VRIN vrin vrin vrin... Anybody? No One Likes the Pun Titles?

With the resources at hand, we must figure out what the best resource is! so without further ado, a non-exhaustive (but possibly exhaustive) list of "unfair advantages.

1. Capability: online marketing access

With anything that would be sold on the internet, there is the need to understand markets. With my secondary passion being privacy and anonymity, I have research and experience with non-surveillance marketing demographics tools and networks, which helps with brand image and overall safety of consumers. 

V: Online marketing skills are definitely of high value in general, while my skillset is still rudimentary more intense work throughout the process of creating the business can heighten that skillset to higher levels.

R: Online marketing has become democratized with the simple access to tools like GoogleAds and other means, but the nuance and rarity comes from stepping outside of the normal mold and keeping anonymity and privacy a priority will add to it.

I: The process and skill of online marketing in today's market is highly imitable, so there is little advantage with this that can be taken care of.

N: The skillset of online marketing is also substitutable considering it also falls under the same category for inimitable, which will be a connection that is hard to break or handle.

2. Social Capital: Personal relationships

V: The friendships I have with amateur photographers, high school friends going to school for photography, up and coming models and social media celebrities can be of extreme value when tapping into the reach of exposure to the markets and new consumers.

R: The fact that these people have limited interaction with other people, had the same high school and produced close connections is extremely rare to have some of these links and having them can be huge upsides.

I: technically friendships are imitable as making friends isn't a limited supply issue but the people who are the friends are indeed inimitable, so the resource follows through with it.

N: Again, technically the personal relationships and friendships are substitutable in that i don't need the specific friends to try and reach out to new consumers, but the connections those people have themselves across the market is not substitutable by any means.

3. Social Capital: Mentorship

V: Having someone of professional background in photography, the chances of reiterating ideas and designs with them as well as market knowledge and general guidance is crucial for many businesses and I am lucky to have someone with that skillset so close.

R: Photography is a niche and somewhat difficult world to penetrate, and while my mentor is not the best connected having that point of view of someone actually in that world is more than any rarity that can be done individually.

I: The personal knowledge and experience that a mentor can have is impossible to recreate oneself, and the chance of imitating that in a skill intensive and technical world is also nigh impossible to take off as well.

N: The chance for substituting a mentor is possible, the experience, skills and knowledge may not be the same but they could be equally as valuable if of similar strengths.

4. Social Capital: Market Movers and Makers

V: Having the knowledge of what consumers are buying and selling from actual distributors can be an effective marker of product being a fan favorite or not reaching the right crowd. The connection to resellers and distributors can also be effective in helping figure out proper pricing of items to make sure profitability for myself and other sellers who may pick up my product can stay in the green.

R: With markets getting more diverse, there is more people going into distribution to meet demand and make profits, but having close ties with one willing to talk about the business and product can be beneficial and rare to acquire. 

I: I could become a market mover myself, the level of initial investment is not actually that high. The expertise of those who are already product movers, however, is indispensable. 

N: Again, the fact that these people have their own experiences that are near impossible to replicate makes for the non-substitutability, but the fact still remains there can be other people who replace the role of distributors and market movers.

5: Financial Capital: actual capital

V: The initial amount of investment is slowly shrinking in size compared to potential returns of investment, but the more there is the more room for flexibility. The credit that my parents helped me build up can allow for fairly sizable amounts of credit, which with proper guidance and meticulous work can produce a plethora of product, marketing and consumer recognition.

R: Capital and ways to acquire it are not difficult, but pre-established means that do not require heavy hoops like loans or donations can be great for the beginning of a company.

I: There are others who would also have strong credit scores, but considering there is a need of history for credit to be built up to strong levels, credit is slightly less inimitable but still possible.

N: There are assuredly other ways to amount the capital needed to start production of a company or product line, and in the case of credit there isn't much advantage it could provide alongside other means that make more than marginal differences in the choice.

6: Human Capital: Packing and Shipping experts

V: Having worked in the shipping industry at a UPS Store, I have been learning and practicing proper packing standards and average cost estimates for different services and distances and how to maximize variables as well as have helpers who can pack for me.

R: While several stores can offer packing services and assistance, the personal relations I have with the store as well as the experience my mentor and boss has with the industry is still vital with how shipping can be done effectively for low costs.

I: The only inimitable part of the UPS Store connection is My boss' history in the industry, the certification of packing standards and help can otherwise be copied throughout several stores or myself individually.

N: as similar to the inimitability, the rest of the assistance and certification in packing can be substituted unlike the knowledge my boss has.

7. Financial Capital: Current Job

V: There is value in hard work, sure. Minimum wage, while not graceful, can help with supplementing initial costs but can easily be upgraded to higher pay work.

R: Current employment is at an all time high with unemployment ranging between 3.8-4%, but there is still demand for minimum wage work so the rarity of it is nothing special.

I: Any employment can essentially be replicated elsewhere to fund any initial costs, and higher pay workers have their own unfair advantage in the amount per hour they make.

N: The open market of jobs is more competitive than ever, so substitutability will be somewhat difficult if I would lose my job.

8. Capabilities: Video editing

V: Creating video content for any social media presence can be a powerful tool for marketing or brand presence, so there is guaranteed value in the ability to self produce videos.

R: The capability to be a video editor are low as the process can be learned by anyone, but the personal perspective and connection to the product and the message can be rarer than simply hiring an editor for a stock professional video shot for the product.

I: As with the learning tools being so open to everyone to learn all sorts of online skills, the ability to be a video editor can assuredly be replicated.

N: The market for video editing is saturated with the demand growing from sectors like up and coming Youtube or online video production companies seeking new hands, making the chance of substituting the work and delegating it to someone else is just as feasible and economical.

9. Human Capital: Test subjects for feedback

V: while similar to having relationships to people who are into photography on multiple levels, the value of having others who are also similarly experienced to give feedback alongside mentors and competent as well as photo incompetent people can give constructive and well rounded feedback.

R: The access to market testing isn't rare, but the personal connections and in person interviews and feedback can be a marker for greater response and constructive comments for the sake of supporting my venture.

I: the ability to market test is much easier for larger corporations who can fund entire marketing teams means there is a definite advantage for others to replicate the testing.

N: The substitutability of market testing is meant to be a marker of how well product does across different demographics, so it cannot be considered a meaningful factor in the VRIN analysis in my opinion.

