AssignmEnt # 2

Your reflections/ insights on your personal traits test

We had taken a personal traits test (personality test) which would determine if we are business minded type of person. It’s a series of thirty two (32) items where in we should decide whether which of the given examples best describes us. It is only answerable by letters A and B. I remember some of the choices given where like this; I will blah blah blah, I wish to blah blah blah, some talks about friendship and most of the choices talks about money. I think most of my answers where about friendship. (My world revolves around friends, just kidding. I know it’s not always good but no man is an island, right? :p )

Well, after we finished the test, we are being asked to score our own sheets of paper. Sir Randy showed or provided us the guide of scoring, in the simplest term, the score sheet. The letters we had chosen has a corresponding remark of either zero (0), one (1) or two (2) depending on the question and of course, it depends with our answers. We summed it all up. I got thirty six. As a result of my choices, I had notice that I got eight zeros based on the given score sheet. Then, Sir Randy gave us the interpretation; not an entrepreneur, neutral, somewhat an entrepreneur and entrepreneur. I belong to neutral, still undecided and it’s up to me to come to a decision whether which part makes me comfortable, maybe taking the path of being an entrepreneur or the other way around.

After the class, I’ve come up to my senses. I would like to be an entrepreneur and I will need sufficient amount of money to put up a business. We could never start up a business without capital, right?

Money makes the world go round and when it comes to business, there are no exemptions; whether family, friends and whosoever. Business is business. It talks about money and how to increase it. It’s a cycle between money, I guessed. I’m always looking forward to put business on my own, but I realized that first I must set a boundary between friendship and business. (Friendship was the main reason why I remained neutral and the reason why I can’t be considered as an entrepreneur. Hohoho. But what can I do? That’s who I am). “Duty begins when friendship ends and friendship begins when duty ends.” It’s a military thought wherein friendship should not be distinguish in times of duty. I mean, when it comes to doing our works, we should never measure a persons worth. Business is not the same as camaraderie. Another thing, it is not about forgetting people you know, but there will always be some business rules to be followed, right?

It’s not about always following your heart, or following your mind either. It’s a combination of both. Being soft is not good in business, and being hard is not good specially when we are too strict and would not take any considerations about our employees. It should be equal, soft sometimes but not always and hard with particular reasons.

I think I’ve got what it takes to be an entrepreneur someday. I believe I can and I will. (Self Mastery). Hohohoh. Love love love. This is what we call “focus to your goal”. Hahaha. These were the traits I possessed and I should enhance which could help me follow the path to being an entrepreneur or technopreneur. (Level up!)

:P  fast learner ?

Maybe ? ! Hohoho. I’m still willing to learn more, gain more knowledge and apply it although high intellectual ability was not really needed to be a technopreneur. (Assuming)  We are learning everyday, right? Not because we are still a student but because it’s a part of everyone’s life. Learning is fun, because its fun, let’s make it a habit. Learn and learn some more. Like like like. We don’t need to be intelligent, we need to be wise.

:P  determined ?

I have it! Totally! The determination and the guts, determined to continue what I’d started. The one who does not even know the word “ quit ”. I do believe in the saying “ quitters never win and winners never quit ”. To achieve your goals, learn not to quit. This is the best way to spell QUIT, N – E - V - E - R - Q - U - I - T ! (en - ee - vi - ee - ahr - kyu - yu - ai - ti ) Keep moving forward. Go fight win. Hohoho.

:P desperate?

 Sometimes. If it involves the things I want and I love. I’m a desperate teenage girl. Hohoho. Desperate in the sense of doing everything I can just to achieve it as soon as possible. But I know my limitations; I will not do any acts that would harm others, easy to say, right? But I’m really doing the best things that I can do just to stay away from hurting others.

:P optimistic?

