Meet Michelle Blair | Entrepreneur & Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michelle Blair and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michelle, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
My favorite affirmation is “everything is always working out for me.” It’s not about toxic positivity. It’s about the fact that I take ownership of my own life. Things don’t happen TO me; they happen FOR me. Even the things that are unexpected, difficult, challenging, confusing, or seem on the surface like failures. They’re all happening FOR me– to teach me something, to redirect my energy, to nudge me in a new direction, to make room for new opportunities or new people in my life, etc. And most importantly, it gets me into a gratitude mindset. When I say to myself “everything is always working out for me,” it reminds me that gratitude is the energy I choose to live in.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My background is as a violinist and orchestral conductor. My great grandfather was an accomplished amateur musician, and his favorite instrument to play was the violin. So my grandmother wanted one of her grandchildren to play violin in honor of her father. I don’t know why she chose me, but as they say, the rest is history (also, grandmothers are magic.). I have been a professional conductor and music educator my entire adult life, but I didn’t become an entrepreneur until 18 months ago. It has been a wild ride and a wonderful journey so far, and I have learned so much! I think the most important lessons I have learned thus far are: 1) LISTEN to the people around you. Really get quiet, get your mind quiet, and listen to what the person in front of you is saying. In your head, ask yourself, “What is important to them?” Some of the best ideas we’ve had and the coolest directions our business has gone came from parents and teachers; 2) Be humble, and ask for help; and 3) Trust the vision. I may be new to business, and I certainly don’t have everything figured out. But I trust myself, my vision, my intuition, my team, and the core values and mission of this company.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love it when my friends come visit because Dallas is such a great city and has so much to offer. When my friend Loralee comes to town, we always do lunch at La Spiga and dinner at Selda Mediterranean– two of my favorite places to eat in town. And then all of our daytime activities include my two young kids, so we hit up the Perot Museum, the Dallas Zoo, Play Street Museum, and Joya Playground at Oran Good Park. And since Loralee and I are both professional classical musicians, we catch whatever shows/concerts we can at the Winspear, the Meyerson, or Music Hall at Fair Park. There’s so much to do here, the time always flies!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my Shoutout to my husband, Aaron Blair. He is my partner in crime, my partner in life, and my partner in Lark Music Loft. Our partnership allows me to grow and step into the best version of myself each and every day.

Website: https://www.larkmusicloft.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larkmusicloft/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550632418439

Image Credits
Claire McAdams; Cam Graham.