my_pauline_vettier

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 I am Pauline Vettier  Global Entrepreneurship student from Group A =====

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We will discuss the world of **entrepreneurs** and **entrepreneurship** =====

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It is related to my blogpage, which you can find here: =====

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My blog is dedicated to my business project,

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 //Les macarons de Pauline// =====


 1 - A true entrepreneur



 * ENTREPRENEUR PERSONALITY **


 Let's discuss my entrepreneur personality, from the results I have obtained on the GET Test, at www.palgrave.com :


 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: left;">To start with, my score in the __"Need for achivement"__ section is 8 out of 12: it shows that I am more ambitious than truly careerist, which is the case in real life. Indeed, I am not "corporate-ambitious" like most people would expect a Grad student in a good Business school to be. I am rather oriented to finding and having an optimum balance between being fulfilled both in my professional and my personal life. I have many plans, projects and ideas in life and do intend to achieve them. I am not surprised that Natacha Blazquez, my schoolmate and work partner, has the same score as me since she doesn't plan to be a corporate girl either !

<span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: left;">However, my score in __"Autonomy and Independance"__ is 3 out of 6. I both like to work in a group and on my own, to be independent and get people's opinion and input, which might explain this average. Again, Natacha and I share the same score for this section: it really reflects the way we both work, at school and in the associations !
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Concerning the __"Creative tendency"__ section, I have a high score of 10 out of 12. I wouldn't have though so because I don't consider myself particularly creative in the first place. However, after reading some of the propositions below the score, it explains what high scores can mean : being a daydreamer, curious, intuitive, enjoying challenges and novelty, which indeed fits me very well !

<span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">The fourth section is about "__Calculated risk taking__". My score is rather high, 9 out of 12. It means that I am able to assess data and information, and evaluate my business capabilities. In other words, being objective and moderate in my judgments.
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> The __"Drive and Determination__" section, for which I got a high 11 out of 12, is very significant ! Indeed, when I set my mind on something, I do everything to make it happen. I usually get what I want, no matter how much time, effort and work I have to put in ! Talk about determination !

<span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Here is a list of **qualities and talents that I think would help me to become a successful entrepreneur**:
 * <span style="background-color: #7000ff; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">TALENT MANAGEMENT **
 * I am very enthousiastic and passionate about the projects I undertake : passion shows in what I do.
 * My resourcefulness never lets me down !
 * I am not scared to toil in order to get what I want
 * I am open-minded, determined, not shy in front of challenges and obstacles
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Being a polyglot never hurts

<span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> Here is what I think may be **less supportive for me to be a successful entrepreneur** :
 * Being sometimes un-at-ease with figures : for instance, I neither am good at, nor like accounting and control management. But as long as I am able to handle basic accounting - which is the case, I think I will be fine with my SME. And in any case, in France, most businesses have to hire an independent accountant at some point. So I'm covered !
 * I'm quite impatient... so I sometimes have to bite my tongue and force myself to remain calm.
 * I'm surely a bit naive and too nice ! :-)

<span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: left;">There is one French website that I like a lot - I started reading it long before starting this course. It is: ****<span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">@http://www.gautier-girard.com/ **
 * <span style="background-color: #7000ff; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">RELEVANT WEBSITES for ENTREPRENEURS **
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">"Tout savoir sur la Création d'Entreprise: Créez votre boîte !"

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">**About** : Gautier Girard is an entrepreneur. He has created his first business in 2002, at age 19. From this first adventure was born a second company, which he founded in 2004. This second business was then sold in 2007. Today, Gautier shares his experience through his website, the articles and electronic books he writes, as well as the conferences he holds.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">
 * Why is this website interesting:** It contains many useful and interesting resources for all entrepreneurs:
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Feature/leading articles on business themes
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Articles on the French, European and global economic situation
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">(Business) books reviews
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Interviews of entrepreneurs and managers
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Tools to help entrepreneurs create, manage and develop their business (eg. network between the members of the site)
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Diary of the entrepreneurs
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Useful links, towards : other entrepreneurs and managers' blogs, resources in web marketing and communication...
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">a very active forum
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">and last, but not least, a small ads section
 * How is this website useful for my business ?** This resource is great to help entrepreneurs start and develop SME like mine. Indeed, in addition to all of the tools proposed, Gautier Girard is very active at answering the questions of business-starters on the forum. There is also a great network of entrepreneurs/members spread throughout France, which is good for local SME like mine in Grenoble. Last, a decent part of this website is dedicated to informing around the new French "auto-entrepreneur" status.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: left;">**Comparision** : There is another website that I also like and which completes Gautier Girard's website very well. It is : **@http://www.manager-go.com/**. This website contains a wide range of tools for managers. Just like the first one, is has resources concerning starting and developing a SME, but in addition to that, it contains useful articles on various fields (Sales, Law, Human Resources, Team Management, Finance, Strategy...).

