30A- Final Reflection

1. This class was very enjoyable to my surprise. This is my last semester of classes so I had to fight off some senioritis, but it still ended up being one of my favorite classes I've taken. I will admit, sitting through some of the lectures was not the easiest for me. I had a lot on my mind including internships, work, and family issues so staying focused was a struggle. The most fun I had in this class was fully embracing my venture concept. Once I began creating and editing it, I fully embraced it as if I was actively creating this start-up. Enjoying this part of the class has made me look forward to one day chasing after this venture. 

2. This class was quite the journey. In the beginning of the class I was hoping to learn a lot from the lectures, but I ended up learning the most through the assignments. I did learn during the lectures, but interviewing prototypical customers and professionals in this field has opened up a lot of opportunities for me. I have a much better perspective of the field I will soon be entering so I will remember this forever. My communication skills are also much improved. Interviewing the type of people I hope to work alongside was experience I really needed. I am most proud of my persistence in this class. My final grade is something I am very proud to finish my college career with. 

3. I am much closer to having an entrepreneurial mindset then before. I now look for problems/opportunities in everyday situations such as just going to a doctor's appointment. I also found that I am much more productive than before. I embraced the entrepreneurial mindset by looking to stay productive and taking responsibility for how my day goes. This is very important to me as I look to start my own business over the next year. 

4. My one recommendation to the future students in this course is to look for opportunities in something you are passionate about. If you are passionate about your idea this course will fly by and you will truly enjoy it. I think passion is extremely important in developing the entrepreneurial mindset. If you are passionate about your opportunity and passionate about being successful, I believe you will develop the entrepreneurial mindset without having to actively focus on that. 

29A- Venture Concept No. 2

JC's Basketball Development School

1. The opportunity I am pursuing is a personalized online basketball training service that provides basketball skill development or athleticism training. This opportunity comes from the lack of accessible training around the entire globe. This unmet need of accessible basketball training is spread across basketball players of all skills levels and all ages. This is for players of any gender as well. Specifically, players in rural areas or low-income areas have the greatest unmet need for this because of the lack of nearby and affordable training programs. Additionally, basketball players with skills trainers still often have the unmet need of adequate athleticism training, expanding the number of people with a need I am solving. The Covid-19 pandemic has increased the magnitude and range of this need. Many players no longer have access to gyms or basketball courts as many of leagues are postponed or cancelled. Also, many trainers are not currently training there players right now due to legal or safety issues caused by this pandemic. Due to the length of this pandemic, the need to fine-tune and improve their basketball skills is increasing. This extended period of time also reduces the loyalty of players who were previously training with skills trainers in person. The current magnitude of this opportunity will last until there is a vaccine approved to use for the Covid-19. However, even after this pandemic ends, this is still a very large unmet need for many players across the country or world. Players will still need player development and athleticism training when gyms reopen. There may even be long-lasting safety concerns that keep the amount of people with this unmet need slightly inflated. 

This service I am offering is radically innovative for the basketball training industry. I will be able to train players of all ages and skill levels across the world through video calls such as on FaceTime or Zoom. This means players are able to improve as a basketball player anywhere they would like, even directly in or outside of their home. Not only is the accessibility of this service innovative, but the personalized aspect of it is just as radical. Current training programs are tailored towards basketball players as a whole, rather than towards specific players or player types. This attention to detail will allow players' development to accelerate compared to normal training programs. Not only will this speed up and enhance their development, it also allows for a greater connection between the clients and I. Being able to address a player's needs and wants directly during a session will help create transparency that will allow the player to understand what my intentions are for improving their game. This allows me to find a balance between pushing the player out of their comfort zone and creating drills and games that they will find fun and enjoyable. As far as price goes, I believe it will vary depending on the length of the session the player selects. In the beginning I will charge $30 for a thirty minute session, $50 for an hour session, and $70 for a hour and a half session. This will encourage clients to purchase longer training sessions which gives me a greater opportunity to improve their skills which they will be able to more clearly feel and see. This encourages them to come back and continue using my service. Additionally, player type packages will be for sale as well. These programs are for specific player builds and are an alternative for the players who cannot schedule live sessions. Each program will provide one month's access to a basketball workout program with videos and explanations of each drill. Each one month program will cost $90.

As basketball continues to evolve, it is easy to fall behind in player development no matter how good a player currently is. Basketball players around the world are becoming aware of this which has greatly increased the demand for basketball training. By requiring no equipment and no specific location, this service allows any player with internet access the necessities to improve as a basketball player. The lack of supply in online training will lead players to pay for my service. The only competitors I will face are basketball training programs created by other basketball trainers. The weakness of these programs are that they are not personalized for the needs of specific players. Instead, they usually encourage random drills that will only fine-tune players' current skills rather than allow them to improve on current skills and develop new ones. Previous loyalties to other trainers are most likely diminishing due to the lack of contact because of the pandemic. Overall, the customer experience and ease of use and access are what makes up this business concept. Players will see greater results with this product than they would any other online program. Initially, I will have to do this by myself to profit and to ensure that players are receiving top-level training. As this business grows, I envision myself being completely booked for the entire week with more players inquiring about training. At this point, I hope to use my coaching and training network to hire other trainers that specialize in player development. 

My unfair advantage is my proven results and experience training basketball players. I have already trained basketball players of all levels, including children as young as five years old and professional players who play overseas. Having experienced training so many different types of players ensures that I can personalize a training program for any type of player to improve their game. My emphasis on player development instead of strictly skills training creates more value for the customers. 

My next potential opportunity is offering player development training for athletes of all sports. My website could act as the hub or all training. I could potentially have other coaches and trainers training athletes of their sport through this hub.

In five years from now, I want to be training more players than anyone else in the country. The format of my service makes this entirely possible. I also want to have multiple trainers working under me providing the same service. Ideally, I will pass along my younger clients to these trainers while I work with the advanced high school, college, and professional players. 

2 & 3. The feedback I received has been mostly positive. I had feedback from many of the athletes I interviewed who were worried about being available for a scheduled training session. To address this I added the player build programs designed for their specific player type. These are not live training sessions, they instead are prerecorded basketball workouts that can be viewed whenever the players can find time. The players I interviewed also expressed a need for athleticism training. To address this opportunity I am including athleticism training live workouts for players with a lack of equipment. For players who do standard equipment, I will offer a monthly workout program to improve speed, agility, vertical jump, explosiveness, balance, and injury prevention. 

27A- Reading Reflection No. 1

The book I read was How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big by Scott Adams. The overall theme I took away from this book was creating and sustaining personal growth through mental outlooks. The book talked a lot about the mindset and self-statements needed to mentally be prepared to succeed. This was even true for the physical traits that we should spend time on by creating a system rather than a goal. 

