Control your destiny

Now that I am at the end of my educational journey with Full Sail University, my final business plan is due.  I have worked on my plan for one year now and I can honestly say that it is nowhere near completed.  Of course, I have turned in a plan but there is something I learned more valuable. What I mean by that is, after researching certain aspects of my plans, things seem to have changed from my original plans.

I did included my original plans in the blueprint but I am now seeing that maybe certain ideas and key concepts may not work as well as I thought they would for my particular market. Researching the market and how they spend their money has been eye opening for me. I had to ask myself questions like,  “Will I really have enough customers to open my doors?” I think it is a good idea, but will my target market think so also?

I want to start a business to fill a need that I feel is needed in my particular market. What I need to realize is that there may be others out there who have the same passion but may not have the funds to invest or even the time to participate.

I see that once you go through this process it is easy to become discouraged and down trotted about your ideas and plans. Your research my show that starting your business at this time may not be best. Maybe six months from now will be a better time to start the business that you want.

How I feel now, is that I have the drive to learn more about my market and how to tailor my plan to provide for their needs. I now know that my ideas may be a good but the “package” may not fit best for whom I want to serve.

This leaves me with a feeling of excitement and anxiety. I now feel that I am getting to know whom I want to help and exactly how I can do that and still make the money that I want to.

Business plans are not ever going to be written and then put into a drawer. Your mission and company purpose may stay the same but adapt. Timely adaption is how companies thrive and survive. I just hope that I am able to recognize the shift in my audience and remain current and relevant.

 Thank you, 

Enrika M. Sissle

To control your destiny

Developing my 60 second elevator pitch

In my last blog, I told you briefly about a business expert that I have recently found. His name is Tim Berry. The reason that I like Tim Berry is because I see his passion in his YouTube videos and I hear his experience, but mostly I trust him.

While doing research for this blog, I found his video on the “60 second pitch.”  I felt that this was something that I needed to fine tune and really develop. This blog is based on something that I plan to incorporate into my business and put it into my plan.  Having a pitch will give a listener a sneak preview of who and what my company does. Then I can have an opportunity to give them the figure and a more detailed description and vision by submitting my business plan later.

I am asked often what my business is about and to be honest, I tell what it does but not who we are. I feel that is a missed opportunity to sell my vision and plan.  This pitch will them help me change and fine tune my mission, description and goals in the plan.

Berry breaks down the 60-second pitch into four parts. Within those four parts there are goals that must be accomplished before moving onto the next. So, equally each part is 15 seconds. Those parts are, The Story, The Solution, The Difference and The Ask.  Let’s explain each one.

The Story

The story is designed to pull your listener in. You have to tell them why you felt the need to do something. Tell them why you felt the need to create. Berry explains that this is the time to give examples and a name to go along with the story. You want to create a sense of empathy and compassion. This allows the listener to open up to receive the next part.

The Solution

After the story, you want to tell the listener how your company can help the person in “The Story.” How exactly does your service and/or product solve the issue of the person in the first section? Do you make life easier? Do you create a new life for them? How does your product or service create a better life for that person and therefore others?

The Difference

A well-known book says, “There is nothing new under the sun.”  I do believe that. So you have to tell that listener, why and how are you difference from the other companies that are out there doing what you do. Is it your training? Your technology? Tell them the difference.

The Ask

Tell them briefly about the business here and then hit them with, ‘The Ask.” There is a reason why you are telling this particular person or crowd. What do you need from them to help your company? This is the time to express your need.

The pitch explains the, “Why” about your company. I believe that this is the most important section of your business plan. Your mission is important. You may think that it is just a few sentences, but ultimately your mission defines your goals, wants and plan.

Developing your pitch will put into words what you really want to do.

Resources:

http://timberry.com

http://www.entrepreneur.com/author/197

http://www.linkedin.com/in/timberry

http://youtu.be/_PUBulGR42o

The Business Plan: A union between concept and numbers

There is a certain custom in the black church when people who have been through something stand up and tell the congregation what they went through and how they came out. This custom is called, “Giving your testimony.” 

This custom also happens in the professional and educational realms. It is mostly done in an auditorium and is called a “forum” or “lecture.” It is when professionals or professors who have gone through something and learned something, tell a group of listeners about it so that they will not make the same mistakes. It also teaches those who listen, to push through the obstacles and to continue on their journey.

There are two business experts that I feel, “give their testimonies.” Andrew Patricio and Tim Berry are two business plan experts that share their knowledge, experiences and mistakes through online resources.

Andrew Patricio is a small business expert that helps train and coach small businesses to accomplish their desired goals. He has worked with companies all over the world and created online videos to reach the masses.

Patricio views on business plans are that they are needed to determine a company’s vision and goals. He states that is only reason why certain companies become successful. It is because they have a clear plan. A plan is like a vision for now and for the future of the company. Some components of the plan that he stresses are the financials, marketing and start-up cost breakdowns.

