Meet Demitris Maddox

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Demitris Maddox. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Demitris below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Demitris with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

My work ethic comes from my mother, hands down. From as far back as I can remember, she’s been the strongest person I know. Growing up, we didn’t have much, but she filled our essentially empty house with so much love, happiness, and joy. We didn’t have a car, so we walked everywhere. I didn’t see it as lacking; it was just what we did.

My mom’s dedication was incredible. She’d wake up every morning, take a two-hour bus ride to work, put in a full day, then ride two hours back home, Monday through Friday. But somehow, she still managed to take me to my drum lessons on Saturdays and never missed a competition. Seeing how hard she worked to give us the life we had inspires me to this day.

It was actually her idea for me to start playing drums in sixth grade. She noticed I had too many study halls and figured, ‘People don’t really study in study halls; they just goof around.’ So she put me in band, and that’s where I fell in love with drums.

I’ll be honest, my first time playing drums in band, I felt a little embarrassed. The other kids had been playing and reading music since third or fourth grade, so I had a lot of catching up to do. I felt like a big imposter. Sure, I could make a beat, but I couldn’t read music, so I was always envious of them. Little did I know that these same sixth-grade kids would become my high school drumline mates and some of my best friends to this day.

As I played through high school and then in drum corps, I really learned what work ethic meant. There’s this one day I’ll never forget. We were at our practice facility in Reading, Pennsylvania. It was at least 97 degrees, and we were out there on the field working our butts off. I remember feeling salt on my skin from the sweat drying. We’re carrying these 45-pound tenor drums, being asked to do rep after rep after rep. My goal was to never sit out one rep, and in that moment, I wanted to so badly. But I remembered the promise I made to myself: never sit out, never reset. Everything in my body was screaming to stop, to quit. But I knew I was safe, I wasn’t going to die or anything. It was just incredibly difficult to march in time when you’re that exhausted, and you expect perfection from yourself because you don’t want to let the team down.

That work ethic of sweating in the hot sun, but still having to get the job done – play perfectly in time, march perfectly in time – it sticks with you. To this day, I often look back at moments on that field and think, ‘What I’m doing now is not as hard as what I did back then.’

One saying from those days that I carry with me is ‘Everything matters all the time.’ On the field, it meant the music mattered, the dynamics mattered, your marching mattered, how you looked mattered. I apply that to my work now. Everything I do for my clients matters; I want to make sure they have the best experience all around.

There are times when I’m facing a difficult task, and I think back to being on that field. I remember the crazy schedule I kept: working at a restaurant Monday through Thursday with no nights off, then driving three hours to rehearsal Friday morning, rehearsing from Friday to Sunday, driving back Monday morning, just to go back to work and repeat the cycle again. That drive and determination to do that thing is what pushes me forward now.

I think that’s the amazing thing that playing an instrument, especially in a group like drum corps, teaches you. It instills that work ethic, that dedication to put your head down, get the job done, and know that you can always improve. It’s a lesson that applies to everything in life, and it’s something I’m grateful for every day.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

In my professional life, I run a company called Provide Impact. Our mission is simple yet profound: we help private music teachers use their website to turn strangers into students. But it’s so much more than just web design, it’s about amplifying the impact of music education.

What excites me most about this work is the opportunity to give back to a community that has shaped my life in countless ways. Playing the drums changed my life, giving me friendships, travel opportunities, and the chance to experience the power of people working hard towards a shared goal. Now, I get to help the very people who create these transformative experiences for others.

The fact that I can blend my love for building things and technology with music is a dream come true. It’s incredibly fulfilling to provide impact to music teachers in a way that allows them to provide more impact to their students.

In a time when many schools are cutting band programs, being able to help private music teachers spread the love of music feels more important than ever.

What sets Provide Impact apart is our deep understanding of the music teaching world. Since 2015, I’ve been immersed in this space, starting when I helped my girlfriend build her piano studio from the ground up. This experience gave me unique insights into the day-to-day challenges music teachers face. Unlike generic web design companies, we understand that in music teaching, the parent is paying for lessons, but the child is taking them, a dynamic that affects everything from marketing to lesson structure.

