crystalnicoleh-blog

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Me after completing my final assignments this week!

NCS (2017) MY NCS GRADUATION - NCS GRAD, ABBIE. NCS Yes. Retrieved from http://www.ncsyes.co.uk/themix/my-ncs-graduation-ncs-grad-abbie

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Business Model Presentation and Thesis Mastery Journal

Business Model Presentation and Thesis Mastery Journal

Month twelve is officially here. It has been a stimulating journey throughout the IEMS program. One of my initial goals for this final course was to complete my business model having full confidence and no reservations or hesitancies. Knowing what I know now, I can recognize immediately my naiveté with that statement. My business model is definitely complete, however I’ve come to learn that there will always be doubt throughout entrepreneurship. You just have to learn how to push through it. Due to the months of research and iterative validation, I have gained much more confidence with my business model than I believe I initially expected.

I also wanted to feel as though I knew my business venture inside and out; I wanted to be able to communicate the presentation effectively. For the most part, I am about 80% there. There is a lot more work that needs to be done that just couldn’t fit within the 12 month program. A few of the business activities I need to revisit and refine to ensure Outreach Delivery’s success, but with all of the hard work that has already been executed, I feel confident that I will communicate my presentation effectively. The coursework for this month has also helped me to prepare and take into consideration the technical matters of presenting such as time and tone.

An important goal that I’ve recently wrapped up was to have a concrete plan for startup costs so launch of business is not delayed. I have narrowed down all the necessary startup costs, and I have also created a plan of action to secure those funds through freelance projects within the year.

Launching a campaign in a timely manner with respect to official business launch was another goal on the list, but I’ll be doing much more than just a single campaign. I will be blogging, volunteering, attending events, and performing interviews all as a point to jumpstart my ventures brand awareness and our community relations trust and credibility.

I’m ready to turn this vision into the real deal. I’ve worked so hard to get to this point, so now it’s time to work like I’ve never worked before. This business venture will expose me to so many fulfilling opportunities. It’s going to change my life. Good times as well as hard times are coming, but I’m ready for the ride.

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(2012) The Modern Small Business Owner (Business Infographics). Design Infographics. Retrieved from http://www.designinfographics.com/business-infographics/the-modern-small-business-owner

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Happy New Year!!!! This has been an amazing past year. Graduation is nearing and I'm ready to take the vast knowledge I've acquired through the IEMS program and begin a challenging journey toward a successful future. 

(2018) 20 Fantastic Happy New Year Animated Gifs. Best Animations. Retrieved from http://bestanimations.com/Holidays/NewYear/NewYear.html

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Business Model Implementation and Management Mastery Journal

In my mastery timeline, I wanted to have gained adequate knowledge to confidently handle my day to day operations. During this month, I was able to explore the functions of management. Learning how to effectively plan, organize, staff, direct, and control business operations will give me the tools required to run my company as efficiently as possible. Better decision making, achievement of goals, and increased profits are all potential benefits for properly executing the functions of management.

Developing metrics gave me the blueprint to effectively monitor and measure the businesses essential operations that matter. These tools for improvement are designed to help me take the business to the next level. Metrics provide insight on the when, where, who, why, and how of  internal and external functions. When broken down into tiers, metrics can be a great resource for specifically analyzing product/service effectiveness, process efficiency, organizational culture and management, and future strategic planning.

Week one’s leadership traits research also aided in providing awareness for properly identifying and employing productive management styles that are likely to run the business more efficiently. The knowledge gained from this assignment will help me employ adaptive management strategies for specific situations.

 Another goal for this month was to learn about necessary tasks leading up to the official launch. The final week, an explainer video and a presentation slide deck for the business venture was assigned to prepare me for the final presentation in month 12. This outline allows me to examine the venture as is to see if there are any flaws or inconsistencies before pitching the venture to staff members and potential customers. I’m positive there are some areas that I will have to revisit after graduation to improve the venture’s sustainability, so I will use the explainer video and slide deck to touch up areas of weaknesses and then proceed to launch the business in real time once these things have been addressed.

Lastly, I wanted to be able to fully comprehend the minimum number of employees roles essential for the flow of business. One of the discussion assignments this months required that I research the best options for the venture- contractor or employee. This task proved very beneficial in allowing me to deeply understand the differences between the two and how each of them may affect my business. After completing the assignment, I had a better comprehension of how I can transition from contracting workers to hiring employees, the potential cost associated with both, and the appropriate method of managing the two.

The accumulation of this new information will support my business venture greatly. The more bits and pieces I absorb will make me a more productive and efficient entrepreneur.

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[Entrepreneur. (4 Aug 2017). The Difference Between Employees and Sub-Contractors. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGGzRpjJYNg

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Binh, N. (2016) The Difference Between Boss and Leader- Higher Perspective. Recruitment. Retrieved from https://vnrecruitment.wordpress.com/the-difference-between-boss-and-leader-higher-perspective/

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Innovative Workplace Environment Mastery Journal

IWE Mastery Journal

This is byfar one of my most favorite courses in the IEMS program. I have learned so much regarding the future of the workplace and how design can directly and indirectly affect employees. One of my initial goals in month one was to discover how to use interior design techniques for an innovative workspace. Although I did not gain any specific interior design training, I absolutely learned so much more about the power of creativity within the workplace and how it can really enhance innovation among employees.

Gaining an understanding of the physical ambiance appeal with employees was a concept that I looked forward to tackling. After performing the necessary research, I became aware that current failures of traditional workplace strategies were not conducive to the new technology driven era. Knowledge workers are in need of a progressive workspace that places more attention and focus on their personal well-being and growth.

