12A – Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 1

1 & 2. I chose to interview 3 middle-aged individuals (2 male 1 female) who currently provide hospice for their elder family members that want to easily and successfully provide them with any and every need they may have.

3. After interviewing, I have come to the conclusion that a prototypical customer for my need tends to become aware of this need after having a talk with the elder at hand regarding how they are truly feeling and if they sense as if something is missing in their way of living that would positively impact their well-being.

4. When the prototypical customer becomes aware of such need, in the case of my three randomly selected individuals, they tend to rely on what their elder tells them as well as outsourcing by using the easiest and fastest way to find information: the internet. Some of their Google search terms include but are not limited to 'how to take care of an elder,' 'is my #-year-old parent/friend/spouse healthy?' 'how to improve someone's well-being,' and 'nursing homes in my area.'

5. As one would most probably predict, or assume, the prototypical customers that have the need tend to rely on the internet for answers regarding how to solve the problem as soon as they become aware of it. I am sure there are many other prototypical customers who may very well rely on word of mouth instead of the internet, but that was not the case with my 3 randomly individuals.

6. This market segment consists of middle-aged individuals who regardless of gender realize the need after discussing with their elders and tend to rely on the internet in order to find an accurate solution to their problem.

11A – Idea Napkin No. 1

1.) My name is Nathan Craigdallie and I am an information systems major here at UF. Some of my skills include but are not limited to: time management, self-motivation, adaptability, and critical thinking. I am very passionate about new experiences and helping others. I believe that moving to the United States at a young age and having to adapt to a different culture has influenced both my skills and my passions. Starting this business would allow me to learn more about myself and possibly develop new abilities that will be useful in my life in the long run.

 2) I am offering a service that solves our customers' unmet needs with our thorough, confidential, face-to-face assessment and care plan methodology, that evaluates and uncovers their loved ones' needs and safety concerns. Then, we develop an implemented action plan that, as previously mentioned, produces healthier, safer and more fulfilling lifestyles for everyone.

 3) I am offering a service to family members or friends who have an elder to take care of who do not relate to their needs and safety concerns and thus require help from my service. The customer demographics, in this case, would include male and female individuals who are either elders or have an elder to take care of and do not have the knowledge or resources to successfully do so. In terms of psychographic characteristics, my customers would all share an interest in wanting to positively impact the elders' lives at hand and better their lifestyles in any way possible.

 4) People tend to care for their loved one's well-being, whether they're just friends, a significant other, or family. In this case, taking care of the beloved elders takes energy and time which most people don't have enough of. This is why people case about my service enough to be willing to pay for it: in order to mitigate stress and burden being caused by having to figure out how to properly take care of an elder on their own.

 5) I have first-hand experience on the matter due to my stepfather being in the healthcare business. Everything I know about the industry I've learned from him through the years which is fundamental when talking about dealing with peoples lives and well-being.

6) Personally, I believe that the aforementioned elements fit extremely well together. My skills and experience tied together give me enough authority to have a say on the matter at hand. I used these to my advantage in order to come up with a successful solution to my observed opportunity that a prototypical customer, whether male or female who need help in regards to taking care of an elder, would be willing to pay for.

10A – Elevator Pitch No. 1

9A – Testing the Hypothesis, Part 2

Who: There are a few groups of people who fall outside the boundary. These groups include younger generations (non-elders) and elders who do not need help with an action plan because they have been able to successfully figure out what they need to do to suffice their needs and finances.

What: This need is focused specifically around elders who need help in figuring out an action plan that produces healthier, safer and more fulfilling lifestyles, or family members who take care of elders who have this need because they can't related to the specific elder's needs.

Why: The underlying cause of the outsiders' need being different than the need for those who are inside the boundary is that those who are outside are not in the same situation. This means that they probably just don't have an elder to take care of which would immediately put them outside of the boundary. 

Interview #1:

I interviewed a 64-year-old man who lives with his son and his son's wife. He claimed that he is in a well enough state where he believes he knows exactly what he needs and his safety concerns are taken care of by the people he lives with. 

Interview #2:

I interviewed a 76-year-old woman who lives at home with a home health care aide who has been taking care of her for a couple of years now and she is taken care of in any and every way possible which makes her think she doesn't have this need.

Interview #3 & #4:

I interviewed a 60-year-old woman who lives with her 63-year old husband and they both said that they take care of each other's needs. They said they handle their financials really well and they're healthy enough that they don't think there are any safety concerns.

