Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sonia Emore. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Sonia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

Yes, I’m definitely happier as a business owner. But I’d be lying if I said I never think about what it would feel like to have a steady 9–5 with consistent paychecks and a predictable schedule. I love entrepreneurship, but the uncertainties can be scary. There have been seasons where I truly didn’t know when the next payment would come in, and it forced me to live on a very strict budget with almost no wiggle room.

I remember sitting at my desk one day, looking over my numbers and trying to figure out how to keep my business afloat, how to stay affordable for families while still making enough to actually profit. That moment really made me think: “Wouldn’t a regular job be easier?” It felt heavy, and I had so much on my mind… everything from how many hours I should work each day, to making sure I’m resting enough, to wondering if I’m actually enjoying the work or just problem-solving non-stop.

In those moments, I always come back to my faith. I have to trust God with the outcome and believe that He’s guiding me through this dream He placed in my heart.

So yes, even though entrepreneurship can be a lot, I’m still happier as a business owner. Because I know this God-given dream is making a real difference in the lives of the students who come through my classes and workshops, and that makes every challenge worth it.

Sonia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m originally from the South Side of Chicago, and I have a degree in business management and marketing. Along with that, I bring over 15 years of experience in the education field. Long before the degrees and the classroom work, I always had a deep love for singing, songwriting, and helping children. Eventually, those passions came together and sparked the idea for A Time To Create, LLC, which I launched in 2017.

A Time To Create teaches K–12 students how to express their feelings and emotions through the beautiful art of songwriting. We provide afterschool self-expression songwriting enrichment classes, workshops, homeschool sessions, and camps across Georgia. Our programs give youth a safe, supportive environment to express themselves while also building literacy skills such as reading, writing, and vocabulary. It’s creative, it’s therapeutic, and it genuinely helps students grow emotionally, academically, and artistically.

We partner with schools, organizations, recreation centers, and community programs throughout the state to bring these services directly to students. What sets us apart is our focus on emotional wellness. We don’t just teach music—we teach students how to understand, process, and communicate their feelings in healthy ways. That blend of creativity, literacy, and emotional healing is truly the heartbeat of our work.

There are many things I’m proud of, but one major highlight was when ABC Localish flew down from New York to interview me and feature A Time To Create. Hearing parents share testimonials and watching students perform their original songs on camera was such a powerful reminder of the impact we’re making.

A Time To Create may be a small business, but the impact is big. We’re helping young people find their voices—literally and emotionally—and that transformation is something I’ll never take for granted. Our mission is about more than music; it’s about emotional healing and empowering the next generation, one song at a time.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

For me, the biggest advice is to stay anchored in the mission and values of your organization. At A Time To Create, we make it a point not to drift away from the heart of why we exist. When your team clearly understands the mission, the expectations, and the standards you’ve set, it creates consistency, unity, and purpose.

I also believe in following the guidelines and systems you’ve established for your company. When everyone knows what to follow and there’s structure in place, it reduces confusion and helps the team feel supported. People thrive when they know what’s expected, why it matters, and how their work contributes to the bigger picture.

Staying mission-focused, maintaining clear guidelines, and reinforcing values, those things naturally build high morale because your team always knows they’re part of something meaningful.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

When I first started A Time To Create, I didn’t have the money to fund it. There was no savings account set aside, no investor, nothing. I simply stepped out on faith and listed my very first afterschool songwriting class, and to my surprise, it sold out.

I used the proceeds from that very first class to cover all the initial business needs: supplies, materials, tools, and anything else required to keep things moving. From that moment forward, the business has continued to fund itself. Every program, every workshop, every class has helped pour back into the mission.

It’s been nine years now, and that same model still supports A Time To Create. The business has grown, expanded, and impacted so many students and it all started with one class and the students who showed up.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.atimetocreate.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/at2cme
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonia-emore-b25b2149/