We recently connected with Liz Rogers and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Liz, so great to have you on the platform. There’s so much we want to ask you, but let’s start with the topic of self-care. Do you do anything for self-care and if so, do you think it’s had a meaningful impact on your effectiveness?
I believe very strongly in a balanced life, and the importance of time with family. I take at least one significant vacation each year with my family. Stepping out of my routine and my comfort zone causes a perspective shift that allows me to come back refreshed and inspired unlike any other. Seeing another part of the world and experiencing other cultures always gives me a better perspective of my life and my business, and how I want to grow.
I also think western cultures over-prioritize productivity, which, as studies have begun to show, is actually less effective. We have recently seen a move toward unlimited vacations, and in some companies, mandatory vacations – asking employees to please take a break. In looking at my own personal effectiveness, it most often comes from changes of scenery. Whether it is something simple like getting up and going for a walk when I feel stuck, or taking a trip to a new place to think outside the box, I am very passionate about stepping away, in whatever way that looks for you. I encourage our team to do this as well, and we host quarterly retreats for our songwriters all around the world, focusing on restoration and renewed inspiration. I firmly believe in the power this has to reframe a problem or shape a solution we may be facing. I have found when returning from a break – whether it be 5 minutes or a week – I come back rejuvenated and more productive than before I left.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Sure! I am a passionate creative entrepreneur, investor, author, and photographer. I was recently honored as one of Nashville’s “30 Under 30”, and recognized by the Nashville Business Journal on the esteemed power players list “Women In Music City.”
I got my start in Nashville at Vanderbilt University, where the slogan ‘work hard play hard’ is truly exemplified. Since graduating, I have started several companies, and advised dozens more as an Advisor at the Entrepreneur Center. My primary focus is my music publishing company, Anacrusis – dedicated to championing Nashville-based non-country songwriters and producers, ranging from pop, alternative, rock, electronic, and hip hop. We help develop songwriters and find homes for their songs in TV shows, movies, and advertising campaigns. As an independent music supervisor, I get to be a part of the entire process, working on indie films and documentaries alongside the director to craft the music vision for the whole film. I also oversee the Music Program for the Nashville Film Festival, which is THIS WEEK! The lineup is incredible, with dozens of films, artist showcases, panels and parties! If you’re local here in Nashville, don’t miss out!
I have several other projects I am excited about, including my retreat space, Sandy Cove Lake House, which hosts creative artist retreats of all kinds, and my travel photography. I recently had a gallery showing of my work downtown Nashville, and now everything is available to purchase online on my website.
And perhaps the most exciting news of all: After two years of self-releasing with a local focus, my children’s book is now officially published and available on Amazon!! Emma’s Ice Cream Stand tells the story of a little girl who starts her own business– we see her pursuing her passions, finding her niche, assembling a team of people with different strengths, building something from the ground up, and making an impact in her community. For anyone wanting to inspire little ones in their lives to dream big, and for all the female entrepreneurs out there who didn’t see themselves depicted in their bedtime stories, this series is for you!
I hope you will check it out!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, I would say three skills or qualities that were most impactful on my journey as an entrepreneur would be a strong business acumen, my artistic eye, and kindness.
Kindness goes a long way. Putting others first and making people feel seen and heard is priceless. No matter what industry you’re in, people want to know that you care about them. I may not always land the biggest deal or the flashiest client but I always put kindness and integrity at the forefront of what I do, and in doing so I know I am working with the right people.
I am blessed to be naturally gifted with a strong creative sense. Whether it’s in music – by finding and signing the right talent; in real estate – understanding architecture, renovations, and interior design; in visual art and graphic design – with social media and marketing, or working alongside my illustrator for my children’s book series; in photography and videography – capturing our retreats and events, and also with my world travel photography series— all of those aspects of my life stem from a common thread of having an artistic eye from a young age. This has been integral in my career.
Growing up surrounded by entrepreneurs, I also have a great sense of business. Being able to see big picture and think longterm is a huge asset in what I do. I work with a lot of creatives across many different industries, and being able to help them articulate their creative visions from a business perspective has been incredibly valuable. As an Advisor at the Entrepreneur Center for almost a decade, my business acumen allows me to help coach startups in their entrepreneurial endeavors, helping them launch and grow.
I would encourage young entrepreneurs to lean into their strengths, and to always act with integrity. Stay humble and be kind. To work on developing kindness, challenge yourself to treat everyone you do business with as if they were your children: with love and patience. Ask people about what is going on in the lives and truly listen. If you struggle with remembering facts, take notes about things like their dog’s name or their kid’s birthday, so that you can follow up later and ask about what matters most to them with intention. And remember, everyone is just doing their best, and most people are going through something that we can’t see, so give people grace.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
I don’t like how this question is worded, because I don’t believe anyone should overlook areas of weakness. It is important to be aware of your weaknesses and strive toward improving in those areas.
However, looking at this question from a stance of being a ‘jack of all trades’ vs. honing in on one singular strength and building something of that… that is an interesting question. And one I am constantly thinking about and asking myself.
Last year, I gave a keynote speech at the Vanderbilt Entrepreneurship Conference on this exact topic. My title: “Narrowing Your Focus to Drive Success” – in other words, finding your niche, your unique value proposition, and really honing in on that. As a small business, I believe that doing a lot of things is not necessarily the right approach. There are plenty of companies that “do a bit of everything” and therefore aren’t the absolute best at any one thing. We don’t need more Walmarts and Amazons of the world, and we can’t compete with them.
From an entrepreneurial perspective, hopefully you are starting your company because you have identified a gap in the marketplace that you believe you can fill. That niche needs to be your focus as you develop your brand. With each business I started, I found a specific lane and established a loyal customer base who needed just that.
That said, as an individual, I think that being well-rounded is extremely valuable. Being skilled in many areas will most certainly help you as a founder, or if you want to work at a startup. It is necessary (and financially helpful!) to be able to wear multiple hats early on until you grow to a place where you can hire others. Challenging yourself to get better at graphic design so you don’t always have to hire a designer, or taking a social media marketing class online to better understand how to reach your customers, or reading a book on leadership if you are struggling in a management role – these are all important things!
Our weaknesses are always opportunities for growth, and overlooking them won’t help you or your business… but spreading yourself too thin or forgetting why your business is unique is also not the right approach. It’s important to stay focused and see each phase of growth through in its entirety.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/lizrogersxoxo/
- Instagram: @lizrogersxoxo
- Youtube: youtube.com/c/anacrusis
Image Credits
The Ferris Wheel Photo: Photo by Liz Rogers
