Farah Allen is the CEO of Song Society App in Atlanta, Ga. An early-stage startup, their app has been live in the app stores for five months. This month Allen stops by LionessMagazine.com to talk about her Song Society, why she became an entrepreneur and what she hopes people will say about her product.
Lioness: Why have you chosen to dedicate yourself to this particular business?
Allen: I like challenging myself so one day I decided I wanted to solve a problem. I needed to first find a problem so I asked my husband Lucien Wall and my friend Aaron Neal (both music industry professionals) what problems are they facing in the music industry. Our conversation centered on songwriters and the countless Copyright lawsuits that plague them. This subject matter intrigued me so I started to do further discovery into problems plaguing the songwriting community. After some time and countless professional interviews and weeks of research, the problem, as well as the solution, was clear and Song Society App began its Startup journey.
Lioness: What makes your product unique?
Allen: Song Society App was designed to be a mobile replica of a professional studio writing session. Users can access the Song Society Social network of artist and visually and systematical keep track of any material their cowriters enter. Song Society App gives the user the power to request song percentage acceptance from co-writers as well as auto fill co-writer’s information for split-sheet and copyright submission.
Lioness: You could have worked for anyone and would have been successful, why become an entrepreneur?
Allen: The journey of entrepreneurship has been a lifestyle for me. I grew up with a father that owed a small business. I watched and learned from my father very early in life so much so that I started selling candy to my elementary classmates. I also offered hair-braiding services to the middle school girls. By the time I entered high school I was selling cutlery to my parent’s friends. I can’t remember a time in my life I wasn’t exploring business ownership. I have been driven by a natural need to create, build and grow. I have reach peaks in corporate America as an employee but entrepreneurship is an unavoidable life that calls for me.
Lioness: What was your last, “why did I go into business for myself” moment?
Allen: As an enterprising woman with big dreams, I know that part of the journey is countless disappointments. When expectations don’t live up to what I desire, I tend to ask “why did I go into business for myself?” In those moments I have to stop, take a look at my journey and recognize how far I have come; reset my mind and say, “this is meant for me!”
Lioness: Every female professional should have _______.
Allen: A power trigger is something that instantly recharges your confidence. This trigger may be a quote, book, music, shoes, outfit or even a person. Whatever your trigger is, be sure to always have it on hand before that big meeting: Power and confidence!
Lioness: If you could steal some business mojo from another mogul, who would it be and why?
Allen: If I could steal another mogul’s mojo it would be from Elon Musk. Elon is the co-founder of PayPal and also CEO of Tesla. He is not only inventive but also improving the world with solar power energy.
Lioness: What is your business motto?
Allen: Opening up the world to songwriters.
Lioness: If you could give other entrepreneurs three tips, what would they be?
Allen: 1. You are right most of the time: There is no real science to being an entrepreneur other than acquiring skill sets that push you to make better decisions. Trust your instincts/knowledge it’s the only thing that will move your forward. 2. Continually test your assumptions: Because something is true 10 times in a row does not make it true all the time. Not all problems have the same root cause. Use the 5 why method whenever you are faced with a problem. 3. Deliberate practice: I learned this term while reading Malcolm’s Gladwell’s book called “Outliers.” Studies have shown that “expert-level performance is primarily the result of expert-level practice NOT due to innate talent.” If you like being an entrepreneur practice and grow your skills.
Lioness: Has there been a piece of technology or software that has been a lifesaver to you?
Allen: Skype is my favorite app. I work with people from around the world and Skype is a great communication tool for my business.
Lioness: What is your goal for the next year?
Allen: I would like to reach 200,000 users in 2017.
Lioness: When someone is telling their friends about your business, what do you hope they say?
Allen: I would like them to say that Song Society App has reimaged and reinvented songwriting music technology.
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