I think this group of articles was so
interesting. I loved that they focused on people who had an idea, passion, or a hobby that they realized
could be more. Sometimes that realization came from just an ah ha moment, sometimes it came out of
necessity, like Kim Lavine who went from making microwaveable bags as gifts, to having a
huge success in clothing and other things. I liked how a lot of these people just had their idea and
started working on it. I think when I think about starting a business I've been prone to think about having all
these plans and knowing how things will play out. Basically, without really knowing it I had the
idea that I HAD to have a business plan. I think that's why I enjoyed reading REWORK: a better, easier way to succeed in business.
I thought it was really interesting to
read about a variety of start-ups that most people thought were a stupid idea. Like the goggles for dogs? That's hilarious and now they're making millions. I
guess it really makes you stop and think about pointing fingers or looking down
your nose at an idea too quickly. I think that it's important to
really think about if the idea is workable and sell-able but it's
just good to not shoot something down too
quickly. In my intro to entrepreneur class last semester we read a bunch of books but I think it was
the Dip that talked about knowing when to keep pushing and when to pull out and I think that's a skill
that entrepreneurs need to have or develop quick!
I loved especially these specific points from Rework
"When you turn guesses into plans, you enter a danger zone. Plans let the past drive the future. They
put blinders on you. “This is where were going because, well, that’s where we said we were going.”
And that’s the problem: Plans are inconsistent with improvisation." (Rework p. 3)
Plans let the past drive the future. What an amazing and freeing idea. I mean, I still think plans are important. On my mission I learned that goals and plans go hand-in hand BUT I also learned that back-up plans were essential and that sometimes things just went a completely different way. So I love the idea of not letting your plans override your ability to live in the now and allow that to drive your future.
I also loved this:
"Give up on the guesswork. Decide what you’re going to do this week, not this year. Figure out the
most important thing to do and do it. Then move onto the next most important thing and do that.
Make decisions right before you do something, not far in advance.
It’s okay to wing it—beneficial even. Just get on the plane and go. You can pick up a nicer shirt,
shaving cream, and a toothbrush once you get there.
Working without a plan may seem scary. But blindly following a plan that has no relationship with
I love this because whenever I think about business I feel really overwhelmed about how everything will work out. This reminds me that it's like anything else, you have to take it a piece at a time, a day at a time. I like the idea that winging it is okay because I've never really thought that it was and sometimes, often maybe, I wing it. I think it's really a true statement that blindly following a plan that is not connected to reality is scarier than winging it. Giving up no the guesswork will help to keep things fresh and maybe in better perspective than getting bogged down with old plans and ideas.
The other thing I liked from Rework was the reminder that you do what you can do. Kind of gave the "don't keep up with the Jones" idea and I like that. You do your best.
I think what I love about these ideas, especially the ones from the International CES article is that they are individual ideas that address the changing environment of the world and it's connection to technology. I think it's amazing the things people come up with, like window screens that are controlled electronically! That is awesome.
Most of my personal business ideas aren't product based but are skill based or food related so I didn't really make a ton of connections to those from these readings. Except that it's okay to start small and to wing it. But what I've been thinking about doing for this class is to help my mom get her little home business up and going. She's been buying in bulk from Ebay (which was totally mentioned in this article!) these small charms that she adds color and design too and then sells them as stitch markers, which is an important piece of equipment for knitters. I think these readings helped me to be more settled that it's okay if that's the only thing I'm working to help her sell and that expansion and other products can always come later. I know she has a viable product now and it's a little hobby/at home project but she can make some real income from it. She has had a few sales to her knitting friends and the profit margins are really good.
I think I can take the advice from Jennifer Fleiss and be humble and use this class to learn the things I don't know and get the guidance I need.
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