The book definitely enhanced a lot of my learning from this course. One of the main takeaways I got from this class is that entrepreneurship is a never-ending process. Scott Adams reinforced this idea towards personal development through his talk about creating a system. A system is consistent which is needed for growth. Constant and consistent work on someone's development will allow this to carry over towards business opportunities. Another takeaway that the book enhanced from the course was the ability to fail. Regardless of what someone is doing, they will fail at one point or another. Using failure as a tool for growth is the only way to ensure failure can be a positive. 

Reading this book helped me understand the value of energy. Scott Adams used his energy level to determine his tasks rather than planning everything out specifically. For example, Adams used mornings to creative work because that is when he had peak energy. Later in the day when he had less energy, he would do busy work. The exercise that I would create based off of this is an energy measurement. I think it would valuable for everyone to track their energy level on a scale from 1-10 every hour during a normal day to find when their energy peaks. This can be used to determine when they should be performing different types of tasks. 

The biggest surprise from reading this book was to "fake it until you make it." I have never agreed with or liked this saying. Even in many of my classes this was discouraged. However, in this book Adams makes a great point about doing this for shy people. He said that sometimes it is easier to act as someone else, so acting as someone who is not shy will allow someone to develop their speaking skills and confidence. He also said that acting as someone else allows a person to escape their comfort zone with less resistance. 

28A- My Exit Strategy

I plan to stay with my business for many decades before retiring. Training players is something I want to do for the rest of my life. The format of this training program allows me to train more players than I could in any other type of training format. This format also allows me to adapt to the trends in basketball because of the personalized aspect of the program. This current opportunity will keep me fulfilled my entire career which is why I chose this specific exit strategy.

My exit strategy has had a large impact on my decisions for this concept. Understanding that I wanted to find something that I could stick with throughout my career allowed me to search for an opportunity in an area I knew would satisfy me for a very long time. It also had a very large impact on deciding the format of my training. Typically, trainers rent out gyms or eventually build their own gym which either makes them stuck in one location or paying monthly rent. The online format will allow me to provide the same type of service without being effected by location. This means I can willingly move anywhere for my family as long as it is best for them. Lastly, the personalized format of my online training will allow my service the opportunity to adapt as basketball changes. This ensures that I can be successful throughout my entire career without being stuck behind. 

26A- Celebrating Failure

Something I repeatedly failed at this semester was my first attempt at making an elevator pitch. I have never been comfortable speaking in front of an audience or a camera for an extended period of time. To add to that, I had not recently talked to anyone because of Covid-19 which I believe added a little rust. When trying to record the speech, I knew exactly the topics I wanted to cover but I did not have it scripted. My first six or seven attempts I would get at least thirty seconds in before completely spacing out and forgetting what else I wanted to talk about. Eventually, I had my talking points memorized, it just came down to execution. I attempted the recording at least twenty times, starting over again and again because of I would stutter out of nerves.

I learned from this failure that I needed practice. At the beginning, I became frustrated having to start over again each time. Eventually instead of looking at each attempt as a failure, I began looking at it as practice. As a coach I understand performing rep after rep is the only way to improve. 

I used to really struggle failing at things. I always wanted to be perfect at everything and hated failing. This caused me to stay in my comfort zone too long which hurt my growth as a person and as a basketball player. I have a new perspective as a coach and understand that failing is a part of growth. I would rather have a player fail at doing something the right way then succeeding at something they are already comfortable doing. I've used this perspective and applied it to my own life. I now accept failure and use it as a tool to improve. This class has not changed my perspective on failure, but instead has strengthened my recently changed perspective. I fail at something everyday now which is better for me than when I used to stay in comfort zone. 

25A- What's Next?

Existing Market

1. The next service in my venture is athleticism training for basketball players. In addition to helping players improve their skills as a player, improving their balance, speed, quickness, and explosiveness can also be worked on. 

2. I interviewed three varsity basketball players for Saint Francis Catholic Academy. These three players believe that in addition to live training sessions, film sessions can be another service provided. Players can send me their game film or videos of them doing drills, and I can speak and draw over the video providing my feedback of what they did correct and what they need to work on. This makes it easier for players who do not have time for consistent sessions. They also suggested I do social media giveaways for players who post their progress on specific games or drills and use my own personalized hashtag. 

3. In the beginning of my training program I am only going to offer personalized online training. This fill focus specifically on skills training and player development. I will do giveaways to grow my social media presence and to create more interaction with players from around the country. 

    As I continue to grow and more of my time slots fill up, I am going to film breakdowns as suggested by the Saint Francis players. This allows players to learn directly from their own experiences as I provide insight from an outsider's perspective. The price for this will vary based on the length of the videos being sent in. Each video will be broken down within 24 hours of submission. 

    Eventually, I plan to grow my business to the point where I have other trainers working for me. This will allow me to positively affect and reach out to more players around the country. One day I plan to connect with trainers from many different countries and hopefully recruit them to join my team to reach a global client base. European basketball is way ahead of American basketball so this will not only add more players to our clientele, but will also provide for value for the other trainers and their players. 

New Market

1. The new market I will be targeting is athletes of all sports. 

2. There are two ways I could potentially add value to this market. One option is to have skills trainers of other sports work for the business and allow them to offer personalized online training to players of their sport. The other option is I can offer personalized athleticism training that will offer customized workout programs to any athletes based on their current weaknesses and strengths. This service will focus on teaching athletes the why behind each workout, so they will develop mentally as an athlete in addition to physical gains.

3. I interviewed two soccer players about this service. They both were much more interested in skills training for their sport rather than athleticism training. They explained that there is a lack of supply of soccer skills training which is what makes this online program so intriguing. They do not believe single-person training would be valuable enough for the usual price of individual training, so they suggested we do small group sessions instead.

4. I was very surprised about the lack of interest in athleticism training. Although I only interviewed two athletes, I assumed improving their athleticism would be much more important to them. After this interview I realized that many players enjoy getting better at their specific sport instead of their athleticism because the sport is more fun by itself. I do not think this will be the case for all athletes. 

    This market is just as intriguing as my current market. However, I do not have any knowledge on skill development in any sport other than basketball, so it may be a challenge trying to find trainers who are qualified enough while also seeking online coaching rather than in-person. 

    Eventually I can see my online personalized training programs to be available for any sport. Introducing this new market will allow me to positively affect more athletes than I previously intended. This assignment made me realize how important networking with coaches and trainers of other sports can be.  

24A- Venture Concept No. 1 (JC's Personalized Hoop School)

JC's Personalized Hoop School

The opportunity I am pursuing is a personalized online basketball training service. This opportunity comes from the lack of accessible training around the entire country. This unmet need of accessible basketball training is spread across basketball players of all skills levels and all ages. This is for players of any gender as well. Specifically, players in rural areas or low-income areas have the greatest unmet need for this because of the lack of nearby and affordable training programs. Currently, there is a pandemic caused by Covid-19 that enhances this need and even increases the amount of players with this unmet need. Most players do not have access to gyms and courts that they previously were able to use. Also, many trainers are not currently training there players right now due to legal or safety issues caused by this pandemic. Due to the length of this pandemic, the need to fine-tune and improve their basketball skills is increasing. This extended period of time also reduces the loyalty of players who were previously training with skills trainers in person. The current opportunity will last until there is a vaccine approved to use for the Covid-19. However, even after this pandemic ends (whenever that may be), this is still a very large unmet need for many players across the country or world. There may even be long-lasting safety concerns that keep the amount of people with this unmet need slightly inflated.

