Alisha Anyachonkeya Mastery Journal Full Sail University Entertainment Business M.S.

INTENTION STATEMENT

Over the next 12 months I intend to become limitless. The decision to join Full Sail University's Entertainment Business M.S. program was not a decision that I made alone. The Lord led me to this venture, my husband agreed with my pursuit, and my children gave me their blessing. I am choosing to allow my mind to be expanded, my skill set to be enhanced, and my entire world to become boundless.

Through this journey I am seeking to learn more than just what the professionals in my field do. I intend to learn how they think, consider, reason, and how they scale the brick walls of adversity and risk it all on their passions. My goal is to achieve an excellent understanding of how to manage and market professional talent and their schedules in order to provide them with the tools to succeed. I intend to wake up early and stay up late cultivating my mind with the content provided in order to complete this program for my family and our future. My first client will be my husband.

I truly believe that the difference between achievement and disappointment is divine connection. I count every professor and peer, administrator and administrative assistant as those connections. I plan to learn how to support and develop my clients and my business so that we can all be afforded the privilege of choosing between the vast lucrative options available for their portfolios and futures. I can only do that by first developing myself.

In December 2025, I intend to graduate with a Master of Science degree in Entertainment Business at the top of my class with honors. I'll graduate with more than knowledge; I'll have a team of peers and professionals that will be available to me to help shape my journey forward. I intend to end this journey at the launching point of another. I intend to succeed.

INSPIRATIONAL POST

"Brick walls are there for a reason." - Randy Pausch, Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams, (2007)

I heard this inspirational quote from Randy Pausch while watching his lecture video from this week's 2.2 Inspiration Assignment. It gave strength to the fighter in me that wants to see things done, and done well, and it gave eviction to the quitter in me that seeks escape from adversity. When I'm faced with the challenges of this mastery journey, I'll remember that brick walls are an opportunity for me to show up and prove that I not only belong here, but I'm determined to be here, whether I have to scale the walls of difficulty, or whether I have to figure out a way to push them down.

Pausch, R. (2007, September 18). Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams [Speech audio recording]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo&t=1s

Inspirational post

“You’re not going to do this forever. There’s a finite amount of time you’re going to be doing this. Do this really, really well. And if you do this really, really well, everybody will see that, and they’ll move you onto the next thing.” - Gene Ross, as cited in Stretch (2016)

This quote reminds me to do everything as unto the Lord, for He raises up and He pulls down. If I cannot be trusted to be a good steward over the little, insignificant places that I believe that I'm in now, how could I ever believe that He would entrust to me more responsibility? When He sees me act faithfully, He will promote me accordingly. He is watching over me.

Willyerd, K., Mistick B., & Grenny J. (2016). Stretch. Wiley

Overarching Career Goal

I will successfully manage my husband's acting, modeling, and publishing career resulting in numerous starring roles, commercial endorsements, a book deal, and residuals.

Graduation Goal

I will develop a network of at least 10 industry professionals on LinkedIn that will provide resources for my management of my husband's career.

Steps To Reach My Goals

1. I will research three separate network strategies in the first three weeks after graduation starting with Devora Zack's "Networking for People Who Hate Networking: A Field Guide for Introverts, the Overwhelmed, and the Underconnected" (2010).
2. I will meet monthly with the Full Sail Career Development team during Open Door sessions to assist with networking.
3. I will connect with the leadership in the Entertainment Business M.S. Program and solicit their advice on furthering my network, while also attending Full Sail Speed Networking Sessions.
4. I will utilize my research and the received advice to begin making connections on LinkedIn starting with those connected to my current Full Sail network.
5. I will then connect on LinkedIn with my husband's network.
6. I will continue building my connections by searching for local connections in North Carolina and the surrounding areas.
7. I will further my connections, securing a network that reaches across the 50 states.

Mastering Maxwell's Leadership Model

For the past four years I have been following Terri Savelle Foy, a self-proclaimed cheerleader of dreams. Her books, motivational tips, and bi-weekly talks have aided me in believing for a new job, working towards my goals, and developing an ability to dream again. Well, for the past 20+ years, Terri has been following the mentorship of John C. Maxwell, world-renowned motivational speaker, former pastor, leadership expert, and the author of one of our course books, Developing the Leader Within You 2.0 (2018). I was thrilled when I realized that we would be covering the content from one of his many successful leadership books, as he is my mentor’s mentor. Thus, I am undoubtedly working to fashion my leadership style after him.

