Interview Summary 1: The first interviewee I spoke with was my other aunt, different from the previously interviewed one, who has some different pets than the first aunt. This aunt has a pet rabbit, and in conducting this interview I found that the medical requirements and issues associated with rabbits and other rodents can differ greatly from those of canines and felines. Many animals also do not have the receptors in their brains that enable their bodies to interact with the cannabinoids in CBD. This is the main thing separating the medicinal needs of this aunt and her pets from the others I've interviewed, the previous interviewees were solely dog and cat owners for the most part. The underlying need is the same, but unfortunately the need cannot be met by the CBD-based medicine opportunity I have found among other pet owners.
Interview Summary 2: The second interviewee I spoke with, a family friend active in the herpetology community, had similar issues with this opportunity as the first interviewee. Like with the aforementioned rabbit and other rodents, CBD-based medicines are not effective against or able to be used with many of the ailments that reptiles suffer. This comes from not only the difficulty of administering the medication, but also the source of many of their ailments being different due to the presence of scales and a very different metabolism. Once again, the underlying need is the same, but the limits of CBD treatments are rapidly becoming apparent when applied to animals outside of the most common pets that people have: dogs and cats.
Interview Summary 3: The third interviewee is a friend I know who moved to Colorado for college, and their interactions with the legal cannabis industry there revealed some previously unknown aspects of CBD treatments and their availability. In the case of this interviewee, they still have the same needs as the others: their pets have issues that can be solved through the use of CBD treatments. This interviewee revealed to me that in certain areas, particularly those that have fully legalized cannabis and have been allowed to extensively research cannabis for medical use, CBD treatments for pets are rapidly becoming available for pet owners to administer to their pets at home. Their needs do not differ in the slightest from the others, but they still fall outside of the boundary because the need has simply been fulfilled in the region in which they live.
Interview Summary 4: The fourth interviewee is an aquarium enthusiast friend of my family's. The treatment of fish poses similar issues to those of other small animals like the above rodents and reptiles, but their aquatic nature makes treatment even more difficult, especially where CBD-based treatments are concerned. This interview and the others have helped to establish the boundaries of CBD treatments for pets not just where legality is concerned, but also where the actual treatment of different animals is concerned. According to my family-friend, fish pose even greater challenges than reptiles. Most medicines are placed directly into the water of the aquarium, so treatment of specific animals, which CBD treatments would presumably require, requires quarantine. This and other issues involved with aquariums make CBD treatments, like with the other animals, for the most part nonviable.
Interview Summary 5: The fifth interviewee does not own any animals that are not able to be treated through CBD-based treatments, but they simply have no need for the treatments. Their animals are all quite young and, thankfully, have had no health problems so far. CBD treatments are not the type of mediciation that one would give to an animal without their being some issue to treat, as is the case with most medications, so for the time being there is no reason for this interviewee to have this opportunity. This may be one of the more significant boundaries and aspects of CBD treatments, and medications in general, separating those who have the opportunity from those who do not. The need for these medications often will not come about until an animal is sick. While this will not greatly limit the opportunity, it will reduce the number of potential customers at times.
Table:
Inside the Boundary:
Who is in: owners of larger mammals such as dogs and cats, as well as possibly veterinarians in the future and other animal medical providers.
What the need is: a need for natural and safe medications for major and minor ailments with minimal side-effects.
Why the need exists: the need exists because many medications given to animals today, and people for that matter, have significant negative side-effects that can often outweigh the usefulness administering the medicine in the first place.
Outside the Boundary:
Who is not in: owners of smaller animals and those with unusual living and medical habits, such as small mammals, reptiles, and fish, as well as professionals in organizations that prevent the use of these medications, at least for now.
What the need is not: it is not the need for an everyday supplement to be used on animals, CBD treatments should not be used as a daily supplement, and so may not see use among people with younger animals.
Alternative explanations: people may also want to explore a new trend sweeping the alternative medicine field today.
Friday, September 28, 2018
Friday, September 21, 2018
Solving the Problem
1. Selected opportunity: Expansion of the use and sale of CBD-based medical treatments to both public groups and private groups and citizens that may have a use and desire for all-natural, versatile medicines for their animals.
2: Product/Service: The product consists primarily of the CBD treatments themselves, which can vary greatly in their purpose and use without too much change in the product itself. These would be, at least at first, primarily geared towards pain relief and other acute issues that you would treat using over the counter medicines. An associated service could be the distribution method through which customers purchase these treatments, either a website, a specialized pharmacy, or a subscription service, all of which could be viable. There may be certain limitations here due to the legal gray area that cannabis treatments currently exist in, possibly necessitating an incremental release in certain areas to test the waters before expanding as medical cannabis use is legalized elsewhere.
2: Product/Service: The product consists primarily of the CBD treatments themselves, which can vary greatly in their purpose and use without too much change in the product itself. These would be, at least at first, primarily geared towards pain relief and other acute issues that you would treat using over the counter medicines. An associated service could be the distribution method through which customers purchase these treatments, either a website, a specialized pharmacy, or a subscription service, all of which could be viable. There may be certain limitations here due to the legal gray area that cannabis treatments currently exist in, possibly necessitating an incremental release in certain areas to test the waters before expanding as medical cannabis use is legalized elsewhere.
Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1
1. The Opportunity: Accessibility to organic, CBD-based medications for pet owners and their animals.
2. Opportunity Who, What, Why: Pet owners, caretakers, veterinarians, and organizations do not have access to organic, cannabis-based medications for animals due to the previous and ongoing prohibition of cannabis products as well as the fledgling nature of the medical cannabis industry in the United States.
Who: Pet owners, caretakers, veterinarians, and organizations
What: do not have access to organic, cannabis-based medications for animals
Why: due to the previous and ongoing prohibition of cannabis products as well as the fledgling nature of the medical cannabis industry in the United States.
3. Opportunity Hypothesis:
Testing the Who: Everyone in my current "who" shares this need, but there may be others that it would apply to. Zoos, rehabilitation centers, and conservation centers might all be able to find a use for CBD-based treatments for animals. Various sports as well, not that I support those like dog and horse racing, but also such sports as polo and steeplechase could possibly make use of these treatments to help their animals recover from injuries or illness.
Testing the What: The boundaries for this need vary greatly. The legality of cannabis-based treatments of any kind is blurry at the state level, while being completely illegal federally. In places that are legalized, it may be difficult to acquire medicines dosed for or prescribed for animals, especially in cases where veterinarians or pharmacies might have moral or professional objections to the use of these treatments for animals. There is also a societal component as well, with many people still generally uninformed about CBD treatments, often maintaining incorrect or outdated assumptions about cannabis in general.