 Hell yeah. Even things go wrong, I could still see it as a challenge to improve my skills and do more. See problems as a blessing in which we are being tested. No problem is big enough for us not to face. Believe you can and you will. As if. Hohoho. Yet I know that sometimes, even a small problem would really cause me headache, heartache, wrist-ache, a little blood-loss and tears. Especially when it deals with the people who are important to me like family and close friends. Hohoho. I think I’m easy to be disappointed, sometimes stress and pressure make things worst. Hohoho. Now, where did I put my positive-ness? Hohoho. I can motivate, inspire and encourage others but the mere fact which I can’t erase is that it’s hard for me to motivate, inspire and encourage myself. But people could only see my happiness and inspires them to be like one. It’s the truth that lies behind the fake smiles I wear. But still, I’m optimistic in other person’s sight and I believe them. Besides, I’m not always sentimental. It would just appear if problem occurs, not dealing with studies but with friendship. Hohoho.

:P leader?

Since birth. Hohoho. “Leaders are born not made”. But I think I still need to improve it. “A good leader is a good follower”.  That was the best thought which was always given to us by our facilitator in high school dealing the characteristics about leadership. It means that you’re a leader if you know how to follow rules, if you could manage your people properly, if they follow you because you are respectable enough to be followed and to lead them, if you always look for everybody’s goodness and not just for yourself.

:P broad minded?

 I am open minded. It’s the same, right? I am open to every possibilities.  Simple or complex. Positive or negative. All are welcome. Hohoho.  Kidding. I know I could always listen to everybody’s suggestion and try to think the way how they think.

:p business - minded?

            I hope so. I know how to separate duties to other aspects. Like when a problem occurs in school, it should not be brought home coz school is a way different from home and vice versa. Is it enough to be called business minded?

:P assertive?

            I’ll try. I don’t know why but I know I’m a passive type of person which is bad. For example, allowing others to do the things to you which they don’t suppose to do. I don’t have the confidence to tell them they were wrong. Argh. Hate it. When I can’t even say a word when I’m depressed, I just don’t know how to express the things I want to utter. Sometimes I really wanted to shout out my agony, but I just couldn’t. I just face it alone. Hohoho. Now, when should I start this assertiveness? I don’t know yet. But hope I will, as soon as possible.

:P risk taker?

 Being an IT student is like risking your whole college life. Hohoho. Amen to that. In terms of work yes, we should be a risk taker but it must calculated.

:P noble?

            Yes! Of course. It’s being unselfish. Considerate, but we should consider the valid reasons only.

:P flexible?

 I’m adaptive to the changing environment. I could follow the latest trends but remain as I am. I could hang with different types of person. I’m thinking how could I relate to them, maybe we have similarities. Ahoho. I’m just an ordinary person like them. In terms of work, I think I can manage all that would be assigned to me. Applying this though, love the things you do. In that way, things get easier and faster coz you love what you do. Is it flexible enough?

:P friendly?

            I think so. Yet we could never find real ones in terms of business. We call them friends with benefits. That is business right? Symbiotic relationship which we could gain benefits to one another. It’s not a good thing especially in my age right now, it’s best to offer your help without expecting something in return. Do your best. But business is business so when we do something good, always expect something in return that could help you widen your business.

:P charismatic?

            Maybe. But I don’t know why my friends says I’m irresistible. Is it in the same thought as charismatic? Alluring? Charming? Hohoho. Humbly speaking, I just don’t know if these were true or maybe they are but I don’t’ have the confident to admit it. Hohoho.

Well, the personal traits test was given to know how well do we know ourselves, Self mastery as the first part of being a technopreneur. Maybe as of now I’m still confused on the things I want and I wish. Confused to what I would become after I graduate. I know I should be settled to things I will be sooner. I’m not a child anymore that when being asked what I would like to be in the future, I am only guessing and always changing my mind to what I like depending on the things which I saw on televisions and read on books.

I could still remember a line that was stated in the movie eclipse. It was a graduation speech. It goes like this:

“When we were 5, they asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up.  Our answers were things like astronaut, president, or in my case; a princess.

When we were 10, they asked again. We answered rockstar, cowboy, or in my case; a gold medalist.

But now that we’ve grown up they want a serious answer, well how about this?  ‘Who the hell knows?’

