What Being an Opera Singer Taught Me About Being an Entrepreneur (with heart)

I dreamed of being a singer.

I still am. A tenor, in fact. I used to sing opera and still occasionally do. I even went to school for music, earning two degrees.

As I neared the end of my master's degree I realized starving artist life wasn’t for me. Unless I became that one-in-a-million superstar, I was going to have to get another job to support my opera performing habit. The thought of being a waiter made me cringe. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful for waiters. But I knew it wasn’t for me.

After much deliberation, I became a creative in a cubicle. I learned those two words weren’t something that necessarily went together. A lot of creative people work in corporate. Yet, there’s something about being a cog in a big corporate machine that stifles creativity. If you’re not careful, it can kill you.

I could feel it happening to me. It showed itself in my terrible eating habits and drinking a little more than I should. As a worker not in charge of executive functions, I didn’t have much room for all the ideas I had to take shape. I couldn’t create anything new (it was an important job at a county hospital but one that required strict adherence to protocols). I struggled just to maintain. Thriving wasn’t in the realm of possibility then.

Then I got sick. Really sick. At one point, I was told I’d need a heart transplant.

I spent the next year with in-home healthcare. Slowly, without a transplant, I recovered. Determined not to return to cubicle life, I set out to become the CEO of my own life. I had very concrete evidence that returning to the life I led before would end me. I needed to have creative control over my time, my finances, my health, my ideas - my life. The way to do that was to own my own company.

Instead of starting one, I decided to buy one.

You see, I’m a right-brained person with left-brain capabilities. And that has served me incredibly well in the world of entrepreneurship. For me, it’s about marrying creativity and conscious capitalism.

The Importance of Right-Brain Thinking in Business Ventures

Ever watched an artist at work? There's a fluidity, a gut-driven process that often leads to breathtaking results. That same right-brained approach is gold when it comes to business ventures.

The Competitive Edge of Creative Entrepreneurs

In the arena where businesses brawl for supremacy, creativity is your heavyweight champion punch. Think about how crowded every niche seems these days—standing out means being different but also making sense financially and operationally.

Creative destruction plays its part here too: breaking old molds can lead to powerful economic development and growth while others stick to their outdated guns (and strategies). It's this blend—a savvy mix of intuition with strategy—that gives some entrepreneurs their rockstar status within the industry trenches.

Remember how performers have stage presence? As an entrepreneur who moonlights as an opera singer myself—I'll tell ya—the confidence from hitting those high notes translates into fearless leadership at the helm of any venture.

So yeah, right-brain thinking matters big time. Let's get comfy mixing holistic instincts with analytical chops because they don't just complement each other—they create fireworks in entrepreneurship.

Applying Opera Skills to Business Ownership and Management

Believe it or not, an opera singer's toolbox is jam-packed with skills that are music to the ears of a savvy business owner. From hitting those high notes on stage to orchestrating success in the boardroom, there's a harmony between these two worlds that just clicks.

Discipline: The Rehearsal for Success

The same discipline that guides an opera singer's daily rehearsals also shapes the backbone of effective business management. For entrepreneurs who view every challenge as a rehearsal for greatness, perfection isn't just a lofty ideal—it's part of their day-to-day operations. It turns out that practicing scales can teach you quite a bit about scaling your company too.

This rigorous training goes beyond voice; it encompasses time management and attention to detail—traits any successful entrepreneur needs when drafting their next big business plan. In both cases, skipping steps can lead to off-key results nobody wants.

Making Every Performance Count: Customer Engagement Mastery

An entrepreneur must make sure customers feel like they're getting front-row seats at La Scala every single time they interact with your brand. As performers engage audiences with powerful storytelling through song, so do smart business owners captivate consumers by crafting compelling narratives around their products or services.

A good story doesn’t end after the curtain call; likewise, great customer service follows them all the way home—or at least until they’re ready for an encore purchase.

Poise Under Pressure: Cool Leadership in Hot Moments

You think singing PucciniPucinni under glaring spotlights is nerve-wracking? Try buying and running a business. Both situations demand poise under pressure—a skill operatic experiences offer in spades. Successful entrepreneurs work this angle often because let’s face it—the market value of cool-headedness during crunch times is priceless.

7 Things Being a Performer Taught Me About Being an Entrepreneur:

1. Nail the basics - Know what you’re doing. Do the research. Show up to practice.

2. Keep it fresh - Build on the basics with your personal take. Do it a little differently than your audience has seen and heard it before.

3. If you don’t like it, change it - Your fresh perspective is just what’s needed to take businesses to the next level. As an acquisition entrepreneur, one of my biggest strengths is seeing an old business in a new light. I’m not trapped by the “because that’s the way we’ve always done it” mentality. On stage or at work, refusing to be held back by history is creative treasure.

4. Make your audience part of your performance - The best performances are ones where you feel like you’re holding the audience in the palm of your hand. Keep them interested in not only what’s happening now but what’s happening next. When I create that same relationship with the audience in my business, it’s a hit.

5. Take risks - Preparation and confidence are awesome. But if you’re not taking risks, you’re withering instead of elevating. Calculated and sometimes intuitive risks are the path to growth and potential greatness on stage and in your business.

6. Use your platform for good - No one likes a diva. It’s true on showbusiness and in business business. And just like in the rest of life, if you’re involved in a cause bigger than yourself (like providing liveable wages for families), you’ll not only feel better, but people will feel better about working with you and buying from you.

