Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in music & entertainment but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Alin Cernaianu, Violin Instructor at Northside Music Academy, located in Chicago, IL, USA.

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

Our business is Northside Music Academy, a community music school in the heart of the picturesque Edgebrook neighborhood in Chicago. Our customers are children as young as 3-6 months through high school.

Tell us about yourself

My wonderful wife, Natalia, and I started Northside Music Academy in 2017. We are both professional musicians (I am a violinist, and she is a pianist). We have been teaching for many years before starting NMA. It's always been our dream, ever since coming to the US back in 2007, to one day have our music school, and 2017 is the right time to embark on this new adventure.

Running a small business with so many teachers and students is not without challenges, especially in this economic climate. Still, the biggest motivation we get is from seeing our students making progress and how much they improve recital after recital. We've had students and families with us from the beginning, and it's been a joy to make a difference in the Edgebrook community and beyond through music.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

As I said before, running a small business comes with many challenges. Looking back, I guess our most significant accomplishment is not giving up when things got tough along the way but sticking with it and continuing to grow the school to where it is today.

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

Unlike larger organizations with dedicated teams for every department within the business, in a small business, the owner has to wear many hats, especially in the beginning years, until they build up a team of employees with diverse expertise.

That has been the biggest challenge for me, especially being just a violinist before and not having business experience. It does get easier, though, at some point.

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

  1. By far the most essential piece of advice, someone should start a business that they are passionate about. Otherwise, it will be challenging to deal with daily challenges, regardless of how profitable the company is (or not).
  2. Make sure to take time for yourself and balance work and life, especially in the beginning. I am not saying to work hard, but I used to work all the time, and I got burnout. Starting and running a business is a marathon and not a sprint.
  3. Be patient with yourself. Each business has to grow organically because, unless you have prior experience, managing growth is another skill. Each growth stage has its challenges that you want to be ready for.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.northsidemusicacademy.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorthsideMusicAcademy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northsidemusicacademy/

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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