Michaelz Mastery

Sharing the journey to Mastery with Brian Michaelz, Music Producer, Artist Manager and Engineer

[michaelzmastery]

Michaelz Mastery

My two constant mantra’s in life are to keep moving forward as well as onward and upward.  Now I stand on the peak of my tallest peak ever as I graduate from the Master of Science degree program in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University.  My course director and Final Project Professor William Thompson told me that 34% of people graduate with a Bachelor’s degree but only 9% will ever graduate with a Master’s degree.  My feelings are intensified by this statistic simply because I have made it, I am looking at my life and reflecting on walking the path to mastery and where I stand today with not only a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Production but a Master of Science of degree in Entertainment Business.

 For those who know my past might not ever believe a moment like today would exist.  Especially dealing with a moment in my life when I died but thankfully there was other and bigger plans set in motion for me.  I fought back, restabilized my health, and followed my dreams of becoming a Music Producer by achieving my Bachelor of Science in Music Production at Full Sail University.  However, my dreams would not stop there, Full Sail University inspired me so much that I continued by pursuing another dream in Artist Management and started my Master’s Degree in Entertainment Business.  

 Believe, be patient, and do not give up.   Yes, Zig Ziglar has been a constant inspiration to my life from a young age and then as a friend after we developed a friendship after interviewing him years later.  He said, “Good things come to those who believe, better things come to those who are patient and the best things come to those who don’t give up.”  I never gave up, it was never an option in my life, I had dreams, I followed them, I had goals, I obtained them, and it has been the best thing I could have ever done for not only my own life but for those that call me husband, daddy, friend and associate.  

 Through the beginning of my Master’s degree at Full Sail I was quickly reminded of an amazing author by the name of Robert Greene. I was familiar with Greene from previous articles and things that I had read from him but never any of his entire published books.  Several of his books were required reading for the course and among them, “Mastery”. I learned many valuable lessons from Robert Greene and his book, “Mastery”.  People have a passion and they pursue it, they become masters based on that passion and love for they do.  I too share in that same passion.  The love of music and the entertainment industry.  Plato once said, Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.”  Music has given me life and kept me alive, it is part of my everyday life such as the air that I breathe. Personal Development and Leadership taught me the ways to not only develop and hone my own unique leadership skills but also those who are included in my own circle of influence.  

 As my path continued and I walked through Executive This Leadership it started to become even more clear that time spent on reflection of who I was and the path that I was on would be extremely relevant to becoming a master.  I learned as I have said previously in other blog posts that time can be a valuable tool. You can attempt to bend it, manipulate it, and people even try to rush or slow down time but the same twenty-four hours exist in each and every day for every single person. This was not only the case for Executive Leadership but for Project and Team Management as well, time is the same for everyone but it is how we “invest” our time.  Many people will say manage our time and that might be fine but I would rather say invest because for everything that I do from this point forward it is an investment in my present or future.

 This path is just another story of my life, my story now includes not only my Bachelor’s but a Master’s degree from one of the most respected media schools in the nation and in the industry.  As my path upward continued, I learned that by telling a story and putting not only a brand to your company but to yourself you are setting yourself up for complete success.  We are looking for build structure, foundation and find those moments that we can enhance our business to provide ultimate service and products to our clients and/ or consumers.  I knew well before I began a business of any kind and before I began my Master’s that the principles of integrity, trust, relationship building and management would be essential to not only my success but to the success of those around me.  I want success not just for myself but for those that I choose to be a part of, I learned that opportunity will knock and sometimes you can be that opportunity.  

 Success can be measured differently but most will associate success with money.  Financials and finance as a whole can be either an exhilarating or terrifying. For me personally money management has been a strong suit for me and my business but the Entertainment Business Finance course gave me a new insight into business financials.  I now know and understand substantially more about Pro Forma, three year projections, and how to apply the money needed to run and operate a business rather than just hoping for the best.  It also gave me the proper insight to talk intellectually with my Chief Financial Officer about things that are going on inside my own business. However, that being said the financial side of a business is never the easy side of business.  There are any issues within the financials that can make or break or break a business but ultimately it begins with one person, me.

 If ultimately the success of my business is to begin with one person and that is me, what is another key to success?  Negotiation, there are so many elements to negotiation and making it beneficial to all parties involved.  Ultimately in my business I do want to make it a win/win situation for all parties involved and find the common ground that will keep people, clients, consumers, etc…coming back to Michaelz Management.

 Motivating other people, and keep them coming back to me. Negotiation, strong financials, but what will keep those people, clients and consumers coming back to Michaelz Management?  It is the name itself, Management.  A good manager is indeed motivating other people and in the case of Michaelz Management it is moving music forward.  In the particular class titled, “Product and Artist Management”, I learned that one of the most important aspects is learned what the product is and how to market it effectively.  This is the case with any business any product, you have to know what you are going to push and who is going to stand behind it along with your business.  It reminded me that I have to constantly think outside the box.  

 The law is there for a reason and the impact was significant. I have always been a law abiding citizen, never in much trouble.  Surely never in any trouble that would require an attorney or time spent behind bars. Advanced Entertainment Law was a real eye opener from the standpoint of understanding and knowing the ins and outs of the law and how it affects those of us in the industry.  The liabilities that are abound in everyday life that can cause our business to fold in a heartbeat if not careful or the simple mistake that could lead to losing a substantial client.  For me and my business there are constant variables, and Advanced Entertainment Law afforded me the opportunity to learn and watch for those variable and for the liabilities that could effect my overall outcome.

 To produce music, distribute music and to publish music. As I said music is my life and as I pursued my Master’s degree I applied all of my daily lessons to the music industry. However, as I navigated the Entertainment Media Publishing and Distribution course, I could not help but think back over the years that I have been alive and how things have changed drastically in the music business.  Even in my forty-one years of existence I have seen the evolution of music from vinyl, 8-track, cassette to the grand celebration of the compact disc and now digital media.  

