My Master Journal

Hello Tumblr Friends,

I’m almost done! Yes, another month has ended and I’m just two months away from walking the stage at Full Sail and taking hold of my Masters of Science Degree in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.  

I just completed the course on — Innovative Work Environments— and it was amazing, thought-provoking, and inspiring! Did I say inspiring! With my masters in Innovation & Entrepreneurship, I can help others to create innovative user-friendly work environments, and makes me feel good inside!  

My goals were to understand what’s needed when designing innovative workplaces that would be engaging productive environments, and where collaboration and team work is fostered, and new creatives can happen. My goals were met and my eyes and understanding were opened to all the possibilities that can come out of a great work environment.

Some of what I learned from just watching this video we had as an assignment was super eye opening.  ‘Workplace 2030’ by Professor Jeremy Myerson was when he shared the ‘Modern Industrial Offices and the three different office ideas. The main one that stood out to me was about the ‘Taylorist Office’ he talked about the idea for this office “that you can design an office as a machine and the people as cogs” (Myerson, 2012). And that was the kind of office that my mother worked in, they treated her like a cog, having no concern for her health. Myerson also talked about “Knowledge workers” these are people that work for themselves, and create start-up companies, he said they set their own hours and how we need to innovate workspaces for them.    

I learned so much in this course that it would take hours to put it all on this post, so let me leave you with how I’m going to implement the ‘Think Better’ in my workspace environment.  In our assignment reading, I chose to read the ‘Think Better’ article that was all about Neuroscience and how to best get your brain or the brains of your employees active for better productivity.

I’m going to implement this information first on myself, then I can design a great workplace.

I will design a workout room and provide offices that have tread mills for workers that feel out of focus and weary, they can go for a walk to fuel new neurons with a protein called BDNF - brain-derived neurotrophic factor,  that will stimulate and increase  protein levels to produce more and to help focus and recharge the mind. Can you just imagine going for a workout and coming back and A’sing the test or creating something that would turn into millions of dollars? This is a simple adjustment in the workplace, now go get some exercise and get your A game going. 

I will leave you with one more link to study! TEDx Talk by Tony Schwarts. 

Best to you all,

Hello Tumblr Friends,

Yes, it’s me again, and you know the month has come to an end and I must catch you all up with my Master classes I’m taking online from Full Sail University.

Well, this month has been on Marketing Strategies for Entrepreneurs and it’s been great, fabulous, and very exciting!  My goals were to create “my brand story, learn the importance of building customer relationships and the best way to communicate offers” (James, L. 2016). Plus learning to be better at using APA standards. (Smiley face) I want you to know my goals were met, and I’ve learned so much more about myself and what I’m good with and why! I really enjoy helping people, and I’m learning the best way to communicate.

Did you know?  ’The revolution has started”(Smith & Zook, 2016).  “A new marketing era was ushered in when social media put customers back at the centre of the organization and also gave marketers a new set of tools to reach out, engage and listen to customers” (Smith & Zook, 2016).  I believe this is so important for Startups and Entrepreneurs today.  We must be engaged with our customers and truly listen to them on social media. I’m applying this to myself personally and professionally. It’s a new day! It’s a new marketing era (Smith & Zook, 2016) and we must do what we can to be up to date with our business market posts. I’ve seen many big brand companies that are failing in this new day of social media relationships. Many haven’t kept up with their business Facebook pages nor their Twitter accounts and customers have complained about the service with no reply back from them. I know some people think as a business owner you don’t have to reply because it’s not going to affect your business, but I’ve learned, and hear me,  I want to help you out here and say — It will affect how successful your business is!

So please if you’re a small business startup or owner, please, please follow up on your social media pages.  

I’ve learned that companies are revolutionizing their Social CRM, in case you didn’t know that stands for (Customer Relationship Management) and that’s something I believe I’m good with.  I  know I can go on and on with all that I’ve learned but I won’t for now!

But, check out this video we watched for out course study, this video cleared up a lot of ideas I had and stirred up so much more as an entrepreneur. So check it out! I hope you get something amazing out of it, and please post under this to let me know, Okay?  Malcolm Gladwell talking about Spaghetti Sauce. https://www.ted.com/talks/malcolm_gladwell_on_spaghetti_sauce

Our study book this month was ‘Marketing Communications 6th edition by Ze Zook and PR Smith (Feb. 2016) It’s on Safari books online. They really broke it down to bit size portions because it’s a lot of reading and understanding that takes place.  http://ce.safaribooksonline.com/book/sales-and-marketing/9780749473419/part-one-communications-background-and-theories/id3_html

Best to you all,

May 2017

Hello Tumblr Friends,

As you know it’s the end of the month and its time for my monthly report to you all.  And I’ve done it again! That is, I’ve completed another amazing course towards my Masters in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Full Sail University (FSU).  My original goal for this course was to learn the importance of knowing how to quantify my product sales and understand my financial projections.  And understand how Entrepreneurial Finance will help in Innovation and Entrepreneurship Industry.  I must say it will help greatly!

Each week I learned why it is important to have a, clearly thought-out StartUp Cost Plan, and how to put that on paper—you know—write it down. So many times I felt afraid to write it down because of feeling ignorant to the world of Finance and now I know better. This course has helped me to understand my other courses better, like my Product Feasibility course and Legal Issues.

  I Get It!— get why we need to know— the Financial side to business because without it, we won’t have a business and without financial knowledge, we won’t stay in business.  I will be applying all of this material that I’ve learned to my LAJames SMLLC product business. I’m beginning to feel like I am able now to write a successful business plan.