Testing the Why: The above boundaries have many different reasons for existence. As far as government prohibition goes, this is largely still in place due to the placement of cannabis as a schedule 1 drug, despite its medical uses. Societal understandings of cannabis also come into play with the above boundaries. Many people who maintain these today, and are ostensibly also in control of organization policies that might prevent its use like those of veterinary organizations and the like most likely grew up in the time of Reefer Madness or DARE, further fueling incorrect assumptions about CBD medicines.
4. Interview Summary 1: The first interviewee was my girlfriend, who is a pet owner and also runs a feline rescue group in Northern Florida. Her understanding of CBD treatments comes mainly from the experiences of close friends and colleagues who have utilized human treatments. Her group would have lots of uses for these treatments, especially considering how versatile these treatments are. The fact that they're completely natural and safe, even in large doses, helps a lot as well. In her experience, administering medications to animals is not the most exact science given their propensity for resisting. There is some resistance, among members of her group, particularly those who maintain a negative view of cannabis in general.
Interview Summary 2: The second interviewee was my mom, a pet owner, as well as somebody whose early exposure to cannabis in general would have been through such programs and films as Reefer Madness. She first heard of CBD treatments through a 60 minutes special, and has learned more through research for my step father. She is open to the use of CBD treatments, especially given the problems associated with aging animals, but knows many people in her circle of friends who would shy away from such treatments. Concerns over legality issues in some states are also concerning to her for career reasons.
Interview Summary 3: The third interviewee was a friend of my step father's who is a veterinarian. He is kind of the hippie type, so he certainly did not have any moral objectives to cannabis or CBD treatments, but according to him there are certain barriers to this in the veterinary community. These barriers typically come in the form of prohibitions that could cost him his license to practice, which would be disastrous for his family. There are also no dedicated pharmacies for animal CBD treatments, making legitimate prescriptions difficult if not impossible to offer.
Interview Summary 4: My grandmother was the fourth interviewee. Given the generational gap between her and the other interviewees, I expected some drastic differences in opinion, and I was correct. Despite her nursing background, she was still concerned about such treatments, particularly for her animals. The societal role in concerns over cannabis treatments seems to be one of the largest obstacles when it comes to finding support and customers in a broader market. She did, however, acknowledge the medical uses of CBD, so perhaps these societal boundaries can be pushed beyond in certain cases.
Interview Summary 5: The last interviewee was a friend of my aunt's who at one time worked for a prominent zoo. Much like my family's veterinarian friend, there are many boundaries in this field that just cannot be broken in this case. Not only are there concerns from oversight groups and those that accredit zoos and aquariums, but also from the boards of the various zoos, who are concerned with many issues such as public perception, profit margins, and broader conservation programs and interactions with other zoos, all of which could be imperiled by such a treatment program.
5. Overall Summary: The above interviews gave me a lot of information I did not know before, particularly regarding common prejudices towards cannabis treatments. Such prejudices may not be feasible to work around, especially in cases of professional boundaries. This opportunity, based on all of this, would most likely have to be a private use, over the counter treatment for smaller issues such as pain relief rather than something that is prescribed by a veterinarian or used in other professional settings. It would also start out as a niche product due to societal prejudices, and it is possible that the product would remain this way.
2. Opportunity Who, What, Why: Pet owners, caretakers, veterinarians, and organizations do not have access to organic, cannabis-based medications for animals due to the previous and ongoing prohibition of cannabis products as well as the fledgling nature of the medical cannabis industry in the United States.
Who: Pet owners, caretakers, veterinarians, and organizations
What: do not have access to organic, cannabis-based medications for animals
Why: due to the previous and ongoing prohibition of cannabis products as well as the fledgling nature of the medical cannabis industry in the United States.
3. Opportunity Hypothesis:
Testing the Who: Everyone in my current "who" shares this need, but there may be others that it would apply to. Zoos, rehabilitation centers, and conservation centers might all be able to find a use for CBD-based treatments for animals. Various sports as well, not that I support those like dog and horse racing, but also such sports as polo and steeplechase could possibly make use of these treatments to help their animals recover from injuries or illness.
Testing the What: The boundaries for this need vary greatly. The legality of cannabis-based treatments of any kind is blurry at the state level, while being completely illegal federally. In places that are legalized, it may be difficult to acquire medicines dosed for or prescribed for animals, especially in cases where veterinarians or pharmacies might have moral or professional objections to the use of these treatments for animals. There is also a societal component as well, with many people still generally uninformed about CBD treatments, often maintaining incorrect or outdated assumptions about cannabis in general.
Testing the Why: The above boundaries have many different reasons for existence. As far as government prohibition goes, this is largely still in place due to the placement of cannabis as a schedule 1 drug, despite its medical uses. Societal understandings of cannabis also come into play with the above boundaries. Many people who maintain these today, and are ostensibly also in control of organization policies that might prevent its use like those of veterinary organizations and the like most likely grew up in the time of Reefer Madness or DARE, further fueling incorrect assumptions about CBD medicines.
4. Interview Summary 1: The first interviewee was my girlfriend, who is a pet owner and also runs a feline rescue group in Northern Florida. Her understanding of CBD treatments comes mainly from the experiences of close friends and colleagues who have utilized human treatments. Her group would have lots of uses for these treatments, especially considering how versatile these treatments are. The fact that they're completely natural and safe, even in large doses, helps a lot as well. In her experience, administering medications to animals is not the most exact science given their propensity for resisting. There is some resistance, among members of her group, particularly those who maintain a negative view of cannabis in general.
Interview Summary 2: The second interviewee was my mom, a pet owner, as well as somebody whose early exposure to cannabis in general would have been through such programs and films as Reefer Madness. She first heard of CBD treatments through a 60 minutes special, and has learned more through research for my step father. She is open to the use of CBD treatments, especially given the problems associated with aging animals, but knows many people in her circle of friends who would shy away from such treatments. Concerns over legality issues in some states are also concerning to her for career reasons.
Interview Summary 3: The third interviewee was a friend of my step father's who is a veterinarian. He is kind of the hippie type, so he certainly did not have any moral objectives to cannabis or CBD treatments, but according to him there are certain barriers to this in the veterinary community. These barriers typically come in the form of prohibitions that could cost him his license to practice, which would be disastrous for his family. There are also no dedicated pharmacies for animal CBD treatments, making legitimate prescriptions difficult if not impossible to offer.
Interview Summary 4: My grandmother was the fourth interviewee. Given the generational gap between her and the other interviewees, I expected some drastic differences in opinion, and I was correct. Despite her nursing background, she was still concerned about such treatments, particularly for her animals. The societal role in concerns over cannabis treatments seems to be one of the largest obstacles when it comes to finding support and customers in a broader market. She did, however, acknowledge the medical uses of CBD, so perhaps these societal boundaries can be pushed beyond in certain cases.