 Entertainment Media Publishing and Distribution set my mind in motion to always be open to change and how things will change quite frequently, especially in the entertainment industry.  I have to be able to adapt and strategically plan a course of action for those that I will take on as clients as well as those who I plan on catering to as consumers.  It does not mean I will not continue to market my artists in the same way we have for years with live events, production, merchandise, etc, because some things still apply and if it is not broke, don’t fix it.

 A constant message, in the sales world and in business, I was quick to learn my ABC, “Always Be Closing”.  However, in the marketing world it is, “Always Be Communicating”, it is about that constant message to your consumers, to those who are going to be looking at your product because if they do not even look at your product how will you ever expect them to buy your product.  I ventured into the aspects of Google Analytics, Search Engine Optimization, and the ways to always be communicating.  If I learn to keep that message constantly moving, then I have managed to gain success in a key aspect of business.  I also gained the knowledge that listening is just as important if not more important than communicating.  Live your product, learn your product, and listen to those who might want your product.  

 As I have always been a good listener the previous remarks came easy for me through the Digital Marketing course but then came time to begin thinking about reaching the top.  Business Plan Development.  After all this Master’s degree program is all about a business plan and putting plans into motion.  Many years ago, I had a sales manager tell me, “make a plan, work a plan”.  I listened to him that day and it was one of the days that changed my life and things have never been more clear in relation to business as a whole.  

 Learning all of the various aspects of a business plan was at first glance a bit agonizing.  I truly felt overwhelmed by the daunting task of putting together an entire plan for my new subsidiary business.  Learning the ideas and thoughts behind angel investors, crowdfunding, aspects of the small business administration and the other valuable resources that are available to me as a business owner were very encouraging.  It reiterated to me that all successful businesses, “make a plan and work a plan”.  

 Now with the tools in my tool belt and as I stand atop my peak, a graduate from the Master’s degree program at Full Sail University, I reflect back on so many lessons and realize that again my brain seems overwhelmed. Overwhelmed at the fact that I did learn so much, overwhelmed that I now have to apply all of those lessons learned, overwhelmed at the fact that it is now time to actually, “keep moving forward”.

 Passion, as Robert Greene once said, “to not follow our passion is a recipe for failure and unhappiness”.  I for one do not want to live a life of failure and unhappiness.  I want to continue to follow my dreams, achieve my goals, and allow my passion to turn into expertise, or mastery as Greene reiterates in his book, “Mastery”.  I am here, I have reached the end, No I take that back, I have reached just the beginning of a new journey.  I have been taught, I have been given tools and now it is time to live life as a Master, living my life with the passion I breathe daily, and to lead others toward my product by living, learning and listening.  Today is mine and I have chosen to keep moving forward.    

[michaelzmastery]

Making a Master, Master Made!

The path to mastery is often a very long, unfinished path in which you study, you achieve and you eventually become the Master but your journey continues.  Over the course of the last year of my life, I have not only begun the task of making a master but now I am faced with the final project.  I am standing in front of the largest stepping stone that I might have faced on the journey only to remind myself that I must keep moving forward.  

 I imagined when I received my Bachelor of Science in Music Production that I would immediately jump into the world in which I had not only been a part of for so long but now achieved a degree acknowledging “mastery” of a subject.  However, that journey was but a launching point for what was soon to be the beginning of my Master’s Degree in Entertainment Business.  

 So what led me to even consider continuing education, to consider moving forward with a Master’s Degree, to continue learning more about the “Entertainment Business”?  Passion, it is what leads so many to follow their goals, their wildest pursuits, their dreams.  Along the path to Mastery, author Robert Greene was a vital part of the curriculum and in a interview once conducted with Forbes Magazine Greene stated, “Not only do I believe passion can turn into expertise, or mastery, I believe it is absolutely essential.”

 Robert Greene confirms it, passion is part of the key to mastery, he reminds us that we should follow our passion in life and to not follow it is a “recipe for failure and unhappiness”.  I have personally been involved in the entertainment and music industry for over 20 years.  Greene reiterates, “To really become an expert or master requires the infamous 10,000 hours or 20,000 hours-perhaps the difference between being a chess master and a grandmaster.”

 So there comes a time when you have to re-evaluate the hours, the dedication, the learning and assure yourself that your steps to mastery have been everything you expected or wanted them to be with regard to your life.  I began to look at those hours, my time invested in my craft, my passion, my career.  As more and more people do this exact same thing, people find authors like Robert Greene and his book, “Mastery” a vital component to their library and tool belt. In another blog that I stumbled across while browsing and the blogger happened to interview Greene regarding his book and they together give readers, “12 Keys to Becoming a Master of Your Craft.”

 So what are the “keys” to becoming a master of your craft?  Pay attention to incredible opportunities, having the right attitude, realizing that you are unique, be engaged with your work, realize its never too late and give yourself a killer education.  No these are not all twelve of the keys but the highlights surely tell a tale of how to become a master.  

 I have always ben one to answer the door when opportunity knocked, my attitude by far is in check that nothing will stop me and I will keep moving forward, Yes, I am unique and there is not another Brian Michaelz by name or personality, I have always been engaged with my work and passions, and even sitting at 41 years old and just now finishing my Bachelor’s and Master’s degree, no it is never too late, and finally Yes I did get a killer education because Full Sail University has been the answer to my prayers and given me everything that I could want or need.

 So now here I reflect and I sit, I have been working, learning and making a “Master.”  My passion has not waned, I thrive on the excitement of the music and entertainment industry.  I look for new ways to be involved and to get involved, I am Brian Michaelz and I am Michaelz Management and I am Michaelz Media.  The Master is made, well it is such a strong word, but with two degrees from Full Sail University and the knowledge that I now have as part of my tool belt, I can safely say, the journey is complete and now I take my next steps to start the next one.  Life is always a journey, full of stepping stones, never any obstacles and I will keep moving forward.  Thank you to all the Sailors, the Master’s and those who walk the path.

