During the summer of 2017 I received a $3000 government grant to start my own business.

My plan was
to create a music school and teach guitar online as well as privately at home. This sum of capital,
awarded to me, allowed me to buy some equipment to produce excellent quality videos, pay for
advertisements, website, software, extra equipment, teaching materials, etc. I started a YouTube
channel where I give electric and classical guitar advice. My YouTube channel has given me some
worldwide recognition and has opened more doors than I ever expected in the classical guitar
community.

After gaining a significant number of followers and students, I decided to begin arranging pop songs for
the classical guitar that people can buy on my website. This way I can make money while I am sleeping
and not necessarily teaching. I also created a right-hand practice tool for classical guitarists which I sell
for $50 each and manufacture myself and sell at classical guitar festivals when I go compete. Recently,
musicians at my school have began liking my video productions and they want to me to record them, for
a price of course. And I have currently been improving my skill as a part time producer for musician’s
videos. These include: guitarists, and violinists. My original teaching side business was doing well and
was teaching enough to not be working 9-5 doing something I did not enjoy. However, since the video
productions have gotten better, I decided to begin producing and recording more artists from my music
school. This allows me to create income while I am finishing my studies without having to sacrifice too
much time looking for students. Instead, the musicians come find me.

All of this might sound easy on paper, but the truth is that organizing all of this, from making lesson
plans to editing a website, making your own videos, doing your taxes, keeping all the receipts,
messaging your clients, etc. All this takes plenty of time. The only way to describe this successful side
business, is that it is more of a marathon than a 100m sprint. The results don’t come from one day to
another. But if you keep hustling and taking every opportunity that appears in front of you, in about 6
months one can notice a big change in the business. You become more efficient and organized. But the
most important part is to just start your business and worry about the details later as they come.

Even if the producing and teaching side businesses generate capital, I would like to keep pursuing a
career in classical guitar. Therefore, I must keep studying in the post-graduate level to become a more
academic classical guitarist and pedagogue to be allowed to teach at conservatories or universities. My
current education has provided me with a solid foundation to be a competent classical guitarist who can
compete and perform at the international level. I have one won a few classical guitar competitions at
the local level as well as the provincial level and have received scholarships and grants rewarding the
quality of my art. I plan on continuing this rigorous routine until I finally achieve my goal and reach
financial and spiritual stability. In the meantime, while the study sessions continue, I will keep using the
knowledge I learned in my own business to do my side job while I work in my long-term career plan.

What have you learned about yourself?

I have learned that when starting your business, one should not worry about every single detail. You
should have a clear idea of what you want to do, and then simply begin your business and fix the details
and learn how to run your business as you go. If the perfect business and product existed, there would
only be one iPhone and not 10 different improved models as we have now. What I learned about myself
was not exactly easy to accept. I learned that I had always been lazy. I did not realize my flaw until
concrete project deadlines began appearing in my schedule and there was no option to push them back.
Realizing that my own future might heavily be influenced by this “side business” it made me take my
time more seriously. I also learned that every opportunity that you are given is an opportunity that
might open to others later. At the beginning I was afraid to say “yes” to many projects, but in the end, it
is important to take some risks.

https://studysoup.com/scholarships/apply?scholarship_id=12