We recently connected with Laura McMahan and have shared our conversation below.
Laura, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?
I truly consider all of my music families to be an extension of my actual family. Spending so much time with students every week for years naturally brings you close and invested in championing and cheerleading their future. Because of that, what means the most is the love and support shown to me in challenging times. Don’t get me wrong I absolutely love to receive gifts of jewelry or gift cards to local spots or beautiful handwritten cards that I treasure but what I am most grateful for is the support and love that this musical family I have created shows me when times are tough. Dropping dinner when I’m sick or bringing flowers to be planted when I have lost a pet. Feeling so loved & supported is definitely the kindest act. I am incredibly grateful and only I hope I return the gift to my students and their families.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
It feels like just yesterday but I graduated from Georgia Southern in 2004 with a degree in Music. I grew up in a musical household where my mom sang and performed and my dad rocked the Beatles and Led Zeppelin on his old-school turntable so I have always had an eclectic musical upbringing. I loved to sing and play piano so it made sense to study music in college but I found after graduating I had a hard time paying my bills working in music. I also didn’t have that competitive drive you need to be a successful performer. I just wanted to make music. I ended up taking different jobs and found that nannying was a great fit for me and I could do music on the side. Eventually I was able to find my own way to make music my job. I have created a really cool, One of a kind Music Program at my local preschool where kiddos learn way more than your average program. These superstars are able to identify the different kinds of notes, they know about composers, we learn about where the notes are on the staff and they are really getting a strong musical foundation for their education. I’m also so thankful for my private music studio, Laura‘s Lessons, where I teach piano and voice. I have students from ages 4 to 16 and study all genres. I absolutely love being able to nurture and help grow student’s love of music so that they can go on to share it in their own way.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Woo! Covid. Social media shows me memories of two years ago how much I had to pivot from teaching in person at a school or in person in my home to teaching online. Let me tell you keeping toddlers engaged for 45 minutes on a zoom call is tough work! I am so thankful to be back in the classroom now but I do look back on those memories with a lot of fondness. My little nephew who lives in DC was able to join my music classes because they were virtual. That never would’ve happened without Covid. It’s good to know that I am able to adjust but I hope to not have to make a huge pivot like that again!
Can you talk to us about your experience with buying businesses?
My husband and I actually used to own Metro ATL Stork Lady and we would rent out our storks as a birth announcement for families welcoming home new babies in the metro Atlanta area. It was fun and a sweet way to help these families welcome home their newest members. We invested in the company when I was a nanny and saw the opportunity. Eventually with changes in our careers we ended up selling our storks to someone who was just starting in the business. My husband and I both feel that it was a great side business that we truly enjoyed.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: Lauraslessonsoakhurst
Image Credits
Sara Fleetwood