This isn’t the time to make hard and fast decisions; this is the time to make mistakes. Take the wrong train and get stucked somewhere. Fall in love, a lot. Major in philosophy because there’s no way we can make a career out of that. Change your mind and change it again because nothing is permanent so make as many mistakes as you can. That way someday when they ask what we wanna be, we won’t have to guess; we’ll know.”

I don’t know why I loved that line but I could relate to it somehow. Life is not a matter of how many times we had succeeded but on how many times we failed and stand up again. That we don’t need to guess on what to become but instead we know what just to become.

Success is not a destiny, it’s a choice. It’s a matter of doing the things you think and believe what’s right. Nobody is ever gonna blame you when things go wrong, you only blame yourself. Hohoho. I mean, nobody is holding your future except yourself. Nothing is wrong when it comes to choice; we just need to face the consequences and fight for it. Do it yourself, it would be so great. I know I would succeed and I will.

question # 3 of Assignment # 1

1.       Would you take the same career path that Steve Jobs took? Why or why not?

Considering the fact that I am a student under Information technology, (even if I was only influenced by my friend to take up this course, yet they took up another course and I’m left with no other options. I just applied this quote “do the things you love and love the things you do”. Let’s assume that this course was meant for me because, I started loving it. Innovations, technology, robots, computers, seems like a melody to my ears. I could never end a day without hearing these words. Hearing your classmates discuss the latest gadgets, codes and so on. I keep on thinking that when ordinary people, I mean students or people who are not in IT related courses;  listens or hear  to what we are talking, they could not relate and might not understand the terms we used. Seems like they were alienated or they are hearing something new. Hohoho. I’m not thinking that we are way better than them, maybe when it comes to technology we really are. But considering the things in other fields not related to IT, I think I could still be called an ignorant. Hehehe. *sigh.  Honestly, I’m not good in coding programs but I could really think of the algorithms or ways on how to get it right. Maybe, I still had a lot to be learned. Learn continually, as the 12^th rule of Steve says. Hohoho. I could still recall sir Dan says “learning is so much fun”, and I do believe him. Two thumbs up. Like like like. )

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Would I take the same career path that Steve Jobs took? Well, I am already taking the same path as what Steve Jobs took. If given a chance, would I follow him? Absolutely yes, I mean look at him now; he’s one of the people who were being admired when it comes to innovations in IT world. He’s a hero, an idol, an inspiration. Imagine that, a band of shaggy nerds without proper hygiene and could not even shave off their beards rose to become the richest people on Earth. They were the pioneers of the computer industry in this era. In one look, you can never tell that those people would likely to succeed. But now, they were more than an achiever. We could never really tell a person’s worth based on their physical aspects and the way they look or dressed, right?

I’m totally impressed by the way how they saw things (Steve Job, Bill Gates and Steve Wozniak). It’s different, totally weird. These were the lines I noted from the movie which I think was weird enough:

“You know, Steve was never like you or me. He always saw things differently. Even then since I was in Berkeley, I’d see something and just see kilobytes and circuit boards while he’d see karma or the meaning of the universe” said Steve Wozniak justifying my thought. (Hooray for me. Hahaha )

“I want to put a ding in the universe. “ - Steve Jobs (what’s a ding? Could someone explain it to me? I mean literally. :P )

“Information is power” – Steve Jobs

“Sometimes not knowing how crazy something is, is a good thing” – Steve Wozniak

Get it? Is it weird enough? Yeah right. But those words come out from the mouth of the geniuses who could take over the world. Hohoho. As I was saying, it’s not about if I would take the same career path that Steve taken, the real question that is cycling my thoughts were; can I take the same path as his? Of course I can. But, will I succeed? Do I have the guts and courage to pursue things if others push me low and laugh if I fail? Am I determined? What if I try to follow his path yet that would be the reason of my failures. Do I have the idea for best innovations? Do I possess the skills and abilities? Am I good in any kind of businesses? Am I a leader or a follower? Could I really make it as a technopreneur? Sheesh. I think I’m lacking of self-esteem but still I’m good in converting things positively. Today, I cannot answer those questions yet. I still do have a lot of time I supposed. As a student, we are still learning with the help of our facilitators but it’s up to us on what career to choose. In IT world, there are lots of opportunities to be grabbed, a lot of doors that was already open but it’s up to us which door to enter. Life is a choice, and every choice has its corresponding consequences to be faced. Always easy but it would depend on how we see things. If we see it as unanswerable, hard, and impossible, then it will. But if we see it as a challenge, a molder, easy, then it absolutely is.

