Listening to Others Will Get You Somewhere

Creating a detailed business plan is not as easy as some people perceive it to be. Just when you think you have things all figured out there is always something new to add, remove or further modify before unfolding the plan. Which is why research is very key to understanding many different facets of any succesful business plan.

In fact, my research on industry professionals allowed me to not only critique my logistics and business model but also my motives, vision and my integrity behind constructing my company. As Mark Cuban maintains, some of the key aspects to look for in a business plans is if there is an actual need for the product or service. Which led me to find out if there is a need for my service and what location shall I provide that need. As a result I changed the target location of my plan from Los Angeles to Raleigh, NC. Although my plan works in both locations, the need is greater in the smaller market of Raleigh. The following list illustrates main three reasons we decided on changing the location.

1) Most business owners in the location don’t know how social media works or how to use it in its most effective ways.

2) We knew the area better and it was the location base for many of our consultants

3) There was not a large presence of companies like ours in the market

Though it is great to make changes and make sure your bases are covered before going into business, one of the most important sections of a plan is the financial document. Investors want to see have you calculated your expenses, income, and overall risks versus your rewards. They ultimately want to know have you calculated their ROI. One of the key changes I made to my own documents came from when I read an article on Daymond John. He mentioned putting up some of your own money in your initial investment to show investors you believe in your product and in yourself. As a result, I did just that to incorporate more investors into my company. It also helps me pay off my debts faster and reciprocate more down the road. In the end, there is always more we can learn from one another to help nurture ideas and create lasting impressions in our industries.

BookT- ITB (web show) "BookT Returns to Raleigh"

Season 2 of the web series and documentary of BookT. Inside the Book returns with Book still on the road performing tracks from his upcoming album as well as his mixtape Datbullshit (http://www.datpiff.com/BookT-featuring-Thirdnastee-Datbullshit-2-mixtape.286131­.html). We also take a look at the man behind some of the production and the first verse of Book's hit "Feelin Fresh".

Hope you guys enjoy the video. Like it share it.
Big Thanks to everyone involved in bringing this one together,
Third, Mr.RaleighNC, Volume 11 Tavern, Lady C and Collins.
Ja Know!

For more music, blogs and video on BookT visit: www.bookttv.com

Business Insight from the Experts

In constructing my business plan for my company, Highly Educated Management & Production (HEMP), I came across a multitude of information, analysis and viewpoints from many knowledgeable experts from various fields of business. In particularly Michael Porter and Daymond John have expressed the importance of a successful business plan many times throughout their career.

Porter is currently the Bishop William Lawrence University Professor, at Harvard University (Burhoe, 2011). I credit Porter with giving me insight into what owners and investors are looking for in a business plan as well as understanding the role of competition. According to Porter competitive forces drive the rivalry of existing companies. It is important that competition is there to maintain the integrity, level the playing field and create constructive analysis for business improvements and satisfaction.

Daymond John is the CEO and President of a clothing company called FUBU.  Using $100,000 in start up capital, he launched his company in 1994, and by 1998, FUBU had made $350 million in revenues (Burhow, 2011). In my opinion this was a great example of putting your money where your mouth is. In this case, I learned from John that it is important to put some of your own money up for startup capital.  According to John, if you are in debt and have nothing to contribute to your business venture, it looks bad to potential investors (2012). 

In the end it is important to adopt concepts to my business plan that are practical and wise. Since both experts have been through the phase of constructing business plans multiple times over I aim to use some of the advice given to cultivate my own success for the future.

Sources

Burhow, S. 2011, March 31. Expert Views on Business Plans.

         Retrieved from http://bpexpertviews.blogspot.com/

BookT...The Future

 With so many inspirational people passing away year after year from Bernie Mac, Michael Jackson, Don Cornelius and now Whitney Houston, it is no wonder why music and entertainment is in need of a breath of fresh air. Before I get into the article I must send my condolences out to the family of Whitney Houston. Although I never met the woman she was one the pillars of my own dreams for success in music and entertainment. Because of her I believed all my life that I was the future; in the words of Chris Brown “Look at me now”.

