Teacher Turned Entrepreneur

Host Dori Stewart’s guest on this episode of Teacher Turned Entrepreneur has succeeded in a man’s world by embracing her feminine power. After years of trying to compete in a male-dominated landscaping industry, Monique Allen redefined her brand by leaning into her uniquely feminine perspective. As CEO & Creative Director at The Garden Continuum, she has grown a seven-figure business based on a culture that was authentic to her and aligned with her values.

When she first put her hands in the soil nearly four decades ago, Monique just knew: “I felt alive ... It was just primal. That was the spark.” The daughter of entrepreneurial immigrant parents, starting her own business was a natural progression for Monique, who was determined to turn her passion into a “legitimate” enterprise. She did exactly that and much more by developing an entire methodology beautifully expressed in her book, “Stop Landscaping, Start Life-Scaping.”

Monique shares tips for creating space, overcoming friction and staying relevant in a man’s world while embracing a feminine perspective. And she makes no apologies!

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• If you regard it as a “real job” but others do not, you can create legitimacy by putting an entrepreneurial structure around the venture – whatever it might be!

• Passion is a key ingredient – the spark that starts a business – but on its own is not enough to sustain and grow that business. For that, look to your differentiators and create a method.

• You have to start out with a “big, fluffy” dream! But that vision must then be honed and defined by a roadmap and actions steps to follow.

• Growing a business is a regenerative process, much like cultivating a garden. It requires a constant infusion of life and adaptation to changing conditions.

• Don’t apologize! You have earned the right to be confident, so don’t be shy about leaning in and claiming exactly what you want and need.

• Are you a brand ambassador? Every business venture needs one, but the mantle has to fit and be authentic to who you really are.

• Are you in a male-dominated sector, trying to compete by being one of the guys? It may be time to embrace the feminine and give that valuable perspective a voice at the table.

• If you’re running into friction, try this mindset shift: Embrace the people who are bugging you the most. It opens a path to resolution through compassion rather than resentment.

Are you ready to find your true calling and walk away from your teaching job once and for all?

It is your time to get a solid grasp on the potential opportunities available to you so you can get started on your entrepreneurial journey and change your life!

Download your copy of this free, valuable PDF resource and access 20 different descriptive business ideas that are perfect for a teacher turning entrepreneur.

The Teacher’s Guide to Finding Your Perfect Business Idea (without going back to college)

Community is the most powerful of renewable resources – especially for women entrepreneurs, for whom “hive mind” is a source of inspiration, ideas and bravery. With that in mind, Fabienne Fredrickson, author, TedX speaker and founder of Boldheart, developed a unique platform that offers women who want to level up an online route to clarity, replicable systems and a peer support network like none other. As she explains to Host Dori Stewart on this episode of Teacher Turned Entrepreneur, it’s a recipe that includes a multi-faceted roadmap for female-led businesses looking to grow and scale.

Fabienne shares her story and the ideas that formed the foundation for her proprietary Boldheart Business Program, which is built on predictability and connection. “There is this deep level of self-belief that happens that you don’t get when you’re working at home in isolation, by yourself,” says Fabienne. If you’ve ever felt self-conscious about your “black sheep” tendency not to fit into a cooker-cutter mold, this conversation will shine a whole new light. In fact, coloring outside the lines is encouraged in the Boldheart community. Fabienne explains why having a village of support is crucial when it comes to striding boldly forward. Is it time for you to connect with an intentional community of generous women – peers traveling the same entrepreneurial road you are and ready to help you realize your dreams?

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• If you’re spending so much time away from family that they never see you, it’s time to make a change of systems so that you can work smarter, not harder.

• Data indicate that women entrepreneurs do better in a community. Do you have that network of support?

• We all need a culture of care, especially if we have a sense of being “black sheep” for questioning received wisdom.

• Accidental communities (think school potlucks or office happy hours) are not the same as intentional communities based on commonly held personal interests and goals.

• Isolation breeds self-doubt, especially among women!

• How can we have it all? It starts with locating your values and then finding the right cultural, professional and practical fit. Your business your way, your life your way!

• What is it to have a BoldHeart? To search yourself honestly, and act bravely.

Are you ready to find your true calling and walk away from your teaching job once and for all?

It is your time to get a solid grasp on the potential opportunities available to you so you can get started on your entrepreneurial journey and change your life!

Download your copy of this free, valuable PDF resource and access 20 different descriptive business ideas that are perfect for a teacher turning entrepreneur.

