Entrepreneurship

Are you a teacher looking to expand your horizons and discover new opportunities beyond the classroom? This post will explore a valuable approach to unlock hidden potential and identify untapped skills. Wannabe entrepreneurs often overlook such skills. So they miss out on how to leverage them to create profitable business ventures. Likewise, teachers possess a wealth of abilities that can thrive in various fields, and we’ll explore how to unlock their potential.

Recognizing Your Untapped Skills as a Teacher

My years in classrooms in front of middle schoolers left two memorable impressions. For one, I realized it would take me longer than most to hone the skills necessary to become a master teacher. For example, it still amazes me to this day how they can survey a room and juggle their attention a mile a minute. This is something I’ve never been able to attain even average skills at.

Second, I’m almost in reverence of the impact, effort, and commitment of the group of teachers I’ve since started referring to as “mission-oriented.” In fact, it’s that experience that led me to work in their support as my career in formal education draws to a close.

Teachers are multifaceted professionals with diverse skill sets, honed through years of dedication to education. The result is that beyond subject expertise and classroom management, they develop a range of competencies that are often underutilized in terms of the impact they make. Let’s delve into some of these untapped skills:

Untapped Skills Examples

1. Effective Communication: Teachers excel at conveying complex ideas clearly. Therefore, this skill is valuable in public speaking, writing, or content creation. The best teachers are absolutely masterful at breaking complex ideas down into easy-to-understand parts. It’s one of the things students love about master teachers.
   
2. Adaptability: Modern schools try to meet students where they are from a cognitive viewpoint. They’re often still transforming into institutions that cater to the varying learning styles of a diverse group of students. The ability to adapt to diverse learning styles can be transferred to different workplace environments and industries.
   
3. Problem-Solving: Insightful insiders in education will tell you that there’s no manual for all the problems that a teacher faces with each cohort. But master teachers get so good at innovating solutions, after a while they do it almost in their sleep. They… and everyone else… start taking this amazing ability for granted. So heads up! Teachers are adept at creative problem-solving, which can be applied to troubleshoot challenges in entrepreneurship.
   
4. Leadership and Teamwork: Teachers often take on leadership roles and collaborate with colleagues. In doing so, they have to make compromises, negotiate outcomes with others, and resolve conflicts with parents, students, and other stakeholders in education. These are all skills applicable in various work and business settings.
   
5. Time Management: I’ve personally read about eight productivity/time management books, and know there are many more worthy of reading. It’s an entire writing genre! A few have even become monumental best-sellers. That tells you a thing or two about the demand for this kind of knowledge and skill. For instance, juggling the endless flood of important tasks is a challenge in our information-swamped lives. Doing it well refines time management skills, and is crucial for entrepreneurship.

Exploring New Horizons Beyond Teaching

Bear in mind that so far, we’ve only identified untapped skills that are common to all good teachers. In another post, we’ll talk about difficult skills that many teachers have mastered in their personal lives that are very marketable in the outside world.

For now let’s just consider some ways you can take the common ones we’ve identified, and leverage them outside of the classroom:

Unlock hidden potential

1. Content Creation: Effective communication skills can translate into content creation for online courses, blogs, social media video channels, etc. In fact, this is content marketing at its best, and it’s become the method of choice for reaching a broader audience. It should surprise no one that what teachers bring to this table has high value.

2. Public Speaking: Teachers often possess a natural stage presence. Further, coaching, offering online courses, or just marketing services all make use of speech-making. In the online business world, public speaking engagements, workshops, or webinars are just part of the tapestry.

3. Writing: Consider becoming an author or freelance writer. Doing so will boost whatever else you do online. And it takes perfect advantage of your ability to explain complex topics understandably.

4. Educational Consulting: Depending on how close you are to the management of your school, many insights gained can be monetized. You can therefore leverage your teaching experience to provide consulting services to educators or educational institutions looking to enhance their practices.