While Robert Greene’s book The 48 Laws of Power (2000) has been interesting, I have been fascinated, humbled, and awakened by Maxwell’s values-based, servant leadership model. I am a follower and believer of Jesus Christ, so his biblical stance was familiar, yet his provisions on how to practically apply and develop each value transcended familiarity and have been eye-opening and challenging. Maxwell says, “Leadership is influence... For you to be a leader, someone has to be following you” (2018, p. 3). Since I read that, I’ve been looking in the rearview mirror of my “leadership vehicle” to see if I’ve been leading alone. I have questioned every place where I hold any position, from work, to church, to my very own leadership style with my children at home. In some places, my influence has been developed to where I have achieved the third and fourth level of leadership, production and people development, respectively (Maxwell, 2018, p. 8). However, in others, I am merely a level one leader, where my position is the only reason why I have any influence at all.

Thus, each chapter from Maxwell’s book has been an opportunity for me to reflect, in some cases repent, and in all cases grow. Maturing in setting priorities, cultivating an attitude of positivity, and progressing in self-discipline are all areas that I am striving to improve for the sake of my leadership. Robert Greene’s focus on achieving power at any cost lacks the principle, integrity, and the servant mentality that I’ve grown fond of and that I’ve worked so hard to foster in my own life. Greene writes,

If... you can master the arts of indirection, learning to seduce, charm, deceive, and subtly outmaneuver your opponents, you will attain the heights of power. (Greene, 2000, p. 14)

At the same time, the Holy Bible says, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (New Kings James Version, 1982, Mark 8:36). I used to desire the sheer power that Greene speaks of, and I desperately wanted the respect that those in power “seemed” to have achieved. Yet, in my pursuit of it, I grew angry, impatient, bitter, losing both myself and the purpose behind my desire to lead. The areas where I’m called to lead are destiny for me and for those that follow, and seeking my own gain would be a disservice to every individual and possibility involved. A “true leader serves” (Maxwell, 2018). They do not deceive, conceal, or disrupt the plans of others.

I’ve seen it. Both sides. I had the privilege of working for a servant-leader, and there wasn’t anything that we wouldn’t do for him. Our team was unstoppable, and he stood at the pinnacle of leadership, as his reputation proceeded him. My boss prior to this leader even asked how come he was so dynamic, and why did we follow him. We trusted him, and we knew that he was doing all that he could for us. He was selfless. Yet, he was led by a Greene leader, and by Maxwell’s standards, it was only the latter’s position that provided him with any influence at all. The majority of his “followers” either fear him or are plotting a rebellion against him, and when and if he shows any signs of weakness, the riot that ensues will have been long overdue. Maxwell says, “Having good character does not ensure that you will be successful in life or leadership. But you can be sure that having poor character will eventually derail you personally and professionally” (2018). Retention has been an unfamiliar word, as people have been leaving in droves under this leadership, including my Maxwell-like boss. Yet, Maxwell is still the leader I want to be like. Even though it would seem that “Greene leaders” win, they’re losing, and it’s only a matter of time before “the game” ends and their hidden intent to outwit their superiors, peers, and subordinates is exposed. As for my former boss, he leveled up and opened a company of his own, and he’s doing well, free from the games of Greene.

I want to be like him. I want to be like Maxwell. I want to build my leadership abilities on the foundations of character, and I desire for my character to be contagious.

People cannot climb beyond the limitations of their character. Leaders cannot succeed beyond the depth of their character. Good leaders have the potential to be difference makers, and character makes a difference for them and protects them. Good leaders are often a gift to the world. Character protects that gift. (Maxwell, 2018, p. 57-58)

I don’t just want to lead or have people be proud of me. I want to make a difference and for people to be proud of how far they’ve come with me. Therefore, I choose to learn how to master the leadership model of John C. Maxwell.

References

Greene, R. (2000). The 48 laws of power. Penguin Books.

Maxwell, J. C. (2018). Developing the leader within you 2.0. HarperCollins Leadership.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version. (1982). Thomas Nelson.