August - September 2005
August - October, 2005
Update on Business
Sharon took a much needed vacation for three weeks in August, beginning the day after the WLE conference and got a chance to touch bases with Channing Barringer from Open while she was in New York.
During the following weeks of August after our conference call on August 6, we continued to expedite business and product development tasks such as:
Completed a small renovation of our studio
Set up a meeting in September with a new tax accountant who we met at the WLE conference & also meeting with old accountant on August 27, 2005 to tie up loose ends
Upgraded our web site& trademark attorney is currently revising our privacy policy for our web site to prepare for e-commerce in the spring of 2006.
Set a completion date to finish book project (January 2006)
Finalized more characters and revised illustrations in our Kindergarten series (Music Tales)
Finalized audio CD arrangements with our arranger for remaining method books (Roofuss Ruttagens 2-3 & La Rue McDoosen 2-3) will be completed in September.
Set up a meeting with an educational software development firm who’s interested in producing software with us.
Coaching & Mentoring
Dresdene Flynn-White gave us a wonderful suggestion and contact information at the conference regarding patenting our methodology. We followed up with Ron Reardon with Patents & More to discuss what direction we could take. We are still in the process of reviewing our options and completing his questionnaire.
M3 Experience
As Sharon & I had a meeting tonight, we still are in awe of this wonderful experience and opportunity we have set before us. CMI was one of the greatest finds ever. We feel we have a tremendous responsibility to not only ourselves, but to the M3 project. Secondly, we feel its going to be a tough year ahead (for the better) because we have some huge decisions to make, some “cleaning house” and some risk involved in the decision. Finally, we have to finalize our strategies for funding this month and plan to have a business dinner to update a core group of people that are assisting us in our vision. We feel blessed in that Sharon never saw us a just a “piano school” and neither did I. M3 has given Piano Play hope to bring our dreams into a reality state and we are grateful. No PR this month.
October, 2005
Sharon & I are still working on the goals for the end of the year such as the following:
We received eight of the twelve commissioned character pieces . We should receive the balance by the end of November.
We met with our new accountant from Padgett Business Services. We first met her at the WLE s conference at Long Beach this past August. She will be doing an overhaul on all of our financials. Will keep bookkeeping services as is.
Trademark lawyer is still working on pending trademarks and copyrights of characters since Phoebe 's trip to D.C. last month. Pending statuses of missing certificates.
The new graphic designer is finishing up the new Music Tales Method book and Activity Book covers by November 7, 2005.The additional artist has completed two activity books for Music Tales and is currently working on two new books.
Still currently working on last revisions of illustrations in our Music Tales series.
Still in process of finishing up arrangements for books 2-3 of Roofuss Ruttagens & La Rue Mc Doosen.
Received the Project Scope and Software Development agreement in October. Our attorney reviewed Project Scope & Agreement and made several changes. We also had her draft a non-disclosure agreement. We are currently still in final negotiations.
We received the CMI loan in the amount of $45,000 to assist us in completing the software and books on Monday, October 21, 2005.
We received an email update regarding the award winners for the specialized music programs from the MENC (Music Educator's Nat Conference). The committee is still reviewing the proposal and will not have a final decision now until November. Again, Winners will receive a $1500 grant and will be placed on their web site for members around the country.
We met with the owner of Music Fundamentals on Thursday, October 13 & October 20, 2005. He is interested in possibly forming a strategic alliance with us , as his current piano program is under developed and the weakest aspect of his business. Currently he is running about 30 small studios and outreach programs between Southern California , Orange County and San Diego.
Phoebe met with our corporate attorney on two occasions to make sure we are in compliance with all paperwork.
We hired a new instructor. (Yeah !)
Coaching & Mentoring
Sharon had a phone conference with Margaret Magnus on Monday, October 17 , 2005 and she was again , very helpful. She spoke with Sharon on additional fundraising ideas, and mainly how she dealt with separating business & personal time. We had our Alignment meetings with Dresdene on October 3rd & 10th . She gave us some excellent feedback and suggestions . We look forward to receiving the final report from our second session and enjoyed the report on Sharon 's managerial style.
Media/PR
Still no follow-up from reporter at the Pasadena Star News from last month.
M3 Experience
This program continues to push us in a timely manner . The monthly reports helps us keep a tangible record of progress we are making, which has been so important . We are still sharing our story and encouraging other women entrepreneurs to attend the WLE conference and check out CMI. Thanks for your support.
