facebook.com/dazzlethemag
Nydia Norville
Choiselle; Natural is Better The Basics of Delegation Lighting in Interior Design How to Use TikTok as a Marketing Tool
Issue 31
Cory Carson Raggie
Airborn Academy: The Sky’s The Limit
Buttermilk Pancakes
Lyndale James
Producing Dreams and Making Waves
Try me!
Mavic Mini
//Feature
Lyndale
JAMES Producing Dreams and Making Waves pg. 22
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from the publisher
W
e are operating in unprecedented times. The Global Pandemic, Corona Covid-19 virus, has impacted us greatly over the past month. Jobs have been lost, businesses have ceased their operations and the economy is at its all time low. The situation can be very depressing. However, we must be resilient and overcome this Global crisis. This is the now time to review, re-assess and return. Use this time to re-evaluate your day to day whether it be business or personal and plan for the future. Invest in yourself. Do not use all your time indoors to watch movies and TV shows. Learn something new today and hence enhance your skill set. This pandemic is for a short period however we must use our time indoors wisely. There are many free online courses you can complete within a few days than can assist with your professional development. In these challenging times, try not to dwell on the negative but instead on the positive. In this issue, Dazzle continues to showcase positivity and greatness from Saint Lucia. Our features are a true testament that anything is possible with hard work and dedication. Our respective stories should be used as an example to motivate and give us hope so that after this pandemic we will be able to continue on our journey towards greatness. Log on to our website for more inspiring stories and subscribe to Dazzle Magazine on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Happy Reading!
Rankin Morgan Publisher/Managing Editor
Dazzle Magazine is a dynamic Saint Lucian bi-monthly publication that provides muchneeded exposure to young professionals and entrepreneurs, and established businesses. It covers an array of topics and categories key to starting and running a business. It also offers practical advice on everyday living, tips for a healthy lifestyle and interviews with popular and up-and-coming personalities. Dazzle Magazine is designed to appeal to a diverse range of readers but is especially targeted at working professionals and business owners between the ages of 21-50 years. We provide our advertising clients with value for money by offering them a powerful medium to market their products, offer deals and build their brand. Best of all, we give them the opportunity to be a part of a nationwide and online marketplace of actively engaged consumers who are ready to buy, all at an affordable price. To advertise in Dazzle Magazine, contact our sales agent via telephone (758) 452 0123 or email advertising@dazzlethemag.com for more information and terms and conditions.
table of
contents Features 14. Nydia Norville - Choiselle; Natural is Better 24. Lyndale James - Producing Dreams and Making Waves 32. Cory Carson Raggie - Airborn Academy: The Sky’s The Limit 411 18. Business During & After Corona Professional Progress 22. Two keys to keeping up with your goals in 2020 30. The Basics of Delegation Mastering Marketing 12. How to Use TikTok as a Marketing Tool
Publisher Rankin Morgan Sales & Marketing Alana M.I Morgan Art Director Aldrin Henry Contributors Tanisha Prospere Nadège Knight Imran St. Brice A. Decor Design Photography Aldrin Henry
Health & Fitness 10. Lemon Water Lifestyle 20. Lighting in Interior Design 37. RECAP - Spinning Out Eating In 35. Buttermilk Pancakes Gadget & Gizmos 38. Mavic Mini Instagram 40. Quarantine Essentials
Issue 31
facebook.com/dazzlethemag
Cory Carson Raggie
Nydia Norville
Airborn Academy: The Sky’s The Limit
Choiselle; Natural is Better The Basics of Delegation Lighting in Interior Design How to Use TikTok as a Marketing Tool
Buttermilk Pancakes
Lyndale James
Producing Dreams and Making Waves
Try me!
Mavic Mini
On the Cover Lyndale James
contact us
For more information visit us at www.dazzlethemag.com or call us at 758.452.0123
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Lyndale
JAMES Producing Dreams and Making Waves pg. 22
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morning vs bedtime relieves dehydration energizes the body boosts your metabolism stimulates the digestive system helps with weight loss boosts brain power
detoxes the colon helps with weight loss boosts the immune system helps with heartburn helps reduce inflammation
lemon water 10 DAZZLE
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Nydia NORVILLE Choiselle; Natural is better pg. 14
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How to Use TikTok as a Marketing Tool
T
ikTok is a mobile app launched in 2017 for Android and iOS. It allows users to make short, looping videos packed with special effects and musical pieces attached. With over 800 million installs and over 500 million monthly active users (most of them being young adults), it’s a perfect platform for marketing.
