JOURNAL 1
saiah Vaughan
Am I an entrepreneur? I say yes, I am. I don’t own or manage a business of any sort, but I do
manage and promote myself. I know that does not fit the description of what an entrepreneur is
but in my own opinion I manage, promote and sell my product which would be me. That does
sound a bit weird but I am trying to think out of the norm here and after asking myself this
question a few times and going to work I felt as though myself, my name and expertise and
knowledge would be what I’m selling for the salary or fee that I negotiate and agree to work on.
So yes, I am an entrepreneur and what I promote, manage, and sell is myself.
What is success? Success is very tricky in my opinion because of how others view it. I fell as
though a lot of individuals think of success on what someone makes. If Jack is a businessman
that makes 200k a year and has a nice house and cars, boom he’s more successful than Jason
who’s a very well-known masseuse that won awards for being so great but only makes 60k a
year. He lives in an apartment and drives a Honda Civic but a lot of people wouldn’t view him
having success or being successful. So success to me is doing whatever is it you or someone
wants to do and genuinely being happy about it. Or I even believe success is just doing well at
something maybe they don’t want to do.
I am very much a self-starter but I go through droughts. 2 years ago I had this plan in my head
to take this certification exam that would help me in the future for employment. I made a timeline
for when I would start studying and when I would take the test. A year went by and 0 study time
happened and the test never happened even though I thought about it often I just didn’t do it.
Last year I made the same goal. I’m going to set this time aside to study and take this test. It
took me 10 months to start again after thinking about it the entire time. I took the time to study
for the test and passed. I am a self-starter but I don’t make time for all the things I want to do,
especially the things that aren’t what I consider to be fun. I follow through with my ideas
sometimes it just takes a bit of time.
I believe ODU is very supportive in a bunch of ways. I don’t have any direct view on the
University and entrepreneurship but I do believe they support entrepreneurship being that they
have supported and continue to support me in ways. Also, we also have business programs and
degrees.
My role in the ecosystem is to support the tech world. I currently work for a rental car place
corporate office working on different systems and reports to help stop and support investigations
for people using the internet to take advantage of stealing cars, IDS, and credit cards. I believe
that this is just the beginning for me and I will take the next steps in developing my knowledge
into a bigger career helping the cybersecurity world and stopping people from using the internet
to steal and hurt people.
Am I an entrepreneur? I say yes, I am. I don’t own or manage a business of any sort, but I do
manage and promote myself. I know that does not fit the description of what an entrepreneur is
but in my own opinion I manage, promote and sell my product which would be me. That does
sound a bit weird but I am trying to think out of the norm here and after asking myself this
question a few times and going to work I felt as though myself, my name and expertise and
knowledge would be what I’m selling for the salary or fee that I negotiate and agree to work on.
So yes, I am an entrepreneur and what I promote, manage, and sell is myself.
What is success? Success is very tricky in my opinion because of how others view it. I fell as
though a lot of individuals think of success on what someone makes. If Jack is a businessman
that makes 200k a year and has a nice house and cars, boom he’s more successful than Jason
who’s a very well-known masseuse that won awards for being so great but only makes 60k a
year. He lives in an apartment and drives a Honda Civic but a lot of people wouldn’t view him
having success or being successful. So success to me is doing whatever is it you or someone
wants to do and genuinely being happy about it. Or I even believe success is just doing well at
something maybe they don’t want to do.
I am very much a self-starter but I go through droughts. 2 years ago I had this plan in my head
to take this certification exam that would help me in the future for employment. I made a timeline
for when I would start studying and when I would take the test. A year went by and 0 study time
happened and the test never happened even though I thought about it often I just didn’t do it.
Last year I made the same goal. I’m going to set this time aside to study and take this test. It
took me 10 months to start again after thinking about it the entire time. I took the time to study
for the test and passed. I am a self-starter but I don’t make time for all the things I want to do,
especially the things that aren’t what I consider to be fun. I follow through with my ideas
sometimes it just takes a bit of time.
I believe ODU is very supportive in a bunch of ways. I don’t have any direct view on the
University and entrepreneurship but I do believe they support entrepreneurship being that they
have supported and continue to support me in ways. Also, we also have business programs and
degrees.
My role in the ecosystem is to support the tech world. I currently work for a rental car place
corporate office working on different systems and reports to help stop and support investigations
for people using the internet to take advantage of stealing cars, IDS, and credit cards. I believe
that this is just the beginning for me and I will take the next steps in developing my knowledge
into a bigger career helping the cybersecurity world and stopping people from using the internet
to steal and hurt people.
JOURNAL 2
Design thinking is to me changing and adapting a product I or someone else is providing to take
care and meet the needs or wants of the consumers I’m providing the product to. I mention
adapting because as times move on and things change products will eventually need to be
changed to meet the new times and changes. An example would be how phones changed over
time. Back in the day phones weren’t equipped with the cameras and internet capabilities that
they have now. The times changed and now no company or cellular device is making money
unless they have the nice camera capabilities and data source.
