Monday, October 28, 2019

Assignment 19



1)     I’m a young off-campus rural college student who studies online. I also exercise primarily at home as  transportation and choice of fitness centers is limited for me. I am analytical in nature, I see situations from many angles and play devil’s advocate. I am good at describing the biomechanics of bodyweight exercises, proper form, and the like from studying calisthenics as an interest in my free time. My aspiration is to see more people exercise and realize that they can make a positive change in their health without having large chunks of time or access to a gym. This business could give me an opportunity to fulfill my aspiration and give me a sense of accomplishment if I am able to reach out and truly make an impact on someone’s life.

2)     The product/service would be a plyometric jump box that bundles with the most common home exercise apparatus as well as a handout with exercise demonstrations in both figure form and video form. The jump box can store everything in a compact manner. Virtual personal coaching and access to an online portal with more content (e.g. more exercises, forum for discussion, etc.) can be purchased separately as a monthly subscription.

3)     All of my customers would prefer working out at home rather than at a gym, but maybe for different reasons (e.g. busyness in schedule, work hours, privacy, transportation, membership cost). They need a push in the right direction to get started, but they do not need physical one-on-one guidance or motivation to exercise. All of the current information on the Internet about exercising and health overwhelms them and they need a centralized source of information that they can trust. The figure demonstrations are good but a substantial amount of value would come from the online resources, so customers would be able to use the Internet and have confidence in the information we present online (contrastly, some may not trust online resources even if verified, would rather be somewhere physical).  Also, the bundling and compartments with the product would help save space for those who live in apartments or other small housing units. The box and the apparatus would also have matching designs, making it more visually appealing compared to buying everything separately (with different designs/colors).

4)     Customers will pay money for the bundling as it makes shopping easier and cheaper than buying everything separately, perhaps at different times. As aforementioned, customers can buy it for the form factor benefits as well. Some prefer home exercising for a sense of privacy. Some have busy schedules that don’t allow them to workout for say, an hour. Maybe their shift doesn’t allow them to go to the gym because when they are free, the gym is closed. Perhaps they simply don’t see the benefit of paying x dollars a month for a gym membership. My figures/videos would be easy to understand for people to learn how to do certain exercises; the virtual personal coaching, discussion board, and extra videos would further enhance the product and would be much cheaper than if one were to go for a personal coaching session in a gym. Additionally, with the correct marketing, people would buy-in to my vision and product and relate to my personal experiences.

5)     I have had personal experience with having information overload about exercising as well as not having transportation/access to a gym since I am a rural citizen without steady access to a car. I’ve been confused with the dogma of fad diets, new gadgets, new research, and so on. I aim to make things simple for people to comprehend by focusing on the underlying principles of fitness. I’m not someone who’s trying to emulate what the issues are and trying to capitalize on others’ problems, I am a personification of those issues. In reality, I decided to first think about this as a solution for myself. My passion for helping others to start exercising and my knowledge about bodyweight exercises can also a good selling point since I’ve started my fitness journey from the ground up. I’m not trying to simply capitalize on an available opportunity because the fitness industry is growing or the home exercise industry is growing, I want to provide a solution for myself and others and hopefully I would be able to get that message across rather than trying to get money.

I believe that these elements generally fit together, though I will admit that I do not have any knowledge about any of the physical characteristics of the product or service. I would need a lot of people on my team that would know how to create the product (if even viable), create a website, know supply chain, etc. What I bring to the problem is simply the vision and my direct experience with this problem to sympathize to those that have a similar problem to me.  

Feedback memo: the two main points I took away from my feedback on my last idea napkin were about personal experiences and marketing. The bold sentences are additions in this idea napkin. I focused more on using my personal experiences as a selling point and I recognized that as a potential reason that someone would purchase from me, since they could relate more to an individual rather than a company.



Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Assignment 17

https://youtu.be/rKSc5c3EtoE

Unlisted, so make sure you bookmark in case you need to come back!


Reflection on feedback:
  • -        Important: Videos are essential for beginners. Facts and statistics prove credibility.
  • -        Wrong or silly: N/A
  • -        Useful and insightful: Keep the anecdote. Dress correctly for the product you are pitching (e.g. athletic wear for gym products, overalls for farmers, etc.). Try to relax more when speaking.


What I changed:
  • -        Changed the anecdote to make it more succinct and gave a longer pause.
  • -        Re-worded and re-organized many things to be shorter so that there would be less words which means I could speak slower and add more pauses.
  • -        Added prices.
  • -        Changed first statistic from 1 out of 5 do to 4 out of 5 don’t for more impact. Changed second statistics from more than 80% to 8 out of 10 for simplicity.
  • -        Switched “plyometric” to plyo, as many similar products simply use plyo. Decided to go with it to be more succinct, and perhaps people recognzie “plyo” from other products more than plyometric which sounds more scientific.
  • -        Used a visual prop to further demonstrate issue of cluttered apparatus.