[michaelzmastery]

Join or Die...

Coming together for a common goal, business development, economic development, financial gain, all of these things are very relevant in the business world.  These topics are even more relevant in the course known as Business Plan Development as I am on the final steps of the path to mastery at Full Sail University. It has been an amazing journey walking from personal insight into leadership into financial understanding, branding and of course the development of our actual business plan.  

 Benjamin Franklin once said, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” This is certainly true, even more so when it comes to businesses and building a company from the ground up.  There has been so many enlightening topics on what will make a business successful and what element will make a business successful as we move through marketing, branding and securing certain aspects of our business but it has to begin with a plan.  

 I have always been the type of person that believes you should make a plan and work a plan.  So many businesses have an idea, it all starts with an idea, but do they plan off of the idea?  Do they take the initial idea and plan all of the business development off of that idea or do most people just fly by the seat of their pants?  

 It takes us back to Benjamin Franklin’s quote, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.”  It cannot be said enough, people need to understand that is they do not plan out their business strategies and ideas then they are indeed planning to fail. So many businesses are flying by the seat of their pants and what happens to those businesses? They fail, they do not succeed, they end up in bankruptcy court fighting for every last cent that they have and possibly selling everything off including that initial idea.

 Benjamin Franklin at one point in his life tried to create a unified government and with that created a headline of “Join or Die.” He wanted to bring together only thirteen colonies for a “Plan of Union.” His plan failed and those 13 colonies did not come together under his plan.  It could even be seen today that businesses come together to build a more perfect union of financial contempt and again, “Join or Die.”  However, we still feel compelled to fail in this plan because so many businesses fail to plan and instead plan to fail.  

 We could learn so much from those who stood before us. My original goal for the Business Plan Development was to learn more about developing an actual plan for my business and I have actually accomplished just that.  I now know more about looking at the actual business plan and building a plan from the ground up regarding my business in every aspect.    In the beginning I might have thought for a minute that I understood what a business plan might actually be but I was mistaken, I now understand that there are so many more levels to actually making a plan and working a plan in business development.

 I now understand as I more forward that I will not plan to fail but rather build a plan that will ensure the success of business and those who entrust their careers in my company as well.  There are many things that are up to me but again my failure to plan means I have planned to plan and that is not an option in my mind. Business Plan Development and Full Sail University have given me valuable tools to help ensure my success for the future, but much of that success is up to me as a person.  There are no obstacles only stepping stones, onward and upward, keep moving forward.  

[michaelzmastery]

Make a Plan, Work a Plan

Every successful project, event, and business begins with a plan.  Just as businesses change, times change and the way we look and evaluate plans are changing.  So what does it take to make a plan and work that plan?  What are business investors looking for when they look at that plan? As I travel down my path to mastery, I am evaluating these topics as I am looking into the final pieces of the puzzle and polishing the pieces of my business plan.  

 Entertainment Business Master of Science and all that is has to offer is extensive and collaborating so many elements together to finalize a business plan allows you to look at the plans you have made for yourself and your business.  A few people I have researched and looked into their advice is Angel Investor John May from New Vantage Angel Club Firm and also Ellen Rohr and Tim Berry who are Business Plan Development Experts.  

 John May is the President of New Vantage Angel Club Management Firm, his investment model stresses on group investing, through which, he attempts to change solitary high risk ventures into a collective effort.  

 One of Mr. May’s interesting concepts is when it comes to start-ups, May looks at business plans and the actuality of whether or not it is even necessary for the companies to have an actual business plan when meeting with potential investors.  John May’s thoughts are that business angels are shying away from the 40-page documents and “going towards people.”

 Mr. May also hints at the ideas of crowdfunding for start-ups and how many business angels are not receptive to the idea.  John May quotes, “Should the public be able to invest in high-growth start-ups?” This is how crowdfunding could affect start-ups and a business in general.  

 It certainly gives a business owner many things to think about in the digital age as business ideas are changing.  Not only are the business ideas changing but the way we are conducting business as a whole is changing at a very rapid pace.  

 Ellen Rohr and Tim Berry are Business Plan Development Experts that continue to be an invaluable asset to many entrepreneurs in the business world.  While Rohr and Berry are different than May in regards that they are Business Plan Development expert rather than Angel Investors, they firmly believe that a business plan is needed to develop a truly successful business. However, that being said they also agree that the process should not be long and tedious. Tim Berry believes that you plan as you go, lean business planning, simple streamlined and revise as you need. It’s an on-going process not something you do once and file in a drawer somewhere.”

The important thing Rohr and Berry want most for entrepreneurs to consider is, “ the business plan is less for investors and outsiders, but more for the entrepreneur.  It can be the map that guides and entrepreneur along their journey.”    

 I think the most important thing for me to remember us that as times and the world changes I need to evolve and change with it, embracing new technology but still embracing what has worked so well in the past.  After all, if it works, don’t fix it, I do believe that a business plan can be a valuable tool for my journey to a successful business.  It’s a journey none the less, and I have to keep moving forward. In order to do that I have to make a plan and work a plan.  

[michaelzmastery]

Making Marketing Magic

It becomes a combination of the most thought out, magical strategies that a business owner can devise.  You are practicing magical marketing alchemy, you strive to purify, mature and perfect every aspect of the message that you are delivering in every marketing thought.  It is a process where your thoughts and message become the power behind your business.

 As I continue to walk the path to mastery and embark on the journey through Digital Marketing, my goal was to become more knowledgeable on marketing aspects that I had been lacking proper instruction. It is understanding that terms within the marketing industry are more than words they are the vital ingredients in which to concoct the marketing formula for success.

