6 Lessons for Independent Teachers

I've just entered my fourth year of online entrepreneurship, so it seems as good a time as any to reflect on the most valuable lessons I've learned so far.

With a bit of luck, this might fast-track your own journey, or at the very least, help you avoid some of my mistakes ??

1. The Importance of Having a Map

In other words, you need a solid plan.

Yes, it's obvious, but there is nothing worse than investing time and energy doing the wrong things.

I know, because I did this myself.

I wandered aimlessly for nearly a year before I discovered a reliable, proven, and tested roadmap that showed me how to get where I wanted to be.

For example, as an independent teacher, there are certain steps that need to be followed for success.

The first is nailing down the right niche.

If you're just getting started, here are 3 important questions to answer:

• Are you PASSIONATE about helping this niche?
• Do they have a strong DESIRE for the service you're providing?
• Do they have the MEANS to pay you what you want to earn?

If you aren't getting 3 resounding 'yeses' here, NOTHING else will click in your business.

Extra tip: Your niche may go through several iterations before you really find the sweet spot. Mine did!

Don't let the initial uncertainty hold you back and stop you from testing and taking action.

2. A Huge 'Why'

Why do you want to have your own teaching business?

Forget the superficial stuff.?

What's your underlying motivation?

• To make a bigger impact?
• To have more freedom?
• The possibility to work from any location?

For me, it was a combination of all 3.

Holding on to my 'why' helped me big time when I hit the inevitable bumps on the road, which leads us nicely into lesson number 3...

3. The Importance of Mentorship

If you don't have trust in what you're doing, you'll find it impossible to stick to it.

That trust stemmed from 2 key factors for me:

• Belief in my ability to help people.
• Following someone with a proven track record.

As an independent teacher, you don't need to reinvent the wheel.

You can learn from the people who have traversed the terrain before you and figured out the right turns to take.

I've been fortunate to cross paths with some wonderful coaches and mentors.

Without them, there's no way I'd be writing this today as I would've packed this in a long time ago.

When it comes to finding a mentor, two questions that have always steered me in the right direction are:

1. Do this person's values and business ethics align with my own?
2. Does this person have a proven track record of helping other people achieve the results I want?

4. A Growth Mindset

Being an entrepreneur means becoming a learner again.

There are 3 skills that I've found are directly tied to success as an independent teacher more than any others.

Let's call them the 'income generating' skills.

1. Coaching - Someone could be a marketing wizard, but if their service doesn't deliver, they won't last long.
2. Marketing - How else are people going to find you?
3. Sales - Scary, I know! But it's the ticket to earning the rates you deserve.

Embrace the challenge of levelling up in these areas, and KNOW each day as you improve, your results will too.

I've been on this road for several years now, and there is still SO much more I can learn about all of the above.

And that's ok.

Actually, it's exciting.

Every day I get to sharpen skills that will help me have a more successful business and provide more value to others.

That's pretty cool!

5. Consistency

This really is the key to getting results in anything.

Here's the truth about motivation:

It's a feeling. And feelings? They come and go.

You don't need me to tell you that there are going to be hard days.

Even when you love what you do, there are still going to be mornings when you won't want to get out of bed.

I've been there!

But if we wait until we feel motivated to work, we'll just never get enough done.

Anyone can show up one time.

It's the people who show up even when they aren't 'feeling it', who inevitably reap the rewards.

6. Managing Expectations

One thing I've learned about progress is that it doesn’t follow a straight upward line.

Meaning X hours of work today, doesn't guarantee Y result tomorrow.

Progress in entrepreneurship is more like the slow burn of boiling a pot of water.

Even though we might not notice any changes at first, that doesn't mean nothing is happening.

I've been down that road...

Stretches of time, study, energy, and effort without any tangible rewards.

Optimism fades and doubts creep in.

It's tempting to question everything.

But here's something I know now that I wish someone told me in those challenging moments:

Every day you show up and sharpen your skills, you're adding heat to your pot.

No bubbles on the surface yet? Don't be fooled.

Underneath things are changing. Energy is building.

And every ounce of your effort cranks up the heat just a bit more.

Remember, every journey has its own rhythm.

Stay true to your purpose and keep doing the right things

Your pot will boil in time.

One final thing before I wrap this up...

Don't be too hard on yourself.

You WILL make mistakes and you WILL mess up.

Know this and own this.

Mistakes do not make you a failure.

There's always a lesson to be learned.

Extract it, draw a line under it, and move on.

Do this, and each mistake starts moving you closer to your goal, not further away.

Hope you got something of value here.

Robbie :)

P.S. If you need a little extra support with your online teaching business, I'll leave some free resources for you below:

?? Check out my Social Media Marketing Training for Teachers full of tips and strategies to help you use social media to get students and promote your services.

?? Get 20 of my No-Prep ESL Resources for Free Here. Perfect for saving prep time and equipping you to teach independently online.

?? Find a Time to Chat 1:1 with me for personalised feedback on your profile, content and DMs.

?? Follow my TPT Store for over 100 ready-made ESL lessons and curriculums (including lots of freebies).