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Mastery: Personal Development & Leadership

My intention for my mastery journey at Full Sail University is to gain as much Knowledge not only from my particular degree program but to utilize as many of the resources Full Sail has to offer. I believe that knowledge is power and with power comes great responsibility. My expectations while attending the M.S Entertainment Business degree program is to gain in-depth Knowledge of the Business side of the entertainment industry. I believe that the knowledge I will gain from  Full Sail University will allow me to understand the business side of the Music & Film industry. I believe that I will be an innovative and leading force in the entertainment industry and the tools I need to achieve this are right within this program.

The tools that I hope to gain each month along my journey include, mastery not only in my class work but in life. I feel that mastery is the key to success in any career field and I look not only to master the craft of Music & Film, but I would like I to instill into others the importance of it. My intention is to learn as many of the new waves of technology and social media platforms that drive today’s entertainment industry. I desire to be well versed in matters pertaining to contractual agreements. So that when I walk into a meeting room I understand the entertainment industries legal terminology, and how contracts are set up. I also have a desire to understand brand marketing and the negotiation process. I believe that understanding these aspects will not only help me as an artist but it will also help to turn my art into a viable business. Lastly, Connecting with my fellow classmates, and industry professionals are important to me because it’s not only important to build lasting friendships, but we are tomorrow’s movers and shakers of the Entertainment industry.

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Final Project: Business Plan

I must say that I really enjoyed the final business plan class. Not only was the class very informative, but the professor was funny, which made it enjoyable. I really enjoyed the additional business plan development class, it really provided a more thorough look at my business plan as a whole. My time in this class has really helped me understand the importance of having a strategy for success. I believe that the constant research on my particular market really helped me to understand how to create a niche that would be financially valuable. Another aspect of this class that was very important is the details in the financial spreadsheet. This class required me to make sure that my financial projections are feasible for running a successful business. Also, it provided great financial information on what is needed to secure investors. This class helped me acquire a greater understanding of what investors look for when funding a project or business. This course provided me with an understanding of how to create a solid business plan. This would provide investors with a greater understanding of how my business runs from start to finish. I really enjoyed the resources provided as well as the narrated lectures. They really provided me with greater insight into additional business matters such as; taxes, start-up, and variable cost.

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Business Plan Development

                             MASTERY JOURNAL

I really enjoyed the business plan development class. It was very informative and entertaining. What my original goal for this course was, I wanted to effectively understand the how to develop a business plan for my company that would allow me to understand the detailed process of putting together a successful business plan. How the goals were met through the course was it was broken up into segments. The first segment was the written portion of the business plan where I was able to break down my company in a detailed description, with a industry analysis. This was very beneficial because it allows me to explain in detail what my company is about and what products I seek to produce. I was also able to explain in detail how my business will operate as well as the tools and technology needed to successfully run my company.

This course also met my expectations because I was able to set up a budget for marketing and sales, as well as the staff budget and the startup cost. My skills and insight have changed because I'm walking away from this class with a wealth of knowledge that I did not know in the being of the class. I believe I have grown tremendously because I now understand that opening and running a successful business requires a lot of strategies, planning, and research. I have grown to understand that it’s important to put a plan in place in order to turn your dreams into a reality. How I will apply the materials  I have learned in this class to my personal life is I will pay even closer attention to the small detail in my personal life. Within my professional life, I will apply what I’ve learned by always putting a plan in place and doing my research in order to be fully prepared to launch my business.

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Entertainment Media Publishing & Distribution