Nothing is impossible; we just need courage to face it again, faith to our God that things will get better soon, never quit because the reason that anyone fail is by quitting, to quit is equivalent to failing ( quitters never win and winners never quit ) . Being a third year student is a great burden especially when every time I think of all the things I’ve been through, I made it this far and I’m not thinking of stopping. Move on. Life is a climb and I’m still in the middle of the mountain. All I can do is to look up high and continue to climb up to reach the top, the top of the mountain where we found success. Continue to be a blessing to everyone to be rewarded with more blessings. And do not be afraid to look back to where we had started.

Steve’s path to success is a tough one, a very difficult one. I’m trying to imagine myself in the position of Steve Job, CEO of a major company. Being looked up, I loved it. Like like like . Hohoho.

As of now, I’m viewing Steve’s path as an inspiration to succeed. Even if I can’t really be just like him, even if I can’t accomplish the same accomplishments he had achieved, even if I can’t go that far, I will still strive hard to create a name in the history of technology. I don’t know when or how long, but still I would try. I may never ever be Job, but I can always be Charlotte, the way as I am. I could succeed with my own ways. Not as good as Steve Job or Steve Wozniak or Bill Gates, not even as rich and powerful as them. But I swear, I will do my best to succeed. Not yet today but as soon as possible.

question # 2 of Assignment # 1

1.       How do you see yourself as a technopreneur?

How do I see myself as a technopreneur? Actually, that word was not even found in my vocabulary. I don’t even recall hearing that word before since I was a little kid until the day it was introduced to us as a subject in our curriculum. Technopreneurship is equal to Technology plus entrepreneurship. Make sense ? Well, Technopreneurship refers to any business with the use of technology like electronic commerce and the like. More on the thought of “ to be not just an employee but to be an employer ” kind of things or simply just “ go beyond the line ” or “ go out of the box ”. Honestly, I could not think of the possibilities on what job could I get after I graduate. As of now, I am really hoping to become one of the most successful technopreneur. Why ? It is not because of this is a required project to pass this curriculum but rather I was being enlightened to see the things I could possibly achieved after taking up this course. Come on, we are the ones who has the most powers in this techie generation. hello ! ?  Am I really that powerful to take over ? Hohoho. I guess I could, I wished. I am inspired by the success of the richest man in the world. I mean one of the richest rather which was Bill Gates and of course Steve Jobs.  I salute them. Almost adore them. I wished I could be just one of them. Hohoho. Ambitious ?  Yeah right. Super ambitious. Hahaha. lol

Being a technopreneur is a long way to be achieved. I’m trying to visualize myself as a business owner where I was the one who leads and manage my own business, where I am being respected by my employees not because  I am the boss but rather because I was respectable enough to be followed. Hohoho. Loved it.

Nowadays, I can’t really prove that I am a technopreneur, not even to myself, not yet. But I could cite some characteristics I already possess to give you reasons to think that I could be one. Firstly, I’m a fast learner, although high intellectual ability was not really needed to be a technopreneur.

Second, I have the determination and the guts. Determined to continue what I’d started. The one who does not even know the word “ quit ”. I do believe in the saying “ quitters never win and winners never quit ”. To achieve your goals, learn not to quit. Keep moving forward. Go fight win.

Third, I am an optimistic type of person. Even things go wrong, I could still see it as a challenge to improve my skills and do more. See problems as a blessing in which we are being tested. No problem is big enough for us not to face.

