Entrepreneur in the Triad – Melanie Vaughn of DESPA

I’m so excited to introduce everyone to another wonderful entrepreneur in the Triad! In today’s Entrepreneur in the Triad blog, I interviewed Melanie Vaughn. She is the owner of local dance studio Dance Explosion School of Performing Arts (DESPA), which is located in Clemmons. Her passion for dance has inspired her to build up a studio and become a successful entrepreneur.

Meet Melanie

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

“When I was a kid, I always wanted to be like my father. I wanted to be a pilot. I enjoy dancing too though and I was about 13 when I decided that was something I wanted to make into a career. I was torn for a while between getting my wings and wearing tutus!”

What is your favorite part about being an entrepreneur?

“It’s so hard to pick just one! The biggest one would be being the initiator. You’re able to have ideas and make them a reality. Plus, there are so many others who are looking at everything you do, and they become inspired enough that they want to help see the plan succeed. Therefore, they contribute to the development and plans for positive impact. I love that I get to be a role model every day. I teach others character traits that they can use every day, all while allowing them to reach for their dreams.”

How is writing important in your business or as an entrepreneur?

“Writing is a great way to get a business out there. We are in a new age where technology is the present and future. With social media advertisements it’s important to write quick and good descriptions that catch someone’s interest and pay attention to your business. With dance, it’s hard to express the magic that happens in the studio; from milestones to smiles, so photography and writing helps others get a glimpse of the joy that I get to see every day.”

How do you overcome obstacles that being an entrepreneur throws at you?

“I overcome obstacles by utilizing my problem-solving skills. It’s important to look at obstacles through all possible lenses, internal and external. It gives you the ability to change how you think so you’re able to see all perspectives. This problem-solving method allows you to lay all the cards on the table and make decisions from there. Sometimes, it may require stepping away and analyzing after a needed break, other times the answer may come right away. Time and thought-processing with the idea of positive betterment always leads to success!”

What is one piece of advice you would give future entrepreneurs?

“Don’t give up! There are easy days and there are difficult days. It’s knowing that no two days are alike, and the outcome will always remain different. Stay true to the path that you are on. As long as you are okay with the choices that you are making and know that the community, clients, or your team would enjoy the choices as well, keep going! If it seems impossible, find a way to make it possible. Find what works best, which might take a few tries but will happen. You’ll never know what will be if you give up, so remember to keep pushing through! There are always people behind you who will help you whenever you need.”

What does being an entrepreneur mean to you?

“It means being an inspiration to others. There are so many people who have the drive or the willingness to take on the difficulty of being responsible and the tasks that follow. You have to understand that there are people who support you but also, they are people just like you. Respecting their lives and passions can allow you to open new doors to be able to have connections to grow and make decisions. The team effort allows improvement. The goal is to constantly learn, grow, and change.”

How do you manage to wear all the hats an entrepreneur is required to wear? Do you have tips for staying organized?

“Definitely time management! Planners have become my best friend! It takes a village, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you think you may need it. I try to find ways that my hats can combine so that I don’t have as much on my plate, in the end, it’s discipline! You have to be strong-willed enough and motivated enough to sit down and take that initiative. From decision making, to conflict resolutions, to paperwork, it all ties together. It’s finding the best way to do that and figuring out a time frame that works best that won’t take away from some of the essential family/friend time that we all need.”

What educational experiences helped when becoming an entrepreneur?

“After graduating high school, I went on to attend college and double major in dance and English and later a Master’s in English. Studying various forms of literature helped greatly with building my vocabulary, public speaking skills and communication skills to enhance my virtual and in-person interactions. Utilizing all of these in unison has allowed me to build not only personal connections, but express my passions in an intricate way that allows others to see why I enjoy what I do in various forms of the matter.