Bug List- Rachel Mead

1. Emergency Broadcast Tests are very unpleasant to listen to and ironically make me feel unsafe.
Why this exists: To ensure important warnings or announcements will be passed to viewers.

2. I get a little too frustrated when wifi cuts out because it interrupts my work.
Why this exists: Poor range of signals.

3. There's nothing worse than wearing uncomfortable contacts. I get so distracted until I'm able to take them out.
Why this exists: Contacts dry out quickly.

4. Actual bugs bother me. Insects give me nightmares.
Why this exists: Bugs have a bad reputation.

5. Bad customer service (particularly my apartment management) can ruin my entire day. I called them 24 times before getting an issue solved recently.
Why this exists: Poor training and lack of organization.

6. Trying to hang up a picture is frustrating because there are so many obstacles from furniture being in the way to not being able to hang it up straight.
Why this exists: Not enough tools to help other than levels.

7. Walking through wet grass can be so uncomfortable. It gets your shoes, pants, and skin dirty.
Why this exists: Not having waterproof shoes.

8. It really bothers me when people talk with food in their mouths. It grossing me out so much that my food is unappetizing.
Why this exists: People aren't taught good manners.

9. When people don't use their blinkers correctly it makes me wonder how many car accidents they've caused.
Why this exists: People aren't cautious of their surroundings.

10. Stop lights that take too long can back up traffic three lights behind it.
Why this exists: Not enough lights with sensors.

11. When clothes shrink I feel like I completely wasted my money.
Why this exists: Not enough pre-shrunk clothes.

12. Vacuums that don't pick up hair leave floors filthy.
Why this exists: design of the vacuum cleaner.

13. Tight parking spots are really tricky when you have to park a small car between two large ones.
Why this exists: Parking garages trying to fit as many spaces as possible in one area.

14. Glasses that slide down your face are almost pointless in having.
Why this exists: Poor design of glasses

15. Driving is almost impossible when the steering wheel is too hot or cold.
Why this exists: Material of the car

16. It's so awful when my dog gets hitchhikers on her fur and I have to pull them off because it hurts her.
Why this exists: Dogs walk in the grass

17. People who don't like animals seriously concern me.
Why this exists: I love animals too much.

18. I hate when I get saltwater in my eyes at the beach because it burns and doesn't go away.
Why this exists: Not wearing goggles in the water.

19. When water tastes like the plastic bottle it was in, it makes me feel bad.
Why this exists: Cheap plastic water bottles

20. Sensitive fire alarms are really annoying because it makes it really hard to cook.
Why this exists: My apartment uses cheap equipment. 

I truly didn't expect this assignment to be difficult but it was really hard to come up with reasoning for each "bug". As I was forming this list, I realized how minor these problems were and felt like they weren't even things worth mentioning. However, it does make me realize how many possible innovations can be created in response to some of these "bugs". A lot of the "bugs" didn't even really have legitimate reasons as to why they exist. It was easy to come up with "bugs" just not why they bothered me or exist.  

Week 2 Reading Reflection- Rachel Mead

       While reading the first chapter of Entrepreneurship, I learned about some facts that I didn't know of before. I was surprised to read that only 18% of entrepreneurial businesses failed between 1977-1993. I expected the number to be at least 30%. I also found it interesting that there is a growing demand for "Green Apparel". I know about the efforts against animal testing but I was unaware there was such a thing as organic cotton and other materials that are considered green.
       I started getting confused reading about the integrative and dynamic states approaches. It was difficult for me to see the major differences between the two. It seemed to me that they covered mostly the same topics and were made up of similar components.
       If I could speak with the author, I would ask if he would consider someone who develops methods and strategies to make something such as advertising or marketing more successful an entrepreneur. I would also like to know why about half of start up businesses fail after the first five to seven years and how often those failed businesses try to restart again.
       I felt that this chapter mentioned a lot about how entrepreneurship should pay attention to the economy and while I don't necessarily think this is wrong, I think that more emphasis should have been placed on targeting specific audiences and consumers. This is an important aspect of entrepreneurship that I feel should have had more attention. Even if an innovation is great for an economy, it has to be engaging and beneficial to customers.
       Overall, I thought this chapter was a little repetitive but I did learn some interesting facts and was reminded of differences between the different areas of entrepreneurship.

My Entrepreneurship Story- Rachel Mead

       There's one instance in particular that I'm very proud of and really thought of myself as an entrepreneur. Being in the Innovation Academy, we participated in Catalyst, a competition in which students shared their innovations. Inspired by my high school research project, my group and I designed earphones for the purpose of eliminating noise. The difference between our headphones and the current soundproofing headphones, such as those designed by Bose, was the material that makes up the earpieces. We used a non-newtonian fluid (a fluid that takes on the properties of a solid when force or pressure is applied) and soaked it into a soundproofing foam. This process bettered our 3D printed headphones because the non-newtonian fluid help deflect sound waves. We called our headphones Inaudibles. Our project was runner up for an award but we did not place. Instead, one of the judges offered to sponsor us and fund our research and advancement of our project. This really made me proud of my group's innovation and I saw that there really were resources out there that I could utilize.
       I enrolled in ENT 3003 because I love coming up with new ways to solve a problem. I have plenty of experience in leadership and love helping others expand their ideas and listening to other's suggestions for my own. I would like to take away from this class how to network more efficiently and be a better presenter. I look forward to seeing what this course has in store!

Entrepreneur's Mantra- Rachel Mead

Introduction- Rachel Mead

Hello! My name is Rachel Mead and I am a second year student majoring in Animal Sciences with a minor in Innovation. I plan to attend the College of Veterinary Medicine in the future. I'm from Sarasota, Florida where I lived with my mom and younger brother. I grew up near Siesta Key Beach and try to find any excuse to go outside. I was a competitive weightlifter in high school and still do my best to get in the gym as much as possible. Fall of 2015 I was given the opportunity to intern for Gainesville Pet Rescue and had a great experience there. I'm really looking forward to participating in this class and excited for this spring semester!