Half-way Reflection

The behaviors I have used to help in overcoming the challenges of this course have concerned time management and over coming anxieties. The course schedule is not one I am used too. The majority of online classes I have taken have had all materials for the week due Sunday at midnight. This was a convenient schedule for me as I work full-time during the week. This classes schedule of course is spread through the week with assignments due at 9:00 p.m instead of midnight. This created problems for me early on as I often don't get home until between 6-7 and sometimes later. The other skill I have improved is overcoming the anxiety associated with being on camera and approaching strangers. I am normally a private person who does not use social media so this is out of my comfort zone.

One moment where I felt like giving up was during the customer interviews. I was only able to complete five but that itself felt like an accomplishment when it was over. Other times have come through the last two months just due to the work load and schedule but I believe I have adapted well and am optimistic about the rest of the semester.

Three tips that I would give to new students next semester would be: Stay focused; Don't procrastinate; and Plan ahead. Staying focused is vital in this course as even a day's inattentiveness can make you fall behind either with new posts or commenting on others. Procrastination is a problem that I know I face and many others do as well and over coming that is needed on this type of schedule. Finally planning ahead is need more in this course than others as an assignment requiring you to interview strangers can't be completed the night before or the day of. For these type of assignments I have needed to begin planning my schedule days in advance to get it done.

Week 8 Reading Reflection

The biggest surprise for me in the reading was to learn that angle investments make up a larger pool of funds for entrepreneurs, especially those in the process of starting up a firm. According to the text angel investments are five times greater than investments from venture capital firms.

The only part of the reading that I found confusing was the section referring to accredited purchasers. After re-reading the section I have a better understanding as to the requirements to be considered accredited and also the limitations that come without being accredited.

Questions I would ask the author would include what would be the best method in determining the right avenue of financing to take. The chapter outlined several options ranging from commercial banks to informal investors. It seems that the right choice in money source could make or break a business with debt or relinquish to much control in the form of equity.

There was nothing in the reading that I disagree with the author or believe they were wrong about. I learned a great deal in this chapter about financing a business that I did not know before.