10. Social Capital: My School <3

V: Higher education is still a valuable factor for the development and networking it can provide, no matter the background or major as well as provide resources that previously would've been impossible to compensate for altogether.

R: with the competitive nature of college applications, and the nationwide competition for the best students, the rarity of college entrances can still be rare for the program one may be interested in.

I: With the available options across the country, there is the ability to get a higher education in general, but the exact personal networking and environment can never be fully replicated anywhere else.

N: The substitution for higher education is a risky but also rewarding process, which inevitably comes down to ow one dedicates and works with their time in cultivating the proper skills to enter the world and create whatever product or art they can.

The conclusion? It's probably who you know.

With all these resources in mind, the most well off idea is ideally the relationships and friendships with people who consistently work with photography as this is where my focus and product is targeted towards. The personal connections and tradeoff of opportunity leaving both people better off can be a major boon for both my acceleration to new consumers and with my friends being at the forefront of photography as well as possible free product for the help of promoting it.

Oceans... What Number Are We On?

1. F, 53, over 20 years in freelance photography: The Brains (domain expert)

F has been around the world of photography for longer than I have been born, and his knowledge of tech both old and new is quite impressive. We have conversed on occasions before this as he is related on my mother's side of the family and he was even so gracious as to gift me with an old DSLR of his that he was willing to part with since he was upgrading. We have gone over the necessity of the camera lens quality and durability, and how the current quality of camera phones having a place in being competitive choices as is. Through engaging with his endless curiosity of photography I gain the vital marks of an avid lover of cameras and what are important vectors of targeting in the build and capture quality. With this connection, getting the seal of approval on prototypes and even betas of the product would be great signals of being on the right track.

2. K, 18, extensive Amazon salesman: The Brawn (market expert)

This connection actually came tangentially with my work at a UPS Store right now. (Highly recommend a job in an active store for the wealth of box owners and their specific field knowledge). Being an Amazon reseller he knew the ins and outs of how the online sales process worked, and how certain market products move due to industry or demand changes. Being a worker at the store helping out with pickups of product that are held there, we would converse on the topic and he would give me the details of account setup and common practices for increasing reach and market prominence, slowly yet steadily. With his experience in online sales, his expertise and consulting over marketing and placement can help make or break marketplace presence and prestige.

3. The Supplier

Unfortunately, due to the demand at work at the UPS store I'm currently working at, the chance of establishing direct connections with product suppliers has proven the most tedious and unfruitful at the end. My foot in the market is still one that is unknown, but the accrued knowledge may be enough to create an opportunity with suppliers who may want to join early to get first mover advantage. Until then, I am still on the hunt for a supplier.

The time is - maybe not now? 

The act of targeted networking is one that feels paradoxical: when attempting to explicitly network the connections never feel strong enough to follow through on, yet when experiencing a connection over a topic that networking opportunity becomes much easier to establish and act on as there is a personal rather than professional rapport. Considering I have not done a full networking event for the sake of professional connections, there is no real source of comparison, but I can say that the personal connections I have made over the years prove there is worth in seeking other's help in a more meaningful, connective way.

I Ran out of Napkins, Will Paper Towels Do?

1. Who I am

I am a sophomore at the university of Florida studying Journalism, with experience in photography through casual means as well as amateur work with DSLR cameras. I have a solid grasp of Youtube policy and media dissemination for the pursuit of creating a media presence, as well as the editing capabilities to bootstrap video production until all aspects of the business can be streamlined. My aspirations with the business are to create a strong video and social media presence with creating videos and reviews that help further accessibility to new photographers or hobbyists seeking to record their crafts and create a vital part of the supply chain of photography and video products that are both inexpensive and valuable enough for even professional photographers to justify its use. I would see this business and product propelling me to being a voice in the photography community and allow me more personal and business connections with idols and industry leaders.

2. What to offer

The main offering will be a collection of inexpensive and technically proficient camera lenses that can be attached to smart phones to increase focus quality and pixel focus. A secondary service alongside the primary product is creating a social media and video presence on hosting sites like Youtube to become a source of knowledge and to promote the primary product.

3. Our target

The perfect target to put our product in the hands of would be up and coming social media models and photographers, ages 17-25, ranging both genders and focusing on tailoring experiences to how photography and video are shared through major apps like Instagram, Facebook and more niche communities like VSCO. From establishing ourselves amongst new faces in the sphere, we can gain traction amongst followers of these models and influencers and spread to more generic circles that create concentric waves across different fields and find different communities hat re not primarily targeted but could benefit from quality access to photo/video tools, an example being field researchers. 

4. Still, why us?

In the case of the secondary service, the natural interest in photography drives focus to voices of the industry for guiding through the muck. With establishing authority with reviews, technical guides and all forms of education on subjects or processes the advertisement revenue system will reward quality and expansion. In the case of the primary product, providing an alternative to expensive camera options with a similar level of quality that is even more convenient than some bulky systems renowned for their pillar in the industry.

5. What's the dividing line?

I have been establishing myself with online vendors to understand the full process of online sales, storage with fulfillment centers and some services that can connect me with producers to create mass batches to help bootstrap the initial sales. I have the advantage of my father helping build my credit while I was younger, allowing me to have the financial credit records to be able to drive the initial capital all by myself before trying to expand investment, allowing me full control of the beginning stages of production and sales to create the company that I envision before I open up to the market if I even want to get bigger in the industry.

While I understand more of the market and what some photographers and social media users may be interested in, the overall aspects of these different markers all seem to slide into each other fairly well. The synergy of being in the midst of high school friends and college acquaintances who are avid social media names, the knowledge of market connections and drawing the lines between different groups tat would take part in the market culminate into an all-around business idea.

re: The Memo

The biggest change from feedback is moving away from creating my own site at the start. The initial setup requires media attention before any landing page of the knowledge can take place. Creating video and written materials can be more encompassing but the strain at the very start can be too much to possibly derail the quality. The second feedback change is implementing my own work in some aspects of the workflow, including my own class experience in creating video and editing software familiarity.

Pavlov's Customer: Ring Them Up and Sell

With the understanding of how the demographic I am targeting responds to approaching the market, it now comes to understand how they will picture competitors and the tradeoffs that come with features that others provide at their price point.

For the sake of brevity I will be condensing and clarifying conversations as to not be weighed down by entire transcripts.

