JOURNAL ENTRY #1-5

Benjamin Danso
September 9th, 2022
WCS 494
Professor Porcher
1. Am I an entrepreneur?
I don’t want to claim that I am an entrepreneur when I am not, but I am confident that I possess
the characteristics of a great entrepreneur. The desire to run my own business has grown rapidly
as I’ve gotten older. Despite the many ups and downs that will come with starting a business, I
believe I have what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur if I choose to be one. I was born with a
high drive, I am a self-proclaimed creative, I have a spacious mind, I have a great ability to
understand, and most importantly I believe in myself. Even if being an entrepreneur was not the
primary focus of this question, those characteristics will propel a person above and beyond their
goals, regardless of what they are pursuing, because it all begins with self.

2. What is success?
The general definition of success is achieving a specific goal, but there are an infinite number of
definitions for such a term. To me, success is happiness, but to someone else, success can be a
sense of fulfillment in a personal area they lacked or even being richer than they could have
imagined. What I’m trying to say is that the definition of success varies depending on who you
ask because everyone’s perspectives and goals are different. That sense of success should make a person feel on top of the world, free of worries, as if they have accomplished something, and so
forth.

3. Am I a self-starter? How well do I follow through on my ideas?
In some ways, I am a self-starter because I have brought an idea to life and acted on a vision I set
for myself numerous times over the years. I’ve also persuaded my peers and family members to
get together and share their ideas and goals so that they can be implemented. I say this because I
am involved in a variety of activities that have little in common, such as music, acting,
technology, photoshop, and so on. I’ve encouraged people I care about to do the same by acting
on my interests and growing up to invest in them.Following through on a plan or goal that one
wishes to achieve is a very important characteristic if one wishes to be considered a self-starter.
Reasoning is necessary because if an idea is not implemented, it remains an idea, and if one does
not carry out their plan, they did not even begin.

4. How does ODU view entrepreneurship?
Old Dominion University considers entrepreneurship to be an important life skill that can help
improve leadership abilities in order to organize, manage, and operate a business and enterprise
effectively. Not only does ODU value entrepreneurship, but they also value professionalism and
interpersonal relationships in order to help students become the best versions of themselves once
they graduate.Entrepreneurship also focuses on managerial aspects such as management functions and organizational behaviors. As you can see, ODU has a plan in place to assist
individuals in achieving whatever success means to them and achieving their goals because
learning entrepreneurship teaches one so many other aspects that make a good businessman.

5. What is my role in this ecosystem?
As a cybersecurity major, I play an important role in the entrepreneurial ecosystem because I
want to hone my interprofessional collaboration skills by collaborating with cross-sector
partnerships to provide efficient service by supporting the growth and implementation of new
ideas and ventures related to my field of study. Also, I am about to graduate from college, so I
will be joining a new generation of working-class people in a very different era than humanity
has ever known. Having goals to improve community issues and influence young people to
achieve goals and set higher standards for themselves through my education and field of work
demonstrates empathy and a desire for change. Understanding what is going on around you,
understanding the people around you, and realizing you can make a change is another aspect of
being a good entrepreneur because if one can connect with anyone, even on the most basic level,
they can easily conduct business.

JOURNAL ENTRY #6-10

Benjamin Danso
September 16th, 2022
WCS 494
Professor Porcher
6. What is design thinking?
When it comes to various types of entrepreneurship, there are numerous ways to think. To me,
“design thinking” is more of a method that involves creativity in order to solve a specific problem
while also meeting the needs of those affected by the problem. Design thinking allows one to be
confident that there is always a better solution and to be willing to fail and move forward on an
idea that may cause uncertainty. This term and process are commonly used in the context of
social entrepreneurship. To ensure that design thinking is effective, many factors must be
considered, such as understanding users, responding to assumptions, and developing
innovative solutions to test and prove efficiency.

7. How has design thinking influenced a product I use?
Almost every application I use on my phone has been influenced by design thinking. The one
that stands out to me the most is UberEats, because it has definitely become more appealing to
my personal needs over the years as a result of the app’s constant updating and evolution. I
believe they were able to understand what locals preferred and provide more positive
perspectives on restaurants that people may not be familiar with. For example, providing higher-
quality images of foods and, more recently, attaching nutritious facts to the menu’s meals. It
caters to people who want to know exactly what they’re eating and eliminates the uncertainty
that comes with not having those things. Also, when it comes to workers, UberEats has demonstrated a commitment to meeting the specific needs of individual cities. In New York City,
for example, workers are permitted to walk or ride bikes to deliver food in order to provide more
opportunities for people who are aware that driving within that area is not as convenient.