 Search engine optimization, analytics, key performance indictors, terms often heard in major marketing campaigns but what is this magical terminology and how does it apply? Reading through websites, learning on the job are also key components to understanding marketing but also being taught the proper use of these magical terms and understanding the way in which they work becomes a whole new world.  

 It is understanding that by learning how to best utilize your thoughts and messages to stand behind or in front of your business you are given new tools for your tool belt. It could be told a million different ways how to market your business, but maybe the most magical marketing moments are the ones in which you remember to focus on why you are marketing in the first place.

 There could be so many tips or points of advice given in marketing.  Marketing is reaching out to your bigger audience, putting your message, your product, your company in front of those who need your message the most.  Increasing your brand awareness and establishing your presence is a vital part of any marketing message.  These are a few of the things I have learned through my first several weeks in Digital Marketing.   It is understanding what search engine optimization, key performance indicators and analytics actually are and how to use them to the benefit of your business.  

 When your building a business it is ever so important to remember to build bridges.  Build bridges with those that first of all will help you build your business, your employees.  Zig Ziglar once said, “You don’t build a business you build people and then people build the business.” It is also important to understand that as you continue to build those bridges remember that the bridge to your client, your customer is one that has to be built and maintained.  It is about relationships with clients, prospects, and employees.  They are all vitally important to the company, listen, pay attention and think about those in your circle of influence and listen long enough to understand the needs and wants of those around you and your business.

 There are many contributing factors to making marketing magic, but it comes down to remembering that every business has a reason that they are in business.  Remember what your message is and delver that message to everyone around you and expand the circle constantly.  It is knowing that your message has the power to make or break you, but if your message and thoughts never extend past your door then you are powerless and losing sight of the path to success.

 Live, learn and most importantly listen.  There is much to be determined just by listening, and a business can thrive by understanding these key factors to marketing.  Each person either who owns, manages or markets the business will understand how to make the formula differently but it is important to understand that without attempting to make it happen nothing will ever come to fruition.  

 At Michaelz Media and our new subsidiary it has come down to knowing it is, “Your Message, Your Music and Your Media.” We continue to build that formula with our management company and push our message of, “Your Message, Your Music, Your Management.”  We are a company that wants to listen to the wants and needs of our clients, our artists and those that put their trust in our hands.  So we continue to make marketing magic and now we have the ability to refine that formula thanks to Digital Marketing and a little place called Full Sail University.  It is a journey and the path to mastery continues to be lined with gold.  All the best and keep moving forward.

[michaelzmastery]

Let the Music Go...

We have become prisoners of our own demise.  We have continually stood on the shoulders of giants to build the next great piece of technology and in the meantime what have we done to the entertainment industry? Many will argue the fact that technology has led to the downfall of the industry while there are others that remain on the other side and fight to stand on the side of might is right and technology has enhanced every aspect of our industries existence.

 Over the years we have seen so many advances from not being able to record to being able to record to vinyl, 8-track, compact disc, the digital format and with every advancement we continued to say, “That’s Great, it’s fantastic.” Meanwhile, as we continued to hone our skills in the industry we have to remain focused that this is still a business, the entertainment business.  There is still a financial side and repercussions to advancements. We were excited with the release of the compact disc, the MP3 player, but behind the scenes what were these advancements doing to our industry.  

 We are now having to think outside the box and strategically plan new revenue streams for artists, bands and those in the music and entertainment industry because we can no longer generate proper substantial revenue streams off of music alone.  The days of standing in line at your favorite music store for the release of your favorite artist’s new album is no more. It has become the world of instant gratification, when we hear of the album dropping, we run to our favorite web browser, software application and we download for a small fee and instantly we now have it added to our digital collection.  

 Why has it all changed, why have we become prison guards standing guard over music and become so dominant over something we love so much.  Our love and passion for music has not changed, everywhere you turn people are still listening, even more so.  People are plugged into their favorite device be it their iPhone, Android device, iPad, tablet, laptop, desktop or otherwise, listening to music.  Streams on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes and other streaming sites are reaching all time high numbers of people streaming their favorite artists.  

 However, do the research and do the math of how much the artist is getting for you to stream and listen to their music via that nice advancement in technology.  The artist can now not even afford a stick of bubble gum based on you streaming their latest release.  Reality check, numbers add up, sure and with enough numbers and enough streams it all will accrue to something worth while but at what cost?  How much did it originally cost the artist to go into the studio to produce the album, to pay the producers, the master engineers, the additional people behind the scenes, and the list goes on.  

 Let the music go, let’s get back to the time when we supported music and we bought what we wanted. We purchased the entire album, we gladly purchased concert tickets every time that the artist came close enough to see them in person, and while we were there we bought the shirt as well.  It is a new age, a digital age with changes and advancements that are only going to keep changing.  Support what we love, music makes the world go round, it continues to build bridges, it communicates when we don’t speak the same language, and it moves us in ways we will never understand.  Let the music go, let it move you to always support those that work so hard to move you.  

I have learned many things on my path to Mastery this month as I traveled through Entertainment Media Publishing and Distribution.  I have learned that the many channels to distribute your music, your media are indispensable and abundant across the great technology that is the wonder of the internet.  Many might interpret that this post is anti-technology and that is so far from the truth.  I am actually very much a tech savvy guy with a love for the advancements of the world, but I am also right in the middle of an industry that is continuing to find it’s place in this digital age. 

I also find myself as a Producer and Artist Manager with priorities and concerns for my artists, bands and others that I work with on a daily basis.  I will continue to think outside the box for their and my own revenue stream.  However, I will continue to support and encourage others to support music in all forms and especially in the physical form.  Remember we are all in this together, united we stand and divided we fall.  All the best and keep moving forward. 

