(1) Positive Statement

What are you most proud of in your Block Presentation and/or your senior project? Why?
I am most proud that I made time, and I engaged my class with my activity. I felt that many were interested because they participated and some volunteered to give what they felt about the activity. Also because passing showed that in the 9 months leading up to this I want just sitting around but doing what was asked by me. 


(2) Questions to Consider

a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your Block Presentation (self-assessment)?

AE       P          AP       CR       NC
I give myself a P-

b.     What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project (self-assessment)?

AE       P          AP       CR       NC
I would give myself an Ap+

(3) What worked for you in your senior project?
The one thing that worked for me is finding mentorship. There are many landscapers in California hundreds actually. So mentorship was one thing that worked. 

(4) (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would have you done differently to improve your senior project if you could go back in time?
I would have taken my 30 min presentation a little more serious and focused more on making my first answer as solid as possible. 

(5) Finding Value

How has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors?   Be specific and use examples.
It has helped me realize that no matter what profession you chose to pursue, choosing a profession you love will make everything so much easier. It also helped me realize to be an expert in your profession researching and studing it is essential. Just like researching and studying your topic was essential in making this project.

Mentorship

    Literal

·     Log of specific hours with a total and a description of your duties updated on the right hand side of your blog

• https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Amqk500aJNz9dF96UTVla2FIbEdOUEplSGJfa0N6RUE&usp=drive_web#gid=0
• Rosalio Jimenez, Rosalios landscaping service

    Interpretive

     What is the most important thing you gained from this experience? Why?

• The most important thing I gained from this experience was that in any business its hard to get going and make profits. Money is an important issue that should be covered kept good track of. Also being an expert in your field takes years of experience and cannot be covered in one day.    

   Applied

     How has what you’ve done helped you to answer your EQ?  Please explain.

• What I have done really has helped me because I am working in a landscaping environment. Every hour of mentorship I attend the more I learn. My mentor has over 15years experience and teaches me what I need to know in order to answer my EQ by putting me in situations. For example he has me quote houses and then tells me the real cost to show me how important it is to quote a house. Getting a price wrong can make you lose profit. Part of my EQ involves profit so mentorship does help so much in answering my EQ. 

Exit Interview

Content:

(1) What is your essential question and answers?  What is your best answer and why?

What is most important in managing a profitable landscape business? My best answer is Maintaining cost and designing cost effeciant landscapes. This is my best answer because it is my first answer. I have quite a bit of research to back it up. Also because in a business keeping track of your cost is key to a successful business. 

(2) What process did you take to arrive at this answer?

To arive at this answer all I did was go over and look at all my answers and choose which one had the most research and which one was most solid in providing evidence for. 

(3) What problems did you face?  How did you resolve them?

The only problems i faced was finding credible research and enough of it. With the help of Ms.Pittman I used advanced google search and the calpoly data base. The calpoly data base opened up a whole other door where I can find research. 

(4) What are the two most significant sources you used to answer your essential question and why?

My mentor and my third interview interviewee. They are my two most sigificant sources because combined theynhave over 60 years experience and have all the knowledge that is need to know to run a successful business since they themselves have successful businesses. 

independent component 2

Content:  

LITERAL
(a) I, Juan rizo, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.
(b)I worked with Rosalios Gardening company- (909)-(538)-(6580)
(c)https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Amqk500aJNz9dGZnd1BEYlNlODdvWmNiUzRwVTR5aXc&usp=sharing#gid=0
(d)For the majority of this component I worked  during spring break with Rosalios landscaping. I worked about 8-9 hours each day depending on the amount of work that was needed. We worked like any other day, started in the morning at 7:30 and went on to our clients houses to work on the jibs they wanted us to do. 
This helps with Eq because it helps me answer my questions. As we arrive to our clients houses I guess what the cost will be and my mentor will tell me what it is I need to do to make an accurate estimation. Then at the end hetells me the real cost and the mistakes I did to get my estimation. 

