The Audacity To Start A Business

        Can You Teach Me Piano?

In 1983 we moved to Washington state where my husband got a new job. I will be honest and say that I moved with great reluctance. I left my home, my family, and some really good friends. The weird thing about moving to a new place is that there are no memories; no familiar corner of the house, no familiar store, and no familiar neighborhood to walk. It takes time to decide what is favorite. I had a husband with a new job which required traveling, four children, and a new church community. What calling did I receive? Yes, you guessed it, church organist. I shared that calling with another terrific musician.

When the business my husband worked for was sold the employees were laid off and we had to start over. He was now working from a home office and we decided to move one more time to an island in the Puget Sound. Our income was greatly reduced so I found myself thinking about the question of piano lessons. If I refreshed some pedagogy knowledge could I really start a teaching studio? I now had five children, a smaller house, and my husband agreed we needed to upgrade my childhood piano to a baby grand in our small living room.  I felt like I lived inside the joke of the man who was complained about his difficult life. 

A man goes to his Rabbi and complains about his house. “Dear Rabbi”, he says, “my house is way too small. It’s 500 square feet and it hosts my seven children, mother in law, and a nail salon”. The Rabbi listens attentively and says: “I have a solution to your problem. First thing tomorrow morning go to the market and buy a goat. Be sure to keep it inside the house, not outside in the yard. In less than a week things should improve dramatically for you. If they don’t, come back and we will see what else can be done”. The man freaks out inside, but tries to keep his cool. Can’t dispute the Rabbi…. He goes out the next day and gets a goat. A week from hell goes by, and after the goat has eaten all the furniture, books, and drapes, the man goes back to the Rabbi all anxious and sleep-deprived. When he walks in, he falls on his knees and begs “Dear Rabbi, you are a man of wisdom, but I’m not sure that the goat is a great idea, it’s eating everything the house and literally smells like…”. “No worries!” the Rabbi interrupts him, “I was just about to tell you to take the goat out…. come back again in a week, and tell me if things got better “. The man thanks the Rabbi, and goes home relieved and smiling. When he gets home, he gives his wife a big wet kiss and sends the goat out. The following week when he comes back to the Rabbi he’s as happy as a clam: “I don’t know what magic you worked on the house, but it feels at least twice larger!”

I didn't put the baby grand piano outside or the kids outside but, I did start Busy B's Piano Studio and to my astonishment I enrolled enough students help with living expenses and make the payments on the piano.

That's the flash of light I received. "You only need two more students a month to meet the payment on the new piano."

Busy B's is now 35 years old with twenty five students enrolled presently and I still love teaching. My children are grown and I am teaching some grandchildren on that baby grand piano in my living room. 

I am so grateful for the flashes of light that led me to this moment in time and I see the evidence of my learning and leaning on faith in Jesus Christ. I know the flashes of light come from His light.

                                    Click here to go back to the 31 Days Of Writing index.