Put things in perspective

So no one is perfect and there are somethings you may not be able to grasp...but thank God for Google!


Currently I'm doing two entrepreneurship classes (clearly people can see how bad I want to become my own boss, I gave a synopsis in an earlier post about why its my dream but I'll provide my hard reason for it in my next post), so long story short for both classes the final project is to create a "workable" business plan, which will be pitched before actual investors. Both are group projects.


Normally I don't like group projects as major projects but originally I was grateful because due to complications with my university I have a crazy workload, which tips out the average student by quite abit. ( it can be taxing but I have a great support system to help me through it)


For one course I have been charged with the task of writing the 'feasibility analysis.' Never having done one before, I started my research on it (three cheers for Google) and basically its a section of the business plan that determines if it makes sense to continue with your business idea.


At this point, I know what it is in theory, and I've searched and found examples (yay Google) on how to write  one...yet I still am experiencing trouble creating my own.


This stems mainly from a lack of....you guessed it...KNOWLEDGE.


Not knowledge on a feasibility analysis but knowledge on the business we are presenting itself.(mainly because this group has yet to gel as a group and actually get the work done....my dislike for major group projects is slowly beating out my need to share the workload) anyway, now you see the importance of the business plan.


Some people aren't aware of how to create this aspect of their business( the aspect being the business plan)...they may have the idea which they think would make a good business and then to get them started they would hire someone to write the business plan for them (like a consultant)


Personally, and feel free to agree or disagree, writing your business plan yourself helps to make your  idea just a bit more clear and cements it to you...writing it yourself gives you a greater sense of ownership.


Although I say this, if it isn't your strong point, there is no problem having someone go over it with a fine tooth comb  before you try to pitch your idea to investors. My main point is to be aware of what goes into all aspects of creating your company, starting with the business plan, because it can really put your business into perspective.


So be aware of all aspects of your business, knowing how things are done can aid in how to fix surprises that can occur and can be a significant advantage in presenting your business to others.

Money should work for you 2

Money should work for you @Trawling the internet as I'm want to do, like a shark seeking out prey for my daily meal, I came across a rather interesting article  entitled '7 Secrets of a Self Made Millionaire."


The title alone caught my interest...after all who wouldn't want to be a millionaire...we can't all win lotteries....getting your million may need some serious hard work. After the title, my eyes wandered further still...and lo and behold the dark corner of my mind became unlocked by the key of knowledge, when I happened upon the words-" First, understand that you no longer want to be just a millionaire. You want to become a multimillionaire."

Needless to say...that blew my mind wide open...I'm talking wham! bam! pow! Batman style. Of course I wanted to see a million dollars...getting the first million will be hard enough...so now I have to think about getting multitudes of millions...you could blow me down with a feather.

Mainly because....I thought this was obvious!?! Am I the only one...by the time I take my one million...buy the house of my dreams and pay for its upkeep...donate some to charity...shut my eyes and let government rob me of the rest under the guise of taxes....my million is gone...and with it my legacy. 

Let's face...there's no point working hard to accumulate wealth and that's all you do...sit holed up in your tower counting it over and over...watching it grow but doing nothing with it. For those connoisseurs of cartoons, I'm sure we all know SpongeBob SquarePants. 

In one episode, the character Mr. E. Krabs made a wish to be able to talk with money. When it was granted by the Flying Dutchman, he asked the money what it is they wanted and the resounding reply was "we wanted to be spent, we are money...its what we were made to do!"

I'm not saying that as soon as you make money you spend it, I'm saying be wise with your money. Your money should work for you, as much as you need it to work. Being an entrepreneur means sacrifices will have to be made, at least until you can achieve a level of financial security, where your profit isn't being sunk into your overhead expenses and you aren't basically living from pay check to pay check...that's if you are even getting a pay check.

Working for your million and beyond is hard work and you should enjoy the rewards that will come from the  hard work and dedication. Smart spending, and investments can easily aid you in turning that one million into more, just don't become to reckless...after all money doesn't grow on trees.