I began writing rhymes in a summer school English course back in the 9^th grade. Considering I failed the course during the regular school year due to depression from deaths in my family and divorce, I chose to allow my written words to express my pain and sorrow rather than talking about it freely or conveying actions out of result. In the end, I created the artist BookT. The knowledge before self kid who grew up street savvy but also knew how to process information and ultimately remain socially aware.

Since 2003 I’ve been rapping and producing tracks as well as performing many of my songs on the road; traditionally performing at my fans request. In fact, most recently I had the opportunity to go to Los Angeles and perform for the first time. As a response to various messages from my fans through social media and mobile texts, I decided to come out and give them a show. I have a new mixtape out that I was promoting as well as new music videos on Youtube. Altogether, it was another way to instill brand awareness and recognition for my artists as well as my company Highly Educated Management and Production.

It is important to me that people follow their dreams and listen to the voice inside of them guiding each step of their decision-making. One year ago, I was dismissed from my position as a store manager. I did not know what I was going to do next or how I was going to provide for my family. In the end, I chose to follow my dreams and finally listen to the voice inside. As a result I feel as though I’m ‘destined for greatness’. 

Living a Little Boys Dream in LA

As a young kid from Raleigh, NC I was always a huge follower of the game of basketball. I collected, sold and traded player cards as well as dominated my friends all the time on the court in and after school; mimicking players from Jerry Stackhouse and Vince Carter to Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant. Whether it was my NCAA team, the UNC Tarheels or the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, I had my teams and players who garnished my full support and ultimately made a fan out of me. Over the last five months I’ve lived in Hollywood, CA I decided to make it a daily objective to live out my dreams.

In fact, one of my life long dreams was to attend a Los Angeles Laker game. I speak in past tense because this week I got the opportunity to check it off the old bucket list. Ironically, I attended the game where the Lakers played North Carolina’s own Charlotte Bobcats. However, it was not an impressive performance by the away team, with Charlotte losing 106-73.  Kobe had 24 points and Andrew Bynum was a ferocious beast inside the paint all night, grabbing 11 rebounds while solidifying his place as the leading All-Star candidate at the Center position.

Although I watched the game I was marveled by the arena and its ambiance of greatness, the banners, the coaches, the players the history and especially my tickets. Thanks to Stubhub.com I sat approximately 10 rows from the court. I could not believe I was sitting right next to major media analysts and journalists like, CBS’s Jim Hill and ESPN’s J.A. Adande. As an aspiring writer and journalist it was as if I caught a glimpse of where I shall be some day.

The interesting thing is that I did not think about going to the game until I took a look at some of the player’s season stats on NBA.com in an effort to cast my vote for this month’s All-Star Game. While browsing the web I was prompted over 5 times by numerous companies to buy tickets for the next home game. At first, I did not pay any attention, but after a while the digital marketing took full affect over my impulse, and for about three days all I could think about was whether I was going or not.

The price for the tickets was the major concern for me. Luckily, I clicked on about three to four ticket sites to research the seating location before making my decision. After purchasing my tickets I was asked if I wanted to share my purchase on facebook. In my opinion, this was in an effort to make my friends jealous or build their impulses as well to generate likes or future business. Because I’m such a nice guy I decided not to rub it in. Instead I figured I’d blog about it. Until next time folks.

Video Source:

LA Lakers vs Charlotte Bobcats Full Highlight Jan, 31 2012 [video file] Retrieved    

     from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXj1cFWXMWo

Wake Up! Wake Up!…The Tebow Nightmare is over

For a majority of the NFL season it seemed like Tebow was favored a bit more by the Lord than everyone else on the planet.  His story is more “reel” than “real”. His whole legacy is something out of a Best-Picture winner at the Golden Globe’s.  This guy was the third string quarterback who rose to starter after much hype by fans and the media. The team even released their starter, Kyle Orton to justify making a decisive change at the position.