The Teacher’s Guide to Finding Your Perfect Business Idea (without going back to college)

See if you can follow this: Toni Bache’s successful business coaching platform derives from … her personal success building a coaching business. She left her corporate career not after years of creating spreadsheets, generating sophisticated marketing materials and executing a phased launch – no! “Just do it” was her mantra, and it definitely panned out. As she explains on this episode of Teacher Turned Entrepreneur, Toni launched her company fully understanding that it would be an iterative process. Her initial clients – who today are her biggest fans – eagerly partnered to help this Australian dynamo develop a membership model that today offers two tiers service based on well-defined client need and a sustained revenue stream. “With a membership you launch once and then they just keep paying you month after month after month,” says Toni. “There’s no drop dead where you get all the money one month and then nothing the next.”

Toni shares her tips for aspiring entrepreneurs (especially those interested in establishing a membership model) and highlights mistakes to avoid. She also shares the story of how putting together an essay for Medium (which you can read here) was a total gamechanger, bringing her exposure and a jumping off point for becoming a successful online business by sharing with others the methods that have made hers such a success. It’s a great formula – one that any of us can replicate and tailor to our own particular offering or brand. Forget about perfect. Flops and stumbles are part of the process, says Toni. And if you’re feeling stuck? She’s got some the tools and support to get you moving forward!

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• Have something to say? Publish it on Medium or some other forum! It’s a great way to attract clients and build your brand.

• You’ve hit on your big idea and are ready to go into business. Don’t get stuck in the weeds with planning and perfecting. Just launch! You can do it cheaply and simply, then augment and adjust as time goes along.

• The membership model locks in recurring and predictable revenue, which is incredibly stabilizing for entrepreneurs.

• Memberships also offer incredible flexibility and freedom to tailor your service offerings to your own strengths as well as the needs of your target audience.

• It’s okay to tweak things as you go and be transparent with clients when some component of your program isn’t quite working – either for them or for you.

• Don’t let fear of failure become greater than your drive to success.

• Those clients who are willing to work with you during a soft launch – even through the adjustments and occasional misses – will likely become your most loyal members and ardent advocates!

• It’s got to be about more than the money. Make sure what you’re offering lights you up!

Are you ready to find your true calling and walk away from your teaching job once and for all?

It is your time to get a solid grasp on the potential opportunities available to you so you can get started on your entrepreneurial journey and change your life!

Download your copy of this free, valuable PDF resource and access 20 different descriptive business ideas that are perfect for a teacher turning entrepreneur.

The Teacher’s Guide to Finding Your Perfect Business Idea (without going back to college)

Lights! Camera! Action! On this episode of Teacher Turned Entrepreneur we’re getting a sneak peek into what it means to produce a big, screen-worthy life. It starts with vision and surrounding ourselves with positive energy, says Lillian Victoria – who is herself the definition of positive energy! She shares the story of her emergence from false beliefs, childhood phantoms and a career in entertainment that wasn’t the right fit to claim her authentic voice. Today, as a mindset mentor for entrepreneurs, her dreams and coaching practice are devoted to helping others do the same. She’s all-in on launching solo ventures as a way to live the life we want. And isn’t that the goal? “No one can take away your story, your brand, your experience,” she says, “and no one can create your vision better than you yourself!”

This lively conversation covers the elements of Lillian’s approach to building a successful life – by acting as our own writers, producers, directors and headlining stars. It all starts with mindset and actively seeking out people who bring light and big ideas, an abundant approach to life that mirrors our own values and deepest beliefs. It might be hard, says Lillian, but that sometimes means parting ways with people who are toxic because “it’s easier to work on yourself than to change the whole world!” Your journey starts with owning your story, staying accountable and keeping mentally and physically healthy so you can weather those inevitable bumps in the road. “You’ve got to be your own best friend and trust yourself that you’re figuring it out,” urges Lillian. “Every idea or intuition that flashes through your mind, write it down. It’s there for a reason!”

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• When you’re self-made, no one can take that away from you. It’s 100% yours to grow, nurture and shape to your own standards.

• No matter where we’re heading, we can’t lead unless we’ve done the work to grow. Our experiences – good or bad – are what give rise to understanding and insights.

• Accountability – even in the face of naysayers – is a critical component of success.

• Ever wondered why entrepreneurs are so high energy? It’s probably because of the daily thrill they enjoy in executing on their vision!

• Sometimes stepping into your own gift sometimes requires stepping into your own, even at the risk of losing relationships that are counter-productive.

• Fear can actually be a powerful driver when harnessed and leveraged in healthy ways.

• Be Prepared: Entrepreneurialism can be a very lonely road. It’s okay. You’ll get there.

• Ready to claim your story? You’re the maker of the big-screen feature that is your life!