                                           Mastery Journal

My original goal for this course was to gain a  greater level of knowledge about publishing and distribution. I felt like it was very vital for me to understand how the publishing and distribution process works from start to finish. As an artist, it is imperative for me to know some of the most effective ways to publish my creative content as well as how to properly monetize off of my publishing. The goal was met because I was able to understand clearly the break down of publishing and distribution through multiple outlets that were presented to me through my professor such as; Powerpoint slides, books, and websites. Also, as we moved through the class my professor was able to break down all of the aspects of publishing, and distribution in a way that was easily understood, that I could easily retain in my memory bank. With our weekly discussions, I was able to address particular topic given to me. This allowed me to discover and address topics that revolved around self-publishing, POD, aggregators, and much more. What I learned from this was a wide range of information. I was able to understand the process of obtaining an agent, publisher, as well as how to properly acquire an agent by the use of a query letter. I learn how to properly formulate a treatment for film and games. I was able to learn how to properly put together a book proposal, as well as develop an Electronic press kit for a music project, all of which are very important. I’ve also had the ability to learn about the many licenses that are needed in entertainment to protect my creative material as well as allowing me to monetize off of it. How I will apply what I have learned to my personal life is by always doing my research about anyone who is around me to know what their real purpose is to my life and how they benefit me moving forward. I will apply what I’ve learned in my professional life is by making it a point that before I  promote any of my creative material, to will make sure that the business elements are in order.

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Advanced Entertainment Law

                                            Mastery journal

As I reflect upon my time in the Advanced Entertainment Law class, I'm very happy with the amount information that I was able to receive while attending the online course. This course met my PDL timeline goal because it allowed me to really gain a good understanding of what's legally needed to be an artist and business owner, in order to protect myself, and my company from potential copyright infringements. Advanced Entertainment Law is something that has allowed me to understand many of the legal pitfalls that have plagued people in the entertainment industry. What I have learned in this course goes beyond what I expected. It helped me first to identify the potential legal liabilities that are within my career field, then it gave me a clear understanding of the things I need to put in place to protect myself and my business from all of the potential thievery that takes place.

This course has helped me understand how to identify Intellectual properties within my business and the best ways to protect them. I’ve learned the importance of reading contracts and understanding the how to identify a good contract versus a bad one. I have also learned the importance of researching previous legal cases that apply to my career.  By this doing this, it has allowed me to understand the possible legal issues that can arise by not receiving the right permissions to when using materials. Advanced Entertainment law has provided me with the tools needed to create strategies that will help me to capitalize on my ideas while reducing the risk for future legal problems. How I will apply what I have learned in this class to my personal and professional life is, personally, I believe that the lessons I've learned have shown me the importance of thoroughly assessing and researching the people that I bring around in my inner circle. Professionally, I have learned the importance of getting everything in writing. This class has taught me that everything that is promised needs to be clearly stated in a contract because this helps to prevent any confusion about what was said verbally as opposed to what was clearly stated in the contract.

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PAM Mastery Journal

With my time in the Production & Artist Management class, I have learned many great things that have really empowered me on this journey.  Somethings that stood out to me in artist management is the fact that artist managers are supposed to be an artist biggest cheerleader. They should have your best interest at heart. An artist manager must help an artist take calculated risks. It is important for artist managers to manage an artist career but they must be able to take care of their own career as well as be aware of what is going on in the music industry. I've learned the importance of finding a niche in today’s market that sets the artist apart from everyone in the industry. what I ‘ve learned is that as an artist managers responsibility is to manage many of the affairs that go along with the artist such as product development, sales and promotion, planning and managing the team that surrounds the artist. Some interesting things that I will take with me while learning about project management are that when you are promoting a product it is important to understand the target market that you are promoting to because when you understand who your audience is, you want to tailor your product in a way that meets the needs of the target audience. I understand the importance of research and by doing the added research needed can be the difference between having a successful product or not. I have realized the importance of having a niche and that you must clearly understand who your audience is and what are the products that cater to your brand and your audience. Everything that was given to me in this class I plan on applying in my future endeavors. I really enjoyed all of the lectures and I look to further my knowledge of many the social media platforms that I can use to help build my brand in a way that will be very successful for me in the future.

