Success is a work in Progress!!!

A little over a year ago, I began the Entertainment Business Masters of Science Online Degree program at Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida.  Over the course of the year, life around me did not come to a halt.  My daughter celebrated her 13th birthday and promotion to high school and I continued to persevere through extensive work projects, life occurrences, parenting needs, family gatherings...simply life it self.

This journey has not been a simple one.  The course of work was intense and challenging. Completing one course a month--heavy!  I'm thankful and grateful for those who assisted me, encouraged me, prayed for me and are here to celebrate with me.

I will continue to encourage others through this blog for empowering others in entertainment, in life is my passion.  I will use this post to share the quotes of encouragement that helped me through.

Here's to new seasons, new journeys and success!

"Stop underestimating yourself. Convince yourself that you already have what it takes to heal, overcome and prosper." -Robert Watkins

"Face your deficiencies and acknowledge them; but do not let them master you. Let them teach you patience, sweetness, insight."
– Helen Keller

"Don't confuse your path with your destination. Just because it's stormy now doesn't mean that you aren't headed for sunshine." Unknown

You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.

 

 

Relevance ---- Rick Rubin, Evident He’s Relevant!

Relevance ---- Rick Rubin, Evident He’s Relevant!

In order to remain relevant in this business, it’s important to think out of the box and expand your horizons—your target market my be wider than you’ve ever imagined.  Take the leap, and see what you may get.

This posts focus is music mogul  Rick Rubin has been in the music industry for 28 years.  Although his music was not the most infamous during his senior year of high school, it did not take him long to find his niche in the industry.  

Its clear that having a try at different tenets of an industry con lead to finding ones lane of success.  His career began prior to 1982 when he co-founded Def Jam Records with Russell Simmons; Def American Records followed, along with becoming Columbia Records co-president.

Just a few of his accomplishments:

• 1985 - LL Cool J - Radio
• 1986 - Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill
• 1986 - Run DMC - Raising Hell
• 1987 - The Cult - Electric
• 1990 - Slayer - Seasons in the Abyss
• 1991 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik
• 1994 - Johnny Cash - American Recordings
• 1994 - Tom Petty - Wildflowers
• 1998 - System of a Down - System of a Down
• 2002 - Audioslave - Audioslave
• 2005 - Weezer - Make Believe
• 2005 - Neil Diamond - 12 Songs
• 2006 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium
• 2006 - Dixie Chicks - Taking the Long Way
• 2006 - Johnny Cash - American V

Rubins ability to diversify his target market may have very well contributed to his success.  Most recently he can be found in the 3-minute Samsung half-time commercial that debuted during a game four of the 2013 NBA Finals. A commercial that depicted Rick Rubin and other current music geniuses as producer/artists Timbaland, Swiss Beats, Pharell--promoting Jay-Z's album that will be included with every Samsung device. 

"I don't know what makes someone hip. The goal is artist achievement and the best work we can do with no limitation." - Rick Rubin

http://www.biography.com/people/rick-rubin-507309

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Rubin

http://www.discogs.com/artist/Rick+Rubin

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005391/

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZZg1ACCmnzL6khKlP4vDHCaqtxWhWHYXZ-iUKh2VsQgufFI6x5zTT9JKjCgZ6T6OKOFi-vXAHlDj-qhyphenhyphenItCeY5P-gHljz4BbDLHa1fRYhzjorqp55ermZILbVX4FbtL8AjKAX-ChByw/s1600/Ll_Cool_J-Radio-Frontal-pola.jpg

The Experts Speak: Business Plans

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This is my town

Carl Schramm intrigues entrepreneurs everywhere, for he seems to understand and easily identify them.  Carls primary characteristics of an entrepreneur: they are an outsider, ask the hard questions, unashamed to ask why around the status quo, see things differently, competent, have worked in multiple places and industries.  With this being stated, it is important to reflect on the relationship between an entrepreneur and their business plan. 

As a expert on business plans, Schramm, mentions that as soon as a plan is complete—it is out of date.  It is his suggestion that a business plan be limited to a one pager.  Similar to what is required of a resume, list the important information for investors may or may not move past the first page.  The one-pager should include what the product is , who’s going to purchase it , why they need it and how one would build and deliver it based on what they owners knowledge.

Expert Entrepreneur

Chuck Blakeman, a serial entrepreneur and business mentor, suggests that business plans are a waste of time. Blakeman, like Will Hsu have agreed that  a business plan is not the most important aspect of “planning for business”.  Will suggests that the time should be dedicated toward determining whether or not the target market is truly interested in the product, while Blakeman suggest perfecting as time progresses for we do not know what the future holds.

The aforementioned advise by business plan experts collectively remind us of one thing.  As entrepreneurs we must remain sharp and knowledgeable about the market we plan to serve, writing and perfecting the plan as we grow in business. Business plans are living documents that define the business at any given time, however limited to the time they were written.

Blakeman, Chuck. (n.d.) How: the worst, most asked planning question. Retrieved from http://chuckblakeman.com/2012/8/texts/how-the-worst-most-asked-planning-question

Stein, Andrew. (2012.) Carl Schramm—Straight Talk on Entrepreneurship . Retrieved from http://steinvox.com/blog/carl-schramm-straight-talk-on-entrepreneurship-why-we-need-it/