Journey to Mastery

Lisa Nichols has a personal brand that exemplifies effective branding. Her company, Motivating the Masses is one of the few companies in the personal development space that is publicly traded on the stock exchange. She has grown her company from the ground up and is noticed in the industry as a big brand. Aside from her company, she is one of the most highly requested motivational speakers in the industry. Her brand is so effective due to everything from her natural signature look, her brand logo, brand colors, and brand story, to her signature phrase, “yes yes.” Her great stage presence and very engaging storytelling ability captures the minds and hearts of her audience so that she is able to influence transformation.

Oprah uses effective branding, which extends from her personal brand to her network, shows, magazine, and more. She has established her brand through effective language, partnerships and the consistency of her messaging. Her intentions shine through in all of her business endeavors and projects. She is much more than what you see, though that has a specificity and consistency as well. Her guiding beliefs are embedded in what she does, what she says, who she works with and how she shows up. She has used media and her own vulnerability to establish a powerful brand.

Mcdonald’s is a go to in the area of branding. It dominates in the marketplace because it was designed with its target audience in mind. The golden arches are memorable and its cost efficient products make it an irresistible brand. Since its inception, it has remained pretty consistent in messaging and the way its presented visually in the marketplace. The jingle is also very memorable. It appeals to all ages with a play-place for kids to enjoy and a menu that parents can enjoy while their kids play. Their products keep them competitive in the marketplace. These are all ways that branding is used effectively to build the consumer base. 

This is my story of a little girl named Genesis and her amazing family. 

Camille and Genesis are awaiting the return of their husband/father, respectively, from deployment. Genesis starts at a new school where she struggles to fit in and faces bullying and being an outsider. She starts noticing the other kids being bullied and she tries not to intervene but she can’t help it. Her mother tells her that she’s actually an Agent of Change born into a family of Agents of Change and begins training her to use her powers to defeat the evil Callous family and help build kids’ confidence by restoring their courage. Her family was charged with the assignment of protecting the hearts of people and building their courage. They are the guardians of the ancient courage serum called Corinthium crafted by the ancestors of old to help fight against the powers of evil that take away people’s courage by preying on their fears.

*The image are only inspirations for the characters. 

IMAGE 1: Genesis- She is a headstrong, intelligent girl. She has naturally curly hair.                                                  (https://www.pinterest.com/hairstylesandin/afro-puffs-that-inspire/?lp=true)

#1- Gamification in Education

Below is the article that talks about the effects of gamification on the student in the classroom setting. There is often the obsession with the grade one receives in the class rather than the building of skills that go beyond the classroom. The introduction of games into the classroom helps promote interest in the subject matter that makes the teaching sticky.  [Gamification's] potential to help students master skills and processes is the long-term object.

​​https://www.edutopia.org/blog/epic-fail-win-gamifying-learning-liz-kolb

#2- Gamification in Business - America's Army

Prospective students signup using their real data to join the online army to test out their soldier skills in this game. This is a marketing and recruitment tool used to promote the army and engage the prospective soldier. This use of gamification as a business strategy is becoming more and more widespread as a mechanism for customer engagement.  

https://www.americasarmy.com

#3- Gamification in Personal Development- Productivity apps

Below is an article that explores the use of gamification to help you in the arena of personal growth. The app, EpicWin is one that I personally will start using to gamify my personal growth. Gamification in this  instance is like a personal coach or motivational tool to heighten or advance your productivity. This makes it exciting to do the things necessary to help you grow as person.

This month’s course was very interesting to say the least. Before now, we have been writing from our own original ideas and being creative with our own stories. This month we wrote as though we were on a writing staff for a show that was already created and whose world and characters are already established. As a writer I hadn’t thought of writing for shows that already exist. I always thought of creating the show myself. After participating in this way, I can see myself offering springboards for an existing episodic or serial.

Working on something that was not my own creative property offered its limitations but it was that particular challenge of having limitations that was sort of exciting. Having to analyze the show and stay within the parameters already set in previous episodes was exciting. I love creating ideas from scratch and dictating the parameters to follow, however, writing in community with others isn’t so bad. It was refreshing to see new ideas being explored within the format and constructs of the show we were writing for. It was also interesting to come up with the dialogue that brought to life the ideas we dreamed up. The dialogue had to be what the characters would say and the actions had to be what the characters would do while following the structure of the show.