Friday, November 10, 2017

unfair advantage

1. Connections to coders

Valuable: Coding a website is the most important material for my website.
Rare: It's only really rare among people who don't know anyone in the computer science crowd. Online, this isn't really rare.
Inimitable: Pretty tough, as coding websites takes considerable experience.
Non-substitutable: Could substitute coding lessons.

2. An audience

Valuable: They'll help spread the word about my website when it goes up.
Rare: Building a following while being well-liked and reputable isn't as easy as it seems!
Inimitable: Very few could.
Non-substitutable: No one else in my market is trying to make something like this, so no.

3. Connections to artists

Valuable: Graphic design know-how is imperative to a nice-looking website that people will want to use.
Rare: Most people aren't artists, so pretty rare.
Inimitable: Art takes years to learn and finesse.
Non-substitutable: I have my own art skills I could use instead.

4. My own artistic skills

Valuable: Using my own skills may not save time, but it will save some money.
Rare: Again, most people aren't artists so fairly rare.
Inimitable: I have my own style and aesthetic, so I'll say yes.
Non-substitutable: There are other artists out there.

5. Being a part of my own market

Valuable: I have years of knowledge and experience that you just can't buy. A fantastic advantage against outsiders thinking of entering.
Rare: It's a niche community, so yes.
Inimitable: Anyone else in this community has similar experiences.
Non-substitutable: Most people in this community are artists or in STEM, so I'm sort of alone as a business major.

6. Accounting knowledge

Valuable: Essential to maintaining a business
Rare: Most artists probably haven't taken an accounting class.
Inimitable: However, anyone can.
Non-substitutable: Could hire an accountant.

7. Bright future $$$

Valuable: Money is vital to starting a business.
Rare: It's a very common scholarship in Florida.
Inimitable: There are many others with the same level of BF as me.
Non-substitutable: And there are many other scholarships and ways to make money.

8. Being a UF student

Valuable: We're a top 10 public university, and the best in Florida, which gives me a pretty good education.
Rare: 50,000 students go here, but I wouldn't say we're common.
Inimitable: The quality makes my degree on the more difficult side to imitate
Non-substitutable: 

9. My empathy

Valuable: Vital for making sales, networking, and maintaining a good corporate culture.
Rare: Not everyone has it, but not rare.
Inimitable: I've been told I'm extremely empathetic and relatable, so if it sticks out to people then I must be above average.
Non-substitutable: Can't substitute ingenuity! 

10. My energy

Valuable: Being motivated is the easiest way to get things done.
Rare: Not really.
Inimitable: Being genuine and energetic is pretty hard to fake.
Non-substitutable: Can substitute with a strong work ethic and self-discipline at the cost of some fun.


I'd say my most valuable resource is #5, being a part of my own market. It's got the best VRIN analysis out of all of these, as it's the hardest to imitate and really can't be substituted. People could be interviewed, but I think it's hard to grasp some things without experiencing them for yourself (like college).

1 comment:

  1. Haley,
    Your connections with coders, artists, and your involvement im sure, make this opportunity well within reach. The resources you have, as in the scholarship, your platform as a UF student, and the characteristics of yourself that you mention are definitely helpful, and its nice that they fit directly to your idea.

    ReplyDelete