These pictures show the finished job, I wasn't able to take a before picture. Basically before the job the space that is filled with rocks was just dirt. 

Third answer

EQ
What is most important in managing a profitable landscape design business?

Answer #3:  designing landscapes relevant to the area in which the house is located is most important in managing a profitable landscape business.

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Conclusion:

Fourth Interview Questions

20 questions:

1.) what are some factors that go into quoting a house?

2.)what interest you when trying to acquire a new client?

3.)How accurate are your estimations?

4.)What happens when your estimation on a house is totally wrong?

5.)If a client is unhappy with your estimation what do you do?

6.)how much of a factor does the quality of a house play in estimating the cost?

7.)Is there a price that is to little for you to even work for?

8.)What is the hardest part of estimating a house landscape cost?

9.) When estimating do you encourage second opinions by other businesses to your client?

10.)Does an employee ever estimate the cost of a house? why?

11.)If the client already has another estimation would you try to equal that price?

12.)How much does the estimation differ between different businesses?

13.)If the house has two owners and one does not like the quote of the house what is done?

14.)In terms of the estimation is the estimation based weekly or monthly?

15.) How much of your money is spent on resources?

16.)what is the most profitable way to run a landscaping business?

17.)what is most important in making profit in this business?

18.)what do you do when profit is not made?

19.)If an estimation of a house in largely underestimated what is done? 

20.) How do profit and estimating a house affect business? 

Advisory Meeting #2

Content:

Just like you did for answer 1 and the objectives for Purther's textbook work for answer 2 post:

EQ:What is most important in managing a profitable landscape business?

Answer #2 (Write in a complete sentence like a thesis statement)*

The experience and knowledge of knowing how to give accurate estimations. 

3 details to support the answer (a detail is a fact and an example)

Detail #1- Experience comes with knowing the field you are working, the more experience you have in something, the more likely you are skilled in the field. The same goes with giving prices and estimations for a house. Giving estimations is a learning experience you will not go out one day and be a master at estimations because there are to many variables to deal with. For example time, labor, resources used are all hard to calculate, also a lot of the times you will not know the full price of what you wasted until the job is over. 

Detail#2- In order to know how to give accurate estimations you need someone to teach you. A teacher can be someone who knows what they are talking about and knowledgeable in estimation. Learning how to give accurate estimations will help your company grow and give the most amount of profits. By giving accurate and efficient prices the margin for profit will grow. 

Detail#3-Giving accurate and fast estimations will make you look professional, The client will also be more likely to stick with the price you gave them if you do not constantly change your estimation. The estimation will seem more sure and will more likely be payed by the client. 

The research source (s) to support your details and answer

"Calculating Profit Margins." Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2014. http://www.business.qld.gov.au/business/running/making-and-managing-money/making-your-business-more-profitable/calculating-profit-margins

Concluding Sentence

One thing that is most important in running a profitable landscape business is knowing and correctly estimating a possible clients house. By doing this it will effectively raise profits for a landscape business. 

Blog 15: Independent Component 2 Approval

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.
-For independent component 2 I plan to work with my mentor. I plan to study his work habits and have him teach me the rules to making money and what is  good when managing a business. I can do all 30 hours in one week and I plan on doing that during spring beak. I will use thee hours to learn and answers my Eq ans answer #2. 

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.
I can easly have him sign off the days i worked and i can also take pictures to track when i have don my hours. Also, I can provide contact information which can reach my mentor and he can provide proof of what I did.

3.  And explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.
My mentor has over 80 clients with each of them having a different landscape. I can learn how to give estimates on different types of houses just by asking my mentor why it is the cost of some houses are more than others. Estimates and right prices are what make profit and that is a big pat in my answer and Eq.

