The Lean Start-up:“Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” Lean Startup makes a lot of sense to me. You cannot plan for certain things, especially if this is your first time around. Your customers are essential. Without them, you go backrupt, right? By working with your specified audience from the very beginning, you can grow your business based on customer feedback and development. On paper, it all makes sense. However, we as social entrepreneurs need to be aware of these things oonce we get out into the field. 

Triple Bottom Line: The Triple Bottom Line fascinates me. I think it is the way of the future! I think some people have this warped perception that businesses are all about money, money, money! To some extent that is true. However, the triple bottom line executes so much more! Business involves environmental and social aspects in addition to the financial aspects. Working on improving all these things makes businesses more successful overall. 

The Business Model: Although I am a business major, I have never been introduced to the business model. It was interesting to me all the different components that make up a business structure. Components such as Key Partnerships, Key Activities, Key Resources, Value Propositions, Customer Relationships, Channels, Customer Segments, Cost Structure, and Revenue Streams. I have always  thought about the basics, money in and out, that sort of thing but I really enjoyed watching in detail how a business model comes together and how individual it is. 

What do you think of the statement by Mike Tyson "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth" in reference to starting up a business? How is this statement true regarding brand new enterprises?

I think Mike Tyson's quote has a lot to do with starting up a business. Sure, you start a business with a business plan but then what happens when things do not go according to plan? How can you plan ahead so you do not fail? The reason I think lean startup is so much more successful is there is a lot of back planning that sets you up for success. Jumping in with  a basic business plan can something that sets you up for failure. You need to look at your goals and then create smaller goals that will help you achieve your larger goals. When you create a brand new enterprise, you have no idea which way it's going to go. Sometimes you plan and things just do not work out. 

Peter Singer states that each of us spends money that we don't really need. What does he suggest we do with that money? What is the most effective way to give charitably?

Peter Singer suggests we live modestly and give time. As Peter Singer expands on this, he makes it apparent that you do not need to start serving others full time; you don't need to give away everything. The most effective way to give charitably is to do your research. What gives you the biggest bang for your buck so to speak? I think of good, better, best. No matter which charity you give your money to, it is going to help someone. But which one will go the distance? Make the largest, most significant difference? 

Journal Week 5

1. Summarize the three key ideas from this lesson that are most significant to your personal and professional goals.

I was incredibly inspired this week. I know it wasn't exactly the main topic, but Thursday's discussion about relationships really struck a chord with me. I have recently sort of gotten out of a relationship and I have been trying to date more. It is so difficult! I have a lot of things to work on and I am grateful that i was able to learn that now rather than later. Thursday's class made me realized how closed up I am to dating opportunities as well as the things that I need to personally work on to be more emotionally open. I've also been considering my relationship with my parents and my family members. I come from a mostly non-member immediate family and that has had a serious impact on me throughout my life. My relationship with friends and roommates could REALLY be improved upon. I know I am rambling, but i am so inspired after discussing this topic in class. I realize that if i start with myself, and start forming meaningful relationships, I can use my influence for good; not only in my personal life but my professional life as well. 

I really enjoyed the chapter this week. I loved her (I forget her name!) ability to let others help in her organization. She realized that she could not do it alone and she accepted help from others. She reached out for help from others! I personally have a hard time doing this, but I am working on it. You can get so much more done when you are working in a team rather than trying to tackle tasks all yourself. For our project in this class, I have teamed up with some of the girls and we are going to work together. As we met and discussed our plan, I was inspired by everyone's ideas. I was able to brainstorm so much easier with other people there to listen rather than trying to brainstorm alone.

It wasn't too prominent a topic in our reading but we did talk about habits a bit and I always get genuinely inspired by goal-setting and habit-forming. I think social entrepreneurs have the unique ability to be rigid about their goals and flexible about their methods. Social entrepreneurs have a good balance; another thing I would like to work on. I think time management is so important when you are trying to make an impact in the world. It is also important when you are working on achieving personal and professional goals. Some days I do better than others with time management. I am thinking of getting the Streaks app Bro. G talked about. It sounds like a great way to hold myself accountable to my goals and keep my time managing in check. 

2.Do you think it is worth the money and resources to accurately measure impact for a nonprofit organization? Why or why not?