When I was searching for prices, I found a somewhat similar product to my vision. Seems to be new, maybe that’s why it’s $400. Perhaps they value the wheels, steel construction, hinges, etc. as high-value. It’s good to get a new perspective from a similar product! https://www.gopherperformance.com/saq/plyometrics/varistore-plyo-box?item=162712&gclid=CjwKCAjw9L_tBRBXEiwAOWVVCZuJSqVOjYLvfFCAzOk6rg2BvhuZBsp5fnlONDf8lbzmbGyLseJyVBoCwYUQAvD_BwE


Monday, October 21, 2019

Assignment 18A


Prototypical customer: Young college-aged female that has a lot on her schedule but recognizes the importance of exercise and being healthy in the other aspects of her life (e.g. emotional and mental health).

Hobbies: walking, being outside in nature. Participates in clubs/organizations on-campus.

Occupation: most likely something is quite repetitive and inactive so that she looks forward to exercising when she gets home! E.g. call center agent, receptionist, cashier, etc.

Car: She wouldn’t have a car, or else they’d maybe have transportation to go to the gym instead of exercise at home. Though if she did have a car, it would be a compact car that has good gas mileage there are conscious of their own health and the health of the world. A vibrant colored car.

No children.

Favorite TV shows and books would be something that motivates her to be a better version of themselves. (I’m not very knowledgeable in TV shows, books, and the like so I can’t think of a specific example).

She knows she wants to exercise, but she gets caught up with her current duties and paralysis by analysis when trying to start exercising.

Lives in an apartment with limited space and cares about the appearance of the product for it to look sleek and fit in with her décor.

She pays attention what she eats to a reasonable degree. Not a calorie/macronutrients counter but generally sticks to a healthier option rather to an unhealthy one (e.g. grilled chicken vs breaded chicken).

I have many of the same qualities as the avatar except I'm a young male. I don't live in an apartment, and I don't suffer from paralysis by analysis. The rest is quite similar. I don't think it is a coincidence since my product was initially a solution to my own problem. 



Thursday, October 17, 2019

Assignment 16


What I think makes me different:

  • -        Perseverance, doing what needs to be (or should be) done even if uncomfortable or tired.
  • -        Openness to many perspectives; can see situations from many different angles.
  • -        Desire to learn and accelerate my learning rather than stay comfortable at one spot.
  • -        Even with many failures or seeing others’ failures, I maintain optimism for the future.
  • -        Reliable. If I say I’ll do something by x time, I’ll do it. I When I declare something, I make sure with great certainty that my statements will be truthful rather than giving wishy-washy statements. If I’m not sure, then I’m not sure, I don’t try to sound like I do know something.


Here is the link to the SoundCloud playlist for this assignment: https://soundcloud.com/angel-torres-vargas-720245625/sets/ent3003-assignment-16a-recordings/s-JpAKj This includes all 5 recordings, but to stay within the instructions of the assignment, I will post each individual recording below.

-        The key takeaway was that I strive for excellence and my positive outlook helps others stay positive under pressure. I found the latter part interesting since I hadn’t thought much about how I impact other people.

-        The key takeaway was that I am a team player and able to get along with my coworkers. I definitely value every person that I surround myself with and I want to make sure that I provide value to them as well.

-        The key takeaway was that I have self-confidence and didn’t care about running with the pact or try to fit in with the other students in school, and yet people were attracted to me because I had that quality. I found this interesting since I considered myself an introvert and didn’t possess this self-confidence but looking back, I did know that what was important was my character and who I wanted to be rather than what society wanted me to be.

-        The key takeaway was that my efforts do inspire others, not only benefitting me. I am an example of what someone could do if they strive for the best. I hoped to have this impact later on in my career, but it is nice to hear that I do inspire my peers through my efforts (mainly academic at the moment).

-        The key takeaway was that I maintain a balance between being fair and kind and being mature in my thinking. I definitely sometimes have a more mature/logical/pragmatic way of thinking which sometimes has to supersede my usual kindness and understanding in making decisions.

I noticed that all of my interviewees mentioned something about how people perceive me or how I inspire others through my efforts, or likewise. I focused mainly on my own qualities without thinking about a broader reach of my actions or my persona. I think part of those differences stem from my concern of my individual abilities for my career rather than being able to work with other people which I knew I could do. My interviewees are definitely correct about me and I was happy to hear of the value I bring to them, and I hope that I will be able to prove that they are just as valuable to me.