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DEAL MAKING AND NEGOTIATION

MASTERY JOURNAL

As I began deal-making and negotiation I realized that this was a course that I truly was interested in because making deals and negotiations in the entertainment industry is a gift that many people don’t know how to properly use, in order to get what they want out of the deal. Many artists neglect the business part of a deal and put their primary focus on the artistry which can cause them not to monetize properly on their hard work. Deal-making and negotiations met my original objective because it helped me to understand the jargon used in a negotiation. It also helps me to understand that before you step into any negotiation you want to have done your research on the people you are negotiating with, and it has taught me to do thorough research on the market that I'm in to know my market value. I've learned that research and knowing my market value will better prepare me for going into a negotiation. It also makes things easier for my attorney when he or she has an understanding that I did my homework, making it easier to negotiate. I also learned the importance of knowing what the other parties underlying interest and bargaining positions are. By knowing this thing it will help both parties come to an agreement that is mutually beneficial. How I will apply this to my professional life is I will always do a lot of research on the people I'm negotiating with. I have learned that when you negotiate it's not about you winning the negotiation and the other person losing, but it's about both parties coming out of the negotiation with a win-win situation.

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Digital Marketing Journal

My goal for this course is to learn effective ways to market my business through digital media. I would like to maximize my social media presence as an artist by finding new and innovative ways to deliver my product to the masses. 

Three key takeaways from the Lynda courses that I've learned are that there are many touch points for brand marketing. Not only have businesses evolved from the major marketing touch points such tv, radio, billboards, and newspapers. There has been an evolution of new marketing strategies such as banner ads, social media, emails, websites, and blogs. I have learned that customers expect seamless marketing and they want to feel as though all of the items marketed to them is coming from the same brand. It is important for me to focus on marketing objectives that are specific to my brand's vision statement because if I'm not doing that it would simply be a waste of my time. The last take away that I’ve learned from the course is the purpose of overcoming barriers. What I have learned from this segment of the course is that many companies are not structured with a huge digital media presence.  It is hard for companies to get up to date with their internet presence because of their business model structures are so outdated. I learned that many companies have so much data but they don’t leverage it. They do not take the time to dive into the data to find out what is working and what is not working for their business. I also learned that it's very important to have clearly defined roles in my business model so that the lines are not easily blurred.

How I will apply what I have learned from the Lynda course personally is; I will deal with people by using the integration technique by understanding the viewpoints of others better. I feel that learning to allow people that I'm close to-to feel included in my projects will help them feel as though they are a valuable part of my life.  How I will apply the principles in my professional career is; I will learn to create an environment for my employees that will allow them to feel like their ideas are being heard and applied to the company brand.

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ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS FINANCE

MASTERY JOURNAL

Entertainment Business Finance has taught me a lot about how money moves around, and what is needed to start and main a successful business. Many of the things I have learned while attending this class include; reviewing financial statements, this was important because it helped me to identify whether a business is doing well or not so well. Calculating financial ratios have helped to further my knowledge on a business progress. Another interesting thing that I have learned is how to read an annual report. It has helped me understand many of the intricate details of all of the money that goes in and out of a business.

Time value of money is a topic that I have gained greater knowledge in. It has helped me to understand how to calculate the present and future value of money tables, and I have received a great understanding of knowing the difference between an annuity and a lump sum of money. This has really helped me understand better how to invest my money, whether to take money upfront or to wait and receive it later. Entertainment business finance has allowed me to understand the present value of money versus the future value and how the value of money can differ greatly, whether you take it now or later. Another interesting thing that I have learned is the importance of the break-even analysis. Many people do not realize that a lot of companies may start their companies in the red. The break-even analysis has helped me understand at what point a particular company breaks even and begins to turn a profit. What I have learned through this course has helped me tremendously, I will look to apply all of what I have learned through this course toward my business and personal life because it helps me plan for my present and future finances. Entertainment business finance has shown me how to stay financially organized while I continue to grow my business.

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Business Storytelling & Brand Development Mastery Post