5. Entrepreneurship: Turn your passion or expertise into a profitable venture. Develop educational materials, offer tutoring services, or create educational apps.

Overcome Self-Doubt: Your Untapped Skills Are Valuable

The fact remains that many teachers underestimate the market value of their skills outside of education, often hindered by self-doubt. However, it’s essential to recognize that successful entrepreneurs and professionals frequently start with seemingly unrelated skills. Self-doubt can hold you back from exploring new opportunities, so embrace the potential for growth as you take your first steps.

Steps to Recognizing and Monetizing Your Skills

Without going into details, here’s a bird’s eye view of the untapped skills, activities, and concepts that will engage you for the ensuing weeks.

1. Self-Assessment: Reflect on your teaching career and identify the skills you’ve developed. Then note them down and consider how they might apply to other areas.
   
2. Research: Investigate potential markets or industries where your skills are in demand. , While you’re at it, look for gaps you can fill with your expertise.
   
3. Networking: Your networking with parents is another untapped skill. So connect with professionals who have transitioned from teaching to other fields. You can learn volumes from their experiences, and maybe even seek mentorship.
   
4. Skill Enhancement: If specific skills are required for your chosen path, invest in training or education to build your competence.
   
5. Start Small: Begin your side hustle gradually. Test the waters with a small project or part-time endeavor to gain confidence.

Embrace Resilience for Success

Just as you’ve faced challenges and setbacks in your teaching career, embarking on a new journey may present obstacles. However, remember that resilience is another skill you’ve honed as a teacher. Use this resilience to persevere through challenges and continue evolving in your side hustle.

Conclusion

It’s worth repeating once again. Teachers possess a wealth of untapped skills that extend far beyond the classroom. So… by recognizing and harnessing these abilities, you can embark on a journey to unlock new opportunities and potentially create a profitable side hustle. Don’t underestimate the value of your expertise, and don’t let self-doubt hold you back. Instead, embrace the potential for growth, and you might be surprised by the doors that open as you explore new horizons.

Untapped Skills: Start Building Your Personal Brand Today

Don’t wait. Before you put your first course on the market, it’s nice to have an audience already. You can start growing your following today. Get this infographic:

Join me on this exciting journey of self-discovery and skill utilization. Your untapped potential is waiting to be unleashed.

Do you have untapped skills you’d like to explore? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or feel free to connect with me to continue the conversation. Together, we can unlock the full potential of your teaching skills!

Introduction:

Are you a passionate teacher looking to leverage your expertise and create a side income? The world of online education offers a remarkable opportunity to monetize your teaching skills through the creation of online courses. However, to maximize your chances of success, it’s crucial to choose a great course topic. It should align with your teaching strengths and meets the needs of your target audience. In this blog post, we guide you through the big ideas around the process of selecting the ideal course topic to monetize your teaching skills.

Understanding Your Teaching Expertise

To embark on this journey, begin by reflecting on your teaching experience and identifying your areas of expertise. Consider the subjects or skills you are most passionate about and possess a strong command over.

Think about how you can leverage your existing knowledge and teaching strengths to resonate with your learners and showcase your expertise.

Market Demand and Target Audience:

While selecting the right course niche for teacher side-income, alignment isn’t all. It’s equally crucial to assess market demand and identify your target audience. Conduct thorough market research to determine the demand for specific topics within the teaching niche.

Utilize online tools and platforms to analyze keyword trends and search volume related to your potential course topic. Additionally, understand the pain points and challenges faced by your target audience to ensure that your course addresses their needs effectively.

One caveat here is that there are so many tools and strategies out there to do this, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. We highly recommend making use of a coach or guide if you lack experience online or in business in general.

Finding Your Unique Angle

As you explore various course topics, consider niche markets and subtopics within the broader teaching domain. Think outside the box and brainstorm innovative and creative approaches to your chosen course topic. What unique perspective or specialized knowledge can you offer that sets your course apart from others in the market? Finding your unique angle will help your course stand out and attract learners who are seeking fresh and distinct educational experiences.