This service I am offering is radically innovative for the basketball training industry. I will be able to train players of all ages and skill levels across the world through video calls such as on FaceTime or Zoom. This means players are able to improve as a basketball player anywhere they would like, even directly in or outside of their home. Not only is the accessibility of this service innovative, but the personalized aspect of it is just as radical. Current training programs are tailored towards basketball players as a whole, rather than towards specific players or player types. This attention to detail will allow players' development to accelerate compared to normal training programs. Not only will this speed up and enhance their development, it also allows for a greater connection between the clients and I. Being able to address a player's needs and wants directly during a session will help create transparency that will allow the player to understand what my intentions are for improving their game. This allows me to find a balance between pushing the player out of their comfort zone and creating drills and games that they will find fun and enjoyable. As far as price goes, I believe it will vary depending on the length of the session the player selects. In the beginning I will charge $30 for a thirty minute session, $50 for an hour session, and $70 for a hour and a half session. This will encourage clients to purchase longer training sessions which gives me a greater opportunity to improve their skills which they will be able to more clearly feel and see. This encourages them to come back and continue using my service. 

As basketball continues to evolve, it is easy to fall behind in player development no matter how good a player currently is. Basketball players around the world are becoming aware of this which has greatly increased the demand for basketball training. By requiring no equipment and no specific location, this service allows any player with internet access the necessities to improve as a basketball player. The lack of supply in online training will lead players to pay for my service. The only competitors I will face are basketball training programs created by other basketball trainers. The weakness of these programs are that they are not personalized for the needs of specific players. Instead, they usually encourage random drills that will only fine-tune players' current skills rather than allow them to improve on current skills and develop new ones. Overall, the customer experience and ease of use and access are what makes up this business concept. Players will see greater results with this product than they would any other online program. Initially, I will have to do this by myself to profit and to ensure that players are receiving top-level training. As this business grows, I envision myself being completely booked for the entire week with more players inquiring about training. At this point, I hope to use my coaching and training network to hire other trainers that specialize in player development. 

My unfair advantage is my proven results and experience training basketball players. I have already trained basketball players of all levels, including children as young as five years old and professional players who play overseas. Having experienced training so many different types of players ensures that I can personalize a training program for any type of player to improve their game.

A potential opportunity later for my venture would be to offer athleticism training in the same form as personalized skills training. Being able to access and alter a player's workout program as it is happening is invaluable as it will prevent injuries and allow for maximum growth as an athlete.

In five years from now, I want to be training more players than anyone else in the country. The format of my service makes this entirely possible. I also want to have multiple trainers working under me providing the same service. Ideally, I will pass along my younger clients to these trainers while I work with the advanced high school, college, and professional players. 

23A- Your Venture's Unfair Advantage

1. Coaching Experience- This is very valuable because experience as a coach not only helps me make connections with coaches, but also allows for me to account for their needs as a coach of the players I will train. Overall, this is not very rare. However, for someone my age to already coach middle school and high school teams is rare. This is not inimitable but it will take many years to accomplish. This is non-substitutable because of the uniqueness of the job. 

2. Training Experience- This is extremely valuable because this experience shows I am capable of training top players and have had time to develop this skill. This is rare because of the talent level of players I have trained. This is non imitable but once again will take many years to attempt to accomplish. This is non-substitutable because this is the skill and experience needed to train. 

3. Sales Experience- This is a very valuable resource because without the ability to make a sale, your service is essentially useless. This is somewhat rare in this industry because most trainers only train players they have already coached or were recommended to them. This is imitable because all it takes is experience in almost any type of field. I would say this is non substitutable because of the necessity of making a sale. 

4. Personalized Training- This is extremely valuable because this ensures the clients receive the best possible results for their own playing style and development. This is extremely rare because most programs aim to train each player the same way. This is imitable, however, for whatever reason it hasn't been utilized by many trainers. This is non substitutable because this is what provides the most value to the clients.

5. Coaches and Trainers Network- This is extremely valuable because it is a way to gain more clients and to learn more about the industry and skills. This is somewhat rare because of the social capital needed to expand your network. This is imitable but it requires coaching or training at a high level. This is substitutable, however, no substitute can provide as much value.

6. Industry Experience- This is extremely valuable because it gives me great insight to what does and does not work in the industry. This is not very rare because any trainer can achieve this. I would say this is imitable because it only takes time and experience. This is non substitutable because any trainer will eventually need to gain this. 

7. Access- The ability to be able to improve your game anywhere is the most valuable resource I have. This is rare because most programs and trainers require equipment and a full basketball court. This is imitable, however, this has not been utilized yet by trainers. This substitutable but any substitute does not provide as much value.

8. Management Skills- This is very valuable when operating a business of any kind. This is not rare as most people can gain an opportunity to develop these skills. It is very imitable because of the many different opportunities to develop these skills. This is non substituable because without competent management, the rest of the business will not be able to operate effectively and efficiently.

9. Internship with Akii Dean- This is extremely valuable as he is the best player development coach in the country in my opinion. This is very rare because I am going to be his second ever intern. This is not very imitable as there is very limited opportunities working under such a well-respected trainer. This is substitutable but will take a much longer period of time to try to gain as much value as this will for me. 

10. Internship with For All Athletics LLC- This is valuable because it showed me the strengths and weaknesses of beginning a training business. This is rare because most start ups do not actively search for interns. This is imitable because almost anyone can reach out to start ups to work for very little or free. This is substitutable by just starting a business by yourself. 

The most important resource is the access of my service. Being able to train and help players grow anywhere across the world is extremely unique and creates a very large potential client base. There is not a substitute that is as easily accessed to improve one's game. Limited equipment required also is a part of this access that makes it accessible to almost any player. 

22A- Elevator Pitch No. 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOAByN6mxsc

The only feedback I received on my last elevator pitch was to address my audience at the end by asking them to set up a meeting. I found this very insightful and made sure to implement it in my next attempt. I did not feel much a difference between my second and third pitch. My confidence and pitch were almost identical between the two. This is most likely because I made a large leap between my first and second pitch. 

20A- Growing Your Social Capital

Akii Dean:

Akii Dean is the founder of Process Basketball Training located out of Tampa and Tallahassee, Florida. He played college basketball at Ave Maria University before beginning his training career. He currently trains top level high school players along with an abundance of college and NBA players. 

Akii is a domain expert in my industry. He currently owns a training company and trains players of higher levels that I would one day like to consistently train. Also, I would consider him an expert because of his experience playing and training. In addition to training current high level players, he helped develop Kevin Knox and Jonathan Issac from young ages into eventual top 10 NBA picks. 