Blog 14: Independent Component 1

Content:  

• LITERAL
  (a) I, Juan Rizo, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.
• (b) My source was my Mentor, Rosalio Jimenez. I attain mostly all my knowledge of my topic  from him.
  (c)  Here is the link,

 https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Amqk500aJNz9dGFLOUZQN3ROMUZzczZsbndFQ1JyWGc&usp=sharing

• (d) My 30 hours consisted of working and helping my mentor complete jobs that need to be completed. He also taught me the value of work and what it takes to evaluate and appraise a job. 
• INTERPRETIVE 
  On a common day we would go around to about 20 houses doing busy work maintaing and grooming landscapes. On weekends we would do bigger jobs such as planting and making landscapes, after all the hours of work and labor my mentor would test me and have me evalute the work. Once I gave an estimate he told me what I did wrong in my estimation and then told me the right price. 
• APPLIED
  How did the component help you understand the foundation of your topic better?  Please include specific examples to illustrate how it helped.                   During  my 30 hours we did a couple of jobs that lasted more than 5 hours. On one of those jobs I  just observed my mentor manage the job. I watched him direct and assign his employees to do specific jobs. By obserbing my mentor i learbed the basics on what it takes to manage a business.
• Also on another job I actually did hands on work and helped with the job. I worked over 5 hours in the hot sun doing heavy work, After the job was finished my mentor asked me what I thought the cost of the job should be according to what I did. After I guessed he told me how close I was and then taught me the different variables that go into quoting a job. 

Blog 13: lesson 2 reflection

1. Positive Statement
I enjoyed watching my peers present,since they put so much hard work into their assignment. 

What are you most proud of in your Lesson 2 Presentation and why?
I am most proud of that I made time and I finished my presentation standing because I put a lot of hard work into researching and finishing my presentation on time. 
I spent hours finding research and taking notes to complete my presentation to the best of my ability.
2. Questions to Consider
       a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 2 Presentation (self-assessment)?
I would give myself an AP.

       AE       P          AP       CR       NC

       b.     Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 2 component contract.
I truly believe that I deserve an AP. According to the contact to qualify for an AP the grader has to be concerned with at least one item in the box and I personally believe I did mess up on a few items which is why I think I deserve an AP.

3. What worked for you in your Lesson 2?
One thing that worked was the gathering of research, which helped me learn more in depth on what my topic was about.

4.  (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 2?
Prepare a little more and talk more about how I can answer my EQ. Also teach my audience a little more in how to do my activity.

5. Finding Value
What do you think your answer #2 is going to be?  
Properly evaluating your work is most important when managing a profitable landscape business.

Blog 12: Third Interview Questions

Content:
1.) What is the most profitable way to run a landscaping business?
2.) How do you price your work?
3.) What is profitable work?
4.) How do you price your time in comparison to labor?
5.) What salary would you pay an employee of yours?
6.) If a job is done and it's not yielding any profits what do you do?
7.) What do you do when a client is not good with the prices you are estimating?
8.) Does the look of your business affect profit?
9.) If a job is not liked by the client do you drop your prices?
10.) How much of your money is spent on resources?

Blog 11: Mentorship 10 Hours

1.   Where are you doing your mentorship?
-Rosalios Landscaping/Gardening services
2.   Who is your contact?
-Rosalio Jimenez
3.   How many total hours have you done (total hours should be reflected in your mentorship log located on the right hand side of your blog like your WB)?   
-I have done a total of ninety-seven hours of mentor-ship with Rosalio Jimenez.
4.   Summarize the 10 hours of service you did.
-The ten hours of mentor-ship I did where done in a matter of two days. In those two days I worked with my mentor Rosalio. We started early from 9 am-6 pm, in those nine hours of work we did a number of things, one being planting shrubs, flowers and trees. For a good part of the day we also just maintained and kept up with the aesthetics of various clients houses.What we did depended on the client, we also installed sprinklers to regulate and more efficiently water lawns and plants. The next day we repeated the process. By the end of the two days I had done a total of 17 hours.

Senior Project, The Holiday

Content:

1.  It is important to consistently work on your senior project, whether it is break or we are in school.  What did you over the break with your senior project?
-Over the break I consistently worked with my mentor and actively participated in hands on jobs such as planting, designing, and maintaining houses for clients. I did about 40 hours of mentor ship which helped me understand my topic tremendously. I took notes on what  you need to do to run a  profitable business and what kinds of prices you need to charge by listening and talking with my mentor. I asked question whenever I didn't understand and listened whenever he was talking with a client.

