Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Claire Fry, Founder of Vocal Confidence, located in Bedford, NH, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Vocal Confidence is a voice-based approach to speaker and leadership training led by a professional VO artist. My customer is anyone looking to close the gap between their smarts, expertise, and authority and the way they come across when they speak.
Tell us about yourself
After twenty years as a professional performing artist (stage and VO), I was looking to expand my business - and quite frankly, it gets lonely talking to yourself in the booth all day! When the pandemic hit and most meetings became virtual, it became clear that many professionals struggled with fully expressing themselves through their voices. I realized that my background uniquely qualifies me to coach people to become more effective, confident speakers - and Vocal Confidence was born. Every day I am motivated by the knowledge that I am playing a part in getting a diversity of voices heard out there in the world.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
The first time I heard a client of mine speaking on a national stage and receiving praise for their poise and delivery, then getting the thank-you email that it was all due to my coaching - that was the moment I realized I wanted to do this for as long as I could and for as many people as possible.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One tricky thing about being a solopreneur is the need for constant self-motivation. Honestly, I think this is where a career in the performing arts has prepared me the most - getting out there every day and putting your voice out into the world without being dependent on external validation or motivation. You have to do what you do for intrinsic, not extrinsic, reasons.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Know your voice and keep putting it out there, imperfectly. By the time someone is ready to get on a discovery call with you, they should know your whole deal because your voice is so clear on your website, socials, etc.
- Draw an inviolable line between work time and personal time. The hustle is real, but also, the value of what you're providing diminishes if you aren't growing and flourishing as a well-rounded human and - y'know - having a life!
- Keep saying yes - most of my training offerings have come about because someone asked me, "Can you do this for my team?" Allow your sense of "what I do" to grow and expand with your audience - that's the fun part.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.vocalconfidencetraining.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/vocalconfidence
Twitter: https://twitter.com/yourvoiceatwork
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loudandclaire/
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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