I absolutely do think it is worth the money and resources to accurately measure the impact for a nonprofit organization. First off, you NEED to know the impact of your organization, or even know if your organization will make a significant  impact. If not, what are you even doing it for? Measuring the impact effects all other parts of your organization. It will help you determine where you need to focus, what you need to change, and the list goes on. Additionally, you need these statistics to show to people who are investing in your organization. Why should they donate money to you? What sort of impact are you making? No wise investor is going to just give you money because you have a generic tagline and good intentions. What is the draw? What difference are you making really? You need to give them the facts. To sum it up, measuring impact is crucial, not only to nonprofits, but really any business. 

3.How can you be sure that the solution an organization is providing is truly accomplishing its goals? Why is it important to know that?

I think it really just comes down to doing your research. Before donating or supporting a company, you need to research what you are getting yourself into. As I said before, measuring impact is so important; it is  the basis of nonprofit organizations. As a donor, you want to make sure you money and your time is not just being flushed down the toilet. Are your funds and efforts making a difference? Do you know? Then do your research. 

"Hot Coffee" Documentary for Marketing Law

1. What did you think was the most interesting part of the film?

This documentary was emotionally striking to me. I suppose that was the point. I think the scenes that really resonated with me were the gang-rape case, and the cap for the family with one child okay and the other born with physical limitations. As I watched these people and heard their stories, I felt their struggle and their pain. I acknowledged the injustice that was done to them and I wanted to become a lawyer and find a solution! I also thought twice about signing a contract that I haven't read carefully. Additionally, I thought about how vital research can be before you take a big step like have a baby of accept a new job. Those were the differences with these cases and the McDonald's case. You don't normally research your breakfast, but I am definitely more aware and more concerned with the justice of the American people. The scene with Jamie(?) in court going up against her company almost had me in tears. I think her lawyer silenced everyone when he described her situation. What were they even arguing about? She had been GANG RAPED and this company was brushing that under the rug. I was shocked and disgusted at this behavior. It was the most interesting and thought provoking part of the film in my eyes. 

2. Stella: Were you surprised when you learned about what happened to Stella Leibeck, the coffee burn victim? Do you think you would have responded like most of the people interviewed in the film? Based on what you learned about her case, do you think Stella should have won her case against McDonald’s? Why or why not? 

Before I saw the picture of Stella's injuries, I thought this lawsuit was frivolous. I mean, Stella spilled the coffee on herself in her own car, so she had to have been  the one at fault, right? However, after seeing the evidence, I was torn. Although Stella spilled the coffee on herself, these injuries just could not be ignored. Coffee that hot is a serious safety concern. Although the blame cannot be contributed fully to McDonald's, they are definitely not innocent. At the end of the documentary, after hearing the injustice of others with similar serious injuries that McDonald's ignored, I agreed that Stella rightfully won her case. Still, I find this sort of trial particularly tricky. Both parties are to blame. It is difficult to decide, especially in a court of law. If anything I think McDonald's should have paid for Stella's medical bills right off the bat. The fact that this was prolonged, was inexcusable. However, what draws the line? How serious do you injuries need to be in order to be reimbursed? Taking a step back, I suppose I really am not sure where I stand on this issue. I can see the reasoning behind both sides. 

 3. Frivolous Lawsuits: Do you think the McDonald’s coffee case is actually representative of what people refer to as “frivolous lawsuits”? What do you think should happen when someone files a claim that is truly frivolous?

I absolutely think that the McDonald's coffee case falls under the frivolous lawsuits category. I am not really sure what the current procedure is on frivolous cases, but I think they should probably be treated the same as any other case. Like the McDonald's coffee case, there are factors that might not be apparent on the surface that might give the case real subsistence. It might not appear to be as "serious" as other cases, but I think even if a case appears "frivolous" it deserves the same time and attention as any other case. 


 4. Bias: As the reading points out, the documentary is clearly intended to show a particular point of view about these issues. What information or interviews with other people do you wish you could see to understand these issues better?


After watching the documentary, I think I would really liked to have seen the other side of every argument. I thought it was interesting that most of the other sides refused to be in the video. However, they may have done so because this documentary was bias. I am not sure. Anyways, I think the case that most struck me was Jamie (?) the woman who was gang raped at her job, and nothing was done. I am aware that she signed a contract, but none the less, that was shocking to me. The scene in the court room where her lawyer put the other in his place really moved me. I can only imagine what that atmosphere would have been like if her rapists were there, or the upper-levels of the company who approved of that contract. With all the cases, I mostly want to receive personal justification. Why did they do the things that did? What is there reasoning? 