Interview Summary 5: The last interviewee was a friend of my aunt's who at one time worked for a prominent zoo. Much like my family's veterinarian friend, there are many boundaries in this field that just cannot be broken in this case. Not only are there concerns from oversight groups and those that accredit zoos and aquariums, but also from the boards of the various zoos, who are concerned with many issues such as public perception, profit margins, and broader conservation programs and interactions with other zoos, all of which could be imperiled by such a treatment program.
5. Overall Summary: The above interviews gave me a lot of information I did not know before, particularly regarding common prejudices towards cannabis treatments. Such prejudices may not be feasible to work around, especially in cases of professional boundaries. This opportunity, based on all of this, would most likely have to be a private use, over the counter treatment for smaller issues such as pain relief rather than something that is prescribed by a veterinarian or used in other professional settings. It would also start out as a niche product due to societal prejudices, and it is possible that the product would remain this way.
Friday, September 14, 2018
Identifying Opportunities in Economic and Regulatory Trends
Economic Trends Opportunity 1: Strengthening global demands
Where I found it: jpmorganchase.com
What leads me to believe an opportunity might exist: I believe an opportunity might exist here because as the economies of massively populated countries such as China and India expand rapidly, as well as shifting from export-based to service-based, there will be a newfound demand for American goods, particularly luxury goods and technologies abroad as the spending power of the foreign middle and upper-class increases. Another area this demand will be found is in American intellectual properties, which will see increasing use overseas as well.
Most likely customer with the opportunity: The most likely customer in this opportunity would be a newly middle or upper-class person in any number of rapidly developing economies around the world, be they Chinese, Indian, or Brazilian.
Ease of exploitation: This opportunity would not be particularly difficult to exploit. If a company is large enough that there is demand for its products overseas, chances are they already have the infrastructure in place and the funds to facilitate entry into new markets, especially if those appear to be lucrative.
Why I saw this opportunity: I saw this opportunity because I have a vested interest in international relations as a political science major, and a major part of American influence in international relations comes from the ubiquity of American products and intellectual properties. One needs to look no further than the end of the Cold War to see how much of an effect this can have around the world.
Economic Trends Opportunity 2: Increasing energy demands
Where I found it: jpmorganchase.com
What leads me to believe an opportunity might exist: I think there may be an opportunity here because stabilizing oil prices, rising vehicle exports and purchases, and the continued boom of American oil all point to an increasing need and desire for energy sources, of which oil and other fossil fuels continue to be the most prolific.
Most likely customer with the opportunity: The most likely customer with this opportunity would be governments and companies seeking to import American oil abroad. These countries tend to be developed countries in Europe, as well as in other regions of the world lacking in fossil fuel deposits. This customer base extends from the governmental level all the way down to the individual level, as the citizens of said countries will need access to gas for vehicles.
Ease of exploitation: The ease of exploitation in this opportunity is quite variable. If a company already has the infrastructure to extract the oil and the means to export it, then these new demands will be fairly easy to exploit. However, a company just now entering this industry following the American shale boom would find this exceptionally difficult, given the juggernauts that already occupy the field.
Why I saw this opportunity: I saw this opportunity because I have numerous concerns about the environment and sustainability, and am a major proponent of renewable energy sources. Although the above opportunity presents an excellent chance for capital to enter the American economy, I was also quite dismayed, as it does not appear that oil is anywhere near faltering in the face of the increasing prevalence of renewable resources.
Regulatory Changes Opportunity 1: Trump Administration tariffs against allies and trading partners
Where I found it: businessnewsdaily.com
What leads me to believe an opportunity might exist: I think an opportunity may exist here because with the implementation of tariffs on common and important goods that we typically purchase from such countries as Canada, especially resources such as steel and the like, companies within the US will be looking for sources of these and other products that they can acquire without suffering from the penalties of the tariffs. There also may be further opportunity here as many companies take their production and products overseas to avoid the tariffs, opening up new spaces in US markets.
Most likely customer with the opportunity: The most likely customer with this opportunity would be, in the case of tariffs on raw materials, US companies that rely on trade with Canada and the EU to acquire materials to make their products. Another prototypical customer would be the consumers of products that may cease to be produced or sold in the US because of the tariffs.
Ease of exploitation: I think this opportunity would be rather difficult to exploit. Although there is plenty of room now for new companies to expand, these companies would require significant resources to reach the level of those that left, something that may not be worthwhile in the long run seeing as the above tariffs probably will not remain in place once Trump is out of office.
Why I saw this opportunity: I saw this opportunity because I have a significant interest in world politics, being a political science major, and economic and regulatory policies like the above tariffs play a major role in how the US interacts with and is perceived by other countries, particularly those that we are ostensibly allied with.
Regulatory Changes Opportunity 2: EU General Data Protection Regulations
Where I found it: businessnewsdaily.com
What leads me to believe an opportunity might exist: I think an opportunity may exist here because these new regulations will demand an increase in personal data protections for individuals and companies throughout Europe, as well as protections for copyrighted material. It has been suggested that the US might implement similar regulations, and if so, there would be a demand for companies that could facilitate the implementation of such data protections, especially for individuals and small businesses.
Most likely customer with the opportunity: The prototypical customer in this opportunity would be a business that frequently deals with customers' personal data, particularly those in banking and social media, where such leaks have been particularly damaging recently. There may also be individual customers as well, people looking to preserve their data privacy or intellectual property.
Ease of exploitation: This opportunity would be fairly easy to exploit. Although it requires a great degree of knowledge, the actual monetary cost of implementing these protections and the infrastructure necessary to run such a business would be small, with large financial gains to be made.
Why I saw this opportunity: I saw this opportunity because ever since the 2016 election, I have been increasingly concerned with data protection and privacy, and so seeing the implementation of these regulations and the possibility that they may be implemented in the US as well has helped to assuage some of those fears, especially once companies are forced to be more careful with how they handle consumers' data.
Where I found it: jpmorganchase.com
What leads me to believe an opportunity might exist: I believe an opportunity might exist here because as the economies of massively populated countries such as China and India expand rapidly, as well as shifting from export-based to service-based, there will be a newfound demand for American goods, particularly luxury goods and technologies abroad as the spending power of the foreign middle and upper-class increases. Another area this demand will be found is in American intellectual properties, which will see increasing use overseas as well.
Most likely customer with the opportunity: The most likely customer in this opportunity would be a newly middle or upper-class person in any number of rapidly developing economies around the world, be they Chinese, Indian, or Brazilian.
Ease of exploitation: This opportunity would not be particularly difficult to exploit. If a company is large enough that there is demand for its products overseas, chances are they already have the infrastructure in place and the funds to facilitate entry into new markets, especially if those appear to be lucrative.
Why I saw this opportunity: I saw this opportunity because I have a vested interest in international relations as a political science major, and a major part of American influence in international relations comes from the ubiquity of American products and intellectual properties. One needs to look no further than the end of the Cold War to see how much of an effect this can have around the world.