Our flagship offering is Impact Builder and or Student Magnet Blueprints, which are pre-built website templates specifically designed for music teachers. We’ve seen too many teachers struggle with generic website builders, trying to adapt templates meant for lawyers or restaurants into something that works for a music studio. It often ends up looking unprofessional and doesn’t convert visitors into students effectively.
But we go beyond just templates. We’ve offer a platform called Impact Builder, which is simple, easy to use, and powerful. It includes integrated tools like e-commerce, funnel design, and email marketing, allowing teachers to run their entire online presence from one login. Everything works together seamlessly, alleviating the headaches that come with trying to piece together platforms that weren’t designed to work together.
One of our proudest achievements was getting our first music teacher onto the platform. It felt like a milestone similar to a teacher getting their first student – all the planning and preparation finally put into action. It’s a moment when you know you’re really doing it, really making a difference.
Looking ahead, we’re planning to expand our offerings to include hands-off SEO services and Google Ads management, further supporting our teachers in growing their studios.
At the heart of everything we do is our mission to ‘provide impact.’ To me, this means amplifying a teacher’s musical gift to change lives. It’s about honoring the impact they already have and expanding it in authentic, meaningful ways. We believe that when music teachers embrace their power to provide impact, they’re not just teaching notes and rhythms – they’re nurturing creativity, building confidence, and planting seeds of joy that will bloom for years to come.
My journey to this point wasn’t a straight line. I didn’t set out to build a company serving music teachers. It happened serendipitously when I started helping my girlfriend with her piano studio. But over time, working with other music teachers, I found my true calling, and I love every minute of it.
Of course, there have been challenges. Like many entrepreneurs, I’ve had to wrestle with imposter syndrome, questioning if I really had something valuable to offer. But every time I see a teacher succeed because of our work, it reinforces that we’re on the right path.
Our approach is holistic. We don’t just offer a website – we offer a complete platform, blueprints for success, and guidance every step of the way. We’re taking the cognitive load off teachers so they can focus on what they do best: teaching music and changing lives.
In the end, it all comes back to impact. The world needs more music. It needs more of the empathy, the discipline, and the sheer joy that music education provides. And that means the world needs passionate music teachers reaching as many students as possible. At Provide Impact, we’re here to amplify that reach, to turn up the volume on great teaching, and to create a symphony of positive change in the world.”

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back on my journey, I believe the three most impactful qualities that have shaped my success are empathy and understanding of music teachers’ needs, technical skill and adaptability, and persistence coupled with a growth mindset.

Empathy and Understanding of Music Teachers’ Needs

This quality has been fundamental to everything I’ve built. Having played drums and taught high school drumline, I understand the dedication it takes to learn an instrument. But my deep insight comes from a more personal place – helping my girlfriend build her piano studio from the ground up since 2015. For nine years, I’ve been immersed in the day-to-day realities of running a music teaching business. I’ve heard about every student, every lead, every challenge.
This empathy led to a breakthrough in how I approached product development. I realized that teachers were struggling with web design, trying to piece together conflicting advice from various sources. They needed something that worked out of the box, without adding to their already full plate. This understanding led to the creation of our Student Magnet Blueprints within Impact Builder.
For those early in their journey, my advice is simple: listen. Find where your target audience is having conversations – whether it’s Reddit, Facebook groups, or other platforms. Don’t just hear their words; understand their frustrations, their aspirations, their daily challenges. This empathy will guide you to create solutions that truly resonate.

Technical Skill and Adaptability

While I didn’t build Impact Builder from the ground up, identifying and adapting the right technology for music teachers’ needs was a significant challenge. The goal was to find a solution powerful enough to run a studio’s online presence, yet user-friendly enough for non-tech-savvy teachers.
I’ve learned that staying current doesn’t always mean chasing the latest tech trends. Much like a three-piece suit, the core needs of music teachers remain constant – they need to attract students and present themselves professionally online. Our focus is on perfecting these essentials rather than adding unnecessary bells and whistles.
The most significant enhancement we’ve made is creating music teacher-specific blueprints. These templates allow teachers to quickly customize a professional website without getting bogged down in design details.
For those starting out in providing tech solutions for a specific industry, I recommend immersing yourself in your target audience’s world. If you can’t be your ideal client, find ways to deeply understand their challenges. As for developing skills, practice is key. If you’re new, be upfront about it and consider offering your services at a lower price to mitigate the client’s risk.

