young mothers who are under 25 years of age. Naomi is 20 years old and her son is about to turn one years old. Aliya is 23 and has a two year old daughter. Madison is 25 and have two children, both under the age of two. I chose to interview these people because I believe mothers are most likely to use the app. Interviews - Three Mothers Under 25 In many previous interviews, some of the interviewees stated they were more concerned with price rather than quality of ingredients within a product. Two of the mothers interviewed, Naomi and Aliya, stated that they make sacrifices to ensure they use household products which are safe or safer than the conventional, for children. Madison, on the other hand, stated that she tends to only shop at the local health foods store since they cross check items and companies before even selling said brands in their stores. Aliya a...

1) You. Who you are. What your talents are. What your skills and experiences are. Also: what are your aspirations? Specifically regarding your business concept, how do you see this business (if you were to start it) playing a role in your life? My name is Ayla Adams. I am a junior transfer student who has just began my first semester as a Business Administration major at the University of Florida. I have an undeniable passion for sustainability and eco friendly alternatives in our increasingly wasteful world. I would describe my key skills to be my logical pattern of thinking, and my desire for continuous learning. If I were to start this business, I would fully commit my time and attention to it. I believe it is imperative that people strive to reduce and reuse in order to save the planet for generations to come. This idea means a lot to me because many families are unaware of how harmful everyday products can be. If starting this business means more families can live happier and heal...

Link: https://youtu.be/izB1F1sC1Do

Who: Through the interviews I've conducted, I’ve realized that many people are not as concerned with the ingredients used in their everyday products, as I’d initially thought. Therefore, I believe there are many people who would not be interested in this idea. This includes consumers who are more concerned with cheaper prices rather than the quality of the products at hand. Some simply cannot afford the luxury of non toxic products since they are usually substantially more expensive. What: The real underlying problem is that companies are knowingly using toxic and harmful ingredients within their products yet are still remaining at the top of household items. If more people were aware I believe the would be more inclined to boycott these household names, or at least make more health conscious decisions when shopping. Why: The underlying need of those outside the boundary are those who are primarily concerned with the price of a product, rather than the quality of ingredients...

The opportunity presented is that there is not an effective and efficient way for the conscious consumer to check ingredient lists while shopping at the grocery store. This problem affects many because looking up individual products and ingredients can prove to be extremely time consuming. My solution is an app that allows one to choose their preferences about ingredients and specific concerns within a product. This would allow one to scan an item and get a score on how toxic it is considered to be based on your preferences. There are other apps and websites that allow you to look up products and ingredients to make more educated decisions when shopping, although I don’t know many people who have taken the effort to take notes and search through each ingredient list. An app that allows one to scan a barcode would take all of the effort out of shopping consciously. Through setting up personal preferences the consumer would have the ability to tell the app what their major concerns are,...

Efficient way to detect toxic ingredients in store Opportunity Everyday millions of Americans shop for themselves and their families unaware of the harmful chemicals and additives in food and various household products. The who: There is not only a market for this in America but in all places there are conscious consumers. People who are interested in avoiding the types of parabens, sulphates, and toxic chemicals put into every day household products. The what: Harmful cancer causing chemicals are added to millions of products people buy for their families. The why: People are becoming more aware of the companies they purchase from, and the effects of the harmful chemicals. Testing the who: Many people in today's world are focusing their consumer behavior on supporting companies that are cruelty free, additive free, and free of harmful cancer causing chemicals. Testing the what: Many of the toxic chemicals are found in everyday American products. After the Netflix documentary S...

1. Regulatory Change: “Taxes 2019: When to file and what big changes to expect” by Janna Herron and Susan Tompor https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/01/25/taxes-new-tax-laws-2019-filing/2665985002/ This article states that many people will experience difficulties when filing their 2018 taxes this year because over 600 changes have been made to the Federal Income Tax rules. An opportunity exists because there will be a learning curve for all people filing their income tax this year. Any person filing their income tax would find the opportunity useful. I believe this opportunity would be relatively difficult to exploit. This is because over 600 changed is quite drastic. I believe that any person filing their 2018 taxes will have questions. I saw this opportunity because this is the first year I will be filing my taxes on my own. 2. Regulatory Change: “Canada's chronic shortage of legal cannabis expected to drag out for years” written by Peter Armstrong htt...

1. “Jacksonville offers grants to assist unpaid federal workers” By Steve Patterson https://infoweb-newsbank-com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AFTUB%21Florida%2BTimes-Union%252C%2BThe%2B%2528Jacksonville%252C%2BFL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0119%21January%2B19&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/1710D72522EE3708 In this article written on the 19th of January 2019, the governor states that Jacksonville, Florida has implemented a grant program for federal workers who have been furloughed or had their federal pay stop. This article discusses the issues presented to federal workers who can no longer afford to feed their families, or pay rent/mortgages because of the federal government shutdown. Many federal workers have been affected by this shutdown and as time goes on this issues are becoming increasingly worse. The article states that affected families should also contact JEA for deferred payments. This article relays...

1.My belief is that there is an unmet need for a less packaging/ recycled materials option when ordering packages online.   2. Many people order things online because it's convenient and as simple as hitting a few buttons. For example, Amazon has become a powerhouse for those who find the convenience in ordering items online. Recently, top mega chains like Walmart and Target have began competing with Amazon prime with their order online and pick up in store system. Conscious consumers realize Amazon packages come stuffed with a concerning amount of plastics, styrofoam, and bubble wrap. Amazon has purchased Whole Foods, a popular Eco-minded grocery chain popular in us U.S. and the U.K. With that, I believe there is room for Amazon to make more environmentally conscious options for their Eco-minded consumers. Currently, there are no options on Amazon to opt for an environmentally conscious packaging option.  3.  Questions I asked:  Do you order ...

 Since I can remember I’ve been watching Shark Tank with my family, and other entrepreneurial movies such as The Social Network , Jobs , and The Founder . These movies have sparked my interest in Entrepreneurship over the years. In middle school I would bake about two pans of brownies every night and sell them at school the next day for $1.50 a piece. This worked quite well because I was always able to sell all brownies by the end of the day i.e. hungry high schoolers. This little business would give me extra spending money on the weekends, and ended up being a big source of my spending money.   More recently, I’ve been selling my clothes and accessories on the online marketplace, Depop. Depop allows me to contribute to slow fashion and make money off of the vintage or designer pieces I own while using my creative side to market my items. Last summer, I went to Portugal and had hundreds of dollars to spend which I’d earned from Depop, not my restaurant job. ...

Assignment 2A - Bug List 1. When people at the grocery store ask for a single item to be placed in a bag. WHY it exists: Many people still don't understand the ramifications of using single use plastics so they use them like theres no tomorrow. 2. When people are texting/browsing the internet on their cell phones and not watching where they’re walking. WHY it exists: Many people are completely reliable on their phones and it trances them to another dimension to where they seemingly don't know where to walk. 3. Catching every single red light on Union St. downtown going towards Arlington Expressway. WHY it exists: Either the lights on Union St. are all green, or they’re all red. 4. The lack of parking available at The Fresh Market in Brooklyn, Jacksonville (my employer). WHY it exists: There are too many restaurants in the business park meaning that around lunch and dinner time people have to park blocks away in order to get a spot. 5. When you’ve ordered a packag...