Final Reflection

1) Read through your posts 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 have recalled and reflected on these specifically in answer 2. 

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 experience that sticks out to me the most is developing the venture concept and getting feedback from other people on the idea. This sticks out because it was through this assignment that I was able to receive constructive feedback that tested my ability to solve problems and needs in this world. The experience I'll remember years later is the assignment where we had to get feedback on our strengths and areas of unique capital  that we offered the venture. This exercise is something I plan on continuing to do because it is a great way to learn what areas you can improve in and better understand yourself. That assignment also revealed difference in how I understood myself compared to those who know me best. This was also the most joyous experience. I am most proud of finishing the venture concept twice and developing a legitimate action plan for what the best next steps are for marketing the idea. 

3) At the beginning of the semester, I mentioned that I wanted each of you to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. Now, at the end, do you see yourself as an entrepreneur? Do you think you have moved closer to developing an entrepreneurial mindset?

I see myself more as an entrepreneur or someone with that mindset because of this class. This class helped develop that mindset by encouraging us to re-do assignments and concepts several times, building on the feedback we received. It helped us see that an entrepreneurial mindset is one that is looking how to improve and is not afraid to receive negative feedback, but rather values this. It also was very similar to the entrepreneur concept in how we were tasked with all the work in casting this vision for the venture and idea, instead of having a team to delegate these tasks to. That is what an entrepreneur has to be for the venture in reality. 

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?

The recommendation I would give for those going down this journey is to just start writing and putting down ideas and then go back and refine them. For many of the assignments, it may seem overwhelming to find an innovative solution to an idea. But if you are diligent in asking for feedback from people on their needs and then write down what comes to mind, it is easier to develop a clear solution path. Secondly, I recommend you check the assignments for each week early enough so you know how much time it will take to complete the work. I did not see much of a need to work ahead, but I did see a need to know ahead of time at the beginning of the week what was expected to be submitted on Friday. There were a few times I did not check this and then ran out of time in completing the assignment, or completed it with much less quality because I did not plan. Thirdly, I think feedback from peers as well as setting aside time to reflect on yourself (strengths and weaknesses, as well as your false ideas about yourself) is what will make a difference in developing this mindset to be an effective entrepreneur. If you aren't receiving feedback from peers, you will not only stay the same and not grow, but will also go on thinking you are better than you are, or far away from a breakthrough when you are really close. And if you do not set aside time for self-reflection, you will then the same will also happen, although maybe worse, since you will be missing the feedback from the person who can understand parts of you better than your peers - which is you. This class can help you develop those self-reflection skills that are necessary for you to answer the bigger questions about life and your vision for your entrepreneur ideas.