8. What are the connections between opportunities and planning?
Opportunities and planning are distinct concepts, but there is a link between the two.
Opportunity is defined as a set of circumstances that allow someone to pursue or achieve a
goal. In terms of opportunity, planning refers to the steps and actions one would take in order to
fully capitalize on whatever opportunity is presented. When an opportunity is recognized and
planned for, it can be realized to the greatest extent possible.

9. What opportunities have I missed?
I’ve missed a lot of opportunities throughout my life, especially in college, because I wasn’t
aware of the opportunities that were available to me, I was afraid of trying something new, and I
didn’t respond to the opportunity in a timely manner. I’ve learned in life that you have to be
prepared for opportunities to present themselves and be willing to take them, regardless of the
circumstances, because an opportunity can usually benefit anyone’s situation. Another thing is
that you cannot always wait for an opportunity to come to you or you will be disappointed. If you
really want an opportunity, you may have to go look for it.

10. Can a successful venture be unethical?
When a business is deemed unethical, it means that it violates ethical standards and consumer
moral rights. In any type of business, failing to value customers can have a negative impact on a
company’s long-term success. I’m not saying that an unethical business can’t succeed. However, success will not last long because a company’s reputation can suffer if it is perceived
as unethical. There is no future for any business or businessman who does not value basic
ethics.

JOURNAL ENTRY #11-16

Benjamin Danso
September 23rd, 2022
WCS 494
Professor Porcher
11. Why do ethics matter in entrepreneurship?
It is hard to envision an entrepreneur thriving if they do not feel as if ethics matter. It
enables organizations or individuals to create a code of conduct to assist in addressing
moral principles. Emphasizing ethics in entrepreneurship enables one to recognize
acceptable business behaviors. Typically, organizations and entrepreneurs emphasize the
importance of integrity among their employees or themselves in order to gain a secure
relationship and trust from significant investors, business partners, and consumers. Ethics
play a significant role in many of the success stories of entrepreneurs who have achieved
great success.

12. How does my own personal budget relate to an entrepreneurship budget?
My personal budget is unmistakably related to an entrepreneur’s budget. The reason for this
is that I need to invest in various aspects of my needs in order to survive and live
comfortably. Simple things like clothes, food, toiletries, tutoring, and so on are all part of
my personal budget to ensure my well-being. To help their business thrive and prosper, an
entrepreneur must invest in things like private debt, life insurance, stocks, other companies,
real estate, and so on. Budgets are useful for maintaining a cycle of necessities that are
significant needs, so any budget, in my opinion, can be compared to another.

13. Why do we need budgets?
Budgets are useful because they allow us to effectively manage our finances and keep track
of intended spending. A budget can help someone with poor money management gain
financial stability and become more organized. A budget forces one to organize short and
long term expenses that will ultimately have a positive impact on one’s total revenue.
Budgeting is a type of money management that is essential for any successful business. It
teaches people how to better manage their expenses and how to make the most of them.

14. What is social entrepreneurship?
Social entrepreneurship is important because it promotes change. It is the recognition of a
social issue, preceded by the creation, organization, and management of an effective social
approach to effect change on the issue. There are many ongoing social problems in the
world today, and usually all that is required is a specific and clear approach to try and
resolve the issue. Ideas that emerge from the thought process do not always solve the issue
at hand, but they do provide the start of a process with a focus on improving the existing
environment and addressing the many issues at hand. Typically, social entrepreneurship is
not about immediately resolving a problem, but rather about changing how people perceive
and want to approach an existing problem in order to eventually find a solution.

15. What are the most significant legal issues entrepreneurs face?
Any entrepreneur must be aware of and potentially deal with a number of legal issues.
According to my research, many entrepreneurs fail to have their founders’ agreements in writing, and this comes back to haunt them later in their endeavors when issues regarding
money distribution or claiming arise. These issues may be resolved in court, potentially
resulting in consequences that were not previously apparent. Raising capital can also lead
to a slew of legal issues in entrepreneurship because many people are unaware of the true
cost of starting a business. Situations like these typically prompt people to seek financial
assistance, which always carries the risk of negative consequences because money must be
repaid.

JOURNAL ENTRY #16-20

Benjamin Danso
September 30th, 2022
WCS 494
Professor Porcher
16. Why do entrepreneurs get in trouble with the law?
There are numerous factors that can lead to an entrepreneur getting into legal trouble.
For starters, using the title to conduct organized crime is the quickest way for an entrepreneur to
get in trouble with the law. Illegal entrepreneurs are those who engage in such activities. They
make money by engaging in illegal activities such as hijacking, burglary, and business
racketeering. When legal entrepreneurs get into trouble with the law, it is usually due to a lack of
awareness, responsibility, and organization, which can land them in a legal situation they are
unaware of until it is too late. Some may also have bad intentions, such as applying for loans
they do not qualify for or simply finding unethical ways to make money to fund their business.

