Leadership Portfolio Classes 10 & 11

Activity 10- Mobile Marketing and Commerce

Our assignment was to interview different generations of people for the purpose of understanding the differences in their ability to adapt to and execute the use of ever growing technology.

In conclusion, I have learned that if my business it to prosper in this society, we must take advantage of the technology that has become available to us. It is not enough to have a computer that sends out email notifications, it is important to have constant contact with our customers. Our world is changing every day. We have to realize that a phone call or a postcard is becoming a prehistoric form of communication. I do not believe that these forms of communication will ever disappear, but like fossils, we will only be able to dig them up and utilize them every now and then.

Activity 11- Business Plan Development

In our final class we were asked to study the professional opinion of two business plan developers to see what it was that they considered to be the most important part of business plan development.

Through this assignment, I learned the importance of telling your compelling story. While it is important to have financials and other elements in line, to an investor, it is also important to solve a specific problem for a specific customer. Along with solving specific needs, you must maintain focus. Many business plans start off with an understood idea and plan, but they can also lose there focus. Therefore causing an investor to lose interest in funding a well put together project with a person who can not maintain focus.

Finding a niche business is the best way to ensure that money can be made. By discovering a niche market, you reveal to the investor your potential to work. Finding a niche market is a difficult task, and by discovering a market, as well as a viable product proves your ability to do research and see the potential to create revenue.

Lastly, The DNA is by far the most important part of the business plan. The DNA being the financials. Turning down a well thought out, focused idea with the financials in order is almost impossible for an investor to do. Especially when they see the potential to make money.

Leadership Portfolio Classes 7-9

Activity 7- Advanced Entertainment Law

For this leadership activity, we were asked to interview a practicing lawyer who had experience within the entertainment industry. One of the requirements was to find a lawyer in the city and state where we wanted to open our business. The lawyer I chose was Ms. Tiara Young.

After speaking to Ms. Young, the two elements that she stressed to me the most was purpose and liability. When dealing with purpose, Ms. Young said whatever your business is, the most important element is to clearly define your purpose in the industry. When a company's purpose is clearly defined its easier for a lawyer to defend the position of the company in case there are any legal matters that need to be addressed.

Lastly, always be sure as to what your company can be held liable for. In any situation, it is always a good idea to protect the company. In protecting the company, be sure that all areas where an individual could possibly sue are covered. From the proper exit signs to proper signage of adult content within the shows. As long as all areas of liability are covered, the task of a lawyer should be pretty straight forward.

Activity 8- Media Publishing & Distribution

In this class, we were asked to write a formal business proposal for a published work.

After completing this assignment, I learned the different steps that are required to publish a professional work. Though this is not something that is within the immediate plans of my business, having the knowledge of the process can be helpful in building press releases as well as other printed media for our company. Through this process I also learned how to self publish a work of my own. From books to company magazines, this activity has opened the door for so many opportunities.

Activity 9- Digital Marketing

Develop an original piece of digital content that showcases their professionalism, experience, and expertise.

After developing digital content about the internet, I learned just how important the internet is to a company. Due to the ability of the internet to reach the masses quickly, its important for a new business to capitalize on the opportunity as quickly as possible. For me to not understand and accept the importance of the internet, could be a harsh reality for my company. One of the most important elements of the internet is sentence structure. Knowing what words to use and where to place them are essential parts to having a successful company through the world wide web. Being able to move to the top of the search engine page is centered around being linked to the proper credible sites as well as sentence structure. Although I may not have the money to purchase a "top hit slot" right now, knowing how to manipulate sentence structure is an inexpensive way of achieving quality results.

Leadership Portfolio Classes 4-6

Activity 4- Entertainment Business Finance

In this leadership portfolio activity, we were asked to speak with a banker or some sort of financial advisor in order to gain clarity on business loans, interest rates and how much a bank could help versus other financial options such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds.

This assignment in particular was helpful because I learned things that I can put in to action immediately. From a personal and business financial stand point, I learned how important it is to make your money work for you. Whether you are investing in a company, or saving money for your business. It's always important to have your money in a place where it can do some of the work for you.

