Teacher Turned Entrepreneur

Teacher Turned Entrepreneur

By Dori StewartBusinessEntrepreneurshipEducationMarketing
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Teacher Turned Entrepreneur episodes

  • How to Channel Your Business Ideas to a Path That Sustains Itself with Linda Osorio
    Every entrepreneur has an idea...
    But as you might well know, honing your business idea into reality takes more than just ideating... It takes immeasurable analysis and planning, loads of preparation, and openness to adapting to opportunities.
    In a world where everyone speaks of ‘just-doing-it’, you’ll rarely find a person who opens up about weighing the pros and cons of your business idea before going all-in.
    That’s why I believe we’re soo fortunate to have a rare gem like Linda on the show.
    Wellness Business Mentor, Linda Osorio has over 12 years of experience in the wellness movement, establishing herself as a successful entrepreneur in the soaring industry.
    Together, we talk about what it actually takes to leave behind the comfort of your day job, start afresh on your compelling idea, and in the process, fight any fear or disbelief that arises.
    So by the time our conversation ends, you’ll hear about:
    >> Achieving sustainability in your business -- why you need to align with the community’s needs to create ideas that not only serve but also last.
    >> Going all-in on your ideas -- how to break out of fear and disbelief to sail through your journey as an entrepreneur.
    >> How to drive your business to generate sales and why it’s important
    Most importantly, you’ll learn the essence of balance in life and your career.
    And when I say balance, it isn’t eliminating most of your work so that you spend the rest of your day doing very little and spending time alone.
    Balance is holding onto your dreams while still spending quality time with your family.
    Balance is creating sufficient income to sustain yourself even when leaping to pursue entrepreneurship full-time.
    So head over to the episode to make the best out of a half-hour of your day!
    A quick look into the episode:
    [02:49] Linda’s story: How she fell in love with the art of selling
    [07:28] Why you need to discover what the community needs: Linda talks about gaining clarity on your ideas to make sure the investment you make into it is truly worth it and that it wouldn’t be a short-lived spike of thought.
    [08:55] How to gather the courage to pursue your business idea (Linda’s experience)
    [12:16] Why you need to go all in on your business idea: don’t let fear hold you back.
    [12:57] Navigating the fear of loss through your entrepreneurial journey: sacrifice is real!
    [15:38] Linda talks about her daughter and how she inspires her to do more
    [18:03] Balancing family and career to avoid guilt: do not give up on your dreams.
    [19:14] Why the feeling of just giving up is real even in the case of entrepreneurs (balance is essential!)
    [22:16] Community vs sales and how to learn from your failures to get better with each fall
    [23:51] Why you need to be confident to be an awesome sales leader: “Confidence goes with the sale, you have to show confidence in the service that you're offering and the product, because if you're being confident in it, they're going to be more willing to purchase it.”
    [25:55] Statistics show that men do better than women when it comes to sales. Linda shares her thoughts on the same.
    [27:08] Bringing your team along with you in your entrepreneurial journey: Your business does not only involve you, but it also involves people who are responsible for every loss or gain you experience
    [268:40] Linda’s favorite books: Atomic Habits by James Clear, Everything Is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo
    [29:47] Linda’s plans and projects for the future
    About Linda Osorio:
    Linda Osorio has been an entrepreneur since 2005. Starting off as a solo massage therapist, she grew her medical massage practice to a staff of 25 and grossing over 7 figures a year.
    During this time, she also opened the first Yoga studio in Stafford County, Virginia and the first Hot Yoga studio from Fairfax to Richmond.
    Using her previous experience with her massage clinic and business mentors, she confidently opened her 2nd business which was a success from opening day!
    Over the years she has opened 6 brick and mortar businesses in the wellness field, sold 3, and mentored many business owners who became success stories!
    She now uses her spare time to mentor and coach other new and aspiring wellness entrepreneurs!
    Like many, Linda knows the wellness industry is on its way to becoming a trillion-dollar industry!
    She is eager to help her fellow healers get motivated and make big moves to catch this wave of opportunity using her years of experience in the industry!
    If you'd like to reach Linda for a free 30 minute mentor session, email her at [email protected].
