In the non-governmental sector, in particular the segment where I am focused – children and youth at social risk – there is a lot to be done. I have a huge number of ideas that can improve the lives and daily routines of these young people, but there is still a lack of support from the institutions, so the struggle for succeeding in the realization every new project is my goal, told us Kristina Arnaudova.

Kristina Arnaudova, our famous singer, musician, performer, producer, composer, songwriter and humanitarian, is one of the most recognizable voices in our country. Her hits have become evergreens of Macedonian music, and she is considered to be one of the most prominent singers on the domestic scene. Her mission did not stop there, and she founded the association for children at social risk “Project Happiness”, where she is also the president and involved in many activities. Her focus in recent years Hs been on the association and the problems which the children from vulnerable categories are facing.

I was building my music career and finishing college simultaneously

She completed secondary education in Negotino at the local general high school, and shares with us that even then she started to engage with music, to sing and record.

I released my first songs at the age of 16 and many more followed by the end of high school. I also had a band and performed in clubs. So, my workdays and my first earned money came when I was about 15 years old. I knew I wanted to be involved with music, but that did not necessarily meant that I would enroll in a music academy. When the time for college came, I had several ideas in what direction to proceed, because I personally believe that at that age we are too young to know what we want and the picture of some future profession is not quite clear to us. I enrolled at the Law Faculty, Journalism department. I spent two years there, and that was enough for me to realize that it was not for me due to my growing lack of interest. During that period, the first private university MM College, opened, so I enrolled there in the Business Management department. At that time, I was very actively engaged in singing and released my first album. I devoted more time to singing than studying, although I finished the first year and passed all exams – Kristina tells us.

After some time, Euro College in Kumanovo opened, and she decided to transfer there, to the Business Management department, which was the first time she dedicated herself more to studying than to her career.

While building my music career, I also finished college, and although I officially did not use that diploma for employment, it brought me a lot of knowledge that has been useful to me further on, and now, as the president of a non-governmental organization, in daily challenges. At that time, business management, marketing, human resources were new and began to be seriously studied at universities for the first time in Macedonia. I believed then that this would be a crucial part of the necessary knowledge and skills for a future successful entrepreneurs and managers, which was proven to be right and counts also for today. That generation of students is currently in all leading positions in companies and institutions across the country – Kristina explains.

10% is talent, and everything else is work

She dedicated the largest part of her professional career to music, as a performer, composer, and producer, while also founding the association “Project Happiness,” which is unique in its focus on children and youth at social risk, where she works and creates a series of projects that help children and their families in daily challenges.

As I already mentioned, I started singing at the age of 15, had a band, and was very serious about doing it. Those were my beginnings of working and earning my own money, which is quite unusual for someone at that age. I went to school, had band rehearsals, performed and I’m proud that I wasn’t afraid to start so young and create a work habit from an early age. My achievement is a combination of accomplishments in music and in social responsibility and developing a philanthropic society. Those were my two wishes since childhood, and I’m lucky to work on both and achieve significant things – says Kristina.

Considering that she started recording original music very young, sang in bands, and performed at festivals even in high school when she started her solo career, she says she was lucky for having excellent songs from the beginning.

My first songs “You Know Who He Is,” and  “Dust” were huge hits and then I started working on my first album and almost all songs from that album called “Trains” were hits. The immense enthusiasm and the desire to constantly work on new music were my driving forces and that was the main engine of my success. I was lucky to work at a time when Macedonian music was represented everywhere, on television and radio our songs were constantly played, and that was motivation for all of us to work more. Regardless of what career one chooses, dedication, love for the work, and innovation are keys to success, but of course, it must be supported by talent  – Kristina emphasizes.

According to her, several factors influence success and progress in any profession.

Here I would mention the love for a certain profession, education, continuous progress, following trends and dedication to work. In certain professions, talent can be compensated with a lot of work, but in music, sports, art, it’s not quite like that because without talent, success can never be complete. But let’s say that 10% is talent, and everything else is work – Kristina adds.

People should not be afraid to change jobs

For the past eight years, she has been professionally focused on her association “Project Happiness,” where, besides being the founder and president, she conceives, writes, and implements all the projects that are part of the association.

This is what fulfills me and makes me professionally happy. People should not be afraid to change jobs, professions, careers, that is, the moment you feel fed up with the work you are doing, you should not stay there at all costs. You should follow your dreams and work on them. That’s exactly what I did when I founded “Project Happiness.” I believe that what I am today is a result of my motivation, and when you have positive feedback from the other side, you know you are on the right path. In music, I lacked professional managerial support, which could have helped me achieve much more. But that was my decision and I consider it my fault, thinking I can always do everything better by myself. In work, you should not be afraid to ask for help and support because it’s not possible to know and do every segment of the job by yourself – Arnaudova highlights.

Kristina has been inactive in music for some time, although she says she occasionally appears on stage.

The moment I realized that the state of music was declining and that it could not be a serious profession, I withdrew and dedicated myself to “Project Happiness” and my family. With the exception of 4-5 artists in Macedonia who work professionally and seriously for years, everything else is a struggle and improvisation, especially considering the fact that we are working for a market of one million inhabitants, which is too small to talk about building any kind of scene. But in the non-governmental sector, in the segment where I am focused – children and youth at social risk – there is a lot to be done, I have a huge number of ideas that can improve lives and daily routines of these young people, but there is still a lack of support from the institutions so the struggle for succeeding in the realization every new project is my goal – adds our interlocutor Kristina Arnaudova.

Sanja Jachevska