I initially found Akii on Instagram because I follow a lot of basketball training accounts to grow my knowledge of the sport and industry. I had reached out to him a few times before through Instagram direct messages asking about specific moves or training techniques he was using in his posts. 

Akii has done a lot for me in a very short period of time. In addition to answering my questions about basketball specific training, he was able to give me feedback about a potential online training program. Additionally, I asked him if he would be potentially interested in having an intern work for him during the fall. We spoke on the phone a few days later where he hired me as an intern for the fall. The return for his feedback and internship is free labor. My internship will be unpaid meaning he will not have to spend anything for me to be there helping. I truly look forward to learning from him in this upcoming semester. 

Akii has a lot of power in the basketball training industry. He has a large network of high school, college, and AAU coaches he is connected with that respect his opinion. Also, many players around the country are becoming aware of his training ability so he has a large reach of potential customers for my opportunity.

Coleman Ayers:

Coleman Ayers is the founder and head trainer for By Any Means LLC. By Any Means is a basketball training company located in Washington, DC and Miami, Florida. In addition to training players in basketball he also trains players in athletic performance. 

Coleman is an expert on my market. Not only does Coleman train players in person, he has recently launched multiple online basketball training programs. These programs are specifically designed for certain player groups according to their skill level and position. While these are not as personalized as my potential training services, he is targeting the same market.

I found By Any Means Basketball on YouTube three years and have been following their content on YouTube and Instagram ever since. To reach out to Coleman himself, I messaged him on Instagram explaining to him my position and asking if he could provide some feedback on my online training idea. 

Coleman and I spoke through audio messages in direct messages on Instagram. He explained to me the pros and cons of trying to launch an online training program compared to in-person training. He recommended the best way to expand my market is to grow my social media presence. In return for his advice and feedback, he asked that I continue to support his content on Instagram and YouTube by liking and commenting on his posts and to repost anything that I believe my followers could benefit from. I plan to continue supporting his content because I truly believe it can help other basketball players the way it has helped me.

Establishing a connection with Coleman is very important because I think he is one of the top trainers in the country. The more I can learn from the mistakes of other trainers, the more I can focus on growing in other areas. This will allow me to grow my image and social media presence to expand my market. 

Coach Barnes:

Coach Barnes is a middle school basketball coach for the girls basketball team at Switzerland Point Middle School in Saint Johns, Florida. He has won two championships in his four years coaching there. He played high school basketball at Pedro Menendez High School in Saint Augustine, Florida.

It was very difficult figuring out what would be considered a supplier for a basketball trainer in their industry. I ended up deciding a school basketball coach could be considered a supplier because they have access to gyms and often recommend trainers to their players.

I found Coach Barnes through Terrance Singleton, the head basketball coach for the boys team at Switzerland Point Middle School. Coach Singleton was my middle school basketball coach and I have worked at multiple basketball camps for him for many years. I texted Coach Barnes explaining my situation and asking him if he would be willing to have a conversation over the phone. 

Coach Barnes gave me a lot of feedback on what he thinks about basketball training in general. He believes that most trainers do not understand player development and instead put players through randomized drills. For this reason he does not recommend his players to any specific trainers. His opinion on training helped me understand some of the challenges I might face trying to network with coaches. Establishing relationships with coaches is going to be crucial in creating a network of potential clients. He did ask that I help him out during the girls basketball camp next year that precedes the boys basketball camp that I usually work at. I plan to do this to grow my network and gain more experience training. 

Overall, I gained a lot of good experience practicing networking with other trainers and coaches. I did not have much experience doing this before so I definitely learned a lot. The more I talked about basketball in general at the beginning of the conversation, the more fluid our conversations felt. This is something that I will definitely use in the future. I also think that attending or watching the games and training sessions will help give me a better understanding of how they train and coach. 

17A- Elevator Pitch No. 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FYeGin2KrU

The only critique I received on my last elevator pitch was to try to improve the production. I thought this was a fair judgement because my last pitch was recorded in the corner of my bedroom while I was wearing a basketball shirt that was unreadable. 

Based on that feedback, I tried to improve the production aspect of the pitch. Although I'm rather limited on where I can film due to COVID-19, I believe I recorded in a room with a better background. I also wore a collared shirt for a more professional appearance. 

19A- Idea Napkin No. 2

Me: I grew up playing basketball all the time since I was five years old. Every level I played at I had a decent amount of success until middle school. In sixth and seventh grade I did not get the playing time I desired so I began training myself every morning before school then practiced with my friends after school. Over the last few years I have began training basketball players and coaching at the high school level. I was hired by a basketball training company and I have developed my skills as a teacher in training through training players of all levels. I have trained players from the youth level to the professional level. My main focus on teaching my players is player development rather than putting them through randomized drills. My business concept would occupy my entire life which is very exciting for me because I love developing my skills and my players' skills.

What am I offering to customers?: I am offering personalized online basketball training through Zoom and FaceTime to dedicated basketball players. This service is much cheaper and more accessible than traditional basketball training. Training can be offered in individual or group settings. Additionally, player development programs can be purchased according to the player's play style. These will be prerecorded programs that do not require live interaction. Examples of the programs include "Small Guard Program", "All-Around Player Program", and "Shooting Program."

Who am I offering it to?: I am offering my service to basketball players of any level that are dedicated to improving their game. Specifically, my target market will be athletes who have the desire to improve their craft without constantly needing outside motivation. Many of the players will be located in rural areas where there is a lack of affordable basketball trainers. 

Why do they care?: The customers will care because I have proven results of developing basketball players and they will want the same for themselves. After training with me for an extended period of time, many of my players have experienced their best season. Many basketball players are seeking their best season so my service will help them reach their goals. Additionally, I am in the process of training myself to become a college basketball player which will also attract customers seeing my training has worked on myself. 

What are my core competencies?: What sets me apart from everyone else is the personalized aspect of online training. This requires no traveling for the athletes either. There are many online training programs but they are all very generalized and do not take into account each player and their specific needs. Also, the personalized aspect of the online training allows me to make sure every player is challenged to enhance their development. 

I believe the format of my services work very well and is a complete program. The cost for these services will be very cheap because I will not have to pay for gym time, gym insurance, or travel expenses. My intellectual capital regarding basketball and the microskills of basketball are my strongest asset and I believe this provides me the best opportunity to use it. Overall, the feedback for this service has been very positive throughout this course. In my first idea napkin I did not consider the prerecorded programs, but I received lots of positive feedback on it when I mentioned it in later assignments so I added it this time. Marketing this service was the sole concern I received in the feedback, but I believe this will be rather simple by growing my social media presence. 

18A- Creating a Customer Avatar

The pictures above show two middle school basketball players.