    Connect With Linda:
    Website
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    37 min
  • Paychecks, Stability & Passionate Entrepreneurship with Jenn Colby, Howling Wolf Farm
    Can You Sustain Your Business While Working Full-Time?
    A well-paying job can offer the most straightforward income… but has limitations (of course!).
    The hustle is fresh at the start. And you’re all in for the intensity, the adrenaline, and the joys of a productive lifestyle...
    Needless to say that if your salary includes additional perks (say, insurance coverage or a retirement fund), you have your WHOLE life figured -- in one place -- at your workplace.
    However, the story doesn’t go the same way for all.
    For some, life inadvertently takes a different route... and puts them on a path that grants freedom, passion, and purpose (yes!), and a teeny bit of uncertainty (which you can very well plan early against -- more on this below).
    That’s the entrepreneurial path. And it’s risky, I agree. But isn’t that what the choice is all about?
    >> A 9 to 5 grind or choosing your own working hours?
    >> A rise up in the organizational hierarchy or the thrill of hitting fresh milestones?
    BUT hey! What if… you aren’t yet ready for the BIG move?
    Is there a way you could continue to pay yourself decently until your business starts paying you well instead?
    Jenn Colby jostled against both her full-time job and side hustle to keep stability and passion breathably knit together... for over two decades. She founded the Howling Wolf Farm while still working on her day job. And though the hubbub was undoubtedly real, it helped her stay on the safe side until her business smoothly hit the target.
    So YES, there’s no right or wrong way to level up as an entrepreneur.
    And YES, you can choose to hold onto the comfort of a day job until you’re at peace with your business (if your job allows you to).
    Let me also tell you this: Jenn’s Howling Wolf Farm is one of Vermont’s favorite food, family, and farm destinations for people of any age.
    I’m especially excited to talk to you about how Jenn went from part-time farming + day job working to full-time farming + business management (and why she LOVES the ‘new grind’ binge-working on QuickBooks or consulting!).
    Not only will this episode open your eyes to the tidbits of the entrepreneurial journey, but it will also teach you to have faith in your dreams and actions.
    Head over to the episode to get to the depths of my conversation with Jenn.
    Here are some noteworthy moments from this episode:
    ●      [03:15] From veterinary school to an organic dairy company to a full-time business -- Jenn shares her scintillating journey through life and business.
    ●      [04:50] Sometimes, your cash inflow doesn’t permit a massive risk, even if it comes to following your dreams. It works incredibly well to note down your business plan and do the numbers so you have clarity and an expanded perspective of your vision.
    ●      [07:40] No matter what job you do, you may know you were always meant to be an entrepreneur.
    ●      [08:10] Keeping your day job is sometimes an effective way of keeping stress at bay. You’ll have your household running and might even be able to put your savings into your business in the long term.
    ●      [14:08] Work-life balance? It’s relative and depends on how you like to see it. Your work might even feel enjoyable if you really love being in it.
    ●      [15:40] How do you avoid burnout as an entrepreneur? Listen to yourself internally. If you’re caught in the stress bubble, your body will let you know.
    ●      [17:35] The seasonality of Jenn’s business -- rest in the wintertime, seven-to-eight months of work in the fields, sports, woods, and farm.
    ●      [20:20] Jenn’s advice for first-generation entrepreneurs getting into the farm business (and why she recommends ranching for profit).
    ●      [21:30] Staying up-to-date with the know-how of your business could be a great way to keep growing it further. Jenn explains how reading books like The E-Myth Revisited or Robert Kiyosaki’s books on finance and business can help you continue to grow in knowledge and value.
    ●      [22:27] Jenn’s advice #1 for listeners chasing their dreams on their own terms: Listen To Yourself. Keep Taking One Little Step A Day.
    ●      [22:46] Jenn’s advice #2 for listeners chasing their dreams on their own terms: Find Some Accountability Buddies. It could be easy to put your stuff aside for other people, especially if you’re a woman. An accountability partner makes sure you’re always aligned to your ultimate vision.
    ●      [23:50] Jenn’s advice #3 for listeners chasing their dreams on their own terms: Keep Yourself Informed And Updated. Listen to audiobooks, podcasts or make it a habit to read those books that will help you gain more insight into your business and life.