Interview #5:

I interviewed a 45-year-old man who lives with his 72-year-old mom. He mentioned that his mom can fully take care of herself, she only has back problems but she's never fallen or anything of the sort. He takes care of her when he can even though she doesn't seem to need it.

Who     Inside the Boundary 1.)Elders that are concerned about the fact that they cannot figure out what the next move is in terms of figuring out what they need. 2.) Family members who take care of elders who have the mentioned need. 3.)Loved ones who take care of elders who have the mentioned need. 4.)Friends who take care of elders who have the mentioned need.   Outside the Boundary 1.)Elders that do not have the mentioned need. 2.)Family members who do not take care of an elder. 3.)Loved ones of elders who do not take care of an elder. 4.)Friends who do not take care of an elder.                                       What To easily, successfully develop an action plan that produces healthier, safer and more fulfilling lifestyles for everyone involved in the elder's life because they can't relate to their needs and safety concerns. Some don't have this need because they have already successfully figured out a plan that works for them.                                       Why People want to make sure that they have their needs fulfilled and have a good lifestyle. People who just don't have an elder to take care of which would immediately put them outside of the boundary.

8A – Solving The Problem

1. Selected opportunity: In my previous post titled "7A – Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1," I discussed the opportunity regarding family members who have an elder to care for are unable to easily, successfully develop an action plan that produces healthier, safer and more fulfilling lifestyles for everyone involved in the elder’s life because they can’t relate to their needs and safety concerns.

2.Service: I intend to sell customized healthcare services for the elderly or family members who need assistance in managing their daily lifestyle routine. No matter the situation, and in accordance with one's financial position, we work with you to develop a healthcare routine that will ease your concern about their welfare. It is most important for us to help you understand what you need and what you can afford in regards to deciding on a plan that will, as previously mentioned, produce a healthier, safer and more fulfilling lifestyles for everyone involved.

7A – Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

• Opportunity: Family members who have an elder to care for are unable to easily, successfully develop an action plan that produces healthier, safer and more fulfilling lifestyles for everyone involved in the elder’s life because they can’t relate to their needs and safety concerns.

1. The who: Family members who have an elder to care for
2. The what: They are unable to easily, successfully develop an action plan that produces healthier, safe and more fulfilling lifestyles for everyone involved in the elder's life
3. The why: Logistical challenges associated with relating to their needs and safety concerns.

• Testing the who: In terms of others having this need, I'm sure elders themselves who may not have a family have this need personally. There may also be friends and partners, not necessarily family members, who could have this need as well-- depends on who takes care for, or is in charge rather, the elder in question.
• Testing the what: Not every person that cares for an elder has trouble with relating to their needs and safety concerns but more often than not this is a big occurrence. Some also may very well have the need but not the finances to tackle it.
• Testing the why: Those who have the need I identified may want to blame doctors, nursing homes, a home health aide, or even websites that have led them in the wrong path in regards to how to successfully take care of an elder and who to go to for help or information on the matter.
• Interview #1 (55-year-old assisted living facilities ambassador and business owner): The ambassador that I interviewed explained to me that he sees this need in many of the people that contact him regarding assisted living. While touring different assisted living facilities with clients, he admitted that he has been asked questions regarding a possible service that would help them figure out what is best for the elder in question in every aspect.
• Interview #2 (45-year-old realtor and property manager): The realtor that I interviewed expressed that she does not have this need considering she does not take care of an elder. However, she does believe the opportunity exists considering she thinks there always someone out there needing help, specifically those who often can't help themselves, such as elders for instance.
• Interview #3 (20-year-old student): The student that I interviewed stated that she agrees that this need exists. This is because she lives with her elder grandmother who is taken care of by this student's parents and she mentioned that more often than not they have trouble deciding what's best for her grandmother in terms of safety and basic needs.
• Interview #4 (25-year-old graduate student): The student I interviewed said that he wished someone would have taken the time to have a one-on-one sit down to discuss his grandfather's options as well as his necessities. Instead, he said he was basically told what to do and where to go and that was that. He strongly agrees that this need exists and someone should do something about it.
• Interview #5 (20-year-old student): The student that I interviewed mentioned that she never thought about this need until I mentioned it to her. This is because she does not have this need considering her grandparents have passed away and she hasn't experienced this situation or need. She put herself in the shoes of someone who does care for an elder and she believes that she would want a service that would help create a plan that would tailor to her grandparents' specific needs and safety concerns.

• Conclusion: Something I didn't know about the opportunity before is who all would benefit from a solution and who all is actually affected by the need.

