We recently connected with Arcia Stokes and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Arcia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

In order to acquire success, an individual must first believe it can be achieved. Success starts in the mind. Once it’s conceived, an individual must take action to achieve said goal. Additionally, it takes persistence, perseverance and drive. Lastly and most importantly, it requires grace and kindness towards oneself. The road to success is not linear. It’s many ups & downs. As an individual journey towards success, it is imperative to show compassion to themselves especially as you navigate new territory.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My name is Arcia and I am the owner of Stokes Notes, LLC and an Author. I developed a love and passion from an early age. I was raised by my aunt Yaya and she introduced me to music. She placed me in singing and piano lessons and also allowed me to sing in school and church choirs. She saw my gift at an early age, and did all she could to help cultivate my gifts and abilities. After completing my Master’s in music, I wanted to start a music school that offered children and adults the opportunity to cultivate their talents. Stokes Notes, LLC was birthed January 2nd 2020. Since its inception, it has grown and continues to serve children and adults. We offer quality voice, piano and guitar lessons. Additionally we collaborate with schools and organizations by providing quality professional development to their music/art educators. I am proud of the work we do, and I am thrilled to see it continue to grow.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Upon starting my business, I did not believe people viewed the “arts” or music lessons as a necessity, especially having to navigate through a pandemic. Many families lost their jobs, and faced financial difficulties as a result of COVID 19. I did not think people would prioritize music lessons, considering financial hardships. This was so untrue. Once I changed my mindset and really tapped into the power of music, and it’s ability to provide healing and act as an outlet, everything changed. Business increased and we received more clients/students than ever before. This lesson taught me the power of thoughts and how our personal belief systems hinder and ultimately hold us back! Once I believed music was essential, everyone else did.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

During the height of the pandemic, I had to pivot in a major way. I had to offer services that were convenient for my clients/students. Meeting in person was no longer an option, so I had to think of ways to connect with my students in other ways. Instead of only offering in-person lessons, we decided to offer virtual lessons. Additionally, we utilized social media in a major way. We hosted live open mics, which allowed us to grow our audience and engage with our students and build our following.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.stokesnotes.org
• Instagram: @stokesnotes_
• Facebook: Stokes Notes, LLC
• Linkedin: Stokes Notes, LLC