2.  What was the most important thing you learned from what you did and why?  What was the source of what you learned?
-The most important thing I learned was knowing what prices to charge when clients asked us to do a job. Prices depend on labor and the amount of resources being used.
-My source of this information is my mentor, Rosalio Jimenez. He has over 15 years of experience and runs a profitable business.

3.  If you were going to do a 10 question interview on questions related to answers of your EQ, who would you talk to and why?
-I would talk to Rosalio Jimenez, he would be a perfect interviewee because he has years of experience in landscaping and also runs a profitable business in landscaping. He knows the whole spectrum on what it takes to run a profitable business in landscaping. Rosalio has had years of experience and has learned from his mistakes. His mistakes are what makes his business so profitable and  successful. His experience is why I would choose him for an interview.

Landscaping (FOOD)

     As I went on with mentor-ship this thanksgiving break, I went onto find out my mentor professionally landscapes a couple El Pollo locos. Yes the restaurant, it was an old formal client he had and he really liked my mentors work so he went on to hire him at his new El Pollo loco locations. I went on to ask him, what is key when landscaping a restaurant compared to a house? He responded saying, "When you landscape a restaurant that is located near a major street you have to make the landscape appealing to everyone not  just a single home owner like at a house". When you make it appealing to everyone it makes costumers feel comfortable. A restaurant wants a customer to return so if I do my job correctly and as well as the employees of the store, costumers should return meaning I did a good job.

     So remember this the next time you go eat, is it really the food that makes you want to go back to a restaurant late nights or is it the landscaping? That was totally a joke, but really do keep in mind what a landscape does to make a restaurant more appealing. 

Blog 9: EQ

Content:
1.) I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ.

2.) a. What is the most important factor in healthy weight loss?
Yes, I do think that this is an EQ that follows the rule of three for writing an EQ because it provides a frame work and allows for research but also it is not a yes or no question. Also it allows you to argue some points and the wording is great I clearly understand the it and what it is calling for.
 b.  What is most important to securing a conviction in a criminal investigation?
No, I do not think this is a good EQ because the wording might be difficult for some to read and it does not easily flow. Also the EQ really does not allow for argument since there are laws that state when you can convict someone, therefore limiting argument. Overall I feel like the EQ can be better.
 c.  What is most important in creating a hairstyle that best satisfies a customer?
Yes, this is a good EQ because it clearly states what is being argued and what is being focused on. Also because it allows you to argue a point and does not allow for recitation of facts. It also makes sense and the wording is good. 
 d.  How can an Anesthesiologist best treat chronic pain?
No, I believe that this is not a well stated EQ because it does not word who is being treated, therefore meaning treating pets or etc...It really does not allow for arguments and its flow is not good. The EQ can be stated in a different way and an be improved to allow for argument and better flow. I felt based on the rule of three that it was not a good EQ. 
 
3.  Based on the rule of three I came with, "What is most important in creating a more aesthetically pleasing suburb landscape ".  

October post

During the month of October my mentorship schedule changes due to the season change. As the season changes so does the type of work  I do with my mentor. During summer the theme are bright red or orange flowers that bloom every so often. In fall/winter the type of plants that we change to are plants that can handle frost and cold temperatures. An example of a plant that can handle frost and cold temperatures and still look beautiful is the  leatherleaf mahonia... 

Many homeowner want their landscapes to look as natural as possible therefor that's why they hire landscapers to match the landscape to that of a winter or summer setting. 

As a mentor I enjoy working in the cooler temperatures of October because it is easier and less stressful but also because I enjoy the scenery of some houses. My mentor has houses that are located in Glendora, CA and the area is so beautiful that I often become distracted just staring at the Landscape. It is a real joy to work in the fall season. 