1. Create your brands' own channel for videos relevant to your business A lot of brands usually already have well established Instagram and/or Snapchat accounts where video is the focus. But the common trend is for these brands to use TikTok for more lighthearted, satirical video content that may not make the main platforms. Examples of brands who do this are the NBA, The Washington Post and even the San Diego Zoo. How can you apply this technique to your brand? It’s simple. Take what your brand stands for and find something that’s outside of the everyday schedule but still relates to the core of what the brand is. That should be a good starting point for creating a relevant TikTok account within your brand. 12 DAZZLE
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2. Collaborate with influencers to open expand your reach If this technique has worked with platforms previously why wouldn’t you want to implement it on this TikTok as well? The point of using an influencer to perhaps takeover your TikTok account for a day or week is to bring a fresh energy to the posts. Having a recognisable individual (or group) on board is a great way for your existing audience to gain a greater sense of trust in your brand. Alongside this, it’s an effective way for you to gain your influencer’s audience as well. And remember, it’s TikTok, so keep it fun and entertaining!
3. General tips TikTok is relatively new, so methods for maximising its use will change as time progresses and the app changes. The best thing you can do is experiment! Why wait for someone to figure out a new way to make the most of this app when you can take the chances yourself and figure out what works best for your brand? Of course, observing others will teach you lessons on what works and what doesn’t but taking it into your own hands will do you a great deal of good as well.
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Nydia NORVILLE Choiselle; Natural is better
A
t some point in most of our lives, we’ve had a tough relationship with clear skin, not finding products for our skin type, or just not knowing what’s good and what isn’t. Nydia Norville, Saint Lucian born entrepreneur was just as baffled by how little the products that were made available, helped her skin. She sat with us and gave us an idea of where Choiselle came from, how she was inspired to create an all natural skin and body care line and what she hopes is heading her way in the future.
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Dazzle: How would you introduce yourself? Nydia: I’m the creative founder of Choiselle which is an all natural, locally made skin care and wellness brand. Some people may have realized that Choiselle is a name play on the town Choiseul where all the arts and crafts originate in Saint Lucia. I was always inspired by how the artists use natural products such as clay and wood to make baskets, pottery and furniture. Similarly, that’s what Choiselle is about. I like to take ingredients that are indigenous to St. Lucia and the Caribbean to create 100% natural products that are effective. I have a passion for entrepreneurship and small businesses. I love a good rags to riches story; where one started from nothing and turned their passion into something wonderful that’s not only making money but also helps others. There are so many undiscovered and underrated talented people in Saint Lucia and I would love to see the local economy of the country continue to grow. I think we’re progressing in terms of entrepreneurship but I believe that we can go so much further. There are so many opportunities here to tap into. Dazzle: What kind of background do you have in this field and how does it help you today? Nydia: I went to Seton Hall in Northern New Jersey in the US. I did a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration so that’s where the business part comes into play. I didn’t really have much of a chemist background but I did a lot of research and learned a lot along the way through trial and error. I also enrolled in an online course that teaches you from A-Z on how to formulate natural skincare products. I also seem to have a knack for seeing business opportunities all around, especially in St. Lucia. I worked in the fashion industry in NYC for a few years which exposed me to the business and marketing side of beauty and fashion. Dazzle: Before you decided on Choiselle, was there anything else that you wanted to do? Nydia: I went to school for business so I always knew I wanted to start my own business, I just didn’t know what it would be yet. In high school and college I dabbled in modeling. So after college I had the choice of starting at an entry level position from a company based out of Philadelphia or going to New York to earn a living through modeling. I decided to try my hand in modeling in NYC and use that as a starting point to see how this could help generate the seed money that would lead into entrepreneurship. That’s essentially what I did; I used the money I made from modeling to start my business.
Dazzle: What was your approach to taking this business from its early stages to where it is now? Nydia:I offered only a few products but I did them very well with great packaging. I always told myself to start small but do small well. I would rather offer my customer 8 or less really great products than 20 mediocre products. I launch when I feel that product meets my standards and the standards of what my customers would want. This could take 1 year, 3, years or even 5 but only when it’s right. Everything I did in the beginning was very grassroots, then social media came on the scene as a great platform that allowed small businesses to reach an international audience. I know it may sound cliché but word-of-mouth is still the best advertisement. When I first launched, I did the logo and label design myself, it was nice to start but as things started to grow I knew I had to take the overall aesthetics of the brand to a higher level. I slowly rebranded into what you see today. Overall, I would say I put out the best thing that I know how to create, I started small and it seems to resonate with people, especially those who actively care about their health. Those who watch what they eat, read labels to understand to an extent what’s going in their bodies, what’s good for their skin, and while my product goes well with everyone, those are the people that it sticks with.
