Teacher to Entrepreneur

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Summary

Rachel shares her personal journey through imposter syndrome, the desire to play small, and the importance of visibility and advocacy in her professional life. She explores how these themes impact her work and her growth as an educator and entrepreneur.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Rachel’s journey with imposter syndrome and playing small

01:54 Rachel reflects on her love for teaching and the signs she was not thriving

03:02 The impact of burnout and the desire to stay small for safety

04:03 Rachel’s experience with imposter syndrome in her business

06:02 Questions that help her combat imposter syndrome

08:10 The importance of visibility and overcoming the fear of being seen

09:00 Wishing to be small versus the drive to push forward

10:05 Advocating for teachers and education reform

12:01 The connection between safety, comfort, and playing small

12:55 The value of making a difference and the risk of burnout

14:57 The importance of self-awareness and seasons in entrepreneurship

16:58 Gratitude for the qualities that push her forward

17:53 The ripple effect of advocacy and making an impact

20:00 Recognizing resistance and the desire to want less

21:06 The link between visibility and overcoming playing small

Keywords

Imposter syndrome, visibility, education, entrepreneurship, self-growth, advocacy, teaching, professional development

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In this episode, Rachel and Karina explore the deep connection between mindset, body awareness, and sales success. They discuss how subconscious beliefs and physical reactions influence selling, especially for heart-led entrepreneurs like teachers.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and guest background
01:59 The relationship between sales, psychology, and entrepreneurship
03:47 Common beliefs and feelings about selling
07:03 The internal tug of war: conscious vs subconscious beliefs
09:58 Physical reactions and body signals during sales
13:02 Deepening understanding of subconscious beliefs
16:05 Strategies for aligning with your sales superpower
20:00 The importance of trust and authenticity in sales
25:04 Practical tips for overcoming sales anxiety
29:55 The role of inner work and body awareness
36:03 The power of self-awareness and mindset shifts
44:06 Tools and techniques for inner work
49:52 The holistic approach: mind, body, spirit in sales
55:10 Resources and upcoming workshops

Resources 

Karina Klaus Website

Karina Klaus Instagram

Rachel's Newsletter

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In this episode, Rachel shares how she keeps her teaching business overhead low, manages expenses, and maintains profitability with minimal costs, offering practical tips for educators and entrepreneurs.

Chapters
00:00 Rachel explains her recent weather-related challenges and off-script episode
01:16 Rachel reflects on her teaching career anniversary and business mindset
02:01 How Rachel keeps her overhead at $70 a month
03:33 Using Google Workspace and AI tools to streamline teaching operations
05:39 Investing in Canva Pro and a custom website for credibility
07:00 Setting up scheduling with Calendly and free consultation strategy
11:10 Choosing affordable web hosting and domain setup
13:08 Breaking down monthly costs and profitability for teachers

Resources

Blog: Being a Self Employed Teacher Costs Less Than You Think 

Google Workspace

Canva Pro

Wix Website Builder

Bluehost Web Hosting

Calendly Scheduling Tool

Monthly Expenses vs Income Projects for My French U- July 2026

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In this episode, Rachel shares her journey of designing a sustainable, whole-life approach to entrepreneurship and personal well-being. She emphasizes the importance of intentional scheduling, self-care, and aligning your business with your life priorities.

Chapters
00:00 Navigating Life Beyond Two Speeds
04:12 Designing a Life as an Entrepreneur
09:11 The Importance of Scheduling and Self-Care
14:46 Creating a Sustainable Business Model
19:37 Embracing Change and Personal Growth
24:34 Intentional Living and Redefining Success

Resources 

PPT Mindmaps

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In this episode, Rachel shares her insights on the importance of boredom, rest, and nature in fostering creativity and learning, both in education and entrepreneurship. She discusses her personal experience of how allowing herself to be bored led to new ideas and connections, emphasizing the human uniqueness in synthesizing unrelated ideas.

