What do I desire?

Give this video a quick look see, it's great food for thought about the happiness one can get in life from chasing money or chasing your dreams.

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Oscars - The Entrepreneur Ball

If one examines the 2013 Oscars event there are both blatant and covert efforts to showcase business-oriented themes all across the board. Themes that can easily double as entrepreneurial ones or in the very least lend themselves to highlighting information entrepreneurial minds should find distinctly useful.

Beginning with ABCs exclusive coverage of the red carpet, there are obvious attempts to push big dollar marketing strategies for a slew of companies and fashion designers. Throughout the hour long broadcast Google, Samsung and Twitter among others are given special mentions and time slots in which to bring attention to their services. Google was granted the opportunity to do a 2012 movie reel, a chance that they utilised not only to bring attention to the talked about movies of the year but to also direct eyes towards Google subsidiaries. Similarly Samsung with their most recent product, the Samsung Galaxy Note II, was given its time to shine alongside up and coming filmmakers entrusted with the task to deliver statuettes to presenters.

Every year the Oscars coverage rakes in millions upon millions of viewers and although Google, Samsung and Twitter are big named companies that already have a substantial fan base or a net of ‘stable’ users marketing is an ongoing process. A process that places emphasis on communication and positioning, as there is the understanding that markets (especially because of globalization) usher in the best profits when saturated. The more information available on a product the more familiar the consumer can become and that familiarity lends itself to fostering dependence. And dependence or need is acknowledged ultimately as a necessity for establishing desirability and later influencing usage or purchasing of the product.

In doing this the red carpet coverage was also able to drive home the importance of strategic advertisement. The red carpet is most famously known for celebrity centered promotional endeavours. Fashion designers endorse celebrity outfitting and makeup to promote their respective brands. As was the case with Charlize Theron (Dior) and Reese Witherspoon (Louis Vuitton), who both gushed about their designers efforts to encourage them to wear their product and ensure awareness spread with every timely inquiry of ‘Who are you wearing?’.

Likewise film and musical projects utilize celebrities for word of mouth advertising. If the first question is ‘Who are you wearing?’ the second is almost always ‘So, what are you doing next?’. A question usually answered by the celebrity giving details on their next movie, album or some such money making effort. Nowadays movies and musical projects are oftentimes fueled by the names of its participants. A Denzel Washington movie is anticipated because of his role simply because there is a well of influence and power gifted to celebrities.

In the same light fashion is almost always associated with trends set by celebrities. It is therefore apt of designers to milk any and all profits that can be made from an investment in a walking and talking billboard or campaign; which is precisely what a celebrity on the red carpet is. Specifically if said celebrity is currently surrounded by a lot of buzz and attention, the gift of power and subsequent influence is only greater.

The red carpet this year was themed, which alongside the aforementioned social media input, led to the display of a recorded montage of fashion designers who detailed early celebrities as inspirational forces behind their various ensembles. The montage seemed to serve two purposes when viewed from a deliberately analytical lens. The first purpose being, to solidify the celebrity centered marketing ploy and secondly to contribute to a message on establishing a brand. In that viewers were reintroduced to only a select group of designers, big names like Vera Wang and Michael Kors, people who have been successful in their entrepreneurial endeavors because they stuck to a particular niche. Wang has never deviated from designing gowns, Kors too from men’s clothing and jewelry, investments that have seen to the solidification of their brand.

Moving on from the red carpet and into the actual ceremony, the opening monologue by host Seth MacFarlane emphasised a unique look on problem solving. MacFarlane is getting into his speech when William Shatner in his famed role as Captain Kirk connects with him via satellite transmission in an effort to stop MacFarlane from getting bad reviews on his first time gig as an Oscars host. Captain Kirk in a show of resourcefulness shows MacFarlane news reports and video clippings from the future that chronicle his efforts as the worst in Oscars history. MacFarlane through a series of trials and errors works his way up to making his speech more dynamic and suitable for the event. MacFarlane’s everchanging efforts, though they are knowingly pre-scripted actions, showcase adaptability and a way with problem solving qualities that are acknowledged as principles entrepreneurs need to hold steadfast to.

The program continues then with the presentation of awards. Oscars presented in the ceremony are only gifted to persons who are being singled out and congratulated for the strength and impact of their work. The awarding system though not explicitly stated is a simple ploy used to motivate those in film to work hard enough to gain acclaim and the attention of peers. Which can also be utilized by new business owners to encourage their employees to channel more effort into their work and delegated tasks. Businesses that are new on their feet might require this system specifically if they are begin small and require one worker to take on more than his portfolio should handle. From actors to actresses to supporting personnel, everyone is given a chance to shine and made aware of their importance to the holistic appeal of the film and the same can be said for the finished product in a business.

The event’s presentation of a short excerpt from each major and minor film, documentary and the like gave viewers the chance to observe themes highlighted by the respective works. Argo was probably the most entrepreneurially geared film as it was centered around a US military rescue mission that required a team of people to make a fake movie to free the captives. The movie’s excerpts showed characters finding and building industry connections, making a plot, designing ideas around a goal and achieving it with hard work and improvisation. The story portrays the establishment of a business plan, chronicles the efforts that go into making the plan work and therefore stood to teach valuable lessons on business construction and a whole host of business principles.