POEM!!

Be the best you can be 
And let all others see.
Soar to new heights
But don't get blinded by the lights.


Be the king of your castle
Don't let ruling be a hassle
Appreciate what you have
Life can be a blast


Be your own boss
Somethings may present a loss
Just shake your self up
Hooha! Hurrah! Fist pump!


The world is your oyster
You aren't living in a cloister 
Expand your horizon
Know you're one in a million!
_______________________________________________________________________________


Just a little creativity folks. Determination, perseverance, and go getter attitude will take you far on your journey to be an entrepreneur. 


Not every thing will go smooth, in fact somethings will downright fail, and as cliche as the movies have made it, its how you pick yourself up and carry on that will determine how long you stay a failure.


So bottom line, my little grasshoppers, put your best foot forward and keep going forward...you can even sing a jaunty show, and the path to success may not become so daunting..it'll be hard...but not daunting.

Friends or employees.

Keep your friends close...but not as your employees.

 I'm not saying this goes for everyone, you might actually have the healthy kind of relationship with your friends where you can cuss them off-no grudges held, separate your weekend jaunts from business days, then by all means hire your friends.

The reason I'm writing this post was because...(and I'm ashamed to say it because I consider myself to be intellectual on some level-just you know...with bad entertainment choices...) I was watching "Real Housewives of Orange County" (what can I say-I was flipping channels, landed on that one and the remote battery fell out...on numerous occasions heheheh)

In this particular episode the newest housewife for this season is an actress on sabbatical to raise her family, who misses the bustling joys of work..therefore she and 6(yes count it 1,2,3,4,5,6!) of her girlfriends are looking to open a restaurant. 

The new housewife took two of the old housewives who had been there for many seasons with her to a lunch with two of her soon to be business partners, where they met with the owner of a successful restaurant, who gave them advice on how to go about building their business. One housewife is a successful business woman in her own right, running an insurance company.

If any of you have ever watched the show, its really a cat fight with a lot of back story going on. The women always have some sort of beef with each other. So of course when the new housewife asked the other two housewives what they thought about the business proposition, the experienced businesswoman, her thoughts on the matter..."six female friends starting a business...RUN!!"

Ok...while I'm sure that had to do with the fact that they were women more so than friends....friends or family going into business shouldn't be taken lightly. Don't believe because its friends or family that any problems that will arise will be sorted out because at the end of the day who can stay mad with familial blood running through your veins or years of crashing at someones house should get you through the bad times.

In all honesty if you are going into business with family or friends you need to have it all in writing...that's if you are entering into a partnership. If its a case where you are the boss and hiring your friend to work under you boundaries need to be put in place and although this may sound harsh, feelings take a back seat to business.

If your friend is doing a bad job, don't keep them on in hopes that  your friendship will turn them around...fire that sucka.

Family may be a bit more difficult...after all you may have to sit at the dinner table with them after you fire them. 

This can all be avoided though if you employ one of the crucial entrepreneurial skills...communication. This is the part of the business where you shouldn't play poker...lay all your cards out on the table and let your friend or family member do the same.

Let them know what is expected of them, just as you would any other employee you hire, without years of history together. And probably the most important thing to remember...don't compromise your business for  the sake of keeping the peace.

They aren't your friends or family when you hire them, they are your employees or partners and if the well being of the business isn't a part of their agenda, be strong and do what you have to to ensure your livelihood stays strong.

sounds selfish...maybe...but then again your true friends  or loving family members will do their best to see you succeed and it may never come to that. 

Leave your arguments at the door and never bring it to the workplace.

Work on separating the regular life from the work life and you could possibly have a a successful business with your friends or family.

It's a Love Hate Relationship

Have you ever loved something so much you hated it?


Sometimes that is how I feel about the field I'm in. My class executed a press conference today and I can tell you, on one level I was excited to see it come together but on the another level every mistake big or small was just so glaringly obvious to me I nearly felt like a heart attack was upon me.

