Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Lesson 2 Journal Entry

This week I learned so much about Entrepreneurship.  In the reading materials and in the book I read, it kept stating how coming up with ideas was the easy part of starting a business.  I really struggled to come up with 40 business ideas.  But it was helpful to do the brainstorming process to get me thinking with a broader vision.  I found the "pain point" activity very helpful in coming up with possible solutions to problems.  I think I have some great ideas for the $100 challenge.  The book I read, "The Startup Weekend," was such a great concept.  It really stressed how valuable creating a great team behind your project is and how much better your concept will be when connecting with other skilled professionals.  One point I thought was very helpful is that a great idea is only useful if people actually have a need for it.  It is so important to not just think about how great your idea is, but to get in touch with people on the streets and see if there is an interest in and need for your project.  This step offers project validation.  If you do this step up front, you will know whether or not your idea is worth pursuing.  I also enjoyed reading the various business blogs.  I was surprised at just how much useful information is contained in these resources.  I plan on reading through more articles as the semester goes on.  I found a personal essay on one of the blogs that has inspired me to continue in my search to find a solution to my health problems.