Customer Interviews No. 1

The opportunity I chose to explore was the need for easier, faster, and more personalized on-and-around campus transportation for students. Namely, I wanted to gauge students’ dissatisfaction with the SNAP system (including the vans, drivers, and application). I interviewed 5 of them to ask a few questions about their SNAP experiences and the videos are posted below, enjoy!       
I asked the following questions: "What is your overall opinion of SNAP, what comes to mind?" "What is the system's biggest flaw?" "Have you had any particularly disappointing experiences?" "What can you suggest to make SNAP a better service?"                              

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjQ5-B--toQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH7bb2wDqPg

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

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DtJLFiZnu8

Even mentioning SNAP elicited a disappointed response from all 5 students I interviewed. I really did expect this type of commentary- extremely negative all around. I myself had similar experiences to the ones offered by the respondents. I am confident that there is an opportunity involved in a more efficient and personalized student transportation service here at the University of Florida.

I didn’t find this assignment to be particularly difficult; it was enjoyable and informative. I like making small talk with strangers, which is what this assignment felt like (except with a camera involved.) This is probably due to the fact that I have experience in political campaigning, public speaking, and debate. I recognize the value in going out into the world and acquiring raw testimony- it is invaluable to businesses and people alike. People skills are one aspect of commerce that can’t be taken over by a computer or automated process.

Week 4 Reading Reflection

I wasn’t expecting the author to describe opportunism in the way that he did. It is an interesting perspective- to think that ‘problems are to solutions what demand is to supply.’ That mindset is a motivating one for entrepreneurs hopeful to bring wealth to themselves and society. It was also cool to think about creativity as a two-part system; the first being the goal-oriented process and the second being the people (the resources that determine the solution).  I was initially confused by the author’s attempt to distinguish between an adaptor and an innovator since most people fall somewhere in the middle of the two ‘extremes.’ It makes sense when you think about it in terms of means vs. ends, though. I would ask the author for 10 or so more common idea killers, just so I could get a better idea of common oppositions and how to respond to them. I would also ask how to channel creativity in the cookie-cutter, methodic society we live in today. I disagree with the whole process of characterizing left-sided vs. right-sided brained people, since I think it is oversimplified.

Top 5 World Problems

Worst problems:

1.   Global Warming

2.   Terrorism

3.   Spread of infectious disease

4.   Cost of education

5.   Ignorance

I selected my list of top 5 problems with relative ease. I truly believe that people’s rapid consumption of nonrenewable energy and resources is the biggest problem we face as human beings. All of the other problems won’t have time to plague us if we all succumb to climate change. Rising sea levels, a lack of freshwater, mass species extinction, and resource wars will destroy us before terrorism has a chance to. That’s not to downplay the nasty issue of terrorism and increasing globalization leading to the spread of evolving infectious disease. At the root of these issues is ignorance and overall lack of education regarding their severity. If education was cheaper or people opened their eyes, becoming a little less selfish, the human race would be way better off.

Easiest to solve:

1.   Obesity

2.   Political Correctness

3.   Cost of education

4.   Religious coexistence

5.   Terrorism

Solving for obesity is all about treating your and your families’ bodies with love and care- stop poisoning your body with crappy food and exercise. This life is the only one we are guaranteed exists and your body is the vessel through which your mind can travel the world and live comfortably/healthily. Solving for political correctness is also a simple recognition/reiteration of the 2^nd Amendment and the importance of open communication. Putting value on education also isn’t that hard to implement, which would help with solving religious intolerance and in turn, terrorism.

Identifying Local Opportunities

1.    ‘Apartment Demand Proves Costly’

http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/15A9366D47EFAD60?p=AWNB

There is an increasing demand for apartments since owning a home and taking on a mortgage is so expensive. U.S. home ownership is the lowest it has been in over 50 years while the renter population is at an all time high. However, renting isn’t inexpensive either; 52 percent of the nation’s renters are considered cost burdened (they spend over 30 percent of their income on housing.) Modest income growth compared to rising apartment demand is to blame for the issue, and low income families are struggling to find affordable housing, especially in Florida, California, and Hawaii.

2.    ‘Gun lobby’s proposals won’t make Florida residents safer’

http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/15A9366C797B7440?p=AWNB

Florida is one of the worst states for gun deaths and violence. Over 70 percent of homicides involve use of a firearm. Despite all this, pro-gun lobbyists and legislators are pushing for fewer restrictions on gun use. There is legislation to allow weapons on college campuses and public meetings as well as a bill to legalize open carry in the state. Our forefathers who drafted the 2^nd Amendment did not envision a country where mentally ill citizens would be guaranteed the right to bear arms. The NRA is pouring money into politicians’ hands, hoping for some influence, even though 73 percent of Floridians think fewer gun restrictions is a good idea. These laws affect every single citizen in the state.

3.    ‘Number of homeless is inaccurate, report says’

http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/15A9366CC96B77F0?p=AWNB

The number of homeless people in Broward County is significantly higher than stated in last year’s enumeration. This is because of flawed and incomplete surveys that didn’t properly take into account unsheltered citizens. It is tough to keep track of all of the homeless because they could be living in abandoned foundations or in isolation. Also, if a homeless person doesn’t indicate where he/she woke up in the morning (or if the response indicates non-homelessness), they cannot be considered homeless by the federal government. Without proper documentation, there isn’t enough funding for shelters, and over 1400 people will continue to suffer on the streets.

4.    ‘High winds knock out power for thousands in Miami-Dade, Broward’

http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/15A9383197E67820?p=AWNB

A windy January 23^rd afternoon left 5,000 customers across 2 counties without power. Florida Power and Lights spokesman Chris McGrath said power lines fell due to winds 45-50 miles per hour. Safety is a priority for the FPL employees working to restore power. Therefore, there is no estimate for when the power will be fixed in either county because ‘it’s such a fluid situation’. The National Weather Service predicts that the wind will die down by the end of Sunday. Until then, 3,000 Miami-Dade residents and 2,000 Broward residents will be in the dark.

5.    ‘Uber to halt at midnight in Tampa’

http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/15A8D0EEEF0E5748?p=AWNB

Uber slashed local fares by 32 percent this month in order to attract more customers. Drivers are unhappy about this because it is hard for them to do their job without losing money. 65 members of the Tampa Bay ride-share steering committee are organizing the protests. They drove around Ybor City and other districts with signs complaining about the new 65 cents/mile standard. Uber takes 20-25 percent of that, leaving drivers with around 50 cents per mile. Cabs are still $2.40 a mile, and the protest organizers are urging customers to look into such alternatives.