• Everyone has their own definition of success, but the common thread is simple: Living life on our own terms.

• Remember self-care because when we’re not mentally and physically healthy, it trickles down and impacts everyone around us!

Are you ready to find your true calling and walk away from your teaching job once and for all?

It is your time to get a solid grasp on the potential opportunities available to you so you can get started on your entrepreneurial journey and change your life!

Download your copy of this free, valuable PDF resource and access 20 different descriptive business ideas that are perfect for a teacher turning entrepreneur.

The Teacher’s Guide to Finding Your Perfect Business Idea (without going back to college)

Renée Dineen describes her previous self as “almost gluttonous” about devouring the next thing in front of her. Sitting in those quiet, in-between spaces? Definitely not for her! As she shares with Host Dori Stewart on this episode of Teacher Turned Entrepreneur, a high-powered corporate job that had become her identity was fueling an addiction to action that served neither her nor her family. The scenario felt familiar and comfortable since, as the daughter of an entrepreneurial mom, being driven and mono-focused was something she understood intrinsically. But was it what Renée wanted her two kids to remember about growing up? This soul-searching question not only inspired a total change of pace, it has developed into an entire practice providing busy professional women with a platform to pause and bring intention to their lives. As a coach and author, Renée’s passion is unmistakable. She offers a full menu of thought leadership, thought-provoking content, online and live corporate workshops as well as transformational retreats in Costa Rica.

You’ll learn on this episode about the fears Renée had to conquer before making the leap into entrepreneurship as well as about the introspective journey she took from million-dollar biotech exec to self-sustaining business owner (and evangelist for sitting in the quiet places). She shares tips on how to make what she calls a “lifestyle career move” and what you can do to get started creating a landscape that reflects your core values, ambitions and dreams.

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• Don’t see the job for you? Create the job your company or organization doesn’t yet know it needs – then fill it!

• It’s impossible to overestimate the pull of our identities, which at a deep level we reflexively cling to – even when it’s time to embrace transformational change.

• Something to Consider: If you’re an entrepreneurial mom, that’s great. But bring mindfulness to the time it takes from family and whether they still felt seen by you.

• Following the Call: Here are Four Things to Consider Before Making a Lifestyle Career Move.

Are you ready to find your true calling and walk away from your teaching job once and for all?

It is your time to get a solid grasp on the potential opportunities available to you so you can get started on your entrepreneurial journey and change your life!

Download your copy of this free, valuable PDF resource and access 20 different descriptive business ideas that are perfect for a teacher turning entrepreneur.

The Teacher’s Guide to Finding Your Perfect Business Idea (without going back to college)

Could there be a more powerful combo than an entrepreneurial spirit, vision and a woman’s determination? In the case of Ashleigh Wilson, CEO & Founder of the first-ever elevator auditing and management software, the answer is an unequivocal: No! As she explains on this episode of Teacher Turned Entrepreneur, this dynamo has developed an innovative, industry-changing software-as-a-service platform – and she made it happen without any technology experience whatsoever. How did she do it? She walks Host Dori Stewart through the process, starting with a gut instinct that something was wrong with the elevator service industry in which she had worked since right out of college. Instead of rising through the ranks of a sector she thought could do and be much better, Ashleigh used her native problem-solving skills to look for a solution to empower customers and vendors alike. And AuditMate was born!

You’ll get a fascinating peak into the elevator and escalator industry and find out why creating a data-driven auditing capability has been transformational in terms of leveling the playing field – which is a core value for Ashleigh. She is all about daring to speak up and joining with other women (especially entrepreneurs!) to be brave and make change. “Women walk the world in a different way. We’re problem-solvers and we go about it quietly,” says Ashleigh. “But, look, if you’re having a problem, someone else is likely having that problem. If you’re frustrated with something, someone else is likely frustrated with it as well.” There’s power in remembering that!

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• Is your body communicating something? Is your moral compass telling you something isn’t right? You may want to heed the feeling and zoom in for a closer look.

• Burnout is real. If it’s at all possible, consider taking time off just to sit on the couch and ponder your life, health and priorities.

• Any long-term contract (could be with phone service, insurance carrier or servicing your car) can be vulnerable to mismanagement. Regular audits can be money-savers!

• If you see something that isn’t right or can be done better, be the changemaker! You can elevate standards if you make it a mission!

• In need of some industry or business credibility? Reach out to your network and ask for a public endorsement or vote of confidence. Women are eager to support other women!

• Here’s how you manifest: By finding someone who believes in your dream – even if it’s “only” you – and then waving your banner continually until you’ve made it so!