I mentioned this in the answer above but another product would be watches. I used to have a
Casio watch I would wear everyday and rarely ever take off. The times changed and
smartwatches became a thing. The watch I now use is an apple watch. It can track my activity I
do in a day, how my weekly sleep schedule is going, show my text and calls, and so much
more. Since Apple was thinking of taking care of a different consumer group they made watches
and changed the game.
I believe people and businesses plan to get opportunities. A part of the planning is to take
advantage of opportunities to move forward. Also, without planning sometimes you can miss out
on opportunities. An example on a small scale can be someone that intended to bet on a game
or parley of some sort. They didn’t think about or plan ahead on when the games were starting
and missed out on placing the bet they wanted. This particular bet would have won them a lot of
money but they missed out on the opportunity because of the poor planning.
I have missed a bunch of opportunities. One big one was actually graduating.. I slipped on and
took a semester off instead of taking classes and this had got me a little behind in graduating.
Another was a job opportunity because of missing the deadline for the resume submission. I
thought the date said one day but it was actually the week before.
A successful venture can be unethical. It can be successful even though you or someone else
took advantage of the system, or lied, or was unfair in a way to someone else. I also believe that
a lot of major successful people take advantage of others and are making a living and loads of
money off of unethical ways.
care and meet the needs or wants of the consumers I’m providing the product to. I mention
adapting because as times move on and things change products will eventually need to be
changed to meet the new times and changes. An example would be how phones changed over
time. Back in the day phones weren’t equipped with the cameras and internet capabilities that
they have now. The times changed and now no company or cellular device is making money
unless they have the nice camera capabilities and data source.
I mentioned this in the answer above but another product would be watches. I used to have a
Casio watch I would wear everyday and rarely ever take off. The times changed and
smartwatches became a thing. The watch I now use is an apple watch. It can track my activity I
do in a day, how my weekly sleep schedule is going, show my text and calls, and so much
more. Since Apple was thinking of taking care of a different consumer group they made watches
and changed the game.
I believe people and businesses plan to get opportunities. A part of the planning is to take
advantage of opportunities to move forward. Also, without planning sometimes you can miss out
on opportunities. An example on a small scale can be someone that intended to bet on a game
or parley of some sort. They didn’t think about or plan ahead on when the games were starting
and missed out on placing the bet they wanted. This particular bet would have won them a lot of
money but they missed out on the opportunity because of the poor planning.
I have missed a bunch of opportunities. One big one was actually graduating.. I slipped on and
took a semester off instead of taking classes and this had got me a little behind in graduating.
Another was a job opportunity because of missing the deadline for the resume submission. I
thought the date said one day but it was actually the week before.
A successful venture can be unethical. It can be successful even though you or someone else
took advantage of the system, or lied, or was unfair in a way to someone else. I also believe that
a lot of major successful people take advantage of others and are making a living and loads of
money off of unethical ways.
JOURNAL 3
1. Why do ethics matter in entrepreneurship?
Ethics matter in entrepreneurship because without ethics there are no standards and policies
being abided by. With no ethics businesses will make moves and conduct business in shady
ways. Lying, not being considerate of other people’s beliefs and behaviors will cause more than
likely a failing business. Once people realize you don’t have ethics, and nothing seems to matter
word will get passed and this can cause a massive failure.
2. How does my own personal budget related to an entrepreneurship budget?
It relates in some ways like importance. With personal and entrepreneurship budgets you have
to ensure and keep track of how much money is coming in. Whether that be in a consistent or
changing amount each month. Then I’m both budgets you start to add up and calculate where
the funds are going. In personal life that may be needed for personal hygiene and food or in
entrepreneurship as hiring or marketing to bring new people in. Plus, before entrepreneurship
you have to make sure the things are taken care of on the personal level before focusing and
investing towards other things I believe.
3. Why do we need budgets?
Budgets are especially important in personal money management and business money
management. With a budget we can calculate how much money we are spending and exactly
where we are spending it to how much money we have or are making. In a personal view
budget are good to ensure important bills are paid and there is still money left over for the wants
and for savings. In a business a budget is important for the same reasons, but it also ensures
that money is allocated to the right things and that money is being made. Without a budget
money can be lost.
4. What is social entrepreneurship?
Social entrepreneurship is when someone or a group of people decide to make or start a
business or fund to help or support certain social matters. These matters can be in an
environmental, cultural, and economic way. The making of the group isn’t for personal gain at all
but to look out and help support others.
5. What are the most significant legal issues entrepreneurs face
The most significant legal issues entrepreneurs face are employee and employment issues.
