Mars 6 years ago-
Posts
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I’ve changed the music to my video. I decided that I wanted music of black origin to tie into my brand, which is working with women of colour. So here is the updated, and finished version
One client first thing, then it’s time for the green screen. Had someone fixing my ceiling today, so didn’t get to play. Can’t wait to play tomorrow.
Okay.. so clearly I’m not good at the once a week updates, but frankly this is for my own sake.
So, Sir Bradley has made me think. My free course won’t make me eligible for the October challenge, but I could get straight into producing an other course – that doesn’t need to be launched yet – that is for money, get pre sales and therefore remain in the challenge.
So I went to bed thinking about it, I woke thinking about it. By the time I fell asleep, I knew that I wanted to make an online ‘top up’ course which includes/involves the cultural module from my face to face doula preparation course. So the task was to decide how much I wanted to include in this online course, as I do still want women to come to my face to face – which I love.
I woke thinking that I could do a 60 minute webinar on cultural practices and systemic racism and to create a community. By the time I opened my macbook, I knew that I wanted to write a course about the unique points of being a birthworker of colour, challenges within communities of colour, challenges within the medical system and how to meet said challenges. It would also need to include a section on reflection and how we improve things. Then it would need a section on unique/traditional African skills, the women of the diaspora, cultural competence (which is a course in itself) and birth justice (another course in itself). Then it would also have business skills within the birth world and how best to prepare and work together.
So, my 60 min webinar won’t cut it. It needs to become a 60 min webinar that leads into a longer, deeper course. My word but the things that I thought were deep in the back of my mind are coming front and centre.
So… looks like I’ve gotta go back through the check points. But first the 60 min webinar. What to put in it and how to lead towards the bigger, deeper course.
So best sort out my filming times for the mini eCourse that launches at the end of the month, so that I can schedule in writing time for the webinar. <goes off to Google ‘how to make a webinar’>
Mars @mars –
First, don’t even look at the frequency of my progress log updates! Just yesterday I was thinking that for my Progress Log I should just post a link to my Challenge thread for each month. That way I would still have regular posts in the Progress Log (at least once a month), I could still access the projects that I had worked on (can easily jump back to August or September challenge by clicking one link in my Progress Log), and I wouldn’t have multiple posts saying essentially the same thing. I mean, I post at least once a week at the Challenge threads, and sometimes multiple times in the same day! Now that I’ve refined my course idea, I think I’ll start a new Progress Log for the HealthCaring project and put the link to my October Challenge thread. Feel free to do the same thing if you like 🙂
Second – WHOA girl! I love your ideas, and especially how well you’ve refined them. You have definitely identified a niche audience, and one who will likely be grateful for a community and everything you will have to share with them! It sounds like you have LOTS of material to cover – maybe enough for multiple courses. I get overwhelmed at the thought of filling 60 consecutive minutes of lecture, so I’ve just invented a concept I’ll call “Topic Tiles”. Essentially, I’ll take one idea (Being a Birthworker of Color, Challenges in Communities of Color) and that will be a tile. Each tile may have a few key points, but each of those points relates to the main idea. This is how I’m going to start approaching my podcasts. I’ll record 2 or 3 segments on my Anchor station (5 minutes is the max time available) and then link them together to create a 10-15 minute episode.
Later, when I want to create a course, each of those “Topic Tiles” will become its own lesson. I can even use the same audio as the foundation for my video course. I’m sure there are people who appreciate 60-minute webinars (I’ve certainly listened to some of them) but I so appreciate the flexibility of shorter segments, and I think it enables people to really “deep dive” on each individual aspect of the course and pause between each one, rather than cram it all into one big thing.
I’m also thinking the concept of “Topic Tiles” will make it much easier to throw together a group talk or presentation. All I have to do is figure out how long I have to speak, choose a few relevant “Topic Tiles” that fit within the available time, and then the dreadful work of organizing my talk is complete! Instead of organizing for 60 minutes, I’ve just chunked it into 4 or 5 manageable parts that I’ve likely already created. And if I haven’t? Well, then, I have a great idea for my next “Topic Tile.”
So I don’t know if any of that is relevant or helpful for you. It’s been helpful for me to actually write out the concept idea, so that’s sufficient for me. Anyway, I am so excited to see what you create, so excited that you’re jumping in with both legs, and so excited that you already have a community who seems to HUNGER for the material you will be creating. What a great scenario!!!
@laurakoller not to be too dramatic but…MARRY ME!!!
Okay… I like the topic tiles and will be working with that in mind. I’m going to have to take the challenge up the mountain and nail the pre sales. @laurakoller you’re right. 60 mins is too long, so I shall do a series of 3 x 20 min webinars. Each webinar will either have 2 x 10 minute tiles or 4 x 5 minute tiles. Will be thinking about that and how best to make it happen.