Going back to my list, I would add to my second point of my ability to listen, understand, and empathize with other people.







Monday, October 14, 2019

Assignment 15


Segment: College students that go to on-campus classes, but live off-campus nearby.

Alternative evaluation: Price is on the forefront of the alternative evaluation for college students. However, it seems that some are more willing to pay more upfront for a better quality product that would last longer rather than purchasing cheaper-made products and replacing them often. Some look at money-back guarantees/warranties. They are more aware of the different aspects of the products they purchase and they are more resourceful in finding multiple uses for a product (e.g. pull-up bar that flips over for deeper-range pushups) rather than having something that does one thing really well. For those who keep items in sight, they prefer certain styles to match other things in their apartment or dorm but it is less of an importance.

How/where do they buy: Some college students purchase online, especially through Amazon because of the student rate for Amazon Prime. Many look at customers reviews from Amazon, but may also research the product outside of Amazon’s product listing. Some shop in big-box stores where fitness products are available and take a look out of curiosity; however, there is a hesitation to purchase from certain stores because of perceived lower-quality in their products. For fitness products, they pay upfront, no financing.

Post-purchase evaluation: They’d check the build quality and the ease of use of the product. They’d also see if they were able to do the intended exercises with the product. After a period of time of using the fitness product, they’d also evaluate whether they believe there was a sufficient amount of progress in their fitness level due to the product.

Conclusion: This segment is mainly focused on price without compromising quality. This segment seems to primarily purchase online or in big-box stores. Post-evaluation focuses on build quality, ability to use product, and attributed fitness progress from product.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Assignment 14


1)     I’ve developed better feedback skills for my peer reviews, making sure to try to prove something for the other person to think about for the future rather than simply providing them with my agreement and experience. I’ve learned that rather than everyone personally criticizing me when giving feedback, they are doing the same thing I strive to do, making ourselves better and providing food for thought.

2)     Recently, I did my first elevator pitch. I felt like “giving up” and skipping the assignment or doing it as quickly as I could. I wasn’t confident in my ability to speak. I got frustrated at myself for not being able to remember my pitch, since I knew I was passionate about the issue. I set my expectation high for the assignment but in reality, it is just a first pitch. No one would expect perfection, but I’ve suffered with that my whole life and I’ve recently just started to understand that I can make honest mistakes and that having something to be better at is a good thing.

3)     Three tips:
-        Remember the purpose of this class and your UF education overall. You’re here to learn to prepare yourself for the future, not just to float by your coursework. It should challenge you cause the world will challenge you.

-        If you are working hard and you’re still “failing,” learn from your mistakes. Don’t blame others or other forces in the world for something you can try to work on. There are plenty of people to support you. But also, don’t beat yourself up either. Life is a journey.

-        Have a vision and a purpose. Even if you don’t necessarily know how to get there, I think it’s better to see the end of the path and find different directions rather than going in different directions trying to figure out where you want to go.

Image result for climbing mountain

Assignment 13


Berry Gordy – To Be Loved, autobiography

What surprised me the most: the loyalty of the employees to the record company for many years, even decades. Many willing to relocate as well.

Most admired: He always listened to his employees. He knew his value was in his people, not just cranking out records. He also knew who had potential and dedication, even without prior experience in a position.

Least admired: He once sold a man some pots that the customer didn’t really need, his father was not happy about it. Thinking back on that story, I wasn’t either. He was a great salesman but didn’t really solve someone’s need.

Adversity and failure: Many didn’t believe his vision in getting a career in music. The other children in the family had “better” careers and his parents were embarrassed when asked what Berry was doing. Though he eventually proved himself as a songwriter, increasing roles and responsibility, the family bought into the vision and worked alongside him as well.
.
Competencies: He was dedicated. He preached his vision and was able to sell it to others to follow him. He listened to his employees and took risk with various projects. He had the ability to see potential whether that were for a future employee or for a future artist.

Confusing part: I wouldn’t say it was confusing, but the mentions of his love for boxing felt like it didn’t necessarily need to belong there. But then again, it was his autobiography and a true passion of his until songwriting took over and blew up.

Questions I would ask: Do you still feel that there is some race stigma in our artistic culture today? I’d like to compare the past to the present. What issues do you feel need to spoken about today? Do you see your artists confronting them if Motown were still operating? He had some works commemorating Dr. King and others. I’d be curious to see if the artists would speak out about current issues as they did in the past.

Opinion on hard work: I think Gordy’s opinion would be sticking with your passion and not letting anyone bring you down. You’re always trying to grow and do the next big thing. I share that opinion.

