This week, we're talking with a teacher from the UK who made the leap from classroom teaching to building a successful tutoring business. She shares the real, unfiltered story of leaving the career she thought she'd do forever - including all the pitfalls, challenges, and hard-won lessons along the way.

If you've ever wondered "What if I left teaching and started my own thing?" or "Could I actually make tutoring work as a full-time business?" - this conversation is for you.

📱 Instagram: @careerafterteaching 💌 DM me: Your thoughts on this episode, your questions, your story 🎙️ Share this episode: Help another teacher who needs to hear this ⭐ Rate & Review: Help more teachers find this podcast

Connect with Andrea:

https://www.brickworkmathematics.co.uk

https://www.instagram.com/stepping_out_of_the_classroom/

https://www.instagram.com/brickworkmathematics/

Teacher to Tutor Program

https://steppingoutoftheclassroom.co.uk/teachertotutor

A free PDF  with ten tips if you are thinking about leaving the classroom. 

http://steppingoutoftheclassroom.co.uk

IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER:

✨ The breaking point: What finally made her decide to leave teaching after years of thinking about it

✨ The fear factor: How she dealt with walking away from a stable salary, pension, and the identity of "teacher"

✨ Building a tutoring business from scratch: The practical steps she took, from finding her first clients to scaling to full-time income

✨ The pitfalls no one tells you about: What she wishes she'd known before starting (marketing, pricing, boundaries, burnout)

✨ The challenges that surprised her: What was harder than she expected and what was easier

✨ The financial reality: How long it took to replace her teaching salary and what that journey actually looked like

✨ Work-life balance post-teaching: Is it actually better? (Spoiler: yes, but not in the ways she expected)

✨ Her advice for teachers considering the leap: What to do before you leave, what to avoid, and how to know if it's right for you

WORKSHOP REMINDER:

🎯 Roadmap to Leaving the Classroom - Teacher Goal Setting Workshop

Happening in early January! If this episode resonated with you and you're thinking "Maybe I could do something like this too" - join us.

We'll help you:

• Get clear on what you actually want (tutoring? Something else? Better boundaries in teaching?)
• Identify the fears and limiting beliefs holding you back
• Create concrete goals and action steps
• Connect with a community of teachers on the same journey

LISTENER CHALLENGE:

After listening to this episode, ask yourself:

1. What's one thing she said that resonated with me?
2. What fear am I holding onto that might not be as scary as I think?
3. If I could design my work life from scratch, what would it look like?

Journal on these. DM me your answers. Let's talk about it.

If you loved this episode, go back and listen to:

• Episode 1: My story of leaving teaching (the 5-year journey)
• Episode 2: The guilt that keeps us stuck
• Episode 3: Working from home with kids - the reality
• Episode 6: My favorite things for teachers in transition

🎯 WORKSHOP UPDATE: We Moved It to Early January! Roadmap to Leaving the Classroom - Teacher Goal Setting Workshop More time to breathe, less holiday overwhelm, perfect fresh-start timing Link: https://careerafterteaching.bigcartel.com/product/roadmap-to-leaving-the-classroom-goal-setting-party

This episode covers:

• Why we missed last week (hospital, illness, survival mode)
• Mindset reframes for the holiday chaos
• Workshop update and why you should join
• My favorite things: tools, resources, and tips for teachers considering leaving

My Favorite Things Mentioned:

1. Notion - free organizational tool
2. Libby App - free audiobooks from your library
3. Pomodoro Technique - 25-minute focused work sessions
4. Canva - free design tool
5. "Atomic Habits" by James Clear
6. Setting boundaries (the skill)

Coming Next Week: Interview with a UK teacher who left teaching to start a successful tutoring business (ALREADY RECORDED - will definitely air!)

Still Coming Eventually: Makeda Boehm interview (when her baby doesn't have RSV and COVID)

Holiday Wishes: Merry Christmas (7 days away!), Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidays to all!

Remember:

• Christmas is in 7 days whether you're ready or not
• Your presence matters more than presents
• Surviving is enough
• Emergen-C is your friend this illness season

Connect:

• Instagram: @careerafterteaching
• Share this episode
• Rate & review to help more teachers find us

🎯 TEACHER GOAL SETTING PARTY - JOIN US! Just before New Years - Get clarity on what YOU want Link: https://careerafterteaching.bigcartel.com/product/roadmap-to-leaving-the-classroom-goal-setting-party

📱 CONNECT & SHARE:

• Instagram: @careerafterteaching (DM me!)
• Share this episode with a teacher friend
• Rate & review to help more teachers find this podcast

This episode covers:

• What it's like when your kid is sick as a teacher vs. now
• The impossible choices teaching forces you to make
• Why flexibility isn't a luxury - it's necessary
• How goal setting helps you prioritize what matters
• Why you deserve to be human without guilt

Real talk from today: My son had an asthma attack last night. Zero sleep. Multiple kids awake at different times. I'm home with him today without guilt, without reprimands, without panic. This is what we all deserve.