17. What does psychology have to do with marketing?
The sole purpose of marketing is to capture consumers’ attention so that they will be interested in
whatever product or service isUsing psychology in marketing entails understanding how and
what customers feel, think, and desire. Consumers are usually interested in items that they can
relate to or see themselves needing for their own personal benefit. Because psychology is the
study of the human mind and emotions, it is best to use it to create an emotional appeal to
whomever you want to pique their interest. being marketed and psychology plays a big role in making that happen. This increases the likelihood of a consumer sticking with the salesperson’s
service/product long term.

18. What types of marketing sway my decisions?
Personally, I believe I am sometimes difficult to persuade when it comes to any type of product
or service being presented to me for the first time, but there are key factors I look for in a pitch to
help me make a decision. I look for ways a product can benefit me more than it can benefit the
pitcher, which means am I getting my money’s worth or are they just taking my money while I
am dissatisfied? If a product or service can make my life a little easier, I’m already halfway sold
because life can never be too easy.This also ties in with my other key factor, determining
whether the sales pitch or marketing approach is genuine. If someone appears to be only
interested in making a sale without considering what I am thinking, then my interest is lost.

19. How can I pitch ideas better?
There are always ways to improve your pitching. In my case, I believe it is being aware of my
audience or who I am speaking to. To be completely honest, I have no idea what interests people
fifteen years and older than me because I am not really surrounded by that age group unless I am
at work. Even so, it is difficult to have a conversation with one another. If there was a way for
me to understand an audience with whom I am unfamiliar, it would effectively help me and
broaden my strengths in sales pitching because it would be one less significant aspect to worry
about. Understanding a variety of audiences can be a big step for me to pitch ideas better because
the interest is already there if I can relate to them in some way.

20. What are my strengths and weaknesses in pitching?
My pitching strengths include the ability to engage with the consumer beyond the product or
service I am attempting to promote. I am able to make a listener feel at ease enough to ask
questions, which is extremely important. That, I believe, is significant because asking questions
indicates that there is interest. As previously stated, my greatest weakness is my inability to
approach an audience with confidence. It’s primarily because I fear I won’t be understood or
judged because I’m younger or of a different race.

JOURNAL ENTRY #21-26

Benjamin Danso
WCS 494
Professor Porcher
October 7th, 2022

21. What are the connections between the disciplines addressing entrepreneurship at ODU?
When it comes to the various areas of study at ODU that cover the subject of
entrepreneurship, we see it as an opportunity to build bridges between the many skills we hone in
our day-to-day work and the capabilities we develop in our studies. This is because
entrepreneurship is one of the most dynamic and ever-changing fields. When pursuing a degree
in cybersecurity, it is exciting to consider how the possibilities of entrepreneurial endeavours
may serve as an alternative to gaining expertise via an internship. Because this is a novel
opportunity for us to gain experience in the real world, we make use of it.

22. Is entrepreneurship an art or science?
It is accurate to say that there is both an art and a science to successfully operating a
company. It may be counted toward either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science
degrees, given that it is a prerequisite for earning either. Before evaluating whether a project
belongs in one area or another, it’s vital to evaluate the intersectional environment in which it
was formed. This should be done before selecting which field the project belongs in.

23. How is failure good?
I have previously gone over the topic of it being possible to find the silver lining in a
negative experience. There is potential value in the knowledge gained via experience. In other
words, it acts as a benchmark against which potential future business owners may gauge the level
of success they achieve. They should not see the setback in a bad light since, at the time, they
honestly felt it was the best way to proceed with the situation. Failed efforts are not intrinsically
harmful since they teach you what needs improvement and how to do a task more effectively the
next time they are attempted.

24. What have I learned from failing?
It has been my experience, and what I’ve learned from it, that the single most efficient
way to destroy a project is to do nothing. My unwavering dedication to personal development
throughout my life has ingrained in me the awareness that setbacks are only diversions on the
path that leads to accomplishing my objectives. When it comes to my ideas, I constantly fear that
I will only quite live up to the grandeur of a good achievement, even though I put much work
into achieving my objectives and doing them well.

25. What ethical issues might arise related to what I am working on?
As a consequence of this achievement, there is the potential for ethical problems to
emerge, particularly regarding issues of intellectual property and the legal complexities
surrounding copyrights. We would only want to coerce someone into doing something if it is the
appropriate action. On the other hand, we are well aware that many other organisations have, in
the past, endeavoured to endeavour objectives comparable to ours. We are also aware of the
ethical challenges of sustaining a healthy degree of competitiveness while avoiding publicly shaming other organisation sites that are congruent with ours. We want to be competitive, but we
do it in a manner that is both just and deferential to others.