Hawk Dogs: a business venture

Abstract

Being a student of the business school at SUNY New Paltz has provided many experiences and knowledge which not only has helped develop skills as a student, but also as a entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur, the eye is trained to see a problem or a need as an opportunity. This was experienced through venturing on Main street in New Paltz on a Friday night, where a problem was spotted. The problem was the lack of food options late at night for college students who went to the bars throughout the week. While Main street has a plethora of restaurants, the only place open near by late at night to cater the needs of inebriated college kids was a pizzeria. Convenient Deli was also an option, however, the trek from the bars to the deli was lengthy, and the deli stopped making sandwiches by 2 AM. Thus, the gears began turning to introduce a late night eatery which would be easily accessible and affordable to college students at the bars. While the intention of a business is to be profitable and fill a need, the primary motivation behind building this business was to earn real world experience in terms of being a business owner. For a student, obtaining first hand experience of running a business was far valuable than the monetary reward that comes with the business. The social aspect of running a business was also very rewarding. The connections that were made by meeting different customers every night was immense. Learning about the lives and aspirations of others through conversation provided a sense of empathy which helped in developing skills of rapport. These social interactions were not exclusively limited to students, but also other business owners in New Paltz. Conversing and establishing a connection with other business owners provided knowledge which was inaccessible by only being a student. Overall, the experience of owning and running a business proved to be a rewarding experience.