Only by the Grace of God!

It's November 26th and I'm sitting here finishing up my posts and replies. I stayed up till way after midnight working on my powerpoint presentation for this class, and then worked on my marketing plan some more. I know we were supposed to be done already, but this has been my most stressful semester to date, and as a strange coincidence it is my last semester at RSU. If it wasn't for understanding professors like Dr. Gray, Chinburg, Carrey, and Uzzo, I'd be taking this semester again due to my poor performance thus far. You know you take pride in your work, at least I do; that's how I was raised. But then things happen that deny you the satisfaction of saying "I really did my best on that project." It's been one of those semesters when I'm barely hanging on from the moment go, and now at the finish line I'm stalling. It's only by the grace of God that I'm finishing this semester and my degree on the 11th of December.

I do plan to actually start Intelligent Design Studios in January of 2010, and several have already lined up to record in the studio. Several have already approached for music instruction sessions, as I will be only opening up a certain number of available slots upon startup. The first release of Gospel Groove Records will come out around this time if not before, which is nothing more than a band project that I began in 2001 and has been sitting since, waiting for post-production and mastering. GrapeTree Books will start up slowly with minimal buzz, as we start to accumulate a collection of book and audiobook offerings. Dr. Chinburg was right when she said that I would only really have time to research one aspect of my company, which was the mobile and inhouse recording studio. I had no clue how much was involved in pulling all this together, and especially for three classes at the same time. It's all getting convoluted to tell the truth, and at times I feel like striking a match to the whole thing. At least I can be assured of one thing; when it's over it's over, and I'll not only be graduated, but I'll have realtime valuable information for starting my first venture. Now, I'm going to put the finishing touches on my marketing plan and turn it in, hoping she takes it late. It's not the way I wanted it to wrap up, late or barely ontime, but that's life. One of my favorite quotes comes from John Lennon who said, "life is what happens while you're busy making other plans." Now I better get crackin' so I can go join go back to enjoying my thanksgiving. I've got some serious rasberry pie waiting at the parents house, and it won't last long. God bless you all, and I hope you have a great thanksgiving and rest of the year.

A few facts

"For every legal download on iTunes, there are 100 illegal downloads."

"Approximately 35% of all cd's sold are Illegal."

Because legally downloaded is copy protected, buyers feel that their rights have been infringed upon. Copy protection keeps them from transferring files from their iPods to other devices, and vice versa. "This consumer perception of the unfairness of copy protection may encourage further use of illegal downloads and file sharing."

It's a hard market right now, but it gives great possibilities to the individuals that can innovate and create sustainable value. I hope that one of those individuals will be me.

Maximizing impact

I was very excited to have the chance to work on my studio project for 'Marketing for the Entrepreneur.' When I found out that I needed to pick a group project for 'Marketing Research' class with Dr. Chinburg as well, I pitched my studio project again. My group is conducting research on how to properly market to the area, and what the consumer is looking for in a studio. I then found out that I had to do a business analysis in Carrey's 'Strategies and Policies' class, so you guessed it; I pitched this baby again, and talked my group into taking it on. Now I will have marketing research completed, a complete business analysis, and marketing plan for my proposed business start-up. I guess you can say I'm utilizing my resources. I'll take it any way I can get it. I hope everyone's projects are going well. There's a lot more to this than I originally thought.

Troy

Marketing for the Entrepreneur

I will be doing a marketing plan for Intelligent Design Studios. What!? You've never heard of it before! Ohh sorry, that's because I made it up out of thin air. Actually it will be my first entrepreneurial attempt starting now. It is among other things, a music recording studio and independent record label. I graduate this semester, and am ready to begin my career by doing a business startup. Risky I know, but that's why I chose this degree. No risk, no gain; big risk, possible huge gain. Good luck in this class everyone.