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About Me
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My name is Marcellus aka Blkspades. I am an aspiring artist (mix engineer, performer, audio production engineer, DJ) that wants to achieve great things. I am very passionate about being creative and expressing my creativity through my work. My experiences thus far in life should help guide me through this journey of self-discovery as I venture upon the unknown within the audio/music industry. I hope to meet and work with like-minded individuals who want to create something incredible to share with the world.
Intention Statement
In July of 2025, I completed my Bachelor's degree in Audio Production. I enjoyed the program so much, I made the decision to enroll in my Master's degree program for Entertainment Business. I intend to tie both of these degrees together to find meaningful work within the Entertainment Business field. I have goals to one day becoming an entrepreneur, start my own record company, and open up a music studio. Hoping to help other aspiring artists express their creativity through the craft I seek to perfect.
During my time within this program, I intend to make sure I am able to reach mastery level as I embark on this Mastery Journey. I want to take full advantage of the lessons I learn throughout my time here at Full Sail University by using the available resources to perfect my craft of becoming the best Audio Professional that I can be. I intend to network with experienced individuals within my field that can mentor me along the way. I seek to be a leader, creator, innovator in some shape, form, or fashion within the media or entertainment industry. I intend to soak in all the knowledge that the Full Sail University professors within my degree program has to offer by asking questions, staying engaged, and keeping the communication active. This will allow me to stay focus, express my commitment to achieving the goals set before me.
I also intend to learn new skills such as digital marketing, negotiating contracts, making deals, implementing brand development strategies, while understanding business financial planning, along with entertainment law. I intend to formulate a working business plan that is achievable by the end of my degree program (if not before). One of my goals is to work across multiple industries such as television/film, gaming, and music as I have interest in all areas mentioned. Lastly, I intend to stay focus, committed, and motivated to get the job done by any means necessary.
Inspirational Quote (Post 1):
I chose this as my inspirational post due to that fact that everyone has a fear of the unknown at some point of time in their lives. I always found this quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt, " The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" to be inspirational. It signifies to me that you have to face fear head-on in order to overcome it. There is no way around it!
Inspirational Quote (Post 2)
"If you can't fly, then run, if you can't run, then walk, if you can't walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward" — Martin Luther King, Jr."
In 1960, Martin Luther King provided this quote to students at Spellman College as a message of inspiration and perseverance. The quote resonates with me because I truly believe that no matter what you have to keep moving by any means necessary. Time will continue to move forward. Life will continue to move along.
Spelman Messenger, May 1960, "Keep Moving from This Mountain," Address at Spelman College on 10 April 1960 Received from https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/keep-moving-mountain-address-spelman-college-10-april-1960
Industry Club or Associations (How will I get involved)
I am going to use my Professional Learning Network to get involved by doing the following:
- Connecting with Full Sail University's Teachers, Students, and Alumni within my field of study for networking opportunities that can potentially open up doors.
- I intend to join a club at Full Sail which are intended to offer extracurricular opportunities for current students. Gain additional focus within a specialized interest
- Use my LinkedIn profile to connect with industry leaders within my field of study at the companies I have listed within my Professional Network. To ensure I connect with those that can provide tip, tricks, and how-to's.
- Continue to work with Full Sail's Career Development Team to make sure my resume, cover letter, and interview skills are critiqued until professional-ready
My Executive Leadership Style: A Balance and Blend of Maxwell and Greene
As I reflect on the Executive Leadership course content and my own leadership journey, I recognize that my leadership style aligns most closely with John C. Maxwell’s principles, while also aligning with certain strategic concepts from Robert Greene. Maxwell's teachings emphasize growth, people development, and vision, which resonates with how I approach both my personal and professional challenges. At the same time, Greene’s perspective on power and influence offers valuable lessons for navigating competitive industries like entertainment and business.
Maxwell’s concept that leadership is influence (Maxwell, 2018) captures how I see myself leading; by setting an example, cultivating relationships, and elevating others. I share the values in Chapter 6 on attitude, where he stresses that leaders set the emotional tone for the team. I’ve learned that when tensions rise or challenges occur, my ability to remain steady and optimistic can keep the group moving forward. Similarly, Chapter 7’s focus on people development connects directly to my professional ambitions in audio production and business. I don’t just want to succeed individually; I want to build platforms that help artists, creators, and entrepreneurs succeed alongside me.