[michaelzmastery]

As Above, So Below

The way we look at things regarding the law and the way the law has evolved over the years is fascinating. Theodore Roosevelt once said, “No man is above the law and no man is below it: nor do we ask any man's permission when we ask him to obey it.”  The way we visibly see things in relation to how they actually are is another concept all to itself.  

 In my travel along the path to Mastery, Advanced Business Law made its mark in such a way I never expected.  As I researched various case studies, probable liabilities and the laws of the entertainment industry I began to see the just how different people see the different laws.  I began to understand more about the meaning of as above, so below.  

 The way people see certain laws and the liabilities behind it versus the way the actual laws are enforced are based on perception.  Perception is reality, and yes the laws are the laws but in the mind many people do believe that they are not breaking certain laws.  People who have been found guilty in the court of law for copyright violations honestly believed they were not doing anything wrong.  People who have downloaded pirated music and software and have been found guilty have similar experiences believing they are innocent of any wrong doings.  

 In the world in which we live we also find a interesting component where the law breakers exist. Those that know they are breaking the law and as long as they are not caught are content with breaking the laws that were written for one reason or another.  The people who will look toward the sky and see things as they are knowing that the laws are there protecting the rights, intellectual property or physical being of another and there is blatant disregard.  Are there no repercussions for the disregard of the law?  

 As I have found this month, there is liabilities in life on a daily basis pertaining to business and life in general.  As I continue to build my business plans, my life in general I will continue to look at these liabilities, look at the details of my events, my management company and everything that may be covered my umbrella company.  It is imperative for me to not only protect myself but also protect those that have come before me and have worked so hard for their own intellectual property, assets and otherwise.

  I will always pay respect to the law, always realize I am not above the law, neither below the law. Realizing that what my actions or lack thereof not only just affect me but could potentially affect my clients, my roster of artists, my employees, and more within my circle of influence. It goes back to as above, so below, paying attention to what is above me and knowing what is below me.  In closing I will leave you with a final thought again by Theodore Roosevelt, “It is difficult to make our material condition better by the best law, but it is easy enough to ruin it by bad laws.” Whether we think a law is good or bad, once it is written it is written, and law is a law. We are not asked to obey it; we are expected to obey it.  Protect yourself, protect your business and as always let nothing become an obstacle, keep moving forward.  

[michaelzmastery]

Moving Music Forward

By all standards music is a product and within that same realm artists are the people behind the music.  Lee Iacocca once said, “Management is nothing more than motivating other people”, this could actually not be more true.  As my Path to Mastery continued during the past month, I traversed the mountain of Product and Artist Management.  In my quest for knowledge this was in all honesty one of the courses I looked forward to the most for many reasons.  

First and foremost, as I finished my Bachelor of Science degree, I knew I wanted to compliment my Music Production Degree with an Entertainment Business degree but more importantly my I saw my plans of being a Producer and Artist Manager coming to fruition.  Learning the in’s and out’s of Product and Artist Management it was truly about learning what the product is and how and who to market to effectively.  It was also about learning the most important aspects of the management of artists.  

When it comes to music and the music industry which is what I have passionately grown a part of we understand that music is a part of everything.  It is indeed the product that is the aspect that needs managed and the artist is the other half of that equation.  If Lee Iacocca is indeed correct with his thinking that, “Management is nothing more than motivating other people”, then it can be concluded that we are motivating people to move music forward.  It can also be concluded that as an artist manager we are motivating people to move their careers, their dreams forward.  

In the entertainment and music industry we are constantly striving to move forward.  It is a quest to think outside the box to find new revenue streams to manage the products that pertain to artists.  In addition to the actual music, we have merchandise, technological advancements such as websites, social media, and the list goes on.  We have to continue to think strategically when it comes to the artist, their tours, guest appearances, media tours and other items that require management.  

You really begin to understand not only Lee Iacocca but also Grace Murray Hopper because Hopper said, “You manage things; you lead people.” It honestly is about managing things which are products and in my case music, and leading people which in my case are artists.  It is about moving music forward.  Striving to overcome the stepping stones that try to become the stumbling blocks in an industry that is filled with stones of multiple sizes.  It is also about overcoming adversity and being able to move in a industry that is diverse.  

As I close this month, I feel that the past few weeks went quicker than other courses.  Maybe because I wanted it more, possibly because I was hungry for the information.  I cannot help but feel motivated myself and I am reminded of one final quote by John Kotter, “Leadership defines what the future should look like, aligns people with that vision, and inspires them to make it happen despite the obstacles.”

The only thing I would change is that in my life, there are no obstacles again only stepping stones.  In my immediate plans as a Producer and Artist Manager, I will lead my artist roster by aligning myself and my artists with others in the industry with a successful vision.  I will strive to inspire them to make their dreams happen despite their stepping stones and constantly encourage them to keep moving forward.  It’s my life, my dream as a Producer and Artist Manager to keep music moving forward, onward and upward.  

[michaelzmastery]

In All Things Negotiate

I have often said that that negotiation is a fine art and negotiation is a vital part of our communication skill set.  Communication is key to any relationship and in building any relationship we will establish communication and often times we will build this relationship and communication through some time of negotiation.  

 Whether it is a new place of employment, new career path altogether, a raise, maybe it is a new position within your company, or believe or not even establishing a new relationship or love interest we do all of these things by negotiation.  On the path to mastery over the past few weeks Negotiation and Deal Making has proven to be a course that instills me with the confidence and knowledge to be a skillful negotiator and deal maker.  

 Even in my career up to this point and my education in the school of hard knocks could not have taught me the valuable skills I have been given over the past few weeks.  Being able to prepare myself with tools such as game theory and being able to prepare myself for the negotiation for a win/ win situation.  What about BATNA and WATNA, to the common person or looks like a couple of jumbled letters, but of course it is the “Best Alternative To A Negotiated Agreement” and “Worst Alternative To A Negotiated Agreement”.

