Profile: Georgina Jones: Sing and Inspire
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September 22, 2011 TheFreshOutlook  |
Georgina Jones is the creator of Sing and Inspire. Based in Cardiff, the company consists of a team of singers and vocal coaches who work with businesses to conduct team building exercise and training days. Ms Jones spoke to The Fresh Outlook about her experiences of setting up her own business.
Where did you get the idea for Sing and Inspire?
Our lives are our own creation, so I created a life I wanted! I wanted a job were I was my own boss and where I could fulfil my two passions of singing and business. I had a crazy idea about setting up choirs in companies to improve their business. People work better when they’re happy and singing makes people happy. I used to work for an insurance company and had a great relationship with the HR manager. He kindly agreed to trial a free choir for six months to see if it made a difference - it did and the rest is history! They are still our biggest customer three years later!
What difficulties did you come across while trying to launch your own business?
The pressure of not having a monthly pay cheque meant I had to perform and teach in the night to cover my income. Learning about all the finer business stuff such as NI, VAT etc was also difficult. Employing people is a bit scary, knowing that people’s mortgages depend on the business’ success. Just the responsibility, in essence.
In most large companies you can hide from responsibilities and blame other departments. When it’s your own business there is just you! You learn that it’s cool to make mistakes as long as you learn from them. There is always learning in everything we do even at the time you can’t make any sense of it. Reflection is a great skill to have and to be honest when you have dropped a ball. The art is knowing what your weaknesses and strengths are and having a team that complement each other.
What kind of expectations did you have before setting your business? Did your business meet those expectations?
I went into it to fulfil my passion so I didn’t have any expectations, just fulfilment and I can’t believe what has happened. My team is amazing, our client list reads like a dream and our results and reputation are very impressive. I’m so proud of what we have achieved. It changes and grows all the time and I’m always surprised by our success.
Did launching Sing and Inspire change you in any way? Did you learn something positive or unexpected about yourself?
I have grown so much! I’m highly creative but not really academic. I haven’t got a degree and I’m dyslexic so I do struggle with some things; however, having my own business has given me the confidence to deal with my weaknesses. I have always appeared confident but to be honest it’s mostly been an act! I have been out of my comfort zone so much in the last three years. I’m better at confrontation and dealing with difficult people and I have more faith in myself. I take exciting risks that really make me feel alive.
What kind of person were you before setting up Sing and Inspire? What kind of person you are now?
I was looking for something and thinking I wasn’t good enough. I think we can all talk ourselves out of a great idea, don’t you think? We say we are too old/young, too thick or over qualified etc. I have learnt so much about myself and what I have to offer and now I think, “What the hell, go for it!” What’s the worst that can happen? The old me would think that I have to do everything on my own and I have to be an expert in everything. Life would be very lonely if that was true. I knew deep down I had a lot to offer but now I really feel that I have a lot to bring to the party and still a load to learn. My life is exciting and that’s because I create an exciting life. Life doesn’t just happen to you, you happen to it.
Do you consider your business your biggest achievement?
No, my relationships are my biggest achievements. The business is up there, but it would be nothing without relationships, as people are all that matter - all the rest is just stuff. We have had a few parties to celebrate our success in Sing and Inspire - they are great times because I get to celebrate the business with the people that matter and the people that make it happen.
You see so many people that can’t balance work and home, which it is hard as there is always work. But the truth is that it’s all about priorities and being grateful.
What has the response to Sing and Inspire been like? What feedback have you had?
People love what we do! We have amazing projects. We have supported people fighting cancer, depression, grief, motivation and more. We help businesses improve their results and the way we do that is through their people. So many companies get this so wrong. It’s pretty simple really: people want to be respected, valued, listened to and trusted, and then they will do anything for the company.
People don’t want to come to work and do a bad job. We use unique ways to bring the best out in people and the results and feedback we get are amazing! But really it’s only about having fun and treating people with the respect they deserve.
What are your ambitions now?
To rule the world! Only joking, I want to carry on living outside my comfort zone to see what my real capabilities are. I constantly surprise myself with what I can do and what Sing and Inspire can achieve.
To be the best I can be every day, whether that’s a company director, a singer, a girlfriend, a public speaker, a daughter or a friend.
Oh and I’m off to be in a musical! My team have said go for it, so I am. I’m taking a few months off to fulfil a lifetime dream, the musical is called the cappuccinos girls and it opens in Swansea on September 22 in the new urban village. Further information can be found at www.cappuccinogirls.com. If you are a woman and you want to be inspired then it’s the perfect show for you!
Have you got any tips for women who want to launch a new business?
Ask for help. Talk to people in a business that you respect - don’t get advice from someone that doesn’t have the business or life you want to replicate. We have had so much help from wonderful people in businesses, from millionaires to one-man-bands - they all have something to bring to the party.
Have faith in yourself – you have something wonderful about you, and that’s a fact. We, as humans, are pretty amazing, so make sure you don’t sell yourself short.
Be creative, not a shopaholic – you don’t need a fortune. When you are skint you have more ideas as you are forced to be creative, and it’s good to be creative, especially during hard times.
For more information, visit www.singandinspire.com