Picture of Press Conference-Jamaica Tourism Zones

Ok so maybe I'm exaggerating about the heart attack, but it was a severe headache.


Although it was a class assignment and there were 23 other people working alongside me on this project and I was the leader of one team and not the overall project, I feel so passionate about event management that I take it extremely seriously.


I'm not really a perfectionist, because I understand that mistake can happen or unexpected events can occur, but there is nothing wrong with having a plan, double, triple or quadruple checking your plan. I don't believe you can ever be to prepared for anything.


I feel for my boyfriend sometimes, he has a PF (personal finance) blog, what I call being prepared I think he thinks makes me paranoid, because I can become increasingly obsessive with the details sometimes.


My love for this field is so...I don't know what it is, but I think I'm one of those few people who would enjoy being in the same job for my entire life provided its the field I'm interested in.


However as we all know, there is a thin line between love and hate, and my field has the tendency to tiptoe over that line every once in a while, but at the end of the day...it just awesome to have experienced the roller coaster ride.


Quality events don't just happen, they are created. Some things will go accordingly, others will require extra work but at the end of the day seeing it all come together makes the headache worth the trouble.

Picture of Press Packs I prepared with help from my team

Picture from a Valentines Day lounge organized by myself and a classmate, we organized a raffle, a Mr. Cupid to deliver roses and chocolates to the ladies on campus, there was jewelry and cake on sale, complete with areas for people to simply lounge.

I love event management, there really is no field like it. Possibilities are endless whenever creativity is involved, my goal in life is to provide persons with a quality event regardless of budget. So if its $50, $10,000 or higher people should be able to enjoy their event and want to have the memories for it.

What is your goal or passion in life?

Experiences are golden!

I am just beyond ecstatic! Part of our entrepreneurial class at university is to develop a working business plan. Can I get a WHOOP WHOOP!!!


Now, you may ask why is the girl so excited over the possibility of paper work...well ponder no more. Its a step on the path of the rest of my life!! Whether or not this assignment gets an 'A' or a 'F' (although we don't aim for 'F' but who knows what can happen...a 'F' better not though :->) its experience.


That's the most valuable thing you can bring to a business. Unlike employers who want 10-15 years of  tested experience before they hire you(by the way whats up with that? If I stayed 10-15 years at one job I obviously love it and wont be in need of the job you are offering but that might just be me personally) when you start your own business, even if its not a field you have trained experience in, but it's something you do well and have practiced, you can become successful.


Informal experiences are oftentimes the training that sticks with you. I've spent years in school and I can honestly say that most of the book learning lasted only until exams...after that the classes I took are pretty much a blur.


I got the idea into my head to be an event planner from the sheer joy I got from planning my own birthday parties and getting feedback that was positive on the job I did. That's the experience I need.


Creating this practice business plan allows me and others like me to gain better tools for realizing our dreams. I said it before, going to university for three years to get a piece of paper doesn't necessarily guarantee you success but it provides you with guidelines for creating your own success.


My sister and I believe in volunteering for any and every positive thing we could find, paid or unpaid because what you gain in experience becomes so invaluable that it alone can propel you to the place you want to be.


So basically what I'm saying is if you want to be successful try and gain as much experience you can in the field you want to be in. NO MATTER how small or insignificant it is.


I'm perfectly willing to fetch coffee in an event management firm in other to gain some sort of experience, by simply looking at how its done, in order to realize my goal of making an impact in the event management world.


Working in a field unrelated to event management was the worst thing I probably did but I'll save that for my next post.


For right now its all about gaining experience. What experience helps you in your professional life?

Social Entrepreneurship-An Awesome Concept

After my entrepreneurial class, I got the most valuable thing any student could have, a conversation with the tutor. What started out as a query about the presentation we did earlier (which due to technical difficulties didn't come off the way we wanted it to but the show must go on) turned into a two hour conversation which was highly entertaining  and enlightening.