Fourth, I’m a born leader. But I think I still need to improve it. “A good leader is a good follower”.  That was the thought which was always given to us by our facilitator in high school dealing the characteristics about leadership.

Fifth, I am open minded. I am open to every possibilities.  Simple or complex. Positive or negative. All are welcome. Hohoho.  Kidding.

Sixth, I am a risk taker. Being an IT student is like risking your college life. Hohoho.

Seventh, I’m not self  - centered to keep things on my own.

Eight, I’m willing to learn. We should not stop learning.

Ninth, I’m adaptive to the changing environment. I could follow the latest trends but remain as I am. Flexible might be good term to be used.

And lastly, on the tenth, my mind was almost empty and I couldn’t think of more. What’s important is that I believe in my abilities that I could be a good technopreneur. Always believe that we can do everything we ever wanted.

These are my insights when I become a technopreneur.

·         I will create my own IT Company.

·         I will hire fresh graduate info tech students.

·         I will let them choose whether they would stay with me as my employee or start their own business.

·         I will build an organization to teach the youths and the students to become just like me.

·         I will teach and share everything I know for them to be inspired and follow what I do.

·         I will develop their skills.

·         I will open up great opportunities.

·         I will lead my people and not to control them.

·         I will not pressure them in terms of work but would rather motivate them.

·         I will promote Technopreneurship in schools.

·         I will build an IT park or IT hub.

·         I will invest or let others borrow certain amount if they wish start a business.

·         I will offer a helping hand to those who are in need.

·         I will give my employees the benefits which are essential.

·         I will convince venture capitalist to invest for our business to improve our city.

·         I will not give the IT professionals the reasons to look for jobs across the country.

As a student undergoing this subject, I have those insights as my goals if ever I would become a technopreneur. Those things were not that easy to be achieved quickly but instead it would require a step by step process where in all those things could be accomplished consecutively. I really wished I could perform those things. Those are challenging yet worth trying. I believed that the “ youths are the nation’s hope “ . If I could not perform what I aimed, I think I would still help and contribute what I can do for my motherland for anybody’s success. I’m not selfish to keep those things just for myself.  I am willing to share. It is not about a selfish dream of me but a dream for everybody’s benefit, for my fellow students, fellow citizens under one revolutionary government. Let’s aim for everybody’s success. Let’s create a healthy competition where we help everyone to go higher and not to push them lower. We are Technopreneurs.

question # 1 of assignment # 1

    What are the factors that contributed to the success and failure of Steve Jobs as a technopreneur?

Success is directly proportional to failure. We cannot determine a success if we doesn’t know how to fail and vice versa. I mean, how could we actually say it’s a success if failure doesn’t exist ? how can we say we succeeded if we doesn’t know how to fail ? Right ? Think of it. They are somehow related to each other. If we really want to be just like Steve Jobs then we must consider these factors, the factors for his success and for his failure.

These are the factors I had observe from the movie “Pirates of Silicon Valley” which brought the success of Steve Jobs.

·         PERSEVERANCE - in our dictionaries, it would simply mean the steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. Even though they had encountered a rejection about their works, still they choses to go on to their own, take it as a challenge and decided to be a competitor of the major companies than working with them (the IBM which they considered a rival). Another good example is when he’s appeal for a loan was being rejected over and over again.

·         DETERMINATION - the act of coming to a decision or of fixing or settling a purpose. The purpose of innovation. Imagine that they used to fix the computers in their garage? They were determined to succeed that they doesn’t care where they work.

·         RISK TAKING – he’s a risk taker. It is should when he sell his car and replaced it with his bicycle to gather a money for their first ever computer.

·         STYLE – he has the style to look good when presenting his product in order for him to be much respected. He’s well groomed and he has the business fashion when dealing with the business.

·         GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS –  “A lot of companies have chosen to downsize, and maybe that was the right thing for them. We chose a different path. Our belief was that if we kept putting great products in front of customers, they would continue to open their wallets.”  - Steve Jobs

He knows how to interact with his customers. He always make them impress by giving his best towards them.