J: Male, 17, High School Senior, photo hobbyist at best, occasional selfies at worst

J has had little experience in the process of purchasing anything related to photography equipment, but is definitely an online shopper and consumer of online content. He is partial to online video content and understands how to navigate online consumer guides and reviews. When offered several options for cameras, ranging from the cheaper options like digital hardware cameras, more advanced automatic digital automatic cameras, bridge cameras which include some manual mirror reflection combined with digital collection and DSLR which are the most competent consumer option for quality to price, he was most averse to price even with the level of quality. By providing an alternative for the quality that works with an already sunk price of a smartphone, there was steady interest in what the quality could provide given the costs, but aversion this time was centered around lack of knowledge of the product. His main form of research would be preliminary search engine queries, coupled alongside a quick survey of youtube videos of comparison videos. There was a lack of complete authority in how to properly compare different systems, and relied upon a synthesis of different sources of varying degrees of quality and information. the biggest regret would be to misinterpret technical explanations of differences and to sink a purchase into a product that doesn't facilitate its own use and is disregarded soon after purchase.

E: Female, 20, College student, attending art school with passion for photography

E is an incredible artist in her own right with her photography blowing me away constantly. With her dedication to her art inclining her to focus on quality and consistency, her perspective as a young photographer is insightful for those who value the quality that larger price tags entail. When comparing the different options between digitals and zooms and bridges and the DSLR, she already has purchased a DSLR and still considers them the best option for quality to dollar ratios. When exposed to another alternative with the inclusion of more inexpensive pieces meant as additions to a sunk cost like a phone, she expressed an interest in what it could mean from a photographer's perspective to try and make quality more accessible and portable. Considering her background in photography spanning early in her high school years, she understands the technical meanings and breakdowns of the hardware, and could synthesize what would be beneficial for her work or recreation. Her more prevalent regrets include lack of knowledge on her purchases or impulse buys that may not have been accurately assessed and have just been emotional rather than pragmatic.

J: Male, 20, College Student, Not a photographer but loves taking photos 

J is a great well rounded guy, being a former student athlete in high school and always intrigued in everything. His personal curiosity also allowed a shift in perspective with being open to all options without placing too much weight on a certain factor and is more malleable  to hearing out different perspectives. When going through the options, his lack of technical knowledge does not stop him from seeing each camera as unique and valuable in its own right, and would agree the level of interest he has and what he would expect of it in the future combined with the long term investment of the cost would be the two largest criteria for the choice of camera. His main form of research would be a mixture of web searches and asking the opinion of other friends who are experienced themselves in photography for further knowledge and even hands on trials with various cameras. When given an alternative in the attachments for a phone, his interest was similar to all other pieces. his main aversion is finding a camera that seems interesting but limits the chances of learning about the process and craft of photo taking, which means even our phone attachment can face scrutiny should it be limiting in what it offers.

After the collection of all this data, the most I can take away is the best way to consolidate the value of the product as well as become a major figure in such a cutthroat industry is to both provide quality gear that can give enough functionality to the user as well as create informational breakdowns of all products and features on the market and possibly help set standards for non-expert users to be able to comprehend and feel more confident in their purchases to mitigate that possibility of feeling like one lost their money or purchased something that was not what they had in mind. This segment as a whole feels like a success, mainly with honing in on what could possibly be the source of one of the most struggling processes in the entire time: the sale.

Tenacity: How? Who? Me? You?? And Now The Weather

Heres the thing about tenacity. It's such an enticing feeling to think you can attain, but the second you feel that being out of your comfort zone is too much to handle, which will happen every time, you will want to retreat to the comfort of the known. Many would say that going back is what weeds out those with tenacity and those who may still be afraid to try and put themselves on the line for something they believe. I always take issue with the idea that you have to go into the unknown to innovate. Innovation can always be found outside of the realm of what one can understand, but some of the most innovative ideas I would dare to state are actually closely linked to the known space of knowledge. Artists innovate the best when in the realm of art, scientists innovate the best when exposed to the processes and logical progressions of life, and we can innovate in our lives by getting to the root of what may be the pain points in our lives. It is with self reflection that enlightenment comes, and innovation is as much an inward as an outward process.

One trick to really keep with the work of the class is to just find inspiration in the things you love. Are you hundreds of videos into a vlog and realize they are all connected because they reflect the aspects of living as a minority voice in the culture and society you live in that you are a part of? Bring your voice into the fold too. Are you cutting corners trying to pay for a new camera? get into the nitty gritty of how they are built and create your own design for a cheap camera instead and hell maybe you could even sell the model too.

To be more practical, I'd recommend a journal. An honest, physical journal that you write everything you can into. Schedule your day, make time for something and it will be done before you know it. You can dictate how fast or slow the day goes and how much is done, you just need to keep track. its okay to skip a day or miss a weekend, but always try your best to keep in touch with your time.

My own tenacity is a dreadful mixture of anxiety, procrastination, a fear of failure and knowing I'm too deep to say no to what I'm already doing. But the biggest factor is being able to just look at the day and laugh through the fears and hesitations. The one thing that really helped me break through is knowing how putting my words down on paper or on type like right now will be a huge advantage in getting me to actually sit down and write what I want to write and what I may need to write.

for those who like TL:DR's, here is your TL:DR:

1. Make every day have a purpose. Fulfill that purpose. If you overachieve, be happy. If you achieve just the goal, you made the day count. If you didn't, reflect on what you did learn and what you can do with it to help your goal further down the line. Every moment is a learning moment, you just need to take account of it.

2. Laugh. Really, find laughter in everything, make jokes and make time for merriment. the more you find joy in life, the more you can do mundane work and see it as a chance for focus and more possibility for fun.

3. Learn that you are responsible. No matter if you were taught incorrectly, misheard the guidance given or acted on the behalf of another, learn that you are the agent for all that has occurred. You may feel others are at fault but you should be ready to take the blame for all the mistakes. If you can be okay with the idea of total failure, nothing will stop you from making mistakes for success. I still struggle with this tip, but its one I dare not live without.

In Posthumous Reading of Shoe Dog

For the unaware of the underground-now-mainstream world of shoe culture, the presence of Nike is one of a Titan in the room. Considering the origin story of Phil Knight and his dream of making shoes the next big thing way back in the day is a story filled with some of the most uphill luck anyone can wish to accomplish, but with the tenacity to buckle down and just push through every missed opportunity to make sure he kept surviving for the next battle.

What surprised me the most about Phil was just how much the beginning of his struggle is so relatable. The internal struggle with trying to achieve something respectable, the measure of success by his father, compared to his own dreams of achieving more in a not so respectable field. The bootstrapped beginning of trying to sell by himself from the back of his own car, meeting with those who he knew from his past, barely struggling to meet each milestone needed to get to the next obstacle he would come across.

