This time last year, I thought that business owners should always be busy and productive. After all, there’s a ton of stuff to do when you’re working for yourself, and many different hats to wear each day. But as I went on, I learned that taking time to relax is just as important as working. Down time gives my mind room to think, and when my mind feels free, the ideas start flowing. Summerglen has blossomed because of all the new and different things we’ve done, so having a steady supply of ideas is critical. So, relax time is critical as well.

Since I make my own schedule, I’ve started following my body’s natural clock, which makes work and relaxation balance themselves out nicely. I’m wide awake in the morning, so I knock all my detailed work out before breakfast. In the afternoon, though, I’m dead to the world, so I use that time to drink a latte and read. At night, I’m awake again, so I practice. I get a lot of stuff done each day, but I never feel overworked or deprived. It’s cool !

I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to be a full-time, independent trombonist, and to be able to create my own ideas and follow them on my own schedule. Thank you for dropping by to read this week’s series, and for supporting our little Summerglen. Best wishes, and good night!

I had absolutely no marketing experience when I started Summerglen, but I knew I needed to get the word out. So, I started by thinking about my own experience as someone being advertised to. I thought about how much I disliked junk mail, and how frustrated I became when I signed up for an “educational” ezine and got an advertisement instead. Ugh!

Then, I thought of the businesses that I liked and trusted–how did they get me to do business with them? I remember the window salesman who wiped his feet before entering my house, and spent 2 hours at my kitchen table patiently answering questions and educating me on the finer points of windows. He was so excited about windows, it was contagious! And he knew his stuff. And he respected my home. And he got my business!

I wanted to be like the window guy, gaining business by freely sharing my expertise with others. Many people don’t know much about music, or they’ve received incorrect information. So my advertisements are really educational tools: articles about music, workshops on creativity, free shows on the street, student recitals that are open to the public, speeches, and even detailed email replies. In sharing what I know, I feel good about helping people, and I also attract people to Summerglen to study or book live music.

Tomorrow will be the last article in this series, on the most important lesson of all–RELAXING! Until then!

Before I started Summerglen, I thought that the best way to find music students, brides who wanted cool ceremony music, and people to host Summerglen Duo concerts was to let the WHOLE WORLD know about us, and try to convince everyone who would listen that they needed more trombones in their lives. I was so worried that if I didn’t “get” these people, the “competition” would. Sound desperate? You bet! Sound like an approach that works? In a word, NO!

As I started learning about working solo, I discovered that the most successful entrepreneurs take a more relaxed, but detailed approach to finding the right people to work with. These people believe that there’s plenty of business to go around, so there is no need to sweat the competition. And instead of changing their businesses to fit everyone’s needs, they do research to find which people might benefit best from what they’re already doing. This way sounded workable, positive, and even fun; this mindset could allow me to relax, be myself, AND find the perfect clients.

And it worked!

There are plenty of people offering music lessons in Raleigh–but Summerglen is the place to go if you’re excited about low brass or percussion. There are a number of groups that perform at special events around here, but only one that comes downtown and entertains you as you leave your office for lunch. Simply by being ourselves, getting to know our ideal clients, and trusting that all will be well, we’ve attracted wonderful clients who are a pleasure to have in our lives!

Making the transition away from being an employee can be confusing and a little scary–after all, you’re stepping out and taking a risk. But I knew from years of taking auditions that preparation is one of the best ways to minimize risk and be successful. So, the first action I took was to get prepared, by reading tons of business books. I wanted to see if I had the right stuff to go solo, and to figure out what I needed to do to be successful. Here are 3 books that helped me do just that:

Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton – This book showed me that some of my habits I thought were annoying were actually unique strengths that I could use to be successful. After reading the book and doing the online quiz, I was able to use my newfound strengths to create the foundation of Summerglen Music.

Before You Quit Your Job by Robert Kiyosaki – Describes how to think like an
entrepreneur, gives many details on how to build a business from the ground up, and empowers you to learn from your mistakes. Priceless.

Book Yourself Solid by Michael Port – This book makes you sit down and figure out who might want your services, where they might be, and how you can best reach them. It also teaches you how to promote yourself in a credible, trustworthy way.

I also subscribed to lots of e-zines and read a number of blogs about business, and then tried out the things I learned. All this research helped me understand how to promote musical services in a businesslike way. And once I understood that, I could balance business with artistry, making ends meet while making music!

Until next time, enjoy!