Well, I did write one and it surprised me to see how quickly I could —in the perfect world of sales— get to my breakeven point in a short amount of time. Now I can see why business people want to talk about the Profit and Loss statements and I see why so many businesses fail.  When you calculate the right numbers, the right way you get a better picture of what to do and how to do it. You can see just when to increase your advertisement and where you might need to cut back to make ends meet. You can even find out if your marketing to the right target market.

Learning how to research startup costs and why it necessary prior to starting a business is powerful. You feel empowered to continue forward with your business plan. I guess that how I feel now that I’ve taken this course.

I feel Empowered!  Oh! I almost forgot I wanted to share our course study book with you all, it’s a must read.

Fundamentals of Corporate Finance (2nd edition), Robert Parrino, David Kidwell, and Thomas Bates, Wiley ISBN: 978-0-470-87644-2 (available on Safari Books Online)

Best to you all,

Hello, Tumblr Family!

As you can see by my previous post, I have just completed ‘Legal Issues for Entrepreneurs’  from Full Sail University, and I am going to shout —YES!  It was another amazing month of online teaching from our professor Ms. Torres, who is amazing too! Many of you know this is my personal journey to Mastery in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

My original goal for this course was to get an understanding of what legal issues new businesses and entrepreneurs face, and develop a solid legal plan. Well, let me say, I pretty much understand now why a solid legal plan is important to have before we start out in business. We really need to understand why all of this is important to us as entrepreneurs and new business owners. And if we don’t get this understanding, someone else will own us and our business. We will be paying out thousands of dollars in attorney fees or just straight out losing everything we have worked so hard to get.

There is so much going on in our world today with access to social media, we can have this feeling of —I am free to speak— that freedom we can sometimes take for granted, then later wish we had — taken the time to think before posting that crazy thought! I am saying that because how many times have you read something posted about a company or a product that turned you off or on to it?  How many times have your read about someone being sued because of slander or someone being sued for copyright infringements? Or someone being sued for sharing company secrets? This is what is happening in our world today and as a former business owner and now venturing into owning my very own product company, it’s kinda of scary. But because I have decided to educate myself I feel I have a greater level of peace of mind. Now I understand the importance of writing out a clear business plan and even business contracts, and contracts or agreements is another (story) lesson learned.

I will be using all that I have learned in the course starting out in business. I know now what to do to get my physical product and product idea— which is my intellectual property— trademarked, copyright, and patented. Now I know if I am in compliance with industry standards. Now I know the difference between patents and trade secrets. I even understand the why - how to - the when to - of mediation, arbitration, and litigation. It’s all about the process of negotiation.

Well, best to you all, and if you need some help in your business venture start-up don’t hesitate to connect with me at [email protected].

Best to you all,

WOW! — WOW! — WOW!   Can I just say WOW!

I’d like for you to take a look at how much I’ve grown! If you’ve been following me you’ll see each month my plant in the bottom left-hand corner is getting bigger and bigger! Please take a look and celebrate with me a successful month here at Full Sail University.

My journey to Mastery in Innovation and Entrepreneurship is still going on and now for the month of March, I’ve finished Business Model Development. My course goals were to come away with a better understanding of what it will take to create a successful business model and to hone my skills. I have to say that I’ve also come away with more innovative ideas in just one month and that’s extremely amazing! Now, I just need the funds to see it happen!

I don’t know if you’ve gotten your hands on the book, The Lean Startup by Eric Ries yet, so I’m telling you now if you want to be successful in any startup business, this book is a must. In this months course, Business Model Development I’ve learned to rethink my idea and my ideas about my idea. It’s pretty funny how you can have an innovative idea that needs some innovation too! (Laugh-out-loud)  Anyway, I have to admit, I made a lot of assumptions about my customers, one example is that I assumed every age group preferred a quiet and lightweight blow dryer and to my surprise, the youngest group could care less about that. I’ve learned so much in this course that it’s a pretty amazing feeling growing into a Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, so my course goals have been met.

I’m applying what I’ve learned from this course and I’m taking it personally and professionally too. I’m thinking outside the box, and four walls of my apartment and I’m getting outside to meet people, to connect with people to hear what their pain problems are with the blow dryer that they use. I’m going to start looking for early adaptors of my blow dryer design because I know I need their input to create the best blow dryer that’s crafted for proficiency and created for blow drying joy.

Steve Blank has a great video that really will help you to know if Entrepreneurship is your calling.

Best to you All,

~Lisa A. James

Another great month online at Full Sail University and on my journey to Mastery in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. For the month of February — it’s not been business as usual — no— it’s all about Business Feasibility. In my Business Feasibility course, my goal was to ‘come away with a better business model and understand competitive forces.’ 

And I’m here to tell you, that’s not all I learned this month. I am happy that my goal was reached, though I’m still working on my strategies. Staying focused has been my task too! 

If you all have been following me you know about one of our Mastery course books, The Lean Startup by Eric Ries. (Ries, E. 2011) This is truly a must for anyone today, and I mean TODAY that wants to start up any business, this is a must read, read, and re-read and again re-read. Hint! It’s one of our Mastery books! 

Here are some great questions that we were asked to answer; I think that they will encourage you in your business ideas. 

Is there a true need for it in the marketplace? 

Why do you think customers will buy it? 

How large is your opportunity? 

What’s your competition doing? (Abrams, R. 2012) 

What I also learned was to calm down and re-think my product idea and at times I wondered if I was on the right path. It's amazing what comes to mind and what you can learn when you’re open and not afraid to —Re-Think— your idea. By me taking the time to really examine my potential customers I had to really ask myself — Will they want it?— Do they really need it?— Is this an answer to their pain?These questions if not answered could cost you a lot of wasted time, money and resources. 

Okay now! Get to work!

Best to you all,