On the third week, our guest speaker was Erik Hanberg. Erik Hanberg is a serial entrepreneur and author. He has written a total of 8 books, that according to him have sold about 32,000 copies. He was initially a partner with Derek Young at Exit133 and the director of the non-profit Grand Cinema from 2004 to 2006. He is currently the co-owner of sideXside, a graphics design company run by him and his wife. It was really fun and inspiring to hear what he had to say regarding starting a business or project.
Erik Hanberg started out by telling us about the importance of finishing what ever project that we work on. In his words, he says that "It is great to start something but even better to finish it". This is a great advice especially for me, because i tend to stall and back out from projects. He then went to tell us about how he got into writing.
Before writing his first book, he initially spent about $200 on google ads, directing users to a webpage of a book her hadn't published. On the websites, visitors were asked to drop their emails, so that when the book got published, they'd receive a notification. This brilliant move serves as market research. That way, when he finally had a book ready to be sold, he also had access to a group of people who were willing to spend money on his product.
This is one of my major takeaways from the lecture because i have always wondered how an unknown person with an unknown product could find a market. This example inspires me to look into different ways to find an audience willing to buy your product.
Monday, January 25, 2016
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Guest Speaker: Derek Young
In week 2 of TCSS 475 class, we had a guest speaker- Derek Young- come in and give us a little insight into his entrepreneurial life.
Derek Young is a serial entrepreneur who has created various companies. He graduated from the University of Puget sound in Tacoma with degrees in Biology and Politics. Mr Young initially thought of going into a science field but ended up getting a job at REI. He initially planned to stay for two years, get some money and return to school - he however ended up staying for ten years. At REI he worked his way up to lead negotiator. Mr Young describes himself as someone who likes to always create something, an avid risk taker that can best that enjoys the thrill of creating a growing something. After doing the same thing at REI for so long, he left and enrolled at UWT to get an MBA.
Derek Young entrepreneurial journey began in 1998 when he first created a sport team management website. This online tool was designed to help keep track of a team's roster, number of males and females in a team, who is absent for training and who isn't, the tool can also send out reminders. This part of his speech really interest me because i expect this tool to require a good bit of programming knowledge and without a tech background, its impressive that he was able to create this tool.
A couple of more recent companies he has founded include, Exit133, Seasonal view and Tacoma runners. Exit133 is a website about Tacoma Washington. It focuses on day to day events, urban design, politics, real estate and arts relating to Tacoma. Created in 2005, Exit133 has won may awards for it publications.
Derek Young also created Tacoma runners, which he describes as a 4000 people running club. It started out as just a running club but developed into a company because Derek wasn't willing to personally take the $5000 insurance.
Derek Young's entrepreneurial journey and lifestyle is a motivation for us students. From creating a website for fun to creating a company to hold an insurance, Derek Young's lifestyle teaches us to always want to create things and make things better as an entrepreneur.
Derek Young is a serial entrepreneur who has created various companies. He graduated from the University of Puget sound in Tacoma with degrees in Biology and Politics. Mr Young initially thought of going into a science field but ended up getting a job at REI. He initially planned to stay for two years, get some money and return to school - he however ended up staying for ten years. At REI he worked his way up to lead negotiator. Mr Young describes himself as someone who likes to always create something, an avid risk taker that can best that enjoys the thrill of creating a growing something. After doing the same thing at REI for so long, he left and enrolled at UWT to get an MBA.
Derek Young entrepreneurial journey began in 1998 when he first created a sport team management website. This online tool was designed to help keep track of a team's roster, number of males and females in a team, who is absent for training and who isn't, the tool can also send out reminders. This part of his speech really interest me because i expect this tool to require a good bit of programming knowledge and without a tech background, its impressive that he was able to create this tool.
A couple of more recent companies he has founded include, Exit133, Seasonal view and Tacoma runners. Exit133 is a website about Tacoma Washington. It focuses on day to day events, urban design, politics, real estate and arts relating to Tacoma. Created in 2005, Exit133 has won may awards for it publications.
Derek Young also created Tacoma runners, which he describes as a 4000 people running club. It started out as just a running club but developed into a company because Derek wasn't willing to personally take the $5000 insurance.
Derek Young's entrepreneurial journey and lifestyle is a motivation for us students. From creating a website for fun to creating a company to hold an insurance, Derek Young's lifestyle teaches us to always want to create things and make things better as an entrepreneur.
Monday, January 11, 2016
My Three Business Ideas
My Three Business Ideas.
1. Start a software solutions company
Using the knowledge learned in school, this idea involves creating ready-to-go software and selling it to potential users. For example, a Human Resource software, Hospital Management software or Inventory management software. These software are sold to companies that could make use of them. To generate more revenue, it would make sense that the business model is Software as a service. This means that the users pay for the software as a subscription based service.
2. IT consulting Company
I just started working at the IT department in the library and i have access to the back end networks. I realize that it takes a some work to build and maintain the network. A small company that doesn't need a complicated network might still have to pay a lot to keep the IT staff also a large non tech company that doesn't want to spend a lot on a IT staff would be better off with a consultant company that builds and maintains the network but isn't on the payroll. The consultant company could get called in to build the network or fix issues that may arise periodically and the company only pays when the job is done.
3. Real Estate Company
This is not a tech related venture but in my country, real estate is currently booming. My dad is a real estate developer and in him i already have a mentor. I could start out by buying and renting out property and with time, this grows into a business.
1. Start a software solutions company
Using the knowledge learned in school, this idea involves creating ready-to-go software and selling it to potential users. For example, a Human Resource software, Hospital Management software or Inventory management software. These software are sold to companies that could make use of them. To generate more revenue, it would make sense that the business model is Software as a service. This means that the users pay for the software as a subscription based service.
2. IT consulting Company
I just started working at the IT department in the library and i have access to the back end networks. I realize that it takes a some work to build and maintain the network. A small company that doesn't need a complicated network might still have to pay a lot to keep the IT staff also a large non tech company that doesn't want to spend a lot on a IT staff would be better off with a consultant company that builds and maintains the network but isn't on the payroll. The consultant company could get called in to build the network or fix issues that may arise periodically and the company only pays when the job is done.
3. Real Estate Company
This is not a tech related venture but in my country, real estate is currently booming. My dad is a real estate developer and in him i already have a mentor. I could start out by buying and renting out property and with time, this grows into a business.
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