The thing I most admired about Phil is his almost candid nature about how some things just fell into place for his success. It wasn't that he was surrounded by pure luck, but that he always seemed to be at the right point to take hold of an opportunity when he saw it and drive it forward into his next goal and break his record every time. It isn't an innate skill, nor a skill that requires thousands of hours honing but one that comes with a fundamental trust in your instinct to thrive with whatever comes your way.

With that admiration comes some admonishment. The one point of least admiration is Phil's take on justice, fairness and on the idea of sides and enemies. There are formalities that are respected, like cultural norms of running business that you can get away not following, like keeping major heads o your office all CPA's and still getting design and marketing done. But there is a point where fairness and justice take too much weight on the self, especially when dealing with the antitrust case in the 1980's over the Treasury's retroactive import bill. Constantly rejecting settlement offers when you feel like you are completely in the right is understandable but also unfair to the sides of the negotiation that may have been in the wrong, and no matter how much you think you should pay(in Phil's mind 0 dollars) there is a value in concession that can be more humbling than backbreaking.

Phil consistently came across competition, whether with his own sponsors going back to old shoes, his own team feeling disillusioned at times when the company hit small slumps in otherwise incredible growth, the truly unfair treatment from manufacturers in Japan over sales rights, but through it all Knight rebounded. Taking his shoe and putting it on every top athlete he could sign, ramping up morale in the cheekiest of ways during "Buttface" conferences, and sticking to shady yet timely tactics of keeping tabs on his suppliers to make sure he stayed ahead of being blindsided by early termination.

Phil has an interesting perspective in that he continually thought ahead of what may be needed in the market like trying to push shoes into different sports like switching from track to tennis, sourcing and starting up his own shoe factory in the Northeast just to keep up with production and escalating tensions between competitors by naming shoes as acts of defiance ie the Cortes to the Adidas Aztec. Staying creative and productive is a draining task, but Phil's lightheartedness combined with always searching for inspiration is a lesson anyone can take to heart.

I have thousands of questions that I can ask Phil and his entire team, but I guess I can narrow it down to two for the case of exercising precision:

1. What is the one thing that you do every day that is not related to work or family that you do to give you inspiration or to act as your mental reset button?

2. If you had to keep one lesson from all your years of experience that you feel is the foundation to the rest of your growth, what is that lesson and how succinctly can you distill it?


For Phil, the shoe dog didn't see work as a drag but as an absolute escape from the reality of mundane offices and paperwork. This for him was a space for those who were completely manic to the most coolheaded to come together and know that differences aside there was a commonality and shared experience in the shoe that drove them all to make the best of whatever aspect of that shoe they were working on that day.

Snapshot. Get It? Because Cameras?

1. Who am I?

I am a sophomore in the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida, an amateur photographer with experience in DSLR, polaroids, smartphones and physical film reels. I have focused primarily on DSLR work to further improve my understanding of the mechanics of hardware cameras and have competency in photoshoot necessary skills. My aspirations in creating my business concept is to provide the tools necessary and the means to learn and master said tools to enhance camera quality for both newcomers and professionals alike whose most common exposure to photography is through their phone. This brand would hopefully bring about more awareness of the intricacies of photography and respect to the craft and skill required for incredible work and bridge the gap by being a mediator for all to how to improve their skills even minutely.

2. What can I Offer?

I wish to provide a multi-pronged approach to cover the multiple anxieties of customers. First I wish to provide information about products and their uses to help newcomers and amateurs understand the common industry practices and terminology to follow along, with more in-depth reviews, articles, hands on guides and videos to improve and walk the customer along through what can be a daunting interface to interact with. I also seek to provide a marketplace, whether that be a singular webpage or more physical locations to provide videography and photography hardware as well as produce my own set of hardware specifically designed to work with the most common camera, the smartphone, and bridge the gap of photo and video quality from dedicated materials to everyday experiences.

3. Well Who's buying?

The specific markets that I would be targeting include all genders from ages 15-45, mainly Millennials and Generation X with targets in social media and interests in videography and photography. There will be a small yet possibly dedicated market to online personalities like vloggers who could benefit from inexpensive attachments to phones to keep video quality similar without the costs of entire digital cameras. Other options of paths can home video producers, young teens seeking social media exposure and other amateur to semi-professional photo hobbyists who may want more accessible, inexpensive options that can easily be carried around.

4. Why do they want this?

As a Millennial- Gen X bridge child, I myself have found it seemingly difficult to come across a site or brand that easily funnels and sift through the countless different options photographers may want or have questions about, and the social stratification and fear of exposing oneself as "not up to date" within a field of interest can be personally devastating, so by providing a one stop shop of practical guides and introductions alongside selling both inexpensive hardware alongside industry known systems we can provide a source of ease and comfort for consumers to feel ready to jump in to any new camera system or elevate their current understanding and execution with what they have.

5. Why me?

Having family who uses photography as both a passion and a form of side income, I have immediate access to understanding amateur markets. Being young and well within the demographic that would be targeted, alongside my own experience with social media and its grasp on cultural and social growth I wish to bring that knowledge and understanding to fruition to help clear the obstacles that others may face in trying to change how the interact and present themselves.

Did We Do It Boss? Did we Achieve?

We have Found ourselves with the opportunity to achieve final exploitation of our opportunity hypothesis to reach maximum value.

Hypothesis: Millennials and photographers can benefit from inexpensive phone attachments that can increase quality of visuals for smartphone photography at lower prices.

To tackle this Hypothesis, I have come up with the current solution:

Base Layer: Create an online retail marketplace for inexpensive but durable and effective phone attachments meant to help increase quality of photography, multiple lenses as well as different lens cases and phone mounts or clips to apply.

Secondary Layer: Provide visuals and instructions through video reviews, test runs, comparison videos, and community engagement through sites like YouTube or Similar services that would be rewarded from both streaming and in depth content.

Tertiary Layer: If all other layers come together, either exit through completely selling to an industry name ie Nikon, Sony, Kodak or create collaborations to infuse industry status into product and become middle market player for inexpensive materials.

What are Questions with Hypothetical Answers? Hypothetical Profit

To the Hypothesis 

The Who

Photographers and Photo hobbyists, Millennials who are statistically more likely to take selfies, Amateur photographers.

The What

Many millennials and aspiring photographers may have easy access to photo editing software, but high quality cameras and hardware are still exorbitantly expensive to acquire/maintain.

