(Courtesy of Sample Business Plans.com)

Businesses are created almost on a daily basis. People with different ideas and perspectives create their business plans on the next "BIG" thing. However, what components are needed to create a successful business plan? Well, today we will hit on that topic, by giving some great tips from two business plan development experts.

(Courtesy of Timberry.com)

The first business development expert is Tim Berry. Mr. Berry graduated with a MBA from Stanford University. He is the founder and chairman of Palo Alto Software and bplans.com.  He taught "Starting a Business" course at the University of Oregon for 11 years. He has a blog that focuses on starting business. To view his blog, click here. His website timberry.com gives advice to future business owners who need help building their business initiative. Last, but not least, Berry is an angel investor for start up businesses. On timberry.com, Berry illustrates the main key components that investors are looking for in a business plan.

Berry's Top 2 Key Components business investors are looking for:

1. Be realistic

The business plan must be realistic. Berry discusses the importance of being able to implement your business plan objective. It is important that it can be achieved. He states that, "business owners do not get points for ideas that can't be implemented"

2. Be specific! Track your Results!

The business plan must be specific. Berry discusses the importance of tracking task, deadlines, budgets, and metrics.  His website hints at the importance of being able to track your businesses progress. A good business plan with trackable data increases the chances of investors wanting to invest in your business.

Both key components are critical because they are two major issues investors find when looking at business plans. Berry specifically discusses the importance of being realistic with your plan and being able to track the success of your business.

(Courtesy of Inc.com)

Next, we have Guy Kawasaki. Kawasaki is a special advisor for Motorola business unit for Google. He also served as the chief evangelist at Apple Computers. He received his BA from Stanford University and a MBA from UCLA. He has written 12 books that have dealt with the business strategies, business plans, and pursuing goals in business. If you would like to see some of the many books he has written, head on over to his website listed here.  However, we will focus on his key components to help new business catch the eye of investors.

Kawasaki's Top 2 Key Concepts business investors are looking for:

1.  Put the right stuff in your business plan!

The business plan must have the right stuff in it. Guy explains in his blog that a new business plan should focus on the following aspects:
-Executive Summary
-Problem/Opportunity
-Unfair Advantages
-Sales/Marketing
-Competition
-Business Model
-Forecast
-Team
-Status

Guy discusses the importance of having these elements to have a strong foundation to pitch to investors.

2. Write deliberate, act emergent!

The business plan should be written deliberately but be flexible to changes. Guy stated the importance of being very deliberate when pitching and writing a business plan. It is important to go all out. Even if you are wrong, be deliberate. However, guy did also mention the importance of being flexible. He stated the importance of being able to make changes that are critical to the industry and market. When an industry trend takes place, make sure to change that to reflect on your business plan.

Both tips from Guy Kawasaki reflect the importance of understanding your plan and adjusting as followed. To pitch your business plan make sure that it has accurate and updated material. Make sure that it also has the basics covered in the business plan.

(Courtesy of chrislocurto.com)

An effective business plan must follow the above tips that were provided by industry experts Tim Berry and Guy Kawasaki. If the above tips are utilized effectively, they will stand out to investors. The above tips are key components that are critical for investors.

References:

http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2012/01/how-to-create-an-enchanting-business-plan-officeandguyk.html

http://timberry.com/about

http://timberry.com

http://timberry.bplans.com/2009/02/some-key-questions-on-business-plans.html

http://chrislocurto.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Business-Plan.jpg

http://samplesofbusinessplans.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/business-plans.jpg

http://www.inc.com/uploaded_files/image/575x270/Guy-Kawasaki_pan_20835.jpg

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm back with a brand new Destiny's Child edition of new music releases!!! These lovely ladies have been on FIRE on this past year!!! The only thing better would be a complete DC reunion. Billboard named Destiny's Child ranked them as one of the greatest trio's of all time, the ninth most successful artist/band in the 2000s, and finally they rank number 68 in its All-time Hot 100 artists in 2008. So without further a due I give you new singles from the ladies of DC!!!


Beyonce:

(Courtesy of cdn.theatlantic.com)

She is the most successful and well known member of the group after their separation in 2005. She has starred in movies such as "Austin Powers: Goldmember", "The Fighting Temptations", "Dreamgirls" and "Obsessed". Her first album "Dangerously in love" was released in 2003. Since then she has released four other albums including her self-titled surprise album that was just released earlier this year.  Her new song partition is absolutely amazing!!! Between her vocals and the bass in this song it is sure to be a song at party this summer!! Check it out below:

(Courtesy of Vevo/YouTube.com)

Kelly Rowland:

(Courtesy of ynaija.com)

Since the disbandment, Kelly has also appeared in movies such as, "Freddy vs. Jason", "The seat filler" and "Think like a man". She released her debut album, "Simply deep" in 2002. Along with rapper Nelly, she produced a worldwide #1 single "Dilemma". In 2007 she released her second album, "Ms. Kelly" and in 2011 her third album, "Here I am". Rowland was one of the four judges on this past season of the X-Factor. Her fourth album "Talk a good game" was released earlier in 2013, with the hit single "kisses down low". One of her favorite songs off her new album is "I remember". It has a great beat and her vocals are absolutely amazing. I say work Ms. Rowland work!!! Check it out below.