Activity 5- Negotiation & Deal Making

In this activity, we were asked to either interview a professional negotiator, or conduct our own negotiation. Given the fact that I was in heavy negotiation with a staff member at Full Sail University concerning a play, I decided to report on the proceedings and the outcome of that negotiation.

Through this negotiation I learned the importance of research and time management. Research is important because in the business world, when trying to negotiate for a better option than what you have been given, its important to know the history and the stance of the opposing side. many times negotiations are lost because one side doesn't know the limits and the authority of the apposing side. Through research, you are able to find out what you're up against before the negotiations begin. Time management is also important because you have to be prepared in the event that any decision is made. It is always the goal to leave a negotiation better than when you came. If that is the case, as a business owner, it is always easier to make those adjustments when you have created the atmosphere for those changes to happen smoothly. Through proper time management and research, there will almost always be a positive outcome in negotiations when dealing with a business.

Activity 6- Project and Artist Management

In this activity, we were asked to interview someone who managed people or products. I chose to interview Mr. Sherman Scroggins who is the manager and director for Voices of Discipleship. They are a well known gospel group in Birmingham, AL.

After interviewing Mr. Scroggins there were two key components in good leadership that I learned. The first, was to always remember that I am dealing with people and not products. This is valuable information because it is always important to remember that things will not always go my way. Although I would like for everyone to always be on time and not miss a day, because people are apart of my equations, this will not happen. One other important piece of this statement is that people have emotions. It just as important to deal with people's emotions the correct way as it is to deal with productivity. When dealing with peoples emotions, my response as the leader could cause them to move in one direction or the other. As a positive leader, my responses should always be in the direction that is best for the company. Lastly, Mr. Scroggins taught me the importance of knowing the strengths and weaknesses of your personnel.

Many business crumble because management does not understand personnel. As a business owner, providing the atmosphere that fosters each employees strengths is a process that can not be over looked. In order for our employees to work at a level of maximum productivity, the environment to do so must be created.

Leadership Portfolio

CeDarian Crawford

205-383-9619

cedarian.crawford@gmail.com

Within the Entertainment Business Masters Program at Full Sail University, one of the requirements for graduation was to complete a leadership portfolio. This portfolio is designed to highlight some of the lessons that I have learned while attending Full Sail University. From volunteer work, to conducting interviews. Each of these activities have helped to mold me into the leader and business owner that I am today. As you ready my leadership portfolio, allow the lessons that I have learned to give you a concrete accurate idea of the things I have learned that will help me to become a positive force within my companies community.

Activity 1- Executive Leadership

During the Breast Cancer walk, I was assigned to a booth where breast cancer victims could come and receive prizes for beating breast cancer according to the number of years they were survivors.

While being apart of this activity, I learned how important it is to not "judge a book by its cover." Although each and every person who came to the booth seemed healthy and problem free, the truth of the matter was that each of them had their own stories to tell.

Activity 2 PTM- Bridges of Light Foundation

This month's leadership activity involved teaming up with a local non-profit organization and helping them improve their company in some way. For the Bridges of Light Foundation, our team decided to help with their logo development. Although we felt as though we were well capable of helpin

g the organization, they did not agree with our position. Consequently, the design the we developed was never considered for the company.

After spending a month working on such a project, it did becoming frustrating having learned that our design would not be used. However, what I learned from this experience was two fold. First, I learned that as a leader, not everyone will be willing to see the potential for growth that I may have. Although we considered ourselves to be very capable in our design ability, our client did not. Secondly, I learned that one of the most important elements of being an effective leader is being able to take no without questioning ones known ability.

Their Design

Our Design

Activity 3 BSBD- Turning Point Story

We were asked to tell our turning point story. The turning point story is what helps to shape our drive as business owners.

Through the turning point story, I learned what it is about me that helps to keep me motivated. As a leader, this is important because there can become a time when a person begins to question the choices they have made. Through the turning point story, I will be able to maintain the motivation that sparked my interest in becoming a business owner from the beginning.