My Solutions

1) Rising Gas Prices

Gas Prices are largely determined by supply and demand. If consumers were to buy electric cars then gas prices will probably decrease. Tesla has released their patents in making a more fuel efficient car. With an app or an educational program, one can educate the public to move away from gas. In Miami, a better public transportation could be useful for this too, signing petitions to get the county to pay attention to this problem.

2) Transgender inequalities

There should be a nation wide campaign to educate people on the transgender process and eliminate discrimination. Just as there were campaigns for African Americans to gain equality, transgenders and any other human should have this right.

3) Infrastructure failure

An app can be developed to advise people which bridges in the nation need maintenance. This can serve as a safety measure as well a potential adviser for traffic if renovation is taking place.

4) More houses are being sold

An app can serve this opportunity. People can specify what they want in a house and the app can then link them to a realtor. The app may provide information on how to negotiate a contract with the bank as well.

Looking for Opportunity

1. Gas prices keep rising
Driving around has made me realize that gas prices are increasing weekly. At the beginning of the year, gas, in Miami was about two dollars. Now, the price is about $2.39 per gallon. After having been so cheap, I think now consumers are beginning to really believe that it is a really unstable market. This therefore leads to opportunities in the eco-friendly automobile industry or an increase in bus taking. Bus taking in Miami, as previously mentioned in my blog, is a problem. Therefore, this can lead to an expansion in opportunity to talk to the county in rearranging the bus system. People without cars will likely benefit with opportunity or those with low budgets that can't afford electric/hybrid cars.

2. Boycotting of transgenders

Several states, such as North Carolina have proposed an anti transgender law. The problem mainly arises from people in the state not wanting transgenders to use whatever bathrooms they feel comfortable with. Here lies an opportunity for a social movement. I believe that the people in the states with the anti-transgender law, people throughout the nation, and worldwide could benefit from this opportunity. Young adults are likely to be the ones to participate in such movement.


3. Infrastructure in the United States is taking its toll

On a recent CNN article, it was estimated that about 60,000 bridges need maintenance. The opportunity arises in educating people which are the bridges that need repairs and perhaps building a business that can serve this U.S need.

4. House selling is increasing among the nation

This creates a positive outlook for those looking into the Real Estate business.  The economy, although still weak, seems to be growing. This in turn, indicates that people are perhaps more comfortable in making larger investments such as buying a house.

Forming An Opportunity Belief

Miami is not a place where people typically walk to get to their destination. Most people have cars. However, to those that do not have cars, it can be difficult to get around. There is not enough public transportation in Miami; specifically in Kendall. I speak from prior experience. I attempted to talk to people for more than a few of minutes but this task proven to be much more difficult than I had anticipated. I was probably asking too many questions at a fast pace. It is therefore I will provide a personal example as to why I believe there is not sufficient public transportation in this area. 

A couple of years ago, I did not have a car. Also, and unfortunately, a couple of years ago I had surgery on my right knee. I had to get around through public transportation to go from school to a rehabilitation center. I would have to take two bus to get there. Typically, I would get out of school at 10:50 am. The first bus would pass by every hour...at X: 40. I would therefore have to wait almost an hour to catch the next bus. Afterwards, when I would get off to my second stop, I would have to wait 40 minutes for that bus to get there and take me to therapy. All this waiting time does not include the 10 to 15 minutes I would spend walking to either my destinations or bus stops. After therapy I would wait half an hour to catch my first bus and then another half an hour for another bus to take me home. Needless to say, there is a lot of time wasted waiting for a bus in Kendall. This is typical of almost any route. Some routes are more efficient by having limited stops but because they are not wasting time as much they compensate, by costing more. 

Although, I failed in my interviewing skills, I did learn that a better system for public transportation is needed. All three of the participants agreed with that principle. 

https://soundcloud.com/user-645238584

Identifying Local Opportunities

1. Massive Expansion of high schools planned in Northeast Miami-Dade

Superintendent of Miami Dade, Alberto Carvalho, plans to expand public education. Overall, this is a positive ordeal. However, a portion of locals have been complaining over the increase in traffic this may implicate. Another issue that rose form this was discrimination towards race and class in the area. The complaints have been coming from wealthy whites who live in the area. The bulk of the problem is for the superintendent of Miami Dade County Public Schools. Ultimately, he will do what is best for the community which is likely the foundation of new school programs. Carvalho will have to take some heat for this but all in goof faith. 