    ●      [26:25] How you can connect with Jenn
    About Jenn:
    Jennifer Colby is currently the head farmer and consultant at Howling Wolf Farm, LLC. She was previously the Pasture Program Coordinator at the University of Vermont. Jenn is also the host of her own podcast, Choosing to Farm: New Generation Stories.
    Connect With Jenn:
    Website | Podcast | Book a Yurt | Instagram
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    29 min
  • When Passion Met Purpose and Ambition: My Story
    Remember Georg Hegel once said, “Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion”?
    The whole world gasped in admiration… But who knew then what those words would fuel inside entrepreneurial minds like you and me?
    Yes, you… Because I believe that entrepreneurship is for anyone -- with a passion -- or a desire to make a difference in society.
    Now, you might wonder why you should dig into what I believe in the first place. How did I qualify myself to speak to you about independent entrepreneurs?
    Because I am among them. And my journey, like anyone else’s might be, is unique.
    I am Dori Roberts Stewart. Some of you know me as the teacher-turned-entrepreneur who appeared in magazines like Forbes, Kiplinger, the Wall Street Journal, or on live TV on networks like Fox Business and CNN Money.
    It seems like yesterday that I set out on my journey, quitting my full-time job as a teacher to embark on a messy, uneven, yet impressive mission as an entrepreneur… to start a business that teaches young kids engineering!
    Like any other successful entrepreneur would acknowledge, I set out on this path when I discovered the teeny hints that life dropped to show that there was an audience that could benefit from my dream and that it was indeed, worth fighting for.
    And while the world around me was crumbling -- I was navigating a bad marriage, quitting my day job, the economy was facing The Great Recession, and the people around me were questioning my then-frivolous decision, I kept the faith. The result? My business gave me more of what I had always imagined:
    >> Security -- check
    >> Absolute Control Over My Time -- check
    >> Motivation -- check
    >> The Desire To Do Better (every passing day) -- check
    >> Purpose -- check
    >> Alignment With Life Goals -- check
    >> And much more that I cannot put down into words
    If I’m saying this now, it’s because I know you can too.
    Maybe all you need is a little push, guidance, support, encouragement, or advice. And that’s what the She Turned Entrepreneur Podcast breathes in and out.
    My “Why”?
    >> I want to give back to you the kindness and support I received in my journey.
    >> I want to help encourage women entrepreneurs like you to build a life out of passion.
    Because I know that together we can achieve all that we aspire for.
    Tune in to the pilot episode to hear me narrate my story -- turning a humble dream into a vision that benefitted many in society.
    A quick look into the episode:
    [00:14] What you can expect to discover on the She Turned Entrepreneur Podcast: stories of entrepreneurial women of strength, courage, and passion.
    [00:38] Forward with passion: As Georg Hegel once said, “Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.”
    [01:11] Get to know me: I am Dori Stewart, your teacher-turned-entrepreneur and host of this podcast.
    [01:31] My tryst with engineering and how it led me to found Engineering For Kids
    [02:45] How engineering enables kids to put theory into practice and why we need to integrate engineering into kids’ curriculum at their early ages
    [05:03] The scary big leap! Here I talk about my decision to finally quit my day job as a teacher to run my company full-time (PS. It was also a time when the great recession was happening).
    [06:06] After my business started booming!
    [08:24] How Brene Brown inspires me: how she taught me to be brave with my life and how it helped me build my dream career.
    [09:38] After I sold my company -- and the two things I am planning on implementing to give back to the world the joy it gave me: 1) This Podcast, 2) Franchising Spot
    [10:21] Entrepreneurship changed my life, and I want to show you how it could change yours too.
    Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
    15 min

About Teacher Turned Entrepreneur

From the publisher's feed

Ready to take that leap of faith and finally chase those dreams of yours? It's not always easy to stay motivated when you're balancing a teaching career, family, and home life, but that's exactly what we're here to help you do. I'm your host, Dori Stewart, and this is the Teacher Turned Entrepreneur Podcast. Around here, we like to talk about our collective and sometimes crazy experiences as entrepreneurs, teachers, and women who do it all. If you've been looking for more in life than grading papers and conferences, this is for you!