Shark Suggestions...

The show, Shark Tank, is one of the best examples of pitching a business plan. There are many aspects to consider when pitching a business plan, but the main focus of your pitch is to educate your investors on how your product is going to sell and make money. The sharks are only interested in making money. Each shark specializes in a different area, but will invest in any product that they feel will sell and be successful. It is really all about how is your product unique, how much do you believe in your product, what are your past sales, and how will this product make money.

Barbara and Robert are my two favorite sharks. Barbara specializes in Real Estate and is a highly intelligent woman when coming to investments. Robert focuses on technology and is a smart man when considering putting money into an investment. Both sharks have taught me a lot about investing in general, the effective ways to pitch a business plan idea, and what each “shark” wants to hear.

This show and these sharks have taught me that pitching a business plan idea is not always an easy task and things to think about along the way. I’ve learned that for an investor to even consider giving you an investment, you must have an idea that stands out. The sharks always find it interesting when other big companies have shown interest in your product as well. I plan to take my business plan concept and figure out how I can stand out, how I can be unique, and how my product will make money. After conducting research about each of these investors, it has really opened my eyes to determine if my business plan is good enough to sell, survive, and be successful. The sharks have taught me that the most important aspects of your business plan are obviously the financials and how well you present your idea. I plan to take their effective criticism, their advice on being successful, and maybe someday I will be presenting my idea in front of the shark tank.

Shark Tank Experts...

Barbara Corcoran was known as the girl with straight D’s in high school and in college, but by the time she was twenty-three, she had already had twenty jobs. Her twenty-first job was the start of her entrepreneurship and made her one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the country. She started the Corcoran Group with just a $1,000 loan. “She parlayed that loan into a five-billion-dollar real estate business which she sold in 2001 for $66 million.” 

Barbara now contributes to NBC’s TODAY Show where she shares her weekly knowledge in the real estate market. She is also well known on ABC’s reality hit Shark Tank as an investor and shark. Since her time on Shark Tank, she has bought into eleven new businesses and is leading them to success. “Barbara is the author of three books including her most recent, Shark Tales, detailing her inspiring true story and her best advice for anyone starting a business.” She is known as a motivational, inspirational, sometimes outrageous, and tell-it-like-it-is attitude, but is a refreshing approach to success. According to WatchMojo’s interview with Barbara, she looks for a pattern in businesses and here are some things she considers:

“WatchMojo: What’s the common trait between all the investments you’ve made?

Barbara Corcoran: Oh, they have many things in common:

#1, each and everyone of them very high energy,

#2, they weren’t all great presenters, but they all had the right answers to the questions,

#3, they totally believe in their idea,

#4, which is harder to get in a TV form like that organized, I kept trying to say my success guide has got one, two, three as he or she organized, because I think you have to be organized or have a second in command to be organized for you if you are going to succeed in business.”

According to Barbara Corcoran, there are a few things she looks for, “Come on Shark Tank and give us your pitch! Make sure you can sell your product, because if you as the head of the company can't sell it, who will? Also be sure you're ready to answer the two key questions too many of the entrepreneurs who come on the show can't: 1) What will you do with my money? and 2) How will I get my investment back?”

“We all know the dot com industry has had its ups and downs over the past decade. But here's a guy who continually manages to bracket the boom with dollar signs! Robert Herjavec has lived the classic "rags to riches" story.” Robert use to wait tables for a living at a posh Yorkville restaurant. During the initial stages of the dot com craze, he realized that technology was the ticket to serious money. He soon then launched his first technology company, BRAK systems, which is now worth a reported $100 million dollars. He originally sold the company to AT&T in 2000, but that was just a start. He then negotiated another company to Nokia for $225 million.

He now heads The Herjavec Group, a leading IT security and infrastructure integration firm, instead of retiring. “His palatial 50,000 square foot Bridle Path mansion hosts luminaries like Michael Bublé and Mick Jagger. For thrills, Robert jets to a private island near Miami or cruises Yorkville in one of his many luxury cars.”

According to Robert Herjavec, there are a few things he looks for, “First step make sure you need investment – or do you simply need a loan. Most people that want an investment simply need a loan – keep in mind if a bank will not give you a loan – you are going to have a hard time with investors also. They are out there – this is the greatest time in history of concentration of investment capital in cash. Build a great business – everything else flows from that.”

It's... My Moment?! Viral YouTube Queen Rebecca Black is back...

Rebecca Black is back and this time it’s not Friday… it’s her moment! After her smash hit “Friday,” she just released her new “more cutesy” follow-up inspiring pop ballad called “My Moment.” The 14-year-old viral queen is hopefully off to a better start than her previous video. By May of 2011, “Friday” was approaching almost 200 million votes before it was removed from YouTube. Rebecca received so much criticism for her music video being “too cheesy,” but YouTube users fail to remember that every click they make, is supporting her and her work. Even though the music video received almost 200 million votes, the majority of those were “dislikes.” Rebecca stated that she didn’t write the song, used to struggle with all the hatred that people had for her, and is the reason for her new single “My Moment.” It is a song strictly about haters…

“Haters, said I'll see you later


Can't talk to you right now


I'm getting my paper


Said I'm doing big things


Things you never dreamed of


I hope you are happy cause I'm 'bout to blow up”

Tacky?! She’s 14!!! Let the girl live her life! She’s your typical teenage girl living in her fantasy world. She’s obviously making money and doing something right. What can you say about yourself? 

