Bring it on Brits: Nikhil Shah

Continuing with our inspirational interviews, today we have Nikhil Shah. Nikhil set up the online community Mixcloud – a space that allows Djs and musicians an area to upload their music and to share it with their fans and followers. Check out what he has to say about setting up your own business, maybe it can inspire you to start yours…

When did you set up Mixcloud?
It was pretty much about 2 years ago now that we started working on the business.

What was your inspiration to set up Mixcloud?
It was more of a frustration than an inspiration; we were trying to solve a problem. I’ve been a DJ most of my life and used to do student radio, as were most of the other guys who started the business. As Djs we were frustrated by the lack of tools to distribute our music online. At the same time as fans of music, we were frustrated by the lack of good content online. So from the perspective of music creators and consumers we realised that both of these problems could be solved by creating this one platform online.

What sort of music do you play?
I play a lot. Anything ranging from hiphop, funk to house and dubstep.

What characteristics do you think it is important to have to be successful in what you do?
I think a very important characteristic is to want to solve a problem or to change something rather than to make money from it. If I wanted to do it to make money, I could have done it in a much more efficient way. You have to work so hard when you are starting your own business that you need to have something that’s driving you beyond financial gains.

Tenacity is also really important there are a lot of challenges that you face, cash flow, engaging the right people, dealing with the recording industry, royalties etc. Every milestone brings new challenges, so tenactiy is essential.

Resourcefulness is another key one, when we set up we got a grant from the government but didn’t want to get a lot of other funding. We still own 100% of the business, so resourcefulness has been key along the way and making the most of what we had.

What was your childhood dream?
As a kid I dreamt a lot about music. I wanted to be a DJ, but as I grew up and started getting more into that, I quickly realised that this wasn’t the lifestyle I wanted to pursue. I wanted something that stimulated me more and I found more intellectually challenging.

What is it that gets you out of bed every morning?
The desire to build something that is genuinely awesome.

What advice would give to someone that is trying to be successful?
Draw on all the knowledge and expertise around you. As an entrepreneur you have to be a lawyer, a manager, a salesman, a marketeer, a product guy and you can’t do all of them yourself. You have to be very good at taking advice and assimilating the right knowledge from the right people. Whether it is your friends, your family, the government, mentors and just people in the industry. You’d be surprised how many people are willing to help. Don’t be stealthy and not talk to people about your ideas. Get as many people involved as possible.

What one word do you think embodies the bring it on spirit?
Realise.

Bring it on Brits: Magda Knight

We’ve been tracking down some bring it on champions to get some inspirational tips and advice on achieving your goals, today’s interview is with Magda Knight.

Magda Knight is the editor of Mookychick, a website that describes itself as an online finishing school for alternative girls and women. Magda co-created the site with Miss Amanda in 2006 and the site now gets 200,000 hits a month. We chat to Magda and find out how she made the website a success.

What personal characteristics do you think have helped you get to where you are now?

I’ve found life’s better if you keep an open mind. The great thing about keeping an open mind is that anything is possible but only if you allow yourself to be flexible and actually do something about your passion. Also, and this doesn’t work for everyone, what’s worked well for me is listening to advice from those that care. This makes me a follower, not a leader, but I’ve always listened to the good advice of both the advice of my parents and the advice of my inner freak.

If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

If I was a dude, not a lady, I’d like to call myself Crash Gritfist. I don’t want to be a dude, but I almost would if I could be called Crash Gritfist! It’s a name just brimming with testosterone.

What was your childhood dream job?

Secret agent. I still can’t figure out why it never happened… Or did it?

When did you work out what you really wanted to do with your life?

I was on the right track in my teens, when I knew I wanted to be an author. It was later in life, in my early thirties, when I knew the writing dream was for real. I set up a website and community for people that thought like me, who could write and tell other people what made an alternative outlook so inspiring. Setting up a website is great because it’s so cheap. Making it happen takes a lot of work, a lot of time and patient friends and boyfriends. I thought it would get about two readers a week. It gets 200,000 a month. But that was being an editor, not a writer. This year I thought I’d better get on with it – so I wrote a novel in a week. You can do a lot more than you ever imagined if you just get on with it.