Tim Berry was the first person I ever heard that has a definition of a business plan that sounds simple. His definition of a business plan is the union of a concept and numbers. When you watch his videos, you can see his passion for the actual planning that goes into starting a business. He is the co-founder of http://www.bplans.com and has his own company Palo Alto Software with 45 employees.  Berry is also the author of The Plan as you go business plan.

Three areas in the plan that Berry says is vitally important are your market, your business identity and strategic focus.

Both Patricio and Berry discuss the importance of having a plan for now and for the future within the pages of a company’s business plan. There are several key components that a company needs in order to have a clear vision of the future and it varies from one expert to another. It is agreed upon that a plan is still the best way to explain that concept and provide quantitative data to support it.

Resources:

Patricio Linkedin profile

http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=3666471&authType=NAME_SEARCH&authToken=1Xhm&locale=en_US&srchid=663192951373846236905&srchindex=2&srchtotal=38&trk=vsrp_people_res_photo&trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A663192951373846236905%2CVSRPtargetId%3A3666471%2CVSRPcmpt%3Aprimary

https://twitter.com/andrewpatricio

https://www.facebook.com/andrewpatricio

http://www.youtube.com/user/bizlaunchtv

http://timberry.com/tag/the-plan-as-you-go-business-plan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1yrQgoAPuE&feature=c4-overview&list=UUfZr6-aqZfWMWy6y8RuhQHw

http://www.amazon.com/The-Plan-as-You-Go-Business-Plan-Berry/dp/1599181908

Images: outofthecrabbucket.wordpress.com

Pay no attention to the story behind that explosion

This past weekend was a busy one. My three boys, Noble (6), Royal (5) and Knight (3) were invited to a birthday party for a friend of theirs. The party was at the local movie theatre and because we were in the process of moving, I almost didn’t go.  I changed my mind because movies always make me feel better when I am stressed out.

The party was great. Friends, family, pizza, cake and popcorn were on the menu. What I didn’t order was the poor acting in the film. I am passionate about acting. I teach it, I do it and I watch it. This particular movie was EPIC. It was said to be visually stimulating and with celebrity voice talents. Well, regarding those two issues, they were right. 

This is where I had my problem. I can describe it in one word, Beyoncé. Listen, I don’t mind Beyoncé performing at the super bowl or at the VMA because that's what she does.  I do have a problem and what was very disturbing was her performance in this film. She is not an actress. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love when actors can do it all. The triple threat is the ultimate goal, but I only love it when it is done right. When you are good at something, do it, when you are not, take some lessons. Her voice is not good for animation or live action films. Her voice has no inflections, different pitches or even emotion in it. I was disappointed.

I then thought about, WHY? Why was she chosen to be this character in this film? Then I had an answer. She was cast to attract the black population to watch this film. Hollywood thinks that if they attach a famous black name to something then their profits will go up. Well, they might just be right about that, but for the small minority of the population that still value performance over just a name, this type of casting is insulting.

I titled my blog, “Pay no attention to the story behind that explosion," because that is all that movies have turned into. Movies in this century have become, big blockbuster expulsions with lack luster stories. 

Oh, did I mention that I didn’t really like the film. I didn’t really hate it either. 

Enrika M. Sissle 

What is, "Save the Cat?"

What is, “Save the cat?”

For as long as I can remember, I have been taught the three-act format for writing a screenplay. It is what works and that’s how many insiders write their screenplays in the business.

I know this because I took a course a long time ago on screenwriting and then Syd Fields was the all-time favorite. He wrote the book called Foundations in Screenwriting, that everyone was using. I studied that book and felt that I had a handle on how to write for the screen. I didn’t think that I was an expert by any stretch of the imagination but I felt I could easily point out the format in any screenplay with a good degree of certainty.

Recently, I had a story meeting about a screenplay that I am writing and to tell you the truth, I saw how uncomfortable one guy was in his chair. I saw and felt his frustration with the story. His dislike exuded through his pores. It was a foul smell of, “What the heck is this?” in the air.

So instead of beating around the bush after the presentation, I asked what needed to be done to strengthen the story. After all, that is all that matters. The gags don’t count, the characters aren’t really that important. The audience has to fall in love with the story.

One of the guys mentioned the book, “Save the cat.” I had not ever heard of it. He went on to talk about not just looking at story in three acts but in beats. He said 15 beats to be exact.

Save the cat, is written by Blake Snyder. It claims to be, “The last book on screenwriting you’ll ever need.” I am hopeful that this statement is true. So, with hopes of turning this storyline around, I am purchasing the book along with a few others that Snyder has written and maybe my story will be, “The greatest story ever told.” Well except for the bible.