fun facts What’s the best way for you to spend a weekend? - In the south of the island, hiking, going to the beach, exploring all the hidden gems this island has to offer What’s your favorite thing about Saint Lucia? - The warmth of the people What is your go-to food item? - What I really love now is greenfig and saltfish & balawoo (not sure how that’s spelled) fried dry. Dazzle: What kinds of opportunities has Choiselle created for you? Nydia: I had the opportunity to participate in an OECS trade mission to Guadeloupe. Guadeloupe just recently became an associate member of the OECS. Choiselle was chosen as a business based in Saint Lucia and I was able to travel there and explore many business opportunities that may be available to me there. I also had the opportunity to travel to Jamaica where I participated in The MoDa Collection which is
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a 2-3 day curated market of Caribbean small business owners. This give me an opportunity to expose my brand to the Jamaican market. I did that for two years; 2019 and 2018. There are other things to come that are still in the pipeline but so far it has definitely opened up some doors for me. I think people recognize
me now as the founder and creator of Choiselle and people are recognizing the brand, and the support that I get from people, even persons that I’ve never met, is what keeps me going. Dazzle: Describe the general feedback you’ve gotten from your clients and how it has influenced your work. Nydia: Most of the feedback I’ve gotten has been very positive. There’s our Face Elixir that I make with soursop seed oil. I originally formulated this when I was in the US and most Caribbean people would know what soursop seed oil is but North Americans and Europeans were not as knowledgeable or familiar with it. When I launched it, I thought it was a great idea because of the benefits of the soursop seed oil. It’s good for acne prone skin and I have a customer that uses it for eczema. Overall it’s great but I wasn’t sure how the market would respond, especially when it’s not something that my customers might’ve heard of. I was a little nervous but I thought it was unique, so I launched it and people from all walks of life absolutely love it. I get the opportunity to educate them about the fruit and it’s health and skin benefits and it’s becoming more and more popular in the U.S. I remember when I used to do events, I would have it on display on my table. The amount of questions and intrigue that I got was amazing. I have gotten nothing but positive reviews about my products. Also, my products are for all climates and not just harsh winters in New York. Anyone, anywhere can benefit from them . Dazzle: What achievements do you have in mind for yourself or your business in the near future? Nydia: I actually just want Choiselle to be a brand that’s known island wide, regionally and internationally as a St. Lucian brand. I want it to be that brand that anyone from Saint Lucia can proudly talk about and show with pride, a brand that they are eager to bring it back home with them when they come down. I want to give back as much as I can to the island. I want Choiselle to be able to impact the economy on this island in terms of growing and positively impacting the agriculture/agro-processing industry. We have so much lush, fertile land and sunshine all year round. Our agricultural and agro-processing output on this island is not nearly as diverse as I think it can be based on the amount of natural God given resources here. Job creation is important to me as well because without jobs and opportunities, people can’t prosper. And finally inspiring others and the youth. If there’s any way I can help upcoming entrepreneurs, whether it’s just a word of encouragement or advice, or having them a part of some kind of mentorship, I would want to help.
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Lyndale
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Business During & After Corona
COVID-19 W
e all had big expectations for 2020. Whether it was new business, professional development, vacation or carnival, we all had big plans. Unfortunately, Covid-19 struck like a thief in the night. Everything literally came to a halt overnight and everyone is at the mercy of this Corona pandemic.
We’ve seen the complete shutdown of countries globally. Curfews been implemented and safety and precautionary measures such as social distancing been actioned. This has drastically affected the economy causing job losses and business closures. Industries such as tourism and entertainment have not been spared the wrath of the pandemic. Despite all the negativity associated with the virus, it has afforded us time to reflect and strategize our 18 DAZZLE
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next steps with regards to business survival during and after Covid-19.
Five survival recommendations for Small Businesses during Corona Covid-19: Aim to Breakeven We are all in business to make a profit. However, at this moment it’s challenging to do so, because customers’ may not have the spending power because their disposable income has been reduced. Cash flow needs to be managed wisely. Revenue still needs to be generated and collected. Remember, ‘Cash is King’. This may be the opportune time to access variable costs and make a decision to eliminate all unnecessary expenditure.
Be Innovative Create a product or service that is essential to your customers. Ensure the production is efficient and cost effective in order to be delivered in a timely fashion at a competitive price and still be in demand long after Covid-19.
Brand Positioning Be active on social media and show customers that your company has the right attitude and expertise during this pandemic. Ensure that your message is clear and that you are able to deliver quality service to your customers safely and securely. Please remember excellent customer service is important to them. Your customers will appreciate and remember this when normality is restored and you will see their loyalty shine through.
Essential Staff In many instances, businesses may be operating below capacity. A decision would have to be taken about the workforce, whether it is the reduction of hours or retaining essential staff members for the survival of the business. The key factors would be whether those are versatile or multi-tasked and have a ‘can do’ attitude.
Review Evaluate your company. Review current operations and adjust your business model to suit your customers’ new behavioral pattern. The way we do things now will be the new normal
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Lighting in Interior Design
L
ighting is an integral part of interior design. The right lighting can set the tone of a room and create the right ambience. When the right lighting is realized a room can become both stylish and functional. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.