“I think we're having fun. I think our customers really like our products. And we're always trying to do better. ”- Steve Jobs

·         CHARISMA – he has the appeal and the charm to invite more customers who would like to purchase their product. Everybody wants to impress him.

·         DEDICATED – he is dedicated to his work. He doesn’t have even time to monitor his family especially his child.

·         NEVER GIVE UP – a good example to this was the part when Steve was trying to get a loan. These were the exact narration from the movie. “Whenever Steve went to a bank trying to get a loan, it was like they were Eskimos, and we had refrigerator to sell them. Okay, so Steve doesn’t look like a business guy. But who did? Besides, business guys and bankers thought you’d just barfed on their shoes if who tried to interest them in computers for ordinary people.”

·         WISE – “Why join the navy if you can be a pirate?” – Steve Jobs

I still don’t have the exact idea on what he means about this line. Is it about like this?  “Good artists copy. Great artists steal “. They are so different yet their genius.

These are the factors which I think brought his failure.

·         NARROW-MINDED – he does not listen to others suggestion. Even that somebody was his close friend. He always believes that he was right.

·         DICTATOR – he don’t care if his employees were still fine. He just wants his projects to be finished as early as possible. He even insults his employees. Instead of motivating them, he keeps on bringing them down for them to strive hard.

·         BIGHEADED – he doesn’t know how to appreciate the works of others.

·         SELFISH – he only cares about himself, he’s just dictating others what to do and keep on criticizing them.

These were the 12 rules of success by Steve Jobs.

• Do what you love to do.   Find your true passion. Do what you love to do a make a difference! The only way to do great work is to love what you do.
• Be different.   Think different. "Better be a pirate than to join the navy."
• Do your best. Do your best at every job. No sleep! Success generates more success. So be hungry for it. Hire good people with passion for excellence.
• Make SWOT analysis.   As soon as you join/start a company, make a list of strengths and weaknesses of yourself and your company on a piece of paper. Don't hesitate in throwing bad apples out of the company.
• Be entrepreneurial.   Look for the next big thing. Find a set of ideas that need to be quickly and decisively acted upon and jump through that window. Sometimes the first step is the hardest one. Just take it! Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.
• Start small, think big.   Don't worry about too many things at once. Take a handful of simple things to begin with, and then progress to more complex ones. Think about not just tomorrow, but the future. "I want to put a ding in the universe,” reveal Steve Jobs his dream.
• Strive to become a market leader.   Own and control the primary technology in everything you do. If there's a better technology available, use it no matter if anyone else is not using it. Be the first, and make it an industry standard.
• Focus on the outcome.   People judge you by your performance, so focus on the outcome. Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected. Advertise. If they don't know it, they won't buy your product. Pay attention to design. "We made the buttons on the screen look so good you'll want to lick them." "Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works."
• Ask for feedback.   Ask for feedback from people with diverse backgrounds. Each one will tell you one useful thing. If you're at the top of the chain, sometimes people won't give you honest feedback because they're afraid. In this case, disguise yourself, or get feedback from other sources. Focus on those who will use your product – listen to your customers first.
• Innovate.   Innovation distinguishes a leader from a follower. Delegate, let other top executives do 50% of your routine work to be able to spend 50% your time on the new stuff. Say no to 1,000 things to make sure you don't get on the wrong track or try to do too much. Concentrate on really important creations and radical innovation. Hire people who want to make the best things in the world. You need a very product-oriented culture, even in a technology company. Lots of companies have tons of great engineers and smart people. But ultimately, there needs to be some gravitational force that pulls it all together.
• Learn from failures.   Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations.
• Learn continually.   There's always "one more thing" to learn! Cross-pollinate ideas with others both within and outside your company. Learn from customers, competitors and partners. If you partner with someone whom you don't like, learn to like them – praise them and benefit from them. Learn to criticize your enemies openly, but honestly.

Source : http://www.businessbrief.com/apple-ceo-steve-jobs-12-rules-of-success/