Extra Post December: Holiday Feast!

This December marked our second year with fruitbouquets and our first year with 1800Flowers. My mentors and I had to prepare for Christmas week. Before the start of each day, we would assign the deliveries to each driver, since they all had specific cities. Employees were also scheduled to longer shifts and the store was running for longer hours than that of a regular work day.
Here are some orders that are produced and wrapped fresh to be delivered.

Happy Holidays and New Year to our employees, customers and affiliates!

Extra Post November: Fruit-Turkey?

It’s Turkey Time™ Fruit Bouquets by 1800flowers.com

I went to mentorship during Thanksgiving week. We had created an assembly line for this arrangement to have maximum production. While an employee was making the chocolate covered apple for the face, another was cutting the fruit and preparing the fruit to be arranged into the basket.

Both of my mentors were very busy. Fariha was managing the packaging and organization of the fruit baskets while Ibrahim was managing the deliveries and drivers. I was helping both back and forth with packaging and printing the orders.

I'm thankful for my parents for this mentorship opportunity at our family business :)

Blog 10: EQ

Content

1. Review this.  Confirm by stating "I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ."

Essential Question 
Once a topic is chosen, the student will develop a working essential question.  The purpose of the working essential question is to help the student build a strong foundation of research which will allow him or her to create an essential question that encourages depth and rigor in the chosen topic.  An essential question must:

• Provide a framework for studies (It calls for breadth and depth of research, Is not a yes/no question)
• Take a stance (It allows you to argue some point, Cannot be a recitation of facts or a list)
•  Format (It is specific, The wording makes sense)

2.  Review the following EQs and

• Tell us if each meets the rule of three.
• Tell why they do or don't.

 a.  What is the most important factor in healthy weight loss?
Provides a framework for studies, but the studies would be very limited. It would not bring an in depth answer and has no argument or stance.

 b.  What is most important to securing a conviction in a criminal investigation?
Provides a framework for studies, but the studies would be very limited. It would not bring an in depth answer and has no argument or stance.

 c.  What is most important in creating a hairstyle that best satisfies a customer?
Provides a framework for studies, but the studies would be very limited. It would not bring an in depth answer. Its better that the EQ says "best satisfies".

 d.  How can an anesthesiologist best treat chronic pain?
Provides a framework for studies, but the studies would be very limited. It would not bring an in depth answer and has no argument or stance.

3.  Based on your review of the rule of 3 and your experience with assessing four EQs, please write another draft EQ for your senior project.  The senior team will be meeting with students shortly for EQ revision and approval; you are expected to bring your research notebook to that meeting with your EQ draft written inside in pencil.

What is the best way an owner-manager can help grow a small business such as a fruit and flower shop?

Lesson 1 Reflection

Content:

1. Positive Statement

What are you most proud of in your Lesson 1 Presentation and why?

I was organized with my speech, I addressed everything I wrote on the Final Lesson Plan.

2. Questions to Consider
       a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 1 Presentation (self-assessment)?

       AE       P          AP       CR       NC

       b.     Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 1 component contract.

I made time (8:33). I spoke of everything on my lesson plan in an organized matter. I added aspects of my mentorship and references from my 3 sources (including one reference in the intro). I had all the P considerations. My rough and final drafts were turned in on time. I was prepared on the stage with all my materials, I had an interactive intro where people raised their hands. I used my poster as a prop (which I asked Ortega if it was a prop and she said yes). My poster had my working EQ on it with paintings of roses to make the relation of our stores and the question. I removed my poster and cleaned the stage when it was time for the next presenter. I am writing this reflection blog on time. My voice was loud and I made eye contact. I made references to my mentorship and mentor. I showed application of my research with the use of my words. I was also wearing professional attire.

3. What worked for you in your Lesson 1?

The working EQ poster worked.

4.  (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 1?

I would bring an extra prop, but then I would fear the time in talking about the prop.

Extra Post October: Investment Opportunity

October News:

A producer called our manager a few days ago. She told our manager that an actor wants Sweet Fruit Arrangements to provide an arrangement for free to give the actor's girlfriend.

She presented this opportunity as a chance to boost our publicity. The actor would post a picture of our arrangement on his twitter account which has 310,200 followers.

I was present when the manager told the producer that she would contact her with a reply. Since I have given the opportunity to help make decisions and work along side the manager. I did some research on if this would be a good investment.

The actor is not famous and even though he has 310,200 followers, not many people retweet or favorite his posts. I told the owner (my mentor) and he contacted the producer to decline her offer.

After all we have been noticed by many, including Snookie. We expect better opportunities than this in the future.

Blog 8: Research and Working EQ

1. Working EQ:   What is the best way an owner-manager can help grow a small business such as a fruit and flower shop?
2. What is a possible answer to your working EQ? Please write the answer in thesis format. 

• There needs to be communication between both the flower and the fruit shops.
• There has to be a better relationship with florists interface.

3. What is the most important source you have used that has helped you come up with an answer to your working EQ? 
 The Future of Business: The Essentials

4. Who is your mentor, or where are you doing mentorship, and how does what you are doing relate to your working EQ?
 My mentor is Ibrahim Baggia. He is the owner and CEO of Sweet Fruit Arrangements Incorporated. I have been working with my mentor in management for a long time. Sometimes, he lets me take over some of his duties. Since I am working hands-on as an intern owner-manager, I feel it has everything to do with my EQ.
 

Blog 7: Independent Component 1 Approval

1. Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

I have been working with my mentor in management for a long time. Sometimes, he lets me take over some of his duties. For my independent components I want to divide half of my management time towards Sweet Fruit Arrangements and the other half towards Sweet Flower Arrangements. My mentor will allow me to work on management duties and create my own strategy towards owner-managing these two shops. For the first 30 hours I will work for Sweet Flower Arrangements.

 

2. Describe how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

I will have hours and duties I did during those hours. I will create a journal with many different things: ways of improving organizational skills, implementing professional tactics that I have read through my articles, and brainstorming new ways to improve and help the shops grow.

3. Explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.

By having management duties, I will experience first-hand what its like to be an owner-manager. By creating a journal I will reflect on how I could improve and learn more about what I am doing right or wrong. This will help me in the future when I will be given more responsibilities for this family-business.

4. Update your senior project hours log.

Done.