30B

When I reflect on the individual experiences of this semester, it is impossible to choose just one component of the last 12 weeks and deem it "most formative". Writing a blog has been pretty formative. I actually know a handful of peers who maintain their own blogs and I have always kind of wondered, why? What is it about blogging that they find worthy of their time and effort. I think I have more respect for blogging as a medium now. After reading Guy Kawasaki's book, the Art of Social Media and now having posted around 25 of my own blogs, blogging is a platform where you can share your thoughts with your subscribers with far fewer compositional restraints than via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. I find that I actually spend more time these days reading those blogs of my friends.
The most formative experiences I’ve had this semester is the elevator pitch assignments. The most challenging experience of the class has been arranging all the interviews for the early assignments. The experience I most enjoyed was reading the comments from classmates, it has given me valuable feedback on my ideas and concepts. I am most proud of spending an extended amount of time fleshing out a business idea I have had for quite some time.
                At the beginning of the semester I was confident that I was coming into this class with an entrepreneurial mindset. The assignments in the class have expanded on that mindset, causing me to look at issues and annoyances as opportunities. This class has taught me that the entrepreneurial mindset is something that is developed and refined over time and with experience.
              
                My recommendation to students who will take this class in the future is to embrace the class, using the course as an opportunity to gain valuable feedback and insight on a business concept you’re interested can allow you to explore and revise your idea without costing yourself time or money in the marketplace. To perform best in the course, I recommend taking the time to read your classmates comments on your concept and take their advice into consideration. To foster an entrepreneurial mindset students should take to find ways to provide value to consumers by identifying and solving their needs. Doing this will cause you to start seeing opportunities you had not noticed before.
This class and the experience has given me a new perspective on entrepreneurship. While previously I only thought of those poor souls on Shark Tank, and Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos as "entrepreneurs", now I see them everywhere. The coffee truck that shows up at my office every Tuesday and Thursday is manned by an entrepreneur who dreamed of having her own coffee shop using all organic and sustainably sourced ingredients but one that could migrate around town like the nomadic nature of her own personality. Some mutual acquaintances of our friends are entrepreneurs, a husband and wife who are both artists. He composes wall art and she makes unique and classy jewelry. Do I see myself in this category of individuals? Not exactly. Do I think I am capable of being entrepreneurial? Sure I do. By always looking for the solutions to the problems, testing them out, maybe ideas work and maybe they don't, I will be living with an entrepreneurial mindset.