The Lecture Experiment: Introduction
Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah,
Some of you may have heard about Muhammad Alshareef’s latest project, Discover U Life Coaching. Basically, now, he’s running seminars that actually teach people how to life coach. One of the people who attended one of those seminars was Belal Khan of Leechon Films. A couple months back, I’d e-mailed him asking a few questions and advice from him about how he got his “film education” and any suggestions he’d like to give me (for I was starting to think about my future at the time). Little did I know, I was in for a treat.
Today, brother Belal had e-mailed me asking if it was good to call today, to which I said yes to. Surprisingly, he sent me a form for me to fill out, a form entitled the “Coach Intake Form.” This had me fill out my short and long-term goals and any of my obstacles. It began to make me think about what I want. I want to produce videos that will be enjoyable as well as give Da’wah about the religion of Islam. One of my short-term goals was to produce two lectures in the coming months. I just recently posted a khutbah by my father, Naseeb Khan, on the blog I made for him. So, brother Belal called me up today and I didn’t know it at first, but I was about to enter a lifecoaching session.
Firstly, I filled out what was called a “Life Wheel” where I evaluated myself in the most important areas of my life. Then, we talked about the career I’d hope to be pursuing. I like a lot of areas, including film as well as graphic design. So, after some discussion, I’m going to take a little wider peak into the world of motion graphics.
Next, I’d written from my initial Coaching Intake Form that I wanted to start raising money for an HD camera. He asked specific questions about that and it seems that now I have a set goal in mind. With that cameara, I want to produce many videos monthly InshaAllah. However, I still need to get the money to get the camera. So, he asked about some avenues I might take to raise that money.
After that, he looked at some of my specific short-term goals. I included that I wanted to produce two lectures. He told me I should get started on my goals right away to which I responded that there is a dinner this Saturday and there will be a lecture which I could potentially tape. So, now I have a project. Taking it even further, he asked me, “What if you tape that lecture, and make it into a DVD?” I said that that was probably a good idea for distribution (since not all the people of the Jama’ah would go online to watch it). Then, he hit me on another level by saying, “…and sell the DVD?”
This had not even crossed my mind. After contemplation and realizing this could be something great, I went on the R.P.M. That is a little chart where I wrote my Result (what I specifically wanted to end with), my Purpose (why and how exactly with this benefit me in all areas of my life), and my Massive Action Plan (my day-by-day plan of exactly what I’m going to do for this project). Walking through it, it only made my goals and objectives clearer and clearer. My ultimate goal was to get a camera to produce Islamic videos. With this project, I now have a set goal and path toward that goal. But this is just the introduction. After the entire call, what he wanted me to do is to post updates of this project here on my blog.
InshaAllah, right now, I’m going be posting my progress as I go InshaAllah.
RESULT
This is the exact words I want to say when this project is over:
“I have, in my hands, a Canon Vixia HF10 [revised, used to be the Hf20], as a result of having produced a lecture video that took place on April 18, 2009 on DVD, sold at $10 a piece [again, revisions are to be made] through the help of 4 people [people who'd like to help me sell it] who will be on 20% commission [again, needs to be revised based on price] having sold 50 DVDs by May 15th and having made the purchase by May 20th.”
That statement is supposed to be spoken by me on May 30th, 2009. InshaAllah, if/when I accomplish that, I will record myself saying that statement and posting it online.
PURPOSE
Basically, I most likely will be selling the DVD giving half the profit of it for the Masjid that’s hosting the lecture. So, I was asked the benefit and purpose of doing this, I said it’s because…
- Will be able to increase my ‘amal by giving money to the masjid
- gives me experience taping and producing a DVD-lecture
- long-term be able to produce more videos and move me forward in my direction to my career
- be able to get some money to purchase a camera
- will work with my brothers in Islam for the promotion of the DVD
- Emotions: “I will feel ultimate accomplishment” when I have that camera in my hands.
- The content of the lecture will benefit me (mentally/psychologically)
MASSIVE ACTION PLAN
This is basically what I’ll be updating showing what I’ve accomplished.
- Make Du’a to Allah (SWT) for what I want (using the exactness of my ‘result’ statement) constantly/everyday.
- Secure recording device and borrowing the camera to tape.
- Look up prices for my dream camera, prices for DVDs, talk to friends about the project
- Get permission from the speaker to tape and sell his lecture
- Get permission from the Masjid to tape and sell the lecture (and offer them some of the profit).
- Do a 5-minute trial run at home to test the taping
- Be at the Masjid on Saturday (April 18, 2009, when the program will be) at 4:00 pm; set up, execute the production.
- Edit and complete the master copy of the DVD
- Start duplicating and selling the DVD
- By May 15th 2009, SOLD OUT (50 DVDs).
Okay, I’m gonna post the progress I made for today in another post.
Waslaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah.