Coming next week: Interview with Makeda Boehm! Former teacher who lived in her car and now makes millions. Recording Wednesday, ready for you next week!

Your homework:

1. Follow @careerafterteaching on Instagram
2. Share this episode with one teacher friend
3. Rate/review this podcast
4. Join the goal setting party

Remember: You're not unprofessional for being a parent. You're not unreliable for being human. You deserve flexibility, understanding, and a life that actually works for you.

SHOW NOTES:

⏰ ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT FOR EARLY BIRD PRICING ⏰ Teacher Goal Setting Party - $22 (Early Bird) After December 1st, the price increases! Link: https://careerafterteaching.bigcartel.com/product/roadmap-to-leaving-the-classroom-goal-setting-party

Episode covers:

• Real talk about holiday chaos (stomach bugs and all)
• Thanksgiving as a teacher vs. after teaching
• How to survive the holidays while teaching
• Why gratitude and wanting change can coexist

Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃 Next Episode: Interview with Makeda Boehm

Links:

• Teacher Goal Setting Party - EARLY BIRD ENDS IN 10 DAYS: https://careerafterteaching.bigcartel.com/product/roadmap-to-leaving-the-classroom-goal-setting-party
• Connect on Instagram: @careerafterteaching

Next Episode (Episode 4):

• Guest: Makeda Boehm, former teacher turned entrepreneur
• Makeda's Instagram: @makedabohem @seedandsociety
• Makeda's Website: https://www.seedandsociety.com/
• Topic: From living in her car to making millions - a teacher's transformation story

Mentioned in this episode:

• The reality of working from home with kids
• Time management tips for work-from-home parents
• Why flexibility matters more than perfection

Question for you: What's YOUR biggest fear about working from home with kids? DM me - I read every message!

FREE Journaling prompt: "What would I do if I didn't feel guilty?"

Connect on Instagram: @careerafterteaching

Link to Teacher Goal Setting Party: https://careerafterteaching.bigcartel.com/product/roadmap-to-leaving-the-classroom-goal-setting-party

Next episode: "Working From Home With Kids: The Real, Messy Truth"

DM me your guilt stories - you're not alone!

Teacher Goal Setting Party: 

https://careerafterteaching.bigcartel.com/product/roadmap-to-leaving-the-classroom-goal-setting-party

Connect with me on Instagram @careerafterteaching

Do you have suggestions for future episodes? DM me!

Curious about the course I took that got my foot in the door to online work?

https://go.micalaquinn.com/academy?orid=92460&opid=3

If you’re not sure if your skills can translate to another career you can use the following link to gain clarity https://go.micalaquinn.com/skills-MelissaAnderson-McDonald

Next Episode: "The Guilt That Keeps Us Stuck (And How to Move Through It)"

IMPORTANT LINKS:

• 🎉 JOIN THE TEACHER GOAL SETTING PARTY (Early Bird $22 + Free Workbook): https://careerafterteaching.bigcartel.com/product/roadmap-to-leaving-the-classroom-goal-setting-party
• Connect on Instagram: @Careerafterteaching

What is the Teacher Goal Setting Party? A live virtual event happening just before New Years where we'll get real about YOUR goals (not classroom goals). You'll get:

• Live party experience with a supportive community
• Comprehensive goal-setting workbook (FREE with early bird pricing)
• Lifetime access to replay
• Clarity on what you actually want
• Action plan to make it happen
• Connection with other teachers who get it

What's coming on this podcast:

• Episode 1: My story - 5 years of guilt, panic attacks, and finally choosing myself
• Episode 2: The guilt that keeps teachers stuck
• Episode 3: Working from home with kids - the real truth
• Episode 4: Interview with Makeda Boehm (teacher → lived in car → millions in revenue)

This podcast is for:

• Teachers who are burned out and guilty about it
• Teacher moms who want to be present for their own kids
• Anyone questioning if there's more to life than survival mode
• People who need permission to dream about something different