My Unfair Advantage

As part of my human capital, I am able to associate and connect with anyone.

With that being said, this is a resource I can use to my advantage in the marketing and business world as I present my product to large investors or businesses to collaborate with. This can also relate to connecting with my prototypical customers.

[Valuable due to building clients, business relations and brand. Rare due to the fact not everyone can say they can approach everyone and also follow through with doing so. Inimitable level would be a 7 out of 10 - can be copied. Non substitutable because the internet can only go so far in building information, face to face communication is still best form.]

A resource I possess is being close to my own hearing specialist who is known internationally. This is an important reference and someone who I would want to collaborate with in marketing or advertising for my product.

[Valuable due to having a long history therefore trust has been built. Rare due to knowing him since I was seven years of age and not many hearing impaired patients have this long of history. Inimitable because it is not able to be copied by others unless they have the same connection and history. Non substitutable because you cannot sub in for family, friends, or very close friends you may consider family (i.e. my hearing specialist).]

My social capital includes my brother whom is working on his masters for business and is very knowledgeable about business. Not only do we have similar ideas and work well together; we would not be as argumentative over finances as we are family and trust each other. He is great at handling finances, as he works for a bank, and if we became partners we would not have to worry about which name is on the business because it is the same!

[Valuable due to knowing each other’s quirks, values and beliefs. Rare due to our vast differences in studies and abilities while being able to work well together. Inimitable because we are close in age to where most would assume we despise one another given the generation however we go against the grain. Non substitutable because my brother is one of a kind.

Reverting back to my human capital, I am very open and honest with people. This may not always be great in the business field but I would firmly stand my grown and negotiate deals I see best fit for my product and the ideal customers.

[Valuable due to the fact I will not be taken advantage of. This VRIN is not that rare sadly. Inimitable because it may be copied in a specific setting but not in all settings and situations. Non substitutional because you either are set in your ways/firm or you are not.]

I have two friends who work in the computer technology industry and create really in depth designs and computer designs that make absolutely no sense to me. But this is a resource that is extremely beneficial if I am in contact with a company who needs a mock makeup of the product device itself. Since they can make ideal images and have appropriate scales and moving graphics it would provide a realistic image that may be universal to other companies in the process.

[Valuable due to the fact I will not have to learn this difficult field to create such images and designs. Rare because I am sure I could trade something in return or have them complete this for free. Inimitable because it would be my own unique design which would not be similar to anything else and not copied. Non substitutional because it is a one of a kind idea and product design.]

A resource that I will possess once my product is created is the marketing of having different colors to draw in customers if this device where to be in an auto store or something of that nature. Just like with fast food the golden arches bring in attention with the striking yellow and red colors – products on a shelf have the same approach. Boxing is important (why else would there be unboxings on YouTube?) and the color and presentation is just as important. I am leaning toward the fact in the beginning process auto stores will be my safest bet aside from a few offices where hearing specialists may advertise as long as they get a percentage cut per sale. To draw in costumers I would like to design a unique shaped box as well as have soothing color tones such as purple to bring in a different audience.

[Valuable due to keeping these ideas in mind and will be following through with them. Rare because as a non-business major I would want a cool shaped box because who would not want that. Inimitable because it would be vastly different from other product packaging. Non substitutional because I would have rights to the packaging style.]

Tracing back to my human capital once more I am a great public speaker. This is a useful resource I possess as I can go to different colleges and events to advertise my product and make my product known.

[Valuable because good public speaking skills is important to looking professional even for a specific product like HereWheel. This resource is not that rare, sadly. Inimitable because I like coming up with one of a kind lines. For example, the Idea Napkin assignments I like to name after phases at a restaurant which is not something all students would do I am sure. Same would go for my speeches and pitches. Non substitutional because I am too out there to be duplicated.

Another social capital aspect I have as a resource is my old sign language teacher. She is well known in North Central Florida and is the sweetest woman ever. I personally should know how to sign but I can only partially sign. It would be the equivalent to knowing Spanglish. Although I should really know ASL, I do not. But having the resource of my old sign teacher would be beneficial in reaching out into the deaf community locally as my product first starts out. She can sign what I am saying and possibly get even more costumers than I could on my own.

[Valuable due to reaching out into the deaf and hearing impaired community more than I can. Rare because not every individual knows sign language or has taken classes to learn. Inimitable because it would be from someone well known in the area whom is actually deaf herself. She is a master at reading lips and can sign anything in this world. It is truly amazing and not replaceable.  Non substitutional as well as inimitable.]

A capability of mine is being a college student. I can market toward to the college student body and demographic separately at Gator football games in the swamp or at a pep rally. These outlets would be a little more challenging but since everyone comes together in excitement it may allow for better listeners and allow people to open their wallets, too!

[Valuable due to keeping these ideas in mind and will be following through with them. Rare because as a non-business major I would want a cool shaped box because who would not want that. Inimitable because it would be vastly different from other product packaging. Non substitutional because I would have rights to the packaging style.]

A resource I also possess is knowing recent history of hearing impaired products. Of course many people know hearing aids exist but the technology that is available for hearing impaired individuals is astounding. That is why it is shocking there is not more for hearing impaired drivers. With that being said it helps to know how to filter in and out all the pros and cons of previous products and what costumers did not like to ensure my product does not disappoint.

[Valuable due to keeping costumers happy. Rare because if I do team up with other businesses or individuals they may not be aware of certain strategies that I know as being from within the demographic being targeted. Inimitable due to it being a completely different type of product to assist hearing impaired individuals. Non substitutional because it is unlike any other device in a vehicle to assist drivers.

My top resource would be my long term friendship with my hearing specialist. He has built such a name for himself and has many patients that refuse to go elsewhere. He build up his own practice and again is well known internationally. He knows everything hearing impaired related but knows business techniques for this industry specifically and has many contacts of his own. With him believing in me and trusting me, he may have contacts who would be willing to help make my product better and stronger and teach me things along the way. It would be really beneficial and put my product in the limelight and may speed up the process to having a bestselling product. My brother was a close second but he would not know all the resources my specialist would when it comes to the market I am pitching to. In the end it is about making the best product I can and I know my brother would agree to that.

Who knows, HereWheel may be on Fox and Friends morning show soon. J