Today was another day featuring book reports and more amazing (and slightly unplanned) adventures!
We started the day with book reports from Claire and Matt. In Claire's book report, we talked heavily on consumerism, and how much affect a consumer really has on the planning, designing, and execution on a company's products. We talked about how that affect can change depending on what kind of customer (whether it's a single person or a whole business) is buying or using a product. We talked about some examples of some company products that make it big (or eventually make it big, after "crossing the chasm") or fail miserably because the public isn't ready, the cost is too high, or some other reason.
In Matt's book report, we talked about the lean startup, and the main takeaways I took from his presentation are the cycle that a company must repeatedly go through in order to succeed: vision, steer, and accelerate. A company must have a clear vision with clear goals. A company must, somewhere in that vision, devise an exit strategy, whether that is getting bought out or something else. In steering, a company must pivot or find a way or means in which to tailor to a customer or do something big in order to stay competitive. Finally, a company must accelerate, not stopping at any particular point and making decisions only for the betterment of the company. Sometimes that can mean that a founder needs to step down in order to protect the values put in place by that company. Lastly, we talked about having a minimal viable product (MVP) for customers when you are starting out.
Next, as an entire group, we went to the Exploratorium on one of the piers of San Francisco, right next to Fisherman's Wharf! This place was so cool, and had countless contraptions, experiments, and devices that taught lessons about some of the most fundamental parts of our society: Light and Color, Physics, Biology, and much more. One of my favorites was a room where all color seemingly disappear: the Monochromatic Room. Inside, you see so yellow, and shades of yellow, until you shine a flashlight around the room, and you see the color of these objects revealed in true form! I was blown away at how the pigments seemed to disappear and reappear so easily.
After that, a group of us went to a Gelateria for gelato, and it was so amazing! I had bourbon butter pecan mixed with roasted nut fudge. I love gelato to begin with, but this was so good and definitely hit the spot on a warm, sunny day.
Then we took a cable car, famous in SF, to get some groceries. I must say this was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I say this because our driver was so nice, funny, and careful! Through the tremendously steep hills, as I hung off the side, he told the whole car my name and that I was from Wisconsin! He even joked about him losing 4 people named Erik to sharp turns! By the end, people passing by were laughing at the sight of us chanting my name, and other strange things, and ringing the bell continuously! I was blushing and laughing so hard at some of the conversations he had with others and myself, telling new passengers my name, while also introducing me to some strangers.
After this amazing experience, we took the transit to get burgers and queso, which we ate as a group tonight. All in all, a long but wonderful day.
Early start tomorrow! Two visits and a book report planned!
Erik Nelson
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