7. When your team does their best, you perform your best - Singing acapella is a vibe but there’s a magic that happens when the orchestra and vocalist build to a goosebump-inspiring crescendo. They make you look like an absolute rockstar (or opera star as the case may be). Building great relationships with your team makes those moments possible.

Navigating Acquisition Entrepreneurship with Artistic Flair

Think of acquisition entrepreneurship like a grand opera. It's an intricate performance where every note matters, and it takes more than just a good voice to make the show a hit. As entrepreneurs engage in acquisition entrepreneurship, they're stepping into the spotlight—where artistic flair isn't just for show; it helps them navigate complex business landscapes.

The creative process behind belting out an aria on stage might seem worlds apart from crunching numbers or drafting legal documents. But trust me, there’s magic in merging right-brained ingenuity with left-brain analytical prowess. This blend gives entrepreneurs that extra oomph to stand out and seize profit opportunities—even in markets as tight as skinny jeans at an 80s rock concert.

A pinch of creativity can turn problems into profit opportunities by identifying underserved demand or crafting marketing strategies that resonate on a personal level. And let's face it: The entrepreneurial spirit is about making waves and stirring up some creative disruption while you’re at it.

Balancing Creativity with Analytical Skills for Entrepreneurial Success

Striking the right balance between creativity and analysis is like being an opera singer who also crunches numbers backstage. As entrepreneurs, we've got to harmonize our artistic vision with a no-nonsense business strategy.

The Intersection of Artistry and Business Strategy

Diving into entrepreneurship without a splash of creativity is like painting by numbers—safe but uninspiring. That's why creative skills are essential; they're the colors on our palette that help us paint outside the lines of conventional business models. But let's be real, some artists needs structure—the canvas' edge where imagination meets market realities.

This fusion isn't just about looking good on paper; it's how performers-turned-entrepreneurs craft strategies that resonate on both emotional and logical levels. For instance, blending venture capital know-how with an eye for design can turn your pitch from flat to standing ovation-worthy.

Blending Artistic Vision with Market Realities

We've all seen those shows where passion trumps precision—and not in a good way. In entrepreneurship, authenticity might be your spotlight, but understanding market demand keeps you grounded when reality hits post-intermission (or product launch). Your inner performer knows what feels genuine while your analytical side sizes up whether there’s room in the audience (market) for another act (product).

Melding these perspectives ensures customers get more than just a product—they get an experience wrapped in originality yet backed by sound research—a true performance.

Crafting an Innovative Brand Story

Telling your brand story isn’t much different from captivating an audience from center stage—you need drama, conflict resolution, and above all else: connection. Here’s where storytelling chops pay off as we engage audiences beyond mere transactions to create fans loyal enough to weather any plot twist.

A savvy entrepreneur uses this narrative arc not only as marketing flair but also as strategic guidance.

From Stage Spotlight To The Office: Leadership Traits That Translate

The crossover between performing arts and entrepreneurship is more profound than you might think. As an opera singer turned entrepreneur, I've seen firsthand how the leadership qualities that put me center stage are also what drive success in business.

Stage Presence to Business Acumen

Onstage, performers like myself have a mere moment to capture an audience's attention. This pressure-cooks our ability to engage with people quickly and authentically—traits that are gold for entrepreneurs leading teams or pitching ideas. In the entrepreneurial world, where networks, mentors, partners, employees—and yes—even investors play crucial roles just as your cast members do in a performance; these skills help foster strong team dynamics and company culture.

Likewise, every successful show depends on seamless collaboration behind the scenes. Similarly, effective companies thrive when there’s clear communication across all levels of operations—a lesson well learned under the spotlight.

Creative Problem-Solving With A Dash Of Flair

In both operatic performances and startups challenges are inevitable—but it's not about avoiding them; it's about tackling them head-on with creativity. Whether improvising a quick fix during a live show or navigating unforeseen obstacles in business ventures (I'm looking at you supply chain issues), thinking on your feet becomes second nature.

This agility is key because no amount of planning can predict everything. Being prepared to pivot artistically leads directly to being able to adjust strategically as an entrepreneur while maintaining your brand integrity—much like staying true to character even when things go awry onstage.

Duet of Empathy & Command

An opera singer must connect emotionally with their audience. It requires empathy alongside a commanding presence—to truly resonate within hearts beyond just ears. This delicate balance applies equally when steering a company like a ship through choppy economic seas toward growth milestones.

Remember those late-night rehearsals? They're akin to crunch times before product launches—times when persistence pays off big time if guided by passionate vision coupled with disciplined execution.

Now hit that high note.

Making the Switch from the Stage to the Office (or doing both!)

By now you’ve gathered that I completely reject the idea that the only options for artists are:

1. starving artist

2. that rare case of talent, luck and timing that enables you to meet ALL your financial needs and wants by performing.

Artists have so much to contribute to the world of business. Venturing beyond those jobs we think of like bartending and waitressing that are traditional for performers to have so they can meet their basic needs takes courage. And it’s totally doable.

Today’s gig economy makes it even more possible than when I made the leap years ago. It’s easier to gain new skills with the advent of affordable online learning and remote work options. Take on some gig jobs (think beyond Uber and DoorDash) that allow you to dip your toes in the water, get experience and find out what could work for you. Jobs today allow for a lot more time flexibility when needed if you’re still performing. That’s a legit way to go.

But when you’re able, absolutely buy that business. Put the power of your passion for creative endeavors to work as an entrepreneur. Your creative brain is made for it. For me, it’s the performance opportunity of a lifetime.

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