Persistence and Growth Mindset

About four years ago, I hit a low point. I had no clients, and the task of building this business seemed insurmountable. What pulled me through was a simple mantra: “Why not me?” I realized there were people less passionate and knowledgeable than me who were succeeding. This perspective shift was crucial.
My approach to challenges has remained consistent, but I’ve gotten faster at bouncing back. What used to take months of feeling down now takes just minutes.
For those struggling with imposter syndrome, I offer this comfort: it doesn’t go away, even for the most successful people. The key is learning to live with it rather than trying to beat it. Remember, if others who are less passionate or knowledgeable can put themselves out there, so can you.
These three qualities work together every day in my business. I’m constantly trying to understand what private music teachers need, using my technical skills to meet those needs, and persisting through challenges with a growth mindset.
If I had to choose the most crucial quality, it would be empathy and understanding. Without this, you might have technical skills and persistence, but you’ll miss the mark in creating solutions that truly resonate with your audience.
In conclusion, to those early in their journey: cultivate deep empathy for your target audience, continuously develop your skills, and maintain a persistent, growth-oriented mindset. Remember, success isn’t about eliminating challenges or doubts – it’s about learning to work through them effectively. Your unique passion and dedication can be your greatest assets. Why not you?

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

Feeling overwhelmed is something I’m quite familiar with, especially in the world of entrepreneurship and supporting music teachers. When I feel overwhelmed, it’s usually because I’m juggling multiple commitments across different areas of my life – family, personal relationships, business tasks like pitching and speaking on podcasts, preparing trainings, running day-to-day operations, and supporting our members. While these individual tasks might not seem overwhelming on their own, it’s the countless subtasks and the rapid changes that can really pile up.
The first sign I notice when I’m starting to feel overwhelmed is a physical one – I start to experience shortness of breath. It’s like I can’t breathe deeply anymore. That’s my body’s way of telling me it’s time to take action.
When this happens, my immediate go-to strategy is to focus on deep breathing. It sounds simple, but it’s incredibly effective. Then, I remind myself of a crucial truth: action is the pressure release valve for stress and overwhelm. The more I sit and think about everything I need to do without actually doing anything, the worse I feel. So, I start taking action.
One strategy that’s been invaluable is what I call my ‘Power To-Do List’ system. It starts with an ‘Open List’ where I jot down any thoughts, ideas, or tasks that come to mind. From there, I move items to a ‘Closed List’ of 10 things I want to accomplish within a specific timeframe, like 30 or 90 days. Finally, I have a ‘Power List’ of just five items that I’m actively working on. I don’t move on to the next task or add more to the Power List until all five are complete. This system helps me manage stress and prevent overwhelm by giving me a clear, actionable focus.
To manage all of this, I use the Microsoft To-Do app. It syncs across my devices, so I always have an up-to-date view of my tasks. This tool has been a game-changer for me.
When it comes to prioritizing tasks when everything seems urgent and important, I’ve learned that most things can actually wait. We often create artificial urgency. Just because a client messages at 11 AM doesn’t mean I need to respond immediately. Having set times to do things and using my to-do app helps me see more clearly what’s truly important and what fires actually need to be put out right away.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the importance of taking action quickly and not letting things pile up. Being decisive in my decision-making and sticking to my to-do list has helped me navigate through overwhelming periods.
I’ll admit, I still struggle with balancing the need to push through work with the need to step back and recharge. I often feel like I need to be constantly moving the ball forward, always striving for more success. Learning to take a step back, relax, be more present, and enjoy the small things is something I’m actively working on. I’m not perfect at it, but I’m a work in progress.
My advice to other entrepreneurs or music teachers who often feel overwhelmed is this: take a step back, center yourself, and breathe. Write down all the tasks you feel you need to do – seeing them on paper or in your phone can be incredibly helpful. Then, prioritize them from most to least important. Focus only on the next task in front of you until it’s complete, then move on to the next. Remember, you can only do one thing at a time, so give that one thing your full attention.
Dealing with overwhelm is an ongoing process, and it’s okay to not have it all figured out. The key is to keep refining your strategies and be kind to yourself along the way. Remember, feeling overwhelmed is a sign that you’re pushing yourself and growing – it’s part of the journey, not a sign of failure.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://provideimpact.com
• Instagram: @demitrismaddox
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/demitrismaddox
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/demitris-maddox-37523013a/