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Colour Management Think of the surfaces in your room that you would like to enhance, this can be achieved with the correct lighting. Light colour walls can make the space feel larger and open, whereas darker colours can leave the same space feeling tight and cramped. The illusion of space is defined by the light reflected off the walls. Some types of lighting help with further increasing the illumination along walls.
Directional Lighting Lighting in a space provides illumination for an entire room or it highlights very specific elements. Track lighting can be hung from the ceiling and it is a good positional light that will soften the wall colors. Down lighting has a soft downward glow that creates vertical beams of light which illuminates floors and not the walls. Accent lighting is lights hung on walls and ceilings, which provide ambient illumination for art or other architectural features in your space. In both cases, this can affect how light or dark a colored section can appear.
Functionality Lighting has to be functional otherwise it is a waste of electricity i.e. money. Chandeliers are not only good focal pieces but because of the central placement provide excellent illumination for your space. Chandeliers can be used in dining rooms entryways and foyers to name a few. Wall lights add visual length and size to entryways or corridors, as well as light the way. Lamps can be used for ambient lighting as well as task specific lighting example a work area
Space When a room is not well lit the space can feel uninviting. This can be compounded by furniture layout and placement. Natural lighting is always the preferred source of light as shows off colours better and adds to the visual space in a room when bounced off reflective surfaces. Sky lights, large windows and sheer curtains are all things to consider to increase natural light in a room.
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Two keys to keeping up with your goals in 2020
T
hink back on the past three years of ‘New Year's Resolutions’ that you’ve made. How many were you able to keep up with? At this point it’s no secret that most of us have trouble making resolutions and being consistent with them throughout the year. Even though that may be the majority, we can offer two insightful jumping-off points that may help you shift from abandoning your goals for the New Year to absolutely smashing them!
1. Develop a Great Morning Routine All successful entrepreneurs have morning routines that help them achieve their goals. There’s just something special about waking up before the world does to make progress on whatever your goals are, without distraction and interruption. If early mornings aren’t already part of your routine then it will probably be difficult at first. But the key to making the most of an early morning is consistency. The time you choose to wake up is only the start, though. The rest of your routine is all dependent on what you need to get done on that particular day! 22 DAZZLE
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2. Take Breaks You wouldn’t be wrong in thinking that this applies to small breaks during the day in between tasks. It also applies to bigger breaks throughout the year. Taking a few minutes to stretch, get some fresh air and clear your mind during the work day do provide great benefits. Similarly, in between bigger projects throughout the year you can still get burned out. Which makes the bigger breaks just as necessary. It doesn’t always have to be an expensive dream travel vacation. A change of environment can work wonders for restoring your energy and refreshing your mindset so you can get back to the grind better than before.
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Lyndale James Producing Dreams and Making Waves
L
yndale James, Owner & Managing Director of Oaktreez Inc, is a multifaceted individual. He identifies as a family man—father and husband and all the other aspects mostly come under professional. He came into the spotlight first as a performer, being on stage as an actor and then transferred from theatre into production. “It gave me a very unique view of things,” Lyndale went on to say as he elaborated on his journey. “I was actually able to tie in my educational experience with it. My first degree is in Business Computer Programming, so I.T and these things became a very strong part of me pushing forward the technical aspects of production. In all fairness a lot of people in the industry you go around with they’ll tell you, “oh we’re into entertainment but we’re not technical” so that aspect made me stand out automatically.” Lyndale uses milestones to describe the scope of his entrepreneurship. “The element of getting into production from entertainment gives me a unique perspective on what performers need and what they look for and being able to see the voids in production. So, I started in theatre where I did a tour in Ireland, where I was involved in everything from the whole set build, setting lights and sound to actually performing. Then one of the biggest impacts would’ve been my addition to the BET Production team for St Lucia Jazz and that would span from around 1998-2014. I’ve worked with some of the biggest names in the industry. Some of these names can be the equivalent to Beyoncé in the music world, except this was production. And at that time, I didn’t even know that someone in the background - in production could get a Grammy. One of the persons I work with, Derek Lewis, actually has a Grammy producing a live sound album for Yolanda Williams, a Gospel artist. My relationship with that crew exposed me to many international productions outside St Lucia and to this day we still work together on projects. Lyndale also talks about how much his company has grown. “The other milestone would be my company’s growth and recognition in the region. Now I consult on festivals in different territories and work internationally. At this point I think my
