That Teacher

TEACHER HUSTLE UNIVERSITY doors are publically open at the time of this episode. Sign up now before the doors close at the end of the week. https://www.alissamcdonald.com/framework

In today’s episode we’ll talk about how to choose a course, a coach, or a mentor in a world that seems SO incredibly saturated- the world of online marketing. (It’s A LOT more saturated than the teacher world, believe me!) There is a TON of variety when it comes to choosing a coach, mentor, course, membership, workshop etc. in the online space.

As teachers, I think we’re used to being kind of scrappy. We’re used to figuring things out on our own, we’re the queens and kings of DIY, we love a good challenge. I don’t know about you though, but when I see a project on Pinterest and think I can do it myself, I always manage to royally screw it up. Sometimes DIY isn’t the best choice. It isn’t even always the quicker choice...or the cheaper choice. Sometimes you end up spending MORE time, MORE money, and MORE energy trying to figure it all out and piecing it together yourself, when you could’ve come out with a better quality product if you had taken the time to really learn the steps in the process from someone who has done it before and can teach you how.

When it comes to marketing for your online business, you don’t have time to waste- especially if this is your side hustle! If you try to DIY your marketing, I’ll tell you right now how that might go for you in today’s episode, and I’ll tell you one way you can be sure you won’t waste time trying to figure out your marketing on your own ever again.

Maybe you’re a little scared because you’ve signed up for courses before and it hasn’t been all it was cracked up to be or you weren’t able to complete the course work for whatever reason. You’ll have to let all of that go when shopping around for a new way to learn about your business. This is a fresh start. Maybe take into consideration your own learning style and how you like content delivered, and pay attention to that as you read about the different program offerings.

We’ll talk about:

Don’t let the pressure of the CHOICE get to you. You will grow from every investment you make in your education around your business goals. You’ll grow from every unique experience with a coach. And When you see growth as a result of your experience in one course, you’ll feel confident enough to invest in another course. Even if the material happened to be exactly the same, each business coach would teach the material in a different way. Each coach has their own story, messaging, values and experiences to bring to the table. Because of that, every experience in a course, membership, workshop or conference will benefit your business.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit poppd.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit poppd.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thatteacher.substack.com

Behind the Scenes! A Day in the Life of a Mom with 2 Toddlers, a Career and a Side Hustle

Grab your spot in the FREE video training on how to put a solid marketing plan into place for your business and how to make SALES without being SALESY! www.alissamcdonald.com/video

Being the HUGE reality show fan that I am, it only seemed fitting to do a “behind the  scenes” podcast.  In this podcast I’ll tell you a little about what my days are like as a hustlin’ teacher mama & I’ll answer all your burning questions about my BORING life. Who knows? Maybe you’ll learn a thing or two- but more likely I’ll probably be ASKING YOU for advice on this one.

I’m answering all the questions in this episode and breaking down how I use systems to do “full time” work for my business in just a few hours a week.

I’d love to hear all your productivity tips- taking all suggestions about how to make my mornings more productive over on www.instagram.com/teacherbynaptime! Maybe I can have a few of you on the podcast to teach me all your ways!!

If you haven’t already, be sure to reserve your spot for that FREE video training on how to sell without being icky, pushy, or sales-y. It may not be professionally recorded, but I promise you’ll walk away with more clarity around your marketing strategy. You can save your spot at alissamcdonald.com/video

Subscribe & Review

Don’t forget to hit SUBSCRIBE to get the latest episodes. If you have a question about marketing, mindset, momming, or life in general...you can send me a voice recording over at alissamcdonald.com/askalissa! 

Who knows? Your question might be featured on the next podcast! Can’t wait to connect with you. 

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit poppd.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit poppd.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thatteacher.substack.com

Today’s #askalissa question is from Monica...and I swear she read my mind on this one. This is the exact topic of my upcoming video series called “Selling Without Being Sales-y”. Be sure to reserve your spot for the free training at https://www.alissamcdonald.com/video.

