Forming an opportunity belief

I believe that an opportunity exists to make car seats more comfortable.  The unmet need is that, with the exception of ultra-luxurious cars, most car seats are not comfortable beyond 3 hours or so.  Why can't a car seat be as comfortable as a couch?  There should be plush, very comfortable inserts for car seats that prevent your butt from getting sore on long drives.

  The people who have this need are those who own a car that is not extremely luxurious and who drive their car on long trips.  This need has existed since people have owned cars that are reliable and fast enough to use on long journeys.  So probably since the late 1940s.  There are currently some car seat comfort solutions on the market, but they are all unattractive cushions that are not integrated well into the design of the seat.  I found a couple of exceptions that do include the backrest portion, but they are still not very attractive.  I want there to be seat cushions that include backrests, wrap around to the back of the seat, and that are offered in different styles to suit different seat types.  At this point, I am 50% sure that this opportunity exists.  The prototypical customer is someone who's butt gets sore easily, or who is elderly, or who has an injury that makes it easy for them to be uncomfortable in a normal car seat.

The first prototypical customer I spoke to is my mom, who has chronic back pain.  

1. What is the exact nature off your need for a more comfortable car seat?  “It would be nice to have for any journey over an hour long.”

2. When do you feel the need for a more comfortable car seat?  “Whenever I have to drive for a long time.”

3. How long have you felt the need for a more comfortable car seat?  “It’s gotten worse since I started having joint problems.”

4. When did you first become aware of the need for a more comfortable car seat, and why did you become aware of it?  “When we moved up to High Springs and had to make a lot of trips back and forth to Tampa.  And it’s because I started getting sore on those drives.”

5. How are you currently addressing the need for a more comfortable car seat?  “I am not.”

6. How satisfied are you with the current solution?  “I make due, but I would like more comfort.”

The second prototypical customer I spoke to is my Aunt Kim, who often drives from Jacksonville to Saint Petersburg.  

1. What is the exact nature off your need for a more comfortable car seat?  “I don’t need it, but I want it.”

2. When do you feel the need for a more comfortable car seat?  “Anytime I have to make a long drive.”

3. How long have you felt the need for a more comfortable car seat?  “It’s something I’ve wanted since I had kids.”

4. When did you first become aware of the need for a more comfortable car seat, and why did you become aware of it?  “Probably when we moved to our new place in Jacksonville.  And I just felt it because I was uncomfortable.”

5. How are you currently addressing the need for a more comfortable car seat?  “The Impala we got is pretty good, but I could still use more comfort.”

6. How satisfied are you with the current solution?  “I like the car, but like I said, I could use more comfort.”

The third prototypical customer I spoke to is my best friend, Bryce, who gets muscle cramps in his legs during long drives.  

1. What is the exact nature off your need for a more comfortable car seat?  “My butt gets very sore."

2. When do you feel the need for a more comfortable car seat?  "When I am driving.  Especially over long distances."

3. How long have you felt the need for a more comfortable car seat?  “For about 1.5 years, since that is when I started driving long-distances more often”

4. When did you first become aware of the need for a more comfortable car seat, and why did you become aware of it?  “During a long trip to Georgia, when my butt got very sore.”

5. How are you currently addressing the need for a more comfortable car seat?  “I just suck it up.”

6. How satisfied are you with the current solution?  “It’s fine.”

I learned that my opportunity is something that people would like to have, but they aren’t actively seeking to do something about it.  In all three cases, none of the people I interviewed thought to seek out a way to make their car seat more comfortable.  It seems like most people are content to just deal with it, because they aren’t aware that there are inexpensive products that can solve the problem.  The most surprising thing I learned about my opportunity is that none of the people I interviewed had considered going out to find a solution to the problem.

I still believe that there could be an opportunity with comfortable car seat inserts, but it’s less likely than before, as most people seem to be content dealing with the discomfort they experience while driving long distance.  I myself have never seen advertising for comfortable car seat inserts, so perhaps most people just aren’t aware that a solution to the problem does exist.  I would still keep my opportunity the same and focus on marketing so people know that it actually exists.  I think that customer feedback is critically important to a product’s success, and that entrepreneurs should let potential customers test early versions of their products before they officially launch them.

