Identifying Local Opportunities

1) New Orleans Advocate 

Article Title: Sportsmen call for Louisiana governor to commit dollars to restoring coast

Link to Article: http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A82750BA381550?p=AWNB

Story Description: The National Wildlife Federation found 124 local sportsmen, businesses, and organizations to sign a letter calling out Louisiana’s governor for not taking care of the beaches since the oil spill. The article discusses the various types of scientific ideas that could be used to fix the beaches.

Problem Presented: Louisiana has coasts that are eroding faster than anywhere else, causing the loss of important coastal wetland. BP funds have not been used properly to restore the beaches.

Person With Problem: The Governor has a problem because he is not applying BP fund in a responsible manner. The problem with the beaches eroding affects more than just one person. It affects the people in the state, the animals losing habitat and could have worldwide implications.

2) New Orleans Advocate 

Article Title: Measuring physical ability

Link to Article: http://infoweb.newsbank.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/15A13B9206CB6140?p=AWNB

Story Description: The article discusses the issues with tying to begin exercising when one has been living a sedentary lifestyle. It offers suggestions for building stamina. It also discusses ways to know if one is too sedentary.

Problem Presented: The over-abundance of those living a sedentary lifestyle, and the ways in which they try to overdo it when they begin to exercise, ultimately causing failure.

Person With Problem: Those who live a sedentary lifestyle.

3) Portland Press Herald 

Article Title: Waterboro man charged with theft by deception in Craigslist scam

Link to Article: http://bi.galegroup.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/essentials/article/GALE|A440980334/012458f25cce84e349f4c084eee0f2e1?u=gain40375

Story Description: A man in Illinois purchased some auto parts from a man in Maine off of Craigslist. He wired the money, but the man never shipped he parts.

Problem Presented: The ease in which people can be dishonest in online transactions between individuals.

Person With Problem: The man who purchased the auto parts; it also could be a problem for anyone who takes part in person to person transactions online.

4)  Portland Press Herald
Article Title: Five crashes reported on Maine Turnpike after car breaks down in passing lane

Link to Article: http://bi.galegroup.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/essentials/article/GALE|A440877225/da1022f09162c3962af0f1c72d5a9c88?u=gain40375

Story Description: A car broke down on the Maine turnpike. As a result, traffic backed up causing 5 accidents.

Problem Presented: People going too fast for conditions.

Person With Problem: The five drivers who were not paying attention.

5)  Portland Press Herald
Article Title: Fame, abuse are no strangers, say advocates for domestic violence victims

Link to Article: http://bi.galegroup.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/essentials/article/GALE|A440798624/7281e2221c19e9f7f373a2819b222d1b?u=gain40375

Story Description: The story discusses the arrest of Don McLean after abusing his wife for the past 30 years. The article discusses how domestic violence knows no boundaries of wealth.

Problem Presented: The prevalence of domestic violence.

Person With Problem: It is a societal issue.

Very Short Interview No. 1

I had the opportunity to interview one of the people who I admire most in this world, Mathieu Louis. Mr. Louis is originally from Haiti. He came to Florida and began by picking oranges for a living. He then attended FSU and obtained his Master’s Degree. Mr. Louis is President and owner of Global Reach, LLC. He creates websites of various types, from dating to selling high end weave, makes them profitable then sells them. He also has created some phone apps. His wife is also an entrepreneur and he is instrumental in her business. I asked more than three questions, and his answers are all motivating and insightful. It is a shame I have to whittle what I share down to three questions. 

Here is our question and answer session:

1. What do you think I should learn in an entrepreneurship course?

Study what the market wants as opposed to what you want as an entrepreneur. Keep abreast of changes....what works yesterday may not work today in this ever-changing marketplace. Social media should be your best friend...traditional marketing is a thing of the past. Quickly adapt to new changes or die. 

2. What do you wish you had been taught in school before setting out on your own path as an entrepreneur? 

That early success is not a predictor of how of future endeavors. Because I experienced what most would called 'winning the jackpot' early on my entrepreneurial journey...I expected or thought the trend would continue un-interrupted. 

3a. What has been your biggest failure as an entrepreneur?

There are no such thing as failure in my book. Every so-called failure is education. You learn what to not do...same as paying $100k to attend FSU. But I have to admit, I should have learned to concentrate on a single project at a time. 

3b. Biggest success?

I got to travel the world...

I was surprised to hear that Mr. Louis did not consider one of his various prosperous websites as his greatest success, but instead saw traveling the world as his greatest success. This is a reflection as the different reasons which people choose to be an entrepreneur. Mr. Louis enjoys the freedoms associated with entrepreneurship, as well as the business successes.