6A – Identifying Opportunities in Economic & Regulatory Trends

1. Economic Trend: US weekly jobless claims rise less than expected

Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/19/weekly-jobless-claims.html

I believe this information suggests an opportunity might exist considering the article poses that the economy is growing which could consequently drive new businesses to be created and more jobs to be offered as well.

I believe that the people who are most likely to be the customer with this opportunity would be any person that is currently unemployed and wishes to get a job which would, in turn, help the economy grow even more. 

I believe it would be relatively easy to exploit this opportunity considering the fact that since unemployment rates are very low, there are more people that are inclined to spend money and possibly open new businesses which would decrease unemployment rates even more.

I'd say I saw this opportunity just due to research, I believe anybody could have seen this opportunity had they been aware of the situation. A strong economy usually means that businesses are doing relatively well which is a good thing.

2. Economic Trend: Oil shock hits a global economy that's already on shaky ground

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/16/economy/saudi-attack-world-economy/index.html

I believe this information suggests an opportunity might exist considering this could increase the price of oil immensely. Consequently, it would affect numerous different economies including but not limited to the China, Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

I believe that the people who are most likely to be the customer with this opportunity would be those aforementioned economies. Basically, any economy that uses oil in day-to-day activities.

I believe it would be relatively easy to exploit this opportunity considering the fact that no matter the country in need, they would most likely pay any price for a resource that is as pivotal as oil is.

I'd say I saw this opportunity just due to research, I believe anybody could have seen this opportunity considering it is not hard to put 2 and 2 together just by knowing economics and how supply and demand affect prices of products and services.

3. Regulatory change: Paid Leave Laws

Source: https://www.paychex.com/articles/compliance/top-regulatory-issues

I believe this information suggests an opportunity might exist considering paid family leave laws are not something most people think about when it comes to jobs. Most people put more importance on paid sick leave laws or maternity leave laws, but not many put more importance on family leave laws over those previously mentioned ones.

I believe that the people who are most likely to be the customer with this opportunity would be people that have a family to take care of. In this case, since maternity leave is already very prominent, maybe even paternity leave laws that were more enforced.

I feel neutral when it comes to thinking about how easy or hard it would be to exploit this opportunity because not many put much importance to family leave laws unless it revolves around maternity leave laws which are already enforced pretty frequently.

I'd say I saw this opportunity as opposed to someone else through my grandma since she has dealt with family leave issues in the past. She's had to take care of her pets whom she considers her family and are amongst the most important beings in her life and has told me about it.

4. Regulatory change: Trump administration allows pork slaughterhouses to have fewer USDA inspectors

I believe this information suggests an opportunity might exist considering these slaughterhouses now have no restriction in regards to the speed of the slaughter lines and required fewer workers meaning they would be saving money. To replace these inspectors they used to be required to employ, these slaughterhouses may now instead hire other workers that may benefit them in other ways.

I believe that the people who are most likely to be the customer with this opportunity would be slaughterhouses and workers that may now be employed by slaughterhouses who weren't originally employed prior to this change in regulation.

I believe it would be relatively easily when it comes to thinking about how easy or hard it would be to exploit this opportunity because these slaughterhouses will be saving money by employing people who probably get paid less than a USDA inspector would and thus increase profits by benefiting from the lift on the speed limit of the slaughter line.

I'd say I saw this opportunity as opposed to someone else due to research, this may raise brows in terms of health regulations. However, for those business owners that are affected by this regulatory change more directly, can be seen as an opportunity to save money and increase profit.

5A-Identifying Local Opportunities

1. Beloved dog walker’s death leaves canines and humans to mourn

https://www.gainesville.com/news/20190904/beloved-dog-walkers-death-leaves-canines-and-humans-to-mourn

Neighborhood dog-walker of almost 30 years by the name of Bruce Baber died from cancer and left not only his clients but his clients' dogs to mourn over his death.

The problem is that Bruce Baber's clients must now find a different dog-walker on top of having lost an important person in their lives.

Bruce Baber's clients have the problem as they were affected by it.

2. GPD ‘hot cop’ in hot water over selfie

https://www.gainesville.com/news/20190911/gpd-hot-cop-in-hot-water-over-selfie
A male cop by the name of Dan Rengering got in trouble with the GDP after posting a picture on Facebook where he was wearing his uniform which is against the GDP social media policy.

The problem is that due to Dan Rengering's actions, he has gotten a written warning regarding the matter and was forced to delete the picture off of the Facebook page.

Dan Rengering has the problem as he was affected by it.