Identifying Local Opportunities

Number One:
Title: Braddy withdraws in D-3 race
https://www.gainesville.com/news/20200130/braddy-withdraws-in-d-3-race

In this article, Ed Braddy, who is the chairman of Alachua County's Republican party, announced that he is dropping out of the running to replace representative Ted Yoho.  He is dropping out because he feels that the other candidates are too difficult to compete with.

The problem is that Ed Braddy lacks the resources to effectively compete with the other Republican candidates, so it is not worth it for him to continue to run against them.  There is an opportunity to create a strategy to make Braddy a more competitive candidate.

The people who have this problem are Ed Braddy, his family, his supporters, his advisors, and his campaign manager.

Number two:
Title: Pedestrian, 16, dies after being hit by car
https://www.gainesville.com/news/20200130/pedestrian-16-dies-after-being-hit-by-car

A 16-year-old was hit by a car traveling in the same direction as they were.  They got to Shands Hospital in critical condition, where they succumbed to their injuries.

The problem is that the driver of the car was not being as careful or attentive as they should have been, and a young person died as a result of their negligence.  There is an opportunity to create a program that raises awareness for pedestrian safety.

Who has the problem?  The teen who died, their family, their friends, the person who hit them, as well as their family and friends, the insurance companies involved, any police involved, EMT staff, Shands hospital, whoever repairs the car, the school where the 16-year-old went.

Number three:
High-Priority voilations: Alachua County restaurant inspections
https://www.gainesville.com/photogallery/LK/20200129/PHOTOGALLERY/129009984/PH/1

The results of recent restaurant inspections were published.  **For the sake of being brief, I will focus on the inspection results of Ichiban Sushi, which is my favorite sushi place in Gainesville.**
Ichiban had five violations. 1) The chlorine sanitizer in the dishwasher was not strong enough. 2) One employee went from handling dirty dishes to clean dishes without first washing their hands. 3) Raw fish was stored on a shelf above fresh vegetables. 4) Glass cleaner was stored near single-service items. 5) One of the employee sinks lacked a handwashing sign.

The problem is that Ichiban was violating certain health-code guidelines.  There is an opportunity to provide restaurants with common health code violations so they can properly train their employees to avoid such violations.

Who has the problem?  The health inspector, the employees, the restaurant owner, the people who eat there, the restaurant's suppliers.

Number 4:
As Clarence Thomas arrives to teach, some students protest
https://www.gainesville.com/news/20200127/as-clarence-thomas-arrives-to-teach-some-students-protest
Clarence Thomas will be co-teaching at the University for two weeks, and some students are unhappy that he has been invited.  This is because he was accused of sexual harassment in 1991, and they believe that it creates an unfavorable environment for those who have experienced sexual harassment.  The students protesting him also wish that students would have more input on who comes to speak on campus in the future.

The problem is that the University felt that Clarence Thomas would be a good choice to teach this two-week class, but there is a group of students who believe the sexual harassment allegations made about him and would prefer that he would not have been chosen to teach the class.  There is an opportunity to make merchandise to sell at the protest.

Who has the problem?  Clarence Thomas, the University administration, the students protesting, the students in the class, the other teacher co-teaching the class, anyone who is bothered by the protest, any other students who do not want Clarence Thomas here, UFPD.

Number 5:
Pilot dead after plane crash near Lake City home
https://www.gainesville.com/news/20200125/pilot-dead-after-plane-crash-near-lake-city-home

A small plane crashed in the front yard of a home in Lake City near Cannon Creek Airpark.  The pilot died, and the crash caused a small fire on the roof at one corner of the house.

The problem is that a pilot died when their plane crashed in someone's front yard.  The yard and roof of the house are damaged, and there is debris to clean up.  An opportunity exists to fix the house and yard.

Who has the problem?  The pilot, their family, the homeowner, their family, firemen, EMT, police, the FAA, the plane manufacturer (Piper), the neighbors.

