Forming An Opportunity Belief

I believed that there was an opportunity not to use dangerous flavor enhancers (MSG) in food and to make a successful restaurant or food manufacturing business using safe and delicious ingredients.

The unmet need: Food that is not highly processed, fresh and delicious that is easily available

Who has the need: Every person that eats food

Where did the need come from: The human need for food

What is being done to meet the need: Many companies are attempting to meet consumer demand for healthier food choices. Some of these companies are: Dave’s Killer Bread, Hope Hummus, Kashi (cereal), Halo Top (ice cream), Safe Catch (tuna), Ripple Pea Milk, GT’s Kombucha, Amy’s Kitchen (canned soup), Hippeas (chickpea puffs).

In my interviews I was able to find out that people obviously wanted food that was safe to eat. The individuals I questioned all have lived on an island for a good portion of their lives, so fresh non-processed food was common for them to enjoy because they could grow some of their own. However, one has lived here in the States for many years and understands how difficult it is to get food like he had as a child. Eating healthy is a basic desire for those who are health conscious.

Taste is also important along with price. But the healthier the food, the more expensive it is. One person I interviewed does not eat meat at all and has not done so for many years. She is well into her 70’s and has only one semi-serious condition that she deals with on a regular basis. When they visit the U.S., they make sure to purchase a lot of fruit and vegetables. One person like bread a lot, so some of what he eats may not be the best for him. 

I believe that an opportunity to create good, healthy food still exists, but it is difficult to executive. Sourcing from non-GMO and environmentally friendly vendors could be a tough task. Local sourcing would probable work better, creating a national brand may be a little more difficult. An entrepreneur with designs to make a niche product on a regional basis may do well.

Identifying Local Opportunies

Central Florida drop-in center opens as peer support gains traction for mental health, substance abuse

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-ne-new-mental-health-option-peer-support-space-orlando-20200131-7bvpwgdtpzavzglgcv7ws2hqc4-story.html

Story: A grassroots agency support group designed for people to help one another who have experienced similar traumas.

Problem: The need for Mental Health services is increasing in our communities. Resources are limited.

Who has the problem: Those who experience dramatic events in their lives.

Opportunity: Increase awareness of the need for more Mental Health resources and establish relationships with providers and businesses to met the need

Herpes monkeys spreading across Florida: report

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/florida/os-ne-florida-herpes-monkeys-20200131-gfqebuxks5bahi4wrllkdvtfne-story.html

Story: Rhesus monkeys gone wild spreading herpes B virus.

Problem: The potential spread of the herpes virus into the community

Who has the problem: The population of the State of Florida

Opportunity: Start a business to handle dangerous animals and get contracts with state and local governments

Evictions would be easier under proposed changes to Florida’s mobile-home laws, advocates warn

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-bz-mobile-homes-legislation-20200131-vbokigarvvgkxn7uvxavar2esq-story.html

Story: Mobile home park owners can send eviction notices in the mail making it easier to evict people who are low-income and elderly.

Problem: The serious lack of affordable housing

Who has the problem: Low-income and elderly persons

Opportunity: Establish a legal team to defend disadvantaged and win court case

Lake domestic violence shelter to appeal after county denies request to house more residents

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/lake/os-ne-haven-domestic-violence-shelter-decision-20200131-cqu6ymsv3fd4ljm5qaolmz4xbu-story.html

Story: Lake county shelter is not zoned for more residents and people who need the services are denied.

Problem: Refusal of local government to address needs of the population

Who has the problem: Domestic violence victims

Opportunity: Bring developers and county agencies together to build additional shelters

20 years after her son’s disappearance, a Casselberry mother hasn’t given up hope

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/crime/os-ne-mother-searches-missing-son-twenty-years-later-20200131-zwfpi4e6cfaqte52m2q7jltd5q-story.html

Story: Woman’s son disappears without a trace and there is no sign of him 20 years later.

Problem: Missing children and adults are not located because of a lack of manpower

Who has the problem: Parents and loved ones

Opportunity: Create for-profit company to track down missing persons using technology and law enforcement tools

My Story

My experience as an entrepreneur started when I was 12-13 years old. We had a large blended family of eight kids. Funds were kind of tight and I needed money to buy clothes for school. I asked my mom if I could use the lawnmower to cut yards in the neighbor. When she said yes, I had to borrow money to buy some gas, and a tank of gas was about a quarter. I walked around the neighborhood doing lawns front and back for $7 a pop. For a 13-year-old, I made a little bit of change. Ever since then, I have bought every pair of pants and shoes and shirts I have owned. I continued cutting yards up until I when to community college. What I learned from doing yards was that If you wanted something, you could to go to work to get it. I think that having a reason for what you do is a vital part of being an entrepreneur. 

When I finished my A.A. degree, my next business was office cleaning. I had a friend who used to clean the offices for Channel 2 and another friend who owned his own cleaning service. I shadowed both and learned what I needed to do to start my business. I borrowed $500 from the credit union and purchased equipment and supplies. My first job was to clean a showroom after construction. I made a few hundred dollars and then went looking for more accounts. In about a year and a half I was making about $25-$35/hr. working part-time. I loved the office cleaning business. Eventually, I lost my business due to circumstances beyond my control, but I was hooked on being my own boss.  

 

I’ve had a lot of jobs since then and I’ve done a lot contract work between jobs, I am an entrepreneur at heart. I believe that’s why I enrolled in this class, along with the fact that it is required. I wanted to learn more about how entrepreneurship works and what makes a person successful. What are the components of a business? How do you overcome adversity? How do you prepare for the future? I have read quite a bit about business (Rich Dad, Poor Dad series and the like), and have met successful people, including someone who is probably a billionaire (I didn't ask directly, but it was implied). I believe that I know the answers to these questions sufficiently to run my own business, but there is so much more to learn. In fact, I am starting a business while in this class. I think what I learn will help tremendously. One thing that a successful entrepreneur must do is keep learning. If you are not learning, you’re dying. And, I want to pass on my experience and knowledge to others, especially in under-privileged communities.