Teacher turned Entrepreneur & why it works
Teachers and entrepreneurs have a TON in common with one another. From their needs to the skills sets required to succeed, the list is long. The commonalities I talk about are only the tip of the iceberg.
HAVING A PLAN vs. KNOWING WHEN TO PIVOT
Teachers write daily lesson plans that teach to thematic unit that typically has a clear beginning and end date, with a specific learning goal in mind.
Business owners have a business plan that lays out the framework of how the business operates day to day and contributes to the bottom line (i.e. the quarterly or annual profit goal).
Circumstances in the classroom and consumer behavior are constantly changing and evolving, so the plan requires teachers and business owners to pivot. Sometimes teachers need to spend an extra day on the lesson cause the majority of the class just isn’t “getting it” and needs to get it before more complex knowledge and understanding can be built upon it. Sometimes business owners have to adjust their marketing strategy to reach fresh, new audiences or messaging to speak to the seasonal experiences of the consumer so that revenue doesn’t stagnant or disappear altogether.
UNDERSTANDING HOW THE DAY to DAY IMPACTS THE BIG PICTURE
Teachers understand that a child’s education is a journey. Business owners understand the road to building a thriving business is also a journey in the same way. Both must choose to show up day in and day out in order for their respective goals to be accomplished.
Those daily lesson plans and homework assignments lead to a child having the knowledge required to balance a checkbook (math) or express their ideas with clarity (writing).
Showing up to the daily tasks required of your business, like connecting with your consumer base, replenishing your inventory, or refining your product and processes based on experience, lead to a business that’s recognized and repeatedly consumed by your audience (leading to a better bottom line.)
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
Both teachers and successful business owners recognize that relationships and the state of them is at the heart of what they bring to the world. Without students, caregivers, administrators, there is no learning. Without customers, employees, and vendors, there is no commerce.
Nothing great is accomplished alone. Both teachers and business owners value the relationships that are foundational to their end goals.
SELF CARE IS A REQUIREMENT, NOT A LUXURY
In order to show up for the relationships I just mentioned, and the day to day efforts that bring their goal to life, maintaining a solid self care routine is required.
No one can pour from an empty cup. Both teachers and business owners wear so many hats on a given day, stretching their energy thin, and often spend their limited free time thinking about or taking action in some way to help move the needle to their ultimate goals. It’s imperative to their journey and end goal that time is set aside intentionally for activities (or lack thereof) that replenish and nourish their energy. Without consistent and intentional self care is not written into their long to-do lists, burnout creeps in and the sight of success is lost.
ASKING FOR HELP IS NOT A WEAKNESS
Again, nothing great is accomplished alone. Even the most seasoned teachers and experienced entrepreneurs understand that there is always more to be learned and known about their craft. The missing pieces of knowledge are found in the life experiences and expertise of others, and there’s so much value in being able to ask for help when it’s needed. Otherwise, progress toward the end goal is stalled. No one has all of the answers to everything, so in order for teachers and entrepreneurs to be successful, they must reach out to others for their assistance that’s provided via their unique skill set and experience.
UNWAVERING BELIEF
Both teachers and entrepreneurs maintain an unwavering belief in their ability to meet their end goal and actualize their vision. Like intentional self care, this ingredient is a must-have in the recipe for success. The nature of the work of both teachers and entrepreneurs guarantees that there will be hard days and tough moments that resiliency will help in overcoming these inevitable challenges. It’s the teachers that never gave up on their students that make the biggest, longest lasting impact on their students’ lives and society at large. It’s the business owners that didn’t give up on their product or service that reap the rewards of fulfillment and financial security. “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”