3. Jail officer charged in domestic incident

https://www.gainesville.com/news/20190911/jail-officer-charged-in-domestic-incident

An Alachua County Jail officer, Christopher Hathcock, was arrested and put on leave due to allegations of dating violence.

The problem is that due to these allegations, this officer is not allowed to work until there is a verdict for the investigation.

Christopher Hathcock has the problem as he was affected by it.

4. Florida teen allegedly paid to have her parents killed

https://www.gainesville.com/news/20190911/florida-teen-allegedly-paid-to-have-her-parents-killed

17-year-old female Umatilla High School student allegedly paid two different people to have them either find someone that would murder her parents or have them do it themselves.

The problem is that since the student got turned in by one of those people she paid off, she has been arrested and taken to the county jail to be processed. Needless to say, now she has to live with knowing what she attempted to do, live with her parents, and everyone around her judge her for her actions.

The Umatilla High School student has the problem as she was affected by it.

5. Water board can’t meet until DeSantis appoints more members

https://www.gainesville.com/news/20190910/water-board-cant-meet-until-desantis-appoints-more-members

Governor Ron DeSantis failed to appoint 5 members to the Suwannee River Water Management District governing board which has backed up a meeting that was scheduled to take place on Tuesday.

The problem is that since the board does not have a sufficient number of members, the Suwannee River Water Management District governing board cannot meet.

The current Suwannee River Water Management District governing board members have the problem as they're the ones that cannot do anything regarding their position until more members are appointed.

4A: Forming An Opportunity Belief

1) I believe that many people avoid socializing with others in person whether it's while waiting in line for an appointment, like a doctor's appointment, for example, event, or even during everyday activities.

 2) Every day, we as people and in our society, whether we acknowledge it or not, become more and more consumed in using our cellphones that we have grown to not even feel the need to connect with others face to face when we can just do it through a screen. I believe there should be a phone setting or gadget that would limit the time people spend on their phone or at least push notifications to users letting them know how long they've been using their phone for, in hopes of making them realize and want to get off their phone and potentially start creating new friendships or even strengthening current ones. This would, in turn, motivate people to socialize beyond a screen and remind them that there is more to one's life than one's phone. I recognize and admit that I am guilty of spending a lot of time on my phone rather than actively trying to socialize with others in person and I need to limit myself considering I tend to lose track of time very frequently. There are people who do limit themselves by going on social media breaks which tends to greatly shorten the amount of time one spends on his/her phone and others just shut off their notifications to not feel tempted to check their phone all the time. At this point, I am about 70% sure that this opportunity exists.

 3) My prototypical customers are Lucia Castro, Agustina Prates and Jimena Garcia.

 4) What I learned from interviewing Lucia, is that she believes that although this opportunity does indeed exist, there are many people who don't find it problematic enough to the point they would want to change how much time they spend on their phone because it is not something they believe affects them directly or in a negative way. According to her, she tends to try to not be on her phone when she is with friends so that she can enjoy the time she spends with them as opposed to staring at a screen the whole time. She said she found my solution to be a feasible one, however, she doesn't believe many people would be on board with this idea. After interviewing Agustina, I came to realize that she feels the same way as me towards the matter. She stated that she believes this opportunity exists and that my solution should be taken seriously by most people in order to live a more happy and healthy life. She actually owns a flip phone which she mentioned helps her stay off her phone unless it is necessary to use it. Jimena, on the other hand, stated that she thinks my solution could potentially infringe on people's privacy regarding how much time they spend on their phone and that "that's nobody's business."

 5) In conclusion, and after taking into consideration my prototypical customers' opinions, I still am about 70% positive that this opportunity exists and that it should be remedied in some way. Although my solution may not be one that tailors to everyone's wishes, I do still think it would be a good solution even if it's just to start off.

3A: Your Entrepreneurship Story

When I was in middle school, for Christmas, my parents got me waxed thread in a bunch of different colors in order to help me fulfill my desire of learning how to make bracelets and sell them to my peers. I remember watching Youtube videos on how to make bracelets which kept me up at night while I tried to follow the directions in hopes of memorizing them eventually. After making several bracelets and wearing them to school on a daily basis, people rapidly began to notice and kept asking me where I had gotten them. Since I was already planning on selling them, I had my parents help me with the pricing and I recall selling a lot of them until they were no longer in style. I no longer make these bracelets but I uploaded a picture of what they looked like. I enrolled in this class because I thought it would be an interesting course and I hope to be exposed to more entrepreneurship experiences and learn more about what it takes to be an entrepreneur.