Economic Trends Opportunity 2: Increasing energy demands
Where I found it: jpmorganchase.com
What leads me to believe an opportunity might exist: I think there may be an opportunity here because stabilizing oil prices, rising vehicle exports and purchases, and the continued boom of American oil all point to an increasing need and desire for energy sources, of which oil and other fossil fuels continue to be the most prolific.
Most likely customer with the opportunity: The most likely customer with this opportunity would be governments and companies seeking to import American oil abroad. These countries tend to be developed countries in Europe, as well as in other regions of the world lacking in fossil fuel deposits. This customer base extends from the governmental level all the way down to the individual level, as the citizens of said countries will need access to gas for vehicles.
Ease of exploitation: The ease of exploitation in this opportunity is quite variable. If a company already has the infrastructure to extract the oil and the means to export it, then these new demands will be fairly easy to exploit. However, a company just now entering this industry following the American shale boom would find this exceptionally difficult, given the juggernauts that already occupy the field.
Why I saw this opportunity: I saw this opportunity because I have numerous concerns about the environment and sustainability, and am a major proponent of renewable energy sources. Although the above opportunity presents an excellent chance for capital to enter the American economy, I was also quite dismayed, as it does not appear that oil is anywhere near faltering in the face of the increasing prevalence of renewable resources.
Regulatory Changes Opportunity 1: Trump Administration tariffs against allies and trading partners
Where I found it: businessnewsdaily.com
What leads me to believe an opportunity might exist: I think an opportunity may exist here because with the implementation of tariffs on common and important goods that we typically purchase from such countries as Canada, especially resources such as steel and the like, companies within the US will be looking for sources of these and other products that they can acquire without suffering from the penalties of the tariffs. There also may be further opportunity here as many companies take their production and products overseas to avoid the tariffs, opening up new spaces in US markets.
Most likely customer with the opportunity: The most likely customer with this opportunity would be, in the case of tariffs on raw materials, US companies that rely on trade with Canada and the EU to acquire materials to make their products. Another prototypical customer would be the consumers of products that may cease to be produced or sold in the US because of the tariffs.
Ease of exploitation: I think this opportunity would be rather difficult to exploit. Although there is plenty of room now for new companies to expand, these companies would require significant resources to reach the level of those that left, something that may not be worthwhile in the long run seeing as the above tariffs probably will not remain in place once Trump is out of office.
Why I saw this opportunity: I saw this opportunity because I have a significant interest in world politics, being a political science major, and economic and regulatory policies like the above tariffs play a major role in how the US interacts with and is perceived by other countries, particularly those that we are ostensibly allied with.
Regulatory Changes Opportunity 2: EU General Data Protection Regulations
Where I found it: businessnewsdaily.com
What leads me to believe an opportunity might exist: I think an opportunity may exist here because these new regulations will demand an increase in personal data protections for individuals and companies throughout Europe, as well as protections for copyrighted material. It has been suggested that the US might implement similar regulations, and if so, there would be a demand for companies that could facilitate the implementation of such data protections, especially for individuals and small businesses.
Most likely customer with the opportunity: The prototypical customer in this opportunity would be a business that frequently deals with customers' personal data, particularly those in banking and social media, where such leaks have been particularly damaging recently. There may also be individual customers as well, people looking to preserve their data privacy or intellectual property.
Ease of exploitation: This opportunity would be fairly easy to exploit. Although it requires a great degree of knowledge, the actual monetary cost of implementing these protections and the infrastructure necessary to run such a business would be small, with large financial gains to be made.
Why I saw this opportunity: I saw this opportunity because ever since the 2016 election, I have been increasingly concerned with data protection and privacy, and so seeing the implementation of these regulations and the possibility that they may be implemented in the US as well has helped to assuage some of those fears, especially once companies are forced to be more careful with how they handle consumers' data.
Thursday, September 13, 2018
Identifying Local Opportunities
Opportunity 1:
Title of the article: Florida uninsured rate increases, tops national average
Link to the article: https://www.gainesville.com/news/20180913/florida-uninsured-rate-increases-tops-national-average
Description of the story: This article primarily focuses on the rates of uninsured people both in Alachua County and Florida as a whole. The state-wide rates have risen since last year, with Florida having the fifth-most uninsured citizens in the country. Rates of uninsured in Alachua County have, however, remained relatively the same, though certain age groups have experienced increases or decreases.
Description of the problem: The problem described in this story is lack of health insurance among Floridians.
Who has the problem: Those who have this problem tend to be low-income citizens, typically those with jobs that do not provide health insurance, with most of the uninsured being under forty-five years of age.
Opportunity 2:
Title of the article: National group pushes to protect heat-exposed workers
Link to the article: https://www.gainesville.com/news/20180902/national-group-pushes-to-protect-heat-exposed-workers
Description of the story: This article describes an effort by the non-profit Public Citizen, along with other consumer and worker protection groups, to get the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to create a set of concrete rules that businesses must follow regarding employees who are exposed to excessive heat and sun through their work.
Description of the problem: The problem described in this story is the lack of concrete rules and regulations in place to protect workers who are frequently exposed to excessive amounts of heat and sun, often with little or no opportunity to get out of the sun, or financial reasons to continue working despite the dangers of exposure.
Who has the problem: This problem primarily affects workers who spend extended periods of time in the sun through their work, such as agricultural laborers and construction workers. Workers who do not speak English are particularly at risk, because the financial burden of not working may force them to carry on despite the risks, or they may fear retaliation from their bosses.
Opportunity 3:
Title of the article: Alligator attacks on the rise
Link to the article: https://www.gainesville.com/news/20180902/alligator-attacks-on-rise
Description of the story: This story describes the rising number of alligator attacks in Florida. These attacks, which have increased as alligator populations have recovered since their time on the endangered species list, have in some cases even resulted in deaths. To prevent these attacks, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission frequently issues special permits to hunt what they refer to as "nuisance alligators", animals which are over four feet long and reported near humans.
Description of the problem: The problem described in this story is that there are an increasing number of alligator attacks in Florida, with some even causing deaths.
Who has the problem: This problem primarily affects those spending their time near bodies of water in which alligators dwell, such as lakes and ponds. People walking dogs near these waters are particularly at risk, as well as small children and others who could be seen as potential prey by the alligators.
Opportunity 4:
Title of the article: Hunger in Alachua County is real, but groups work to help
Link to the article: https://www.gainesville.com/news/20180912/hunger-in-alachua-county-is-real-but-groups-work-to-help
Description of the story: This story describes the issue of food insecurity in Alachua County, and what is being done to combat this issue by local organizations. Food insecurity is a major problem for many in the area, particularly for children. The problem of food security comes not from there being a lack of food, but because food insecure families often do not have access to food. The local organization Bread of the Mighty is seeking to change this by working with local donors and distributors to get food to people in need.