Successful course creators often report that they would have started earlier if they hadn’t taken their expertise for granted. A teacher who is outstanding at motivating poor performers, for example, might easily overlook her potential as a course creator. teacher with a knack for getting struggling math students to understand specific concepts is another example. So is an instructor who always seems to connect with autistic, acting out, or eccentric students. The list can go on forever, so put on your creative cap!

Validating Your Course Idea:

Before finalizing your course topic, it’s essential to validate your idea. Conduct surveys or interviews with fellow teachers, educators, or potential learners to gather feedback on your course concept. Test the viability of your course idea through pilot programs or pre-sales to gauge interest and demand. By incorporating feedback and market validation, you can refine and finalize your course topic, ensuring its relevance and appeal to your target audience.

I’ll go one step further and point out for new entrepreneurs, that this will be an ongoing theme. Customers and markets keep changing. You stay profitable by keeping tabs on such changes.

Leveraging Your Personal Brand and Teaching Experience:

Your personal brand and teaching experience are valuable assets in attracting learners to your course. Highlight your expertise and credibility through testimonials, success stories, or case studies. The social media world sees many people developing strong personal brands. Sometimes, even those who are good at it, aren’t clear about what they will do with ten thousand followers when they reach that point. It’s often the case they have the wrong ten thousand followers for what they had in mind.

The reason for that is that they weren’t strategic while developing their social media presence. There are also other ways besides social media that many course creators are neglecting. Some of these might actually suit them better, despite social media’s popularity. How to build a following in a way that’s optimized for your marketing, is essential information for you to act on.

Share your teaching philosophy and unique teaching methodologies that differentiate you from other course creators. By leveraging your personal brand and teaching experience, you can establish trust and build a strong connection with your potential learners.

Monetization Strategies:

When it comes to monetizing your course, get as much help and advice as possible exploring different strategies that align with your goals. Consider options such as one-time course sales, subscriptions, or membership-based programs. Determine the pricing of your course by considering factors such as the value it provides, the competition, and your target audience’s purchasing power. Furthermore, explore additional revenue streams, such as offering coaching services or upsells related to your course topic, to maximize your earning potential.

Conclusion

Teachers who are looking for a side-hustle do so for many different reasons. Whatever YOUR reasons are, choosing the perfect course topic to monetize your teaching skills is a significant step towards creating a successful side income. By aligning your expertise with market demand, finding your unique angle, and leveraging your personal brand, you can create an online course that resonates with learners and meets their needs.

So… remember to validate your course idea, and explore different monetization strategies to optimize your earning potential. Embrace this exciting opportunity to share your knowledge, make a positive impact, and embark on a rewarding journey of online education.

Finally, we’re aware that this post only brushes the surface. Feel free to let us know what you want us to go deeper on. A comment below, or on our Facebook page would suffice.

As society continues to become increasingly complex, traditional education still fails to provide students with what they need. To really excel in today’s economy, academic success alone simply doesn’t suffice. Students also need to learn advanced life skills for their careers and in life. Enter the side-hustle teacher!

But how to start a teaching side hustle?

Fortunately, a new movement is emerging that aims to empower teachers to provide students with the education they need to thrive. Side Hustling (with a twist) is a Teacher’s new mission. TLS jumped in with both feet because this mission dovetails with ours. If you’re a teacher, we want to help you as a partner-in-arms. If you’re NOT a teacher, join us in becoming one!

What do you see in the above photo? How would you respond if I told you she actually works full-time as a teacher? Would you be surprised that the photo was taken during her “business hours” at home in the late afternoon? What’s your guess for her monthly side income putting customized health/fitness programs and coaching for entire families online?

Enter the Side Hustling Teacher

Let’s be clear. From the TLS perspective, formal education isn’t really failing. Contrary to conventional belief, from day one, schools were about training the masses to provide the required labor for the corporate world. We’re not waiting around or even trying to change that system. We’re supporting teachers in the quest to target the problem directly… within AND without schools.

