Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tracie Stanfield, Founder of Synthesis U. Mentoring for Creatives, located in New York, NY, USA.

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

SynthesisDANCE is an umbrella organization for creatives: a professional dance company, a pre-professional training curriculum, and mentoring/coaching services for artists at all stages of expression.

Synthesis U. is the mentoring and coaching leg of SynthesisDANCE. Synthesis U. is a mentoring and coaching service for artists of all stages in life and expression. I work with people to gain clarity on values and intentions while crafting a clear plan to create and implement a strategy. I offer guidance, direction, and mindset goals for the artistic and business sides of creating.

Synthesis U. is for artists who want to take their lives & work to the next level, mid-career artists looking to pivot or reinvent, aspiring artists needing an action plan, and those yet-to-be-uncovered creatives dreaming of a new path.

Tell us about yourself

As an international choreographer, producer, consultant and educator, I have always been driven by the process. Investigation and intention are my motivation in rehearsal, on stage, or in relationships. I love to dig deep and truly understand life. In all of my creative endeavors, the WHY was fairly easy to uncover. The HOW was a bit more elusive. There is no static rule book for living a creative life. And there is certainly no one path to creativity.

I have explored, researched, discovered, failed, recovered, and learned. It is an exciting process, and I am always eager to share. I started Synthesis U to connect with the artistic impulse and expand my process. I love supporting artists as they define success on their own terms. Whether my client is looking for accountability and support, productive systems and routines, or clarity on goals and intentions, each session moves the artists closer to themselves. It is an honor to witness.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I am proud of how I continue to learn and grow as a business owner. I am able to flow and respond to challenges with trust in my abilities. This was a lesson that took a long time to learn, but practice makes progress! During the pandemic, two years of client contracts were canceled. The first week of the shutdown was rough, but within ten days, I created a virtual dance program of classes and choreography, an online dance company of 51 dancers from 8 countries, multiple free classes, and tutorials on social media, and created an online mentoring and coaching program.

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

One of my challenges as a business owner is taking a moment to respond to results, as opposed to reacting emotionally to perception. A small business owner or solo entrepreneur can solely focus on implementation and management and miss the very important aspects of measuring productivity and profitability. Owners can't afford to be so busy paying attention to the "creating" (the fun part!) that the marketing and audience-building tasks slide. If a business doesn't make money, it is a hobby.

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

  1. Before starting a business, know your WHY. Knowing your primary reason and your true strengths in your industry will drive many of your initial decisions and can set you up for success. Quick story. Stay with me: At the end of every season of the reality show Project Runway, the host asks each contestant why they should win. At least three designers answer with some version of "I want this more than anyone else" or "I work harder than the other designers." Um... really? You can't measure desire, and we don't see every moment of other's processes. But one designer will embrace their strengths and announce, "I deserve to win because I have a unique perspective, I make bold choices, my work resonates with an underserved community." BOOM... A strong WHY will win. A strong WHY will drive strong decisions.
  2. While knowing your WHY is imperative, being 100 percent "ready" is not. No one feels ready. Being ready is a decision. Make the decision.
  3. Slow growth is still growth. Aim for a sustainable rate of improvement in product, process, and relationships.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.traciestanfield.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traciestanfield/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/traciestanfield/

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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