Description of the problem: The problem described in this article is that of food insecurity and hunger among citizens of Alachua County and its neighbors.
Who has the problem: This problem typically affects low-income families, who lack the means to purchase food. Children are particularly susceptible to issues of hunger and food insecurity as well.
Opportunity 5:
Title of the article: Plenty of rain, plenty of mosquitoes, and more related illness
Link to the article: https://www.gainesville.com/sports/20180911/plenty-of-rain-plenty-of-mosquitoes-and-more-related-illness
Description of the story: This story describes the issue of mosquitoes and mosquito-born illnesses in Florida. Given the large amounts of rain that the state has experienced since last winter, illnesses spread by mosquitoes are on the rise in sentinel animals as well as in humans. These diseases include West Nile Virus, which can be treated but not cured in humans, and in rare cases can be lethal. Various precautions are noted as well, mostly concerning camping and outdoor activities, where exposure to mosquitoes is highest.
Description of the problem: The problem described in this article is that of rising mosquito populations and increased cases of mosquito-born illnesses in Florida.
Who has the problem: This problem is most prevalent in people spending extended periods of time outside, particularly at times when mosquitoes are more active such as dusk. Campers are the most often affected by these illnesses, often due to inadequate preparations with precautionary measures such as insect repellant and long clothing.
Title of the article: Florida uninsured rate increases, tops national average
Link to the article: https://www.gainesville.com/news/20180913/florida-uninsured-rate-increases-tops-national-average
Description of the story: This article primarily focuses on the rates of uninsured people both in Alachua County and Florida as a whole. The state-wide rates have risen since last year, with Florida having the fifth-most uninsured citizens in the country. Rates of uninsured in Alachua County have, however, remained relatively the same, though certain age groups have experienced increases or decreases.
Description of the problem: The problem described in this story is lack of health insurance among Floridians.
Who has the problem: Those who have this problem tend to be low-income citizens, typically those with jobs that do not provide health insurance, with most of the uninsured being under forty-five years of age.
Opportunity 2:
Title of the article: National group pushes to protect heat-exposed workers
Link to the article: https://www.gainesville.com/news/20180902/national-group-pushes-to-protect-heat-exposed-workers
Description of the story: This article describes an effort by the non-profit Public Citizen, along with other consumer and worker protection groups, to get the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to create a set of concrete rules that businesses must follow regarding employees who are exposed to excessive heat and sun through their work.
Description of the problem: The problem described in this story is the lack of concrete rules and regulations in place to protect workers who are frequently exposed to excessive amounts of heat and sun, often with little or no opportunity to get out of the sun, or financial reasons to continue working despite the dangers of exposure.
Who has the problem: This problem primarily affects workers who spend extended periods of time in the sun through their work, such as agricultural laborers and construction workers. Workers who do not speak English are particularly at risk, because the financial burden of not working may force them to carry on despite the risks, or they may fear retaliation from their bosses.
Opportunity 3:
Title of the article: Alligator attacks on the rise
Link to the article: https://www.gainesville.com/news/20180902/alligator-attacks-on-rise
Description of the story: This story describes the rising number of alligator attacks in Florida. These attacks, which have increased as alligator populations have recovered since their time on the endangered species list, have in some cases even resulted in deaths. To prevent these attacks, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission frequently issues special permits to hunt what they refer to as "nuisance alligators", animals which are over four feet long and reported near humans.
Description of the problem: The problem described in this story is that there are an increasing number of alligator attacks in Florida, with some even causing deaths.
Who has the problem: This problem primarily affects those spending their time near bodies of water in which alligators dwell, such as lakes and ponds. People walking dogs near these waters are particularly at risk, as well as small children and others who could be seen as potential prey by the alligators.
Opportunity 4:
Title of the article: Hunger in Alachua County is real, but groups work to help
Link to the article: https://www.gainesville.com/news/20180912/hunger-in-alachua-county-is-real-but-groups-work-to-help
Description of the story: This story describes the issue of food insecurity in Alachua County, and what is being done to combat this issue by local organizations. Food insecurity is a major problem for many in the area, particularly for children. The problem of food security comes not from there being a lack of food, but because food insecure families often do not have access to food. The local organization Bread of the Mighty is seeking to change this by working with local donors and distributors to get food to people in need.
Description of the problem: The problem described in this article is that of food insecurity and hunger among citizens of Alachua County and its neighbors.
Who has the problem: This problem typically affects low-income families, who lack the means to purchase food. Children are particularly susceptible to issues of hunger and food insecurity as well.
Opportunity 5:
Title of the article: Plenty of rain, plenty of mosquitoes, and more related illness
Link to the article: https://www.gainesville.com/sports/20180911/plenty-of-rain-plenty-of-mosquitoes-and-more-related-illness
Description of the story: This story describes the issue of mosquitoes and mosquito-born illnesses in Florida. Given the large amounts of rain that the state has experienced since last winter, illnesses spread by mosquitoes are on the rise in sentinel animals as well as in humans. These diseases include West Nile Virus, which can be treated but not cured in humans, and in rare cases can be lethal. Various precautions are noted as well, mostly concerning camping and outdoor activities, where exposure to mosquitoes is highest.
Description of the problem: The problem described in this article is that of rising mosquito populations and increased cases of mosquito-born illnesses in Florida.
Who has the problem: This problem is most prevalent in people spending extended periods of time outside, particularly at times when mosquitoes are more active such as dusk. Campers are the most often affected by these illnesses, often due to inadequate preparations with precautionary measures such as insect repellant and long clothing.
Friday, September 7, 2018
Forming an Opportunity Belief
Beginning point: I believe that an opportunity exists in the expansion of cannabidiol, a non-intoxicating chemical derived from cannabis, medical treatments currently used on humans to animals.
Describing the belief: The unmet need of this opportunity is for veterinary medication that is organic, all-natural, and does not have the negative side-effects traditionally associated with painkillers and other pharmaceuticals. This need is found primarily in those who have pets, specifically those with animals that are either old, ill, or genetically prone to debilitating illnesses. This need has always existed, there have always been medical issues associated with pets, especially those that are old. Currently, this need is being met with traditional pharmaceuticals, both those aimed at animals as well as those aimed at humans which are prescribed to animals in reduced doses. At this point I am about 80% sure that this opportunity exists. If it does not it is not because there is no need but because that need has already been met in this way.
Prototypical customer #1: This customer, my mom, is a pet-owner first and foremost. She also has multiple animals that are getting into old age and beginning to experience side-effects relating to that such as seizures and joint pain. One of her animals, a doberman, is genetically predisposed towards hip and joint problems due to its large size.
Iteration #1:
Q: Why might you have a use for an all-natural, CBD-based treatment for your animals?
A: "I've done a little bit of research on CBD and animals, and have found that it can be particularly useful in cases associated with aging. We have older animals in our household and I think the first consideration would be the method of delivery, if it were easy to mix into food and promote better health for them all around, I would much prefer that to having to force pills or skin treatments on them."