While taking the Business Storytelling & Brand Development class what I've learned is the importance of bringing together a well thought out plan and that most of a company's success comes from having a well-executed strategy to put into action. I've learned how to organize my thoughts in a way that will take my great Ideas and turn it into a step by step process on paper. The PEST analysis was very effective for me because helped me understand how effective my brand would be in today's music industry.  I also learned how designing the right logo for your brand speaks to what it is you want your brand to say about your company like Nike, Puma, WB, Disney all of which have a clear message. While taking this course it has given me the opportunity to really take a look at what I would like my brand to represent and the most effective way to make that a reality. I have also learned the importance of market research,  how important it is to understand the trends that are currently going on, and how they can help or hurt your brand. I found that understanding my main competitors better prepares me for a plan of attack to help establish my brand and understanding my target audience. This course met my original objective because it allowed me to formulate a clear path for establishing a powerful brand. How I plan to apply this to my professional life is I plan to use the strategies given to me allowing me to formulate a step by step plan. I enjoy using the website BMfiddle because it allows me to have a template to answer questions about my brand and it gives me a canvas and the tools needed to be successful. I also look to apply more market research to continuously understand the music industry and how I can create a brand that is timeless and appeals to a worldwide audience.

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Project and Team Management

While going through the Project and Team Management class this course has allowed me to learn about the many components needed to build a successful project from start to finish. This class involves learning about the principles of project management, which includes creating a project management plan, correctly ordering task, understanding all aspects that contribute to forming a  successful project while staying within budget. I’ve also learned about the various aspects that create a successful team. While attending this course I realized how much structure and organization is needed to complete a project. I always had innovative ideas, but I needed an organized plan to complete it. What I have learned from this course is how to create structure within my creative talents. I appreciate that it has given me the training needed in order to manage a project while delegating team assignments. This course has shown me the importance of having a  vision while giving me the steps to implement it from start to finish, as well as setting deadlines for completing the project on time.  Project and Team Management has met my original objective because it has allowed me to take my Ideas for creating a music EP, helping me lay out a step by step plan of completion. Some interesting parts of the course that I enjoyed were learning about my personality by taking the MBTI and DISC assessment. These assessments have helped me to understand the intricate details of my personality and will really help me understand each of my teammate's personalities and the best approach of communication that will help to get the most production out of them. Another thing that I’ve learned which was very beneficial is the importance of creating a budget. I’ve realized that creating a budget helps to prioritize my spending for my projects as well as managing any money coming in. Overall, I have learned so much from this class and I will take with me the valuable information given and apply to my personal and professional life.

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Leadership Mastery Journal

My personal leadership fits more in the realm of Maxwell than Greene. I would say I'm 95 percent Maxwell and 5 percent Greene. To me, Maxwell brings forth success through personal integrity and organization giving you the elements of success through a structure and not deceit. I believe that Greene has some very good tactic for being an effective leader, but I also don’t feel that his strategies are built upon integrity. I don’t feel that 48 laws of Power take into account right and wrong, but it just shows you the keys to become successful in any situation whether it's lying, cheating and stealing to get there. There are some concepts that I believe that are effective such as Winning through action, never by argument and becoming a Master of timing. These are just a few of the concept that is vital for success. I do believe that 48 laws of power show you a lot of the dirty things companies do to get ahead and it can, therefore, be vitality for fighting fire with fire. I  believe that it can be helpful in understanding the dirty tricks people play to get ahead. I feel that I'm more of a Maxwell guy based upon the fact that I operate with more of a moral code. Maxwell to me seems to give you more of an honest approach to success and a spiritual component. Some of the chapters that really resonate with me are Chapter two Priorities, Chapter three Integrity and Chapter Four Creating positive change. Maxwell gives me the tools for being an effective leader. Maxwell believes that leadership is the ability to help develop others. I believe that Maxwell trains leaders ability to influence and gives vision and structure allowing for better leadership whether you’re leading one or a hundred people. Maxwell lets me know that you can develop your leadership skills from wise counsel base upon making a difference through honest means.

Reference

Developing the leader within you, Maxwell, John. C 1993. Nashville. TN. published T. Nelson

The 48 Laws of Power. Greene, Robert, and elffers, Joost. 1999. London, Penguin Edition

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I believe that it’s important to be grateful for the life thats been given to us. It’s valuable to enjoy the rollercoaster of life.

Source: PhotoBonito.com

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Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. Look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. Think only of the best, work only for the best,and expect only the best. Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

Christian D. Larson (via onlinecounsellingcollege)

This inspires me because no matter what you go through in life it’s important to stay positive. Life is a journey and we must enjoy it.

https://onlinecounsellingcollege.com