The Why

The Lack of intro-friendly material to accustom people to the more complicated hardware alongside high costs and the convenience of smartphones nor there being a bridge for intermediate users.

Here are some interviews that could shed some further light on the matter of photography:

I: 17, Male, high school student, recreational photographer

Me: What's your experience with photography? Have you worked with actual cameras, with your phone, do you have a preference with either?
I: I've worked with DSLR's to some degree, but stick to my phone for convenience. It's a lot easier to take pictures, edit, and post them on one device than mess around with SD cards and image formats.
Me: Do you feel any difference in quality between dedicated cameras and phones?
I: Mobile phones have reached a point in quality where under the right conditions they can be indistinguishable from DSLR's.
Me: Are there any limitations to photography on your phone that you wish could be brought over from DSLR's and such?
I: For some conditions, like low light or macro photography, mobile can fall behind because of smaller sensors. For my purposes which are mainly portraits and landscapes, those weaknesses don't apply.
Me: Have you ever looked into phone attachments designed to enhance or alter phone performance? add-on lenses and/or software to help with the photo taking?
I: Not really, but I've heard about that type of equipment used for advertisements that boost the performance of mobile phone cameras, and i could see myself using it. As far as software, I use Photoshop and Snapseed for editing and have looked into manual camera apps, but none have convinced me to switch over.
Me: What would be the biggest hurdle for you to invest in hardware right now? have you not done research or just put off the purchasing?
I: I just never considered it to be honest, most of the photography I do wouldn't really be improved by add-on hardware. Also, I'd need to invest in a mobile phone with a better camera first.

The Breakdown

With what I has said, there's a sense of contentment with current phone capabilities that make photo taking with smart phones worth their weight compared to investing in dedicated cameras like DSLR's, but theres also some intrigue surrounding the attachments that could come along for phones.

O: 16, Female, High School Student, more dedicated photography enthusiast

Me: What experience do you have with photography? have you worked with DSLR's, strictly phone use, used physical photographs like polaroids?

O: Phones mostly, Polaroids occasionally.

Me: Have you ever been interested in DSLR/dedicated cameras before? Is there any appeal to those or are you happy with whatever you currently have right now?

O: Yes, I'm actually planning on getting one in a few months.

Me: What are some of the positives that brought you the conclusion of buying one?

O: First I have an end of the year project for school that involves a photoshoot, so I want to have a good quality camera for that. Second, I enjoy taking pictures but am just frustrated with the crappy quality of the phone. Third, I'm starting a fashion photography blog and I figured I'm going to need a good camera for the projects I have in mind.

Me: Considering you already use your phone frequently, have you looked into any add-ons or attachments for your phone?

O: I did for a little bit, but because I'm really interested in photography, I thought it would be better to just get a more professional camera.

Me: Would you consider attachments  for more recreational photography since professionally you've dedicated to the DSLR?

O: Possibly, but first I want to see if I can use my camera for more recreational purposes too, and if I feel like I'd rather use my phone because of ease or the camera might break. I might consider buying attachments then.

Me: Any hurdles besides time and money when tackling photography as a hobby or profession?

O: not really, just trying to find time between school and extracurriculars.

The Breakdown

There are still purchasers possible for attachments in a dedicated user, as well as othe target markets like blogging can take use of our possible product.

G: 17, Male, High School Student, general media artist and competitive public speaker

Me: What experience do you have with photography? Have you stuck to phones, worked with DSLR or polaroids?
G: My experience with photography is largely recreational. I stick to my phone since it's the most accessible tool I have even though I have used a polaroid camera my sister owns.
Me: If you wanted to further your recreational photography, would you see yourself investing in dedicated cameras or prefer to stick to budget alternatives?
G: I see myself sticking to budget alternatives, largely because photography is an expensive hobby to pursue.
Me: When it comes to expensive/advanced photography, what are some specifics that currently are lacking in budget friendly options that you wish they had?
G: I think there is a serious lack of diverse yet affordable options. Everything within an affordable price range is usually extremely similar, and everything that can go beyond that is expensive equipment and daunting to take out of fear of damage.
Me: have you ever heard or looked into phone attachments or add-ons? Are you familiar with the product or anything that proposes to bridge the quality gap besides attachments?
G: I'm aware of the add-ons, but it's usually easy to forget since they are overshadowed by the quality that photography companies advertise.
Me: Have you considered using or testing them to compare between current and the proposed outcomes they tout?
G: I have considered it but haven't gotten the chance to.
Me: What is stopping you from trying those products out?
G: A lack of familiarity since all my friends who know more about photography do not own them or know much about them.
Me: Would there be any other hurdle besides unfamiliarity that could make you hesitate?
G: Honestly not. I'm more put off by not knowing where to start than anything else.

The Breakdown

There seems to be a lack of competition amongst camera providers and phone attachment producers. He really hits home the issue of expense, something almost every consumer will touch upon

M: 17, Female, High School Student, hobby photographer.

Me:What is your experience with photography? Are you a majority phone photographer, own or ever worked with a DSLR, have used or own polaroids or any other type of photograph taking device?

M: I've been into photography for a while, but good DSLR cameras are too expensive. Before I had a phone with a nice camera, I'd use my moms DSLR which is old and has pretty bad quality. Now, mainly I use my phone to take pictures and find that iPhone actually has a really good camera and you can mess with the settings a lot to get different effects which I love. I've used polaroids before and they're pretty cool, but in my opinion they are more trendy.

Me: Have you been interested at all in getting your own dedicated camera? are the positives of the phone more enticing than dedicated cameras?

M: I have been pretty interested in getting a nice DSLR, so I'm actually saving up for one right now. I wanted to get a Polaroid, but mainly because it was trendy. Phones and physical cameras both have their own unique advantages, but besides being easier to carry around, a phone to me isn't that much better than a physical camera.

Me: Considering your current situation, have you heard of and/or been interested in any attachments or accessories for phones to possibly enhance its capabilities?

M: I know they exist, but I have yet to find ones I like that are useful and affordable. But it's definitely a possibility.

Me: What are the biggest hurdles for you for those kinds of attachments? What do you consider an appropriate price range from accessory products and attachments?

M: Most of the attachments only do one thing specifically, so when you want to try different techniques or have different effects in photos, you have to bring them all along. I think the appropriate price range depends on the tool itself and the quality of it, but I definitely wouldn't pay over 35 dollars for a phone attachment.