At the same time, I cannot dismiss Greene’s perspective on strategy and power. For example, Law 9 , “Win through your actions, never through argument”, reminds me that results matter more than rhetoric. In business, especially in competitive creative industries, credibility comes from what you do, not what you say. Likewise, Law 28,“Enter action with boldness”, reflects my natural instincts to move decisively, rather than wait on others for permission.
Ultimately, my leadership style is tied to Maxwell’s people-first concepts but sharpened with Greene’s concepts in regards to power and influence. I want to inspire and develop others, but I also know the importance of moving strategically in order to make a legacy for myself. This balance will guide me as I continue building my career and helping others shape theirs.
References
Maxwell, J. C. (2018). Developing the Leader Within You 2.0. HarperCollins Leadership.
Greene, R. (2000). The 48 Laws of Power. Penguin Books.
____________________________________________________________________Core tools I am using Adobe Express – main Mastery Journal and visual storytelling hub Wix portfolio (Hit Maker Express) – professional site where I may eventually link a “Mastery” or “Journey” section LinkedIn – place to share selected reflections or lessons as leadership posts Cloud storage (Drive / Dropbox) – to store project files I may link from the journal (audio, decks, visuals) Months 1–2 Set up the Mastery Journal structure in Adobe Express (intro, course sections, and reflection areas). Write at least two core reflections: One about my identity as an audio producer and entertainment business student One about a key concept such as artist management, leadership style, or show business Add simple visuals or images that support my brand and keep the page clean and readable. Months 3–4 Add one reflection per course that highlights: what I learned, how I applied it, and how it connects to my future in the industry. Start a short “Key Lessons” section where I bullet three to five big takeaways from each month. Add links from the Mastery Journal to at least one real project (track, mix, case study, or branding assignment). Months 5–6 Update the journal with more advanced reflections on leadership, AI in music, artist management, and branding as I move deeper into the program. Add one “moment of truth” reflection about a challenge I faced (time management, complex project, team issue) and how I handled it. Make sure the tone and visuals still match my personal brand as someone who blends creativity with business discipline. Months 7–12 At the end of each course, add a short reflection focused on how this class changed my thinking or behavior. Add a “Before and After” section toward the end of the program comparing who I was at the start versus who I am now as a professional. Decide which parts of the Mastery Journal I want to share publicly and which parts I want to keep private or for academic use only. Link a polished “Mastery Highlights” section from my Wix portfolio and possibly reference it on LinkedIn when I am talking to employers or clients. This timeline turns the Mastery Journal into more than a class requirement. It becomes a living proof of how I think, lead, and grow over time — something I can leverage when I talk to artists, labels, studios, or employers about what I bring to the table.
Beyond the Mix: What Entrepreneurial Finance Taught Me About Money and Mastery
This course lined up almost perfectly with the original goal I set in my Mastery: PDL timeline, which was to stop thinking like “just” a creative and start moving like a real entertainment business professional. Entertainment Business Finance forced me to look at MO Productions not as a dream or a vibe, but as a company with real numbers, real risks, and real responsibilities. Working through financial statements, the one-year pro forma, and the different revenue and expense categories made me see that “making it” is as much about managing cash and planning ahead as it is about talent. The course objectives in the syllabus talk about using financial statements to tell the story of how a business has done, is doing, and will do in the future, and I felt that every week while I was building out the numbers for my own venture. The pro forma income statement project was the biggest turning point for me. Before this class, I would have thrown out a random “I’ll make six figures in year one” guess. Now, I understand why that mindset is dangerous. Building monthly projections forced me to slow down and think: How many clients can I realistically handle? What can I charge without pricing myself out? How do fixed expenses like software, insurance, and loan payments hit my cash flow when sales are still small? Using ideas from Entrepreneurial Finance by Adelman and Marks, I started seeing concepts like break-even, working capital, and profit not as abstract theory, but as guardrails for MO Productions so it does not crash early just because I overestimated revenue or ignored costs. Personally, this course changed how I look at money in my own life. The sections on personal finance, debt reduction, and the time value of money pushed me to think long term; about emergency savings, paying down debt, and actually investing instead of just reacting to whatever bill pops up next. Professionally, I walk away with a clearer blueprint for how MO Productions can grow: identify realistic revenue streams, control expenses, understand when I truly break even, and know what kind of financing mix (debt and maybe future equity) makes sense for the business. Instead of guessing, I now have tools to run the numbers, make adjustments, and explain my plan to investors, lenders, or collaborators with confidence.
