R E P U T A T I O N

"WITH EVERY TRADE WE MAKE, COMMENT WE LEAVE, PERSON WE FLAG, BADGE WE EARN, WE LEAVE A REPUTATION TRAIL"
Rachel Botsman

WE all have a REPUTATION, it's the way the world sees us, it's the label we've earned for the things we've done, and it's the information that society will use to judge us. When you apply to college, the admissions team looks into your reputation as a student and and a person, when you apply for a credit or loan in the bank, they will look into your financial reputation, and even when you apply for a job, the company looks into your professional reputation as they look into your university and experiences you've had. We live in a world where reputation is your YOUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET. 

Today your reputation doesn't travel only through conversation, but is also available online. Technology has opened a portal of our information to be available to anyone who digs deep and looks into it. In the past few months that I've been looking and applying to college I've FINALLY realized the importance of reputation. Beign in the IA for over a year has taught me many things and has changed me as a learner and as a person; therefore, I've COMPLETELY remodel my website in a way that showcases who I am T O D A Y--it was time to make an UPDATE. My website is my personal online portfolio that DEMONSTRATES me as a learner inside and outside of the classroom, and it exhibits my passions and what I like to do outside of the school walls. I am one in pool of millions of applicants--not only for college admissions, but also in the world-- so I realized that my website was the most EFFECTIVE and valuable way to PRESENT myself to the world; therefore, I've crafted my portfolio so that it entails everything that makes me who I am, TOGETHER in one single space. 

The hard thing about reputation is that it takes time to build a good one, however, it is very easy to gain a bad one if we slip and take the wrong turn. Let's be honest, when you are about to hire someone for your company, admit it to your college, or even grant someone a loan you carefully look into the reputation of the person in order to make a decision. WHY? Because you want someone you can trust, someone that is hard working, someone that aligns to your believes. Like Botsman said in her TED Talk, reputation is our new currency because it will give you the key to open great doors. 

Furthermore, I haven't only seen the VALUE of REPUTATION for individuals, but also for businesses. Because we are a new startup, it has taken a while for us to settle and to gain real customers. For the past months we've been working in BLENDZ to not only make the business grow, but same time we've been striving to give BLENDZ an identity and a REPUTATION. We believe that:

A LIVLEY ENVIRONMENT, TOGETHER WITH A FRESH AND HEALTHY SMOOTHIE, IS THE PERFECT WAY TO BOOST ANYONE'S DAY. OUR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND TRANSPARENCY ARE TWO OF OUR GREATEST ASSSTS OF PRIDE. ALL OF OUR PROFIT IS DIRECTLY DONATED TO AN EMERGENCY FUND FOR OUR COMMUNITY. 
from the BLENDZ WEBSITE

Through our company we've been working hard to be transparent with our customers-- everything from the profit margin to how our smoothies are made--because it's the best way to gain trust and build relationships. Additionally, we have also worked towards donating our profit to a meaningful cause, thus becoming an NPO. We had initially thought about making an emergency fun for the community; however, we've decided to change to something different that creates a bigger impact and it's meaningful and personal to us. We have generated some ideas for our new cause, but we are still in the process of figuring our social responsibility. Also, aside from building a socially responsible reputation one of the greatest things we've worked on is BLENDING our community. We want BLENDZ to bring the community together, not only students, teachers, and parents, but also workers and staff. Through our new SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE solution we want to provide workshops were teachers, workers, staff, students, and parents can participate or teach. This will be completely optional and it will allow the workers to get to know the community and also it will allow them and us to benefit from the human capital and talents we have and them to offer.  

Reputation is KEY because it build TRUST, trust amongst individuals and trust amongst the customers and the businesses. This is why we watch films with the highest ratings,  go to five star hotels, and download apps with great reviews. Like I mentioned, one of the biggest CHALLENGES entrepreneurs face is building a great revered reputation. Since they are new to the market, customers haven't yet developed a FULL trust circle with the company, so as time passes by and the reputation of the business begins to develop the company will gain more trust. Right now we are in a very important period in BLENDZ, since we are new anything we do TODAY will scar our FUTURE, in a good or bad bay. REPUTATION is extremely valuable and essential, great reputations get you far not only because you gain trust, but you also inspire people.