 I now realize that in life it goes without saying whatever you may want in all things negotiate.  If it is that new position, raise, new relationship, new car, or new home, negotiate and work to make it a win/ win for both sides.  I now understand more about true appreciation and how that appreciation for my opponent in a negotiation can give me the upper hand in the negotiation not to win per se but to show the appreciation and to let them know that they are appreciated and make it more of a win/ win scenario.  

 I understand that by finding the common ground with your opponent you are binding your affiliation between each other.  You may both be parents, car lovers, or sports fans, and with that common ground or affiliation you are bringing together your relationship, which closes the gap in the negotiation process.  After all negotiation and making it a win/ win is truly based on the relationship.  

 Your ability to negotiate is based on your ability to connect. I do believe this in more ways than one, not only on the basis of affiliation or appreciation, but also in communication, and in all things.  They say that life is about give and take and to some degree it is, but when it comes to negotiation and given the proper tools it can usually become a win/win. There are no walls or obstacles, unless you build them, build bridges not walls.  In all things negotiate, all the best and keep moving forward. 

[michaelzmastery]

The Road to Success is Not Paved At All

A month in the world of finance, pushing numbers, reading reports analyzing business and overall analyzing my own business, this was Entertainment Business Finance at Full Sail University for me Brian Michaelz.  It is now the end of September and my brain hurts, I am not quite sure if it is a physical or mental hurt, if it is physical fatigue or mental anguish. However one thing is certain, I am now more educated on business finance and analytics than I was four weeks prior.  

 I have heard many sayings about the road, the road is paved with good intentions, the road is paved with gold, and the road is paved with stepping-stones.  For my personal path to mastery the road is not paved at all, it was filled with crevices, bumps, potholes, stepping-stones, ruts and you name it and you might find it on the road.  It was far from smooth but if you carefully navigated the road map and traveled the road with ease it could be traveled.

 There are many roads that can lead to success but often times it happens to be the road less traveled. I have found a certain peace in an old friend who has for many years been a constant source of inspiration and wisdom, Mr. Zig Ziglar and he encouraged me with three vital lessons on the road to success. The importance of being one person, whether you are with people or by yourself always be the same in front of people or behind the scenes.  To always be a good person, and to be an original person, show people what you can do but at all costs never be hypocritical in your character.  

 To what degree do these roles and Entertainment Business Finance play a part, simple, it is about the ultimate success of your business.  It is about running a successful business based off the most important asset in your company, YOU!

In the last four weeks, I have gained valuable and useful knowledge in bonds, assets, stocks, risk management, depreciation and again how to analyze business.  However none of this valuable knowledge can be utilized if I do not start with putting myself on the path to mastery and success and realizing that I am in control of my overall finances, putting the money to work for me, establishing and securing my credit, including improving my overall credit score, and securing my business to keep it from bankruptcy.  

  No the road to success is not paved, it is one of the toughest roads that someone will have to go through but Entertainment Business Finance has given me the tools to navigate the ruts, stepping-stones, pot holes and other obstacles that might hinder my business and success in the long run.  Everyday is filled with new choices and the bottom line is two choices either to be a success or to not be a success.  To be failure is not an option. I will choose to keep moving forward and I will be one person, I will be an original person, and I will be a good person.  All the best.

[michaelzmastery]

Making Music and Making Money with Michaelz Management

HELP! I am a businessman and have found a certain realm of success in the business world as an employee of course but also a business owner of my parent company Michaelz Media. As I am walking my path to Mastery in my Masters degree program at Full Sail University and preparing to launch my new subsidiary company Michaelz Management I find myself in a new exciting course Entertainment Business Finance.  Did I say exciting or terrifying?  Help I read music not reports, I push buttons on a Mackie, Presonus, Allen and Heath or Soundcraft board not numbers.  However, I now find myself in a world consumed by numbers, analytics, profit margins, and sales.  

 This world is not foreign to me as I mentioned, I am a businessman, I am a salesman, I have been a part of the world of commerce since I was 15 years old.  When you enter the world of the working class whether you want to realize it or not you become a sales person.  You have to sale something everyday, you must first and foremost sell yourself.  You are a priceless commodity, but people that you deal with on a daily basis have to buy you first before they any part of what you are selling whether it be a product or service.  They want to know the person they are dealing with, the person behind the product or service and the person that is going to be there in the long run to sell them the product or service again when they need that product or service again.  

 For someone who might not have a clue where do you begin?  What if you do not have Full Sail University, or a class such as Entertainment Business Finance?  We all have to start somewhere, unless you are born with a silver spoon.  It boils down to taking the time to do some simple research and learn the language of finance.  As they say walk the walk and talk the talk, obviously it is more than that but understanding what the reports mean when your Chief Financial Officer is talking about when they come to you and tells you that the third quarter projections are down 30% and the overall horizontal analysis for 2014 and 2015 will be up 25%.  

 Reaching out to discover a personal finance blog, a business podcast, or even an introductory book on finance is not going to hurt anyone either as I found in these amazing ideas from Donald Latumhina.  It also returns back to you as a businessperson, or as a business owner by making a plan and working a plan.  Reverting back to your original business plan of course but even more than that.  Always evaluating your course of action or business and implementing new programs to increase business leading to an increase in profits.  By evaluating your business you will begin to see the importance of planning, working and even budgeting.  Yes your budget can make or break you so never underestimate or for that matter overestimate your budget.  

 It is a strange world out there but it is a world that I want to get to know as well as I know my audio and digital world.  I want to push the numbers as well as I push the buttons, and I want to read the reports as well as I read music.  Making music and making money, it is all coming together with Michaelz Management, our newest subsidiary from the creators of Michaelz Media.  Onward and upward.    

