Forming an Opportunity Belief

Forming an Opportunity Belief

I strongly believe that an opportunity exists in changing the Student recreation and fitness center timings to the usual 5:30am - 12am during the weekends also. During the weekends, the Student Recreation and fitness centers are open from 10am-10pm instead of the usual 5am-12am. Many individuals, just like me, like to train early in the morning, try to maintain a daily schedule and do not like to change their routine often. So I feel that an opportunity exists in changing the weekend schedule to match the weekday schedule.

The prototypical customer is an early morning or late in the night gym user and also the individuals who believe that having the same schedule every day is important to them.

Prototypical customer #1 - Sophomore Student who uses the fitness center regularly at 5:30 am during weekdays.

Q) Do the weekend gym timings bother you?

1. I strongly believe in having a schedule and following it on a daily basis. 

Q) When did you notice the need?

1. I first noticed the need when I joined UF.

Q) How do you currently address the need?

1. Instead of coming to the gym on weekends I go to workout outdoors during the weekends at 5:30 in the morning.

Q) What do you think about the solution I proposed?

1. I really like it and I feel that it would work for me and also others who like to workout in the morning.

Prototypical customer #2 - Graduate Student whom I interviewed on a Sunday.

Q) Do the weekend gym timings bother you?

1. It really bothers me but I just try to change my schedule according to the timings of the gym.

Q) When did you first notice the need?

1. During my second semester. Mainly because the workload was pretty hectic and I felt working out first thing in the morning allows me to be productive throughout the day.

Q) How do you currently address the need?

1. I just try to change my schedule according to the timings of the gym. Or sometimes I just go for a cycle or a run.

Q) What do you think about the solution I proposed?

1. I strongly believe that the solution would work and would also be very beneficial to everyone who likes to workout early. But I feel that it would place a burden on the recsports employees to work so early in the morning even during the weekends.

Prototypical customer #3 - A man in the mid 40s 

Q) Do the weekend gym timings bother you?

1. Not really. I try to take rest days during the weekend.

Q) Do you believe that having the same timings during the weekends just like the weekdays be beneficial?

1. I believe that it would be good for those who like to follow a schedule and also if one can go to the gym early during weekends, he/she can spend more time with his/her family.

Q) Do you personally know anyone who would find this change helpful?

1. Yes. My daughter really likes to workout early in the morning and get on with her day. So it would be really helpful for her.

Q) What do you think about the solution I proposed?

1. It is a simple and easily executable solution. It shouldn’t find much opposition to carry out the change.

Reflection - 

After conducting the above interviews I came to the conclusion that there is definitely an opportunity exists in changing the Student recreation and fitness center timings during the weekends. Currently, many students like to workout early in the morning before their classes start and would like to do the same even during weekends. The most surprising element from the interviews was that I found that many would like to attend the gym early in the morning even during weekends.

Summary - 

From the interviews I conducted, my opportunity belief did not change at all and I strongly believe that an opportunity exists. Also, I strongly believe that entrepreneurs should adapt their opportunities based on customer feedback because at the end of the day, customers are the ones who are going to give you money.