Sustain the Brain Business Plan

This final unit of Entrepreneurship we learned how to write a business plan, and what goes into writing one, such as developing 15/30 second pitches, a marketing plan, doing research for target audience, understanding the legal structure, etc. We studied the characteristics of what makes a great business, and what goes into writing vision and mission statements for one. Not only were we just creating our own business with these tools, but a business that offers services and products that are of value to the world and provide social good. Social entrepreneurship is different than traditional entrepreneurship, because profit is not maximized. The Greenwood project is a non profit organization that coaches capable students from Chicago's south and west side neighborhoods to work at internships for the best finance companies in the city. The co-founder of The Greenwood Project came to speak with us, and he shared his knowledge of what it took for him to establish his organization. I had an idea for a non-profit organization, and with this class I was able to flesh its mission out.

It used to appear easy to me to start up an idea, but now I understand how much hard work, dedication and money is put into just running and exposing what someone creates. I also learned that sometimes ironically doing what you love and then trying to sell it as a service or product can make you hate what you love doing because it would have to be done all the time to keep up with demand.