My Entrepreneurship Story

My interest in entrepreneurship was sparked when I met Peter Sontag.  Back in 2018, I was attending the St. Petersburg Festivals of Speed with my Uncle David, and I was telling him about a lovely, metallic dark-green Porsche Panamera GTS.  A woman in her mid-30s, named Tasha, overheard me and was very impressed with my knowledge and enthusiasm for automobiles.  We struck up a conversation, and she asked if I would be interested in interning with the company she works for.  That company was Fast Lane Travel, and after reviewing their brochure and seeing that they conduct luxury Porsche driving tours through Europe, my answer was an emphatic yes.  She told me to send her my resume and cover letter, and that she would try to put in a good word for me to Peter.  Fast-forward two months, and I arrived in their office in Oldsmar to interview for the position.  My interview with Peter was unconventional, to say the least.  Peter is a rather short, 75-year old man with round glasses, a short temper, and a fantastic sense of humor.  My interview consisted of me sitting-in while he and the VP resolved a crisis with a custom Porsche trip that they were planning for a client and his family.  Expletives were plentiful as he tried to figure out how to reserve parking for the client at an Alpine restaurant that does not normally make such accommodations.  Occasionally, he would look over at me, ask me a question, like what I was studying, or why I wanted to work there, and then he went back into crisis mode.  He also cracked a few jokes here and there, which I enjoyed, but overall it felt very informal and not at all what I expected.  When I left, I didn't feel like he was that interested in having me work there, mainly because they already had another intern, Tina, who I met while I was there.  As I was driving home, however, I got a call from Peter, and he said that I was a very impressive young man and that he would like me to work there as soon as possible, which blew me away!

I worked at Fast Lane Travel (FLT) for two summers, in 2018 and 2019.  I learned a lot about planning a trip to another country: coordinating with hotels, arranging travel for clients, securing the Porsche rentals for the customers to drive in Europe, accommodating special requests, finding exciting excursions for customers to enjoy, selecting fabulous dining options, and much more.  I also got to learn a lot about Peter and the extraordinary life he lived.  He was born in post-war Vienna, where he grew up.  As a teenager, he worked at a local hotel, where an American businessman befriended him and helped him come to America.  He fought in Vietnam, worked in a steel mill while getting his degree at West Liberty State College, and ended up earning a scholarship to Colombia, where he got his MBA in finance.  Fast Lane Travel is Peter's "passion project," as Porsches and travel are two of his favorite things.  However, he was also the founder and CEO of USTravel Inc, which he built into the third-largest travel company in the nation by the time he sold it, and he also merged and acquired numerous other travel companies over the course of his career.  Nowadays, he has slowed down and only leads FLT, where he guides trips with his incredible local knowledge and fluent German. 

He is one of the most fascinating people that I have ever met - he has skied the Alps, circumnavigated the Earth by sailboat, gone over 180 MPH on the Autobahn, blown-up part of a mountain, and owned over 40 different Porsches, as well as many other cool stories that I've yet to hear, I'm sure.  But what really strikes me about Peter is how humble and generous he is.  He took me and Tina - who became one of my best friends - out to lunch on many occasions, he took the entire office staff (about 10 people) out to dinner whenever we stayed late, and he let me drive two of his Porsches!  I drove the 2015 Panamera GTS on several errands around town, but then he also gave me his 2001, 6-speed manual (which I love), red 911 Carrera for an entire weekend before my last week working there this year.  He told me to go and do whatever I want in it, and he even gave me a Valentine One radar detector - which I'm happy to report was extremely effective ;)

The incredible life that Peter has lived, his achievements, and the way he treats people around him is inspiring, and it made me much more interested in Entrepreneurship myself.  It's why I selected it as my minor, and why I am currently enrolled in this class.  While I don't expect this class to turn me into one of the most influential travel executives, like Peter is, I do hope that it will give me insight into how entrepreneurs seize opportunities and solve problems.  I also hope that it will help me understand how to better pursue the ideas that I have on how to solve problems and satisfy the unmet needs that I see in the world.

My Bug List

1. When people stay in the left lane when they aren’t passing anyone, and when other cars begin to stack-up behind them, they fail to realize that they should move over to the right.
a. Why? – The driver education system does not adequately teach and reinforce proper lane discipline.

2. When people go into the 10 items or less lane at the store with well over 10 items (like more than 15).
a. Why? – The 10 items or less rule is not enforced and the people who break it are inconsiderate.

3. When I am writing for a long time and my hand starts to ache.
a. Why? – My writing instruments have inadequate padding for my fingers.

4. When people walk slowly 4-abreast on the campus sidewalks.
a. Why? – They are enjoying their conversation, but they are not considering people behind them who are in a hurry to get to class.

5. Many drivers don’t understand how to properly navigate/yield at a roundabout.
a. Why? – Roundabouts aren’t common enough for new drivers to practice and reinforce what they are taught in driver’s ed on how to navigate the roundabouts, and they can be misinformed when consulting other drivers.