Blog 8: Research and Working EQ

1.  What is your working EQ?

• What is most important in creating a (business/home) landscape design.

2.  What is a possible answer to your working EQ? 

• Planning and analyzing your landscape before going on with what you have in mind. Planning and analyzing allows for a clear cut plan that you are sure of and confident to apply. 
• Also pick the right kinds of plants that are adapted to the climate you are living in. Most importantly capture what your clients wants and is asking you to do. 

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

• http://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Watershed/growgreen/landscaping.pdf
• The source above has helped me tremendously even  though it is very simple and is based on one area of Texas. With that,  It has showed me what you have to do when living in different climates and what you can do to make your house more aesthetically pleasing. Little details that wouldn't cross the mind when planning are present in this article, like Temperature, Season, Lighting exposure etc...It is a very good article.

4. Who is your mentor, or where are you volunteering, and how does what you are doing relate to your working EQ?

• Rosalio Jimenez is my mentor, he relates to my topic in that he owns his own business in Landscaping/ Gardening. He is a professional and teaches me all I need to know when I am on the job helping him out. He designs and plans landscapes for customer, while planning he gives me pointers which helps me answer my EQ. Also he teahes me how to install irrigation systems which a huge subtopic in landscaping.  

Independent Component 1 Approval

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

• For my 30 hours I plan to actually work to getting a feeling of how my topic really is. Ill will be helping my mentor in his business of landscaping. I will will be doing a number of things to help me explore more of my  topic such as planning and designing houses and properties. Also ill will be  fixing and installing water efficient  irrigation systems to plant plants that are need to meet expectations of customers. Many landscapers/Gardeners also maintain landscapes for residential properties and I will be doing so to see how it is to keep a landscape in good condition. 

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

• To show how I meet the 30 hours that are expected I will take photos, such as before and after shots, I will record with video and use log files to show what jobs we did. Hopefully that is enough but if it is not I can prove myself by using my mentor as a primary source of evidence that I did do my hours. 

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

• By doing this I will prove my skills and show that I am fully equipped to move on in this profession. Working hands on will teach me the skills necessary to be a professional in this field and skills to be a good employee. It will also teach me the importance of studying and knowing different types of plants and how they live best in certain environments. Other important facts are that I will learn how it is to work in a small business and how to manage one as an employer, and I will learn how to advertise my work to attain clients to grow my business. 

4. Link is on side bar

landscaping and design

So as I researched I found there to be more articles and books on Landscape design then I thought. Whole city's and counties spend millions to Landscapers who design and construct their ideas. The County of Los Angeles had a huge plan back in 2004 which would make-over the rivers of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Public Works who was incharge of this whole renevation called it the "LOSANGELES RIVERMASTER PLAN". Here is an Artile Pdf that shows more details,  http://ladpw.org/wmd/watershed/LA/LAR_planting_guidelines_webversion.pdf

When I work with my Mentor one of the most essential and important rules in designing and maintaining Properties is working in unison with your customer. As long as your customer is happy your job is good. Also when you design you have to make sure the plants that are used are water efficient and used to the climate that the property is in and last but not least make sure that you yourself are pleased with your work. Here are some pictures of well designed houses and properties. Here is the article on well irrigated and water friendly landscaping, http://www.water.ca.gov/wateruseefficiency/docs/water_efficient_landscapes.pdf

 

Second Interview Questions

Content: 
The purpose of the second interview is justify your mentor as an expert in the field.  Thus, you will be asking at least 5 questions about their background and/or the background of the organization or company where they work.

1.  Who is your mentor and where do they work?
My Mentor is Rosalio Jimenez and he works for his own Business called "Rosalios Gardening".

2.  What five questions will ask them about their background?

• How long have you been working in this profession and where do you see your self heading to?
• How do you prepare your self for a long days work?
• On a daily basis how much of your money or effort goes to keeping your machines maintained?
• What other subjects or skills have to be learned to do this job?
• What happens when a costumer does not like their work but you put a lot of resources into that job?