One thing that stuck with me was a term I had never heard before- social entrepreneurship. The reason why it stuck with me was because of the concept behind it is simply awesome!

 Of course I rushed home and immediately started looking up this new term to my vocabulary.

Social Entrepreneurship is recognizing a social problem and employing entrepreneurial skills to achieve social change.

I found this note about social entrepreneurs that kinda of brought it all together for me, its from the "Social Entrepreneurs of New Orleans"- Rather than leaving societal needs to the government or business sectors, social entrepreneurs find what is not working and solve the problem by changing the system, spreading the solution, and persuading entire societies to take new leaps. Social entrepreneurs often seem to be possessed by their ideas, committing their lives to changing the direction of their field. They are both visionaries and ultimate realists, concerned with the practical implementation of their vision above all else.

Okay, while the ending of that paragraph may sound a little obsessive, you can get a better understanding of what being a social entrepreneur would be all about. 

How awesome is that? 

The post before this one was entitled- "It's Not about the Money" and social entrepreneurs don't let money be their guide, its a genuine desire to see a change in the way society operates.

It's being a superhero and your special power is utilizing your entrepreneurial skills for the greater good of society...not only to enhance your life but the life of you fellow man. Up Up and Away!

In case you haven't notice by how I'm raving on and on about this...I'm in LOVE with this concept.

Personally I think every entrepreneur should have a little bit of social awareness aspects to their business... after all you can only succeed if you have some place to succeed. 

One of the traits I can see emerging and that I admire, from my research on social entrepreneurs is PASSION.  Persons who enter into this kind of entrepreneurship are driven by their passion, passion to resolve the issues they are tackling or just plain passionate to see change in the society we live in.

Man, I really want to be one those persons, using my entrepreneurial superpowers for the greater good of humanity. 

As entrepreneurs we have a responsibility, despite what people might think, its politicians who make the rules but entrepreneurs who run the world.

We really are the movers the world.

Click here for the anthem of this post

We, as entrepreneurs, can spread awareness,  promote change and all it takes is dedication, passion and seeing the bigger picture.

Do any of you have something that you are passionate about that you can see yourself employing your entrepreneurial skills to improve?

It's not about the Money

It's been a while since I posted, mainly because my sins have caught up with me and won't give me a moments rest from university. Have you ever had those days where what feels like one really really really long day is actually a week and a half that has gone by?


If there is one thing I can say about university life, it is that it most certainly prepares you for becoming an entrepreneur. While most people look at institutionalize learning as their gateway to acquiring more money-you know...flash the piece of paper that sums up three or more years of your life that informs future employers that the potential pay check you get shouldn't dare drop below a certain amount of zeros per year- when really and truly higher education shouldn't be pursued in the pursuit of more money. The stress isn't worth it.


Higher education should be sought after only if you have a passion for the field. I'm not saying don't go to university if you aren't in love with the field you are going to study, I'm saying it makes it easier if you do love the field.


It's the same with becoming an entrepreneur, don't become one for money do it because you have a passion for the industry you want to enter. The percentage of those who become insanely rich is low, most you can hope for is to become comfortable financially. 


Entrepreneurship is more about passion than monetary gain. It can quite literally take over your life. Investing your passion in to a business is properly  going to be the pillar that sustains your business long after money ceases to be important.


Jessie J and B.o.B said it in their song- Price Tag




Find your passion and you can make it a business. Love what you do and do what you love.

Try What???

Nothing ventured is ever gained.


True words that have withstood the test of time. How do I know...try this experiment...sit in your favorite chair for the day (I suggest a day when you don't have to go to work) and don't venture to do anything...just sit. The goal is to see how much you accomplish.


My Uncle Paul (of no relation) once said something to me that was so profound it stuck with me and I kinda live my life by it..it's my secondary motto.