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15CF1BC72CFF5920?p=AWNB


2. Roadwork to slow commutes on State Roads 836, 826, 874

There will be more traffic formed during Thursday to Saturday morning this week. The hours to where roadwork will be done are between 10pm and 5am. Roadwork is common in Miami and there never seems to be an end to it. Although the roadwork will not be occurring in particularly busy hours, sometimes the roadwork requires the closing of important lanes. This creates problems for locals and non-locals (seeing that Miami is a tourist spot) trying to reach their destination.

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15CFA0610E77B858?p=AWNB


3. Miami Beach makes plans for traffic, crowds of Memorial Day Weekend

Miami-Dade County is preparing for the Memorial Day Weekend where large crowds always flea to the Miami Beach area. Traffic, along with parking, is already a problem in the Miami Beach area and the county is trying different approaches in combating the greater traffic Memorial Day weekend brings. This problem proves to be becoming increasingly challenging for the Miami-Dade as more people seem to be attending events at the beach.

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15CF1BC74DCBA978?p=AWNB


4. Key West Cracking Down on Vacation Rentals

A man was caught illegally renting his place on the Airbnb website. A license is required to rent short term housing for fewer than 30 days in Key West. The main issue here, though not clearly stated in the article, people may get kicked out from renting from other without licenses if caught by the local association. This is a problem because those people will not get refunded for their money and have no place to stay afterwards.

http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15CF70282D760408?p=AWNB


5. Study: Hispanics lag in boardroom

Not enough Hispanics are making it to new directors in U.S companies. This trend seems to be becoming common among minorities in the Unites States. The opportunities of becoming board members seem to be going to those that have had such positions before or have had similar ones. This is problematic for Hispanics because they are perhaps not taking advantage of their opportunities or are not being given the same amount of opportunities as others.


http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15CF4B53C28658D8?p=AWNB

Bug List

1.       Traffic on N. Kendall Drive Miami, FL at 8 am

Why is there traffic?

At 8 am, many people are on their way to work their 9 am to 5 pm job. However, Kendall has a traffic problem either way.  There is no east to west highway, and Miami is becoming more populated than it already is.

2.       Calling Comcast to fix a problem with the bill

Why is it a hassle?

The way Comcast has designed its call center is perhaps designed to be efficient rather than effective. Calling to fix a singular problem may take up to an hour trying to talk to the right person over the phone.

3.       The wait time to get attended by a general physician

Why the wait?

Perhaps the people at the front desk overbook the physician’s schedule. Another possibility as to why the wait time is so bad is because doctors schedule to see patients for only a couple of minutes. However, some patients require more time than what doctors plan to spend on them.  

4.       The Chicken Cesar Salad is more expensive than a Steak burger at Steak n’ Shake

Why does the salad cost more?

The Chicken Cesar Salad may lack in popularity, and therefore have a higher price (Supply and Demand).

5.       The racial injustices occurring across the United States

Why the racial injustices?

People still differentiate on whether a person is black or white, and do not see that person as just a person.  

6.       Donald Trump as the Republican nominee

Why is Trump a nominee?

The Republican Party did not think Trump would get as far as he did and let him be.  Also, socially, maybe citizens are not as advanced as once thought, voting for a guy who has a problem with a lot of minorities.

7.       The pollution left on Miami Beach

Why is there pollution on the beach?

People are inconsiderate to the environment and are lazy. People may also believe that just littering one plastic bag will not do anything, however, one plastic bag can by confused as jellyfish to a sea turtle.

8.       The cost of getting an education

Why is getting an education expensive?

Founders of colleges and universities were selfishly smart in making getting an education a business, leaving millions with student debt.

9.       The Wi-Fi when there’s heavy rains in Miami (It’s almost hurricane season)

Why is Wi-Fi so bad when it rains?

The rain may interrupt server connectivity making it slow. The technology to prevent this does not exist yet or is too expensive.

10.   The victimization of Cuba perpetuated by Miami news stations

Why do Miami news stations bring up Cuba so much?

There are a lot of Cubans in Miami who escaped harsh conditions and news stations like to get reactions from their audience. Cuba, however, is better off than a lot of countries in Latin America such as Bolivia and Nicaragua (can be seen in Per Capita Income and Human Growth Index)

11.   The morning shows on the radio

Why are there morning shows on radios?

Radios try and compete with one another’s morning radio shows, and try to give listeners a nice start to their day. Radio morning shows are sometimes useful in knowing about current events, although, its focus is primarily pop culture.

