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.