It’s nothing new that any other 14-year-old pop princess hasn’t produced in the past.

I think this new single is a step closer to heading in the right direction, but people are going to dislike her regardless of what she produces. Her last single “Friday” continues to be part of peoples weekend by either changing their Facebook status to those lyrics, posting the video, or tweeting “It’s Friday, Friday… gotta get down on Friday!” Many are glad that the video has been removed from YouTube, but she has gained so much free marketing and promotion through these videos.

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Look At Me Now...

Karmin, “The Little Band with a Big Sound,” continues to gain fame within the YouTube community. Nick and Amy met at Berklee College of Music in Boston, a small town in Old Town, Maine, and in Seward, Nebraska. They then began writing songs together, originally for school projects, before becoming known as Karmin. With a Latin meaning, they chose the name “Carmen” because it means “song” altering the spelling to hint “karma” into the mix. Nick and Amy are becoming very popular within the YouTube community and are well known for their distinct writing style.

With over twenty-five million views in two months, “Look At Me Now” has received some attention on YouTube. Originally a song by Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes, Karmin is known to cover their own version of top hits. Karmin has uploaded over twenty-three cover song videos, ten original song videos, and ten “Random Awesome-ness” videos. According to AJ Rafeal, “Karmin mixes soul and passion into their music with a perfect amount of pop sprinkled on top. Their charisma and charm keeps you glued to your computer screen for hours…”

I think Nick and Amy are a brilliant match. They have a creative style to them and each of their videos are unique and different. Amy also has a unique style to her as well and a voice like no other.  Nicki Minaj? Chris Brown? I think her voice can be inspired by Nicki Minaj and a few others, but she incorporates it into her own style. What about her rapping skills? Yeah, I think she nailed it! Artists like Nick and Amy are on the right track to an even bigger fame with their amount of video views and fan base. Their official website gives you all the news and latest information about them and also gives you information on upcoming appearances, CD downloads, and a link to their store. Check Karmin out here!

All information taken from http://karminmusic.com/ and http://www.youtube.com/user/karmincovers

Last Friday Night...

Katy Perry …or Kathy Beth Terry??? According to KatyPerry.com, “Nobody LIKES Kathy Beth Terry and she wishes she was more popular.” Kathy Beth Terry is an eighth grade girl who is obsessed with the solar system, high school science fairs, Sudoku puzzles, Weenie Babies, Skip It, Pogo Sticks, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, and Hanson. Not your typical “Katy Perry,” but this new video is hilarious! 

It not only brings back memories from your high school/college days, but also relives that retro 80’s look/feel. From one-piece jean jumpers to neon spandex, big hair and jewelry, braces, and big glasses… this music video surely brings back memories to many. Weren’t the 80’s fun? …or just fun on “Friday?” Is Katy Perry, or Kathy Beth Terry, best friends with Rebecca Black now? Katy Perry must have built some sort of relationship with her after receiving the rights to perform “Friday” live in concert and putting Rebecca Black, at blame for the party, in the new music video.

There were also a few other well-known faces to make an appearance in this music video. Where did Kenny G come from? He definitely fits “the look” of the 80’s scene, but plays one mean tenor saxophone. Another familiar face would be Artie from Glee. Who would have fit that part better than him… from the taped glasses to the braces and “nerdy” look, Kathy Beth couldn’t have fell in love with a better nerd.

I think it’s brilliant when artists can step out of character and create a new one to get people talking. Is it a marketing strategy? For people in Kathy Beth’s shoes? Or just for fun? Either way, it was a giant step away from Katy’s sexy, candy land, fantasy dream world. Since Rebecca Black’s “Friday” video was removed from YouTube, I guess there needs to be another song about Friday, that almost everyone can relate to at least once in their lifetime… and I think this video (Last Friday Night… T.G.I.F.) is the perfect fit to take its place.

Lady Gaga Continues to Make History...

Lady Gaga, or Mother Monster, continues to make history. From her music videos to her live performances, album sales, speeches, fighting for equality, dramatic hair and makeup, wardrobe malfunctions, and last but not least her meaningful fashion statements… clearly Gaga was born this way.

She is known as a major force in the music industry selling over eight million records worldwide with digital sales in excess of twenty million. With over 288,000 albums sold its first day, 1.11 million albums sold in the first week, and the fastest-selling album of the year… Gaga deserves to be number one on the Billboard 200. She also just received the Fashion Icon Award at the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards and was named number seven out of the 100 most powerful women.

Gaga is known to be an inspiration to the lives of many and has a passion in life… to satisfy her fans, or little monsters. Gaga is one artist that I can say is in it because she was born with a gift. A gift to perform… and isn’t an artist that leads you to believe that she is only in it for the money. She is truly an inspiration and a gift to the music industry. Her fans also appreciate her for what she stands for… equality. Not many get her style or wonder why she dresses the way she does, but they also don’t understand her story or the true meaning of her fashion statement that still has everyone talking… the meat dress. 

Say what you want about her, but she is brilliant. From her PR to her marketing team along with promoting her image, she must have one of the best/most clever teams working with her ever… who wouldn’t want to work with Gaga?! I would do anything to be part of her team!