[michaelzmastery]

Making Magical Momentz

The moment when things start to click, when the proverbial light bulb turns on, and sparks fly, when an idea comes to life. Along the path to mastery, Storytelling and Brand Development was an amazing look into building a company’s brand and developing the story behind it.  As a entrepreneur for several years, it was an exciting look at how to enhance my current brand, evaluate my back story, and build upon my brand identity.

As we look to the future as masters of our field, we look to the moment that we can make magical moments, the time that we can spend to develop the assets that will ultimately make our business a success.  We look for the little things that will help us build structure, foundation but we also look for the monumental moments that will enhance all that we are doing to achieve mastery on all levels.  Storytelling and Brand Development gave me insight to look at the foundation, structure and gave me the monumental ah ha moment that will continue me on my path to mastery and success.  

 As our parent company Michaelz Media has continually grown over the past five years we have seen upward growth and development, we are now afforded the opportunity to develop a new division and subsidiary in Michaelz Management.  Michaelz Management is our artist and talent management company that will focus on artist development and will ultimately include services such as brand identity development and implementation, marketing, and opportunities such as the ones that I have encountered over the past four weeks have allowed me to fine tune my skills that will allow me to be an asset to my future clients, customers and those that will entrust their careers to Michaelz Management.

  Integrity, trust, relationships, and management, we keep moving forward.  We are a diverse family with passion and commitment to providing outstanding products and services.  This is our mission, plain and simple but it is more than that, it is everything to us, people are taking that trust and instilling in us as a company, as a family and as leaders in the future of the entertainment industry. The future belongs to someone and that someone is Michaelz Management.  It’s that magical moment and we are the company that will be making magical moments for many years to come.  Your Message, Your Music, Your Management.  All the best and keep moving forward.

[michaelzmastery]

The Displacement of Time

We live in a world, a digital world, a world where our digital devices have become as relevant as food and water.  Reviewing a recent TED Talk by Abha Dawesar titled, “Life in the digital now” confirmed this exact thought.  The numbers are staggering regarding digital devices and their use.  As of October 2014,  64% of American adults own a smartphone, 90% of American adults own a cell phone, 32% of American adults own an e-reader, 42% of American adults own a tablet computer. This is just the statistics for America, estimated world numbers as of 2014 of active cell phones are 7.3 billion.  

 Ms. Dawesar spoke of Hurrican Sandy crippling New York City.  People were scurrying around for electrical outlets to plug in their electrical devices as much s they were for the water and food I spoke of previously.  What have we done to ourselves?  As Abha mentioned, “How does one live inside distraction?” Honestly isn’t this exactly what the majority of our time become in our digital devices a total distraction from our real world?  

 It has taken us away from real communication.  When was the last time you picked up a friend to just go have lunch and have a meaningful conversation face to face not on a device, not via text, but face to face.  Better yet do you have a friend or are your “friends part of the 976 “friends” you seem to have garnered on your social network?  I cringe at the thought of having someone read a map today, not to be stereotypical or close-minded but especially a millennial because the days of reading a map are gone, now you type an address into your GPS and SIRI, or Google tell you the directions with exact play by play precision.  

 Ms. Dawesar reflects on “Things happen in the time they take, time can’t be fought because it will pass and move.  We owe the present moment our attention, attention is time.”  She spoke of a time when she wanted to learn how to be a better cook and her Grandmother took her into the kitchen for over a month to teach her this lesson.  Instant gratification cannot be something that is embraced as a part of our life but sadly it is.  

 There is so much we can learn from Abha’s TED Talk, several of the key things I took away from her talk were, “Time is not data it cannot be stored,” And finally “Choose to take time back.”  Indeed even though digital technology has allowed us to store memories in databases and timelines, time itself cannot be stored, our stories can be changed and for that matter should be.  Technology if we allow it will consume us and as Ms. Dawesar mentions will become part of our identity.  

 So many are known by their screen names, by your email address, or your social media alias.  Is it not important to get real, step back into the real world to communicate, to share our feelings face to face not by hitting the “share” button?  To tell someone you like something without hitting the “like” button.  

 Digital technology is a great advancement trust me, I am a great advocate for everything it has done and continues to do.  I have seen so much it has done especially for the entertainment and music industry and I love it.  However, I will not let it define the industry or define me. I want to get back to living life with a purpose, and paying attention to time.  As Abha mentions, “the digital world cannibalizes time,” maybe we are better off if we take Ms. Dawesar’s advice and “Restore the flow of time instead of fragmenting it.” Maybe we could all learn a valuable lesson from Abha’s inspiring TED Talk, “Life in the digital now” and we can all take a moment to respect our precious time, the real world and those that are actually in the past, present and the future.  The time is now.  

[michaelzmastery]

Time as a Tool for the Master

You can try to bend it, shape it, manipulate it, you can even try to make it go faster or slower but no matter what you try you will still only have 24 hours in any given day of any given year.  Time is very unique it is something that I learned to truly grab a hold if this month and work with as a valuable tool to add to my tool belt as I walk my path to mastery.  

 As I look back over the past several weeks and reflect on Project and Team Management, the one thing that weighed heavily on every aspect of every assignment and every project was indeed time.  It is a part of everything, it is a part of our daily life, it is a part of our individual studies, our team projects, and as I look back and begin to reflect on the biggest element of the class I find that nothing is made possible without applying the proper time element.  

 I learned one of the most valuable lessons this month, which was the timeline and establishing a timeline. By adding a timeline to virtually everything we do in life, we can establish certain parameters and boundaries by which we can gauge the success of a project or assignment.  We can establish the things in life that need to be taken care of and how and when they need to have the trigger pulled to be successful.  

 By learning that same timeline I was able to establish budget and staffing parameters and I now know and understand what it will take to truly implement the necessary groundwork to launch my new management branch of my media company, Michaelz Management under the umbrella of Michaelz Media.  