Week 4

This week's topic was all about design thinking and how that relates to social innovation. I have been learning a lot about design since I started working at Soapbox, the student run advertising agency on campus. When I consider how design and social innovation pair together I think of so many things! I think they go together so well. We watch inspiring videos about specific causes in class--that is design thinking. We fund raise by creating flyers, posters, brochures, etc.--that is design thinking. Without advertising, how will anyone know what your cause is? So many people are in the dark about so many different issues that plague the world today. We need designers, we need the creative people to guide and reveal what is new--what is happening. Then there are a majority of people who are afraid  of what is out there. We need design platforms that show them on a different level, to have hope. We need to get as many people as we can involved in these good causes. The only way we are going to do that is if we can spread the word in a way that reaches them on an emotional level. That is why design thinking is so essential as we move the social innovation field forward.

Respond to the challenge referred to in class, How can you improve learning and education opportunities to refugees? Remember what we have learned so far, Root Cause Analysis, Five whys?, and the steps to design thinking. 

We had a lot of ideas that were bounced around in class, and by the end of class, I really had no idea what the root cause of this issue would be. In my eyes, I think that one of the root causes for the refugees is sustainable living. I know my group brought that up in class. Essentially, as a refugee, you are without a home. In order to get an education, you need a place where you can feel comfortable. Where you have a place to rest, food to eat, room to study. Without these essentials, it will be much more difficult to focus, to get work done, and to have the  energy to take on everyday tasks. I think if the refugee camps had an affordable housing program, that transitioned you from the camp into a humble, comfortable home, you would have less worry over the basics and more of the ability to get an education. I know that the sustainability living argument could spin off into a number of other root problems these refugees have, but this is just one example of what could be done to further education. 

Week 4: Design Thinking and Social Innovation

1. As I was reading the links for this week, I noticed that design thinking has a lot to do with finding the root of the problem; a main discussion we have been having in class. I have discovered that making the discovery of the root cause is essential as a social entrepreneur. Even if I cannot be a part of a large social innovation project, I can create a mindset of instinctively trying to find the root of any issue. This will not only benefit my professional life, but my personal life as well. I believe that addressing the root of any problem creates an opportunity for innovation and progression. 

One of the articles addressed the topic of 'power.' As a woman, there is a negative connotation associated with being a 'powerful female.' However, I believe that power, in appropriate doses, is constructive and critical. In order to make a difference as a social entrepreneur, we cannot just be 'all talk;' we need to take action! You have probably already discovered that I am largely supportive of the  equal rights of all human beings (I tend to be an outspoken feminist and proud of it!) In order for to achieve equality, we need powerful people taking action where it matters most. We need to "use our voices and words, creativity, skills, and compassion," in order to make a difference. I am outrageously supportive of the arts and the human ability to create and become. I work in a creative environment; an advertising agency. I never thought that I would be  making to much of a social impact there, however, I have learned that through the creative process, incredible things can happen. Social problems need creatives who spread the message of truth! Since starting at the agency, I have learned so many things and I have gotten the necessary exposure to a creative business environment. I believe the skills I am learning there now will be helpful as I grow into a social innovator. 

2. In the Hans and Ola Rosling's TED talk, they said, "If you have a fact-based world view of today, you might have a chance to understand what is coming next in the future." Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?

To an extent, I agree with Hans and Ola Rosling's TED talk. However, I believe there are just some aspects that cannot be explained through factual evidence. When it comes to social innovation, I think if the facts were more readily available to the general public, that awareness of truth would provoke more participation. But, the human condition is to reject change for as long as possible. People are scared of the truth. They are afraid of changing something and taking a step out of their comfort zone. Especially if taking that step is not beneficial to them. Although I would like to think of people as charitable beings, so many are selfish in their ways. The facts are good, but they are not enough. In order to change, I believe we need emotional connections. We need to hit the general public with something they can relate to; something that tugs at their heartstrings. 

3. According to Roger Martin and Sally Osberg's acticle, the field of social entrepreneurship is a new one. Make some predictions of what you think the field will become in the next 10, 20, and 50 years in the future.

I am so excited to be able to be alive at the beginning of such an industrious, innovative field. In the next ten years, I hope to see social innovation as a major in universities around the world. I also hope that by then it will be a well-known subject of knowledge. In twenty years I would like to see some of the global root issues to be farther in the process of being resolved. Within fifty years, my optimistic goal would be to have poverty issues and environmental  issues solved. I know that is wishful thinking. But I believe that social innovation is going to grow into such a large industry and I am expecting big things to happen in the near future.