He said: " Take up a pencil. (Which I did) "Now TRY to drop it..." (Which again I did....nothing happened..the pencil was still in my hand) "See...you can't try to do anything...you either do it or you don't"


There I was, the young jedi, and Yoda's words hit me...of course it would've sounded something like this if it were Yoda-'Try it you cannot, do it you must"


It's not always easy to achieve something, sometimes you try your hardest and you don't succeed. Reality is you failed, don't let the word try become your excuse not to succeed. People have the tendency to say 'I tried..now I give up'


It should be- "I tried...I failed...now I succeed."


If one way didn't work you try another...there's more than one way to skin a cat.


You just have to find the way that works for you.


Nothing ventured is ever gained and you cannot try...just do

*****

-"Stand in the face of danger, as you did on that night, face your fears and shout "DO YOUR WORST" and you will find there is nothing you cannot do."- The Count of Monte Cristo

Dream Chaser

Everyone has a dream. When you are 3 years old your parents job may look so exciting...I wanted to work at a school since both my parents were in the educational system and I went to school and had fun...at that age...nap time was my favorite subject back then. So becoming a teacher seemed awesome.

Then fast track a couple years and one Chirstmas I get a doctor's kit and a whole new world of scalpels and lab coats opened up to me...my parents cut that dream down though...not because they didn't believe I could be a doctor...it mainly had to do with the fact I was constantly chasing my sister with the scalpel...after all what kind of doctor could I be if i didn't have a patient (muhahahahahaha) So I moved onto my next dream... 

Secondary school came (for those with a different system this would be high school) and my love for school was still there but like all great relationships it hit a snag..you know I felt it loved me more than I loved it...I still made the effort to make it work...just...you know..living up to it's standards was harder.

Then I made Head Girl of my school and got a taste of what it's like to have people working under me (prefects) and I knew from that moment my calling in life...to be an entrepreneur.

Of  course..having discovered this at 16 I had no idea what I wanted to be an entrepreneur of..all I knew was that I wanted to be one. I'm a fantastic team player...in fact I love working as part of a team...something about seeing people working together to achieve a common goal makes me feel good inside because it helps me remember that maybe the world isn't a lonely place. However nothing compares to the freedom of being your own boss, making your own decisions and simply taking a look at the final product and knowing...wow this was my idea.

So now I had the base of my dream (to be an entrepreneur) now the second part was much harder...what was I going to be an entrepreneur in?

Not knowing what, I went to college and chose the option that wouldn't make me wear a uniform or business clothes...so I picked Mass Communications ( I now knew two things..I wanna be an entrepreneur who didn't wear stuffy clothes)

Loved the mass comm thing, working the radio station and all that jazz. Wasn't quite what I wanted to do with the rest of my life though. I mean I like to talk but to talk and hear my voice ( as awesome as it is hehe) just didn't make me excited.

So I took a year off to refine my calling and went to work in what I can only classify as a dead end job...nowhere near the field I wanted to work in....and the one  good thing I got out of that experience was that it cemented what I already knew...I want to work for myself.

Then it hit me...what have I been missing all along. I'm a good planner. I planned parties, events, games nights...I just loved to plan. I WANT TO BE AN EVENT PLANNER.

I'm not talking about some little backyard shingdig...I want to plan international events.

Planning for me is like seeing teamwork in action. Every detail, no matter how small and insignificant has a role in achieving the big picture, and I wanted to make it all come together.

So having figured this out, during my year off, I didn't want to waste anymore time...I took a night class in event management at the Hospitality Institute earning a certificate in the field...but I didn't think this was enough, there was still so much more I wanted to learn because I believe laying the proper ground work is the only way to achieve success. So I quit my job and went to university, but alas, not to study event planning but public relations..why you might ask...in one word...money. The university I wanted to study at  was way out of my affordability range...

But the joke was on me..the course allows me to gain so much hands on experience in event planning that I'm in heaven...and am actually glad that I didn't decide to wait about until I could afford to go to the university I wanted...time is to precious to waste, if you have an idea dont wait til you see all the pieces just go for it, the pieces will fit into your plan.

