Monthly Post: February - A Time of Love... and Research. Mostly research.

Quite frankly, I didn't remember that we needed to have 3 answers at least for our presentation until rather recently. So um, if any junior is reading this, don't do this.

Regardless, I can't change the fact that I'm slightly struggling to cover all 3. My 10-minute presentation really did cover everything I thought of, and once I summarize things (which is what I did for my 10 minute presentation, which is funny because I didn't even hit time then), I struggle to put the details back in.

Still, I'm pretty sure I'll get back to my feet.

In other news, I have discovered a very wonderful published journal for my topic called 'Music Trades'. It's a journal that's basically tailor made to my topic, in that its main focus in on the music retail business. Yipee ki-yay? Absolutely. More than I imply in this blog post because text doesn't really carry tone that well.

Now the problem is that this journal is not very easily accessible using the Cal Poly Database, which is a darned shame because Cal Poly Database had served me alright up to this point. I'll have to arrange some crazy Document Delivery thing in order to get the journals I want, which I plan on doing hopefully very soon.

Or, maybe I can just try to log in into Ebsco Host Connections using User ID and Password from another library. I can try that. Either way, let's see what happens.

Blog 16: Advisory Meeting #2

Essential Question

What is the best way to profit as an independent music store?

Answer #2 (Write in a complete sentence like a thesis statement)

The best way to profit as an independent music store is to be knowledgeable in both your products and business.

3 details to support the answer (a detail is a fact and an example)

- A good part of a music store's customer base are fellow musicians and prospective musicians. In order for you to be able to answer their questions, you must know what you're talking about. If someone comes in searching for a reed for a bass clarinet, then asks you which size to get, you need to know why the size would matter in order to help the person.

- A music store is a business, and running a business always has some legal complications attached to it. So, know your legal stuff. Know what paper works you'll need to file and your rights as a vendor and your customers' rights as a customer.

- A business has many factors that could affect it, factors like the national economy or your location. So, know these factors. Know the neighbors you're dealing with when you locate your store here. Know what your competition is doing right and wrong. Know your customers and their wants and needs, so you can fully accommodate them.

The research source(s) to support your details and answer:

"Demographics And Destiny." Music Trades 161.7 (2013): 120-124. Academic Search Premier. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.

Majeski, Brian T. "The Shifting Definition Of A "Music Store." Music Trades July 2013: 22. Academic Search Premier. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.

POPYK, BOB. "How To Compete With The Internet." Music Trades 161.11 (2013): 68. Academic Search Premier. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.
"How Tastes And Technology Are Transforming The Industry." Music Trades 161.3 (2013): 50-68. Academic Search Premier. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.

Concluding Sentence
Knowledge is power. The more information you have to work with, the more advantages you have.

Blog 15: Independent Component 2 Approval

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

More business workshops. Maybe another college class. Or some music product reviews.

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

For workshops and classes, I'll scan up papers and/or transcripts. Music product reviews, I'll post the reviews on the blog.

3.  And explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.

The workshops and classes can give me further information to operating a business, just as the small business workshop and the leadership classes did.

4.  Post a log on the right hand side of your blog near your other logs and call it the independent component 2 log.

Blog 13: Lesson 2 Reflection

1. Positive StatementWhat are you most proud of in your Lesson 2 Presentation and why?

I really liked the point I've come to as I was making this presentation, that while business is mainly a numbers industry, it's also a people industry; it's important to keep up the relationships you have with the people in your business, especially in operating a music store.

2. Questions to ConsiderWhat assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 2 Presentation (self-assessment)?

AP. I didn't hit time (really disappointed there, but what's done is done), but I think I covered everything else.

Blog 14: Independent Component 1

LITERAL

I, Regina Ongowarsito, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.

My sources are my class's textbook, Leadership in Organizations by Gary Yukl, and the host of the Small Business workshop I've attended, Robert Usher.

Link to Independent Component Log

For my independent component, I attended a college class called Leadership in Organization, where I learned the different types and aspects of leadership and which would work the most effectively in certain situations. In addition, I also attended a workshop for small businesses in Chino.

INTERPRETIVE

When I was in the workshop, I took notes along the presentation and gathered information by asking questions. I've covered my work in the workshop on my monthly blog post for October, linked here.

As for the college class, not only did I take notes, but I also did research into leadership styles and studied for the exams. This is a link to my dropbox folder for the class. This is to my transcript.

APPLIED

The college class and the workshop benefited me differently.

The college class helped me understand something about business that isn't so apparent: Business is not just a numbers industry; it's also a human industry. When most people work, regardless of the field, it's often with other people, and the importance dynamics between these people cannot be underestimated. It could make or break your work flow.

For example, as a leader, you might end up in a situation where you must influence your subordinates. In the case of a music store, perhaps you need to convince an employee to take up a shift he doesn't really want. There are different ways you could influence him: You could force him to take it, threatening to fire him if he doesn't. Or you could discuss with him what might convince him to take the shift. Maybe for his finals week, he can have more flexibility with his shift. Or he could get something from the music store for free.

My college class taught me not only the mentioned solutions, but also how while all of them might work, not all of them might create a good relationship between the leader and the follower. Bribing or threatening someone tend to increase compliance, while discussing the issue together with the worker tend to increase commitment. As a leader, it's better to have commitment from your followers than compliance.

As for the workshop, I decided to attend it as I felt that I need more knowledge concerning the business side of music store operations (at that time, I've only been covering instrument care). It proved to be fruitful, as I learned great tips for business strategies, regulations, and financing. For example, to successfully run a business, planning is key. Understand your demographics and create your advertisements accordingly. When picking a location for your store, be aware of local competition and the potentials of  a location. And do NOT start a business without a financial plan; if getting a loan, at least secure it first before getting the business running. There are many things to consider when running a business, and for the business to work, you must be able to keep up with everything.