company is identified as a festival or event production specialist. There’s also another aspect to it where I actually work on video and photo shoots for catalogs and international magazines. So, for things like Sports Illustrated SwimWear, where we’ve worked on high profile shoots like the one that was done in December 2019 with the US WorldCup Football team, my company handled that production. But it’s a lot, production of an event is where you put structure and order to what you want to do. Everything has to flow. It’s not the easiest thing and comes with stress, and getting to where I am took several years. For Lyndale, theatre was the first step in his journey to becoming a successful event production manager. “I started off in Theatre, on stage and in the spotlight but my transition to production wasn’t because I had a hidden passion or anything. I’m very good at it. But my passion is just to be good at whatever I do. Giving 100% in everything. Producing was just a natural transition. When I went to events, one of the most interesting things for me was the changeover, from one band to another. That caught my attention so there became a natural attraction to that as that had a requirement for synchronisation and efficiency. You can just say you’re hiring someone for sound, or entertainers, or lights but there’s a necessity for these things to work well together. So, I took it up and I haven’t stopped since then.” He mentions a few of the places that his work has taken him, namely Ireland, London, Queens, New York, Washington DC for Jazz and Trinidad and Tobago to name a few. “Part of that journey has also been impactful and when I worked with the (Windward & Leeward) Brewery, I handled a lot of their events which changed the landscape in St Lucia. Everything from “Heineken Green Synergy” to “Piton River Lime” and “Guinness Undisputed"—these are big events that actually use a lot of local talent. A lot of people might not recognise it, but it made a big dent in changing the dynamics of entertainment in the country.” And like any industry, there are certain obstacles we have to overcome to succeed. “I think when we work in the region there’s always the financial aspect of events. I think a lot of times entities don’t understand
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their value so without standards in the industry there’s no benchmark of what things should cost so everything is a negotiation per say. St Lucia has grown very quickly in recent years, but it will take a while to catch up in this industry. Some don’t view the creative industry as a business-- and align the fact that people need to be able to make a living and get paid so that’s a huge issue. There is hope; I wouldn’t be in the industry if I didn’t expect it to get better, I know it will grow and get better.”
what I’m doing. And my attention to detail is a rarity as people may consider it a waste in a society where mediocrity seems to have a firm grip on many” Lyndale gets his inspiration from people he’s worked with, such as Derek Lewis of DALPro and a production company called Live Events. “I see achievements and I see things that I want to do but it’s not measured by other persons. I know the people who’ve opened gates for me and I’m grateful and humbled by the opportunities” And while Lyndale is confident enough to admit he thinks he’s the best at what he does, staying inspired can be a challenge. “That is a difficult thing. I think that has changed. I have a natural drive for things that I can’t explain. If you want to be the best at something you have to keep going no matter what. I always believe that I have to set a platform for my children and I always believe in telling them if they’re interested in something immerse themselves in it. Don’t just look at your market as one thing or one place. If you want to do dance, don’t just look at St. Lucian dancers. You have to leave room for growth if you’re ever planning to grow. I must set the example. So that’s my inspiration, being the best and constantly growing”
fun facts Would you rather own a jet or yacht?- A jet. Favourite junk food? - my wife’s trifle Most memorable experience on the job? “Most memorable?”; Don’t know if that exists but being called by a contact in the UK about putting together a concert for her client Joss Stone; and hearing her say “well Lyndale, the challenge is we need to put everything together in 2 weeks and you are the only one I know who can do this”; that stands out as a little voice told me “yeah boy, you make it” lol. And with his positive attitude about the growing industry, Lyndale says his focus and no-nonsense thinking is what made him stand out in the beginning. “There were things that I wouldn’t compromise on. In the past I would lose my voice at an event and people knew me for that. There’s a line in a post I made to Instagram that says, “not because someone knows what to do means they know what they’re doing”. I hit both those markers, I know what to do and I know 26 DAZZLE
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For someone who’s so driven and compassionate, we wanted to know what was up next for Oaktreez. “I’m working with some international partners to create a training program for production assistants in the Windward Islands (Grenada, St. Vincent, St. Lucia and Dominica). So the next step is to actually develop that program called PAAST - Production Assistant Advanced Skills Training and work towards establishing a new occupational standard in the industry and region for this profession. The mindset behind it is that yes, you can go and be a sound engineer but my philosophy has always been that you have to develop a relationship and a network in the industry before you can grow yourself. So, there will be scholarships initially for interested youth in each of these territories and over the next year and a half I’ll be conducting training exercises there.” Which is his way of giving back. “I will also be taking my first step in producing my first festival with the Wellness Music Festival along with Lateralize (UK), September 2020 in St Lucia. I believe there is a wealth of opportunity as the industry grows. A lot of big entities actually understand the value of the creative industry and we should pay attention to it in its entirety and not just entertainment.” Lyndale James is striving to excel even more in the production industry and we wish him luck with his future endeavours with Oaktreez.
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Cory Carson
RAGGIE Airborn Academy: The Sky’s The Limit pg. 30
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The Basics of Delegation Delegate (verb) - entrust (a task or responsibility) to another person, typically one who is less senior than oneself.
