AMA Mission Accomplished

I was apart of the American Marketing Association starting in high school through college. The association has always done great things in my time of being apart. It truly believes in building the generation before them into the best that they can be. I was apart of many programs and it was experiences I can forever take with me. When it comes to marketing jobs there is a very tough stigma. The industry is competitive first and foremost. When companies go through cut backs and economic down falls, one of the first places they cut back is the marketing department.  So as a mission the Marketing Association has banned together and created a solid mission. The decided their mission is to serve as a forum to connect like-minded individuals and foster knowledge sharing, provide resources, tools and training and support marketing practice and thought leadership around the globe.  Their website does just that. Being a member of the association keeps you connected through daily emails and events worth your wild.

The most intriguing part to the industry to me would be the job-seeking segment of them. As a college graduate I was completely nervous to go out there and reach for a marketing position. Its intimidating to walk into and office with a degree and nerves and say hire me! So if you go to their website you will find a career management tab. How awesome is it for a group of professionals and teacher to give back to the community and post jobs advice and trends. These people know the industry. They live in it everyday. So I took the time and searched the possibilities and I noticed they were real opportunities.  Lets be honest how many monster.com sites and job finding sites have you took part in and found some of the most bogus postings.  It even got to the point that I almost was scared to give my information. I still can’t get some of them to stop emailing.

This is awesome to the industry in that it promotes growth. To step back and pull those who love the industry and give them honest guides to seek employment. Like I said before there is often great concern about the security of the marketing world. So to stumble upon this in my research gave me a warm feeling.

If you are out there looking for a job in marketing and don’t know how to go about it take a second and join those of like minds and search a site that has your best interest at heart. 

Steve Jobs Inspiration

I took the time to watch the speech Steve Jobs gave to the Stanford University graduates in June 2005. I was browsing through Ted.com and what drove me to watch the speech of the late CEO I don’t know. I am extra sensitive sometime and boy was I crying and inspired at the same time! Everyone needs a little inspiration so here is what I got for his speech.

As Steve told his story he was very open and honest with the crowd. He adds humor through out the speech to lighten the mood at the right moments. The entire speech was about connecting the dots and he did just that. Every part of the story had a great message. In a crowd full of college graduates he openly admits to not graduating himself. He point out everything happens for a reason. Not graduation was one of the best things that happened to him in that he became a drop in student and pick which classes he wanted to drop in on. This drop in student concept tickled me! It was great for him to tell us how he overcame the adversity of being fired by the company he founded. He reminds us everything happens for a reason. If you love it keep doing it. So he goes on after being fired to create two more companies. He then later reconnects and combined he two new companies to the mix.  This created the powerhouse it is today. He uses that part of the story to say don’t loose faith. If he had gotten down in the dumps he wouldn’t of continued to do great things and take part in what he loved.

So now, this is the part that tore me up. He tells the students live everyday like it’s your last. I honestly felt like the whole speech was a build up to these important words. He goes into detail about his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and how it opened his eyes to appreciate death. “Death is the single best innovation in life, he says”. Coming from someone who recently died, this touch my soul. It should make you live life to the fullest. This is where the positive and uplifting words keep coming. “He then tells you not to waste life living someone else’s life get out there and find your own.” The way he speaks so calmly and positively inspires you. Here is a man who has done these things and found success. This creates trust with the audience. For most of his career he points out he had to follow his heart and intuition no matter what others said. As the camera pans the audience you can see the inspiration.

I must say watching this speech inspired me to trust my heart! Going for my dreams and desires are truly worth it. As a CEO his speech was simple, calm an well put together and I hope the day I tell mine it is as good as his. Something to walk away with and take with you daily should be his closing remark. He said; “Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish”. That was totally a drop the mic moment, no explanation needed. 

womenonthefence.com

A closer look at Dawn Richards

The next few post I would like to take a look a specific artist and dissect their careers. Is there a chance for their career to turn around? Yes? No? Maybe? So today I want to take a look at Dawn Richards. She first hit the scene as a member of the quickly popular group Danity Kane. The group was forced together and soon fell apart.  This group formed on a MTV reality shows produced by P Diddy. She then went on to be apart of another Diddy project called Dirty Money. Her entire career and life has played out in front of the camera. From disappointments in the industry to relationships, the public has been watching every move. She has been very loyal to Bad Boy Records. Until recently, she has gone independent.

A lot of the time all you need is a foot in the door. So taking part in these two groups was an awesome foot in the door.  I also feel like timing is everything. She was way to loyal to Bad Boy. That is her personality. I am sure that will pay off for her in the future somewhere. Now she has broken from a label and gone independent. That gives her so much power right now. In an interview I recently read she openly states, “ This is a risky move and I know it”.  So she already knows she must play her cards right. In this time if I could talk with her right now I would advise her a few things

If I were you and I had been through, as much as she had I would have a pretty hefty guard up as well. But please let it down. I saw in the same interview she is going to use this as an opportunity to tell he story. This will be the perfect time because everyone is waiting to know you and connect with you. Don’t get so caught up in telling the story that you don’t make timeless pieces. Do make songs that connect with people not just tunes that dish dirt. Due to your public romance with your reality co- star “Q”. Place those relationships in the background and focus. Songs that join the independent single girl movement will be perfect for you right now! Lastly put all of your talents out there you are not a puppet anymore. We should see you burst through like an un-caged animal. I can see it. You are talented beyond measure.  This is your moment a new start.  No scandals, just hard work and grind. Very little collaboration at his point is best. Its time to hear from you take a break from helping on others work.

