We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shaynie Rhoads a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Shaynie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Thanks for having me! I took a big risk when I signed the lease on the new space for my lessons studio last year. I had been running my business out of a tiny office for two years before needing to relocate and expand, and after months of searching I found the perfect spot. But it was going to be a huge commitment, and a lot of money was on the line— money I had worked hard for and saved over the years. I remember preparing for the down payment by laying out all the cash I’d saved up from past shows on the floor around me and crying in the middle of it. Was I making the right decision? Was I ready? I was taking a risk because of the cost and the uncertainty, but something inside me told me that this was the right next step. Looking back a year later, I’m glad I did it. I consider it one of my most terrifying moments, but also one of the proudest.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Yes— I’m Shaynie Rhoads and I’m a musician. I write, record, perform and teach music. During the week I run my studio and on the weekends I play live. For years, it was just my acoustic guitar and me, but now I have a band and it’s been a dream come true. I still do solo acoustic gigs regularly, but playing with the band is where my heart is.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Absolutely, though I don’t think a lot of the resources I use now even existed back then. I’m a huge fan of Fiverr and Canva. They are great services for independent musicians like me— you can get powerful, professional-looking materials to promote your brand without breaking the bank. I use Fiverr to find artists to design my logos and graphics and Canva to create concert posters.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. Life-changing. I’ve read it two or three times by now. To put it simply, it taught me how to let go of the things that do not matter and to focus my energy towards things that do. For me, that means making music, building my business, taking good care of my mind and body and prioritizing the relationships with the people I care most about. I used to think I’d achieve happiness by driving a fancy car, going on extravagant vacations, wearing expensive clothes and having lots of friends, but those are false idols. Distractions. None of that has anything to do with that I actually value. Once I chose to stop wasting time and money on things of no value, I was free to channel my energy towards my music and things that help me be a better version of myself— one that is more kind, caring, confident, happy, healthy and fulfilled. I recommend this book to everyone.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://shaynierhoads.com
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/shaynierhoads
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/shaynierhoads
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/dethkorekitty
• Youtube: http://youtube.com/@shaynierhoads

Image Credits
Krista May, Tim Hardy, Sam Manic