Hi! It's Editor.S with the 21st MNM. I can’t believe we only have three weeks left in this block. Time sure goes fast. We’ve had a public holiday this week and hope you’ve been taking good breaks and adjusting your pace. Even as time goes by swiftly, it's hard to get tasks in order. Thus, we've opened a Slack channel called #Pacemaker for those who need a little push and want continuous feedback. Don't hesitate to join! This week's sessions have been fantastic!

Our session started with a check-in ‘Anomica’ and consideration of how we could conceptualize a value proposition business. What could be a value-added, essential, and high-profit-margin business? At the end of the day, it all starts with 'me', right? For a business to provide products or services, equity, or the founder themselves, 'me' as a product plays an essential role. We realized that not all human needs are strictly Pain Killers – there's room for vitamins that can be optional, or desserts that bring mental happiness and become more valuable as demand outstrips limited supply. Ultimately, it should be something you don't regret doing, something you love, and something others recognize as worthwhile. Let's start creating value-propositioned products from ourselves!

In the afternoon session, we discussed 'Entrepreneurship: Not Gambling But Journey'. This session dispelled misconceptions about entrepreneurship – it's not something you're born with, there's no specific expertise needed for becoming an entrepreneur, and it's certainly not a gamble for short-term gains or vast wealth. More than any trait, result, or profit, the process, of the journey embodies the entrepreneurial spirit. It's about persisting in the face of relentless problems – that's the life of an entrepreneur. One of the significant challenges for entrepreneurs is risk-taking: it's tough to identify the right time, and confirmation bias can easily creep in. There's no surefire success, so it's crucial to tread carefully. If you have a clear direction on why you need to start a business now, who your customers are, and what problem you aim to solve, and always remember that your answer might not be the final one, that's a good start. And let's build strong communities and slowly accumulate street smarts!

On Wednesday, Pastor Eric joined us for the morning session, which was usually led by Heejin Meister, to discuss 'Breaking the cycle of violence.' We covered topics like the definition of violence and the meaning of seeing compassionately and forgiving. We realized that non-violent communication, being empathetic like a giraffe rather than blaming like a jackal, can help create a better world. Let's strive to communicate based on feelings!

In the afternoon, we had the pleasure of hosting Min-Ji Kim, from V-Dream, who's working on building a comprehensive HR system for people with disabilities. Notably, about 88% of disabilities result from acquired diseases or accidents, yet many companies opt to pay penalties rather than employ people with disabilities, despite the government's mandatory employment system for disabled individuals. Meanwhile, there are few job opportunities available for people with disabilities. Min-Ji recognized these problems and contributes significantly to the broad market of disabled individuals, making up 10% of the total population. She demonstrated how identifying a problem that contributes to society, creating sustainable social value, and implementing a win-win solution can indeed change the world. This could be a great model for problem identification - let's go out there, listen to voices from the field, and react sensitively. Let's all aspire to actualize the vision of changing the world.

Looking back at the sessions held this week at METES, we learned a lot. METES continues to offer various sessions to support the growth and development of makers and help with their projects and businesses. We'll keep you updated with METES’s news every week and support your challenges and growth as a maker! Let us know if you need anything!