30A Final Reflection

1.     What sticks out to you as the most formative experience?

I believe there were so many formative, and developing experiences throughout this class, that it is difficult to pick one. I feel like actually coming up with an opportunity belief and creating a solution was probably the experience that was the most formative. It is difficult to first find real world problems, and then identifying a solution that does not yet exist. I also feel like my elevator pitches were pretty formative since it was something that I did not have much experience with.

2.     The experience that you'll remember years later?

The experience I will remember for years later will probably be the whole experience of coming up with a product and asking people whether this product has possibility to become something big and successful.

3.     What was your most joyous experience? 

My most joyous experience was probably when the people I reached out to for the social capital assignment reached back out and agreed to talk with me. I found it very difficult to find such a variety of experts and was worried they would not have time or be interested in talking with me. I felt very happy when I heard back from them and they said they would be willing to help.

4.     What experience are you most proud of yourself for accomplishing?

My experience where I felt the proudest with myself was probably when I wrote my venture concept and realized that I actually came up with a legitimate idea for a business over the last couple of weeks. I felt a sense of accomplishment once I finished it and looked it over. Also, I felt very proud of myself when I finally came up with the last of the 20 bugs for the bug list.

5.     Now, at the end, do you see yourself as an entrepreneur? Do you think you have moved closer to developing an entrepreneurial mindset?

I absolutely see myself as an entrepreneur now. I feel like I have learned so much from this class on how to think and act as an entrepreneur. Through all of the exercises, I have found what it really takes to be an entrepreneur and the effort involved in getting a venture on its feet. This class has really helped me grow as an entrepreneur and how to find opportunities in society. I have also learned that entrepreneurship is different for everyone and there is no one size fits all.

6.     What is the one recommendation you would make to the students who are going to journey down this path in the future?

The one recommendation I would make to students who plan on going on this journey would be open to failure. Failure is the greatest tool that an entrepreneur can have. It allows entrepreneurs to figure out how to make the proper adjustments for their market. It allows entrepreneurs to grow, but only if they are willing to accept it.

7.     What would you recommend they do to perform best in this course? What would you recommend they do to foster that mindset?

I would recommend to students that in order to succeed in this course, make sure you pace yourself. Make sure that you do not wait until last minute to work on the assignments, especially ones with interviews or the reading reflections. I would recommend that they create a calendar system to strictly follow. This would help them develop the mindset of never following behind and waiting till last minute to work on assignments.