I
n businesses of any scale, whether it be a large corporation with 100 employees or a two person operation, there ought to be delegation. Delegation can be a tricky thing to get right. Sometimes it may feel difficult to ask someone to complete a task in a specific way. On the other hand, maybe they aren’t able to complete the task at hand in a timely manner or with a certain quality to the end product. There are lots of things that can potentially go wrong when delegating but here’s how you can get it right.
1. It is okay to give up control If you’ve found yourself overwhelmed with how much you have to do and you’re insistent on keeping it all on your to-do list, then it’s probably time to delegate. It is okay to relinquish your control to someone who may have more free time to take on that task. The key thing to remember is that it’s better to have someone assist you in getting tasks done on time than to struggle with finishing it yourself. 30 DAZZLE
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2. Selection is just as important The members on your team ought to be diverse and individually talented. Therefore, it’s up to you first to decide who will be best to delegate what tasks to. One person may be more analytically skilled while another might be more hands-on. It’d only make sense to delegate tasks that will fit their skillset and have them excel at what they’re doing. Mistakes may be made early on but once you’re familiar with who you’re working with, knowing who to give what should become a lot easier.
Most business owners have felt these things as their companies grow and they begin to rely on other people to get things done. But as we all know, as your business grows, you can’t (nor should you) do everything yourself. At some point, you have to learn how to delegate. The good news is that delegating is not rocket science. By focusing on the fundamentals, you can learn to delegate effectively and reclaim your time.
Are you actually the best person to do the job? If yes, then do it yourself, keeping in mind the answer to this question is likely to change over time.
The delegation triangle Once you’ve established that delegation is the best course of action and what tasks need to be delegated, you’re ready to develop a solid delegation process. Think of delegation as a triangle, with the three points being who, what, and when. The delegation triangle can keep you on track and make delegating tasks easier. Related: Learn When to Delegate and When to Micromanage Who: You need to get very clear about who is accountable for completing a task. Don’t just say, “Hey, I need help getting this done.” Designate a single point of accountability for each task. The last thing you want is for your team to be unclear on who needs to do what tasks.
Knowing what should (and shouldn’t) be delegated The most important aspect of delegating with confidence is prioritizing tasks and figuring out what needs to be handed off. Related: How to Delegate Better and Become a Great Leader
Here are the questions you need to ask yourself to figure out whether a task should be delegated: Does it need to be done? If it doesn’t actually need to be done, the worst possible thing you can do is delegate it. This would be a waste of time and money. As Peter Drucker once said, “There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.” Is it a recurring task? If a task is going to repeat, then look for ways to partially or fully automate it.
What: Paint a clear picture of the outcome you want. Make sure this is every bit as clear to the other person as it is to you, so you don’t have to go back and rework anything. When: Set clear and realistic deadlines so everyone is on the same page. (It’s a lot easier to define the when after you get clear on the what). Related: Why Your Employees Want You to Delegate
Parting shots One of the biggest things to understand about delegation is that you and your team build trust with each other over time though success. With a set process for determining which tasks should be delegating and clearly outlining your expectations for the task, you’ll begin to delegate with confidence, help get the best out of your team, free up your own valuable time and ensure you’re not a bottleneck as your company grows.
Can someone else do it? If yes, then it should absolutely be delegated. This will free up your time to focus on your highest-value activities.
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Cory Carson
RAGGIE Airborn Academy: The Sky’s The Limit
Dazzle Magazine wanted a clear insight as to how the magic happens, and Cory Carson Raggie, known to most as simply Cory Carson, sat down with us to give us a detailed step by step of how he started The Air Born Academy. Born and raised in St. Lucia, and an alumni of Saint Mary’s College, Cory describes himself as someone who believes in integrity. Believing hard work is what’s most important, he likes his work and his dedication to speak volumes.
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started off like most people,” Cory said when we asked about how he started off in the music industry. “I was a fan of music, and having grown up in a house where music was a regular thing--my father with his love of jazz and my brother and his interest in American music, I too found myself gravitating towards it. Being the middle child, I followed my older brother a lot, and once I’d found that calling, that one thing that kept pulling me back to it, I got inspired to keep going.”