The physical workplace design has enourmous influence on the workers within that particular environment. Everything from acoustics to lighthing to amenities matter. What we see, feel, and hear in the workplace all matter. Space planning is a key factor in the feel of a workspace-especially when it comes to privacy. Exposure to a wide variety of elements such as trees, bright colors, visible skylines, or glass ceilings for natural lighting can all uplift the energy of an environment.

In order to create an attractive “feel good” aesthetic workplace for my business venture (goal #3), I am looking to gain inspiration from Google- voted one of the best workplaces in 2017. They have unique hallways designed with libraries and pacman machines. Their offices are also equipped with activty and community spaces, game rooms, and personal phone rooms for privacy. I learned that I need to invest in perks and benefits to increase and sustain productivity of my employees. Things like allowing employees to have more choice, flexibility, and control over when, where, and how they work are key elements to a happy workplace. I personally will allow my employees the flexibilty to personalize their individual workspaces to enhance their inspiration while at work.

Perhaps the best lesson that I am taking away from this course is to develop an innovative ecosystem through workplace design that incorporates the core values and vision of the brand-to create the ultimate organizational culture that empowers its people from the inside out. 

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[HESMotivation]. (29 Oct 2017). The MOST MOTIVATIONAL TALK EVER - Gary Vaynerchuk | WORK ETHIC |. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYo0PAu86XI

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[CNBC International]. (31 Aug 2017). Is coworking really the future? | CNBC Explains. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYlwYjRPbPo

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Guey, L and Giang, V.  (2013). 15 Office Spaces That Push The Boundaries Of Innovation. Business Insider. Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-innovative-workspaces-2013-7?op=1/#e-new-office-for-iprospect-in-fort-wort-texas-includes-the-brain-room-a-curve-shaped-conference-room-that-is-meant-to-promote-collaboration-because-of-its-lack-of-corners-5

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Good buildings come from good people, and all problems are solved by good design.

Stephen Gardiner

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Marketing Strategies for Entrepreneurs Mastery Journal

This month has provided a ton of knowledge that has made me a better marketer. Two of my goals during month one of the IEMS program were to become a better storyteller and learn how to develop a brand from scratch. Week one was all about branding. A few of the topics covered were: comprehending the difference between marketing and branding, analysis of powerful brands, and brand development techniques to build my own brand. In this process, I gained an in depth understanding of how storytelling can breathe life into your brand. The art of storytelling can give your brand the personal connection it needs to capture and retain the attention of the target audience.

PR Smith’s SOSTAC marketing communications guide was an asset in developing the marketing campaigns. This was another bit of knowledge where storytelling comes into play.

For months now, I have been building this business venture. Some pivots have been necessary to increase the level of its success after launch. Learning how to market these different ideas, afforded me the opportunity to test several marketing strategies and in doing so I could achieve my last goal and distinguish when traditional offline marketing was an essential piece of the marketing mix.

I may have experienced the “aha” moment that I never saw coming. While completing a buyer behavior assignment for marketing proposals, I realized that I may have been looking at this business venture all wrong. Not to say that I couldn’t still build a profitable business on its current track, but I may be on to something extraordinary. Never did I think an App of all things would work for this business, but the more and more I research the clearer my perception becomes. For now, I will continue this road for the agency business model. However, the mobile application will be a side project that I continue to grow until I am ready to take that idea to the next level.

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[Kevin Popović]. (7 Sept 2013). What is the biggest challenge in Public Relations?. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vz-iKg2hSRM

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Gunton, K. (2013). Branding and Marketing. Build A Little Biz. Retrieved from http://buildalittlebiz.com/blog/branding-marketing-selling

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Entrepreneurial Finance Mastery Journal

Entrepreneurial Finance Mastery Journal

This month has truly been a great journey.  I have learned an abundance of financial information and strategies to help build my business. In month one of the IEMS program, my initial goal for this Entrepreneurial Finance course was to gain a better understanding of how to create an effective financial plan, and the ENF course delivered in a big way.

The business modeling assignment in week two taught me how to establish revenue, cost, and profit models for my business venture. Additionally, we covered an exit and failure strategy. In performing research, I had to find the best models to complement my business concept. The assignment provided insight on (1) how to determine if a company can generate profits, (2) how to identify if expected costs could be a detriment to the sustainability of the business, (3) how to determine net income, and (4) how to recognize when to reinvent, close, or sell your business.

The second goal I wished to achieve was being able to comprehend and articulate all aspects of business finance. Since this is one of my weaker areas, I wanted to improve my knowledge, vocabulary, and implementation strategies for entrepreneurial finance. Professor Thompson’s narrated lectures and GoTo Training sessions were extremely helpful in providing an in depth understanding of the reading material and assignments. They not only provided step by step breakdowns for all assignments, but Professor Thompson produced personal and business finance resources that could be used to help me on this journey of business development.

Lastly, I lacked core knowledge for seeking a venture capitalist and overall business investing. However, after completing this ENF course, I am now very well informed. From the elevator pitch assignment to the crowdfunding video project to the pro forma profit and loss assignment, this course has exceeded my expectations. These key assignments granted me the practice necessary to paint a picture from start to finish of the perfect business venture investing pitch. I am now equipped with the knowledge of discerning when an investor is needed, what they are looking for, how to present a venture to an investor, and what is needed to sustain my business model.

This has been a great experience, and I have gained a wealth of knowledge and resources that will continue to guide me throughout future ventures to come.

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(2016). Top 10 Business Funding Options. Funding Note. Retrieved from https://www.fundingnote.com/business-funding-guide