The side-hustling teacher movement is a growing community of educators seeking to earn extra income while also providing their students with a more well-rounded education. These teachers are using their expertise and experience to create innovative, engaging, and practical lessons that go beyond the traditional curriculum. And the results speak for themselves: students who learn from side-hustling teachers are better equipped to succeed in the real world.

More than Just the Hustle

But why are teachers turning to side hustle in the first place? The answer is rather simple. Even in affluent societies, many traditional teaching salaries are simply not enough to make ends meet. Although it varies widely from state to state, according to the National Education Association, the average teacher salary in the United States is just over $61,000 per year.

This is far below the average salary for other professions requiring a similar level of education and expertise. It’s no wonder that many teachers are seeking ways to supplement their income. For developing countries, the situation tends to be much worse.

side gigs have always been common for teachers worldwide. This current trend is different though. It’s about more than just earning extra income. It’s about empowering teachers to provide their students with the education they need to truly shine as their best selves. That’s next-level. All kinds of students in greater numbers will now be able to construct an environment truly suited to their God-given talents and interests. It’s less about conforming to what it takes to be the perfect employee.

Traditional education systems are often bogged down by bureaucracy and outdated curricula. As a result, they don’t reflect the real-world skills that students need. By creating their own business, teachers bypass these limitations and provide their students with the education they truly need.

Overcoming Resistance

The benefits of the side-hustling teacher movement are becoming clear. Students who learn from them are better equipped to succeed in the real world. At the same time, teachers are able to earn the income they need to make ends meet. But this movement is not without its challenges.

Many traditional education systems view the proliferation of side-gigs as a threat and are resistant to change. In fact, the movement is already being blamed for an increasing shortage of teachers. Additionally, some parents may be skeptical of non-traditional teaching methods.

Finally, teachers themselves are scrambling to upgrade their own knowledge and skills. After all, they teach best what they already know. The pandemic, for example, helped in some ways by incentivizing many teachers to learn how to use remote teaching tools.

No Turning Back

But despite these challenges, the trend is growing. More and more teachers realize the benefits of educational entrepreneurship. At the same time, parents and students see the value of a more well-rounded education. If we want to ensure that our students are prepared for the challenges of the real world, we must support the side-hustling teacher movement and empower our educators to create innovative and engaging lessons that truly prepare our students for success. Where the classroom is situated is less relevant

Furthermore, the “side hustle for teachers” movement does more than benefit students. It’s also creating a community of innovative and passionate educators who are influencing radical changes in the education system from within. By sharing their ideas and experiences, side-hustling teachers are able to collaborate and innovate in ways that traditional education systems simply cannot.

In a recent survey by EdWeek Research Center, 71% of teachers reported that they’ve considered leaving the profession. They cited low salaries as an underlying reason. This is a staggering statistic that’s sure to be even worse in developing countries. It highlights the urgent need for change in the education system. By supporting the side-hustling teacher movement, we can help to retain talented and passionate educators who might otherwise leave the profession.

Moreover, the skills and knowledge that side-hustling teachers provide go beyond what traditional education systems offer. For instance, many focus on teaching entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and digital skills. All of these are crucial for skyrocketing success in the modern world. By supplementing traditional curricula with these skills, students are better prepared to navigate the complex and rapidly-changing job market.

Join the Movement

In conclusion, the side-hustling teacher movement represents a powerful and necessary shift in education as a whole. By empowering teachers to create innovative and practical lessons, our students are better prepared for real-world challenges. Get involved! We can all help to retain talented educators and create a community of innovative and passionate educators. For us, it’s been clear for generations now that the shift was never going to happen from within the traditional system. We’re just working together to ensure that the job gets done.

Let’s rally behind the side-hustling teacher movement and support our educators in providing the education that our students need to succeed.