Q: Under what circumstances are you made aware of the potential of this treatment, how often?
A: "I've experienced a need for this at an increasing rate as my animals have gotten older, but would also consider it for younger animals experiencing similar problems. My inclination is to say that I would use it regularly and I find myself more and more interested based on the needs of our animals."
Q: How long have you thought about the use of CBD treatments?
A: "I would say it's been a month or two since the need has expressed itself, but it's only been a week or so since I was exposed to the idea of CBD treatments for humans after going to a pharmacy that sells non-traditional treatments for humans."
Q: How long ago did you first consider the use of CBD treatments for your pets, why?
A: "It crossed my mind while searching for some treatments for some of my husbands ailments recently, and after learning it could be helpful for him it was easy to extrapolate that it might be useful for my animals as well."
Q: How are you currently addressing the treatment of your pets' medical issues, are you satisfied with your current options?
A: "I'm currently addressing the medical needs of my animals through the use of traditional medicines. We use sedatives in a pill form for one dog that is experiencing seizures, and a gel-based medicine for another animal that is experiencing thyroid problems. I am satisfied with these treatments because they work and alleviate pain and negative symptoms from the animals, but the manner of use and side-effects do not satisfy me. It is often difficult to administer pills to the dogs, and the pills often change their behavior for the worse, making them sluggish. The gels also are often toxic if accidentally ingested, making it necessary to closely watch them during treatment."
Prototypical customer #2: This customer, my girlfriend, runs a non-profit which seeks to neuter feral cats, treat sick ferals, and find people to adopt those ferals that are able to be socialized with humans. She is also a pet-owner herself, and one of her animals, a dog, is quite old, with lasting injuries from being hit by a car as a puppy. She is also very interested in all-natural medicines for her animals.
Iteration #2:
Q: Why might you have a use for an all-natural, CBD-based treatment for your animals?
A: "My organization treats cats with suffering from numerous different ailments, from small things such as cuts from fighting to the accumulated wear of old age and living as a feral outdoors. CBD treatments would see a lot of use in our organization: not only could we use it to treat animals recovering from neutering and other potentially painful surgeries, but we could also use it in treating cats that are older and may not adjust well to the side-effects of traditional medications in their old age."
Q: Under what circumstances are you made aware of the potential of this treatment, how often?
A: The frequency of which I am made aware of the potential of CBD treatment is not very often, but when I am the possibilities of this treatment are obvious. Most often this comes when we are treating an animal that requires expensive medications. Although we work with local vets and get discounts on commonly used medications, CBD treatments would be more efficient and cost-effective given their wide applicability."
Q: How long have you thought about the use of CBD treatments?
A: "I have been thinking about the use of CBD treatments for some time, especially as their availability for humans as increased in the past few months here in Florida."
Q: How long ago did you first consider the use of CBD treatments for your pets, why?
A: "I first considered CBD treatment for my own animals, as well as the charges of my organization, after another woman involved in our rescue group mentioned her exploration of the topic. She is also curious about all-natural treatments, and has helped to incorporate such treatments for things like fleas and mites into the organization."
Q: How are you currently addressing the treatment of your pets' medical issues, are you satisfied with your current options?
A: "The day-to-day needs of the organization's cats are handled through certain all-natural remedies that help with flea removal, but outside of those we have to rely on traditional medications such as ear and eye drops, which can be difficult to administer to feral cats. I also have a dog that suffers from diabetes and behavioral issues due to being hit by a car as a puppy, and I treat the diabetes with injected insulin just like a person would. I am satisfied with these because the current treatments do help, but they are just so hard to administer, especially on a large scale. It's taxing."
Prototypical customer #3: This customer, my aunt, is also a pet-owner, and also has experience with older animals and the medical issues they can experience. Although her older cat passed away some time ago, she has younger ones that could potentially benefit from treatments as well.
Iteration #3:
Q: Why might you have a use for an all-natural, CBD-based treatment for your animals?
A: "Although all of my animals that I currently have are young and healthy, I had a cat before them that lived to be roughly twenty years old, and as he got older and older the health issues I had to deal with, and the medicines prescribed for those issues, became a lot to deal with considering his age. I have also heard that CBD can be used to treat more everyday ailments, so it could be useful before my current pets reach old age."
Q: Under what circumstances are you made aware of the potential of this treatment, how often?
A: I have mostly been made aware of the potential of CBD treatments from the human side of things. As cannabis has been legalized in my state for medical purposes, there has been more and more news coverage and publicity regarding the medical benefits of cannabis, as well as its derivatives like CBD. Lately this publicity has reached me pretty often, especially since I frequently travel out of the state for work."
Q: How long have you thought about the use of CBD treatments?
A: "I have thought about the use of CBD treatments quite a bit recently. I think I certainly would have considered their use when Louie was still alive, but that was a few years ago, and the use of CBD to treat illness in people has only really reached my area in the past year or so."
Q: How long ago did you first consider the use of CBD treatments for your pets, why?
A: "I only considered the use of CBD for my pets fairly recently when one of them seemed to be having some leg pains after spending some time outdoors. The pains ended up passing without issue but CBD as an option has stuck with me."
Q: How are you currently addressing the treatment of your pets' medical issues, are you satisfied with your current options?
A: "Currently I have a wonderful vet who I go to for my cats' healthcare needs. Thankfully none of them have experienced anything too serious, and when something has come up the vet has generally prescribed traditional medicines that have worked out well. I am definitely satisfied with these options so far, but it is nice to know that there are options out there that may be better for my cats' quality of life once they grow a bit older."
Describing the belief: The unmet need of this opportunity is for veterinary medication that is organic, all-natural, and does not have the negative side-effects traditionally associated with painkillers and other pharmaceuticals. This need is found primarily in those who have pets, specifically those with animals that are either old, ill, or genetically prone to debilitating illnesses. This need has always existed, there have always been medical issues associated with pets, especially those that are old. Currently, this need is being met with traditional pharmaceuticals, both those aimed at animals as well as those aimed at humans which are prescribed to animals in reduced doses. At this point I am about 80% sure that this opportunity exists. If it does not it is not because there is no need but because that need has already been met in this way.
Prototypical customer #1: This customer, my mom, is a pet-owner first and foremost. She also has multiple animals that are getting into old age and beginning to experience side-effects relating to that such as seizures and joint pain. One of her animals, a doberman, is genetically predisposed towards hip and joint problems due to its large size.
Iteration #1:
Q: Why might you have a use for an all-natural, CBD-based treatment for your animals?
A: "I've done a little bit of research on CBD and animals, and have found that it can be particularly useful in cases associated with aging. We have older animals in our household and I think the first consideration would be the method of delivery, if it were easy to mix into food and promote better health for them all around, I would much prefer that to having to force pills or skin treatments on them."