The prototypical customer for my service are basketball players who realize that they have weaknesses in their game. For this assignment, I'm specifically focusing on younger players because they typically have more weaknesses and usually can identify when they have work to be done.

My prototypical customer is in middle school or is a freshman in high school and has either not made their school team or they did not receive playing time on it. They love to play basketball and play in many recreational leagues throughout the year. They live in a rural area or an area that has a lack of affordable basketball training nearby. 

My prototypical customer tends to do fairly well in school. This is due to their desire to be successful in whatever they are partaking in. Additionally, they have parents, or a parent, that truly wants their child to be successful and will do anything in their power to assist in that. 

What do I have in common with the customer avatar? I was this exact customer back in sixth and seventh grade. In sixth grade, I made the practice team at my school but I did not make the varsity team. In seventh grade, after being rezoned to a different school, I only got to play in about half of the games after making the team. I was a very good student but I was unsatisfied with my ability in basketball. 

I find these similarities to be very interesting. I believe the reason I became a basketball trainer is because I wish I had someone care about my improvement and development the way I care about my players. 

16A- What's Your Secret Sauce?

1. Emotional Intelligence: I have a the ability to understand my own and others' emotions which I believe is extremely valuable. When training players this allows me to push them to do their absolute best and find what motivates them and what does not. 

2. Obsession With Improvement: I think improvement is one my favorite things in the world to experience and to witness. I have always been this way which has led me to outwork my peers in what I am passionate about. This also is very beneficial as a basketball trainer because I truly want my players to get better.

3. Problem-Solving Skills: I do a good job of analyzing problems and coming up with many different solutions. My friends often come to me with their problems because they know I'll be able to help.

4. Connections: I do a good job of making a connect and creating a relationship with people I just met. I attribute this to my ability to get along with almost anyone and my emotional intelligence. I was able to get two internships over the last year by speaking on the phone to owner for less than 15 minutes.

5. Straight Forwardness: I am a very straightforward person and I think very logically. This allows me to simplify situations which makes it easier for me and those around me to understand what is going on and what the best course of action is.

Interview 1: Terrance Singleton (Former coach and current boss)

Coach Singleton said what separates me, and has since I was a player, was my brain. He said my decision-making has always separated me from my peers. He also said my passion and loyalty separates me from others. I have worked for him at his basketball camps every summer since my freshman year of high school which he attributes towards my passion for basketball and loyalty towards him. 

Interview 2: Margaret Alfano (Former boss)

Margaret said what makes me difference is my patience. While working for her, I was largely in a customer-service role which had me dealing with some not so easy-going people. She said she always admired how patient I was when a resident was unjustifiably yelling at me because they did not get their way. She also said that she appreciated my loyalty towards her and the company. 

Interview 3: Aaron Oppelt (Friend)

Aaron said what makes me different is my time-management skills. He said my ability to get multiple tasks done to try to achieve a goal is something that he wants to get better at because of what he has seen me do. He also said my "realness" separates me from others. He explained that I will always be honest with him and others even if it may temporarily hurt to hear. He said what really separates me with this is my ability to pick and choose when to do this to make sure it is always in the person's best interest. 

Interview 4: Manny Torres (Former boss and coworker)

Manny said the one thing that separates me from others is my dedication/commitment. He believes this is one of his own best traits which is why he thinks that he noticed it in me so quickly. He mentioned my willingness to work odd hours really showed him my dedication towards my work.

Interview 5: Taylor Morrow (Sister)

Taylor said my maturity separates me from others. She further explained this by saying I have always acted older than my age in regards to my communication with others and my long-term focus. She said that I have always been able to get along with and have conversations with anyone regardless of age. She also she admires my ability to make decisions based on the long-term consequences. This long-term focus she believes is due to the fact that I am so goal-orientated and love to achieve my goals. 

Reflection: 

After interviewing five people close to me, I realize that I view myself very similarly to the way they view me. Patience and maturity were both mentioned by my interviewees, and I believe this is due to my emotional intelligence that I listed. My ability to get along with others is also similar to communication. The one thing I disagree with his my time-management skills that Aaron mentioned. I tend to procrastinate a lot but I always make sure to get the job done. This is usually right before my deadline because it forces me to do it. I believe most traits that the interviewees mentioned fall under the traits listed. The one trait that I would add is my dedication/commitment towards my work. However, this could also be because of obsession with improvement. 

15A- Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 2

1. For this assignment I interviewed three junior varsity basketball players at Bartram Trail High School.

3. In the previous assignment I determined that most of the potential customers use their coaches as their main source for information search. After interviewing these three players I can confirm that this is true. The two boys basketball players I interviewed said they have actually reached out to their coach looking for training and he recommended them to one individual. I asked them what they would search for in a trainer if their coach recommended multiple individuals. They both said they would choose the trainer with the best proven results of developing players. Price was not an important factor for them. The other player I interviewed said she would look for a trainer that mainly focuses on replicating game actions during training sessions. Price was not a factor for her either. 

4. For my younger potential customers, their parents are the ones making the final purchase decision. I think most parents would prefer to pay directly before or after the training session. All purchases would be completed online because my service is an online training program.

5. The customers reflection on their purchase will depend on the results they see as a player. It does not really matter how much they enjoy the training program or how difficult it is. It will only be considered a good purchase decision if they have a better season then they did before training or they make a team that they could not before. The purchase will be considered a bad idea if they do not see any significant improvements in their next season.

6. Two of the three players I interviewed had a trainer they were working with before the pandemic began. Since then, only of them has been able to continue working out with their trainer. Both players are satisfied with their purchase because they both got a lot of playing time this past season, which they attribute to the training. The third player had a "solid" first season playing junior varsity basketball and does not see a need for a trainer. When potentially deciding on a trainer, none of them believed price was important. I believe this is because they are not the ones paying for the service. 

7. My segment does not often have alternative options because most coaches have a preferred trainer they want their players to train with. Those that are faced with multiple options look for trainers that have high-level clients and have seen improvement in their game. This also simplifies the purchase decision because of the low supply of training. If the players want to improve their game, they almost feel like they have to try training with the trainer their coach recommended. The post-purchase evaluation is completely results-orientated related to their success on their teams. If the players get more playing time or play significantly better, they will usually consider the training a good purchase and will continue to use it. 

14A- Halfway Reflection

This class surprisingly is one of the most time consuming classes I've taken at UF, but I think this adequately reflects the entrepreneurial lifestyle. To keep up with the requirements of this course I had to set a strict schedule for when I will watch the class videos, take notes, begin the assignments, and finish the assignments. Putting time away specifically for the class has helped me stay consistent throughout this semester.

I recently returned to work and have been working 30-40 hours a week. This along with the time demands of my classes has been exhausting. There have been times that I wanted to give up and skip my schoolwork all together. I never stopped though because I have high expectations for myself and have always worked hard in what I do. I can't control everything in life but I can always control my effort. This tenacity comes from playing sports growing up and always wanting to be the best at them. I wouldn't let anything stand in my way from being successful in my sports. 

