Welcome! If you found your way here through my Instagram, Facebook, one of my TPT School Counseling Resources, or even Google, welcome. I’m glad you’re here. I appreciate you.

But before we go any further let me be 100% candid with you. I am a newbie. My website is currently new (and as such, rather cringeworthy.) And I am SURE that a year from now I’ll look back on this post and cringe even more.

But hey, you’re here. Thank you.

You’re probably thinking, “Why on earth would I take advice on starting an educator website from someone who is just learning herself?!” Well folks, that’s just it. I’m in the thick of it. I am learning day by day. I am not a techie. This is all a new language to me. You might not want someone who “knows it all” to tutor you through this because quite frankly, it WILL sound like a new language.

So here’s my secret: Take it slow.

Easy enough, right?

Listen, I know you’re on instagram seeing the adorable “edupreneur” on the “teachergram” with the perfectly crafted IG posts, the lovely (professional by the way) photos with thousands of likes and comments. Her influence is far and wide! Her posts are super colorful, she prints her lovely tpt products on brightly colored paper, and it all just looks so attractive. But let me tell you something. Those gals and guys are FANTASTIC. They are encouraging. We admire them (I know I SURE DO!). But they did not get where they are overnight, and neither will you. Breathe. We’ve got this.

Teachers and educators in recent years have learned to monetize our skills in ways that reach far beyond the classroom. I for one, am extremely proud of us as a community. Our skills are marketable and valuable. We are creating and having an impact across the world! I know you want to do that. I want to do it too. That’s why I’m here, blogging for you.

Lately there have been many a blurry eyed 2am mornings at the computer, with me struggling to understand what an Opt In is, and how on earth the domain, host, Elementor, Convertkit, and copyrights and trademarks work together. As I struggle to learn how I fit into this space, I am reminded of something a good friend said to me one day at the gym.

I’d shared with her my frustrations of being at a plateau with TPT and Etsy sales, and how much I wanted my business to grow like “so-and-so’s”, and how cool it would be to just find that ONE idea that takes off into the viral educational space so I can get to the level of some of those I admire.

She said, “Laura. You will get there too. Do you think the ones you admire started last week? They didn’t. You’re running a marathon, not a sprint race.”

And while I’d known that for sure, hearing someone say it to me hit me like a ton of bricks. She was right. This will not happen overnight. Whatever level of success it is you seek to attain in the virtual educational space, you’re going to get there through hard work and dedication. But. Not. Overnight.

You/We DO need to take it slow, and learn and implement at your own pace.

Join a facebook group. There are thousands of fantastic women and men in those groups willing to help you. Take a course. Join a program that teaches you, like Teacher Hustle University. Watch Youtube. Do whatever you need to do to learn.

But do it slowly.

My guess is that you’re working full time. You may be married. You may have a couple of kids. You may have a 2nd job and other responsibilities. Set your expectations reasonably. But set them to where you’re setting yourself up for success. Slowly.