• Need to fall in love with your business again? Try taking a deep dive into different departments and finding new ways of looking at the venture.

Are you ready to find your true calling and walk away from your teaching job once and for all?

It is your time to get a solid grasp on the potential opportunities available to you so you can get started on your entrepreneurial journey and change your life!

Download your copy of this free, valuable PDF resource and access 20 different descriptive business ideas that are perfect for a teacher turning entrepreneur.

The Teacher’s Guide to Finding Your Perfect Business Idea (without going back to college)

If you are obsessed with your Instagram “likes” and posting constantly because you’ve heard that’s what your business requires, think again. Host Dori Stewart’s guest on this episode of Teacher Turned Entrepreneur is busting some of the biggest social media marketing myths out there. Anjum Bhandari, founder of Business and Beyond, has developed a hugely effective methodology for converting content into actual revenue. She spills secrets about what works and doesn’t work, why “vanity metrics” are a waste of time and how even the most introverted among us (including Anjum herself!) can become masters of video content and presentation.

You’ll learn the most important things to bear in mind when it comes to creating your Instagram marketing campaigns and common mistakes that are easy to avoid. Anjum also walks us through exactly how she honed the expertise that makes her coaching practice so unique and effective for business owners. And if you’re looking for some practical tools and actionable tips for managing social media, this is the interview you’ve been waiting for – and your first step towards generating content that will leave a powerful impression out in the digital world!

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• Not happy where you are? You can brainstorm your way to an entrepreneurial alternative that offers the freedom to design a situation that truly works for you.

• If you feel that you’re ready to launch your coaching business, consider starting one-to-one initially.

• Before you start creating your online course, ask yourself: Do I have the confidence and experience? Or should I perhaps practice my craft and learn more through experience before launching a paid program?

• Evergreen Content is King! Trends come and go quickly, so when it comes to generating social media, focus on topics and information that will remain relevant regardless.

• Do we have to post daily on social media channels? No! Consistency and quality are far more influential than quantity (especially of the irrelevant variety).

• Memorization is key! Whatever the length of your video or livestream, having a script (or at least clear talking points) will bring you peace of mind and confidence.

• Remember: Every time you put yourself out front, you become just a little more comfortable with it – and smoother, as well!

Are you ready to find your true calling and walk away from your teaching job once and for all?

It is your time to get a solid grasp on the potential opportunities available to you so you can get started on your entrepreneurial journey and change your life!

Download your copy of this free, valuable PDF resource and access 20 different descriptive business ideas that are perfect for a teacher turning entrepreneur.

The Teacher’s Guide to Finding Your Perfect Business Idea (without going back to college)

It took a minute but Ciara Stockeland quickly figured out that what she did as a franchisor for boutique owners set the stage for what she does now: Advising entrepreneurs. On this episode of Teacher Turned Entrepreneur we learn how Ciara – a lifelong business owner (going all the way back to her teens!) – has used the skills she acquired through developing her various ventures as a springboard to help anyone selling anything to anyone anywhere. Host Dori Stewart invites this dynamic coach and mentor to share top tips for getting unstuck, defying the fear of trying something new and building out the resources necessary to launch a successful next chapter.

You’ll get a front-row seat on Ciara’s journey from starting a single boutique selling discounted designer clothing to developing a full-blown franchise with stores across the Midwest – and how every hard-won lesson has culminated in tools to help other create and sustain their own business models from the bottom floor up. Not just systems but systems designed specifically to support the unique needs of small enterprises. Whether you’re struggling with inventory management or trying to figure out why – despite your best marketing efforts – the numbers still aren’t adding up, this episode offers actionable tips and valuable perspectives that will help you take your business to that next level.

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• Did you know that entrepreneurism is something you can actually study in college today? It is!

• Feeling lost and marooned on the couch? It’s time to put your researcher cap on!

• If you’re interested in the coaching space, consider what you’ve learned in the school of hard knocks that you wish you would have known back when you got started.

• Very often in entrepreneurship we start out with one thing in mind and then, in listening to our customers, move towards a very different place then originally envisioned.

• Starting over is a lot easier when we build in resiliency, so always be building that network, cultivating curiosity and looking for resources to support your development.

• Don’t let a bird in the hand deter you! Whatever you’re doing, consider whether it’s time to close up shop and move on to something that might be different – and better!

• Don’t be afraid to launch a B- product. Try it, test it and pivot towards A+.

• It’s not necessarily the marketing! Whatever your social media presence, if your numbers don’t add up your inventory-based business can’t thrive.

Are you ready to find your true calling and walk away from your teaching job once and for all?