--> The former website has the advantage of having created a little business community around the forum and the network, and is therefore warmer and more personalized - all the more as there is a name and a face behind it. --> The latter, on the other hand, looks drier = more professional and strict. Bing is the latest search engine by Microsoft. After searching the term "Entrepreneur" in the "Images" section, I scrolled through //some// (!) of the 6 790 000 results to find the one that seemed the most relevant according to me:
 * <span style="background-color: #7000ff; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">PICTURE SEARCH **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">First, there isn't one best way, or even one way, to be an entrepreneur: top degrees VS no studies, youngster initiative VS late-life dream, city-dweller VS country-dweller, on-line business VS market stands, all can lead to booming businesses. In addition, different initiatives fall under the //entrepreneurship// status : a lemonade stand shows entrepreneurship, just like a million-dollar nano-technology invention does. Therefore, the "one way" sign shows what is expected, correct and usual to do. **The two men walking opposite in a very determined way show all of the lead, determination and self-confidence needed to reach one's goal - even if it means going off the tracks to do so**. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> As Randy Crochet, the CEO and co-founder of NAKEDpizza puts it :

<span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: left;">**<span style="background-color: #7000ff; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">HOMEWORK ** <span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> **Trendwatching.com** (link) is one of the world's leading trend firms, which scans the globe for emerging consumer trends. There are many fresh consumer trends proposed for 2010 on this website.
 * <span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">"Entrepreneurs don't give a damn. They just go for it". **
 * A pair of bright pink Converse ! How does it reflect my entrepreneur viewpoint ?**
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Pink means daring and full of energy ! That's what an entrepreneur need to be !
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Comfy shoes, because we will have to step out of our confort zone daily for our entrepreneurial activities - let's not make life any harder :-)
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Sneakers : we shouldn't walk, but run faster than the competitors and arrive prior them to beat them in the market.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">And can you see that they are already in motion ! One step after the other will get us there...
 * <span style="background-color: #7000ff; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">TREND WATCHING: TRENDS for 2010 **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">For my business, which you can take a glance here, I have selected the following trends, as presented in class: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">
 * 1. Trend** : **<span style="color: #d756c8; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Sustrainability, Green wave, Back to basics **
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Using organic eggs
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Using almond flower from fair trade
 * 2. Trend** : **<span style="color: #d756c8; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">"Chef à domicile" **
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">With the macaron-making classes
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">To listen to and answer the customers' wants
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Follows and spread the trend of DIY
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Learn how to make something yourself rather than buy it

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">**3. Trend** :  **<span style="color: #d756c8; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Eco-easy ** <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> //<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">"<span class="wiki_link_new"> And thanks to near-total online transparency of the latest and greatest, those consumers opting to remain in rural areas will be tempted to act (and shop) online like urban consumers, too." // <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">**<span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: left;">To sum up : <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> Green & Yummy + Practical & Smart + Easy + Chic + Exclusive = A great business idea !**
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Minimum packing of the product
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Eco-friendly packaging, thanks to the use of recycled materials
 * 4. Trend :** <span style="color: #d756c8; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">**Urban experience**
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Bringing Parisian chic to Grenoble
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Giving provincials a sense of luxury
 * 5. Trend** : **<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #d756c8; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Premium **
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Unique dual concept : selling the product and teaching how to make it.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">In Grenoble and its area only

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">    <span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">**<span style="background-color: #7000ff; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">ONE IMPRESSIVE TREND **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">The one specific trend that impressed me in @http://trendwatching.com is the **Eco-generosity**. //<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">GENERATION G (G for generosity !) captures the growing importance of **generosity as a leading societal and business mindset**. As consumers are disgusted with greed and its current dire consequences for the economy, the need for more generosity beautifully coincides with the ongoing (and pre-recession) emergence of an online-fueled culture of individuals who share, give, engage, create and collaborate. For many, sharing a passion and consequently receiving recognition has replaced 'taking' as their status symbol of choice. **Businesses should follow this societal and behavioral shift**, as much it may oppose their age-old devotion to me, myself and I. //

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> There are several ways I could implement Eco-generosity in my future bus iness:
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">**Being generous to the customers**: by offering occasional baking-classes, for instance to school kids and in outdoor centers;
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">**Being generous to the environment**: by using organic and fair-trade products as often as possible : they make a difference;
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">**Being generous to the community**: by giving away, rather than throwing, all the unsold food (eg. to "Les restos du Coeur").

