Hi bestie! Let’s start with the truth. You are working super hard sprinting 100 miles per hour. I’m so proud of all you’ve accomplished so far. This blog post is intended to help you acknowledge the struggles and mistakes Teachers Pay Teachers sellers make when they’re just getting started or if they have found themselves in a rut. If we can acknowledge these, we can work past them…together!
1. Not thinking you have value to share
The first mistake teacher business owners make is that you’re undervaluing yourself! You have so much knowledge that can help another teacher.
Do not take that for granted, let imposter syndrome seep through, or become blinded by other teacher influencers. There are so many things you can talk about, you just need to own your worth and keep sharing from your heart.
Define your secret sauce and revel in what sets you apart. Know you’re why so when things get hard (& they will), you are able to push through.
2. Treating your business like a side hustle
Are you treating your online business like a business? In order to make an impact and grow, you can’t think that this is something extra. You need consistency, mindset, and to allocate work time (not scrolling time) into your workflows.
Running your business as a business isn’t just about the time you dedicate to it. This includes two important components: a business mindset and taking the proper business actions.
With a business mindset, you are…
- Problem solvers: You understand the need to roll up your sleeves to solve all the challenges you encounter
- Open to new ideas: You believe in your idea and have an angle your competitors can’t match
- Open to risk: You know failures might happen but the reward is worth it
- Optimistic (most times): you wouldn’t start a business if you didn’t think it could be successful
3. Thinking it will be easy
Running any successful business will come with hurdles. It is a journey with hard work and thinking it will be easy is already setting yourself up for failure.
Spoiler Alert! If you build it, they won’t just come. You can’t just build a website, create some products and expect the money to start pouring in. You’ll have to build or leverage your existing audiences, continually optimize your marketing efforts and evolve as the market changes.
Understand that things will get tough, but you have the determination to not give up because you are working towards a goal you strongly believe in.
4. Drowning instead of seeking support
Whether you’re going through personal battles, lacking creativity, or feeling unsure of yourself – don’t feel these feelings alone. There are so many ways to seek support to help your overall mental heath and business goals.
Shake up your routine so you feel like you’re enjoying yourself more
If you are waking up and working, working in small moments, and then working at home – you will get resentful super fast. Sometimes a rest day like we take in the gym, can work for your business. You’ll return with creativity and excitement because you rewarded yourself.
Reach out to your community
Whether it’s your online community you’ve fostered, or your your family and friends, don’t doubt yourself alone. Talk to someone or do something you feel connected with others.
Hire a virtual assistant to allow breathing room
I am a huge proponent of time is money. Before I take on any project I assess my worth and if the juice is worth the squeeze. This also helps prioritize what is the most impactful for your business. If you’re spending more time than you’d like to on easy or monotonous tasks, I recommend hiring a virtual assistant to support.
As an entrepreneur, it can be so difficult to relinquish control. As someone who manages a full time person and ten contractors, I can attest that if you create solid on-boarding documents and branding guidelines, it will be easy to let it go.
Join Teacher Marketing Academy!
I would absolutely LOVE to have you join Teacher Marketing Academy! Teacher Marketing Academy is where I get to be your biz bestie and support you with TONS of marketing information, connect with you TWICE a week via a FB live where I in depth about each week’s topic, AND a 30 minute Ask me Anything FB live!
Here’s what’s included:
5. Not acknowledging your success!
Yes, your to-do list is long but that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate what you’ve crossed off regardless of project size. In the midst of sprinting, pause and look at how far you’ve come and all that you’ve taught yourself in order to serve so many teachers.
This post isn’t meant to discourage you whatsoever. It’s hard to run your own online business – and understanding mistakes Teachers Pay Teachers Sellers make helps you overcome these so you can reap the rewards that follow the risk.
