Assignment 13A

Assignment 13A

Twenty-Seven Dollars and a Dream: How Muhammad Yunus Changed the World and What It Cost Him, Katharine Esty

1)

·       What surprised you the most?

I was shocked when Muhammad Yunus was ousted from the very bank that he created. Grameen Bank, the social conscience-driven microlender that turned banking on its head by lending small sums to the poorest women of Bangladesh lost Yunus as its leader for issues of “Noncompliance”. I have a hard time believing that such an incredible entrepreneur and innovator did not see this possibility arising. He did not have any succession plan, so when he left, his vision left with him.

·       What about the entrepreneur did you most admire?

I admire Yunus’s patterns for action. He developed a roadmap for “change-Makers”, seven lessons for those who seek to truly make a difference through their work. They include topics like vision, communication, dream-fueled team, flexibility, innovation, values, and brand development.

·       What about the entrepreneur did you least admire?

I can appreciate the sacrifice, but Yunus put his work before his family. His first marriage failed because of his dedication to his work and he missed years of his daughter’s young life. For a man that demonstrates such warmth and generosity, he holds people at a distance, he surprisingly has no one close to him. I wonder if this type of isolation was a necessity in order to fulfill his life’s calling. It seems a hard, maybe unhealthy model to follow.

·       Did the entrepreneur encounter adversity and failure? If so, what did they do about it?

To say that Yunus encountered adversity is an understatement. As a result of his early struggles with his Mother’s mental illness, he was called to step into a parental role to man siblings. Though well-educated and worldly and acting from the head of a university economics department, Yunus’s attempts to aid rural farmers resulted in limited success and sometimes deception. His unique ability to see opportunities where traditional business minds did not allowed Yunus to deliver a model of microlending that started a revolution. That vision along with his relentless work ethic eventually earned him a Nobel Peace Prize. It was said that Yunus had the ability to tune out his failures and losses.

2) What competencies did you notice that the entrepreneur exhibited? 

Yunus possesses charisma, energy, brilliance, optimism and creativity, and innovation. His travel and education positioned him to use his action-based principals to relentlessly work toward social reform through microfinance.

3) Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you.

I was confused about how this man could face accusations of fraud and wrongdoing from the banking industry in a country rife with corruption and kickbacks.

4) If you were able to ask two questions to the entrepreneur, what would you ask? Why?

Why were you so attached to the Grameen Bank Model of microcredit, even at the exclusion of the iterations that followed that model but would make funds available to far more people?

Why did you not enlist more young tech-savvy individuals in your model, instead of relying on old pals to manage your bank?

I would ask because it seems he could have developed a framework for his legacy from within while he was still in the position of Director. 

5) For fun: what do you think the entrepreneur's opinion was of hard work? Do you share that opinion?

As mentioned earlier, Yunus leaned so hard into his vision of delivering credit to the least served that his personal life suffered as a result. I absolutely agree with his resolute work ethic, yet personally, I would strive for some balance.

Assignment 14A- Halfway Reflection

Assignment 14A- Halfway Reflection

1. Tenaciousness is a competency. What are the behaviors that you have used (or developed) to keep up with the requirements of this course? 

1. So I actually love the format of this class. The weekly assignments and lecture-based “cupcakes” forced me to stay current. In contrast, those classes that have few grades and two or three major exams or research papers call on my self-discipline and time management skills in a way that this class does not. I think the need for tenacity shows up in the area of quality. It’s one thing to just pump out assignments but another thing altogether to stay stuck in and submit work that I am proud of. The practice of staying engaged with the material and using the projects to explore subjects that I was curious about anyway have been two ways that I used to enjoy the requirements of this course.
1. Tenaciousness is also about attitude. Talk about a moment or two when you felt like "giving up." What pulled you through? Do you feel like you've developed a tenacious attitude during the past two months? What experience or experiences most contributed to this? 

 .               I have honestly not reached that “giving up” moment in this class yet. Yes, there have been times when I would rather not have had to hunt down another interview victim, but I have waited many years to be able to dedicate time to my education and reminding myself of that fact helps me settle in and keep trucking. I enjoy running marathons, which means I have a robust capacity for suffering. Around mile 21, I focus solely on the mile that I’m in – no wishing for the finish, no counting down, no cursing myself for entering the race – just calm down and keep going. When/if I reach that demoralizing “giving up” moment, I will call on that same focused tenacity that has always gotten me to the finish line.

3. Three tips. What are three tips you would offer next semester's student about (1) fostering the skills that support tenacity and (2) developing the 'tenacious mindset'?  

1. Start assignments early, stuff WILL come up. Stay current with lectures and take copious notes.

2. Developing a tenacious mindset: tenacity is like a muscle, the more you work it - the more it will develop. Think of areas of your life where you already exhibit tenacity. Let those areas inform the parts of your life that require more of the same (like my running example) I promise you, we all have the grit required, just calm down. Run the mile you’re in. Keep going. You’ll get there.