When someone is hired to work for a business that person represents the business directly and
that person can impact legal matters for the business. If something happens where maybe the
employee says something or tells someone something wrong and it is big enough to be taken to
court the business will be impacted negatively. Another issue is finding out what laws need to be
followed in relation to what they service they are providing.
Ethics matter in entrepreneurship because without ethics there are no standards and policies
being abided by. With no ethics businesses will make moves and conduct business in shady
ways. Lying, not being considerate of other people’s beliefs and behaviors will cause more than
likely a failing business. Once people realize you don’t have ethics, and nothing seems to matter
word will get passed and this can cause a massive failure.
2. How does my own personal budget related to an entrepreneurship budget?
It relates in some ways like importance. With personal and entrepreneurship budgets you have
to ensure and keep track of how much money is coming in. Whether that be in a consistent or
changing amount each month. Then I’m both budgets you start to add up and calculate where
the funds are going. In personal life that may be needed for personal hygiene and food or in
entrepreneurship as hiring or marketing to bring new people in. Plus, before entrepreneurship
you have to make sure the things are taken care of on the personal level before focusing and
investing towards other things I believe.
3. Why do we need budgets?
Budgets are especially important in personal money management and business money
management. With a budget we can calculate how much money we are spending and exactly
where we are spending it to how much money we have or are making. In a personal view
budget are good to ensure important bills are paid and there is still money left over for the wants
and for savings. In a business a budget is important for the same reasons, but it also ensures
that money is allocated to the right things and that money is being made. Without a budget
money can be lost.
4. What is social entrepreneurship?
Social entrepreneurship is when someone or a group of people decide to make or start a
business or fund to help or support certain social matters. These matters can be in an
environmental, cultural, and economic way. The making of the group isn’t for personal gain at all
but to look out and help support others.
5. What are the most significant legal issues entrepreneurs face
The most significant legal issues entrepreneurs face are employee and employment issues.
When someone is hired to work for a business that person represents the business directly and
that person can impact legal matters for the business. If something happens where maybe the
employee says something or tells someone something wrong and it is big enough to be taken to
court the business will be impacted negatively. Another issue is finding out what laws need to be
followed in relation to what they service they are providing.
JOURNAL 4
1. Why do entrepreneurs get in trouble with the law?
Entrepreneurs get in trouble with the law for various reasons and one of the biggest is not
knowing what laws pertain to them and what they are doing for business. Another reason is
because they are willing to take the risk when it comes to the law. Sometimes they’ll believe
that they can gain a lot and possibly on the back end of things do not get caught. Sometimes
this works as well but can come around and get them in trouble.
2. What does psychology have to do with marketing?
Psychology has a lot to do with marketing. Consumers sometimes buy things off of trends
and are driven by impulses of wanting things. Matching and capitalizing on different human
patterns can help make marketing easier and more revenue on the back end.
3. What types of marketing sway my decisions?
One of the biggest marketing techniques that gets me is with fashion. I see different styles of
people with the same body type as me and see myself in them and usually it’s an ad and it
gets me. Another way is commercials for different foods or movies. Taco Bell $5 box deals
and bundles make it seem to me in my head that it’s worth it because I’m getting so much for
the deal.
4. How can I pitch ideas better?
I can do more research into what my target audience is. This would help me prepare around
exactly what I know they are and want to hear to make whatever I am selling seem more
appealing. I can also practice to myself in the mirror when I know it’s something I want to
pitch. This will help me build confidence in knowing exactly what I want and do not want to
say.
5. What are my strengths and weaknesses in pitching?
My strengths are that I am a very confident and well-spoken person. I have been told that
when I talk in a meeting or group setting I sound very nice and fluent and command the
room. I also believe I’m very good at talking and using words so that everyone knows
what I am talking about. Another strength would be my tone and voice. I’m loud but not
loud to the point where people think I’m yelling. My weaknesses would be Improvisation.
If something goes not as planned or a question comes up that I don’t know the answer to
I can get lost in my head trying to find a way to answer it because I do want to know it all.
Entrepreneurs get in trouble with the law for various reasons and one of the biggest is not
knowing what laws pertain to them and what they are doing for business. Another reason is
because they are willing to take the risk when it comes to the law. Sometimes they’ll believe
that they can gain a lot and possibly on the back end of things do not get caught. Sometimes
this works as well but can come around and get them in trouble.
2. What does psychology have to do with marketing?
Psychology has a lot to do with marketing. Consumers sometimes buy things off of trends
and are driven by impulses of wanting things. Matching and capitalizing on different human
patterns can help make marketing easier and more revenue on the back end.
3. What types of marketing sway my decisions?
One of the biggest marketing techniques that gets me is with fashion. I see different styles of
people with the same body type as me and see myself in them and usually it’s an ad and it
gets me. Another way is commercials for different foods or movies. Taco Bell $5 box deals
and bundles make it seem to me in my head that it’s worth it because I’m getting so much for
the deal.