The Breakdown

 We have a solid number for what the product could possibly cost to an average consumer. The key point is how much utility a single object should be able to produce. maintaining utility and cost seems to be a good balancing point.

A: 19 year old, Female, College student, super interested but from afar.

Me: What's your experience with photography? Have you stuck to your phone, used polaroids, dedicated to DSLR?

A: I use polaroids on occasion but I don't personally own one, yet! I love them and I am so glad vintage looking pics are making a comeback. My phone is always on me so that is the most used, but from time to time I also have my dad's Nikon when it's a big occasion. 

Me: What is the biggest obstacle to getting your own polaroid or even a DSLR if you were interested in in getting one? could you possibly pinpoint where it outweighs the decision your current position about buying it right now?

A: With the progression of the iPhone's camera and the editing capabilities on it, it's getting harder to justify it financially. Of course it isn't exactly a DSLR or a Polaroid but it comes pretty dang close. And for the cost, it's not worth it at all unless you're a legitimate photographer.

Me: Cool. Has there been anything in the mobile phone world that has interested you as a more recreational photo taker /selfie lover? Anything accessory wise that you think you'd get for yourself?

A: Honestly no. I've heard about phone cases that have built in lights to have better selfie lighting, but I haven't really thought about them. Being a person of color also changes this because it's not an easy thing for me to find.

Me: thanks for all the time you were able to give!

The Breakdown

People of color having difficulty with photography and the subsequent accessories can be an entire market group we can try and assist. One thing that almost across the board is showing up that A also mentions is price.

The World This Week: Market Moves and Legislation

In keeping up with the recent news developing in the United States and abroad, there are several things that we can address that will be big players for niche or far-reaching markets.

Trend #1: A Rise in Bicycle Prices

Considering the recent introduction of tariffs by both the United States and China against one another, the first big break in a niche market will be the exclusive cycling market. Since China produces 86% of American bicycle imports, any tariffs that strike can make bike sales lucrative for the higher end brands. A used Giant Shimano Carbon Fiber Bike runs $1500, and the most expensive of the Off road variety Giant produces goes for $11,000. Any restriction from the Chinese manufacturers and these prices could skyrocket as more cyclists upscale into more aerodynamic and competitive frames. The prototypical consumer can range from newcomers seeking average race bikes to die hard fanatics seeking the sleekest and efficient designs. The biggest hurdle would be initial investment, as the market will require extremely personal knowledge of the local market, needs, psychological desires and capital to invest in buying the frames and wholesale prices before even being able to go for retail values.

The main source of inspiration comes from the knowledge I have gained from being exposed to the many cyclists in my hometown, my own dad being part of the crowd for some time. After lengthy conversations about his bike and its origins, added to the multitude of biker crowds spotted herding through the city and the recent Internet tirades over presidential actions and words, I felt this would be a competitive market that can spark a huge profit and many pains for cyclists seeking to attain them.

Trend #2: Increase in Online Privacy Measures

As technology centers like California take steps to introduce the most comprehensive state laws about net neutrality, the Federal Communications Committee's Chief Ajit Pai moves to try and fight the bill at all costs, citing interstate companies and federal superiority of law as precedent for the bill to be shut down. With the current net neutrality laws from the 2012 Obama era scrapped by FCC Chief Pai, the services provided to the public can by any means alter service speeds and connectivity to everyone from website to individual. To skirt around this problem, the market will tailor the needs of privacy and unaltered Internet services through safe and encrypted channels, inevitably being Virtual Private Networks. VPN's would be a crucial part of a secure, nondiscriminatory Internet, and would be vital to everyone from general Internet users who don't wish to be targeted by personalized ads to people who's political opinions or positions of power can be perceived as threats to national security or deemed illegitimate and silenced through non-direct silencing. The ability to jump into this opportunity depends on accessibility to data centers, licensing and legal precedent to protect customers should federal agents request logs of users.

This may not be a unique position, but having been exposed to years of literature about the benefits of free and unrestricted speech, and realizing the potential torrent of issues that can arise from losing something that has become as vital as the Internet to society, that privacy and security of personhood online has been a personal pillar of my beliefs.

Trend #3: Selfies, Upgraded

With social media continuing to explode in popularity and traffic, the ever eternal question lays on every baby boomer's mind:Are Millennials taking too many selfies? The answer in reality is who cares how many pictures you take as long as you don't garner an acute addiction to them. While most smart phone cameras are being fitted to be powerful right out of the box, the limited nature of the lens due to the nature of thinness being a selling point has led to an increased supply of attachable lenses to increase the opportunities of camera styles from fish lens to theatre mode to full extension zoom lenses. Prototypical consumers are varied, the most consistent will be full fledged photographers who may want to carry the tools to take professional grade photos without the heavy weight of full DSLR cameras and attachable lenses, and social media influencers or photography enthusiasts who want to try high grade photography but not invest into learning the whole hardware of a DSLR camera. Taking into consideration the size and reproduction time of these pieces, it could be relatively easy to invest the capital into producing and marketing an entire business around small attachable features and accessories.

Having an uncle who is trained in photography but only does it as a hobby rather than a living has led to interesting perspectives about how technology and the needs and requirements to take good, great and stunning photos. having someone knowledgeable in the market as a guide in what could be important starting points to sell for beginners, and what would go best together for more professional photographers into kits or packages.

Trend #4: Get your Paper

Technology is omnipresent in today's world. The chance of truly going off the grid is minuscule compared to how much has been front-loaded and built upon the Internet. One thing that hasn't gone off the wayside is keeping records on paper. Bullet Journals have become a major cultural phenomenon amongst Millennials, using physical paper to maintain and track daily logs of life to practice intentional living with mindfulness built in. The beauty behind Bullet Journaling is that the methodology behind it creates so many prototypical customers, ranging from stay-at-home parents to students to business executives, and with the market only continuing to grow, getting a foothold in the market couldn't be easier with the flexibility in products and services that one can offer.

The biggest advantage to knowing how I saw this trend is the fact that I too am a part of it! Having implemented Bullet Journaling into my time on campus, the strain of work and activities became easier to manage when I knew the day was as productive as I'd like it to be, and gives me more incentive only to above and beyond my plans to get ahead.

What Can Sunny South Florida do for You?

In the area of Weston, Florida, there's little action as a school suburb. When we pay attention to the grander Broward County and surrounding counties, more of the locals still lack the small but potential money-making opportunities.

