Growing Your Social Capital (Assignment 20A)

1. The first person I interviewed was a manager at a local medical marijuana dispensary. This person went to school for business and ended up finding this job as a manager.  I am filling the "domain expert" slot with this interview. This person fills this slot because he deals with a form of legal cannabis day. He is in charge of making sure that the store runs smoothly, and is in charge of all of the products that are sold within the store. I found this person by looking up medical marijuana near me online. This store came up and I drove over there. I asked to speak to the manager once I got there and he was happy to talk to me. The exchange we had was very pleasant and laid back. I told him about my business idea and he ran me through what it took to run a cannabis related store. The manager did me a favor by speaking to me because I was technically underage, and not allowed at the store. There was no return expectation from the manager. He understood that I had a business idea, and wanted to get a firsthand look at what it takes to make it happen. This person enhances my ability to exploit an opportunity because he can provide me with details on what it takes to physically open and run a cannabis related store. He knows how much time and money it took to open the store, so I can go to him in the future with any questions that I may have.

2. The second person I interviewed was a manager at a local smoke shop. This person did not go to college and began working at this shop as an employee. Over time, he ascended in the ranks and became the manager. I am filling the "market expert" slot with this interview. This person fills this slot because he deals with smoke related products daily, and has a firm understanding of the type of customers that purchase these products. I found this person by walking into the shop and asking to speak to the manager. I found this shop because I live near it, and see it almost every day. This exchange was a pleasant one. I gave the manager my idea napkin and he told me that my business idea was valid, and could definitely succeed if it was in the right area. He also told me that he believes that I should target younger people, because they are more likely to buy smoke related products. He has a lot of experience dealing with college students and believes that they are the perfect target. All he expected in return was that I came to him with any questions that I had about targeting potential customers. Including this person in my network can enhance an opportunity. The manager said that I can come to him if I ever need to fill my store with smoke related products like grinders and glass pieces.

3. The third person I interviewed was my friends father that actually grows his own cannabis on a plot of land in Colorado. He then supplies cannabis to stores in Colorado. I am filling the "supplier" slot with this interview. This person fills the slot because he sells the product to other firms in the industry. I found this person through my friend. I was aware that he supplied cannabis for a living so i asked for his phone number. I emailed him my elevator pitch, and then spoke to him on the phone. This person did me a favor by listening to my elevator pitch and giving me information about cannabis supplying.  He told me that my idea was good, but that I needed to go to a place that recently legalized recreational use, due to the fact that there is a lot of competition now. The return expectation was that I should call him if I ever need a supplier for my store. Including this person in my network helps my ability to exploit an opportunity. Since this is my friends father, I have a personal connection in the world of supplying cannabis, and hopefully, he can give me a good deal if I ever need a supply of product to fill my store with.

This experience shaped how I will participate in future networking events. I learned that people are always willing to help you out if you treat them with respect and kindness. People are always willing to make an exchange as well, as long as it is mutually beneficial. This networking experience did differ from my networking experiences in the past. It was different because I have never gone out and talked to people that work at stores in my area. I went out into the real world and talked to people that personally have experience in the field that I am trying to get into.