When I was a kid, I would become OBSESSED with certain performances. And I'd watch them on repeat.

Some of these were:

Michael Jackson's music videos (I had all of them on VHS)

Shirley MacLaine's rendition of I'm Still Here in Postcards From the Edge (still one of my all-time favourite films)

And all of Shirley MacLaine and Jack Nicholson's scenes in Terms of Endearments (my favourite film of all time)

I realised as I entered my teenage years that I wanted to be a performer. I didn't want to just watch what was happening on screens and on stages - I wanted to do it.

I wanted to tell stories.

Connect with words.

Play with language.

Use my voice to move people.

And my mom laughed at me.

The first time I told her I wanted to do THAT - pointing at Shirley MacLaine sitting on the piano, singing her heart out to Meryl Streep - she laughed at me.

It wasn't the first time my dream of being a performer would be laughed at.

Looked down on.

Dissuaded.

Up until three months ago, I couldn't even TELL my clients I was performer. What would they think? How could I be taken seriously as a business owner? I ran my copywriting business - and almost no one knew that I was doing eight shows a week onstage all over the UK.

And then, I pivoted. And now I tell everyone.

Now, I teach soft skills - how to engage an audience, how to hold a room, how to be more confident on stage (and in front of ANY kind of audience), how to tell a story, how to inject charisma into engagements...

How to make your voice soar...

Your presence felt...

Skills that make audiences sit up and listen.

So I HAVE to tell everyone that this is what I do every single day of the week, right? Otherwise, how can I teach it?

And I still get that look on people's faces....'Oh, you're in theatre (side eye) ...oh, you're a perfomer... (confusion on face)...oh, you're in a show...can't you just take time off from the show and buy a ticket and come to our event?'

The arts, still, are not taken seriously.

There are so many misconceptions about it - art isn't real work. All artists must be starving. Art and business doesn't mix. Art is optional, a luxury. Art doesn't pay.

And you know what that means? It means that soft skills are still not taken seriously.

I have a few words in response to that: Taylor Swift. Madonna. Jay Z. Beyonce.

All artists. With the most incredible business acumen known to man.

Now, obviously not all artists are that filthy rich. And they're not all good at business.

But I'll tell you something for free - the soft skills that artists work on and practice every single day means that when they DO start businesses, they own the rooms they're in.

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Here's what artists (like me) know about soft skills, and what they can teach you:

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1. Improvisation = Sales Agility

In business, people need to think on their feet, adapt to questions, read tone, and handle objections.
HELLO! Theatre professionals train in this every day. We always know how to adjust pitch, pace, and performance based on what is happening in the room - that’s exactly what top-performing salespeople do.

2. Presence = Trust = Sales

People buy from people they trust. And trust often starts with how someone shows up - body language, tone, authenticity.
Working on stage develops the ability to command presence, build rapport, and hold a room - skills that directly influence whether a client says “yes.”

3. Emotional Intelligence = Better Leadership

Understanding emotions (your own and others’) leads to better hiring, clearer communication, and fewer conflicts.
Actors are trained in emotional nuance and character motivation - which is exactly what leaders need to do when managing teams.

4. Storytelling = Influence

In sales and leadership, those who tell compelling stories sell ideas more effectively.

We know this. LinkedInfluencers are banging on about it ALL the time.

You know what?
Theatre is the ultimate storytelling craft - and those skills translate into persuasive business narratives that move people to action.

5. Collaboration = Productivity

Soft skills foster smoother communication, less friction, faster decisions, and healthier team culture - which all drive better business results.
Theatre is ensemble work. It teaches non-verbal listening, adaptability, and timing - the ingredients of high-functioning teams.

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So, the next time someone tells you they're an artist - show them some dayum respect. They have a storytelling capability that most people dream of.

They understand charisma like it's their job.

And they are going places.

Happy Friday!