The bike in the middle of Biscayne Bay: Why we can't have nice things in Miami.

https://bit.ly/2xdqHZt

One of the starkest differences that the Miami Herald pointed out this very day, is the bicycle culture in Miami is nowhere near that of other metropolises in the United States and abroad. Compared to cities like San Francisco, Austin/Houston, Seattle, and Amsterdam internationally Miami stands nowhere close to rider accessibility and safety. The pain point in trying to make cycling work in Miami is the historically horrendous driving attitude, with drivers ranging from reckless to some near incompetent behind the wheels and the least bit respectful of cyclists. the problem applies to the city itself trying to become bike friendly, to the companies not being able to mobilize or innovate due to city council regulations and minority backlash to NIMBY complaints.

Miami sneakerheads want their money. Shuttered boutique says ‘get it' from the Herald

https://bit.ly/2MwpVMb

The cutthroat nature of streetwear and 'Hypebeast' culture is surrounded with moxie and drama, but the end result of bad business is a sour taste in the mouths of everyone who takes pride in the community. The Sneak Attack store in Miami has been behind on payments to several consignors, individuals who sourced scarce streetwear for the shop at a percent of the sale, and found itself in the worst PR storm it could imagine. The main issue is legal and social ramifications, where the consignors will assuredly not trust the store in the future, furthering the bad name and publicity which reduces the store's ability to maintain a clientele and suppliers to stay in business and provides less options for consignors to sell the goods they source. Better forms to contract consignors and keep records of goods and sales to meet proper payments on time and maintain healthy relations between store and consignor can be indispensable if supplied.

Fresh, exotic produce is grown in Miami-Dade, but locals rarely get a taste — until now

https://bit.ly/2Ncf0fD

Personally, I admit I am addicted to strange and unique fruits and flavors, and while I may not like them all the time the chance to try is always appreciated. Most fruits that come into the United States for supermarkets and produce sections are imported through the cheaper prices and low tariffs with other countries, but the chance to help out local businesses provides a myriad of benefits. As Taste of Redland continues to expand its production of local and exotic foods, the biggest disconnect is how little the community know about the efforts involved. The main issue is exposure to major trending forces in food, from major chains to high level restaurants promoting locally grown ingredients, the problem will continue to leave farmers without huge swathes of waiting customers who may be willing to buy but may not have even heard of Taste of Redland.

Fruits and vegetables - Foodtruck could transform Miami neighborhoods

https://bit.ly/2CWVSgS

having a green thumb isn't my forte, but farmers make up a vital part of all our lives whether we take the time to realize it or not. As cities continue to condense and rural areas become smaller, the accessibility to fresh produce becomes more and more predicated on the wealth one has to spend on expensive imports and shipped produce. Steps that mitigate these food deserts where fresh food is difficult to come across is urban farming, whether for minimal profit or even for being fully nonprofit, can generate so much growth and sustainability to a community that it an be the jump-start to further business and networking. The main issue is setting up these urban farms and fostering the area to become less reliant on fast food and prepared, processed foods.

Miami has created more than 4,000 tech jobs. But there's a catch

https://bit.ly/2Oq1qBN

For tech entrepreneurs, the best thing is to have too many people to hire from rather than not find enough people to outfit your company. As this article explains, however, tech workers and programmers aren't staying in the area even with huge increases in demand for positions across the country. The source of this conundrum is the pay gap and skill requirements in Miami do not coalesce with the incoming graduates in the field, and this directly impacts local businesses that may not have the capabilities to hire spectacular programmers to the programmers themselves not having opportunities beyond maintenance and support.

Bugs? In Florida? Who Knew

of the many things that bother me, there are those that really bug me. And of those that really bug me, there are those that I now may list for the world to join in collective bugginess:


1. Trading card games supply/demand: In one of my personal favorite games of all time, Magic: the Gathering, the problem is never that the cards aren't powerful or the games not enticing, but that the ability to freely switch between cards is not as liquid as one may find helpful or fun. The biggest hurdle to the issue is built in to the card game as a feature that makes all to much sense: rarity. More powerful spells are rarer in product (card booster packs, supplemental sets) and thus have a limited print run for the sake of the game environment of limited card pools. But in the case of Constructed formats, where the players get to decide what cards and in what numbers they play with in their decks, limited card printings only make the secondhand market over-inflate the cards simply because competitive players seek victory with good cards, running the price up for casual players and those who aren't as time committed to play

2. Journals: I am a huge fan of journals. I have a stack of them not because I fill them but because I want to fill them and bring them into my daily life. Two struggles with that. The first struggle is that I am super perceptive and keeping to habits is difficult when novelty is all around me. the second is that every journal that I do have is not easily bendable for full flexibility. The main source of this issue is spinal stability. you can have bound books that crack if you go past 45 degrees of openness and you can have books on ring binders that fully swivel. the sacrifice from bound to spiral and everything in between is sturdiness. I like to write in the air, notebook or journal right in my face without any support. A spiral notebook would flop around until i fold it in my hands like a soggy taco, while a bound book will cramp my pinky from holding it open for more than ten minutes.

3. Posters on walls: I also am a proponent of canvas on walls for self expression, but posters for people like me who have ephemeral concepts of permanence beyond concrete rules of physics pose a challenge because once you put up a poster, you've damaged it (pins in the wall) or made it the biggest hassle to move if you want to change it up (Command Strips, sticky tack, etc). The source of this conflict is mobility; whereas the best way to keep something on the wall is solid and difficult to move, things that are easily changeable are weaker and require more maintenance.

4. Men's leisure bags: I have always been jealous of women and their incredible preparedness for whatever the occasion. It may just be a cultural thing for women to be the main market of purses and small backpacks for outings, but men's satchels are underrepresented in the market and honestly the stigma around male preparation and images of men with bags can use a change.

5. Library access in suburban, sprawled spaces: I love the library, but the location is just so cumbersome in my hometown. In my case its the only library in the city, and from any housing location not immediately in front of the library it would be over a half hour walk alone to reach it. The main issue stems from city layout being suburban, thus the expectation of higher income and mobility of citizens is taken for granted rather than thinking of giving access to as many people regardless of how mobile they may be.

6. Water bottles: Carrying water around for proper hydration is always key, but lugging around gallon jugs is both a hassle and inconvenient. The main issue with water is volume, there's just no easy way to cram more water in the same space of a water bottle without incredible strain of pressure or massive uses of energy to change the water's phases.

