1) You
I've been a student for the majority of my life. As soon as I graduated high school, I went straight into college, and I plan on attending grad school after I obtain my Bachelor's Degree. I am a very studious person and enjoy working hard to perform well. In terms of talent, I believe that I am very good at leading people, as well as time management and organization. I rarely miss a deadline, and I am a responsible person who can be trusted to carry out tasks. My business is centered around helping employees maintain a work/life balance. If I were to start my business, I think it would greatly help me in my professional life because sometimes I tend to enter a workaholic mindset and forget to take breaks from work. I thought of my opportunity based on my own habits, and I think my business would play a large role in my life if it was pursued.
2) What you are offering to customers?
I am offering an app similar to the Do Not Disturb function on iPhones to company messaging systems. The app/extension would provide a way for employees to select their status on work, which allows colleagues to see if a certain employee is available or done with work for the day. There is also an emergency feature for urgent situations. This system will allow employees the opportunity to respectfully disconnect from work, while still allowing for some availability in case of an emergency.
3) Who are you offering it to?
I am offering this product to established companies and employees. The demographics would vary, but mainly my product is designed for companies that work typical business hours and have no need to constantly be "on-call." The product can also be altered to work for employees without the company. The psychographics of my customers would also vary, but some characteristics include motivated employees who strive to maintain a work/life balance and stay productive in both their personal and professional lives. My customers would have possibly struggled with maintaining or promoting a work/life balance within their company.
4) Why do they care?
Customers care about a work/life balance because this concept is getting harder to maintain with recent technological trends. My product will allow people to not feel guilty about not working after their normal working hours, and establish some reasonable boundaries between the company's work schedule and an employee's personal schedule.
5) What are your core competencies?
My core competencies include witnessing first-hand an unhealthy relationship with work and personal matters. I've seen this workaholic mindset with my dad, and have come to understand that employees may not know how to stop working after hours while keeping up their reputation within the company. Although I am not the only person to witness an issue in a work/life balance lifestyle, I think my perspective has greatly benefited in developing my opportunity.
Evaluation
I believe some of these elements fit together. Maintaining a work/life balance is definitely a concern amongst many people, and customers care about finding a solution. However, I have never explicitly worked a 9-5 job, so I am not sure if I am the best person to market this product. In addition, many companies prefer to let employees handle the responsibility of maintaining a work/life balance, rather than intervening with a solution. I think my product has a good start, but some weaker points need improvement.
Hi Tara,
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great idea. Like you, I have witnessed how an unhealthy over-prioritizing of work can affect someone and their family. I think what you pointed out about your idea not including professions that must be on-call is very important. Those on call are paid during the time they are on call. However, those who are not on call are not paid for that time, and there for should not be expected to work.