World's Biggest Problems

1. Racism.

            I chose this as number one on this list because many of the other major issues in this world relates to this issue. Also, being a part of an interracial family, it is something that hits close to home. Many of the wars, economic disparities and other issues we face in the world is directly related to racism. From the blatant racism in South Africa to the obvious issues within the U.S. justice system in regards to race, racism knows no boundaries and simply adds to the hatred that fuels so many.

Solution: First of all, those within the justice system who exercise prejudice, from police officers to judges, should be held accountable instead of having their actions covered up. A civilian “jury” of some sort should be able to look at the merits of each case and decide upon innocence or guilt, as well as appropriate actions to be taken if necessary. Worldwide the best we can do is to educate children to appreciate diversity so that future generations will not experience racism. 

2. Wars/ Conflicts

            It seems that not a day goes by where one part of the world is not fighting with another part of the world. If one looks at a list of current armed conflicts around the world, it is loooong! The top four, each causing over 10,000 deaths in the last year, are Afghanistan, Iraq, the Boko Haram Insurgency, and the Syrian Civil War. And that is just a few of the current armed conflicts going on worldwide!

Solution: I wish I could come up with one. As long as civilization has existed, so have wars. Wars about land, religion, race, ideals and more have taken place. I am afraid that man will always find reasons to have wars.

3. Pollution

There is so much pollution going on that we really are reaching a crisis level. From the amount of plastic floating in the ocean to the fact that there are parts of the world where the smog is so thick that people have to wear masks everywhere they go, it is undeniable that pollution is one of the greatest issues facing mankind today. In fact, it is directly responsible for the next two major world issues.

Solution: Offer more recycling services. Also, more reusable products should be created and widely used. For instance, if more households used cloth diapers instead of disposable imagine the tons of garbage that would be saved each year. 

4. Water Crisis

            As the population increases and the amount of pollution increases, the amount of drinkable water decreases. Also, factories who dump chemicals into streams and the amount of pharmaceuticals found in water is ridiculous. While this has been an issue most Americans could overlook because it was happening in other parts of the world, the recent Flint Michigan disaster has brought it to our own doorstep. 

Solution: Much of the solution comes from reducing the amount of pollution created, from less plastic to less CO2 emissions. While it will be a long process to bring polluted waters back to where they should be, it is doable if we get a handle on it.

5. Global Warming

            While there is little doubt that the earth goes through eras where it is warmer or cooler, our increase of pollution into the atmosphere has undeniably helped to usher in a global warming that is quickly happening. I remember being a kid in Maine and walking through a few feet of snow every year in order to cut a fresh tree for Christmas; now I can talk to my parents at Christmas and it is 60 degrees outside. While this is anecdotal at best, there is of course scientific proof of global warming as well.

Solution: Reduce factory emissions and increase the number of electric or hybrid cars on the road, thereby decreasing the amount of pollutants entering the atmosphere.

6. Global Terrorism

While there are instances of terrorism every American can recall on our own soil, from 9/11 to the bombing of the Boston Marathon, there is so much more worldwide. It seems that at least weekly we hear of some terrorist attack somewhere. 

Solution: As Americans it is time we stand up and force change so that we no longer fund terrorists and send them weapons. While this may not completely stop terrorism, it will slow it down. 

7. Poverty

Poverty around the world is the root of many issues, from homelessness to hunger. According to The World Bank, 896 million people around the world live on less than $1.90 per day; 2.1 billion people live on less than $3.10 per day. That is atrocious! The reality is people are hungry not because of a worldwide lack of food, after all, billions of pounds of food are thrown away daily in the U.S.; instead they are hungry because they cannot afford food.

Solution: Better education and better jobs. 

8. Oil Dependence

Our dependence upon oil is a huge issue, both from a sustainability standpoint and a pollution standpoint. There is only so much oil left, and the use of it in cars etc. creates a lot of pollution. 

Solution: By using more solar, wind, water and electric means of power our dependence on oil would reduce.

9. Economic Issues

The current worldwide economy is teetering on possible collapse. 

Solution: The U.S. has slowly killed the middle class, basically creating an economy where there is a lower class which skips to a upper class. It is time that minimum wage be raised to be equal with inflation, instead of inflation going up faster than wages can keep up. 

10. Animal Extinction

Nature is a delicate balance, and one which is suffering at the hands of humans. As various species go extinct, other species suffer or increase more than they should. There are many reasons this is happening, including hunting, pollution, global warming and destroying habitats.

Solution: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by increasing the use of renewable energies, increase penalties on hunters who go after endangered species, and reduce our dependence upon wood thereby destroying less habitats. Reducing urban sprawl would also help.aram HH