Q: Under what circumstances are you made aware of the potential of this treatment, how often?
A: "I've experienced a need for this at an increasing rate as my animals have gotten older, but would also consider it for younger animals experiencing similar problems. My inclination is to say that I would use it regularly and I find myself more and more interested based on the needs of our animals."
Q: How long have you thought about the use of CBD treatments?
A: "I would say it's been a month or two since the need has expressed itself, but it's only been a week or so since I was exposed to the idea of CBD treatments for humans after going to a pharmacy that sells non-traditional treatments for humans."
Q: How long ago did you first consider the use of CBD treatments for your pets, why?
A: "It crossed my mind while searching for some treatments for some of my husbands ailments recently, and after learning it could be helpful for him it was easy to extrapolate that it might be useful for my animals as well."
Q: How are you currently addressing the treatment of your pets' medical issues, are you satisfied with your current options?
A: "I'm currently addressing the medical needs of my animals through the use of traditional medicines. We use sedatives in a pill form for one dog that is experiencing seizures, and a gel-based medicine for another animal that is experiencing thyroid problems. I am satisfied with these treatments because they work and alleviate pain and negative symptoms from the animals, but the manner of use and side-effects do not satisfy me. It is often difficult to administer pills to the dogs, and the pills often change their behavior for the worse, making them sluggish. The gels also are often toxic if accidentally ingested, making it necessary to closely watch them during treatment."
Prototypical customer #2: This customer, my girlfriend, runs a non-profit which seeks to neuter feral cats, treat sick ferals, and find people to adopt those ferals that are able to be socialized with humans. She is also a pet-owner herself, and one of her animals, a dog, is quite old, with lasting injuries from being hit by a car as a puppy. She is also very interested in all-natural medicines for her animals.
Iteration #2:
Q: Why might you have a use for an all-natural, CBD-based treatment for your animals?
A: "My organization treats cats with suffering from numerous different ailments, from small things such as cuts from fighting to the accumulated wear of old age and living as a feral outdoors. CBD treatments would see a lot of use in our organization: not only could we use it to treat animals recovering from neutering and other potentially painful surgeries, but we could also use it in treating cats that are older and may not adjust well to the side-effects of traditional medications in their old age."
Q: Under what circumstances are you made aware of the potential of this treatment, how often?
A: The frequency of which I am made aware of the potential of CBD treatment is not very often, but when I am the possibilities of this treatment are obvious. Most often this comes when we are treating an animal that requires expensive medications. Although we work with local vets and get discounts on commonly used medications, CBD treatments would be more efficient and cost-effective given their wide applicability."
Q: How long have you thought about the use of CBD treatments?
A: "I have been thinking about the use of CBD treatments for some time, especially as their availability for humans as increased in the past few months here in Florida."
Q: How long ago did you first consider the use of CBD treatments for your pets, why?
A: "I first considered CBD treatment for my own animals, as well as the charges of my organization, after another woman involved in our rescue group mentioned her exploration of the topic. She is also curious about all-natural treatments, and has helped to incorporate such treatments for things like fleas and mites into the organization."
Q: How are you currently addressing the treatment of your pets' medical issues, are you satisfied with your current options?
A: "The day-to-day needs of the organization's cats are handled through certain all-natural remedies that help with flea removal, but outside of those we have to rely on traditional medications such as ear and eye drops, which can be difficult to administer to feral cats. I also have a dog that suffers from diabetes and behavioral issues due to being hit by a car as a puppy, and I treat the diabetes with injected insulin just like a person would. I am satisfied with these because the current treatments do help, but they are just so hard to administer, especially on a large scale. It's taxing."
Iteration #3:
Q: Why might you have a use for an all-natural, CBD-based treatment for your animals?
A: "Although all of my animals that I currently have are young and healthy, I had a cat before them that lived to be roughly twenty years old, and as he got older and older the health issues I had to deal with, and the medicines prescribed for those issues, became a lot to deal with considering his age. I have also heard that CBD can be used to treat more everyday ailments, so it could be useful before my current pets reach old age."
Q: Under what circumstances are you made aware of the potential of this treatment, how often?
A: I have mostly been made aware of the potential of CBD treatments from the human side of things. As cannabis has been legalized in my state for medical purposes, there has been more and more news coverage and publicity regarding the medical benefits of cannabis, as well as its derivatives like CBD. Lately this publicity has reached me pretty often, especially since I frequently travel out of the state for work."
Q: How long have you thought about the use of CBD treatments?
A: "I have thought about the use of CBD treatments quite a bit recently. I think I certainly would have considered their use when Louie was still alive, but that was a few years ago, and the use of CBD to treat illness in people has only really reached my area in the past year or so."
Q: How long ago did you first consider the use of CBD treatments for your pets, why?
A: "I only considered the use of CBD for my pets fairly recently when one of them seemed to be having some leg pains after spending some time outdoors. The pains ended up passing without issue but CBD as an option has stuck with me."
Q: How are you currently addressing the treatment of your pets' medical issues, are you satisfied with your current options?
A: "Currently I have a wonderful vet who I go to for my cats' healthcare needs. Thankfully none of them have experienced anything too serious, and when something has come up the vet has generally prescribed traditional medicines that have worked out well. I am definitely satisfied with these options so far, but it is nice to know that there are options out there that may be better for my cats' quality of life once they grow a bit older."
Reflection: I learned a lot of useful information from these interviews, some of which was very surprising. Probably the most significant thing to come out of the three iterations was that they really illustrated just how widely applicable CBD treatments are for anybody, but especially animals. This was not surprising to me, but the confirmation helped in further forming my opportunity belief. What was surprising to me was how widely circulated information about CBD has become. Although I picked people to interview who I knew were fairly knowledgeable about animal healthcare, typically out of necessity, I was not expecting all three people to have such extensive knowledge on the topic. It does make sense, however, given how quickly CBD treatment is growing as a medical field for humans. Another thing that stuck out to me as significant, and surprising, is how dissatisfied many people are with traditional medicines for their animals. Pets are like family members to practically everybody who owns one, and it seems that like with people, pet-owners are willing to explore any option, even ones that are relatively new, in the hopes of making their animals' lives better.
Summary: After conducting my interviews, I think it is safe to say that not only is the majority of my opportunity belief still there, but it's even stronger than when I started. These interviews confirmed to me that this is something people want and need for their pets, especially as traditional medicines become even more expensive. The only way in which these interviews might have changed my opportunity belief negatively at all is that, just based on the sheer amount of interest from the interviewees and their knowledge of these treatments, I would be surprised if there weren't already products in this field of medicine aimed at pets. I do believe, though, that the interviews have made my opportunity belief more accurate. A large part of this newfound accuracy comes from the knowledge I learned in my interviews, mostly the parts regarding what CBD treatments can be used for. I knew they had applications as painkillers and sedatives from research I'd done regarding CBD treatment of people, but I had no idea that the treatment was so widely applicable. Based on this whole experience, I think there is a happy medium to be found regarding how much opportunity beliefs should change based on the input of consumers. Changing too much to fit the consumers could easily backfire, especially if it turns out that the changes the focus group wants are not ones that are popular on a larger scale. However, not changing at all can be dangerous. Changes might not be necessary, but if they are necessary then it is certainly important to at least consider those changes.