One tip I would offer next semester's student is to create a schedule for your classwork. The more punctual you are the easier I believe it is to hold yourself accountable. Self accountability is very important skill in developing a tenacious mindset. 

Another tip I would offer is to get ahead. If you do more than you are expected to each week then the tenacious mindset almost becomes the new norm for yourself. If you begin used to putting in extra work it will provide huge benefits in this class and in the real world. 

My last tip would be to find their "why." I think it is extremely difficult to develop a tenacious mindset without knowing why you are doing it. If you can discover your "why" and constantly remind yourself of it, it becomes much easier to push through adversity and develop a tenacious mindset. 

12A- Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 1

The segment I will be targeting is basketball players seeking long-term development. This means players who are looking to play basketball at the next level. For instance, a middle school basketball player who wants to play basketball throughout high school is part of this segment. A middle school basketball player who plays for fun and is unsure if they will play in high school is not a part of this segment. This segment will be the most profitable and as they will most likely be long-term customers.

I interviewed five high school basketball players at Creekside High School because two of them do not want to play at the next level (college). The threes players who have the unmet need realized they had this need during their first season of varsity basketball. They had some success at this level but did not dominate the way they wanted to and will eventually need to in order to play in college. After the season, two of these players asked their coach where and how they should be trained while the other player just began working out on his own. The coach's opinion holds a lot of weight for these players so whatever the coach says the players will most likely try. The third player, who did not seek his coach's advice, was unaware of how many players around the country train with basketball trainers to develop their game. 

I then asked each player what they would look for when finding a trainer. Each player first said the most important thing about a trainer is knowing that they played basketball at a high level. This appeared to give them the most confidence that the training is worth partaking in. The next most important thing for two of the players was who the trainer currently trains. It mattered to them if they usually train players around their skill level or even higher. If they usually train players at a lower level, they are hesitant to begin working with them. The one player who did not say this said the next most important thing for him was proven results. He wanted to see proof that a player has taken his game to the next level because of the trainer's workouts. 

Overall, I learned that many players understand they have this need, but do not know what an adequate solution for it would be. Instead of using Google or the internet, they tend to ask people they trust such as coaches, family, and friends. This is somewhat concerning because if word of mouth is their number one source of information for this need, it is difficult to find a consistent marketing approach. Developing relationships with coaches around the country, specifically those where training is scarce, seems to be the best way to reach the players with this unmet need. 

11A- Idea Napkin No. 1

Me: I grew up playing basketball all the time. Every level I played at I had a decent amount of success. Over the last few years I have began training basketball players and coaching at the high school level. I have developed my skills as a teacher in training through training players of all levels. I have trained players from the youth level to the professional level. My business concept would occupy my entire life which is very exciting for me because I love developing my skills and my players' skills.

What am I offering to customers?: I am offering personalized online basketball training through Zoom and FaceTime to dedicated basketball players. This service is much cheaper and more accessible than traditional basketball training. 

Who am I offering it to?: I am offering my service to basketball players of any level that are dedicated to improving their game. Specifically, my target market will be athletes who have the desire to improve their craft without constantly needing outside motivation. Many of the players will be located in rural areas where there is a lack of basketball trainers. 

Why do they care?: The customers will care because I have proven results of developing basketball players. After training with me for an extended period of time, many of my players have experienced their best season. Many basketball players are seeking their best season so my service will help them reach their goals.

What are my core competencies?: What sets me apart from everyone else is the personalized aspect of online training. There are many online training programs but they are all very generalized and do not take into account each player and their specific needs. Also, the personalized aspect of the online training allows me to make sure every player is challenged to enhance their development. 

10A- Elevator Pitch No. 1

9A- Testing the Hypothesis Part 2

Who: I am not sure there are many players similar to the prototypical customer for online basketball training that do not share this need. The only people I was able to find are the players who train with a trainer in person or are able to find enough free knowledge through YouTube and Instagram. 

What: My proposed service is online basketball training. When the pandemic ends or gyms start to reopen, many players will regain access to their skills trainer to work with in person. In-person training is without a doubt the most valuable form of training for those who can afford it and are located close enough. 

Why: The need of the outsiders is the same as those that are the prototypical customer. The difference is the prototypical customer does not have access to in-person training because of their location or budget. 

	Inside the boundary	Outside the boundary
Who	High-level basketball players who are not located near or cannot afford top trainers.	High-level basketball players who are located  near and can afford top trainers
What	High-level personalized basketball training.	High-level personalized basketball training.
Why	Basketball is evolving along with its skills,  so this knowledge and motivation provided  is necessary to not fall behind.	Basketball is evolving along with its skills, so this knowledge and motivation provided is necessary to not fall behind.

Overall, this assignment was rather difficult finding five high-level players who do not have this unmet need during the pandemic. There were a few players who continued to train with their trainers either at their house or at a local park. One athlete said he was using Instagram content provided by the top trainers in the world to work on his game, however it was not personalized. The distinguishing factor between the people inside the boundary and outside the boundary is access to high-level trainers in person. 

8A- Solving The Problem

The opportunity I have been discussing during this course is basketball training. I found this opportunity to be especially pressing during the current pandemic because many people now do not have access to courts, equipment, or even trainers. Some online training programs do exist, but they tend to work on general skills and often do not account for the player not having all necessary equipment. 

The service I will be proposing is personalized online basketball training. Personalized training means that I will account for the circumstances each player is in to make a training session that they can complete without worrying about not having enough equipment. Some players may only have access to a basketball and a flat surface right now. Personalized training allows me to design a training session that requires nothing except for a basketball and a flat surface. These training sessions will most likely be performed through Zoom, but other video services such as FaceTime could work as well. 

Another part of my online training program would be based off of player types. Prerecorded training sessions could be designed for certain player types. Any player who fits into that mold could purchase the program and use it to get better. For instance, one program would be designed for undersized guards because they have a different need than bigger guards. This would allow me to reach a larger audience because personalized one-on-one training means only one player could be trained at once.

This will still be a viable unmeet need when the pandemic ends (whenever that may be) because of the lack of trainers across the country. Areas such as California and South Florida have an abundance of qualified basketball trainers, but areas up North or in the Midwest typically do not have enough to match the demand. Additionally, many trainers are just basketball coaches looking to make money on the side, so they usually see the game of basketball as a whole and do not notice or learn about the micro-details of skills training. Also, coaches tend to train players to prepare for their team, rather than their long-term development. Basketball skills training should be focused on skill development and player development which is what my online training program would focus on. 

7A- Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

1. The opportunity I would like to pursue is the online interactive basketball training I discussed in assignment 4A.

2. There is a lack of available basketball training for athletes who do not live near trainers or have access to a trainer during the coronavirus pandemic.

The who: Basketball players of all ages.

The what: They do not have access to basketball training.

The why: Location and/or the coronavirus pandemic

3. Testing the who: Everyone described has this need and potentially middle school and high school coaches who cannot currently coach.