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Assignment 12


Segment: College students that go to on-campus classes, but live off-campus nearby.

Interviewee 1: She noted that her need presented itself most when she had a busier schedule due to classes, studying, and her internship. She would make excuses to not go out of her way to the gym since her schedule was more hectic, but she still wanted to do some form of exercise at home. She would go to YouTube to find a quick workout to follow that doesn’t require any apparatus. She went for whatever seems like the most popular video, trusting that the most popular channels have the best information.

Interviewee 2: His need presented itself when he realized that he has the most energy at night but the bus routes at night aren’t convenient for him to go to the gym. He doesn’t have a personal form of transportation. He sometimes asks friends for advice on what exercises to try out at home, since they have more experience than him in working out. He may also find exercises online and verify the effectiveness of them with other friends.

Interviewee 3: His need presented itself when he concluded that he prefers privacy when exercising since he is a beginner. However, his living arrangements aren’t necessarily private all the time so he doesn’t exercise at home much. When he does, he searches for beginner exercises on Google or YouTube and plays around to see which movements he likes. 

It seems that this segment recognizes the importance of exercising, and it’s just a matter of fitting it in their schedule or for their comfort zone. When they recognize a need, they try to find a source of reliable information rather than just go all out on a limb. Some find a reputable website, some go straight to YouTube, some may ask friends with previous experience or knowledge about exercising (e.g. those with majors in Kinesology or the like). These people are resourceful in trying to find information. For those who search about home exercising, I would need to perhaps advertise my product online for them so they can recognize that my product can solve their need. 

Assignment 11


1)     I’m a young off-campus rural college student who studies online. I also exercise primarily at home. I am analytical in nature, I see situations from many angles and play devil’s advocate. I am good at describing the biomechanics of bodyweight exercises, proper form, and the like from studying calisthenics as an interest in my free time. My aspiration is to see more people exercise and realize that they can make a positive change in their health without having large chunks of time or access to a gym. This business could give me an opportunity to fulfill my aspiration and give me a sense of accomplishment if I am able to reach out and truly make an impact on someone’s life.

2)     The product/service would be a plyometric jump box that bundles with the most common home exercise apparatus as well as a handout with exercise demonstrations in both figure form and video form. The jump box can store everything in a compact manner. Virtual personal coaching and access to an online portal with more content (e.g. more exercises, forum for discussion, etc.) can be purchased separately as a monthly subscription.

3)     All of my customers would prefer working out at home rather than at a gym, but maybe for different reasons (e.g. busyness in schedule, work hours, privacy, transportation, membership cost). They need a push in the right direction to get started, but they do not need physical one-on-one guidance or motivation to exercise. All of the current information on the Internet about exercising overwhelms them and they need a centralized source of information that they can trust. The figure demonstrations are good but a substantial amount of value would come from the online resources, so customers would be able to use the Internet and have confidence in the information we present online (contrastly, some may not trust online resources even if verified, would rather be somewhere physical).  Also, the bundling and compartments with the product would help save space for those who live in apartments or other small housing units. The box and the apparatus would also have matching designs, making it more visually appealing compared to buying everything separately (with different designs/colors).

4)     Customers will pay money for the bundling as it makes shopping easier and cheaper than buying everything separately, perhaps at different times. As aforementioned, customers can buy it for the form factor benefits as well. Some prefer home exercising for a sense of privacy. Some have busy schedules that don’t allow them to workout for say, an hour. Maybe their shift doesn’t allow them to go to the gym because when they are free, the gym is closed. Perhaps they simply don’t see the benefit of paying x dollars a month for a gym membership. My figures/videos would be easy to understand for people to learn how to do certain exercises; the virtual personal coaching and online portal would further enhance the product and would be much cheaper than if one were to go for a personal coaching session in a gym.

5)     I have had personal experience with having information overload about exercising as well as not having transportation/access to a gym since I am a rural citizen without steady access to a car. I’m not someone who’s trying to emulate what the issues are and trying to capitalize on others’ problems, I am a personification of those issues. In reality, I decided to first think about this as a solution for myself. My passion for helping others to start exercising and my knowledge about bodyweight exercises can also a good selling point since I’ve started my fitness journey from the ground up. I’m not trying to simply capitalize on an available opportunity because the fitness industry is growing or the home exercise industry is growing, I want to provide a solution for myself and others and hopefully I would be able to get that message across rather than trying to get money.

I believe that these elements generally fit together, though I will admit that I do not have any knowledge about any of the physical characteristics of the product or service. I would need a lot of people on my team that would know how to create the product (if even viable), create a website, know supply chain, etc. What I bring to the problem is simply the vision and my direct experience with this problem to sympathize to those that have a similar problem to me.