She is in the works of making a turn around. I look forward to her work. Who is Dawn Richards? We are about to find out. 

Lil Bow Wow VS. Justin Bieber

Lil Bow Wow became a huge phenomenon around the age of 10.  Rappers Jermaine Dupri and Snoop Doggy Dog were his main supporters.  Justin Bieber started at his career at age 14 with usher as his number one supporter.  So far that is something the both have in common. The biggest difference is they have two totally different careers.  Why is it that when Bow Wow turned 18 he couldn’t earn the publics respect? Bieber is now 18 and still has everyone attention. I am here to tell you why.  

Lil Bow Wow was never seen without his bodyguard Jermaine Dupri the first few years in his career. He was their gimmick. To the public they were his baby sitters. Who at the age of 10 is seriously a gangsta rapper anyway? That wasn’t his true identity. So when he turned 18 and wanted to be taken serious it was hard. The public was wondering where his baby sitters went. In a clip I found he did a performance looking more like a flash back to Snoop Dog’s younger years.  Trying to mature in front of the camera he forms a relationship with the current new songstress Ciara. Great the publics already wont accept your grown man acts your offering, but you go and take on a woman bigger and taller than you? Why to show masculinity. Then to take his joke of a rapping career further, we find out all his lyrics are ghost written by TI. This for me wasn’t hard to believe, being that his whole career he never had his own identity.

Lil Bow Wow and Jermaine Dupri August 2000 from Google search 

Justin Bieber came out as the 14 year old cutie pie that can sing. This super cute sweet heart appeal was irresistible even to the 30 year olds.  The great thing is it didn’t appear to be anyone else identity. Sure Usher Raymond brought him on but he was considered an artist. Not apart of a clique. So when it was time to turn 18 and transition into a more mature sexy role it was smoother. I my self was driving in my car and heard “Boyfriend” and got a tad flushed. I was so in shocked that he was whispering at me through my speakers with swag. At that point I totally accepted him.

                  Justin Bieber and Usher Raymond November 2009 from google search

If I was working with Bow Wow on his management there are a few things I would of done differently. He would not appear to have a nanny. In the link I provided of Justin in an interview by himself you can see the difference in professionalism and he is all by him self.  I would have never had him go off the grid like he did. He was trying his craft in different avenues like acting, which I fine, but that is where he dropped the ball musically. He had somewhat of an identity already that we semi respected. So, for him to come back with a different one and not allow the public to grow with you in it made it unbelievable.  You can’t have snoop swag when you leave and a Wayne or TI swag when you get back. If he wanted to appear mature he was advised horribly to go date super tall Ciara.  A girl his size and cute would have been better. As well action shots would have been perfect. The shots of those two together are all posed public shots. They were young rich and famous they should of be out doing lots of fun stuff in pictures.  A woman his size will allow him to look like a man. Him and Angela Simmons were perfect. He could have gone without Ciara.Then, next could have had the major break up song. The gangster bad boy persona would have been more acceptable then.

I do accept that the came out at different times but it is the same Idea. If bow-wow had taken these steps he would still have a career and wouldn’t have to settle for being Mr. 106 n Park literally.  Personally I believe coming out before the age of 16 is a short-term career anyway. I would only do it with short-term expectancy. He could have stretched it out if these things were thought about. 

The Hip Hop Cage Match

Its that time of the year again! The BET Hip-Hop Awards are 4 days away. Over the years this awards show has evolved. It was an Awards show that specifically gave tribute to the successful rappers throughout the year. Now it is an award show where all the ex gangsters show up and lets their ignorance hang. So when I say its the point in the year where BET displays ghetto foolery that is what I mean

It’s not just my opinion. This awards show is previously recorded for a reason. You cant even to begin to imagine what ignorance will come about in a live taping so the producers need time to piece together something taste full. I see the hip hop awards as an event that you shouldn’t even dress up for because, you might actually need your tennis shoes to make a run for the gun shots coming.  Being that it is previously recorded news about the fights that occurred has already leaked. BET Hip-Hop Awards shows that the rap game is the new Wrestlemania was a  Headline in the Washington Post. That article was completely on point with my views. Leaked information has told us that rappers Rick Ross of MMG and Young Jeezy had words and physical interactions at the taping. It becomes a problem when the rappers of the game can’t separate art from reality. The swag and the mentality they portray in the music and the videos is not a true lifestyle they live now. It is art a production or image that has been produced. They go to these shows and get so caught up it the image they forget reality.

So from a Public relations and branding standpoint this is ridiculous. Do I want my brand or artist to be apart of this? No. It shows negativity to the young community. When was the last time you saw Beyoncé there or Jay-z? My point exactly they have more important things to do. When the program gets back to the art then maybe I will come around. For now any artist I work with or company I am attached to will gladly watch it in the safety of their home. I watch it for the little attempt it makes to applaud the good rappers of the year. The show last year did display new talent that’s on the platform this year; so that is why I would watch it. In the article it was written “I guess this is what America views as black entertainment in 2012” That Is exactly what I am here to stand against and change.