4A- Forming an Opportunity Belief

1. Beginning Point: I believe that constructing a sidewalk in my parents' neighborhood would really contribute to the safety of members of the community and create a sense of order.
2. Describing My Belief: The unmet need is that there it often times does not feel safe traveling down my parents' street via car due to the dozens of pedestrians/bikers, several blind turns, and there are constantly workers (ex- lawn care, contractors, construction, etc), causing chaos when trying to drive down the street. This disorder gives me fear of hitting people and also creates lines of cars trying to get around the obstacles in the way. The people who have the need are those who live on my parents' street in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. This need comes from the lack of a sidewalk on a busy road; a sidewalk would provide a path for walkers, and even an area for work trucks to pull up to and get out of the road. In order to meet this need now, my parents' and their neighbors often drive 10 miles under the speed limit, to assure the safety of everyone. Also, community members have brought the issue up at neighborhood meetings. At this point, I am 75% sure this opportunity exists. 
3.  Prototypical Customers: People who live in my parents' neighborhood.
• No. 1: My mother, Michelle Jenkins
• No. 2: My neighbor, Sue Hawkins
• No. 3: My neighbor, Larry Ridenhour 
4. Interviews:
• Iteration No. 1: 
• What is the exact nature of the need?
• "Safety is the primary thing."
• When do they become aware of the need? Sometimes? All the time?
• "I am aware of this need whenever I am leaving or coming back to the house, specifically between the morning and early evening."
• How long have they had the need?
• "Ever since we moved here, which has been over 20 years."
• When did they first become aware of the need? Why?
• "When we moved here I noticed everyone had to walk, jog, and bike in the road and cars have to go around."
• How are they currently addressing their need?
• "Well, I am not doing anything, but if I were I would be starting a petition with the neighbors and taking it to the country commission."
• How satisfied are they with this solution?
• "Since I am not doing anything at the moment, it is unsatisfactory."
• Iteration No. 2:
• What is the exact nature of the need?
• "The exact nature of the need is stress relief when driving and to prevent accidents."
• When do they become aware of the need? Sometimes? All the time?
• "I am aware on a daily basis, any time I go down the street it is like a parking lot."
• How long have they had the need?
• "When we moved here, almost three years ago."
• When did they first become aware of the need? Why?
• "My family first became aware of this need when we almost hit a work truck that was parked right in front of our driveway, not giving us any room to back out. We then had to find the worker, who was several houses down, and ask him to stop parking there."
• How are they currently addressing their need?
• "Other than asking the worker to not park in front of our driveway, I have not actually done anything."
• How satisfied are they with this solution?
• "The solution worked short-term, but long-term it is still impossible to move down our road."
• Iteration No. 3:
• What is the exact nature of the need?
• "We need to have a place for people to walk that is out of the way and limits congestion."
• When do they become aware of the need? Sometimes? All the time?
• "I notice that we really do need a sidewalk when I am staying here, though I have been in Texas recently to visit my granddaughter, when I return home I can't help but notice we need a sidewalk."
• How long have they had the need?
• "Our neighborhood has needed a sidewalk ever since I can remember, but especially in the summer months when all of the kids are home."
• When did they first become aware of the need? Why?
• "I first noticed we need a sidewalk at least ten or so years ago."
• How are they currently addressing their need?
• "I've talked to Kitty, she is on the board for the neighborhood, but she is very hard to get ahold of."
• How satisfied are they with this solution?
• "I am not satisfied and won't be until it is fixed."
5. Reflections:
• No. 1: I learned that this issue is nothing new and has been happening for at least two decades. The most surprising thing I learned about my opportunity is that though this issue seems to be annoying, my mother has not actually done anything to appease the problem.
• No. 2: From my second interview, I related with my neighbor, as I also have gotten blocked in my own driveway from a work truck. The most surprising thing from this interview was that, even though this family is relatively new to the area, they still notice the same problem as someone who has been here for decades. 
• No. 3: From my third interview, I learned that this opportunity is vital because if a sidewalk does not happen, children's safety is at risk. The most surprising thing about this opportunity from the interview is that Larry has talked to someone who is in charge of the neighborhood, yet did not get a direct response.
6. (See above for second and third interviews and reflections)
7. Summarize:
• How much of your original opportunity is still there?
• I believe all of my original opportunity is still there. All people I interviewed agreed that a sidewalk would help greatly. 
• Do you believe that your new opportunity is more accurate than when you started?
• I am not positive if the opportunity is more accurate, but I do think there will be more hoops to jump through than I initially thought. Apparently in order to get a sidewalk you have to talk to many people and potentially petition it. 
• How much do you think entrepreneurs should "adapt"their own opportunities based on customer feedback?
• I think there is give and take when listening to feedback. If there is a larger population that would support the venture if it is adapted, then I think the entrepreneur should be willing to change their original plans, because that would help the most people. Trade-off's are necessary and very similar to compromise.