I almost didn't become an entrepreneur

Confessions of a teacher who wanted to build an online business & travel the world

I remember so vividly starting my entrepreneurial journey a bit more than 5 years ago and knowing NOTHING about this world.

Until then, I had been "just a teacher", who naively hoped that her experience, passion and enthusiasm would be enough to build a successful online business.

Haha.

It went something like this:

... "I wonder if I could teach online while we live abroad in Asia instead of looking for an underpaid local job."

... Type in Google "How to teach languages online".

... Find in Google "Free check-list to becoming an online language teacher" by Lindsay Williams (Lindsay Does Languages)

Download file.

Open file.

Read words I don't understand... "opt-in", "landing page", "nurture sequence", "visibility", "content strategy" and many others.

"Gosh? What is this? Can't I just post on Facebook that I'm available for 1:1 sessions?"

(btw no you can't. I mean you can, but without a warm audience, it won't work).

A few days later, Lindsay, who had nailed her marketing tactics btw, sent me an automated e-mail inviting me to a free webinar to explain all the words I had never heard of before.

At the event, she told us she actually had a course to take us step-by-step towards having our very own business. I didn't have to do it alone! And so I signed up for my very first online course.

Which to me was a big deal, because I'm a big fan of teaching myself stuff.

Especially at that time, I was the kind of person who would teach myself how to sew so I could make my own wedding dress. In the end, my friend put some sense into me and I bought one, but I still made my daughter's dress.

Lindsay's course The Online Teacher Starter Kit* was really really good. If you're considering joining the course, I can only encourage you to go for it. (*this is an affiliate link)

It saved me so much time, and taught me all I needed to know to build the foundations of how to do business online + Lindsay has a very straigthforward and clear approach that makes difficult things seem easy.

I started teaching on Italki immediately, started growing on Instagram, and very quickly made enough money to sustain myself while travelling in Vietnam! So cool! I was living the dream!

My plan was to teach on platforms and build my business on the side.

Except I almost didn't.

I almost didn't become an entrepreneur at all

Because every time I almost started "doing" something, I would feel completely overwhelmed by :

1) the quantity of external "shoulds" and all my internal "can't".

2) the quantity of work it requires, 80% of which was outside of my comfort zone.

3) the crippling feelings of being small, invisible and not standing a chance in this competitive world (and this was before 2020).

You see, there is a big difference between teaching online and being a language business owner.

You can be the best teacher, the most creative linguist, the most empowering coach, you need to learn how to do marketing + sales in order to have a business.

"Ok! Simple! Let's take a Marketing Course!"

Those of you who have bought a marketing course, and still haven't taken much action, I see you, you're not alone, and there's nothing wrong with you.

Because *not knowing what to do* is never the problem.

It's an easy fix.

You don't know? You learn.

And as teachers, we know how to learn.

The part that's not easy - and so underrated, is that you also need to learn how to regulate your thoughts + your emotions + your inner stories that actually PREVENT you from doing the marketing work.

You know, these voices that tell you that you're not special enough, you don't have anything interesting to share, you don't have enough energy, or time, or both.

The feelings of worthlessness, of being inadequate, ridiculous.

The fears of rejection that you're trying to hide behind a mask, the "smart, fun yet serious teacher" that people will take seriously, because deep down, you don't.

The difficulty to ask for (good!) money in exchange for doing something you love.

The comparison that kills you every time you realise you're not anywhere near "what XYZ have accomplished", thinking "I should be so much further by now."

You don't know how many times I've been crushed and paralysed by these thoughts myself.

It made me seriously question : Why don't I just stay a teacher on Italki? Why bother at all? Do I really want to be a business owner?

Truth is, I couldn't have been perfectly content carrying on as a freelancer.

There's nothing wrong or less worthy about it.

But there was something inside of me that knew I wanted to have a bigger impact.

I had something to share.

A vision for a better world through language learning.

And that could only be done if I were to create my own business.

So I gathered the courage and used the tools to put on my warrioress suit every day and BUILD.THE.BIZ

• I started prioritizing my mindset, my self-development and spiritual practice.

• I used affirmations every day to improve my sense of self-worth and self-sovereignty.

• I developed courses, programs, products that are innovative and truly helpful for my specific audience following my joy & creativity. Even when the rest of the world thought it was crazy.

• I surrounded myself with people who were on the same boat and understood me.

• I spent less time wondering if my work was good enough and more time connecting with people who needed my help.

• I read a bunch of books and a took a bunch of courses to keep on developing my skills & knowledge as a coach AND as a marketer.

• I developed a system of self-assessment that ensures a continuously improved quality of service.

• I taught myself financial literacy and money mindset in a way that it would still align with my values.

• I learned about trauma, its effect on the brain, on the mind, on the body and on the soul, and how to self-regulate so I could keep on shining my light + help others do the same thing.

• I slowly learned to accept my limiting circumstances, work around them as much as possible, develop patience with myself and with the process.

• and finally, I learned how to use my special gifts present in my Human Design. I learned to stop leading with my ego, with my fears, with my brains, and how to start leading with my heart and intuition instead. Such a game-changer!

That is the essence of my true mission with you.

Being a holistic business & alignment coach is more than teaching you the strings of being in business.

I'm here for the deep, real, transformative and essential work of building with you your warioress suit.

For the work that takes place below the surface, where we'd rather not look.

The one that doesn't give you quick wins, but gives you life-lasting results.

The work that puts a crown on your head, looks at you in the eye, sees you, and makes you realize how powerful you are, how valuable you are and how much the world needs you.

And yes, sure, I'll also guide you on how to do marketing from the heart, how to create business models, strategies and design innovative programs, how to build inspiring brands and sustainable visibility online. I love speaking about that suff too and it comes easily to me.

But let me tell you.

The real foundations of your business are not the ones that meet the eye.