(Courtesy of Vevo/YouTube.com)

Michelle Williams:

(Courtesy of blackcelebritygiving)

She is a singer/songwriter, model, record producer, actress and now owns the WNBA team Chicago Sky. Williams released her first album, "Heart to yours" which became the top selling gospel release of 2002. In 2004, she released her second gospel album "Do you know". After Destiny's Child disbanded in 2005, she released her first pop album, "Unexpected" in 2008. Currently, she is making a return to inspirational music with her up and coming album "Journey to freedom". The lead single of this album, "If we had your eyes" features Fantasia. I don't think I can think of a better single to lead off her album. Both women do a fantastic job with this uplifting, inspirational song. Check it out below!

(Courtesy of Vevo/YouTube.com)

In my only hope for a Destiny's Child reunion, I give you a bonus song!!! Beyonce and Michelle joined Kelly in the studio and recorded "You changed" to be apart of Kelly's album "Talk a good game". So without further a due, here it is ladies and gentleman;

(Courtesy of Vevo/YouTube.com)

"Music is a powerful thing. A song can change your mood. Make a memory. One song can change your whole life".

Have you ever sat back and thought how influential music really is? Have you ever listened to a song that made you change your mood, whether in a good way or bad way? Do you even notice that it affects you? The real question is how do lyrics affect our behavior, mostly in our younger generation?

When I was younger I listened to mostly pop. My first hip hop cd was "Country Grammar" by Nelly. I remember one or two students had the parental advisory versions, however I only had the edited version.

(Courtesy of Amazon.com)

I always wondered why I had to be the one that couldn't hear the actual lyrics to the songs. Now looking back I can understand why. For a kid in the fifth grade a lot of the actual material and even words were not appropriate for a child my age.


Many studies have been done about how the different genres of music affect our behavior especially in teenagers. "Rap and heavy metal have especially been characterized as having a negative effect on teens". After truly thinking about it I can see why. Rap lyrics when looked at closely deal a lot with sex, drugs, alcohol and violence. Heavy metal lyrics also have a lot of these similar topics. But let's take this to a whole other level. Yes, rap has been talking about some of these topics for years sex, money, alcohol, violence, the urban lifestyle. Some of today's artists are glorifying these topics.

(Courtesy of Api.Ning.com)

What's even crazier is that in just the last 30 years is violent juvenile behavior crime has jumped by more than five hundred. Teen suicide has tripled and unwed teen pregnancy has increased immensely (United States Senate, Committee on Governmental Affairs, 1998). Now this is not just music, it is the media as a whole in general. However, today's teenagers spend about four or five hours listening to music and/or watching it on television and online. So it would be hard to believe that music is not a big influence in children's behavior.

I don't really believe that some artists realize how much of an impact their songs have on the younger generation. However, rapper Kid Cudi has recently come out and addressed this issue and he's making a very good point.

"I think the braggadocio, 'money, cash, hoes' thing need to be deaded. If your gonna be an artist, there's a time where you just have to embrace the responsibility and understand that the power of music is something so special. And to be able to do it on this magnitude where you reach millions of people. It's like why not use that for good? Why not tell kids something that they can connect with and use in their lives?" Cudi said on a recent episode of the Arsenio Hall Show.

Whether Cudi's statement will have an affect on other rappers and artists in general, only time will tell. Until then we can only attempt to monitor what our children listen to and try to explain to them that the meaning of these lyrics are not always positive or right.



References:

http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/type-music-child-listened-affect-way-behave-19821.html

http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/certain-music-genres-affect-teens-17466.html

http://www.positivemusicassociation.com/resources/article_lijequist1.htm

http://www.policymic.com/articles/85497/kid-cudi-thinks-hip-hop-could-save-kids-lives-if-only-rappers-took-this-advice

Listening to music is the universal pastime for billions across the globe. The different sounds and genres resonate for millions to hear. However, in the world of music, a battle wages on. 

In fact, this war has caused many casualties in the fight between entertainment lawyers and the impact the digital landscape has on them and their musical artist. 

The music industry has changed so much. In fact, many dramatic changes have taken place recently. . According to an article entitled "Digital Explosion Changes Landscape for Entertainment Lawyers", this new age of digital media has made a dramatic shift in how music is being marketed. For example, CDs are soon going to be extinct. In fact, history has already shown how quick technology can eliminate past commodities. For instance, the predecessor of CDs was tapes. Now Cd's will soon become the predecessors to digital platforms. 

However, what can entertainment lawyers do about marketing their artist's work? Physical copies of cd's are no longer the buzz for teenagers or adults. With the demise of CDs, there has been a decrease in revenue for cd sales which means major record labels are slowly but surely losing money. 

So what do entertainment lawyers, artist, and musicians focus on to market their work? It's simple, digital media. New technology has made music simpler and less expensive to create. Social networking such as Facebook, Myspace, iTunes, and YouTube have made it very simple to get music directly to consumers. 

However, what does that mean to the job security of entertainment lawyers? Well, the subject has caused a huge divide. According the the Digital Explosion article, not all entertainment lawyers are embracing the change. One entertainment lawyer, Courtney Coates stated, "the digital medium has impacted the time, place, and manner in which we experience all forms of media, especially in music." If entertainment lawyers are going to survive in this industry they must learn the new trends to better equip themselves to the times. 

What do you think my fellow bloggers? Has the digital landscape had a tremendous impact on entertainment lawyers? What opinions do you have on the situation. 

Although the Online News Association isn't an urban entertainment news article, it has a tremendous impact to the success and motivation to this site.

Actually, because of trade associations like this, new media and digital media have learned to flourish with the every growing trend amongst youth today.