It is your time to get a solid grasp on the potential opportunities available to you so you can get started on your entrepreneurial journey and change your life!

Download your copy of this free, valuable PDF resource and access 20 different descriptive business ideas that are perfect for a teacher turning entrepreneur.

The Teacher’s Guide to Finding Your Perfect Business Idea (without going back to college)

Ready to launch but still stuck in “what if’s”? On this episode of Teacher Turned Teacher we’re hearing from Caley Adams, founder and creative director of the NYC-based design and branding firm Wildes District. She has tips to share for anyone feeling ready to go but … not quite there! Once she realized that the market needed a design business geared specifically toward emerging women’s and e-commerce brands, Caley went about identifying her niche and establishing her individual style. Caley shares with us a few of the tools that were important to getting her business fully off the ground, including letting others know she was taking the plunge (great for accountability) and accepting that there would be bumps along the way (which requires grace).

You’ll enjoy hearing about the latest trends in design, the ways in which post-pandemic branding reflects a more playful, bold esthetic and why it’s so important to claim your own voice – no matter what anybody else in your space is projecting. A new mom, Caley reflects on some of the accommodations she has made as well as the reasons running Wildes District has been such a gamechanger, even on those days when being an entrepreneur feels hard. And if you start to feel worn down? There are resources to tap, say Caley, so go ahead and reach out. You’re not alone! “There are always these little ledges and challenges you have to scale, but once you do it,” says Caley, “it doesn’t feel like anything dramatically different. It’s just the thought of it that can really get in your head!”

If you enjoyed this episode of Teacher Turned Entrepreneur, click here to hear past shows and leave comments!

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• When you look around the table, are you the only woman? You may be looking at a potential specialty gap that your entrepreneurial service could fill!

• The e-commerce marketplace is so crowded and noisy. Claim your own distinct voice. Put your message out there boldly – even if it’s different from everyone else’s!

• Have fun! The trend is towards more color and pizazz coming out of a long couple of years that have been uncertain and monochromatic in many ways.

• Feeling stuck, isolated or challenged by a particular circumstance? Don’t forget to reach out and connect with other women who have been there. Support is there, if you look!

• Accountability is important, so let others know when you strike out on your venture.

Are you ready to find your true calling and walk away from your teaching job once and for all?

It is your time to get a solid grasp on the potential opportunities available to you so you can get started on your entrepreneurial journey and change your life!

Download your copy of this free, valuable PDF resource and access 20 different descriptive business ideas that are perfect for a teacher turning entrepreneur.

The Teacher’s Guide to Finding Your Perfect Business Idea (without going back to college)

On this episode of Teacher Turned Entrepreneur we’re visiting with a Leadership and Mentoring rock star – with European flair. For more than two decades, Mahima Klinge has worked with thousands of people globally to develop what she calls “The Mahima Mindset.” And what is that exactly? It’s a game-changing framework for clarifying and putting purpose behind your vision, the product of her own extensive travels, introspection and learnings from others.

Among the tactical advice Mahima shares with Host Dori Stewart are some great tips for setting the right priorities and learning to say no. She’s also teaching how to effectively manage our workload by overcoming exhaustion, distraction and lack of confidence. An international best-selling author and mindset trainer, Mahima pinches herself every day not only because she is living her best life but because she is giving others the tools to do the same. Enjoy her advice and insights, your first steps towards getting unstuck!

Ready to get started on the journey to your most authentic life? Click here to access the special free membership that Mahima is offering Teacher Turned Entrepreneur listeners, including her 21-Day Challenge, Reprogram Your Mind in 7 Days and a free copy of "A Rebel's Guide to Inner Peace."

Here are key takeaways from the conversation:

• Feeling spiritually or emotionally stuck? Take a pause and find your reawakening!

• It’s possible to rewire our brains through self-awareness, questioning and introspection about our values, from the inside out.

• Here’s a thought: Very often when we make a clear decision, the universe hears the call and responds accordingly.

• At the end of the day, meditation is simply about self-love.

• Nothing will change on the outside until you’re in touch with what’s not working on the inside – and have resolved to do something about it.

• Change starts with the decision that your thoughts, feelings and experience matters.

• Anything that someone else can do, you can do too. It’s only your mindset that separates you from your passion!

Are you ready to find your true calling and walk away from your teaching job once and for all?

It is your time to get a solid grasp on the potential opportunities available to you so you can get started on your entrepreneurial journey and change your life!

Download your copy of this free, valuable PDF resource and access 20 different descriptive business ideas that are perfect for a teacher turning entrepreneur.

The Teacher’s Guide to Finding Your Perfect Business Idea (without going back to college)