“Hi Alissa, my name is Monica, and I am on Instagram as @thelipsticklifeteacher, and recently I actually changed my name from The Lipstick Life Girl to The Lipstick Life Teacher because I am trying to rebrand myself and just change my Instagram because for so long I was just selling makeup, and it felt very restrictive, and I felt very held back because every post had to be about makeup. And I’m so much more than that! I’m a teacher, I’m a new mom, and I do want to sell my resources on Teachers Pay Teachers, but I really want to connect with other educators and teachers that are moms, and I just want to find my tribe like you’ve mentioned. I’m really at a loss about how to start, how I can change my Instagram so it is all of those things, or if I should start from scratch. I’m hoping I can find a way to make the account I have now work and be something that is all me and that I can still have my side hustle built in. Hope that makes sense, and thanks for your help!”

Understanding your brand is more important now than ever before. Here’s why. Have you noticed that the noisier it gets online, the more everything seems to look the SAME? And when things start to look the same- that’s boring. And it’s also scary. We’re- as a collective group of human beings- we’re not supposed to be the same. It’s our differences that help us learn and grow- these are the same values we teach our kids. Yet, somehow, we tend to get sucked right into that “sameness”.

The word brand may bring up images of professional logos and professional images, but it isn’t that. Your brand is the way you bring your unique stories, values, and experiences to the world. It’s the way you showcase your personality in the online space.


We’ll be answering all of these questions on today’s podcast:

And the controversial answer Alissa has for…

We, as consumers, we need multiple voices in one niche area. If we didn’t have multiple voices in one niche, life would be BORING!

We wouldn’t have Coke and Pepsi, we wouldn’t have Nike and Adidas, we wouldn’t have Britney and Christina! Competition makes the world go round!

Lean into your passions, and tell your story! Not only is there room for you, WE NEED YOU.

Monica, thank you, thank you, thank you for this question- for getting us all thinking about our brand, our voice, and how to best serve OUR PEOPLE. I can’t wait to hear all about how you decide to map out your brand.

Don’t forget to head over to alissamcdonald.com/video to get in on that free video training dropping September 13th- thats Friday the 13th...so wish me luck! And YES by now you know that a free training means Teacher Hustle U is opening soon, and if you’re signed up for the video series you’ll be the first to know when those doors open.

I’ll see you back here next week!

Subscribe & Review

Don’t forget to hit SUBSCRIBE to get the latest episodes. If you have a question about marketing, mindset, momming, or life in general...you can send me a voice recording over at alissamcdonald.com/askalissa! 

Who knows? Your question might be featured on the next podcast! Can’t wait to connect with you. 

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit poppd.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit poppd.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thatteacher.substack.com

Great Big List of This or That Questions for Teachers: https://www.alissamcdonald.com/03

Got a question for Alissa? https://www.alissamcdonald.com/askalissa

Let me know how the “trick” went for you over on the gram, https://www.instagram.com/teacherbynaptime 

Instagram is an amazing platform that can be powerful when used to make genuine connections, showcase REAL stories (the good AND the bad), and to support one another in business

If you go to YouTube and search Instagram tricks, there are PLENTY of tactics you can try to just grow that follower number- tricks that grow an audience that isn’t your ideal customer, people who aren’t truly interested in your content, and sometimes those followers are even fake accounts!

If I told you right now you could talk about your product for 15 mins at an intimate gathering of 100 of your IDEAL customers or an auditorium full of 10,000 people, only some of which even needed your product, who would you want to talk to? Which one is more personal? Which is more likely to grow a relationship with you? Which is LESS NOISY??

That follower number means absolutely nothing. If your sales aren’t increasing in your business as that number rises, the number doesn’t matter.

Anytime we talk about Instagram, we’ll always talk about growing RELATIONSHIPS, not growing the follower number. Your following will grow organically as you nurture your relationship. People will see you interacting, they’ll feel your vibe. Real finds real.

We’re in this AMAZING time where teachers across the globe can connect, share resources and ideas, and support one another in implementing those ideas. As standards, rigor, and pressure on teachers seems to be weighing on us, we can lean on our community for support. Sometimes your people are states or countries away...and you’d never find them if it weren’t for this incredible platform.

Today we’re talking Instastories. If you’re not using Instastories...you MUST start. That’s your official challenge. If you’re nervous about being on camera- try a filter. The eyelashes filter and the “pretty” filter will make you feel like a million bucks!! (I’m not nearly as polished as I look in Instastories. It’s all in the filter!!)

I’ll teach you one way you can connect with your audience in a meaningful way, taking your conversations to deeper levels...all while having FUN!