The event’s participants and awardees also did their part to solidify entrepreneurial themes with messages on perseverance and hard work leading to tangible rewards. Several awardees thanked supporting teams for their success, placing emphasis on a support system as the backbone of successful ventures like an entrepreneurial action. Awardees also thanks tiers of people who did their part in completing tasks behind the scenes, which highlights knowledge of strategic allocation of resources.

So the conclusion of the night saw to a well rounded lesson on business and entrepreneurial ethics, principles and attitudes and themes that ranged from practical application and construction to emotional encouragement.

Brainstorming for the Future Entrepreneur

As far as being employed in Jamaica land we love goes, I've gotten my feet wet. Those experiences quickly opened my eyes to the fact that working for someone else is not where I want to be. Not if I hope to maintain said job for a long period of time, I'm much too easily angered to last in that type of a setting.

If I seriously look at it, I simply cannot bind myself to slaving away behind a desk for minimal pay despite maximum efforts. And even though it might not be like that for all work environments, it certainly was for all the ones I was 'fortunate' enough to have been a part of. Which means I am resolutely looking for an alternative.

That decided, the first option that came to me was entrepreneurship. And if that was a plan I was willing to consider I might as well start learning all that I could about being an entrepreneur so that I could start putting in the necessary work and stop wasting energy developing hatred for future bosses.

So far I have three ideas and I'll mention them all so you can tell me which you think would work best.

Idea 1: I know I like the idea of making money from some social endeavour. So I tried my hand at blogging a while back. And, you know, it could work if I can find enough people willing to annoy me constantly so I can make a ridiculously judgemental critique about their person then write about it. 

I'd be a good online Ragashanti. You wouldn't have to waste credit and call in, you could steal net from your neighbour come online and look at my jokes time and time again. That's longevity right there so that must be a good plan right? Well let's hope. (*For the Raga sample click this link: http://iamsimplyunemployed.blogspot.com/)

Idea 2: I thought about the time I entertained the idea of going into the food industry. Even though I have admitted to having very few taste buds (by few I mean if rounded of I'll have a grand total of two) and maybe, just maybe I've done my research well enough there to know you need more than that to successfully make food for others to willingly consume more than once, there should be some reason as to why I can watch so much food network channel with such interest. 

Idea 3: I just happen to be a female and I just happen to like clothes. Not enough to make them match all that well but certainly enough to know I'd enjoy knowing how to make a blouse or two. I'd be even happier to be able to make a business off that skill set.


So, what's your vote?

He Got It Write – The Ken Gordon Story

Gordon’s autobiographical novel, Getting it Write: Winning Caribbean Press Freedom, details his multifaceted pursuits and achievements while giving an endearing story of perseverance and hard work. The novel notes that his first significant introduction in Media came when he was fortunate enough to snag the position of Radio Announcer at Radio Trinidad, 1948. Young Kenneth was a paragon of enthusiastic drive; he set out to learn all he could about the business of Radio Merchandising and used this vigour to propel him to become the first local to achieve directorial status at the station, this being only the first of a long line of accolades.

He went on to become the General Manager of Trinidad’s Chamber of Commerce. During his seven years as Manager he did his part to influence and encourage a slew of local businesses which eventually brought him to his position as Managing Director of the Trinidad Express.

Gordon’s role with the newspaper was a positively transformative one. His role in the Express facilitated an increase in provocative journalism, always in favour of a distinctly local voice. The paper’s new journalistic angle turned a few heads and gained it a few enemies as he sought to stir public opinion in favour of greater Media liberties and flexibility.

In the same breath his decisive actions led to the paper’s steady growth into the Caribbean Communications Network (CCN). The Network went on to endorse the establishment of several newspapers all over the region; giving birth to the Jamaica’s Observer, Guyana’s Starbroek News and Barbados’ Nation Newspaper to name a few.

This regional effort cemented Gordon as a spokesperson for entrepreneurs. He went on to serve as Chairperson and Director for a host of private and public businesses to which he leant his unique understanding of industry to their respective benefits.

1986 saw to the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) appointing Gordon the Minister of Tourism which saw to his service as a Senator of the Trinidad and Tobago government. As a government official he was granted the opportunity to further support a Media and its expression of local voice, devoid of political influence and pressure when he was asked to head a team that would serve to examine Media standards.

CCN, still under Gordon’s leadership, in 1991 introduced the English-speaking Caribbean’s first privately owned television station, CCN TV6 – a move that marked Gordon’s evolutionary business involvements. Involvements that stretched from Cricket to the Commission of Integrity, the latter a body that boasts it’s ‘undertakes initiatives aimed at empowering citizens to engage in the dynamic evolution’.

Changing an industry is no easy task, nor is it quick work. Trinidadian Kenneth ‘Ken’ Gordon spent most of his life and career shifting dynamics in not only his country’s Media and Communications fields but in those of its regional counterparts. His efforts went against the prevalent prejudicial boundaries of his time and went on to blaze a path towards the development of a new standard in freedoms of the press. It is important to celebrate his triumphs as part of a Caribbean Legacy, as part strategic effort to encourage up and coming intellectuals to do the same. Gordon’s lengthy career lends itself to spurring a distinctly motivational viewpoint of what one can achieve with hard work and a goal in mind.