After singing their own songs, Cory decided that he wanted to make his own original music. He needed the right equipment and the right space, but first he would start with the basics. “I used Fruity Loops to make beats on my computer but now, a few may know it as FL Studio. There wasn’t really much to work with, the program only had about five sounds and with my computer being the only equipment I had , I had to learn how to make it work. Eventually I was able to get my own microphone, but even then I didn’t really like how our music was sounding. I wanted to make it better, so I turned my interests to engineering.” Once Cory got his own home studio, he got to make the music he always wanted. As he continued to better his sound, word spread about what he was doing, and 32 DAZZLE
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he soon got the opportunity to work with a few big names; Vybz Kartel, Bunji Garlin, Tallpree, Kiprich, The mighty Pele on his last album “good ole boys”, Jackson, Alpha, Qpid, G.O.B, and Kayo just to name a few. Working with these artists also granted him other opportunities to work with bigger companies, such as Accela Marketing, Digicel and Cable & Wireless. Once he’d spent about a year in Trinidad, integrating himself into the soca scene, he came home to release more music and then realized he needed a way to get into the real music industry. “I decided on going to school,” he explained. “I’d gotten encouragement from a few friends and acquaintances, like Wyclef Jean, Lawrence Court, and Derek Lewis. They convinced me to go to New York for school, and Lawrence recommended The Institute of Audio Research in New York City. I took it upon myself to go, and while studying, I got a job offer at Universal Records.” Things changed for him, and he found the perfect avenue to insert himself into the music industry. “I went from being this Caribbean guy in class, learning sound and audio like everyone else to the guy people would wait outside of Universal Studios for to slip a CD for an A&R.” Working at Marvelous Recordings and Platinum Beat Service in New York City, Cory gained more of his credits there. He helped produce 50 Cent, Paul Wall, Dipset or The Diplomats, Young B, Smoke Dza, Currency to name a few. After playing some of his music for the studio owner at Platinum Beats Service, he landed himself a deal under Scrilla Hill and started working on his album. “I went to St. Lucia to renew my work permit and was about to head back to go on tour, but a family friend who was into music suggested that we work together. At first, I contemplated what would be better for me, going back on tour or branching off to do my own thing.” “I worked in the Promotions and Marketing Department, so I learned the business side of the industry and how quickly an artist could go from nothing to something. I got to see what others couldn’t, how everything got done. I was instrumental in a few projects, one of those being Damian Marley’s “Welcome to Jam Rock.” When he came to Universal Records, I was brand new there too and the head A&R immediately sought me out because they weren’t familiar with Caribbean music and thought I’d be better suitable to handle this one.” He went on to say. With the decision being made, Cory was eager to start his own, after having gained enough experience working for others. His experience in building studios,
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something he learned abroad was a necessary tool now as he managed to build his own studio. “The concept was to build a facility where every musician and artist can create. I also wanted to inspire musicians and artists and to share my story with them. So we formed The Air Born Academy which was primarily a private school, the first of its kind. I wanted to teach production, engineering, the business side of music--everything I knew, in the actual setting.” With St. Mary’s College being his Alma Matter, Cory pursued them first. “We had quite a few kids register, and today I’ve seen some of them in music videos, creating their own music and being successful all in their own way,” He reminisced. “That’s what The Air Born Academy is about, that’s our goal. In keeping with the theme, outside of The Air Born Academy, I also specialize in architectural acoustics, which means creating acoustic spaces, building studios, installing music systems and so on. I did that for a long time, and one of my more noticeable projects would be the room I built in 2017 for the Sacramento Kings at their Golden 1 Center in California.”
fun facts What’s the most important thing that you do everyday? Read Top three songs that have come from St. Lucia? ST Dot, Songs from Kwasi, an upcoming artist, Legendary from Kayo Favorite hobby outside of music? Tennis
For a business with a music focus point, the team ensuring that they remain a lucrative business is definitely one with talented and hard working people. Cory broke down the essential personnel, how they got their name and how they’re working hard to stay on track with their goal. The main Air Born Academy team members include Wayne Vitalis, Bl’eve Brown, Kevin Martial, Ken Darpoh, Cayll Raggie, Ben Arrindell, Leila King, JD Anderson, John Hamilton, Phil Dudderidge and not forgetting those who helped him get off the ground, his parents. “There’s a saying, ‘the sky’s the limit’ but for us it’s not. Basically it means that you’re up there, and whether or not your dreams are sky high, you can reach them. If the sky’s the limit, then that’s where you are: Air Born.” 34 DAZZLE
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“The primary goal was to give people the knowledge and hopefully inspire them to challenge themselves and to do something people didn’t expect. We’re definitely still heading down that road, and to help us do that, The St. Lucia School of Music jumped on board with The Air Born Academy. Right now at the facility we have piano, guitar, violin and singing lessons. When the kids come in they can learn the theory, and then learn how to play the instruments before actually putting music out there.” Every successful business has a struggle period, and with The Air Born Academy, there were a few bumps along the road. “The most important thing is having good mentors, and people who you can talk to. It was difficult and luckily I’ve been backed up by some really amazing people who would keep me motivated because it’s new to St. Lucia so not everyone would understand it from the getgo. For me, once I’ve inspired one person, that keeps me going.” Earlier in his career, he hinted at the work he’s done with big names in music such as Vybz Kartel, Wyclef Jean and Damian Marley, The Air Born Academy has since worked with a few music stars as well. “We’ve worked with a few soca artists, especially recently, such as Nailah Blackman, Farmer Nappy, Jamesy P, Blaxx, a lot of talented musicians from the Jazz and Lincoln Center, Gregory Porter and a few others as well. I worked with Machel Montano on his last project, “Greatest Of All Time” which hit number 1 on the iTunes reggae charts and I was flown to New York for that.”