Update on Business
Sharon took a much needed vacation for three weeks in August, beginning the day after the WLE conference and got a chance to touch bases with Channing Barringer from Open while she was in New York.
During the following weeks of August after our conference call on August 6, we continued to expedite business and product development tasks such as:
Completed a small renovation of our studio
Set up a meeting in September with a new tax accountant who we met at the WLE conference & also meeting with old accountant on August 27, 2005 to tie up loose ends
Upgraded our web site& trademark attorney is currently revising our privacy policy for our web site to prepare for e-commerce in the spring of 2006.
Set a completion date to finish book project (January 2006)
Finalized more characters and revised illustrations in our Kindergarten series (Music Tales)
Finalized audio CD arrangements with our arranger for remaining method books (Roofuss Ruttagens 2-3 & La Rue McDoosen 2-3) will be completed in September.
Set up a meeting with an educational software development firm who’s interested in producing software with us.
Coaching & Mentoring
Dresdene Flynn-White gave us a wonderful suggestion and contact information at the conference regarding patenting our methodology. We followed up with Ron Reardon with Patents & More to discuss what direction we could take. We are still in the process of reviewing our options and completing his questionnaire.
M3 Experience
As Sharon & I had a meeting tonight, we still are in awe of this wonderful experience and opportunity we have set before us. CMI was one of the greatest finds ever. We feel we have a tremendous responsibility to not only ourselves, but to the M3 project. Secondly, we feel its going to be a tough year ahead (for the better) because we have some huge decisions to make, some “cleaning house” and some risk involved in the decision. Finally, we have to finalize our strategies for funding this month and plan to have a business dinner to update a core group of people that are assisting us in our vision. We feel blessed in that Sharon never saw us a just a “piano school” and neither did I. M3 has given Piano Play hope to bring our dreams into a reality state and we are grateful. No PR this month.
October, 2005
Sharon & I are still working on the goals for the end of the year such as the following:
We received eight of the twelve commissioned character pieces . We should receive the balance by the end of November.
We met with our new accountant from Padgett Business Services. We first met her at the WLE s conference at Long Beach this past August. She will be doing an overhaul on all of our financials. Will keep bookkeeping services as is.
Trademark lawyer is still working on pending trademarks and copyrights of characters since Phoebe 's trip to D.C. last month. Pending statuses of missing certificates.
The new graphic designer is finishing up the new Music Tales Method book and Activity Book covers by November 7, 2005.The additional artist has completed two activity books for Music Tales and is currently working on two new books.
Still currently working on last revisions of illustrations in our Music Tales series.
Still in process of finishing up arrangements for books 2-3 of Roofuss Ruttagens & La Rue Mc Doosen.
Received the Project Scope and Software Development agreement in October. Our attorney reviewed Project Scope & Agreement and made several changes. We also had her draft a non-disclosure agreement. We are currently still in final negotiations.
We received the CMI loan in the amount of $45,000 to assist us in completing the software and books on Monday, October 21, 2005.
We received an email update regarding the award winners for the specialized music programs from the MENC (Music Educator's Nat Conference). The committee is still reviewing the proposal and will not have a final decision now until November. Again, Winners will receive a $1500 grant and will be placed on their web site for members around the country.
We met with the owner of Music Fundamentals on Thursday, October 13 & October 20, 2005. He is interested in possibly forming a strategic alliance with us , as his current piano program is under developed and the weakest aspect of his business. Currently he is running about 30 small studios and outreach programs between Southern California , Orange County and San Diego.
Phoebe met with our corporate attorney on two occasions to make sure we are in compliance with all paperwork.
We hired a new instructor. (Yeah !)
Coaching & Mentoring
Sharon had a phone conference with Margaret Magnus on Monday, October 17 , 2005 and she was again , very helpful. She spoke with Sharon on additional fundraising ideas, and mainly how she dealt with separating business & personal time. We had our Alignment meetings with Dresdene on October 3rd & 10th . She gave us some excellent feedback and suggestions . We look forward to receiving the final report from our second session and enjoyed the report on Sharon 's managerial style.
Media/PR
Still no follow-up from reporter at the Pasadena Star News from last month.
M3 Experience
This program continues to push us in a timely manner . The monthly reports helps us keep a tangible record of progress we are making, which has been so important . We are still sharing our story and encouraging other women entrepreneurs to attend the WLE conference and check out CMI. Thanks for your support.
posted by Sharon Shaheed Phoebe Simpson at Wednesday, December 14, 2005
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