Testing the what: Some beginner-level players have access to online training programs that could help them improve their game. However, most high-level players do not find these programs sufficient.

The why: Some athletes do not live close enough to a qualified basketball trainer. Others cannot afford basketball training. Currently, most players do not have access to training because of the restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

4. I interviewed Omar Brown, Caleb Townsend, and Ethan Miller again while also interviewing J’Michael Plummer and Susan Dana. The first four mentioned are all high-level players who have or are currently playing at the high school level. Susan is the mother of a ten year old and thirteen year old boys who enjoy playing basketball. Each player I spoke with said they do not have access to a basketball trainer because of the gyms closed due to the pandemic. However, all but one of those players said before the pandemic began, they had access to a trainer they enjoyed working with. The other player said they did not have the funds to consistently train with someone. Susan has never had her boys trained by a trainer and does not believe that is a need of theirs because they play multiple sports and do not have the time. As mentioned in assignment 4A, many players are not currently satisfied with available online training programs because of the equipment needed, the simplicity of the content, or the lack of communication between them and the coach.

5. After the interviews, I still firmly believe this is a great opportunity. I believe that online personal training customized for the specific player(s) provides the most value to players. Prior to the interviews, I believed the best way to train players through some sort of online program would be best through Facetime or Zoom so the player could learn directly from the coach who could customize the workout according to the player’s access to equipment. Despite this being the most valuable form of training, it is also difficult to train many players at once so there would always be a limited supply. After the interview, I realized that multiple different curriculums could be developed to match different player types. If there was a separate program for each player type, all players that fit that mold would be able to purchase the program and use it as they please. This would allow the trainer to reach more players than before. Additionally, video reviews of players could be another form of training used for correction, such as with shooting form. This would also be more time efficient as the review could be done any time, with a response expected within 24 hours. Lastly, I was introduced to an application called HomeCourt AI during the interviews which tracks the specific details of a players shot such as makes and misses, ball angle, shot speed, ball rotation, and more. If there was a way for trainers to have live access to these stats to the players they train, they could easily correct and breakdown the mistakes players are making.

6A- Identifying Opportunities in Economic & Regulatory Trends

1. One economic problem is the unemployment rate across the country is at an all-time high due to the coronavirus pandemic. A major issue that will occur when the pandemic ends is the unemployed finding jobs. Many businesses have shut down due to the pandemic and many of the ones remaining will be focused on paying off debt when social restrictions are lifted. I was made aware of this issue when several friends were laid off due to the financial struggles their businesses were going through during the stay at home order. I later learned after reading https://www.fosters.com/business/20200528/next-economic-challenge-finding-job-once-pandemic-eases that this is a wide scale issue that is going to affect a lot of people. This article predicts that less than 50% of people will return to work as the job market may forever be changed. As the job market changes, the unprecedented new system of hiring and large of supply of unemployed labor can potentially create many opportunities. I believe this is a rather easy opportunity to exploit due to the problem being very new.

2. A another economic problem is the shortage of certified teachers across the country. This shortage is so large that the State Department of Education in New Hampshire has lowered requirements for hiring teachers, permitting schools to hire teachers lacking specific certifications. According to the article https://www.unionleader.com/news/education/with-teacher-shortage-schools-turn-to-educators-without-licenses/article_be92434a-f48a-50ee-b3cb-23e6c5f8644f.html, 40% of teachers in New Hampshire do not receive all certification requirements and instead use alternative such as training on the job. Teachers now do not even have to have received degrees in their specific subject for teaching. The cause of this is most likely due to the low wages teachers make despite being a high stress job. The lack of certifications required to teach now may hurt the teaching and learning for students as these certifications usually teach how to make a proper curriculum and improve the learning of students. This presents an opportunity as the supply of qualified teachers is low while schools do not have the funds to entice more qualified teachers to work for them. I was made aware of this issue by my aunt who teaches in New Hampshire and has noticed the quality of teaching decrease. This is a rather difficult opportunity to exploit due to the lack of funding schools have.

3. One social problem is the lack of representation of ethnic and racial minorities in the media. According to the article https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/why-on-screen-representation-matters-according-to-these-teens, 40% of the United States is non-white. However, members in the media do not reflect anywhere near that same percentage. This issue directly affects non-white people in the country who do not see themselves represented in the media. This also affects any non-white people trying to pursue a career in media. A more diverse media can create new conversations and ideas while improving communication to non-white Americans across the country. I was made aware of this issue in the 2019 fall semester while taking SPM3012 Sport and Society. This issue is not going to be easy to exploit as it requires long-term action to see permanent results. However, early opportunities may be easy to exploit as there are not many current examples of solutions.

4. Another social issue is the issue of global warming and climate change. I think this is a very large opportunity to exploit but would be extremely difficult. Current energy regulations are changing to become more environmentally friendly. Alternative sources of energy are slowly but surely becoming more prevalent around the world. Solar panels and wind turbines are two of the many new forms of energy being used. According to https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/blog/alternative-energy-sources, alternative energy sources are projected to continue to expand in all sectors by 2023. The prototypical customer for this is opportunity is China, as it is the largest energy consumer in the world. This opportunity will continue to grow as countries around the world continue changing energy regulations and the conversations of climate change also increase as seen in the previous presidential election.

 

5A- Identifying Local Opportunities

1. Late delivery of NM mail ballots feared

https://www.abqjournal.com/1460214/late-delivery-of-nm-mail-ballots-feared.html

Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, many Americans are turning to absentee voting, also known as voting by mail. However, the absentee voting process is flawed as many voters have not received their ballot and may not until it is too late, or at all. The current system requires voters to apply for absentee voting to confirm their address. If approved, they are then sent a ballot to vote on. Unfortunately, the increase in absentee voting due to the pandemic has put an extra burden on the mail system. Many voters have not received their ballots yet and if the ballots are not returned to election officials by 7 p.m. on June 2^nd, then the votes will not be valid.

The problem in this story is that the increase in absentee voting will potentially prevent many voters from being able to submit their vote in time.

The people who have this problem is those participating in absentee voting.

 

2. Coronavirus Causing More Issues for People in Food Deserts

https://www.weirtondailytimes.com/news/local-news/2020/04/coronavirus-causing-more-issues-for-people-in-food-deserts/

There are many areas in America that are considered food deserts, meaning those areas have a lack of access to healthy food options due to transportation, income, and location. These areas are experiencing more difficulties as many businesses closed due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Their current issues are being amplified by many people getting laid off and current social distancing policies. With lowered incomes, increased unemployment, and social distancing policies, it is becoming increasingly difficult for these areas to access healthy food options.

The problem in this story is that people in desert areas are having even more difficulty accessing healthy food options due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

The people who have this problem are those located in desert areas.

