Make Your Mark

Carrie Grant is a pop vocal coach and also teaches business management. Her success in the field of vocal coaching has led to a high-profile role on BBC's Fame Academy amongst other TV appearances.

"I'd love to say my career came about as part of a big life plan but I have always just lived for today and followed my nose. David and I started doing singing sessions together and found that we loved working together. We were singing for Take That when the boys asked us how we got our "sound." We showed them and the next day their manager offered us a job coaching them. Gradually coaching took over. Success in the creative industry is often all about networking and discipline as well as creativity. These qualities can be transferred to running a business so we use them in the field of business
management training."

Carrie and David Grant's top tips for business

Form and Flow - All businesses should have both. Form is where you have an exact plan of where you see things going, flow is where a new opportunity arises and you have the flexibility to follow that opportunity. A combination of the two is best. David and I have always have plans but it's been amazing to see how many times these plans have been over taken by an opportunity which has then led onto other amazing opportunities.

Know your battles. Be fun to work with, no one likes a moaner. Life is not perfect and therefore there will always be things to complain about. Our advice is to know your battles. Save you complaints to the areas where it really matters.

Embrace change. Change is either an opportunity or a threat, in our book it's always an opportunity. Very few things come easy. The hard times are often the time where you develop the most character. To ultimately get the most from and enjoy success you have to have grown some character.

Stay passionate about what you do. David and I have been in the entertainment industry for 27 years each and we are more excited about work than ever. Each day brings something new and even the challenges can be fun. We hold onto things lightly, knowing failure can be just around the corner. Holding on lightly allows you to fully enjoy every day because you're not desperately holding on.

Are you an innovator or an implementer? If you dream big dreams but have no way of implementing those dreams, make sure you surround yourself with people who can do this side of the work. Equally, if you are king of implementation but lack vision, find yourself a visionary and work with them. You may have both gifts within you, our advice? Watch you don't burn out!
If you are a leader, remember character and integrity will win every time over charisma. Put your ego outside the office front door each morning and encourage those who work with you. If they feel they are fully able to be themselves with you they will give their best and be passionate about their work.

Take time to rest. If you don't, you will burn out. Learn to say no. It's the hardest word for the self employed but it's essential for long term success.