My middle daughter and I were playing with the green screen today. She seems to think it’s selfie heaven lol I appear to have some rather filter freaky pics now.
For the mini eCourse (which needs to be complete this month) I need to get busy with the community – which will initially be a closed FB group, the videos and getting them filmed, edited and uploaded.
I’m going to be watching green screen tutorials on YouTube so that I can learn how to do amazing things. My best birth buddy/mentor has reminded me that we promised to look after ourselves better and so Sunday is a NO WORK day. Gulp! I don’t feel like this is work, but I’m going to <gulp> stay away from the mountain and put my green screen away. Well… maybe…. I’d rather be here than FB.
Okay, it’s half past midnight, so I need to stop and walk away till Monday, however, for my own benefit, edification and encouragement… I’ve started playing with my green screen.
I know exactly what is wrong with it.. It’s not the background that I want and yes, there appears to be a ‘hole’ in the side. I just need to find the right background imagery and I’ll be cooking with gas. No, I haven’t learned my lines yet. No I won’t be (hopefully) holding my script. And I will be ‘acting’. However, what I’ve learned is this… I can do it!
Get in!!!!!
Night!! See you Monday… bet I don’t manage to stay away lol
@mars – LOL! Sometimes I think I overshare way too much. Please use what’s helpful and leave the rest as something that was helpful for me to spill out on screen. You know, a gift that’s more valuable for the giver than the receiver. FYI for a Motivation Superhero, I ask far too few questions and give far too much advice 😉
I love how you plunge into new challenges, often multiple challenges all at once! How fun with the green screen. I’m going to let you figure out all the kinks on that one and then you can fill me in when it’s my turn – WAY down the road. (That’s what I say anyway…)
I love the “selfie heaven” quote. How funny is that. I’m glad you’re letting your girls get playful with you during this whole process, too. I would love to be a fly on the wall at your place!!!
You CAN do it!!! And I look forward to hearing more about your journey.
@laurakoller – I may well share some of the selfie heaven mini shoot. lol
I have had this mini eCourse (and several bigger ones) in my mind for ages. I just hadn’t realised that this mini one would be the first that I built. So I had already answered many of the mountain checkpoint questions in my head and various notebooks around the house. As to jumping into the challenges, it’s because I want to move on to making the bigger eCourses – so that I can step back and enjoy my menopause, rather than working hard through it. I realise, with all the work that entails for the mini eCourse, the bigger ones are going to need slower trips up the mountain – esp as to take part in the October challenge, I need to create a pre sales page for a course that is still mostly in my head.
Plus, I’m a natural talking – out loud, in print lol and the challenges are great fun.
I think I’ve worked out that the ‘hole’ in the corner is the way the light is reflecting on the green screen, so will be playing with lighting angles and umbrellas today, whilst learning my lines.
I reckon you’ll hit the green screen phase sooner than you think. And at the moment, I’m fine without a mic, but will be purchasing one soon (if the one my friend is sending doesn’t work)
Way to go @mars, for some reason I couldn’t see your green screen video, but am stoked to watch you bring that magic into your creations. Glad you’re having fun!!
Thanks @bradleytmorris
Currently I’m watching twins sleep whilst their mum sleeps. Meanwhile I’m watching/listening to past coaching calls.
Will post my green screen journey over the next week or so.
@mars can’t wait to hear all about your green screen adventures next week!!
Mars’ adventures in Green Screens (or should I say Green laughter screams)
Okay. So I’m having so much fun with the green screen and video making. I’m filming it myself. I have chairs balanced on my bed to get the camera angle, and my mac is the teleprompter. Can’t get it above the camera (my phone), sadly.
Okay… Hopefully these links will work.
Learning to use a green screen. Take one.
My first proper video for my mini eCourse
I shall be spending as much of this week as possible pursing my career as a videographer/editer… I mean.. I’ll be filming and editing more videos for my mini eCourse. I feel myself moving towards the end. Just need to learn how to set up automaton, add the videos some doulas are making for me, then… gulp. I’ll be heading to Launch Summit.
@mars, I loved this. Your personality shines through brightly on camera. Great choice of backgrounds too.
One tiny thing that could improve your video would be adding some background music.
It will add depth and emotion to the words and energy you’re bringing to the experience.
AudioJungle.com is a great place for music.
There are others too if you do decide to go this route.
Another thing could be starting the video with the words coming up “Is Doulaing your Bag?” (the name of the course) I know WeVideo has stock intro’s/outros. 🙂
Great work. Excited to see more videos of you teaching.
How about this @bradleytmorris <prays it works> Music, beginning and end added
@mars, you just keep getting better at this. The music helped. The story hlped bridge a connection. You’re so genuine. The doula ponderers will love that they found your website and video.
Just keep practicing with the green screen. Every video you make will get better. Study a bit more about lighting.
Here’s a video we did on green screen lighting.
Yay Mars!
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