 

3. Paterson High School Graduation Rate Dropped Two Years in a Row

https://patersontimes.com/2020/05/18/paterson-high-school-graduation-rate-dropped-two-years-in-a-row/

High schools in Paterson School District have experienced a decline in graduation rates for the second straight year. Although the previous year is not perfectly explainable, the larger drop this year is a result of a change in calculating graduation rates at the state level. This change, coming in 2019, ensured that students attending alternative schools were not apart of the graduation rate calculation.

The problem in this story is that there is a decrease in graduation rates in New Jersey.

The people who have this problem are students and school officials in Paterson, New Jersey and other nearby areas.

 

4. Philabundance to hold its first emergency food drive-through Friday morning at Citizens Bank Park parking lot

https://www.inquirer.com/news/hunger-pandemic-philabundance-food-distribution-coronavirus-phillies-20200528.html

The Covid 19 pandemic has increased the amount of people going hungry while also making distribution of food to these people more difficult. Due to financial and employment difficulties caused by the pandemic, 60% more people need food provided by Philabundance. Not only is this large increase in demand and issue to keep up with, safely distributing food to these people is also an issue. Thirty-five pounds is currently being distributed once a week by Philabundance to these people in need.

The problem in this story is that there is an increase in people not being able to afford food.

The people who have this problem is those people with a low income and cannot work during the pandemic.

 

5. Housing Authority donates $275K to ensure internet access for city students

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2020/05/28/Pittsburgh-Housing-Authority-donation-internet-access-laptops-city-public-schools-students/stories/202005280149

The Covid 19 pandemic has forced schools to begin teaching online, causing major issues for students in low-income areas. Many students in these areas do not have reliable internet access or equipment to participate in online schooling. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh is donating $275,000 to help buy these students laptops and other internet essentials. There still remains a large amount of students who still do not have access to their online schooling.

The problem in this story is that many students are unable to access their online schooling due to lack of internet access.

The people who have this problem is students in low-income areas who do not have reliable internet access.

 

 

 

4A- Forming an Opportunity Belief

    An opportunity that I believe exists comes from the unmet need of basketball training. This applies to all high-level basketball players from middle school athletes all the way up to professional players. This need already existed for some players who do not live near any basketball skills trainers, but now all players have this unmet need due to the coronavirus pandemic. To try to fulfill this need, players are purchasing general online basketball programs that are the same for every player. They are not customized for the player and sometimes require equipment that the players do not have access to. I am 100% this opportunity exists as I have seen multiple players complain about not having access to trainers during this time.

    The protypical customer for this opportunity is high-level high school and college basketball players. I interviewed Omar Brown, the starting point guard for Saint Francis Catholic Academy, to discuss this opportunity. Omar said that he needs training customized for his skillset like he would have with his regular trainer before the coronavirus. This need was created as soon as the basketball courts closed due to the pandemic. Currently, he is following two separate online training programs from two separate trainers. However, he is unsatisfied with both programs because he feels as if it is tailored towards lower-level players and requires a full court at times which he does not have access to. He also does not like the lack of communication between himself and the trainers who made the program so he cannot ask questions to learn more about the drill and its application. 

    I learned that this opportunity is much more important than I initially believed. I was most surprised hearing that communication was the largest issue Omar had. I had not considered lack of communication as a barrier towards skill development for players using online training programs. I also learned that the format of most of these programs is very similar to a list with basic descriptions, which is very difficult to improve from. 

    I also interviewed Caleb Townsend, a college basketball player, to find out more about this opportunity. Caleb does not have much experience working with basketball skills trainers. However, after having a relative unsuccesful first season playing college basketball, he realized he needed a trainer to improve his game. This means he's been training with a trainer for a little less than a year. He thinks training has helped him improve his game as it provides him more structure than he ever has had. However, currently he has no way to fulfill this unmet need because of the coronavirus. He has access to a basketball court but no trainers are training right now. Instead, he has been playing and practicing by himself. He does not believe he is getting any better by practicing on his own, but instead he is just trying to maintain his skill and conditioning. This is not great for a player who did not have a great first year, but he believes he is doing everything he can given the circumstances.

    I learned that this opportunity for Caleb can be fulfilled much easier than Omar. I believe current available online training programs could provide Caleb with enough structure to improve his game. I was most surprised that he did not seem to think he needed the accountability of basketball trainers but more so just needed to know what he should do. 

    Lastly, I interviewed Ethan Miller, a starting forward for Creekside High School. Ethan's biggest need is online skills training that requires nothing except for a basketball and a flat surface, as that is all he has access to. He said that he's researched many existing online training programs, but they all require more equipment than he has available. This need began as soon as the stay-at-home orders were issued, as his trainer immediately stopped working with his clients. He currently is training by himself in his driveway to stay in shape. He is very unsatisfied with this alternative because he is limited to working on skills he already has because he does not have a trainer to teach him. He also finds it very difficult to remain motivated when he knows he is just trying to maintain his skill level and not improve it.

    The most surprising thing I learned about this opportunity was how important trainers are for motivating players. I think this specific unmet need comes from the lack of communication he currently has with other players and trainers. I also learned the unmet need is magnified when the player does not have the resources, such as a basketball hoop, to improve most parts of their game. I now know most players do not know how to get better without a basketball hoop or court simulating the context of a real game. 

    I believe the opportunity is larger than I previously thought. This pandemic has created unprecedented circumstances for many of these athletes, so the need for direction and motivation is more important than ever. Given that this is unprecedented, entrepreneurs should absolutely adapt their opportunities according to customer feedback. After interviewing these three players, I learned that all the online training programs mentioned are flawed and do not create as much value as they could for the athletes. I think a solution to their unmet needs is to have training sessions through Zoom or Facetime. This would allow the trainers to customize their training programs to their athletes' cirumstances. Additionally, consistent communication through these video calls will also increase and improve learning for these players.  

 

3A- My Entrepreneurship Story

    During Spring 2019, I interned for Coach Manny Torres, founder of For All Athletics LLC, as a basketball training intern. Coach Torres graduated from the University of Florida as a Sport Management major in hopes of creating a basketball training business. He did exactly that and continues to expand upon the traditional ideas of basketball training. One of his more innovative ideas was to start online basketball training which launched this month. This is an idea he had been brainstorming since I was an intern for him over a year ago. I was able to watch him overthink the format and content of the online training for over six months before finally just starting it. He realized that it was not going to be perfect regardless and that he needed to just create it and go from there. This realization had him extremely prepared when the coronavirus shut down all basketball courts. Instead of being stuck with no stream of income, he was able to launch his online training program. He continues to be innovative as he works on finding new ways to teach the game of basketball to the youth. 

This is Coach Torres and me viewing the beginning of the online training program.

I took this class because the idea of working for someone else sounds awful to me, and I knew being an entrepreneur is a potential alternative to that. Working a 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. job five days a week for the rest of my life also sounded awful as I would like to work and be productive during the hours I feel I work best at. I hope to find out in this class if being an entrepreneur is something I really want to become and develop as for the rest of my life.