My Bug List
1a. The drivers of the Gainesville RTS buses often drive without regard for the people forced to stand due to overcrowding.
1b. This bug exists because buses are most likely difficult to drive and even more difficult to quickly brake.
2a. The handle on my microwave broke off due to its inability to open without the use of excessive force.
2b. This bug exists because the microwave is most likely older and the door may not open as easily as it once did.
3a. My Chromebook laptop frequently shuts down while I am in the middle of doing work.
3b. This bug exists because the Chromebook is reaching the end of its life and cannot keep up with my use of it.
4a. My phone's touchscreen is sometimes unresponsive or slow to respond to input.
4b. This bug exists because the phone is a lower-end model and cannot keep up with my use of it.
5a. The Office of Student Financial Affairs is adverse to giving me something even resembling a straight answer.
5b. This bug exists because often the Office of Student Financial Affairs probably does not have a straight answer to give me.
6a. Spotify is inconsistent in the dates on which it pulls payments for Spotify Premium out of my bank account.
6b. This bug exists because Spotify most likely staggers and has automated their payment system, resulting in payments that are charged based off of something outside of human control.
7a. The bed frame that came with my furnished apartment is a bit too large for the mattress that it came with, resulting in plenty of bruises.
7b. This bug exists because the mattresses in the furnished apartments are probably newer to keep up with cleanliness standards.
8a. The app I use to keep track of my work schedule does not give me notifications on upcoming shifts, which resulted in me being late to work a month ago.
8b. This bug exists because the app is a fairly niche service and there is probably not much demand for notifications in the first place.
9a. Winn-Dixie, the closest grocery store to my apartment, went out of business, forcing me to take the bus to go get groceries.
9b. This bug exists because the Winn-Dixie by my apartment was the least profitable one in Gainesville due to its location and so was closed.
10a. The pool at my apartment complex is only like four feet deep throughout the whole pool.
10b. This bug exists because there are probably safety concerns regarding the pool since there is not a lifeguard on duty.
11a. A card I mailed for a family member's birthday reached her several days late, despite me giving it to the office to send out well before her birthday.
11b. This bug probably exists because there may have been larger than usual quantities of mail as people tried to get things shipped out before Labor Day weekend.
12a. Hulu still plays large numbers of ads, despite the fact that I pay for it monthly.
12b. This bug exists because Hulu must keep up with the rising costs of providing current and updated television and movie content.
13a. UF sends out no reminders for students to submit their health insurance waivers, resulting in a charge for health insurance that I neither want nor need.
13b. This bug exists because UF wants to make it easier and less confusing to provide insurance to students who do need it from them, or so they can make more money off of forgetful students.
14a. Upon washing my pillows in the washer I found that they had gone from pillow-shaped to amorphous blob-shaped.
14b. This bug exists because the pillows I got were the cheap five dollar pillows from Walmart.
15a. Most restaurants on campus have incredibly inconsistent hours during the summer semesters, particularly those in the Reitz Union.
15b. This bug exists because most restaurants on campus are staffed by students and the availability of said staff is most likely inconsistent during the summer semesters.
16a. News websites that I frequently read place their content behind a paywall after I have read a certain number of articles.
16b. This bug exists because printed news services are having an increasingly difficult time keeping up with competitors on television and on the internet, necessitating a subscription service similar to those through which they provide newspapers.
17a. It took an extra year for Innovation Academy students to receive full Bright Futures like the rest of UF, derailing my plans for last fall.
17b. This bug exists because the Innovation Academy was created through its own piece of legislation and as such was not included in the initial test run for full Bright Futures.
18a. The 34 bus does not stop at the same stops as the 20 when they go down 34th Avenue, and the driver of the 34 was condescending when he informed me of that fact.
18b. This bug exists because the 34 has additional stops further up the road from where the 20 turns onto 34th Avenue, defeating the purpose of a stop so close to the next one.
19a. Table space at Gamesville Tabletop changed from a free system to a paid membership system.
19b. This bug exists because the store has found a commodity that people will pay money for, something that will help them compete with online shopping like Amazon and stay in business.
20a. The board game Kingdom Death: Monster is next to impossible to obtain outside of Kickstarters or massively inflated eBay auctions.
20b. This bug exists because Kingdom Death: Monster is a very niche game that is expensive and time-consuming to produce due to the high quality of its components.
Going into this assignment, I did not think I would find it particularly difficult to come up with 20 things that annoy me because, unfortunately, there are many, many things that annoy me. However, as I started writing I hit a couple obstacles. The first of these obstacles was that many of the things that annoy me are things that I myself can personally change, often because these annoyances are the result of my own actions. The second obstacle I encountered was the fact that many of the things that annoy me do not involve a service or product, and because of this do not present much of an opportunity from an entrepreneurial standpoint. After coming to these two conclusions, writing the bug list became much easier for me because I was able to narrow down the things that bugged me to those that involved products and services in my life.
My Entrepreneurship Story
My entrepreneurship story takes place quite recently, in the summer of 2017. I am in the Innovation Academy, and one of the courses for the innovation minor, Creativity in Action, involves an entrepreneurship competition called Catalyst. Each summer, a Catalyst theme is announced, and all students in Creativity in Action participating in Catalyst develop an innovative idea for a product or business and present it to judges. These judges tend to be local leaders in business and entrepreneurship, and as such this contest provides a way for students to get their foot in the door either with their own products or with one of the judges. When I participated in Catalyst, our theme was public health. My group decided to tackle the issue of medical noncompliance. Initially we sought to address this issue in elderly populations, but given that our product, Med-ID, incorporated an app and smartphones, we decided to switch to another demographic that has issues with medical noncompliance: millennials. Med-ID itself was an app that, through the use of near-field communication technology available in smartphones, could be synced up with NFC stickers that would be attached to pharmaceutical packaging, utilizing customized alarms and other medical information to increase the proper use of prescribed medications. Although my group did not end up winning any awards for this product, I still feel that it gave me my first real brush with entrepreneurship, and left me wanting more.
I am enrolled in ENT 3003 primarily because it is a vital aspect of the innovation minor, but also for reasons beyond that. Throughout my time working on the innovation minor I have had trouble finding ways that it ties in with my double-major in history and political science. In taking this course, I am hoping that I may find a better understanding of how I can incorporate entrepreneurship and innovation into my majors.
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