3. Really decide to show up for this class, the material is totally relevant even if you have no intention of being an entrepreneur. If you engage and apply the exercises to subjects that you are curious about and find meaningful, that elusive tenacious mindset will be well within your reach.

Assignment 12A-Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 1

Assignment 12A-Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 1

Choosing a segment: 

I have chosen the segment of horse owners that are willing and can afford the expense of whole horse removal and cremation. Included in this segment are my three interviewees: the first, an owner of a small farm with 16 privately owned horses bred or purchased for racing and showing, the second, a woman who boards her imported jumping horse at a facility in Ocala while running a company out of NYC, and the third, a local ambulatory equine vet whose duties sometimes include euthanasia and end of life decision consulting. I interviewed people who I imagined would use my service and share their experiences on social media. I chose the vet because he is in the position to guide owners toward services available for removal of remains.

Interviews:

INTERVIEW INFO

What I learned: 

I learned that this is not a subject that people were prepared to talk about. While everyone knows the inevitable death of their horses will put them in a position to deal with removal, the people I spoke to were somewhat prepared to do the unpleasant, and “try not to think of where the body was heading”. Upon hearing the offer of crematory services, my interviewees responded positively and agreed that “Absolutely, cremation would be the obvious choice”. The horse owners reported that they are greatly influenced by fellow horse owners, they are constantly seeking advice and referrals from one another for various services. They felt the idea would spread like wildfire. I estimated the top end of the price range and these particular owners pointed to the fact that a certain level of horse-ownership is extremely expensive, cremation would be consistent with that fact.

How I would describe this segment: 

I would describe this crowd as middle-class to wealthy horse owners, highly influenced by choices and experiences of fellow horse people. They are emotionally invested and consider their animals as family. They are accustomed to paying top dollar for services and see aftercare as no exception.

Assignment 11A Idea Napkin No. 1

Assignment 11A Idea Napkin No. 1

1.     Who you are. What your talents are. What your skills and experiences are. Also: what are your aspirations? Specifically, regarding your business concept, how do you see this business (if you were to start it) playing a role in your life?

• I have been around the horse industry my entire life and have been working with racehorses for the past 27 years. I currently operate a training business with my husband in this area of high horse concentration, we are well known and respected for our work. I am familiar with the thought processes and motivations of horse owners because I am a horse owner. Completely unrelated to the horse world, I have been a massage therapist (for humans) for the past 19 years. Working in a therapeutic relationship requires a level of compassion and empathy. This experience would carry over into my proposed service of helping horse owners manage the aftercare of their deceased animals. I intend to continue to train from our farm while operating the horse cremation service separately.  I would like to transition from the very physical, hands-on role that our current business practice requires into a predominantly managerial position. After establishing the cremation service business, I would operate both the farm and the crematorium at different locations. I will construct a team to carry out the day to day activities of both the farm and the crematorium. I like the flexibility of self-employment, yet I aim to work fewer hours once the new business concept is functioning smoothly.

2.     What are you offering to customers? Describe the product or service (in other words, how you'll solve customers' unmet needs). 

• I am offering the service of whole horse cremation to highly emotionally and financially invested horse owners. My service includes ethical and respectful removal of remains that can be prearranged to coordinate with euthanasia or is available as needed during regular business hours seven days a week. The remains will be transported to a local facility where they will be cremated without dismemberment. The cremains will be available to the horse owner for memorial purposes along with various urn options. For horse owners unable to afford the expense of private whole horse cremation I can offer alternatives. The option of communal cremation will be available for a reduced fee, the cremains will then be spread in a designated memorial garden. As long as disposal is available at local landfills, we will offer transport services to accepting sites and will work with counties to provide an area separate from household refuse.  

3.              Who are you offering it to? Describe, in as much detail as possible, the demographic and psychographic characteristics of your customers. Think especially of this question: what do your customers all have in common? 

• The option of whole horse cremation is aimed at the horse owner who sees these animals not just as livestock, but as pets or even family members. These are middle to upper-class individuals that have the income to support this type of animal care. This area is home to horse lovers that have spent hundreds of thousands to own their horses, for their pure enjoyment or as an investment. Aftercare that is proportionate to the upkeep provided throughout the animal’s life is a requirement for these owners that are not being met by the currently available options for removal. These racehorse owners, breeding farms with prized stock, show horse owners, and backyard horse-people are influenced by their community of fellow owners and seek to follow norms in the areas of animal care and environmental responsibility.
• The communal cremation is one step over from whole horse, respectfully reducing the animals remains but without the expense of a private service. For the owner that wants to use a service that provides the utmost in dignity while using the most economic option of landfill disposal, that service will provide affordability.