Don’t forget to stop over to my corner of the gram @teacherbynaptime and let me know what you thought of today’s episode! If you need more ideas for this or that questions, don’t worry! I’ve got you covered. I created a great big list of random this or that questions just for you. Head over to https://www.alissamcdonald.com/03 to download!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit poppd.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit poppd.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thatteacher.substack.com

Do you have a question for Alissa? Head over to the site to leave a voice recording. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be featured on the next podcast! https://www.alissamcdonald.com/askalissa

5 mini-challenges to work through to get started with your online business: https://www.alissamcdonald.com/starterkit 

In this episode of the Teacher Hustle Podcast, Sam from @engineerdoeseducation asks about balancing school life with home life AND a business. 

“Hey Alissa, it’s Sam from Engineer Does Education. I was wondering if you could talk to how you transfer from summer mode into back to school mode when it comes to your business. I feel like over the summer I finally got ahold of how to do everything from creating and marketing my products to working on my blog, my e-mail list, Pinterest and Instagram, and now that school is back in session I have grading, I have new content I’m creating for my classroom- that I’d love to put on TPT, but when I get home it’s family time and grading time. So I’m just struggling to balance it while still giving my passion the time it deserves. Any tips?”

It’s that time of year! Summer is ending, and we don’t want to neglect our online business, but there just isn’t enough time in the day.

For many teachers, September is also the season of having big hopes and dreams for our plans for the upcoming school year, which means this is the time that actually our businesses are expected to kind of ramp up because teachers are in need of new resources for their classrooms!

All the things we wanted to do over the summer are not done and now September is here and we need to focus on our classrooms. What do we do with our business? Do we just let it go? Do we drop it? How do we keep it going when we're expected to be doing all of these things with school? 

First, give yourself grace! If you didn’t finish all the things that were on your summer to-do list, if there are a million more things you want to do, that's okay. There will always be something more to do in your business- that’s what makes you a great entrepreneur!

But give yourself the gift of September. You are not going to finish all the things at this point that you need to do for back to school season when it comes to your business- that time is over. Whatever you accomplished on your to-do list, you did! And whatever you didn't, you didn't! We can’t change that.

Let’s focus on the future! We’ll be talking about how you can rest, reflect, and organize during September and use the upcoming quarter- October, November, and December to meet your end-of-year goals.

The problem with our business is that when we do sit down to work, there is nobody to say, “Alissa, today you're going to focus on your blog, and don't you do anything else because your job is to work on the blog tonight!” 

I'm going to give you a process for how you can set a goal for next quarter and how you can achieve it. 

If you’re anything like me, at a buffet I fill my plate to the brim and eat maybe a quarter of it. Don’t do that here. Don’t set your task goals so high that you’re unable to get it done. Make it easy enough that it's achievable. Simplify it. 

What are the smaller tasks you need to do in order to complete that larger task? What do you need to learn- what do you need to create-

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit poppd.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit poppd.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thatteacher.substack.com

What’s the thing that when people mention it, you say “That’s my jam!?”

Whatever you picked...that’s your passion! Now we’re going to take that passion and find a way to turn it into an additional income stream.

So what types of digital businesses can you create? I’ll tell you about the 4 most popular digital offerings for teachers.

I just have one….little...favor to ask.

When you give it a listen, could you let me know what you think??

Be sure to SUBSCRIBE so you’re notified when my new episode drops each week. I can’t wait to talk hustle with you!

Xo Alissa

Check out https://www.alissamcdonald.com/askalissa to ask me a question!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit poppd.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit poppd.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thatteacher.substack.com

Are you ready for our date? Not the kind of date where you get all dressed up and do your hair and makeup! I'm much more low maintenance...promise. This is the one where you turn on your podcast player and curl up on the couch with a blanket and some tea. You'll get to know me, and I'll make some good guesses about you. 

Find out why I think teachers have that certain something special. You'll learn how you can take an idea, that thing you love talking about, and turn it into a business that grows your impact and your income. 

We'll dive in to some of the topics this podcast will cover, and you'll find out why I purposefully chose the word "hustle" for the title of this podcast! I can't wait to chat with you about all things business, mindset, and inspiration!

Check out https://www.alissamcdonald.com/askalissa to ask me a question!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit poppd.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit poppd.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thatteacher.substack.com