It is one thing to read about resilience and people who overcome the hard knocks of life, time and time, again. It is encouraging to know that you can be mentored by someone to lift yourself out of the muck and mire of life. But to have my story included in this phenomenal anthology is beyond motivational for me. Dr. Joy Vaughan has risen to a new height by offering her story of worldwide travel coupled with the stories of accomplished women in the countries where she journeyed. Joy’s book is a testament of the personal power that determined women use to accomplish everything they intend to manifest.
This morning, I awoke knowing that I am in the lap of luxury, right now, at High Point! I’m packing to move to my homestead in North Carolina by May 30th. This has been a beautiful place to live, only minutes from the Atlantic Ocean. But it is time to stop paying other people’s mortgage and concentrate on building my own estate. I am excited, yet apprehensive, happy, yet concerned that I will need to adjust to living in the country, where all the amenities of a city do not exist. But there’s land, forest, water, electricity, sewage, and sunshine. I will persist and rise!
I will plant my aloe, philodendron, vegetables, and flowers.
Vaccinated with a credit card in hand, I ventured to Spain and Switzerland in search of the cover stories for our two publications musicwomanarchive.com/magazines. I got several stories and wonderful photographs. The downside with traveling was COVID-19. Even with proof of vaccination, each country – Spain, Switzerland, and the USA had different requirements to enter the country. The train ride between Barcelona and Madrid was comfortable enough. However, the train car for the first leg was a long walk from the escalator. You have to read your ticket to know where you are sitting in Spain, whereas, in Switzerland, you sit in 1st or 2nd class wherever you wish. Spain was hot and air-conditioning is not the norm. Discomfort was inevitable because the Airbnb’s were not as comfortable to sleep in. Four of the five beds were uncomfortable. The bathrooms were tight with slippery tubs and no handrails to hold on to, which is not very safe for mature travelers.
In Spain, the menus are about the same most places. However the cost of a meal varies, sometimes widely. There are several Chinese, Japanese, and Thai Restaurants to be found. Parking is tight and can be expensive the closer you are to the center of the city. Switzerland is expensive. The price of a train ride for two to three hours is CH148 ($162) for 2nd Class. A taxi is EU20 ($23) – 40 ($43), depending on where you catch it. A salad, sandwich, and beverage can cost upwards of $30.
On Thursday, May 13, 2021, from 7 – 9 p.m. join the live talk with Dr. Joan Cartwright aka DrDivaJC about her life as a jazz singer, composer, performer, and recording artist. She will share excerpts from some of her 14 books.
In 1999, a well-connected politician called me on the phone, early one morning, instructing me to write down a fax number, starting with area code 202 for Washington, D.C. I knew it was important.
She asked me if I had a company and an Employee Identification Number (EIN) or tax ID number. I said I did. She said, “Write a blues about the 2000 census. Fax it with an invoice for $2,499 on your letterhead to the number I gave you.
One hour later, I sent the CENSUS BLUES to the U.S. Census Bureau to the attention of the person connected to my politician friend. I got paid because I could compose music and I had a corporate EIN.
One of the first documents I give my Speech Communication students is a handout entitled HOW TO START A BUSINESS.
How to start a business
Choose Your Business Name, Inc. (or LLC) and decide if you will be: (30 minutes)
For profit
Non profit
Product or Service (for profit) or Mission Statement (non-profit)
Go to www.sunbiz.org to apply for incorporation $78 – 82 (20 minutes)
For profit must have a president (you)
Non-profit must have President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Also may have a resident agent, if the officers live in another state.
Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN or Tax ID #) from www.irs.gov(10 minutes)
Open a Bank Account (take Certificate of Status + EIN + $100)
Liability Insurance (optional)
Order business cards, website, telephone number, and business address (optional or home)
Set up PayPal, Square, or another method to invoice your customers
PayPal $150 corporate tax before April 30 each year at www.sunbiz.org
On May 1st the penalty is $400 for filing your annual report late for a total of $550. So pay by April 30th!
I was in business for two years before I got that call. My company was not making much money. If I got a check for singing, I put it in my business account. I paid the corporate tax and filed a tax return as a sole proprietor most years. My company grew because of the music I recorded and books I published. I got substantial orders from school principals for one or more of my books. In 2007, I incorporated my non-profit organization and became a lecturer, presenter, and producer of several programs. After releasing my two personal CDs in 1995 and 2005, I produced eight compilation CDs of music from members of http://wijsf.org
In 2019, we published the first issue of Musicwoman Magazine. In 2020, we published the second issue and the first issue of Musicman Magazine. In 2021, We published both magazines, individually, and a flip book of both magazines.
There is no doubt in my mind that having a business has been beneficial to me and our 380 members!
Dr. Diva JC - Scholar . Teacher . Author 