So the moral of this story....if you have a dream, even if you can't see the road ahead take a leap of faith and you may end up on the right path...and if you don't...make your own path and get back to the road you want to be on.

*****

My dream hasn't materialized yet but it will, it's already on it's way. What dreams do you have and are willing to work to get?

*****

"Stand in the face of danger, and as you did on that night, face your fears and shout 'DO YOUR WORST,"  you will find there is nothing you cannot do"- The Count of Monte Cristo

Opportunity Knocks

Knock, Knock!

Who's there?

Opportunity!

Opportunity who?

Opportunity waiting for you!!!!

Can you hear it? The call of the wild? That restlessness in your bones as you put on your clothes for yet another day of working for the man? 

Don't you wish you could just wake and say "Yes!!Another day of working for....(drum roll please)... ME!!

Well why don't you? Close your eyes and imagine you are on a cliff...behind you, where you just came from, the safety of your 9-5 job working for Mr (or Mrs) X...before you...just the edge of a cliff with the clear sky before it.

Which direction are you going to go?

Those who play it safe look at the clear sky and balk..why take the risk? They probably say to themselves-" I have a job, steady income, benefits and time off-why would I ever take the RISK of starting my own business when I've got it going on?'

Those who aren't afraid of life or aren't satisfied with operating by other persons rules in life, look at the safety of their job, say to heck with it, turn their backs on it and jump.

Of course they aren't idiots...they have a parachute...it's called a PLAN.

These persons have the 'kahunas' to become an entrepreneur. They risk it all, taking a chance on their ideas and putting it all out there.

While writing this post, some friends and I were doing an assignment-watch an entrepreneurial movie and identify any material you feel is relevant to entrepreneurship principles- the movie we saw was Wall Street with Shia LaBeouf. 

Brilliant movie- acting, content and entertainment-wise. We had a blast watching and more importantly learning from it...then the movie ended and World War 3 began.

One member of our team thought the character Jacob (played by LaBeouf) was an "entrepreneur," however the argument came when the other two members, myself included, thought that Jacob was really an 'opportunistic investor.'

Without going into too much details our argument became centered around what really is an entrepreneur?

An entrepreneur sees a problem, creates a solution and takes a risk financially to see their solution to fruition...if they are lucky, a million times over.

While watching the movie I wondered (more often than not) why was this listed as an entrepreneurial movie, sure the guy has entrepreneurial qualities and money was involved but I just think he's an 'opportunist investor,' some one who saw opportunity with another's idea and invests money to see that person's product or service to fruition because they see profit for themselves.

Call me crazy, and I might be wrong but for me an entrepreneur is master of his own castle, he controls everything in his business- production of the product or service they created, the cost, the where and the how it will be sold etc.

An opportunistic investor would then for example, see someone produce a laptop, realize that laptops aren't sold in their area, buy or contract the laptop from the person who created it and sell that person's product to make a profit for themselves. He's not really an employee of the person who created the laptop but he's not really an entrepreneur either.

Sure they took a risk..but was it really a risk? Clearly there was a demand for the product..it's why someone thought it up in the first place.

To me the person who sat, thought of the product, its use and design, then created the prototype and took that idea to try and find money, not knowing how it would be received...that person is the real entrepreneur.

Both persons answered the called of opportunity...and I guess an opportunistic investor can be considered an entrepreneur, after all they are making their own money...one just took a bigger leap of faith.

***

This may be a long post but its the introduction to my journey to being an entrepreneur and it's to be continued...cause when I jump, I jump big :-)

Sit back and enjoy and maybe you can find that faith to take a leap on the ideas you have.

***

-"Stand in the face of danger, and as you did on that night, face your fears and shout 'DO YOUR WORST,"  you will find there is nothing you cannot do"- The Count of Monte Cristo