The Entrepreneurial Dance: How Owning a Business & Dancing Salsa go together… and why everyone should do both
In November of 2008, I started my own business.
One month prior to this new venture, I started dancing salsa and it became my favorite hobby.
And looking back on it, I don’t think it was a coincidence!
I’ve since realized that they have much more in common than you might think. In fact- I believe that they go together hand in hand and every business owner should dance salsa. Here’s why.
Getting Started
Whether you’re starting your own business or starting to dance salsa, most people have no idea what it will take to become good at either one so they start off by taking shots in the dark.
New business owners envision themselves growing their empire rapidly and in simplicity. The infamous “if you build it, they will come” is the mantra that speaks their truth.
They create products or programs, build a pretty website, make business cards and put out a few Facebook posts, expecting people to come running in their direction with their wallets out. But the chances of that actually happening are about the same as winning the lottery!
Similarly, in salsa, people think that the way to become a fabulous dancer is to just go out to a nightclub and start dancing. They think that they can just teach themselves as they go along and everyone will be impressed.
But that never works!
Salsa dancers (or ‘salseros’ as they are frequently called) rarely attend nightclubs. That’s because salsa is a very technical dance, and only a tiny percentage of nightclub attendees actually know and understand the techniques.
In other words, when you go to a nightclub and hear salsa music come on, very few people on the dancefloor are actually dancing salsa!
Salseros are trained dancers and they don’t usually go to night clubs. They go to dance socials.
On rare occasions, a social will take place at a nightclub. But the majority of them happen at dance studios.
Salsa Pro Tip: Hang out at a dance studio instead of a club!
The Entrepreneurial Dance: Carlos Gonzalez of Mambo Pa Ti
Location: Metamovements Dance Studio in Boston
Gaining Momentum
In order to gain momentum, be it in business or salsa, you need to be willing to learn and get feedback.
The amount of learning and feedback you’ll need depends on your goals.
For example, if you’re just dipping your toe into the business world, a pre-recorded class for a hundred bucks might be enough to get you started with your first few clients or customers.
But if you’re serious about growing your business to 6 figures or more, you’ll need ongoing customized feedback from at least one mentor. And you can’t get that from a pre-recorded class.
Business Pro Tip: Have at least one coach for every area of your business.
Similarly, with salsa, if you’re just testing the waters, you can get away with taking some classes at a night club.
But if you’re serious about wanting to become a good dancer, you’ll need to find a reputable studio and take classes ongoing so you can further develop your abilities and evolve as a dancer.
Refining Your Skills
After you’ve built the foundation of your business and are generating income, the next steps are to tweak and refine.
You’ll need to examine the primary components of your business to determine the areas that are strongest and weakest.
That means- checking in with your mindset, ideal client avatar, messaging, marketing strategies, conversion rates and other key performance indicators.
In the areas that are substandard, you’ll need to determine whether you’re able to make the improvement on your own or if you’ll need a professional to help you.
The same is true in salsa!
After you’ve taken some classes (probably a few months’ worth) you’ll want to start refining your dancing.
You’ll need to look at your technique, execution, musicality and your connection to your partner.
Get feedback and recommendations from your instructor and partners who are more advanced than you then adjust yourself accordingly.
Salsa Pro Tip: Attend Latin Dance Festivals world-wide to learn from the highest-level instructors!
The Entrepreneurial Dance: Mambo Pa Ti Dance Company
Location: Boston SalsaFestival 2016
Standing Out in the Business Crowd
If you own a business, chances are that there are many others on the market providing the same service that you provide.
Some might call these other companies your “competitors”.
But the truth of the matter is, there really isn’t any competition in business. The people who go elsewhere just aren’t your people.
Here’s why:
Of all the businesses that offer what you offer- no one else does it like you do!
Every business has a soul, character, personality and specific results that they deliver. This is your brand.
The better you know and fully express your brand, the more soulmate clients you will naturally attract toward you.
How do you figure this out?
Look at yourself. You are your business.
One of the biggest spiritual lessons you will learn on the journey of entrepreneurship is authenticity. Your business will not survive without it. So be authentic!
Business Pro Tip: Reflect- What is standing in your way of becoming more authentic in your business than you are right now?
Standing Out in the Salsa Crowd
When you go to a salsa dance social, you will usually see a lot of people. Sometimes hundreds.
But no two dancers are alike.
Their energy, style and technique are unique to them.
Some of the dancers you see will stand out to you.
And some will inspire you.
Others will be the ones that you feel called to dance with.
The dancers that inspire you are reflecting back to you your own potential as a dancer and as a human.
The ones you want to dance with reflect your own energy for dance and life back to you.
Dancing is about authenticity too.
Truly dancing means making an authentic connection to the music, your partner, your body, your movements, your freedom, your creativity and all of the joy that you feel as you experience it all!!!
The dancefloor is like a playground…for adults!!!
And yes, it really is as thrilling as it sounds!
Salsa will bring out more of the real you- the fun you- that is the perfect complement to your entrepreneurial nature!
Salsa Pro Tip: Train with a dance team and take private classes so you can play full out on your playground- aka the dancefloor!
Mambo Pa Ti Dance Company at Boston Salsa Festival 2015
Why Business and Salsa are Best Friends
Owning a business you love will bring you autonomy, freedom, fun, growth and unlimited opportunity for expansion.
But at the end of the day, your business will bring you many challenges as well. Which means- it’s very important for you to balance your energy!
If you don’t balance your energy, you’ll end up feeling burned out and your business will suffer from your energetic depletion. Not to mention, your health will suffer also.
Dancing- especially salsa- is a way to completely unleash all of your challenges and responsibilities and live carefree for as long as you are dancing!
If I’m having fun at a salsa social, I literally forget that anything else in the world exists! And I’m not a unique case!
Dancing is a way for you to play full out in a dreamland that is completely care-free!
That’s why I see business and salsa like the yin and the yang!
Final Conclusions
Business and salsa are both alike in many ways and also complimentary.
The learning curve to mastering each one requires a similar process.
Both will encourage you to grow and expand in new ways that will thrill your soul!
So if you own a business, you should take up salsa!
And if you dance already, think about starting a business!
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