30A - 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.

The highs were taking an idea—simply an idea — and putting it on display for the world to criticize it. South of where we live is a place called Jefferson Proving Grounds. It was a WWII ordnance tastings facility. They dropped lots of small artillery and heavy weapons testing on the site. I wondered why it was called a proving ground until I learned that the word prove means to test, to subject something to a testing process. I think every one of us in this class, if you did the assignments properly, proved your ideas. Some were proved right, others wrong. But we put our ideas through a testing process. 

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?

I drew a good deal of ideas from people who interacted with my naturalists’ field club idea. One of my favorite moments was when Dan, a coworker, said that a short bus would be lots of fun to take people out on natural history tours with. He added that if I replaced the roof of the bus with a clear acrylic rood we could also go out and skywatch with the bus. I really enjoyed his feedback and thoughts on the subject. 

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?

Yes. From Pryor I learned to try and fail repeatedly and constantly. From Peter Drucker I learned that the subject that we studied is not confined to those with innate gifts, but rather it is a process that can be mastered over time. 

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?

Take the assignments seriously. Talk to a diverse group of people—not just your bum friends who party every Friday. Those are not your customers (hopefully). Also, there’s something that has hold of your interest, right? I’ve heard it said that people don’t have ideas, ideas have people. THat should be true for each of us. Take an idea that you can work with for a semester—something that truly has your interest and apply it towards this class. Don’t just pick some random app or fake company so that you can get a passing grade. Take it seriously! And enjoy!

Once you have written your post, please include a picture (for illustration!).