 I have also been able to reflect upon the aspect of the possible negative aspects of time to a business.  These “negative” aspects include conflict issues but on the flip side, time investment allows for resolution and it allows for a company with a solid timeline and structure to put policies and procedures into place to avoid the pitfalls that might cause the demise of other businesses.  

 A stable and solid timeline and the understanding of time and timeline can be the different between a good businesses and a business in the throws of bankruptcy.  Failure is not an option but I have also learned from some very important people such as Zig Ziglar and Donald Trump, it is not about actually failing it is about picking yourself back up and about how you handle yourself when you do fail.  

 It boils down to one thing for me invest time in my business.  If I invest time in my business by establishing parameters, timelines for projects, budgets, staff, policies and procedures then I have invested the foundation for a successful business.  If I continue to see time as an investment rather than just management, it will continue to reap the reward of an investment and give me a return.  

 I continue to walk the path to mastery, and invest time into my future.  I have already started to reap the rewards of those investments and so I keep planning, keep investing, and I keep moving forward.  It really is about making a plan and working a plan and if you can continue to climb over the stepping-stones that crowd the path you will find that success can truly be yours.  Just remember everyone measures success differently.  All the best, onward and upward.  

[michaelzmastery]

The Leader In Me

There are some that say leaders are born and not made.  However do not be mistaken, leadership traits and characteristics can be taught, they can be learned.  I personally feel that I am the type of person that has had the privilege of developing my personal leadership skills from several categories or levels of leadership.  

These categories or levels of leadership are best described by John C. Maxwell, best selling author, speaker and global trainer of over 6 million leaders in over 185 countries.  I personally believe I was born with certain leadership qualities, that I have seen leadership modeled through my life.  I have had the privilege of learning added leadership through training from people such as John C. Maxwell, Zig Ziglar and various Chamber of Commerce leadership-training seminars.  

This level of leadership would be the leading leader, and has given me the traits and self-discipline to become a great leader.  Would I necessarily call myself a great leader at this time?  I have had moments to highlight my path to leadership; I have led successful sales teams, fundraising teams, radio programming staff and a small business venture.  However, I continue to learn and grow which at the same time is another characteristic trait of a leader.

As I continue to learn and grow as a leader, many of the most prominent traits of a leader discussed by John C. Maxwell stand out as traits that resonate within me as a person and as a leader.  First and foremost, I stand firm that I am a man of integrity.  I want to always be a man that my children and wife can always be proud of, someone that is the same in any circumstance.  I never want to put on a façade to anyone regardless of the situation.  Integrity leads back to my other key traits and issues like credibility, dependability, honesty and more.  So without doubt as Maxwell explains integrity is the most important ingredient in leadership.  I am proud it holds such a high place in my own personal values.  

Another one of my own personal leadership values or traits that I attribute to my own vision of leadership is relationships or people.  I have always strived to develop the best relationships with people and to develop the best teams I can when working with people.  I feel there are many ways to accomplish this, first by listening; amazing things happen when we listen we begin to understand. 

Second, I encourage, I want people to know and understand there are stepping-stones but keep moving forward.  Lastly, I get people involved, people for the most part want to be involved and want to be an active part of the organization or they would not be there. People are important, make them feel as such.  Zig Ziglar once said, “You don’t build a business, you build people and then people build the business.”  Relationships are a key to all aspects of our lives, both personal and business related. Build successful and strong relationships and you will continue to build a strong life.  

I want to continue to lead and one thing that I feel will keep me going on my personal path is vision.  I have always maintained a vision, a vision for my personal life as well as my business life and a vision for the things that are most important to me, those that I love and admire most.  If I did not have vision, I would not have been able to accomplish the many different goals in my life that I have been able to accomplish thus far. Without vision I would continue to try and find the path that I need to be on and wonder where I am going and how I am going to get there.  

I am a leader; I have vision, relationship/ people skills and integrity among other traits.  I know what I want to do and will make the plans to accomplish the goals set forth for my life and those whom I choose to surround myself with in love and profession.   I will grow, learn and change as well as lead with the best of my ability in all things to benefit others and myself.  

John C. Maxwell continues to build leaders and teach traits and characteristics of leaders.  One trait that really continues to stand out and resonate with me especially from his book, “Developing the Leader Within You” is Influence.  I want to always be that better leader and be a leader of positive influence and something that really hit home, especially being a father of five and now raising five year old twin boys is the poem, “The Little Chap Who Follows Me”.

 A careful man I want to be,

A little fellow follows me;

I do not dare to go astray

For fear he’ll go the self-same way.

  I cannot once escape his eyes.

Whate’er he sees me do he tries.

Like ME he says he’s going to be –

That little chap who follows me.

  I must remember as I go.

Through summer suns and winter snows,

I am building for the years to be –

That little chap who follows me.

As I mentioned I continue to grow, learn, and change and add more leadership traits to my value list.  It build upon my qualities as a leader, I have many eyes that watch me not only as a leader but also as a person.  I have to be the best that I can be, in all things.  I fix my eyes on the future and as one of my fellow leaders and people of inspiration Rick Rubin once said, “I don’t look back very much.”  I will continue to maneuver the stepping-stones and I will keep moving forward.    

[michaelzmastery]

Brian Michaelz Mastery Timeline

This is my Mastery Timeline. My name is Brian Michaelz a Music Producer and Audio Engineer. I hold a Bachelors Degree in Music Production and currently enroll…

[michaelzmastery]

Inspiration for the Week

"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything." ~ Plato ~

Plato could not have said it better himself, this quote from the famous philosopher does inspire me.  Music was different in the days of Plato but it still seemed to move people the way it continues to move people today. 

It continues to speak when we cannot communicate, it builds bridges when there are none to be built, it brings together cultures, and as Plato says “it gives a soul to the Universe, and life to everything.”

Life to everything, without music what do we have?  Music moves me, music motivates me, music is everything to me...

To all of those in the industry...

Keep Making Music and Keep Moving Forward >>>