6. New apps that I install on my computer default to launching on startup, even though I do not want them to, and I have to change the settings in my computer’s startup settings.
a. Why? – Either the app installation settings or my computer settings are configured to launch new apps upon startup.

7. When people put loud exhausts on cars with dreadful engine noises and exhaust tone.
a. Why? – They like how it sounds and they think it makes them look cool, but they are mistaken on both fronts.

8. When people ruin the look of a classic car with enormous, tacky wheels.
a. Why? – They saw tastelessly modified cars growing up, and they grew to admire them because they thought it looked cool.

9. When people set-off from a stop (like at a red light) with the same amount of urgency as a dead sloth.
a. Why? – People learn to drive surrounded by apathetic drivers who are cruising through the world like drones, and so they never learn to drive with purpose and end up mimicking the same lazy driving style.

10. When people who are standing on the bus don’t just move back as far as they can, so as more people get on, time is wasted as the new people have to wait for the people already standing to make their way to the back of the bus.
a. Why? – People prefer not being at the very back of the bus, but they don’t realize how much time is wasted when people who are trying to get on have to wait for them to move back.

11. When people on the interstate follow the car in front from a distance of 6 feet.
a. Why? – Many American drivers are ego-driven maniacs who feel the need to adhere to the car in front so no one can cut in front of them, not realizing the danger they pose to themselves and the person in front of them by following so closely.

12. When the A/C on the bus is set to -272 degrees Celsius.
a. Why? – In order to combat the intense summer heat in Florida, some bus drivers feel the need to make the temperature inside the bus near absolute zero.

13. The speed limit throughout all of campus is 20, even in areas with little to no pedestrian traffic, which is too slow.
a. Why? – The University isn’t interested in making our lives more convenient and would prefer to continue raking-in the revenue they get from speed traps.

14. The shortage of parking on campus.
a. Why? – The number of students and faculty who want to drive to campus is beyond what the roads near campus are equipped to handle, so parking must remain scarce.

15. When people call Guinea Pigs hamsters.
a. Why? – Guinea Pigs are a somewhat uncommon and underappreciated pet, so people are not exposed to them enough to understand that they aren’t much like hamsters at all.

16. When people play Moira in Overwatch and they think they’re good because they have gold eliminations.
a. Why? – Moira is the easiest character to play in Overwatch, and so people who lack skill but want to feel like they are good gravitate towards playing her, and her damage orb ability makes it easy to get assists/eliminations.

17. When people get on the bus wearing no deodorant.
a. Why? – It’s hard to say why someone would be so inconsiderate, but the best theory I have is that they heard that deodorant may cause cancer, but they haven’t heard of the deodorants that are produced without the potentially harmful parabens and aluminum compounds.

18. When my hands become drier than Death Valley when the weather is cold.
a. Why? – I hate using my phone or touching any electronics with post-lotion hands, so I only apply hand-lotion right before bed, but I sometimes forget to.

19. When people who have never been in a supercar dismiss supercars as pointless, saying things like “where are you gonna use all that power anyway?”, “wouldn’t you rather have a house?”, and “supercars are for douchebags.”
a. Why? – They have never experienced a supercar, nor have they taken the time to appreciate the engineering behind them and the thrilling experience that they provide.  They’ve never heard of radar detectors and open track-days.  They don’t understand that supercars are the best thing in the world for people who love driving.

20. When the other drivers in a race on Forza Horizon 3 try to ram you off the track to beat you instead of racing clean.
a. Why? – They are not good enough to win fairly, so they feel the need to compensate for their lack of ability by sabotaging the other racers.

I found that this assignment was not nearly as difficult as I initially expected it to be.  I came up with the first six bugs in about 15 minutes, and then I hit a small mental block.  I sat for a few minutes and then started thinking about the things that annoy me most, and because I am a car enthusiast who enjoys driving, I was able to think of a lot of “bugs” related to cars, driving, and the attitudes people have toward both.  As a University of Florida student, I also thought of bugs relating to my experiences on campus, especially about riding the bus.  The last few bugs came from my experiences playing video games, owning a Guinea Pig, and with the cold weather that we are currently experiencing.  I found that by focusing on the things that annoy me when doing the activities that I spend a lot of time doing, I was able to fill-out my bug list fairly quickly, and I am very pleased with the result.

Principles of Entreprenuership Test Post

Hello, I hope this class is fun!