12.   The hip pop industry producing music without meaning or they all say the same thing Ex: Panda by Designer, Work by Rihanna ft. Drake)

Why the meaningless music in hip hop?

Artists are possibly focused on what is going to sell rather than immersing themselves in the art of lyricism. “I got broads in Atlanta” is not lyrical, is derogatory towards women and is not grammatically correct.  In Rihanna’s “Work,” it sounds as though she is mumbling and the whole song is her basically saying “work” the whole time. It is also the fault of consumers that artists keep producing these songs because consumers keep buying the albums and making these songs appear at the top of the music charts.

13.   The decrease in physical activity in the youth due to technology.

Why is technology interrupting youth physical activity?

Technological companies have virtualized about every physical activity there is. When the Wii came out, it presented the game “Wii Sports” where there was baseball, tennis, bowling and boxing. Although, a good idea for a rainy day, these virtual games will not burn nearly as many calories as kid would playing baseball outside. There are also a lot of distractions with new apps that children may find more appealing than going out and running.  

14.   The cost of any insurance

Why is insurance so expensive?

Insurance companies strive to profit the max they can and in turn end up legally scamming people for their money. For instance, I pay $800 for full coverage car insurance every six months. I have never been in any kind of car accident, and do not get any of that money back. It is illegal and irresponsible to be without car insurance because one never knows when an accident may occur. However, the rates are outrageously expensive just as they are in Health Care. Health Care insurance is a bigger scam. One pays a monthly invoice but when seeing a doctor there is a payment of a co-payment. Health Care is a billion dollar industry and is the root of why it is so expensive.

15.   What the media hypes as news

Why does the media choose what it does as news?

The answer as to why the media chooses to hype the rescue of a dog versus coral bleaching happening in Florida Keys is dumbfounding. Dogs are cuter and may bring a bigger audience, and be the reason why the media chooses it over coral bleaching, leaving locals uninformed of true issues.

16.   The fad of asking for money on the streets

Why are people asking for money on the streets?

There was a time when people asking for money on the streets was genuine until it was reported that some of these people were frauds. People were making money off of kind hearts by simply taking their money and not having to report taxes from it. Now, at least in Kendall, there are people asking for money along all of N. Kendall Drive.

17.   Grade-school teacher’s salary

Why are teacher salaries low?

Teachers are simply under-appreciated. Although teachers make up most of government jobs, they do not get paid well for their service. Most teachers enjoy their job, they accept the pay they are currently receiving because of it.

18.   Parking in Downtown Miami

Why is parking bad in Downtown Miami?

Not many parking locations were made in the Downtown area of Miami. Parking in Downtown Miami is very limited and may lead to paying $20 for a parking space.

19.   The way that the public school system teaches students to pass standardized test but not how to learn

Why are there standardized tests?

In a desperate attempt to catch up to counties such as China, the United States in general, has created standardized exams to test the knowledge of its students. This has led to memorizing subject matter rather than learning and retaining information.

20.   That menstrual cycles are considered disgusting

Why are menstrual cycles perceived as disgusting?  

Menstrual cycles are not talked about. Semen, although is a bodily fluid exiting a sex organ, is not readily perceived as disgusting but rather as “a guy thing.” This in part may be due to current hip hop culture talking about semen as being normal. Menstrual cycles are still hush about in modern society.

This assignment was challenging at first. However, after passing the eighth bug, more ideas came to mind. Finding out what bugged me was a matter of taking some time to sit and actually think about daily issues in society and the environment in which I live in. 

My Entrepreneurship Story

              My paternal grandmother was the closest experience of entrepreneurship I have had. She was brought up by a family in great poverty in countryside of Nicaragua. However, through perseverance she was able to move to the city and work different restaurant jobs. Working her way through waitress to manager, she was able to grasp important business concepts. My grandma, saved up money and was later able to open up her own restaurant, “El Jardin Central,” which is still up and running. My grandmother, of course, had to face many struggles and do several trail-and-errors to acquire the position she did. The need of discovering what meals customs were favoring and what were the busiest times for the restaurant were important in helping the business succeed.

              After viewing the first day’s lecture of this class, I hope to be more comfortable in being out of my comfort zone. At first, I thought this class was going to be similar to that of a regular one. A required course where I would get the pleasure of listening to two to three hour long lectures and reading long chapters; however, I am glad it is going to be slightly different. Business, as has been expressed several times to me, is about taking risks. Sometimes these risks will pay off while other times things will not work out. I hope to find myself believing that I can accomplish anything as I did when I was kid.

Does it Work?

Testing blog post 1,2,3...