My original goal for this course was to get a better understanding of how entertainment media actually gets published, distributed, promoted, and turned into something that can make money. I did not want to only look at things from the creative side. I wanted to understand the business side too, especially in a way that could help me with MO Productions. I came into this course wanting practical knowledge I could use for my own projects, my brand, and any future opportunities in entertainment. I wanted to learn how the system works so I would not just be creating content blindly and hoping it lands somewhere. I can honestly say this course helped meet that goal. It gave me a much clearer view of what happens after the content is created. Before this class, I had more confidence in the production side than I did in the publishing and distribution side. Now I understand a lot more about agents, publishers, licensing, royalties, distribution models, pitch materials, and the overall structure behind getting creative work out into the world. It showed me that having a strong idea is important, but knowing how to package it, protect it, and present it is just as important. Talent may open the door, but business knowledge keeps you from getting left standing in the hallway. One of the biggest things I learned from this course was how much preparation matters. Different kinds of media need different materials, and you cannot just walk in with a good idea and expect people to figure the rest out for you. I learned more about things like treatments, book proposals, distributor one sheets, and electronic press kits, and I now see why those materials matter so much. I also learned more about music licensing and royalty collection, which really connects to my background in audio production. That part stood out to me because it made the money side of music feel more real. It is one thing to make a song, but it is another thing to understand how that song can keep working for you through licensing, publishing, and proper rights management. Personally, I can use what I learned to be more intentional with my own creative work and future plans. Professionally, I can apply this directly to MO Productions by improving how I present services, organize projects, promote content, and think through the business side of branding and distribution. This course helped me look at creative work from a wider angle. It pushed me to think beyond just making something good and start thinking about ownership, strategy, and long-term value. Overall, it helped me grow from just thinking like a creator to thinking more like a business owner, and that is probably one of the biggest lessons I am taking with me from this course.
Project Team Management Course Takeaways
Before this course, I viewed project management as something simple: create a schedule, assign tasks, and hope everything gets finished on time. After completing this course, I now see project management more like running a live concert behind the curtain. The audience only sees the final performance, but behind every successful project is planning, leadership, communication, problem solving, and constant adjustment. One thing that surprised me throughout this course was how much psychology and teamwork are involved in project management. I expected charts, timelines, and budgets. I did not expect to spend time learning about leadership styles, personality types, communication habits, and conflict resolution. Those topics ended up being some of the most valuable lessons because they showed me that projects succeed or fail based on people just as much as planning. The MO Three Track Takeoff project made everything feel realistic. Instead of working on random examples, I was building a project connected to my own interests in music production, branding, and entertainment business. Creating the Work Breakdown Structure, Risk Management Plan, Team Performance Improvement Plan, and Quality Management Plan helped me understand how professional entertainment projects are organized from beginning to end. It showed me that even creative industries still depend heavily on structure, accountability, deadlines, and quality standards. One of my favorite parts of the course was seeing how all the assignments slowly connected together like pieces of a larger system. At first, some assignments felt separate, but by the end I realized each one was helping build a complete project management framework. The scheduling connected to the budgeting. The budgeting connected to risk management. Team performance connected to communication and leadership. Everything depended on everything else. This course also changed the way I think about leadership. I learned that being a leader is not always about controlling people. Sometimes leadership means adapting to different personalities, listening carefully, resolving problems early, and helping the team stay focused during stressful situations. The personality assessments and conflict resolution activities made me more aware of how differently people think, communicate, and react under pressure. Looking back, this course felt less like a normal class and more like a blueprint for managing real world projects. It challenged me to think more strategically, communicate more professionally, and approach leadership with a stronger understanding of both people and processes. Overall, this course gave me a better understanding of what it truly takes to move a project from an idea into a successful final product.
Credits:
Created with images by New Africa - "Staff with treble clef and musical notes against sunset sky, banner design" • inas - "Professional recording studio microphone with audio mixing console and screen, concept of music production, podcasting, broadcasting, creativity and sound engineering" • Jon Anders Wiken - "leadership empower inspire lead share text engraved on wooden signpost at the beach during sunset." • fitpinkcat84 - "financial background , investment , opportunity." • WrightStudio - "Digital marketing technology concept.,Internet.,Online.,Search Engine Optimisation.,SEO.,SMM.,Video Advertising." • techVideo - "Flowing Music Notes Staff Background Vector Illustration" • techVideo - "Flowing Music Notes Staff Background Vector Illustration" • Goss Vitalij - "Publishing" • mattegg - "Various Diagrams and Concepts Written on a Chalkboard"