4. How can I pitch ideas better?
I can do more research into what my target audience is. This would help me prepare around
exactly what I know they are and want to hear to make whatever I am selling seem more
appealing. I can also practice to myself in the mirror when I know it’s something I want to
pitch. This will help me build confidence in knowing exactly what I want and do not want to
say.
5. What are my strengths and weaknesses in pitching?
My strengths are that I am a very confident and well-spoken person. I have been told that
when I talk in a meeting or group setting I sound very nice and fluent and command the
room. I also believe I’m very good at talking and using words so that everyone knows
what I am talking about. Another strength would be my tone and voice. I’m loud but not
loud to the point where people think I’m yelling. My weaknesses would be Improvisation.
If something goes not as planned or a question comes up that I don’t know the answer to
I can get lost in my head trying to find a way to answer it because I do want to know it all.
JOURNAL 5
1. What are the connections between the disciplines addressing entrepreneurship at ODU?
I honestly don’t know much at all about ODU and disciplines addressing entrepreneurship.
2. Is entrepreneurship an art or science?
Entrepreneurship is both an art and a science but to me more of an art. To be a successful
entrepreneur I feel like people have to think outside the box and in creative ways to make things
work at times and to make things more appealing. In business you can do all the algorithms and
equations in terms of science to make a perfect plan on how to be successful but it won’t
guarantee that it will work. It’s an art and it’s beautiful art because entrepreneurs are all so
different depending on what they are working with.
3. How is failure good?
Failure is great in my opinion if used to become some type of positive. If I fail at something I
make my best attempt to make a note about what I learned from the failure. Why it happened,
how to make it so if I’m in the situation again I don’t fail, and the list continues. I also really try to
not get too down or hard on myself because if that happens it may mentally cause me to not
want to try again because failing doesn’t usually feel good. Instead of letting it impact me too
negatively I flip it to make it a motivator to do better. To fix whatever caused this failure and
make it so the next time I win and have less.
4. What have I learned from failing?
Failing in the past has helped me learn more about myself which I think is important early on in
life so I try to fix them and get better. One thing I learned is I am a big procrastinator and this
has caused me to fail a lot in life in both big and small ways. I don’t make attempts to do much
of anything ahead of time and this causes me a lot of stress in the moment when the thing is
due and I’m trying to cram it all in. I have also learned how it makes me feel. Everyone has
different reactions to failure and different ways of going about dealing with it. I have learned it
makes me feel horrible and like trash but I don’t let it deter me but help my failure motivate me
and learn from them.
5. What ethical issues might arise related to what I am working on?
If I am working on something that can be seen as offensive to people in some ways then it may
be detrimental to me and what I’m trying to work on or promote. For example some people just
don’t agree with doing business on working on business matter online because they feel as
though its just unethical and wrong and that could cause sour relations and interruptions in my
overall success and financial situations.,
I honestly don’t know much at all about ODU and disciplines addressing entrepreneurship.
2. Is entrepreneurship an art or science?
Entrepreneurship is both an art and a science but to me more of an art. To be a successful
entrepreneur I feel like people have to think outside the box and in creative ways to make things
work at times and to make things more appealing. In business you can do all the algorithms and
equations in terms of science to make a perfect plan on how to be successful but it won’t
guarantee that it will work. It’s an art and it’s beautiful art because entrepreneurs are all so
different depending on what they are working with.
3. How is failure good?
Failure is great in my opinion if used to become some type of positive. If I fail at something I
make my best attempt to make a note about what I learned from the failure. Why it happened,
how to make it so if I’m in the situation again I don’t fail, and the list continues. I also really try to
not get too down or hard on myself because if that happens it may mentally cause me to not
want to try again because failing doesn’t usually feel good. Instead of letting it impact me too
negatively I flip it to make it a motivator to do better. To fix whatever caused this failure and
make it so the next time I win and have less.
4. What have I learned from failing?
Failing in the past has helped me learn more about myself which I think is important early on in
life so I try to fix them and get better. One thing I learned is I am a big procrastinator and this
has caused me to fail a lot in life in both big and small ways. I don’t make attempts to do much
of anything ahead of time and this causes me a lot of stress in the moment when the thing is
due and I’m trying to cram it all in. I have also learned how it makes me feel. Everyone has
different reactions to failure and different ways of going about dealing with it. I have learned it
makes me feel horrible and like trash but I don’t let it deter me but help my failure motivate me
and learn from them.
5. What ethical issues might arise related to what I am working on?
If I am working on something that can be seen as offensive to people in some ways then it may
be detrimental to me and what I’m trying to work on or promote. For example some people just
don’t agree with doing business on working on business matter online because they feel as
though its just unethical and wrong and that could cause sour relations and interruptions in my
overall success and financial situations.,
One Comment Add yours