The Teaching Artist Toolkit

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in training and education but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lesley Barth, Founder of The Teaching Artist Toolkit, located in Madison, TN, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I teach and coach musicians who want to start teaching private music lessons on how to have great lessons that feel like an extension of their own artistry.

Tell us about yourself

I worked in corporate America for seven years and ended up working in sales and marketing for a mid-size global tech firm. I built a sales enablement program for our sales reps and then left the corporate world to focus on my own music career. I started teaching lessons again as a way to make money and, through necessity, figured out a better and simpler way to approach lessons and lesson prep that radically transformed my teaching. I wrote a book and created a course, and I am motivated every day to demystify what makes a great lesson and how to get started making one of the only non-speculative and predictable income streams available to musicians who are just starting out.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I'd say writing my book because I did that with a newborn at home while I was finishing up maternity leave. Nothing like a kid to make your priorities clear and level up your time management skills!

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Getting started and figuring out your "why." Once you have that done, it gets to be a lot more fun!

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Get really clear on your "why."
Be obsessive about understanding your target audience - their needs, desires, hold-ups, everything!
Dive in and make mistakes - there is no better way to learn.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://theteachingartisttoolkit.com/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/theteachingartisttoolkit/
https://www.instagram.com/lesleybarth/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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