Chapters
00:00 Anniversary Weekend Getaway
01:49 The Power of Boredom
04:22 Connections Through Boredom
07:33 Planning for Boredom
10:38 The Human Experience vs AI
14:27 Finding Clarity in Boredom
17:54 Sustainability in Teaching Business

Resources 

Rachel's Blog Post on Boredom and Learning 

"How We Learn" by Benedict Carey 

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In this episode, Rachel speaks with a Teacher 2 Entreprenuer client, Erica Triggs M.Ed. Erica shares her journey from classroom teacher to private practice dyslexia
interventionist, highlighting the importance of passion, trust, and strategic networking in building a successful educational business.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Editing and Podcasting
00:48 Meet Erica Triggs: A Teacher's Journey
01:23 Transitioning from Classroom to Private Practice
03:26 Building Trust with Students and Families
05:11 The Challenges of Being a Business Owner
07:51 Finding Fulfillment Beyond the Classroom
09:27 The Path to Becoming a Dyslexia Interventionist
11:52 Overcoming Doubts as a Business Owner
13:11 Explaining Dyslexia and Building Connections
15:12 The Impact of Personal Experience on Teaching
16:32 Creating Meaningful Relationships with Students
19:18 Balancing Work and Life as a Business Owner
21:53 The Challenges of Planning and Preparation
22:59 Evolving Services: Dyslexia and Literacy Intervention
24:16 Understanding Kindergarten Readiness
25:02 Finding Students: Innovative Marketing Strategies
27:02 Valuing Your Work: Pricing Strategies
30:09 Surprises in Entrepreneurship
31:34 Building a Business from the Ground Up
33:28 Community and Support in Business
35:29 Advice for Teachers Considering Change
37:18 Lighthouse Learning Studio: Services and Reach
41:57 Future Aspirations: Expanding Impact in Schools
43:41 Reflections on Work-Life Balance

Resources

Erica's Business Website: Lighthouse Learning Studio 
Orton-Gillingham Approach
Rachel's Business Resources

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In this episode, Rachel shares five common mistakes teachers make when starting their own teaching or tutoring business and how to avoid them. This episode offers practical insights on aligning your business with your passions, understanding your ideal students, and building a sustainable, joyful teaching practice.

Chapters
00:00 Common Mistakes in Starting a Teaching Business
02:14 Understanding Your Ideal Student
04:21 Creating Products from Passion
06:29 The Importance of Pricing
09:01 Authenticity Over Formality
11:07 Designing a Life-Supporting Business

Resources

Podcast Episode on Pricing Strategies: "What Your Pricing Says About You and Your Business" from April 27, 2026

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In this episode, Rachel shares her journey of redefining her daily routine and work-life balance after experiencing burnout, emphasizing intentional planning, flexibility, and self-care. This episode offers practical strategies for creating a fulfilling, balanced life as a self-employed educator or parent.

Chapters
00:00 Navigating the Transition to Self-Employment
02:17 Finding Balance in a Flexible Schedule
04:47 Intentional Living and Daily Structure
09:27 Creating a Flexible Routine for Productivity
13:57 Habit Stacking for Daily Success
18:44 Rediscovering Personal Identity and Hobbies
23:09 Reflecting on Growth and Future Intentions

Resources 

Have a question or topic suggestion? Drop it here in this form!

"Atomic Habits" by James Clear (Book) 

First Coffee- Mary's YouTube Channel

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In this episode, Rachel shares her personal journey of leaving the classroom, the emotional and practical challenges she faced, and how she rebuilt her life and work to thrive outside of teaching. This episode offers insights into burnout, recovery, and creating a sustainable life after teaching.

Chapters
00:00 The Decision to Leave Teaching
02:15 The Complexity of Grief and Healing
06:19 Packing Up Memories
08:59 The Transition and Grieving Process
13:42 Reflections on Teacher Value and Respect
17:00 Navigating Mixed Emotions
20:11 Learning to Thrive Beyond the Classroom

Resources

Recovering From the Classroom (Blog Post) 

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In this episode, Rachel Cicioni shares practical strategies for private practice teachers to find and attract their ideal students through targeted marketing, networking, and authentic online presence. Learn how to identify your ideal client, craft compelling messages, and leverage local and online spaces effectively.

Chapters
00:00 Understanding Your Ideal Client
06:44 Crafting Your Marketing Message
13:39 Visibility and Networking Strategies
21:33 Building Your Teaching Business Online
24:25 Old School Marketing Strategies
26:14 Email Outreach to Schools
28:12 Collaborating with Schools
32:00 Networking with Professionals
35:38 Creating Community Connections
40:42 Leveraging Social Media for Growth

Resources
PPT Teacher Directory
Email Template Bundle