Brunch Inspiration with Eric Jay Begay!

·39 min·3 clips

Are you a flutist frustrated that your instrument doesn't accurately represent your artistic voice?

The episode begins with Dr. Heidi K. Begay introducing the Flute360 Podcast and its mission to help flutists thrive as artists and musicpreneurs. She sets up a casual, brunch-style conversation with her husband, Eric J. Begay, who is the audio director of the Carolyn Nesbaum Music Company. Eric recounts graduating in 2007 with a music business degree and struggling to find a job in his field, leading him to work night shifts as a grocery store manager in Louisiana while Heidi taught flute during the day. He describes the personal toll of this schedule, where they barely saw each other for seven years. A turning point came when Heidi connected him to a part-time audio job at their church, First Baptist Church Keller, which eventually became full-time. Eric then shares how he sought additional opportunities on Indeed.com, where he met Wade Danielson, a young security software business owner who hired him to help build a podcast. Wade's perspective that school only teaches you to be a good worker catalyzed Eric's paradigm shift. Eric emphasizes the importance of surrounding himself with people who were walking the walk he aspired to, which helped him transition from a grocery manager to a business owner. He reflects on how he couldn't call himself an audio engineer during his dry spell, highlighting the power of self-identification and manifestation. The conversation shifts to when Heidi pursued her doctorate, forcing them to move to Lubbock, where Eric had to rapidly build his clientele through platforms like Upwork, leading to significant growth in his audio business. They discuss the iterative, often messy process of entrepreneurship, comparing it to building an airplane while it's flying. Eric advises taking action, learning from failures, and maintaining accountability through coaching or programs. Heidi wraps up by promoting the Flute360 Accelerator Program, inviting flutists to join for career development.

As heard by us

A grounded reflection on how mentorship helped Eric see business ownership as part of a musical life.

Flute 360's "Brunch Inspiration with Eric J." frames professional growth as something shaped by proximity. Eric looks back on meeting Wade, a peer who was already running a business, and how that relationship helped him picture a future beyond grocery management and hired audio…

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Why you'd press play

Press play when you need a warm nudge from Eric's brunch conversation about mentorship, business ownership, and stepping into a professional lane.

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