Reading Reflection No. 2 - Assignment 21A

For the second reading assignment I read Makers, by Chris Anderson and it was quite an interesting read. I was pleasantly surprised about how much it kept my attention. I did not realize how far entrepreneurship had come in just a matter of decades.

1) What was the general theme or argument of the book?

If I had to find one theme for the entire book it would probably be this- We are all “Makers,” and the advancements in technology, more specifically the Internet, has allowed people to go from merely inventors in the garage to entrepreneurs. For so many generations before the creation of the Web, those who had ideas had to tinker with them, physically build them, and then take them to a manufacturer who they hoped would like their products enough (and see the same use for it as they did) to mass produce them for the rest of the world. However, since the invention of the internet, there are so many ways to get your idea out in the open- whether it be sharing a picture of the finished product on Facebook, or selling it yourself on Etsy.

2) How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003?

This book gave me a new outlook on the term “entrepreneur.” I did not realize how much previous generations who had great ideas to solve problems they faced in their day to day lives had to rely on manufacturing companies and patents in order for their ideas to become a reality. I think that after reading Makers I will look at the elements of ENT 3003 with a new appreciation for the innovative ways that are being developed every day to help make a person’s dream a reality.

3) If you had to design an exercise for this class, based on the book you read, what would that exercise involve?

According to Anderson, the “Third Industrial Revolution” is based on digital manufacturing. This has only become possible with the invention of the Web, and many generations before us were only considered inventors because of this. If I were to design an exercise for the class to complete, I would ask students to find someone they know who was one of these “inventors;” someone who had an idea to solve a problem that was evident around them, but they did not pursue it because they knew they would never be able to come up with the resources or the connection with a manufacturer to develop their product or service.

After finding such a person, the student would be required to interview them, asking them what their idea was and what problem it solved. They would ask their subject what factors kept them from seriously developing their products, and what they would have done if they lived in the current time, when ideas are able to be developed easier than back then.

4) What was your biggest surprise or 'aha' moment when reading the book? In other words, what did you learn that differed most from your expectations?

Before reading Makers, I was not really aware about the content of the book. I figured it had something to do with entrepreneurship (duh), but was pleasantly surprised about how much it kept my attention. The author, Chris Anderson, had a personal connection to an inventor who grew up at the wrong time, not having the same opportunities to easily develop his invention as we do nowadays. He also is the CEO of 3D Robotics, which he helped to develop. All that to say, the author knew what he was talking about.

Beyond that though, the “aha” moment came for me in chapter five, when Anderson discusses how people no longer want products that are mass manufactured, but instead prefer unique products or services that suit their personal needs specifically. This made me think- it is such a true concept in today’s world. We all want to be different, and we want to have products that are made with us in mind. This gives me insight into the future of the entrepreneurship community, and where I need to be looking ahead to.