Day 1 of Classroom Learning at the Babson SUD Sprint Program
Today marked the first day of classroom learning with the Babson SUD Sprint course instructors. Heading into the classroom, I wasn’t sure what to expect. As a relatively new entrepreneur, I’ve recently come to realize that I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset, though the identity didn’t fully settle in until this past year. With that in mind, I approached today with an open mind and a strong eagerness to absorb as much information as possible.
The first two days of the program are focused on innovative thinking for SUD solutions.
Today’s agenda included sessions on:
Entrepreneurial Thought and Action
Opportunity Evaluation
Design Thinking
Each seminar was incredibly informative, covering topics like innovation versus prediction thinking, evaluating opportunities from an investment perspective, developing problem statements, addressing rural health needs, and engaging in the design thinking process for our own prototypes.
Here are my two key takeaways from the day:
1. Starting with Why is Critical!
I can’t count how many times I’ve heard this throughout my professional and academic journey, but it didn’t fully resonate with me until today. When Transcendworx was formed, Whitney sent me a book, Start with Why by Simon Sinek, which I highly recommend adding to your must-read list. For those unfamiliar, Sinek explores how successful individuals and organizations inspire action by focusing on the “why” behind their actions, rather than just the “what” or “how.” Essentially, communicating a clear purpose creates a deeper connection with others and drives long-term success and loyalty. Today, I had the opportunity to reflect on my “why,” which is that everyone deserves the chance to engage in recovery, regardless of what that path may look like. Transcendworx and SUDCx represent the “how” and “what,” and I feel energized heading into Day 2 knowing that if I ever feel unsure of the future or get lost in the entrepreneurial jargon as I immerse myself in the innovation space, I can always lean back on my “why” for inspiration.
2. Understanding How Your Customer Base Meets Their Needs is Essential!
In our Opportunity Evaluation seminar, we delved into the concept of competition and its relevance to innovations. Initially, when I was conceptualizing SUDCx, I naturally considered possible competition, and my first thought was companies or individual consultants working in the space. Today, I learned a more effective way to frame competition by asking, “How is the customer currently meeting this need?” In the case of SUDCx, we need to ask ourselves, how are people currently getting connected and informed about innovations or collaboration opportunities in the SUD space? Obviously, there’s LinkedIn, word of mouth, and conferences where people connect. With that in mind, I’m giving myself an action item: to better understand how all of you are staying informed and connected, so Whitney and I can ensure that SUDCx truly meets your needs and that any features we develop are genuinely helpful in accelerating the meaningful work you’re doing. Comment below with how you're currently meeting your need to stay up-to-date on SUD innovations, find collaboration partners, and any other needs regarding SUD innovation.
Final Thoughts
As I wrap up this first day of classroom learning, I’m excited to see what the second day of classroom learning has in store. The insights and strategies shared today have not only deepened my understanding of entrepreneurial thinking but also reinforced the importance of staying connected to our “why” as we continue to build and refine SUDCx. I’m eager to carry these lessons forward as we dive deeper into the program and look forward to sharing more of this journey with you. Thank you for following along, and stay tuned for more reflections from the Babson SUD Sprint Program!
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