Final Reflection-Dillon Dunn

1) Read through your blog from this semester. Recall all of the experiences you've had a long the way -- the highs, the lows -- the fun moments, and the moments of drudgery, and even the moments of dread.

 I think that my high moments are actually my low moments as well! My high moments would have to be when we were assigned to interview random people about our business idea. I was very scared to approach anyone, but once I approached the person it was easy. For one of the interview assignments (I think the 2nd one) I actually went out to interview people but I was to nervous to approach anyone so I ended up not even doing the assignment!

2) What sticks out to you as the most formative experience? The experience that you'll remember years later? What was your most joyous experience? What experience are you most proud of yourself for accomplishing?

 The assignment that sticks out the most would have to be the assignment I talked about before. (Interviews) Those interviews not only changed my outlook on my business idea but it actually helped me as a person break out of my social shell!
 
3) At the beginning of the semester, I mentioned that I wanted each of you to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. And we repeated the mantra -- I am an entrepreneur. Now, at the end, do you see yourself as an entrepreneur? Do you think you have moved closer to developing an entrepreneurial mindset?

 I do see myself having the entrepreneurial mindset! Before I thought that it was silly and that my outlook wouldn't change, but I was proved wrong. I look at every inconvenience as an opportunity to develop a product or business!

4) What is the one recommendation you would make to the students who are going to journey down this path in the future? What would you recommend they do to perform best in this course? What would you recommend they do to foster that mindset?

 I would say approach the class without thinking you know what entrepreneurship is. Keep an open mind! If you are not open minded this class will not benefit you and you will not succeed in the class.

Week 14 Reading Reflection-Dillon Dunn

The two chapters we were assigned to read this week were not to bad to read! The two chapters focused on ethics and mindset of entrepreneurship. I learned a lot from the two chapters! For chapter three I learned how important technology is to any new business and how new companies can benefit from venture capitol.  In chapter four I learned more of the social and ethical portion of entrepreneurship. Overall both chapters were somewhat interesting and not as boring as most chapters in the textbook!

Google Gold-Dillon Dunn

1) A discussion of your general approach and strategy to search engine optimiation (SEO). What were some of the activities you did for each blog post to pursue SEO? 

 For each blog post I labeled my blog with the week number (which was required.) For some of my earlier blog posts I had tried to label them with a phrase such as entrepreneur or entrepreneurship.

2) What were your keywords. How did you select those keywords? Did you change or refine your keywords through the semester?

 I labeled my blog with the week number, and I also had labeled my blog posts with
entrepreneur or entrepreneurship in my earlier posts.

3) How did you use social media to enhance your SEO efforts? What your your surprises or general impression of using social media to improve your blog's profile? Was social media generally receptive of your blog, or did it get ignored?

 After some of my blog posts I would share to google+, but with no spike in traffic I did take it off my google+ page.

4) What was your most "viral" post? In other words, which post obtained the most traffic? Why do you think?

 My identifying local opportunities post my my most "viral" post. I think it was the number one post because I had links to other news articles in my post.

5) Finally, did you make it to the first page of Google results for your keywords? If not, what page of results did you make it to? 

I was unable to locate my blog through just the keyword, but if I typed in my keywords plus my first and last name I was the first to pop up on the search!

Very short interview part 2-Dillon Dunn

Revisit that first conversation you had with an entrepreneur. In that initial interview, you asked an entrepreneur three questions. Now, revisit this interview and think about the questions you asked and the answers they provided you. From where you stand now, what is your impression of that initial interview?

My initial interview questions were very basic questions. They were questions that had almost nothing to do with what we learned in class. My interview was based around the paper work around starting a business and the taxes that come with a business.

Second, visit the entrepreneur again. Record the interview if possible. The three questions you ask this time are entirely up to you. Let your experiences in this course drive what questions you ask -- and that will be very different for each of you! 

Me: "What makes your business unique?"

George (Business owner): "My business gets the job done in a timely manner and I have the lowest prices in town."

Me: "Why did you get into the flooring business in the first place?"

George: "I had been in the flooring industry for over 10 years so I felt like I was an expert in the field."

Me: "What do you plan to do with your business when you retire?"

George: "I plan on closing up shop"

Me: "You don't plan on selling the shop?"

George:"No I don't have much to sell other then inventory and my pool of clientele."

Third, after the interview, try to gather some sense of how far you have come in this class. In your post, discuss your comfort level in talking about entrepreneurship in this interview now, compared to three months ago. Did the entrepreneur convey a sense that they thought you had progressed in your journey?

I feel that I have learned so much from this class! I thought that being an entrepreneur was just someone who owned a business. I learned that there is much more to being an entrepreneur! I also learned that you can put yourself into an entrepreneurial mindset. Before this class I didn't even know what an entrepreneurial mindset was! After taking this class I am much more comfortable talking about entrepreneurship!

Celebrating Failure-Dillon Dunn

1) Tell us about a time this past semester that you failed -- whether in this class, or outside of this class. Don't spare any details! It'd be even better if there was something you tried several times this semester, and failed each time. 

My first exam in one of my other classes (QMB 3250) I had expected to be really easy since all the questions are done on excel. Upon starting the exam I realized that I knew almost nothing on the exam and I ended up getting a 10% on the exam. That is the last time that I assume that something will be easy!


2) Tell us what you learned from it.  

 I learned that you should never just expect something to be easy no matter the situation!


3) Reflect, in general, on what you think about failure. Failure is hard, isn't it? It's embarrassing, sure, but it also means that we have to change something about ourselves. Talk about how you handle failure (emotionally, behaviorally). Finally, talk about how this class has changed your perspective on failure -- are you more likely to take a risk now than you were four months ago? 

I think that this class has helped me a ton! I am no longer scared to hear what I am bad at or have someone tell me I failed. I actually ask people what I am bad at now so that I can improve, whether it be my work, or even me in my relationship! I think the lessons in this class can go much deeper then the business world!

Week 13 Reading Reflection-Dillon Dunn

Based of the title of this chapter I was really interested! Sadly I was looking for something along the lines of a math equation to figure out how much a company is worth. I was kind of thinking like I was in the TV show "Shark Tank" and I was hoping to see how the business owners and the sharks put a dollar number on a company. This chapter was more of a brief overview on what to consider when putting an evaluation on a company. That being said it was not a bad chapter to read, I was just hoping for more numbers!

My Exit Strategy-Dillon Dunn

1) Identify the exit strategy you plan to make. Do you intend to sell your business in the next 5 years for a large return? Do you intend to stay with the business for several decades and retire? Do you intend to protect the venture as a family business, and pass it down to your children?

If everything goes to plan I would want to sell the company in 5-7 years, however I would not want to sell all of the company. I would want to keep between 10-20% of the company just so that I have a extra source of income!


2) Why have you selected this particular exit strategy?

I have picked this strategy because I can not see myself running a peanut butter and jelly shop for the rest of my life. I would want to do something that I am more interested in!


3) How do you think your exit strategy has influenced the other decisions you've made in your concept? For instance, has it influenced how you have identified an opportunity? Has it influenced your growth intentions or how you plan to acquire and use resources?

I don't think that mt decision to sell the company influences my decisions for the company in anyway. I think that I would do anything that benefits the company so that I have the ability to keep the company if I do end up changing my mind. I like to leave all options open.