Here’s more info:

http://www.blakesnyder.com/services/

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/book-review-save-the-cat/

Start again: Finding the strength to finish that book

Start again: Finding the strength to finish that book

I live a busy life. I have five children; I run a small theatre company; I am writing a movie script; in school full-time; moving; home schooling; volunteering at a community center; and a few other things. Now, I am trying to write a new graphic novel that is in my head.  Most of the time I am tired and burned out from life and when will I have time to complete all that I feel I need to?

Your life may look a bit like mine. We all have lives that may look like any minute will just explode. Maybe some of you have an even busier schedule than me. I know that there are days that none of us want to even get out of bed let alone write a book. What I have found out is that creative people always have ideas but those ideas will haunt us until something gets done. 

With this in mind, I am always on the look out for strategies and ways that can help me organize and finish my work.  I don’t want to turn around and nothing is done and I am 30 years older. This is where organization and goal setting plays and important role in finishing that manuscript in your head.

The Fitness expert network is a reference that I found that gives tips on making big goals smaller? I chose them because I have a huge fitness goal that seems insurmountable. You could even do a simple search on the web to find help with goal setting. The fitness network is what I use for my weight loss challenges. I find that I can apply it to other areas of my life.

If you are writing a book now, it may seem like you will not ever finish it and that life is slowly taking over. You can't let that happen. You have to find those moments that you can write. If you have five minutes, then write one paragraph. A little each day goes a long way. When you use those moments to write, you find that your book or novel is getting closer to being finished. One paragraph turns into three and then a page. Pretty soon you will have a chapter completed.

Try not to look at your book or novel as one big project. Break each page down and just focus on that. There will be days, weeks or in my case even months when I didn't write a thing and get so frustrated that I am letting my dreams pass. Try not to beat yourself up about those times. Start again. Remember you can always start again. Just find the strength to not ever stop. 

Here are some other sites to help you finish:

Finishing that novel

Timothy Hallinan

Writability 

To obtain the rights, or not to obtain the rights

While listening to several podcasts for my entertainment business course, I noticed a common thread that pertained to my focus on theatrical productions. The use of others written works without permission is illegal. This of course seems to be common knowledge for music lovers that download unlicensed work or for those who find just released movies to download on the Internet. This practice is called piracy and it is illegal for those who don’t know. However, this is not so black and white in the theatre world. Although, it is still illegal to produce a theatrical work and charge for admission if you do not have permission, it is acceptable if you “purchase the rights of performance.”

While listening to Lawrence Lessig’s podcast, Laws thatchoke creativity, for TED.com, I was stuck by a thought that I have conflicting emotions on. How do you draw from the past, and inspire creativity while creating and re-creating something new and not break the law of copyright?

As a theatre director, I would not even consider doing a show without finding out who owns the rights and how much does it cost to get it? Sometimes this can be an extreme hassle because you can’t easily find the owner or it’s too expensive. A problem could also arise because of the inexperience of your actors or company, in turn permission may not be granted.  This means that if you have a three-month-old company with a $1,000 budget, you probably can’t produce Titanic: The Musical. Your company is then turned down for the rights to perform.

Then what do you do without the risk of being sued? Can you change the script but have the same names of the Titanic characters? No, you can. That is still and issue and a possible liability.

Lessig discusses that there are two extremes when it comes to the license of creativity. He tells three stories that all lead to one understandable conclusion. How can today’s creators create or re-create with so many licensing and copyrighting infringement possibilities? To be honest, he gives no clear resolution. Lessig explains that he tried to tackle this head on through the legislative process but that battle was lost before it even started. Who then do you take this issue?

My answer to this is to create your own works. Just recently my new company, Church Girlz Productions is about to produce its first stage show, Time Travelers: An American Experience. Before writing one word, I spoke with my fellow writers and told them that every line in our play will be original. With regard to certain music used in the shows, we do have a certain license to use in our show’s transitions. We are limited to a short amount of time but can still use the music without purchasing a license.

Copyrights and permission to use others works is a big concern in the theatre when there is a demand for theatrical works that are not available in all parts of the country. Everyone can’t travel to California and/or New York to see a popular show. Local theatre companies love these works and want local communities to see the valve of investing in the arts. The only way to do this is for those local communities to see the works of others.  There is a solution to limiting these liability issues and still being able to produce popular works. It is a good idea for smaller companies, as well as larger ones, to invest in memberships like the Musical Theatre International (http://www.mtishows.com ) offers. These types of companies, do not owns the rights to the work but have be granted permission to license the works based on company size, operating budget and reputation. It could be pricey but in the end, it is an investment worthwhile. 

For more information please visit the following links:

http://www.ted.com/talks/larry_lessig_says_the_law_is_strangling_creativity.html

http://www.mtishows.com

https://www.facebook.com/ChurchGirlzProductions