No other third string quarterback comes to mind as one of the league leaders in Jersey sales like Tebow. This guy brought so much money and attention to the league and the Denver Broncos franchise. The funny thing is that all that’s good about him as a person and a player does not solidify a starting role as QB next season. The Broncos ended their season by getting the ‘smackdown’ laid on them with a 45 to 10 loss to the New England Patriots. Although they ended on a sour note, the team did win their division and they also won their first playoff game in over 5 years.

John Elway has a major project on his hands for next season. As the team manager he must ensure the team continues to progress. If they are going to run the ball as much as they did this season, next season, I doubt Willis Mcgahee is the answer at running back.  I would not be surprised to see them take a running back in this year’s draft. Brady Quinn is a free-agent and the chance at a high draft-pick had been diminished by the success of this season. These two issues both work in Tebow’s favor for solidifying the starting role next season; Although, Elway clearly cannot be happy with a 47.1 completion percentage and low QB rating.

Tebow has got some work to do to call himself a conventional quarterback. There have been many running quarterbacks in the NFL but none more polarizing than Tebow. 

Much of the reason behind his legacy extends far beyond his play on the field.  Kordell Stewart mentioned on ESPN that it’s because he’s white that he gets the opportunity to put up such bad numbers. Stewart maintained that he and many other black quarterbacks had to play multiple positions, like Cornerback or Wide Receivers; before they were trusted enough to play quarterback. Even Brian Urlacher and many other players expressed that Tebow was more of a running back, than quarterback. 

Despite the story behind the man, the point is I am so happy this nightmare is over. I was getting sick of hearing Skip Bayless and other analysts talk about the same person every single day on every single show that ESPN broadcasts.  I’m an avid fan of the network and I must say I was disgusted and perplexed by so much Tebow coverage. At first I was rooting for the guy, but after all that hype on him, I became anxious to wake-up from spell the media once again placed over me and every other fan of the Lord’s work.

We got the truth but...Does anyone Care or Pay Attention

It’s amazing how much people allow to happen right under their noses. Whether it comes from entertainment, religion or the political industry, it sometimes seems people have been purposely psychologically manipulated by the same systems put in place to educate, entertain and govern them.

Call them conspiracy theories or whatever you want, many of the stories that depict the full details of many new developments in our society go heard by a few, instead of by the masses. Remember Kennedy’s speech on corruption and secret societies, building 7, the Eddie Long situation, or even who really killed Biggie and Tupac. There’s so much apathy in the minds of many viewers. It is as if most people just do not know that so many stories go untold or are hidden in plain sight by the mass media.

It takes great control, team building, budgeting, and execution to pull off not telling the truth or the full story.  Sometimes I wonder is the communications industry much like ‘the mob’. It’s like the owners of major broadcast stations have to be involved in lobbying and backing politicians and celebrities on some level. Even Keith Olberman was attacked and suspended on this issue. Not to mention the hero worship that takes place when a new movie by Brad Pitt, or Tom Cruise comes out and how the rest of the world takes a backseat to its issues to enjoy the latest project from Tinseltown.

These may be my opinions but as a human it is as if viewers and consumers share more of an apathetic approach to industry news that may disrupt or cause them to question their opinions on the world around them.

Most notably, politicians are known to illustrate this behavior; for instance, the NDAA’s (National Defense Authorization Act) unpopular support amongst civilians but heavy support in Washington D.C. It is signed and confirmed by the president that American civilians suspected of terrorism or any action or expression the federal government deems a threat against their agenda, may be investigated and ceased and detained without warrant or access to any trial at all. This strikes me as such a major issue while most people are thinking about what new song their favorite artist will drop next or which team will win the next big game.

If you are the person who feels like the only one paying attention, you are not alone.