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">2 - Next practice, not best practice <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: left;">**<span style="background-color: #7000ff; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">BEST PRACTICE ** <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> Accoring to @Visitask, the Project management training and resources website, Best Practice is a **<span style="color: #7000ff; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">superior method or innovative practice that contributes to the improved performance of an organization **<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">, usually recognized as "best" by other peer organizations. It implies accumulating and applying knowledge about what is working and not working in different situations and contexts, including lessons learned and the continuing process of learning, feedback, reflection and analysis (what works, how and why). Therefore, I personally understand "Best Practice" as being a specific technic that allows a company to be more effective when applying it.
 * What is Best Practice ?** <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">

<span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: left;">-> I could use a baking trick that has proven succesful for bakers at Ladurée or at Pierre Hermé;
 * Practices applied to my Business** <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">

-> I would love to apply the Twitter business idea seen in class to my business: the Crème Brûlée business on a cart, which informs its customers of its daily location through Twitter. How about informing my patrons of when and where I will be selling my products at local markets ?

-> I could also benefit from the crowdsourcing of Twitter: people could suggest new flavors combinations that way ! How exciting !

-> How about macarons following trends, to please the //fashionistas// ? Trendy colors, trendy fillings, trendy patterns...<span style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: yellow none repeat scroll 0% 0%; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">

-> The twist of my busines ? It is an eco-yummy-pleasure-chic one ! It has a positive impact on minds //(happiness, excitment, pleasure of eating macarons)//, the planet //(organic and fair trade ingredients, minimum and recycled packaging)// and the communities //(bringing people together in the classes, closeness to the customer, unique social experience for kids and adults).//

<span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">**Naked Pizza** <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">In class, we have watched the movie on Naked Pizza at []. Through it, the founders talk about creating jobs and promoting healthy eating in post-Katrina New Orleans.

<span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">

<span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Here is how they have **implemented some unique practices** and **showed forward-thinking entrepreneurial characteristics**: <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">NAKEDpizza was started with a **vision** by its two co-founders : "hacking" the $30 billion pizza industry and its proven business model of take-out and delivery by re-skinning it with a deep, **compelling social mission**.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">The pair decided to **re-engineer fast-food**, proving that its pervasive reach can benefit people rather than exploit them with unhealthy food.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">NAKEDpizza **functions** as a "communication company," with pizza as the distribution medium.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Its **mission** is based on evolutionary science, digestive health and an understanding of the microbial world that influences health and well-being.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">NAKEDpizza uses **technology** and the **media** to tell its story, including Twitter and Facebook with the web 2.0. The positive attention it has brought has certainly contributed to its rapid success.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">The **ingredients used are unique and different**, while looking and tasting the same (eg. the dough contains 12 whole grains, nuts and roots and is fortified with prebiotics and probiotics). They have clearly being thought outside the box !
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">There is no success story without the right **connections:** the business angels and millionaires Mark Cuban and Jonathan Kraft of The Kraft Group used their imagination and wallets to help launch NAKEDpizza and transform it into the success it is today.
 * To sum up**: It's clearly their deep-rooted **confidence** and tremendous **passion** that has kept Randy Crochet and Jeff Leach's journey in motion. Their big idea & unique concept was much thought of, and has allowed to initiate a revolution to change the way the world thinks about food. Their business has generated social impact and created jobs, not only in New Orleans, but around the country.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">3 - Prasena Competencies Management tool

<span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: left;">**<span style="background-color: #7000ff; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">CORE COMPETENCIES ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">The five core competencies which I think my team must cover, in order to make my entrepreneurial idea succesful are complementary :

TECHNICAL :

- Accounting - Multimedia skills

BEHAVIORAL :

- Analytical skills - Partnering with technologies - Real-time orientation

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> Some competencies we could also add are the following: attention to details, initiatives and diplomacy.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">4 - Blue Ocean Strategy

<span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: left;">**<span style="background-color: #7000ff; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">BLUE OCEAN STRATEGY OF SEVERAL COMPANIES **



<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">**-** **NetJet:** owning a jet without the inconvenients
 * - BodyShop :** emphasize on fair trade, natural products and environmental-friendly packagings
 * - StarBucks:** confortable place to have social interaction and spend or share quality time
 * - Ebay:** new way of doing business :selling from your own home. Your can both be a buyer and a seller.
 * - Nintendo Wii:** unique sensations proposed when playing video games. Social moments spent when playing a video game, which was more induvidual before.
 * - Ikea:** cheap but guaranteed products. Designer goods on a budget.
 * - Fedex:** safety of sending products ad letters, and great customer service
 * - CNN** : the only 24/7 media with live news.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">More <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: left;">**<span style="background-color: #7000ff; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">MY OWN ANIMOTO VIDEO ! ** <span style="background-color: #7000ff; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> **<span class="wiki_link_ext" style="display: block; text-align: center;">Here is my Animoto video to promote my business, //Les macarons de Pauline// ! **

media type="youtube" key="KyVbdHtlTdA" height="340" width="560" align="center"

<span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: left;">**<span style="background-color: #7000ff; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">MY BUSINESS CANVAS ** [|The Business Model Canvas for Les macarons de Pauline.pdf]