7. Credit cards and tech: Most people walk around with wallets over two inches thick from materials alone, let alone filled with bills and cards. There are plenty of angles to blame, but one that interests me the most is security, in that most of these cards cannot be easily duplicated information wise without issues of fraud or security risks being increased. I bring this up from inspiration of failed projects that download card information so there would be a multi card system built into a non-smartphone alternative.

8. cross compatible gaming: while video games have their systems, but for those who don't want to always buy new systems when the companies make new hardware and less games backwards compatible. The source of this issue is mainly proprietary software that they implement.

9. Practical guidebooks: I love to read, I hope everyone else shares that with me here. But the worst thing about picking up books which purport to be introductions or guides to certain fields like cooking will explain actions that complete newcomers or those without proper fundamentals will just not understand. the main source of this issue comes from the assumption of knowledge about cooking, whether skills like braising, roasting, or sautéing and knowledge of food pairings and understanding tastes.

10. Semi-isolated locations for studying: Marston and Library West are great for studying, but back home, there really isn't a close place dedicated to proper isolation and deep studying (refer to issue #5). The main source of this issue would be the fact that we as a society value social interaction and community more than individualistic endeavors, thus local places known as 'study spots' like Starbucks are not only not conducive but hyper-distracting.

11. Tuning out tech and social media: Social media companies want us on their servers for the value of our attention. that's fair. what's not fair is how they design their UI's to hack our mental capacities to hook us on the feeling of community that social media is so good at simulating. the main source of this issue is how smartphones and apps use their psychological advantage to game us into spending more time on them.

12. pant pockets: Personally, while i cannot relate to women about not even having pockets, what i do know is that pockets are not well designed for holding onto phone cases. The main source of this issue comes from either pockets being made so narrow that cases will hook onto them, or case material made from silicone create too much friction for the pocket that it pulls it inside out while removing the phone.

13. sleep aids: I love to sleep, another thing I hope is shared among everyone else. But there are times where certain life schedules lead to long hours exposed to blue light which while not fully explained by scientists, it is definitely felt on me when i can't go to sleep at nights. the source of this issue may be lifestyle choices but there is also the chance diet or nutrient imbalances could be an angle of resolution.

14. Earbuds and non-normal ears: so many earbuds that are the weird half cup shape just burn my right ear because it just doesn't fit. the main source of the issue is the universal earbud silicone is not conducive to molding for non-normal shapes and the lack of flexibility in sizing and shapes restricts access.

15. Audiobooks: audiobooks are always locked up in restrictive applications and require so many hoops to acquire. the main source of this is the limited modes of downloads and monetization of audiobooks across platforms

16. Popcorn prices: if you aren't flabbergasted by popcorn prices, you'd be lying. the price of popcorn both in movie theaters and in stores runs relatively high for what could normally be priced, although stores run better deals than theaters. the source of the high pricing in theaters probably comes down to margins, where the tickets and time it may take to make revenue back has to be made up somewhere else.

17. Exotic snacks: people have their favorite Asian or European candy, but when's the last time that you could just regularly order them without having to sell your soul to amazon prime for speedy delivery of small snacks? the source of this bug lies in the sourcing and shipping of products while also trying to reach more physical markets can be difficult.

18. Waste neutral packaging: I love pre-sliced ham as much as the next guy, but I always feel guilty about throwing away plastic bags that hold the cold cuts inside their reusable Tupperware containers after I'm done making sandwiches. the source of this pain is the fact that factory pre-sealed plastic bags are still the most cost effective and sanitary way of packaging materials for foods like meats and cheeses.

19. I am a fanatic for ice and heat pads, but the worst thing is when you can't find the right time to put on the pad without it losing its temperature within five minutes whereas if you put it on right away you burn from the freeze or the lava in a bag. the source of this problem is the layer that exposes the temperature medium is too thin, but there is no guaranteed way of maintaining a safe layer that gives out maximum hot/cold.

20. Being from Florida anyone can deduce that air conditioning is a gift from the gods. the worst thing about that gift is that every version of it can't handle the energy draw without being a permanent fixture like fans. the problem of cooling is as stated the intense energy drain that can kill electric bills, and mitigating energy draws would be the best way to make portable and permanent cooling blow up.

looking back on this list its difficult even now to come up with more things, as the mindset of opportunities drains even the last drop of creativity you may think you have. I was forever blocked on number 25 to come up with ideas until a spark of inspiration cascaded the rest of ideas. This was for sure an exercise that pushed me to think well beyond the normal thought process.

My Time in the Entrepreneur Mind

My history with self employment and self empowerment really starts with my heritage. Many in my family were college educated in their home country, the most academically prestigious being my grandfather on my dad's side with over 15 masters spanning every nook and cranny of Geology and Mineral Sciences. further along the family tree history gets murkier and murkier with the multitude of cousins and family struggles, but the most well known family members sit upon state supreme courts in Venezuela and an uncle of my father's opened up his own bank, large enough to be a regional staple.

I however grew up not within these spheres but within the bubble of the American Dream. My parents moved here as my mother was pregnant with me #FirstGenKid and from that point my mother and father always pushed me to seek an education as the prime source of my future security. I can't blame them for wanting me to be as intellectually smart as they were with even more opportunity than even they could've imagined but the struggle of being born in this country is you see the issues at a grassroots level more-so than others see the them in light of the promises.

My dad has opened several businesses, some thriving, others floundering. He always encouraged to pinch my pennies and work hard. I never really focused on what he did but hindsight gives me 20/20 retrospect as to why you can't rely on others sometimes. Looking back, the 2008 financial crisis took a toll on my whole family. My father, then a booming real estate agent, lost much of the company to the point of bankruptcy and liquidating the assets. After being accustomed to a well-off lifestyle, we reached the point where now a lot of our life is paycheck to paycheck.

I didn't like the prospect of college at first. But being the firstborn first generation child meant i had no bullshit excuse powerful enough to convince my parents to let me go my own path. I truly count my blessings today to learn, but I also find myself reflecting on what i could be doing with all my time that i regret the envy I feel for committing to such a prestigious and privileged thing it is to be at university. Hopefully through entrepreneurship I can create the time I overthink that i lost back and then some more.

I am no entrepreneur, but I wish to be self sufficient. That alone warrants enough merit to start my journey somewhere, so I'll make it here.

A Welcome to the Thought Zone

Hello Fellow Gators!

My name is Daniel Gamboa and I'm a second year Journalism and Innovation Gator at the wonderful University of Florida. Hope to grow alongside all of you!