What three things do you wish you had known before you started out?

1. Every passion should be shared, not kept to yourself.
2. Be brave. There are people out there who will love what you do.
3. What a semi-colon is; apparently it’s useful now and then.

If you had a personal motto, what would it be?

Never distill life into one sentence.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone trying to be successful what would it be?

Do your passion small to start off with, but don’t be afraid of thinking big. In my (equally awesome) day job I work for Best For Film, an independent UK film site. Yesterday we set up a petition to Save the UK Film Council. In one day it got over 10,000 signatures and important people are talking to us about major changes. Be prepared for your passion to get big and don’t be afraid to accept responsibility when that happens.

What one word do you think best embodies the bring it on spirit?

What’s that word the Spanish use to mean ‘later, later, some other time, I would do it but I can’t quite be bothered’? Oh yeah – Manana 😉

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Bring it on Brits: Kat Williams

There are a few people out there who we think have a fantastic Bring it On spirit. We thought we would interview some of them to give you guys a bit of inspiration to help you achieve your goals. The first one is from rock chick and wedding blogger, Kat Williams.

Photograph by Eliza Claire

Kat Williams launched Rock ‘n Roll Bride in October 2007 as a blog for her own wedding. The blog is now the sanctuary of individuality in a “cookie cutter, pastel pink, poufy dressed wedding world.”

Rock ‘n Roll Bride was  in BrideTide’s Top 100 blogs to watch in 2010 and won the Best Style Blog category of the 2010 The Bridal Blog Awards hosted by The Wedding Channel and The Knot.

We caught up with Kat to find out more about her passion for weddings with a difference.

What personal characteristics do you think have helped you get where you are now?

I’m a complete obsessive! I went whole-hearted into planning and researching ideas for my wedding and when it was over I knew this was what I wanted to do. I also love photography and writing, so being able to combine the two into a job is perfect for me. And finally, I never liked the idea of working for someone else. Being my own boss is great because I’m not so good at being told what to do!

If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

Wow – deep…I guess I sometimes wish I could let go and allow myself a day off (or mainly it is my husband who wishes for this more!) Again we are going back to the obsessive/perfectionist thing. However being this way is what made me a success.

What was your childhood dream job?

I didn’t ever really have a ‘dream job’. I went  through phases – teacher, author, singer (I couldn’t sing). I wanted my own sweet shop at one point too.

When did you work out what you really wanted to do with your life?

About a year ago. It was after we got married and the blog started getting popular.

What three things do you wish you had known before you started out?

1.    There are a hell of a lot of good people in the wedding industry but there are many people who will use you for what they can get and stab you in the back.

2.    You can’t do this job as a 9-5. I work at least 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.

3.    You can never get to a happy level with this job. I’m constantly thinking of ideas and ways to stay ahead of everyone else and be innovative.

What gets you out of bed every morning?

My cats jumping around the bed – I sleep late. I’d rather stay up til 2 in the morning working and then sleep til noon.

If you had a personal motto, what would it be?

‘Fortune favours the brave’. I’m getting it tattooed soon. Someone said that to me once when I was having a mini freak-out about something scary I had to go and do. I did it and it turned out great and opened some amazing new doors for me. Bravery pays off!

If you could give one piece of advice to someone trying to be successful what would it be?

Be unique. Be individual. Be yourself. Don’t copy anyone else’s style of ideas – copycats never make it. Know who you are and be proud of it. I’m popular because I speak my mind and stay true to who I am. Who are you? What makes you fab? Be that!

What one word do you think best embodies the bring it on spirit?

ROCKNROLL!

www.rocknrollbride.com

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Photograph by Emma Case Photography

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