4.     Why do they care? Your solution is only valuable insofar as customers believe its valuable to them. Here, explain why customers will actually pay you money to use your product or service. 

• My service will be the first in this area to offer this option to owners. Impending regulations limiting or banning home burial for the purpose of preserving soil and water quality will force owners of deceased horses to dispose of remains elsewhere. Currently, landfill or rendering plants are the only other options. For people who are willing to spend hundreds of thousands over the lifetime of these animals, a fitting memorial is a given. This community operates on word-of-mouth and shared experience, a positive cremation experience would trigger a chain of referrals. Although this is a service that is required in a limited capacity per individual, the size and scope of the community ‘will support the business.

5.              What are your core competencies? What sets you apart from everyone else? Also: what do you have that nobody else has?  

• My core competencies are in the area of horsemanship, networking within this niche community, compassion, empathy for horse owners, 27 years operating a business within this community, and my detail-oriented strategic approach to developing and maintaining that business. I would be the first in this area to offer this service. I am recognized in the community for ethical, honest work practices and can use my existing connections with owners, trainers, veterinarian clinics, and county offices to launch and run this business.

In addition to these five elements, please spend a paragraph evaluating whether you believe these elements fit together or whether there are aspects of your business concept that are weaker / out-of-joint with the others.  

• I believe that the combined elements of my personal identity, experience, intended service, local demographics, and my unique qualifications fit together for a solid business concept. The aspect that could present a conflict for me personally is the matter of being associated with the grim side of horse ownership. I have misgivings about the dual roles of training and deceased horse removal coordinator. I strongly believe in the need for such a service and can recognize the opportunity, yet I don’t want the operation to coexist on the one property with our current training center.

Assignment 9A-Testing the Hypothesis, Part 2

 Assignment 9A-Testing the Hypothesis, Part 2

  

• WHO: Through my interviews, I discovered that certain groups of horse owners that I had assumed would fall inside my market, actually had no need or desire to use my proposed service I already had ruled out cattle ranchers, no one that raises these animals for meat is too concerned about how the odd dead cow gets dealt with. Not everyone is emotionally

• My interviewees included horse owners who cannot afford the service but would use cremation if they could, people who view horses as livestock, not pets, and owners who care for horses while living but are not worried about the treatment of carcasses.
• WHAT: Money seems to be a major factor that separates who is in my market and who is not.
• Attitudes and background dictate what people consider to be the appropriate treatment of deceased animals
• Being accustomed to a certain way of doing things, a willingness to accept current common practices.
• WHY: Until regulations require adopting newer, more expensive disposal practices, many of my interviewees would not use my cremation services due to financial considerations and lack of dissatisfaction with current practices.

                                               

Inside the Boundary                                         Outside the Boundary

Who:	Horse owners that have emotional attachments to their animals and will pay more than they can afford	People who cannot afford the service
	Horse owners that can easily afford service	People who view horses as livestock
	Owners concerned about ethical/legal considerations	People comfortable with current practices
What:	The change in regulations in some areas	No need to comply with regulations, hard to enforce.
	The shift in attitude about horses as livestock	People still have options acceptable to them
Why:	The ability to afford cremation services.   People in this area tend to follow norms that dictate certain behavior

Assignment 10A Elevator Pitch No 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0bTGRv9krs

Assignment 8A-Solving the Problem

Assignment 8A-Solving the Problem 

·       The service that I am offering is the removal and respectful cremation of deceased horses.

·       It goes without saying that owning an animal means having to make end of life decisions for them. The loss of a large animal like a horse is no less personally devastating for their human companions than the loss of a beloved dog or cat. The options for treatment of a horse’s remains are far more limited. Burial on owner’s property is likely completely prohibited or subject to very specific guidelines. Typically, removal involves roughly winching the animal onto a trailer bound for the local landfill of rendering plant (chopped up for parts…yep, it happens). People who invest large quantities of emotion, not to mention money, into caring for their horses require a respectful and ethical option for saying goodbye to their large friends.

·       These are the facets of the service that I am offering:

1.    The passed horse will be picked up by experienced horse handlers, the remains will be respectfully loaded and transported to my facility.

2.     The animal will be incinerated, whole, and the ashes will be available to the owner for memorial purposes.

3.    Horse owners will have urn and remembrance options at varying price ranges. 

4.    Removal of horse remains and transport to a local accepting landfill will be offered, understanding that cremation cannot be an option for all owners, respectful treatment, however, should be available to all. I will work with landfill management to be sure that the area for animal disposal is separate and maintained ethically.  

·       My understanding is that in an area like Marion County Florida, Horse Capital of the World, the volume of horse ownership would support service like cremation.

·       The prototypical customers are already here, and more are coming.

·       Stricter disposal regulations are also coming, and currently, there are no comparable cremation services available.

·       This service meets the needs of loving horse owners, ethical racehorse industry standards, and environmental stewardship practices.