4A – Forming An Opportunity Belief

1) Your beginning point. My belief is that the American dream is easily obtainable by any American

2) Describe your belief. The unmet need is that someone can work hard their entire life and be a good citizen but never achieve the dream that was so often told to them as attainable.  Everyone has the need to live a full happy life. The pursuit of happiness, the American dream as it is called in the United States has always existed and been a need.   People try to be better than their parents which means doing well in school, going to a good college, going to get a master or going straight into the workforce after you get your BA. But not just that, have a better job than your parents, make more money than your parents, and be happier. I think this opportunity exists potentially 24% and that's lenient 

3) Identify the prototypical customer. 

1st: a typical American teenager

2nd: High-income teenager

3rd: Low-income teenager

4) Iteration No. 1: 

1st: To have a successful, stable life in the future when I'm starting a family. First became aware of the need when she entered high school and a lot more emphasis was put on doing well to get into a good college, usually when she only thinks about the future. She goes to her teacher's office hours and asks for help when she doesn't understand anything, she will be taking ACT/SAT soon so she plans on getting or going to tutoring to do well. She has a positive outlook both her parents went to UCF and live happily where she has never lacked any necessity and has more often than not had a surplus. 

2nd: To be stable and not really worry about money. when he arrived at high school. Does not experience too often because he does well enough in school and believes it won't be difficult to get into the school his parents went to. Usually only thinks about it when people ask him about the future. They address the need to succeed and be happy by doing well in school without causing too much trouble for his parents in terms of going out with friends and stuff. he is satisfied as he once again believes his average grades in AP and dual enrollment will be able to push him past the threshold of his choice university. 

3rd:  To be able to take care of my family and younger sister as well as my parents, maybe go to a university if she can get the financial aid and scholarships to be able to afford it. She has always been aware since she was young probably around 13 years old. Her parents have always put an emphasis on school and grades so she can be one of the first to go to university but she realizes she needs to also help her parents currently with the care of younger sister while they work and potentially work in college to sustain herself. She experiences this almost all the time because she has a plan and wants to make her plan a reality is going to an in-state school but also remain close to her family. She addresses the need by applying herself, setting a strict schedule and really trying to give back to her parents since they have done so much for her. She believes in her planning and dedication she can achieve the dream but often worries something unexpected will happen and prevent her from getting to the finish line.

5) Reflect. What did you learn about your opportunity? What was the most surprising thing you learned about your opportunity? (You may reflect after each iteration or you may simply include a single reflection that captures all three iterations.)

I honestly wasn't surprised about anything I went to a private school up until high school where some of my former classmates came with me and others continued in the private sector. When I came to public high school that's when I was woken up to realize how different educations are between public and private as well as how everyone desires to be better off than their parents or at the same level (if they already had money) The most surprising thing is how hard it can be for someone of a lower income. I had friends who were lower income in high school but never close enough to them to talk about personal details of their financial situation. 

7) Summarize. It's very likely that your opportunity belief changed between the outset and as a consequence of your customer interactions. Three questions:

How much of your original opportunity is still there?  

A lot of it. in the beginning of anything, the end opportunity is highly likely it is the farther along you get where the future becomes bleak. 

Do you believe that your new opportunity is more accurate than when you started?

 No

How much do you think entrepreneurs should 'adapt' their opportunities based on customer feedback? (In other words, is there a trade-off between adapting and staying firm?)  

I think they should adopt a little or little by little they should never adapt completely based on of a small amount of feedback.