“One of my favourite things about speech and drama is to see students grow. Even the smallest achievement is still an achievement – I love seeing them blossom and reach new Personal Bests.”
Katie Riley of Speaking Out has always loved drama. It relaxes her. Katie first started at Speaking Out as an employee (she was actually the first employee!) and had so many ideas for the day-to-day running (especially cataloguing the many, many costumes, props and scripts) that when she was given the opportunity to buy the business, Katie leapt at it.
At Speaking Out, Katie and her team work with families to boost confidence and communication skills (as well as give everyone an outlet for their dramatic side!). She runs small-group weekly lessons after school at her Studio where children can build and practise their new skills in a safe place.
Katie shares that one of her favourite things about speech and drama is to see students grow. Even the smallest achievement is still an achievement – Katie loves seeing them blossom and reach new Personal Bests.
Katie recently joined the HerBusiness Network and says that being a member takes away the overwhelm with everything that needs to happen. The 90-day plans and accountability groups allow her to break down tasks into manageable chunks and more easily prioritise.
Who’s your favourite entrepreneur and why?
Alan Curzon is a man who never stops. He sees a need, and builds a business to meet that need. He always has big goals- and his staff always meet them. He sees the talent of his staff and works with them to build not just his companies, but their skills as well.
Why did you start your business and what gave you the idea?
I have always loved drama. It relaxes me. I first started at Speaking Out as an employee. I was actually the first employee! I had so many ideas for the day-to-day running (esp cataloguing our many, many costumes, props and scripts) that when I was given the opportunity to buy the business, I leapt at it.
What do you enjoy most about running your own business?
What I love most is seeing plans come into fruition. I also love meeting the parents and getting to know the families of our students in a way that you don’t have when you are only the teacher.
What three pieces of advice do you wish you’d been given when you started?
- There is nothing wrong with asking for help. My biggest fault is that I feel guilty for asking other people to help. If it’s something you aren’t able to do, find someone who can. There is nothing wrong with recognising your limitations!
- Know what all the terms are in a P&L report. Don’t bury your head in the sand when it comes to finances.
- Think about when your “Dry spells” will be- and eliminate them. We are based on school terms- and my first year as owner was a wakeup call when it came to paying rent for our premises- it makes quite a hit on the bank account when there is no money coming in over the school holidays!
What advice would YOU give someone thinking about starting a business?
My advice is to always keep learning. Start now and don’t stop. You will be busy with your business, but as you come across aspects that you aren’t totally comfortable with- learn about it. Oh- and one other thing. Don’t say UM! We all do it occasionally, but too many ums make you seem like you don’t know what you are talking about. You won’t make as many sales if the customer doesn’t think you are confident about your company.
What skills and knowledge areas would you recommend those starting out in business get acquainted with quickly?
The best set of skills and knowledge you can have is:
- Know your finances and how the reports work.
- Figure out social media. This is definitely not my strong suit- but it has brought us several new clients. When I figured out how to schedule posts- that was a game changer!
What does your IDEAL business look like? Even if you’re not there yet, what would it look like if your business was ideal?
My ideal business has a full program of after-school classes, with adult coaching sessions of an evening. Some days we go into schools and take students for extra-curricular lessons; other days we see corporate clients and have group sessions building public speaking skills. We would have a program where the older students would team-teach with our experienced teachers to gain a little bit of practical experience before they head off into the world.
What problem does being a Member of the HerBusiness Network solve for you and your business? And, how?
Being a member of this network allows me to not become overwhelmed with everything that needs to happen. The 90-day plans and accountability groups will allow me to break down my tasks into manageable chunks. I love lists- but I tend to write everything down that I think of that needs to be done- and then freeze because the list is so long. Where do I start? These groups and plans will allow me to more easily prioritise my tasks.
Learn more about Katie and Speaking Out.