Pancakes Buttermilk Buttermilk
ingredients ingredients 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups all-purpose tsp baking powderflour powder 12 tsp baking soda 1½tsp baking tsp salt soda ½ tsp salt
method method Whisk together the dry ingredients in a
large Whiskbowl. together the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk in buttermilk, eggs and vanilla extract justbuttermilk, until combined. Whisk in eggs and vanilla extract just until combined. Let pancake batter rest for 10 minutes. Let pancake batter rest for 10 minutes. Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-high Heat a largeheat. skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Spray with non-stick cooking spray OR brush or oil. Spray with butter non-stick cooking spray OR brush with butter or oil.
2 tbsp granulated sugar 2 tbsp cups granulated buttermilk sugar cups buttermilk 2 large eggs 21 large eggs extract tsp vanilla 1 tsp vanilla extract
Ladle 1/3 - 1/2 cup batter onto the griddle for each Ladle 1/3 - 1/2pancake. cup batter onto the griddle for each pancake. Flip the pancakes over when small bubbles on over the surface and Flip the appear pancakes when small continue cooking on on the opposite bubbles appear surface side and until golden brown.on the opposite side continue cooking until golden brown. Serve with butter and syrup. Serve with butter and syrup. (In the instance that there’s no buttermilk in the fridge, other substitues would be milk with a (In the instance that there’s no buttermilk in the spoonful of lemon juice or white vinegar, yogurt or fridge, other substitues would be milk with a sour cream thinned with water or milk.) spoonful of lemon juice or white vinegar, yogurt or sour cream thinned with water or milk.)
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recap
Spinning Out
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his newcomer, a brand new Netflix Original is a tear jerker and possibly a trigger for anyone battling with severe mental health issues. Spinning Out, a near perfect title for the show’s overall dynamic, centers around a competitive figure skater who suffers from a mental illness. The series centers around a group of competitive athletes; figure skaters and skiers alike. Olympic hopefuls are sisters Kat and Serena, pretty boy Justin, best friend Jenn and acquaintance Marcus, who’s the only skier.
get back what she’s lost and finds new promises in star figure skater Justin Davis. In the midst of her battle with her Bipolar Disorder, her budding romances and tense relationships, also balances the crumbling relationships of that of her best friend Jenn who’s struggling with an injury of her own and her sister Serena who’s taking on more than she can handle.
Kat Baker, a promising figure skater who hopes to get the chance to compete in the Olympics, suffers a major setback after an injury and in her struggle to
There’s a great chance that despite the heaviness of the series, it’s something that will pull you in faster than you would expect. The main plot lines and the sub plots are equally as binge worthy. From the instability of bipolar disorder to racism, the show tackles such topics with a careful yet direct approach that leaves you wanting more.
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Mavic Mini Pros and Cons
F
or all those videographers and photographers that have been searching for that perfect addition to your arsenal, the DJI Mavic Mini is quite the piece of equipment to consider. This drone is small and lightweight, making it easy to carry around and possible to fly anywhere. Starting at USD $399, this drone is the most affordable amongst all DJI drones. However, with such an affordable price it comes with some cutbacks when it comes to features and camera quality.
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advantage to it having such a small form factor: longer flight time. The Mavic Mini can stay in the air for up to 30 minutes on a fully-charged battery.
Weighs 249g This specific number is not just a random coincidence. The drone was specifically made this size so that it would not need to be registered for individuals to fly it, making it the perfect drone for people who have never flown one before or hobbyists to get.
Pros 2.7K Gimbal-Stabilized Video
Cons No object avoidance
Built with the same image sensor as the Mavic Air and Mavic Pro, the Mavic Mini shoots 12MP aerial photos and 2.7K Quad HD videos. It also is outfitted with a 3-axis motorized gimbal, so those shots are going to be smooth and clear. 2.7K is really not too bad, especially because you're capturing 25/30 fps. If you want to shoot something with a little slow-mo on it, the Mavic Mini shoots full HD at up to 60 fps.
The DJI Mavic Mini lacks a few features that some of its counterparts currently have, such as object avoidance. Without this feature, the drone is susceptible to crashing into objects. Users would need to be careful and vigilant when flying the drone so as to not damage it.
Longer Flight Time
One of the key features of the Mavic Mini is its size. This drone is tiny, almost as light as a smartphone and it fits in the palm of your hand. There's an added
The DJI Mavic Mini is affordable, portable and an overall great drone for beginners and hobbyists. Its compatibility with both Android and iOS devices through the DJI Fly app makes it much easier for users to navigate and use the drone and makes the learning curve for beginners simpler.
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